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Positioning for the kingdom keys Matt 16:13-19

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. KJV

The endowment of the Keys of the Kingdom which is paramount and indispensable to the release of the promised heavenly treasures is predicated upon certain factors preceding the Dominican declaration of the promise. The keys are very important but we must be well positioned to receive the keys which are a symbol of access and authority, and power of claim towards inheriting the promises.

A Proper Positioning in the Kingdom: 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Peter is here described as operating from the realm of the spirit or controlled by the Spirit. Though, Peter himself was a man and a son of somebody, the revelation declared by Peter was received because he was connected to the Father in Heaven. It was the Spirit of the Father in him that granted him the revelation. Men controlled by flesh and blood which typifies the principles, the philosophy, knowledge, educations and the traditions of this world and men can not tap the revelation of the Spirit and thus can not receive the keys of the kingdom. Thus Paul says in 1 Cor 2:9-14

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. KJV

The import of the text is this: a natural man, a man that does not have the spirit of God, a person that is not regenerated, not born again can not catch the mystery of the treasures of the kingdom no matter how lettered he may be. The revelation is not dependent on the positions we are placed by men, like the Pharisees and the Saducees, the degrees we have( Peter was just a fisher man; but he had what people like Nicodemus and Gamaliel could not have), the respect we command like Pilate; it is based on proper positioning in the kingdom of God.

So salvation is a necessity; reconnection to the father is a must if the keys would be delivered; backsliders who have gone should return back to the Lord.

A Proper Revelation of Jesus: What Peter knew or confessed by about Jesus was not a tradition received from personal experience, books read, traditions of men or whatever; it was a revelation. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

As a matter of fact, the traditions and the knowledge of men were confusing and contradictory. 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Men would relate with Jesus from the context of their perception, right or wrong; and that was why the keys were not delivered to them but was rightly and promptly delivered to the one with the correct revelation and accurate understanding.

The questions are these:

Who do you say Jesus is?

What you believe or think about Jesus, is it a revelation or simply head knowledge?

Apostle Paul was such a man that wielded many keys of the Kingdom in power, miracles, fruitful life and ministries. His ministries and life were fruitful and powerful. He wielded power so great and unfathomable and left legacies unsurpassed in the history of our faith; but listen he has this to say as the secret of his obtaining the Keys of the Kingdom

Gal 1:11-12

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. KJV

In the context of this text, there is just only one underlying factor to the two exposed principles, and that is the place of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit connects us to the Father and secures for us accurate revelation from the Father.

We should then allow Him to rule and lead our lives. Thank God for the denomination traditions that we have, thank God for the scholastic traditions that we celebrate; but beyond these, let us yield to Him to reveal to us mysteries that are not accessible to the brain or mind but are rather accessed by his spirit as we give our lives to him or as we depend on Him to reveal Jesus to us.