THE KINGDOM OF GOD-9 "Upon On This Rock"

Matt. 16:15-19  Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.   And I tell you, you are Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  I will GIVE YOU the KEYS of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

There is a Rock of Revelation that Hell cannot prevail against.  Inside every Petros (a single life touched by GOD) there’s a PETRA, a massive spiritual Revelation of Christ the King and His K’dom. 

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Simon (Peter) was a man who was very centered in his own flesh. Impetuous and quick to speak, but not overly courageous.  Big intensions tethered by short leash of self-interest.  Like many of us, he had strong opinions but was never going to venture out of his own comfort zone.  The status quo was safe—Peter was never going to set the world on fire.  He would live in one town and catch fish.  

“Depart from me Lord, I’m a sinful man.” 

But Jesus saw what Peter’s life would look like standing on The ROCK.  He would walk on water, see Moses and Elijah, and his shadow would heal cripples. 

“Come with Me, and I will make you a Fisher of Men.” 

Whoever lives on the Rock has the power to Bind ON EARTH what Heaven has bound, and Release ON EARTH what Heaven has Released!  That Rock is the Revelation of the KOG.  And Jesus offers that Revelation to everyone of us who receive Him as LORD… “UPON THIS ROCK I will build my church, and…I will GIVE YOU the KEYS of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…”  It’s the heritage and destiny of every Born-Again Christian to Live on the Rock of K’dom Authority, and exercise it Upon the EARTH!  Wind + Time wears down mountain ranges.  But the Power of The Rock, moving through a Peter, raises monumental testimonies that change history forever.

Rom. 8:15-17 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, THEN HEIRS—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,

Satan knows that Divine Authority is the true mark of sonship.  So he vigorously promotes the concept of a “Christianity” where the children of GOD have no Authority.  So if Satan couldn’t keep you from receiving Jesus, then he’s doing everything he can to keep you off the ROCK of K’dom Revelation.  He’s using your own weaknesses to convince you that you don’t have THE STANDING to use the Keys of K’dom Authority against him. Satan twists the words of Jesus to say, I'll GIVE YOU the KEYS of K’dom Authority if you earn the right to use them.  But what Jesus really said is, If you get the Revelation you get the Keys (the Authority).  So don’t let Satan back you down off the Rock that GOD’s revelation put you on!  Don’t let him frighten you with your own weakness.  Jesus said…

Luke 12:32 …Fear NOT little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

GOD rejoices when you act in His Authority simply because you’re a testament to His Fatherhood. (i.e. Jesus leaps for joy when the disciples cast out devils and perform miracles in His name).  Your view of life, from standing on the Rock, changes YOU.  You see the Father’s unconquerable Love and absolute K’dom Authority, operating in you, as His child.  St. Augustine wrote, “Without GOD, WE cannot; without US, GOD will not.”  Father GOD’s Family Authority is revealed through YOU, His children.

When the Prodigal Son returned home he tried to come as worker.  Sin-consciousness had stripped him of his identity, so that he hoped for nothing better than an opportunity to work.  He knew provision was in his father’s house, but didn’t believe he had a right to it.   But His Father immediately sees that his son’s greatest need was the restoration of his identity, so that his mind would work correctly.  The first thing his Dad does is put the Family Ring on his finger—the official symbol of Family Authority.  The Holy Spirit is that Ring of K’dom Authority the Father has given you.  Jesus knew in advance, that Satan would use our own failures to talk us down from the Rock, and to quit using our K’dom Authority. 

Luke 22:28-32 You are the ones who have remained with me in my trials.  Thus I grant to you a kingdom, just as my Father granted to me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have Turned Back (are CONVERTED), strengthen your brothers.

Jesus used Peter to remind us that it’s His intercession that put us on that ROCK.  So don’t let Satan talk you down.

Some people are SAVED but not yet CONVERTED to K’dom thinking.  They’re still trying to come to GOD as a “employee”.  But people, like Peter, who’ve been CONVERTED (from failure mentality) to K’dom Authority, speak from The Rock.  They have the power to Strengthen others.   Stand on The ROCK and Strengthen your brothers and sisters!