BLOG 9 - THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

Dear Accepted in the Beloved,

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

Have you ever wondered about this verse? What are the keys? Why are they plural? I would like to suggest that they are the law of God that convicts and exposes our sinfulness before a Holy God, and the love of God that draws the burdened sinner to the cross to be delivered. A holy God must punish all unrighteous ness or be guilty of unrighteousness Himself. On the other hand, A God of love, in His mercy makes a way were the law can be satisfied and the sinner be set free, by sending a Savior to die in our place. That makes two keys.

What about the binding and loosing? What is it and how is it done? Is Jesus talking only to Peter or is the "you" plural, referring to all believers? I pray that flesh and blood will not reveal it to you, but our Father in heaven. Once again, the answer seemed to me to come from the Living Word of God only a few verses later in the same book of Matthew, in chapter 18 where the Lord repeats the same words to the disciples. In this passage it seems clear that "binding and loosing" refer to loving our brother which would most definitely apply to every believer.

In the context of Matthew 18, He talks first about receiving little children and not offending them. Then He speaks of seeking the straying sheep and not even desiring one of them to perish. Next our Lord speaks of reconciling with our brother. Then He says in verse 18: "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." The exact words that He said to Peter individually in Matthew 16:19. This is followed by a discussion of two or three gathering in His name or agreeing in His name; a discussion on forgiving and the parable of the unforgiving servant. Are these statements of our Lord related? Do these verses have anything to do with binding and loosing? The common factor in all these points seems to indicate that binding and loosing have to do with God's love and forgiveness between believers, not so much in bringing in unbelievers: "little ones who believe in me", "whose angels always see the face of God", straying brethren who need someone to take initiative to bring them back on the path, brethren who agree together in prayer, in contrast with the unforgiving servant who beats his fellow servant. In all these statements the common point has to do with the relationship between believers.

What does all this have to do with binding and loosing? The word of God says Jesus came to us in Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:62 and Psalm 147:3,4: to proclaim the good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to set the captives free...Stated another way, we could say Jesus came to bind up the broken-hearted and loose the captives. Jesus also said we would do greater things than Him (John 14:12) and that as He is in the world so are we (1 John 4:17). Are my brothers and sisters broken-hearted? Are they captive? Can Jesus use me to loose them from captivity and bind up their broken hearts? Yes, as I take initiative to go to those who are hurting, bind up their wounds by loving them, not condemning them, not preaching at them, but just loving them, spending time with them, being knit together with them, valuing them, developing a relationship with them, not doing "religion" to them ... Loosing the captives, first by getting to know them well enough for me to know that they are captive, second by praying for them and with them to be set free... If each brother and sister would commit to do this instead of rushing off from church as soon as the teaching is done to do our own thing, panel our own houses..., the world would see His love in us. Teaching is only 1/4 of the reason we come together. (See Acts 2:42) It is for teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer; to stir up love and good works. (Hebrew 10:24,25)

Simply by loving one another in Christ we will fulfill the law and God's everlasting love. We will bind up the broken-hearted and loose the captives. The kingdom will be unlocked only by the use of these keys. We will be building up His holy temple with silver and gold and precious stones. And for all eternity we will praise Him as each story is told of each act of Holy Spirit-born love. There can be no law against this love and it will never fail.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." The true sons are the ones that work for peace among their brothers using these keys of the kingdom. The law, the word of God, that never changes, that keeps us from getting off the path of truth and sets us free (looses us) from lies. And the love of God which covers the multitude of our sins and binds our hearts together with Christ.

Agape.

BLOG 8 - DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY

1 Corinthians 11 has some rather stern words that might often be misunderstood. It says "For he who eats and drinks in unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." In prayerfully letting the Holy Spirit and the context guide my understanding, I see this as referring to the people who are gathered at the Lord's supper - for scripture tells us quite clearly in the following chapter, in 1 Corinthians 12:27: "We are the Body of Christ." Remember, chapters and verses are not part of God's inspiration. They are merely a tool to help us more easliy find passages of scripture. Therefore, chapter 12 is very much a part of the context of chapter 11; the portion of the letter written by Paul and by the Holy Spirit, to the Corinthian church.

In what way were they "not discerning the Body"? Perhaps they were not giving the Lord's Supper proper reverence and not thinking about the meaning of the meal and Christ's work on the cross on their behalf. Perhaps they were coming to the meal with unconfessed sin. But on further reading it seems to describe the problem very clearly. As verse 33 points out, they were not waiting for one another when they came together for the Lord's supper, so that one was hungry still and another was drunk having had an excess. It says also that there were divisions and factions among them in verse 18 and 19. These were necessary, is says, in order that those who are approved may be recognized among you. In other words, if someone did not care about the body of Christ, God's people, then he would just rush ahead concerned only about himself. But if a person discerned the body of Christ, they would genuinely be concerned for the members of that body - For as verse 26 of chapter 12 says "If one member suffers, all (who are truly part of the body) the members suffer with it..." We cannot have communion with Christ and not also have communion with the body of Christ, for we are "members of one another (Ephesians 4:25). It all climaxes at the end of chapter 12 and in chapter 13, when he says, "I show you a more excellent way." Then begins the famous Love chapter.

What all this means to me is that when I take communion it is most special to me, not only to focus on Jesus, but also to look around at the heart of Jesus which is in His people, His body, my brothers and sisters sitting in the fellowship with me and also those who are missing perhaps because of physical or spiritual ailments for whom I need to pray. For if one member suffers, I should also suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it. Otherwise if communion was just a thing between God and me, I could take it anywhere, anytime and any place. Why would I need the body there? I must "discern the body," because of the new commandment which fulfills the Law: to love one another AS HE LOVES US. (John 13:34, 35) By this we will be able to discern the true body of Christ. To me it is the whole reason He chose to call us His body. How am I treating His body? This is how I am treating Him! I may say I love Him. I may sing about how much I love Jesus. But the proof is my words and actions towards those members of His body He has placed around me. I must treat them as if they are His flesh and blood, because they truly, truly are.

I do not love Jesus anymore than I love the least of these, His brethren. If I ignore them, I ignore Him. If I hurt one of these, I hurt Him. If I love and serve them, I love and serve Him. This is Agape Love, that only comes from the Holy Spirit in us. We can love one another, because He first loved us. When we become one with Him, we love what He loves. Our hearts break when His does. O Lord, draw Your people with Your everlasting love in us, to Your glory only and by Your grace alone. Let Your love cover the multitude of our sins and knit us together and help us to open our eyes and discern Your body and our true communion in You.

BLOG 7 - THE ARK, MY HEART

I just love how the Lord always uses pictures to paint powerful truths. The one about which I love to meditate is the Ark of the Covenant. A small box (about 4' x 2'x 2') covered in gold, with a solid gold lid, called the Mercy Seat bearing two angelic creatures bowing to the center, where the very presence of God on earth came to speak with man. It was hidden away in the Holy of Holies, the most holy part of the temple of the Lord. This was a place where no man could enter unless chosen by God and sanctified; cleansed by a blood sacrifice of an innocent and perfect animal picturing the substitution death of our Savior on the cross; taking the wrath of our holy God on our behalf to vindicate both God's holiness and mercy at the same time. This blood was required to be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat on behalf of the people once a year. Inside the Ark of the Covenant, were the stone tablets bearing the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God, a golden jar of manna and Aaron's rod that blossomed with flowers and grew ripe almonds. The Ark was placed behind a veil, screen or curtain so thick it took 300 men to hang it. This very same veil was supernaturally ripped from the top down at the moment Jesus died.

This is such an awesome picture of what God wants us to know about Him. God went to great lengths to tell us by this symbolic dramatization, that the highest experience man can have on earth is communion with Him. For sin-stained people, this was an impossible experience, until God provided the way by sending Jesus to be our blood sacrifice. The veil which was symbolic of Jesus flesh was ripped for us, allowing us to enter into the Holy of Holies and commune with God himself.

The Ark of the Covenant is a picture of my heart. In order to receive the inheritance after someone has died, there has to be a covenant, agreement or contract. Jesus died making the payment. But His blood is not applied in my name unless I enter into a covenant with Him. It is not forced upon me. All He asks is that I earnestly ask Him with all of my heart. The place of God's covenant with man is in our hearts. When I call on Him, He sprinkles the covering of my heart with the purifying blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus. He takes away the law-laden stoney tablets of my heart that brought only guilt and condemnation, a debt I could not pay. He now gives me a new heart, no longer stone, a heart of flesh and writes His law of love (the new commandment) upon the tablet of my new heart and gives me His Holy Spirit that causes me to desire His will and want to keep His Law.

I now am able to commune with Him about anything, anywhere, anytime, in the very Holy of Holies, where God is present all the time. He feeds me with the pure manna, bread from heaven, His Word, the Bible, that is better than food to me. He causes my life to blossom and bear fruit like Aaron's rod, proof that He is with me. The presence of this Ark of the Covenant in this world is the restraining hand of God upon the tide of evil that would destroy all mankind if it were not there. We are now the temple of God on earth, a city on a hill to draw men to Him by the fragrance of our prayerful communion with Him (the incense) and the light of His Holy Spirit shining radiantly out from us as we bear the fruit of the Spirit like Aaron's rod: love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. These are the proof to the world that God is with us. His new commandment of love now written on our heart fulfills the entire law, as it causes us to have His heart for the world. We receive His heart as our birthright, our inheritance. We now desire what He desires, that all, everywhere be filled with the fullness of God and come to the unity of faith. God's building of living stones, fitly united together by Him, the master builder, to bring glory to His name forever. His royal priesthood, bearing on our hearts and shoulders the names of those He desires to bring into the fold. They are the Silver, gold and precious stones to adorn His temple forever.
My heart is almost exploding as I contemplate the majesty and beauty of God's plan.

As Jesus asked in the garden of Gethsemane on the night before He laid down His life on the cross for me and you: "Is there any other way to redeem mankind to yourself? If there is any other possibility, let this cup pass from me." God remained silent because there was no other way. And Jesus endured the shame of the cross for the joy set before Him of this living temple, this covenant between God and me, sealed in His indelible blood, forever. I now walk in the very presence of God, with the Ark of the Covenant, in my heart, where God dwells.

Agape