The Keys To The Kingdom Part 2 by Pastor Philip Olubakin: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Matthew 16:19 is the foundation: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

God says he will give keys of heaven. Anyone who has been given keys must be curious about what those keys are and how to use them effectively. You cannot take advantage of what you do not know.

The Key of Love

The first key in this kingdom is love. The first key in this kingdom is love. In John 21:15–17, Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" And three times he responded, "Feed my sheep." The first question was not "Can you feed my sheep?" It was not a question of ability — it was a question of love first. Service driven by love. Love shown by service.

There is nothing you cannot do for someone you love. John 3:16 says God so loved the world that he gave. Romans 8:32 says he did not spare his own son but gave him up for all of us. Love gives. You do not have to beg the person who loves you to give to you.

Revelation 2:4 warns: "Nevertheless, I have something against you. You have left your first love." Jesus commends work, patience, labor, discernment of false teachers — but still says, you have left your first love. It is possible to carry on doing all the activities of the church and yet be carrying on without Jesus. Mary and Joseph traveled a whole day before they realized Jesus was not with them. They assumed he was in the company. That is a costly assumption.

Some of you used to cry in worship, used to be passionate about his Word, used to tell people about Jesus. Activities have taken the place of relationship. It is possible for people to go on and on without Jesus. The Bible says in Revelation 2:5: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." There was a place you fell, and something triggered the fall. Go back to the first works. What are those? The things you did when you first gave your life to Christ. When someone came to know Jesus because of your testimony. When your Bible was the most treasured thing you had. When you could not go a week without telling someone about Jesus.

He says: go back to those songs that stir your heart and make you feel like praying. Go back to the books. Go back to routine before relationship — because it is faith before feelings. Start the boring routines again. One chapter a day. Fifteen minutes in prayer even if you feel nothing. Stay in the place. Go back to those first works.

The insults of those who insult God must fall on us. Psalm 69:7–9 says: "Because of you I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers. The zeal of your house has eaten me up." When David heard Goliath defying the armies of God, he said, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine to defile the armies of the living God of Israel?" That is love for God expressed. Passion can be felt. Passion can be seen.

The Key of Wisdom

The second key is wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:23–24 says: "We preach Christ crucified — unto Jews a stumbling block, to Greeks foolishness, but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." Christ has become wisdom for us.

Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) says: "So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God in all its countless aspects might now be made known — revealing the mystery to angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places." God wants to teach angels something, and he is using the church to teach them.

The wisdom of media, technology, governance, and industry must be in the hands of the church. The greatest inventions in history came predominantly from born-again believers. Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison — these were people of faith. The cure for cancer is in the heart of God. God is looking for among his children who will say, "Lord, I want to download it." He wants to release hidden riches and secret treasures through his people.

Daniel stood before Nebuchadnezzar when the king could not remember his own dream and demanded interpretation under penalty of death. Daniel went to the King of kings — the revealer of all things — and the vision was revealed to him in the night. By superior wisdom, he stood before kings.

We rule in this earth by superior wisdom, not superior noise. Religious people who have no answers are an irritation to the world. But Christians who bring solutions, Christians who govern with wisdom, Christians who create and innovate — those are people the world will follow.

Ephesians 3:10 declares the manifold wisdom of God must be made known to principalities and powers through the church. Put your hand on your head and say: "The wisdom of God is at work in me."