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Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Notice what Jesus says about Peter's insight and future role as a result of his revelatory reply in Matthew 16:17-19
1. Peter received this revelation from God.
2. Jesus will build his church upon this revelatory word.
3. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against this church.
4. Peter will receive "keys" which will enable him to "bind" and "loose."
So, what is this that Christ has promised Peter and not the other disciples? It is impossible to say with absolute certainty, but it would appear that Peter's powerful ministry exploits in the Book of Acts were empowered as a result of Peter’s obedience and Jesus’ response to Peter’s proclamation about His divinity.
1. When the Jews received the Word along with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter was ministering.
2. When the Samaritans received the baptism in the Holy Spirit for the first time in Acts 8:9-25, Peter was again ministering.
3. When the Gentiles, in Acts 10:24-48, likewise, received the Word along with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, Peter was there again.
It appears that on all three occasions Peter was exercising the "keys" which had been presented to him in this passage of scripture. As a result, three separate categories of people, Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles were formally inducted into the newly-founded church, the Body of Christ. Those are some pretty powerful keys. There can be no question; Peter was set apart for special service on this occasion.
If we do the same things Peter did in regard to revelation knowledge are we also privileged with the keys to the kingdom?
Revelation Knowledge
Revelation knowledge is how we get the keys to the kingdom. Kingdom keys open kingdom doors.
Knowledge is great but knowledge that is not acted on is theoretical at best and valueless at worst.
The key to making knowledge beneficial is to have the courage to act on the knowledge that you have.
We’ve probably all met people who are really “book smart” but don’t seem to have the fabric in themselves to make decisions that will bring about the benefit of that knowledge.
Revelation knowledge is knowledge that is not revealed to you by man but is revealed to you by your heavenly Father.
Learning from men is not wrong but there is more to learning than just listening to things on a surface level. God can speak to you through men and if you have spiritual ears to hear you can discern when the Lords voice is speaking to you through a man. An interesting dynamic of God’s word is found in Hebrews 4:12. The word of God, being living and active. God can speak by revelation to one person, and another person, sitting right next to you, is simply hearing earthly information.
The Quakers believed that the Bible was written in layers and that the majority of the scriptures had different and deeper meanings. This is the underlying reason for John Bunyan's classic, “Pilgrims Progress”. The entire content of the book is allegorical. This means the characters in the story always represent something else with a deeper meaning.
One of the Dictionary definitions of allegorical is to have hidden spiritual meaning that transcends the literal sense of a sacred text.
I don’t believe the entire Bible is allegorical but I believe some of it is. When it’s allegorical we need to read and interpret it as such. Sometimes we can get out of balance and miss the simple meaning that is laid out in scripture searching for a deeper meaning.
It’s wise to understand the surface meaning first before plunging to some secret meaning.
Revelation knowledge
Peter took what he knew about Jesus from the natural things he’d seen, what he knew about the Bible and what he felt like God was confirming in his heart and makes the declaration that, “Jesus was the Christ, the son of the Living God.” This is how we also receive revelation knowledge. Our declaration can be action of some kind also.
Because we know, we act.
Wisdom from the Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—
How many of us can quote verse 9 but forget about verse 10?
10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Jeremiah 33:3
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
In Christ is the fullness of Wisdom
Colossians 2:2-4
2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
What does it mean to be bound on Earth and bound in heaven? How do we bind and loose?
1. Revelation
We’ve already discussed revelation knowledge being foundational to binding and loosing.
2. Confronting Conflicts
Matthew 18:15-17
15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.‘ 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Conflict Resolution, or the lack their of causes binding and loosing.
The Scripture before the passage on binding and loosing is in regard to conflict resolution.
The Scripture after the passage on binding and loosing is in regard to the prayer of agreement.
3. The Prayer of Agreement
The prayer of agreement binds and looses heavenly things.
Matthew 18:19-20
19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
In Conclusion
1. Revelation Knowledge with action is the foundation upon which the church is built and creates a binding and loosing environment for the person that’s walking in this type of knowledge.
2. Forgiveness, conflict resolution and church discipline also activate the kingdom dynamic of binding and loosing.
3. The prayer of agreement also activates binding and loosing.