THE REVELATION THAT BRINGS US INTO KINGDOM POWER
November 28, 2010

Mike Blume

Matthew 16:13-20 KJV  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.  (20)  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. Jesus explained there was a two-step progressive revelation for us. First the Father speaks to Peter about WHO JESUS IS. Secondly THE SON must then speak. What the SON speaks to us about is WHO WE ARE. When Jesus said HE ALSO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO PETER, He then said HE GIVES THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM TO PETER. The SECOND REVELATION is what gives us the KEYS TO THE KINGDOM. It involves PUTTING THE CHURCH ON THE ROCK. And putting it on a rock causes that Church TO OVERCOME THE GATES OF HELL. The Jews gave the key to the TEMPLE CLOSET where the sacred books were kept to the one who became a doctor of the Law. This was AUTHORITY! Power of the Kingdom was entrusted to those who receive the second revelation from the SON. KEYS OF THE KINGDOM! Notice that this revelation involves building the church on the Rock in order for the Church to overpower the very gates of hell. HELL is HADES in the Greek in this instance. It refers to the VERY POWER OF DEATH. DEATH will not be able to overcome such a person. Stop there and keep in mind the idea of TWO REVELATIONS. The first from the Father shows us who Jesus is. The second from the SON shows us who we are. Jesus saw that the Father told Peter who He was. Then Jesus said “THOU ART PETER.” We need to get a revelation of WHO WE ARE as believers. When we know WHO WE ARE, then the power of death itself will be unable to overcome us! Notice that the CHURCH is built on the ROCK and DEATH itself cannot prevail. What is the ROCK? 1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:3-7  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  (4)  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  (5)  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  (6)  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  (7)  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, Those built on this lively stone SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED. Sounds like the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church built on the rock. BELIEVING ON HIM causes us to be BUILT ON THE ROCK. JESUS IS THAT ROCK. Notice that Jesus would build the CHURCH on THE ROCK. And this would render the church more powerful than death. Jesus did not speak of dying and resurrecting from the dead until he saw that they received the revelation from the Father. Once he knew they learned who He was, and received actual revelation from God, He would proceed to go to the next revelation that would put them on the ROCK and empower them over death. Matthew 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Notice he speaks of the gates of DEATH, and then immediately BEGINS to speak of dying at Jerusalem and resurrecting. Since Jesus is the ROCK, and building His church on the Rock causes the Church to overpower DEATH, then it is no wonder He BEGAN to speak of His death and resurrection! His resurrection is POWER OVER DEATH. If they catch this SECOND revelation, they’re ready to deal with the subject of HIS DEATH. So, we see the subject of CHURCH ON THE ROCK, and the church more powerful than death as a result. THE SAME PICTURE IS FOUND IN MATT 7. Matthew 7:21-25  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. There are several things in Matt 7 that correspond to Matt 16. Jesus told Peter “AND I SAY ALSO UNTO YOU”. Jesus speaks here and emphasizes “THESE SAYINGS OF MINE”. And then we have a CHURCH/HOUSE BUILT ON A ROCK. And death cannot prevail against the church no more than the storms and floods can cause that house to fall. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE ROCK. The HOUSE must be ON THE ROCK. Jesus builds the church on the Rock. The house and church must be made indestructible BY THE ROCK. The ROCK is both JESUS, HIMSELF, and HIS SAYINGS. His revelation for us. Notice what else Jesus and Peter discussed. After Jesus began to speak of HIS DEATH, having just said the gates of death cannot prevail against the church built on THE ROCK, they should have never even feared the thought of death. Jesus just said the gates of hell/death cannot overpower the church on the rock. Therefore, when He mentioned DYING and RESURRECTING, the disciples should have confidently known EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT! But no! Matthew 16:22-26  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.  (23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.  (24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  (26)  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Peter did not want to hear anything about Jesus speaking of dying. BE IT FAR FROM THEE, LORD. And while Jesus formerly saw how Peter received a revelation from the Father of who Jesus was, and proceeded to say, “THOU ART PETER,”… Jesus then identifies Peter as SATAN! Jesus informs all of them that refusal to deny themselves and taking up their crosses discounts them from being HIS DISCIPLES. He knew why Peter did not want Jesus speaking of His death. It was because Peter was so full of self-preservation that he was concerned for his own neck! That is the reason Jesus said that holding onto one’s life will end up seeing them actually LOSE THEIR LIVES FOREVER. But losing their lives NOW ALLOWS FOR RESURRECTION of their lives, and to end up FINDING THEM AGAIN and KEEPING THEM FOREVER. Peter was right to think that HIS OWN NECK was on the line if Jesus’ neck was on the line. But what Peter missed was the whole POINT of THE SECOND REVELATION! Hearing what Jesus said involved building their lives ON THE ROCK OF JESUS, so that DEATH ITSELF HAS NO POWER AGAINST THEM! Yes, they were associated with Him and would have THEIR necks on the line, but when you are associated with Jesus the way He tried revealing to them they were, THEY SHARE THE SAME POWER OVER DEATH THAT HE HAS! When we’re united to Jesus like a HOUSE ON A ROCK, we have resurrection power on us! We can laugh in the face of storms and floods and even the gates of hell itself! But Peter shows us something. Jesus can TRY TO REVEAL this revelation to us, and we can miss it! Peter got the revelation of who Jesus was, but he never got the revelation of who HE WAS IN CHRIST! This is important. When Jesus said THOU ART PETER, and proceeded to speak of the CHURCH BUILT ON THE ROCK, He was trying to give him a revelation of WHO PETER WAS IN CHRIST. When you realize you are united to the One who resurrects from the dead, YOU WILL NOT FEAR DEATH, for that power over death is UPON YOU AS WELL! You have power over death because you are UNITED TO JESUS! The way JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH ON THE ROCK is by teaching us and giving us REVELATION of how WE ARE UNITED TO HIM, so that we SHARE HIS KINGDOM POWER OVER DEATH ITSELF! The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death! THIS IS HIS KINGDOM POWER. Psalms 110:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Paul refers to that Psalm and adds a comment about those enemies. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  (26)  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. Of all the enemies to be put under Jesus’ feet, the LAST ONE IS DEATH. Death ITSELF IS TO BE DESTROYED. But before it is destroyed, it was already DEFEATED when Jesus rose from the dead to sit on that right hand throne! Ephesians 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: We are seated with Jesus AND HAVE POWER OVER THAT DEATH. But we have to have FAITH in this truth in order to enjoy its benefits. WE HAVE TO GET A REVELATION OF THIS TRUTH, AND such a revelation will IGNITE FAITH in our hearts for it. So when you get a revelation of Christ’s words regarding POWER OVER DEATH, you will not fear death, WHICH MEANS YOU WILL GLADLY LOSE YOUR LIFE TO THE DEATH OF SELF DENIAL, AND TAKE UP YOUR CROSS. Taking up your cross does not mean suffering to you so much as IT MEANS POWER OVER DEATH. When you unite to HIS DEATH in self denial, since HIS DEATH led to HIS RESURRECTION, then you have no fear of DEATH because YOU KNOW YOU HAVE HIS POWER OF RESURRECTION! Back to Matthew 7. Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Notice that Jesus spoke of CALLING HIM “LORD”. 1 Corinthians 12:3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. You cannot call Jesus LORD but by the Holy Spirit. How did Peter know WHO JESUS WAS? The FATHER revealed Jesus’ identity to Peter. But just as Peter received the revelation from the Father and knew who Jesus was but did not get the revelation from the Son, YOU CAN CALL JESUS LORD AND NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM. Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. There is really NOTHING TO DO when you get the revelation from the Father. You can know Jesus is Lord, and yet Jesus said you might not DO the will of the Father. Put it altogether. You can know WHO JESUS IS, but not enter the Kingdom. You can know WHO JESUS IS, and not DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. This is because THE SECOND REVELATION THAT COMES FROM JESUS IS ASSOCIATED WITH DOING something. Matthew 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: THE “DOING” part comes with the SECOND REVELATION FROM THE SON. Jesus meant that if YOU HEAR HIS WORDS AND DO THEM, you are DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER. That is why MANY will say LORD LORD to Jesus, and not do the will of the Father, because talking is always the easy part. THE DOING part is not so comfortable to the flesh. Notice that Jesus told the disciples that they must DO something in order to be His disciples, and that we must DO HIS SAYINGS to be the house on the rock that cannot fall. That “doing” part is TAKING UP YOUR CROSS AND DENYING YOURSELF. But if you take up your cross in FAITH that you are in UNION WITH JESUS, then the same resurrection power He had over death is YOURS TO ENJOY! AND THIS CAUSES YOU TO ENTER THE KINGDOM. Kingdom LIFE is beyond just church and knowing who JESUS IS. How many believers know who Jesus and YET THEY HAVE NO POWER AGAINST THE ENEMY? They are overcome and they fall all the time when the storms and floods beat their houses. Jesus said DOING HIS WORDS is ENTERING THE KINGDOM level of Life. The first revelation causes you to KNOW JESUS. Matthew 7:22-23  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. THE SECOND REVELATION causes JESUS TO KNOW YOU! And notice He calls them “workers of iniquity”, sort of like calling Peter “satan”. When you do not unite to Christ’s cross and death in order to have the resurrection power on your life, YOUR FLESH GOES UNCHECKED AND YOU WILL COMMIT WORKS OF THE FLESH AND SINS. Without carrying your cross in your UNION TO HIS DEATH, you have no power against the nasty works of the flesh that you will commit. So you commit all sorts of iniquity. This also shows us that although we desperately need gifts of the Spirit in operation, those gifts are not the ultimate! You can be a worker of iniquity and operate in the gifts of the Spirit. But THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT cannot be manifested in workers of iniquity. It takes the CROSS to have the fruit of the Spirit. You could say the CROSS IS THE TREE THAT PRODUCES FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! Self denial means the flesh is denied, since the cross hinders the flesh and slays it. When the flesh is crucified, the LUSTS ARE GONE WITH IT! Galatians 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Let’s ENTER KINGDOM POWER – which is actually POWER OVER THE GREATEST FORCE THE ENEMY HAS – DEATH!