BONDAGE OF FEAR OF DEATH
VERSUS KINGDOM FAITH
April 17, 2011
MF
Blume
Matthew 16:15-19 KJV 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.
Peter received the revelation from the Father that indicated JESUS WAS
SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
- Jesus proceeded to tell them of an additional revelation that HE
HIMSELF WOULD PROVIDE.
Jesus spoke of GIVING KINGDOM AUTHORITY in association with giving this
revelation.
- His revelation goes further than letting people know who he is.
- IT BUILDS THEM ON A ROCK.
We taught that this KINGDOM revelation that puts us on a rock is the
same point shown in Matthew 7 where Jesus said YOU CAN KNOW HIS
IDENTITY…
- Recall Peter heard the revelation of Jesus’ identity from
the Father.
- …BUT YOU MIGHT NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM.
- …NOT build house on the rock so the storms cannot tear it
down.
Compare with Matt 7.
Matthew 7:21-25 KJV 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.
When we compare Matt 16 with Matt 7…
Notice Matt 16 mentions…
- Knowing his identity, BUT NOT ENOUGH.
- Next is hearing JESUS’ ALSO SPEAK TO US.
- What JESUS SAYS is associated with Jesus building His Church on
rock so hell cannot prevail against it.
Matt 7 mentions…
- Knowing Jesus identity.
- Hearing Jesus words and doing them.
- Building house on rock so storms cannot bring it down.
So a revelation from the Father lets you know WHO JESUS IS – SON
OF GOD.
- But second revelation from JESUS this time BRINGS YOU INTO THE
KINGDOM AND BUILDS HOUSE ON ROCK SO STORMS CANNOT TEAR IT DOWN.
In other words, YOU CAN KNOW WHO JESUS IS, and you are blessed, BUT
THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE IN THE KINGDOM!
Peter RESISTED THE REVELATION from THE SON because IT INVOLVED THE
CROSS.
Matthew 16:21-24 KJV 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. (22) 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.
He will not be on a rock!
- He resisted the self-denying element of the cross!
And then THE SAME PICTURE IS SHOWN IN MATT 17.
Matthew 17:1-7 KJ And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James,
and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain
apart, (2) And was transfigured before them: and his face
did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
(3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking
with him. (4) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus,
Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here
three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for
Elias. (5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
(6) And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and
were sore afraid. (7) And Jesus came and touched them, and
said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Peter AGAIN RESISTS THE CROSS, and THE FATHER AGAIN gives a revelation
of His identity, AND TELLS THEM TO LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE SON!
Notice how Jesus sees Peter, James and John fall to the ground in fear.
- HE SAYS ARISE AND BE NOT AFRAID.
Jesus is seen ONCE AGAIN in the Bible with HIS FACE SHINING LIKE THE
SUN, and one falls in fear, and He once again touches them and says to
not be afraid.
- Before I show it to you, in THIS instance in Matt 17 it is BEFORE
HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
- Before the death that Peter did not want to think about.
- Before the revelation of the cross that demands flesh and self be
denied.
BUT THIS TIME IT IS AFTER HE ALREADY DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, PROVING that
he was right and that THERE REALLY IS A ROCK WE CAN STAND ON WHERE
DEATH CANNOT PREVAIL AGAINST US!
Revelation 1:10-18 KJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and
heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (11)
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou
seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are
in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto
Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea. (12) And I turned to see the voice that spake
with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
(13) And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the
Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the
paps with a golden girdle. (14) His head and his hairs were
white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of
fire; (15) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they
burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
(16) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his
mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun
shineth in his strength. (17) And when I saw him, I fell at
his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,
Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and
have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus’ face is shining like the sun.
- John falls in fear.
- Just like John did with Peter and James on the Mount of
Transfiguration.
- And Jesus reaches down and touches him and tells him to not be
afraid, just like on the mount.
- BUT JESUS ADDS THESE WORDS:
Rev. 1:(18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am
alive for evermore, Amen; and
This is KINGDOM REVELATION.
We have been saying there is the Revelation from the FATHER about WHO
JESUS IS.
- And then a revelation from the SON ABOUT THE CROSS THAT FOUNDS US
ON THE KINGDOM ROCK.
- And when John experiences this a SECOND TIME it is accounted for
in a book called THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST!
This book is KINGDOM REVELATION OF JESUS.
The very next vision John sees is JESUS GOING TO THE ONE ON THE THRONE
AND MAKING US KINGS AND PRIESTS.
Revelation 4:2 KJV And immediately I was in the spirit: and,
behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:1-3 KJV And I saw in the right hand of him that sat
on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with
seven seals. (2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with
a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals
thereof? (3) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither
under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Revelation 5:6-10 KJV And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a
Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are
the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (7)
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat
upon the throne. (8) And when he had taken the book, the
four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,
having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which
are the prayers of saints. (9) And they sung a new song,
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
(10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we
shall reign on the earth.
The LAMB goes to the THRONE AND TAKES THE BOOK.
Notice that THIS LAMB WAS STANDING AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN.
- This KINGDOM REVELATION of Jesus starts out with JESUS’
FACE SHINING OIKE THE SUN.
- John falls in fear as he did decades earlier when the Father told
them to HEAR HIS REVELATION.
- And Jesus touches John telling him to not fear BECAUSE HE DIED
AND IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE.
- HE LOST HIS LIFE AND FOUND IT AGAIN FOREVERMORE!
- Just like He told the disciples in Matt 16 to do.
- And we see the next vision with Jesus as a LAMB WHO DIED and then
is seen STANDING IN RESURRECTION POWER.
- THIS LAMB then goes to the throne and makes the believers INTO
KINGS AND PRIESTS WHO SHALL RULE ON THE EARTH!
Revelation continues and shows more elements of the MATT 16-17, MATT 7
KINGDOM truths!
THE LAMB STANDS AGAIN!
- Notice emphasis on the STANDING in association with the thought
HE HAD BEEN SLAIN in Rev 5.
- He is emphasized to be STANDING AGAIN ON A MOUNTAIN.
- BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WITH HIM.
Revelation 14:1 KJV And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the
mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his
Father's name written in their foreheads.
One thing we need to realize here is the KINGDOM EMPHASIS upon the
REVEALTION FROM THE SON OF GOD in Matt 7 and Matt 16.
- It was taking the cross AND FOLLOWING JESUS.
AS A LAMB JESUS CARRIED HIS CROSS TO THE DEATH.
Isaiah 53:7 KJV He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as
a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Pilate marveled JESUS SAID NOTHING.
- He was led before the high priest and said nothing.
- Chief priests and elders accused him and he said nothing.
BUT THE ONLY TIME HE SPOKE WAS WHEN THEY ASKED HIM IF WAS SON OF THE
LIVING GOD!
HE SAID HE WAS!
No wonder HE IS A LAMB IN REVELATION 5!
Matthew 16:24-25 KJV 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.
WE MUST FOLLOW HIM.
Notice that Jesus said I NEVER KNEW YOU to folks who knew his identity
but were not allowed in the KINGDOM.
John 10:4 KJV And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth
before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:14 KJV I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am
known of mine.
HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP!
He knows WHO FOLLOWS HIM AND DOES WHAT HE DID!
And here we see the LAMB STANDING ON A MOUNTAIN CALLED ZION.
- ZION WAS THE KINGDOM MOUNTAIN OF DAVID.
- It was where the THRONE OF DAVID WAS.
And recall the NEW SONG whose words included JESUS MAKING THEM KINGS
AND PRIESTS.
Revelation 5:9-10 KJV And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us
unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Keeping in mind HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP AND THEY FOLLOW HIM, and THE NEW
SONG IS ABOUT MAKING US KINGS…
After we read in Rev b14 that THIS LAMB STANDS ON MOUNT ZION with a
crowd of people,
Revelation 14:3-5 KJV And they sung as it were a new song before
the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man
could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand,
which were redeemed from the earth. (4) These are they
which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they
which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from
among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
(5) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without
fault before the throne of God.
Just like the opposite of those whom Jesus said he did not know, and
they were not HOUSES on the rock where storms cannot cause them to
fall,
- HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP for THEY FOLLOW HIM AND HEAR HIS VOICE.
- They get the revelation from the SON!
- THEY HEAR HIS VOICE!
- They go beyond just KNOWING who he is as LORD, but they hear HIS
WORDS ABOUT THE CROSS.
- As a lamb HE TOOK HIS CROSS and died, and THESE ALSO FOLLOW HIM
AS SHEEP and take their crosses and die.
- AND THEY FIND THEIR LIVES AGAIN LIKE HE DID!
They are without FAULT, contrary to the ones whom HE DOES NOT KNOW, who
are workers of INIQUITY!
These 144,000 have the Father’s name ON THEIR FOREHEADS.
- The forehead represents the WILL.
- None can enter the kingdom except those who do the Father’s
Will.
- Jesus spoke the will of the Father!
- TAKE UP THE CROSS!
Ezekiel 3:8 KJV Behold, I have made thy face strong against their
faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
They STAND on a ROCK, while the house of fools built on SAND FALLS.
Revelation 14:8 KJV And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all
nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The book of Revelation is clearly trying to relate a KINGDOM MESSAGE TO
US, that does not come forth until we recognize the KINGDOM elements in
it that we find in the GOSPELS, especially MATTHEW.
Hebrews 2:6-15 KJV But one in a certain place testified, saying,
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou
visitest him? (7) Thou madest him a little lower than the
angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him
over the works of thy hands: (8) Thou hast put all things
in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection
under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see
not yet all things put under him. (9) But we see Jesus, who
was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man. (10) For it became him, for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. (11) For both he that sanctifieth and they who
are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to
call them brethren, (12) Saying, I will declare thy name
unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto
thee. (13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And
again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
(14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were
all their lifetime subject to bondage.
If we have a FEAR OF DEATH, and are SUBJECT TO BONDAGE by it, we CANNOT
ENJOY KINGDOM LIVING!
- FEAR NOT means COME INTO THE KINGDOM.
- Stop being subject to bondage.
- We know we are not in the kingdom IF WE FEAR.
Peter FEARED DEATH.
- He heard the revelation from JESUS BUT DID NOT GRASP IT.
- DID NOT RECEIVE IT!
- Had he gotten it he would not have feared death!