Focus: Beyond the Blessing 

Text: Mt.16:17,18,19.

"BLESSED art thou, Simon Barjona... thou art Peter... And I will give unto thee the KEYS of the kingdom of heaven..."

Peter caught a revelation of the identity of Jesus in a land known as Caesarea Philippi, where the gods hold sway, as it were.

Knowing God is possible only by revelation. God takes the veil off and lets us catch a glimpse of Him. And there is need for a fresh revelation of God in our lives from time to time, for God is ever willing to reveal Himself to those who are diligently seeking Him.

Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz...and blessed me" - Gen.48:3. Revelation and blessing are here connected. As the Father revealed Christ to Peter, Christ blessed him. Knowing Christ by revelation is a blessing. We are really blessed knowing Christ, and knowing Him more attracts greater and higher blessing. But we need more than blessing. Something else is important as well, and it has to do with our mission on earth, and that is, the keys of heaven. We need heavenly keys for effective ministry on earth.

Here in this text, Jesus gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter, and in Matthew 18:18, He gives the keys to the 12 Apostles. What is for one is for all. We all need these keys.

In Luke 11:52, Jesus mentions the key of Knowledge, and in the book of Revelation we read of the keys of hell and of death, the key of David, and the key of the bottomless pit.

It is not enough to being blessed; we need keys to function with.

There are territorial keys, keys to cities and nations, even keys to the human heart. Keys to let in or keep out. Keys of access. Soul winning keys. They are keys of heaven, but they are meant to be operated on earth. By them we execute our heavenly mission on earth.

Get the blessing, but beyond the blessing, get the keys and use them. Key is power of access and authority to act. Today, the church seems to be carried away with, and celebrating the blessing while forgetting the keys. Abundance of revelation, but no keys. Lord, help us! I make room for both the blessing and the keys in my life and ministry. Have your way, O Lord! Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter