March 2025

In Matthew 16:13-19 we read, “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?” And they said, “Some say that you are John the Baptist, some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”  He said unto them, “But whom say you that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father who is in Heaven. And I say also unto you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever you shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”

Sometimes you will hear people say they have the keys to the Kingdom. No, actually we have the keys of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is within us; we are in it now. Now there is a difference in the keys to the Kingdom and the keys of the Kingdom. If someone gave you the keys to a large hotel, it would get you into the entrance of that hotel. But, if you have the keys of the hotel, then you now have the ability to get into every room of that hotel! Look what Jesus said in Luke 12:31-32.

“But rather seek you the Kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” The literal Greek says: “The Father took great pleasure and delight in giving you the Kingdom.” So this tells me that we are in the Kingdom of God right this very moment, because the Kingdom of is within us! So let’s take a look at Luke 17:20-21.

And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God comes not with observation, neither shall they say, ‘Lo here! Or, lo there!’ For, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” God has given you and I the Kingdom of God and we have the keys! You and I are capable of operating in that Kingdom. A key in that day represented knowledge. The people that were highly educated in that day, instead of getting diploma from a school, wore big keys that hung on their belt or rope! You could look at a person and see how much education they had.

The keys stood for knowledge, and a key is something that unlocks. Jesus said, “I give unto you the keys of the Kingdom!” Then, He immediately revealed some knowledge of those keys. Do you remember what they were? “Whatever you bind on Earth is bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” Too many people are waiting for God to move, and praying for God to do something about their finances or their healing. They’ve been praying for God to do many things that the Bible tells us to do! Look at what God said in Joshua 1:8.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.” 

You will notice that it was Joshua who was going to make his way his own way prosperous and successful! It was Joshua who had to do what God told him to do! Joshua couldn’t expect to receive anything from God that God told him he could have without doing what God told him to do. Neither can you and I expect to walk in any kind of victory if we don’t use the keys of the Kingdom that God has already given to us to use right here on the Earth! Another translation says it this way: “Whatever you have authority to bind on Earth is what is already bound in Heaven, and whatever you have authority to loose on Earth is what is already loosed in Heaven.” 

Now this adds some light to the subject. Stop and ask yourself, “What is bound out of Heaven, or what is forbidden in Heaven?” Sickness and disease is bound and forbidden, poverty and lack is bound and forbidden, doubt, unbelief and confusion is bound and forbidden! We have the authority to bind that right here on the Earth and stop it from operating on the part we are walking on, because it’s already bound from operating in Heaven! 

Then what is loosed in Heaven? There is health, happiness, prosperity and no lack of any kind in Heaven. Thank God we have authority to loose those things on the Earth. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:10? “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven.” 

If Jesus said this and we know He did, then it has to be God’s will. I want to encourage you to stay in faith, pray what Paul instructed us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4,  “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Stay in the Word of God every day. This is the only thing that will keep the Believer in the days we are living in. Keep INCREASE ON YOUR MIND and continue speaking the right things and making the right confessions of faith. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and remember “God loves you; we love you and JESUS IS LORD!”

In the Service of Our King,

Darrell G. Harrelson