During time with the Lord this morning He began to stir and speak out of Matthew 16. Below is what came.
“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-19)
The ability to receive the keys of the Kingdom comes by receiving personal revelation of Jesus! Simon was blessed because he received revelation of who Jesus is. The word blessing is the Hebrew word “barak”, meaning to kneel and drink the rain. However, this also means that those who did not receive the revelation of Jesus were not blessed, but remain under the curse. Jesus then changed Simon’s name to Peter.
Simon in Hebrew means to “hear or listen”, it’s when he matured from hearing to seeing (revelation) that his name changed!
Peter became the foundation of the Church (the revelatory teachings) and therefore obtained the keys to the Kingdom. When Jesus told Peter, “I will give you the keys,” He was saying, “I will give you the ability to lock and unlock the heavens.” This was the same authority Elijah walked in.
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17-18)
Peter was given a new name (meaning “rock”) upon receiving the revelation of Jesus, indicating that the Lord would build His Church upon the rock of revelation. Peter is what we would say today is “a chip off the old block”, which means someone who resembles their father is character or appearance.
“Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, And have forgotten the God who fathered you.” (Deuteronomy 32:18)
Those who choose to live in the Most Holy Place and receive revelation of the deeper Kingdom secrets gain further access, bringing them into greater maturity and increased responsibility. The body of Christ cannot be built without revelation, both personally and corporately!
Who do you say Jesus is? Has the Father revealed Him to you, or are you relying on flesh and blood?