Use the Keys of the
Kingdom
Jesus gave his disciples the keys of the kingdom of heaven. His dying on the cross and rising again bound and loosed things in heaven, so as disciples we can bind and loose things, including health and freedom from demons.
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Isaiah 22:22
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be [Or will have been] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be [Or will have been] loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be [Or will have been] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be [Or will have been] loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:18-20
Jesus set people free by proclaiming the good news, healing people and driving out demons.
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Luke 4:18-19
Jesus told his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, drive out demons and cure diseases. He commissioned his disciples to make disciples and teach them everything he had commanded them, including healing the sick and driving out demons. Jesus expected that signs would accompany those who believe.
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ Luke 10:9
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16: 15-18
God was with Jesus, enabling him to do what he was doing. We too need to stay close to God and live a righteous life so we can demonstrate the Spirit’s power with Jesus’ message.
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Let’s be like the first disciples and ask God to stretch out his hand to heal and perform signs and wonders, and fast as necessary.
…enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. Acts 4:29-30
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer. [Some manuscripts say prayer and fasting]” Mark 9:28-29
Prophesy can also help inquirers to believe in God as “the secrets of their hearts are laid bare”. As Christians carefully and respectfully share words/impressions from God, the Holy Spirit can work with people to draw them to himself.
But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
Download SHARE JESUS which includes the following Keys of the Kingdom topics:
Share God’s story (the gospel)
Share your story (conquer the enemy with your testimony)
Understand your authority in Jesus
Know you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you
Understand there is power in the name of Jesus
Share words from God
Heal
Drive out demons
Fasting