The Keys of the Kingdom--Discovering Your Authority by Pastor Brent Lokker

Our Father has always had amazing plans for His children! “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11) However God’s plans are not just to bless us as individuals, but through all of us together, to bless the world that He so loves. This is why He calls us His ekklesia, which means an assembly that has been given authority to bring heaven’s culture to impact the earth.  And this is why He has made us a family so we can provide love and acceptance for the lonely to belong. And this is why He calls us the Bride because our continual gaze is upon Jesus, the groom, who is the fulfillment of everything our hearts have desired and who gives us the keys to heaven’s Kingdom to unlock all that is good and just and right. “I will build my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it! I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to release on earth that which is released in heaven.”  (Matthew 16:19) (You can listen on podcast to last Saturday’s message, The Keys of the Kingdom—Discovering Your Authority, to help you understand the direct connection between authority and intimacy with Jesus and how specific breakthroughs require specific keys. And you can view the slides from my message here) I encourage you to allow yourself to be drawn into the mystery of the authority Jesus has given us and what we actually have been given permission to do. Here is a poem by Jennifer Shannon that expresses the wonder… Here we are Bringing Heaven to Earth Standing with our King We gather together Heart to Heart Looking into Father’s eyes Here the journey begins Our destiny is being realized This is the breakthrough We have been waiting for Now we can fly With new eyes to see The paradigm is shifting The heart is beating The mind is transforming The spirit is clinging To what it has known all along Singing True Love’s song The Bride will finally rise to be all Her bridegroom intended her to be Gentle, strong and full of purity Chance has arrived, Missing it would be our demise So, arise, arise…. Embrace this new thing that will Forever change our lives and The songs we sing This is what we were made for This is what He has longed for The gathering of sons and daughters In true Ekklesia, in true Ekklesia… Declaring God’s courage and hope to fill each of your hearts! With Love, Pastor Brent