The Underprivileged Christian

My text is taken from Matthew 16:19 which says, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

We will be looking into the subject of our lives as Christians, and how that we often are guilty of living as paupers, beggars, or underprivileged because of our lack of knowledge. By way of an introduction, allow me to give you the setting for this message. Jesus was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea or Great Sea and had been conversing with his disciples. He had asked them one rhetorical question, and then another literal question in Matthew 16:13-15, “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 thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” To which Peter replied in verse sixteen saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Then Jesus responded, in verses 17-19, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art 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 thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Keys are a means by which you can gain access to something, enter a house, establishment, room, jewelry box, gun chest, or safe, etc. There are some countries that celebrate their adult children turning twenty-one years old by giving them a symbolic key, showing that they have reached the point of adulthood where they are now responsible for themselves and their own care. There are places that symbolically give certain admired and honored individuals the key to their city, to show their respect and gratitude to them.

In our family, we have given all our adult children and their spouses a key to our home, which gives them access to anything and everything in it. If they come in, it is as if they are in their own home. We trust them to take care of things and use our things with the respect that they would their own. This is a place of privilege that a stranger or even a neighbor does not have but is reserved for our children. If we are not home and they are in the area and need to come in to rest, eat, or retrieve something, they have the privilege and right to, because we have given them that authority; however, the decision to do so, still lies within their own power.

Jesus had given Peter the means of not only entering heaven personally, but a means by which he could take others with him as well. On the Day of Pentecost, after they received the promise of God, which was the infilling of the Holy Ghost which we read about in Acts chapter two, Peter got up and preached to those who were gathered for the feast. He shared the passcode, the entrance key if you will, with the Jews that day. Later, in the book of Acts, he would also share this message of authority and privilege with the Samaritans and the Gentiles. The message that came with the key besides the ability to enter heaven, was the power and authority to bind on earth whatsoever was bound in heaven, and loose on earth whatsoever was loosed in heaven. It would be as if they could bring heaven down to earth, to live in a state of power and authority to make our stay here on earth as it will be in heaven. Because we have the key, we cannot be questioned as to ownership. The owner has given us authority and will back up every move we make. This is how we should be living as Christians. We are children of God and are privileged as such.

When you use a colon in the English language, each statement on either side of the colon can stand alone. Merrian Webster’s dictionary states, “A colon is a punctuation mark: used chiefly to direct attention to matter (such as a list, explanation, quotation, or amplification) that follows.”  Our text has two colons and contains three complete thoughts or statements. Jesus said firstly, I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, secondly, whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and thirdly, whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. The word hermeneutics, we know is the interpretation of the Word. We interpret the Word by the Word, in context, and in a useful, practical, and literal sense. Therefore, looking at these three statements in our text, Peter was essentially given full authority and power to act on behalf of the Lord, which has now been handed over to all those who follow the same directives.

2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” The context of this verse is that they are pleading with the Corinthians to come out of sin, and they are doing this as ambassadors for Christ. Speaking in the stead of, and under the authority of Christ, with the love and compassion He would show if it were Jesus himself standing before them. An ambassador is “an official envoy, especially a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment, or an authorized representative or messenger.” An ambassador has full authority of the one or country they represent. They are working on behalf of, and as an extension of another.

We as Christians are ambassadors, working on behalf of the Kingdom of God, just as the Apostles did. However, so many Christians, aka children of God, who are essentially princes and princesses, seeing that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, walk around with their heads to the ground with a defeatist attitude, when they should be living in the full privilege that our status affords. We as Christians should be the happiest, most joyous, and contented people on the planet, not the opposite. We must shake off the lies and deceit of Satan and retake our position in the Kingdom of God.

When using our authority and reclaiming our position as ambassadors, we must remember that those in higher positions have greater responsibility as well. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” There is power in the spoken word to build up or break down. Jesus spoke to the fig tree, and it withered up. Matthew 21:19 tells us, “And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.” Jesus said inMark 11:23, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” And he said in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”  We must open our mouths and use the power and authority we have been given but beware not to abuse it.

Paul preached our power and authority this way to the saints in Ephesus, in Ephesians 1:15-23 and 2:1-8, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

Briefly he said, Know the hope of your calling, the riches of the glory of your inheritance in Christ, the greatness of his power usward, and the position that we hold. We are side by side with the Lord, on the right hand of God, meaning a position of authority in God above principalities, powers, might, and dominions in this present world or the world to come.

I read a little story that gives a good example of how we should use our privilege, talents, and callings. We must not just sit on the sidelines watching everyone else succeed. It is called, “Use the Momentum.” by Barbara Johnson.

Acts 1:8 says, “You will receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you.”

When I learned to ride a bicycle, I did it badly, at least in comparison to other neighborhood kids. I had no sense of balance. I would wobble and roll, wible and rock. I ended up with scrapped knees and shins. It seemed no matter how much I wanted to; I could not get the two-wheeler to stay upright. I thought I would be the only kid in second grade that could not ride a bike. Fortunately, a neighborhood friend offered to teach me how to ride. He seemed to be confident. “It’s simple,” he said. “The problem is you have not gotten enough momentum going to keep in balance. Once you get going fast enough, long enough, you will not have any trouble at all.”

“Uh, I don’t think so,” I answered. “Fast enough, long enough? I think I hear my mother calling me home.” And I was out of there! But the next day, my friend was back. “Come on,” he said, “I’ll teach you how to ride to day.” He placed my hand on the handlebars of my red bicycle, a color that matched my emotion: deep fear. Trembling, I put my feet on the pedals while he held the bike steady. As we started to move forward, he said, “When I let go keep peddling! Do not be afraid of the momentum. Use it!” Trump, trump, trump. Faster. Faster. I could hear his feet pounding on the pavement. He kept me upright, but we were going fast. He was huffing when he shoved the seat of my bike forward. I shot down the road like a miniature rocket. From far behind me he yelled, “Use the momentum!”  In panic mode, I kept pedaling just like he told me to, and I have been peddling ever since.

In the Kingdom of God, there are days we think we will never learn our lesson because circumstances are too overwhelming. We view difficult circumstances as threats, not opportunities. We think they are going to hurt (and they might). We want to grow up and do exciting things like the other Kingdom kids, but we do not want to bloody our knees and shins in the process. Then the Holy Spirit whispers, “Come on, I will teach you. I will show you how to use momentum to get where God wants you to go with your life.” He knows we have what it takes to keep up right once we are shoved ahead. Yes, there are lots of wobbles along the way and more than a few dangers. But with time we learn to assume control over those things if we just keep pedaling.

Webster’s dictionary says, “Momentum is a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force or movement. Impetus.” God’s wonderful Spirit is a constant force in our lives. Acts 17:28 says, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” It is His impetus or shove that determines the length of time before we are required to use our own pedal power. God assumes we will exercise our own spiritual muscles to keep the momentum going, and slow down and rest occasionally. Someone once said, our glory is not in never falling, but in rising each time we fall. I believe the secret of success is to stay cool and calm on top and pedal like crazy underneath. When you do fall and skin your knees, get up again and start over. Use the impetus of the Holy Spirit. Stay in the race and find your pace, then shift into cruise gear. Use the momentum to your advantage!

We must use the talents, gifts, and callings we have been given along with the power and authority of the Holy Ghost to have influence in our world. We are ambassadors of the throne of God. We must rebuke the deceitful lies of the enemy of our soul. Set aside our fears, depression, and anxieties. 2 Timothy 1:6-9 informs us straight and to the point, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Remember who you are in Christ.

We have power and authority over Satan, and we can bind and loose things as needed that are on earth to be as they are in heaven, as our text mentioned. Paul said in Ephesians 6:10-17, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  We do not rely upon our word, but his, and we do not rely upon our strength, but his. Paul says it this way in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” He had learned that he was indeed a King’s kid, with the privilege, authority, and power that comes with bearing the name of Jesus that we take on in baptism. In Acts 4:12-13 we read, “Neither is there salvation in any other name: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when those in their hearing, saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge and note of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Do not live below your privilege. People are going to know what family you belong to when they see you have the key to get into the house. They will know what family you are of when they see who you favor, talk like, and act like. They will know who you are because your name is on the Will and Testament. Paul tells us about this in Ephesians 1:11-14, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”  Use the momentum, use the celebrity status, use the privilege to the advantage of seeing the Kingdom of God grow and thrive! We are ambassadors, but we are also benefactors of His bountiful blessings.