"Free Access" Series

28 August 2005

by

Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Ulchi Focus Lens

Busan, South Korea

Big Idea: Prayer is a key tool which grants ACCESS to bind barriers/obstacles and to loose blessings for believers.

References: Esther 1:14 (And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)

(Isaiah 51:1-7; Matthew 16:1-20; 3 John 1:2 (Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth); Philippian 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me);Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them; Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21; Acts 3:1-10; Ephesians 2:18 (For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father); Romans 5:2 (through whom we have gained ACCESS by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of glory.);

Pericope: Matthew 16:13-20

Text: Matthew 16:18 (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)

Purpose: The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that they have FREE ACCESS to God’s kingdom - which authorizes them to have keys to binding their barriers/obstacles and loosing their blessings through PRAYER.

*******************TAKE 5 BEATS***********************

Introduction: Our text in the MESSAGE BIBLE reads: "And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

FREE ACCESS (according to Webster Dictionary.com) implies having the ability or right to approach, enter, exit, communicate with, or make use of by having access to the retricted area; and having access to Classified Material or Sensitive Information.

*************************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************

MOVE 1: For instance, who can ever forget the TESTIMONY of the Biblical Queen Esther, and how she gain favor in her King eyes; and ACCESS to his throne. For don’t you remember,

a. Esther was the Jewess who legal guardian was her cousin Mordecai. She didn’t have a father or mother.

b. When her parents died Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.

c. As you may recall, Esther had a humble, yet beautiful way of presenting herself before her King.

d. Unlike her predecessor ?Queen Vashti ?Esther didn’t mind giving her King the glory and honor that he was due.

e. Esther looked good in King Ahasueres eyes;

f. as a result, the King was led, due to her actions, to tare-down ALL BARRIERS and obstacles that prevented her from being blessed and honored too.

g. Consequently, Esther’s FREE ACCESS to the King would saved her people from destruction.

h. For don’t you remember, the Bible says the King of Persia sent for his 7 counselors for direct advice as they deliberated over what would ultimately become ? granting Esther FREE ACCESS (according to Esther 1:14 ?MSG).

i. Likewise, my brothers and my sisters, when we humble ourselves under the mighty hands of God, ?

j. ?and present ourselves to Him in a beautiful way by giving God the glory and the honor that He’s due, ?

k. He GRANTS us FREE ACCESS to BIND that which we desire to bind; and to loose the blessings we desire to have loosed in our lives.

*********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************

MOVE 2: Recently, I was (in the field) returning from lunch when something strange happened to me.

a. As I entered the secured gate and through the first door of our Tactical Operation Center in Busan, South Korea.

b. I saw at least one Lieutenant Colonel and some soldiers - waiting inside the gate to enter the TOC.

c. But, the LTC (Lieutenant Colonel) and his soldiers were turned away because they WERE NOT on the unit’s Access Roster.

d. Fortunately, for me, I was wearing an Access Badge which afforded me the benefit of FREELY TRAVELLING in and out of the retricted areas within the Tactical Operation Center.

e. In other words, Although the Lieutenant Colonel and his soldiers were able to get inside the secured gate;

f. they were not afforded the opportunity inside the retricted area where Classified information would be displayed. Because their names were not on the ACCESS ROSTER.

***********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************

MOVE 3: Recently, I had an amazing visit and conversation with one of our 20th Area Support Group’s high-speed Non-Commissioned Officer: MSG Tinsley of the S-3/Operation Section.