"He Has The Keys"

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

CP Walker

Taegu, South Korea

BIG IDEA: JESUS HAS THE KEYS TO OPEN AND SHUT THE DOORS OF DEATH AND HELL.

REFERENCES: Revelation 1:18; Matthews 27:51-54; Revelation 20:1; Isaiah 53:1-5; Revelation 2:12;16; 19:15,21; (his face shine like the sun, and a sharp two-edged sword); Isaiah 11:4 ( … who will slay his enemies with his sword and rule them with a rod of Iron); Isaiah 53:1-5; Psalms 24:7 (Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in). Matthews 16:19 (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.);

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Matthew 27:51-54; Revelation 1:17-18

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Matthew 27:51-54; Revelation 1:17-18

III. READ THE TEXT: Revelation 1:18 (I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for

evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death).

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that our Resurrecting Savior has the keys to death and hell.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “He Has The Keys “

VI. Protaganist/Symbols: Door and Keys

INTRODUCTION:

During my reading, recently, I came across a story … by The Reverend Jeff Strite … Rev. Strite says: There was a certain man who often walked through a cemetery on his way home.

However, one night, though, unaware that a new grave had been dug in his path, he tumbled in the new grave. For some time, afterwards, he struggled to get out of the 7 Foot deep grave, until finally he gave up … and settled down … for the night.

An hour later, a farmer who was out hunting … for Coons and Possums … came walking through the cemetery … and he too fell into the grave.

The farmer started a desparate attempt to get out; unaware that there was anyone else in the grave.

The first man listened to him for a few minutes, … then he reached over in the pitch darkness … and laid a hand on the man’s shoulder saying, “You can’t get out of here,” … BUT HE DID.

Now … we may laugh … but the events of Easter and Resurrection Sunday… give us hope and encouragement to do what sometimes look impossible!

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

* MOVE 1: On this RESURRECTION SUNDAY … Who can ever forget MATTHEW’s ACCOUNT OF DARKNESS ….

a. (Mary standing next to a young believer by the name of John (the Beloved Disciple – and Son of Zebedee)

b. watch soldiers murder her son, …

c. DEATH (As a mother, she helplessly observes her child being beaten). She sees him bleeding.

d. Yet, she can do nothing. She hears him moaning and groaning, still she can do nothing.

e. Finally she hears him plead with God to forgive those that have IGNORANTLY Wrong, beaten, and murdered him.

f. All of which, was responsible for OUR SAVIOR’S VICTORY OVER HELL AND THE GRAVE?

g. For if he had not DIED, WE WOULD BE LIKE A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL.

h. BUT because he lived, blead, died, and rose … we NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY to HAVE ACCESS TO VICTORY over our lives, our enemies, our weaknesses, and all of our problems through THE DOOR OF SALVATION.

i. BECAUSE, WHEN WE ACCEPT JESUS …AS OUR PERSONAL SAVIOR … WE GAIN PERMENATE ACCESS TO VICTORY’S DOOR!

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

Move 2: For it has been said that as long as Jesus holds the door open, no one can close it.

a. Jesus says in The Book of John: I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

b. Therefore, my brothers and my sisters … If the door is the symbol of the church’s opportunity for Salvation, then the KEY is the symbol of Christ’s

Authority.

c. In the Greek Language … the WORD for keys is pronounced: KLICE.

d. KLICE refers to the keepers of the keys having the power and the authority to

Open and to Shut.

e. Now, we all know what keys are. They are instruments that are used for

locking and unlocking.

f. Through the use of keys we gain entrance to places that might otherwise be off

limits to us.

g. And, through the use of keys, we might also lock people out of places where

they are not meant to be.

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

MOVE 3: For some keys are very important.

a. A key to a vault where treasures are kept can be a very important key.