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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
a. Perhaps, many of you have already heard him personally recant his story; and if you have, I ask your forgiveness as I recount information that you’re all so familiar with.
b. At first glance, one could never even imagine this Master Sergeant being ill.
c. He’s such a healthy example of How We ?brothers - Can Look, When We Take Good Care Of Ourselves. God bless the MSG Tinsleys of the world.
d. But apparently, this has not always been the case.
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MOVE 4: Some years ago, when he was still a Staff Sergeant he felt excruciating pain in his lower left-side. The pain was so great that he went on Sick-call.
a. As he was signing into Sick-call, he collapsed. The next time he opened his eyes, he was lying on his back on the floor ?in a pool of blood.
c. His legs were held up above his heart as he heard a practitioner, of sort, giving him directions to remain calm:
d. You’re going to be alright.? “Don’t move. We’re waiting for the ambulance.?
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MOVE 5: The practitioner continued: You’ve lost lots of blood and we can’t seem to locate a good vein for any period of time. Whenever we think that we have a good vein ?your body rejects it.
b. We need to get you stabilized, and we need to find a way to get blood in your body.
c. We’re going to have you MEDEVAC to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
d. At that point, the practioner and another nurse walked outside of MSG Tinsley’s room.
e. In fact, he noticed while the nurses backs were turned to him, someone dressed like an janitor (from the side-door) entered into his room.
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MOVE 6: Apparently, the gentlemen Janitor walked over to his gurney.
a. And said, I was told to come and pray for you. Do you mind?
b. Looking somewhat in disbelief but honored, he said no ?I don’t mind.
c. Then, the janitor proceeded to lay hands on him and the equipment in his room.
d. In fact, I’m told that the janitor started speaking in tongues as he walked around the hospital room ?unnoticed and uninterrupted by the nurses.
e. Afterwards, the janitor exit through the door he entered.
f. My brothers and sisters, if this is a lie MSG Tinsley told it.
g. He said immediately upon the nurses return to his room - something happened. It was unbelievable.
MOVE 7: Apparently, the nurses tried again to give him blood. But, this time, his body accepted it.
a. It sounds like the gentleman Janitor had FREE ACCESS to both God and him.
b. For God had heard the soldier’s cry of desperation.
c. And through the obedience of a Janitor ?the master sergeant was healed.
d. Now, my brother and my sisters ?the Bible tells us that God has no respect of persons.
e. What He does for one; He will also do for another.
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MOVE 8: Well, my brothers and my sisters, in our scriptures this morning, WE FIND S-2 (or Military Intelligence Interrogating) type questions asked by the LORD himself.
a. For He asked: Who do men say that I am? And whom do you say that I am?
b. Questions that dealt with His identity ?Questions that were thought provoking and required RESEARCH to some degree.
c. I believe Jesus asked his disciples these QUESTIONS to find out what they had heard others say about him.
d. From the sound of things, folk were confused. They didn’t know who Jesus really was. But, the truth of the matter is ?they didn’t know who they were; And they didn’t know the POWER THAT Jesus POSSESSED.
e. He was told that some thought that he was John the Baptist.
f. Others thought that he was Elijah.
g. While still others thought that he was Jeremiah ?Afterwards, Jesus informed Peter that he was going to tell him who he really was.
h. Likewise, as human beings, we apparently have an earthly identity that PROVIDES US CERTAIN BENEFITS.
i. In fact, most agency with your proper social security number can pull-up historical data and a profile about you, and your time ?here ?on earth.
j. This profile, if good and clean or credible ?will GRANT you certain priviledges that many may or may not have.
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MOVE 9: Still, at a closer glance of our text tonight, we find hints that we ALL have a PURPOSE DRIVEN - GODLY INDENTITY …too.
a. Now, it’s my belief that we originally gained ACCESS to HEAVEN THROUGH THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF Jesus Christ.
b. So, ONCE WE personally grab hold of Jesus and Salvation. We gain a certain benefit too.
c. We GAIN ACCESS THROUGH certain EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY BARRIERS.
d. Listen ?can’t you overhear Jesus talking to Peter ?Peter you think you know you; but you don’t. I was there from the beginning when God made you and the PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE MADE YOU.
e. I’M GOING TO TELL YOU WHO YOU REALLY ARE IN GOD.
f. My brothers and sisters, can you even imagine the Lord telling you ?in the midst of your prayer ?Hey JACKSON, now that you’ve acknowledged who I am through your prayer tonight, I’m GOING TO TELL YOU WHO YOU REALLY ARE IN GOD.
g. NOT EVEN the gates of hell CAN PREVENT YOU from GETTING TO GOD ?because through your PRAYER ?you HAVE FREE ACCESS.
h. THE GATE GUARD will never TURN YOU AWAY from YOUR BLESSING ?
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CELEBRATION:
I believe it was Isaiah (in Isaiah 53:1) that said: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed ? and when we shall see him, there is no beauty ?that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2b)
But he ? was wounded for our transgressions, ?. he was bruised for our iniquities: ?
the ?chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes ?we are healed ?
In other words, Jesus was bruised that we might be healed ?
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:24)
