You have the Keys//////With Bishop David Ray

A clear, plain exhortation centers on the believer’s possession of the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the responsibility to use them. The keys are presented not as magic objects but as access granted by Christ—access to the throne room, prayer answered, and authority to bind and loose. Spiritual keys take the concrete form of regular prayer, steady reading of Scripture, and the discipline of gathering with other believers; when these practices are neglected the key becomes “rusty” and access is impeded. Using the key requires intentionality: a daily habit of kneeling, speaking plainly to God, and cultivating an intimate conversation with the Holy Spirit that does not depend on crisis or the presence of others.

The discussion insists on personal ownership of this access—each believer has a distinct, irreplaceable key that will not function unless employed. Reliance on people, programs, or rituals in place of direct communion with God is challenged; the faithful are urged to run to Jesus first, not to a preacher or performance. The sovereignty of God is affirmed: storms and hardships can be instruments of divine discipline or awakening, and believers are called to use their keys both in calm and in calamity. Prayer is neither a ritual nor a microwave—answers come in God’s timing—but persistence and praise are the disciplines that keep the key usable.

Practical examples and plain talk give urgency to the appeal: keep the key where it will be used, practice daily kneeling, praise until the appointed time has run, and let fellowship sharpen access rather than replace it. Personal holiness and resisting permitted sin are placed alongside positive obedience, because what believers “forbid” and “permit” on earth is linked to what will be bound or released in heaven. The overall charge is pastoral and pastoral in tone—firm love that calls for personal responsibility, disciplined devotion, and confident use of the authority Christ has given so that the fullness of the kingdom becomes tangible in everyday life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Believers hold the kingdom's keys Each believer possesses a personal key—granted by Christ—that opens the inner chambers of heaven. That key is not transferable; it signifies unique access, authority, and responsibility to engage God directly rather than depending primarily on others. Owning the key demands daily stewardship: use it or watch it gather spiritual rust. [04:14]
• 2. Prayer and Scripture are keys Prayer and the reading of God’s Word function as the practical teeth of the key—without them access becomes unreliable. Regular, disciplined communion with God grounds authority and aligns the heart with heaven’s purposes, so that petitions and bindings carry weight before the throne. This is spiritual craftsmanship, not ritual ticker-tape. [04:58]
• 3. Fellowship prevents "rusty" keys Gathering with other believers sharpens spiritual access and supplies strength for everyday obedience; isolation dulls spiritual sensitivity. Church is not merely optional entertainment but the maintenance shop where keys are polished through exhortation, correction, and mutual prayer. Community keeps devotional disciplines alive. [07:07]
• 4. Run to Jesus before people When trouble comes, the first recourse must be direct communion with Christ—not immediate appeals to human leaders or programs. Turning first to Jesus cultivates intimacy that informs every subsequent action and prevents dependence on earthly solutions alone. This habit reshapes crisis into encounter. [14:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:19] - Opening Word of Gratitude
• [00:45] - Keyboard Donation & Thanks
• [01:14] - Worship and Family Support
• [02:10] - Keys to Take Home
• [03:30] - The Cost of Misplaced Keys
• [04:14] - Matthew 16:19: Keys Granted
• [04:58] - Prayer and the Word as Keys
• [07:07] - Fellowship Keeps Keys Sharp
• [14:48] - Run to Jesus First in Crisis

1. In Matthew 16:19, what two specific things does Jesus promise to give his followers?
2. The sermon describes our spiritual keys as our prayer life and the reading of God’s Word. [04:58] What happens when we neglect these keys and fail to use them? [05:02]
3. According to the passage, what is the connection between what believers "forbid" or "permit" on earth and what happens in heaven? [04:23]

1. We heard that each believer has a "special key to heaven that no one else has." [09:36] What does this idea of a personal, non-transferable key mean for our individual responsibility to connect with God, instead of depending on others?
2. What does it mean for a spiritual key to get "rusty"? [06:40] How does gathering together with other believers help keep our keys from getting rusty and keep our access to God sharp? [07:07]
3. The authority to "forbid" and "permit" things is a powerful promise. [17:12] How does a disciplined life of prayer and reading the Word help us use this authority for God's purposes instead of our own?

1. We were challenged to keep our physical keys in the same place so we don't lose them and get delayed. [03:12] In your spiritual life, what would it look like to "put your keys in the same place every time"? What is one practical, daily habit you could start this week to make sure you always have access to God?
2. When trouble blows up, our first instinct is often to run to a person. We are encouraged to run to Jesus first. [14:48] Think about the last time you faced a crisis. Honestly, who or what was your first resort? How can you train your heart to communicate with God first before you do anything else?
3. A challenge was given to spend dedicated time on our knees every day, not as a ritual, but as a discipline to connect with God. [13:08] Does this idea feel difficult or encouraging? What is one small change you can make to your daily routine to create more intentional, undistracted time to just talk with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
4. We were reminded that storms aren't always from the devil; sometimes God is doing a work through them. [11:01] How does this truth change your perspective on the current "storms" in your life? How can you use your key to find God's purpose in the middle of your trial?
5. The sermon says, "If you permit foolishness... God's gonna spank you." [19:20] Are there any areas of "permitted foolishness" or sin in your life that might be making your key feel rusty? What would it look like, practically, to start "forbidding" that thing in your life this week?