Kings share one common phenomenon, particularly in this present hour: we are all contending for our inheritance and pursuing a dream. Servants content themselves with the blessed hope of heaven. Kings are focused on building the Kingdom here and now. That Kingdom building process requires knocking on some doors and having the keys to open them.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt 7:7-8 NIV
The paradigm shift – As servants, we are theologically disposed to just trust that everything circumstances hand us are from God. We are prone to passively accept enemy delays and defeats, and spiritualize them as though they are from the Lord. Kings have a much better balance for warfare. They can distinguish the difference between a door that can be opened with a simple key, and a wall that is outside what the Father is doing. Kings are not afraid to force their way through the resistance of a closed door in prayer, word and deed. They just use the key and lean into the door, and it swings wide open.
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. Luke 16:16-17 NASU
Keys to the Kingdom – We have some very clear promises about operating in the Kingdom. First, we know that the Father wants to give us the Kingdom. We don’t have to be afraid of presumption. The keys that our Father has for us represent some real authority to make things happen… making His Kingdom come from heaven to earth, (Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matt 6:10 KJV).
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 NIV
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Isa 22:22-23
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Rev 3:7 NIV
…and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matt 16:18-19 NIV
So, what’s the Key? – Most Christians have no idea. Some theorize worship, more prayer, intimacy, faith, confession, etc. The “secret sauce” is simply asking for the desires of your heart, and knowing that’s the primary way God shows us where to contend. The Kingdom of God is within you (Lu 17:21); the direction is already right inside your heart! I want to go a step farther and suggest that this idea of heart’s desire mapping into the will of God is part of the atonement, right up there in importance with salvation and healing. It’s how the Gospel of the Kingdom works! Listen to this:
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Ps 103:2-5 NIV
“Asking” for the desires or your heart is a key that is seen throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Jesus.
Josh 14:10-12, Ps 20:4-5, Ps 21:1-5, Ps 37:4, 31
Jesus instructed us to “ask whatsoever” is in our heart.
Jn 14:13-14, Jn 15:7-8, Jn 15:15-17, Jn 16:23-24
Beyond Asking (Contending) – Warfare, contending, wrestling, working, investing, prospering… all those things go far beyond passively accepting that “whatever will be, will be.” Que Sera, Sera is not a Biblical concept, nor is it an attitude that works in life.
Confidence – Where does this confidence to ask and the authority to contend come from? Why do we have confidence in the desires of our hearts? This is simple, too. We are very confident and assertive because we know that our heart’s desires are the same as the Fathers. We see ourselves doing what the Father is doing. Our authority comes from knowing that our desires overlap with the will of the Father.
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. John 5:19-20 NIV
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. John 5:36 NIV
Knowing – God is faithful to show us his business. Kings have a prophetic sense of what the Father is doing in their mountain and in their metron. They delight to give themselves to those activities. It fits their passion, personality and gifting. Kings carry a special anointing to do the things within their own mountain. Servants seeking to obey won’t look into their own hearts and don’t know the Master’s business. Kings understand the key of looking into their own heart’s desires and asking “whatever.”
…because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15:15-17 NIV
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7 NIV
Every great man or woman of God in the Bible and in this life knows what the Father is doing. That’s the norm for spiritual maturity.
Failures and closed doors – having said all this, we must make one final point. Every King has experienced failures and closed doors. Resistance doesn’t change our theology; we just find the door that is open in heaven, which will open with the keys. We are willing to knock on more doors than actually open. We are optimistic in the face of adversity because we know that our Father has given us keys that open doors. We are not defeated if every door doesn’t open the minute we knock. That’s just a fact of living in a world where there is warfare to establish a Kingdom that is here now and growing, but not here in its fullness. We are in the process of filling the earth with His glory.
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10 NIV
Make a Plan – God can and does direct our steps, but the whole process doesn’t start until we make a plan around the desires of our heart. God guides people who move. Our coaching tools are designed to help you through this planning process; getting your heart’s desires in writing to achieve a destiny!
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Prov 16:9 NIV
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Ps 37:23-24 NIV
