“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus said to Peter (Matthew 16:19). He went on, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Whole books have been written about binding and loosing, which imply astonishing authority. But what are the keys?

Keys open locks and doors. Spiritual keys open hearts—things we do or say that cause people to receive the Good News and surrender to Jesus. What caused you to turn?

When Jesus sent out the twelve, he commanded them, “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8). Here are five keys:

The message

The gospel of Christ is the power of God. When we share the gospel, it changes hearts.

Healing

In Nepal, 90% come to Christ through healing, a demonstration of both the power and love of God. He loves people and hates sickness.

Raising the Dead

When the Lord used Peter to raise Dorcas from the dead (see Acts 9:42), the miracle became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Cleansing the Lepers

Leprosy is less common today, but outcasts are everywhere: refugees, addicts, the homeless, and the abused. When we care, people notice.

Drive out demons

There are only two kingdoms—light and darkness. Only Christians can cast out demons. The devil cannot drive out himself. On the far side of Lake Galilee, Jesus set a demoniac free. When the transformed man told his story, hundreds came to Jesus.

We have the keys. Let’s use them!