Hey Clawson Family!

Song:

Scripture:

Luke 10:19 New Living Translation

19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.

Devotional:

How do I use my keys and exercise my authority?

First, I would like to clarify that I do not believe that we become soldiers in the army of Christ, and God chunks us a massive set of keys that unlock the spiritual or supernatural doors to the Kingdom of Heaven. How complicated would it be to find the right key to open the right door? How stupid would it be of God to give us access and keys to things we are not ready for? I don’t believe that is how that works. Here is what I do think.

We become soldiers in the Armies of Christ and are empowered by the Spirit of Christ. Then, as we are building his church and we encounter spiritual or supernatural doors that we cannot open, God gives us keys to give us access to the doors that go with the tasks that he has given us.

So the keys that he is giving you have to do with the doors that you are about to face. Just like the disciples when he gave them authority and then sent them out to do the things he gave them the authority to do.

This is going to sound crazy, but one of the pastors in that prayer meeting back in November told me that I had been given keys to the storehouses in Heaven. God has blessed our church so much, and I believe he has blessed it because of how giving we are. 

Complete vulnerability: this year, we finished the Heart Center and had to take about $65,000 out of our general account. We had a few pledges that did not come in. In 2024, inflation made things way more expensive than they were. We added another staff member. We purchased a $100,000 sound board for our worship team. We committed to paying for every student and volunteer that attended our camps, which was about 352 people. The cost was more than $70,000. We have our Cuba project, and we have committed to giving away 1,000 bicycles for Christmas, which will be a $75,000 to $100,000 project. That is a lot of guacamole. 

Now, I believe all of those things have been lead by God, and so he will provide for them, But lately we have been spending about the same amount monthly as what has been coming in. In my prayer time lately, I have been reminding God that in that prayer meeting, I was told I had been given keys to the storehouses of Heaven, and speaking for those storehouses to be unlocked for the mission of God at Clawson. 

Two weeks ago we had a couple come in and tell me they had a tithe check to give me, but before they gave me the check they wanted me to see all of the things that they love about Clawson that they would love to see some of this money to go if possible. The stuff on the list were the heart center, Staff development and training, Youth camps, Missions, and Christmas giving. This has been a considerable part of our vision moving forward, and the check was right at $220,000.

Can you imagine writing a 220K check? I honor that couple for being faithful to God, and I know God is continuing to bless them. I honor and thank God for a key of provision for his vision in our church. He has given us the vision. He provided for that vision through keys to the Kingdom.

Giving us keys to the kingdom is all about empowering us for the work of the Kingdom. He gives us keys of words of wisdom and knowledge, keys of healing, miracles, tongues and interpretation of tongues, keys of discernment, great faith, prophetic words, and cast out demons and set people free. 

Keys to bind up spirits, demons, and things that need to be bound in the spiritual realm, and Keys to loosen angels, blessings, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As God leads you to these doors, he gives you the authority and the keys to be empowered to do the work he has called you to do.

So, for those committed to building the Kingdom of Heaven, God is giving us keys to the Kingdom. We have heavenly authority on earth; our authority is a gift, not an ability we have to learn. I am equipped with the keys to the mission God has given me as I reach those supernatural doors.

Journal:

In your journal, ask the Lord to help you live with that power and authority daily, taking hold of the special gifts He’s given you.

Training: 

Dear Father,

 Thank you for the gift of power and authority that only you can give. I pray that you would give me boldness to harness that power and live with that authority so that I might honor and glorify you. 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Make a new commitment to God to get your focus where it needs to be, and thank God for his power and authority that he has for you.