Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 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." (Matthew 16:16-19)
I'll be careful not to get out of context!
Jesus asked to His disciples about what the people though about him: He was Eliah, Jeremiah, even John the Baptist! When He asked His disciples, Simon said that He was Christ, the Son of God. Jesus was marveled by that bold statement, knowing that God illuminated his heart.
Jesus put a blessing into Simon, He changed his name to Peter, which means "rock" in Aramaic and Greek. And the church will be built on it. (The Catholic Church sustains that Peter was the rock; this is impossible, as Jesus Himself is that foundation where the church stands.)
But it interests me that Jesus installed on Peter the power to bind and loose, to say yes or no, to prohibit and permit, by Heaven and to Heaven. !Not even Hell can take that power!
It also interests me that not only Peter gets to enjoy this blessing. WE DO TOO! Not only on prayer, but in worship also. When we worship, we declare that Satan is impotent (powerless) to do us danger. It's as bold as declaring "You are the son of God". And if we combine it in prayer... what CAN'T we do?
Bind and loose when we say "Hallelujah", my friend, for Hell will tremble at its doors.
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