Bind, Loose, Focus! (ATP)
Matthew 18:18 says “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” I’ve heard this so many times and in context too but I don’t think I fully grasp it. How does it relate to or compare with Matthew 6:20 “…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”? Can you give examples of what these verses mean?
In Matthew 18:18, we see the principle of binding and loosing. A great way to help understand this is continuing on to verse 19 which says, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” This part is also known as the prayer of agreement. These scriptures are referring to the authority that God has given us, and there are several angles to look at it from. First, I’ll focus on negative speech.
God told his people in Numbers 14:28, “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you…” Our words, as far as God is concerned carry much weight. God made us in His likeness and when God wants something He speaks it. Speech is an expression of our faith or what we believe. God does not operate based on need, but based on our faith. People talk about believing God, and then go and speak about how bad things are. They have bound the ability for faith to work in their life and they have loosed the victory of circumstance. Because of this, Heaven will not change it. Yes, Heaven can be bound by what you have bound in your speaking and this is why many “believers” simply go without.
Another aspect of this is positive. When circumstance is adverse, we can bind it by our words and loose new circumstance based on our words. In this, Heaven will also comply. In fact, a person of faith who knows their authority, can change anything that is coming against them just by speaking it. You can move things into your life by the words you speak, Mark 11:23.
Now, Matthew 6:20 is referring to our hearts being always pointed toward Heaven. In other words, don’t spend time worrying about stuff that is here, don’t make it a thing. The present things are only temporary. Despite this knowledge, many people fall apart at every circumstance, as if it is the end of the world. If you keep reading, these are some of my favorite passages of scripture where Jesus tells us how God wants to take care of us completely. That we can be so assured of this, that our focus can be on nothing but Heaven.
How these scriptures relate is simple. Our focus is not to be on things of the earth. When faced with need, we simply bind them, loose the plan of God, and then continue without skipping a beat. People will actually do the opposite of what they pray for by worrying. You can bind the plan of God for your life by worrying about how you’re going to make it.
What Jesus is teaching us is the importance of living in faith and how the opposite of this can have a negative impact on us as well as what He desires to do through us. When people understand that whether or not they walk in God’s blessing is up to them, they will be able to avoid ruin in their lives. Then they will live just as God intended them to, like Jesus, more than conquerors!
Be Blessed,
Pastor Jeff
