Empowered Authority: Binding and Loosing in the Church
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of binding and loosing, a spiritual authority given specifically to the church. This authority is not a magical formula to manipulate God but a powerful tool to align with His will. The phrase "whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven" signifies that God backs up legitimate spiritual actions taken by believers. Binding means to restrict or hold back the forces of evil, while loosing means to release or free something that has been held captive. This authority is given to the church, which acts as a legislative body in the spiritual realm, bringing heaven's authority into earthly history.
The church is not just a place for preaching, singing, and fellowship; it is a spiritual embassy with the authority to legislate from heaven to earth. When believers are disconnected from the church, they lose access to this legal authority. The church is so powerful that even the gates of hell cannot overpower it. However, when we see the church being defeated, it is often because we are building our own version of the church rather than the one Jesus intended.
The keys to the kingdom, given to the church, allow us to bind and loose effectively. These keys represent access to God's rule and authority. Binding and loosing are not just individual actions but require agreement within the church community. The principle of two or three witnesses, rooted in biblical and civil law, is essential for confirming spiritual actions. This agreement must be in alignment with God's will and done in Jesus' name, ensuring that He is at the center of our decisions.
To effectively bind and loose, we must engage in prayer, seek agreement with other believers, and remain connected to the church. This connection provides the legal authority needed to bring about change in the spiritual realm, which then manifests in the physical realm. By aligning with God's authority and the church's mission, we can experience victory over the forces of evil in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Binding and Loosing Authority: Binding and loosing are spiritual actions that restrict or release forces in the spiritual realm. This authority is given to the church, not individuals, and requires alignment with God's will. When we bind or loose, we are exercising the authority of heaven on earth. [02:21]
2. The Church's Role: The church is a spiritual embassy with the authority to legislate from heaven to earth. It is not just a place for worship but a body with the power to bring about spiritual change. Disconnection from the church means losing access to this authority. [04:28]
3. Keys to the Kingdom: The keys represent access to God's rule and authority. They allow us to bind and loose effectively, but they must be used in agreement with the church community. This ensures that our actions are backed by heaven. [07:31]
4. Agreement and Prayer: Binding and loosing require agreement among believers and must be done in prayer. This agreement provides legal validity in the spiritual realm, allowing us to bring about change in the physical realm. [11:05]
5. Centrality of Christ: Jesus must be at the center of our binding and loosing actions. His authority is the link between heaven and earth, and our actions must align with His will to be effective. [16:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:43] - Understanding Binding and Loosing
- [01:18] - The Scope of Authority
- [02:21] - Who Does the Binding and Loosing?
- [03:32] - Authority Given to the Church
- [04:28] - The Church's Legislative Role
- [05:23] - The Power of the Church
- [06:15] - Legal Terms and Spiritual Authority
- [07:31] - Keys to the Kingdom
- [08:04] - Binding and Loosing Explained
- [09:14] - Influence of Hell
- [10:06] - Using the Keys in Concert with the Church
- [11:05] - Agreement and Prayer
- [12:41] - Legal Validity in the Spiritual Realm
- [16:11] - Centrality of Christ in Authority
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:18-19 - "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."
2. Matthew 18:18-20 - "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. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Observation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "binding and loosing" mean according to the sermon, and how is it related to the authority given to the church? [02:21]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the church as a "spiritual embassy"? What is its purpose beyond preaching and singing? [04:28]
3. What are the "keys to the kingdom" mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to binding and loosing? [07:31]
4. According to the sermon, why is agreement among believers important for binding and loosing? [11:05]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of binding and loosing challenge the common perception of individual spiritual authority? What implications does this have for personal and communal prayer? [02:21]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church's authority can impact earthly history? How does this align with the biblical passages discussed? [04:28]
3. How does the sermon explain the necessity of agreement within the church community for effective binding and loosing? What does this reveal about the nature of spiritual authority? [11:05]
4. What role does Jesus play in the process of binding and loosing, according to the sermon? How does this influence the way believers should approach spiritual authority? [16:11]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current connection to the church. How might being more actively involved in your church community enhance your spiritual authority and effectiveness in prayer? [05:23]
2. Consider a situation in your life where you feel spiritually "bound" or "loosed." How can you seek agreement with other believers to address this situation through prayer and spiritual authority? [11:05]
3. How can you ensure that Jesus remains at the center of your spiritual actions, especially when exercising authority through binding and loosing? What practical steps can you take to align your actions with His will? [16:11]
4. Think about a time when you felt disconnected from the church. How did this affect your spiritual life and authority? What steps can you take to strengthen your connection to the church now? [05:23]
5. Identify an area in your life where you need to exercise spiritual authority. How can you use the "keys to the kingdom" in agreement with your church community to address this issue? [07:31]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of seeking agreement with other believers in prayer? What changes might you need to make in your approach to prayer and community involvement? [11:05]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on the church as a legislative body. How can you contribute to your church’s mission to bring heaven’s authority into earthly history? [04:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Exercising Spiritual Authority through Binding and Loosing
The concept of binding and loosing is a profound spiritual authority given to the church, allowing believers to align with God's will in the spiritual realm. This authority is not a tool for personal gain but a means to restrict the forces of evil and release what has been held captive. When believers bind or loose, they are exercising the authority of heaven on earth, ensuring that their actions are backed by divine power. This authority requires alignment with God's will and is a collective action within the church community, emphasizing the importance of unity and agreement among believers. [02:21]
Matthew 18:18-20 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise spiritual authority through binding and loosing? How can you seek agreement with fellow believers to ensure your actions are aligned with God's will?
Day 2: The Church as a Spiritual Embassy
The church is more than a place for worship; it is a spiritual embassy with the authority to legislate from heaven to earth. This means that the church has the power to bring about spiritual change and influence the physical realm. When believers are disconnected from the church, they lose access to this legal authority, which is essential for overcoming the forces of evil. The church's role is to act as a legislative body in the spiritual realm, ensuring that heaven's authority is manifested on earth. This highlights the importance of being actively involved in the church community to access this divine authority. [04:28]
Ephesians 3:10-11 (ESV): "So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Reflection: How can you become more actively involved in your church community to access the spiritual authority given to the church? What steps can you take to ensure you are part of the church's mission to legislate from heaven to earth?
Day 3: Accessing God's Rule through the Keys to the Kingdom
The keys to the kingdom represent access to God's rule and authority, allowing believers to bind and loose effectively. These keys must be used in agreement with the church community to ensure that actions are backed by heaven. This emphasizes the importance of unity and collective decision-making within the church, as individual actions may not carry the same spiritual weight. By using the keys in concert with the church, believers can access divine authority and bring about change in the spiritual and physical realms. [07:31]
Isaiah 22:22 (ESV): "And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."
Reflection: What areas of your life require the use of the keys to the kingdom? How can you ensure that your actions are in agreement with your church community to access God's authority effectively?
Day 4: The Power of Agreement and Prayer
Binding and loosing require agreement among believers and must be done in prayer. This agreement provides legal validity in the spiritual realm, allowing believers to bring about change in the physical realm. Prayer is a powerful tool that connects believers with God's will and ensures that their actions are aligned with divine authority. By seeking agreement with other believers and engaging in prayer, individuals can access the spiritual authority needed to overcome the forces of evil and experience victory in their lives. [11:05]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: How can you incorporate agreement and prayer into your daily life to access spiritual authority? Who can you partner with in prayer to ensure your actions are aligned with God's will?
Day 5: Keeping Christ at the Center of Authority
Jesus must be at the center of all binding and loosing actions, as His authority is the link between heaven and earth. Believers must ensure that their actions align with His will to be effective in the spiritual realm. By keeping Christ at the center, individuals can access divine authority and bring about change in their lives and the world around them. This requires a deep relationship with Jesus and a commitment to following His teachings and guidance in all aspects of life. [16:11]
Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that Christ is at the center of your actions and decisions? How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus to access His authority in your life?
Quotes
The word binding and loosing is not a magic formula for you to get God to do what you want yet it is a powerful formula because of what's stated, because Verse 18 says whatever you bind and it goes on to say and whatever you lose first of all, whatever this scope of this statement is staggering. [00:01:18]
Binding and loosing the exercise of Authority is specifically given to the church I will build my church now the reason why that's important is you need to remember something about the church that we often lose sight of and some don't even know while you come to church for preaching and for singing and for fellowship. [00:03:32]
The job of the church is to legislate from up there to down here to bring Heaven in history that is the job of the church it is to spiritually legislate not just sing not just preach but to bring the authority from eternity in history so it is the church represents another realm although located on Earth it represents heaven. [00:04:35]
If you are disconnected from the church you are disconnected from its legal Authority in the spiritual realm he says and the Gates of Hell shall not overpower it he said so powerful is the church I'm building that hell can't stop it he didn't say shall not overpower me he said shall not overpower it because he's referring to the church. [00:05:23]
I will give you the keys to the kingdom well kingdom is God's Rule and I'm going give you keys he says I'm going to give you access to me to legislate from there back down to where you live and I'm going to give you these Keys now the reason why there are multiple Keys is because they're multiple Gates. [00:07:12]
You must use the keys of heaven and you must do it in concert with the church cuz that's the entity that owns the keys so you don't have a private key ring you don't have your own Keys the church has the keys you have to use those keys for your situation so now that we have that framework let's go back to chapter 18. [00:10:06]
If two of you agree on Earth about anything that they ask it shall be done for them by my father who is in heaven oh now we get down to two or three interesting two or or three Witnesses is not a novel concept it's all through the Bible American civil government to a large degree borrowed from the Bible. [00:11:05]
Jesus Takes the principle of legality two and three Witnesses and applies it now to binding and loosing why because we are seeking to do in the spiritual realm what the political realm was seeking to do in civil judgments to do that he says you need two or three Witnesses now this is not just two or three people out of nowhere. [00:12:41]
When you connect with people even if they're Christians who not connected to the Embassy they can't help you with binding and losing cuz binding and loosing has only been delegated to the church not just to you out here just binding stuff and I bind the devil and you you know no no if you are disconnected from the embassy. [00:13:15]
You must bind you must bring God's perspective the keys you must talk to God the prayer you must be in agreement with God and then you must be linked to the legal entity the local church and he says and you've done it in my name in my name he says the father's going to do it but you got to do it in my name. [00:15:43]
Binding and loosing getting the devil from tying you up or releasing you if you've been tied up is tied to authority authority is tied to Christ Christ is tied to his church binding and loosing is tied to that connectivity by agreement and then there is the provision of divine Authority where the father responds when we do it in his name. [00:17:23]
A lot of us are trying hard to fix our mess get out of debt get out of addiction solve this problem heal this it's not we trying we're trying down here in this battle but the problem is something's got to be solved up there to give you Victory down here the problem occurred however that it says Moses's arms got heavy. [00:20:01]
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