Binding and loosening in obedience to Christ – the Son of the living God
Today, we begin a new series to remind of us of the power and authority that we have in Jesus Christ.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound G1210 in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed G3089 in heaven. (Matthew 16:19 KJV)
The purpose of a key is to give one access to something.
The keys in the above verse do not refer to keyboard instruments or musical notes but are the spiritual authority that allows you to open heaven’s windows and lock the gates of hell.
Do you believe that you have this authority?
It is a huge responsibility that Jesus has given us, and we ought to use it wisely.
Historical background of the key
Shebna was a scribe and treasurer of the household of Hezekiah. (2 Kings 18:18; Isaiah 22:15).
Shebna in Hebrew means “tender youth or growing.”
He was a young man who had become prideful because of his position and began to build monuments and beautiful tombs for himself.
God sent Isaiah to prophesy against him, warning that he would be removed from his high position and replaced by Eliakim son of Hilkiah.
Eliakim was given Shebna’s title and authority and became the father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.
Additionally, the Lord said “I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.” (Isaiah 22:22 NLT)
Eliakim (el-yaw-keem) in Hebrew means “God raises” or “God sets up” (H471)
Eliakim was a type and shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ who once told John in Revelation 1:18, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” (Revelation 3:7 NKJV)
Therefore, similar to Eliakim, God has raised us up – His church – and has given us this key to open and to close. This is the key of authority and it is also the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52).
The meaning of binding and loosing
Bind G1210(Deo – Greek) – Strong concordance
- To bind, tie, fasten
- To bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains.
Metaphorically
- Satan is said to bind a woman bent together using a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright
- To bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty, etc.
- to be bound to one, a wife, a husband
- To forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit
Loose (G3089) lyō (Key)
To loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened.
To loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free
To loose what is compacted or built together, to break up, demolish, and destroy
Metaphorical Meaning
To overthrow, to do away with.
To deprive of authority, whether by precept or act.
To declare unlawful.
Satan can bind or prohibit someone from achieving their full potential.
What are some of the things that Satan will prohibit God’s children from attaining?
- The truth (Matthew 16:21-23)
Jesus told His disciples about His future persecution, death, and resurrection. However, Peter not understanding Jesus’ word and the mission of Christ, began to rebuke Jesus that those things will never happen to Him.
Perhaps, Peter was trying to assure Jesus that they would fight for him to prevent those things from happening to Him. Evidence of this was seen when Jesus was arrested and Peter struck off the ear of one of the guards with a sword.
However, Jesus immediately rebuked Satan who was trying to bind or prohibit the truth of God’s plans for His Son.
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23 NKJV)
- Strength in faith (Luke 22:31)
Be mindful that Satan is the accuser of the brethren and he intends to sift you as wheat so that your faith will fail (Luke 22:31-34).
Knowing this, Jesus prayed that the Church would be strengthened. Furthermore, Jesus has overcome the world, and “greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV).
- Worshipping God (Matthew 4:10)
After setting two unsuccessful traps for Jesus in the wilderness, the devil made one final attempt to bribe Jesus into attaining his devotion.
The devil took Jesus up on a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of this world. Then he said to Jesus, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:10 NKJV).
Obtaining the worship of mankind is Satan’s ultimate goal.
Thus, if he could tempt Jesus with riches to obtain His devotion, then God’s redemptive plan for humanity would be thwarted and the entire world would serve Satan.
But Jesus, knowing Satan’s plot, said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” (Matthew 4: 10 NKJV)
- Unity
A kingdom divided against itself will fall (Matthew 12:25).
Satan has organized his kingdom into a united force to fight against God’s people.
Revelation 12:12 states, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
The devil lost the war in heaven and so he descended to earth in vengeful anger because his time is short.
But the devil is fighting from a foundation of fear and defeat. Hence, one of his greatest tactics is to promote disunity in the Church to try to destroy it.
Looking at the many Christian denominations and doctrines in the world one might believe that Satan is achieving his goal.
But, the Holy Spirit is the tie that binds us together as Christians and Satan cannot fight against the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:18, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
Jesus fulfilled this promise on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the unified disciples in the upper room (Acts 2).
The Holy Spirit used language (communication) and true knowledge to unite the Jewish community gathered in Jerusalem for the Pentecostal feast.
The Holy Spirit is still using communication and knowledge to unite the people of God. Let us therefore submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit.
- Health (Luke 13)
One Sabbath day, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. Among the congregation was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen long years.
The spirit bound her so tightly that she was bent over and could not walk uprightly.
The Sabbath is the day of rest and refreshing.
Yet, Satan, had this woman tightly bound.
“But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” (Luke 13:12-13 NKJV).
- The Word of God (Mark 4:15)
Jesus tells us in Mark 4 about the parable of the sower who sowed some seeds.
Some of the seeds fell on the wayside and birds quickly devoured them while some fell on stony ground that had little soil.
Although the seeds sprouted on the stony ground they quickly withered and died because they had no root.
Some seeds fell among the thorns that choked them and they yielded no crop.
But, thanks be to God, “other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:8 NKJV).
The seed is the Word of God.
When you read or hear the Word of God, Satan quickly tries to steal the message from your heart.
And, he will succeed if you do not allow the Word to take root in your heart.
When persecution, tribulation, and trials come upon you like a thief in the night, you will stumble and fall if the Word is not rooted in your heart.
The Bible states that the wheat and the tares must grow together until the time of harvest.
Therefore, as believers in Christ, you must live in this world among the thorns and tares.
Hence, when the Word is preached, the thorns or “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19 NKJV)
But, when the Word of God is hidden in your heart you will not sin against God (Psalms 119:11).
The Word is sown on good soil when you receive, believe, and accept it in your heart.
When you hide the Word of God in your heart, “He (YOU) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he (you do) does shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:3 NKJV)
When you hide the Word of God in your heart, “he (you)shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8 NKJV)
When you hide the Word of God in your heart Satan has lost the battle to control your mind because you have bound him and he has lost the authority over you.
Join us next week on Sunday when we conclude this series by sharing with you the hindrances to the keys and the call to action.
Becoming the Oil and Wine 
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