| What are we binding and loosening on earth? | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 26 2004, 11:49 AM (317 Views) | |
| Bill and Joan | Apr 26 2004, 11:49 AM Post #1 |
|
Administrator
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Dear Saints, For some time now I have known that the things we do upon the earth effects things in the heavenlies. How exactly it works, I don't know but this realization has been very firm in my spirit. In other words, if I trust God for victory in an area of my life, lets say to overcome smoking, and I trust Him to be strong in me when I am weak (like calling out to Him when I feel the need for a cigarette but know I shouldn't have it and, therefore, ask for His strength to rise in me and not giving into my own weakness), that my "occupying the land, so to speak - not giving into temptation but holding fast to His promises that I am an overcomer - that it affects the heavenly realm and it knocks out some demons! So, if I walk in the truth of God's Word, even though it comes as a cost to my flesh, it is affecting the battle that is going on between God's warriors and the enemies army. This morning the Lord gave me greater understanding of this when I was posting today's devotional. I only quoted part of Matthew 16:19 about Jesus giving us the keys to heaven. The latter part is what brought me to revelation in regards to the battle we are fighting on the earth. In it's entirety, this verse reads, "I will give the keys of the realm of heaven; whatever you prohibit [bind] on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit [loose] on earth will be permitted in heaven." (Mof) God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has given us the keys to the realm of heaven. We have been given authority to "reign as kings and priests unto God and His Father." So, as kings and priests, we have the authority to reign over this earth, occupying it until our Lord's triumphant return. What kind of a job are we doing in this area? Well, look around the world and we can easily see that we have not done the best there but I think it was because we lacked understanding. And, praise God, He is opening the warehouse of understanding and revealing greater things to us then we understood before. Hallelujah!!! Let us take a look at Matthew 6:33. Most of us are familiar with this verse, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." This is taken from the King James version but I would like us to look at what the Phi (The New Testament in Modern English - J. B. Phillips) reads: "Set your heart on His kingdom and all that will be yours over and above." If we set our heart on the Lord's kingdom, searching His ways and His desires, we will come to understand what keys the Lord has given us to reign here on earth, bringing His kingdom upon the earth. In other words, we will become more than conquerors through Christ Jesus in our own lives and many of us will rise up to lead others to the kingdom truths through Him who is truth, Jesus Christ. That alone should stir up such an excitement in our spirits!!! But, if we live like the world, we are not setting up God's principles here. Rather, we have become persuaded to live like the enemy's government rather than God's. Ouch. That should hurt all of us. To strive to give more light to this, I am going to use America as an example, just as Israel was meant to be the example upon the earth when He called her out. Since I live in America, I have more knowledge to draw from. America was set up as a land set aside for and by God. It's government was based upon the Bible, it's freedom rested in Christ Jesus. When America first started out, it's heart was pure and faithful to it's Creator. While she had wars fought upon her land no world wars touched her soil. But as time went on America seemed to forget that she was "one nation formed under God" - the one true God! While a world war was not battled on her land one had broken out in the heavenlies to steal the God favor gave to this land. While God was waiting for His people to bind the forces of darkness that was over this land, rather we stepped back and allowed deception and lies to come in (we have seen them enter through the ACLU and the liberal rights movement). We have watched while prayer was taken out of the schools and evil entered the doors as seen in Columbine and other schools. Instead of godly principles ruling we allowed ungodly things to come in such as abortion. Not only did we allow them to come upon this land, we also gave evil forces authority in the heavenlies above this once great land. It was not God's fault, it was our own doing for failing to be His people and not occupying the land by and through His ways. Recently I have heard people say that a great move of God is preceeded by much darkness and tribulation. Some have said that God allows these trials to come our way so that we would cry out to Him. I was leaning this way in light of all that I've seen and known happening in the past and now even though I did not understand how God would do things this way as He is a loving Daddy. This morning my eyes were opened to the truth that it is not God who allows this devastation to come but it is because His people have dropped the ball. Can God fix things? Of course He can. Nothing is impossible with God. But He is a good of relationship and He has given the people of the world an opportunity to accept His Son as their Savior so that they can have a relationship with Him, Father God. He has set up universal principles that apply to ALL creation, without exception and He will not break those principles. Because we have free will, it is up to us what we choose, Him or ourselves. If we choose Him, then through His Son, we become kings and priests upon the earth with the authority to reign as such and occupy the land for His glory. Failure to do so does not rest in His hands but our own. Yes, God fights the batttle but we have to do our part. Well, what is our part is we've dropped the ball and given reign to the enemy? We find the answer in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." If we do this with an honest part, then God will do His part. It is not God who brings devastation upon us. Rather it is our unfaithfulness to Him that opens the door to the enemy to enter! All we need do is ask God for forgiveness from repentant hearts, seek His face desiring to do His will and He is faithful to hear our prayers and heal our land. Hallelujah! That is why I believe we will see a great move of God in America because I know His people are crying out to Him this very moment, wanting His will over their own. Praise be to God. But once we see God move, we can't stop there. The responsiblity to keep this move going still lies within His people. We must continually spend time with Him and seek His will. If we don't we will just fall back to where we were, in sin, open to the enemy and this time it will be worse than the last. Let us join forces with our Lord Jesus Christ, to come to know Him through the Holy Spirit and to ask for His leading every day, that we might rise up as a great army of God bringing glory to Him through His precious Son. Amen and amen. In Him, Joan |
![]() |
|
| Stace4Jesus | Apr 26 2004, 08:10 PM Post #2 |
|
Administrator
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Well, you said a righteous mouthful for sure. The Lord tells us in Ezekiel that He sought for one man to stand in the gap. I do believe that America has the righteous in it, santified and holy unto Him. I also believe that it is by His mercy that America still stands. But, I also believe that you are correct in that we do not exercise our full authority that the Lord gives us. I believe that as we learn more and more about Him and His ways, and His desires.. and the way He orginially declared we should walk, in the power, in the authority... that until then.. we will merely maintain.. or in some cases, actually lose ground. It is not an easy concept to understand how and what the walk in the authority He gives us really consists of. The early church displayed the power of God in a big enough way that it changed the world. It was known as "the way." Are we short here in rising into our authority, or is this a time of reserve for the Lord? If the Lord delivered us last week from a huge threat... would anyone besides His saints close enough to hear Him know it? Is this what He wants? Do you remember Lake's letter? How he said that there was no one who could carry the anointing that he did, not here in America.. the power was not as strong.. organizing got involved. Sorry so many questions.. I know I will continue to pray. I just have questions.. and since I read the post this am.. and had all day to dwell on it.. I had more time for more questions.Shalom stacie |
| |
![]() |
|
| Bill and Joan | Apr 27 2004, 06:21 PM Post #3 |
|
Administrator
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Stacie,Stac, not sure I have the answers to your questions per say, but this is what I am sensing in the spirit in regards to them: It is not an easy concept to understand how and what the walk in the authority He gives us really consists of. The early church displayed the power of God in a big enough way that it changed the world. It was known as "the way." Stac, it is not an easy concept to understand but we know the original twleve, and then others, spent time with Him who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. The early church had relationship with Jesus Christ and then with His disciples who steered them to Him. Is it safe today that many leaders in the church are using technics and theories how to walk in Jesus authority rather than leading them to form a relationship with our Lord? Just a thought to ponder. Are we short here in rising into our authority, or is this a time of reserve for the Lord? Ya know, God's timing is everything. Is this God's timing that we have been reserved use of Jesus' authority or is it because we have not walk in righteousness before Him, seeking His authority rather than Him. Hmmmm....... If the Lord delivered us last week from a huge threat... would anyone besides His saints close enough to hear Him know it? Is this what He wants? Even if the world knew what He did to spare us from death (Jesus' resurrection on the cross, dying for our sins) would they even believe it was for them? History has proven that only those who believe in Him believe in what He has done. Is it's god's will that He wants it that way? Well, God's Word says He desires that none should perish so that answer is very clear - no, God wants everyone to come to the saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ. What prevents them from doing this? There are numerous reasons for that. What would I suggest? That the body of Christ come together and beseech the Lord that He soften the hearts of the lost, bind their pride and the deception of the enemy and to allow us to be spiritual sacrifices for their lives as was His Son in the natural. Do you remember Lake's letter? How he said that there was no one who could carry the anointing that he did, not here in America.. the power was not as strong.. organizing got involved. Sorry, don't remember Lake's letter. I continually ask the Lord to help me retain things for His glory. But I can understand why Lake said what he did. America has grown very proud in her own strength and has taken the credit for the things God has given her through His goodness and His grace. We think we can run church better than He can so we push the Holy Spirit to the back of the room and proceed to have church in our own strength. Church has acquired it's own agenda thinking God will be happy with what is going on rather than asking Him what He would like done. Until we relinquish our plans over to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to lead we will not see God's power. Why hand over a set of keys to a child who wants to do things their own way and won't follow instructions? Would you? Well, these are a few things for us all to think about. Hey, if the Holy Spirit is telling you more we need to hear, please share with us. Together we make up the body of Christ and we need one another. May each one of us draw closer to Him, Joan |
![]() |
|
| Bondslave | Apr 27 2004, 08:01 PM Post #4 |
|
Unregistered
|
I guess I will add my two cents worth! There IS an answer. It is very simple, I know what it is. HOWEVER, the actually possession ro gaining the REALITY of this answer in our lives is another story altogether. Stacie, you and I have touched on this in our discussions about my personal walk. I gave you the answer then, but even when I did, from your response, I do not believe you understood. the answer is DYING! Being crucified. Coming to the end of our self-lives. Absolute Surrender. TRULY becoming a BONDSLAVE/OVERCOMER! "It sounds so simple. It sounds TOO Easy! That can't be it, I did it and I am NOT living that way! That can't be, I know I am dedicated to God but I still have these problems in my life. No can expect t odie while they are still alive. We have to sin everyday. We will NEVER be without sin! As long as we are in this body, we WILL sin! We have to sin, we can't help it. No one can walk like Jesus walked. No one can do the miracles Jesus did. Jesus did those miracles because He was God!" Shall I go on? Tozer stated one of the hardest things we will EVER do is coming to God and having Him crucify our self-lives. The reason is, because it LOVES the attention. It even loves the altar. In fact, the SELF-LIFE, THRIVES at the altar. Unless we TRULY mean BUSINESS with God and stay there UNTIL it is completed, that self-life will continue, and even grow stronger! I have come to believe and understand how true that statement is! No amount of congregational dedication will EVER go beyond the dedication of the least dedicated member! Until and unless we make that TOTAL SURRENDER the MANDATORY AND SINGLE FOCUS of our lives, we will in no way EVER be able to show others the way to that deep relationship that the Lord desires! I know what is needed. I am ashamed to say, that I have not done it, yet! BUT, I am being drawn ever closer and deeper to this very type of life. I cannot explain myself very well along these lines. Perhaps one day, I will be able to. Maybe if you ask questions, I might be able to give more answers. I hope I have helped. God Bless you all a bondslave in Christ Jesus, Dirk |
|
|
| Stace4Jesus | Apr 27 2004, 10:24 PM Post #5 |
|
Administrator
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I told the Lord that if He would go ahead and pour out His anointing and power and work through us, full time, that we would gladdly raise the dead, go to Peru to heal the sick, cure the blind... break bread for the thousands,,, and do all this until the day He opens the door to our real homes... and then, I said, and "Lord, that way, there would be no time to tend to self, or to sin." The Lord said, ... nothing. So, we have to ask the Lord to heal us, kill us, mold us, break us, feed us, thank YOU for buying us, use us, free us.. and give us good teeth to chew on that thick juicy steak He mentioned through Joan today. We will do the things Jesus did, for that is a command He has given us to do, thus we must obey. But, we are doing what Jesus did too, today, we are learning obedience. It has been a long, wonderful, Holy Spirit has been busy, burden bearing, feast sharing, day. And in these days, when I get pressed in and confused, wanting my clear understanding.. right now type thing.. after it is over.. I am always reminded that their was the 29th year of Jesus' life. A day of "not yet" from our Father... He still saw, felt, heard, and knew everything and wanted to do something... but... couldn't... not yet. Father, I thank You for your ways When You say, "sit and stay" Help me, Lord, to be better than my dog who bounces around like a frog Father, Humbly .. we bless You and thank You shalom |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Christian Living · Next Topic » |






![]](http://z4.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)



I had more time for more questions.

3:41 AM Jul 11