I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
—Matthew 16:19
Since we are not only physical creatures but spiritual beings as well, we are able to stand in the physical realm and affect the spiritual realm. This is a very definite privilege and advantage. We can go into the spiritual realm through prayer and bring about action that will cause change in a situation. God is a Spirit… ( John 4:24), and every answer we need to every situation is with Him.
Jesus told Peter that He would give him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. All keys unlock doors, and I believe those keys (at least in part) can represent various types of prayer. Jesus went on to teach Peter about the power of binding and loosing, which operates on the same spiritual principle.
The power of binding and loosing is exercised in prayer. When you and I pray about deliverance from some bondage in our lives or in the life of another, we are, in effect, binding that problem and loosing an answer. The act of prayer binds evil and looses good.
Jesus has given us the power and authority to use the keys of the kingdom to bring to pass the will of God on earth.
Authority Through Prayer
by Joyce Meyer - posted January 15, 2017I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
—Matthew 16:19
Since we are not only physical creatures but spiritual beings as well, we are able to stand in the physical realm and affect the spiritual realm. This is a very definite privilege and advantage. We can go into the spiritual realm through prayer and bring about action that will cause change in a situation. God is a Spirit… ( John 4:24), and every answer we need to every situation is with Him.
Jesus told Peter that He would give him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. All keys unlock doors, and I believe those keys (at least in part) can represent various types of prayer. Jesus went on to teach Peter about the power of binding and loosing, which operates on the same spiritual principle.
The power of binding and loosing is exercised in prayer. When you and I pray about deliverance from some bondage in our lives or in the life of another, we are, in effect, binding that problem and loosing an answer. The act of prayer binds evil and looses good.
Jesus has given us the power and authority to use the keys of the kingdom to bring to pass the will of God on earth.
The Need for an Interpreter
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:26–27
If you’ve ever traveled to another country where you didn’t speak the language, you know how hard it can be to shop or order a meal in a restaurant. Sometimes what you are first presented with isn’t anything like what you wanted. And trying to ask for directions to a place you can’t pronounce correctly in a language you don’t speak may lead you to some interesting detours, but the chances of getting where you want to go are small. What you need is someone who speaks both languages and can interpret for you so that you get what you want.
The Bible teaches that our prayers need an interpreter. We like to think of ourselves as knowing what we need, and if we are not careful, we may find ourselves instructing God as to how He should work in our lives. Instead of seeking His will, we end up seeking our own. That is not what prayer is for, and God’s will and glory should always be foremost in the petitions that we take to the throne of grace.
But beyond the vital matter of submission to God’s will in prayer, the bottom line is that we simply do not have the knowledge or perspective to understand what we really need. (We have all had the experience of looking back in gratitude at the unanswered prayers for things we really wanted at the time but later discovered would not have been good for us.) What we need is the guidance and direction of the interpreter—the Holy Spirit—who speaks both our language and God’s, and who knows what we need.
Romans 8:26–27
If you’ve ever traveled to another country where you didn’t speak the language, you know how hard it can be to shop or order a meal in a restaurant. Sometimes what you are first presented with isn’t anything like what you wanted. And trying to ask for directions to a place you can’t pronounce correctly in a language you don’t speak may lead you to some interesting detours, but the chances of getting where you want to go are small. What you need is someone who speaks both languages and can interpret for you so that you get what you want.
The Bible teaches that our prayers need an interpreter. We like to think of ourselves as knowing what we need, and if we are not careful, we may find ourselves instructing God as to how He should work in our lives. Instead of seeking His will, we end up seeking our own. That is not what prayer is for, and God’s will and glory should always be foremost in the petitions that we take to the throne of grace.
But beyond the vital matter of submission to God’s will in prayer, the bottom line is that we simply do not have the knowledge or perspective to understand what we really need. (We have all had the experience of looking back in gratitude at the unanswered prayers for things we really wanted at the time but later discovered would not have been good for us.) What we need is the guidance and direction of the interpreter—the Holy Spirit—who speaks both our language and God’s, and who knows what we need.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Trusting God in prayer means that we are willing to accept what He knows is best for us.
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