Title: Binding & Loosening
Theme: To show that the Lord has called us to bind up the wounds of people and loosen their bonds.
Text: Matthew 16:13 - 19
Introduction
We had a wonderful Prayer Conference this year. The Lord really touched some hearts and revived our spirits. As one preacher said, “It doesn’t take much to receive in a service when you are ready. Many times it is not about the whole message but one word or sentence that changes the way you think and wakens up something in your spirit.”
That is what happened to me. Maybe what I am going to share with you is an old cliché but I believe it is what God has set for us during this New Year as we “go deep”. I want you if you would to open up you Bibles and turn with me to Matthew 16:13 -19. We are going to expound these scriptures and I want the Lord to show us what he has for the church.
(13) When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
1. Jesus had asked a critical question: "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" We must know what others say about Jesus, just who He is. What men think of Jesus...
• determines their destiny
• determines how we are to reach out to them
• determines their reaction to us as we witness to them
• determines to a large degree the morality and justice of a society
— Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary
(14) So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
What people say.
John the Baptist – the fore runner to the Messiah, (Mormonism, New Age, etc. ), a good and moral man
Elijah – greatest prophet of all time, in line with the top, maybe Jesus is then next great prophet
Jeremiah – came to straighten out the religious system, he is a reviver of the times,
Prophets – one of the prophets, just one in the line of many
(15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
You – personal relationship. This is the most important question of all. What you think and do with Christ is a paramount.
(16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
• The Christ: the Messiah, the anointed One of God
• The Son of God: of the same being, the same substance; One with the Father (see note— Phil. 2:6).
Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
• The Son of the Living God: the source and being of life; possessing the source, energy, and power of life within Himself (John 5:26; John 17:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
— Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved " Romans 10:9
(17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
{b) [draw him] No man is able to come to God except by God's Word through the Holy Spirit and his own conscience, both of which are God-given (Jn. 6:45; 16:7-11; Rom. 2:12-16).
—Dake's Study Notes
This is a revelation from the Father. The Lord was speaking to and through Peter.
(18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
“this rock” – this foundation, the foundation that “"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." coupled with the revelation of the father “for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
the foundation of Christ
Ephesians 1:20-23 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (22) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
I "Jesus" will build the church.
My Church - Christ's church
This is why I still believe in the church today
This is why I still believe in the church. Not a building but a people. 1) It is Christ's church 2) He will build it. 3) the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So what power does any government or persecutors have.
"shall NOT prevail"
Jesus said to the disciples "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19).
"Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have authority (Gk: exousia) to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons." (Mark 3:14,15).
The Devil, a defeated foe
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Revelation 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (12) Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! 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."
1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
(19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Keys of the kingdom of heaven” - there are several keys that we possess that will open up the kingdom of heaven.
Keys stand for authority and stewardship. When you have keys to a place you have authority to get there.
The Word of God is one, our testimony is another, prayer, fasting, and giving. When we don't hold to the keys and lose them then we give the right to enemy to use them. In our lives, in our home, in our finances.
2 Timothy_4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
NLT 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
MSG 1 Peter 3:14-17 Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. (15) Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. (16) Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. (17) It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.
“binding and loosening”
The binding and loosening part is what really got my attention. This is often times used form binding (tying up) and loosening (breaking people free from) the enemy. I don't see much wrong with this. I think it could also mean our binding up the wounds of the hurting and loosening them from the bondage.
John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Jon Courson’s Commentary - It means we as His ambassadors don't provide forgiveness, but we do proclaim it. Therefore, to the one who says, "I don't feel forgiven," it is our responsibility to say, "According to the Word of God, if you open your heart to Jesus Christ and believe in His work on the Cross, your sin is gone." Conversely, to the one who says, "I don't need Jesus Christ. I'm into meditation,"—it is our responsibility to say, "Your sin remains because only the blood of Jesus can wash it away."
In the New Testament. From the jewishencyclopedia.com
In this sense Jesus, when appointing his disciples to be his successors, used the familiar formula (Matt. xvi. 19, xviii. 18). By these words he virtually invested them with the same authority as that which he found belonging to the scribes and Pharisees who "bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but will not move them with one of their fingers"; that is, "loose them," as they have the power to do (Matt. xxiii. 2-4)
Good Samaritan
This is what I see in the Good Samaritan story. This idea of binding up wounds and loosening from bondage.
Luke 10:25-37 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (26) He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" (27) So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " (28) And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." (29) But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
(30) Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
This man was going down the wrong road, he should have never traveled here alone.
(31) Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
(33) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
He met him.
(34) So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Bandaged his wounds –
Pouring on oil – (healing) oil symbolizes healing, also the Holy Spirit
Gave wine – (disinfect) wine symbolizes comfort, also Jesus' blood, also the Holy Spirit
Set him on his own animal – how did the Samaritan get to the inn? he walked
Brought him to an inn – a place of healing and comfort, church
Took care of him – disciple, continued in helping the needs.
Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
NLT 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, 19 and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."
Matthew 12:18-21 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. (19) He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. (20) A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; (21) And in His name Gentiles will trust."
James 2:14-17 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, (16) and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? (17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
(35) On the next day, when he departed, [82] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'
Took care afterwards – disciple
Jesus gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Not making converts but disciples. Carrying them all the way through.
MSG 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
(36) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" (37) And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
To the Least of These is as Unto Me
We are reminded that when we help others in the wounds and freedom it like helping Christ.
Matthew 25:35-40 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; (36) I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? (38) When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? (39) Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' (40) And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
Conclusion
There are two needs that are to be met today.
1) For the person who is bound (wounded) and need loosening (caught up, away from freedom)
2) A prayer for hands that bring healing and freedom to those in need. Eyes that see the need. A touch that feels others hurts.
