RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SUNDAY, 31ST JULY.

THEME: BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT.

OPENING SCRIPTURE...And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19).

What the Lord Jesus meant when He said, “Whatsoever thou shalt bind...” almost has nothing to do with permission or lack of it. The Greek word translated “bind” above is “deó,” and it means several things. It means to bind as in chains; it also means to put under obligation, to prohibit, or to prevent from free movement or liberty. However, many only relate with that word “deó” in isolation; but applying the other synonyms provides an expanded understanding of what Jesus actually meant in our opening verse.

When you study the Book of Revelation, chapter twenty, the Bible tells us about Satan being bound and cast into the bottomless pit by an angel who came with chains. Furthermore, in the ninth chapter of the same Book, you’d read about how there were fallen angels who were bound in the River Euphrates, and the word came for them to be released, to be “loosed.” That wasn’t a mere permission and forbidding. Those fallen angels were bound, possibly with chains.

Then in the Book of Luke, chapter 13, we find a woman who, because she had been bound by Satan, was bowed over; she came in while Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue, and Jesus said, “Woman, you’re loosed from your infirmity” (read Luke 13:12-16). The Master touched her and she straightened up, healed by the power of God. When Satan bound her, she couldn’t straighten herself.

Therefore, when Jesus said, “...whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,” He meant whatsoever you ask the Father in His (Jesus’) Name, the Father will give it to you. So, when you say to Satan, “I bind you!” it has to be clear what you’re saying, because we already stated that to bind means many things; which one do you mean? What is it you want to bind? Moreover, what do you understand by what you said? What does the devil understand by what you said? Your communication and intention must be clear.

For instance, Jesus said to an evil spirit, “...Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, COME OUT OF HIM, AND ENTER NO MORE INTO HIM” (Mark 9:25). He bound the devil from coming back into the young lad. He was very clear about his instruction to the devil and what He was forbidding him from. Therefore, when you want to bind an evil spirit, be clear as to what you want; and he won’t be able to withstand your command. Blessed be God!

CONFESSION
Greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world! I’ve been given power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the ability of the enemy! I live in the Name of Jesus, and triumph gloriously by Him always, glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 16:19
Ecclesiastes 8:4
Mark 3:27

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Romans 5:12-21, Psalms 52-55
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Ephesians 4:25-32, Isaiah 51