I have heard
several different interpretations on this
scripture. None of them satisfied my spiritual
craving for understanding.
Note:
The entire scriptures preceding the scripture
mentioned must be understood, to put the
scripture in question, in it's proper context.
Same goes for the scriptures which follow the
scripture in question.
Here's
what God gave me on the scripture...
Simply
put: As long as we bind a problem or issue and
try to resolve the problem or issue ourselves, it
is bound on earth and God cannot or
will not resolve the
issue... It is BOUND here on
earth, therefore, it is bound
in heaven. If I release it
to God for Him to resolve the problem, I have loosed
it here on earth, therefore,
it is loosed in heaven
and God can and will resolve the problem or
issue. I have 'let go' and turned it over to God.
It
applies to healing, salvation, learning, meeting
our needs materially as well as spiritually. It
applies to everything! Only for those of us who
are God's Kids. The people of the world can use
their usual means for achieving success. They
must use the laws of worldly business...
achieving material success through the worldly
methods. These methods don't work well for those
of us who are 'born-again' and serve the true
God. We are born-again - saved spiritual beings
as well as human and we recognize our source as
God. Our success in the material realm is usually
somewhat limited by world standards.
When
we are 'begotten' 'justified' 'saved'
'born-again' (however you
refer to it) we are now spiritual beings, a new
creation and our needs are supplied by our Father
in heaven... a spiritual entity. Our master is no
longer the "Prince of Air" or Satan,
the ruler of this world in which we are passing
through (this materialistic world) .... a world
where the rewards are given out to those who
become proficient at manipulation... cunning,
shrewd tactics... Some of the worldly, accepted
means may include: Overcharging, cheating, lies,
misrepresentations, back-stabbing, greed,
SINGLE-MINDED POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING. Our
human 'will' being achieved, only our
will, at any cost. The power of positive thinking
works! Be careful! The 'power' may be from an
entity you don't want guiding your life and
spiritual destiny. I suggest you do EXACTLY as
the Son of God told us to do... pray that
"The Father's 'Will' Be Done Here On Earth
As In Heaven."
Whoa,
note from John... Slow down and read this
paragraph carefully!
"The eye of the tiger" is a good term
that explains a person who fixes on a goal and
strives to achieve it at all or any cost... A
trait that is admired and taught by the
respected, successful business people of this
world. Even well-intentioned, mistaught
Christians view this trait as 'good.' This same
trait that serves material gain, can not be used
by a spirit-filled Christian, it's not
possible... Their conscience will not allow it,
possibly making that person appear to be
unsuccessful and even a failure by worldly
standards. You see, I know better than to pray my
will! I may get my wish and call it a prayer
answered and in time, it may show up as a horror
story! Only God knows what is best for us.
Remember, a true Christian is more concerned with
their spiritual success rather than material
success. Watered down, "Sunday Morning
Christians" believe that great increase in
the material things are always from God. If they
prayed that God's will will be done and meant it,
then it is from God. If they prayed their
"will be done," then it could be from
either entity.
People
think of the "eye of the tiger" as
being single-minded and non-wavering. They are
considered as being "goal oriented"....
where the end justifies the means... the opposite
of "flip-flopping." Sound familiar? I
despise the phrase "flip-flopping!"
Some of the most evil politicians in history
patented this phrase so their simple-minded
followers could have a mindless rebuttal when
someone offered an intelligent solution that had
been reconsidered. These people simply rattle-off
the kindergarten-level phrase (flip flop) and
think they sound intelligent! An intelligent,
Christian person will reconsider as the facts
change or the KNOWN facts change... thus
requiring reconsideration. It is scripturally
correct to change your mind when the situation
dictates.
Back
to business...
We cannot and should not mix the material
with the spiritual.
It is a sin! When we pray in the spirit for the
answer or a need to be met by God and we hang
onto and try to resolve it here in the physical,
material world using our worldly methods we are
mixing the two... Let it go, free the problem,
hand it to God and let Him handle it. "What
you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven." However, don't hand an immoral,
illegal or unGodly desire to God and expect Him
to honor that! Get serious!
Now
for another point of view - the more literal and
straight to the point from the scriptures.
The
scriptures pertaining to the topic:
Matthew
Chapter 16:17 Jesus replied, "You are
blessed, Simon son of John,
because my Father
in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not
learn this from any human being. Now I say to you
that you are Peter and upon this rock I will
build my church, and all the powers of hell will
not conquer it. And
I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked
in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be
opened in heaven."
Then he sternly warned them not to tell anyone
that he was the Messiah.
More
on the topic... In
my mind the following
scripture (chapter 18 below) has a different
meaning than the one above (chapter 16). It is
the teaching in Chapter 16
that I base my thoughts upon. It appears that
chapter 18 deals more with the authority
given directly to the disciple and his authority
on earth, whereas chapter 16
seems to be addressing the faith
of a Christian and the results
of his faith.
.............................. REMEMBER;
This is my interpretation!
I
can tell you this; when you completely
release a problem, it can be
handled and if it is God's will, it
will be handled, if it is
best for His kids. Sound complicated? Yes it is!
The possible repercussions of any result is far
too complex for mere man to calculate but God
can. That's why Jesus teaches us the Lord's
Prayer... because we don't know what to ask for
but God knows our needs.
Matthew
Chapter18:15-18..
"If another believer
sins against you,
go privately and point out the fault. If the
other person listens and confesses it, you have
won that person back. But if you are
unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and
go back again, so that everything you say may be
confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that
person still refuses to listen, take your case to
the church. If the church decides you are right,
but the other person won't accept it, treat that
person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
“I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid
on earth will be
forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit
on earth will be
permitted in heaven.
Your
Friend,
John
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