Somewhere along the line in Church history some biblical truths have been neglected and some have been rejected altogether.
How sad. It is tragic that God has set glorious covenant truths in place for our benefit and we fail to benefit from them either by
neglect or by out-and-out unbelief. (Unbelief is the willful rejection of know truth) The Word of God is truth (John 17:17) and
therefore it is imperative we receive all of it by faith wholeheartedly and with joy, knowing from Whom it has come to us.
Spiritual authority is one of those truths that have for the most part been neglected by Christians whose “truth diet” is milk rather
than meat. (Hebrews 5:11-14) The doctrine of spiritual authority tends to be neglected by those in the pulpit because by its very
nature a study of it requires a higher level of spiritual maturity to handle it properly. This doctrine is understood and taught on two
levels: 1) At the corporate level as it relates to the delegated authority from God given to the fivefold ministers who lead His
Church, and 2) At the personal level as it relates to how we operate our lives. This present study deals with the second of these –
the personal level.
The truth is we participate strongly with God for our own well-being. Allow me to say it like this: We are partners with God in our
covenant with Him. There is no doubt that God is the Source of the power but He operates in this dispensation through His people.
(Hebrews 1 and 2) One of the themes of Jesus’ teachings is our participation in God’s work on the earth. He tells us to speak to the
mountain, not to sit back and expect Him to move it for us. (Mark 11:23) He instructs us to go into all the world to expand His
kingdom, (Matthew 28:18-20) not to sit on the porch and He will send angels to do the job. He directs us to bind devils and loose
angels in order to cause the will of God to be done on the earth. (Matthew 18:18) Paul builds on this truth when he says, “Now to
Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:
20) Notice in this verse that the power of God is working in and through us!
God’s power + my participation = success!
I am concerned about one of the fad teachings in the Body of Christ today in which it is implied that we as children of God have
nothing to do with how things turn out in our lives; that it is all up to God. This belief is based on the erroneous concept that “God
has it all in control.” This teaching emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the powerlessness of mankind. They believe that the
outcome of every situation large or small is in God’s hands and we simply accept whatever He decides to do.
They might declare that it is He who protects us, He supplies our needs, he gives us favor, etc. and our only responsibility is to
wait on the Lord quietly as He handles the affairs of our lives. The truth is it is indeed God who protects us, supplies our needs,
and surrounds us with His favor, but we must realize that in each case we have a part to play in order for each promise to manifest
in our life. We are required to add faith to each promise; that is our part of the equation. We are required to bind and loose in order
to control the spiritual realm that surrounds us. And as we declare these truths by our words, the power in them (God’s power) is
released and the promise happens.
I remember a concert of the world-renowned trumpeter Phil Driscoll. Before Phil came onstage there were several horns on
stands in place waiting for the musician. Until he arrived, these horns were nothing more than pieces of metal. But in the hands of
this master musician these pieces of metal became instruments that produced beautiful music. What was the key to the beautiful
music? Was it the musician or was it the instruments he played? The answer is both. One without the other could not have done
anything. I would compare you and me to Phil’s trumpet. Alone, we are nothing. But with Almighty God at work through us, as Paul
the great apostle declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13)
My prayer for you is that you will rise into the revelation of who you are in Christ and that you fully understand His authority you
possess. When this happens, you will live out the promise, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and
through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (II Corinthians 2:14)
Whatever You Bind / Whatever You Loose
By Bishop Randy Barnett
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