Friday, July 24, 2026
The Error of Binding Satan
Rachel Rice Mercier Quoted Marsha West
Why do some Christians think they can bind the devil? The proof text they often use is Matthew 18:18: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
In context, however, "binding and loosing" refers to the authority Christ gave His church to make judgments regarding sin, repentance, forgiveness, and church discipline. The context begins in Matthew 18:15: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
This passage is not a promise that Christians can bind demons in order to cast them out of believers (no true believer needs a demon cast out), bind territorial spirits, or command Satan to cease his activity in a particular region or sphere. Nothing in the context has anything to do with spiritual warfare against demons.
If this is what you believe, or what you have been taught, then you have misunderstood the context of Jesus' words. Whoever taught you this is twisting the Word of God, has deceived you, and should cause you to question whatever else they teach.
Borrowed from Marsha West
Why do some Christians think they can bind the devil? The proof text they often use is Matthew 18:18: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
In context, however, "binding and loosing" refers to the authority Christ gave His church to make judgments regarding sin, repentance, forgiveness, and church discipline. The context begins in Matthew 18:15: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."
This passage is not a promise that Christians can bind demons in order to cast them out of believers (no true believer needs a demon cast out), bind territorial spirits, or command Satan to cease his activity in a particular region or sphere. Nothing in the context has anything to do with spiritual warfare against demons.
If this is what you believe, or what you have been taught, then you have misunderstood the context of Jesus' words. Whoever taught you this is twisting the Word of God, has deceived you, and should cause you to question whatever else they teach.
Borrowed from Marsha West
Instructions for the Believers in the Gathering
What does the instruction for the believers in the gathering look like? God said that we gather to edify one another in our worship.
When the gathering of believers is modeled after the first-century church, everyone in the meeting will be led by the Holy Spirit, and all will participate.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
1 Corinthians 14:22-33 "26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people."
Women are disallowed from chattering and disrupting but they are allowed to speak as led by the Holy Spirit.
There is nothing in the Bible that allows for one man paid preachers to dominate everything while disallowing others in the gathering to participate.
The hierarchy system of today, the pulpit above the people, the schedule of activity as created by men, is not at all what God designed for the gathering. It tends to silence all the people in pews facing forward in worship fashion toward the man in the pulpit.
Most attendees in modern churches do not read their Bibles at home, the very reason they have nothing to offer when they come to the gathering.
The modern church has been trained that they should not speak or interject when a paid pastor is speaking.
1 Corinthians 14:30 "…29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."
Because of the hierarchical system of the church gatherings today, wise people are prevented from speaking or interjecting while the paid pastor is the center of attention. This usurps the Holy Spirit.
I have witnessed the beauty of gatherings that operate Biblically. Everything is Spirit-led, and no one is treated as "less than" others. Jesus Christ is uplifted. In modern gatherings, people are elevated above the Holy Spirit.
Because people are prone to be lazy, allowing others to tell them what to think, they have lost the ability to discern right from wrong. If the group does not challenge anything the preacher says, then it is taken as truth even when it may be full of errors.
Hebrews 5:14 "14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil."
Proverbs 3:5-6"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
Notice God never tells us to trust in the teachers, trust in any man or trust in ourselves! He tells us to trust in Christ!!!
Romans 12:2 "2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
When we trust in Christ, we will be receiving our instruction from Him. Others may speak, and we may agree with them; this is edification, but our instructions come from Christ, not men.
If a person speaks wrong doctrine, then it is our job to correct them. I they continue to disagree with us, then we should go to prayer and Bible reading to come to an agreement.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
I realize that this passage in Thessalonians has to do with earning our own living. Still, I think the principle can also apply to not depending on anyone but God in everything, including our teaching. We listen to others, we evaluate what is said, and we share, but our dependence is totally on Christ.
Christ will lead us into truth, into actions He wants us to perform, in teaching, and much more when our dependence is completely on Him.
Our confidence in Christ is an example for those who are still depending on people to validate them or people to convince them. We are convinced by the leading of the Holy Spirit when we trust in His word.
Our sharing with others and their sharing with us edifies us, challenges us, and motivates us to depend more fully on Christ. The goal is never to make others dependent on any other person; our goal is to edify our brothers and sisters to depend on Christ.
When the gathering of believers is modeled after the first-century church, everyone in the meeting will be led by the Holy Spirit, and all will participate.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
1 Corinthians 14:22-33 "26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people."
Women are disallowed from chattering and disrupting but they are allowed to speak as led by the Holy Spirit.
There is nothing in the Bible that allows for one man paid preachers to dominate everything while disallowing others in the gathering to participate.
The hierarchy system of today, the pulpit above the people, the schedule of activity as created by men, is not at all what God designed for the gathering. It tends to silence all the people in pews facing forward in worship fashion toward the man in the pulpit.
Most attendees in modern churches do not read their Bibles at home, the very reason they have nothing to offer when they come to the gathering.
The modern church has been trained that they should not speak or interject when a paid pastor is speaking.
1 Corinthians 14:30 "…29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."
Because of the hierarchical system of the church gatherings today, wise people are prevented from speaking or interjecting while the paid pastor is the center of attention. This usurps the Holy Spirit.
I have witnessed the beauty of gatherings that operate Biblically. Everything is Spirit-led, and no one is treated as "less than" others. Jesus Christ is uplifted. In modern gatherings, people are elevated above the Holy Spirit.
Because people are prone to be lazy, allowing others to tell them what to think, they have lost the ability to discern right from wrong. If the group does not challenge anything the preacher says, then it is taken as truth even when it may be full of errors.
Hebrews 5:14 "14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil."
Proverbs 3:5-6"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
Notice God never tells us to trust in the teachers, trust in any man or trust in ourselves! He tells us to trust in Christ!!!
Romans 12:2 "2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
When we trust in Christ, we will be receiving our instruction from Him. Others may speak, and we may agree with them; this is edification, but our instructions come from Christ, not men.
If a person speaks wrong doctrine, then it is our job to correct them. I they continue to disagree with us, then we should go to prayer and Bible reading to come to an agreement.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
I realize that this passage in Thessalonians has to do with earning our own living. Still, I think the principle can also apply to not depending on anyone but God in everything, including our teaching. We listen to others, we evaluate what is said, and we share, but our dependence is totally on Christ.
Christ will lead us into truth, into actions He wants us to perform, in teaching, and much more when our dependence is completely on Him.
Our confidence in Christ is an example for those who are still depending on people to validate them or people to convince them. We are convinced by the leading of the Holy Spirit when we trust in His word.
Our sharing with others and their sharing with us edifies us, challenges us, and motivates us to depend more fully on Christ. The goal is never to make others dependent on any other person; our goal is to edify our brothers and sisters to depend on Christ.
Thursday, July 23, 2026
The Meaning of Leader From the Bible
Husbands and wives submit to one another as they submit to God. If either husband or wife wants their spouse to sin, then they must be corrected and not submit to that.
The Real Meaning of Leadership
Husbands and wives submit to one another as they submit to God. If either husband or wife wants their spouse to sin, then they must be corrected and not submit to that disobedience.
Christ Did it all on the cross and His Way is Best
If sin could lose us our salvation, then even the tiniest sinful thought would do it. Christ didn't come to die so that we would have to finish the work of salvation with our works. When we die, our body remains here while our soul goes to heaven because our body is sinful, our mind is still flesh, and we have to battle it constantly.
Ephesians 6:12 "12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
God also says that we must confess our sins to be cleansed, not to be save all over again. 1 John 1:9
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The more we confess the more we grow in holiness; it is in confessing that we are determined not to repeat the sin we are ashamed of.
I am convinced that when we confess the small things while they are still in our minds, we will become more deeply aware and resist the thought quickly; it will never become an action or destructive words.
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."
Those who refuse to admit their sin, do not repent and even defend it, are those who have never been born again.
God will not leave His children in sin guilt free, they will be miserable until they confess it.
1 John 5:18 "We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him."
Romans 6:2 "Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?"
1 Peter 2:24 "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
Time passed does not heal the broken relationship when sin is unconfessed. We know this because our unconfessed sins will be dealt with after our death.
Relationships do not heal from pretending enough time has passed. When disrespect continues the more trust is eroded until the time when someone admits the offense in sincere regret at the harm that was done.
Only humble apologies will heal a broken relationship. We live in a world that thinks all people have to do is say they believe in Jesus Christ and attend church without any remorse or shame over the sin in their lives.
James 5:16 "16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Our broken relationship with Christ is not mended until we confess that we have a sinful nature and need to be transformed by Christ, trusting completely in Him.
In the same way, a broken relationship between people is not reconciled or mended until there is confession of wrong and a humble apology.
This humility and apology is the means to changed behavior. Without this, no change occurs.
God's way is always best for everyone!!!
Ephesians 6:12 "12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
God also says that we must confess our sins to be cleansed, not to be save all over again. 1 John 1:9
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The more we confess the more we grow in holiness; it is in confessing that we are determined not to repeat the sin we are ashamed of.
I am convinced that when we confess the small things while they are still in our minds, we will become more deeply aware and resist the thought quickly; it will never become an action or destructive words.
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."
Those who refuse to admit their sin, do not repent and even defend it, are those who have never been born again.
God will not leave His children in sin guilt free, they will be miserable until they confess it.
1 John 5:18 "We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him."
Romans 6:2 "Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?"
1 Peter 2:24 "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
Time passed does not heal the broken relationship when sin is unconfessed. We know this because our unconfessed sins will be dealt with after our death.
Relationships do not heal from pretending enough time has passed. When disrespect continues the more trust is eroded until the time when someone admits the offense in sincere regret at the harm that was done.
Only humble apologies will heal a broken relationship. We live in a world that thinks all people have to do is say they believe in Jesus Christ and attend church without any remorse or shame over the sin in their lives.
James 5:16 "16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Our broken relationship with Christ is not mended until we confess that we have a sinful nature and need to be transformed by Christ, trusting completely in Him.
In the same way, a broken relationship between people is not reconciled or mended until there is confession of wrong and a humble apology.
This humility and apology is the means to changed behavior. Without this, no change occurs.
God's way is always best for everyone!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)