Earth’s effect in heaven
God has given his church a power that is supernatural yet many it is not exercised as it should. The ability to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead is at our finger tips (Mt10:1). With some faith and a word of authority we can bind the works of the enemy and cast it out. In fact, in Act 1 Jesus before his ascension told the disciples and they that were with them that power was going to be given to them like no other (v8). In fact, as the church began to take shape the proclamation that Jesus made that not even the gates of hell would prevail against began to surface (Mt16:18). So, he tells them that whatever they bind in earth it would be bound in heaven, whatever effects the church will have in earth it will be the same in heaven. We also see this same effect of heaven and earth in the Lord’s prayer when he mentions God’s will be done in earth as it is heaven (Mt6:10)
Matthew 18:18-19
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will bee] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will bef] loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
The things that we bind and loosen as the church in earth do effect heaven. And, as this happens in the spiritual realm where we can bind and loose demonic oppressions, so it happens with our interpersonal relations. Jesus teaches the order of the church when dealing with someone who has done wrong. The process in dealing with someone who has done wrong is to first confront him one to one, then bring a witness if he does not listens, and finally expose him to the church. If that person does not listen to the church, Jesus said treat him like a sinner (Mt18:17). Such measure would bind that person to that stigma. Now, the word bound means fastened by or as if by a band, and that person would be fastened by that stigma on earth and in heaven, but not only that person would be bound but you as well. When the phrase “in heaven” is mentioned it refers to the spiritual components such as prayer, fasting etc… So, imagine if that person would do it again, again and again, what would you do? Bring him to the church all the time, people would get tired. Peter asked Jesus how many times should he then forgive such a person (Mt18:21-22), and Jesus told him an infinite amount of times. You have either to go through the process of binding that person or simply forgive him. Binding someone might be the easiest way to justify one self, but it is the most cumbersome because it affects not only what happens in earth but in heaven too. Jesus said that if we cannot forgive someone else’s trespasses the Father in heaven cannot forgive you (Mt6:14-15, Col3:13). For forgiveness to happen and not the binding effects there needs to be mutual agreement intent between the two.
10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 6:10
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 18:17
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 6:14
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Colossians 3:13
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.