Xidhitaan iyo furfurid ayuu Ciise ku sheegay Matayos 16:19, markuu Ciise ka hadlay aasaaskii iyo hawlgalkii kaniisadda dhulka. Ciise wuxuu yidhi, whatsoever His church shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever His church shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. But does binding and loosing mean to bind demons (jinniyo shar leh) like a spirit of poverty, ruux fallaago ah, iwm. in a person? This is a popular teaching concerning spiritual warfare and deliverance that is preached from many pulpits. Many Christians apply this doctrine and principle of binding and loosing and bind evil spirits in persons or areas. But is this doctrine of binding and loosing Biblical? Where do Jesus and His disciples bind evil spirits in the Bible?
Jesus gave the church the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus promised that He would give His church the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever His church would bind, would be bound in heaven, and whatsoever His church would lose, waxaa lagu furan doonaa jannada. Binding and loosing are part of the keys of Heaven, which Jesus gave to His church; Golaha Mu'miniinta-mar labaad (Masiixiyiinta).
As mentioned in the previous blog post, keys represent access, xukun, and responsibility.
When you buy a house and get the keys to this house, you become the owner. The keys give you access to the house and responsibility for the house. You should be careful with your keys and who you allow and don’t allow into your house. With the keys, you can open the door and close the door. Now that’s what binding and loosing is all about.
Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to His church. As mentioned in the blog post What’s wrong with the church?’, the church of Jesus Christ is appointed on earth to represent Him, Dardaarankiisa, iyo Boqortooyadiisa.
The church is a gathering of born-again believers, who are His body. His body represents His will on earth.
Jesus gave all authority in the heavens and on the earth to His body. Sidaa darteed, the church has all authority in Him and a responsibility to open doors in the congregation and allow things and to close doors in the congregation to forbid things. Si kale haddii loo dhigo, the church has the authority and the responsibility to bind and to loose; to forbid and to permit.
What does the Bible say about binding and loosing in the Old Testament?
Ee Axdiga Hore, the congregation; Dadka Ilaahay (farcankii Yacquub; Israa'iil) was set apart from the pagan nations (Dadka aan Yuhuudda ahayn, aduunka). God gave them, Iyada oo loo marayo Muuse, amarradiisa, which represented His will and Kingdom. The congregation of Israel had to execute God’s will on earth. It was the responsibility of the congregation to keep the laws and the commandments of God.
The leaders of the congregation were responsible to protect God’s people and to guard the congregation. They had to make sure that none of God’s people would trespass God’s law and sin and do the evil works of the darkness; caadooyin, and works of the pagan nations.
If a person became rebellious by disobeying God’s commandments, it was the responsibility of the leaders of the congregation to execute God’s will and remove the evil (qofka) from the congregation. Because as soon as one person became rebellious and did evil, the whole congregation would be affected by his evil.
As long as the people of God stayed obedient to His word and commandments, they were protected. But as soon as they allowed things that opposed God’s will, God withdrew Himself and His protection from His people.
The leaders of the congregation were responsible for protecting the people and making sure that they stayed obedient to God’s word and will; His law and commandments and that they dealt with evil (dembi) and judged according to God’s will.
The church of Jesus Christ represents the Kingdom of Heaven
The church of Jesus Christ represents the Kingdom of Heaven, oo ah Boqortooyada Ilaah, dhulka. Peter was the first apostle who testified about Jesus the Christ, Wiilka Ilaaha nool.
Dhex marid Peter’s testimony, Peter opened the door for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter first gave the ability to the Jews and then to the Gentiles to become part of the body of Christ; kaniisadda Ciise Masiix.
The Gentiles were allowed to the body of Christ
Marka hore, the gospel of Jesus Christ was only meant for the Jews; God’s people after the flesh, and not for the Gentiles. The Gentiles were not allowed to enter the congregation. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, through a vision of God, God gave Peter the commandment and approval to open the doors for the Gentiles. (Falimaha Rasuullada 10:9-48).
What was forbidden (bound) in the first case became allowed (loosed).
The Gentiles were given the opportunity to become part of God’s people and become part of the church; jidhka Masiixa (Falimaha Rasuullada 10:28).
The church received in Christ the spiritual authority and power to govern the church and lead and teach Christians into all truth of the Kingdom of Heaven. So that they spiritually mature and grow up into the image of Christ.
The congregation has been given power to allow and to forbid things in the congregation.
As the church represents the Kingdom of God, the church is responsible for executing God’s will on earth.
The church of Jesus Christ is responsible for doing everything according to God’s will. God’s will is also the will of Jesus Christ and, sidaas darteed, the will of the Holy Spirit.
The church is responsible for doing and permitting things, which are according to God’s will (loosing). But the church is also responsible for forbidding all things that oppose God’s will (binding).
Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven
Waa qoran, whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. It doesn’t say, whosoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Binding doesn’t refer to people, malaafayaal, jinsiyad, iwm. refers to things, Xeerar, sharciyadooda, shaqo, ficilo, iwm.
The Word is very clear about Doonista Eebbe and obedience to the Word instead of walking on self-chosen paths.
The church ought to submit to the Head; Jesus Christ and be led by the Word and the Holy Spirit and obey the Word, instead of being led by her senses, shucuur, dareen, Natiijooyinka, fikradaha, carnal wisdom, aqoon, personal revelations, waayo-aragnimada, iwm. (Sidoo kale akhri: Is the Church build upon the opinion of people?).
The Head of the church is Jesus Christ; Erayga, Ninna maaha.
As long as the church does what the Word says and stays obedient to the Word, the church represents the Kingdom of God on earth. But when the church disobeys Erayga, the church won’t represent the Kingdom of God and God’s will, but the kingdom of darkness and the will of man.
What does Binding and loosing mean in the Bible?
Binding and loosing mean to forbid and permit. This becomes clearer when we look at Matthew 18, where Jesus spoke again about binding and loosing. When you read the principle of binding and loosing in this context, you’ll see what Jesus meant by binding and loosing. Jesus wasn’t talking about binding evil spirits in a person, but the responsibility of obedience to God’s will and forbidding sin in the church.
‘Whatsoever thou shalt bind’
Ciise wuxuu yidhi, if your brother trespasses against you, you should go to him and tell him his fault between you and him alone. When your brother hears you (iyo toobad keen), you have gained (badbaadiyey) your brother. But if he doesn’t want to hear you, then you shall take one or two with you. Markaa sidaas, by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
If your brother neglects to hear them, you should tell it to the church. If your brother neglects to hear from the church also, then let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican.
Markaasaa Ciise yidhi, Runtii waxaan idinku leeyahay, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
This means that as long as a person wants to keep walking in sin and isn’t willing to toobad and remove the sins from his life, then you should treat him as a heathen man and a publican.
Heathen men (Dadka aan Yuhuudda ahayn) and publicans were not allowed in the congregation of God. Sidaa darteed, this means that you should remove him from the church. Because the church represents the Kingdom of Heaven and God’s will and not the kingdom of darkness and the devil’s will.
The church has the authority to remit sins and retains sins
Qaado Ruuxa Quduuska ah: Oo kastoo aad dembaabi doontaan waxaad soo saartaa, waa loo soo celiyaa iyaga; oo kan kastoo aad dembaabaysaan oo aad haysataan, Waa la hakiyey (John 20:22-23)
The church received the Holy Ghost and has been given the authority to remit sins and retain sins. Only when a person listens and repents of sin, the church has the power to remit sins. When the church remits sins, it will be remitted in heaven.
Si kastaba ha ahaatee, when a person won’t listen and won’t repent, then the church should retain the sins to the person. When the sins are retained, the person belongs to the kingdom of darkness (aduunka). Sidaa darteed, the church shall remove the person from the congregation, iyo in la sameeyo, the person shall be delivered unto satan.
Oo ku alla kii isaga ku sii jiraa ma dembaabo: Ku alla kii dembaabaa ma arag isaga, isagana ma oga isaga. Carruur yaryar, ninna yuusan idin khiyaanayn: Kii xaqnimo sameeya waa xaq, Xitaa siduu isagu xaq yahay. Kii wax dembaabaa waa Ibliiska; Ibliisku bilowgii wuu dembaabay. Ujeeddaas aawadeed wiilka Ilaah waa la muujiyey, si uu u burburiyo shuqullada shaydaanka (1 John 3:6-8)
Qof kasta, yaa dembaabaya, has the devil as father and does his works and represents his kingdom. That’s why the church’s job is to reveal and forbid the works of the devil (dembi) kaniisadda dhexdeeda. Because sin binds people to the devil and gives him power.
Everything that the church forbids in the natural realm, shall be forbidden in heaven, DIIWAAN GELINTA.
That’s why it’s so important to get to know God’s will through His Word. So that the church executes His will on earth.
The church must forbid those things, taasoo Ilaah mamnuuc yahay, in the church on earth, so that they shall also be forbidden in heaven (binding).
What happened to Ananias and Sapphira in the church?
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit in the church. Because of their sin, they died. The church was holy and consecrated by God. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, the devil tried to enter the church, through the lives of Ananias and Sapphira.
The devil wanted to defile the church (the born-again believers) with evil; mugdiga. Because a little leaven, Waxay u qalmaan oo dhan. But the Holy Spirit prevented that from happening. Natiijo ahaan, Ananias and Sapphira, who had the character of Odaygii; shaydaanka, both died.
What does the Bible say about fornication in the Corinthian church?
Another example is given in 1 Korintos 5, where we read about fornication in the Corinthian church. A person had committed fornication with the wife of his father. The church leaders knew about it. But because the church leaders were puffed up, instead of mourning and removing the person from the church, they didn’t do anything.
Si kastaba ha ahaatee, the Holy Spirit sees and knows everything, and there’s no distance in the spiritual realm. Sidaa darteed, Bawlos, who was led by the Spirit, saw what was going on in the church at Corinth. Paul confronted the church leaders with their behavior and responsibility.
The church leaders should have taken action against the person, who had given access to the devil to the church, through his sin. Because by his deed of disobedience to God, he affected the whole congregation with evil. (Sidoo kale akhri: What is the meaning of the Valley of Achor?).
Sidaa darteed, Paul instructed the church leaders to remove the person from the congregation and deliver him unto satan; Boqortooyada gudcurka (aduunka).
Da'daan, many Christians would say: "what a nasty man, this Paul! Paul shouldn’t be so hars. He shouldn’t treat that poor man that way. Paul should have been tolerant and forgiving. He should show some love by allowing that person to the congregation and not by removing the person. We are all sinners, and we all make mistakes. It’s all by the grace of God that we are saved. Oo dhanka kale, you are not allowed to judge!”
The new man is led by the Word and the Holy Spirit
But you know, Paul and the other apostles weren’t Odaygii mar dambe, oo jidhka hoggaamiyo. They were not led by their feelings and emotions and by what they saw or heard. But they were ninka cusub., who is led by the Word and the Holy Spirit and what He revealed to them.
The apostles knew the Doodda Eebbe by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of the Word. They knew their enemy and were on guard, and were not misled and seduced by the lies of the devil.
The devil shall always try to enter people’s lives through the flesh. That’s why it’s so important to hilibka dhig. As long as the flesh is not laid down, people will keep sinning and allow dembiga kaniisadda.
In the Book of Revelations, we read about the seven churches. We don’t read anything about binding and loosing of demonic powers. Halkii, we read about what the churches had done (permitted) and what the churches should have done, but hadn’t done (mamnuuc ah).
“Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”
Ciise wuxuu yidhi: “Your will be done in heaven as on earth”. This applies to loosing. The commission that Jesus gave to His church is to represent and preach the Kingdom of God and bring the Kingdom of God to the people on this earth. The church shall do and permit all those things, which are according to the will of God.
Taas macnaheedu waa, marka hore, that those who repent and want to raac Ciise, be baptized in water oo ay helaan Ruuxa Quduuska ah. It means to preach the gospel and teach the believers all things, taasoo Ciise baray xertiisii, and make them disciples of Jesus Christ, bogsii dadka buka, and cast out demons.
They shall tread upon serpents, iyo hadday cabbi lahaayeen wax dilaa ah, waxba ma yeeli doono. As long as believers stay in Christ, the powers and works of darkness shall not be able to harm them.
Where did Jesus command us to bind demons?
Hadda, let’s have a look at the doctrine of binding and loosing related to binding demons (like a spirit of poverty, a spirit of sickness, ruux fallaago ah, a spirit of anger, a spirit of self-pity, ruuxa cabsida, iwm.) and loosing healing, maal, hodantinimo, iwm. If these doctrine of binding and loosing is inspired by Jesus, why don’t we read anything about it in the Bible? We don’t read anywhere that Jesus said: “I bind you, you spirit of …” We also don’t read anywhere that the apostles bound demons (jinniyo shar leh).
If Jesus would have wanted us to ‘bind’ jinsiyad, then why did He command us to ‘cast out’ jinsiyad?
Jesus didn’t command us to bind demons. Because how else can you deliver a person if you bind a demon in the person? The demon will not reveal himself, and you will not cast the demon out of a person. You don’t set people free by binding demons. But you set people free by commanding the demon to ‘come out’ and leave the person.
Ibliisku wuxuu u yimaadaa sida malaa'igta iftiinka
The devil will always try to raise new doctrines and spiritual revelations in the minds of people, that seem so spiritual and promising and make many people enthusiastic, but deviate from the Bible; Erayga Ilaahay. He will always try to mislead Christians through false doctrines that seem so godly, while in reality they derive from the devil.
The devil knows that the more false doctrines and methods, and the more steps Christians must take to deliver a person, the more confused they’ll get. Christians shall be more focused on their words and rely on their methods and steps to deliver a person, instead of trusting the Lord Jesus Christ and relying on His power and work.
If Christians bind demons, then they won’t be a danger to the kingdom of darkness. Because the demons still have access to people’s lives. They are only (ku meel gaar ah) bound.
The person shall not be delivered but remain possessed. Taasina waa waxa uu shaydaanku rabo, so that he will stay in control of people’s lives.
As long as the devil stays in control of people’s lives, he will have dominion on earth and in the spiritual realm.
The devil will even empower the words of Christians. Sidee? By commanding his demons to be silent for a while and not manifest themselves. So that Christians experience results and a person experiences a temporary relief that looks like a deliverance. Laakiin muddo ka dib, the demon shall manifest himself again and continue his destructive work. Because nothing happened to the person, the person is still possessed. Si kastaba ha ahaatee, Christians think that ‘binding and loosing’ works and shall continue.
Kaliya erayga, will we be able to discern the truth of God and the lies of the devil.
The church has been given the keys to bind and loose
The church is always connected to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven and is a reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Sidaa darteed, the church shall walk according to the Law of the Kingdom. The church is seated in the heavenly places in Jesus Christ. Only from this spiritual position shall the church reign and execute the will of King Jesus.
Everything that will be forbidden (bound) on earth in the Magaca Ciise, by believers, jannada lagu xidhi doonaa. Jesus shall empower the words and works in the spiritual realm by the Spirit. Just like God empowered the words and works of Jesus by the Spirit.
Jesus knew the will of His Father. Sidaa darteed, all His deeds and all His actions; His works were according to the doonista aabihiis.
Jesus forbade the works of the kingdom of darkness (binding). And Jesus permitted the works of the Kingdom of God (loosing), by bringing the Kingdom of God to the people
Jesus allowed the works of the Kingdom of God, and God empowered all His words and works by His Holy Spirit.
As long as the church obeys the commandments of Jesus and does His will, which is also the will of God, then He shall empower the words and works. But He shall not empower the words and works that oppose His will.
The church has been given, Ciise Masiix, the highest spiritual authority in heaven and on earth. There is no higher authority. Jesus has given His church; Jirkiisa, the commission to bind and to lose.
Binding and loosing means to forbid the works of the kingdom of darkness (binding) and to represent and bring the Kingdom of God by keeping His commandments and doing His will on this earth (loosing). Markaa sidaas, His Kingdom shall come and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven and Jesus and the Father shall be exalted and glorified.
‘ Dhulka milix ahow’
