In consideration of the nature of mankind; it’s a common desire and/or claim, to boast of the result of God’s provision as if it’s the result of man’s strength, not that this always occurs, but it often can. It can be that God’s power is desired by man for His own satisfaction and increase rather than it being dispensed in humility and recognition that all power and authority comes from God; “For who makes you to differ [from another]? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive [it], why do you boast as [if you] hadn’t received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7.
The perspective that best governs Godly actions, thoughts, words and interpretation of scripture, is a perspective which honours God as the source of all wisdom, power and authority;
Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven; and whatever you shall loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you shall agree on earth as regarding anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in Heaven.
Matthew 18:18-19
This verse could be mistaken to be saying that whatever (in relation to it’s context) men decide on, God will endorse. The context of this verse is principally in relation to Gods instruction to the disciples as to how to manage relationships in the congregation, where one person who professes faith sins against another. In this passage, it states: “Whatever you shall bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven;” This statement and the subsequent ones don’t give man power to wield God’s authority as we wish; man has no authority unless it’s given by God: “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over me if it were not given to you from above…'” John 19:11
When members of the body righteously apply God’s instruction, then it’s not a matter of God endorsing their actions in heaven; but instead, because all Godly instruction and authority comes from God, and His will is to be done on earth as in heaven; when man is acting according to His will, it’s God’s will that is being done on earth as in heaven; not man’s will. So man has no claim to the power, but rather he has responsibility to act according to, and in submission to God’s will. It’s not my will that’s to be done, but God’s. The Saints aren’t to act and decide independently of God, or to claim that we have some degree of wisdom, power or authority of our own development; we’re to act righteously in obedience to Him according to His will. He calls us the body of Christ, Christ always does the will of the Father, and we being many are one bread, and one body: So man has no boast of himself, but boasts in Christ of God’s granting the wisdom, understanding, strength, power, authority or gift:
God’s desire is that His children live in obedience to His will, just as Christ always is. The time past is enough to have grieved us and Him with us living after the desires of our flesh, now it’s time to live according to His will, to know what “real life” is!
The simplicity of God’s instruction is often left aside, and replaced with a humanistic “intelligent” process of managing matters, and in the process, “power” and “authority” are sometimes claimed in Christ’s name by man, but: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, haven’t we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I’ll declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
2 Corinthians 10:13
By God’s grace, may we take the lowest seat at the table, and be of those who do His will on earth, as do those who are in heaven; may we receive in humility, a measure of the rule which God distributes to us through Christ Jesus, to God the Father’s glory.
APOOct2019
