Week 3 – Spiritual Authority of the Church
Day 19 – Binding and Loosing
Focus: Authority is exercised in unity, humility, and obedience.
Prayer: "Father, break down any pride in me that hinders unity, and give me a willing heart to obey Your voice."
Matthew 18:15-20
Forgive your brother15"When a brother sins against you, go to him and between the two of you show him how he has wronged you. If he listens, both of you will be reconciled.16If he refuses to listen, then take one or two others with you to confront him with his wrong. This fulfils what is written, that the testimony of two or three witnesses is needed to determine a dispute!17If he still refuses to acknowledge his guilt, then the whole church needs to be told of the matter. If he still thinks he is in the right, despite what the whole church says, then he is to be treated in the same way as you would a pagan or a crooked tax collector.18"I tell you this truth most emphatically, you have authority to prevent on earth what heaven does not allow, and you can liberate on earth what has been liberated in heaven.19"I also tell you clearly that when two of you agree in faith about the outcome of any matter about which you pray, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.20You see, whenever two or three of you gather together with faith in the authority of My name, I am there with you."
Father, thank You for making me a member of the Body of Christ. Help me to love Your Church as You love her. Teach me to serve with humility, walk in the authority of Jesus, be led by the Holy Spirit, and lay down my life for my brothers and sisters. Build us together into a dwelling place for Your presence and make us a powerful witness of Your Kingdom until Christ returns. In Jesus’ name, Amen.