One biblical example of this kind of failing is with Peter. But first let us set the scene.
Jesus had just finished telling Peter that he was going to be used to help build His Church.
And, regarding verse 19, Peter, the disciples and all believers were also going to be given the "KEYS to the kingdom of heaven" - meaning that - they would have the authority to declare what God does when a person either accepts or rejects His Son.
In other words, as believers, God not only allows us, but wants us to give people the "key" - the knowledge of how - to get into heaven. We are to explain that when a person does not believe in Jesus, they are going to spend eternity in hell; but when a person puts their faith and trust in Jesus' work on the cross, at the time of belief, God forgives all of their sins, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit for all eternity. And only God can judge anyone's hearts...
(Matthew 16:13-20) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
It seems obvious that Peter didn't fully understand what Jesus meant, and got way ahead of himself.
As Jesus began to explain to the disciples that it was necessary for Him to die and be resurrected (which was part of "the key" to us getting into heaven), suddenly Peter felt he knew better what should and shouldn't happen. Peter was sharply rebuked for aligning himself with Satan's plan to stop Jesus from fulfilling God's will...
(Matthew 16:21-28) From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds...”
From this we see:
- saying and doing things which goes against God's will is the same as being aligned with Satan (Matt.16:23, Mark 8:33)
- Jesus will come with His angels at the end of the Tribulation (Matt.23:27, Mark 8:38)
Personal experience: I knew someone who was going for counseling, but I was a little perplexed when she asked me to go along with her to one of the sessions, until the counselor got into it. It began normal enough, with prayer and questions about how she was doing... and then it got weird.
He started to claim that he felt an evil presence in the room. He then asked her to tell him the name - whatever popped into her head. "Fear" was one of the "names". At the mention of each name, the counselor would rebuke the demon, bind it up and cast it into the abyss. A few minutes later, "Fear" was back...
I was just sitting there observing and praying... and thinking, "Didn't he JUST bind up 'Fear' and cast it into the abyss???"
And I was not feeling any evil presence. Not that I think I will always sense if a demon is present, because I don't know. What I did know was I was not sensing any. So, if there actually were any, what in the world did he think he was accomplishing?
What he was really doing was having my friend "channel demons".
After the session, when my friend asked what I thought, I told her that what they were doing was wrong. And dangerous. Why would you even want to let the demons speak? They are deceptive! And we do not have the authority to bind up demons and cast them into the abyss. Jesus didn't even do that when He would cast out demons. It seemed the man was taking the above verses way out of context.
After showing my friend a few Bible verses to explain why this was not a healthy approach to dealing with her issues, she stopped going to that counselor.
Today's takeaway: Jesus OCCASIONALLY spoke with the demons - but Jesus is God!!! In our humility, we need to realize that God knows best, and let Him deal with the demons as He sees fit.
And in our humility, we should seek to know and follow God's will, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us...
(Romans 8:12-17) So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
(Galatians 5:16-26) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
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