I’m not sure what verses people are using to teach that “if we say positive things about ourselves, they shall come to pass.” I don’t know of one verse that teaches this. The truth is we are to be “occupied with others” and not with ourselves. One passage that teaches this clearly is Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. Look not every man on his own things, but EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS” (KJV). If we were to read on (in verses 5-8) we would see the prime example we have of this is Christ Jesus who “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant….He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ, who was “in the form of God” was willing to be “found in appearance as a man” so He could take man’s place in death and judgment on the cross to pay our debt of sin so we could be saved. He DID NOT think of Himself; He thought of OTHERS! We (who are saved) do well to follow the Lord’s example. We are here to be a blessing to OTHERS as we see in Romans 15:2-3a, “Let everyone of us PLEASE HIS NEIGHBOR FOR HIS GOOD to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself.”

Later, in verses 19-21, the apostle Paul says, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Timothy followed the Lord’s example of “seeking the good of OTHERS and NOT HIS OWN THINGS.” Notice, Paul IS speaking positive things about Timothy, but we can be sure Timothy wasn’t speaking these things of himself. That is a real lesson for us and Scripture teaches us this in Proverbs 27:2, “Let another man praise you, and NOT YOUR OWN MOUTH; a stranger, and NOT YOUR OWN LIPS.” We know that Scripture will never contradict itself and thus you will not find a Scripture that tells us to “speak positive things about ourselves.”

The verse you referred to is Matthew 18:18 which says, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This verse has nothing to do with “words that we speak;” they have to do with “actions that a local church takes.” If you read verses 15-20 you will see that the Lord instructs us about “dealing with one who has sinned and doesn’t repent.” There are 3 steps outlined: In verse 15 ONE BROTHER goes to the sinning saint to “tell him his fault” in hopes of him repenting. In verse 16 TWO OR THREE BROTHERS go to him so there are ample witnesses to confirm the action of the sinning saint. In verse 17 THE CHURCH then confronts the sinning saint and if he still doesn’t repent, they must act in discipline by “putting him out of fellowship” (see also 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 12-13). And in verse 18 we learn that the action of excommunication (which is what the words “BIND on earth” refer to) is “BOUND in heaven”; in other words, heaven itself sanctions that act of discipline. If the sinning saint later repents, he/she can be forgiven and received back into fellowship. They would then be “LOOSED on earth” and heaven would acknowledge that act too (he/she would be “LOOSED in heaven”). These “acts of discipline” by the local church are all done by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ who is “in the midst of them” (verse 20 with 1 Corinthians 5:4).  (DO)  (674.3)