Mark 3:27 NLT - "For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house" (Matthew 12:29). Christ in you is the one who is stronger and able to overcome. This is not the only place where the Lord plainly described a man as a "house" or habitation of the evil one.
In the same chapter, He speaks of the unclean spirit cast out and, finding no other habitation, says, "I will return to my house" (see Matthew 12:44) and because no other had taken his place, he is able to "enter and dwell there" (see Matthew 12:45) with seven others more evil than himself.
The key to real freedom and overcoming the strongman is to understand who you are in Christ and start walking in God's purpose for your life. Where satan has been commanded to leave, fill it up with a consecration to your calling in Christ. Establish His presence and cultivate vision.
THE MINISTRY OF BINDING AND LOOSING
The reason we have authority over any strongman is because Jesus defeated them at the Cross. We simply need to apply it though the ministry of the Holy Spirit!
We know that many infirmities and sicknesses today are the work and oppression of the devil (see Acts 10:38) and Jesus has given us power over all the power of the enemy (see Luke 10:19).
As II Corinthians 4:4 shows us, satan is the "god of this world." He is the strongman with power to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10) and he has the ultimate power of death (see Hebrews 2:14). The kingdoms of the world and their power and glory are the devil's (see Luke 4:5-6).
Jesus has given us the ministry to binding and loosing what has already been bound and released in Heaven because of His finished work! "I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19).
VICTORY OVER STRONG MEN
The Apostle Paul instructs the Church at Corinth how to fight against and "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God" (see II Corinthians 10:5).
They do this not by using the weapons of the world, but by "divine power." This then is the essence of demonic warfare -- utilizing Holy Spirit Power to overcome the strongholds of demons.
One way we can bind and weaken any demonic stronghold is by setting the captive free like Jesus and moving in our authority. As we set the oppressed free, we weaken the strongman! We must remember, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (II Corinthians 10:4).
One of the greatest ways we can plunder the strongman's house and overcome the enemy's power is by understanding our true authority in Christ and how to resist the devil by submitting to God's promises.
Jesus now gives authority and power to us. "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness" (Matthew 10:1).
Prayer with fasting intensifies faith, and faith will break strongholds. "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast him out?' However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:19, 21).
PREPARED FOR BATTLE
Galatians 5:17 - "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would."
We do not take on strongholds in our own strength. The fight with the flesh is not ours, but the Holy Spirit's ("for these are opposed to each other"), it is He, not we, who meets and deals with it. What is the result? "That you may not do the things that you would." -- what would we do naturally?
We would move off on some course of action dictated by our own instincts and apart from the will of God. The effect, therefore, of our refusal to come out of cover and act out from ourselves is that the Holy Spirit is free to do His work -- free, that is, to meet and deal with the flesh in us, so that in fact we do what we naturally would do (thereby overcoming the sin).
Galatians 5:16 - "Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh"
If we live in the Spirit, if we walk by faith in the risen Christ, we can truly "stand aside" while the Spirit gains new victories over the flesh every day.
Affirmations:
By depending on the Holy Spirit, He sets me free from the sin that is holding me down.
By allowing the Holy Spirit to deal with my potential sin I am preparing for the new thing that God has for my life.
In the same chapter, He speaks of the unclean spirit cast out and, finding no other habitation, says, "I will return to my house" (see Matthew 12:44) and because no other had taken his place, he is able to "enter and dwell there" (see Matthew 12:45) with seven others more evil than himself.
The key to real freedom and overcoming the strongman is to understand who you are in Christ and start walking in God's purpose for your life. Where satan has been commanded to leave, fill it up with a consecration to your calling in Christ. Establish His presence and cultivate vision.
THE MINISTRY OF BINDING AND LOOSING
The reason we have authority over any strongman is because Jesus defeated them at the Cross. We simply need to apply it though the ministry of the Holy Spirit!
We know that many infirmities and sicknesses today are the work and oppression of the devil (see Acts 10:38) and Jesus has given us power over all the power of the enemy (see Luke 10:19).
As II Corinthians 4:4 shows us, satan is the "god of this world." He is the strongman with power to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10) and he has the ultimate power of death (see Hebrews 2:14). The kingdoms of the world and their power and glory are the devil's (see Luke 4:5-6).
Jesus has given us the ministry to binding and loosing what has already been bound and released in Heaven because of His finished work! "I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19).
VICTORY OVER STRONG MEN
The Apostle Paul instructs the Church at Corinth how to fight against and "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God" (see II Corinthians 10:5).
They do this not by using the weapons of the world, but by "divine power." This then is the essence of demonic warfare -- utilizing Holy Spirit Power to overcome the strongholds of demons.
One way we can bind and weaken any demonic stronghold is by setting the captive free like Jesus and moving in our authority. As we set the oppressed free, we weaken the strongman! We must remember, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (II Corinthians 10:4).
One of the greatest ways we can plunder the strongman's house and overcome the enemy's power is by understanding our true authority in Christ and how to resist the devil by submitting to God's promises.
Jesus now gives authority and power to us. "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness" (Matthew 10:1).
Prayer with fasting intensifies faith, and faith will break strongholds. "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast him out?' However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:19, 21).
PREPARED FOR BATTLE
Galatians 5:17 - "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would."
We do not take on strongholds in our own strength. The fight with the flesh is not ours, but the Holy Spirit's ("for these are opposed to each other"), it is He, not we, who meets and deals with it. What is the result? "That you may not do the things that you would." -- what would we do naturally?
We would move off on some course of action dictated by our own instincts and apart from the will of God. The effect, therefore, of our refusal to come out of cover and act out from ourselves is that the Holy Spirit is free to do His work -- free, that is, to meet and deal with the flesh in us, so that in fact we do what we naturally would do (thereby overcoming the sin).
Galatians 5:16 - "Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh"
If we live in the Spirit, if we walk by faith in the risen Christ, we can truly "stand aside" while the Spirit gains new victories over the flesh every day.
Affirmations:
By depending on the Holy Spirit, He sets me free from the sin that is holding me down.
By allowing the Holy Spirit to deal with my potential sin I am preparing for the new thing that God has for my life.
