PARABLE OF THE STRONG MAN

[Albert Finch]

Mathew 12:29 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. NASB

Mark 3:27 27 But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. NASB

Luke 11:21,22 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder." NASB

Christ in you is the one who is stronger and able to overcome.
The key to real freedom and overcoming the strongman is to displace the enemy and establish the presence of God. Where satan has been commanded to leave, fill it up with God's Word and presence through daily intimacy. Where the presence of the Lord is, the devil isn't!
Satan doesn't want to hang around where people are lifting up Jesus in worship and prayer. The presence of the Lord displaces the devil. "For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14).

BIND THE PRINCIPALITIES OF DISEASE AND SICKNESS

The reason we have authority over any strongman is because Jesus defeated them at the Cross. We simply need to apply it through the power of the Word and 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 2 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

Before demonic strongholds can be overcome, we should understand exactly what demonic strongholds are. The word stronghold appears only once in the New Testament (see II Corinthians 10:4), and the Greek word translated "stronghold" means "a fortification such as a castle." In this passage, the Apostle Paul is instructing 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." Lofty arguments and opinions are the results of pride and evil and vain imaginations - the very strongholds in which demons reside. This then is the essence of demonic warfare -- the power of God 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. While Jesus was here during His earthly ministry, He was freeing people from the devil by casting him out of them (see Luke 13:11-16; Mark 5:1-15; John 8:32-36). 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. In I John 4:4, we're told that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18, and James 4:7-8 show us the proper way to resist the devil and defeat his schemes through submitting to God.

What is more amazing is that Jesus 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).

In overcoming demonic strongmen and strongholds, we must remember the importance of prayer and intercession -- coming together in agreement to bind the principalities of disease and sickness during mass prayer before loosing and declaring the healing power of God through His Word!
And continue praying with other Believers against strongholds until you get results. There is intensified power in the gathering of more Believers. 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).

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY