DISPLACING THE ENEMY

[FAITH]

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 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.” (Matthew 16:19).NASB

 

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).

 

One way we can bind and weaken any demonic stronghold is by setting the captive free like Jesus and moving in our Christ authority, enforcing God’s promises.  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).

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 - " The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions."NLT

 

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.

 

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

https://afministry.ning.com/