Thursday, October 7, 2010

Strongman

Binding the Strongman:  His Name & His Game
Pastor Mark K. Sanders Sr.

Luke 11:21-22
 21When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
 22But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Matthew 12:29
29Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
 30He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Who is this strongman?
Satan the God of this world is the strongman that Jesus is referring to.  Satan also has an intricate system or government of Angels and other evil spirits that move under his direction.  The scripture does mention that the only way to overcome him is that one who is stronger comes and overtakes him.

It is inaccurate to believe that we have the power of ourselves when it comes to binding the enemy.  Jesus has given us power and authority through His Spirit and his name.
The one with the binding or arresting assignment is Jesus, not us, his disciples. He is the one that is stronger than the strong man. Unless we begin to assume that we’re stronger than him. That’s not what the bible says. “Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand,” 2 Peter 2:10-12.

The one who does the binding is therefore Jesus. His work on the cross did the binding by taking away Satan’s authority over the earth, which became his house after Adam fell. He destroyed the legal grounds that Satan gained authority over us who had become his goods in his house. The legal claim came through sin.

Power & Authority
In our cities and municipalities all over the world we use the police to keep order in our communities.  Police has been given two things in order to do their duties:
Power-(Gk.Dunamis) "power", "capability", "strength", or "force".  They receive their power through training, weapons, and tactics

Authority-(Exousia) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)
the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed).  The police receive their authority through the government or kingdom through an act of law or the declaration of a monarch.

Spiritual Warfare in the Church
I John 3:8 
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to set the captives free and to free all that were oppressed by the devil.  In order to understand spiritual warfare, one must understand the mission and the assignment that was on the life of Jesus Christ.  Jesus did not come to earth so we could build our churches, makes us shout and dance, make our pockets fatter, or work our ministries.  Jesus came to take back the earth and humanity for God.  Jesus came to redeem man from the hands of Satan and to establish His kingdom in the earth.

Spiritual Principle #1-One must understand the order, purpose, and principle for the kingdom.
(thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven)

Spiritual Principle #2-Satan is a defeated foe.  Satan terrorizes the saints with fear and illusions.  Satan is a terrorist and terrorism is a tool of an enemy that is losing a fight.  Jesus seized power at calvary.
(Matthew 28:18 -And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.)
Spiritual Principle #3-Satan has been stripped of authority but he still has access into the lives of people (Yes, even the saints)
Colossians 1:10-13
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

I John 1:4-6
 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
 5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

SATAN’S LOCATION
·         Satan does not live in hell but he lives in a realm called darkness.  Anytime there is darkness, Satan has a legal right to be there.  Those things that we hide for god can become a habitation for the enemy
·         We must grasp the notion that Satan can traffic in any area of Darkness, even the darkness that exists in a Christians’ heart

Spiritual Principle #4-Close all open doors.  (Neither give place to the devil Eph 4:27).  Don’t make room for him through:
·         Lineage (Ex.20:5)
·         Crisis
·         Ignorance

Spiritual Principle #5-without the whole armor of God defeat is almost sure.
Eph. 6:10
God has armor but so does Satan.

God’s Armor
Satan’s Armor
 Belt of Truth
Belt of Doctrinal Error and Satanic lies
Breastplate of Righteousness
Breastplate of Pride
Shoes of the gospel of Peace
Shoes of Mischief
Shield of Faith
Shield of doubt and disbelief
Helmet of Salvation
Helmet of Fear
Sword of the Spirit
*

No comments:

Post a Comment