Binding the Strong Man (Pt.1)

There’s a lot of talk in the modern charismatic church about exercising our authority to “bind and loose” satan. After all, Christ conquered the enemy on the Cross, and, as God’s children, we now have the authority to command satan, just as Jesus did. As the scripture says…

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven."
(Mat 16:19)

But, how, exactly, did Jesus go about binding the enemy? Did He do it by simply declaring “I bind you satan”. Certainly He had the authority. But if authority alone was enough to bind satan, why hasn’t the church managed to do it in over 2000 years?

The truth is, none of Christ’s miracles or works would have been possible had satan not already been bound before Christ began His ministry.

Or 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.
(Mat 12:29)

Before Christ could begin His ministry on earth (strong man’s house), He had to first “bind the strong man”. He accomplished this in the wilderness when satan approached Him with three temptations.

Then the tempter approached Him and said, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
(Mat 4:3)

Satan’s first temptation to Christ was to appeal to the Lord’s immediate need. Jesus was hungry. He hadn’t eaten for 40 days. Satan used this tangible need to try and draw Christ’s attention away from His spiritual purpose of fasting and prayer. He wanted Jesus to focus instead on His hunger.

But He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
(Mat 4:4)

Jesus replied by speaking what is right, which immediately rendered satan’s temptation null and void. Had Jesus turned his attention to His hunger and prayed for the stones to become bread, He would have been in submission to satan rather than God and would have forfeited His authority over satan on earth. This is no small matter. Authority is a powerful tool, but it must be wielded with wisdom or it can be easily lost.

This says to me that I can not allow my needs to dominate my prayer life. To do so is to play directly into satan’s hand. My prayer life, and, indeed, my entire Christian walk is to be defined by the word (rhema) of God. It is only through an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that I can know and identify what my true needs are. And it’s only these true needs, as defined by my Father, that I need to bring before Him in prayer. As Jesus said…

So don't worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
(Mat 6:31-33)

When I set my heart to follow this rule, I have effectively denied satan the first of his weapons – the ability to distract me from my purpose by surrounding me with external needs.

But even with this great truth satan is only one third bound. And He must be all the way bound if I’m to enter into my destiny as the Lord entered into His.

To be continued…

A Kingdom of Kings

By definition, a king is a soverign (answers to no one) ruler. How, then, can a kingdom be made up of thousands of sovereign rulers? It can't. Unless, of course, all the kings are of the same spirit. In such case, the many kings would be as one King with diverse talents, gifts, callings, and territories over which to rule.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1Co 12:13)

In this way, the Spirit of God, operating through the "kings of the earth" is able to reach a greater number of people in more diverse ways than He was able to as one man on earth.

"I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. (Joh 14:12)

Just as Christ was given the territory of Jerusalem and Palestine as His provincial kingdom, each of us earthly kings has been given an ever-increasing province over which to rule in the Lord's Name. This provincial territory always begins with our own soul. If we haven't learned to take dominion there, how can we hope to advance it elsewhere?

I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. (Jos 1:3)

This word to Joshua pertained to the "promised land", but applies equally to everything (territory) God has promised us by His Spirit. If we want to see these promises manifest, we must place the "sole of our foot" upon it, which means we must "enter the strong man's house and bind him" with the authority we have as a king in God's Kingdom.

For example: if the house is our soul, we take dominion by feeding the Word and Spirit of God into it. Just as Christ did when He entered His ministry on the earth (strong man's house). He took each of satan's lies to task with the double edge sword of the Word and the Spirit. The result, satan (strong man) was helpless (bound) to stop Him.

Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Mat 28:18)

The great commission was given for us to reclaim the territory (all creation) lost in the fall of man, territory satan has established great strongholds over. Namely, our soul, body, relationships with others, finances, our witness to the world, our calling, our ministry etc. Each of these is a provincial territory that we have been granted kingly authority to rule over in Jesus' Name. But we must begin at the beginning (soul) if we hope to advance our borders and enlarge our territory with the Kingdom authority that is ours by birthright.

But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. (Act 1:8)


And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Rev 21:23-24)

Sanctification of the Soul

And he (Noah) said: Canaan will be cursed. He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers. He also said: Praise the LORD, the God of Shem; Canaan will be his slave. God will expand Japheth; he will dwell in the tents of Shem; Canaan will be his slave. (Gen 9:25-27)

As discussed in a previous post, the three sons of Noah represent the Body, Soul, and Spirit of man. Noah's curse of Canaan as "the lowest of slaves" speaks of the Body which has no will of its own but answers to the Soul or Spirit. Noah's blessing over Japheth, that God will "expand" him, is a play on words as Japheth means "to expand". This speaks of the Soul which expands with the knowledge and understanding of the Spirit. This is why Japheth (Soul) is told he will "dwell in the tents of Shem" (Spirit). Shem, who's name literally means "name", speaks of the Spirit which God designed to have dominion over both the Soul and Body.

These three, Spirit, Soul and Body, also equate to the three main areas of God's Holy Temple. Beginning with the Holy of Holies which represents the Spirit, the place of God's power and promises (ark of the covenant).

The Holy Place which represents the Soul, the place where the written Word of God (showbread), revealed Word of God (candlestick) and prayers of faith (altar of incense) are presented to God. Notice that, just as Noah prophesied, the Soul (Japheth) literally dwelt under the same roof as the Spirit (Shem).

And the Outer Court which represents the Body, the place of our works (laver for washing hands of the priests) and testimony of love (altar of sacrifice).

God designed us "in His image" to be creatures of Spirit, Soul. and Body, and He gave us the model of His Holy Temple so we could understand the design function of each.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?(1Co 3:16)

Scripture teaches that we are "new creatures" in Christ which refers to the perfection of the Spirit of God which now occupies the place in us previously held by the spirit of the world. The Holy Spirit works on our Soul, which has been defiled by the lies imbedded in us from our previous way of life. This defiled Soul is still, however, absolute master over the Body and mind, and will remain so until the Soul is sanctified by the Spirit.

In other words, we can have the Spirit of Almighty God living inside of us, and still be led around by the nose by our unredeemed Soul. Which is like having all the power and promises of God (ark of the covenant) hidden behind a thick veil. But Christ was crucified to tear this veil and give us open access to the Spirit of God.

The model of God's temple shows us the only way to convert our unredeemed Soul. Specifically, God's written Word (showbread), His revealed Word (candlestick), and the intimate prayer of faith (altar of incense) which combine to effectively replace the lies resident in our Soul with the Truth that sets us free.

Kingdom Publicity

Moses and the Israelites were bound for the promised land. But to get there they had to cross through the territory of the Amorites. The kings of the Amorites refused to let them pass and came up against them with all their armies. King Sihon and King Og were, themselves, giants and their armies were vast and fierce.

Israel had walked into an ambush set by satan himself. His intent was to deny the Israelites what God had promised them. He must've thought he'd succeeded as the Amorites greatly out numbered Israel and had them surrounded on every side.

After he (Moses) had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei (Deu 1:4)

God was with Moses and Israel. Sihon and Og were both killed that day and their armies scattered to the four winds. To better understand how this applies to us, we have to examine the meanings of the names given in the text.

Sihon means "chaos". Og means "intimidation". Sihon lived in a place called Heshbon which means "contrivance or deception". Og lived in a city called Astaroth which means "to increase by greed".

This says to me that whenever we, as did Moses, actively pursue the Kingdom and the Lord's promises, the enemy will always try to ambush us by using others to cause chaos through outright deception (lies) and intimidation rooted in greed. Victory over this comes only when we stand firm in our determination to press into the Kingdom promises. We evidence this determination by refusing to allow satan's distractions to draw us away from our goal. Just as Peter when he walked on water did so only when his eyes were fixed on the King.

The battle between Israel and the Amorites took place in a city called Edrei which literally means "publicity". This speaks of the witness to the world that results from Kingdom Victory over the enemy. As Christ was ambushed by the Jews and nailed to a cross, only to rise again on the third day to proclaim His public Kingdom Victory, our testimony over having defeated the lies and intimidations sent to destroy us, is the "publicity" of the Kingdom that satan fears most.

And (Rahab) said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land and that dread of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. (Jos 2:9-11)

Kings and Priests

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:6)

Satan hates it when we are in balance with the Kingdom of Heaven. He's fine with us having some of the Word of God, just as long as it's without the Spirit and vice versa. In the same way he'll tolerate us being either a priest or a king unto God, but will fight tooth and nail to keep us from operating in both in balance. Why? Because the role of the priest is to prepare the showbread (logos), trim the lamps of the candlestick (rhema), and burn fresh incense (prayers of faith) on the golden altar daily. When all of this is done faithfully, access to the Holy of Holies (Spirit of God in us) becomes available, granting us both authority and power to act against satan's purposes. This is where our role as king takes over as we take up the "sword of the Spirit" and exercise what the priest in us has already obtained -- our rhema authority to "bind the strong man and spoil his house".

By definition, a priest has no business wielding a sword. That is the right of a king. Yet too many of us in the body of Christ have limited our spiritual warfare to prayer and rebuking the enemy which is like a priest waving around a sword. The opposite is also true in that many are going in where angels fear to tread (government, business, education, entertainment) without the covering and authority afforded through our priestly office.

Consider King David, whom God called a "man after My own heart". All of His great victories, including his first over Goliath, were won first on his knees as he was fulfilling the spiritual office of a priest unto God.

So David again inquired of God, and God answered him, "Do not pursue them directly. Circle down away from them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then march out to battle, for God will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines." So David did exactly as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. Then David's fame spread throughout the lands, and the LORD caused all the nations to be terrified of him. (1Ch 14:14-17)

Satan fears the day when all God's children understand, as David did, the power of operating as both a priest and a king in the service of God. The priesthood is about more than prayer, it's about the prayer of faith which comes only to the one who balances rightly the Word and the Spirit. Just as being a king is about more than fighting battles, it's about fighting with the sword of the Spirit in the full power and authority of the Kingdom.

He (Christ) shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both (king and priest). (Zec 6:13)

The Seventh Sense

1. Seeing
2. Hearing
3. Tasting
4. Touching
5. Smelling
6. Feeling (emotions)

With these six senses we can experience life through both the body and the soul. But to experience the life of the Spirit, we need to employ a seventh sense -- Faith.


Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)

When we mix the written Word of God (logos) with the revelation of the Spirit of God (rhema) true biblical Faith is the result.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)

This is the Faith that moves mountains, breaks down the gates of Hell, accesses the provision of Heaven, and pleases the heart of God. There is no other way to connect with the Spirit than by Faith. We can't literally feel Him, see Him, hear Him, taste Him, touch or smell Him. But we can know Him by Faith in every word He has given us concerning Himself and His Kingdom on earth.

Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror; for he looks at himself, goes away, and right away forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom (Word of God) and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts--this person will be blessed in what he does. (Jas 1:23-25)

The Word of God is like a mirror that reflects back at us who we truly are in Christ. Our six senses can't show us this reflection, only our seventh sense applied to the mirror of the Word can reveal this invisible truth.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2Co 5:17)

Kingdom Assignments

As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to." (Act 13:2)

Paul and Barnabas had been serving the Lord for years. They had performed countless miracles and saw hundreds converted to the faith. Yet here the Holy Spirit says to them "set apart for me Barnabas and Paul for the work I have called them to".

This is a statement of promotion that says to Paul and Barnabas that all they've been doing up to this point has just been training for the assignment God always had for them. Their true destiny was in Rome and, with this promotion, Paul was being taken from the Fourth Day (WITNESS) into the Fifth Day (CALLING) of God's plan for his life. This calling meant Paul would be given ALL AUTHORITY to speak and act for the Kingdom of Heaven, even in the presence of Caesar himself.

Later, we discover Paul's assignment would involve him being arrested and taken to Rome by ship...

By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the fast was already over, Paul gave his advice and told them, "Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward damage and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said. (Act 27:9-11)

Paul had spoken under his assignment authority. The centurion did not recognize this authority and chose in his ignorance to remain under the ship's captain. Then the storm rose up...

For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging; finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing. Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, "You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me, saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.' (Act 27:20-24)

Paul's assignment was a God ordained work that nothing in Heaven or on earth could stop. Paul could speak with confidence about the fate of the crew that was with him because he understood the authority the assignment afforded him.

After the entire crew was safe on dry land, Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake. The poison had no effect on him for the same reason the shipwreck could not claim him or anyone sailing with him -- the authority of his Kingdom assignment. Every attempt by satan to prevent Paul from reaching Rome failed. Even though Paul was operating inside enemy territory, because of his assignment he always spoke and acted in full authority.

The Kingdom Within Us

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. (Gen 9:25-27)

Noah had three sons, Shem, Japheth, and Ham. Ham was guilty of disrespecting his father. As punishment, his son Canaan was cursed to be a lifelong servant to his brothers, Shem and Japheth. This is a picture of the Spirit (Shem), Soul (Japheth), and Body (Ham/Canaan) and the role each has in the Kingdom within us.

Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant…

The Spirit (Shem) is blessed to be master over the Body (Canaan). This speaks of God’s intention that His indwelling Spirit would have dominion over our actions, words, and works.

God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant…

Japheth represents the Soul. God’s intent for the human soul is that it would “dwell in the tents” of the Spirit (Shem), meaning that the Spirit in us should have dominion over our Soul, just as our redeemed Soul should have dominion over our Body.

In this way, the Spirit would ultimately have control over both Soul and Body resulting in the releasing of His Kingdom treasure (power, love, wisdom, etc. ) from our earthen vessels. We see this beautifully modeled both in the tabernacle of Moses and the Temple of Solomon.

The innermost chamber of God’s house is the HOLY OF HOLIES. This is the place of the SPIRIT OF GOD (Shem). It is where the ark of God’s promise and power is kept. The Hebrew word for “Shem” is translated “Name”. Therefore, the Holy of Holies is the place of the Lord’s Name.

He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (2Sa 7:13)

The next room is called the HOLY PLACE which speaks of the Soul (Japheth) and is furnished with the table of showbread (Word) and the golden candlestick (Spirit of the Word), as well as the golden altar which speaks of communion with God (Prayer). This is what it means to “dwell in the tents of Shem”.

The last area is the OUTER COURT which speaks of the Body (Canaan). Here we find a laver for washing the hands (good works) and an altar for sacrifice (love). The Body has no will of its own. It is a “servant of servants to his brothers”, the Spirit and the Soul.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1Co 3:16)

Conclusions:

Jesus called satan the “god of this world”. During his reign, satan’s authority over the human spirit and soul was absolute, as it was in you and me before salvation came. While under satan’s jurisdiction, his lies were the only truth we knew. He controlled our understanding and response to every experience in our lives be it “good” or “evil”. He prescribed our values, our beliefs, our sense of justice, even our definition of love. And though we are now “new creatures” set free by the cross of Christ, these old values and beliefs are still firmly resident in our souls. And like giants in the promised land, they must be evicted if we are to release the pure, undiluted faith that accesses the power and promises of the Spirit of God in us.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2Co 10:3-5)