Thoughts for Life: #137 How to Bind Satan, Part 2 (4)

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: (4) Win the Battle in the invisible realm. Prayer warfare is largely a battle, directly or indirectly, against the spirit world.

We must confront and defeat the powers of darkness in their own realm of the invisible before our victories for Christ are visible on earth. Ours is a battle of faith and prayer.

We are to conquer in the heavenly realms (Eph. 3:10; 6:12), but the results will become visible here on earth. [Also see #131 Win the Invisible War First] (Google image, Praying together).

We attack the cause, not the effect, just as Jesus did. Our binding is an invisible binding. The Spirit can enable us to recognize the invisible fetters binding people, the invisible power corrupting them, the unseen spirit whispering in their heart and motivating them.

Often the results of our victory in the invisible are immediately recognizable in the visible. At other times we cannot see for a time whether our prayer has been answered.

But our warfare is a faith warfare. Just because we cannot instantly measure the results does not prove that God has not acted and that Satan has not begun to leave.

The unseen battle sometimes takes time. We, having done all, must stand, stand, stand. This is Scripture's exhortation concerning the battle in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:10-14).

A Christian foreman in the maintenance department of a garage was burdened about the constant swearing and filthy speech of the men working there. He came to realize that it was Satan's demons, influencing the minds and conversation of these people.

He immediately began to bind the powers of Satan. He arranged to arrive each morning before his fellow workmen. Then in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, he commanded the evil spirits to leave the place and forbade them to come again and influence the men.

He said to them, 'I hold God's most holy curse on you." He maintained his prayer warfare, binding Satan day after day for several months. The whole atmosphere of the place cleaned up, and the men seemed to forget their foul vocabulary and impure discussions.

The Kneeling Christian tells of a Chinese Christian boy of twelve years of age, named Ma-Na-Si, who left boarding school and came home for a vacation time. As he stood on the doorstep of his father's home, he heard a horseman galloping up to him.

The man, a non-Christian, was greatly agitated and wanted to see the Jesus man—the pastor, the boy's father—immediately. Ma-Na-Si explained that his father was away from home.

The visitor became very distressed. He said he had been sent to get the Jesus man to cast a demon out of a young woman in his village. She was torn by demons, raving, reviling, pulling out her hair, clawing her face, tearing her clothes . . . He described her blasphemy, her raging outbursts, and her foaming at the mouth until she was exhausted physically and mentally.

The boy kept explaining, "But my father is not here. My father is not here." Finally the frenzied man fell on his knees and said, "You, too, are a Jesus man. Will you come?"

The boy was surprised for a moment. Then he made himself available to Jesus. Like little Samuel, he was willing to obey God in everything. He agreed to go with the stranger, who then jumped on his horse and put the boy behind him.

As they galloped away, Ma-Na-Si began to pray. He had accepted an invitation to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus, but was he worthy to be used by God?

He searched his heart, prayed for guidance, what to say and how to act. He tried to remember how Jesus had dealt with the demons. Then he simply trusted God's power and mercy and asked for Jesus to be glorified.

When they arrived at the house, several family members were by force holding the tortured woman upon the bed. She had not been told that someone had gone for the pastor.

But when she heard footsteps outside, she called out, "All of you get out of my way quickly, so I can escape. I must flee! A Jesus man is coming. I cannot endure him. His name is Ma-Na-Si."

Ma-Na-Si entered the room. He sang a Christian song, praising the Lord Jesus, and in the name of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, glorified, and omnipotent, he commanded the demon to come out of the woman.

Instantly she was calm. from that day on, she was perfectly well. She was amazed when they told her that she had announced the name of the Christian boy who was coming. Even a twelve-year-old by Christ's authority can bind Satan's demon and cast him out.

(Unknown Christian

The Kneeling Christian, 102-4

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana, (with Jean's impressions added).

Mighty Prevailing Prayer
#137 How to Bind Satan, Part 2 (4)
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 270- 272) Zondervan

Prayer-

Prayer for Beginners

Father, help us confront and defeat the powers of darkness in their own realm of the invisible, so we can have victories for Christ.
Remind us that our battle is a battle of faith and prayer.
We'll look to Your Holy Spirit to enable us to recognize the invisible binding that takes place in people's lives, which corrupt them by whispering in their hearts to motivate them to do evil.
Thank You for the testimony of the Christian foreman who became burdened for the men in his maintenance department of a garage.
By praying against Satan's control of the men's minds to use filthy speech and constant swearing, the atmosphere changed to where the men stopped speaking that way.
And to read of the 12 yr. old boy who You used to come against a demon to deliver a tormented young woman, it was encouraging for us to understand, that if we're right before You, and we pray for specific guidance, we can do the same, when called upon to help someone in such distress.
Please hear our prayer today, that we will be willing to be used by You in whatever way we're needed in the defence and deliverance of folks around us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

Ps. 119:126 (KJV) "It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law."

Job 32:8 (KJV) "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

Ps. 46:10 (KJV) "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted in the earth."

Today's quote-

Michael Catt: "If we are going to see revival and awakening in our lifetime, something has to change. The fact that repentance, holiness, sanctification and seeking the Lord are not popular is all the more reason for preaching it.

We have got people seeking after feelings instead of the Father. Our pews are full of people with 'Do No Disturb' seemingly tattooed on their foreheads. The fact that today's 'church-lite' mentality cannot endure sound doctrine is all the more reason to preach it. It is not the duty of a pastor to make the Word acceptable; it's his duty to make it available."

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Today's question-

What was it the disciples saw in Christ's prayers?