Thoughts for Life: #57 You Can Defeat and Bind Satan

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel- Because of Jesus' triumph at Calvary, you and I have an amazing new authority. What does that include? Is it really the plan of Jesus that you and i bind and restrain Satan and his demons?

Jesus said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house." (Matt. 12:28-29) [color added for Jesus' words] (Google image, Spiritual warfare)

This teaching is so important that it is repeated by both Mark (3:27), and Luke (11:21-22). The strong man to whom Jesus referred is Satan. The possessions which are to be taken from Satan are the people who are enslaved by him — even those who are possessed and indwelled by demons. The power Jesus used included His own inherent authority and the power of the Holy Spirit.

But does Jesus expect you to seize Satan's possessions? Yes, God wants you to rescue those whom Satan has seized or bound in any way. Jude 23 urges, "Snatch others from the fire and save them." Proverbs 24:11 commands, "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter."

Second Timothy 2:26 teaches that sinners are made captive by Satan to do his will. Jesus and His followers are commissioned "to proclaim freedom for the captives" (Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18).

But do we really have authority to bind Satan? Remember the words of Matthew 16:18-19: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Commentators interpret this passage in several ways, as we have discussed in a previous chapter. Whatever the full meaning may be, it is related to building Christ's church. This teaching was so important to Christ that it is repeated and amplified two chapters later.

Here, it is related to prayer in Jesus' name and is strengthened by agreement in prayer. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matt. 18:18-20).

What ever else Christ may have had in mind, certainly He was teaching the following truths:

He determined to build His church.
This building will be dependent on both His power and our obedience.
Binding and loosing has something important to do with building His church.
He expects us to participate in this binding and loosing.
Heaven's authority and power will back our binding and loosing.
This binding and loosing can be related to agreement in prayer.
Those agreeing in prayer need not necessarily be a large group, for Jesus Himself will be there joining in their prayer agreement.
Binding and loosing is primarily accomplished through our prayer.

It was prophesied that Jesus would crush the serpent's head (Gen. 3:15). Jesus' victory over Satan is implied by symbolism here and in the following passage: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). The primary reference is not to physical snakes and scorpions. It is to be interpreted spiritually.

Christ gives us, His disciples, authority over all the power of Satan, our chief enemy. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8). Binding Satan's power, restraining his diabolical work by the authority of Christ, is certainly in the will of God.

But please remember: This is not child's play. This is spiritual warfare. Even the archangels respect the awesome power of Satan and, in their warfare against him, do all in the name and authority of Jesus (Jude 9).

When the seven sons of the Jewish chief priest Sceva tried foolishly to use the name of Jesus without themselves being in right relation to Jesus and hence not covered by His promise, they were physically assaulted and hurt by the demon-empowered man (Acts 19:13-17). Spiritual warfare is not for the spiritually defeated nor for those not covered by Christ's blood.

You don't bind Satan by repeating a few words as if they were some magic formula. To use the name of Jesus, you must be "in Christ" and must be living in harmony with His holy nature and will.

Paul says clearly, "We struggle" (Eph. 6:12). Prayer warfare is serious spiritual conflict. However, every scriptural injunction in this connection is for you to be bold, to have faith, and to expect Christ to prove His sufficiency and authority. You need not fear defeat by Satan when you use the name of Jesus scripturally.

(Chapter 17, pp. 129-131, italics added for emphasis)

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Let's pray-

Germine Copeland- "Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? You are magnificence, a big God, yet you have taken your place in my heart. You abide in me and I abide in You. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God. You have done great things. Who, O God, is like unto you? You are my Lord and Savior, Creator of the heavens and earth. You are a big God – more than enough to help me in any situation. Oh, my God – you went before me and prepared the pathway that I am to walk. I love you with my whole heart, soul and mind. Amen"

Today's Bible verses-

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

1 John 4:4 "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
Is. 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord."

Today's words of wisdom-

~ You must have confidence in Christ's ability to help you accomplish what He directs. With Him sending unending confidence, you can pass all the tests of divine assignments!

Today's quote-

~ J. Oswald Sanders- "In prayer we deal with God directly, and with people only in a secondary sense. The goal of prayer is the ear of God. It is not our prayer that moves people, but the God to whom we pray moves people. Prayer influences people by moving God to influence them."

[p. 106, in Prayer Power Unlimited]

Today's question-

Why is gathering in local churches important?

Worshipping God together is all important to the spiritual health of Christians. As we mature our faith in Christ and learn of His design for His Bride to become holy, we need to grow closer to Him through hearing His Word preached and through others' witnessing of His working in their lives. We need to worship God even when we may not "feel" like it, as once we begin, we're apt to be motivated to make a joyful noise of praise unto our God for His Goodness to us.

To hear others sing praises to Him encourages us to do the same. We are drawn into worshipping God through their worship, though we know some of them are facing troublesome times of health, financial or relational issues.

A mature Christian should be easily edified to turn the focus from themselves, and to offer worship to God. God inhabits the praises of His people. That is a good reason to get together to worship Him. Praise is God's gift to us, and our offering it back to Him Who gave it, is our gift to Him. We will always have temptations to avert us from worshipping the Lord God, but our determination to concentrate on Him during times of gathered worship, will bless us and others, and especially Him!