Spiritual Warfare: Binding the Strong Man

by Dr. Gary Linton | Updated August 23rd, 2018

If we want to accomplish anything in either the natural or spiritual realms, we must engage in a spiritual warfare
(Ephesians 6:12). In Mark 3:27 Jesus said, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first
binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.”
When Adam and Eve sinned they turned over the title deed of the earth to Satan. Satan is called “god of the world” in 2
Corinthians 4:4, “prince of this world” in John 14:30 and “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. In 1 John 5:19,
the Apostle John said, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the grip of the evil one.” We must
“first bind the strong man” (Mark 3:27) if we are going plunder his house – this world over which he rules.
This is particularly true in seeing people “rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His
beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). This is what was taking place in Mark 3:14-15 – “He appointed twelve, so that they would
be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons,” which Jesus
Himself had been doing.
Below are a few insights that will help us in our spiritual warfare to defeat the strong man:
Adversary
First of all, we must realize that we have an adversary. Peter said, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring
lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Paul agreed saying, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”
(Ephesians 6:12).
We have an enemy – adversary that is opposing the things of God, the church and every born again believer. We are
engaged in a spiritual battle – spiritual warfare! We have an enemy that is fighting hard against us, the souls of mankind,
everyone who is seeking to do the will of God, and especially men and women of God who are doing what they can to
make an impact for the kingdom of God.
“The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12)!
Abode
This enemy of ours has a place in which or over which he abides. Our enemy has a place (abode) over which he seeks to
control, manipulate, master, and keep away from the kingdom of God and God’s control. There’s a battle taking place
against the powers of darkness and the kingdom of God.
Satan’s abode is fourfold:
1. The world. Satan is “the ruler of the world” (John 14:30) or “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) until Jesus’
final victory culminates at His return and the “ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31). People have often
imagined the devil in Hell shoveling coal, but this is a fallacy.
In the book of Job we see Satan presenting himself before the Lord along with the angels. “And the Lord said to
Satan, From where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and
from walking back and forth on it” (Job 1:7).
Satan’s abode has been the earth from the time he was kicked out of heaven to this present day (Isaiah 14:12-17,
Ezekiel 28:12-19).
2. The unregenerate. In a sense, all unregenerate (lost mankind) are the abode, under the control of or habitation of
the devil. The Apostle John said, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world (unregenerate
man) is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).
Paul, speaking of our life before Christ, said, we “formerly walked according to the prince of the power of the air,
of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). This is why the strong man must
first be bound before people can be set free to come to Christ (Mark 3:27, Colossians 1:13).
3. Strongholds. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4-
5). The enemy of God and His kingdom attempts to set up strongholds against God’s people, His church, and
anything advancing the knowledge of God in this world. These strongholds must be brought down with spiritual
weapons of the Word, prayer and the authority of the believer.
4. Our minds. One of the main arenas the enemy seeks to set up strongholds is the mind. The context of the
previous verse brings light to this. “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” (2 Corinthians 10:5). The
emphasis here is on imaginations, knowledge and thoughts. Our enemy, the devil, seeks to attack (capture) the
thoughts of God’s people and mankind in general.
The devil attacks the mind through deceit, unbelief, doubt, discouragement, trickery, and a host of other ways. In
2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul said, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Devices or schemes is nóēma (a neuter noun, derived from noiéō, “to exert mental effort”) – the mind, especially
its final output (systematic understanding). Note the “-ma” suffix which underlines the result of the thinking. For
example, the personal verdict that comes out of using the mind. Our enemy seeks to set up strongholds (his abode)
in or against our minds.
Arrest
“No man can 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” (Mark 3:27). Jesus said He gave us “authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy” (Luke 10:19). “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven” (Matthew 18:18).
Jesus told Peter, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
We must begin to exercise our authority in Christ and arrest the demonic hosts of hell that are set forth against us, our
loved ones and the Lord’s church.
Attack
We are to to take the aggression, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it – His Church” (Matthew 16:18). Gates are
there to keep things out. The gates of hell are set up to keep us out. Instead of getting attacked and the church merely
reacting – fighting back, we are the ones who are to be taking the initiative and aggression against the gates of hell.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force”
(Matthew 11:12). Instead of merely reacting to the attacks of the enemy, let’s begin to aggressively attack and wage war
against the gates of Hell and the forces of darkness and take the kingdom by force!
Advancement
“The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it – the church” (Matthew 18:18) suggests the church is to be moving forward
making advancement against domain of darkness” (Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 3:10). It’s time the church cease retreating
and begin making advancement against “The gates of Hell.” Church let’s begin advancing against the gates of Hell. The
“violent men take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). We are to be pressing forward and advancing and not withdrawing and
shrinking back.
There are four places in scriptures where we are told to press on – advance forward:
1. Press on to know the Lord. “Let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He
will come to us like the rain” (Hosea 6:3). Let’s make advancement in our knowledge and intimacy with the Lord
(Jeremiah 29:13; Philippians 3:10).
2. Press on in our calling and purpose in Christ. “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid
hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). We are to press on and make constant advancement in laying hold of
our purpose and calling in Christ. This suggests that our calling and purpose may be progressive and unfolding as
we move forward and make advancement in Him.
3. Press on toward the goal and prize set before us. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Against any and all odds, we must keep making advancement, moving
forward and pressing on toward the goal and vision God has set before us (Proverbs 29:18 and Habakkuk 2:2-3).
As we do we will lay hold of the prize that is set before us (Hebrews 12:2).
4. Press on toward maturity in Christ. “Let us press on unto maturity” (Hebrews 6:1). We are to be constantly
growing and maturing in our relationship with Jesus. Peter said, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The whole purpose of The Fivefold Ministry is to bring us to
maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). It doesn’t matter how long we have been serving the Lord, we are to be
continually pressing forward toward maturity in Him.
Let’s press on to know the Lord, in our calling, in the vision He has set before us and maturity in Christ, in so doing we
will be making advancement against the gates of hell.
Ambush
A thief doesn’t forewarn the owner of the home prior breaking into his house. He does it using the element of surprise,
when he least expects it. A good example of this is Elisha.
The enemy had come against him and he prayed, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray. So He struck them with
blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and
I will bring you to the man whom you seek. And he brought them to Samaria. When they had come into Samaria, Elisha
said, O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they
were in the midst of Samaria” (2 Kings 6:18-20).
God blinded the eyes of the enemy until they were captured. We must take the enemy by surprise if we expect to win the
battle. There’s a time and place for sharing our vision with our people and leaders, however, we often do so prematurely
and we frequently share our plans with too many and with to broad of a group. If the devil knows all our plans before hand,
he will not be taken by surprise. Let’s use discretion in what we share and who we share it with. Some may not be ready
for what God has shown us.
Anointing
We can’t fight spiritual battles on our own. “The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing” (Isaiah 10:27). Jesus
said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If we are to break the yoke of the strong man in people’s lives we
will need God’s anointing and power to do so. It’s the power of God that pulls down spiritual strongholds in people’s lives
and this world in which we live (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
This type of anointing does not come by accident. It takes time seated at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). When Peter was
threatened by the religious leaders we read, “Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them… (and) when they saw the
boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:8 and 13).
There are times when the foothold of the enemy in a person’s life or a certain situation may be so strong that it will take
seeking the Lord in a time of fasting and prayer to see it broken.
Avalanche
Mountainous strongholds come tumbling down when God’s people bind the strong man (Mark 3:27) and come against the
gates of hell under the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 16:18-19). Praise the Lord!
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
I decree strongholds are coming down now in the name of Jesus (job 22:28) – Praise the Lord! If we will lay hold of the
horns of the altar (Isaiah 64:7), like in the days of old, we will once again see the works of the enemy destroyed. Victory is
on the horizon! Let’s seek the face of the Lord and expect great things to be done for His glory!
Alleluia
When God’s people are set free and strongholds begin tumbling down, alleluias will begin to roll. Three times in Luke 15
Jesus said there was rejoicing over the yoke of the enemy being broken. There was the lost sheep (Luke 15:6), the lost coin
(Luke 15:9-10), and the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-31). Prodigals are coming home and revival is on its way – Glory be to
God!
 Breaking Spiritual
Strongholds
By Dale A. Robbins
All believers are in a war - a war with their adversary, the Devil (1 Pet. 5:8), and his evil spiritual forces which he
dispatches and assigns to perpetrate his wickedness throughout the world. The scripture says that we "wrestle...
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).
We are well aware of the evil characteristics of Satan, that he "kills, steals, and destroys" (John 10:10). But beyond
his routine harassments, temptations or hit-and-run attacks, the Devil's forces seek territory to establish long-term
strongholds in which they may dominate and hold captive. Satanic forces search for people, cities, and nations in
which they are not resisted and where they may flourish.
"Strongholds" don't necessarily refer to something as extreme as "demon possession," but can merely be a "strong"
influence or grip, persistent oppression, obsessions, hindrances or harassment. I do not believe that a child of God,
in whom Christ's Spirit dwells, can simultaneously be demon possessed... but without a doubt many Christians are
frequent victims of Satan's strongholds.
Getting to the Root of the Problem
The devil's primary strategy is to disguise his activities so that it appears that someone or something else is to
blame. He wants us to get our attention on his surrogates, his instruments, his hindrances and "wrestle" with them,
so that our battle will be directed against the "symptoms" instead of the "real source."
We all know that a decongestant will help relieve a stuffy nose, but it will not cure a cold. Likewise, you can fight
with the symptoms of the Devil, but you will not end the problems until you deal with the source and bind the "strong
man."

Remember when Peter resisted Jesus' decision to return to Jerusalem, knowing that He would be crucified there?
Jesus did not rebuke Peter, but turned to Peter and rebuked Satan. "Get behind me Satan" (Matt. 16:23). Peter
wasn't demon possessed, and probably didn't intend to be an offense. However, the Devil inspired Peter's
statement, and Jesus went after the real source.
Paul said that our battle is not with "flesh and blood" but with spiritual adversaries (Eph. 6:12). How important it is
that we understand what the real root of the problem is -- "who" our real enemy is. It is Satan, not flesh and blood,
not our brethren, not our family, not our children, not husbands and wives, not employers, nor our government! The
Devil is the enemy!
Binding the Strong Man
One time, after Jesus had cast out a devil and healed a deaf and mute boy, Jesus explained that in order to
overturn the works and activity of the Devil, we must bind him first. "Or else how can one enter a strong man's
house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house" (Matt.
12:29). In order to neutralize the Devil's works, we must go and deal directly with the source and bind up the devil
so that his hands are tied. Then we'll be able to take back what he's stolen and bring a halt to his actions.
I've preached in many cities that have been strongholds for the Devil. The symptoms of this are many. Often the
local churches suffer senseless conflicts or unexplained problems. The congregations experience little growth, and
the preaching of the Word is not easily proclaimed or well received by the community. These are the symptoms, but
behind the scene Satan is the culprit. In such cases, those spiritual strongholds must be dealt with and bound for
the ministry to be effective.
All Believers have Authority over the Devil
All Christians must be aware that God has equipped them to overcome Satan's power. The Apostle Paul said that
"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of a fleshly or earthly nature), but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4).
You may recall the time when the seventy disciples returned to the Lord rejoicing about the results of their ministry.
They remarked, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name" (Luke 10:17). But then Jesus pointed out
that the great marvel of this was that the devils were subject to them because their names were "written in heaven."
In other words, because they were saved -- because of their relationship with Christ, they had authority over the
Devil in the name of Jesus.
Jesus has given all His followers -- all those who know Jesus personally as their Lord and Savior -- the authority to
use His name to expel the forces of evil. To all believers, Jesus said, "In My name they will cast out demons..."
(Mark 16:17).
How to Break Strongholds and keep them Broken!
1. AUTHORITY -- Every believer has the right to use the authority of Jesus' name to bind and take authority over
Satan's activities. "No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong
man, and then he will plunder his house" (Mark 3:27). Issue a spoken command to the devil that he is bound and he
must leave the stronghold! Exercising authority in the name of Jesus will expel the Devil's influence. "And these
signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues..."
(Mark 16:17).
2. INTERCESSION -- Come together with other believers to pray and intercede against strongholds until you get
results. There is intensified power in the gathering of more believers. 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).
3. DISPLACEMENT -- Establish the presence of God. Where Satan has been commanded to leave, fill it up with
God's presence. Where the presence of the Lord is, the Devil isn't! Satan doesn't want to hang around where
people are lifting up Jesus in worship, in singing and prayer. The presence of the Lord displaces the Devil. "For
what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians
6:14).
4. RESISTANCE -- Submit yourselves and draw close to God. The Bible says this is how we resist Satan and he
will flee. The Devil runs from submitted, yielded Christians who pray, fast, worship and humble themselves to follow
and obey God's Word. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
5. OCCUPATION -- Give no place or vacancy to the Devil. With Satan departed, fill the void with God. Let
righteousness be the standard rule and behavior. Provide no pocket of rebellion, corruption or immorality in which
Satan can find refuge to rebuild his influence or strength. The scripture says to not "give place to the devil" (Eph.
4:27).
6. FORTIFICATION -- Clothe yourself with God's armor. Take upon you daily, the full array of God's spiritual
equipment that you may maintain battle-ready status. With the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit (God's Word)
and the other links of armor (Eph. 6:13-17), you will be ready to resist any satanic assault, and will be ready to
engage the strongholds in others. "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11).
“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so
drive them away: as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be
glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them rejoice exceedingly.” ~ Psalms 68:1-3
“Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.” ~ Psalm 60:12

DESTORYING THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER

STUDY TEXT: Psalm 124:6-8
- A snare is a device that is secretly but strategically set up to capture a targeted subject.
- Sometimes, something attractive to the target is used as bait, so that the subject will get in there to eat, and the get
entrapped.
The intention of the fowler is to keep the bird for decoration, or to kill for food, or sometimes sell for money. The devil is
the fowler who is setting a snare for those redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and sometimes he will use some attractive bait
to catch the attention of the believer.
ADVERTISEMENT
- The snare limits the movement and detained the bird to be at the mercy of the fowler. The devil is interested in capturing
the believer to make him to be his slave so a s not to fulfill the purpose of God for his life.
- We shall look at this study under two subheadings:
1. Describing the snare of the fowler.
2. Destroying the snare of the fowler.

1. DESCRIBING THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER

There are certain experiences one face in life that should give the indication that one is already in the snare of the devil.
You need to critically examine your life and watch out for one or more of the following experiences. This should call for a
fervent prayer with fasting in order to destroy this snare and for your soul to escape.
1. When you are constantly falling into a sin you do not wish to commit.
-After giving your life to Christ for over two years, you still notice that certain sins you do not wish to commit are still
clinging to you. Each time you fall into it, you will weep and feel so bad, but after a while you see yourself in the same
mess again. This represents a snare of the devil that needs to be broken. For instance some people are held bound in
masturbation, fornication, stealing or various kinds of unrighteous acts and it is difficult for them to be set at liberty.

2. When you appear to be making progress but reverting back to the starting point.
-When the life a man looks like a goat that that is tied with a rope and the goat can only move in a distance that is allowed
by the rope and latter gets back to the starting point. There appear to be progress in one aspect of life, but latter return to
the zero level. For instance when you had a delay in marriage, and after a while you got married and few years after your
partner died, or you face a terrible crisis leading to breakage, and you have to be in search of a partner again. Or a case
where you have searched for a job for a long time, and after getting one, a problem occur and you have to lose that job and
be in search again. When things begin to happen in this way, there is already a snare of the devil that needed to be broken.

3. When you are stagnant and unable to move forward in one area or the other.
-Some people’s lives are characterized with delay and stagnancy. There can be delay in marriage or in child bearing after
marriage, a delay in getting admissions into school or getting a job after leaving school. Some other people’s case is a
stagnant project that never sees the light of the day after a long time, or has no success recorded despite continuous serious
effort to succeed that is put in place. Experiencing this kind of failure is an indication of a snare of the devil holding one’s
life bound, and until there is total liberty, nothing good can come out of that life.

4. When you always see yourself in a lower position then you are in real life.
-If you are always seeing yourself in a dream in a situation worse or lower than you are actually are in real life, or you are
seeing yourself in a primary school when you are already in a university or even graduated. Some people see them selves
as a wretched man in dream when they are actually wealthy person in life, or doing a servant dirty jobs in dreams when
they are highly placed officials in real life. Dream like these are showing that there is a snare of the devil that has to be
broken

5. When good things happen to you in dreams but not manifesting in life.
-The other side of it is to be experiencing all manner of good thins and breakthroughs in your dream but they never
manifest in your real life. You are building houses, getting married, having children, occupying good positions in dream
when your life is a direct opposite of what you are seeing. You will also need to pray seriously for the snare of the devil to
be broken over your life.

6. When you cannot get commensurate result or profit for the labor you put in.
-You are really working hard and doing all that is necessary to achieve great results in some areas of your life, yet only
little or no good results are coming out for you. You may even have a better opportunity than others in similar situations,
yet you are always remaining backward, you should know that a snare of the devil is holding you back and the yoke has to
be broken.

7. Fellowshipping with dead people in the dreams, seeing coffins, graves yard or being buried.
-Any forms of dealing with people known to be dead in reality during your dreams, or seeing people carrying coffins,
seeing grave yards is a snare of the devil. You may also see yourself or someone else sees you being killed, or buried in a
dream. Some may also see themselves getting married to a dead person or having sex with a dead person. These are all
attacks with the spirit of death, but the yoke can be destroyed through fervent prayers.

8. All forms of sexual harassment in your dreams and forced feeding.

-When you are having sex in your dreams either with somebody known to you or not, and then you see yourself producing
all the secretions in actual sex even in real life, it is a snare of the devil, either you are in a covenant with spirit husband or
spirit wife, or an attempt of the devil to sap you spiritually and make you weak in your prayers. Moreover whenerver you
are been forced-fed in your dream, sometimes with food you will not normally eat in real life, for instance eating raw meat,
drinking blood, or eating food stained with blood. Dreams like these are showing the activities of the fowler keeping you
captive in one area or the other. By the grace of God, I was sharing this in a meeting in Kenya, and the following day a
brother came to me and narrated hoe some people were forcing food into his mouth in a dream and how he struggle with
then to no avail. In the dream, he said the food forced into his mouth had some bones which hooked his throat. Then when
he woke up he started feeling pains in the throat as if a bone has hooked the throat. He was prayed for by the power of the
Holy Spirit and the yoke was totally destroyed.

9. Facing regular oppositions and absence of favour

-There are people that will always face opposition in any step they take to move forward in life. Most of the times they see
this oppositions in their dreams, like being pursued by masquerades, dangerous animals or even human beings chasing
them with dangerous weapons, and this oppositions manifesting physically in their lives. It will be difficult for such people
to receive favour even in little things. This is the activity of anti-favour spirits, and the snare has to be broken for those
under their bondages to be free.

10. Experiencing the activities of devourer in your finances.

-The activities of the devourer includes running business at a loss, experiencing frequent damages, loses or wastage. The
most prominent ones is whenever savings is made for something good to be achieved with the money, an alternative bad or
negative things that will necessitate the diversion of the money will take place. Such people are seen to be making money,
but have no records of good things achieved with it.

2. DESTROYING THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER

The Bible says the snare can be broken and our soul can totally escaped. I pray that in any way your soul has been tied by
the snare of the devil, the power of the Holy Spirit will destroy the yoke in Jesus name and your soul will receive total
liberty to fulfill purpose and destiny in Jesus name. But for the snare to be destroyed and for your soul to escape, certain
steps are necessary to be taken, some of which are discussed below.

1. The new birth and confession of all known sins.

It is only when you are born again, that you are entitled to Kingdom benefits, one of which is total liberty. The Bible says if
the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed. Colossians 1:13-14: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins. Any unconfessed and unrepented sin will bring bondage, sorrow and satanic oppressions, but
forgiveness and liberty can only be received through the Blood of Jesus. Friend, if you are reading this message, and you
are not born-again, God is willing to save you if you are willing. He promised to safe anyone that comes to Him no matter
how great their sins are. Confess your sins unto Him and invite Jesus into your heart and receive Him as your Lord and
personal saviour. When that is settled in your life, you become His child, and then you can begin to ask Him to destroy the
snare of the devil in your life. John 1:11-13: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2. Release all satanic properties with you to be destroyed.

-Cancel all former agreements with false prophets and occultist people. If you still have their properties with you, pray very
well and release all to a servant of God to destroy. A man came to our meeting one day for deliverance, but was still
keeping a special perfume he received from a false prophet in his house. To the glory of God, this secrete was revealed and
he was asked to go and bring this material. We burnt it in fire before he could totally be set free. Release all satanic objects
and materials within your reach for prayer. These include all objects given to you for power, protection, or good fortune.

3. Renounce all know and unknown covenants with the devil.

-You will need to plea the blood of Jesus on your self and separate yourself from any covenant you might have entered into
yourself or those entered into on your behalf either consciously or unconsciously.

4. Pray seriously with fasting and present yourself for deliverance.

-You can fast and pray for yourself taking all the above steps. But it is advisable that you also present yourself to be prayed
for in deliverance under a Holy ghost-filled servant of God.

5. Maintain a good relationship with God in a life of holiness. Most people can not maintain their deliverance because they
fail to live a life above sin. Sin will separate a man from God and thus give the devil a legal ground in such life. To enjoy
total liberty, you must therefore surrender yourself to holy living, and then be consistent in a fervent prayerful life. It is also
necessary for you to be a faithful and committed member of a Bible-believing Church and be regular in church attendance,
peaceful relationship with other members, and giving yourself to the service of the Lord.

6. Bind the strongman behind the snare

The Bible says no one can take the possessions of a strong man unless he first of all binds the strong man. There is a strong
man in charge of every snare the devil use to hold you captive, and he must be rendered powerless by binding him with the
chains of the Holy Ghost.
- The strong man may be stubborn if:
1. It is on avenging mission. That is when you or your forefathers had done something he can hold on and he is trying to
avenge at all cost. But the Bible say the Blood of Jesus speaks better things, because It speaks mercy than the blood of
Abel which is crying for vengeance.
2. It is on killing mission. When the strong man has been sent to kill his subject, he may become very stubborn until he
kills. But Jesus has come to destroy all the works of the devil in the lives of all that will believe in Him. John 10:10: The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly.
3. It is under a covenant. If there is a covenant that is not broken the strong man will be very stubborn. We need to pray for
God to reveal all unknown covenants and then to break them
4. It can see their properties with you. If you want to bind the strong man, he must not see you in possession of any
property that belongs to their kingdom.
5. It can see your disobedience and sins. The demons can see you sins and disobedience and they can afflict you as a result
of these. To bind the strong man you must do it with the righteousness of God which can only come through the cleansing
of the Blood of Jesus.
-In conclusion, you will need to pray warfare prayer. Although it can be prayed at any time, but it is better prayed during
the night while denying yourself of sleep. This is because most attacks from the devil takes place during the night. As you
pray, you must depend on the Holy Spirit; only by His power can the snare be broken. Then when you are set free, you
have to escape fast and don’t allow yourseil to be taken captive any longer.

Satan’s Ten Strategies Against You

that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
One of the most sobering facts about life is that all humans have a supernatural enemy whose aim is to use pain
and pleasure to make us blind, stupid, and miserable — forever. The Bible calls him “the devil and Satan, the
deceiver of the whole world . . . the accuser” (Revelation 12:9–10), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), and
“the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
He is our “adversary [who] prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Yet, in
the most appalling and unwitting bondage, the whole world willingly “follows the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). At his most successful, his
subjects march obliviously to destruction, and take as many with them as they can.
The “good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) that I wrote about under the title “Awake and at War” includes the daily
resistance of this enemy (1 Peter 5:9; James 4:7), the daily refusal to give him an opportunity (Ephesians 4:27),
and the daily stand against his schemes (Ephesians 6:11).
Satan’s Leash — and Impending Doom
God is sovereign over Satan. The devil does not have a free hand in this world. He is on a leash, so that he can
do no more than God permits. In effect, he must get permission — as in the case of Simon Peter, where Jesus
discloses, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” (Luke 22:31).
And the case of Job: “The Lord said to Satan, “Behold, Job is in your hand; only spare his life” (Job 2:6).
So evidently God sees the ongoing role of Satan as essential for his purposes in the world, since, if God willed,
Satan would be thrown into the lake of fire now, instead of at the end of the age. “The devil who had deceived
them was thrown into the lake of fire and . . . will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation
20:10). His complete defeat is coming and sure. But not yet.
Unwitting Servant of Our Sanctification
God intends that part of our preparation for heaven be a life of warfare with hell. He calls it a “good warfare” (1
Timothy 1:18) and a “good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12). It is good, not because we might be killed (which we
might! — Revelation 2:10), but because these fire-fights refine the gold of our faith (1 Peter 1:7), in life and
death.
God is the great General in this warfare. He has given us the walkie-talkie of prayer to call for help: “Take . . .
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times” (Ephesians 6:17–18).
He sees behind enemy lines, and knows exactly the strategies that will be used against us. He has written them
down in a wartime manual “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan.” The reason we will not be outwitted is
that “we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Primer on Satan’s Strategies
If you need a refresher for what those “designs” are, here is a summary. May God make you a mighty warrior!
May he “train your hands for war and your fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).
1. Satan lies, and is the father of lies.
“When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The
first time Satan appears in the Bible in Genesis 3, the first words on his lips are suspicious of the truth (“Did
God say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”). And the second words on his lips were a subtle
falsehood (“You will not die”). John says that Satan “has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth
in him” (John 8:44). We are dealing with the essence of falsehood and deception.
2. He blinds the minds of unbelievers.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel
of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). So he not only speaks what is false. He hides what is true. He keeps
us from seeing the treasure of the gospel. He lets us see facts, even proofs, but not preciousness.
3. He masquerades in costumes of light and righteousness.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13–15, Paul says that some people are posing as apostles who are not. He explains like this:
“Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as
servants of righteousness.”
In other words, Satan has servants who profess enough truth to join the church, and from inside teach what Paul
calls “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus says they will be like wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew
7:15). Acts 20:30 says they will not spare the flock, but will draw people away to destruction. Without God’s
gift of discernment (Philippians 1:9), our love will be suckered into stupidity.
4. Satan does signs and wonders.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the last days are described like this: “The coming of the lawless one by the activity of
Satan will be with all power, and with signs and wonders of the lie.” That’s my awkward translation. Some
translate it “with false signs and wonders.” But this makes the signs and wonders look unreal. In fact, some
people do say that Satan can only fake miracles. I doubt it. And even if it’s true, his fake is going to be good
enough to look real to almost everybody.
“God intends that part of our preparation for heaven be a life of warfare with hell.”
One reason I doubt that Satan can only fake his miracles is that in Matthew 24:24 Jesus describes the last days
like this: “False Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if
possible, even the elect.” There is no hint that these “signs and wonders” will be tricks.
Let your confidence be grounded in something far deeper than any supposed inability of Satan to do signs and
wonders. Even real signs and wonders in the service of anti-Christian assertions, prove nothing, even when they
are done “in the name of Jesus.” “Lord, Lord, did we not do many mighty works in your name?” To which
Jesus will reply, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22–23). The
problem was not that the signs and wonders weren’t real, but that they were in the service of sin.
5. Satan tempts people to sin.
This is what he did unsuccessfully to Jesus in the wilderness — he wanted him to abandon the path of suffering
and obedience (Matthew 4:1–11). This is what he did successfully to Judas in the last hours of Jesus’s life
(Luke 22:3–6). And in 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul warns against this for all the believers: “I am afraid that as the
serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to
Christ.”
6. Satan plucks the word of God out of people’s hearts and chokes faith.
Jesus told the parable of the four soils in Mark 4:1–9. In it, the seed of the word of God is sown, and some falls
on the path and birds quickly take it away. He explains in verse 15, “Satan immediately comes and takes away
the word which was sown in them.” Satan snatches the word because he hates faith which the word produces
(Romans 10:17).
Paul expresses his concern for the faith of the Thessalonians like this: “I sent to learn about your faith, for fear
that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain” (1 Thessalonians 3:5). Paul knew
that Satan’s design is to choke off the faith of people who have heard the word of God.
7. Satan causes some sickness and disease.
Jesus healed a woman once who was bent over and could not straighten herself. When some criticized him for
doing that on the Sabbath, he said, “Ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for
eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16). Jesus saw Satan as the one who
had caused this disease.
“God is sovereign over Satan. The devil has no free hand in this world. He is on a leash, and can do only what
God permits.”
In Acts 10:38, Peter described Jesus as one who “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by
the devil.” In other words, the devil often oppresses people with illness. This too is one of his designs.
But don’t make the mistake of saying every sickness is the work of the devil. To be sure, even when a “thorn in
the flesh” is God’s design for our sanctification, it also may be the “messenger of Satan” (2 Corinthians 12:7).
But there are other instances in which the disease is solely attributed to God’s design without reference to
Satan: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him”
(John 9:3). Jesus feels no need to bring Satan in as the culprit in his own merciful designs.
8. Satan is a murderer.
Jesus said to those who were planning to kill him, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your
father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth” (John 8:44). John
says, “Do not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother” (1 John 3:12). Jesus told the
blameless church at Smyrna, “The devil is about to throw some of you into prison. . . . Be faithful unto death,
and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
To put it in a word, Satan is blood-thirsty. Christ came into the world that we might have life and have it
abundantly (John 10:10). Satan comes that he might destroy life wherever he can and in the end make it
eternally miserable.
9. Satan fights against the plans of missionaries.
Paul tells of how his missionary plans were frustrated in 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18: “We endeavored the more
eagerly, and with great desire, to see you face to face; because we wanted to come to you . . . but Satan hindered
us.” Satan hates evangelism and discipleship, and he will throw every obstacle he can in the way of
missionaries and people with a zeal for evangelism.
10. Satan accuses Christians before God.
Revelation 12:10 says, “I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the
kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown
down, who accuses them day and night before our God.’” Satan’s defeat is sure. But his accusations haven’t
ceased.
It is the same with us as it was with Job. Satan says to God about us, They don’t really love you; they love your
benefits. “Stretch out your hand and touch all that [they have], and [they] will curse you to your face” (Job
1:11). Their faith isn’t real. Satan accuses us before God, as he did Job. But it is a glorious thing that followers
of Jesus have an advocate who “always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
Satan Will Not Win
Those are some of Satan’s designs. The path to victory in this warfare is to hold fast to Christ who has already
dealt the decisive blow.
 1 John 3:8: “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.”
 Hebrews 2:14: “Christ took on human nature that through death he might destroy him who has the
power of death, that is, the devil.”
 Colossians 2:15: “God disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them,
triumphing over them in him.” In other words, the decisive blow was struck at Calvary.
 Mark 3:27: “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the
strong man.”
 Revelation 20:10 says one day the warfare will be over: “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of
fire and brimstone . . . and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (See Matthew 8:29;
25:41)
Resist!
James says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” (James 4:7). How do we do that? Here is how they did
it according to Revelation 12:11: “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” They embraced the triumph of Christ by his blood.
They spoke that truth in faith. They did not fear death. And they triumphed.
The New Testament highlights prayer as the pervasive accompaniment of every battle. “Take . . . the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all
prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:17–18).
“Do not be outwitted by Satan. God sees behind enemy lines and tells us all we need to know to not be
ignorant of Satan’s designs.”
As the close of this age draws near, and Satan rages, Jesus calls us to wartime prayer: “Watch at all times,
praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of
Man” (Luke 21:36). Similarly, Peter makes an urgent call to end-time prayer: “The end of all things is at hand;
therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7).
Even Jesus fought against the devil on our behalf with the weapon of prayer. He said to Peter in Luke 22:31–32,
“Satan has asked to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not
fail.” So Jesus illustrates for us the opposition of a specific satanic threat with prayer.
And, of course, Jesus instructed us to make prayer a daily weapon for protection in general: “Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). That is, deliver us from the successful temptation of the
evil one. Do you confront the designs of the devil with the focused and determined power of prayer?
No Neutral Zone
The question is not whether you want to be in this war. Everyone is in it. Either we are defeated by the devil and
thus following, like cattle to the slaughter, “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), or we are
resisting — “resist him, firm in your faith!” (1 Peter 5:9).
There is no neutral zone. You either triumph “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony,” or
you will be enslaved by Satan. Therefore, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy
2:3), and “wage the good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). Pray without ceasing!
The Lord Jesus is no less a warrior today than in the days of old. So I urge you again: Come to him as willing
soldiers of the Prince of Peace and learn to say, “He trains my hands for war” (Psalm 144:1).