Binding the StrongmanSample

Who is the strong man? How does one identify the strong man?

The Strong Man

The strong man is one who controls a stronghold—a place or territory under his influence. This territory is heavily fortified and impregnable.

It is important for us to see things the way they really are and not the way they appear to be. The Scripture says, “Through faith, we understand that the worlds were formed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which so appear” (Heb. 11:3).

We can conclude from the above scripture that there is not only one world. The Scripture says worlds. There is a spiritual world and a physical world, and we need to understand that things that are seen are a manifestation of things that cannot be seen. If we are going to be able to identify the strong man, then we should be able to look at some things which are seen (physical things and conditions) and through these things perceive things that are not seen. The word perceive has to do with the operations of our spirit man—and this goes beyond the realm of the senses. You perceive by faith, and faith goes beyond the realm of the senses.

The Scripture says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).

Friend, the only way to identify things that cannot be seen is by faith. The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:18 said, “While we look not at the things which are seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

There is a way to locate things that are not seen. It is through the laws of faith. Faith is absolute dependence and reliance on the Word of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, after rebuking Thomas for his attitude of unbelief, said to him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). There is blessedness in believing without seeing.

The strong man is a satanic personality in charge or responsible for a stronghold. The Scripture says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4).

A strong man is a fortified entity that Satan builds to exalt himself against the knowledge and plans of God. Satan always tries to operate under the cover of darkness. The only thing that exposes him is the light of God’s Word. The revelation and illumination that come through the Word of God are what expose Satan’s strongholds.

It should be realized that as long as Satan’s strongholds remain concealed, the strong man is safe—and he can operate without being identified. As soon as the strong man is identified, half of the victory is established. That is why identifying the strong man is of absolute importance.

A strong man may have other evil spirits operating under his domain or authority, but the strong man is the ruling spirit.

Dealing with one of the sub-spirits (if I may call them such), does not solve the problem. The strong man must be bound.

For example, bitterness is a ruling spirit, and under its domain of authority are at least seven other spirits, namely:

• Resentment

• Hatred

• Murder

• Un-forgiveness

• Temper

• Violence

• Anger

Binding any of the sub-spirits does not solve the problem of bitterness in the life of a person bound by that spirit. Once the ruling spirit of bitterness has been identified and dealt with, the other sub-spirits can be expelled with ease.

Prayer: Father, I ask that the eyes of my understanding be enlightened to the truth of Your word. I thank you that the weapons that you have given me are not carnal but are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. I enforce the victory of the blood of Jesus as I arrest and pull down the ruling spirit over my life. I decree that all chains of bondage are broken, and I am free in Jesus’ name.