DEALING WITH THE STRONGMAN

“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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” 2 Cor. 10:3-6 

The strong man is one that controls a stronghold. That is a place or territory under his influence, which is heavily fortified and is impregnable. It’s important for us to see things through the eye of the Spirit. Sin, transgressions and iniquity are what gives Satan and his co-host the right and privilege to hold one in bondage and captivity against our will and invoke curses into our lives instead of blessings. These thing are spiritual in nature so the eyes of our understanding must be enlightened through the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know and stand against the forces of the evil one that holds one in spiritual prison hereby preventing good to come from the Presence of God or precious promises of God to come to pass.

The strongman is the power standing between you and your Promised Land or divine destiny. In Abraham’s house the strongman was barrenness. Some strongmen live in people like in the case of David … sexual immorality.  Strongmen could also live in a member of a household aimed at caging their blessings, for example I have a sister that is always at war with everybody and specializes in causing rancour, gossiping, backbiting, bitterness and un-forgiveness among brethren . It is only when the edge is broken through sin that the serpent will bite.

“A man’s enemies will be members of his own household” Mathew 10:36

A strongman is an adversary with a characteristic of intense hate at any human or anything godly and a perpetrator of holding them in captivity or stronghold [See Micah 7:3-6]

The word ‘strong’ comes from the Greek word “Ischuros” which means forcefulness, might, power, strength, and superior physical strength.

The strongman is one of Satan’s Commander-in-Chief positioned in a place [Daniel 10:20] to carry out his evil mandate, which is to steal, kill and destroy [John 10:10]. In other words, he is the chief demon in charge of other demons and is often more wicked than those demons under his company. He is a master manipulator that uses wicked human beings to perpetrate Satan’s evil intentions of causing rebellion, anarchy and disobedience upon the earth.

Strongmen are wicked demonic forces that the enemy of your soul the devil uses to cage you in stronghold or demonic fortified enclave such that captivity and bondages prevents one from the freedom or liberty that is in Christ Jesus. He is empowered to do evil when we walk contrary to God’s mandate or he just want to fight against something that will benefit the Kingdom of God. 

Also when we violate the principles of holiness and righteousness, then we become mincemeat for the devil. Can you imagine Samson now becoming the amusement park for the children of the Philistines after his eyes were put out and David running away from Absalom his son because they violated the sanctity of sexual consecration?

The Strong Man

The strong man is the satanic personality in charge or responsible for setting up and militantly guarding a stronghold. The scripture says… For the weapon of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of STRONGHOLD. [2 Cor. 10:4]

A stronghold [holding cell or prison] is a fortified place that Satan builds to exalt himself against the knowledge of God and plans of God and hold in bondage men, cities and even countries that ought to be loosed serving the Lord.

“And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16 

Satan always tries to hide these Strongholds; he tries to keep people in ignorance about these strongholds and he as father of lies try to convince us always that all is well, even when it is obvious that you are being oppressed, repressed, impressed, depressed, harassed and unbelievers are being possessed by the devil. He always tries to operate under the cover of darkness. If you dwell continually in the Light, he cannot ensnare you!

The only thing that exposes him is the light of God’s word and when people are ready to change camp by repentance, denouncing and confessing their sins. The revelation and illumination that comes through the word of God is what exposes Satan strongholds.  

When Adam and Eve sinned they turned over the title deed of the earth to Satan. Satan is called “god of the world” [2 Corinthians 4:4], “prince of this world” [John 14:30] and “prince of the power of the air” [Ephesians 2]. The Apostle John said, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the grip of the evil one.” [1 John 5:19]. We must “first bind the strong man” [Mark 3:27] if we are going to plunder his house. That is take this world over which he rules and take back what belongs to us that he cages. Satan as god of this world tries to blind us to the knowledge of the truth and keep our minds ignorant of the truth and when we do not allow the light of the gospel is not allowed to penetrate our souls unto release from bondage and demonic detentions!

When Satan stronghold remains concealed and fortified, the strongman is safe and can operate without being identified. As soon as the strongman is exposed, the battle is half won that is why the issue of identifying the strong man is of absolute importance.

The strongman is the root cause of mishap in the life of a fellow, he is the demonic personality supervising the life of a man, community or nation so as to keep them in captivity or prevent the best of God for their lives; he is the giant obstacle to your breakthrough and breaking forth into your season of lifting. Strongmen could cause havoc of death to retain their dominion over a life and can hinder a man from reaching and enjoying his possessions, they are such brutal force that will not give up easily. They are the reason why many promises of God, dreams, visions, and prophecies are not fulfilled. When you unadvisedly proclaim what God is set to do for you like Joseph did, the whole hordes of hell will rise up against you to prevent the birthing forth of such promises.

Such demonic powers seat over fortunes and prosperity and hinders forward movement. They are dangerous and operates based on legal ground or ignorance which gives foothold in the life of believer, unfortunately most times, it is our misgiving, disobedience, sin and evil doings that gives them that right just like Adam yielded right of possession of the earth realm to Satan when he and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Strongman can be physical persons like Goliath, Pharaoh and Herod or could be demonic spiritual beings. They operate by strongly subjecting those they build a stronghold over their lives.

My people are destroyed because of the lack of knowledge. What happens sometimes is that images and high things are deposited by Satan on our heart [2 Cor. 10:3-6], and if we receive them as authentic not knowing the Word of God, we will fall for his lies and can be ensnared.

When you read, study, meditate and be a doer of the Word of God, Satan will not be able to use his devices to cause you to sin and will be unable to ensnare or cause you to be spiritually incarcerated. The Word of God helps to cast down and not entertain every thought that is not in-line with the way, will and word of God so that we do not dance to the whims of the evil one and be ensnared

“When a strong man armed keep his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he take from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils” Luke 11:21-22 21

A strong man is Satan’s delegated authority over a strong hold. A strong man may have other evils spirits operating under its domain of authority, the strong man is the RULING SPIRIT. When we deal with one of the sub spirits and not the ruling spirit, the problem(s) is not solved because we only cut off the branches while the stump and roots still remain and will blossom again because the ROOT strongman is still working in the person, city or even nation. The strong man must be bound.

For example, bitterness is a ruling spirit and under its domain of authority are other spirits namely.

1. Resentment

2. Hatred

3. Murder

4. Un-forgiveness

5. Temper

6. Violence

7. Anger

Binding any of the sub spirit does not solve the problem of bitterness in the life of a person bound by that spirit. The ruling spirit of bitterness has to be identified and dealt with and once that is done, the other sub spirit can also be expelled with ease.

SIN AND BONDAGES

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:12-16 

Sin is the primary cause through which we give the strongman the authority OR LEGAL GROUND to subject us and we become servants to his whim and kept in bondage. Eventually we will lose our dominion mandate and become bond slaves kept in stronghold.

“And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck” Gen. 27:40 

We will serve under strongmen in strongholds until we arise, denounce sin, transgressions and iniquity, get into spiritual warfare and fight the spiritual war until we have dominion and break off the demonic yokes from off our necks. Pharaoh must die so you can cross to your Promised Land [Ezekiel: 30:21-26]. Goliath must die so you can wear your crown. Uziah must die so you see visions of God of your life. We are like two oxen yoked together for agricultural purpose. Most time a trained one is yoked with one being trained and the latter must do what the trained one/strongman does because the yoke at their neck kind of forces the latter one to do the whims of the trained/strong one. Same system is applicable to a strongman yoked with a person, city or country yoked together at the neck. Only when such yoke is destroyed by the anointing is the latter free [Isa. 10:27]

The demonic works of strongman make many to suffer in life; they suffer delays, stagnation, limitations, no achievements, failure at the edge of success, barrenness, sicknesses, bad luck, suffering….all because of the operations of the strongman

The strong man in charge of the warehouse where your blessings are locked up must be bound! It is the STRONGER man that overcome the STRONGMAN. That is who we become after repenting of our sins and using the weapons of our warfare that is not carnal but mighty through God to pull down powers that be. Holy Spirit the stronger man in us arises to deal squarely with the strongman. Jesus declared that Christians are kings and Priests and we must exercise the power and dominion given to us to destabilize the kingdom of darkness. 

Ways to overcome him

First of all, we must realize that we have an adversary. Peter and James said,

“Be sober, be vigilant; because Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Whom resist steadfast in the faith … Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” [1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7-8].

We have an adversary that is opposing the things of God, the church and every born again believer. We are engaged in a spiritual battle – spiritual warfare!

“The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” Matthew 11:12

We have an enemy that is fighting hard against us, the souls and blessings of mankind, He is fighting hard to cause everyone who is seeking to do the will of God to fall short of the glory of God, and especially men and women of God who are doing what they can to make an impact for the kingdom of God.

 “For 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” Eph. 6:12

1. You must decide to wrestle the strongman (principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places Eph. 6:12

2. It is by the blood of the Lamb that we will overcome Rev 12:11

3. By the Word of God that births forth deliverance because it is likened to a double edge sword that is powerful to the pulling down of strongholds Psalms 107:20, Hebrews 4:12

4. By the POWER in the name of Jesus Christ –there is one is called stronger than the strongman… “The name of Lord is a strong tower” [Prov. 18:10]  

5. Cry to the Lord for deliverance. “This poor man cried to the Lord and the Lord delivered him [Psalms 34:6]. He is the ever present help in time of trouble [Ps 46:1]. God dealing with Pharaoh the strong man … “And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword” [Ezekiel 30:21-22]

6. Deal with self and negative ideologies in your heart. Don’t be your own enemy but stay on the side of God [Jer. 30:16-17]. Do not desire what is contrary to God or scriptures.

7. Our warfare is done in the spirit. We do not use natural weapons to fight a spiritual battle [2 Cor. 10:3] and the weapons we use are also not carnal in nature but spiritual weapons targeted at pulling down strongholds

There are strong men over Nations/Cities. For example the spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah is ruling most cities in South Africa.

Strong man in Charge of Religion/Beliefs. For example Buddhism and Hinduism spirits are ruling over India and well known to sponsor extreme poverty in that land.

But let us deal with the stronghold in our hearts, where we imbibe negative mind-set as the devil suggests some things which when we embrace without aligning with the word of God, we become ensnared and must of necessity use the weapons of our warfare to pull down strongholds 

… “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” [2 Cor. 10:3-6].

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. “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it – the church” [Matthew 18:18] suggests the church is to be moving forward and making advancement against domain of darkness, hereby forcing them to retrogress or retreat” [Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 3:10].

It’s time that the church cease retreating and begin making advancement against “The gates of Hell”. Church let us begin advancing against the gates of Hell… We are to be pressing forward and advancing and not withdrawing and shrinking back.

We cannot fight spiritual battles on our own, Spiritual weapons are needed to combat and subject the enemy. “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 our lives or 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.

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, 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 for example alcoholism

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].

When God’s people are set free and strongholds begin tumbling down, praise 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 free from the hold of the enemy of their souls and revival is on its way.

“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

We must be violent in dealing with these principalities, powers, dominions and wicked spirits, they are not playing! They will not want to just release hold over the stronghold. It is our persistency, militancy and fight with all that we have that will make them to lose their hold!

Strong Man in Charge of the Families:

There are certain trends that can be traced in a particular family for generations and there seems to be a vicious cycle of the misfortunes that are repeated every now and then.

In some families, anyone who tries to excel in life dies young and this is because the strong man that rules over that family as its stronghold set a limitation in that family. Those who try to go beyond these limitations face a penalty of death. In other families divorce is inevitable, and there can hardly be stables marriages in such families. In some families drunkenness has a consistent history Men born into such families spend all their money on alcohol, that there nothing left to meet the needs of the home. While masquerade parading families are always poor, even in the natural they are only given stipends or pennies when they display their skills!

In other cases, the issues are malignant disease that seems to be hereditary from one generation to another; people born into such families seemingly inherited these diseases. Certain diseases like arthritis, diabetes or high blood pressure plague them; most of these things have to do with demonic invocations through the strong men. Infantile mortality is predominant in some other family.

In a particular family, they are given to drumming at festive period and occasions like wedding, burial and naming ceremony and they are all poor like Church rat because the matter of people giving peanuts or pennies to them when they display their prowess is a spiritual matter. There are families that only one person will be rich per time and all others sit like beggars eating crumbs from his table. How about those families in which there is all manner of sexual immoralities like incest, sodomy and masturbation, it is a spiritual matter.

Strong Man over Individuals:

In this particular instance Satan builds up personal strongholds to influence the lives of particular individuals. In some lives, you would realize that individual have not been able to overcome some sins, ways of thinking, feelings, attitudes and behavioural patterns, though they may know it’s not right. There are believers that are versed in the scriptures but they still masturbate or secretly drink alcohol, it is the bondage of the strong man.

You see, every consistent negative attitudes or emotional reactions are controlled by strong men. For some people its pride or anger, what you call bad temper, but they also acknowledge that it is not good and yet they cannot do anything about it. Bad habits which hold men and women in captivity are controlled by a strong man. There are many other operations of different strong man which must be identified and the hold destroyed.

To identify the strongman that rules in a place, the following must be carefully investigated.

1. The prevalent life style of the people must be considered … I have seen people that swear that they will not do a particular thing like drinking alcohol to stupor but like a dog they go back to their vomit. I have seen ladies that vows sexual sanctity but cannot resist falling into fornication when their old boyfriend shows up.

2. The culture and traditions that dominate that geographical area. The ruling strongman over some places in Nigeria is bribery and corruption associated with the spirit of mammon, shedding of innocent blood in the capital city while sexual perverse spirits rule in other places and make some of the women goes around sleeping with every Tom, Dick and Harry.

3. Assessment of the extent of the penetration of the Gospel and persistent challenges. Someone who is blind to scriptures cannot live a life controlled by it, persistent financial challenges and wanting to be like the Jones for example using an I-Phone that costs so much like everybody else causes some ladies to sell their bodies to the highest bidder heightened by the spirit of greed and covetousness.

Those who experienced deliverance either came or were brought to Jesus [Mark 11:28-30]. Someone had to take the initiative. It all begin with a decision of being tired of the status quo and earnestly desiring a change. You cannot allow passivity rob of your deliverance. You must open your mouth and do spiritual warfare.

There are many people frustrated with life, people struggles can become overwhelmed by doubt and failure. Some are battling stress, and pressure that often lead to emotional and physical problem and they might take to drugs as a way of easing out life pressures. Jesus spent a great deal of time ministering to the oppressed… “… healing all of them that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” [Acts 10:38]

Deliverance is the children bread; every child of God has the right to enjoy the benefits of deliverance. Deliverance brings freedom and joy.

The breakthroughs you will see are supernatural. Healing will multiply. Long term bondage will be destroyed. Hidden roots will be exposed and eliminated as the anointing releases deliverances power to overcome the bondage of the devil. Inexplicable problems will be solved. Stubborn obstacles will be removed. Circles of life failure will be broken.

Most of you, who will experience deliverance and release from captivity will see notable changes. Sometimes the change is progressive and sometimes instantaneous. The change however will be dramatic and life changing.

WHY CONFRONT AND DEFEAT THE STRONGMAN.

1.     He blocks and locks your Prayers.

God is faithful and will answer all prayers made to Him by His children especially in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name of the Lord is more effective and crucial in the Spiritual Warfare Prayer. Such was the experience of Daniel when he did a persisted prayer and fasting for twenty-one [21] days [Daniel 10:2, 12, 13]. “Men ought always to pray and not loose heart” [Luke 18:1]. In prayers for countering a strong man, persistence is the key word. The strongman will also try to block or steal your open door in life, business or even in ministry [1 Corinthians 16:9, Revelation 3:8], Blessings (Reuben and Esau), “How can anyone enter the strongman’s house and carry out his property, unless he first bind the strongman? And then he will plunder his house” [Mathew 12:29].

These satanic strong rooms are in the land, underground, in the air and underwater. They hold your spiritual breakthroughs to relationships, family, finances, peace and prosperity. Always remember that your divine breakthrough is right where God has positioned you.

2.    The strongman pulls you down and makes you insignificant and rendered useless.

David remained forgotten and despised in the backside of the wilderness even by his own father [1 Samuel 16:11], until the day he showed up at the battle zone-the cutting edge place and floored Goliath. After that, none other than the king asked him, “Whose son are you:” [1 Samuel 17:58] long story short, he wound up as King Saul’s armour bearer, Army Commander, the King’s son-in-law,  it was a good pay-pack! He later became the King of Israel. When the strongman is annihilated, people begin to notice you and favor and blessings flows in to you.

3.     The Language Satan understands is the Language of Violence.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent men take it by force.” [Mathew 11:12]. Like Jesus when He drove out the money changers and traders in the temple [Mark 11:15-18], holy anger must rule your life if you are going to get breakthroughs in your life. Get your stuff violently back because Satan will not release it to you on a silver platter. The key to your breakthrough, job, finances, order, is through the language of violence.

4.     Satan has stolen from you [John 10:10]

He has the spoil which is legal language for what is taken from a defeated foe. “If a thief is caught, he shall pay back double” [Exodus 22:7]. That is why Moses commanded the Israelites to ask from the Egyptians, Gold, Silver and clothing [Exodus 12:35-36].  This was the full pay pack of the Israelites’ service in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years plus accrued interest. “Thus they (Israelites) plundered the Egyptians” [Exodus 12:36]. When the strongman is pulled down, you will get all and more of what he has stolen from you because it is part of your inheritance which has been in his custody illegally. Amalekites raided and plundered Ziglag but when David rose in battle against them, he conquered and got back much more that what was taken from Ziglag that us all that the Amalekites got from all the towns and cities that they raided and plundered until they themselves were plundered! You must come against the strongman who declares poverty over your life and declare violently … No More! Wealth and Riches are in the house of the Righteous!

Satan steals from you your joy, peace, rest, family, health, finances, and job amongst others. Get really angry and proclaim loudly

“I bind the strongman in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and take back my silver, gold, property, family…from his strong room. He must release back to me every generational blessings, wealth and health that he stole. I call all that I lost back to me now, find me, and locate me. I take you in and plunder the enemy this day in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour”

5.     When the Strongman is defeated and caged, the lesser demons flee.

In any warfare if the leader or commander is killed, the army is naturally put into disarray.

 “Thus David prevailed over the philistine…and killed Goliath…and…Israel and Judah arose and pursued…the philistines and plundered their camp” 1 Samuel 17:50 [1 Samuel 17:50-53].

The quickest, right and best way to defeat an enemy is by killing its leader. David killed the strongman called Goliath and the war against the Philistines was easily won. The principal strongman must be dealt with a deadly blow!

FIVE FACTS ABOUT THE STRONGMAN.

1.     He has an armour [whole armour] in which he trusts [Luke 11:22]

(i)      “Our weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds…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 10:3-5]. We have far superior weapons and armour meant against our adversary [Ephesians 6:10 – 18]

The devil attacks the mind through deceit, unbelief, doubt, discouragement, trickery, and a host of other ways. Paul said, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”. Our enemy seeks to set up strongholds (his abode) in or against our minds. [2 Corinthians 2:11]. So do not allow bitterness to bring in rancor and un-forgiveness, you will be ensnared.

(ii)    It is God who created all Creation

God therefore knows all creations’ strengths and weakness. “I (God) have created the smith that blow the coals in the fire and that brings forth an instrument for his work and I have created the spoiler (waster) to destroy”. He says “No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper, and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.”  [Isaiah 54:16, 17].

2.     The Greatest weapon the strongman has is death.

He perpetrates [causes to continue] this through poverty, barrenness [unfruitfulness] and sickness. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy [John 10:10]. Praise God! Jesus has the keys to life and death [Revelation 1:18] and he has given us “the keys of the Kingdom of God; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven [Mathew 16:19]. These keys must be applied or used for our breakthrough.

Decree, “I bind the strongman of death over my life and loved ones, I rebuke the spirit of poverty, barrenness, sickness, bad luck, and misfortune in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I take back all that Satan has stolen from me and plunder him.”

3.     He has a Palace and Modernized Organized command system.

“Every kingdom [‘Basileta’ – Royalty, rule, reign, realm] divided against itself is brought to dissolution [ruined]…if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? … [Luke 11:17,18]. We ourselves have a higher Kingdom and the destiny of all kingdoms is “the Kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever” [Rev. 11:15]. With keys in the hands of the Church, Satan’s kingdom is no match if the saints KNOWS this and will rise up and take the Kingdom. Remember it is the active reigning priesthood that divides the inheritance.

Declare, “Every Satanic kingdom against me seated over my blessings, scatter and burn by fire in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Name. I take back into my possession all that belongs to me, my divine inheritance, my health, my birth right, my finances […complete the list]”

4.     He is Defeatable.

Jesus said to us “I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions (Satanic agents of harm) and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you” [Luke 10:19]. Jesus by the Holy Spirit is with us always and all God’s enemies must submit to us [Luke 10:17]. “How awe-inspiring is your works through the greatness of your power still your enemies submit themselves to you” [Psalm 66:3].

Decree, “Every negative situation over my life, today power must change hands, the lesser satanic kingdom is bowing today and submitting to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

5.     Strongmen are overcome by the Finger [the Spirit] of God

“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keep his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he take from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils” Luke 11:20-22 

This is the key to deliverance ministration. The Bible says, “You … are from God and have overcome them [the evil spirits], because the one who is in you [Holy Spirit] is greater than the one who is in the world” [1 John 4:4]. The Holy Spirit in us is the finger of God.  The magicians of Egypt recognized Him and warned Pharaoh about Him [Exodus 8:19]. We cast out demons by the finger of God [Mathew 12:28, Luke 11:20]

STRONGMAN AND OUR WARFARE SKILLS

We must understand who the strongman is, what hold does he have over us, what the stronghold is and the type of warfare that we need to be involved in for us to be able to war effectively and gain freedom from the spiritual cage where we have been imprisoned in.

Discovering your weapons means getting to know what weapons work for you well, be they scriptural verses, bible version, blood of Jesus, anointing oil. Through continued use, skill is perfected, familiarity is realized and accuracy or precision attained. We perfect our warfare skills through constant use, training, study, observation of working models, asking questions and keeping a breast and being relevant to the spiritual seasons.  The leading of the Holy Spirit in warfare is of paramount importance. You may suffer spiritual injury when you do not discern properly by the Holy Spirit what to do per time.

If there is a sin, repent it, if there is an armour learn how to fit it on perfectly, and go on to the offense to recover ground. Think at the level of your privilege, issue commands at the level of your authority and act at the level of your favor and not less.

WARRING AGAINST THE STRONGMAN

The key words for effectiveness and victory over time lies in, accuracy, relevance, skill, courage, boldness and God’s favour. You must know and be conversant with both offensive and defensive weapon.

Declare, “You strongman of …. (Identify… for example lust, masturbation, generational poverty) and your forces, I smite you with the same weapon you intended against me; I command the weapon you sent against me to ‘backfire’. Every word against me to scatter and not prevail in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Put on the whole armour of God [Ephesians 6:13 – 18]

Spiritual warfare is real and God cares that you are safe and standing at the end of the battle, that is why He has provided armoury which is almost entirely for your safety or protection. Before you go into spiritual warfare, you must put on the whole armour.

Proclaim now … “I put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness. I put on my feet the gospel of peace, I take the shield of faith and quench all fiery darts thrown at me by the wicked, I put on the helmet of salvation and declare divine protection over my mind and thought life and the sword of the spirit … that is “The Prophetic Rhema Word”, and I pray always for all the believers.”

WARNING

When the edge of protection of God which was in place when we walk in His way, will and Word is broken because we walk contrary to God, we shall see a re-enacting of demonic covenants and evil in the person’s life.

For example, when a young lady fall into the trap of the enemy through sexual immorality and she did not do penance through repentance nor get away from such sinful lifestyle, then we will see the evil covenants of both her father and mothers lineage propping up in her life and holding her captives. Suddenly those evil character, lifestyle and nature will spread in her life like wildfire. That is why when we fall from glory, quick repentance is very important if we do not want to miss the mark and the blessings of the Lord.

A bank manager had illicit sex affair with his secretary who kept bringing delicious meal for him on the job as his wife got too busy and stop preparing his lunch that she was doing for years because her fashion designing business began to do expand tremendously. Suddenly the shield of God over that family was removed and the wife developed ovarian cyst which plundered all their savings because she was getting worse by the day. This man known for uprightness at work got into an unofficial financial deal at work which boomerang and he was fired. He could not get another job and ended up moving back to his father’s house. Can you see how a little leaven or one small illicit sexual escapade can give the strongman the legal right to destroy the career and financial base of a family?

DESTROY THE STRONGMAN LEGAL AUTHORITY AND REPENT

Investigate, identify, look out from records and unearth all the evil consecrations, evil covenants, dedications and transgressions that form the basis of your spiritual foundation as an individual, family, community and nation.  Read widely, be inquisitive, unearth the origin especially of names and be a keen observer of events and things. Ask questions, then also seek spiritual revelation and illumination. Next take responsibility- be remorseful to God and mourn over what has been lost and what is being lost through repentance.

Pray repentance prayer which incorporates the full and active participation of restoration through confessing and forsaking your sin(s). This is the only way that what had been stolen from you can be restored back. The restoration [Joel 2:15-28] was kick started when a solemn assembly was declared, praying and fasting was done earnestly and the priests in repentance weep before the Lord [2 Chronicles 7:14]

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” Act 3:19 

Repentance is about recognizing and acknowledging your sins, profoundly (absolutely or completely) and consciously turning from evil heart with deep remorse.  Conversion is the end result of repentance. Sin gives the enemy legal ground and opens doorways for him to operate in one’s life. Repent and forsake sin.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9 

Once the power of the strongman is broken off of an area, it clears the atmosphere for God to move freely, and tremendous breakthrough and restoration is birthed forth.