warfare3a

     � Mark 16:17 Jesus said �... and these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they
        shall cast out devils ... and lay hands on the sick and they shall be healed.�

     � Matthew 12:29 Jesus said, �How can anyone enter a strongman's (i.e., the controlling
        demon's) house and carry off his possessions unless he first binds the strongman.� In
        Matthew 12:43-44 Jesus tells us that a demon refers to the human he indwells as his house.

     � Matthew 28:18 Jesus said �All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given me,� then
        He gave his disciples the great commission. Since we are His disciples, we now have this
        power. All we have to do is learn how to use it.

     � Ephesians 1:18-22 refers to God-given powers. Warriors/soldiers must know how to defend
       as well as how to attack, and we Christians must likewise be able to protect ourselves and
       our loved ones while we are doing God's work in the spiritual realm. To help us in this task,
       Jesus stated in Matt. 16:19 �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.� (Also note Matthew 18:18 on binding and loosing).

     It appears we are to use binding and loosing in our spiritual warfare to open prison doors and set the captives free as well as other defensive and offensive activities.

     As Christians, we need to know how to use these keys properly. We need to know the difference between an evil spirit that needs binding, a person that needs loosing from an evil spirit, when to bind, and when to loose. At the time Jesus spoke there was no local Church or clergy and laity. He placed the power of binding and loosing in the hands of the believing disciple where it still remains. The value and use of these two keys has been largely lost since the early Church (i.e., body of believers).

     Binding and loosing are powerful and effective weapons given by God to the saints. Jesus said (Luke 24:49) �I am going to send you what my Father has promised ... power from on High.� We therefore have unprecedented power over all spiritual forces. We must not wait upon the enemy to engage us in combat but we should engage him first.

     Now, let us define our terms before we go any further:

     � Bind: To fasten with chains and ropes, to tie, shackle, fetter, confine, restrain, hinder, etc.
       Spiritually this means you place the Devil under legal Biblical authority

     � Loose: To untie, unfasten, unbind, release, to loose from blame, pressures, tensions, torments,
       domination by others (living or dead), and loose from demons, diseases, and curses.

     The following examples provide practical advice on how to use the gifts of binding and loosing:

     � Bind evil spirits in enemies, relatives, and others so that they cannot harm you or your loved
       ones in any way.
     � Bind all spirits of the air so they don't attack you when visiting restaurants, homes, and at
       social gatherings, etc.
     � Bind all spirits in the air, and all spirits over, under, and around your Church. Bind all religious
       and Pharisee spirits. Bind the spirit sent to rule the Church, influence the pastor to water down
       his ministry, and attack him and his family physically and mentally. They include:

        �� Bitterness           �� Criticism              �� Contention
        �� Deception           �� Delusion              �� Division
        �� Diversion            �� Gossip                 �� Ill-will
        �� Legalism             �� Strife                   �� Resentment

     � Bind the strongman over your home and spirits of:
        �� Divorce               �� Strife                   �� Home wrecking
        �� Finances              �� Sickness              �� Terminal Sickness
        �� Lethargy              �� Ahab                   �� Matriarchy (spirits of Jezebel)

     � Daily bind the strongman over your employment and also bind all demons operating in your
       superiors, supervisors and co-workers. They can ruin your health and emotions, and make
       your life miserable if you don't. Make all your commands in the Name of Jesus.

     As for loosing, much of your binding will have the effect of loosing. You can command a person, a Church and even a geographical area to be loosed from bondage (see Proverbs 28:2).

     Examples here could include loosing a person from the spiritual bondage of drug or alcohol addiction, or a physical bondage. In Luke 13:11-12 Jesus loosed a woman from a spirit of infirmity and simultaneously healed her by this action.

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Date of last update: January 27, 2003