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Mark 3:27 says, "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." One time, after Jesus had cast out a devil and healed a deaf and mute boy, He explained that in order to overturn the works and activity of the devil, we must bind him first. Again in the New Living Translation Bible: "For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house" (Matthew 12:29). Christ in you is the one who is stronger and able to overcome. This is not the only place where the Lord plainly described a man as a "house" or habitation of the evil one. In the same chapter, He speaks of the unclean spirit cast out and, finding no other habitation, says, "I will return to my house" (see Matthew 12:44) and because no other had taken his place, he is able to "enter and dwell there" (see Matthew 12:45) with seven others more evil than himself. The key to real freedom and overcoming the strongman is to displace the enemy and establish the presence of God. Where satan has been commanded to leave, fill it up with God's Word and presence through daily intimacy. 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 and prayer. The presence of the Lord displaces the devil. "For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14). BIND THE PRINCIPALITIES OF DISEASE AND SICKNESS As II Corinthians 4:4 shows us, satan is the "god of this world." He is the strongman with power to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10) and he has the ultimate power of death (seeHebrews 2:14). The kingdoms of the world and their power and glory are the devil's (see Luke 4:5-6). Jesus has given us the ministry to binding and loosing what has already been bound and released in Heaven because of His finished work! "I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19). VICTORY OVER STRONG MEN Lofty arguments and opinions are the results of pride and evil and vain imaginations - the very strongholds in which demons reside. This then is the essence of demonic warfare -- the power of God to overcome the strongholds of demons. One way we can bind and weaken any demonic stronghold is by setting the captive free like Jesus and moving in our authority. While Jesus was here during His earthly ministry, He was freeing people from the devil by casting him out of them (see Luke 13:11-16; Mark 5:1-15; John 8:32-36). As we set the oppressed free, we weaken the strongman! We must remember,"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (II Corinthians 10:4). One of the greatest ways we can plunder the strongman's house and overcome the enemy's power is by understanding our true authority in Christ and how to resist the devil by submitting to God's promises. In I John 4:4, we're told that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. II Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18, and James 4:7-8 show us the proper way to resist the devil and defeat his schemes through submitting to God. What is more amazing is that Jesus gives authority and power to us. "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness" (Matthew 10:1). In overcoming demonic strongmen and strongholds, we must remember the importance of prayer and intercession -- coming together in agreement to bind the principalities of disease and sickness during mass prayer before loosing and declaring the healing power of God! And continue praying with other Believers 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). PREPARED FOR BATTLE We do not take on demonic strongholds in our own strength. We protect ourselves with the first five pieces of defensive armor and wield the one offensive weapon - the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In verses 12 and 13 of Ephesians 6, Paul writes, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com

The real success of any life will be because of this knowledge, "Thou art the Christ." This knowledge is the rock foundation, "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 16:18,19). This knowledge of our right standing with God -- this life of faith that we have come into -- it is because of this rock foundation that we have this living faith, and that foundation cannot be overthrown. He has given us power to bind and loose. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 KJV Knowing that you are on this rock foundation (living through His faith) and able to bind and to loose; and to have that living faith that you can pray and know you have the answer because of God's promises, and the fact that Jesus said, "If Ye believe." It is on this rock that our faith must be based, and this will never fail; God has established it forever. THE MIND AND WILL OF GOD There is only one place where we can get the mind and will of God; it is alone with God; if you look to anybody else you cannot get it. If we seek to save ourselves we shall never reach the place where we will be able to bind and loose. There is a close companionship between you and Jesus that nobody knows about, where every day you have to choose or refuse. It is in the narrow way that you get the power to bind and the power to loose. We are not going to have faith if we do not give ourselves wholly up to Him. THE ROCK FOUNDATION IN YOU Some believers are weak today because Christ the rock is not abiding in them in the manifestations of the power of God. This is not because it is a special gift -- this power to loose and to bind -- but it is whether you have the rock foundation in you. In the name of Jesus you will loose, and in the name of Jesus you will bind, and if He is in you it ought to bring forth evidences of that power. There is a Spirit that dwells within us, and this is nothing less than the life of Him who gave Himself for us, for He is the Rock life in us. The rock is within you, you have power to bind and power to loose because you consist of that Rock. What you have to do is to stand on that fact and use that power. Wherever you are you can set people free. That power is yours. God is delighted when we use the power He has given us. QUESTION TO ASK MYSELF: Will I use the power of the Rock within me, for His glory? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

1 Peter 1:23 - "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." POWER IN PRAYER IS NOT BASED ON EMOTIONS, FEELINGS, OR THE THEORIES OF MEN, BUT UPON THE WORD OF GOD, OUR AGREEMENT WITH IT, OUR ONENESS WITH CHRIST, WHO IS THE LIVING WORD, AND OUR UNITY WITH GOD'S PURPOSES AND WILL. Hebrews 10:38 - "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Knowing that you are on the rock foundation of Matthew 16:18,19 and able to bind and to loose -- having that living faith that you can pray and know you have the answer because of God's promises, and the fact that Jesus said, "If Ye believe." It is on this rock that our faith must be based, and this will never fail; God has established it forever. Affirmations: I REFUSE TO RELINQUISH ANY OF MY GOD-PROMISED TERRITORY! MY FAITH IS TOUGH, RESISTANT, PERSISTENT, OBSTINATE, AND STUBBORN. MY SPIRIT IS SO TENACIOUS THAT IT REFUSES TO LET GO! IT ISN'T A QUESTION OF "IF" MY VICTORY WILL COME - IT'S ONLY A QUESTION OF "WHEN" IT WILL COME! Song of Solomon 1:4 - "Draw me (The Believer)! We (The Church) will run after you (Jesus)! The king (Jesus) brings me into his apartments! We will be glad and rejoice in you! We will recall your love, more fragrant than wine. The upright love you." NOW HIS BRIDE IS FILLED WITH UNSPEAKABLE JOY FOR SHE KNOWS THAT SHE IS FOUND IN HIM (JESUS). SHE PREFERS THE BRIDEGROOM (JESUS) OVER EVERYHING ELSE. HERE IS THE HEIGHT OF HER JOY AND PLEASURE. Psalm 105:4 - "Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength; seek and require His face and His presence continually evermore." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY