Exposing the Strongman

Mark 3:23 -27 – “So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 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.”

We are engaged in a spiritual battle. 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.” In Revelation 12:10 we learn about true spiritual warfare, “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.’” As children of God, we are attacked by a very real adversary who hates righteousness and the Savior we love and serve.

Who is this strongman? Jesus identifies him as “the ruler of demons.” His name is Beelzebub, which is another name for Baal. Joel Ryan writes in his article, What does the Bible say about Baal, “The name Baal in the Bible is most commonly associated with the Canaanite and Phoenician god of fertility, the rain, the sun, and the storm. Baal was considered the supreme god and master of all the other gods. In many instances, various cities would have their own special Baal. This is where we see the name used in conjunction with a specific locality such as Baal-Peor, Baal-Gad, and Baal-Hermon. The Baals or Baalim (plural) were considered the lords of their respective lands.”^[1]

Dutch Sheets writes in Binding the Strongman Over America, “Baal (Beelzebub) is identified as the ruler of demons in Matthew 12:24 and Mark 3:22. Beelzebub is another name for Baal.”^[2] The children of Israel were ascribing the miracles of God to Beelzebub or Baal.

Baal worship is identified by the following three things:

1. Worship of the environment.

2. Shedding of innocent blood.

3. Sexual perversion.

The temples of Baal were filled with sexual immorality. These acts were performed openly in the temple. Pornography and sexual perversion are celebrated in our society today. This is the work of the spirit of Baal.

This evil spirit is at work in our nation. Our role as believers is to fast and pray until the heavens open over us individually and our church corporately, so this evil spirit is bound and his influence is broken.

^[1] ^[1] Ryan, Joel, Crosswalk.com, https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-does-the-bible-say-about-baal.html.

^[2] Sheets, Dutch, Binding the Strongman Over America and the Nations, Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, PA, pages 455.

A Declaration of Ownership

Psalm 24:1-2 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.” Psalm 24 is the third part of a trilogy with Psalm 22 and 23. David opens Psalm 22 prophetically with the words Jesus would say on the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” Psalm 23 reveals our Lord as the Great Shepherd who cares for His sheep. Psalm 24 reveals the Lord as the King of Glory. Psalm 24 begins with a declaration of ownership. The Psalmist identifies the Lord as the Creator. Psalm 24:2 says, “He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Psalm 89:11 says, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.” The beginning of cr...

Rebuilding the Broken Altar of Prayer

In Matthew 21: 12-13 , “ Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Jesus made this declaration, “My house shall be called a house of prayer!” I believe that God is calling us back to the altar of prayer. For several weeks the Lord has dealt with me about rebuilding the broken altar of prayer in our personal and corporate lives. If we are going to see spiritual breakthrough in our churches and communities then we must rebuild and return to the altar of prayer. Wayman Rogers writes, “The ministry of prayer is the most important of all ministries in the church. Prayer creates the atmosphere and binds the powers of darkness so the gospel of Jesus can go forward and the church can prosper....

The Tent Peg of Jael

Judges 4:21-22 – “Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.” The book of Judges covered a chaotic time in Israel’s history. A key Scripture for Judges in found in Judges 21:25, “Every man did was right in his own eyes.” There were seven cycles of apostasy, where the covenant children of God would turn away from the principles of the Word of God. When they had godly leadership they would serve the Lord. When that leader would die they would turn f...

REVIVALTALK

Search This Blog