In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. Mark 3:27
As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit told me to stop playing defense and start playing offense in my battle with the enemy. The Holy Spirit brought to my memory the way the enemy has been attacking me in the past few years. Because of the many spiritual struggles I have had, I’ve been on defense. That is, I’ve been praying to keep the enemy at bay. I started to think the enemy could hinder or prevent the favor of God over my life.
Furthermore, I started to give him more credit than he deserves. I gave him credit for hardships and personal struggles. I also gave him credit for setbacks in ministry and other areas of life.
The enemy is overrated. He does not deserve any credit for anything that happens to the believer. Colossians 3:3 says our lives are hidden with Christ in God. That means he would have to get through God to get to us. Therefore, we should not give him credit for the good or the bad things that happen in our lives.
The enemy has convinced many Christians that he is the cause of their struggles. He is engaged in guerrilla warfare against us. He uses deception, misinformation, and discouragement to keep us on defense. Most Christians are frustrated with the tactics of the enemy and turn their anger on loved ones, friends, and other believers. Some people get annoyed with their co-workers or their neighbor or disloyal friends. When, in fact, they should realize that the enemy can use anyone to do his bidding for him.
Many Christians spend so much time on defense; they are walking in fear and not by faith. They are afraid that the enemy will hurt their children or ruin their marriage or destroy their career or hurt their finances. The enemy does not have that type of power. Even when he comes against us, he cannot defeat us because greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. That does not mean he will not try. Indeed, he will roar like a lion to scare us. But if we resist him, he will flee from us.
In today’s text, Jesus teaches us the principles for playing offense against the enemy. We have to bind him (tie him up). How do we tie him? In Matthew 8:18, Jesus tells the disciples, “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” We have to bind the enemy every day, all day so that he can retreat. During my prayer walk this morning, the Lord told me to speak directly to the demons that have been attacking me. So I spoke to them and bound them in the name of Jesus. Afterward, I felt a fresh wind of victory coming over me. It is as if I have been set free in the name of Jesus.
In addition to binding the enemy, Jesus taught us to release blessings over our lives. The enemy has hijacked many blessings given to us by God. We need to release those blessings by speaking them into existence. Indeed, we have to speak things that are not as they were (Romans 4:17). Whatever you are praying or trusting God for, you have to speak it into existence with your own mouth. There is power in our words.
When the enemy comes against us, we have to stand our ground in the name of Jesus and force him to retreat by the power of God in us. As opposed to worrying about the enemy messing your marriage or your children, start loving your spouse more, and spend more time with your children. Instead of worrying about the enemy destroying your career or taking away your job, start thanking God for the job and work in excellence so people can be pleased with your job performance. When you do those things, you are plundering the enemy’s house.
It is time for you to go on offense and not wait for the enemy to attack you. The best defense is an offense. Therefore, I beseech you, brothers and sisters, get on offense in your ministry, your career, your finances, your marriage, your household, and every other area of life. Remember, you are hidden with Christ in God. The enemy will have to go through God first before he can get to you. But he won’t because he remembers Psalm 91.
Prayer- Father, thank you for the victory you have given your followers through Christ Jesus. Help those who feel defeated and discouraged to know they are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.