II Corinthians 10:3-5

The Bible says: "...I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil" (Romans 16:19). Christians are not to seek knowledge of evil. However, three times Paul says to Christians: "I do not want you to be ignorant" (Romans 11:25; I Corinthians 10:1; 12:1). As we talk about spiritual warfare (Fighting the Good Fight), we are seeking to lift ourselves from a self-centered spirituality that says we are victims rather than warriors.

Fiery darts will come, but we raise the shield of faith, take up the sword of the Spirit and join with others in contending against the enemy.

The weapons of spiritual warfare are:   Prayer & Fasting; The Name of Jesus; The blood of Jesus; Agreement; Praise; and The Word of God.

It is in the name of Jesus that we are authorized to bind and loose. What does that mean?

The Authority of Jesus Name (Matt. 16).

Salvation has come and it is available only through Jesus. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"(v. 16).

Jesus left His Spirit and His authority with the Church. Jesus said: "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (v. 18).

"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." (v. 19).

Matthew 18:18-20

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

"Binding" (deo) means restricting the power of evil.

Jesus said: "how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up [binds] the strong man? Then he can rob his house" (Matthew 12:29).

"Loosing" (luo) often means untying the thong on sandals.

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, "his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off [loose] the grave clothes and let him go." (John 11:44).

While we have authority to bind and loose in the name of Jesus, we do not decide on our own what should be bound and what should be loosed.

This indicates the necessity for a synchronization between earth and heaven. The normal sequence is heaven first, then earth.

To bind and loose we need to hear from God in prayer and know what He is doing before undertaking any aspect of spiritual warfare.

We need to discern and agree on what has been bound in heaven: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19).

Satan obstructs us from accurately discerning the will of God: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Many who shout 'I bind you, Satan!' are operating on such a low level of spiritual power that they are not accomplishing much more than making noise.

Those who will not submit to the Lordship of Christ are not equipped for spiritual warfare.

The Wrestler: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12).

The Warrior: Objective of the warrior is, not to protect himself but, to defeat the enemy.

The devil's weapon is a bow and arrow (v. 16). Satan does not want his forces to engage well-armed Christians up close.

The Christian's weapon is a sword, a close-up weapon.

Satan may continue shooting from a distance and we are expected to used the shield of faith to defend ourselves.

But if we are going to use our sword we must be prepared to engage the enemy up close as a wrestler.

OUR PLAN OF ACTION (James 4:7-8).

The Upward Relationship - Our first move is upward toward God.

"Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

The Outward Relationship - If we take steps to resist Satan, he will flee from us (v. 7).

After we have moved upward - Jesus always sends us outward - with the authority to cast out demons and bring healing into people's lives.

It is absolutely essential that we maintain a balance between the upward and the outward.

The role of a Christian requires that every believer be involved in some ministry to help build Christ's church.

As we move upward God will draw near to us and as we appropriately move outward Satan will flee from us. And as the power of the enemy is pushed back and the glory of God shines through, we will see the harvest increasingly reaped and multitudes of unbelievers turning "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith" (Acts 26:18).

*Adapted from C. Peter Wagner, Engaging the Enemy, pp. 14-27.