Bible Study Bind The Strong Man.

[Chopper]

Matthew 12:22 "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

This portion of Scripture has confused many Christians. I hope to shed some light on this very important instruction from our precious, mighty, Son of God, Jesus.....I hope to honor that great Holy Spirit of YHWH. So many Christians hardly give the Holy Spirit much thought in each day. Hopefully, after this thread has run it's course, we will not only honor Him but call on Him for what He does best, sets people free!!

This could very well be a long introduction to this thread because there is a lot to cover. I will attempt to explain many of these verses as the Holy Spirit gives me wisdom and knowledge.

12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils....The scene is Jesus healing a man who was blind and mute. This very dramatic miracle stunned the people but irritated Israel's Leaders who hated Jesus.

This is also the background of an important instruction against the blasphemy toward the Holy Spirit which there is no forgiveness for that sin. The Pharisees were saying that the power behind the power of Christ Jesus came from Beelzebub the prince of demons.

We must be very careful when we criticize a person's ministry and calling it false and of the devil. I've heard folk say that about Benny Hinn. Be careful!! We won't know the Truth until Jesus shows us. Here is a verse to remember....

Matthew 11:18 "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."

Here we have judging words without really knowing the person. We must not judge before the time, the Apostle wrote. Here it says, "wisdom is justified of her children." That means that a persons works will display it's validity in what it or they produce or the aftereffects.

12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

I think this is quite clear. If a force fights against itself, it will fail....Lets get personal. Every Christian is supposed to fight the good fight of Faith, we cannot give up. Many Believers who are tired of this lousy life here on earth, want to just die and get out of here.

If a Christian gives up, he is fighting against him/her self. The life will simply stay stagnant with no positive spiritual service to our Lord Jesus. Depression is a big stopper of forward motion of pleasing our Lord.

12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you....Ah yes!! The great and powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit, always brings the Kingdom of God into a present situation of trouble. Listen, there is nothing impossible for the Holy Spirit of God to reverse or accomplish.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is very pleased when we believe by faith to ask Him to do what seems impossible to us. Heal a blind mute man? No problem for the mighty Holy Spirit Who was working thru Jesus. AND, He wants to work thru us so that the Father and the Son are glorified and the Name of Jesus will be honored in this life.

Now, this is very important....The humanity of Jesus the Son of God could not accomplish even one miracle. The miracles come from the spiritual side of Jesus, not the human side. How many times did I think that my prayer would accomplish anything? Before I attempt to enter the Spiritual realm, first I must prepare my heart/mind to empty my flesh and call upon the Holy Spirit to enter the situation and cause His great work in setting people free.

The Holy Spirit is the One Who binds the strong man. The Holy Spirit is the Agent of YHWH that actually enters the domain of Satan, and cuffs him so that where Satan had been causing trouble, now he is defenseless against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is much more powerful than Satan and can stop him when we are in the Spirit's control.

12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.....This is the UN-pardonable sin. Don't be confused, This sin can only be committed when we forsake the leading of the Holy Spirit to be saved, and to attribute that ministry of someone as from the devil when in fact their ministry was of the Holy Spirit.

If we don't have sufficient information about a ministry or person, we can't really see into that persons heart. Therefore no judging until Jesus reveals Truth.

May God our Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit bless you and help you the next time someone needs you to help them. Remember, call upon the Holy Spirit to be the one to change every situation.

 

[smaller]

We must be very careful when we criticize a person's ministry and calling it false and of the devil. I've heard folk say that about Benny Hinn. Be careful!! We won't know the Truth until Jesus shows us. Here is a verse to remember....

Personally I have no issues looking at many of the voodoo magic practices of a lot of charismania as "demonic" in nature.

What this doesn't mean is that I see the people participating in it as unsaved. Nor does it mean that I dislike hearing Jesus proclaimed, in pretence.

IF you see the contents of your post, you may see that there really are TWO entirely separate entity classes involved. That would be "man" and "devil(s)." Jesus affirms this sight for example in Mark 4:15, showing that Satan performs all kinds of antics in the "hearts" of mankind. Again, TWO entity classes involved.

It's probably what makes Christianity distinct, this sight of man as "not just man."

We also know that "man" is the house of wicked spirits that are NOT man from Jesus, here, and from the scriptures you are drawing from:

Luke 11:24
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

The above is the understanding that The Word puts forth. And it makes theology very interesting to "sort through."

There is a veritable mountain of scriptural evidence that this present world is filled with mankind, and that mankind IS the house of the unclean spirits that are NOT man.

Every person we see is this way, IF we are seeing through the eyes of scripture. And it's part and parcel of our quests as Christians, to TURN people from the power of darkness, of Satan, who is NOT THEM, but does indeed work upon them.

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

A lot of believers might give this construct minor lip service. Those who are caught up in the various antics of SATAN will seldom recognize that activity as "not of themselves." They can't see the overlap between themselves and Satan in their own flesh and that is because they are NOT in Truth. They only see themselves and the wicked/temptation/deception thoughts as only themselves. That is not the sight of The Word.

 

[th1b.taylor]

'Morning gents,
This is a topic that roubles the living snot out of me. On a few forums I have been approached about this or that preacher but since Benny has been brought forward, let's leave it there.

To often a young in the Faith, Christian, will discover the Media Visible, money generating Benny Hinn and they are, juswt, floored if or when they investigate the man by googling his name. But when a man, any man, proports himself to be, as the former Joseph Smith, a special, marked out by God, later day prophit to deliver a new message to the world, not only must, not should, but we must be as the Bereans and test his message against that, which has been tested and found to be the True Word of God the Christian Bible.

When Benny makes money swamping statements such as the one where he promised he would deliver the One Holy God to the stage in Africa to converse with him as the crowd observes, those new or weak in the faith must be protected and their fledgling faith must be rotected and nourished with the truth of God's Word.

These visible pretenders will do much damage to the young, weak or/and growing in the faith. I, so, dislike twenty page rants on people of this nature and like I perceive, you also worry about the p0eope doing these rants that are not of God.

I feel, perhaps incorrectly, that the average person feels there is some sort of ritual, perhaps Voo Doo like, involved with receiving the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost into our lives so much that He resides there.

In discussions I have found that a lot of good people experience being over come with the Holy Spirit but, before to long, no longer feel His presence. In the Church we must begin to cover the teaching criteria God as left for us and stop trying to follow this person's or that publisher's Study aterial.

Every time I have taken the podium, be it on the Altar or in the Classroom at the table and I pray and submit myself to the Holy Spirit's guidence, God has delivered a message that at least one person in that assembly was in need of.

If I decide to take the phonies on as a mission, I have failed God, God forbid! In any person that is Satan or ione of his deamons and is not f God, my Father.

Great and needed discussion!

 

[Chopper]

Personally I have no issues looking at many of the voodoo magic practices of a lot of charismania as "demonic" in nature.

What this doesn't mean is that I see the people participating in it as unsaved. Nor does it mean that I dislike hearing Jesus proclaimed, in pretence.

IF you see the contents of your post, you may see that there really are TWO entirely separate entity classes involved. That would be "man" and "devil(s)." Jesus affirms this sight for example in Mark 4:15, showing that Satan performs all kinds of antics in the "hearts" of mankind. Again, TWO entity classes involved.

It's probably what makes Christianity distinct, this sight of man as "not just man."

We also know that "man" is the house of wicked spirits that are NOT man from Jesus, here, and from the scriptures you are drawing from:

Luke 11:24
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

The above is the understanding that The Word puts forth. And it makes theology very interesting to "sort through."

There is a veritable mountain of scriptural evidence that this present world is filled with mankind, and that mankind IS the house of the unclean spirits that are NOT man.

Every person we see is this way, IF we are seeing through the eyes of scripture. And it's part and parcel of our quests as Christians, to TURN people from the power of darkness, of Satan, who is NOT THEM, but does indeed work upon them.

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

A lot of believers might give this construct minor lip service. Those who are caught up in the various antics of SATAN will seldom recognize that activity as "not of themselves." They can't see the overlap between themselves and Satan in their own flesh and that is because they are NOT in Truth. They only see themselves and the wicked/temptation/deception thoughts as only themselves. That is not the sight of The Word.

Thank you smaller. I agree with your instruction. What I see sometimes is that uninformed folk will make rash judgmental statements concerning the acts of others. That bothers me because I feel that those who judge others don't really know that person and especially not what's in the persons heart. I try and be faithful to this verse in Scripture written by the Apostle Paul....

2Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

This is what I see happening all to often. Baptist's will criticize Pentecostals and say, "tongues" are of the devil. Pentecostals will say, Baptist's are dead spiritually. Denominational traditions are taught as biblical doctrine and that's bad. If we compare others by our standards, we enter a dangerous area of judgment....

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

I appreciate your instruction smaller, it's just that in these last days, I'm striving for Holiness and Righteousness. I'm trying to restrain my flesh and fleshly desires. Righteousness? Yes, I'm simply trying to be RIGHT before my Master so He will be pleased.

 

[Chopper]

'Morning gents,
This is a topic that roubles the living snot out of me. On a few forums I have been approached about this or that preacher but since Benny has been brought forward, let's leave it there.

To often a young in the Faith, Christian, will discover the Media Visible, money generating Benny Hinn and they are, juswt, floored if or when they investigate the man by googling his name. But when a man, any man, proports himself to be, as the former Joseph Smith, a special, marked out by God, later day prophit to deliver a new message to the world, not only must, not should, but we must be as the Bereans and test his message against that, which has been tested and found to be the True Word of God the Christian Bible.

When Benny makes money swamping statements such as the one where he promised he would deliver the One Holy God to the stage in Africa to converse with him as the crowd observes, those new or weak in the faith must be protected and their fledgling faith must be rotected and nourished with the truth of God's Word.

These visible pretenders will do much damage to the young, weak or/and growing in the faith. I, so, dislike twenty page rants on people of this nature and like I perceive, you also worry about the p0eope doing these rants that are not of God.

I feel, perhaps incorrectly, that the average person feels there is some sort of ritual, perhaps Voo Doo like, involved with receiving the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost into our lives so much that He resides there.

In discussions I have found that a lot of good people experience being over come with the Holy Spirit but, before to long, no longer feel His presence. In the Church we must begin to cover the teaching criteria God as left for us and stop trying to follow this person's or that publisher's Study aterial.

Every time I have taken the podium, be it on the Altar or in the Classroom at the table and I pray and submit myself to the Holy Spirit's guidence, God has delivered a message that at least one person in that assembly was in need of.

If I decide to take the phonies on as a mission, I have failed God, God forbid! In any person that is Satan or ione of his deamons and is not f God, my Father.

Great and needed discussion!

Thanks old Buddy. I probably shouldn't have used Benny Hinn as my example because much of what you've said is true. I don't participate in anything that represents that man. I should have used Billy Graham because in some of the legalistic Baptist groups I used to fellowship in really bad mouthed Dr. Graham because of the men/women that he had on his stage participating in his crusades.

Hey Buddy, keep me straight, I like that about you. Love You!!

 

[th1b.taylor]

I have not the power to straighten bjt the

 

[th1b.taylor]

I have not the power to straighten but our LORD still has me chained down on the Frame Straightener and I have noted that the angels removed the twenty ton jacks and rplaqced them with some brand new 100 ton jacks adn a group of three inch chains to pull me straight with.

 

[Malachi]

12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

The "strong man" is Satan, his "goods" are his evil spirits and their evil deeds, and his "house" is the Kingdom of Darkness. Christ came to "destroy... the devil" (Heb 2:14), which He certainly did through His death, burial, and resurrection.

As to assessing the ministries of others, we are to examine their words and deeds in the light of Scripture. We have been warned that in the last days there will be many false teachers, fasle prophets, and false Christ's. Benny Hinn is certainly a false teacher, and should be exposed for that. There are many others among those on radio and television.

 

[for_his_glory]

Chopper, I give you a Chopper Home Run for your post as many have never experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit even though they have unknowingly received at the moment of repentance and confession of faith in Christ Jesus, Acts 2:38.39. We are quick to judge the outside appearance of ones actions, but only God can judge the heart, Matthew 7:1,2. Many times I have had to repent of such judgment on another for it is not my place, but to only discern the spirits that are speaking, 1John 4:1-7.

I will use Benny Hinn for an example since you brought him up. A group of us were invited to work with his ministry one weekend and was given instruction by him the do's and don't of where our place was. To make a long story short learning how to discern which spirit is speaking is very important so we are not caught off guard and deceived. I would never condemn someone like Benny Hinn or any other preacher, but to pray for them and let God be the judge.

Jesus explains the purpose of the Holy Spirit and the relationship of the believers to Christ and what relationship the believers have to the world in John chapters 14 and 15. We receive power and authority through the Holy Spirit to carry on the works of the Lord until His glorious return. In order to stay in Gods will you must posses the mind of Christ to know the works we do are not of ourselves, but that of the Father who started a good work in you. Jesus has started a good work within you and we can only carry out these works through the Holy Spirits guidance as we help meet the needs of others who need a touch from God, Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 2:5-8.

The Holy Spirit bears witness of Jesus to us as he did to the disciples on the day of Pentecost for us to gain truth through Spiritual eyes and ears. The disciples could not understand the works of the Lord with their carnal minds until they received power from God and after that the Holy Spirit came on them to teach them how to do the will of the Father. God gives us his power and authority through the Holy Spirit to be over comers and to take his word out into the world with love and compassion as we allow the Holy Spirit speak through us.

Just one more thing that caught my eye in your OP where you talked about how we want to leave this lousy world. That is a selfish act on the part of a Christian as we should always be about our Fathers business until the time comes when we are taken from this wicked world.

 

[reba]

12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
This is the verse in that passage that jumps out at me..
Where was His Kingdom? Right there right where He was/is... Where does He live today.. Do we fall short of His Glory by pushing His Kingdom off to a later time..

 

[Malachi]

Do we fall short of His Glory by pushing His Kingdom off to a later time..

That would certainly be a mistake. But the fact is that while the Church is on earth, "the Kingdom of God is within you". However, after His Second Coming Christ will indeed establish a literal, physical, eternal, righteous Kingdom of God on earth.

Presently Satan is on the loose, but then he will be first bound in the bottomless pit, and finally in the Lake of Fire after 1,000 years.

 

[Malachi]

I would never condemn someone like Benny Hinn or any other preacher, but to pray for them and let God be the judge.

Sounds good and very spiritual, but that is contrary to Scripture. We never take the place of God when it comes to rendering judgement on others. But we are commanded to distinguish between true teachers and false teachers. That is not "condemnation" but judging rightly.

Is Benny Hinn a false teacher? There are many who have determined that he is indeed. Let God judge, but let the *buyer* beware. In the mouth of two or three witnesses...
1. http://www.challies.com/articles/the-false-teachers-benny-hinn
2. http://biblelight.net/tbn.htm
3. http://www.gtycanada.org/blog/B140207/has-benny-hinn-repented
4. http://so4j.com/benny-hinn-false-teacher
5. http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/...ings-about-a-benny-hinn-miracle-service/35348
6. http://www.equip.org/hank_speaks_out/benny-hinns-false-prophecies/
7. http://www.satansrapture.com/bennyhinn.htm

 

[smaller]

Sounds good and very spiritual, but that is contrary to Scripture. We never take the place of God when it comes to rendering judgement on others. But we are commanded to distinguish between true teachers and false teachers. That is not "condemnation" but judging rightly.

Is Benny Hinn a false teacher? There are many who have determined that he is indeed. Let God judge, but let the *buyer* beware. In the mouth of two or three witnesses...
1. http://www.challies.com/articles/the-false-teachers-benny-hinn
2. http://biblelight.net/tbn.htm
3. http://www.gtycanada.org/blog/B140207/has-benny-hinn-repented
4. http://so4j.com/benny-hinn-false-teacher
5. http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/...ings-about-a-benny-hinn-miracle-service/35348
6. http://www.equip.org/hank_speaks_out/benny-hinns-false-prophecies/
7. http://www.satansrapture.com/bennyhinn.htm

The lesson that most learn, sooner or later, is that not everyone with Jesus painted across their lips is "truthful" or "accurate" to scriptural discourses. And eventually that same sight lands on ourselves.

 

[reba]

That would certainly be a mistake. But the fact is that while the Church is on earth, "the Kingdom of God is within you". However, after His Second Coming Christ will indeed establish a literal, physical, eternal, righteous Kingdom of God on earth.

Presently Satan is on the loose, but then he will be first bound in the bottomless pit, and finally in the Lake of Fire after 1,000 years.

I disagree using this verse as one of many more complicated ones as my source

1Co_15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

 

[for_his_glory]

Sounds good and very spiritual, but that is contrary to Scripture. We never take the place of God when it comes to rendering judgement on others. But we are commanded to distinguish between true teachers and false teachers. That is not "condemnation" but judging rightly.

Is Benny Hinn a false teacher? There are many who have determined that he is indeed. Let God judge, but let the *buyer* beware. In the mouth of two or three witnesses...
1. http://www.challies.com/articles/the-false-teachers-benny-hinn
2. http://biblelight.net/tbn.htm
3. http://www.gtycanada.org/blog/B140207/has-benny-hinn-repented
4. http://so4j.com/benny-hinn-false-teacher
5. http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/...ings-about-a-benny-hinn-miracle-service/35348
6. http://www.equip.org/hank_speaks_out/benny-hinns-false-prophecies/
7. http://www.satansrapture.com/bennyhinn.htm

Actually it would not be me doing the condemning as they have already condemned themselves, John 3:18, but I can certainly pray that they see the errors of their way before it's to late. In these last days we know there will be many false teachers and we need to rightly divide the word of God to know that of what we are hearing. There are only two spirits that operate as one is truth and the other error, 1John 4:1-6

 

[Sinthesis]

The "strong man" is Satan, his "goods" are his evil spirits and their evil deeds, and his "house" is the Kingdom of Darkness. Christ came to "destroy... the devil" (Heb 2:14), which He certainly did through His death, burial, and resurrection.

As to assessing the ministries of others, we are to examine their words and deeds in the light of Scripture. We have been warned that in the last days there will be many false teachers, fasle prophets, and false Christ's. Benny Hinn is certainly a false teacher, and should be exposed for that. There are many others among those on radio and television.

Another way to read this parable in light of another parable would be where the 'strong man' refers to husbandmen, his 'goods' are the fruit of the vineyard, with the 'house' as the vineyard.

 

[Sinthesis]

Can God use Benny Hinn's distasteful works for good? Of course.

 

[ezrider]

We must be very careful when we criticize a person's ministry and calling it false and of the devil. I've heard folk say that about Benny Hinn. Be careful!! We won't know the Truth until Jesus shows us. Here is a verse to remember....

Matthew 11:18 "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."

Here we have judging words without really knowing the person. We must not judge before the time, the Apostle wrote. Here it says, "wisdom is justified of her children." That means that a persons works will display it's validity in what it or they produce or the aftereffects.

If you don't mind, I would like to present a thought on this that does not relate to teaching the scripture or false prophets, but I think will illustrate a point about our own perceptions. As I was driving home today, I was passing through a certain area of town that is known for prostitution, and as I was driving by I happened to see two girls, one on each side of the street, both dressed in high heals and very short skirts and skin tight shirts; both very slutty looking. So naturally my first thought is that these must be prostitutes, which makes is very easy to be judgemental of them for their lifestyle.

A few minutes after I had passed through the area, a thought occurred to me that maybe they weren't prostitutes after all, maybe they were law enforcement dressed up to look the part in order to trap some johns. How would I begin to know the difference judging by their character as they appeared to me an the side of the street?


There is a scripture that says if they want to believe a lie, then the Lord would send them strong delusion so that they would believe the lie.
So if it be the will of the Lord to rise up a false teacher to feed them the strong delusion he has promised them, then it is the Lord's will that it be so. And if then it is the Lord's will, are they not justified as well?

 

[Malachi]

Can God use Benny Hinn's distasteful works for good? Of course.

That's hardly the point. The point is made by Peter in 2 Pet 2:1-22.

 

[Malachi]

Another way to read this parable in light of another parable would be where the 'strong man' refers to husbandmen, his 'goods' are the fruit of the vineyard, with the 'house' as the vineyard.

The context is clear, and would not allow for this interpretation. Satan's kingdom was in view, with the blatantly false accusation that Christ was involved with communicating with the prince of devils, rather than destroying his kingdom. Christ had to set the false accusers straight.