The Strong Man

June 23, 2022

Read, as slowly as you can and with an open mind too. God bless you.

Chris sat at table with his dad to eat. It was one of those days Suzanne decided to treat her husband and her 5-year-old son to special meals.

Carefully, Chris made sure every grain from his plate disappeared into his mouth. Then, he got ready to pounce on the chicken thigh in his plate.

Seeing this, his dad stood up quietly and went to his back.

He held Chris' two hands with one hand and with the other hand ate from his meat.

By the time Chris managed to wriggle free from his hold, a large portion of his meat was already gone.

You might want to call Chris' father an Àgbáyà (an adult bully). Well, you can't blame him much. Chris started the whole game; only that he had been unsuccessful in all his trials.

"How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house," [Matt. 12:29 BSB]

Analyzing this story, Chris is the strong man, his meat is his good, his father is the plunderer.

NLT puts this scripture in a fascinating and interesting way.

Q: "For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods?

A: Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house."

Matthew 12:29 NLT

Only someone strong(er) can hurt a strong man. Bullies could beat you in school because they were big and you were probably an innocent looking short or small person.

No matter how Chris tried, he was never going to be strong enough to hold his father's hands with one hand and eat from his meat.

Even if he waited for his father to leave the table briefly so he could have access, there was a rare probability he would leave his meat in his plate.

When you hear the strong man and especially read this particular scripture, Satan comes to your mind.

Quite true. He is the strong man (as used in the context of Matt. 12:22-30)

He's so strong and has trained hundreds of thousands of strong men who represent him on Earth.

So, on your way to receiving promotion, your boss suddenly notices your big back side, he's standing as a strong man.

Or this friend who has vowed to expose your past because she crushes over your godly fiance, she's standing as a strong man.

Know this: A strong man does not just stand.

They stand when they see progress.

They stand when they see breakthrough.

They stand when they see light.

You must also understand that they don't/will never stand for you; they stand in your way, against you.

Dear Believer, if you ever think there will never be a strong man, to be frank, you're telling a big lie to yourself and others.

Except you want to live a mediocre life as a Christian, there will always be strong men.

On your way to fulfilling destiny and achieving greatness, you will meet people like Haman, bar-jesus, Saul of Tarsus, Ahitophel, Jews and Pharisees but, you must know that it is a very serious battle and you cannot fight it alone.

***

That's why I bring you great news!! Glory.

You can be stronger than the strong men. Yes! Infact, you're stronger than them than you realize.

But, first, you must know that you cannot fight these people with physical/emotional weapons.

Second, you must understand that strong men don't rest, they are up on their feet everytime. They are on guard and they are loyal to their boss (the devil) all the time, [Luke 11:21].

Like Esther, every believer (you & I) must understand that strong men need a stronger force to pull them down.

However, you can only be made stronger than them in the place of prayers.

Dear Believer, you need to be stronger to pull the strong men out, [Luke 11:22].

Our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God, breaking strongholds and pulling down imaginations that may exalt themselves and bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Because we can't fight with physical weapons, you need strength, wisdom & confidence and you can get this in the place of prayers.

Prayer is the key to binding the strong man and plundering his goods.

Even queen Esther didn't go in to face the king until she had received strength from the place of prayers.

If Chris would ever plan on a revenge, I'm sure he would not try to hold his father's hand anymore but, rather, he'd persuade his Mom to take revenge on his behalf.

You need God to back you up against the strong man.

He is the strongest man; stronger than the strongest and the only one that can never be defeated.

Only Him can help you bind the strong man.

Dear Believer, do you see a strong man already? Run to God in prayers and you can easily bind him and plunder all his goods.

I see you winning whatever battle is on the way.

Let us pray:

Our father, our God, the fiercest man in battle, we just want to say thank you.

Thank you for being the strong tower of defense that we can always run to.

Because our weapons of warfare are not carnal, even as we pray, please, give us wisdom, confidence and strength to go against every strong man in our way.

With you, we are sure that we can always win, please, let our testimonies be great and let these strong men fall down like Goliath.

Let all glory be to your name in Jesus name, Amen.

Suggested activity: Pray in the Holy Ghost for at least 15 minutes taking your position to pull down strongholds.

The strong man 2

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