Overcoming The
12 Evil Strong Men
Overcoming evil spirits & demolishing strongholds of satan
which fights against the soul of man
Principalities
and powers
This is the realm of stronghold of the kingdom of
darkness; which constitutes of principalities and powers in “the second
heaven.” “Principalities” are demons in charge of territories, nations,
provinces, and domains—as there sphere of influence, assigned to them by satan
himself. They are the nearest to satan—“the prince of the power of the air.”
Next to them are “powers” which hold satan’s seat of
power, and headquarters. They are demons with satanic authority, influence,
dominion, and control over people. Some of them like “principalities,” are
giant fallen-angels which are the devil’s ‘power bloc.’ Some of them are ‘world
rulers,’ having global influence on people and events.
Some of the devil’s demons are “spiritual
wickedness” operating in hell. They are placed in charge of “the gates of
hell.”
Jesus said:
And I say also unto
thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matt 16:18 KJV
Just as a city may experience power cut in
electricity, such as blackout, brownout, shutdown, or power failure, so these
divisions of satan’s army can cause a spiritual blackout, brownout, shutdown,
or even a total power failure in the lives of people.
Spiritual blackout or brownout is a state of loss of
consciousness or embargo. It’s a state of chaos and confusion, because of
absence of divine Light. When there is a shutdown at the electrical power
station then, there is blackout in homes and factories in the city.
The devil operates in the ‘darkness’ to prevent his
demons from being seen by people who already are trapped in his blackout. Most
people in the dark are ignorant, and in a state of comatose. The hordes of
darkness usually make a suppression of information: a total news blackout. Demons
aim to cut off people from hearing and receiving the Word of GOD. When this
happens, many people are trapped in a delusion or deception of the enemy.
When there is a shutdown or power failure, firms go
out of business, investments go bankrupt, and there is liquidation. Then, there
is total fold up or collapse or close down in commercial, social and political
activities. Then, it is extremely difficult to start up again; to switch on, to
relaunch or reactivate, because the electricity cables, the overhead cables,
and the high-voltage lines have been cut down.
The principalities and powers in the domain of
darkness strive to cause spiritual shutdown and power failure. They are
tyrants, dictators, and oppressors —and they carry out their operations of
wickedness through demons in the world over people. They stir up kings and
armies against the Kingdom of GOD, and against GOD’s people.
They are despotisms [megalomania]: world rulers, the
rulers of darkness which are the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places—the
spirit forces of wickedness in the supernatural sphere. These are disembodied
opponents in the evil domain which the saints contend with.
“The prince of Persia” and “the prince of Greece”
mentioned in Daniel 10:20 are principalities over these nations.
The false gods and idols worshiped by ungodly
nations during Bible times-especially the false gods of Egypt, Mesopotamia
(Assyria and Babylon), Canaan, Greece, and Rome, are part of satan’s
principalities and powers.
The Philistines at Ekron worshipped Beelzebub [the
prince of demons] (2 Kings 1:2). Beelzebub means “lord of the flies.” Beelzebub
is satan himself—the evil prince and tyrant over all fallen angels. He leads
the ‘swarms of flies’ [demons] which carries out abominable, degradable, and
wicked works against humans. The aim of demons is to pollute the natural
man—they are at war to take over control of the mind. A life possessed by evil
supernatural forces produce a vile odor. Demons strive to contaminate the
anointing.
As dead flies give
perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly
outweighs wisdom and honor.
Eccl 10:1 NIV
In Revelation 16:14, we read of John’s vision
of the Armageddon, in which demons
performing miraculous signs, conferred with all the rulers of the world to gather
them for a great battle against The LORD on that great Day of GOD Almighty.
Armageddon is the place where Ahaziah king of Judah
died. He was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of The
Lord, like the house of Ahab had done. He consulted Baal-zebub
[Beelzebub] satan—the evil prince of darkness, which the Philistines at Ekron
worshipped (read 2 Kings 8:24-29; 9:27; 1:2).
The angels that sinned were put into gloomy
dungeons, where they are chained, and reserved for judgment (2 Peter 2:4).
How to
overcome principalities and powers
When the saints pray and war against the kingdom of
darkness, then, there is an aerial bombardment in the enemy’s camp. And during
such air offensive, under The LORD’s Command and Directive to set the hostages free,
the devil and his army try to create thick darkness to prevent his demons from
being seen.
The enemy strategizes to make our confrontation
against him insignificant, but he knows that “the weapons of our warfare are
not physical [carnal], but spiritually fashioned to tear down and to build.
When “The Day Of The LORD” comes, the time of GOD’s
wrath upon the earth-to punish satan’s armies in ‘heavenly places’ [the second
heaven] –principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in “the kingdom of
the air.” And such a time when The LORD Of Host will punish the kings on the
earth below.
In that day The Lord
will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.
They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be
shut up in prison and be punished after many days. The moon will be abashed,
the sun ashamed; for The Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem, and before its elders, gloriously.
Isa 24:21-23 NIV
GOD does as He pleases with “the powers of heaven”
[fallen angels in the second heaven], and the people of the earth.
All the peoples of the
earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as He pleases
with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back
his hand or say to Him:
"What have You
done?"
Dan 4:35 NIV
Christ Jesus will destroy their dominion, authority
and power, and then He will hand over the kingdom of the world to The Father.
Then, GOD The Father will put everything under the feet of Jesus Christ—GOD The
Son (see I Cor. 15:24-25).
The Lord says to my
Lord:
"Sit at My right
hand
until I make Your
enemies
a footstool for Your
feet."
Ps 110:1 NIV
Already, Jesus Christ disarmed principalities and
powers, triumphing over them on the cross.
And having disarmed
the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over
them by the cross.
Col 2:15 NIV
By the cross He spoiled satan's power to accuse us
of sin, and The Holy Spirit openly displayed to the whole world Christ's
triumph at the cross where our sins were all taken away.
Principalities and powers are in submission to
Christ, just like angels are.
Who is gone into Heaven,
and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being
made subject unto Him.
1 Pet. 3:22 KJV
He is the Head over all principality and power.
And ye are complete in
Him, which is the Head of all principality and power:
Col 2:10 KJV
In Him were all things created in Heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominations, or principalities
or powers (1:16).
He is "Lord Of Hosts" – GOD’s Supreme
Command of the angelic multitude.
GOD makes His Wisdom known to the principalities and
powers in the heavenly sphere, through the Church of Jesus Christ. GOD’s Wisdom
is “many-sided” [versed] with infinite variety, and in accordance with the terms
of the eternal and timeless Purpose, The Father approved and put this into
effect in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord.
According to GOD’s perfect design, the Gospel which
is the heartbeat of Heaven is preached through the Church of Jesus Christ to
the world and announced to the fallen angels which are in the heavenly
realm.
His intent was that
now, through the church, the manifold Wisdom of God should be made known to the
rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose
which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph 3:10-12 NIV
GOD’s secret plan and how it all works out is
revealed to the saints, this was kept hidden for ages by GOD, The Creator of everything.
This is The Messiah’s unfathomable riches, and is made known to the rulers and
authorities in the second heaven.
To maintain our position of victory over
principalities and powers, and over all spiritual wickedness [works of the
devil], we must grow powerful in union with THE LORD. We must grow in His
MIGHTY POWER. We become empowered through our union with HIM. And when this is
done, He gives us Heavenly armor to put on, and spiritual weapons for
warfare—when we use this Heavenly armor and weaponry which GOD provides, led by
THE SPIRIT, against the deceptive tactics of the devil, then, principalities
and rulers of darkness are displaced, and demons are dealt with.
Finally, my brethren,
be strong in The Lord, and in the Power of His Might.
Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.
Wherefore take unto
you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having
your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breastplate of Righteousness;
And your feet shod
with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace;
Above all, taking the
shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
And take the helmet of
Salvation, and the Sword of The Spirit, which is The Word Of God:
Praying always with
all prayer and supplication in The Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Eph 6:10-18 KJV
The whole armor of GOD is our protective clothing;
our chain mail; our body armor, for spiritual warfare. With it, we confront the
enemy in battle. Therefore to effectively engage in warfare against the enemy,
we are to put on the complete paraphernalia [equipments] that make up our
Heavenly armor. Clothed in our armor, we are able to successfully stand up
against all the strategies, devices, and deceits of the devil.
We win the enemy in confrontation by the Truth.
Jesus Christ is “The Truth”—He is the personification of Truth. He said,
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…” (John 14:6a).
He is The Truth that sets free (John 8:32).
On the earth, He gave us the Power to bind and
loose.
To declare an opposition or thing improper and
unlawful. And declare an ally or thing proper, and lawful. (See Matt. 18:18).
The Righteousness of GOD is our bulletproof
vest—‘spiritual piece of armor’ which guards our hearts. His Righteousness puts
us in right standing with Him.
Also, for our full preparation we need to put on the
Peace that comes from the Gospel [the Good News of the Kingdom]. The Gospel is
the heartbeat of Heaven; it is “the Message of Salvation”—“the Message of the
Cross” that comes with the Peace of GOD.
Peace itself is the victory!
We are able to face the enemy with the firm-footed
stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the Gospel.
How beautiful on the
mountains
are the feet of those
who bring Good News,
who proclaim Peace,
who bring good
tidings,
who proclaim
salvation,
who say to Zion,
"Your God
reigns!"
Isa. 52:7 NIV
Faith is a shield which extinguishes all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. So in every battle you will need faith as your shield
to stop those fiery arrows aimed at you by satan and his demons.
“The Word Of GOD” is “the Sword of The Spirit.” And,
it is The Spirit that wields this “sword.”
We as warriors in His army— He gives us the grace to carry this sword.
He conceals and reveals it as He pleases, in accordance with GOD’s Will. He
brandished it for victory in warfare. Whatsoever is born of GOD overcomes the
world by “the Word.”
“The sword” is the weapon for the offensive against
the enemy.
After we have put on the whole armor of GOD, we
still need to carry “the weapons of warfare.”
We need “the Strength of THE LORD”—“the Power of HIS
MIGHT. ”
The working of GOD’s Mighty POWER is incomparable,
immeasurable, unlimited, exceeding [great] Power for us who believe. By this
same POWER He raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand [the
place of honor] in Heaven, far above all principality, and power, and dominion,
and rule, and above every title that can be given. And we are seated in Heavenly places with Him.
JESUS CHRIST is greater than every king or ruler or
dictator or leader. His honor is far more glorious than that of anyone else in
this age and the one to come. For GOD placed all things under His feet and
appointed Him to be head [The Supreme Head] over everything for the Church.
Read Ephesians 1:19-23; Psalm 8:6
Our strength must come from THE LORD's boundless
Mighty Power within us, so that we can stand our ground.
And how do we gain
access into this Power?
By prayer and
supplication in THE SPIRIT on all occasions.
To that end watch
with spiritual alertness, with strong purpose, perseverance and earnest request
for [interceding in behalf of] all the saints.
So take up every piece of war equipment GOD
provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy;
and when the battle is won each day, you will still be standing.
Those who put on the Heavenly armor but do not take
on the weapons can be outsmarted by the devil. And with the weapons of warfare
alone, you are not yet ready for the battle. So we need to put on the armor,
which is our body armor; as much, we also need the Heavenly armaments.
But, even with the armory and the weapons, it is The
LORD Himself that accomplishes the Victory in battle. He alone brings about the
triumph, and we are the chosen soldiers of His royal army. The banner over His
army is “LOVE.” He is “The LORD Of Hosts,” The LORD Strong and Mighty in battle
(Psalm 24:8, 10).
We overcome by the Blood of The Lamb (see Rev.
12:11).
Fitted with the whole armor of GOD, and with all the
weapons of warfare in our arsenal, we are finally ready to wrestle and overcome
the devil’s gladiators in the arena.
Jesus Christ is The Living One, who died and
conquered 'the forces of hell.' He rose from the dead, and seized the keys of
death and the grave [the Hades] from satan. “The gates of hell” shall not
prevail against His Church (Matt 16:18).
I am The Living One; I
was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death
and Hades.
Rev 1:18 NIV
In The Seventh Trumpet, Christ’s Reign is foreseen,
and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our LORD, and of His
CHRIST.
And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall
reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:15 KJV