“No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.” (Mark 3:27, NKJV)

The occasion was that Jesus was casting out demons. The accusation was that Jesus cast them out by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. Jesus pointed out that their conclusion was illogical. If Satan casts out Satan, then his kingdom is divided, and he will not stand.

Often, we do not realize when we are in a spiritual battle. We are hurt by people and find fault with them, not realizing that our real enemy is Satan. He is a thief who comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. He knows us well and studies our weaknesses. He diverts our attention away from him and onto people. But the Bible tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this age. He influences and manipulates others, and he does the same to us. How do we fight such an enemy that we cannot see? We need divine help. We need someone stronger than Satan who know his ways, who can bind him, and who frees his captives.

Satan is a strong man who fiercely guards his possessions (people). He holds them in a dark dungeon of sin and spiritual death. But Jesus is stronger, and He can plunder his goods. I believe that this is what we must pray if we want to see people set free from Satan’s grip.

The scribes accused Jesus of having a demon, but they did not realize that they were blinded by Satan.

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.” (2 Corinthians 4:4a, NLT)

If we would see people change, then we must pray that the Lord would bind Satan and open their eyes to the glorious light of the Good News. We may also need to pray for ourselves that we would have the Lord’s compassion for them. This is the only way that Satan is driven out, and his victims are set free.

“Heavenly Father, forgive us when we forget who we are fighting against. Help us take authority in Jesus Christ to bind Satan, to open the eyes of the blind, and to set them free from their sins. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”