Tag Archives: #Curtis Longstreet

“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” Luke 11:20-22 (KJV)

“But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when Satan, who is completely armed, guards his palace, it is safe- until someone who is stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.” Luke 11:20-22 (New Living Translation)

“A strong man is one who leads or controls by force of will and character or by military methods.”

Jesus said when a strong man armed keeps his palace, his good are secure. The New Living Translation says the strong man of Luke 11, is Satan.

Our battles are not with flesh and blood but principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. The prince of the power of the air works in and through the children of disobedience.

The spiritual and natural works together in the sense that in the beginning in the garden of Eden, you had the spiritual (the river of life) flowing into the earth (natural). When the flow of the river of life was cut off, then the earth began to experience droughts and famine.

The Satan had to use the body of the serpent to communicate to the woman. The same is true when Satan’s kingdom is the spiritual head of a home, company, city, state, or nation. Spiritual darkness is working in the atmosphere of that home and family. Usually dealing with a person under the influence of demonic spirits is difficult unless the person wants deliverance.

Jesus had to defeat the strong man before he could spoil his kingdom. Jesus and Satan faced off in the wilderness in Luke 4:1-43. Jesus won the contest. He announced his ministry to the world, Luke 4:18.

There was another contest in Luke 10, Jesus trained his disciples to replicate his works.

“And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come unto you.” Luke 10:8-10 (KJV)

Jesus told them to heal the sick and say the kingdom of God is come unto You! Healing the sick had something To do with the kingdom of God coming unto them. When the seventy returned, they said to Jesus,

“And seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-21 (KJV)

This is an example of the strong man being put down, first on earth and then in heaven, see Revelation 12:1-17.

There is also strong men or strong women in our midst. There was a man, who had graduated from West Point Military Academy, who after retirement from the military service became the head of the company that was the main supplier of gas and electric service to my city. This man ran the company like he was in the military service. I learned a lot in not letting a company or man control the way I see things. Satan will work through people to intimidate and control you. You must speak to the strong man and not let the strong man intimidate you!

In Luke 11:14-26, Jesus was casting out a devil. The devil was a “dumb spirit.” Once the dumb spirit was cast out, the person that was made dumb spoke. A dumb spirit seeks to make a person unable to communicate. A dumb spirit seek to aggravate, frustrate, disappoint, deny and delay action. Usually, you are not dealing with a person but a spirit that is seeking to influence how you respond to it. The dumb spirit tries to talk you through the way you interpret a given situation. It makes you freeze in a battle.

Speak back to the strong man

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)

According to Luke 10:19, Jesus gave his disciples power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Cast it out!

“For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; TO EXECUTE UPON THEM THE JUDGMENT WRITTEN: THIS HONOUR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS. PRAISE YE THE LORD.” Psalms 149:4-9

Examples of the Strong man

Examples of the strong man in action

Spirit of Infirmity

“And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” Luke 13:11-13 (KJV)

Jesus said this woman had a spirit of infirmity. She was bowed over for eighteen years and could not in no way lift herself up. Jesus said her problem was a spirit of infirmity. The Greek definition of infirmity according to Strong’s with the Bible #G769 from #G772 is feebleness (of body or mind) ; disease infirmity sickness weakness.”

Jesus said Satan had bound her for eighteen years.

“And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:11-13

Satan had this woman bound with a demonic spirit of infirmity. Jesus also called the infirmity, “this bond”

The Biblical definition for bond is,

“A band that is ligament (of the body) or shackle (of a prisoner); figuratively an impediment or disability:-band bond chain string.” From Strong’s with the Bible #G1199

So it is possible that a demonic spirit forced this woman into a folded down position? Jesus, with words, loosed this woman from a spirit of infirmity.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38 (KJV)

“He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinners from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 (KJV)

–Pharaoh, King of Egypt, kept the children of Israel in bondage for about 400 years, Exodus 12:40-42 & Acts 7:6-7 (KJV)

–Goliath of Gath, a military champion the giant kept Israel in fear for forty days

“And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” 1 Samuel 17:8-11 (KJV)

“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself for forty days.” 1 Samuel 17:16 (KJV)

Goliath spoke these same words, 1 Samuel 17:23 (KJV)

All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were “sore afraid” 1 Samuel 17: 24 (KJV)

Goliath challenged Israel for forty days UNTIL someone who knew the power of God accepted his challenge. That someone was David, a teenage shepherd boy. David said to Goliath:

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. AND ALL THIS ASSEMBLY SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD SAVETH NOT WITH SWORD AND SPEAR: FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS.” 1 Samuel 17:45-48 (KJV)

David put his hand in his bag took out a stone, slang it and smote the Philistine in the forehead and he fell on his face. David took Goliath’s sword and cut his head off. The Philistine army fled in fear when they saw their champion was dead.

Four things stand out:

1. Who is the strong man of your life?
2. Whose words are you listening to?
3. What are you saying to your Goliath?
4. What’s in your hand?