Well, folks. As I open my Bible, I want to talk about something that's been on my heart lately. You know, people I have heard say, "What about this idea of binding Satan? I hear folks saying, 'I bind you, Satan, in the name of Jesus!' Is that in the Bible?" And I have to say, after going through the Word cover to cover, I just don't see it there for us today.
Let's look at those verses people bring up. Turn with me first to Matthew 16:19, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven..." Now, this is right after Peter says, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus is giving the apostles authority to open the kingdom, to preach the gospel, to declare forgiveness of sins, to lead the church. "Bind" and "loose" here are old rabbinic terms for forbidding or permitting things in the church. It's not about commanding demons; it's about church authority.
Then in Matthew 18:18, the same words: "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven..." But read the context, verses 15 to 20. It's all about dealing with sin in the church, confronting a brother who won't repent. The church agrees in prayer, and heaven backs it up. Again, it's discipline among believers, not binding Satan.
Now, Mark 3:27: "No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man..." Jesus is talking about Himself! The scribes said He cast out demons by Beelzebul. Jesus says, "No, I'm the stronger Man. I've bound the strong man (that's Satan) to plunder his house." This is Jesus' victory, folks, not a formula for us to say.
And Luke 10:17-19, the seventy come back rejoicing: "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!" Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven... I give you authority..." But this was for that special mission. It was temporary, like the apostles' signs. It's not a command for every believer to bind Satan verbally.
The New Testament letters? Nothing about binding Satan. Instead, James 4:7 says, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God and stand. Colossians 2:15, Jesus already "disarmed principalities and powers" and triumphed over them on the cross. Satan is defeated! We just stand in that victory.
You know, I have heard that in the early days at Calvary Chapel, they saw the Holy Spirit move powerfully.
I watched the movie “Jesus Revolution” and online documentaries about the Jesus People who came flooding in, with long hair and bare feet, hungry for God.
Lonnie Frisbee was used mightily; thousands got saved. He even went on Kathryn Kuhlman's program, sharing what God was doing, which gave me the heebie-jeebies; I'm not one to follow her, as I am uneasy about her teaching.
But I began to see things drift, too much focus on dramatic signs, emotional highs, spectacles. Chuck Smith didn't want these gimmicks to get off balance. So, in 1971, Lonnie and Churck parted ways. Not because Chuck stopped believing in the gifts of the Spirit; he welcomed them when they edify and line up with the Word.
But Calvary Chapel needed to keep the main thing the main thing, teaching the Bible simply, verse by verse.
Later, in 1980, Lonnie ministered at John Wimber's church. A powerful move happened, people falling, shaking. Wimber got excited about "power evangelism." But Chuck told him, "John, you can stay with us or go your own way." He chose to start the Vineyard. Chuck didn't fight it; he just wanted to protect what God had given us: a relaxed, casual fellowship centred on the Word, not hype and no gimmicks.
Like a father watching over his kids, Chuck felt the Lord leading us to stay grounded.
No extremes, no obsessing over demons. When the enemy comes, just say what Jude said: "The Lord rebuke you!" And keep your eyes on Jesus.
Folks, that's the safe path. Study the Word, submit to God, resist the devil. He'll flee. And remember, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
God bless you all.
Keep in the Word, it's our strength.
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