How to bind the strongman in spiritual warfare is a question many believers wrestle with—often quietly, sometimes desperately. You pray. You’re fast. You try again. Yet the same resistance keeps showing up. The same pattern. The same heaviness.
At some point, you realize something deeper is at work.
Scripture doesn’t deny that reality. In fact, Jesus directly addressed it. He made it clear that some battles are not surface-level struggles. They are guarded. Protected. Reinforced. And unless the strongman is dealt with first, nothing truly changes.
This article is not about hype or fear-based theology. It’s about understanding spiritual order, authority, and how to pray effectively—without theatrics.
Table of Contents
What the Bible Means by “the Strongman”
Jesus said:
“How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and take his possessions unless he first binds the strong man?” (Matthew 12:29)
This wasn’t metaphorical filler. It was a strategy.
In spiritual warfare, the strongman is the primary ruling influence behind a recurring spiritual issue. Think of it as the gatekeeper. Smaller problems operate under its authority.
That’s why:
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Cycles repeat
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Progress stalls
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Breakthrough feels temporary
You’re addressing what’s visible while something unseen remains untouched.
Why Binding the Strongman Matters
If you don’t bind the strongman, you end up fighting symptoms instead of roots.
People often pray against:
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Fear
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Confusion
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Delay
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Conflict
But behind those may be:
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Control
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Pride
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Rejection
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Unbelief
Binding the strongman removes permission for everything under it.
That’s not drama. That’s the order.
How to Bind the Strongman in Spiritual Warfare the Right Way
How to bind the strongman in spiritual warfare is not about volume, emotion, or confrontation. It’s about alignment. Authority flows where submission exists.
Here’s how Scripture shows it working.
1. Start With Submission, Not Commanding
This part gets skipped more than people admit.
Before you address spiritual resistance, you address your own posture.
Ask yourself:
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Am I holding unforgiveness?
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Am I walking in known disobedience?
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Am I relying on my own strength?
James 4:7 lays out the order clearly—submit first, resist second. Authority doesn’t work outside alignment.
2. Discern the Strongman Behind the Pattern
Not every struggle has the same root.
Some strongholds are personal. Others are learnt. Some are generational. Discernment matters.
Instead of asking, “Why won’t this stop?”
Ask, “What is being protected here?”
The Holy Spirit reveals what emotional analysis never will.
3. Speak From Authority, Not Emotion
Binding the strongman is not shouting into the atmosphere. It’s enforcing what Christ already accomplished.
Jesus didn’t debate demons. He commanded them.
A simple, grounded approach works best:
“In the name of Jesus Christ, I bind the strongman operating behind this situation and forbid its influence according to God’s Word.”
No fear. No panic. Just truth.
4. Use Scripture as Your Legal Ground
Spiritual warfare is legal before it’s confrontational.
When you use Scripture, you’re not trying to convince heaven—you’re enforcing what’s already written.
Key passages include:
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Matthew 18:18
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Luke 10:19
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Colossians 2:15
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Ephesians 1:20–22
The Word carries authority because it reflects God’s will.
5. Bind, Then Loose—Always
A binding stops something. Losing replaces it.
If you bind without losing, you leave space.
After binding the strongman:
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Loose peace
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Loose clarity
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Loose healing
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Loose obedience
Jesus taught both for a reason.
Common Strongmen That Resist Breakthrough
Some strongmen show up more often than people realize.
Fear
Disguised as “wisdom” or “caution,” but rooted in mistrust.
Control
Often hides behind responsibility or perfectionism.
Pride
Subtle. Quiet. Resistant to correction.
Rejection
One of the most common—and one of the most damaging.
Each one guards something valuable: identity, peace, purpose, or freedom.
Why Many Prayers Feel Ineffective
It’s not because prayer doesn’t work.
It’s because prayer without discernment becomes repetitive.
Common issues include:
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Fighting the wrong target
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Ignoring personal obedience
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Treating spiritual authority casually
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Copying prayers without understanding
Spiritual warfare requires clarity more than intensity.
The Role of Fasting and Persistence
Some resistance doesn’t move with quick prayers.
Fasting isn’t about proving devotion. It’s about quieting the flesh so discernment sharpens. When clarity increases, authority becomes easier to exercise.
Consistency matters too. Don’t panic. Not obsession. Just steady, aligned prayer.
Spiritual Warfare Leads to Peace, Not Obsession
If your focus becomes darkness, something is off.
True victory produces:
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Calm
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Stability
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Confidence
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Freedom
Once the strongman is bound, you don’t keep fighting. You move forward.
Final Thoughts
How to bind the strongman in spiritual warfare is ultimately about remembering this truth:
You are not trying to win a battle.
You are enforcing a victory that already happened.
Authority doesn’t come from effort.
It comes from position.
And when you stand in that position—quietly, firmly, biblically—the strongman has no choice but to let go.
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