Forbid them the Dry Places
Whenever we see our LORD JESUS using a parable it was always in the area of teaching someone, something. Therefore, whenever we see a parable in the Word of GOD we should always pay special attention to it, then we should enquire of the LORD the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD as to what the hidden meaning of each and every parable is. In this way we too can learn from JESUS just as the Disciples of old did.
Have a look at what the Word of GOD says about the reason for Parables.
Mat 13:34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable, Mat 13:35 so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
However, just after these verses, in verse 36, we see the Disciples coming to JESUS in private seeking the explanation of what HE taught to the Multitudes. Then in verses 37 - 43 HE explained to them, in detail, just what was said in Parables to the Multitudes outside. So, it is with us, when we go to JESUS and seek HIS explanation HE is quick to answer our request.
Today we are going to look at one of these Parables that our LORD taught. We will look into associated scriptures to provide answers to just what that parable meant. We will also see how it is one of the Major things that we as Ruling Kings and Priests of our LORD JESUS must know about Spiritual warfare.
In Matthew 12:24 we see the Pharisees trying to take JESUS down once again, but as usual, our LORD was far too clever for them, so HE spoke to them in parables about the charges that they had brought against HIM.
The verses we need to look at here are some of those that our LORD spoke to these tricksters mentioned above. In Matthew 12:28 and 29 we are given a glimpse of one powerful tool for spiritual warfare. Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Mat 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Here in these two verses our LORD is showing us that when we cast out demons we are to firstly do it through the HOLY SPIRIT, secondly, as we cast out those demons we are to (1) Go into the strong man's house and (2) spoil his goods, that is take what he has been possessing. BUT, in order to do that we must first bind the strong man.
Now most Christians already know that, but sadly we need to ask, how many Christians are actually doing it and doing it correctly? In Matthew 16:19 a great truth is revealed to us. Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The Binding of the strong man mentioned in the Matthew 12:29 scripture is referring back to this verse above. When we bind the strong man on Earth, we are to recognise (thereby releasing our Faith into the actions of our mouth) the sure and certain knowledge that as we speak out the Binding found in this verse we have the assurance of our LORD JESUS that those demons have already been bound in Heaven. And as we loose these demons off, or out of, the people they have been possessing then the demons have already been loosed in Heaven.
So, when was this binding and loosing done in the Heavens, the day that our LORD JESUS won the battle over the powers of hell? The day that HE went to the Cross of Calvary, three days later to rise in Victory having won the fight over satan in the spirit realm. Now it is our turn to defeat the same foe in this carnal realm that we live in, in this world that we were created to rule over.
JESUS won the Spiritual battle, but HE expects that we will win the physical (Yet Spiritual) battle here on Earth. It is a Physical battle because the demons are controlling physical people and objects, but it is a Spiritual battle because those that we are fighting against are not flesh and blood but spirit beings. Eph 6:12 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.
JESUS has won the battle already against these nasty beings, so HE then gave us the power over them so that we might fulfil the purpose GOD created us for, that Mankind would rule over those spirit beings.
So many times, throughout my Christian walk I have witnessed other Christians simply binding and loosing these demons. In fact, in my early walk with the LORD I also did just that, however. I have walked with the LORD for over three decades, but it has only been over this last couple of years that the truth finally got through to me. Talk about me being a slow learner.
In our earlier verses of Matthew 12:28 – 29 we saw demons being cast out of the strong man’s house. That house is an important clue to an addition that we see also in Matthew chapter 12. In Matthew 12:43 to 45 we see the consequences of what happens if the binding and loosing is not done in accordance with Biblical truth.
Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into MY HOUSE from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
There are multiple things for us to see and learn from in these three verses. (A) We see that when the spirit goes out of the possessed person he goes through dry places, (B) Next, we see that he seeks rest and doesn't find any, (C) And finally, he wants to return back to where he was powerful before. What we need to see after this is the condition of the person who had the demon driven out of them.
1. The demon finds it empty, That is the Greek word Scholazo, which means: -- to take a holiday, that is, be at leisure. The one who was delivered was never filled with the presence of GOD, they were put at peace but never filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.
2. He finds it swept clean. This speaks of the deliverance that the person experienced.
3. He finds it garnished. This means that they were "Put in proper order".
The person who was delivered from demonic possession or oppression was put at peace, delivered, and they were put in good order. This may even indicate that they started to get their act together. BUT they were never filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. They were left vacant, able to be filled with the wrong kind of spirit, just as before, but this time it would be much worse for them.
When that spirit returned from that dry place where it had been wandering it brought with it seven other spirits, more wicked than itself, and that person was seven times worse off than before they were delivered the first time. We must NEVER leave the person who was delivered vacant, and we must NEVER let those spirits just wander around freely. In Jude 1:6 we are shown where we are to send those demons. Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
This scripture is talking about demons who did not keep their place and who were forced to leave their natural habitation. This shows us a very important thing, already our LORD has RESERVED them in everlasting chains, placed them in darkness for judgement on the great day of our LORD. That of course is JUDGEMENT DAY. JESUS has done the reservation for them, but we are the ones who are to send them there.
As mentioned earlier in this Teaching, the LORD has already won the battle in the Heavenlies, now HE expects that we will win our battles here on earth, and this is one of those major keys for winning that battle. The devil and the demons cannot reproduce, that is why they try to get flesh and blood people to follow them, but what we are to do is to reduce the size of his army. And we do that by locking up all that come against us, or against anyone else that the LORD tells us to set free.
Those demons are sent to the abyss in Jude 1:6, probably the same one that we see in the Book of Revelation that satan himself is going to be bound up in for a thousand years. How do we know that? Because of the story of the demon that came out of the man who lived in the Tombs (Luke 8:26 – 33). In that rendition of this event, in Luke 8:31, it tells us the demons cried out to JESUS that HE should not send them into the deep. That word translated as "deep" literally means "The Abyss".
Demons do not want to go into the Abyss because that is where they will stay until Judgement day. Neither do they want us to know that we have the Power and Authority to send them there. In fact, we have been given this information so that indeed we will send them all there, just as we see JESUS doing in the Luke rendition mentioned above.
Bind and Loose, not as something that you are repeating out of the Bible, but as a statement of FAITH, because FAITH is where the power lies. Then know where to send the demons, and in the Name of JESUS send them there. Finally, never leave a delivered person as a vacant house, get them filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.