Prevailing Over the Strongman

Thank you to Erika M. for submitting this question to AskJC: Who is the strongman, and how can you defeat him?

A key component of prevailing prayer is dealing with the strongman. In essence, the strongman is a demon—a high-ranking servant of Satan. He functions much like a prison warden, assigned to guard and keep people in bondage. He often works with a group of other demonic spirits, but he is the leader of the pack -  the one in charge of maintaining the bondage.

This understanding comes from Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:22–29 (NASB):

Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to ^]Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”

In this passage, Jesus reveals that people can be held captive by a strongman. Freedom is not possible until that strongman is bound and removed.

Something to pay attention to in this passage is that the strongman has a house. That detail is significant — it indicates a specific place, or territory, where he operates. Within that “house” are possessions: people, thoughts, emotions, or circumstances he guards. The strongman’s assignment is to protect what he has stolen and to ensure nothing escapes. He is a destroyer, working to keep every part of that house under his control for his master, Satan.

A strongman and strongholds are linked.  The strong man erects a stronghold.   A strong man must be cast out. A stronghold must be broken. 

We never glorify the demonic strongman because we know that the Lord, Himself, is our stronghold! 

Jeremiah 16:19: Oh Lord, my strength and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress…”

Many years ago, I had a stunning dream—one I still remember as vividly as if it happened last night. In the dream, I stood before an enormous fortress rising high into the sky. It looked utterly impenetrable. It was a massive, airtight structure with no windows or openings. The entire fortress was illuminated brightly from the outside, standing out starkly against the darkness. I believe the Lord made it very striking, so I would pay close attention.

I was overwhelmed by what I saw, especially when I realized the fortress stood in the place of my childhood home! As I sought the Lord for the meaning of this dream, He revealed that the fortress represented generational strongholds over my family—places the enemy fiercely guarded. A strongman was stationed there, ensuring that no one escaped “alive.” My family had been held in deep bondage for generations.

Over time, the Lord has been uncovering these hidden strongholds one by one, exposing the strongman’s assignments against us so that we can walk in a pathway to freedom.

The strongman is like a wicked ruler who exerts authority over entire families, cities, and even nations. He is armed and equipped; he has weapons, armor, and, as his name implies, he has strength. Remember, it was Jesus himself who first referred to this being as “the strongman,” revealing that such entities do possess real, though limited, demonic power. The strongman holds goods that do not belong to him, and precious souls are held in captivity that Christ came to set free:

2 Timothy 2:24-26 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (emphasis added)

The strongman’s assignment over families is to utterly steal, kill, and destroy that family. This includes completely dismantling the purpose God intended for that family lineage. He must be identified, resisted, and cast out. As the Lord began revealing these spiritual entities regarding my family, we learned to stand firm, putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and using His strength to come against their influence.

Strongmen can also operate over territories and nations. We see this in Daniel 10:12-13, where Daniel’s prayers were delayed because a spiritual ruler (the “prince of the kingdom of Persia”) resisted the angel sent with his answer. It wasn’t until the archangel Michael came to help that the messenger was able to break through. This passage illustrates that real battles are often waged in the unseen realm, and victory comes through steadfast prayer and divine intervention.

The strongman has armor and invokes strategies to infiltrate the thoughts and minds of people to hold them captive. When this happens, a door has been opened by that person, or someone in the family line, allowing this to occur. The strong man (demon) comes right on in because now he has a legal right to be there. This is why we are told not to give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

As previously mentioned, the strongman is armed and strategic, using deception to infiltrate the minds and thoughts of people in order to keep them captive. When this happens, it’s because a door has been opened—either by that individual or by their family ancestors —granting them access. Once that entry point exists, a demonic spirit (strong man) claims a legal right to remain. This is why Scripture warns us in Ephesians 4:17 not to give place to the devil.

I once lived in bondage to fear. It had consumed my life. I was in agony, and no matter what I tried, I just couldn’t get free.  I came to realize I was dealing with a stronghold. But through continual surrender to God and obedience to God’s Word, I eventually received deliverance and great peace.

To overcome the strongman, you need the assistance of a stronger man, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I was growing up, on Saturday nights, we would sometimes watch wrestling matches on television. In the ring, two men wrestled until one finally held the other down long enough for the referee to declare him the victor.  I just loved it when one fighter, exhausted and struggling, reached out to his partner waiting in the corner to tag him in. The fresh fighter—the stronger man—would leap into the ring, take over, hold down the opponent, and ding, ding! The match was over! 

That’s exactly what happens when we call on Jesus. He gets in the ring with us and defeats our opponent.

There’s no reason to despair about the strongman holding you or your family captive. Reach out to the Stronger Man, Jesus, and victory will be yours.

Luke 11:21-22 (NKJV):

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

A strong man often manifests in people in things such as addiction, anger, guilt, suicidal thoughts, depression, panic attacks, lust, adultery, sickness, poverty, rejection, shame, and fear. You can suspect a strongman is at work when, no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get free.  The strongman acts as the ruling power behind these patterns, constructing a stronghold—a mental and spiritual “house” of thought that keeps you bound.

A strongman cannot be treated effectively with medicine because the root is spiritual.

To begin discerning what kind of battle you’re facing, look at your family lineage. Sometimes the stronghold didn’t start with you, but began generations before. The parents of the Israelites went to Egypt, but it was their children who had to get out! They did not take themselves there, but there they were. They had to find their way out.

So, how can you break free of the strongman? Remember the wrestling analogy? This is the fight! You have to be able to fight. You do this by prayer, fasting, and by using your authority in Christ to cast out the enemy, just as Jesus did with the blind and mute man in Matthew 12.

Here are some key steps:

1. Begin by repenting of all sin in your life. The strongman is there because there is a door open and it must be closed. This is your job to do, not someone else’s.  If there are unhealed wounds in your heart, they can act like magnets, literally drawing the enemy. Ask God to reveal where those openings exist and seek Him for healing in those places.

2. Stand in your God-given authority—bind the power of the enemy and loose the freedom and healing that come through Jesus Christ.

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, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

You can think of it like this: what you bind, heaven will sign. If you do nothing, nothing is going to change! You will remain in bondage. I had to bind the strongman, the (spirit) of fear and cast it out of my life.

To bind means to restrict movement; to make something powerless or paralyzed.  Through your words and the authority God has given you, you can dismantle the stronghold and remove the enemy’s influence.

In Matthew 22:29, Jesus tells us that the strongman must first be bound. There is forcefulness as well as faith involved. 

When Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, he gave us an example of how to confront the strongman of death who held Lazarus captive. This same resurrection power is available to us today! 

John 11:43: Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" (emphasis mine).

It is clear Jesus didn’t speak softly—he took authority over death with power and conviction. Likewise, there are moments when we must rise up with and speak with fervent, biblical declarations that oppose the evil spirit, paralyzing the strongman’s grip.

3. Reorder your thoughts. We must take control of our thoughts and make them align with God’s word. ((2 Corinthians 10:5) Once the strongman is bound and the spirit is removed, you must renew your mind with the word of God. Immerse yourself in scripture, allowing the Word of God to reshape your thinking. Identify and reject every lie the enemy has planted. You can only do this when you know what the Word says!

4. Most importantly, become strong in your spirit-man by spending extended time worshipping the Lord. This is not about continual prayer or petitions—it’s about soaking in His presence.  Jesus tells us in John 15:4-5 that lasting victory and the fruit of breakthrough is the result of abiding in Him.  Continual, sustained time with the Lord is key to your getting and remaining free.

If you are struggling with any type of strongman, you don’t have to face it alone. Reach out get to your pastor or a trusted spiritual authority who can walk you through the steps to freedom.

You can prevail to a breakthrough! And when you do, please share your testimony with me! I’d love to hear it and rejoice with you in what God has done.

Points To Prevail:

• Begin by repenting of any unrepented sin.

• Standing in your God-given authority

• Reorder your thoughts to align with God's Word.

• Become strong in your Spirit-man through extended worship.

• Then do it—bind and cast the Strongman from your life.

If you sense that a strongman has been holding something in your life captive, don’t lose hope. Jesus—the Stronger Man—is ready to fight for you! Determine that you’re going to PREVAIL OVER THE STRONGMAN!

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The Prayer

Father, You are my refuge and strength, my Stronger Man who delivers me from every stronghold. I surrender every area the enemy has touched—every lie, fear, and pattern that stands against Your truth. Thank You that no weapon formed against me will prosper and that Your truth tears down every fortress built on deception.

Remove the Strongman from my family and my life. Restore what the enemy has stolen. Fill my heart with Your peace, my mouth with praise, and my life with freedom. I believe that whom the Son sets free is free indeed, and I choose to walk in that freedom today.

In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.