Have you ever heard a preacher pray, “Lord, bind the devil”? Don’t pray that. There’s something you should note.
- God didn’t bind him from attacking Job, Job 1:12; 2:26.
- God didn’t bind him from tempting Jesus, Lk 4:1-2.
- God didn’t bind him from sifting Peter, Lk 22:31.
- God didn’t bind him from buffeting Paul, 2 Cor 12:7.
- God didn’t even bind him from fighting his angels, Dan 10.
The devil is the god of this world. He won’t be bound until Rev 20:1-2. God wouldn’t answer a prayer to bind the devil.
Why wouldn’t God bind the devil now? Here are a few reasons.
God can accomplish something beneficial through an attack by the devil.
- After the attack by the devil, Job got right with God. And he became a perfect example to the remnant of Jews in the Tribulation who turn to Jesus Christ.
- Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit, Lk 4:14. He was tempted in all points like as we are. He proved the sword of the Spirit wins in a battle with devil.
- Being sifted by the devil helped to straighten Peter out and prepared him to strengthen his brethren. Jesus didn’t pray “Bind the devil”. He prayed for Peter.
- The thorn in the flesh by Satan kept Paul from being exalted above measure. That taught him dependence on God’s grace, and the power of Christ. He took pleasure in infirmities.
- Fighting with the devil has prepared God’s angels for the big showdown in Rev 12:9-11.
When God delivers you from him, you’ll want nothing to do with him in the future. The man in the tombs in Mk 5, and Mary Magdalene never wanted anything more to do with the devil after Jesus cast the devils out of them. They turned to Jesus whole-heartedly. You don’t have to bind the devil from these kinds of believers. They want nothing to do with him.
God can teach you a lesson you wouldn’t learn any other way. In 1 Cor 5:5 Paul turned the fornicator over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. And that boy got right with God in a big way. The church took an indignant stand against what he was doing, which was good for the church. And, after the young man repented, they forgave him. Both the young man and the church learned a very valuable lesson through this.
God has given us the armor and knowledge to stand. In Eph 6:10-18 we find the armor of God, and 2 Cor 2:11, we learn that we are not ignorant of his devices. God doesn’t need to bind the devil. He needs us to be wise, to be humble, to resist the devil, and to stand in the whole armor of God.
Conclusion: follow what the Bible says and use what God has given you to protect yourself against the devil. A meaningless prayer won’t work.