路11:21-22 壯士披掛整齊，看守自己的住宅，他所有的都平安無事；但有一個比他更壯的來，勝過他，就奪去他所依靠的盔甲兵器，又分了他的贓。
當你讀到以上這段經文時，進入你腦海的是怎樣的畫面？經文中所說的壯士是誰或是什麼？對有些人來說，這個問題會引出一個圖像，一個讓人有不祥之感的被造物用它巨大的翅膀遮蔽整個城市。而其他人則會聯想到一個像希特勒一樣的人給各族各邦的和平帶來威脅。
到底誰正確呢？這個壯士是否以弗所書6章12節中所說的那個管轄這幽暗世界的惡魔或者就是一個真實的人—一個透過黑暗勢力，用特殊的異能來影響控制政府，法律，和人們的思想？這兩種猜測是否有可能同時存在呢？
為了更清楚地理解，讓我們從聖經中記載壯士的兩處經文來分析。以西結書28章是以神對推羅王說話開始的。神毫不遲疑地通過先知以西結宣告了對推羅王的審判。然而在12節中卻記載了推羅王有著超自然的品質。
在以賽亞書14章中，對巴比倫王的審判在12節中以對真實王的形式宣判出來，“明亮之星，早晨之子啊！你何竟從天墜落？”
在這一章中有三個王被描述得像超人一樣超越人類並統治人類。這可以被解釋為對律法的雙重使用。當看得見的統治者被授權時，他們運用法律，但是某些解釋也指出有一個看不見的人站在背後，把那看得見的王當作工具使用，來行使權柄。
我們怎樣勝過壯士？
如果這個壯士可以用一個人來代表，就像巴比倫王，他是那看不見的黑暗權勢手中的工具，我們怎要做才能“勝過”那壯士呢？我們怎樣做才能使他們繳械呢？聖經告訴我們說當有一個更強壯的來勝過他時，他就被繳械了。所有的基督徒都承認我們的神是宇宙之王，他有力量勝過仇敵的任何勢力。
這是無可爭辯的事實！我們的神是那得勝者，他向世人顯明他力量的其中一個全能的辦法就是透過教會的禱告。因此，如果撒旦可以透過世上軟弱的統治者設立他的寶座和控制權，那就是因為教會還沒有在代求的禱告中勝過壯士。
彼得˙魏格納博士(Dr. Peter Wagner)在他的書《禱告戰爭》中讓我們領悟了聖經中勝過的含義。他解釋說勝過在希臘文中的意思是“征服”，這是戰爭中常用的著名詞語。
巴拿馬共和國，是一個關於利用代求的爭戰勝過壯士的神奇例子。她曾處於諾列加總統的統治下。諾列加深受撒旦王國黑暗勢力的影響。很多不同的巴拿馬人民向我描述了這個民族所受的苦難。國家最高權力機構殺死了那些反對他們的人。他們聽到深夜有直升飛機的聲音飛過，飛躍叢林，扔下黑色的垃圾袋，裏面裝的是對獨裁政府構成威脅甚至是僅僅有嫌疑的人們的屍體。
眾所皆知的事實就是諾列加和那隱形的統治者廝混在一起，他也推行巫毒教和其他形式的魔力。他從這些黑暗權勢接到的授權曾一度保護著他，他確實表現得像一個不可戰勝的壯士。然而，在這個國家有一支特別的軍隊，軍隊的領袖明白他們的武器不是來自於世界，而是來自於那能把壯士擊倒的力量的源頭！
各個基督教會的領袖們組成了一隻禱告的軍隊。這支軍隊用獨特的方法，透過持續代求的禱告把他們屬靈的武器聚焦起來—他們甚至在公車上度過了不眠之夜！
戰士們用這樣的方法舉行一月一次的全國性禱告：一個領袖透過電臺廣播帶領禱告，同時那些參與代求的戰士們在公車上和那些在家裏的人一起阿門回應。
壯士的大軍永遠不會想到他們的力量會被這樣一種“毫無傷害”的方法削弱。，你們大多數人肯定都知道這個故事的結尾。諾列加最後被罷免並押入美國的監獄。
當然，諾列加並不是真正的敵人；他只是被撒旦利用當作統治國家的工具。然而，只要他掌權並屈服於被撒旦當作工具，法律的雙重使用就顯示了他也代表那個屬靈的壯士。
但以理書第9章中的策略
我們有各種各樣的代求策略可以用來勝過壯士。但以理在第9章中向我們演示了一種勝過壯士的有力方法，就是有系統地代替他的同胞認罪悔改。猶太民族當時處於巴比倫王的統治下，當但以理站在破口之上承擔責任時，釋放就臨到了。
在這一段中，我們不知道但以理是否曉得他正在勝過壯士—波斯王的力量。他只是聽到來自神的聲音，他持續地為他的同胞代求。這種代求必然能得到來自神寶座的幫助。
提摩太前書中的策略
還有其他幹旋禱告勝過壯士的策略在提摩太前書2:1-2節：我勸你第一要為萬人懇求，禱告，代求，祝謝；為君王和一切在位的，也該如此，使我們可以敬虔，端正，平安無事地度日。
我們首先被勸告的就是使用各樣的代求武器為萬人代求。為什麼？是因為這樣，他們就不會落入蒙蔽之中從而允許不公義的事情透過不敬虔的政府進入他們的土地。他們被告知要在代求中謹慎。這種“所有人參與的禱告”透過各種方法進行：其中一個方法就是透過在整個城市建立禱告的細胞小組來確保在城市的每一個家庭都被代求的禱告遮蓋。
最近在加拿大的多倫多，在一個為城市禱告的聚會中，25000人中的每一個人都收到電話薄中的一張。他們為電話薄中的每一個人禱告，代求幾乎覆蓋了城市中的每一個人。這種代求像炸彈一樣炸毀了那個影響城市公民的壯士的力量。（林後4:4）。另一個例子就是阿根廷的阿蘇爾。那裡的牧師們把城市劃分為不同的區域並且踏踏實實地在每一處地界行走禱告，宣告那裡是屬於耶穌基督的領地。
目標針對掌權者
在提前2:2中另一個重要的策略就是為所有執政掌權者的禱告。那站在人類背後的壯士特別會把目標對準掌權者。我已經聽過不止一個人評論說某個政府官員帶著最美好的願望和單純的心走上領導位置，卻很快被腐化而妥協。
那看不見的壯士想看到這一切發生有一個重要的原因，在提前2:2-4節中也有描述。神渴望我們在基督裏平安敬虔地度日因為祂願萬人得救。而這些需要使用屬靈的武器才能成就。
代求的結果：復興出現
一旦壯士的力量被打破趕出一個地區，那個地區的天門就會被打開，偉大的復興就會出現。
我向你保證，如果我們開始研究過去那些有關甦醒，更新和復興的策略，我們就會看到那屬天的模式。目睹任何一個地區壯士的力量被打破都是一種不可思議的經歷。那裡的都人們有著願意的心，饑渴並且敞開心靈。他們已經撕破蒙蔽他們眼睛的黑暗，讓耶穌基督的明光照耀他們，迎來救恩的轉化力量。
翟辛蒂（Cindy Jacobs）
2013年8月23日
Overcome the Strongman and Tremendous Revival Breaks Forth
by Cindy Jacobs
Aug 23, 2013
"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." Luke 11:21-22
As you read the previous Scripture, what picture leaps to your mind? What or who is the strongman spoken of in this passage? For some this question elicits the image of a huge, foreboding creature with its wings spread over a city. Others think of someone like a Hitler who threatens the peace of nations and people groups.
Which is right? Is the strongman an Ephesians 6:12 ruler of darkness or is it actually a person – who through some dark, charismatic influence is able to control governments, laws, and the thinking of people? Is it possible to a degree that both suppositions are accurate?
For a clearer understanding let's examine two passages where strongmen were addressed in the Bible. Ezekiel 28 begins with an address to the prince of Tyre. God is evidently speaking though the prophet Ezekiel of judgment on the prince of Tyre. However, in verse 12, the king of Tyre is addressed as having supernatural attributes.
In Isaiah 14, the king of Babylon is addressed in terms of judgment as a physical being through verse 12 where the test reads, "How you are fallen from Heaven, O lucifer, son of the morning."
In the same passage there appears to be a physical ruler being addressed as well as the supernatural being who stands behind the human structure. This could be explained as the LAW OF DOUBLE REFERENCE. This law applies when a visible creature is addressed, but certain statements also refer to an invisible person who is using the visible creature as a tool.
How Do We Overcome?
If, indeed, the strongman can be represented by a person, such as the king of Babylon, who is a tool of an unseen power of darkness, how do we "overcome" the strongman? How do we disarm him? The Bible says he is disarmed when one stronger than himself overcomes him. Few Christians would disagree that God, who is the King of the Universe, has power which far surpasses any power of the evil one.
There is clearly no contest! One of the mightiest ways God, who is the overcomer, displays His power is through a Church that overcomes through prayer. So if satan has been able to set up his thrones and dominion through wicked rulers, it's because the Church has not been overcoming the strongman in intercession.
Dr. Peter Wagner gives us insight on Scriptural overcoming in his book, Warfare Prayer. He states that the Greek word for overcome is NIKAO. It means "to conquer" and is a prominent warfare term.
A fascinating instance of how intercessors in a nation overcame their strongman comes from Panama, once ruled by Manuel Noriega. He was evidently highly affected by satan's kingdom. Different Panamanians have described to me the agony of a nation whose highest ranking government official killed those who opposed him. They shared about the sound of helicopters in the night, which flew over the jungles and dropped black garbage bags containing the remains of those who posed either real or imaginary threats to his dictatorship.
ElijahList Prophetic Resources
It was a well-known fact that Noriega consorted with occult leaders and practiced "voodoo" and other forms of magic. The empowerment he received from these forces of darkness protected him for a season. He indeed seemed to be an invincible strongman. However, there was one army in the nation whose leaders understood that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds and strongmen!
Various Christian leaders organized a prayer army. This army focused its spiritual weapons through intercessory prayer in a unique way – all night prayer vigils by bus!
The warriors would pray throughout the nation once a month in this manner: while a leader led the prayer through radio broadcast those interceding on buses were also to agree together with those who had to stay at home with their families.
The strongman's troops never suspected they were being undermined in such an "innocuous" way. Of course, most of you know the end of the story. Noriega was deposed and was sent to prison in the United States.
Of course, Noriega was not the real enemy; he was simply being used as a tool of satan over the nation. However, as long as he was in power and yielding himself as a tool, the law of double reference indicates that he also represented a spiritual strongman.
Daniel 9 Strategy
There are various intercessory strategies, which are useful in overcoming the strongman. Daniel demonstrated a powerful model for overcoming in Daniel 9 by systematically confessing the sins and iniquities of his people. His nation of Jews was held captive n Babylon. Release came through his standing in the gap and remitting the sins of his people.
In this passage we do not know whether or not Daniel knew he was overcoming the power of the strongman, the prince of Persia. He simply heard from the Lord and interceded for his people. This intercession allowed necessary revelation and help to come from the Throne Room of God.
1 Timothy Strategy
Other intercessory strategies for overcoming the strongman are given 1 Timothy 2:1-2: Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
We are first exhorted to employ various weapons of intercession for all men. Why is this? Could it be so they will not be deceived into allowing unrighteousness to enter their land through ungodly government? They are told essentially to be alert in intercession. This "all men praying" is done through various means: One is by establishing prayer cells throughout a whole city to insure that every household in a city is covered through intercessory prayer.
Recently in Toronto, Canada, each of 25,000 Christians meeting for city prayer received a page of the phone book. The effect of prayer for every name on the pages resulted in intercession for just about everyone in the city. This kind of intense bombardment breaks the power of the strongman off of the minds of the city's people (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). Another example is in Azul, Argentina where the pastors divide the city and literally walk its borders claiming every habitation for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Leaders Targeted
Another important strategy given in 1 Timothy 2:2 is that of praying for kings and all who are in authority. The strongmen who stand behind human structures particularly target leaders. I have heard more than one person remark on how a certain governmental leader went into leadership with the best of intentions and the purest of hearts only to be corrupted and then compromised.
The invisible strongmen wants this to happen because of one main reason, and 1 Timothy 2:2-4 embodies it. God desires us to live quiet and peaceable lives in godliness and reverence because He desires all men to be saved. It takes strategic spiritual warfare for this to be accomplished.
Result: Revival Breaks Forth
Once the power of the strongman is broken off of an area there comes an open Heaven over the area and tremendous revival breaks forth.
I am convinced if we were to study the awakenings, renewals, and revivals of the past we would see the above elements in demonstration. It is simply an incredible experience to witness in an area where the power of the strongman has been broken. People are receptive, hungry, and open. They have had the blindness broken off of their eyes and the light of Jesus Christ falls abundantly upon them in the transforming power of salvation.
