Strong Man, Protect Your Home!

“No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man…” Mark 3:27 

The US Constitution gives every US citizen the right to own weapons in order to protect his home and family – when faced with a criminal breaking into his home. This right is under attack from many who would like to take away all weapons from law-abiding citizens. The problem is that no one can assure us that criminals will also give up their guns. Our society seem to be so concerned about physical assaults and material loss, but what about the spiritual and moral assault on our homes and families every day. Fathers, stand up!

The main target in the family today is the man! Satan knows that if he can destroy the strong man, he can destroy the family – which is a foundation of society. Satan knows he must get to the father first, before he can get to the wife and the children. To get to the strong man, he knows he must first take away his armor and his weapons.

“When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all of his armour, wherein he trusteth, and divideth his spoils.” Luke 11:21, 22

One advantage Satan has is timing. The good and strong man does not know the time of the attack. Satan knows that even a good man will relax at times. A little slumber and a little sleep comes to the best of good strong men; but when it happens, the enemy is there to take advantage.

“If the goodman of the house had known what hour the theif would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.” Luke 12:39

Another advantage the enemy of the home has is that he can choose the spot of attack. I believe that even good men have weak areas that make them vulnerable. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily beset us.” Hebrews 12:1. It is usually the last thing which one puts on the altar and it is usually the first thing one takes up when one relaxes or is discouraged. You can be sure Satan will discover what this weak spot is.

Samson was the strongest man physically that ever lived, yet he had a flaw. He had a weakness for strange woman. His enemy, the Philistines, used this weakness in order to find and destroy his strength and his ministry.

Strong and good man – If you are not careful, Satan will do the same to you. He desires to bind you with the thongs of materialism and the cares of this life. He would tie you with ropes of harmful habits. He wishes to cut your spiritual hair and leave you blind, ashamed and grinding the grain of the enemy. While you are thus in prison, your home and your country is left defenseless.

In the time of the Judges, God found only a few strong men to lead His people Israel. Before Gideon, God searched for a strong man and could not find even one. For twenty years, God used Deborah because he could not find a man. When the men came to her and asked her to lead them into battle, she warned them that they would be ridiculed because a woman was leading them and would get the glory. The men still refused to lead.

Israel settled down, became weak and quit fighting their enemies. They were more interested in keeping peace by granting concessions. This never works. They forgot God and His laws.

“In those days, there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” Judges 17:6

The men of Israel lost sight of their unique identity and accepted the customs, morals and gods of their neighbors. It was not long before these neighbors overcame Israel. The friendly neighbors were not friendly any more. The victors became the victims.

Judges 5 and 6 give us a description of their despair. In the days of Shamgar, the roads were abandoned. Village life in Israel ceased. Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel, and Israel lived in dens and caves. As soon as God’s people sowed their grain, the enemy came like grasshoppers and destroyed the crop. In the days of Judges not all men were weak. There was still a Gideon.

Shamgar was “Who struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. He too saved Israel.” Judges 3:31.  Shamgar got sick and tired of hiding. He got sick and tired of losing his crops. He got sick and tired of living in defeat. So one day, when he saw the enemy coming up the lane, he had enough; he looked for a weapon. The only thing he could find was an ox goad. He stood with his back to the wall and started swinging – to protect that which he valued.

Men, are you willing to stand and fight? The first thing the enemy did to Israel was to take away there weapons and thus left them defenseless. Men, keep your weapons.

For the last one hundred years, America has kept war from her shores. How did she accomplish this? She sought peace from the position of strength. America made sure she kept her weapons and she was vigilant to the wiles of the enemy.

Men, stand and protect your family. Do not allow anyone or any thing to come in that you know is morally wrong and destructive.