Frequently over the years I have encountered folks who talk about “binding the devil.”  Some of them have prayed for me as I was about to preach, asking the Lord to bind the devil from that place so the Word of God would be unhindered.  I have always appreciated the spirit of those who have so prayed, even though I do not believe in the possibility of what they were praying for.

    As far as I can see there is no Scriptural basis for such a practice as binding the devil.  Most of the time no text is appealed to as a basis.  They just pray that way because they heard someone else do so.  Sometimes a text is cited, but none that actually teaches the practice.  So I don’t believe in binding the devil because I can find no mention of it in the Bible.

    But the most troubling aspect of this practice is the apparent failure to think it through to its logical conclusion.  Most of the time when someone has prayed for me, the prayer has been that God would bind the devil from the room where I was about to preach, and that He would do so during the time I would be preaching.  But why limit such a great power, if it actually exists?

    If we can bind the devil from a room, why not a whole building?  Why not the neighborhood, or the city, or the county, or the state, or the world?  If we can bind the devil for thirty minutes or an hour, why not bind him for the whole day?  Why not for a week, or a month, or a year, or until Jesus comes?  The concept breaks down on the basis of simple logic and common sense.

    If someone had the ability to cure anyone and everyone of cancer every time he used a certain drug or treatment, his failure to do so would be considered criminal.  Likewise, if we can bind the devil from any place and at any time we choose, our failure to do so everywhere and for all time is beyond the realm of understanding.

    I don’t know why this practice enjoys such popularity.  Perhaps because we long to be in charge of our lives.  It seems much better to me for us to submit to the One who does have all authority, trusting Him to make possible the doing of everything He has commanded us to do.