Eph 4:27
Neither give place to the devil.
Have you ever wondered what this scripture means, “neither give place to the devil?” Simply stated, it means to give him no opportunity whatsoever, no room to work and no place for a foothold in which he can gain an advantage over you.
We’re on a battlefield when it comes to fighting Satan, which should be rather obvious to the Child of God. His objective in dealing with us is simple, and that is to kill or destroy anyone considered a threat. He’ll resort to any measure to destroy us.
By example, when a soldier is wounded in battle, the enemy essentially gains a foothold over his victim by way of his injury. The injury generally incapacitates the soldier, making him more of a liability and thus ineffective or useless in battle. He’s also more vulnerable to further attacks. Without proper treatment and care, the individual languishes / suffers and often dies as a result.
It’s easy to see the similarities between combat soldiers and children of God. If we’re not prepared, we stand a strong chance of being incapacitated. Wounded Christians are of little effect against him.
2 Cor 2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Take note. . .
As children of God, we’ve been given instructions to avoid giving place to the devil, and we are not to be ignorant concerning his devices, so that he doesn’t have, or get an advantage over us.
Since our battle is spiritual, not fleshly, here’s an example in scripture to help us understand some of the snares / weapons he uses.
Eph 4:26
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Be ye angry and sin not. . .
Did you notice in God’s word that this is scripture precedes Eph 4:27, where we’re told not to give place to the devil.
Have you wondered why the writers of the gospel inspired by the Holy Ghost placed this scripture right after be ye angry and sin not?
Please allow me to give you some insight concerning this issue. The Holy Spirit understands the pitfalls of anger and the foothold that Satan gains if our emotions are not kept under control.
As children of God, we’re instructed through scripture to be very careful when it comes to anger.
Types of anger. . .
1) Anger that is not godly anger.
2) Anger that is not controlled
3) Anger that is generated by emotion over unimportant issues.
These types of anger are precisely what the devil uses to gain a foothold within the life of a child of God. It wreaks much havoc and unrest.
Questions. . .
1) How many times have you become upset over something that really made absolutely no difference whatsoever in your life?
2) What brought the irritation in your life?
3) What caused that irritation to remain, to finally become completely unbridled – full blown, allowing unrest to have its place and losing all peace?
Perhaps things were said to you that ought never have been said, or thoughts entertained that gave Satan that long sought advantage/ foothold.
Here are some revelations concerning your thoughts. The thoughts you have, which you dwell upon, are the thoughts you’ll inevitably speak. This is where you’ve given the devil a place in which to work. He gains a foothold for himself and we lose victory in our lives. Victory is lost with ungodly anger, peace quickly vanishes, attitudes change and our countenance fades.
Many times the foothold that the devil has in our lives has less to do with him and more to do with our choices. He merely presents the opportunity to enter into darkness, but we’re the ones who enter. You’ve probably heard the saying, “we’re our own worst enemy.” What we need to do is stop being our own worst enemy. Hear the word of the Lord concerning who you are in Christ.
Havoc and chaos are distractions in our lives that we bring about.
It is not the will of God for us to be victims of our foolish choices. We’re to have peace, being of a sound mind, resting in all that he’s done for us.
It’s absolutely amazing what the Lord would do in our lives if we would simply honor him by choosing to stay in perfect peace.
Isa 26:3
thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
As children of God, we must learn to control our emotions and not allow our emotions to control us. That doesn’t mean we’re not to have feelings. Absolutely not! It means that we’re to manage and control our feelings.
In the midst of our anger, being upset and being in uncontrollable circumstances, we’re to posses our souls with patience.
Luke 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.
So, how are the children of God to be in possession of their souls? In peace and rest!
Phil 1:28
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
What does that scripture mean and how does it apply to what we’ve been learning?
If I can paraphrase it for you, it means, “do not, even for a moment, be frightened, or intimidated by anything that your adversary or opponents might do. Consistency and fearlessness on your part will be a clear sign. It’s proof and a seal to them (the devil and his demons) of their impending destruction and a sure token, with evidence, of your deliverance and salvation from God himself.
How are we to be in the possession of our souls? By being consistent and fearless!
Ps 23:4-6
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Good news. . .
According to Philippians 1:28, the clear sign, the proof, the seal, the token and evidence to our enemies of their defeat and destruction and our deliverance and salvation is our consistency and our fearlessness in the face of our arch enemy.
What’s the sign that the devil can not control us? Consistency and our fearlessness!
What is the sign, the token of victory? Consistency and our fearlessness!
It’s our confession of power and authority over the devil and his demons; our consistency and our fearlessness, even in the face of his onslaught against us.
Many would ask, “why does our deliverance seem to take so long?”
I believe it’s because the Lord is waiting to see if we truly trust and believe in him.
Because if we really do trust in the Lord, we’ll remain seated with him, in rest, in heavenly places, while the he works out everything for our good.
Scripture makes it clear that Christ is now seated in heaven at the right hand of the Father. Our place is to be seated at his right hand, resting with him because the work has already been done. The work is completed!
Eph 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
And what exactly does seated signify?
To be seated signifies that we’re fully satisfied and assured / persuaded that God is able and mighty to keep his word concerning all of His promises to his children. Therefore, we’re able to be seated, with Christ, according to the rest that he provides.
What unseats us?
When the devil gets a foothold in your life!
Our solution to all of our problems and storms in life, even in the unrest all around us, is to say with all confidence that I shall remain seated in Christ, enjoying the presence of the Master, while he works out everything that needs to be worked out.
Glory to God!
Remaining calm in the time of adversity. . .
Ps 94:12-13
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
Let me read it to you in another version,
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law;
you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
The Lord uses every event, all distractions, situations and circumstances, even the efforts of the devil and the people around us, desiring to destroy us, to buildup our spiritual character, power and most holy faith.
Most Christians think the Lord empowers us to have authority, to overcome every problem in life, by rebuking the devil. So we rebuke every situation thinking it’s an evil event, often failing to see what God is really wanting to do in our lives.
No matter what’s going on around us, what terrible things are taking place in our midst, even the daily things that assault us continually, we’re to remain the same, rooted and grounded and in Christ unmovable. We’re to stand firm on the rock of Christ.
The Lord is working in our lives to discipline us; to chasten us; to instruct us, so he can give us the power to keep us calm in the day of adversity. In that power, we can confidently and patiently wait upon the Lord for our promised deliverance, salvation and the destruction of our enemies.
Phil 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passed all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Seated with Christ in heavenly places, at the right hand of God, where we’re truly anxious for nothing. What a promise!
Take away the devil’s advantage. Trust in Christ! Read and study his word for yourself. Then live the life you were destined to live – seated next to the Master.
God Bless You All!