Don't Give the Devil an Opportunity
I spoke to the students in our academy about Ephesians 4:27 in chapel this morning. It is a short verse, but it is so important. We must never give the devil an opportunity in our lives. If we give him an inch, he will take a mile. If he gains a foothold, he will turn it into a stronghold. Then, it is so much more difficult to break free from his influence.
It starts with one lie, one outburst of anger, or one grudge. After one little sin, it is easier to decide to do it again. Satan urges us on in his crafty way, so that the lying becomes a habit, a way of getting out of our responsibilities. The anger becomes a habit to control people, and the grudge becomes a deep seated bitterness. Once we get to that point the devil has a stronghold in our lives from which to attack us and cause us to continue to sin.
II Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us that only the spiritual weapons are powerful enough to pull down the strongholds and get rid of his influence in our lives. In most cases even with those mighty weapons, it takes time to overcome his power in our lives. However, Satan is no match for the power of God, and if we are faithful, the Spirit will be totally victorious in our lives.
The best way, though, is to never give the devil an opportunity in the first place. Don't compromise. Don't try a sin, just to see what it is like. Don't go along with the crowd. Definitely, don't do what you clearly know the Bible forbids. There is a reason God gives us His commands. It is to protect us from the devil's influence. He knows that if we open the door to Satan, he will come to give us much grief and pain.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 14-16 and I Corinthians 1.
It starts with one lie, one outburst of anger, or one grudge. After one little sin, it is easier to decide to do it again. Satan urges us on in his crafty way, so that the lying becomes a habit, a way of getting out of our responsibilities. The anger becomes a habit to control people, and the grudge becomes a deep seated bitterness. Once we get to that point the devil has a stronghold in our lives from which to attack us and cause us to continue to sin.
II Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us that only the spiritual weapons are powerful enough to pull down the strongholds and get rid of his influence in our lives. In most cases even with those mighty weapons, it takes time to overcome his power in our lives. However, Satan is no match for the power of God, and if we are faithful, the Spirit will be totally victorious in our lives.
The best way, though, is to never give the devil an opportunity in the first place. Don't compromise. Don't try a sin, just to see what it is like. Don't go along with the crowd. Definitely, don't do what you clearly know the Bible forbids. There is a reason God gives us His commands. It is to protect us from the devil's influence. He knows that if we open the door to Satan, he will come to give us much grief and pain.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 14-16 and I Corinthians 1.