No Room for the Devil

 

…….nor give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27

It is absolutely amazing as to how we as humans tend to run to extremes.  On the one hand there are professing Christians who seem to see demons under every bush and around every corner.  Theirs is the “ministry of deliverance” that looks for evidence of demonic presence in the “white of the eye” and in other supposedly tell-tale signs.  Still there are others who choose, at the worst, to deny the very existence of a real devil; or who, if they do admit his existence, choose to ignore the fact that he really does operate in the world.  while the Scriptures makes very plain that there is a real Satan who does operate in the world, it does not lay an excessive emphasis upon him.  Therefore, we need to take a Scripturally balanced approach to this whole matter.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians advises, “Neither give place to the devil.”  God would have us allow Satan no opportunity in our lives.  The first fact we must face is that Satan is a real person.  The Scripture presents him as nothing less than a genuine entity.  Whether we consider the references to him in Job 1 and 2, Isaiah 24, and Ezekiel 28, or his appearance in the Gospels as the tempter of Christ, or Christ’s mention of him in preaching, or the Apostles’ references to him in the epistles, all give witness to his genuine reality.

The composite character sketch which the Scripture gives to us of Satan is that of a thoroughly deceptive, malevolent, malicious liar who will seek every opportunity to do harm to the sons and daughters of humanity, especially those who are the Lord’s by free grace.

Satan will seek an opportunity with you.  Thankfully, God has devised methods whereby we may foil Satan.  That “we are not ignorant of his devices” means that we know generically how he operates.  That we should “submit ourselves to God, resist the devil” means that there is a set of procedures to follow.  That we will see him “flee”means that there are achievable results.  None of this is in our own strength.  Our overcoming is “by the blood of the Lamb.”  Christ is the One whose righteousness imputed to us ensures that we see Satan defeated.  “The word of (our) testimony” is that which we have because Christ has saved us.  Therefore, today “give no place to the devil.”  Allow him no opportunity with you.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice