ARE WE IGNORANT of his devices? We have a real enemy and he doesn’t mess around. He’s not flesh and blood, but a spiritual being, wickedness in high places. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. He seeks for the weak and the isolated, walking about like a roaring lion desperately hungry for its prey. He appears as an angel of light, as if what he does is good and twists his lies to deceive the simple. We are told that he hates us and seeks for the smallest crack to trample and destroy us. He comes in like a flood to wipe out everything in his path. His fruit is destruction. His mouth is full of lies. Why can you not recognize him? How is it you are still ignorant of his ways?
“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
II Corinthians 2:10-11 NKJV
There are multiple avenues for the enemy to come into your life. Yes, he’s defeated by the blood of the Lamb; but he’s not going to just roll over and let you go. He is seeking to devour the weak and if you stand your ground, he will just wreak some havoc in your life. Some people give him too much credit, while others don’t respect his prowess and hunger to deceive and destroy enough. I heard someone say, “the devil doesn’t mess with me”, when the enemy had already taken root in this man’s heart by sowing seeds of lies and division. Believe the lie and your enemy has won.
So what are some ways the enemy can take ground in your life? Paul gives us one of the main ways: unforgiveness. When you harbor bitterness, contempt, offenses, hatred and animosity towards others; you open a door for the enemy to come in. You have been forgiven a debt you can never repay, therefore you have no right to hold anything against anyone. Here’s another way: habitual sin.
When you continue to live according to the flesh, you open a door for the enemy. When you disobey God’s Word, the enemy has a foothold. When you lie, you are speaking the devils language and open a door for the enemy. When you gossip and slander others, you open a door for the enemy, welcoming him as if you are saying, “Come on in devil! You are welcome here!” When you operate in pride, you give place to the devil. When you leave the fellowship of the brethren and isolate yourself, you become weak and you are his prey. When you entertain false teachers and false doctrine, he comes in to destroy.
“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:25-32
People are very ignorant of his devices. Will you be lumped in with the foolish or the wise? Contrary to popular belief, the enemy cannot read your mind. But he can put thoughts in there. To combat him, you have to recognize wrong thoughts, take those captive to the obedience of Christ and replace with things that are good, right, pure and true. When you have thoughts of jealousy, coveting, stinginess, bitterness, thoughts that destroy and do not build up- take those captive. The thought of something is not sin, it becomes sin when you meditate on it and get it into your heart.
Neither give place to the devil.
I will not hate or be bitter toward anyone. I refuse to think poorly about someone else. I choose to forgive, even if they don’t forgive me. I will speak the truth, even if it hurts. I will not believe the lie, “Did God really say?” I will obey my Lord’s commands and not think of myself more highly than I should. I will shut all those doors and cover all the cracks. I will stay in peace and keep my heart full of gratitude. I will not be ignorant of the enemy’s devices. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
