SATAN WANTS CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE?

“and give no opportunity to the devil.” – Ephesians 4:27 (ESV).

It is a little bit disturbing and concerning when you read that somebody broke into the house of a neighbor down the street. They snatched up a TV, computer, and cell phones and disappeared into the night.  It had to be a traumatic moment for the people who were home at the time because they could not prevent the unwanted entry into their house.

Satan is into breaking and entering. He is looking to find a way into your life. He is so committed to our destruction that if he doesn’t easily find his way into our lives, he will linger and wait for us to drop our guard so he can try again, perhaps trying a different tact.  The devil is often more committed to attacking us than most of us are committed to withstanding him. That’s why his success rate is as high as it is. And that is why the apostle Paul commands us to resist him and to give him no place.

 “and give no opportunity to the devil.”  The goal is to stop the enemy at the doorway rather than finding a way to extract him once he has found an access point to worm his way into some area of your life.  It is the idea of not giving the enemy a secure foothold from which further progress can be made.

Paul tells us to stay alert to see if we are truly serious about keeping him out of our lives. Part of keeping the devil out is knowing your blind spots: temptations, enticements, and triggers that he can use. The devil will not appear in your life dressed in a red jumpsuit with horns and a pitchfork. The “devil” will show up cool, calm, and collected. Whatever entices you will give him a starting point and a foothold, no matter how small in the beginning. All the devil is after is an entryway. Just a tiny space big enough to put his foot.

The good news is that Jesus not only took away your sins, but He also redeemed you from Satan’s power and dominion. Colossians 2:15 says, “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

Jesus did not defeat the devil to prove He could. He defeated him for you so you can reap the benefits and have at your disposal everything you need to enforce the devil’s defeat in your life. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (AMP) says, “For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.” 1 John 3:8 (AMP) adds, “…the reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]”

Satan is already a defeated enemy. His authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we accurately identify common entry points for the Devil into our lives?
2. What are some things we can do to close those entry points?