Footholds Lead to Strongholds

Ephesians 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil.

Giving place (or a foothold) to the devil is dangerous beyond measure. The ‘place’ you give him will leave you and those connected to you in the crosshairs of sin. When you allow the devil to be given a place within your life (via disobedience, acceptance of temptation, sin), you open a doorway for every imaginable evil spirit to enter into your life.

There may come a time when you’re angry at one situation, and begin to break laws, yell at people, and do things you normally wouldn’t if you were in your ‘right’ mind. Your willingness to allow the devil to have a place in your life will bring continued death and destruction. Isn’t that the purpose of the devil: to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10)?!

Remain with the Lord…He has come to give you life!

Giving the devil a place in your life (via giving into temptation) has eternal consequences. The devil plays for ‘keeps’ – to keep you away from God and receive the same fate as him in the Lake of Fire (that’s where hell is going) – Revelation 20.

Remove the stronghold:

James 4:7-10 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1. Submit yourself to God.

Submitting to God is turning yourself (body, soul, and mind) over to His will and rule. Repent and be cleansed from sin (1 John 1:9). Repentance represents a turn away from something. Call upon the name of the Lord.

2. Resist the devil.

The word resist is translated from the Greek as to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose; to set against. When the devil comes upon you, you resist his tempting suggestions through God’s Word (Matthew 4:1-11); prayer; and standing with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

When you resist the devil, he will flee. However, as long as you remain uncommitted to resist him, he will remain in your life. You must make a solid commitment to change, not just think, ‘I need to make a change,’ but actually following through (body, soul, and mind).

3. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.

This is the Lord’s desire – to be close to you. This is why He gave His life for you. Bringing yourself close to God will keep you far from the devil and sin.

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