Focus: Keep Satan Out!

Text: Eph.4:26,27

"Be angry and sin not…Neither give place to the devil."

The devil is a vagabond. He created nothing and owns nothing. In the book of Job he is described as one who is homeless - going to and from - a wanderer. In Ephesians Paul describes him as the prince of the power of the air, and his cohorts as those operating in the heavenly place - that is, the outer or empty space. In John, we read that Satan entered into Judas. That means that Judas opened the door of his heart for Satan to come into him (Jh.13:2,27).

Satan is always looking for spaces to operate, execute and manifest his evil ploys and plots. Our text makes it clear that overstretched anger is one way of giving the devil a foothold into our lives or territorial spaces.

The Lord Jesus Christ gives His disciples the authority to cast out the devil. The believer in Christ has divine authority to chasing the devil away from his space. He is empowered to stand his ground and ensure that the devil is constantly kept out of his sphere of existence.

In what ways are you letting the devil into your space or into your life? Anger is Satan's freeway into your life. Fear is another easy access that the devil uses to get into your life. Also pride and greed are Satan's keys of access. And there is a lot more. Solomon declares, "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him" (Ecl.10:8). Many Christians are suffering from snake bites because they keep breaking the hedge. The believer has the audacity of Christ to resist, oust or rout the devil.

I pray you to keep the devil out of your life and space. God has given you the power over the devil. You can kick the devil out of your environment. Keep the devil out and keep keeping him out! In Christ you are more than a conqueror.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter