Give No Place To The Devil (5 sermons)
We are in a spiritual war and must resist our adversary
The DOCTRINE
- Our text is a commandment and a warning to which we should give double heed (Eph 4:27).
- Satan seeks to destroy your faith and walk with God to deny God your obedience (I Pet 5:8).
- We are engaged in a conflict of gigantic proportions in the spiritual realm (Eph 6:10-12).
- Satan is the Devil, that old serpent and great dragon (Rev 20:2 cp 12:9 cp Gen 3:1).
- Satan has a kingdom of demonic princes and soldiers (Luke 11:18 cp Dan 10:13,20).
- Satan before Christ had access to God’ throne to accuse our brethren (Job 1:6; 2:1).
- Where stakes are high, he may be present himself (I Chr 21:1; Zec 3:1-2; Lu 22:3-6).
- But Jesus our LORD cast Satan out of heaven (Luke 10:18; 11:20-22; John 12:31).
- A glorious summary of the church, Satan, pagan Rome, and Christ is Revelation 12.
- Satan no longer accuses us in heaven (Rev 12:10 cp Ro 8:33-34; I Jn 3:8; Heb 2:14).
- Satan was bound for a thousand years for gospel progress (Re 20:1-3 cp Matt 16:18).
- Satan has likely been released to unite the world’s hatred against us (Rev 20:7-8).
- Satan knew and opposed Paul’s ministry (Acts 19:13-20; I Thess 2:18; II Tim 4:17).
- Jesus is omnipresent (Job 1:6-7), omniscient (Heb 4:12-14), omnipotent (Mat 28:18).
- If Jesus unleashes Satan, we will fall faster than David, Job, or Peter (Luk 22:31-32).
- Let us rejoice – we are on the winning side (Jn 16:33; I Jn 4:4; Lu 4:8; Rom 16:20).
- The Lion of the tribe of Judah is greater than Satan – a roaring lion (Re 5:5; I Pe 5:8).
- Yet we may only rebuke him by our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:8-9; II Peter 2:10-11).
- We are to know Satan’s devices to avoid giving him an advantage over us (II Cor 2:11).
- This opponent is so great the LORD must grant repentance for deliverance (II Tim 2:26).
- If you cannot see the world of spiritual conflict of angels, you are blind (II Kings 6:17).
The ILLUSTRATION
- Eve gave place to Satan by allowing a friendly questioning of God’s word (Genesis 3:1-7).
- Satan used all three principal categories of sinful lust to seduce her (I John 2:15-17).
- The simple law, innocence of Eden, speed of seduction, and the cost are incredible.
- The sons of God gave place to the devil with the daughters of men (Gen 4:25-26 cp 6:1-2).
- Lot chose a more fleshly appealing situation and pitched his tent toward Sodom (Ge 13:12).
- Joseph’s brethren could not stand their father’s love and care of Joseph (Genesis 37:3-4).
- Joseph fled from a beautiful woman at great shame and cost to himself (Genesis 39:7-20).
- Achan looked at and considered some forbidden things in the city of Jericho (Josh 7:19-21).
- Balaam gave place for an attempt at honor and great riches from Moab (Nu 22:12-13,15-22).
- Samson gave place to the devil with women and a particularly evil woman (Judges 16:1,4).
- Saul gave place to jealousy rather than affection and appreciation for David (I Samuel 18:9).
- David tarried at Jerusalem when he should have been with Joab at the battle (II Sam 11:1).
- Amnon allowed a lust of the eyes and flesh to vex him into a horrible sin (II Samuel 13:1-2).
- Solomon even before his vision from God had given place with women (I Kings 3:1,5).
- Ahab gave place to covetousness rather than respect Naboth and obey God (I Kings 21:4).
- Job was tried to give place by family, finances, and bodily health (Job 1-2; note “hedge”).
- Satan tempted Our LORD Jesus Christ thrice with his most wily devices (Matthew 4:1-11).
- He used His circumstantial hunger to tempt the lust of the flesh rather than God.
- He appealed to pride by falsely questioning His identity and twisting Scripture.
- He showed Him all wealth and power and appealed to the lust of the eyes.
- But our LORD resisted him with the word of God, and he departed from Him.
- Ananias and Sapphira saw what Joses did but gave place to the devil (Ac 4:34-37 cp 5:1-11).
The APPLICATION
- Paul identifies armor we must take to stand in God’s might against the devil (Eph 6:10-20), but we cannot destroy this passage with mystical confusion by a metaphor (I Thess 5:8).
- TRUTH protects from his lies, diversions, confusions, and heresies (John 8:44).
- Truth is certain and absolute (Luk 4:1-4; Jn 4:24; Ga 1:8-9; 2:5; Pr 22:17-21).
- We must walk in truth as God’s honest children (Romans 12:17; Eph 4:25).
- Consider John’s sober warning to a sister in the gospel about truth (II John).
- RIGHTEOUSNESS protects from accusations, compromise, reproaches, and doubts.
- God has made us righteous through Christ’s sacrifice (II Co 5:21; Rom 8:33).
- We are called to righteousness in our lives (II Cor 6:7,14; Eph 4:24; 5:9).
- When evil was planned against Daniel, they could find no fault (Dan 6:4-5).
- PEACE protects from doubts, fear, worry, anxiety, distractions, and loss of joy.
- God is at peace with us now through Christ’s death (Col 1:19-20; Rom 5:1).
- We are to have peace in our lives (James 3:17-18; Rom 12:18; Phil 4:6-7).
- Is there greater peace than that of Job blessing the Lord (Job 1:20-22; 2:10)?
- FAITH protects from accusations, doubts, confusion, impatience, and inventions.
- He states “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Believe (He 11:6)!
- Faith is evidence of God’s promises (Heb 11:1; Rom 4:17-21; I John 5:4-5).
- Abraham walked by faith in a strange land with many tests (Heb 11:8-19).
- SALVATION protects from hopelessness, guilt, condemnation, and foolish works.
- It is called the hope of salvation in I Thes 5:8. For it gives us hope of heaven.
- There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Believe it!
- Paul at the end of his life in Rome was still confident in grace (II Tim 1:12).
- WORD OF GOD is offensive and will effectively counter his very best temptations.
- Our LORD Jesus used “It is written” to resist Satan three times (Mat 4:1-11).
- But you must know the Bible, believe the Bible, and use the Bible widely.
- We must be able to use and teach the Scriptures in all situations (He 5:12-14).
- PRAYER IN THE HOLY GHOST is the activity we should constantly emphasize.
- We do not have the strength or wisdom in ourselves to combat Satan’s wiles.
- Walking and praying in the Spirit assists prayers (Jude 20-21; Rom 8:26-27).
- Prayer must be a greater and more frequent part of our lives (Daniel 6:10).
- TRUTH protects from his lies, diversions, confusions, and heresies (John 8:44).
- A very important maneuver is to make no provision (possibility) for the flesh (Rom 13:14).
- Even a thing valuable and desirable: you must cut it off or pluck it out (Mat 5:27-32).
- We are to mortify or kill – not merely spank or rebuke – our flesh (Colossians 3:5-8).
- If you know television has and/or could tempt you, should you channel surf? This is easy!
- Flee youthful lusts rather than entertain or modify them (II Ti 2:22 cp Pr 4:14-15; 5:8; 6:5).
- If you don’t have a great sexual relationship, you give place for two in this matter (I Co 7:5).
- Dating without a chaperone is as foolish as it gets for two teenagers with mutual attraction.
- Another important maneuver is great care to hear, believe, and obey preaching (Luke 8:12).
- For those with tendencies to anger, slow down your angry response (Ec 7:9; James 1:19-20).
- Merciful forgiveness and reception of those offending us is wise (II Cor 2:6-11 cp Col 3:21).
- Resist the devil, and he will flee from you; he looks for lazy Christians (Jas 4:7; I Peter 5:9).
- Do not live tired with excessive activity. Remember Satan tempted hungry Jesus with food.
- Relationships with the opposite sex cannot be allowed to cross the first line of attraction.
- Don’t resent or resist dogmatic stands on Bible doctrine (II Cor 11:1-14; Gal 1:6; 3:1; 5:8).
- Satan can present his own Jesus, spirit, and gospel, which will deceive the simple.
- He is not a fool. He can be an angel of light and his ministers those of righteousness.
- Note the practical rule of keeping young men out of the office of bishop (I Timothy 3:6).
- If you think yourself free from him or above his ability, beware (I Cor 10:12 cp Luke 22:33).
- How do you give place to covetousness? By seeing or considering something you desire.
- What pet thoughts or fancies allow him a toehold? Child training? Tradition? Family?
- If you are rich or moving there, you may give place with pride or vain trust (I Tim 6:17).
- Don’t forget ouija boards, horoscopes, zodiac signs, fortune tellers, and fortune cookies.
- Do you read novels instead of watching television? Are they perfect? Or a “little” polluted?
- Does Braveheart give place? Parent honor? Catholicism? Adultery? Nudity? Faithlessness?
- Self-righteousness is worse than any sin, for it precludes confession and forgiveness.
- Women give place by modifying their proper role in marriage and home (I Tim 5:11-16).
- A carnal perspective or use of the gospel is as alarming as any destructive vice (II Ti 3:1-7).
- O LORD, Save us from an accurate religion without appropriate love (Rev 2:1-7).
- O LORD, Save us from religious confidence without true spirituality (Rev 3:14-22).
- Friends should be chosen very carefully with a view to truth and spirituality (I Cor 15:33).
- Women’s hair length (and submission) is a minor matter, right? Wrong (I Cor 11:10)!
- The great object of Satan’s hatred is the LORD Jesus Christ, therefore measure by Him.
- From the very beginning the antagonism between them was prophesied (Gen 3:15).
- Love Paul’s great summaries of His glorious preeminence (Col 1:9-29; Phil 3:7-21).
- Do you love to walk with Christ, talk of Christ, pray to Christ, sing of Christ, etc.?
- “Lead us not into temptation” are not just religious words (Matt 6:13 cp 4:1 cp Luke 22:31).
- Fornication, adultery, uncleanness, and lasciviousness don’t just happen; they result from giving place with pictures, lustful looks, songs, movies, jokes, fantasies, opportunities, etc.
- Murder often simply follows offences, envy, anger without a cause, and hatred (Mt 5:21-26).
- Covetousness, which is idolatry, results from discontentment, shopping, poor giving, debt.
- Entertaining differences leads to variance, competitiveness to emulations, discussion about authority to sedition, and a bright idea unproven from Scripture to heresies.
- Rather than confidence or ignorance in our abilities, let us pray for mercy (Luke 22:31-32).
- We must constantly be soberly and vigilantly assessing our lives and spiritual vitality.
- When you sense a loss of joy in Christ, it is your high duty to immediately examine yourself.
- When you sin (not if), it is your high duty to immediately repent and confess (I John 1:7,9).
The CHALLENGE
- Be sober. The war is serious. True Christians cannot relax and enjoy life. It is life or death.
- Be vigilant. Stay focused on the conflict. Be sensitive. Be critical. Better safe than sorry.
- Resist him. He will flee. There are easier victims for him. He hates reminders of his defeat.