Faith Gives No Place To The Devil
Bishop James C. Hash Sr.
You and I never have to fall prey to the devil!
If we can shut every door, close every window, and seal every place in our lives through which the enemy would try to access us, we can prevent him from getting into the middle of our affairs.
· One of the “entry points” the devil tries to use to enter our lives is “relationships.
· If there is an unresolved issue or ugly conflict with a loved one or friend, these “conflict points” often become “entry points” through which the devil tries to get a foothold in our relationships with those we love.
· Once the enemy is able to slip in through one of these “cracks” and build offended places in our minds, then a wall has already begun to be constructed that will eventually separate us from the people we need and love the most.
Ephesians 4:27...KJV NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL.
Ephesians 4:27...Amp AND DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL AN OPPORTUNITY (TO LEAD YOU INTO SIN BY HOLDING A GRUDGE, OR NURTURING ANGER, OR HARBORING RESENTMENT, OR CULTIVATING BITTERNESS).
· The devil is after every region and zone of our lives—money, health, marriage, relationships in the family, employment, business, and ministry, to name a few.
· He is so territorial, and he wants it all.
· To start his campaign to conquer all those areas of our lives, he must first find an “entry point” to begin
his campaign of unleashing his devilish destruction in our lives.
WE OFTEN THROW OPEN THE DOOR TO THE DEVIL WHEN WE:
· Refuse to let go of old hurts and wounds.
· Refuse to acknowledge what we did wrong.
· Refuse to forgive others for what we did.
· Refuse to stop judging others for their grievances.
· Refuse to admit we were wrong, too.
· Refuse to say “I’m sorry” when we are wrong.
· Refuse to lay down our “rights” for others.
· We don’t have to fall victim to the enemy’s tactics.
Romans 8:35-39...KJV WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION, OR DISTRESS, OR PERSECUTION, OR FAMINE OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD?
36 As it is written, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.
37 Nay, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.
38 FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME,
39 NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
· 37 Nay, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US.
I John 5:1-5...KJV WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD: and EVERY ONE THAT LOVETH HIM THAT BEGAT LOVETH HIM ALSO THAT IS BEGOTTEN OF HIM.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, WHEN WE LOVE GOD, and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
3 FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: and HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS.
4 FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD: and THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH.
5 WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?
· Because we are born of God, none of those things control us any longer.
· We are quick to repent and quick to forgive.
· Faith will not work in an offended heart.
Ephesians 4:27...KJV NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL.
· We can choose to “give the enemy place” in our minds and emotions or we can choose to walk in the Spirit.
Isaiah 26:3...KJV THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE: BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE.
I Peter 5:5-9...KJV Likewise, YE YOUNGER, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO THE ELDER. Yea, ALL OF YOU BE SUBJECT ONE TO ANOTHER, and BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY: for GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, and GIVETH GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
6 HUMBLE YOURSELVES THEREFORE UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD, THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME:
7 CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU.
8 BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR:
9 WHOM RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH, KNOWING THAT THE SAME AFFLICTIONS ARE ACCOMPLISHED IN YOUR BRETHREN THAT ARE IN THE WORLD.
· ...WHOM RESIST STEDFAST…
· …IN THE FAITH…
· STEADFAST:
— Fixed in direction
—Steadily directed
—Firm as in purpose
—Firmly established
—Firmly fixed
I Corinthians 15:58…KJV Therefore, my beloved brethren, BE YE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.
· “...BE YE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE” …
Ephesians 6:10-13...KJV Finally, my brethren, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, and IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.
11 PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.
12 FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
13 WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, and HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND.
Ephesians 6:10-13...Amp… 10 IN CONCLUSION, BE STRONG IN THE LORD (DRAW YOUR STRENGTH FROM HIM AND BE EMPOWERED THROUGH YOUR UNION WITH HIM) and IN THE POWER OF HIS (BOUNDLESS) MIGHT.
11 PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD (FOR HIS PRECEPTS ARE LIKE THE SPLENDID ARMOR OF A HEAVILY-ARMED SOLDIER), SO THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO (SUCCESSFULLY) STAND UP AGAINST ALL THE SCHEMES AND THE STRATEGIES AND THE DECEITS OF THE DEVIL.
12 FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD (CONTENDING ONLY WITH PHYSICAL OPPONENTS), BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE POWERS, AGAINST THE WORLD FORCES OF THIS (PRESENT)DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY (SUPERNATURAL) PLACES.
13 Therefore, PUT ON THE COMPLETE ARMOR OF GOD, SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO (SUCCESSFULLY) RESIST AND STAND YOUR GROUND IN THE EVIL DAY (OF DANGER), and HAVING DONE EVERYTHING (THAT THE CRISIS DEMANDS), TO STAND FIRM (IN YOUR PLACE, FULLY PREPARED,IMMOVABLE, VICTORIOUS).
· Faith will not work in an offended heart.