Tag Archives: devil

What Territory Am I Giving Up To The Devil?

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(Ephesians 4:27) “Neither give place to the devil.”

The devil is real. There, I said it. Satan is alive today. So what is it in my life that gives him a place to operate? It’s all tied into the previous verses. Thayer defines the word “place” here from the Greek word topos to mean “place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space.” Is there a location in my life where I allow Satan to operate? What territory have I given over in my life to the devil? If we take the definition a little further it also means “opportunity, power, occasion for acting.” If I give up real estate in my personal life to him, then I am giving him a power base.

In 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 Paul wrote:  “To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Unforgiveness in the Church gives Satan a place and an advantage. But it starts in my heart and your heart. When we allow the sun to go down on our wrath (Eph 4:26) we are giving up territory in our own personal lives but also in the life of the Body of Christ. Our strength is in mutual edification of each other. We are all a piece of one structure under construction for the glory of God. When we do not support each other, the structure is weakened.

I need to constantly examine my heart for unforgiveness. If I’ve given up any territory, God needs to take it back.

Renewed Thought – If my heart was a battlefield, where would I be losing and where would God have the victory? When I answer that question, then I know my need before God.

Twisted Gospel – Galatians 1:7

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(Galatians 1:7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

The message that leads away from the grace of God is not good news.  The perverted gospel makes us feel good by causing us to think our performance gives us the stature and status we need before God to earn His approval.  But in reality, it leads us down the path to destruction.  It may be packaged and sold as “good news;” it may be called “the gospel;” but it isn’t any of these things.  The word “pervert” comes from the Greek word “metastrepho.”  It means to “turn around.”  This perverted message is designed to turn people around from God’s grace towards a man-made program that proclaims salvation can be earned by performing religious works.

It’s usually someone from the outside of a local church or group that comes in with this twisted message that works earns righteousness.  They cause divisions and lead astray the weak in the faith.  Using guilt as leverage, they make people feel that they aren’t worthy unless there is performance.  But the standard is always elusive.  It can never quite be reached.  And thus, those who are led this way are held in bondage and become captives in the snare of the devil.

Renewed Thought – The payment for my sin debt could never be paid for by my good works.  Any message that tells me I can earn God’s forgiveness is “bad news.“