Text- Ephesians 4:27 – “And do not give the devil a foothold”
One truth many have not come to realize is that the devil needs your permission to work in your life. Whether such permission is given actively or passively doesn’t matter. That is why such a teaching as this is very essential.
When we cross the bounds of righteousness or allow areas of lapses to thrive in our lives, the devil quickly catches on it as an opportunity to wreak havoc. This is the reason why scriptures advise us to walK circumspectly.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise - Ephesians 5:15
To be circumspect means to be careful of how we lead and conduct our lives. Charles Ellicott comments that the idea in this verse of scripture is not of looking round watchfully against dangers, but of "seeing," that is, being careful, "how we walk strictly;"
He further explained that the verse carries the idea of finding out the clear line of right, and then keeping to it strictly, so as not "to run uncertainly. Until we begin to do this, it is uncertain that we can successfully prevent the devil from gaining a foothold in our lives.
In the past one week that we have been examining this topic, I have mentioned 6 things that can give the devil a foothold in our lives – sin, folly, pride, offences, bitterness, and wickedness. Today, I’ll talk about the seventh:
7. UNBELIEF Unbelief is simply the lack of faith. Unbelief is different from disbelief; the former has to do with faith, while the latter deals with the acceptance or plausibility of evidence.
James said someone living in doubts and unbelief should not expect to receive anything from the Lord:
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. - James 1: 6-8
When we consider the story of the sojourn of the Israelites in the wilderness, we would clearly see how unbelief can give the devil a foothold in our lives; this was what the writer of Hebrews recanted in Hebrews 3:7-12.
The writer’s conclusion in verse 12 was thus:
“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
This is my admonition for you today.
PRAYER
Father, I ask by your mercies, that you help my unbelief. I commit myself to live circumspectly from today, and I destroy every foothold of the devil in my life in Jesus Name.
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