The enemy is very strategic and is always looking for your weak spots. He often will attack you where you are most VULNERABLE.
Just yesterday morning Holy Spirit brought me to 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, “If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence of Christ, TO KEEP SATAN FROM GETTING THE ADVANTAGE OVER US, for we are NOT IGNORANT of his wiles and intentions.”
I had to be reminded, because the Lord knew Satan had set and made ready a trap for me that day. As I drove home feeling all the raw emotions of injustice I had a choice to make. Would I give place to Satan’s wiles? Would I open this door and sit at this table and “chew” on the seeds of injustice and anger?
Satan’s “wiles” are the devious or cunning strategies employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants. So in other words, Would I bow down and do want Satan was wanting me to do? Would I give him a place?
In Ephesians 4:27, the apostle Paul writes, “Neither give place to the devil.” The word “place” is the Greek word topos. It refers to a specific, marked-off, geographical location. It carries the idea of a territory, region, zone, or geographical position. It is from this word that we get the word for a topographical map. Because the word topos depicts a geographical location, this lets us know that the devil is after every region and zone of our lives — money, health, marriage, relationships, employment, business, and ministry.
Pastor has equipped us by giving us 4 crucial points of understanding. I would recommend taking each area and doing your own study asking Holy Spirit to highlight areas where greater revelation is needed.
- Acknowledge there is a fight.
- Identify your true enemy
- Give no place
- Never fight a battle you can’t win.
At the end of the day it’s vital to remember that our emotions and/or feelings are never to lead and guide our decisions. Summiting to God usually feels unnatural in the heat of the moment. However, the Word says, “Summit to God and the resist the devil, and He WILL flee!” James 4:7
“But thanks be to God, Who in Christ ALWAYS leads us in triumph (as trophies of Christ’s victory)…!!! 2 Cor. 2:14
QUESTIONS/PRAYER:
- Review the 4 crucial areas of understanding pastor gave on Sunday. Discuss further.
- Can you identify times in your life where you fell in a trap that the enemy set for you? Do you remember when you submitted to God instead? How did you overcome?
- What are some protective measures you can take today for the future?
- Pray for each other. Some may still need to forgive, let go, surrender, etc.
