KEEPING SATAN OUT 2
(week 12/09)
Olubi Johnson
In our last article we saw that we can give Satan place in our thoughts, words and actions when we put human emotions and feelings above divine will and purpose, because of the darkness of our minds that have not been enlightened by the spirit of wisdom and revelation concerning the will and purpose of God through His Word.
This week we will see how to diligently keep Satan from using us in our ignorance and sincerity like he did with Peter in:
Matthew 16:21-23 ESV From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (22) And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (23) But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
We diligently keep Satan out by:
1. Keeping our hearts with all diligence.
2. Praying without ceasing.
Proverbs 4:23-27 AMP Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (24) Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. (25) Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. (26) Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. (27) Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.
How do we keep our hearts with all diligence?
Our hearts here refers to our souls: mind, will and emotions.
We keep our hearts with all diligence by vigilantly keeping our thoughts, words and what we eat in line with the Word of God.
Proverbs 4:23 GNB Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Proverbs 23:7 GNB “Come on and have some more,” he says, but he doesn’t mean it. What he thinks is what he really is.
Philippians 4:8 MKJV Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
We must be vigilant in our thought life: it is not just what we think but what we think on!
All kinds of thoughts come to everybody, however, it is only those thoughts you accept as an act of your will and so begin to meditate on and so desire that develop into imaginations and subsequently into actions that create strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 GNB (4) the weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; (5) we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
So, the scripture says ‘as a man thinks (or wills: thoughts he accepts as an act of his will and consequently desires) so is he’ (Prov. 23.7).
For instance, David decided to build a temple for God and God rewarded him (2 Sam.7.1-17) for this thought of his heart that he had not even performed, because David willed and desired to do it.
The Lord Jesus said the same thing about adultery: if you look with the will and desire to do it: you have done it (Mt.5.28).
So, as far as God is concerned, a thought in your mind that you have willed and desired is as good as done and those thoughts reflect who you really are.
So when a thought contrary to the Word of God comes to your mind, cast it down: do not accept it with your will or desires.
It takes the generating (by praying in the spirit with all types of prayer and travail), releasing (by confessing the Word and praying in tongues) and receiving (by frequently (Mt. 24:42) acknowledging the Lord for mercy, praying in tongues and acting on the Word) of the power of the Holy Spirit in sufficient measure in your mind to be able to do this diligently.
Proverbs 21:23 MKJV whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Observe here that your tongue controls what you say while your mouth determines what you eat.
So what you say and what you eat affect your soul: mind, will and emotions.
So we should not speak words contrary to the Word of God as such words will give Satan place in our hearts.
Luke 21:34 GNB “Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you.
Luke 21:34 AMP But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;
Luke 21:34 KJVR and take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Our eating habits and diet also affect our hearts: overeating or eating the wrong things can be a drain of spiritual power from our souls and injure our health.
So while in the New Testament it is lawful to eat anything (1 Tim.4.3-5), it is spiritually expedient (1 Cor. 6.12-13) to allow the Holy Spirit to control what, when and how much you eat, so your eating will not drain the power of the Holy Spirit from your mind and feelings and so give place to Satan through them.
Next week, we will look at how to keep Satan out by praying without ceasing and so grow in mercy.
