There are two important points for
us to consider in this one verse. First of all, the demon/spirit decides to
come back at some point which indicates that we need to realize that the enemy
does not just give up. I think there is a false impression out there that
people think once delivered always delivered. While it is true that Scripture
indicates that Satan and his minions are generally disorganized and
disagreeable with each other, that does not mean that they do not eventually
regroup and remember what has worked in the past. For example, if that
ex-smoker always gives in when there are stresses at the job, you can bet that
there will be stresses on the job or the enemy will whisper in their ear about
things that should not be stressful -- and convince him that they are. If that
ex-smoker always caves in when they find themselves in a bar, you can bet the
enemy will whisper to them about needing to unwind after work at happy hour.
Anything to push the buttons that they know will work. The anxious person's day
almost invariably starts with waking up and saying to themselves that they
don't feel good or they don't feel right. You can bet the strategy of the
spirits are to reinforce that first thing in the morning thought pattern so it
sets to tone for the rest of the day.
The other important point for us to
consider is we should note the condition the evil sprit finds the "former home"
in - empty, swept and in order. Swept and in order sounds to me like the way
most bachelors might clean their apartments (guilty as charged!). It has the
appearance of being clean but deep down it is not. Things are in order and
everything is where it might belong, but there is not a lot of substance behind
the appearance. It is only clean on the surface, if you will. Deep down the
same faulty thought pattern is lurking and waiting to be released again. But
besides swept and in order the interesting thing to note is that it is empty.
What should be active on the inside of every believer in God? The Holy Spirit! Now,
I am referring to things metaphorically as obviously if someone is saved the
Holy Spirit of God is on the inside of them. But how active is the Holy Spirit
in their life? How prominent is the Holy Spirit in their thought life? How
filled are they with the Holy Spirit? If we were to be honest with ourselves we
would admit that there are areas we sometimes leave the Spirit of God out of
because we know we are in disobedience. Those are the areas we need Him the
most! This is really where the rubber meets the road when it comes to
deliverance and staying delivered -- what are we filling ourselves with?
You see the person in the key verses
tidied up after they were delivered but they did nothing precautionary to make
sure they stayed delivered. They put things in order but they still were empty
on the inside. When Jesus was first starting His ministry He was baptized in
the
Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit , returned from the Jordan and was led by the
Spirit in
the wilderness
-- Luke 4: 1 (NLT)
Oh beloved, I hope you caught that!
Before Jesus Himself went into His wilderness to do battle with the enemy, He
made sure He was filled with the Holy Spirit! When we are filled with the Holy
Spirit then we are led by Him as well! When we are filled and led by the Holy
Spirit it doesn't matter how many demons come back a knocking on our door --
there will not be any room for them and their influence! It doesn't matter when
the enemy starts to whisper to us we tell him that we are led by the Spirit of
the Living God and there is no allowance for listening to lies. There is not
even a conversation to be had! Hallelujah!
Let me close with this. There is a
great story in the Old Testament involving Nehemiah. He was a cupbearer to the
king in the land that
So Sanballat and Geshem
sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of
Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by
sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come.
Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?" Four times they sent the same message, and each
time I gave the same reply. --
Nehemiah 6: 2-4 (NLT)
The enemy will want to meet with us
also on the plain of Ono (oh no!). Just like he sought Eve to meet him there
and she was willing to have the conversation. But we need to always react in
the Spirit of God that is inside of us and within Nehemiah's answer are three
essential truths for staying delivered. First of all, we must realize that any
attempt by the enemy to talk to us is a plot from him to harm us. Period -- end
of story. He seeks to kill and destroy us, not make friends or call a truce.
Secondly, we need to respect better the work that God has called us to. Why
should I even have a conversation with a natural born liar that wants to kill
me when I have this great work that God has called me to? Lastly, it doesn't
matter how many times the enemy comes back with the same message. It doesn't
matter how many times he tries to push those old buttons that used to work on
us so well. It doesn't matter if he goes and finds seven other spirits to come
with him -- our answer must not change -- ever! We need to fill ourselves with
the Holy Spirit, realize the plotting liar that the enemy is, respect better
the work God has given us, and never change our answer to the devil.
Reverend
