Ephesians 4:25-29

Beware, the devil wants to get a foothold in your life. Just a small foothold, a little beachhead, and then he can go to work. Paul warns us in Ephesians 4:27, “neither give place to the devil.” Well, how do you give place to the devil? How do you and I let Satan come into our lives? You see, he cannot come in unless we invite him. We belong to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives within us. We’re walking in truth. Satan is a liar. We’re walking in the light. He’s the prince of darkness. We have life. He is death. He’s the god of this world, and he’s looking for a foothold, a beachhead in your life. Well, in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 25 through 29 Paul tells us how we can give him a beachhead in our lives.

What are the sins that let the devil in? Verse 25, lying; “Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Satan is the liar and the father of lies. Whenever I harbor a lie in my mind, whenever I speak a lie or live a lie, Satan moves in. Whenever we speak the truth, the Holy Spirit moves in. The Holy Spirit works through truth, the devil works through lies. Don’t give him a beachhead through lies. Anger, “Be angry, and do not sin.” There is a sinless anger. There is a righteous indignation but too often our anger is not righteous and anger harbored in the heart or expressed through the lips just gives the devil a beachhead. Stealing, verse 28, “Let him that stole steal no more.”

Taking things away from the office. Taking things that don’t belong to us. Robbing the employer of time. Stealing gives the devil a foothold. Bad language, verse 29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for edifying.” Well, the devil is waiting for an opportunity to move in. All he’s waiting for is one lie, malice in our heart or a burst of anger, stealing, some bad language that we should not have spoken. Beware, the devil wants to get a beachhead in your life.