Leave No Room for the Devil
From The HeartPublish date: 01/07/2007
When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. 27 Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. Ephesians 4:26-27 AMP
Anger is defined as "a strong feeling caused by an injury." Anger, by itself, is not bad. When you feel angry, you know that there is an issue that must be dealt with. It may be something in your own heart and life that needs to change; it may be something that someone else is doing that needs to be confronted. Anger can motivate you to make the changes that you need to make in your life. Hence, the phrase "be angry and sin not."
The Bible way to deal with things is to confront it. If it is an issue with another person, confront them with a view to resolving the situation, not to exacerbate it or escalate it. Some people just like to pick a fight and have a fight, while others will do whatever they can to avoid confrontation. You must confront with a humble attitude, allowing the Holy Spirit to bring correction to all parties involved. People avoid confrontation for various reasons: they have been taught that it is wrong to disagree with another person; they don't want people to not like them; or they are afraid of their disapproval. Some people won't confront anyone else because they are afraid to confront their own issues. They don't want to acknowledge that they may be the one with the biggest problem. Some people just like to blame others for everything.
We see that anger can be your friend, however, the Bible tells us that if you get angry, and you don't deal with it and work things out, and you allow that anger to continue into the next day, that you are leaving room for the devil and giving him a foothold in your life - an opportunity to have his way in you. Anger, not dealt with, turns into resentment, then unforgiveness and ultimately, bitterness. Bitterness is a slow-acting poison, destroying the life of many people, most especially the bitter person!
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:22-26 NIV
When people are quarrelsome, they are not walking in the peace of God or the Truth of the Word. They open themselves up to the devil's traps and are taken captive by him. Then he can have his way in their lives. If you want to be protected from the devil, you must submit yourself to the Word and not be argumentative over it. People who are quarrelsome and argumentative are people who want their own way all the time and they want to be right all the time. 1 Corinthians 13:5 AMP says that. "love is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]."
But if someone [the one among you who committed incest] has caused [all this] grief and pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it too severely, [he has distressed] all of you. 6 For such a one this censure by the majority [which he has received is] sufficient [punishment]. 7 So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should rather turn and [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and despair. 8 I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affections and assure him of your love for him; 9 For this was my purpose in writing you, to test your attitude and see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and altogether agreeable [to following my orders] in everything. 10 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 [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah), 11 To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 AMP
God wants us to always work to bring restoration and peace in relationships. We must deal with sin in ourselves and others, when it rears its ugly head. We must confront, repent, turn around and walk the other way and continue to serve God with all of our heart. Remember: you are responsible for yourself, alone, and not others, but you are responsible to others. We make up our minds to forgive our brothers and sisters and love them like Jesus loves us, because we are not ignorant of the devil's devices and how he tries to divide and conquer us. We give no opportunity to him!