Scripture – ““When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.””
Matthew 12:43-45 NIV
Observation – When a person, either through discipline or the help of family, friends or professionals, cleans up their lives by eliminating destructive behaviors they are like a house that has been swept clean and put in order. If they don’t fill their life with Jesus they open themselves up to Satan taking control of their lives.
Application – How does this happen? Don’t we all know people that have stopped drinking, gambling or looking at pornography and seem to be living good lives. Like Bob Dylan says:
You may be a construction worker working on a home
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody’s landlord you might even own banks
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
We are not sovereign beings that can decide that we are not going to belong to Jesus or Satan but be the masters of our own destiny. That is not how it works in the spiritual kingdom. A person will either be filled with the Holy Spirit or they won’t. If they are not, they are, by default, serving Satan and will be susceptible to his schemes. This may not manifest itself in outward behaviors it may be inward; resentment, bitterness, worry, jealousy, greed, pride, malice, slander, a perverted mind… it is going to be something, because you’re gonna have to serve somebody.
Prayer – Dear Jesus, I pray for my friends and family that they would be sensitive to their weaknesses and call on you to fill them with your Spirit. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 