Don’t Give Him an Opportunity

And do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:27 NASB

I once heard Bill Gothard say that what we allow in little our children will allow to excess. This principle is seen in Abraham’s life. (Abram speaking to Sarai) and it will come about when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. "Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you." Genesis 12:12-13

Abram is gripped with fear. This new God follower doesn’t trust God’s power to preserve and protect him so he tells a half truth thereby obscuring Sarai’s true identity. She was his half sister but more importantly he neglects to mention that she is his wife. He has just given the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:27 Satan is the father of lies and the master of deception. While he isn’t mentioned in Abram’s story, his finger prints aren’t hard to find.

Watch this sin get a foothold and grow in and through the generations of his family.

· Abram obscures Sarai identity with a half truth. Genesis 12:12-13
· His son, Isaac, lies about his wife Rebekah’s true identity. Genesis 26:7
· Rebekah and Jacob scheme and lie to Isaac and fake Jacob’s true identity to steal Esau’s blessing. Genesis 28:5
· Jacob’s sons sell their brother, Joseph, into slavery and lie to their father about what happen. They let him assume he is dead.

Trust me when I tell you there is no such thing as a “white lie.” We often hear talk of victimless crimes, but when it comes to the spirit world there is no such thing. When the Lord asks us to abstain from certain actions He is in fact saying, “Don’t hurt yourself and don’t hurt others.” Through the apostle Paul he is also saying, “Don’t give your enemy an opportunity.” But what if we have?

We must repent and ask for mercy. If we have been a bad example we must ask our family for forgiveness. We need to forsake the wrong and embrace what is right through the power of the Holy Spirit.

MY PRAYER: Lord, we ask for your mercy and grace to not only cover our sin, but to give us complete victory. We don’t want to grieve your Spirit or give the enemy a foothold. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

MY CONFESSION: Sin will not be my master because I am not under law, but grace. All my children will be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of my children. I stand on your word! Romans 6:14, Isaiah 54:13