While pastoring on campus those days, I used to have some young lower level guys hugging sisters here and there, in the name of greeting. I would gently correct them but they were always on the defensive, asking if it was a sin. They would later come to me for prayers and counseling to help them deal with masturbation. They were tempting the devil to tempt them.
Friend, the devil is not as powerful as we think. In fact, he has been stripped off whatever power he used to have (Hebrews 2:14-15). What he now uses are devices; schemes, gimmicks etc. (2 Corinthians 2:11). He knows how to take advantage of believers when they let loose their guards. He seeks to exploit your ignorance and carelessness
Most times, the devil can do nothing to a believer unless he finds a handle with which to handle such believer. Such handles are stuff that attract him to your life and make you look like a potential prey to him. Don’t forget that the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). That is what he does daily, right from the beginning (Job 1:7).
While it is true that the devil tempts and lures people into sin, it is very important to note that a lot of people actually tempt the devil to tempt them (Luke 4:2, 13, James 1:13-16). There are thoughts, habits and practises that make a man to tempt the devil to tempt him. Judas’ life of thievery, absenteeism etc. became attractive to the devil, so he used him to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3, John 12:4-6).
When you hear people say that, “it does not matter”, what they fail to realize is that it may seem not to matter at the moment but the devil is taking note of it and planning to use it against them. When Judas and Thomas were missing “Church services” with Jesus, you would not notice that it matters until it became a weakness that the devil exploited (Matthew 26:47, John 20:19-27).
When David decided to relax at home at the time that kings go for war, it looked innocent until the devil exploited it to cause a damage to David’s testimony (2 Samuel 11:1-5). Dinah went out to meet the daughters of the land and she missed her place in destiny (Genesis 34:1-2). What is that thing that you are “innocently” doing that is giving the devil a foothold in your life (Ephesians 4:27)? Stop it now! Resist the devil, don’t assist him (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9)! Amen!
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria