It seems like these days, we have to constantly be on our guard for our privacy. Cameras are everywhere. Our smart devices always listening and monitoring. Our sleep, our heart rate, our steps, our location, our voices, and probably even more.
Complete strangers maliciously work tirelessly to gain access into our lives. I almost miss the days where the biggest annoyance that I had to deal with were telemarketers calling my landline or perhaps a door-to-door salesman.
Now, fraud is lurking everywhere. With easier access to AI and with AI tools becoming more and more powerful, it has never been more difficult to know who or what to trust. A picture or video used to be undeniable proof that something happened. That’s certainly no longer the case.
Financial institutions now have to hire huge teams of people to work fraud cases. They monitor transactions and network traffic in real time to try and catch fraud as soon as it occurs. If it does occur, they have their work cut out for them to try and prevent it from happening again and to recover the funds lost.
Fraudsters are incredibly good at what they do. Social media accounts are spoofed to befriend our friends. Deeds have liens placed against them. Loan and credit card accounts are opened as us. Romance scammers take advantage of our loneliness to gain our trust.
Our contact information is sold. Our habits from time spent in apps, purchases made, searches executed, emails sent, even our physical location and movements and more are all tracked and sold. The list could go on and on and on…
In 2024, the most common category of fraud defined by the FTC involved imposter scams. In this type of scam, a criminal claims to represent a trusted organization, such a business or a government agency, to trick victims into transferring money or disclosing personal information. More than 847,000 imposter scam complaints were filed in 2024.
The FTC and affiliated agencies also fielded 1,135,270 complaints of identity theft in 2024. The entire identity of over 1 million Americans were claimed to be stolen just last year!
Access into our lives, information about them, and even our identity itself is desired by people wishing to do us harm for their own personal greed. They often offer to give us something, but it is only a lie used to gain access to take from us.
Honestly, these things which are happening in the natural world today are very similar to what is happening in the spiritual realm as well. There is a real enemy who is a real threat who causes real damage and yet they are completely invisible. This is what the battle in the spiritual realm is.
The devil and his demons are constantly trying to gain access into our lives so that they may steal, kill, and destroy and try to lead us away from God. God and His angels are defending and protecting us. The battle is real!
Just as there are all kinds of campaigns out there warning us about fraud so that we are not unaware of the invisible threat, God does not want us to be unaware of our enemy, his presence, and his schemes.
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth following up on sinful behavior that they were accepting, but needed to confront. After dealing with that situation, he wrote:
2 Corinthians 2:6-11
6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
The purpose of today’s message is not by any means to cause us fear. It is a warning which will keep our lives free from fear and full of God’s Presence and glory! It is not intended to cause us excessive sorrow for our sin, but to let God’s perfect love and forgiveness cover our sin and cast out all fear from our lives. It is to set us free from any access that Satan has in our lives!
After all, whom Jesus sets free is free indeed! Which is where we are starting.
Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh
I’ve read this verse so many times. I thought that I knew what indulging the flesh meant. I figured it was just doing whatever I felt like doing. Living by my own thoughts, feelings, and opinions and not denying anything that seems right to me.
Eat the whole box of thin mints. Punch that person in the face if they mouth off to you again. Drink until you don’t have a care in the world and even forget your own name. Have sex with whoever, wherever, however you want. Step on whoever you have to in order to climb your way to the top. Indulgence of the flesh, right?
Well, the spiritual result of this way of living is far more serious than this sounds!
Some translations use the word indulge or satisfy in this verse. Others translate the word to opportunity or occasion, which is a bit more accurate. The Passion Translation actually has one of the best translations in this case which states:
Galatians 5:13 (TPT)
Beloved ones, God has called us to live a life of freedom. But don’t view this wonderful freedom as an excuse to set up a base of operations in the natural realm.
The Greek word that we translate to the English word “indulge” is the word aphormē. It is defined as “a place from which a movement or attack is made, a base of operations.” The Vine’s Expository Dictionary further defines this word as “a base of operations in war.” To indulge in or to satisfy the flesh is to do far way more than to give in to a guilty pleasure. It is to provide the devil with a base of operations in our lives to wage war against us.
That is what scammers out there in the natural world try to do. They try to access some area of our lives in order to set up a base of operations from it. Whether it is our physical property or an online account or a romantic connection or our bank account, they try to set themselves up to operate through us.
If you thought that giving the devil a foothold in your life was bad idea and that giving the devil a stronghold in your life was worse one, you are correct. However, realize that to indulge in our flesh is to give the devil a base of operations for him to war against us. Strategizing and resourcing and gaining intelligence and scheming against us from within us!
I will now never, ever, ever read this simple verse the same way again! Oh what understanding has been lost in translation!
This same Greek word is translated to “opportunity” in this verse as Paul is training up Timothy to lead the church:
1 Timothy 5:14
So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
Paul also uses this same word in Romans 7 verses 8 and 11 when he explains how sin seized the opportunity afforded by God’s commandments turning God’s good and holy and pure law into a weapon of death to kill us simply by defining what sin is.
The same word is also used when Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11 about not giving false apostles an opportunity to pretend that they are equals in order to attack him. He says that we should not be surprised that they go around pretending to be righteous because Satan, himself, masquerades as an angel of light.
Don’t give the devil a foothold, don’t give him a stronghold, and certainly do not setup for him a base of operations for warfare in your life!
Whether we want to believe it or not, whether we want to accept it or not, there is a war raging for our souls! To sit idly by and continue to live by our flesh is not to avoid the war, but to lose and surrender within the war. The battle is not easy, but the victory is worth it!
Sadly, we often give permission to enemy without knowing it. He is a deceiver and he speaks the language of lies. Even while quoting the very word of God, he speaks lies wrapped up in the truth.
In Matthew 24, Jesus warns several times about false prophets and teachers who come in the name of Jesus; even false messiahs that perform great signs and wonders who are working to deceive people. Jesus said that they will even deceive God’s chosen ones if it is possible. Paul warned:
2 Timothy 3:13-14
13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. 14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.
Deceitful imposters try to gain access into our lives and it is up to us to deny them that access! The devil is a deceiver and that is still one of his goals to this very day. Jesus said that He saw Satan cast out of Heaven down to the earth like lightning. This event is described in a little more detail here:
Revelation 12:7-9 (NLT)
7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
He is still deceiving us today and has some people so deceived that they have become instruments he uses to further deceive people. Elymas was such a false prophet who befriended and stayed close to the governor of Paphos. The governor invited Paul and Barnabas to visit him and to share the word of God with him. Elymas kept interfering with them.
Acts 13:9-12 (NLT)
9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. 10 Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? 11 Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.”
Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. 12 When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Even when being opposed by deceit, even when standing face-to-face with it, we need not fear. Greater is the Holy Spirit within us than the devil out there deceiving the world. We have power and authority over him and have all that we need to completely demolish his works!
Paul wrote more about false apostles and deceivers and reminded us to be on our guard because even Satan disguises or masquerades as an angel of light. Even then, Paul’s love for the church in Corinth was being falsely described as hate.
2 Corinthians 11:9-15 (NLT)
9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.
12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
Although there is no need for fear, there absolutely is a need for awareness and caution. Even as a Spirit-filled believer, we still must be careful not to allow ourselves to be deceived and not to allow the devil access into our lives.
1 Peter 5:8
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Jesus even taught us to pray:
Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
From the very beginning, God has been warning mankind to deny sin any access into our lives!
Genesis 4:6-7
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
We have been set free to live differently! We are no longer slaves to our sin and held captive by the devil to do his will!
Ephesians 4:17-32
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
It is up to us not to let the devil get a foothold in our lives. It is up to us to stay alert and deny access to any spirit but the Holy Spirit. When we find any spirit having access into our lives, it is up to us to evict them and to fill that void with the Presence of God through the Holy Spirit.
We are agents of spiritual freedom – true freedom! We have been empowered and equipped to set captives free! It is up to us to get suited up and to take our stand, though!
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
It is up to us to choose what we run to and fill our lives with! It is up to us to choose what we think about and meditate on.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
22 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 be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, 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 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
While we are setting captives free, we must be careful not to get taken out in the battle ourselves.
Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
It is up to us to guard our lives and to maintain the border of our souls so that the enemy doesn’t get an inch of the territory that God has entrusted to us!
The devil especially enjoys either manipulating and controlling church leadership or taking them out altogether! Power and authority are areas of life that Jesus taught us are purposed for humility and servanthood. Not so with the enemy! Paul wrote a warning regarding this giving us counsel on choosing church leaders.
1 Timothy 3:6-7
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Another area of life that the enemy loves to leverage is that of sexuality. God created sex and it is as awesome just like everything that He creates and purposes is. However, the enemy tries to take credit for it and pervert it and use what God intended for good as evil against us. Paul writes a response to the church in Corinth’s question about this and the sin that they were allowing to happen within their church.
1 Corinthians 7:1-9
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am (unmarried and celibate). But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Honestly, the devil will prowl around for any weakness that we have, any area where he can deceive us into allowing him access into our lives either intentionally or not.
Whatever our temptation might be, we must remain on guard and look to God to fill whatever voids might exist in our lives so that they can be filled with good and perfect things that lead to an abundant life and not death.
We need our brothers and sisters in Christ around us and the Holy Spirit within us to help us to maintain the freedom that Jesus gave us and to walk by faith in every area of life. They can help us to identify areas of our life that may be compromised by the enemy and help us to cast him out and protect that vulnerable are going forward.
The greatest lie and deceit of the devil is that he doesn’t exist. The second greatest lie is that Christians are untouchable by him; that our salvation makes it impossible for the devil to gain access into our lives. Beyond all of the warnings written to Christians that I quoted this morning, there are plenty more within the new testament.
Why would Jesus tell us to pray to the Heavenly Father to deliver us from the evil one if we could never find ourselves in need of deliverance from the evil one? Deliverance was a huge part of Jesus’ ministry as well as of that of the early church and it is just as needed today.
We must stay on our guard and allow the Holy Spirit and fellow believers to show us any areas where we need Jesus to deliver us. There is no need for fear, freedom is ours for the taking, and far, far GREATER is the one in us than the one who is in the world! In fact, Jesus said that the devil and his demons can be driven out by the finger of our great God!
Satan, access denied!