When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Matthew 12.43

We are grateful for our rescue and deliverance at the cross. Many of us were enemies of God before he cleaned us up and made us his own. We may not agree but unclean spirits once lived in our hearts controlling and manipulating our actions that once displeased God. The ungodliness, immorality and idolatry that’s plagued our families, churches and communities is a reflection of the evil spirits at work in hearts not surrendered to Jesus.

We have an enemy who is relentless, aggressive and roaming to and fro seeking whom to take down next. He’s not worried about those who are already under his control, those who have rejected Jesus and do not fear God. His main focus is on those who claim to be disciples of Jesus, whose names are written in heaven and who are striving to please the Lord. His strategy is to ensure that we remain as secret disciples and our witness is ineffective, so we have a name but continue to wrestle with secret sins lacking the power to live for Jesus.

Salvation from the penalty of sin happens in a moment but salvation from the power of sin would be an ongoing process. Our spirits may have been regenerated when we surrendered our hearts to Jesus but our bodies were not. On this side of eternity, we will continue to wrestle with the new desires of our spirits and the lustful desires our flesh longs for. Although our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, we can still be available and attractive to the enemy.

Sadly, many have been delivered but have not been filled. And the regular attendance of church events or the outward display of piety are not synonymous with a life that is fully under the control of the enemy. Many are part of the sonorous church choirs, they may pray all night at deafening decibels and give alms to garner public attention but they might be the most angry, dishonest and unstable individuals you may know. It is these people who the enemy finds available and attractive, those who are unwilling to allow God invade every aspect of their lives.

Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Why are some Christians more attractive to the enemy than others? Why does the enemy still refer to some as ‘my house’? Why does the enemy find others a safe place to return to? Why is the enemy comfortable in a place that is empty, swept and put in order? You would have thought that he would rather be comfortable in chaos, commotion and confusion, with those who lack order and direction and those who are disinterested in cleaning up the mess he left. So having a good intention to live for Jesus is not adequate. May the enemy not find a place to rest in our lives.

The enemy is not threatened by our grandiose plans, infact, where he’s been before seems much easier than breaking through new territory. The enemy won’t tempt us with relationships, habits or places we are not interested in but those which mean the world to us and what we think we can’t do without. As disciples of Jesus, we can’t be empty. Paul encourages us to be filled with the Spirit. And this won’t be a one-off, beginning of the year decision but an ongoing, moment by moment begging God to fill us with a fresh outpouring of His Spirit.

It’s not enough to have a house swept clean and empty, a metaphor for idleness, inactivity, lack of passion, no indwelling by God’s Spirit, just waiting for life to happen. And when we least expect it, then, the enemy will begin to sow some seeds to lure us away from the Lord. There’s no middle ground, no sitting on our hands, we must either be running after Jesus full steam, keeping our eyes on him at all times and making pleasing him our priority if not, the enemy may find us available and attractive. It’s one thing to have plans to displace evil from our hearts but what’s our intentional plan to be filled with God’s Spirit?

Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first

The church is in the news but not for good news. Many who don’t believe in Jesus, like Lot’s in-laws think that we are a joke. Sadly many who claim to know and fear the Lord have brought shame and disgrace to the name of the Lord. Let’s be aware that we are exposed daily to the onslaught of the enemy. He is constantly checking and returning to check and sending other demons to check again whether the coast is clear for him to return. All he needs is just an avenue to sneak back him and once we give him the signals that the coast is clear, it won’t be long before he returns.

But this time around, he won’t be coming back alone. In the Bible, the number ‘seven’ signifies completion ot perfection. And if the unclean spirit that lived in us before we met Jesus decides to bring seven more spirits more wicked than itself, we shouldn’t be surprised when those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, begin to act and behave even worse than those who had not been saved. And this takeover doesn’t happen over night, but a gradual falling away, a gradual acceptance of what was once abnormal and unusual, a little giving into and enjoying the pleasures of sin.

You may know people who act in a certain way while in their Sunday best but horribly terrible for the rest of the week. They may serve God in public but bow down to idols in secret. We may be surprised by those who enjoy intimate relationships with those who are not their spouse justifying a crumbling marriage or who invest in questionable business ventures but promise to give God a hefty portion of the profits. How about those who cut corners to make a profit or harbour bitterness and resentment enough to consider murdering others. And the list is endless about the atrocities committed by those who claim to be disciples.

It’s frightening to think who we can become once no longer under the absolute control of God’s Spirit, when we are far removed from the encouragement, instruction and rebuke from God’s word or isolated from godly influence calling us back from the brink of destruction. Today is another opportunity to take stock and assess our relationship with the Lord? What has God been saying to me about certain things in my life that need to change? Are there relationships or habits I’m ashamed of? Are there godly disciplines like praying, fasting, word study, evangelism, fellowship that I have abandoned? Am I living each day to please the Lord?

Lord keep my eyes on the cross, my ears tuned to the voice of your Spirit and my heart ready for your return. Amen