Permission Based Invasion

Now who in their right mind would give someone else permission to invade their territory? When you give someone permission to invade your space, you are opening up a can of worms. For example, "how long will they stay?", "what will they be doing?", "will they overstep the bounds of your permission?"  Of course there has to be a better explanation for this though.  Again, who really gives some other entity permission to invade their space?  After all, to invade something means, "[t]o enter by force in order to conquer or pillage" (from TheFreeDictionary Online, "Invade").  Well, let's put a spiritual twist on this topic.

Satan would love nothing more than to invade your territory.  He would love to conquer and plunder you, but you must first give him the permission. For a good example, I would like to go to the book of Job and look at the following verses:

Job 1:9-12: "(9) So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (11) But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”  (12) And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord." (NKJV)

Here, we see a conversation between Yahweh and Satan. We know it is about Job, but I want to focus on verse 12.  In this verse, we see that the Lord gives Satan permission to test Job's faith. Yahweh gave him specific instructions on what he could and could not do to Job. If you read the previous verses, you will find the that the angels went to the Lord and Satan joined them (see Job 1:6). The conversation sounded like a parent talking to a child: "Boy where have you been", said the Lord. "Just walking around earth, checking things out", said Satan. "Have you checked out my man Job? He's a pretty faithful. I bet you can't break him!". That was pretty much how things got started, but because we know that Lord is the Alpha & the Omega and the King of Kings everything has to answer to Him.

If someone has been invaded and held captive by Satan and/or his minions, they still have to bow down to the triune God. Let's look at just one occasion where Jesus (Yeshua) healed a possessed man where in Mark 5, we see evil spirits beg to not be destroyed.

Mark 5:1-13: "(1) Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.(2) And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, (4) because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. (5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.  (6) When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. (7) And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”  (8) For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” (9) Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” (10) Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.  (11) Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. (12) So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” (13) And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea." (NKJV)

Yeshua came to earth and gave his life so we should have everlasting life.  He did not come so that we can be slapped around by the enemy and every false doctrine of the world.  If this is the case then, why do we allow the devil to invade us? It is only with our permission that he can do this. The enemy is cunning which means that you have to remain vigilant in your walk.  As a believer, Satan will not just walk up to you and ask for an invitation. Oh no no no. He will use other subtle ways like through your TV(just look what is acceptable now-a-days); through people; when your have a lot of times on your hands or what we call an idle mind. Believe it or not, the enemy can be at work right in your church through the twisting of scripture and directly from the pulpit.

The devil works over time. It's hard to punch the clock the same number of hours he does, but Yahweh keeps those who believe in Him. Isaiah 26:3, says, "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You" (NKJV).  When we lose focus on the One who can keep us,  then we start to open the door for the enemy. Stay on guard at all times and keep the triune God at the forefront of your life. This not a guarantee that the devil will not attempt continue to trip you up in your walk with Christ. In fact, he will try harder!  After all, this is Satan's nature.  He walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, so do not make yourself easy prey.

I will leave you with this.  You can take a lion cub, bring it into your home and raise it as though it was a domesticated dog, however, it is still becomes a 400+ pounds adult lion.  It may seem domesticated, but by its nature, it will jump at the opportunity to be a lion.  Stay alert folks!

Antoine E. Hall
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22