By Pr Michael Kintu
Ephesians 4:27: “Do not give place (opportunity, chance) to the devil.”
A few years ago, I had a misunderstanding with a pastor friend who thought I had cut through him concerning a strategic relationship with a visiting pastor.
It was so bad that he had mobilized prayers against me in this regard. Out of the blue, certain members of the family started falling sick; something that my spirit picked up as being very unusual.
One night, I had a dream that a member of my family was walking into a hall full of deceased people.
The dream shook me so hard that I came out of my sleep. On waking up, I realized some lights in the house were switched on and some water taps were running. “What is this?” I wondered.
Close evil doors
Anyways, I got off my bed, lay on the ground and started to cry out to God.
As I petitioned God for help, I heard a still small voice in me saying, “Why do you want me to fight the enemy while you leave the door open?”
I immediately got up, reached for my laptop to write an email to both pastors.
I put an end to our relationship, closed my laptop and went back to bed. When I arose in the morning, both members of our family that were sick had been completely healed. That taught me a very big lesson.
The Bible refers to our arch enemy as an adversary (1 Peter 5:8). The dictionary defines an adversary as one’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute.
He is looking out for ways to bring a charge against God’s elect. He is looking for an opportune moment to catch us off guard.
Therefore, he could do with some help in opening a door for him to legally come in.
Consider the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. As they come into the Promised Land, God begins to give them one victory after another.
He is building a testimony for them in the land. When they come to the borders of Moab, their king is so threatened that he sought the services of a soothsayer to counter the advancing nation.
Balak sent for Balaam asking that he may come and curse the children of Israel for a reward. He kept increasing the offer to draw Balaam into this wickedness.
Having failed to curse the children of Israel, yet greedy for gain, Balaam employed a wicked strategy.
Revelations 2:14 says: “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
The enemy had failed to penetrate the camp of Israel. Balaam, exclaiming in Numbers 23:8, said: “How can I curse whom God has not cursed?”
There was such a powerful protection over the camp of Israel until the enemy trapped them with sexual immorality which lifted the protection and opened the door to judgment.
Understanding doctrine
This is where watching what doctrine we allow is so important. Doctrine is used to reprogramme the way we think, our values, concepts, world views and eventually our decisions.
It is important what you feed on is fully founded on the Rock, which is Jesus Christ.
It is important that we are continuously growing in the Word of God, in Godly fear and character.
The danger of our times is: we celebrate charisma and gifting over character and testimony. Remember the admonition of Apostle Paul:
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15).
God is looking for the character of Christ in us. The reason He gave gifts to men is so they can build His body into mature sons who can take care of their father’s business.
Unfortunately, we can see other agendas at play in the body of Christ and in particular, the agenda of Balaam.
The enemy is looking for a way to defile so that he can come in without any hindrances. We must close the doors to false teachings, to worldly influence, bad company and practices rooted in darkness and idol worship.
The writer is the lead pastor at House of Revival Church, Kisaasi.
