Spiritual Habitats
Notes
Transcript
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
I. Introduction
A. The pond.
1. The ponds at my house are full of junk and have become a habitat that is not very conducive to a lot of fish and such to live.
2. The goal is to clean up the pond and its surrounding area to destroy the habitats of the destructive rodents and animals and build a habitat that is more conducive for fish and things that are pleasant to live in the water.
B. The crazy thing about the story Jesus told in our text is not that the spirit came back, but that the house was vacant.
1. The thing about cleaning up the pond and driving off the destructive animals to another place is that if I just leave it unattended over the years those things will be back to try and establish a presence again.
2. However, if I continue to occupy the land and continue work it they will continually realize they aren’t welcome back!
II. Keeping our spiritual habitat clean!
A. Don’t give a place to the Devil!
27 Neither give place to the devil.
1. The greek word for “place” is topos - a specific location, a territory, a foothold.
2. What does that look like in our lives?
i. Unconfessed sin
ii. Unresolved bitterness
iii. Carnality
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
3. You don’t have to invite the devil in. You just have to leave a vacancy.
B. What fills the space matters.
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
1. Note the structure: It is never just put off → be renewed → put on.put off.
2. Removing the habitat is step one. The renewal of the mind and the putting on of the new man is what with something the enemy cannot occupy.replaces the habitat
3. For my ponds you can't just remove the junk and leave barren water. You have to replace the ecosystem.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
4. The same principle applies here. Habitat removal “mortify the members upon the earth”, rebuild “put on the new man!”
C. What happens when the old habitat calls?
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
1. This Scripture tells us of the pull of the old ecosystem that we had in our lives!
i. Old habits
ii. Old friends
iii. Old Patterns
iv. OId thought processes
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
2. When God delivers us from sin and bondage God intends that we NEVER return to sin. Lest a worse thing come!
III. Closing
A. Stay occupied! Continue in the Holy Ghost!
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1. The Temple filled with the Holy Ghost CANNOT be occupied by ungodly spirits!
2. Living full of the Holy Ghost is the best preventative measure to keep the enemies of your soul from taking back residency in your life!
i. Not because evil spirits are afraid of YOU, but they are afraid of the new resident, who has ALL POWER in heaven and earth!
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
3. “Make not provision" — don't supply resources, don't build infrastructure, don't maintain the habitat.
4. Every time we feed the flesh — through what we watch, where we go, what we rehearse in our minds — we are stocking the pond for the wrong kind of life.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
5. Walking in the Spirit is how we maintain the habitat!
B. There MUST BE and aggressive removal of the unwanted habitat and occupants!
1. James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
i. The order matters: Resistance without submission is hollow.submit, then resist.
ii. ”Flee" implies the enemy is not stationary — he moves when the environment is no longer hospitable.
iii. The cleansing and purifying language is habitat removal. The drawing nigh to God is habitat replacement.
2. This is an ongoing battle and it’s NOT time to take off your war clothes!
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
