Closing the Door to the Enemy
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Sep 1, 2024
- 2 min read
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22)
God didn’t just forgive you; He blotted out your transgressions. All the wrong you have ever done has not simply been erased or crossed out; they have been blotted like a thick ink spilled across a page. Isaiah used the metaphor of a dense cloud that entirely blocks out all the sun so that the day suddenly looks dark. Isaiah was trying to explain the completeness and thoroughness of God’s forgiveness toward us.
However, that forgiveness wasn’t just a legal standing or religious formality. God’s forgiveness beckons us closer to Himself. He redeemed us so we could have reconciliation and a relationship with Him.
Knowing that you have been fully forgiven and sin’s power has been stopped, knowing that God wants you near Him and in relationship with Him, we must also understand that we should not give way to sin in our lives, allowing open doors to the enemy. Sin, disobedience, and strife can open doors for the enemy to have his way. Believers must recognize and close these doors as quickly as possible. How do we close the door? We promptly listen to and obey God and His Word. God can naturally take any situation, no matter how bad it might seem, and turn it around for our good if we trust and obey.!
Practical Application
Consider your current struggles and frustrations and ask the Holy Spirit where sin, disobedience, or strife might have opened doors to the enemy. Confess and repent to God and receive His forgiveness. Choose to hand it over to Him and get back in the flow of His goodness.
