WHO GAVE HIM PERMISSION?

Reading articles, news items, emails and FB posts in preparation for a retreat at which Steve and I have been invited to speak, I am saddened to find Satan’s fingerprints all over the ruins of so many lives. As the tears flow down my face and prayers are offered up on behalf of so many hurting friends, I wonder, “What makes the devil think he has a right; who gave him permission?” Of course it began in a garden. Genesis 1:28-29 tells us God’s plan from the beginning; “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have DOMINION over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God gave dominion and authority to mankind and only they could bestow that authority on another. Satan had no authority until Eve gave him permission because of her own desires.


True, at times Satan seems relentless with his attacks. He will tempt you at every turn and just when you have one thing conquered, he comes with something else or a new tactic. GOOD NEWS!!! God already has a solution; 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. The Word of God promises us that with every temptation, God will make a way of escape. The only way sin can overtake us is if WE give it permission.

Several years ago, I had an employee who asked to leave early one day to go to her son’s ball game. I gave her the permission to leave that day but the next week she left early without permission and twice the following week. Finally, I confronted her about leaving work early and I have never forgotten her reply and the lesson I learned. She said, “You didn’t say no, so I thought it was ok.” Have we allowed the devil to think he has permission to interfere with our lives because we haven’t said NO!!!

Think of all the seemingly “innocent” things we let slip into our lives. The television shows and movies we watch, the music we listen to, the people we surround ourselves with, the internet sites we visit, the books and magazines we read, even the things we laugh at, the priorities we set and the time we waste; are all of these inadvertently giving the devil the permission for which he’s been waiting? James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. You will notice that it is not until the lust is conceived that sin is birthed. It starts with temptation and the choice, do we take the “Way of Escape” or give the devil permission. If permission is denied immediately, conception can never take place and Satan has no authority.

So once again; “What makes the devil think he has a right? Who gave him permission?” Sadly, the answer is, “We did.” It is time that we say NO MORE!!! It is time to TAKE BACK DOMINION and REVOKE SATAN’S AUTHORITY. If you are as “fed up” as I am at the audacity of Satan’s intrusion in your life, KICK HIM OUT AND TAKE IT BACK! Reclaim your children, your marriage, and your peace; reclaim your relationship with God. SATAN, PERMISSION DENIED!