The Knowledge You Need

Paul told the Ephesians not to “give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). In the New International Version it is translated, “do not give the devil a foothold.” A “foothold” is a position usable as a base for further advance.

Our position is not one of running or hiding from the enemy. It is standing firm, not giving Satan a place in our lives that will enable him to advance and eventually defeat us.

Allowing spiritual ignorance to remain in your life regarding Satan, his power, and the plan and purpose of God for your life allows him to get a strong foothold. It gives Satan an opportunity to operate and attack you. Your counterattack must be to put on the mind of Christ. Paul told the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). We must not allow our lives to be ruled by our natural minds. Our natural minds cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit.

Paul told the Corinthians:

But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them — of progressively recognizing, understanding and becoming better acquainted with them because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. But the spiritual man tries all things-(that is,) he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things… (1 Corinthians 2:14-15, TAB).

We must fill our minds with the knowledge of the Lord. We must know Christ intimately so that His thoughts and purposes become our thoughts and purposes. There is no excuse for spiritual ignorance! There is no excuse for not knowing and understanding the Word of God. There is no excuse for not knowing the truth concerning the enemy and your position of power and authority over him. There is no excuse for not knowing how to defeat the enemy.

God has equipped you with the all-powerful Word of God which gives you detailed instructions on how to fight and win. God is not sending you out into battle empty-handed. He has given you all the knowledge you need to win the war. Use it!