You Can't Have It!
Today’s Verse:
And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have. ~1 Kings 20:4
The king of Syria, Benhadad, led his forces to besiege Samaria and war against it. Ahab, the king of Israel, was intimidated and filled with fear. Benhadad told Ahab, “Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.” Benhadad boldly told Ahab, “I’m taking what is yours and making it mine.” Everything important and of earthly value to Ahab was at risk of being taken away from him. Amazingly, Ahab did not put up a fight! Instead, he said, “I am thine, and all that I have.” He could have resisted, but he chose not to. He should have said, “You can’t have it!” This morning, let us consider the importance of not giving in to Satan.
We see the predator.
Benhadad pictures Satan, who is the god of this world. Satan is a roaring lion, who walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Satan wants to take everything of value away from you. Satan wants to take your family. Satan wants to defeat your faith. Satan does not want your finances going to God. Satan makes an outright claim against everything you own and have. Not only is Satan trying to take what you have, but the flesh and the world are predators trying to take away what you have. When these enemies succeed, we become their slaves. We risk losing our consecration, our credibility, and our character.
We see a principle.
“Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). The Bible principle is that we are not to give up anything we have to the devil. Paul was saying, “Don’t give him the keys to your house, the deed of trust to your real estate, and claim over your life.” Our repeated statement we must make to the devil is, “You can’t have it!’ Don’t give the devil the opportunity to ruin you. Don’t give him control or ownership. First, dedicate your life to Christ in accordance with Romans 12:1-2. This means to present your bodies a living sacrifice to God’s will. Second, let Christ be Lord over all your possessions. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). Make sure that you honor the Lord with your substance and with firstfruits of all your increase. Third, give your marriage and children to the Lord. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Don’t give the devil one inch, one second, or one opportunity to steal from you.
We see the practice.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Resist” means to give pushback. It means to put up a fight. It means to hold firmly to something and not give up. Tell the devil, “You can’t have it.” The moment the devil makes an encroachment against you, slap him on the hand and say, “You can’t have it.” The moment an evil thought or desire enters your mind and heart, slam the door to your thoughts shut, and tell the devil, “You can’t come in.” Don’t be intimidated by words, worry, or wrath. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Resist the devil by getting on your knees and praying. James said, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Ask God for resilience and steadfastness. Ask God to insulate you from Satan’s attacks. God promises to make a way for us to escape by being able to bear it. Just tell the devil, “You can’t have it!”
Have a steadfast God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 7-8