Place to the Devil

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil."

Pastor had a great sermon today and in it, had a great illustration.
Using the verse above he says this:

Did you know that some people actually have like a doghouse built for the devil at their house?

The dictionary says this:
Place: the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything

So seriously, some people let the devil in so often at their house that he basically has his own place at their place. Some people even landscape around the devil's house and take good care of it, making the devil very comfortable in hanging around and keeping residence there.

Whoa.....how scary is that? The Word says...DO NOT GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL....have we? Or are we safeguarding our home, staying in the Word, filling up with the Holy Spirit and not leaving any space for the devil to occupy?

Very interesting thought.....

I think I'm gonna go knock down the doghouse in our back yard that the devil put up when my guard was down. Better yet, I'm going to get my Dad's sledgehammer. And while I do it...I will be yelling the Word of the Lord...casting out all evil and showing the devil just who is boss around here..it ain't him. And I will do so by the authority of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:10 "Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Luke 10:17-20 "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”


Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. "

Mark 16: 15-18 "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”