Matthew 12:43-45
43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
During a recent conversation this verse was used in relation to unclean sins (adultery, fornication, porn addictions, etc…) among believers. I’d never considered these verses in relation to sin and spiritual warfare. I always thought these verses referred to demon possession, which I dismissed as something believers wouldn’t have to worry about, only be aware of. However, this new interpretation has severe implications to the body of Christ, specifically with regards to how certain sins are dealt with (deliverance and recovery). Now it’s not enough to be delivered of a sin. The void, which was previously filled by sin, has to be filled by something else or else things could get much worse. This something else must be the Holy Spirit. The question is how to fill this void with the Holy Spirit.
The problem is this void was initially not created by the symptom (addiction), but was created by an unmet need, most likely early on in life, which took a dark turn. Our flesh will tend to find what it perceives as the quickest route to medicating pain (emotional or physical). So we see that the approach pastors like Mark Driscoll (and most pastors) take with addiction does more harm than good. It’s like telling a junkie to stop taking drugs because they may get AIDS or die if they don’t stop. You can’t reason with a junkie!! What can you do? Well you can love on a junkie. You can pray for a junkie. You can even take away their drugs. What typically happens after a junkie gets clean? They may stay clean for a while, but once life gets to them again, once they feel that darkness and pain creeping up on them, what seems to always happen? They get back on the drugs. “As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.” Proverbs 26:11. However, how often have I committed folly? Haven’t we all acted foolishly at one time of another? How many times have I returned to my vomit?
A dear friend of mine and brother in Christ is consumed with conspiracy theories. He’s allowed himself to be intrigued and taken in by people who themselves are consumed. He reads books and researches articles online trying to find that secret knowledge that only a few supposedly know. This secret, or select, knowledge is that Satan and his dark ilk are behind many, if not all, bad things which happen around the world. Without getting too much into what he believes, I’ll just state that I don’t necessarily disagree with my friends findings. The bible states that we contend with the dark powers of this world and not flesh and blood. What I have trouble with is how much it consumes him. I see this as a “void-filler” and I believe these void fillers are many and varied and spiritual. Further these “void-fillers” become increasingly more difficult to move away from the longer we remained imprisoned by them.
These verses show us that there is a way out. There is a way to be set free from our prisons. Jesus has bought this path for us. However, for some reason it’s not as easy as flipping a switch. These verses are powerful and to me they seem to indicate it’s so easy to be more than a conqueror. However, if we’re all honest with ourselves it’s not easy at all, at least not most of the time. God prefers patience, prayer and a striving for true holiness. Still, as believers, this is not an excuse to allow sin to reign in our bodies.
Unfortunately there is no easy fix. Prayer, reading the bible, real transparent fellowship/service and accountability are the best tools we have to combat the effects of sin. However, the scariest and most effective weapon is truly and deeply trusting in God and fervently seeking a real and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. If I’m honest with myself, however, this is very difficult for me. It’s much easier for me to seek out relationships with tangible flesh and blood people. While God calls us to be in relationship with people, no one, other than Jesus Christ, has the answers to our voids. I believe that if we truly knew God and trusted Him completely we wouldn’t struggle with sin nearly as much.
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