Vacancy or No Vacancy

Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other
spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Hotels and motels have a neon sign that says Vacancy or No Vacancy and with the flip of a switch. everyone knows if there is an empty room. The same is the same with our heart. Vacancy/No Vacancy, Empty/Full, Lord/Devil. The Bible says that bitter and sweet water cannot come from the same fountain. A tree cannot bear more than one kind of fruit.

This scripture likens our spiritual condition to a room that is empty or full. Before we were saved Satan had full control of our heart; we were headed to hell. There was No Vacancy and we were lost without the Savior. In order to take sin out of my heart, Jesus gave all, the ultimate sacrifice. When the Savior comes into our heart, the devil has no business there. Satan is dethroned when Jesus comes into the house.

Satan is used to controlling and feels right at home in our life and didn't like when he was kicked off and we were set free. We are saved but find ourselves vulnerable to Satan. Things happen and our house empties somewhat. It changes, deteriorates, and runs down. Just like an empty house in the yard–no matter how ornate or well kept it is, if left empty something will move in–something undesirable. No dwelling place should or will stay empty. Something will fill it. The devil is watching; he is mad.

The Lord has given us something to replace the emptiness. He gave us the privilege of prayer. Before salvation no prayer was heard. Now we can pray. Jesus has made us whole; He completely met and filled all the places. His very presence is there; He moved in and filled us with his pureness, his wholeness.

BUT NOW

Quit praying? Is there a room empty, the room of prayer. What is replacing it? Without seeking God what do you seek now? Something will move in. Jesus needs to occupy the room of prayer. Is the room of faith being vacated? Is doubt and defeat moving in? When we lose sight of God, the devil will bring discouragement back into the room. Living like you should? Serving the Lord like you should? Is the righteousness being replaced with worldliness. What other things mean more? What were our gods wait to re-enter. The Lord told us thou shall have no other gods before me. He wasn't saying this just because He's jealous. He knows what other gods can do to us. He sees the danger.

Any absence in one's relationship with God creates a vacancy. When we get slack in our prayer life or weak in the faith, the devil sees a vacancy and is quicker than we think to fill it. We all have down times; we get lazy. We must pick up. Don't let absences become vacancies. Satan is never satisfied that we got saved. We must pray and keep the faith; we cannot profess and not possess. The devil will get us. Keep the Lord in or the devil is back in.

We have more empty spots than we realize. We cruise along and assume everything is all right. We come to church and pray. But the devil pulls in the driveway. When he knocks on the door will he find a spot once occupied by God vacated? He will come in. We wake one day and there he is. Don't show Jesus the door. We need Him from the attic to the basement of our house. Vacancy or No Vacancy? Is there a spot that Jesus is not occupying? Open the door and be complete with His entry. Let's be filled with the fullness of God.

Give the devil a No Vacancy sign!