Matthew 12:43-45 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.
In the story when the evil spirit is kicked out he simply goes around looking for a place to rest. When he doesn’t find one he returns. He finds the old heart where he was, cleaned, swept out, and ready for habitation. He goes and finds 7 other spirits even more wicked than him. He brings them and they all take possession of the man’s heart.
We often think that if we can just quit sinning or break the habit we will have victory. But quitting is just a recipe for more disaster. Instead of quitting we must replace.
If you were to get the devil and sin out of your life you would still not have victory. It would only be a matter of time before the old sin comes back stronger than ever. Maybe that sin will not be what captivates you but another will.
So the answer is that the Holy Spirit take up residence where the old spirits were. The answer is that you replace your sinful habits with spiritual practices. This is taught clearly in Ephesians 4:25-30. We are to put off and replace.
As Christians that seek victory don’t try to stop rather replace. Put off the old and put on the new.
If you have a recurring sin problem I challenge you to replace it with something greater. Change places you go. Change the way you think.
Get busy in something superior and you will not want to return to the inferior.
