In America there has been an explosion of squatters coming in and taking over people’s homes. Essentially, if you want something that your neighbor has, including their home, you can take it in our society.
One squatter in Detroit shared her story, saying she was encouraged by other people to squat. She also has no intentions of moving out of the home because she’s “put a lot of work in here and spent a lot of money,” even calling herself “blessed” for stealing the neighbor’s electricity.
What if this increase of squatting is deeper than an issue in the physical, but is actually a reflection of a spiritual reality?
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Grace For Purpose draws this comparison between the uptick of squatters and demons coming to occupy a person.
“Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, consecrated to God and sacred,” the video says. “So just as a squatter has no real legal right to possess a home they don’t own, a demon has no right to possess or squat on a Christian who is filled with the Holy Ghost.”
Squatters have no more right to our homes than a demon does to try to park itself in us as temples of the Holy Spirit. However, demons will still try to oppress and torment Christians, desiring to return to its former home.
Matthew 12: 43-45 reads:
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.
Evil spirits will try to find their way back into the place they left, and they will bring their friends along with them. That’s why it’s critical after deliverance that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit and fills themselves with the Word of God, sticking close to the truth.
Grace For Purpose says that if we become too preoccupied and busy with our own lives and start to neglect life with God, we can ultimately neglect the home of our spirit, allowing spiritual squatters to take up residence.
“They have no right to be there. They have no claim to ownership, but they persist in their attempt to make the space their own by the simple act of not leaving,” the video says of squatters. “Demons work the same way in the spirit realm, trying to overtake the sacred Christian soul. They thrive on darkness, feed on fear, chaos and doubt, and slowly drive the joy and peace far from the believer.”
Perhaps you haven’t experienced a squatter living in your home, but these tumultuous emotions are ones you most likely have encountered. There’s a reason Scripture says that we are not in a battle against flesh and blood, but of powers and principalities.
Remember to put on your whole armor of God. The devil is seeking to devour anyone he can like a hungry lion. However, the Holy Spirit who lives within you in you is much greater than the enemy.
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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.
