Escaping the Devil’s Trap
Escaping the Devil's Trap • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 340 viewsOffence is the trap set by the devil to provoke dissension and division in the church of Jesus. This series looks at how this happens and how we can be free from the Devil's trap.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Hi Calvary! While it feels strange not to be doing this in person, it is still January and so I want to wish you all a happy New Year in expectation of the great things that God has in store for His church! My message this morning is really important as we start this New Year. My hope and prayer is that as a church we can escape the Trap the Devil has set for us and excel in the Ministry of Reconciliation which God has given to each and everyone of us. Please know that I am preaching this to myself as much as to all of you. Let’s pray as we look into God’s Word for us today.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, I ask for you to have your way in me, for you to have your way in this church, Your church. I ask that your people would be open to receiving what you have for us today. Please use me as an willing vessel and I pray for us as Your body that you would help us to avoid this trap the Devil has set for us. Amen.
Catching Monkeys
Catching Monkeys
In many places where monkeys are caught, it is said that all you need to do is two things: first, put some bait in a cage or container and second, make sure it is accessible through a small hole just big enough to fit the monkey’s open hand but not big enough to let its closed fist pass. The monkey will insert its hand, latch onto the bait and struggle to get its hand out, and even though the hunter is coming – even with nothing actually holding its hand in the trap except the desire to keep the prized bait – it will not let go of the bait to free itself from the impending mortal danger.
The following You Tube video from a Singapore channel titled “Experiment Tools” shows this fact playing out.
This image is so appropriate to illustrate what I want to share with you from God’s Word today. Did you notice how the monkey kept struggling and struggling but when that boy gently convinced it to let go, the monkey finally lets go and its hand is freed? In this case, the monkey latches onto its “savior” and follows him.
Skandalon
Skandalon
There is a trap just like this which easily and regularly entices, ensnares and scandalizes God’s people. It’s the trap of the Devil described by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 and elsewhere.
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Paul seems to suggest that those who are in the devil’s trap don’t realize it. When we hold onto offence, we leave a foot in the devil’s door allowing him to do his work in our lives. Today we are going to talk about what this trap is and how we can live freed from it.
Luke 17:1 says this: “It is impossible that no offences should come…” (NKJV). The word translated as “offences” in the NKJV is the Greek word skandalon and the BDAG Lexicon gives the following three possible meanings:
A device for catching something alive (a trap)
An action or circumstance that leads one to act contrary to a proper course of action or set of beliefs (temptation to sin, enticement to apostasy)
That which causes offense or revulsion and results in opposition, disapproval, or hostility
Taking these together, skandalon represents a trapping device which leads one to act contrary to the proper course of action, causing offence which ultimately results in hostility or discord. (repeat)
I want to make this clear: this is not about who is right or who is in the right or wrong, but its about how we deal with situations when we have been wronged, especially when we have been genuinely wronged.
The Last Days
The Last Days
Jesus tells us what the last days would be like and His description seems like a prophetic characterization of current day events and society in general. He talks about some things that have already happened, some things that are about to happen and some things that are yet future, but I believe that what He describes in Matthew 24:10-13 can be taken as a four step progression which is universally applicable and helpful for us to understand what happens to us when we become ensnared by taking hold of offence.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Step 1: An offence has the potential to create an open wound
Step 1: An offence has the potential to create an open wound
The first step is that an offence has the potential to open a wound, and open wounds that are not taken care of fester and do not heal and can even result in our death! As we saw from Luke 17:1, offences are guaranteed to come, so we must become skilled and strengthened in order to resolve them without getting cut. If we have not become strengthened to entrusting our lives into God’s hands, we are more easily injured. For those who are stronger in faith, it takes a lot more to cause injury. The goal is to be so strengthened that no offence can injure us.
God allows offences in order to test our faith. They help show where we have placed our trust and help us to develop perseverence. However, if our trust is in the things of this world, then we will fight to protect our self interests. Strong cities are built with impenetrable walls of protection to keep the unwanted out. In the same way, the offended person tends to put up walls of protection (Prov 18:19) and the closer the person is to you, the deeper is the potential wound (Ps 55:12-14).
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.
How did Jesus respond to Judas knowing that he was a devil (Jesus’ own words), often stole from the money bag and was using Jesus purely for his own monetary gain?
If an offence is not properly dealt with, the progression that occurs next is betrayal.
Step 2: Betrayal (a reactive coping mechanism)
Step 2: Betrayal (a reactive coping mechanism)
Betrayal is an instinctive reaction to injury, activated to cope and protect onesself. It is the seeking of one’s own benefit at the expense of the other.
Betrayal shows itself through gossip and slander and it is often directed at the one who caused the offence. All too frequently, many listen to slander and confirm the wrongs done to us and bitterness begins to take its root and spread.
Through this affirmation process, betrayal matures into the next progression which is hatred.
Step 3: Hatred (disassociation with the person, absence of love)
Step 3: Hatred (disassociation with the person, absence of love)
Jesus says that because of the increase in lawless behaviour (that is, those acting contrary to God’s ways), the love (agape — selfless love) of many will grow cold. This natural progression in the presense of many offences results in widespread hardening of hearts. Many (not some, but many!) who claim to be Christians will harden their hearts in the last days. This same result can occur even from one offence.
What is hatred? John states that hatred is the same as murder: 1 John 3:15.
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Like a shadow is the absence of light, so also hatred can be understood as the devoid of love. Think about that…devoid of love. Therefore, to do nothing can be an act of hatred. It is not only about doing harm, but also avoiding the person altogether. The offended person withdraws altogether and may say nothing good or bad about the person. They want nothing to do with them.
Step 4: Deception
Step 4: Deception
Finally, it is in the state of being “devoid of (agape) love” that the offended person is the breeding ground for deception. A ‘friend’ at church says “maybe God didn’t choose the spouse you have and instead He chose this other one.” Instead of dealing with things in God’s way, they begin to follow ideas that tickle their ears. In the last days, this results in people looking for and accepting a false Messiah; but in individual instances, it keeps the offended individual from receiving the truth that can heal them.
It's Affecting those in the Church
It's Affecting those in the Church
How does this progression refer to those in the church? Think about each of the progressions:
They are ‘scandalizo’ (offended, tempted to fall away from the faith — what are they falling away from if they are unbelievers?)
They are betraying their family and/or Christian brothers and sisters to public slander and/or redicule or to the authorities (or what else could this mean?)
Their “agape” (selfless love) grows cold (and hate = murder) because of the increase in lawless behaviour (who else could this be referring to?)
They can be led into deception (where were they before?)
In 2 Tim 3:1-5, Paul describes this same state of affairs in the last days (which really describes the time from the beginning of the church to today), but in many ways seems eerily pertinent to the things happening around us as I speak.
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
‘Having a form of godliness but denying its power’ is speaking about those claiming to follow Christ. This is a scary condition to be in. Consider also the fact that when God highlights the things He hates, He doesn’t list many of the things normally expected (Prov 6:16-19).
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Friends, consider in this list that lying is mentioned twice as well as a person who stirs up conflict in the community! Divisions and conflict, James said, come from our selfish desires…we want and we do not get. While Jesus said things like ‘He came not to bring peace but a sword, dividing the members of a family from each other,’ the division He brings is because of the stumbling block of the gospel message, not because of holding onto personal offences. It is easy to point our fingers at the world’s sins and whatever we consider the big ones (adultery, homosexuality, etc.), and while these sins are related, lying, spreading false accusations and causing discord top the list as some of the most serious matters.
If we treated slander like adultery or murder, perhaps there would be a revival in the church!!
Escaping the Devil’s Trap: The Solution
Escaping the Devil’s Trap: The Solution
Remember This is a Spiritual Battle
Remember This is a Spiritual Battle
In dealing with this trap of the Devil, the first thing we must recognize is that this battle is not about people, mere flesh and blood, but it is against arguments, a lack of trust in God’s justice and timing, pretensions erected as walls between us and the knowledge of God and spiritual forces arrayed against God’s kingdom. Recall 2 Cor 10:4-5 —
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Increase our Faith!!
Increase our Faith!!
Jesus did many things that were miraculous such as walking on water, stilling the wind and waves, making a fig tree wither, healing the blind and lame, casting out demons, raising the dead and in none of these cases do the disciples ever respond with, “Increase our faith!!” But in Luke 17:3-5, Jesus says that if a brother sins against us 7 times in a day and each time repents, we must forgive them and this is what results in the disciples exclaiming in shock, “Increase our faith!!” To paraphrase Jesus’ response to their bewilderment… “This is basic stuff guys.” In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks if he should forgive up to seven times (as if to suggest there is a limit), and Jesus’ response is “no, but I tell you up to seventy times seven!” In other words, we are to reflect the way in which God forgives.
So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Remember what Jesus taught the disciples to pray (Mark 11:25)?
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
In case you are not yet convinced, this statement by Jesus in Matt 6:14-15.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Wait…Isn’t Forgiveness Conditional??
Wait…Isn’t Forgiveness Conditional??
However, clearly Jesus doesn’t forgive everyone, right? Or everyone would be in heaven? Actually, the way this works is that Jesus forgave us all while we were yet in our sin. Forgiveness is NOT conditional. Jesus paid for the sin of every person who ends up in Hell! In summary, it’s a universal unconditional atonement, but conditional reconciliation based on repentance and faith. It’s just like a prepaid gift card provided for every single person, but only those who accept it and cash it in (present it as the reason for their entry) escape judgment. Put yet another way, forgiveness is unconditionally offered but conditionally applied to one’s account.
Follow Matthew 18 Religiously
Follow Matthew 18 Religiously
So in Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus explains how we should deal with offences. If there was a time to be religious, now this is the time! Follow this process religiously.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Don’t skip a step. Give the person some time at each step. The purpose is initially to keep the matter between the two of you so that the person is not shamed. Don’t tell a pastor or an elder…go talk directly with the person who offended you. This isn’t an opportunity to verbally abuse the person, to read them the riot act. Your manner should be governed by love and a desire to reconcile. The second step is to take one or two others who are mature in the faith so they can establish the facts and help bring reconciliation. The final step is to bring it
Further to this, Matt 5:23-24 says —
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Therefore, if someone offends you, first go to them and if you realize you have offended someone, go to them. In both cases…go.
We Have Been Given the Ministry of Reconciliation
We Have Been Given the Ministry of Reconciliation
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In Summary
In Summary
Offence is the trap the devil uses to ensnare you to do his bidding. Harboring an offence is sin. Let it go.
If not dealt with, offence will progress to betrayal, then to hatred (and no one who hates their brother knows God), and you will be a breeding ground for deception.
If someone offends you, follow Matthew 18:15-20 religiously. If you remember you have offended someone and haven’t reconciled, go to them and be reconciled. In both cases…go.
We are commissioned as Ministers of Reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18)
Forgiveness is unconditionally offered; reconciliation is conditioned upon repentance and faith.
Forgiveness is unconditionally offered; reconciliation is conditioned upon repentance and faith.
Question: is there someone you have been offended by that you need to gently confront? Is there someone who you haven’t reconciled with whom you have offended? Calvary, be reconciled. For the love of God, don’t wait.