How to Avoid a Trap

As we are nearing the end of our series on the Life of Christ. This has been a two year journey exploring the life and ministry of Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Last week we explored this idea of being a good steward of our lives.

We ask the questions:

Do I see myself as and owner as a steward?

we also asked

Does Christ see me as good steward of my life?

Today we will approach a teaching that is not separate from this idea but is connected to it.

How do I avoid a trap and avoid being a trap? Lets look at this passage together.

Luke 17:1–4 CSB

1 He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Now before we get any further I want to point out to you that the word translated as “offense” is the same word for “trap”. So in other words, Jesus is giving them a warning to look out for these traps.

So today I am going to show you how to avoid being caught in a trap.

Many of you know that I love the outdoors. I love adventure trips of the beaten path. Where most people love trails, I love to avoid trails. With that love comes the necessity of learning old skills. While I have actually never set a trapline, which seems like something that needs to change. I have watched a lot of vids on this subject. I want to show you is old one. Now by the looks of it I would guess it was filmed in the 80’s but its very practical.

This is a clip on how to set a snare to catch a fox.

Cue Video #1

The first thing that I want you to see is there is

#1 Traps are Set Intentionally.

Did you notice in the clip the trapper had a plan. In order to catch his prey. He had to know his prey. There is an intelligence and intentionality behind the setting of the trap. Peter stated it this way. In fact all traps set by the enemy are intentional.

1 Peter 5:8 CSB

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

The next thing I want you to notice from the video, is....

# 2 Traps are placed strategically.

Notice that the trapper didn’t place a trap outside of the normal pattern of travel for the fox and then try to lure him away. Instead, the trap was placed strategically along the foxes normal path. The trap was set in the place where the fox was most comfortable and felt protected.

As Christians and faithful church members we expect to be tempted out in the world. When we are living our life in the world but not of the world, we expect that outside the community of christ, traps and temptations are waiting. So we are often more guarded and aware.

So if the enemy was going to set a trap for a group of Christians where would be one of the best locations? The best place for a trap is the place we feel most comfortable and secure, the gathering or the church.

How often does the enemy do its best work not from without the church but from within the church?

#3 Traps often use previously caught prey to entice more prey into the trap.

Luke 17:1–3 CSB

1 He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Notice how the enemy sets a trap, then uses his victims as bait to set an even greater trap.

How many christian friendships, homes, and churches have been divided by a person who listened to the enemies words of discontentment, discouragement, doubt, anger or fear and then repeated the enemies same words to someone else.

The enemy sets a trap that keeps on trapping. I want to show you how this works. by showing you another video of a clever rat trap.

Watch this....

Cue Video #2

The trap wasn’t affective until at least one rat went inside. The rat itself became the bait.

As a human being it is nearly impossible to follow a path alone. If you ever have been on hiking trails one will see this truth perfectly. without fail every trail I have been on will always have a “unofficial” trail where someone has taken a shortcut. It took one person to leave the trail and yet that path he/she took become well worn by those following after him or her. The same is true in life. When you deviate from God’s plan others will follow.

The more rats that entered the more rats that entered. “if these people are discontent or fearful then I should be discontent or fearful.

There have been times in my ministry where someone would do or say something that would upset me. I would then bring that discontentment home. The next thing I know I am being grumpy with my spouse or kids. Then they become grumpy with each other. The trap keeps trapping.

Satan’s best traps operate this way. Especially in the life of the church. One person in which the enemy has sown the seed of sin begins to repeat the enemies lines. The trap is set into motion and before long many are caught.

The more rats entered the bucket the more angry and discontent the rats became. Yet not a single one of them was warning the others do not enter the bucket.

So then how do we avoid these traps?

#1 We steward our own hearts well.

This teaching is connected to last weeks text. Steward yourself well.

Proverbs 4:23 CSB

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Jesus said it this way.

Luke 17:3 (CSB)

3 Be on your guard....

#2 We rebuke those who would be used of the enemy as bait.

Jesus did he said,

Luke 17:1–2 CSB

1 He said to his disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

This is quite the rebuke. The consequence of being used by the enemy to trap God’s little one’s is devastating.

Because the consequence of not rebuking are so devastating, the devestation is the very reason why love demands we confront.

Paul when writing to Timothy a young elder in the church encouraged timothy this way.

2 Timothy 2:22–26 CSB

22 Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

#3 We learn to recognize traps through prayer, the word, and the holy spirit.

Proverbs 3:5–6 CSB

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 119:105 CSB

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

#4 We gently correct those who have been ensnared to avoid being ensnared ourselves.

2 Timothy 2:25–26 CSB

25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.