The Snares of the Devil
Tony Schachle
Bold as a Lion • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsI HATE THE DEVIL! It goes without saying, but sometimes it just needs to be said. We hate the devil because of who he is, what he stands for, and what he does to people’s lives. In our final sermon in the Bold as a Lion Series, we conclude the story of Gideon’s life by studying an example of how the devil set snares for Gideon. Gideon fell into the devil’s snares of (1) Conceit, (2) Counterfeit, and (3) Compromise. And the devil is still setting snares for us today trying to keep us in bondage. But we can escape the snares of the devil through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
Notes
Transcript
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
I Hate the Devil
I Hate Who the Devil Is
He is a fallen angel.
He is the prince of the power of the air.
He is the god of this age.
He is a liar and the father of lies.
He is a murderer from the beginning.
I Hate What the Devil Stands For
He stands for everything that is opposed to God.
He stands for rebellion.
He stands for evil.
He stands for corruption.
I Hate What the Devil Does to People
He torments.
He tempts.
He steals, kills, and destroys.
He destroys souls.
He destroys families.
He destroys relationships.
He destroys churches.
He accuses followers of Jesus day and night.
He blinds people to the truth.
He enslaves.
He ensnares. He traps. He binds. He takes souls captive.
The Snares of the Devil
24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
How the Devil Sets His Snares
Camouflage
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Bait
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Decoys
26 ‘For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares; They set a trap; They catch men.
12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
The Types of Snares the Devil Sets
The Snare of Conceit
Gideon got caught in a Snare of Conceit
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen. 11 Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt secure. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army. 13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Heres. 14 And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’ ” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. 18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.” 19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth. 21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.
Conceit is excessive pride in oneself.
In Chapter 8, we don’t find Gideon seeking God for guidance.
Gideon punished the people of Succoth and Penuel.
Retaliation | Retribution | Revenge
Competition
Application
The snare of conceit is a problem in the world and it is a problem in the church. So many people are puffed up in pride in themselves. They think they are the only one that has got it all figured out. They think they are the only one that is anointed of God. And their conceit, their puffed up pride, leads to competition against other people and against other churches. As a result, jealousy, envy, hatred, strife and all sorts of the works of the flesh come out and they manifest in retaliation and revenge. The next thing you know, the devil is sitting back watching the church fighting against itself and taking out its own members.
Instead of falling into the Snare of Conceit, why don’t we obey God’s Word and:
Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God?
Pray for one another?
Prefer one another?
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Turn the other cheek?
If someone compels you to go with them one mile, go two?
If someone takes your cloak, give them your coat also?
10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The Snare of Counterfeit
Gideon got caught in a Snare of Counterfeit
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” 24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
Gideon took the gold and spoils of war and made an ephod.
An ephod was a shirt|vest like garment worn by the high priest in Israel.
We are not told why Gideon decided to make this ephod.
Maybe it was because the Ark of the Covenant was in Shiloh (Ephraim) at that time and he wanted Manasseh to have something special too.
Or maybe he just wanted to have something to memorialize the great victory over the Midianites (Good Intention | Bad Decision).
Whatever the reason, he made a counterfeit of the true ephod that God ordained.
Application
There are many counterfeits to the true move of God in the church today. We have confused talent with anointing. We have confused the size of the congregation with God’s favor. Many churches have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. Many are giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Many are heaping up to themselves teachers having itching ears. Many are satisfied with a counterfeit Christianity because it makes them feel comfortable in their sin.
Instead of getting caught in the Snare of Counterfeit, why don’t we:
Seek for a true move of God?
Ask God for the baptism and fire of the Holy Spirit?
The Snare of Compromise
Gideon got caught in a Snare of Compromise
28 Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 Gideon had seventy sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 Now Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. 34 Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.
Gideon married multiple wives and 70 sons.
God warned the leaders of Israel not to marry multiple wives:
17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
King Solomon ignored this warning and paid the consequences:
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
The New Testament specifically prohibits polygamy:
2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
Gideon had a 71st son (Abimelech) through a relationship with a concubine.
In the next chapter, we read where Abimelech killed the 70 sons of Gideon in order to take over as leader.
Application
Compromise with sin always leads to destruction. It starts out as just one small sin. It seems insignificant. But that one small sin turns into a habit of small sins. And the small sins start turning into bigger sins. And today, progressive woke Christian churches refuse to address sin, refuse call it out, refuse to teach or preach against it, and refuse to talk about the necessity of repentance. But not only do many progressive woke churches ignore sin, excuse sin, or tolerate sin in the church, but they actually promote it.
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Instead of getting caught in the Snare of Compromise, why don’t we follow God’s Word:
Recognize the consequences of our sins.
Confess our sins.
Repent of our sins.
Crucify the flesh and its desires.
Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus.
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Escaping the Snares of the Devil
The best option is to avoid the snares of the devil.
But even if you get caught in one the snares of the devil, you can be set free.
Jesus Christ can set you free:
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
He Set Me Free
Once like a bird in prison I dwelt
No freedom from my sorrow, I felt
But Jesus came and listened to me
And glory to God, He set me free
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
CLOSING
CLOSING