Trapped? (2)
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This weekend our community celebrated Trapper’s Days - a throw back to the roots of our community when Lancaster Lupton set up the Fort here as a place for trading between incoming settlers, trappers and Native Americans. Mostly Buffalo Hides and Beaver pelts. It was one of the forts along the Platte River between Wyoming and Santa Fe.
Trapping is someone non existent unless predators and pests are being sought after - but for centuries, even millennia, it was the way people provided clothing, blankets, shelter and food for their families. Even back to Bible days.
The common trap was a snare trap, which basically was a piece of rope or wire that when stepped into pulled tight trapping an animal and often cutting into its flesh until the animal died as it was kept from getting food and water or would bleed out. Today, we do not view snares as very humane ways of hunting as the recipient of the snare is tormented and caused much pain.
In more recent years the snare became more of the claw traps that snapped on the leg of an animal.
All in all, a snare was painful - it was either put along side the road where animals may have traveled, but the most effective had bait to lure in the animal to be caught.
Scripture has a lot to say about the snare or the trap — in Bible times it was often used to catch birds/ fowl. It was generally a deadly situation. Scripture speaks in regards to our enemies setting traps for us, basically the enemy of our soul - Satan and his demonic forces in the world.
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
26 for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
This morning I want to spend a few minutes talking about avoiding the trap, getting out of the trap, staying out of the trap!
1. Resist the Bait
1. Resist the Bait
The first thing to look at today, is the danger of temptation!!!!
Temptation is the bait that lures us to the trap of sin!
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
The devil knows what bait to use in your life to tempt you --- what your weaknesses are -
Drinking and drugs to forget pain or create a high
Lust of the opposite sex, or the same sex to bring you fleshly fulfillment
Greed for money to possess more, to take what is not ours or lust for things
The devil will lay a trap for our souls to entice us make ourselves feel better.
The devil will create trouble, discomfort or boredom so he can lure us into making ourselves feel better, or feel entitled to partake of these temptations, justifying our engagement in what we know is sinful before God...
Timothy talks about the fact that the wealthy are at a greater danger to be entrapped by the sin of this world --- we today as Americans all run this risk. Even the poor in our communities have so much more than the well off in many other countries. This gives a sense of false pride, hope and expectation of what we can “take part” of in life - leading many down a pathway of temptation into sin that snares us.
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Our American dream puts us in even greater danger of falling into the devil’s snares because we live in a society that tells us we can have whatever we want - we sacrifice our time and pursuit of God for time and pursuit with the world and its offerings, or to have more.
This is all a trap of Satan to bait us into lusting after the things in this world be that pleasure, entertainment, possession, power, or escape from pain when we do not attain.
8 The wicked walk into a net. They fall into a pit.
9 A trap grabs them by the heel. A snare holds them tight.
10 A noose lies hidden on the ground. A rope is stretched across their path.
BUT
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
We can avoid the bait of Satan to lure us into temptation...
Don’t take your wisdom from this world...
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
There are many philosophies and ideas that this world tries to pump our heads full of for the popular way to live and embrace life --- but it is foolishness. Following Christ is COUNTER CULTURAL, but leads to SAFETY!
We also need to stay away from those that will influence us to pursue the riches and pleasure of this world… be a smart bird and see the trap that is being set...
15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.
16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
The world is ambushing itself because of its sinful pursuits --- be WISE in the LORD and see the destruction they lay out for themselves and stay away from their paths!
2. Cut Off the Offending Part
2. Cut Off the Offending Part
OK, this next point is not an easy one to accept, but is actually quite needed. How do we escape the traps ensnaring us…?
It is the unwillingness of many to do this that bring them into the snare over and over again, then calling out to the Lord to free them, only to run right back to the snare!
There are influences, things and people, that will always cause us to stumble.
Listen to Jesus words about this...
27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’
28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.
8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
Not on 1 0 but on 2 OCCASSIONS JESUS TEACHES US TO CUT OFF THAT WHICH CAUSES US TO SIN!!!
NOW,
Before you start handicapping yourselves and making yourselves go blind...
There are other steps that can be taken first!!!
Let me start by saying, an animal caught in a trap will often chew the limb off to be free and live!!!
Sometimes we have to get rid of things that hurt because they always lead us to be enslaved...
For some that is their phone or computer, or a toxic person in their life that always encourages them to go wayward into sinful choices.
It could be a place we go to visit, or things that we do...
I once knew a person who gave up golf because they became so angry and would curse and become violent if they did not perform the way they wanted to - they realized the game was not helping their behavior and attitude.
For others, getting on a computer leads them to search for sexual fulfillment
Some people in our lives always lead us to the bars and drunkeness which leads us into other behaviors not pleasing to God!
IF SOMETHING CAUSES YOU TO SIN - GET RID OF IT...
Years ago I heard a sermon about building HIGH TOWERS or BOUNDARIES in our life that keep us from areas of weakness.
In the church - especially Pentecostal churches we would create these high boundaries and impose them on all - so many saw that as being legalistic. Not everyone is tempted to drink, or do drugs or commit sexual adultery or fornication as readily as others...
What we have to be aware of is what are our trigger points and deal with them!!!! I know men who don’t carry smartphones or use computers because the temptations are too great, they have not learned accountability or discipline.
Likewise women, may need to stay away from soap operas that leave them longing for a romance that is not real, but that they feel entitled to...
Once again, the people in our lives that we spend our time with - are the influencing us for good or for bad???
Some things are better to cut out of our lives than to bring us down...
(There may be family members that we have - I am not saying to cut them out, but we may need to limit and have high boundaries on our interactions)
The Lord gave many warnings to the Nation of Israel about their interaction and participation with the pagan peoples in the lands they would enter, knowing that they would be tempted to embrace their lifestyles of unholiness...
It is still an issue today...
12 “Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.
13 Instead, you must break down their pagan altars, smash their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles.
14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
Listen to the truth to come to your senses and escape the devil’s trap!!!
3. Abide in Safe Places
3. Abide in Safe Places
What is a good solution to help us stay in safe places, that is to abide in CHRIST!!!
Back to our opening Psalm...
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Live under the shelter of the Most High!!!
Allow Him to cover you with His feathers...
A picture of a mother bird protecting her young under her wing ---
The best way to be safe from temptation is to live away from it… to live life on the ROCK or in the FORTRESS OF CHRIST
Interesting our community is named for a FORT --- a fort is a fortified place of safety from invaders!!!
2 Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.
3 You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.
5 I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.
HOW IS THIS DONE???
Jesus taught us in
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
We have to choose to live in the presence of God, in communion with the Lord through prayer, praise, the Word of God and in fellowship with HIS CHURCH!!!
By remaining in Christ we are strengthened, by being in the community of Christ, the CHURCH, we are encouraged and fed.
This is why the Word of God refers to the devil as a roaring lion,
A lion seeks to isolate his prey from the herd or the flock so he can move in for the attack when they are isolated and alone.
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
God’s intent is for you to remain in Him and in fellowship with the COMMUNITY OF FAITH as we discussed last week.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
A godly friend will help you to be sharp against the attacks of the evil one!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
So in concluding today,
The Lord wants you to avoid taking the bait, to recognize where your temptations come from, and to be alert to the luring and deceit of the devil … prepare yourself in advance against temptation --- have an escape plan ready and follow it!!! Determine in advance what you will not do!
Cut off the things the make you weak and lead you into being ensnared. Places, people, behaviors, things you do - that cause you to sin and become entangled again.
Dwell in a safe place, remain in Christ and with His people who will help fortify and strengthen you to be in His presence doing right, not being led into the traps of Satan.
As we keep our eyes on Jesus, He will keep us safe from the traps - HE IS OUR FORTRESS...
15 My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.