The following is a transcript from a recent message given on July 1st, 2015
- Series Title: Why
- Sermon Title: The Snare of the Devil
- Text: 2 Timothy Chapter 2
Skandalon' - Cause for error, Offense, putting a negative cause-effect relationship into motion. It is to be trapped or caught by your own devices. Carnal Thinking. Paul loves this word Snare. He knew the enemy was on the loose and wanted to trap God's people.
“1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ[c] depart from iniquity.”
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 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.”
Introduction: Paul is writing to Timothy (his son in the ministry) while imprisoned in Rome. Paul is about to be sentenced to death. This may be his last letter as an apostle, so Paul wanted to make sure Timothy was prepared for perilous times.
(65 AD - 68 AD)
In this text, Paul gives us some serious warnings about how we must live, some practical advice on what is important and how we are to conduct ourselves, and in closing reminds us of the purpose we have in front of us.
Sometimes the answer to the question "WHY" might be that someone has been caught by the snare of the devil.
“22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 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.”
I. Call to Purity
The word "lusts" in the Greek is epithumai' and it means passionate desires and cravings. Not all desires are natural, some are sinful regardless of how much passion is behind those desires.
“-Paul gives Timothy a similar warning
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer”
A. We have abandoned the voice of the Spirit. (Religion)
B. We have abandoned God's word. (Rebellion)
“2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
“The wicked shall be turned into hell,
And all the nations that forget God.”
“26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
C. We have abandoned God's love. (Racism)
In verse 3 he says, "forbidding to marry". The word forbid there actually means to dwarf or make smaller.
Youthful lusts include:
· The desires of the eye: youth desire to have and possess. This is normal, but can lead to lust for possessions and people.
· The desires of the flesh - We all desire companionship and the attraction to the opposite Sex is normal and is supposed to lead to marriage and carrying on the human race. However, the normal desire can lead to illicit sex, pedophilia, and yes homosexual behavior.
· The desire for acceptance. Youth long to fit in, but this can cause them to make bad decisions.
· The desire to achieve: Youth want to be successful, but the desire can lead them to manipulate other people and compromise their values for that success.
· The desire for recognition: Youth desire for affirmation and if they don't get what they want, this need can cause them to embrace that Spirit of Rejection or the opposite, PRIDE.
· The desire for instant change. They are excited and eager which is natural, but can cause them to hurt others and disrupt the peace of others.
· The desire to be Original: This is also normal, but when out of balance can lead to shortcuts and a critical spirit can manifest itself in the life of a youth.
“3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
How do we obtain this Purity?
· Pursue
· Righteousness
· Faith
· Love
· Peace (with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart).
II. Call to Patience
“23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,”
Gentle (epion'): kind, reasonable, considerate, soft, and tender.
We must not waste our time with foolish, stubborn, ignorant speculations, theories, man made opinions, or ideas of men.
I'm afraid that we have so focused on the debate, that we have forgotten deliverance.
“3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”
“13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
“17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
III. Call to Purpose
“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.”
What is the Snare of the Devil? It is a trap that the enemy has set for God's children. If he can minimize God and his standards through our Pride and Hatefulness, it will be easy to push his agenda on the lost world.
A. Stand for Truth in a Spirit of Meekness
A meek approach is what leads someone to repentance.
Arguing, Fighting, and Hatefulness doesn't work.
B. Stand for Love in a Spirit of Truth
The truth is what sets people free.
C. Stand for Jesus when no one else will
“3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
They will progress no further.
“12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”