Trapped

Surely the most dangerous period of our life is between late teens and early adulthood. We are experimenting with and developing our personality. This is often the time Satan sets his traps. Drugs, alcohol, hatred, sexual promiscuity, pride, materialism, laziness, and manipulation of others can lead us away from God. As we are at the most vulnerable, it is important that we seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. Through DBS&P daily Bible study and prayer we allow the Holy Spirit to work inside of us to protect us from evil. Without Him we are left wide open to the Satan’s schemes.

  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.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 NKJV  We see others engaged in immoral behaviors and assume that they are safe, but they are not. Anything that leads us away from God is destructive to our soul. “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Mark 10:23-27 NKJV

If we walk with the world, our spiritual life will be like walking on sharp rocks barefoot – sore, painful, and bleeding. Participating in unprincipled behaviors prevent us from a sound relationship with God. This conduct blocks out the Holy Spirit from our lives and blocks our prayers so, if we falter in spiritual matters, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV  The world and the lust thereof is a trap. We are in the world, but we are not to be of the world. Our citizenship is in heaven.

  The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25 NKJV  The fear of men or particularly church leaders, has made many pastors compromise their message. Unwilling to step on someone’s toes, they deviate from the full Gospel. A pastor who stands firm in his faith will not be spoken well of by all men, and will not compromise his position with the elite.  If we fear the Lord we have no reason to fear what man can do to us. Regardless of the consequences, our faith should overcome. There are so many stories in the Bible where faith is more powerful than fear. There was David versus Goliath, the young shepherd who killed a giant. Also, Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into a fiery furnace but exited unscathed, to the glory of God Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:26,28 NKJV

Satan’s fall from grace came from pride. He placed his will above the will of God. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19 NKJV I know what you are thinking. How crazy is it that the created men could possibly place himself above the Creator? We do it every day. We place our desires and lusts in front of God’s will, preventing Him from blessing us.  An obedient child receives favor from the parents. A disobedient child receives the parent’s scorn.  To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.  They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:15-16 NIV  They are an open wound that festers to infection with age, and if left untreated leads to death.

  No matter what road we have to cross in life, no matter what happens to us in a single instant, or on a daily basis, no matter what pain, suffering, or catastrophe we endure, everything will be okay, because …God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we can be like Jesus.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:16-19 NIV And with this I want you to know that I love you, because Jesus Christ loved me first, and if He can love a worthless bum like me, it is easy for me to love someone as wonderful as you. Now is the time we awaken from your stupor. Now is the time for  salvation. The night is gone, the day is at hand, so let us do away with the works of evil. Let us put on the armor of light. Let’s walk according to the will of God, being obedient in all things so as not to make provision for the lusts of this world but clothe ourselves with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.