In my previous blog I wrote on being trapped by the enemy. Now I will continue with living free from control of the enemy's clutches.
Have you ever owned a pet that escaped its cage or designated area in which it was contained? If you have, you know the frustration it can bring. First, you must locate the escaped animal; which, can take either a small or large amount of time. Sometimes you have to use some kind of bait to lure them back. Then, comes the retrieval. You must retrieve them in order to bring them back into captivity. And, more than likely, the last step would be to locate and fortify the weak spots of that cage or containment area.
When we escape out of the grimy hands of the enemy, he gets angry; and the enemy will take these same steps previously mentioned in an attempt to bring us back under his captivity.
He begins by searching.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
He's seeking people out to devour them. That means he is being diligent in his search for us.
And then begins the tempting.
James 1:13 13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
I appreciate how the writer of this scripture uses the word 'when' and not 'if'. “When” indicates that being tempted is a sure thing and WILL happen. We will all face temptation especially after we have begun a new or renewed relationship with Christ. The enemy is going to be working overtime to get you back into his control. That being said, this next verse will give us a bit of hope for the times we are tempted to sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
He reassures us that every temptation we will face has already been faced by man. We are not alone. And if THAT isn't enough encouragement, he goes on to tell us that God will not give us a load we cannot carry; AND He will always provide a way of escape so that we will be able to bear it! How awesome is that? Now that's a God who loves his people. So what is this way of escape? Well if you remember in my blog 'Overcoming Sin', I talked about how Paul revealed to his audience what a terrible person he had been. He wanted to obey God's laws but there was another factor inside of him which was making it impossible. Then, in the next chapter he begins to reveal the solution he had found to that problem--walking in the Spirit! This is the 'way of escape' God has provided for all of us! We cannot bear our burdens and our sins alone, but if we allow God to take control, He can bear it for us! We are weak but He is strong. He gives us the grace that we need in order to make it through the trying times in our lives. God’s help can show up in many forms: a person, a message, a song, a book, an angel, a vision, a dream, a promise, ect. He gives us what we need at the time to make it through.
And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”
When God made a way of escape for Lot and his family, the Lord told His angels to command them not to look back or become stagnant or else they would be destroyed by what was coming. He told them to escape for their lives! If you were in an escape for your life, would you ever stop to take a break and look back at what was coming after you? If we would not do that in the physical, then why do it in the spiritual?! If the enemy is chasing after you DO NOT STOP. Do not glimpse back at the things you left behind when you became a new creature in Christ. When we stop for a glimpse of those things, we will subconsciously begin to long for them again.
Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the
kingdom of God."
We cannot have two masters. We will love one and hate the other. The devil’s first step is to get you to look back and see what you are 'missing'. Don't fall for it. We are fulfilled in Christ. His love is enough.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
This passage of scripture is referring to those who are trapped by the enemy in false doctrine; telling us that we should gently instruct them so that maybe God will change their hearts. Then they will learn the truth and be set free from the enemy’s trap. Sometimes, it takes the gentle wisdom of someone else to open our eyes to the trap we are in or are about to walk into. I think we may have all missed this scripture at one time or another. It doesn't say to debate with them until they hate you and God and everyone associated with the church; it says to gently instruct those who oppose the truth. After all, the way we act toward someone usually speaks a lot louder to them than any of the words coming out of our mouth. Let others do the looking. God gives people the gift of discernment--put it to use in your life. This is where a pastor’s role comes in. Sometimes, they can see things from miles away that we couldn't see if it was staring us in the face. Choose to hear wisdom. We could avoid being caught or being re-caught in many of the enemy’s traps if we would just listen to AND obey the voice of wisdom.
He will attempt and succeed at bringing some back.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
I think this verse makes it pretty plain. If we keep getting caught in the same traps, it will be harder each time to escape. Remember what I said before about locating and fortifying the weakness? Well that is exactly what happens. The enemy begins his fortification process and will make it more and more impossible to escape his prison. What person in their right mind would want to return to prison? I guess it all depends on how you see prison. If you see it as a nice cozy place where you have a bed, three square meals a day, a TV to watch, no responsibilities, and lots of free time, it probably would seem like a great place to be. And if you did get out somehow and ventured into the real world, you would find things are not as easy or comfortable. You don't get free food, free time, no responsibilities, ect. If you looked back at all that you had in prison compared to what you have now, you would probably consider going back. This is where perception comes in. I have another blog called 'Perception Deception'; in it I talk about how God sees things versus how we see it. The spirit of God sees the devil’s prison as a dirty, disgusting place but the human flesh sees it as a wonderful place. This is the danger of walking in the flesh after we've been filled with His Spirit. Our flesh will look back and deceive us because its perception is completely different than Gods. The carnal mind is enmity with God. DON’T LOOK BACK.
Ephesians 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
For those of us who have escaped and STAY free, there is a promise we will receive! It was already accomplished when Jesus died on the cross, but we will reap the benefits at His return. When Jesus ascended into heaven, after He had risen from the dead, he led captivity, our captor (Satan) captive! He overcame death, hell, and the grave. He took the things that made us captives and made them His captives!
Revelation 13:10 10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Contrary to what some think, this verse is not talking about the saints or people leading other people into captivity in the end times. This verse is referring to the anti-Christ (Satan). He will take many captive with him to hell and kill many by the sword, BUT he himself will be caught in that same captivity and will be destroyed by the sword proceeding out of the mouth of the Lord.
Isaiah 14:2King James Version (KJV)
2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
And this is our promise--to those who stay free from the captivity of the world. In the return of Christ we will reign as kings and priests, and will take our captors captive!
We can live a free life now and keep our eyes open to see the traps of the enemy, through walking in God's Spirit. Thank you Jesus for freedom from the devil’s prison!
*Editing credit goes to my amazing sister Carissa Hale
*Editing credit goes to my amazing sister Carissa Hale
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