The Great Escape

God’s will is for us to escape the snares of the devil. Satan’s plan is for us to be in captivity continually and to live our lives fruitlessly, without hope, and without power. He tries his best to keep us spiritually crippled because he knows that one Bible-believing Christian, walking in the power and love of God, can deal a severe blow to the kingdom of darkness. But the Bible instructs us not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices.

 2 Corinthians 2:11 … lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (NKJ)

The word “advantage” used here means: to defraud, or outwit, deceive, or trick. Satan tricks us into believing our problem is always someone else’s fault. The word “ignorant” used here means: not knowing, uninformed, unaware; through lack of information or intelligence (by implication) to ignore. In a moment of anger or pain, we tend to project that hurt towards a person or thing. (Zig Ziglar)

God’s plan for each of us is to recognize what and who Satan is trying to use against us. If we do, we will avoid following Satan’s will and escape his traps.

2 Timothy 2:26 … And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will. (GNT)

One of Satan’s biggest tricks is to snare Christians into being offended. An offended Christian will find that his love will grow cold and that he will become ineffective and powerless. In order for our faith to work, we must walk in love.

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith which works by love. (NKJ)

Walking in love means that we are not offended. In fact, this is exactly what the Bible is talking about when it says not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices in avoiding the traps of unforgiveness.

 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 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. (NKJ)

2 Timothy 2:23-26 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. (NKJ)

Unforgiveness will bring an offense, and offenses bring unforgiveness. This is a cycle that must be broken.

Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. (NKJ)

This scripture tells us that we are not to cause an offense, but the stumbling and weakness comes upon the offended party.

When you become offended, you will notice a darkness comes over your life. Being offended will cause depression and a preoccupation with the offense.  It becomes a major distraction to walking in love and being effective as a Christian. An offended person will always bring into the conversations with their friends the subject of the offense that they are harboring. This should not be. God has a better plan for His children. We must break this cycle. We must live offense-free.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (NKJ)

This tells us the only way we can become offended is when we are not consistently in the Word.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJ) Scornful = derision, contemptuous, disdain, or criticism.

Whenever we start to feel hurt or offended by someone or something that was said, let that be a ‘red flag’ showing you to increase your time in the Word. Escape the snare of getting offended by staying consistent in the Word.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. (NKJ)

See offense as it truly is—a sin and an offense against God. Jesus died for everyone’s sin; yours and their sins alike. Now the Great Escape has happened. You are no longer a slave to sin.