The Parable of The Bear Trap
2 Tim 2:26 (NIV) and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
• Imagine a man caught in a bear trap. He cannot get the proper angle to separate the steel jaws himself, he needs help. Suppose he then sees his friend approaching through the trees, and feels terribly embarrassed to have gotten into this predicament, so he tries to duck down and hide. But his friend has already seen him, so the hapless captive decides to straighten up and to strike a pose as if he were standing there on purpose. His friend, approaching, says, "Where have you been? We've missed you. Is anything wrong?" "Oh, no. Nothing at all." The captive man smiles the best he can through the pain and hopes that his friend will go away, so that he can get back to the hopeless struggle of trying to free himself. But the friend has noticed the trap and is already prying the jaws open. "You nut!" the friend says, "Why didn't you call out for help? Why did you try to hide from me and then to hide the problem? Come, you are free now--it was easy for me, and the pain will go away soon. Be more careful in the future not to wander into dangerous territory alone... and learn something about the nutty thoughts that go through the heads of those who have stumbled into bear traps."
2 Tim 2:25-26 (Jer) So that they may recognize the truth and come to their senses, once out of the trap where the devil caught them and kept them enslaved.
Col 2:8 (NIV) See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Setting The Captives Free
Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) [Jesus] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Eph 4:8 (Phi) Thus the scripture says: "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive..."
• Scott Peck: [with apologies, but here I think him correct] "The whole purpose of an exorcism is to uncover and isolate the demonic within the patient so that it can be expelled... The first and usually the longest stage of an exorcism is the "Pretense"...[where] the demon hides within and behind the person. For the exorcism to occur, the Pretense must be broken; the demonic must be uncovered and brought out into the open."
Isa 42:7 (NIV) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Isa 49:9 (NIV) "... to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness 'Be free!'"
Ps 142:7 (NAS) "Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Thy name; the righteous will surround me, for thou wilt deal bountifully with me."
Rambo Versus The Captivity Of 1) Will, 2) Terminology, and 3) Complacency
• Imagine Rambo going on a mission behind enemy lines to rescue a prisoner of war. After much trouble, he bursts into the prisoner's cell and says, "I'm here to set you free from the possession of the enemy. I'll protect you on the dangerous trip out. Come on, let's go--quickly!"
• Consider the following nutty responses from the POW:
1. "It's O.K., really, I'm not a captive; I choose to be here."
2. "I have a sealed US passport and I have America in my heart. Just what do you mean by saying I'm "possessed" by the enemy? Perhaps I'm merely "oppressed" and don't need a rescue!"
3. "What's with this superior attitude, Rambo? I was coping fine, and who knows but what things might get better gradually. If I go with you, I could be killed in just a few minutes."
John 8:31-34,36 (NIV) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.[???] How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, anyone who sins is a slave to sin... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
• Now imagine that the POW was rescued and struggled out with Rambo to safety, and then afterwards willfully returned to the same bondage, walking right back into the same captivity. Would not the enemy see to it that this POW was put to even greater bondage? (Luke 11:24-26)
• Scott Peck: "Ultimately it is the patient herself or himself who is the exorcist."
Why Take A Chance With Your Life?
• Scripture does not instruct us to ignore demons, or expect that they will go away gradually, or to "train" them into obedience. We are told to cast them out. It is not enough to have demons temporarily retreat when they have been noticed: A sleeping dog may wake up presently and maul its victim. No negotiations should be made. No arguments are worthwhile. No distractions allowed. No delays granted. Demons must be cast out, repented of and totally renounced; and they will not go if they can hide, argue, negotiate, distract, or deceive. And they won't stay gone if desired again...
• Why take the risk? If you suspect demonic activity what could it hurt to ask someone to pray with you to be completely set free. Christ granted us nothing less than this power. Why wait? It is no shame to be delivered, but it is a shame to remain in bondage.
• Imagine a man caught in a bear trap. He cannot get the proper angle to separate the steel jaws himself, he needs help. Suppose he then sees his friend approaching through the trees, and feels terribly embarrassed to have gotten into this predicament, so he tries to duck down and hide. But his friend has already seen him, so the hapless captive decides to straighten up and to strike a pose as if he were standing there on purpose. His friend, approaching, says, "Where have you been? We've missed you. Is anything wrong?" "Oh, no. Nothing at all." The captive man smiles the best he can through the pain and hopes that his friend will go away, so that he can get back to the hopeless struggle of trying to free himself. But the friend has noticed the trap and is already prying the jaws open. "You nut!" the friend says, "Why didn't you call out for help? Why did you try to hide from me and then to hide the problem? Come, you are free now--it was easy for me, and the pain will go away soon. Be more careful in the future not to wander into dangerous territory alone... and learn something about the nutty thoughts that go through the heads of those who have stumbled into bear traps."
2 Tim 2:25-26 (Jer) So that they may recognize the truth and come to their senses, once out of the trap where the devil caught them and kept them enslaved.
Col 2:8 (NIV) See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Setting The Captives Free
Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) [Jesus] "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Eph 4:8 (Phi) Thus the scripture says: "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive..."
• Scott Peck: [with apologies, but here I think him correct] "The whole purpose of an exorcism is to uncover and isolate the demonic within the patient so that it can be expelled... The first and usually the longest stage of an exorcism is the "Pretense"...[where] the demon hides within and behind the person. For the exorcism to occur, the Pretense must be broken; the demonic must be uncovered and brought out into the open."
Isa 42:7 (NIV) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Isa 49:9 (NIV) "... to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness 'Be free!'"
Ps 142:7 (NAS) "Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Thy name; the righteous will surround me, for thou wilt deal bountifully with me."
Rambo Versus The Captivity Of 1) Will, 2) Terminology, and 3) Complacency
• Imagine Rambo going on a mission behind enemy lines to rescue a prisoner of war. After much trouble, he bursts into the prisoner's cell and says, "I'm here to set you free from the possession of the enemy. I'll protect you on the dangerous trip out. Come on, let's go--quickly!"
• Consider the following nutty responses from the POW:
1. "It's O.K., really, I'm not a captive; I choose to be here."
2. "I have a sealed US passport and I have America in my heart. Just what do you mean by saying I'm "possessed" by the enemy? Perhaps I'm merely "oppressed" and don't need a rescue!"
3. "What's with this superior attitude, Rambo? I was coping fine, and who knows but what things might get better gradually. If I go with you, I could be killed in just a few minutes."
John 8:31-34,36 (NIV) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.[???] How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, anyone who sins is a slave to sin... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
• Now imagine that the POW was rescued and struggled out with Rambo to safety, and then afterwards willfully returned to the same bondage, walking right back into the same captivity. Would not the enemy see to it that this POW was put to even greater bondage? (Luke 11:24-26)
• Scott Peck: "Ultimately it is the patient herself or himself who is the exorcist."
Why Take A Chance With Your Life?
• Scripture does not instruct us to ignore demons, or expect that they will go away gradually, or to "train" them into obedience. We are told to cast them out. It is not enough to have demons temporarily retreat when they have been noticed: A sleeping dog may wake up presently and maul its victim. No negotiations should be made. No arguments are worthwhile. No distractions allowed. No delays granted. Demons must be cast out, repented of and totally renounced; and they will not go if they can hide, argue, negotiate, distract, or deceive. And they won't stay gone if desired again...
• Why take the risk? If you suspect demonic activity what could it hurt to ask someone to pray with you to be completely set free. Christ granted us nothing less than this power. Why wait? It is no shame to be delivered, but it is a shame to remain in bondage.
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