The Snares of Satan The Lust of the Eyes 2 Tim 226 that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil pagis noose trap stratagem who are taken captive by him at his will ID: 769966
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The Snares of Satan “The Lust of the Eyes”
2 Tim 2:26 “that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, pagis’: noose, trap, stratagem who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Satan’s Snares are always: Seductive: Involve something we “want”.Subtle: Easily rationalized. (Jer. 17:9)Strong: They lead us away from God, His House, and His Protection and “trap” us!2 Tim. 2:19-26
Although Satan has an almost limitless “bait shop” with which to tempt or lure us into his snares, they all fall into either the:“the lust of the flesh, (Pleasure)The lust of the eyes, (Possessions) The Pride of life.” 1 Jn 2:15
Last time we examined how Satan uses “the pride of life” to embitter us, frustrating God’s Grace in us and producing a subtle rebellion which exposes us to his influence. (Heb. 12:15; 1 Sam 15:23)Rebellion: (merî) comes mārâ: Bitter!Bitter (pikria) means to pierce and poison!
This morning we’ll examine the “lust of the eyes” and how Satan uses the bait of “covetousness” to snare us. Ex. 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet” Ḥāmad: desire, lust
1 Timothy 6:5-8 “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ” Arke’ō : to raise a barrier , to ward off!
1 Tim. 6:9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, (pagis ’: a trap/noose)and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction ( oleth’ros : to ruin, destroy) and perdition. ( apōleia : to ruin or lose.) Rev 9:11 “they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name (is) Apollyon.” (The destroyer)
1 Tim. 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: Kakos: intrinsically Worthless!which while some coveted after, (stretched out for) they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
How does “covetousness” snare us. The Temptation of the “Temporary” (Attraction of the Immediate.) A. Satan is into the “here and now”. 1) Remember his temptation of Jesus. (Mt. 4) a) Satisfy your hunger. Vs. 3,4 (Flesh) b) Immediate fame. Vs. 5-7 (Pride) c) Kingdoms of the world. Vs 7-10 (Lust of the eyes)
Attraction of the Immediate. A. Satan is into the “here and now”. 2) Pursuing the “right thing” at the “wrong time” will usually play into Satan’s hands. a) Money before Maturity. b) Responsibility before Integrity. c) Sex before Commitment (Marriage).
2. The Attraction of the Temporary is actually a Distraction from the Power of the Permanent! 2 Cor 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal .”
Proverbs 13:7,11 “There is that makes himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Contrast the saints at Smyrna (Rev. 2:9) “I know thy poverty (but thou art rich!)” with those at Laodicea. (Rev. 3:17) “thou sayest , I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind”
2. Satan uses the “Temptation of the Temporary” to distract us from the Power (priority) of the Permanent! A. Two “laws” illustrate this. 1) The Law of Physics: The greater the mass, the greater the gravitational “ pull” ! a) The more “stuff” we accumulate, the greater it’s “pull” on us!
A. Two “laws” to illustrate this. 2) The Law of Treasure (Value) Mt. 6:20,21 “ lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, Thēsauros ’: deposits there shall your heart be also” a) Our interest is proportional to our investment !
2. The Pull of the Temporary distracts us from the Power of the Permanent! B. Biblical examples: 1) Demas: 2 Tim. 4:10 “ Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world ” 1 Jn 2:16 “ The world passeth away , and the lusts thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”
2. The pull of the Temporary distracts us from the Power of the Permanent! 2) Achan’s greed at Jericho . Joshua 6:18-19 “keep yourselves from the accursed thing, ( ḥērem : net) lest ye make yourselves …and …Israel a curse… But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”
2. The pull of the Temporary distracts us from the Power of the Permanent! 2) Achan’s covetousness at Jericho. Josh 7:1 “ But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan …took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”
2) The results of Achan’s covetousness: a) Israel lost the battle of Ai (36 men died) 7:5 b) Joshua prayed. 7:8 “what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!” c) God answers: 7:11,12 “Israel hath sinned… stolen…cannot stand before their enemies.” d) Achan confessed 7:21 “I have sinned and coveted…” (Garment, Silver, Gold wedge) e) Achan lost his wealth, life, and family! 7:24,25
In Luke 12 a man asked Jesus to intervene in a family inheritance dispute. Notice his answer in vs 15
“beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth .”
3) He then told the story of the Rich Fool! Luke 12:16-19 “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: …What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? …I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”
Luke 12:20,21 “But God said unto him, Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Just as bitterness is related to Rebellion, Covetousness is related to idolatry! Col 3:5-6 “ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, (immorality) and covetousness, which is idolatry : (literally the worship of things!) Covetousness Aligns us with the “god of this world”!
Covetousness causes us to “invest” in a temporary kingdom. (1 Jn 2:16)
2. Covetousness is related to idolatry! It aligns us with Satan. It Alienates us from God! Col. 3:6 “ For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:” Jms 4:4 “Know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God!”
Application: The cure for covetousness . 1 Tim 6:11-12 “But thou, O man of God, 1) “flee these things”: Distance yourself from the temptation of the temporary. 2) “and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Focus on eternal values. (Mt. 6:20,21) 3) “ Fight the good fight of faith ” Recognize you’re in a battle! (Eph. 6:10-18)
4) FAITH: Invest in eternity! 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, (agathos: beneficial, practical) that they be rich in good works ( kalos : Valuable deeds) , ready to distribute, (generous) willing to communicate ; (from koinōnos ’: to partner with God and others) Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come…eternal life.”
Heb 11:24-27 “By faith Moses, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, … for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”
Hebrews 10:35-37 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38-39 ”Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; (ruin, loss)but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”