"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb..." Revelation 12:11
From Snared to Set Free!
"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb..." Revelation 12:11
“Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.” Proverbs 22:5
The LORD has given to every one of His people the responsibility of keeping their soul in line with Him. This doesn’t mean He isn’t involved – He is – and yet, He will not force any person to continue to serve Him. Falling away from the LORD after being in Christ is a reality – it can happen, it has happened to many, it is happening to many today, and it will happen.
“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.” Proverbs 16:17
Getting entangled is an act of the will, when we allow evil thoughts to fester in our minds, fully knowing they are unholy when the LORD says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)
We only have to get UN-tangled if we choose to get EN-tangled, right?
Here’s how the entangling begins and finishes:
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
Ever been tempted? Ever entered into that temptation? Still experiencing the pain of reaping the dividends for that sin? God have mercy on our souls and bless us to truly fear His holy name and be kept unto His everlasting kingdom (Jude 20-25).
First comes the entangling then we are overcome. Watch the sequence and progression in his passage:
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
Did you catch the sequence of falling in verse 20? Look again.
What comes first? “Entangled.”
Then we are “overcome.”
What starts out seemingly innocent can end up in horrible and tragic reaping.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8
Someone has wisely stated:
Sin will take you further than you wanted to go
Keep you longer than you wanted to stay
And charge you more than you want to pay
Escaping entanglement means staying clear of those things that could ensnare our souls.
Proverbs 4
“I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Staying richly into God’s blessed Word is key to overcoming:
“By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalms 17:4
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalms 119:9-11
God is able to grant His blessed gift of repentance, to forgive, to remit all sin, and to restore and establish our souls in His righteousness as we come unto Him, laying down our lives afresh.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
In His Word are all the answers to your life (2 Peter 1:3-4).
“Seek and ye shall find.” Matthew 7:7-11
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"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb..." Revelation 12:11
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