SETTING TRAPS
"Yeshua said to his talmidim, 'It is impossible that snares will not be set. But woe to the person who sets them!
It would be to his advantage that he have a millstone hung around his neck and he be thrown into the sea, rather than that he ensnare one of these little ones.
Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Also, if seven times in one day he sins against you, and seven times he comes to you and says, `I repent,' you are to forgive him.'" (Luke 17:1 CJB)
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and [a]acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better ([b]more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!" (Matt. 18:6,7 The Amplified Bible)
There are some things, in this life, that we can count on. One of them is that traps are always going to be set. Something or someone is out ensnare us (the adversary), if we make the decision to walk with God--and live holy, before Him. Yes, you can count on that fact.
There will be temptations, stumblingblocks, and some detours and setbacks. Count on it, but don't be the one that satan uses to set them up for your brother or sister, in Christ! Please don't be the weapon, poised to stab, strike or knock someone else down. Any time we do things that cause another to slip, or stumble, we become satan's tool--his vessel, rather than God's. What a precarious place to put yourself in! In that place, you are actually fighting against God--not only flesh and blood (we can only understand this, spiritually, not naturally--if you don't get it, you aren't walking in the Spirit of God). Many of us, don't realize the seriousness of saying and doing things that hurt others. We make excuses for it--we say, they don't like me, so they deserve it (we may not verbalize it, but it's in our hearts), or we mistreat them with our attitudes and behaviors or we're not gossiping, just.... God sees this and He doesn't take it lightly. Jesus said, "Woe to him"!
("Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:1-3) It is detrimental, grave, and deadly to cause your brother to be offended. If we are guilty, we have to "take heed" and seek forgiveness--not only from God, but also from the one whom we have offended.
It is so important that we take care, in our dealings with one another. It has always been important in the eye of God. Jesus is clear. Offenses, hurts and abuses will happen to us--it is part of life in a sinful world. It is not okay to be the one that causes them, though. It is not okay, to ignore them and pretend they haven't occurred, when you are guilty of inflicting them. It is also, not okay to be unforgiving when your brother seeks forgiveness for inflicting them. It is all laid out, plainly--no stone is left unturned. Jesus is complete in His teaching. He makes it abundantly clear, how we must behave when we offend or are offended. Make no mistake. It is not something to be ignored--don't expect grace to cover your presumptuous sins ("God forbid!"). You know, what you have done--in fact, before you did it, God warned you. Now, do what the Word of God says, and repair it--fix the breach that you have caused in the Body of Christ. You are responsible for your brother. You are responsible for your behavior, your attitude, and the hurt that you inflicted. Follow the instructions, to repair the damage.
Forgiveness is freeing. Forgiveness free's both the forgiver and the forgiven! When we forgive someone, we are free of the resentment, bitterness, and the grudges that we have held. When we humbly and sincerely seek forgiveness from someone we have offended, we are free, in God's eyes--He forgets the transgression and casts it away from His sight, and we are free from the plaguing torment that it causes us, until we get it right. It is always there, hindering, until we get it right, the Bible way. What does it hinder? It hinders our relationship with God, our relationship with others, it hinders our anointing, our blessings and it carries with it a curse.
Abandon the stubbornness. Get rid of the excuses and anything that keeps you from full fellowship with your brother. Just do it. Often, we walk around in fear of how we will be received, and your brother is just aching to free you--if only, you will ask. It doesn't matter what the offense is, get it right, fix it, today. It doesn't matter how large or small. Follow the rules. Have you done damage to someone's name/reputation? Have you wrongfully accused someone. Maybe, you think they are not aware--it doesn't matter; get it right. The damage was done by you; you are the one who must repair it, with the help of God. He knows what is in your heart, and He will enable you to do what is right. Confession is good and healthy. Psychologists have just come to recognize what God set up for us, in the beginning, really is healing. Medical doctors now know, that carrying these burdens, endangers the heart muscle. These stresses release cortisol, and cause damage to our bodies, leading to strokes, and heart attacks. There is much to be gained from letting go of resentment and bitterness, and confessing our faults.
(And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out.
And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin to you, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter into life [that is really worthwhile] crippled than, having two feet, to be cast into hell (Gehenna). And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (Gehenna), Where their worm [which preys on the inhabitants and is a symbol of the wounds inflicted on the man himself by his sins] does not die, and the fire is not put out. For everyone shall be salted with fire. Salt is good (beneficial), but if salt has lost its saltness, how will you restore [the saltness to] it? Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in harmony with one another.(Mark 9:42-50; The Amplified Bible)
(A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth.
He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs [to mislead and deceive] and teaches with his fingers.
Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it.
Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.
My son, keep your father's [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you]. (Proverbs 6:12-20; The Amplified Bible)
"And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering,
But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.
And Cain said to his brother, Let us go out to the field. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?
And [the Lord] said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
And now you are cursed by reason of the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand." (Genesis 4:4-11, The Amplified Bible)
Don't wait another day, get it right! It is good for you--the best prescription, yet!!!
Love & Abundant Blessings,
Lisa
It would be to his advantage that he have a millstone hung around his neck and he be thrown into the sea, rather than that he ensnare one of these little ones.
Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Also, if seven times in one day he sins against you, and seven times he comes to you and says, `I repent,' you are to forgive him.'" (Luke 17:1 CJB)
"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and [a]acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better ([b]more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!" (Matt. 18:6,7 The Amplified Bible)
There are some things, in this life, that we can count on. One of them is that traps are always going to be set. Something or someone is out ensnare us (the adversary), if we make the decision to walk with God--and live holy, before Him. Yes, you can count on that fact.
There will be temptations, stumblingblocks, and some detours and setbacks. Count on it, but don't be the one that satan uses to set them up for your brother or sister, in Christ! Please don't be the weapon, poised to stab, strike or knock someone else down. Any time we do things that cause another to slip, or stumble, we become satan's tool--his vessel, rather than God's. What a precarious place to put yourself in! In that place, you are actually fighting against God--not only flesh and blood (we can only understand this, spiritually, not naturally--if you don't get it, you aren't walking in the Spirit of God). Many of us, don't realize the seriousness of saying and doing things that hurt others. We make excuses for it--we say, they don't like me, so they deserve it (we may not verbalize it, but it's in our hearts), or we mistreat them with our attitudes and behaviors or we're not gossiping, just.... God sees this and He doesn't take it lightly. Jesus said, "Woe to him"!
("Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:1-3) It is detrimental, grave, and deadly to cause your brother to be offended. If we are guilty, we have to "take heed" and seek forgiveness--not only from God, but also from the one whom we have offended.
It is so important that we take care, in our dealings with one another. It has always been important in the eye of God. Jesus is clear. Offenses, hurts and abuses will happen to us--it is part of life in a sinful world. It is not okay to be the one that causes them, though. It is not okay, to ignore them and pretend they haven't occurred, when you are guilty of inflicting them. It is also, not okay to be unforgiving when your brother seeks forgiveness for inflicting them. It is all laid out, plainly--no stone is left unturned. Jesus is complete in His teaching. He makes it abundantly clear, how we must behave when we offend or are offended. Make no mistake. It is not something to be ignored--don't expect grace to cover your presumptuous sins ("God forbid!"). You know, what you have done--in fact, before you did it, God warned you. Now, do what the Word of God says, and repair it--fix the breach that you have caused in the Body of Christ. You are responsible for your brother. You are responsible for your behavior, your attitude, and the hurt that you inflicted. Follow the instructions, to repair the damage.
Forgiveness is freeing. Forgiveness free's both the forgiver and the forgiven! When we forgive someone, we are free of the resentment, bitterness, and the grudges that we have held. When we humbly and sincerely seek forgiveness from someone we have offended, we are free, in God's eyes--He forgets the transgression and casts it away from His sight, and we are free from the plaguing torment that it causes us, until we get it right. It is always there, hindering, until we get it right, the Bible way. What does it hinder? It hinders our relationship with God, our relationship with others, it hinders our anointing, our blessings and it carries with it a curse.
Abandon the stubbornness. Get rid of the excuses and anything that keeps you from full fellowship with your brother. Just do it. Often, we walk around in fear of how we will be received, and your brother is just aching to free you--if only, you will ask. It doesn't matter what the offense is, get it right, fix it, today. It doesn't matter how large or small. Follow the rules. Have you done damage to someone's name/reputation? Have you wrongfully accused someone. Maybe, you think they are not aware--it doesn't matter; get it right. The damage was done by you; you are the one who must repair it, with the help of God. He knows what is in your heart, and He will enable you to do what is right. Confession is good and healthy. Psychologists have just come to recognize what God set up for us, in the beginning, really is healing. Medical doctors now know, that carrying these burdens, endangers the heart muscle. These stresses release cortisol, and cause damage to our bodies, leading to strokes, and heart attacks. There is much to be gained from letting go of resentment and bitterness, and confessing our faults.
(And whoever causes one of these little ones (these believers) who acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin, it would be better (more profitable and wholesome) for him if a [huge] millstone were hung about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out.
And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin to you, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter into life [that is really worthwhile] crippled than, having two feet, to be cast into hell (Gehenna). And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell (Gehenna), Where their worm [which preys on the inhabitants and is a symbol of the wounds inflicted on the man himself by his sins] does not die, and the fire is not put out. For everyone shall be salted with fire. Salt is good (beneficial), but if salt has lost its saltness, how will you restore [the saltness to] it? Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace and live in harmony with one another.(Mark 9:42-50; The Amplified Bible)
(A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth.
He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs [to mislead and deceive] and teaches with his fingers.
Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it.
Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.
My son, keep your father's [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you]. (Proverbs 6:12-20; The Amplified Bible)
"And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering,
But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.
And Cain said to his brother, Let us go out to the field. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?
And [the Lord] said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.
And now you are cursed by reason of the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand." (Genesis 4:4-11, The Amplified Bible)
Don't wait another day, get it right! It is good for you--the best prescription, yet!!!
Love & Abundant Blessings,
Lisa
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