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The Book of Second Timothy:
Message Twenty Six
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
Just the other
day I was told of a French Alpine village where the
people have the mistaken idea that the devil lies in
wait to pounce upon them in 90 degree corners. Should
you visit their houses of log and stone you wouldn't
find an absolute right angle. They're afraid the
devil might lurk there. The Bible doesn't speak of 90
degree corners, but in 2nd
Timothy 2:26 it does speak of "the snare of the
devil," and of sinners "who are taken
captive by him at his will."
How tragic it
is to be ensnared by the devil. He tempts and he
traps, he entices and he ensnares. He's your foe and
he'll never become your friend, though he'll pose as
such. One day, according to Newsweek, a man and a
woman called on a Princess in Italy, posing as
friends. Heiress to a million dollars, the
77-year-old Princess was mesmerized by that man. They
moved into her home, and forced her to live miserably
in a servant's room. When neighbors saw her in rags
and not robes, and begging for food and funds, they
called the police. They uncovered the sad story.
"At first they moved into my home as
friends," explained the Princess, "and then
became strangers, and I didn't know how to get
free." Now back in her own home, the old
Princess is trying to begin life all over again.
"Now that I know they were evil," she said,
"I can't stop wondering how they got control of
me." Are there not people everywhere who are
wondering how the devil got control of them? They
long to escape, but they can't. They try to turn over
a new leaf, but it does no good. Their visits to
psychiatrists, their resolution or their living in a
rehabilitation center, haven't helped much. They're
still ensnared by the evil one and evil. What they
need, of course, is not a new leaf, but a new life;
not reformation, but regeneration; not religion, but
the Redeemer; not a creed, but Christ. Only He can
set us free from Satan and sin.
"He
breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the
prisoner free;
His blood can
make the foulest clean, His blood availed for
me."
How thrilling
it is to be emancipated. One day the Lord Jesus said,
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin." But He
didn't stop there. He went on to offer help to the
helpless ones who tried to kick the habit of sin but
couldn't. He continued, "If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
But isn't it a shame that some prefer fetters to
freedom, Satan to the Savior! In spite of that, our
Lord comes to them, saying, "Behold, I stand at
the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and
open the door, I will come in." You see, He
emancipates you by entering into you. Allow me to
give you the testimony of one who knew the pain of
being ensnared and the peace of being emancipated.
"When I want to do good, I don't," he
sighed, "and when I try not to do wrong, I do it
anyway . . . It seems to be a fact of life that when
I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is
wrong . . . In my mind I want to be God's willing
servant but instead I find myself still enslaved to
sin. So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do
right, but the old nature that is still inside me
loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible thing this is! Who
will free me from my slavery to this dreadful lower
nature? Thank God! It has been done through Jesus
Christ our Lord. He has set me free."
How thankful I
am that the Lord empowers whom He emancipates.
Without Him we can do "nothing." But with
Him we can do "all things." Regardless of
your background or blood, your weaknesses or woes,
your friends or fellow workmen, the devil and his
devices, the Bible says we can do all things. How?
"Through Christ," because He gives the
strength and power. Cried a boy to his father,
"Here's a rock I can't lift. I've tried with all
my might." "I'm here as part of your might,
son," he answered, "and you didn't ask me
to help you." The Lord is willing to be your
might. Ask Him to help you moment by moment. Then
you'll be able to do "all things through
Christ," who gives you strength.
"Then
grant me Lord the grace to rest, quiet, confident,
obedient, blest,
Believing all
Thy promise true - I can do all things, Lord -
through you."
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version.
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This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
