Escaping Pastoral Snares

Topic: Escaping pastoral snares

- a snare is a trap!

- a snare may be something originally good that has been abused into the users hurt.

Ex. Gen 49:14-15.

Ps 69:22

- a snare is a hunting instrument!

Ex. Ps 91:3

Note

-i- when a life is caught in a snare; it begins to produce negatively surprising results.

Ex. Judg 8:27.... Gideon vs idol worship heritage.

Ex. Pro 22:24-25

-ii- when a life is caught in a snare; over time, the purposes of the crafty begins to prevail.

Jer 50:24

Ex. Abraham vs Hagar.

Ex. Pharaoh vs Moses.

-iii- when a life is caught in a snare; the light begins to go dim!

Job 18:6-8

Ex. 1 Kgs 11:4 & Neh 13:26.... Solomon vs many women.

-iv- when a life is caught in a mature snare; destiny afflictions begin.

Ex. Judg 16:19-21.... Samson @ Delilah vs affliction!

You will not be the victim of any snare!

Let's look @ 7 snares that can afflict a minister of God:

-1- the snare of the independent mindset.

- if you learn to do ministry without God, you will suffer the shame of the ungodly!

Ex. 1 Sam 15:1-23.... Saul didn't understand being led!

Ex. 1 Sam 23:1-13.... David @ Keilah vs will they betray me!

Ex. 2 Sam 5:19-25.... David @ Baal-perazim vs mulberry trees!

-2- the snare of evil association.

- whom you follow affects what follows you!

Ex. 1 Cor 15:33.... Wrong mentors & friends & counsellors.

Ex. 2 Kgs 13:1-7.... Amnon vs Jonadab = end of destiny!

Pro 13:20 = companion of fools.

-3- the snare of licentious grace.

- when someone accepts that sin doesn't matter anymore & grace covers all rebellion, that is when sin quickly becomes the main matter & rebellion against grace begins.

Rom 6:1-23

Ex. 1 Cor 5:1-13.... Paul the preacher of grace vs discipline in holiness!

-4- the snare of the messiah complex.

- no pastor can do it all & none is sent to everyone!

- your ministry is maximised in the things & people you're 'graced' for & sent to!

Ex. 1 Cor 9:16-23.... Paul was everything to everyman & ended in prison @ Jerusalem.

Acts 20:22-24.... Why should Paul ignore the Holy Spirit warnings?

-5- the snare of the strange oil

- sometimes pastors receive impartation from familiar spirit agents.

Rev 2:14-15;20.... Often strange spirits follow strange men!

Ex. 1 Sam 28:5-8.... Saul vs desperation for victory!

-6- the snare of early gratification

- if you primarily go after material things, you will forfeit the true riches of God.

Ex. 2 Kgs 5:21-27.... The Gehazi problem.

Ex. 1 Tim 6:9-10.

- don't take a destiny short cut to wealth!

-7- the snare of dependency on man.

- it is impossible to have one eye looking upwards & the other looking downwards; you can't look up to God & man at the same time!

Jer 17:5-8

Finally.... it is possible to escape any snares!

Ps 124:1-8

Question: How do we escape the snares of ministry?

-a- be led by the spirit through the word.

-b- follow & associate right.

-c- resist the curse of the wicked.

-d- be sensitive in watching.