#12 UNDERSTANDING LOVE: RECOGNIZE THE THERE ARE PITFALLS AND TRAPS
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
With this lesson I have cheese and a hidden trap...
I eat some cheese and tell how good it is.
Then I pick up a box with some cheese in it and offer it to a person.
They start to reach in the box and see a big rat trap ( I have diffused the spring)
They jerk their hand away...
We consider what makes a good trap?
Hidden motive? Desirable bait, element of surprise, willing partner?
Job 18:8 (KJV) For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
LOVE UNDERSTANDS LIFE HAS MANY HIDDEN TRAPS.
OFTEN WE REFUSE TO UNDERSTAND LOVE AND WE HANG ON TO ISSUES THAT WILL
DESTROY LOVE AS WE KNOW IT.
I once read how they used to catch monkeys in the wild.
They had heavy, thick glass jars that would weigh 50 to 100 pounds.
The jar was short and had a narrow mouth. The trappers would place 5 or 6 peanuts in the bottom
of the jar and then place the jars through out the jungle. A monkey would walk around and around
the jar looking at the tasty peanuts. The monkey would then smell the peanuts.
They smelled so good. The monkey would walk around the jar again and look at those peanuts.
Finally the MONKEY WOULD PUT HIS HAND DOWN THROUGH THE NARROW NECK AND
GRAB A HOLD OF THE PEANUTS. HIS HAND AROUND THE PEANUT WOULD MAKE A FIST.
Then the monkey would not let go. His arm and hand could not fit out the narrow opening.
Rather than letting go of the peanuts and RUN FOR HIS FREEDOM, THE MONKEY WOULD
KEEP HIS FIST CLOSED AROUND THE PEANUTS dragging the heavy jar, until the humans
would catch them. The rest of their life would be spend in a cage, all his freedom would be exchanged
for holding a few peanuts. How sad?
TRAP: a hidden device for capturing, one that holds by springing shut suddenly,
Something to catch or stop unawares, to restrict
SNARE: a device that has a loop or noose which gets smaller when tension is applied.
A position or situation from which it is difficult to escape. Something to entangle, to capture.
FOWLER
GIN
NET
LOVE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT ARE
TO THRIVING --- GOOD GROW COMES BY GOOD PLANNING...
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
SELDOM HEALTHY GROWTH COMES BY ACCIDENT.
SOME FELL ON GOOD GROUND AND INCREASED 30 X' S', 60 X' S', 100'S
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
INCREASE IN:
1. PHYSICAL
2. MENTAL
3. SPIRITUAL
4. RELATIONAL
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy
soul prospereth.
ARE YOU DOING THINGS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH?
LOVE MUST COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS...
THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR BRAIN...
FEW PEOPLE EVER REALIZE THE POWER OF THEIR WORDS.
God said: LET THERE BE LIGHT... and there was light...
Love must come to GREAT UNDERSTANDING of the POWER OF WORDS.
Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
WORDS CAN BECOME A TRAP AND SNUFF THE LIFE OUT OF YOUR FAMILY.
Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of
thy mouth.
LOVE KNOWS: THE POWER OF WORDS CAN GET YOU IN DEEP TROUBLE...
THEY CAN GET YOU OUT OF TROUBLE...
Proverbs 12:13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
LOVE REALIZES THERE ARE TWO DORMAINT POWERS IN YOUR TONGUE...
YOUR CHOICES DECIDE WHICH TO RELEASE.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
SARCASM: sharp, cutting, using words that mean the opposite of what you are saying...
TO INSULT, to irritate,
LOVE UNDERSTANDS THAT FEAR AND WORRY WILL DESTROY ALL HOPE...
OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR GOAL...
LOVE UNDERSTANDS FEAR BECOMES A TERRIBLE TRAP...
Job 22:10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;
FEAR FOCUSES ON OBSTACLES
OBSTACLES ARE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR GOAL...
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Lamentations 3:47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.
WHERE THERE IS LOVE FEAR HAS TO FLEE...
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.
He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
LOVE UNDERSTANDS THAT ONE OF THE WORSE ENEMIES OF LOVE IS A HOT, QUICK
TEMPER... WE NEED SELF-CONTROL... BEWARE OF THE ANGER TRAP!
JESUS HAD SOME BOYS WORKING WITH HIM THAT WERE CALLED
"THE SONS OF THUNDER" ... Once when they were ministering they suggested to Jesus:
"LET US CALL DOWN THUNDER AND BURN THE TOWN DOWN?"
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
TWO RULES ADDRESSING ANGER:
1. DO NOT SIN WHILE YOU ARE MAD...
2. DO NOT STAY MAD...
Anger causes bitterness. Nothing external has power over us --- ANGER IS A CHOICE.
Anger is one letter short of DANGER --- D-anger.
Anger loosen the mouth and words fly that should never be spoken.
Anger will BREAK UP STRONG FAMILIES... and loving relationships...
A minister was working with a group of teenagers around the church.
They were enjoying themselves, when the minister became very angry with several
of the young men. He became so angry that he took his boot and kicked a boy
knocked him down.
BEWARE OF FAMILY ANGER...
ESAU GOT SO ANGRY AT HIS BROTHER... JACOB
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
THERE IS A DARK TRAP OF POOR COMMUNICATION...
REAL LOVE HAS A WORKING UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT GOOD
COMMUNICATION IS TO A THRIVING RELATIONSHIP...
Frozen communication lines will always lead to the destruction of the relationship.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to
the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
GOOD COMMUNICATION CAN BE A SACRIFICE...
SPEAK THINGS THAT ENCOURAGE AND EDIFY OTHERE.
Hebrews 13:16 (KJV) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is
well pleased.
THE WEDGE TRAP?
SHALL THIS DISAGREEMNT BECOME A TRAP THAT DRIVES US APART...
CONFLICT IS PART OF ANY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS...
WE MUST DEVELOP A PLAN FOR CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT!
LOVE UNDERSTANDS WE MUST AGREE TO DISAGREE AND LOVE EACH OTHER...
Problems and adversity do not make you weak or strong...
Love knows trouble will reveal the real you.
AS GOLD IS TRIED IN THE FIRE, SO IS THE FURNACE OF LIFE...
LOVE HAS TO SEE A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH...
TIME AND LOVE POLISH THE DIAMIND TO RARE BEAUTY.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
HAVE YOU EVER PONDERED THE ROLE OF A SHEEP DOG?
IF THE SHEEP ARE IN DANGER HE PROTECTS...
IF A SHEEP TRIES TO RUN AWAY --- HE DRIVES THEM BACK.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in
the earth.
THERE IS A TRAP OF DISAGREEMENT THE LEADS TO THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION.
Amos 3:3-5 (KJV) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have
taken nothing? 5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up
a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
LOVE CAN CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE TRAP OF FALSE VALUE SYSTEMS AND INVALID
PRIORITIES...
What is an idol? Could TV be an idol? Could sports be an idol?
Could relationships become an idol?
Psalm 106:36 (KJV) And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
COULD WE ALLOW THINGS TO REPLACE WHAT IS IMPORTANT UNTIL THEY BECOME A TRAP?
Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they
be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations
serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give
you everything you need.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER:
1. GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER YOU FROM THE TRAPS...
2. IF YOU FALL PREY TO THE TRAP ... GOD KNOWS HOW TO DELIVER YOU
2 Peter 2:9 (NLT) So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even
while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
Psalm 107:20 (KJV) He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 91:3 (NLT) For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
CONCLUSION: IF WE REALLY UNDERSTAND LOVE WE WILL REALIZE THERE ARE PITFALLS
AND TRAPS SET ALL AROUND US... WE WILL BE ALERT AND ON GUARD.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
