“Taken Captive”
(II Timothy 2:24-26)
Introduction. I would call you attention to the description
given in verse 26 of those the efforts of of the “servant of the Lord”
must seek to address - those “taken captive” by Satan in order to do
his will. This morning I’d like for us to discuss this verse and
consider what it discusses and the solutions to this problem which
are offered in Scripture.
I. “Come to their Senses” (2:26a).
- We can allow ourselves to be controlled by sin to the
point that we lose our rational thought. Peter gave in to
sinful fear: (Luke 22:54-62). He who had been willing to die
for Jesus, denied that he knew Him.
- The only way out of this is to “come to our senses.”
(Luke 15:11-17).
- It may be that we have sold ourselves to follow
the things of this world. We aren’t happy in such
things, but still we continue to run after them.
When will we “come to ourselves” and realize there is a better
way? (Luke 15:18-24). Look at the benefit!
- Often we don’t realize that we are not in our
“full mind.” Because sin can harden us and blind us.
Hebrews 3:12-13). Recognizing this can be one of
the first steps to come to our senses.
- Then we must escape from what enslaves us!
II. “Escape the Snare of the Devil”
(2:26b).
Illustration: There was a time when Daniel Boone, the colonial
frontier pioneer, was captured by the Shawnee Indians. He was taken far away from
his home in the town he had established in Boonesborough Kentucky, and
actually adopted by the Indian chief named Blackfish. They plucked all of the hair
on his head except a tuft of hair called a “scalp lock” and put him through
a ceremony intended to remove all of his “white blood” and make me a Shawnee.
For a time he lived as a Shawnee and preteneded to love this new life, until
he heard of a siege planned against his own home town of Boonesbourough.
Boone escaped from his captors and ran for four days returning
to Boonesbourough to warn them. Many had heard rumors that he was living
as an Indian and feared that he had turned to live as an Indian. But, when
he returned he pursuded them that he had not and successfully protected the
fort against the Indian attack.
- Satan wants to ensnare us with sin and disobedience.
He wants to adopt us for himself and make us like him.
(John 8:42-44).
- The gospel offers an escape. In baptism we are freed
from sin. (Romans 6:1-7). We will return to Romans 6 a
little latter.
- This escape does not remove a person from any danger
of future entrapment, but offers security through
submission to God. (I John 1:5-9).
III. “Taken Captive by Him” (2:26c).
- When we live in sin we are captive to sin and the
devil. (John 8:31; I John 3:6-8).
- No one likes to be in bondage. Illustration:
When I was in Alabama I had the occasion to visit prisoners in a local correctional facility.
When I entered I had to pass through a guarded and locked fence, a
metal detector, and a series of steel locked and guarded doors. Once inside a
went down a hall to the cell block where I was able to teach the men I was going
to see. There was a steel locked door which entered the cell block, then a
guard post with bullet proof glass which looked over about three groups of cells.
When you entered one of these groups there was an open area with some
tables and a shower area in front of the indivuidual locked cells. High above
this open area there were some windows and on the lower area there were
some narrow windows too small for a human body to get through. This was the
only glimpse of the outside world these men were allowed.
No one likes to be in bondage - yet sometimes we surrender to it willingly.
Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 11:4-6). Do to its
own vomit. (II Peter 2:18-22).
- Surrendering ourselves to serve to God exchanges a
bondage and service which is self-destructive for one
which offers peace, joy and happiness in the age to come.
(Romans 6:8-22).
IV. “To Do His Will” (2:26d).
- God wants us to do His will. (Luke
12:42-47).
- We cannot serve sin and the devil and please God,
because in doing so we are doing Satan’s will.
(John 8:44).
- We must choose to do God’s will. (Romans
6:17).