THE SNARE OF UNBELIEF PART 1

Text- 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Introduction

2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.   25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,   26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (NIV)

This morning I am going to begin a four week series of sermons on the subject of "The Snares of Satan".  Webster says that a snare is, "a cord or wire used to trap animals" or "something by which one is deceived".  Throughout the Bible we are told that Satan is a deceiver and that he is like a "roaring lion, seeking someone to devour".

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV)

Revelation 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (NIV)

This morning my sermon text is found in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 and the title of my sermon is, "The Snare of Unbelief".

An atheist asked a pastor, “Do you honestly believe that Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale?”

The pastor replied, “I don't know, sir, but when I get to heaven, I'm gonna ask him about it.”

The atheist said, “But what if he isn't in heaven?”

To which the pastor said, “Then YOU can ask him!”

Today there are literally millions of people that are caught in the Devil's snare of unbelief, and are being held "captive by him to do his will", and maybe there is one here this morning that is caught in this snare.

The word "unbelief" means, "no-belief" or without belief".  It is a word that is used within the Bible to describe a person who has not believed or trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation from hell.

This morning if you have never trusted in Jesus to save you, you are what the Bible calls an unbeliever, and you are caught in the Devil's snare of unbelief.  How does Satan Snare an unbeliever?  Three ways.