Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers, the snare is broken, and we have escaped. (Psalm 124:7)
To escape the snare of the fowler is to be set free from the traps that Satan has put out for us to be caught. I had lived in the snare of the fowler my entire life and Jesus set me free. Freedom came through applying what Jesus has done on the cross. There are some responsibilities that are up to us as well.
Our part in being free is fleeing from living in sin, which closes the open door to the enemy that allowed him to imprison us. We are not under the law of Moses, however, if we live in disobedience to God’s law, then we open ourselves up to the consequences that follow. To every action, there is a reaction. It is basic common sense in play here. Let me make it more personal by sharing an application to my life.
When I was living in a lifestyle of sexual perversion and drugs, I was diagnosed with HIV. When Jesus transformed my life, I received deliverance and freedom from my past life of bondage, but the consequences of that lifestyle were and are still in action. I still take medications for HIV even though I am redeemed and justified and sanctified. I am standing on God’s word for healing while dealing with those consequences and His love and mercy give me peace, however I was the one who was living in disobedience to God’s moral code, therefore I opened the door to the enemy and he brought disease with him. I am forgiven, but I made place for the devil. Ephesians 4:27 says,”make no place for the devil.” So when we do, he happily comes in!
One way we escape the trap of the enemy is by obeying God’s word. He said not be sexually immoral, so when we are, we are in disobedience and the enemy laughs at us and brings his plan into our lives to combat God’s will for us. God’s commands and statutes are honored out of love for Him and He wants us to obey those commands because they protect us in this life from unnecessary attacks. If we don’t murder, we won’t go to prison or face the death sentence. If we don’t cheat on our spouses, then we won’t have to deal with the pain of losing our marriage etc… There are blessings to obedience and there are curses attached to disobedience.
There is only one way to have true freedom, and that is through Jesus Christ and obedience to His word. All other ways are deceits made up by Satan to keep us from knowing the one true God. The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and it is that love that brings us hope, peace and comfort. To be fully effective for the kingdom of God, first we need to be freed from all hindrances holding us back so that we can fly free. Jesus is the One who freed us already, it is up to us to maintain that freedom through how we live our lives in accordance to God’s standards, not our own.
We will mount up with wings as eagles, we will run and not be weary, we will walk and not faint for those that wait upon the Lord.
Pastor Michael Cannatello
The Ministry of Michael Cannatello TMMC
