And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
The verse describes people who oppose the truth and oppose themselves, taken in the devil's snare and held captive to do his will at his pleasure, who may recover themselves when God grants them repentance unto acknowledging the truth. No captive can free himself by his own strength, but must be delivered by God's power in answer to earnest prayer, with Christ dwelling within and dependence made fast to the throne of promise. Entering that bondage comes step by step by yielding thoughts and heart, listening to doubts and spreading unbelief, neglecting duty and cherishing selfishness, until giving way weakens for the next trial and long resistance destroys discernment. Recovery comes by repenting, confessing, forsaking and abhorring sin, being broken on the Rock with self dead, beholding Christ until the mind is brought into captivity to Him, and humbly submitting to be led rather than trusting one's own judgment. Rescuing such souls is the highest service, done not by striving, censure or driving them further away, but by wise patient labor in meekness and fear, with strong yet gentle reasons of faith, tender pity, prayer, and the Bible opened with them, trusting God to grant repentance.
Verse Setting and Terms
The verse belongs to the charge to the Lord's servant to avoid foolish and unlearned questions because they gender strife, and to not strive but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, so that God may grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil in which they are taken captive to do his will. Being approved unto God by study and rightly dividing the word of truth fits the minister for this rescuing work, and fleeing youthful lusts while following righteousness, faith, charity and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart belongs to the same preparation. Gentle, patient instruction rather than excitement, argument or strife is the appointed means by which opposers may be led to repent, acknowledge the truth, and escape the captivity in which the devil holds them subject to his will. Straying church members likewise need such conversion and repentance, lest they lead others away from Christ.
Those described are persons who oppose themselves and oppose the truth, caught in the devil's snare and held captive by him to do his will at his will. They may recover themselves from that captivity when God grants them repentance unto acknowledging the truth, and meek instruction without quarrelling is given to turn them from error to freedom. The servant works in gentleness to all, aptness to teach and patience, avoiding questions that gender strifes, that this divine gift of repentance may reach them.
Strong arguments presented in meekness and in the fear of God are the power that will convince, and the minister must give the reasons of the faith not in a boisterous manner and not with striving, but with self-discipline, Bible study, and ability in word and doctrine. This warfare belongs to the last days of peril, for ministers war not merely against men but against Satan and his angels, requiring wise generalship and trust that God will give opposers repentance so they recover from the snare. Those who instruct opposers, including opposers of obedience to the Lord's Sabbath, must therefore teach gently and patiently because the devil holds the ensnared captive to do his will. The faithful shepherd must still do the disagreeable work of plainly pointing out mistakes, reproving, rebuking and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine whether pleasant or unpleasant, even when misunderstood by those blindfolded by the enemy who cannot discern their own defects; souls when reproved can free themselves from the devil's control if they will, but if in self-sufficiency they refuse to acknowledge error, act as if insulted, turn from truth to fables and cherish revenge against the reprover, the Holy Spirit cannot work with them and the Lord cannot convince them of danger. God designs no schisms but a people sound in principle, rightly dividing truth and not striving about words to the subverting of hearers, and the teacher must be qualified and not teach in a confusing manner.
The verse calls church members in time of special evangelistic effort to bring the chapter into practical life by waking from a self-satisfied, indifferent, backslidden condition, searching the heart, confessing and repenting of sin, living in perfect harmony, clearing the way and helping with means, attending meetings armed and equipped for service, praying daily and amid daily duties, drawing strength from Christ with gratitude, and praying and working together with Him for the lost sheep that they may be recovered from the snare. Deliverance means the mind taken captive to do the devil's will is brought instead into captivity to the will of Christ and into captivity to the will of heaven, with Christ putting His superscription upon the person, and this change comes by beholding Christ unto transformation from glory to glory, requiring falling upon the Rock and being broken so the power of Christ is felt. Safety is found only in turning from human revealings to let the Word speak, in deep searching of the sure prophetic Word as counselor, because it contains warnings, admonitions, rebuke of every evil, merciful invitations and condemnation of evil, with a clear definition of sin as transgression of the law as God's great standard of virtue and holiness, so that no one who studies and applies it will miss the way. This captivity belongs to humanity's alienation from God, from which God desires to set people free through complete transformation requiring the whole heart yielded to Him. Lips must be as touched by a live coal from the altar so that only pure, sanctified, unselfish words bearing God's approval are spoken, giving no occasion for words to be misinterpreted as a whip to hurt brethren, by seeking the Lord to strengthen right principles and by praying more and talking less.
State of the Captive
To be taken captive at his will is to be under Satan's control and direction at his pleasure, caught in his snare while opposing the truth and needing to recover by God's gift of repentance unto acknowledging the truth. That unbelief itself is the snare, and to remain under its power without decided effort to recover is to be held captive, swept at times from seeming strength of faith into gloom and doubt. Those so ensnared can still be recovered, but only by patient, tender instruction that reveals their danger, never by blame, condemnation or ridicule, and their recovery is to be brought into dependence on God through Jesus Christ.
The snare is entered by listening to doubts instead of rejecting them at once, then reasoning and parleying with the deceiver and spreading unbelief that draws others into the same captivity. It is entered when a minister sanctifies sin and lowers the moral standard until judgment is perverted so sin looks like righteousness and righteousness like sin, a corruption that spreads almost unconsciously by association with unelevated tastes and principles. Neglect of duty and selfishness also leave the heart corrupt and captive and hinder the work of God, and yielding thoughts, words and heart to Satan brings a person under his control, so that even after pardon the wounds and scars of defeat remain. This deliverance comes when God grants repentance and the truth is acknowledged through the patient, meek instruction of the Lord's servant toward those who oppose themselves.
No one ensnared can free himself by his own strength; deliverance comes only through God's power in answer to earnest prayer offered in faith. Recovery means being bound to God through Jesus Christ, with dependence on Christ made secure and fast to the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise. When a person begins to seek salvation Satan actively works against the power of Christ and the influence of the Holy Spirit to keep him captive, seeking to make him forget God by misrepresenting God's character and erasing God's image to imprint his own likeness. To be thus captive is to be asleep to danger, feeling secure while Satan exults, tired of conflict, no longer resisting, with the restraining power of truth broken so natural propensities lead without restraint or stopping-place, and without personal effort to resist and extricate oneself the case is nearly hopeless, ending in leaving Christ's banner for Satan's and fixing destiny in loss.
Long resistance to sent testimonies destroys discernment, so that those long held call darkness and error light, reject true light, think themselves very near God while Satan controls them, and cannot recover at once even when they begin to see themselves. Recovery then requires walking in deep humility with continual repentance to redeem the past, and it is not safe to follow their own judgment or to lead or dictate, but to submit to be led by the judgment of those true to the cause. Satan captures through deception by pride, self-exaltation, envy, desire for precedence and confusing doctrines, and some seem unable to escape, especially when indecision and vacillation leave them easily swayed. Therefore every leading spirit must be tested against the whole teaching of God's word and law, for Christ dwelling within is needed to guide desires and give strength to escape, since none can successfully resist alone.
Captivity works progressively, for giving way to temptation weakens for the next trial until a person is led at will, while resisting and gaining victory by trust and grace strengthens for what follows. Even one wrong trait or cherished sinful desire will at last neutralize all the power of the gospel, for every indulgence strengthens aversion to God, and only those who would rather die than do wrong will be found faithful and free. The prodigal who knew the Father's love yet allowed the tempter to lead him illustrates this captive state, as does the soul whose affections are set on this world and who puts off surrender to Jesus until Satan casts his shadow over it and controls it at pleasure, creating an atmosphere of death to spirituality in the home. Gentle, humble, wise and fair counsel that sets sins before the wrongdoer can help such a one recover and see clearly, while harsh humiliating treatment seldom brings reformation.
Persisting in resisting God and refusing to repent gives a person over to Satan to be ruled and controlled according to his will. That mind-controlled condition comes from refusing warning and walking directly against given light, gaining nothing in spiritual power, hindering mental and moral growth, drawing life from another source than Christ, and carrying an influence true children of God cannot respect. Those who see themselves guilty of the very sins reproved in others yet continue because they were not named by name deceive themselves and will come under Satan's power and be left in darkness to their own ways, while those who truly fear God will examine themselves, confess humbly and forsake what displeases Him. Recovery demands determined effort that does not let the present opportunity slip, for those who cannot resist have no power to escape, and the highest of all service is to recover men from the snare and bind them to God through Christ by exemplifying Jesus' love and telling what must be done to be saved.
Ways Into Bondage
People are led step by step into the devil's snare when the soul is not guarded and grace and strength are not sought in weakness, and daily humility and meekness with reliance on God keep one advancing in the divine nature away from that trap. At the very heart of the work men can be blinded and controlled until they serve Satan's purpose at his bidding, becoming self-serving, unthankful, unholy, proud and deceptive with no sense of sin, losing love for God and becoming hard, cold, worldly and careless, wholly destitute of right feeling and holy fruit, while others of some faith are stunted like a sickly plant in bad soil and air. Through such rulers Satan makes things confused and unexplainable to destroy faith that the third angel's message is wise and good, causing loss of souls and defeat in foreign fields, especially in Australia where the vineyard was prepared, with full responsibility to be exposed in the day of judgment. Pleasing, flattering deceptions lead captive those who reject reproof and close themselves to light and counsel sent to them, leaving the way open to be deceived and controlled. Escape requires breaking the trap by turning fully to truth and righteousness, becoming God's children through conversion and submission to discipline, and false scientific studies and philosophy are such a snare holding at Satan's will, broken forever by making the Word of God counsellor and guide, with freedom regained through Christ by the uplifting Spirit restoring self-respect to stand as a conqueror.
The snare holds when depravity unresisted and unconquered answers temptation and brings the soul under control, and those weakened must cast themselves on Christ who alone can change thoughts, turn from error, and transform so words and actions show divine grace working in the heart. A person may be ensnared and held subject to Satan's will by stubbornly pursuing his own course until the Spirit is withdrawn, and being taken captive to do his will can happen time and again, leaving only a cheap surface experience in religious things. Escape from that repeated captivity calls for sanctified knowledge, for there is no sanctified ignorance, because God's work demands all there is of a person. Those caught need help to escape, not treatment that drives them further in, but sympathy for every troubled soul to help them out, promoting God's glory and frustrating Satan. Recovery comes through sincere repentance, confession and pardon with self-denial and humility before God, as Jesus cleanses from sin and transforms character, while in the church some who stumble will recover and others yielding to temptation and giving room to doubts and evil surmisings will make shipwreck of faith.
Recovery requires fellow believers to put away haughtiness and lack of faith and confidence toward brethren, to stop drawing apart and surmising evil, and to manifest sincere sympathy for the erring, since distrust and separation grieve the Spirit. One taken by carrying out his own purposes and way to entangle his soul can retrace steps and escape to become free, not in his own strength but in Jesus' strength with all perseverance and determined will to break habit and dismiss the adversary long entertained. It means exchanging guests and welcoming Jesus to possess the soul temple, for Jesus does not share the heart with Satan, and even late a determined effort in Jesus' strength can succeed. Children allowed to follow every wish and indulged in what is harmful can lose regard for parental and divine authority and become captives of Satan's influence. Men are bound in sin's slavery by a relentless foe who claims this world as his kingdom and holds prisoners to do his will, and only the Sent of God can overcome him, as Christ the Restorer, Prince of heaven meeting the prince of darkness, fulfills His anointed mission to preach deliverance to the captives, with recovery through sincere repentance and cleansing as the humbled deny self, take up the cross and follow, while Sanitarium employees and medical students must be guarded lest the devil's temptations as snares lead them into captivity.
Continuing in sin and refusing correction, confession and repentance leads to being held captive and directed by Satan's will, and those who cut themselves off from appointed means of correction and guidance are left in darkness and ensnared. Those controlled by the world rather than God's Spirit are captives who may be led into sin to unknown lengths. Those caught and held need help to escape, and those struggling with strong temptations at risk of being overcome are to be approached, prayed with and pointed to Jesus, a work belonging to physicians as well as ministers. When the sinner enslaved by sin flees to Jesus and trusts fully, Christ enters the battle against the prince of darkness and through His strength victory and everlasting life can be gained. Jesus met the discouraged, sick, tempted and fallen with tender pity and words they needed and could understand, encouraging those fighting the adversary to persevere with assurance of winning because God's angels were on their side to give victory.
Those who cause division and confusion can be serving Satan and caught in his snare, and God marks their work so honest people can recognize the danger and escape. Those entrapped by deception must recover, for entertaining doubts instead of rejecting them gives heed to the tempter and catches in his reasoning without freedom. When they depart from right and yield to Satan they are in danger, but when they turn back, plead humbly and confess wrongs, God's angels come to aid and rescue from evil power. Rejected warnings and light leave a person more firmly caught while Christ repeatedly seeks to save from ruin, so those caught must be reached with the word of life and the Scriptures before they pass beyond reach and are drawn further into the enemy's plans, and those seeming unwilling or hopeless as the dead are not to be given up but reached without delay. The snare also holds in self-deception with self-righteous covering and a form of truth without sanctifying influence, feeling conviction and force while listening yet losing softening impressions and remaining a forgetful hearer not established and settled, leading others to think more highly than can be borne until deception is removed and the true self appears, and breaking away means investigating motives and acts as in light of eternity, refusing to mislead others or deceive the soul and mock God, weighing every move instead of impulse, for it is not too late to become a Christian.
Vulnerability comes when watching stops, besetting sins are not recognized, and darkness is let to grow around. Satan uses deception to hold in his power and keep from Christ, catching those not firmly established in truth, and persecuting those he cannot lead into sin. Greater light and long experience bring more determined effort to delude and drive where Satan wills, yet God sends warnings and reproofs to save from that captive position, and remaining there affects not him alone, for many who love and trust him are brought into perplexity and doubt and may through his example make shipwreck of faith. Every stirring of strife with accusing and condemning lays a snare taking captive and destroying usefulness, and escape requires keeping baptismal vows, bearing clear decided testimony in the Spirit's power, having a clear record in heaven, examining the soul, and loving God supremely and neighbor as self, without which none will be ready for the Lord's coming. Being fastened for time and eternity results from continuing to accuse, tattle and magnify others' wrongs while neglecting heart work and culture of the soul, persisting in suspicion, faultfinding and tongues set on fire until self-deception and blindness to the heart's state grow, the day of opportunity passes, and all sense of wrong and need of repentance is removed into blindness of mind, hardness of heart and confusion and every evil work, so escape requires repenting, being converted, and letting Christ's grace control the tongue before it is forever too late.
Path to Freedom
Recovery from the devil's snare has actually happened, and it remains possible for others still held fast. Brother M is an instance of one who did recover himself out of that snare. Christ works to free those Satan holds in his toils, while Satan fights hard to keep his advantage over them. Every ray of light rejected fastens the person more surely in the snare and leaves him in a more dangerous condition than before. Selfish neglect, as seen when Angeline rejected reproof and the light given her, closed herself to counsel, let Satan gain her confidence through flattering deceptions, and neglected her parents, is evidence of being led captive to do his will.
To be in the snare is to follow an unchristian, deceptive course that puts carrying out personal plans above every temporal and spiritual interest and brings sorrow, anxiety and discouragement upon the cause of God. Escape from that course requires seeing it as unchristian, letting the heart break before God, working as for eternity, and entering into no further deception, for no excuse for such a perverted course will stand in judgment. Coming to the right mind means leaving human-imposed yokes that entrap and restrict, accepting Christ's yoke instead so as to be left free, with truth shaping the character. Working long away from the principles of truth and righteousness entangles a person under satanic agencies, receiving education in seductive theories from that source, until taken captive in the enemy's snare with no power in himself to escape.
Those who renounce the truth and speak falsehoods against God and His people are taken captive in the devil's snare and need to be recovered from it. That recovery is a work of pity and personal effort, carried on without bitterness and without desire to injure those who have done wrong, remembering that there is a judgment when every man's work will be brought in review and every man will receive according to his works. Breaking the snare means heeding warning, taking a stand with fellow believers, and choosing to serve the Lord, while satanic agencies work to prevent good from being done. A determined effort is required to recover from being caught in the devil's snare. Deluded souls ensnared by Satan need to be saved rather than held at a distance, through self-denying, skillful, sympathetic efforts to help them rather than cold, judgmental treatment.
Satan works with vehement power to divert the minds of multitudes so they will not understand and obey the truth, entangling them with every snare he can devise. Those who persist in sin and refuse to humble themselves and confess are in danger of becoming his captives, caught in his snares and led toward ruin. Repentance, wholehearted seeking of God, confession, and receiving the sanctifying power of truth open the way for the Holy Spirit to transform them, and Christ's grace is sufficient to bring about this change. Erring brethren may recover themselves from the devil's snare, and their faults do not mean God has forsaken them. They should be approached with the aim of helping and restoring them, rather than exposing or condemning them.
The spell of Satan over those held captive must be broken so they can be awakened and freed and can recover. Spiritual delusions can bring people into captivity to the powers of darkness while they remain unaware of where they stumble. Those spiritually blinded who exalt a fallible person instead of standing in the light are in danger of this captivity. The snare can involve new teachings out of harmony with the message that exert a bewitching influence, yet those caught can be brought back to where they can be helped through personal conversation and counsel, though full recovery may take time. Those caught in Satan's snare can be helped to recognize their past course and be wrenched free from his influence.
Many claiming to obey the truth and claiming to be Christian are captives to Satan's rule in his snare. They reveal the attributes of Satan, counteract the advancement of truth in spirit, word and action, act on the principles of the power of darkness, follow the path where Satan leads, and grasp in hardness of heart authority that in no way belongs to them. Because they have submitted to his way so long, they have no power of themselves to go free. Fallen sinners recover from Satan's power when they repent, confess and forsake their sins, abhor them, and seek strength from Jesus Christ. Recovery from the devil's snare requires humility and willingness to be broken on Christ the Rock, with self dead, new habits formed, and strong inclinations and propensities overcome. Since enemies within and without can overcome a person, recovery is not assured if that person refuses the contest and dependence on Christ.
Those taken captive by the devil at his will are wandering in the mazes of sin and still under Satan's control. Those who have received the tender compassion and grace of Christ are to repeat that compassion to them, tenderly revealing the grace revealed to themselves, with great tenderness filling the soul for them. Christ is to be multiplied in every believing man and woman, who are to live over His life in blessing and enlightening them and bringing hope and peace and joy to their hearts. Those bound in Satan's toils can remain the most confident and boastful, protesting at the thought they are ensnared even though they truly are, so no soul should ever be left unwarned. Falling into sin puts a person in the devil's snare from which he must recover himself, yet the Lord loves the one so taken captive despite weakness and imperfections and gives him opportunity and trial to recover.
Recovery comes through repentance and confession, whereas deception in their place, followed by accusing and falsifying after Satan's manner, means the captive never recovers himself. Careless habits and unchecked temptations can entangle young people in the devil's snare until they can no longer recover themselves, so education must teach them to resist temptation at its first step. Souls ensnared by Satan and led captive by widespread deceptive errors, subtle reasonings, turning from truth to fables, and strong delusions can still be recovered from his power. That recovery comes through proper labor done in pitying tenderness that shows the poor deluded souls their danger and how grievous their course is toward Christ, presenting precious truth in its native force. Censure, blame, condemnation and ridicule of the position held by those in error will not open their blind eyes nor attract them to the truth.
A person held captive by Satan recovers from his control when self is humbled and the heart turns to God in repentance. Repentance and confession are the Spirit's work, and in each case of repentance Satan loses his hold and Christ wins a victory. Submission to satanic captivity is astonishing, and the accumulated evil can be resisted only through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit in full divine power. Satan's bewitching spirit and power deceives and takes captive, captivating the mind and steeling the heart against counsel so that no possibility of error is admitted and warnings are dismissed as an idle tale. Recovery comes by accepting warnings and Christ's plain instruction for treating those supposed to be in error, and by coming to the light instead of refusing it lest deeds be reproved and uniting with others to walk in the sparks of one's own kindling.
Evil angels take captive the mind of a man who teaches seductive error, placing the speaker under their control while he speaks. This applies to enthusiastic public presentation of scientific theories akin to pantheism about life and the relation of God to all living things, cloaked somewhat yet set forth as of highest value before associate physicians and ministers after long study and preparation to lead souls to adopt those ideas. The wily tempter has led people captive, but the Lord will give grace to all who turn from unrighteousness and break with him. Escape comes by laying down the weapons of warfare and coming into harmony with the truth of Christ, surrendering soul, body and spirit to Him who bought them with the price of His own blood. The blessings of heaven cannot be bought with merchandise, and all who make this surrender need not despair of God's mercy.
Work of Rescuing Others
Rescue from the devil's snare comes through wise, patient, judicious personal missionary labor that binds the staggering tempted soul to Christ and leads to trust in God. This requires studying character and manner to deal judiciously with different minds, reading the Bible with those who need help, drawing minds from temporal things to eternal interests, and prayerfully showing a person his true character, peculiarities of disposition and infirmities, carefully managing the case because eternal interests are at stake. Words and acts in this work are a savor of life unto life or of death unto death, and when the heart is touched all heaven rejoices over the precious soul rescued, for it pays to work intelligently in unison with the Master since Christ paid His own life for souls and His followers are their brother's keeper. Parents protect inexperienced children from Satan's snares and harmful influences by forgiving and kindly instructing them, keeping their trust and encouraging them to share trials and joys, while lack of wisdom to recognize devices and resist snares lets rebellion grow through indulgence. Slavery to fashion and outward display is such a snare leading away from Bible study, prayer, worship and obedience, and recovery means making the Bible the rule of life; more broadly Satan works with many deceptions, wiles and sophistry cunningly prepared to entangle the unwary, and those in danger must escape to be fully on the Lord's side, loving and waiting and earnestly longing for the Saviour's appearing in the clouds lest amid last-day perils they make shipwreck. Those struggling with strong temptation in danger of being overcome by satanic powers are to be helped by prayer and pointed to Jesus as righteousness, strength and source of health.
Inactivity of mind and body gives invalids greater opportunity to indulge impure imagination and self-abuse and to be captured by Satan's temptations, and useful well-directed labor helps occupy the mind and guard against the danger. Satan's snares also draw many away through the influence of others into harmful error from which they need to escape his captivity. The snare is entered through sin, for covetousness and pursuit of worldly gain and honor can turn a person from God's service, and one departure from integrity makes further wrongdoing easier, so that those who give themselves to avarice and desire for power become Satan's captives and seldom escape. Seeing defects and weakness leads those taken captive and left in spiritual danger to recognize need of a personal Saviour and come to Christ as strength and hope. Continuing in the snare means remaining under his instruction with a diseased soul, unable to reason correctly, as under a strange spell, practicing sins and evils and imperiling the soul, and recovery requires thorough repentance, breaking away from sins, relying forever on God's power and grace, placing oneself under the Holy Spirit's influence, and coming back at once to the straight and narrow path of holiness, with the Lord healing the soul's disease and forgiving misconception of true religion as He forgave Paul. A person breaks free by heeding warning and taking a firm position on the Lord's side.
Possession can mean evil angels conversing with a person and filling him with their spirit, so that at times he says and does things whose nature he himself does not understand and is powerless to escape, while at other times he appears rational, and such need deliverance. Children in evil are in Satan's snare and parents are to draw them out by correction administered in gentleness and love, for correcting in anger provokes obstinacy and rebellion, arouses the worst passions of children's hearts, and confirms them in evil instead of recovering them. Being taken captive at his will includes entanglement through cherishing jealousy and a wrong spirit in the home, as when a husband harbors strong temptations and acts under them with an oppressive spirit and cutting, wounding words toward his wife, expecting a long course of injustice and cruelty to wear her into submission to his mind. Then Satan stands close by exulting over him and filling him with his own spirit of intensity until he has no self-control, and dwelling on supposed wrongs causes loss of all the good the Spirit of God was working, palsying powers of mind and soul, wounding the wife's spirit, taking all happiness out of her life and driving her to desperation, with help only in God and unless he becomes truly converted with radical change in thoughts and heart he remains under Satan's control. One taken in the snare can recover with God as mighty helper and faith now tried becoming victory, and having recovered the Lord strengthens and keeps him and fits him for a place where he can be a more efficient worker in saving a world to be saved, looking to the Lamb of God who takes away sin. Recovery means having Satan's every gin and snare and device broken, even when worked through wife and family ties to hurt, discourage, harass, perplex and dwarf and cripple religious experience, by standing in God-given manhood, maintaining principle, staying free from every snare, clinging to God-given work, wanting and learning to do God's will, lying low at Jesus' feet in humility, pressing closer to the Redeemer, and receiving from Jesus wisdom, fortitude, courage, strength and help; the devil does not readily give up his captives, so breaking free from Freemasonry for example is difficult, but God deals with the captive and thorough conversion is hoped for.
Ministers and physicians must unitedly and earnestly work to save souls bound up in Satan's snare and struggling with strong temptations in danger of being overcome in the fight with satanic agencies, continually watching for souls and pointing men and women to Jesus as righteousness, strength and health of countenance. The work is done by public and private effort to win souls to Christ, not passing by anyone in danger but engaging in conversation even with a stranger, praying with him and pointing him to Jesus. Degraded passions and sinful practices can blind and ruin a person while Satan and his agents keep him in that condition, and merely waiting for circumstances to change does not bring freedom, for the person lacks energy and will to escape without making the necessary effort. Those caught can recover by accepting in humility the light God has sent even when previously refused, which leads to salvation, while rejecting and failing to act on light makes the path darker and recovery harder; they need rescue from bondage by turning to Jesus, seeking salvation, confessing sins and repenting without delay, though Satan tries to silence the plea for help and keep them in sin and despair. Escape comes when breaking free from deceptive influence and becoming teachable, with humility and reconversion restoring to God's family; even one held in Satan's bands and stronghold until hopeless and feelingless, saying it is no use to try because he cannot be a Christian, yet feeling remains and can break loose and turn to the Lord again with full purpose of heart shown in practical obedience such as breaking the Sabbath no more.
Tempted wrongdoers are under Satan's bewitching power and taken captive by him, occupying the same position toward God that all have occupied, and they are to be drawn away from Satan and not thrust further into his power. Harshness, stern dealing, cutting them loose from religious influences, and making public their errors hardens the heart, helps Satan fasten them in sin, and becomes the means of their destruction, so they are to be handled with Christ's tenderness and gentleness, with tact and patience, putting self in the wrongdoer's place, shielding them from exposure, letting mercy and forgiveness fall upon them, with deep longing of soul not to destroy but to see the soul converted. Christians should strive for eternal life in God's strength so they can help those fallen into the snare who lack power to escape. One given great light, talents and ability can be caught in Satan's snare and held in his bands, and those gifts will not save but lay heavier responsibility requiring full and entire consecration to God, and recovery means Satan does not prevail but his bands are broken and he comes boldly to the front to give earnest effort at the very time most needed, a deliverance sought and supported by persistent intercessory prayer night and day. The call to return to God and repent presents conversion as breaking Satan's chains and coming fully to the Lord's side, for precious souls in peril from snares and temptations must not be left to become his prey, and ministers' rash unwise actions can expose souls to that danger. Satan ensnares by swaying minds toward wrong paths to hold captive to his will, and they must make a determined Christlike effort to break free and defeat his purpose.
The verse describes people who oppose the truth and oppose themselves, taken in the devil's snare and held captive to do his will at his pleasure, who may recover themselves when God grants them repentance unto acknowledging the truth. No captive can free himself by his own strength, but must be delivered by God's power in answer to earnest prayer, with Christ dwelling within and dependence made fast to the throne of promise. Entering that bondage comes step by step by yielding thoughts and heart, listening to doubts and spreading unbelief, neglecting duty and cherishing selfishness, until giving way weakens for the next trial and long resistance destroys discernment. Recovery comes by repenting, confessing, forsaking and abhorring sin, being broken on the Rock with self dead, beholding Christ until the mind is brought into captivity to Him, and humbly submitting to be led rather than trusting one's own judgment. Rescuing such souls is the highest service, done not by striving, censure or driving them further away, but by wise patient labor in meekness and fear, with strong yet gentle reasons of faith, tender pity, prayer, and the Bible opened with them, trusting God to grant repentance.
Verse Setting and Terms
The verse belongs to the charge to the Lord's servant to avoid foolish and unlearned questions because they gender strife, and to not strive but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, so that God may grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil in which they are taken captive to do his will. Being approved unto God by study and rightly dividing the word of truth fits the minister for this rescuing work, and fleeing youthful lusts while following righteousness, faith, charity and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart belongs to the same preparation. Gentle, patient instruction rather than excitement, argument or strife is the appointed means by which opposers may be led to repent, acknowledge the truth, and escape the captivity in which the devil holds them subject to his will. Straying church members likewise need such conversion and repentance, lest they lead others away from Christ.
Those described are persons who oppose themselves and oppose the truth, caught in the devil's snare and held captive by him to do his will at his will. They may recover themselves from that captivity when God grants them repentance unto acknowledging the truth, and meek instruction without quarrelling is given to turn them from error to freedom. The servant works in gentleness to all, aptness to teach and patience, avoiding questions that gender strifes, that this divine gift of repentance may reach them.
Strong arguments presented in meekness and in the fear of God are the power that will convince, and the minister must give the reasons of the faith not in a boisterous manner and not with striving, but with self-discipline, Bible study, and ability in word and doctrine. This warfare belongs to the last days of peril, for ministers war not merely against men but against Satan and his angels, requiring wise generalship and trust that God will give opposers repentance so they recover from the snare. Those who instruct opposers, including opposers of obedience to the Lord's Sabbath, must therefore teach gently and patiently because the devil holds the ensnared captive to do his will. The faithful shepherd must still do the disagreeable work of plainly pointing out mistakes, reproving, rebuking and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine whether pleasant or unpleasant, even when misunderstood by those blindfolded by the enemy who cannot discern their own defects; souls when reproved can free themselves from the devil's control if they will, but if in self-sufficiency they refuse to acknowledge error, act as if insulted, turn from truth to fables and cherish revenge against the reprover, the Holy Spirit cannot work with them and the Lord cannot convince them of danger. God designs no schisms but a people sound in principle, rightly dividing truth and not striving about words to the subverting of hearers, and the teacher must be qualified and not teach in a confusing manner.
The verse calls church members in time of special evangelistic effort to bring the chapter into practical life by waking from a self-satisfied, indifferent, backslidden condition, searching the heart, confessing and repenting of sin, living in perfect harmony, clearing the way and helping with means, attending meetings armed and equipped for service, praying daily and amid daily duties, drawing strength from Christ with gratitude, and praying and working together with Him for the lost sheep that they may be recovered from the snare. Deliverance means the mind taken captive to do the devil's will is brought instead into captivity to the will of Christ and into captivity to the will of heaven, with Christ putting His superscription upon the person, and this change comes by beholding Christ unto transformation from glory to glory, requiring falling upon the Rock and being broken so the power of Christ is felt. Safety is found only in turning from human revealings to let the Word speak, in deep searching of the sure prophetic Word as counselor, because it contains warnings, admonitions, rebuke of every evil, merciful invitations and condemnation of evil, with a clear definition of sin as transgression of the law as God's great standard of virtue and holiness, so that no one who studies and applies it will miss the way. This captivity belongs to humanity's alienation from God, from which God desires to set people free through complete transformation requiring the whole heart yielded to Him. Lips must be as touched by a live coal from the altar so that only pure, sanctified, unselfish words bearing God's approval are spoken, giving no occasion for words to be misinterpreted as a whip to hurt brethren, by seeking the Lord to strengthen right principles and by praying more and talking less.
State of the Captive
To be taken captive at his will is to be under Satan's control and direction at his pleasure, caught in his snare while opposing the truth and needing to recover by God's gift of repentance unto acknowledging the truth. That unbelief itself is the snare, and to remain under its power without decided effort to recover is to be held captive, swept at times from seeming strength of faith into gloom and doubt. Those so ensnared can still be recovered, but only by patient, tender instruction that reveals their danger, never by blame, condemnation or ridicule, and their recovery is to be brought into dependence on God through Jesus Christ.
The snare is entered by listening to doubts instead of rejecting them at once, then reasoning and parleying with the deceiver and spreading unbelief that draws others into the same captivity. It is entered when a minister sanctifies sin and lowers the moral standard until judgment is perverted so sin looks like righteousness and righteousness like sin, a corruption that spreads almost unconsciously by association with unelevated tastes and principles. Neglect of duty and selfishness also leave the heart corrupt and captive and hinder the work of God, and yielding thoughts, words and heart to Satan brings a person under his control, so that even after pardon the wounds and scars of defeat remain. This deliverance comes when God grants repentance and the truth is acknowledged through the patient, meek instruction of the Lord's servant toward those who oppose themselves.
No one ensnared can free himself by his own strength; deliverance comes only through God's power in answer to earnest prayer offered in faith. Recovery means being bound to God through Jesus Christ, with dependence on Christ made secure and fast to the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise. When a person begins to seek salvation Satan actively works against the power of Christ and the influence of the Holy Spirit to keep him captive, seeking to make him forget God by misrepresenting God's character and erasing God's image to imprint his own likeness. To be thus captive is to be asleep to danger, feeling secure while Satan exults, tired of conflict, no longer resisting, with the restraining power of truth broken so natural propensities lead without restraint or stopping-place, and without personal effort to resist and extricate oneself the case is nearly hopeless, ending in leaving Christ's banner for Satan's and fixing destiny in loss.
Long resistance to sent testimonies destroys discernment, so that those long held call darkness and error light, reject true light, think themselves very near God while Satan controls them, and cannot recover at once even when they begin to see themselves. Recovery then requires walking in deep humility with continual repentance to redeem the past, and it is not safe to follow their own judgment or to lead or dictate, but to submit to be led by the judgment of those true to the cause. Satan captures through deception by pride, self-exaltation, envy, desire for precedence and confusing doctrines, and some seem unable to escape, especially when indecision and vacillation leave them easily swayed. Therefore every leading spirit must be tested against the whole teaching of God's word and law, for Christ dwelling within is needed to guide desires and give strength to escape, since none can successfully resist alone.
Captivity works progressively, for giving way to temptation weakens for the next trial until a person is led at will, while resisting and gaining victory by trust and grace strengthens for what follows. Even one wrong trait or cherished sinful desire will at last neutralize all the power of the gospel, for every indulgence strengthens aversion to God, and only those who would rather die than do wrong will be found faithful and free. The prodigal who knew the Father's love yet allowed the tempter to lead him illustrates this captive state, as does the soul whose affections are set on this world and who puts off surrender to Jesus until Satan casts his shadow over it and controls it at pleasure, creating an atmosphere of death to spirituality in the home. Gentle, humble, wise and fair counsel that sets sins before the wrongdoer can help such a one recover and see clearly, while harsh humiliating treatment seldom brings reformation.
Persisting in resisting God and refusing to repent gives a person over to Satan to be ruled and controlled according to his will. That mind-controlled condition comes from refusing warning and walking directly against given light, gaining nothing in spiritual power, hindering mental and moral growth, drawing life from another source than Christ, and carrying an influence true children of God cannot respect. Those who see themselves guilty of the very sins reproved in others yet continue because they were not named by name deceive themselves and will come under Satan's power and be left in darkness to their own ways, while those who truly fear God will examine themselves, confess humbly and forsake what displeases Him. Recovery demands determined effort that does not let the present opportunity slip, for those who cannot resist have no power to escape, and the highest of all service is to recover men from the snare and bind them to God through Christ by exemplifying Jesus' love and telling what must be done to be saved.
Ways Into Bondage
People are led step by step into the devil's snare when the soul is not guarded and grace and strength are not sought in weakness, and daily humility and meekness with reliance on God keep one advancing in the divine nature away from that trap. At the very heart of the work men can be blinded and controlled until they serve Satan's purpose at his bidding, becoming self-serving, unthankful, unholy, proud and deceptive with no sense of sin, losing love for God and becoming hard, cold, worldly and careless, wholly destitute of right feeling and holy fruit, while others of some faith are stunted like a sickly plant in bad soil and air. Through such rulers Satan makes things confused and unexplainable to destroy faith that the third angel's message is wise and good, causing loss of souls and defeat in foreign fields, especially in Australia where the vineyard was prepared, with full responsibility to be exposed in the day of judgment. Pleasing, flattering deceptions lead captive those who reject reproof and close themselves to light and counsel sent to them, leaving the way open to be deceived and controlled. Escape requires breaking the trap by turning fully to truth and righteousness, becoming God's children through conversion and submission to discipline, and false scientific studies and philosophy are such a snare holding at Satan's will, broken forever by making the Word of God counsellor and guide, with freedom regained through Christ by the uplifting Spirit restoring self-respect to stand as a conqueror.
The snare holds when depravity unresisted and unconquered answers temptation and brings the soul under control, and those weakened must cast themselves on Christ who alone can change thoughts, turn from error, and transform so words and actions show divine grace working in the heart. A person may be ensnared and held subject to Satan's will by stubbornly pursuing his own course until the Spirit is withdrawn, and being taken captive to do his will can happen time and again, leaving only a cheap surface experience in religious things. Escape from that repeated captivity calls for sanctified knowledge, for there is no sanctified ignorance, because God's work demands all there is of a person. Those caught need help to escape, not treatment that drives them further in, but sympathy for every troubled soul to help them out, promoting God's glory and frustrating Satan. Recovery comes through sincere repentance, confession and pardon with self-denial and humility before God, as Jesus cleanses from sin and transforms character, while in the church some who stumble will recover and others yielding to temptation and giving room to doubts and evil surmisings will make shipwreck of faith.
Recovery requires fellow believers to put away haughtiness and lack of faith and confidence toward brethren, to stop drawing apart and surmising evil, and to manifest sincere sympathy for the erring, since distrust and separation grieve the Spirit. One taken by carrying out his own purposes and way to entangle his soul can retrace steps and escape to become free, not in his own strength but in Jesus' strength with all perseverance and determined will to break habit and dismiss the adversary long entertained. It means exchanging guests and welcoming Jesus to possess the soul temple, for Jesus does not share the heart with Satan, and even late a determined effort in Jesus' strength can succeed. Children allowed to follow every wish and indulged in what is harmful can lose regard for parental and divine authority and become captives of Satan's influence. Men are bound in sin's slavery by a relentless foe who claims this world as his kingdom and holds prisoners to do his will, and only the Sent of God can overcome him, as Christ the Restorer, Prince of heaven meeting the prince of darkness, fulfills His anointed mission to preach deliverance to the captives, with recovery through sincere repentance and cleansing as the humbled deny self, take up the cross and follow, while Sanitarium employees and medical students must be guarded lest the devil's temptations as snares lead them into captivity.
Continuing in sin and refusing correction, confession and repentance leads to being held captive and directed by Satan's will, and those who cut themselves off from appointed means of correction and guidance are left in darkness and ensnared. Those controlled by the world rather than God's Spirit are captives who may be led into sin to unknown lengths. Those caught and held need help to escape, and those struggling with strong temptations at risk of being overcome are to be approached, prayed with and pointed to Jesus, a work belonging to physicians as well as ministers. When the sinner enslaved by sin flees to Jesus and trusts fully, Christ enters the battle against the prince of darkness and through His strength victory and everlasting life can be gained. Jesus met the discouraged, sick, tempted and fallen with tender pity and words they needed and could understand, encouraging those fighting the adversary to persevere with assurance of winning because God's angels were on their side to give victory.
Those who cause division and confusion can be serving Satan and caught in his snare, and God marks their work so honest people can recognize the danger and escape. Those entrapped by deception must recover, for entertaining doubts instead of rejecting them gives heed to the tempter and catches in his reasoning without freedom. When they depart from right and yield to Satan they are in danger, but when they turn back, plead humbly and confess wrongs, God's angels come to aid and rescue from evil power. Rejected warnings and light leave a person more firmly caught while Christ repeatedly seeks to save from ruin, so those caught must be reached with the word of life and the Scriptures before they pass beyond reach and are drawn further into the enemy's plans, and those seeming unwilling or hopeless as the dead are not to be given up but reached without delay. The snare also holds in self-deception with self-righteous covering and a form of truth without sanctifying influence, feeling conviction and force while listening yet losing softening impressions and remaining a forgetful hearer not established and settled, leading others to think more highly than can be borne until deception is removed and the true self appears, and breaking away means investigating motives and acts as in light of eternity, refusing to mislead others or deceive the soul and mock God, weighing every move instead of impulse, for it is not too late to become a Christian.
Vulnerability comes when watching stops, besetting sins are not recognized, and darkness is let to grow around. Satan uses deception to hold in his power and keep from Christ, catching those not firmly established in truth, and persecuting those he cannot lead into sin. Greater light and long experience bring more determined effort to delude and drive where Satan wills, yet God sends warnings and reproofs to save from that captive position, and remaining there affects not him alone, for many who love and trust him are brought into perplexity and doubt and may through his example make shipwreck of faith. Every stirring of strife with accusing and condemning lays a snare taking captive and destroying usefulness, and escape requires keeping baptismal vows, bearing clear decided testimony in the Spirit's power, having a clear record in heaven, examining the soul, and loving God supremely and neighbor as self, without which none will be ready for the Lord's coming. Being fastened for time and eternity results from continuing to accuse, tattle and magnify others' wrongs while neglecting heart work and culture of the soul, persisting in suspicion, faultfinding and tongues set on fire until self-deception and blindness to the heart's state grow, the day of opportunity passes, and all sense of wrong and need of repentance is removed into blindness of mind, hardness of heart and confusion and every evil work, so escape requires repenting, being converted, and letting Christ's grace control the tongue before it is forever too late.
Path to Freedom
Recovery from the devil's snare has actually happened, and it remains possible for others still held fast. Brother M is an instance of one who did recover himself out of that snare. Christ works to free those Satan holds in his toils, while Satan fights hard to keep his advantage over them. Every ray of light rejected fastens the person more surely in the snare and leaves him in a more dangerous condition than before. Selfish neglect, as seen when Angeline rejected reproof and the light given her, closed herself to counsel, let Satan gain her confidence through flattering deceptions, and neglected her parents, is evidence of being led captive to do his will.
To be in the snare is to follow an unchristian, deceptive course that puts carrying out personal plans above every temporal and spiritual interest and brings sorrow, anxiety and discouragement upon the cause of God. Escape from that course requires seeing it as unchristian, letting the heart break before God, working as for eternity, and entering into no further deception, for no excuse for such a perverted course will stand in judgment. Coming to the right mind means leaving human-imposed yokes that entrap and restrict, accepting Christ's yoke instead so as to be left free, with truth shaping the character. Working long away from the principles of truth and righteousness entangles a person under satanic agencies, receiving education in seductive theories from that source, until taken captive in the enemy's snare with no power in himself to escape.
Those who renounce the truth and speak falsehoods against God and His people are taken captive in the devil's snare and need to be recovered from it. That recovery is a work of pity and personal effort, carried on without bitterness and without desire to injure those who have done wrong, remembering that there is a judgment when every man's work will be brought in review and every man will receive according to his works. Breaking the snare means heeding warning, taking a stand with fellow believers, and choosing to serve the Lord, while satanic agencies work to prevent good from being done. A determined effort is required to recover from being caught in the devil's snare. Deluded souls ensnared by Satan need to be saved rather than held at a distance, through self-denying, skillful, sympathetic efforts to help them rather than cold, judgmental treatment.
Satan works with vehement power to divert the minds of multitudes so they will not understand and obey the truth, entangling them with every snare he can devise. Those who persist in sin and refuse to humble themselves and confess are in danger of becoming his captives, caught in his snares and led toward ruin. Repentance, wholehearted seeking of God, confession, and receiving the sanctifying power of truth open the way for the Holy Spirit to transform them, and Christ's grace is sufficient to bring about this change. Erring brethren may recover themselves from the devil's snare, and their faults do not mean God has forsaken them. They should be approached with the aim of helping and restoring them, rather than exposing or condemning them.
The spell of Satan over those held captive must be broken so they can be awakened and freed and can recover. Spiritual delusions can bring people into captivity to the powers of darkness while they remain unaware of where they stumble. Those spiritually blinded who exalt a fallible person instead of standing in the light are in danger of this captivity. The snare can involve new teachings out of harmony with the message that exert a bewitching influence, yet those caught can be brought back to where they can be helped through personal conversation and counsel, though full recovery may take time. Those caught in Satan's snare can be helped to recognize their past course and be wrenched free from his influence.
Many claiming to obey the truth and claiming to be Christian are captives to Satan's rule in his snare. They reveal the attributes of Satan, counteract the advancement of truth in spirit, word and action, act on the principles of the power of darkness, follow the path where Satan leads, and grasp in hardness of heart authority that in no way belongs to them. Because they have submitted to his way so long, they have no power of themselves to go free. Fallen sinners recover from Satan's power when they repent, confess and forsake their sins, abhor them, and seek strength from Jesus Christ. Recovery from the devil's snare requires humility and willingness to be broken on Christ the Rock, with self dead, new habits formed, and strong inclinations and propensities overcome. Since enemies within and without can overcome a person, recovery is not assured if that person refuses the contest and dependence on Christ.
Those taken captive by the devil at his will are wandering in the mazes of sin and still under Satan's control. Those who have received the tender compassion and grace of Christ are to repeat that compassion to them, tenderly revealing the grace revealed to themselves, with great tenderness filling the soul for them. Christ is to be multiplied in every believing man and woman, who are to live over His life in blessing and enlightening them and bringing hope and peace and joy to their hearts. Those bound in Satan's toils can remain the most confident and boastful, protesting at the thought they are ensnared even though they truly are, so no soul should ever be left unwarned. Falling into sin puts a person in the devil's snare from which he must recover himself, yet the Lord loves the one so taken captive despite weakness and imperfections and gives him opportunity and trial to recover.
Recovery comes through repentance and confession, whereas deception in their place, followed by accusing and falsifying after Satan's manner, means the captive never recovers himself. Careless habits and unchecked temptations can entangle young people in the devil's snare until they can no longer recover themselves, so education must teach them to resist temptation at its first step. Souls ensnared by Satan and led captive by widespread deceptive errors, subtle reasonings, turning from truth to fables, and strong delusions can still be recovered from his power. That recovery comes through proper labor done in pitying tenderness that shows the poor deluded souls their danger and how grievous their course is toward Christ, presenting precious truth in its native force. Censure, blame, condemnation and ridicule of the position held by those in error will not open their blind eyes nor attract them to the truth.
A person held captive by Satan recovers from his control when self is humbled and the heart turns to God in repentance. Repentance and confession are the Spirit's work, and in each case of repentance Satan loses his hold and Christ wins a victory. Submission to satanic captivity is astonishing, and the accumulated evil can be resisted only through the mighty power of the Holy Spirit in full divine power. Satan's bewitching spirit and power deceives and takes captive, captivating the mind and steeling the heart against counsel so that no possibility of error is admitted and warnings are dismissed as an idle tale. Recovery comes by accepting warnings and Christ's plain instruction for treating those supposed to be in error, and by coming to the light instead of refusing it lest deeds be reproved and uniting with others to walk in the sparks of one's own kindling.
Evil angels take captive the mind of a man who teaches seductive error, placing the speaker under their control while he speaks. This applies to enthusiastic public presentation of scientific theories akin to pantheism about life and the relation of God to all living things, cloaked somewhat yet set forth as of highest value before associate physicians and ministers after long study and preparation to lead souls to adopt those ideas. The wily tempter has led people captive, but the Lord will give grace to all who turn from unrighteousness and break with him. Escape comes by laying down the weapons of warfare and coming into harmony with the truth of Christ, surrendering soul, body and spirit to Him who bought them with the price of His own blood. The blessings of heaven cannot be bought with merchandise, and all who make this surrender need not despair of God's mercy.
Work of Rescuing Others
Rescue from the devil's snare comes through wise, patient, judicious personal missionary labor that binds the staggering tempted soul to Christ and leads to trust in God. This requires studying character and manner to deal judiciously with different minds, reading the Bible with those who need help, drawing minds from temporal things to eternal interests, and prayerfully showing a person his true character, peculiarities of disposition and infirmities, carefully managing the case because eternal interests are at stake. Words and acts in this work are a savor of life unto life or of death unto death, and when the heart is touched all heaven rejoices over the precious soul rescued, for it pays to work intelligently in unison with the Master since Christ paid His own life for souls and His followers are their brother's keeper. Parents protect inexperienced children from Satan's snares and harmful influences by forgiving and kindly instructing them, keeping their trust and encouraging them to share trials and joys, while lack of wisdom to recognize devices and resist snares lets rebellion grow through indulgence. Slavery to fashion and outward display is such a snare leading away from Bible study, prayer, worship and obedience, and recovery means making the Bible the rule of life; more broadly Satan works with many deceptions, wiles and sophistry cunningly prepared to entangle the unwary, and those in danger must escape to be fully on the Lord's side, loving and waiting and earnestly longing for the Saviour's appearing in the clouds lest amid last-day perils they make shipwreck. Those struggling with strong temptation in danger of being overcome by satanic powers are to be helped by prayer and pointed to Jesus as righteousness, strength and source of health.
Inactivity of mind and body gives invalids greater opportunity to indulge impure imagination and self-abuse and to be captured by Satan's temptations, and useful well-directed labor helps occupy the mind and guard against the danger. Satan's snares also draw many away through the influence of others into harmful error from which they need to escape his captivity. The snare is entered through sin, for covetousness and pursuit of worldly gain and honor can turn a person from God's service, and one departure from integrity makes further wrongdoing easier, so that those who give themselves to avarice and desire for power become Satan's captives and seldom escape. Seeing defects and weakness leads those taken captive and left in spiritual danger to recognize need of a personal Saviour and come to Christ as strength and hope. Continuing in the snare means remaining under his instruction with a diseased soul, unable to reason correctly, as under a strange spell, practicing sins and evils and imperiling the soul, and recovery requires thorough repentance, breaking away from sins, relying forever on God's power and grace, placing oneself under the Holy Spirit's influence, and coming back at once to the straight and narrow path of holiness, with the Lord healing the soul's disease and forgiving misconception of true religion as He forgave Paul. A person breaks free by heeding warning and taking a firm position on the Lord's side.
Possession can mean evil angels conversing with a person and filling him with their spirit, so that at times he says and does things whose nature he himself does not understand and is powerless to escape, while at other times he appears rational, and such need deliverance. Children in evil are in Satan's snare and parents are to draw them out by correction administered in gentleness and love, for correcting in anger provokes obstinacy and rebellion, arouses the worst passions of children's hearts, and confirms them in evil instead of recovering them. Being taken captive at his will includes entanglement through cherishing jealousy and a wrong spirit in the home, as when a husband harbors strong temptations and acts under them with an oppressive spirit and cutting, wounding words toward his wife, expecting a long course of injustice and cruelty to wear her into submission to his mind. Then Satan stands close by exulting over him and filling him with his own spirit of intensity until he has no self-control, and dwelling on supposed wrongs causes loss of all the good the Spirit of God was working, palsying powers of mind and soul, wounding the wife's spirit, taking all happiness out of her life and driving her to desperation, with help only in God and unless he becomes truly converted with radical change in thoughts and heart he remains under Satan's control. One taken in the snare can recover with God as mighty helper and faith now tried becoming victory, and having recovered the Lord strengthens and keeps him and fits him for a place where he can be a more efficient worker in saving a world to be saved, looking to the Lamb of God who takes away sin. Recovery means having Satan's every gin and snare and device broken, even when worked through wife and family ties to hurt, discourage, harass, perplex and dwarf and cripple religious experience, by standing in God-given manhood, maintaining principle, staying free from every snare, clinging to God-given work, wanting and learning to do God's will, lying low at Jesus' feet in humility, pressing closer to the Redeemer, and receiving from Jesus wisdom, fortitude, courage, strength and help; the devil does not readily give up his captives, so breaking free from Freemasonry for example is difficult, but God deals with the captive and thorough conversion is hoped for.
Ministers and physicians must unitedly and earnestly work to save souls bound up in Satan's snare and struggling with strong temptations in danger of being overcome in the fight with satanic agencies, continually watching for souls and pointing men and women to Jesus as righteousness, strength and health of countenance. The work is done by public and private effort to win souls to Christ, not passing by anyone in danger but engaging in conversation even with a stranger, praying with him and pointing him to Jesus. Degraded passions and sinful practices can blind and ruin a person while Satan and his agents keep him in that condition, and merely waiting for circumstances to change does not bring freedom, for the person lacks energy and will to escape without making the necessary effort. Those caught can recover by accepting in humility the light God has sent even when previously refused, which leads to salvation, while rejecting and failing to act on light makes the path darker and recovery harder; they need rescue from bondage by turning to Jesus, seeking salvation, confessing sins and repenting without delay, though Satan tries to silence the plea for help and keep them in sin and despair. Escape comes when breaking free from deceptive influence and becoming teachable, with humility and reconversion restoring to God's family; even one held in Satan's bands and stronghold until hopeless and feelingless, saying it is no use to try because he cannot be a Christian, yet feeling remains and can break loose and turn to the Lord again with full purpose of heart shown in practical obedience such as breaking the Sabbath no more.
Tempted wrongdoers are under Satan's bewitching power and taken captive by him, occupying the same position toward God that all have occupied, and they are to be drawn away from Satan and not thrust further into his power. Harshness, stern dealing, cutting them loose from religious influences, and making public their errors hardens the heart, helps Satan fasten them in sin, and becomes the means of their destruction, so they are to be handled with Christ's tenderness and gentleness, with tact and patience, putting self in the wrongdoer's place, shielding them from exposure, letting mercy and forgiveness fall upon them, with deep longing of soul not to destroy but to see the soul converted. Christians should strive for eternal life in God's strength so they can help those fallen into the snare who lack power to escape. One given great light, talents and ability can be caught in Satan's snare and held in his bands, and those gifts will not save but lay heavier responsibility requiring full and entire consecration to God, and recovery means Satan does not prevail but his bands are broken and he comes boldly to the front to give earnest effort at the very time most needed, a deliverance sought and supported by persistent intercessory prayer night and day. The call to return to God and repent presents conversion as breaking Satan's chains and coming fully to the Lord's side, for precious souls in peril from snares and temptations must not be left to become his prey, and ministers' rash unwise actions can expose souls to that danger. Satan ensnares by swaying minds toward wrong paths to hold captive to his will, and they must make a determined Christlike effort to break free and defeat his purpose.