in prison spiritually in prison spiritually 2 tim. 2:24-26 2 tim. 2:24-26

In Prison In Prison SpirituallySpiritually

2 Tim. 2:24-262 Tim. 2:24-26

In Prison SpirituallyIn Prison Spiritually

2 Tim. 2:24-26, “2 Tim. 2:24-26, “The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”


Introduction. Introduction. A. There are many who are A. There are many who are imprisoned in both body and soul. In imprisoned in both body and soul. In “jail” two ways.“jail” two ways.

B. It is very sad for the body to be B. It is very sad for the body to be imprisoned, but it is even more sad when imprisoned, but it is even more sad when the soul or spirit is in Satan’s prison.the soul or spirit is in Satan’s prison.

C. Satan has millions of captives and the C. Satan has millions of captives and the work of teaching and preaching the work of teaching and preaching the gospel is to free them from those chains. gospel is to free them from those chains.


D. Jesus’ mission: Luke 4:18, D. Jesus’ mission: Luke 4:18, "The "The Spirit of the LORD Spirit of the LORD is is upon Me, upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to preach the gospel to the the poor; He poor; He has sent Me to heal the has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to to the the captives And recovery of sight captives And recovery of sight to to the the blind, To set at liberty those blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.”who are oppressed.”


Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:8, "When He ascended "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.“ And gave gifts to men.“

Christ conquered every thing that Christ conquered every thing that had conquered mankind… He led had conquered mankind… He led captive all that had held men in captive all that had held men in captivity.captivity.


Christ set us free by bringing “Christ set us free by bringing “every every thought into captivity to the thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5)obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5)

So that now we can live under “the So that now we can live under “the perfect law of liberty,” James 1:25; perfect law of liberty,” James 1:25; 2:10.2:10.


I. Satan can imprison God’s people… I. Satan can imprison God’s people… but only in body.but only in body. The spirit remains The spirit remains free.free.

Gen. 39:20, “Joseph's master took Gen. 39:20, “Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison” him and put him into the prison” because of the lie of Potiphar’s wife. because of the lie of Potiphar’s wife.

But Joseph’s spirit was not But Joseph’s spirit was not imprisoned.imprisoned.


1 Kings 22:27, Micaiah 1 Kings 22:27, Micaiah told Ahab told Ahab that he would be defeated in battle.that he would be defeated in battle.

The king saidThe king said, “, “Put this man in Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water.”bread and water.”

But Ahab couldn’t imprison the spirit But Ahab couldn’t imprison the spirit of this brave prophet.of this brave prophet.


Luke 3:19, 20, John rebuked king Luke 3:19, 20, John rebuked king Herod for all his evils and said Herod for all his evils and said that it that it was not lawful for him to have his was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife.brother’s wife.

So Herod “So Herod “locked John up in prison,” locked John up in prison,” but he could only put John’s BODY in but he could only put John’s BODY in prison.prison.


Acts 5:18, The Saducees “laid their Acts 5:18, The Saducees “laid their hands on the apostles and put them hands on the apostles and put them in the public jail” for preaching in the public jail” for preaching Christ and the resurrection, and they Christ and the resurrection, and they even beat them.even beat them.

But “they departed from the But “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (5:40, suffer shame for His name.” (5:40, 41).41).


Acts 16:23, “Acts 16:23, “they threw they threw them them ((Paul Paul and Silas),and Silas), into prison” because they into prison” because they cast out the spirit of divination of a cast out the spirit of divination of a woman who brought her owners much woman who brought her owners much money.money.

““put them into the inner prison and put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks” v. fastened their feet in the stocks” v. 24.24.

They were They were miserablymiserably chained, but chained, but marvelouslymarvelously free in spiritfree in spirit. How do we . How do we know?know?


Because v. 25 says that “at midnight Because v. 25 says that “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymnssinging hymns to God, and the to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”prisoners were listening to them.”

Does that sound as though their Does that sound as though their “spirits” were bound?“spirits” were bound?


II. Imprisoned – not the body, but far II. Imprisoned – not the body, but far worse: worse: the spiritthe spirit..

2 Tim. 22 Tim. 2::25, 26, “25, 26, “that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”


Acts 8:23, Simon, “you are in the gall Acts 8:23, Simon, “you are in the gall of bitterness and the bondage of of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity.”iniquity.”

And very sad to say but he has lots And very sad to say but he has lots of company. Millions are in of company. Millions are in “bondage” to Satan.“bondage” to Satan.


We mentioned Acts 16:23. At first We mentioned Acts 16:23. At first that that jailerjailer was was imprisonedimprisoned in his sins. in his sins.

But at midnight he obeyed the But at midnight he obeyed the gospel and was set gospel and was set freefree (free from (free from his sins).his sins).


A. Satan cannot imprison our spirit A. Satan cannot imprison our spirit unless we unless we permitpermit it. it.

Compare demon-possession. Took Compare demon-possession. Took control control withoutwithout the permission of the the permission of the people.people.

Satan enters people now (just as he Satan enters people now (just as he entered Judas and Ananias) entered Judas and Ananias) but only but only with our permissionwith our permission..


B. First he B. First he deceivesdeceives us us. 2 Cor. 11:3, “. 2 Cor. 11:3, “But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

2 Cor. 4:4, “blinds” people so that the 2 Cor. 4:4, “blinds” people so that the light of the gospel won’t shine on them.light of the gospel won’t shine on them.

He confuses us, misleads us, gets our thinking all twisted. He’s a liar, Jn. 8:44.


He convinces us that it’s o.k. to do He convinces us that it’s o.k. to do what we want to do, that it’s worth what we want to do, that it’s worth it, that the consequences aren’t that it, that the consequences aren’t that bad.bad.

He convinces us to go with the He convinces us to go with the majority.. Everyone believes this, or majority.. Everyone believes this, or does this, that makes it all right.does this, that makes it all right.


C. 2 Cor. 11:14, 15C. 2 Cor. 11:14, 15, “he transforms , “he transforms himself into an angel of light… his himself into an angel of light… his ministers transform themselves into ministers transform themselves into ministers of righteousness.” Horns, ministers of righteousness.” Horns, pitchfork?pitchfork?

So world is full of false teachers who So world is full of false teachers who deceive with “logical, plausible” deceive with “logical, plausible” teaching.teaching.

““Just a matter of interpretation.” “Like Just a matter of interpretation.” “Like different highways to your destination.”different highways to your destination.”

Satan has millions of religious P.O.W.sSatan has millions of religious P.O.W.s


Eph. 6:11, “Put on the whole armor Eph. 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes, stand against the wiles (schemes, tricks, deceptions) of the devil.”tricks, deceptions) of the devil.”

Eph. 2:2, Satan “Eph. 2:2, Satan “worksworks in the sons of in the sons of disobedience.”disobedience.”

Has Has manymany servants – those who do servants – those who do his will want others to do likewise.his will want others to do likewise.

Could be close relative, friend.Could be close relative, friend.


D. James 1:14, the real source of the D. James 1:14, the real source of the problem:problem: “Each one is tempted when “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lusts he is drawn away by his own lusts and enticed.”and enticed.”

We ourselves We ourselves provideprovide the raw the raw material through which Satan works material through which Satan works to deceive and tempt us.to deceive and tempt us.


He tempts us with something we He tempts us with something we want or want to do which can only be want or want to do which can only be obtained by disobeying Godobtained by disobeying God

ButBut “it’s worth it”; or our excuse “it’s worth it”; or our excuse sounds good; somehow we can sounds good; somehow we can justify ourselves.justify ourselves.

““That’s no worse than what other That’s no worse than what other members do, everyone has faults.”members do, everyone has faults.”


E. Another very powerful tool is E. Another very powerful tool is “the “the deceitfulness of riches”deceitfulness of riches” (Matt. 13:22). (Matt. 13:22).

1 Tim. 6:9, “fall into a temptation and 1 Tim. 6:9, “fall into a temptation and a snare … drown men in destruction…”a snare … drown men in destruction…”

Satan knows that covetousness is Satan knows that covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5), and that this will idolatry (Col. 3:5), and that this will cause God to reject us.cause God to reject us.

Be careful of overtime… time/half… Be careful of overtime… time/half… double time… lots of extra $ … Matt double time… lots of extra $ … Matt 6:33.6:33.


F. Still another powerful deception is F. Still another powerful deception is to convince members that God is to convince members that God is happy with happy with minimum serviceminimum service..

Just so you attend for an hour on Just so you attend for an hour on Sunday in order to partake of the Sunday in order to partake of the Lord’s Supper and give something.Lord’s Supper and give something.

Like saying, “blind, lame, sick animal Like saying, “blind, lame, sick animal all right for an offering to God.” Mal. all right for an offering to God.” Mal. 1:8.1:8.


The greatest and best can be The greatest and best can be deceived: David, Peter, any member, deceived: David, Peter, any member, elder, preacher, teacher…elder, preacher, teacher…

1 Cor. 9:27, “lest I become 1 Cor. 9:27, “lest I become disqualified.”disqualified.”

1 Cor. 10:12, “let him that thinks he 1 Cor. 10:12, “let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”stands take heed lest he fall.”


III. Sins are chains for the spirit. III. Sins are chains for the spirit. Gal. 5:19-21, “works of the flesh… Gal. 5:19-21, “works of the flesh…

fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, wrath, contentions, jealousies, wrath, selfish ambitions…”selfish ambitions…”

To practice such is to be in Satan’s To practice such is to be in Satan’s prison, our spirit in shackles… be his prison, our spirit in shackles… be his captives. captives.


Eph. 4:30, “Eph. 4:30, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

Bitterness, holding grudges, Bitterness, holding grudges, resentments are chains that keep resentments are chains that keep the spirit imprisoned.the spirit imprisoned.

If and when insults, wounds, If and when insults, wounds, injustices injustices embitterembitter us, we become us, we become chained, imprisoned by them.chained, imprisoned by them.


Therefore, Eph. 4:32, “Therefore, Eph. 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

To pardon is to free the spirit, To pardon is to free the spirit, remove the chains from the soul. remove the chains from the soul.

If we will be kind, gracious, merciful, If we will be kind, gracious, merciful, the spirit will be as free as the birds the spirit will be as free as the birds of the air.of the air.


Phil. 3:13, “Phil. 3:13, “forgetting those things forgetting those things which are behind and reaching which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are forward to those things which are ahead.” ahead.”

Forgive and forget. Otherwise, the Forgive and forget. Otherwise, the spirit remains in shackles.spirit remains in shackles.


AngerAnger is a prison. Willingly we let it is a prison. Willingly we let it enter to imprison our spirit. We are not enter to imprison our spirit. We are not free. free.

We are enslaved by the person that We are enslaved by the person that causes it. He controls us.causes it. He controls us.

Therefore, Eph. 4:26, “Be angry and do Therefore, Eph. 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin; do let the sun go down upon not sin; do let the sun go down upon your wrath.” your wrath.”

Or else we wind up in the prison of Or else we wind up in the prison of malicemalice

Don’t sleep in jail!Don’t sleep in jail!


Maybe we’re like Jonah -- we think Maybe we’re like Jonah -- we think we “have a right” to be angry.we “have a right” to be angry.

““I have a right to be jealous.”I have a right to be jealous.” ““Well, I needed a drink.”Well, I needed a drink.” ““I can’t change, it’s just the way I I can’t change, it’s just the way I

am.”am.” ““I can’t forgive him/her. You just I can’t forgive him/her. You just

don’t understand.”don’t understand.”


IV. Also the tragedies IV. Also the tragedies of this lifeof this life can can shake us to the rootsshake us to the roots

Loss of a loved one. Or loss of Loss of a loved one. Or loss of health.health.

Cancer or other dread disease is Cancer or other dread disease is discovered (in us or in a loved one).discovered (in us or in a loved one).

How do we react? Are we How do we react? Are we obsessedobsessed with such?with such?


1 Cor. 7:29-32, “1 Cor. 7:29-32, “those who have wives should be as though they had none; those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. But I want you to be without care.”


Such things can imprison us. They Such things can imprison us. They can be chains that prevent the can be chains that prevent the normal activities and especially normal activities and especially spiritual activities. We can remain spiritual activities. We can remain paralyzed.paralyzed.


Sometimes members of the church Sometimes members of the church remain unnecessarily chained in remain unnecessarily chained in their homes or at the side of loved their homes or at the side of loved ones in the hospital or funeral home ones in the hospital or funeral home and are incapable of attending and are incapable of attending services. services.

When they need God the most, they When they need God the most, they stay away from worship.stay away from worship.


They do not nourish the spirit with They do not nourish the spirit with Bible study and worshipping God Bible study and worshipping God because it is in the because it is in the prison of worryprison of worry over their own illness or that of over their own illness or that of some family member.some family member.


They do not permit such illness or They do not permit such illness or death of a loved one death of a loved one prevent the prevent the other activities.other activities.

They can still go to the store, work, They can still go to the store, work, do almost everything else.do almost everything else.

But they’re too sad or grief stricken But they’re too sad or grief stricken to attend services to worship God.to attend services to worship God.


V. The worst kind of imprisonment.V. The worst kind of imprisonment. 2 Pet. 2:4, “delivered them into 2 Pet. 2:4, “delivered them into

chains of darkness, to be reserved chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.”for judgment.”

Luke 16:24, the rich man was Luke 16:24, the rich man was “tormented in this flame.” His body “tormented in this flame.” His body was buried and felt nothing, but his was buried and felt nothing, but his spirit was tormented.spirit was tormented.


Imprisoned – body and spirit in hell. Imprisoned – body and spirit in hell. 1 Cor. 15:52, “the dead will be raised 1 Cor. 15:52, “the dead will be raised incorruptible.”incorruptible.”

That body cannot be That body cannot be consumedconsumed by by fire.fire.


Mark 9:43-48, “where their worm Mark 9:43-48, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not does not die and the fire is not quenched…”quenched…”

Some mock at physical worms that Some mock at physical worms that eat dead bodies and a physical fire eat dead bodies and a physical fire in physical darkness.in physical darkness.


Many believe that if it’s figurative Many believe that if it’s figurative language it can be forgotten as not language it can be forgotten as not having reality. having reality.

Figurative yes, but also real. Not Figurative yes, but also real. Not fiction, fable, imaginary, but fiction, fable, imaginary, but fact, fact, reality.reality.


Gehenna, Valley of Hinnom, where Gehenna, Valley of Hinnom, where refuse burned – fire never went out refuse burned – fire never went out and worms eating flesh never ended.and worms eating flesh never ended.

Also scene of gross and cruel rites of Also scene of gross and cruel rites of heathenism, including burning of heathenism, including burning of children to the god Molech.children to the god Molech.

Jesus used the term referring to the Jesus used the term referring to the hell of eternal firehell of eternal fire..


It is descriptive language to convey to It is descriptive language to convey to the human mind the thought of the the human mind the thought of the maximum degree of pain, of torment, maximum degree of pain, of torment, of torture (“weeping and gnashing of of torture (“weeping and gnashing of teeth”)…teeth”)…

… … of the depths of desperation (like of the depths of desperation (like the rich man of Luke 16)… of the most the rich man of Luke 16)… of the most horrible remorse… horrible remorse…

… … of the most repugnant (of worms of the most repugnant (of worms eating rotten flesh).. of total eating rotten flesh).. of total darkness…darkness…


Conclusion. Conclusion. Ps. 102Ps. 102:19, 20, “:19, 20, “From heaven the

LORD viewed the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death.”


Millions in spiritual prison – willingly.Millions in spiritual prison – willingly. Satan confuses, deceives - riches, excusesSatan confuses, deceives - riches, excuses He has countless servants – be careful.He has countless servants – be careful. Main source of temptation – own lustsMain source of temptation – own lusts Big lie: minimum service acceptable.Big lie: minimum service acceptable. Sins – chains, shackles, fetters.Sins – chains, shackles, fetters. Worst prison of all – eternal fire of hell.Worst prison of all – eternal fire of hell. Beware of another lie: time enough yet.Beware of another lie: time enough yet.


Rom. 6:17, 18, “Rom. 6:17, 18, “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

in prison spiritually in prison spiritually 2 tim. 2:24-26 2 tim. 2:24-26

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