SOPHISTICATED AND SUBTLE TRAPS

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I had this dream on November 15, 2022. I recall a spacious room that contained one single chair in the centre of it. The room felt like an indoor basketball court which was not lit and had a grey metallic undertone. There was a single light coming in through a window and it created a shadow or reflection of some sort. Overall, the room was dark but my attention was drawn to the chair in the centre of the room, and what appeared to be a child sitting on the chair. The child appeared to be ladened, immobilized, and obese. I could see no obvious sign of restraint or restriction, but the child just sat there as if in a daze.

Upon closer and deeper inspection, I realized that the child was actually an adult who was bound in a childlike submissive state. I then began to notice semi-transparent attachments, chains and extensions all over the body of the adult-child. Then I began to sense that this adult-child was unaware because of blindness, unconcerned because of not knowing anything different and unmoving because they were fixated and preoccupied with their natural reality.

My interpretation as @ February 3, 2023:

This dream is a Trap Alert!!! And, it applies to both believers and unsaved persons.

The risk of not being true to who we were created to be, and not being true to our own noble desires, is amplified because there is a third-party adversary in the mix. Outside of God and us, there is another active agenda at work and at play in the world and in our lives.

This is highlighting to us that the agenda and strategies of our enemy are sophisticated, deceptive, and elusive. It shows that we are unconsciously participating in the enemy’s plan against us and are ignorant of his schemes and magnetisms. This dream is also highlighting the extensiveness and gravity of our human condition and the collage of traps surrounding us.

Subsequent to the dream, the Lord opened my eyes to these traps. These were the traps that made the adult-child burdened, immobilized, ignorant and fattened by sin.

1. The Natural Trap

What is natural about us has its place, but that place is not the seat of leadership. It is natural to want comfort, but we will not grow or make discoveries in comfort zones. It is natural to react to situations and threats, but wisdom and maturity is about being responsive. Fear-induced thinking and biased reasoning are habitual, but they are often inaccurate, incomplete, and injurious to us and others. Fight or flight and self-protective actions are inconsistent with faith, living sacrifice, love and trust in God. The carnal mind is natural, but believers are new creations, so we are to be led instead by the mind and will of Christ.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1: 27 – 28 NKJV

“God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:24 AMP

2. The Culture Trap

Culture gone wrong will produce wrong. The culture of the world is hostile and incompatible with the culture of the Kingdom of God. We have to choose and be mindful of godly principles and precepts over the processes, practices and pull of the world.

 ^“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5: 3-5 NKJV

3. The Self Trap

Self is a very big trap that we must become aware of. It includes gratification, indulgences, comparison, pride, jealousy, defensiveness, personal agendas, corruption, manipulation, unforgiveness, self-sabotage and love of money. We must also train ourselves to become immune to offenses as the enemy is using this as a strategy to create deep division, tension and hatred amongst us.

“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].” Mark 9: 23 AMP

4. The Sin Trap

Jesus died for us while we were sinners, and His love covers a multitude of sin. Our unbelief and ignorance of the Word are destroying us, and keeping us away from being free of addictions, indulgences, gratification, deception, oppression, confusion and disorder.

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

1 John 5: 18- 21 NKJV

5. The Time Trap

From thinking short term and not long-term, to seeking instant gratification and return over sacrifice, we are shortchanging ourselves. Being caught up in the past or tripping over the future, robs us of precious time and treasure.

We only have now to act, make changes and maintain connection with God. We must learn to stay present and Christ-mindful. Eternity is real and the laws of life will always stand, so do your best to not fall in the time trap.

“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

6. The It’s Good Trap

The word good has been misapplied, misused, and misunderstood. Good is relative. Only God is truly good, so the true measure of goodness is godliness.

Said another way, our good is found in Jesus Christ and in the Kingdom of God. So when making decision, choose godly and not good.

“So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is,God.” Luke 18:19 NKJV

My Charge:

We are in the world but not of the world and we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, grace and direction to life and life more abundant.

We can avoid these elusive traps if we are careful to obey what God has already said – wake up, become aware and knowledgeable about the Word, stay sober and still, remain in The Vine, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow only Jesus.

There is an urgent call to wake up and choose your Kingdom.