Escaping The Devil's Trap | Mark Hoffman | April 12 & 13, 2025
Part of Message Notes
April 12, 2025

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II Corinthians 2:10 b-d, 11
“…for indeed what I have forgiven… I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Why do we fall for Satan’s trap?
1. We don’t understand the nature of sin.

Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

2. We don’t understand the nature of God’s forgiveness.


Psalm 51:1-13
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.

God’s forgiveness does not depend upon our deserving it.


Psalm 51:1 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

II Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

Two Requirements to experiencing the freedom of God’s total forgiveness.
1. You must understand that you can never earn or deserve God’s forgiveness.

2. You must face up to your sin and call it what it is.
Psalm 51:4a
“Against You, You only, I have sinned…”

God never excuses sin, but He does forgive it.

The blessings of forgiveness.
1. Restored to the Presence of God and the fullness of His Spirit.

1. Restored to the Presence of God and the fullness of His Spirit.
Psalm 51:10-11

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.

2. Emotional and physical rejuvenation
Psalm 51:8
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

3. Capacity to receive God’s wisdom
Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

4. Restored to our purpose and to bear fruit for God.
Psalm 51:13
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

The devil has 2 great titles: “The Tempter” (Matt. 4) and “the Accuser” (Rev. 12).

Forgiveness: Both receiving it and giving it to others releases life.

Luke 23:42-43
And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”


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