The Thief Cometh

THE THIEF COMETH

 

 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  (Joh 10:10)

 

What do you do when the thief comes by your way?

 

I. THE INTENT OF THE THIEF

 

A. To Steal

 

1. Your joy

 

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (Joh 15:11)

 

2. Your peace

 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  (Joh 14:27)

 

3. Your faith

 

a. Sow seeds of doubt

 

“Hath God said…”

 

b. Cause you to dwell on the problem

 

4. Truth

 

a. Necessary for liberty

 

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (Joh 8:32)

 

b. Necessary to overcome

 

c. Holiness – Power

 

B. To Kill

 

1. The Spiritual man

 

2. Lifeless

 

C. To Destroy

 

1. Your health (Cripple and mame)

 

2. Your soul in hell

 

II. PROTECTION AGAINST THE THIEF

 

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.”  (Mat 24:43)

 

A. Watch

 

1. Be on guard

 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”  (1Pe 5:8)

 

2. Don’t be taken by surprise

 

a. The devil will ambush you

 

b. Attack when you are not ready

 

B. Put on the whole armour of God

 

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  (Eph 6:11)

C. Shut every door

 

1. Lock the door

 

a. Put the past behind you

 

b. Separate from the world

 

2. Don’t answer the door

 

a. Don’t listen to the devil

b. Don’t give place to the devil

 

c. The devil is a liar

 

III. DRIVE THE THIEF AWAY

 

A. He is a trespasser

 

1. You belong to God

 

2. We have been bought with a price

 

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”   (Eph 1:7)

 

B. You have authority in Jesus

 

1. He must bow to the name of Jesus

 

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”               (Phi 2:11-12)

 

2. Use The Power of The Blood of Jesus

 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”  (Rev 12:11)

 

C. Satan has been defeated

 

1. At the cross

 

“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that

He might destroy the works of the devil.” (I Joh 3:8)

 

2. Jesus arose the victor

 

a. Because He lives, We have life

 

b. The battle has been won

 

D. We our more than conquerors through Christ

 

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”  (Rom 8:37)

 

E. Fight for what belongs to you

 

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”  (2Co 10:4)

 

1. Use the Word of God

 

2. Persevere in prayer