Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtHave you ever had anything stolen from you? I have! A few times over the course of my life. I've never liked it, and I'm sure you haven't either! I remember a particular incident that really made me mad. Someone had broken into our car and stolen Renee’s purse. We both felt so violated and vulnerable. What most people do at a time like that is call the police (or at least they used to!) Why would you call the police? Usually for two reasons: first, to hopefully get what was stolen back, and second, hoping they would catch the thief.
Did you know that Jesus called Satan the thief? In John 10:10 (NLT), Jesus said, “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” Satan works to steal much more than tangible things from us. He works to steal any and every good thing from God that blesses our lives—including our relationships, family, our health, our church, our job, and so much more. It's important to know that the devil is a thief! Why is that important to know? Because if you aren't aware of it, you don't realize he is behind the majority of the attacks against your life. If you think it's people, not realizing it's Satan, then you fight against people when it's really the devil coming against you. You end up battling the wrong person. Even when it seems like it's a person that is against you!Ephesians 6:12(NIV) gives us insight, saying, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." What is this verse saying? It's saying that demonic forces work behind the scenes of every person committing an evil that steals, kills, and destroys. They are the real problem in our lives—not people! Remember, before you gave your life to Jesus,? You were also used in ways to hurt people. But God's love somehow penetrated your heart and opened your eyes to the truth of Jesus, and you left that all behind. All people need to be saved, but until they are, they will, at times, be used by the devil. It's the devil we need to focus on and stand against.We do have natural recourse when things are stolen, such as the police, authorities and insurance. But the most important thing you could ever do is understand spiritually who your enemy is and then understand the covenant promises God has given you. God promises us through Deuteronomy 28:7 (NKJV) “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." Like all promises of God, you must believe and stand in faith for them. You stand in your faith for salvation through Jesus Christ, and it's the reason you know you are going to Heaven. So why would you stop there? Why wouldn't you stand for all of God's promises and benefits?I remember a time when I was putting a quarter in a vending machine. I dropped it, and it rolled under a soda machine. I was just going to leave it when the Lord suddenly spoke to my heart and said, I've called you to be my steward. Don't ever let the enemy steal what I have given you! Not even a quarter! It was so clear and profound I was startled. I got down on my hands and knees, saw the quarter within easy reach, and grabbed it. That simple experience was life-changing for me. I never again thought of things within my possession as mine. I was God's steward, and He does not like the enemy ripping us off, whether large or small and in any area of our life—possessions or relationships or whatever!Proverbs 6:30-31 (NLT2) says, "Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving. But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house." I guarantee you Satan isn't stealing because he's starving. He's driven by His jealousy and hatred for God and anything God has created. When we have identified Satan's attack and thievery in our lives, it is imperative to note it and declare against him, Satan, this is your work. You have tried to steal what God has given to me. You are caught! You are a thief, and I rebuke and bind you from stealing God's blessings from my life. Father, I thank you for enforcing the seven-fold return of what the enemy has tried to steal from me, and I thank you for it in Jesus' Name. Do this in sincere faith, and as you look back over the years in hindsight, you'll see God restoring to you what He restored to Job when the enemy attacked his life.
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