Things get stolen everyday; infact statistics show the nation is facing a crisis in the terrible business of daylight robbery.  The devil is also busy stealing, however his interest is in stealing spiritual things – his aim is to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus said He has come to give us abundant lives.  The Bible calls the devil a thief, not a robber.  What is the difference between a thief and a robber? A thief steals secretly; but a robber takes your property right before your eyes. 

Many work hard, day in day out, and after 75 years they die, Jesus is saying there is more to life than that.  There is more to look forward to than 75 years of rigour.  Look at the progression of the devil’s purpose in John 10: 10 – to steal, then kill and then to destroy, but Jesus has promised abundant life, a life of excellence, a ‘superior in quality’ life.  Is this what you are living or is the thief stealing your possessions or your purpose?

The thief wants to bring to nought everything in our lives.  Many times the thief keeps telling us the grass is greener in the next career, the next marriage etc. but Jesus has come to give you a life of purpose.  One thing the devil is doing is stealing the purpose in the lives of people and then many turn to drugs, prostitution, gangs, crimes etc. mainly to fill the void they feel.  We claim to live in a Christian country but many don’t even know the meaning of their Christian names. In Hosea 4: 6 God is saying my people don’t understand there is a thief secretly plotting to sabotage our marriages, interfere with our finances… but God is saying if only we understand that there is a thief out there who brings death and destruction all around us, then our actions might be different.

 God wants us to understand that through ignorance, Satan can control lives.  God wants us to see there is a power/principality working towards our destruction. So stop slapping your head when there is a problem, stop shouting at your children. When Peter messed up Jesus said ‘get thee behind me Satan’, Jesus knew the root cause of the mess and he addressed that.  Now you may ask what is the devil stealing?

1. What about ‘our first love’? We used to be on fire for Christ but now we are no more than mere church goers.  Satan is stealing our zeal for the things of God.  There is no end to the power God wants to exhibit in our lives. God can keep us sharp and articulate for him but the devil is ripping us off and stealing our love for God.

2. What about ‘our joy’? The spring in our step is gone, our smiles have turned to frowns, but according to Jeremiah, the joy of the Lord is our strength.  When the thief convinces you that there is nothing to life, he’s stolen the joy of the Lord in your life.  In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy.

3. What about ‘our unique calling’? Those talents and dreams that God has blessed you with. Your gift was stirred up a few years ago but you may have felt that you are not appreciated, you then felt weak and vulnerable, note the devil is determined to take away what gives you a sense of purpose, your dream and your gifts to minister as a missionary, to sing, to bless others in various other ways etc. Don’t be ignorant that the devil roars around like a lion looking for whom to devour.  Don’t bury your gift. Don’t be ripped off.

4. What about ‘your Godly influence’? The devil exposes you while you wallow in sin and he pounces on you rendering your testimonies unbelievable.  Many gossip, for some, it’s their temperament being uncontrollable.  Many are afraid to share prayer requests within the Church because no one can trust the other.

5. What about ‘our marriages’? Someone opined that there is no more difference between the number of divorces in the Church and outside the Church, Satan is so intent on breaking families and Churches because they reflect the glory of God.  Satan has ripped many off and many homes are breaking down left and right.  This is daylight robbery!

6. What about ‘your faith’? The Bible says the faith of many will wax cold.  The Bible also speaks of lying spirits even from the pulpits, many speak blasphemously.  Are you still in the faith?  Do you still believe in miracles? 

So, what can we do?  We need to believe that God recovers stolen properties, so if there is something you once possessed but no longer have, turn to God, God wants to return our joy, our faith, our Godly influence.  Jesus wants to bless us.  We must no longer tolerate this daylight robbery.  Many of us are enslaved in the progression of stealing, killing and destruction.

In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men wept aloud  in verse 5 , their families had been captured, in fact David’s two wives had been captured, his family was gone and he was greatly distressed, but David found strength in the Lord.  The time of weeping was over, he stopped lamenting and he enquired of the LORD.  In verse 8, David asked ‘should I go after them?’ God said go!  God is saying to you today, ‘go after your possessions’.  Stop weeping, take back what is yours.

God promised David he would get all of his possessions, and in verses 16 - 20, he got everything back.  In verse 17, David and his men rushed in and slaughtered their enemies.  Don’t be slow about the promises of God, notice David rushed in.  Go and pray some serious prayers, then rush in and take back what the devil has stolen from you.  In verse 18, David rescued his two wives, children and everything God said he would take back. We must fight for our joy and our peace. We must seek after justice, morality and other things God wants us to seek after.

Do you believe God can recover your stolen properties?  If you believe, then you shall receive. Go and fight for it, and it shall be so for you.  Say ‘no’ to daylight robbery. Don’t be ripped off.  Jesus has come so we might have life, and not just any life but abundant life.

 

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