Taking Back What Has Been Stolen

The world says these things about the enemy, all the while making fun of Bible-believing Christians, who according to God’s Word, believe he is a real enemy who must be resisted.

Rather, our enemy is what our text says He is:

A thief who has come to steal, kill and destroy.

1 Peter 5:8–9 (NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. …

Yes, our enemy goes by a variety of names:

The devil

Satan

The dragon

Lucifer

But, as we battle him we need to remember first and foremost:

1 John 4:4 (NASB95) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them [false prophets of vs. 1]; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

We need to remember what I have been displaying on the digital signage in the foyer and the Connect:

Digital Signage: The same authority Jesus gave the seventy in Luke , He gives to us Luke 10:19 (NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy ...

As Jesus' disciples proclaim the gospel, they WILL (no maybes about it!) encounter demonic resistance, so they need to understand their authority over Satan.

Satan has more power than the strongest Christian, but less authority than the weakest Christian.

We stand in the authority of Jesus.

We defeat and destroy the power of satan through the authority of the Name of Jesus.

Some of the Enemy’s Strategies

A. In the book of Nehemiah, we see some of the human enemies’s strategies to hinder the building of the wall of Jerusalem.

What those human enemies did was inspired by the devil.

The devil hates the City of the Great King (Psalm 48) — called that by JESUS in Matthew

He hates for God’s people to experience God’s protection and security

He revels in instilling fear.

He knows that as _________ says: Romans 8:15–16 (NASB95) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

The enemy hates when God’s people stand up to him by recognizing who we are — children of the King!

B. The strategies used by the human enemies of Nehemiah and the people of God to rebuild the Temple and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem are the same types of strategies that the enemy of our soul will use on us:

1. Criticism, harassment, discouraging words.

2. Failing at that the enemy will attack physically _ to kill and to cause confusion.

C. Like Nehemiah of old, we must stand in the wisdom and proficiency of the Holy Ghost

Aware OF and prepared FOR his tactics.

When the enemies threatened the building of the wall with physical force… Nehemiah 4:18 (NASB95)

As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, …

D. The reality is not only that the devil WANTS to attack us, he ALREADY HAS done damage to many lives.

According to John 10:10: The thief, that is, the devil has [already] come in to steal, to kill and to destroy.

2. But, Jesus has come to redeem the losses of theft and destruction and give back MORE than was stolen.

Like Job, also of the old Testament:

The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. Job 42:10 (NASB95)

Job 42:12 (NASB95) The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; …

In the same way, Jesus comes into our lives to restore and miraculously resurrect what the devil has killed.

F. Let’s see how Jesus does that through the illustration of the real-life account of David in:

Turn and read with me:

1. 1 Samuel 30:1‑19

David’s Story of Loss

A. As we think about what we have read, we understand that:

First of all, David lost:

1. His wives

2. His Stuff

3. His peace

4. His joy

5. The allegiance of his men

B. His men lost:

1. Wives

2. Children

3. stuff

4. Their peace their joy

5. Their respect for David (a great leader _ a great man of God)

C. It remained to be seen who the enemy had killed or would kill because the enemy had taken their loved ones, their wives, their sons, their daughters, captive.

These loves ones were captive to the power of the enemy.

A precarious position!

One that too many in the church understand TODAY.

D. Destruction?

1. Ziklag has been destroyed by fire.

2. David’s home — his refuge.

3. His men’s homes.

E. David’s reaction (this is key):

1. He looked to God and received strength (Vs.6)

2. He sought God’s will (Vs.8)

3. In verse 9 He obeyed God’s will.

i. Even though it was hard (fighting is never easy)

ii. Even though it was inconvenient (he was tired — he lost 200 men to fatigue)

iii. Even though his army was small (and got smaller)

He recognized what WE need to recognize:

Romans 8:31 (NASB95) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

a. The battle belongs to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 3:22 (NASB95) ‘Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.’

b. To those who obey His Word, God promised in: Leviticus 26:7‑8 You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

c. 1 Samuel 14:6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

d. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”

F. There are people, principles and especially Someone (Jesus) worth fighting for.

1. Even if everything isn’t just the way YOU would have it to be.

Fight for the victory that God gives.

G. And because David obeyed God he and his men recovered what they had lost:

1. Vs. 17‑19

H. Not only that — he recovered even more!

I. And look at vs.26-31

David gave a portion of the extra they recovered (maybe ALL of it) to the leaders of the cities where he and his men were accustomed to going (Vs.31).

Apparently they had not betrayed him to Saul (at the least.

Maybe they had given provision sin the past.

Your Situation

A. What about your situation?

B. What has the enemy stolen from you?

1. Your peace?

2. Your joy?

3. Your ability to love or be loved?

4. Your children?

5. Your grandchildren?

6. Finances?

7. Health?

8. Your relationship with your spouse, or your family?

C. And them there is something even worse:

1. Has the enemy stolen your zeal?

2. Your first‑love for Jesus?

3. Your faith?

4. Your relationship with Jesus?

5. Your prayer life?

Daniel Henderson writing in his book: Old Paths, New Power says:

We do well to remember that the devil hates a praying leader and a praying church. When we begin to pray, we pick a fight with the devil at a whole new level. Yet our calling is to be praying menaces to the enemy.

6. Your discipleship, following Jesus?

I’m sorry that it is REALLY hard for church discipleship to be on your terms and your schedule’

We do the best we can with finite resources.

We do discipleship together on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.

I ESPECIALLY urge you to attend Wednesday night.

I will be addressing the issue of Civil War in the US.

And the anger too many of us carry — what is the Bible’s teaching about anger?

7. Or maybe the devil is trying to destroy our Fellowship with other believers?

Satan wants to divide to separate us from one another.

D. You can live without a lot of things, but you can’t truly live without your faith.

You may exist, but you are not living.

Going back to our text, Jesus said in:

John 10:10 (NASB95) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

What to do about it

So what will you do about the attack of the enemy:

On you?

On your family?

A. The first thing we need to do is look to Jesus.

1. Like David, God wants to restore your strength for the fight.

I Samuel 30:6 “ … But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

Consider some these encouraging passages of scripture:

2. (Psalms 29:11 NKJV) The LORD will give strength to His people; ....

3. (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV) But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

4. (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

5. (Ephesians 3:16 NKJV) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

6. (Ephesians 6:10 NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

7. (Colossians 1:9‑11 NKJV) For this reason we also,..., do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be ... {11} strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, ...

8. (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Go back to the video of this service and listen to this part again.

Write down each scripture

Encourage yourself with God’s promises

B. The second thing you need to do is seek God’s will , PRAY!, before, THEN engage the enemy, defeating him.

Pray for the path Jesus WILL reveal for restoration and redemption.

Just like David sought God’s guidance for recovering what had been stolen and destroyed (Vs. 8).

C. Finally, like David, you need to obey — by faith.

1. By faith...

2. Pray

3. Witness

4. Obey the strategies God gives you.

David did and he recovered ALL, plus some.

V. Altar Call

A. If you need strength:

1. You are feeling faint from the struggle.

2. You are feeling overwhelmed.

Before the Egyptian slave could help David, he had to be restored.

Is that you?

We need to know God’s will for recovering what has been stolen or destroyed.

Like David, we need to seek God’s guidance, His wisdom

James 1:5–6 (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

We need to obey what God has told you to do.

VI. Altar

A. Contact us!

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