FRIDAY REVIVAL SERVICE – 21:7:2023

Abounding Grace Christian Ministry,

ITALY

Systematic, expository studies

on Satan and his strategies
THE THIEF
John 10:10
Theft comes indifferent forms. However whether it is the theft of property (Exodus 22:1-8) or the
theft of persons (Deuteronomy 24:7) or the theft of immaterial possession like joy, peace, etc., theft
remains theft.
The satanic thief will steal anything, everything at anytime and at any place. The thief comes to steal
property, steal spiritual virtues, confiscate moral values and taken captive physical persons etc. Don’t
allow the devil to steal your joy, confiscate your peace, kidnap your loved ones (2 Timothy 2:26),
kill your spiritual passion and commitment or destroy your Christian testimony and life.
Following a period of prayer and fasting, God can give you tremendous victories. Never allow the
satanic thief to steal the victories. Stay alert and be watchful against the satanic thief (Matthew 24:43).

PURPOSE OF THE SATANIC THIEF

John 10:10; Exodus 22:2; Matthew 6:19,20; Hosea 7:1; Luke 12:33,39; Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 5; Daniel
10:12,13,20,21; Jeremiah 49:9; John 10:10; Luke 10:30-37; Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:9-16.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). No better statement
as to the purpose of the satanic thief can ever be made than the above statement of Jesus. Satan’s
ultimate purpose as a thief is to steal, kill and destroy.
Stealing is not an involuntary action. Theft is usually premeditated and calculated. Theft proceeds
from the heart (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:22). Satan as a thief pre-programs his robbery in his heart
and mandates his agents and associates to carry out the operations. His purpose is many-faceted and
include:

1. To rob and make away with valuables in our lives

Only scavengers go away with rubbish. Thieves break in and break through in order to steal and
make away with valuables in people’s lives and homes (Exodus 22:2; Matthew 6:19,20; Hosea
7:1; Luke 12:33,39; Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 5). Satan sometimes positions his agent like the
Prince of Persia to rob people of their heaven-sent blessings (Daniel 10:12,13,20,21).

2. To intercept divine blessings and confiscate them

Satan or his agents sometimes masquerade as highway patrol officers (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
However in reality they are spiritual armed robbers mounting roadblocks to intercept heaven-sent
blessings and disrupt the free flow of the goodness, mercy and favour that God is sending our
way and to confiscate every one of them (Psalm 23:5,6; Daniel 10:12,13,20,21).

3. To rob us of our peace and joy in the Holy Ghost

The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost
(Romans 14:17). However Satan as a thief will want to rob us of all these. God sent peace and
goodwill towards man. However, Herod, positioned as a robber wanted to nullify this and rob
man of these blessings by trying to kill Jesus (Acts 3:26; Luke 2:9-14; Matthew 2:8,12,16-18).

4. To ultimately kill and destroy in order to inherit

The satanic thief has his ultimate aim as the termination of life and the destruction of property.
He breaks up and breaks through, destroys, steals and even kills the heir to confiscate the
 inheritance (Jeremiah 49:9; John 10:10; Luke 10:30-37; Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke
20:9-16).
This is what Ahab did to Naboth (1 Kings 21:1-29; Micah 2:2; Luke 20:9-16). God has given the
earth to man but Satan is bent on killing and destroying man so that he can inherit the earth (Psalm
115:16; Genesis 1:26-28; Matthew 21:33-41).

PATTERN OF THE SATANIC THIEF

Joel 2:9; John 10:1; Exodus 22:2; Matthew 6:19,20; 24:43; 21:13; Hosea 7:1; Luke 12:33,39; Jeremiah 49:9;
Obadiah 5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2,4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15.

The pattern as well as the method that Satan uses as a thief is akin to the ones that thieves in the
natural world use:

1. Thieves generally operate in the dark night

Thieves like to operate under the cover of darkness so that they will not be recognized and also
because most people will be asleep by then (Job 24:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2,4; 2 Peter 3:10;
Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 5). Satan as a thief also operates in the night while men sleep (Matthew
1324-30,36-43).

2. Thieves enter houses in abnormal ways

Normal people in normal circumstances enter houses through the door but thieves climb up some
other openings like windows (Joel 2:9; John 10:1). Normal people enter through the door after
opening with the proper keys, thieves force the door open and break through (Exodus 22:2;
Matthew 6:19,20; Hosea 7:1; Luke 12:33,39; Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 5).

3. Thieves strike at the time we least expect

Thieves don’t announce their arrival. Neither do they give information as to when they will strike.
They come at the time the occupants of a house least expect (Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; 1
Thessalonians 5:2,4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; 16:15). If people know when when thieves will
strike, they will watch over their goods and not suffer the loss of their garment to the thieves
thereby walking naked and exposing their shame (Revelation 16:15; Matthew 24:43).

4. Thieves make statements that can aid their activities

Thieves sometimes make statements that on the surface may look very innocent and in fact
compassionate. However, such statements always have their basis in covetousness and will only
aid their theft (John 12:6).

5. Thieves can make God’s house a center of their activities

In the New Testament, some people turned the temple which was meant to be a house of prayer
into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). Satan can turn the local church
into a center of his theft and robbery, taking advantage of the ignorant, stealing the word of God
from people’s heart as soon as they hear it (2 Corinthians 2:11; Matthew 13:4,19; Luke 8:5,12;
Mark 4:4,15).

6. Thieves operate in collaboration with other agents and partners

Consenting and cooperating with thieves brings divine rejection and displeasure (Psalm 50:18;
Proverbs 29:24). Some people operate as agents of thieves supplying information, aiding and
abetting the theft. Others operate in partnership and companionship with the satanic thief
(Proverbs 29:24; Isaiah 1:23; Jeremiah 48:27). If Satan ever uses you to uproot or steal the word
of God from people’s hearts, you are an agent of the satanic thief (Luke 8:5,12). If Satan ever
uses you to provide information that enables him to break into people’s home and life and then
steal, then you are in partnership with the satanic thief.