Arrest the Robbers

 

John 10:10 (KJV) 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.

The pyramids were not only built to display the power of the pharaohs but were intended to be fortifications against grave robbers. Every precaution possible was made to keep the thieves out. Blocks were used that were too heavy to move. The burial vaults were placed at the center of the massive structures.

Entrance tunnels (100’s of feet long) were blocked up with massive blocks and sand after the Pharaoh was entombed. The entrance on the outside was disguised. Other false entrances were made to deceive the robbers. Plans were destroyed and slaves who knew the secrets to enter were often killed. Despite all these precautions, the robbers still got in and looted the Great Pyramids!

The same happened in the Valley of the Kings. The only tomb of a Pharaoh completely intact was that of Tutankhamen, whose tomb was built beneath another tomb!

When physical things are stolen, they’re easy to replace; but not so when spiritual things are stolen. That’s why a spiritual thief is far more dangerous than a physical one. There are 5 spiritual robbers tonight that have stolen from the best of believers, taking their miracles and blessings.

The Lord warned us: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal,”

And he, the enemy is the greatest thief there is, but he is certainly not alone.

There are 5 things that accompany his character as a thief.

 

Fear Can Make You Helpless

Joshua 5:1 (KJV) And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

 

It Can Cripple Your Faith

Matthew 14:30 (KJV) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 

Fear Can Put You Out of The Battle

Judges 7:3 (KJV) Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

 

Fear Can Rob You of Your Inheritance

Numbers 13:27-28 (KJV)

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

 

Fear Is a Snare

Proverbs 29:25 (KJV) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

I’ve come to tell somebody tonight that it’s time to arrest the robber of fear!

It’s time to put some Holy Ghost handcuffs on the spirit of fear.

Somebody needs to say, “You’re not binding me, I’m binding you in the name of Jesus.”

Get your eyes off your circumstances and get them on the Lord!

Psalm 27:1 (KJV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 91:4-5 (KJV)

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

 

Draw on The Strength of God

A real burglar can steal from you once; but things like ‘Fear’ can steal from you night after night.

Arrest that spirit tonight.

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

What Is discouragement?

It’s being deprived of courage or confidence; to dissuade from action; to obstruct or hinder by opposition or difficulty.

 

God’s Answer for Discouragement

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

God’s answer for discouragement is His Word.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV)

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

You must see that God is the master of our obstacles.

There’s hope! Because God is in charge, and “If the Lord be for us, who can be against us?”

God is BIGGER than our problems. Somebody arrest the robber named discouragement; give God some praise!

 

The Robber of Doubt

Many are lost to doubt; It’s the reason Peter sank…

Matthew 14:31 (KJV) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Doubt robbed the disciples of a miracle.

Matthew 17:19-20 (KJV)

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 

Other’s doubt kept Jesus from working miracles!

Matthew 13:58 (KJV) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

It’s importance, shown in reverse…

Matthew 9:22 (KJV) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matthew 9:29 (KJV) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Luke 7:50 (KJV) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 17:19 (KJV) And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 

Mark 9:23-24 (KJV)

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

 

Characteristics of Overcoming Faith

It may be small. Jesus referred to a “mustard seed” of faith, which He declared could still move mountains. Jesus wants us to know that our faith doesn’t have to be the same size as our problem. Regardless of the size of our problem, we must never give up.

The recipients weren’t perfect. Many of those that Jesus healed weren’t people who were completely holy, nice, and righteous. We don’t have to be either! They took God at His words. They reasoned that whatever God said was true; so they received!

Begging and crying didn’t prevail, but faith did. They didn’t receive because they begged and cried. “The Just shall live by faith.” They had faith.

It originates in the word of God.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is indispensable.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

The Robber of Sorrow

Sorrow because of death.

Psalm 18:4 (KJV) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Sorrow because of wickedness.

Psalm 32:10 (KJV) Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

Sorrow through oppression.

Psalm 107:39 (KJV) Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 

Sorrow because working too much.

Psalm 127:2 (KJV) It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Sorrow because of children.

Proverbs 17:21 (KJV) He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Sorrow from too much information.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 (KJV) For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Great tribulation shall bring sorrow.

Matthew 24:8 (KJV) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

How do we deal with our sorrows?

 

God Has Healed Our Sorrows

Jesus bore our sorrows!

Isaiah 53:3-5 (KJV)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The sting of death removed.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Banish sorrow.

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

His blessings have no sorrows.

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Our future joys.

Isaiah 35:9-10 (KJV)

9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 

The Robber of Carelessness

What’s the deadliest robber?

The last thief is the one that steals your expectation of the Coming of Jesus.

Matthew 24:40-44 (KJV)

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 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. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

This may be the deadliest robber because it robs you just before you must face God! We must be ready for Jesus’ return. It’s the hope of the church.

Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

In general, hope means “the happy anticipation of good;” it’s something wonderful that you look forward to now so you can endure the unpleasant things of the present.

 

Jesus’ Parables Warn Us to Be Ready 

1. The 5 foolish virgins; let their lamps go out.
2. Foolish stewards; ate and drank with the drunken.

Jesus warned us to watch out for the robbers.

Matthew 24:43 (KJV) 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.

You are the owner of your spiritual house; only you can prepare yourself.