God's Theft-Protection Policy

Let's talk about the most successful thief and liar in the history of the universe, and how you can combat him. He is a deceptive, calculating plunderer who has moved too freely in and out of our lives. Every individual on the face of this planet has been in some way defrauded or robbed by him.

You Have Been Ripped Off

You may think I choose the term ripped off because I'm trying to use modern language to describe a theft. My choice of words has nothing to do with modern language!

When someone walks into your house, sticks a loaded gun in your face, ties you up with a rough cord, begins to load his van with your goods, and then smugly walks out your front door, that is not mere robbery. I am sorry, but robbery is too polite a term! You have been ripped off!

Theft is a painful, ripping sensation that hurts down to the core of your being. It is a personal violation of your private life. When you are deprived by any means of something of value that is lawfully yours, then make no mistake about it, you have been ripped off!

By now, you might be saying, "Brother John, what does all of this talk about robbery and being ripped off have to do with me? I've never been robbed."

Well, I've never met a Christian who hasn't been victimized by this thief. He has performed his destructive deeds, taking from the saints of God what is rightfully theirs, in virtually every Christian life I have ever known.

I will not hold you in suspense any longer. No doubt you have already guessed who that master criminal is. He is the devil. He has taken more loot in his reign of terror than ever imagined. He has stolen billions of dollars from the children of God during the last two thousand years.

These robberies occur everywhere you look. How many Christians have made what looked to be a good investment, only to watch it go bad? How many have gone off on their own to form some sort of new company or business, only to see it fail?

Hundreds of times I have heard confused wives confess to me, "I don't know what happened. When my husband started his own business, we were sure it would be a success. He had a good working knowledge of his product, and there seemed to be strong demand, but the minute he hung out the company sign, things started going wrong."

In counseling, my wife and I have many times had to help piece back together families shattered by this type of trauma. Time and time again we hear, "We had a beautiful home in a lovely community, and Bill had a good job, but we felt the Lord was leading us to go to another place. So we sold our house, Bill quit his job, and we went, in faith."

You know the rest of the story, because you have heard it before. You may have even lived it. "Well, Brother John, we just don't know what happened. One thing after another went wrong. Bill could not find work. We used up our house money. Our ministry never got off the ground. Now we are broke. We are 32 (or 42, 52, 62, or 72 years old), and we are broke. What happened?"

We have sat for many long hours counseling dear, precious, Christian families who have lost all of their physical possessions—homes, boats, cars—in the name of the Lord! Step by step, Pat and I have had to take them through their painful experiences and begin to show them where in their lives they accepted some deception or lie from the enemy.

God is Not a Robber

So often, we hear from these dedicated Christians something like, "Maybe God wanted us to lose all of our physical possessions so that we could learn to trust totally in Him.” That is a lie of Satan!

God would never rip off the possessions of one of his beloved children just to make a point! A careful study of these situations always reveals some sin, or some lie of Satan that is allowed to sneak into the family, opening the door for him to rip off what God had in store for them.

I believe it is time to serve notice on Satan. He has robbed Christians long enough! For too long and in too many situations, he has ripped off our possessions, indiscriminately raped and plundered the saints of God, diminished their quality of life, and taken the lion's share of our assets and possessions from us.

However, if you can believe it, you can cast Satan out of your life right now, and be rid of his interference in your affairs today.

He's a defeated foe! He's destroyed. The Word of God tells us he's broken into pieces (John 16:11). He is so weak that one angel, using only one hand, can cast him into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3).

How in the world can we be so deceived as to think that this poor, pathetic, defeated enemy of God can rise up in any power?

If we really understood the devil's power, we would understand that it was taken from him on Calvary, and that he is powerless. Yes, if we really understood the powers of darkness, we would know that they must bow to the powers of Light, and we would immediately storm the strongholds of hell and take the world for Jesus!

The devil roams the planet "As a roaring lion... seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). You see, he must be granted permission before he has the power to devour you. Yes, you must first let him!

The devil does not have any other power except in lying signs and wonders operating through deception in your mind, as you let him. The devil can give you the idea that he has strength and power. However, you have the power to cast down that idea.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4,5

Now look at this verse:

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 2:14

Look at that carefully. It is past tense. He had the power of death.

The word destroy is translated several ways in the New Testament. It is translated '"without effect, made void, made of no effect, and abolish. ” It is time to stop running in fear from the devil. He is destroyed. The power of death he once had is destroyed. The power of the devil has been wiped out!

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

The Greek word for destroy is luo, and Strong's Concordance says it means "to loosen, break up, unloose, melt, or put off."

Know Who You Are

Many folks cannot give up the idea of a strong devil. The problem is that they are more comfortable with a strong devil than a defeated devil, because if the devil is really strong, and they are really weak, when they goof up, they can blame him.

No wonder there is no Kingdom of God on earth. No wonder we are no farther than we are. We have gone all across the world and preached the gospel of salvation, and a good number have been saved. However, we have not yet begun to teach Christians who they are. We are preaching the gospel about the King (Jesus), but we are not preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.

Church, it is time to lay hold of this truth. The primary thrust of the Church's outreach can no longer be only getting people saved. We need to enter into the new dimension of our heritage as sons and daughters of the King.

It is a time of helping those who have been saved, to grow up into "the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). The saints of God must come into the truth of who they are.

We have created an army of babes. We now need to raise them up into an army that can go forth in the power of God.

The Battle Is in Your Mind

The truth of the matter is that the battle is in your mind. As long as you think Satan is mighty and powerful, he can hurt you.

It is time for Christians to let God take them from a defeated human mentality into an overcoming, God-like mentality. None of these phony concepts about Satan can dwell in your mind when you walk in the mind of Christ.

As you begin to walk in His footsteps and imitate Him, you are transformed into His beautiful image, and the superior God-mind will develop in you and manifest the power of God.

Start walking in belief, not whimpering in unbelief. Put on the entire armor of God. Get out and soar into the heavenlies with the mind of Christ.

The Church of Jesus Christ has accepted the deception of Satan long enough. Now it is time to reclaim what that liar has stolen, and once and for all, walk in the heritage of the King! It's time to stop Satan from stealing from us again.

God's Personal Theft-Protection Policy

To fortify us against invasion by Satan, God has given to each of His children a spiritual theft-protection policy. The conditions of this policy are written in the Bible:

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit....

Ephesians 6:11-18

You are in a spiritual war! Satan has no power over your life, but you must bring him into containment by skillfully using God's theft-protection policy.

In ourselves, you and I are no match for Satan. However, in God's strength, the devil is no match for us!

To be shielded from the devil, we must properly utilize the complete, spiritual theft-protection policy God has provided for us. Notice, I said complete. God says, "Put on the whole armor of God," not part of it, but all of it.

If we follow the conditions of God's policy, we will stand in complete protection, and we will be totally invulnerable to the attacks of the devil.

There are six things God stipulates we must do:

1. Gird your loins with truth.

In the world, the battles are fought among large corporations in the courts of law with lies, exaggerations, and evasions of the truth. The entire training of a lawyer centers not around truth, but around the proper protection of his client, even if it means suppression of the truth.

In God's heavenly court system, truth prevails! Jesus Himself is Truth.

...I am the way, the truth, and the life....

John 14:6

Jesus is Truth, and Satan is deception. The devil himself is deception!

...When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 8:44

Your spiritual theft-protection policy demands that you be truthful; lying forfeits the battle to the father of lies. When you lie, the price you pay is that you step out of the provision of God's protection plan. You open the doors to your house and invite Satan to enter and take your energy, strength, and influence.

Truth is the foundation of God's protection plan in your life! Watch your words carefully. Keep your loins wrapped in truth.

Remember, the loins are where the reproduction process takes place. Be sure that what you bring forth is always in accord with God. Always bring forth the truth.

2. Wear the Breastplate of Righteousness.

If you want God's power and protection in your spiritual home, then you must come before him in righteousness.

We have no righteousness except through Jesus Christ.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags....

Isaiah 64:6

There is only one way to experience the righteousness of Jesus.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Satan can use sin to condemn you, overthrow your life, and take your goods. If there is sin in your life, go to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness. Through the forgiveness of Jesus, the devil loses all ability to penetrate your heart through condemnation.

Remember that God can do a quick work in those who walk in righteousness.

For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Romans 9:28

3. Have Your Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace.

This passage is often misunderstood, and even skipped. It simply means that we must be willing to witness before the world that Jesus Christ is Lord. The feet are the vehicle that Scripture often uses to portray the carrying of God's message to others.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion,

Thy God reigneth!

Isaiah 52:7

Many Christians misunderstand God's command to:

...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15

This command is given to more than the missionaries and the preachers. It applies to everyone who knows Jesus, and commands us to tell everyone who does not know Jesus that He is the Christ, the Savior of the world.

The lady next door that you take to the grocery market needs to know about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The boss at work needs to hear about salvation. The person who delivers your morning paper needs to know about the good news of the gospel.

Be ready and prepared to share God's Word with the people He brings into your life! As your feet take you from one place to another, and you share the gospel of peace with others, you are fulfilling one of God's expectations in His spiritual theft-protection policy.

Let your primary business be the spreading of peace. If you do this, then every step you take will carry out the Royal Ambassador's mission, and it will entitle you to the diplomatic immunity of the Kingdom of God.

4. Wear the Shield of Faith.

There are many things we do, believing that our actions will please God. Child of God, I've got news for you. There is one ingredient you must have and exercise; it is a vital key to doing anything to please God!

But without faith it is impossible to please him....

Hebrews 11:6

Faith is crucial to our walk. Faith is the part of our armor that God uses to quench the fiery darts of the devil. It is the weapon that makes us strong, that allows us to walk in God's power!

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 3:16

There are so many current, detailed teachings of faith that I will not try to recount them here. However, I recommend that if you have not already done so, you should perform a complete study on faith. Such a study is of vital importance to your Christian growth.

The Word of God names faith as the key to overcoming the circumstances and problems of the world.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory That overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4

5. Wear the Helmet of Salvation.

Salvation is more than a few words uttered by non-believers when they accept Christ Jesus into their hearts. Salvation is a daily walk, a daily yielding to the Spirit of God. Walking in His will demands that your mind becomes the very mind of God.

Football players wear helmets for protection. No matter how severe the impact from a tackle, the helmet acts to absorb the shock so that the player can continue as if the impact had never happened.

So it is when we wear the helmet of salvation. Satan can attempt to assault our lives, but as we walk in the living, daily salvation of Jesus Christ, we can continue as though the lies and deceptions of the enemy had never happened!

Remember, the only power Satan has is the power you give him when you accept his deception. The spiritual battlefield is in the mind! So the helmet of salvation, the helmet that protects the mind from the devil is specially vital to your success in life. Through the salvation of Jesus Christ, you and I can echo the powerful words Jesus used when he admonished the devil:

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Luke 4:8

6. Utilize the Word of God.

No true soldier would ever go into a battle unarmed. Any army would delight in such foolishness and emerge from the confrontation victorious. Yet, so many Christians try to wage spiritual warfare and do not even carry the weapon God has given to them, His Word.

The Word of God is a mighty offensive weapon that cuts down every deception and every lie Satan would feed you.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17

I have known five-year-olds who could recite the latest television hamburger commercial word for word, yet their parents never asked them to memorize one verse of Scripture. I know adults who can quote stock market prices by the hour, yet never memorized one verse of Scripture. How can you fight in a spiritual war if you leave your weapon at home?

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Stock market prices will change each day. Hamburger commercials will come and go, but as the Bible says:

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Mark 13:31

"Put on the whole armor of God..." and you will be able to stand in the evil day (Ephesians 6:11). You can defend yourself and stop the devil cold. Do not allow him ever to steal from you again.

Table of Contents

Start