Be Alert

The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy - but from who? We know Satan is the thief, but who are his victims? 

The world? 

Possibly but doesn't the world already lie under his power? 

Why would he steal from them; the things they have are keeping them under his control. Satan will keep his own subjects supplied with his trinkets - it's the treasure of the saints that he is after? 

Jesus said the seed sown on the path that is eaten by the birds represents "the enemy snatching away the word" before understanding occurs. 

Satan also wants to steal our joy like he did through the false gospel that robbed the Galatians of their true provisions in Christ Jesus. 

The devil also wants to destroy our true liberty of walking in the Spirit by luring us back into the bondage of sowing to the flesh. 

He also works feverishly to kill true spiritual fellowship by introducing confusion and sowing discord. Satan knows his time is short and he lurks in the shadows awaiting the best opportunity to work his schemes. 

We should not be caught unaware and we must set our heart to stay sober and fully alert. 

Beware of his diversions, distractions, confusions, oppressions, contentions, divisions, questions, apathy, and indifference, etc. His scheme is to rob us of our inheritance in Christ by luring us out of the safety of abiding securely. He wants to cripple the church and damage her testimony and make us war with each other. Only those abiding in Christ are kept safe from evil.