Satan the House Robber

Gus Nichols preached this sermon on February 19, 1965.

Satan steals. He robbed the first home of God’s word (Genesis 2:17–18; 3:1–19; 2 Corinthians 11:1–3; 1 Timothy 2:11). He is in the home robbing business—and is succeeding. He plunders; he is a liar and deceiver (John 8:44).

He uses people and means to rob homes. He used a serpent and Eve (Genesis 3). He has his ministers (2 Corinthians 11:13–15) and doctrines (1 Timothy 4:13).

Satan is robbing our homes of the best things:

Satan wants to rob your home of the Bible. He does not steal the Bible itself (Luke 8:11–12; Jeremiah 23:30–32). He robs people of the value of its contents. He does not mind it being on the center table, if he can get you to gamble or drink around it. He wants to crowd out Bible reading and study (Colossians 3:16; Isaiah 34:16; Hosea 4:6) by getting us too busy with other things of lesser importance (Luke 8:14). He wants lust for other things (Mark 4:19)—to have too much work, innocent fun, interest in riches, and cares, to have time to read the Bible. Satan, not God, has us too busy here and there doing less important things. If this generation works only one hour daily, the devil would convince them they did not have time (1 Kings 20:35–43). He ruined God’s people by getting them too busy to teach, study, and train their families (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:5–9; 31:11–13; 2 Chronicles 17:17–19).

Satan wants to rob your home of good books. He wants you to buy less important thing—hurtful things—instead of good books. Paul told Timothy to “give attention to reading” (1 Timothy 4:12–16) and to bring the books (2 Timothy 4:9–13). Others make no time to read good literature—other kinds of reading crowd it out. We are in a nation ignorant of God’s word (Hosea 4:6; Proverbs 14:34).

Satan wants to rob your home of faith by modernism and evolution. These offer second-hand faith with no conviction; no foundation offers no real faith (John 20:30–31).

Satan wants to rob your home of family prayer. We need its power for each day (1 Peter 3:7; Joshua 24:15; Acts 10:1–3).

Satan wants to rob your home of respect for Lord’s day (Revelation 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2).

Satan wants to rob your home and children of proper discipline (Proverbs 4:1–13; 22:6; Ephesians 6:4).

Satan wants to rob your home of the church-going habit (Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 2:3). Satan has been given the keys while our Lord is locked out (Revelation 3:20).—Gus Nichols

Five Decisions That Affect Destiny

Life is a series of choices. We make decisions every day that either move us closer to or further away from God. What decisions affect our destiny?

  • Who do you hear? Matthew 17:5; Hebrews 2:1.
  • Who do you follow? 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Corinthians 11:1.
  • Who do you love? 1 John 2:15; Matthew 22:37–39.
  • Who do you obey? Romans 6:15–23; Hebrews 5:8.
  • Who do you serve? Romans 6:17–18; Matthew 4:10.

“The decision is yours” is a powerful statement! Are you making the right decisions? —Mark Posey

Let Your Words Be Few

“I served with George Washington in the Legislature of Virginia . . .  and . . . with Doctor Franklin in Congress. I never heard either of them speak ten minutes at a time, nor to any but the main point.” —Thomas Jefferson

“If you want to be a clever person, you have to learn how to ask cleverly, how to listen attentively, how to respond quietly, and how to stop talking when there is nothing more to say.” —Leo Tolstoy

“Let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

Watch

Watch what peaks your interest; it becomes your desire (2 Samuel 11:2–3). So be interested in the things that please Christ (Philippians 2:21).

Watch your desires; they become your lusts (2 Samuel 11:2–3). So desire the heavenly things (Matthew 6:19–21).

Watch your lusts; they become your thoughts (Matthew 5:28). So only desire what is good (Proverbs 11:23).

Watch your thoughts; they become your words. So “set your mind on things above” (Colossians 3:1–2).

Watch your words; they become your actions (Mark 7:20–23). So use your words for encouragement (Hebrews 3:13).

Watch your actions; they become your habits (Romans 7:14–15). So act to help all, especially those in the church (Galatians 6:10).

Watch your habits; they become your character (Genesis 6:3; 8:21). So follow the patterned habits of the faithful in Scripture (Philippians 3:15).

Watch your character; it becomes your future (Titus 1:15–16). So keep your character blameless (Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:3).

Watch your future; it becomes your eternity (Matthew 25:31–46). So place your future on the eternally right path (Matthew 7:13–14, 21–27).

It’s incredible, and a little scary, what can grow in our lives from something so small (James 1:14–15). What we allow into our lives most certainly impacts us (1 Corinthians 15:33). What are we allowing to impact us? If we aren’t careful, it could impact our eternity. —Brett Petrillo (inspired by a Lao Tzu quote).

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