The truth about how Satan steals the Word
Satan is a thief.
“The thief comes not but for to kill, to steal, and to destroy…” (Jn. 10:10).
Jesus told us that. He also said the same thing in the parable of the sower.
“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, SATAN IMMEDIATELY COMES AND TAKES AWAY the word that is sown in them.” (Luke 4:15).
Here are the seven ways that Satan steals the Word out of your heart:
He puts a THOUGHT in your mind that the Word is not true.
Satan is not only a thief, but he is also a liar. They go together.
He lies to you that what you are reading in the Bible cannot be true. It’s too good to be true. It’s against the laws of physics or science. It’s just one book of many.
When he puts a thought into your mind that God’s Word is not true, it’s what he did to Eve.
2. He sends persecution and TRIBULATION against you to steal your joy in the word.
Satan points to your daily problems and circumstances. “Has anything changed since you started reading your Bible?” “That Bible stuff doesn’t work.”
The Word is a seed. It grows over time. You can’t dig up the seed to see if it is growing yet!
3. He sends DISTRACTIONS and obsessions into your life to minimize the Word.
Our world is so inviting. Hobbies, money, travel, work, and a hundred obsessions can take over your mind.
It becomes a small part of your daily schedule and interests.
4. He REMOVES you from church so that your ears will not hear the Word.
The Bible says, "Faith comes by HEARING." Your faith shrinks to nothing.
Go to your church whether you feel like it or not. Someone said, “I’ve heard it all.”
The Spirit gives life to the word every week, and one Scripture or story may be a turning point in your life.
5. Satan REPLACES the Word with TRADITION.
Tradition saps the Word of it’s power. “So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.” (Mt. 15:3)
Tradition is the language of doubt, fear, and unbelief. It exalts “the way we have always done it” more than what the Bible actually says to do.
6. He CONFUSES the Word with deception and false doctrine.
Satan loves to make the Gospel, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit complicated.
“It’s too hard to understand.”
Satan tries to get you so “deep” that you get in over your head!
DON’T GET COMPLICATED.
7. He DISAPPOINTS you with a leader.
Leaders are not perfect, just forgiven.
Satan “discredits” the Word by pointing to the vessel that delivered it.
When you get pizza delivered, you don’t focus on the deliveryman but on what’s in the bag.
Keep your eyes on Jesus and HIS WORD.
Don’t fall for any of these seven traps.
Hold on to the seed of the Word, and it will grow into a mighty tree of life for all your life and eternity!