Ethical hackers are employed to try and break security systems. They use the same methods as a crook but they don’t steal. What is the difference? They have different motives.

1 – Thieves in the Church

There are many verses in the Bible warning of false prophets and teachers in the church. See 2 Peter 2:1-3; John 10:10-12:28-29; Matthew 13:19; Matthew 24:43 and Matthew 7:15. Today we have people who are happy with thieves in the church. They steal by deception. See Hosea 7:1-4. They are out to steal three things.

• Money
• Truth
• Other sheep

Sometimes it is the leaders who bring these thieves to the church. They are promising things they cannot deliver. They want to steal. They appear to have good intentions. They don’t do it for the good of the sheep. They prey on the weak and the leaders allow it and may even collude with the thieves. There is a promise of greater riches but it is the thieves and their companions who profit. God is not happy when the weak are treated in this way. He takes it personally. Like His own pocket has been picked.

2 – God steals from those who steal

God does the same thing the enemy does but with a different motive. The church will be raptured or stolen away by God. The Lord always comes to rob the thief. To steal back what is his. This idea of stealing back is a truth taught in the Bible. God comes like a thief in the night. The motives are right. We should not be afraid of being snatched away. He is not a thief but rather a rescuer. A thief does not give any warning. When Jesus comes will you see Him as a thief or a deliverer? We can be snatched away by the devil, false prophets or by the Lord.

You are going to get ripped off. Who will it be? Satan is a robber. The Lord comes to steal it back. The Lord is better at it. The Lord’s motive is to save. The enemy’s motive is top kill. The enemy brings death, the Lord brings life. The Lord is a much better thief. The Lord steals in a twinkling of an eye. The church can be deceived. The Lord warns several times about it. The Great Church Robbery is going to happen and you are going to be stolen. Who do you want to take you away? Lord steal us back!

Categories: 1 Thessalonians