| A THIEF IS COMING TO TOWN' aka 'THUGGS IN THE HOOD' Proverbs 29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not. Matthew 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Hum... A thief is coming to town, what does that warning make you think of ? Does it bring fear? Apprehension? Does it make you nervous? does it make you want to go home and lock all doors and windows? Hide your money and possesions? Maybe the thief is not come to steal your possesions so much as your position? not your money but your mind? not your home but your heart? not your wife but your life? But beware the thief is never satisfied with just robbing you, he comes to not only steal, but to kill and destroy! Some of us why we don't even fear let alone prepare for the coming of the thief. But Jesus said watch and pray! Hey did anyone ever notice that they treated Jesus as a thief the first time he came. When he only came to give life, to give hope, to bring healing, to give light to those in darkness. He came not as a thief but a friend. He came not to rob us of our rights but to robe us in righteousness! not to steal our possesions but to still our passions. Not to take our fun but to give us faith, not to condemn our hearts but to convict our hearts, not to take our homes but to give us hope. But the next time he comes, it will not be as the first time, he will come to rob! to steal! to kill and to destroy! But he will not come to hurt his Church or his bride, not his children but rather the enemy. He will turn the tables on the devil, he will come to rob the devil of what the devil thought was his. He will take souls the devil thought were his, he will rob the devil of the victory he thought he had, of the power over Gods chosen creation he thought he destroyed, He will destroy the works of the devil, ( hey has anybody notice Jesus has already come and is at work indeed through the power of the Holy Spirit filled Church of the living God ) He will kill and bring to nought all the evil plans the devil has hatched in his dark dungeons of despair, all the laws and statutes proclaimed and made against God in the unregenerate and godless halls of government, in the selfish and carnal institutions of man. But when Jesus comes again he will then take back total possesion of his divine creation. God will be glorified! We can choose to bow now at his feet in mercy and confess his Lordship with favor, or we can choose to bow later at his feet in judgement and confess his Lordship with fear! Mark it down it matters not whether you believe or disbelieve, it will not change the facts of truth.. JESUS IS LORD! he is Lord now and will be lord then! And all will bow, all will confess his Lordship. So yes indeed Jesus will come as a thief to rob someone? But who? When? Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Hey did you hear the warning? A thief is coming to town! Or maybe he's already there. It doesn't take much to notice he's been in your neighborhood, just look around, he comes and he steals, kills and destroys. Look in our hospitals and see dozens of his sin sick victims, or look in our jails and see hundreds of his crazed and decieved victims of selfishness and rebellion, or go to our morgues and visit many of his victims of disease and sin, drugs and drinking, or take a look in our mental institutions and you'll find many of his victims of abuse and neglect. He to comes to rob. You see its a sure thing! the thief is coming to your town! But the question again is? Which thief is coming! When is he coming? Will you watch and pray? hey if you've been robbed by the thief already theres hope and help for you. God has promised to restore and revive, to save and heal... to help and fight for you... " he said " come unto me all who are weary and heavy ladden, and I will give you rest for your ssouls..be still and let the Lord fight your battles.. and I will restore unto you the years that the canker worm (thief) hath eatten,and the locust has destroyed.." In the world you shall have tribulation ( troubles)but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.. I give you peace.. |