A. The word steal comes from a Greek word (klepto) in which we derive the English word “kleptomania” which denotes a persons obsessive need to steal, or those known to have “sticky fingers”. One is guilty of stealing when they seize the property of another unlawfully, and appropriate it to one’s own use or purpose.
B. The Bible teaches that stealing is a transgression of the law, it is disobeying God and one sin that can lead to your eternal destruction – Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28.
C. Many in the world today do not believe or conceptualize stealing as a harmful wrong done against God and mankind, but it is a deadly poison, it will prevent you from inheriting the kingdom of God – I Corinthians 6:9-10.
A. The spirit of stealing begins when your desire to have something that does not belong to you, triggers thoughts, strategies, and ways to obtain something in an unlawful, deceptive, or conniving way – Exodus 20:17; Luke 12:15; I Timothy 6:10.
B. The Word proclaims that when Ahab told his wife Jezebel, Naboth would not sell him his vineyard, Jezebel proceeded to obtain this land for her husband by wicked means – I Kings 21:5-14. She set up two false witnesses against Naboth to say he blasphemed God and the king, and he was stoned – I Kings 21:11-14.
C. After Naboth was stoned to death, Jezebel told Ahab to take the vineyard for a possession. But Elijah the Prophet told Ahab that evil would come to him and that his house and his wife Jezebel would be destroyed – I Kings 21:17-24.
A. Jehovah God lets us know He owns the earth and everything in it – Psalm 24:1-2; Psalm 50:10
1. You and I need not to worry about things we need in life or feel we need to steal something that belongs to someone else.
2. In Philippians 4:19 God says “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
B. When you commit your life to God, you must learn to live in whatsoever state God places you in,
1. Whether it be luxurious/modern or poor/primative – Philippians 4:11-13.
2. If you’re in Christ what reason do you have to steal, since you already have all spiritual blessing which are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3.
A. If you’re a Christian and are a truly godly person you already have
salvation, joy, peace, longsuffering, and love which is great gain because God
own everything and has give us all things to live a godly life –
I Timothy
6:6-10.
B. If you're not a Christian, become one:
HEAR,
BELIEVE,
REPENT,
CONFESS,
BE BAPTIZED.
-- Harry D. Anderson, Jr., March 2009 --
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