Guarding Against Thievery

We have to make sure we recognize that, like it our not, we are involved in spiritual warfare, but God has not placed us without the sufficient tools in order to be victorious - in Him.  Here are some words from Ephesians 6:
11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We know that we face an enemy who desires to steal our joy, to limit our love for God, and to render us unproductive in the Christian life.  And, recognizing his schemes of deception and distraction can be an important first step in defending our hearts and minds from his devices.   We have to recognize the resources that the Lord has given to us and apply these powerful weapons as we contend for our own lives and for the souls of our families and others who need to know Christ, who have become vulnerable to the power of temptation.

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In Luke chapter 4, Jesus discussed the power that the disciples had over evil:
17Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."18And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.20Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Someone in Baytown, Texas was stealing packages from the front porches of homes.   Pastor Benny Holmes had had enough.   In a story from KTRK-TV, the pastor's wife, Pat, is quoted as saying, "He was at his wits end...He was determined in his mind that he would sit here, however long it took, to see if he could find her."

And, two weeks ago, he was successful.   On September 12, Laurie Ferguson, 52, was caught stealing some packages from Benny Holmes' front porch, according to the Baytown Police Department.

In fact, Pastor Holmes is seen on video bolting through his front door with a gun in hand. He ordered Ferguson to get on the ground. She did.  Holmes said this: "She said I'm looking for my dog,"  Pat added, "He said you found your dog. Bow wow."

When police were dispatched to the home, Benny Holmes was holding Ferguson at gunpoint. Investigators believe that Ferguson is the same woman caught on surveillance video driving a red Ford Fiesta and taking packages from the Holmes' porch two previous times this year.

Police said Ferguson had several stolen items in her home that were taken during similar incidents in the neighborhood. Holmes said Ferguson stole a pastor's robe that was delivered to her home in June.

Pat Holmes said she has a gift for Ferguson. She specially made a hat with the word "forgiven" that she hopes to give Ferguson one day.

Pastor Benny was tired of things being stolen from his house, and made the conscious decision to do something about it.  And, while the pastor was concerned about the physical thief and decided to guard his home, I really do think there's a great spiritual application here, too.

I believe that we are called to stand guard over our homes.   When we recognize, as Jesus said, that the thief, the devil, comes to steal, kill, and destroy, then we have to be discerning with respect to his operation in our lives, and identify when he is trying to steal from us.  We allow the enemy to enter our homes when we are not sufficiently praying and preparing for spiritual warfare.  When we allow material to enter our homes over the Internet or through the television, or books, or movies, that could pollute our souls, we run the risk of allowing the enemy to build a stronghold in our own minds, and those of our families.

But, we also recognize that we are not called to go into the battle alone - we have a powerful Friend who stands with us and who will give us the tools in order to resist the devil and protect the people who are entrusted to our care.   We have the access to the full armor of God, and when we're engaged in fighting this unseen enemy, we must be prepared for battle.   We have the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, upon whom we must rely if we are to be effective in the fight.   We walk in victory not in our own strength, but in His mighty power.