The Thief Has To Steal It First
Pastor Tim Rigdon
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Today's Scriptures and Notes:
John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
If he can steal the Word,
…he can hinder the harvest
He doesn’t have to take the sermon out of the church
He just needs to take the sermon out of your heart
You can shout over the Word on Sunday
…and lose the Word by Monday
“That was a good message,”
…and still allow the enemy to steal it before it ever changes you
1. THE WORD IS SEED
Luke 8:11 NKJV Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Seed has potential
The enemy isn’t afraid of what the Word looks like when you receive it
He’s afraid of what the Word will produce if you keep it
2. THE THIEF COMES IMMEDIATELY
Mark 4:15 — NKJV And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Sometimes the real battle
… is over what Word you are going to believe
…while you’re facing your circumstances
3. THE ENEMY USES DISTRACTION TO STEAL THE WORD
We’re physically in church,
…but mentally somewhere else
Because if he can keep you distracted,
…he can keep you from being transformed
4. THE ENEMY USES OFFENSE TO STEAL THE WORD
It gets stolen because we were offended
Offense can make you reject a Word
…simply because the Word requires something from you
Sometimes the Word will challenge you
…before it changes you
Don’t let your feelings steal,
… what God sent His Word to accomplish
5. THE ENEMY USES DOUBT TO STEAL THE WORD
Did God really say that?
Did God really promise?
Did God really mean it?
Can God really do it?
Is God really going to come through?
And if the enemy can get you questioning the Word,
…he can get you doubting the God who gave the Word
God’s Word does not become true because you believe it
You believe it because it is true
Your feelings don’t determine the truth
Your circumstances don’t determine the truth
Your bank account doesn’t determine the truth
Your doctor’s report doesn’t determine the truth
Your past doesn’t determine the truth
6. YOU HAVE TO GUARD THE WORD
Luke 8:15 NKJV But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Hear it.
Keep it.
Bear fruit.
You’ve got to believe it
…when circumstances contradict it.
7. DON’T LET THE DEVIL STEAL YOUR WORD
He may bring circumstances that contradict the Word
…But he cannot change the Word
Because what God plants in you today
…can produce something tomorrow that you cannot see today
Maybe you’ve allowed circumstances
…to become louder than God’s Word
“You’re not stealing my Word!”
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