The Devil Is A Thief -- Luke 8:11-15

(from a sermon by Dan Winkler preached at Double Springs, AL)
  1. Introducing the Devil
    1. Theoretically - a fallen ANGEL - Luke 10:18; 1 Tim 3:7
    2. Metaphorically - a DRAGON & SERPENT - Rev 20:12
    3. Fundamentally - our ADVERSARY - 1 Peter 5:8
    4. Essentially - the ACCUSER of brethren - Rev 12:10
    5. Practically - a THIEF - John 10:10
    6. (Read text - scan audience - are all soil types here today?)


  2. The Soils of the Sower
    1. The Wayside Soil = the NON-Christian
      1. The Devil steals the source of faith that saves
        1. Romans 10:17
        2. Hebrews 10:38-39
      2. The Devil doesn't care . . .
        1. If you believe, but have not repented
        2. If you believe, but have not confessed
        3. If you believe, but have not been baptized
      3. The Devil steals the seed that produces FAITH & SALVATION, and replaces it with seed that will not save - the TEACHINGS of MAN - Matthew 13:24-30; 15:7-9
        1. "All you have to do is believe to be saved." Jam 2:24
        2. "Baptism has nothing to do with salvation." 1 Pet 3:21
        3. "It is impossible to fall from grace." Galatians 5:4


    2. The Stony Ground = the NEW Christian
      1. They receive the word with JOY - Do you remember how you felt when you came up from the waters of baptism? When you were changing your clothes & preparing to meet your new brothers and sisters in Christ?
      2. The Devil wants to steal your joy with:
        1. TEMPTATION
          1. "Give up! You can't live up to God's standards!"
          2. "You have failed! You must not really be saved!"
        2. TRIBULATION
          1. SOCIAL rejection -- Acts 17:5-9 Jason
          2. FAMILY rejection -- Matthew 10:21-22, 34-39


    3. The Thorny Ground = the FIRST generation Christian -- "And went on their way"
      1. The Devil wants to rob you of TRUST in God by using:
        1. WORRY - "cares"
        2. WEALTH - "riches"
        3. WORLDLINESS - "pleasures of this life"
      2. Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart . . ."


    4. Second & Third Generation Christians - the Devil desires to steal your LOVE - Revelation 2:1-5
      1. The Devil uses DOCTRINE to steal your love
      2. Many are "set for a defense of the Gospel" (Phil 1:17), but have forgotten the GREAT COMMISSION (Mark 16:16)
      3. Too many Christians have lost their love:
        1. For the LOST - Luke 19:10
        2. For their BRETHREN - 1 John 3:14-16; 4:20-21
        3. For the LORD - John 14:15, 23-24