Take Back What The Devil Stole

            The Scripture says that, “The thief’s (Satan’s) purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.” (John 10:10 TLB). What has the devil stolen from you? Is it your health, a relationship, your finances, something physical? God is in the restoration business. He desires for you to reclaim what is yours. Today, let’s look at how one man in the Bible got back what was stolen from him.
           
              David, future king of Israel, and his men had been out fighting their enemies. When they returned to Ziklag, their home base, they found everything had been taken – their wives, children, and everyone else. In addition, the Amalekites had burned everything to the ground. 1 Samuel 30:4 says David and his men “wept until they could weep no more.” But then David’s men turned against him and threatened to stone him. What did David do? 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) says, “And David was greatly distressed…but (he) encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”
           
             David encouraged himself in the Lord. When you are at a crossroads, how do you do this? You do it with the Word of God. You remind yourself what God has said about you, the dominion He has given you as a believer, and the promises in His Word which cover every situation you can ever face. Secondly, you remember the victories He’s given you in the past – the times He’s healed, restored relationships, provided for financial needs.
           
          The next thing David did was to pursue. David asked the Lord if he should pursue the enemy. “And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them...” (1 Samuel 30: 8 NKJV). David gathered up his men, pursued his enemy and attacked him until he was defeated. How do we pursue as believers today? We determine we will not settle for the thievery, we take up arms, and we go after what has been stolen.
           
            God has provided us with the weapons we need – His Word, the words of our mouth, and the knowledge Jesus won the victory over the powers of darkness when He rose from the dead.
           
              The third thing David did was to overtake. After God told David to pursue, he said to him, “You shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” (verse 8, NKJV). God guaranteed David’s success. But it didn’t come easily. The Scripture says “David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day” (1 Samuel 30:17, NKJV). How do we overtake? We rebuke the devil in the Name of Jesus. We bind every spirit that comes against us. We keep speaking the Word of God. And we use the spiritual forces of faith and patience by which we inherit the promises.
           
​               And the best part? Not only did David recover all but he took the spoils from the Amalekites as well. That’s what happened to Job. He regained double for everything Satan had taken from him. Don’t just go for what you’ve lost. Anticipate more. In Jesus, you are more than a conqueror. The Scripture says if we catch a thief, he must restore seven times what he stole. (Proverbs 6:31).  So take back what has been stolen from you. Bankrupt the devil.