In the Crosshairs

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  

-Jesus, John 10:10

Our enemy, the thief, works in opposites: 

If God is giving it to us, watch for the enemy to work at stealing it;

if it’s living, be alert for him to try his hand at killing it; 

if it’s growing, notice how he’s gradually or suddenly destroying it. 

Once we recognize these reverse tactics, we know what’s in the enemy’s crosshairs: 

What God gives, the enemy aims to steal:

• Sleep 

  “...He gives his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2

• Children 

  “Children are a gift from the Lord…” Psalm 127:3

• A godly wife 

  “...a prudent wife is from the Lord.” Proverbs 19:14

• Seed of Truth

  “…the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown…” Matthew 13:19

• Salvation’s source 

  “...this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

• Spiritual gifts 

  “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another…” 1 Peter 4:10

What God makes alive, the enemy aims to kill:

• Humanity 

  “He…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 

• The Word  

  “For the word of God is living and active…” Hebrews 4:12

• The church 

  “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…” 1 Peter 2:5

What God grows, the enemy aims to destroy: 

• Creation

  “He prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.”

  Psalm 147:8

• Gospel ministry

  “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

• The body of believers 

  “...the whole body…grows with a growth that is from God.”

  Colossians 2:19

“Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:13