God is Not a Robber is a sermon teaching us that we should build into our lives those things that are going to last forever. God gives back many times.
You are not going to leave everything to serve God with God leaving you empty-handed. You will give up things and have losses in your life, everybody does. But you are not going to be left with the short end of the stick. God is not a robber.
Contrary to what people have taught in the past decades, the follower of Jesus does not always have health, wealth, and prosperity. If you trust in Jesus, you should never be sick – this is absurd. You can be sick and still trust Jesus. If you were in a right relationship with God, and you were never sick, you would never die – but all who teach this fallacy eventually die, everyone does. Others preach that whatever you want will be yours – it is nonsense. Nowhere in the bible does it teach these things. But what it does teach is that what we lose for Jesus will be replaced with better things. Sometimes it seems when you lose something it is not for any good at all. Sometimes it hurts and sometimes you feel the loss. Yet, the Lord has something better.
The Example of Job
We learn that Job lost everything he valued. The only things he had left was his wife and his life. He lost his children, his health, and his wealth. Job did not understand why all this was happening to him but consider his response to all this. Job recognized that the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, and he praised God. His wife told him to curse God and end it all, but Job did not sin with his lips.
The book of Job has 35 conversations between him and his friends. At first, they comforted him but later they decided his troubles were all his fault. There are things that happen that are our fault, but there are things that happen that we have no control over. Job had no control over what happened to him and it was not his fault. What was happening to Job was a Satanic attack. If everything goes wrong, don’t take responsibility for it if you’re not responsible, but if you are, take responsibility for it. Sometimes you suffer loss or something bad happens because someone else did something wrong. Sometimes you give up things as a matter of sacrifice.
The Example of Abraham
Abraham, who gave up everything, his home, his relatives, and job, to follow the Lord. God told him to go to a land that He would show him, and Abraham had no idea of where he was going, he just trusted God. The Lord was telling Abraham to follow Him. Abraham traveled with Isaac and Jacob and dwelt in tents with the tabernacle. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God, but he did not find such a city on Earth. Abraham knew God had something better for him.
His wife, Sarah, was faithful to God and bore a son to Abraham as God had promised. God made of Abraham a great nation, and through Abraham, all the families of the Earth were blessed and still are blessed.
The Example of Paul
In the New Testament book of Philippians, Paul wrote to the church of Philippi telling about himself and what he gave up to follow Jesus. Paul used to be known as Saul from Tarsus, a young up and coming man. He was extremely well educated and studied under some of the finest teachers including Gamaliel, one of the most respected teachers of that day and time. Saul was moving up in his station of life. From the tribe of Benjamin, he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. He was strict at keeping the law as a Pharisee. As a Jewish person, he was zealous, and he persecuted the church. No one could come and accuse him of violating the law.
Paul started to follow Jesus and lost everything that he gained and worked for all his life. All that he had worked for, all his achievements, titles, and respect he acquired, he said was as dung so that he could win Christ and be found in Him, not of his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Do you trust the Lord by faith? Do you trust Him to save you and to take care of you and meet your needs?
God Hates Robbery
God is not a robber. A robber takes something away by force, to steal from; to take personal property by violence or threat; to remove valuables without right; to take away as loot; steal. God does not take from us unjustly, without right.
God hates robbery. The word “robbery” appears in several places in scripture referencing Jesus. Jesus, who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. God came to Earth and made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and made in the likeness of men. And being fashioned as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death on the cross. Because of this, God exalted Him, giving Him a name that is above everything.
Jesus himself said something about robbers. Jesus said the thief will come and take from you. And destroy what you have, and possibly kill you. Jesus did not come to take your life; He came to give you life. He did not come to steal from you, He came to bless you, and give to you.
In Mark chapter 10, when Jesus was walking along a road, one came running and kneeled to Him calling Him Good Master and asking Him what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replies why he called Him “Good” since there was only one that was truly good and that was God. Either Jesus was good and was God, or he was not good. Jesus already knew the answer, but He wants us to think about the answer.
Jesus recites to the young man some of the commandments. The young man responded that he had kept the commandments all his life. But the Lord tells him that he is missing one thing and said lovingly to him to sell all he had, give to the poor, and he would have treasure in Heaven. Jesus told him to come, take up the cross, and follow Him – to give his whole life to Jesus. Things were going well for the young man up to that point. But the young man was sad at that saying and turned walking away grieving because he had great possessions. There are people in the bible who are poor as well as rich who followed the Lord. God cares about everything about you, but his primary concern is your heart.
Jesus said to his disciples that it is not that you have a lot, that does not keep you out of the kingdom of God but trusting in riches is what keeps you out. Some people say that they earned their riches and do not need to thank God. But the fact you can earn it is a gift from God. It is not a sin to have money and it is not a sin to be poor either. The problem is trusting in money which is basically trusting yourself. Jesus said it is nearly impossible for someone trusting in money to enter into the kingdom of God. The disciples asked Jesus who then could be saved. Jesus answered them that with men it is impossible but not with God because with God, all things are possible. The only one that can save us is God. Only God forgives sins.
The Disciples Giving All
Peter said to Jesus that the disciples had given up everything to follow Him. Peter, James, and John were in business with James’s and John’s father as fishermen. Matthew worked for the Roman government as a tax collector and was a rich man. They all gave up everything and followed Jesus. But Jesus said to them that they have not left anything for His sake or the gospel’s sake. Jesus says if any man gives up these things, He will pay them back a hundred times over, now in this time. He is going to take care of your needs and bless you in this life, with persecutions. When you live godly, you will suffer persecutions and, in the world, to come, have eternal life. God is not a robber; he will not take from you and leave you with nothing.
Maybe you are like Peter who said he left all to follow Jesus, who will pay you back. Jesus says that many people who are first shall be last, meaning people important in this life may not be in the next life. And people who seem insignificant in this life may be very prominent in eternity. God is not looking at what you achieved or your status in this life, but what is going on in your heart and what you have accomplished for Him. If you worked hard and done well, that is not a bad thing. Be thankful for what you have. Everything in this life is temporary and is going to pass away. Build into your life those things that are going to last forever. God gives back many times. The question is not what God will give back if you follow Him, the question is what you will give to follow Him.
God is Not a Robber sermon starts with verses from Mark 10:13-31:
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Also verses from Hebrews 11:8-12:
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Philippians 3:4-9:
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Isaiah 61:1:
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
John 10:7-10:
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Mark 10:17-25:
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
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