“The thief comes 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.” John 10:10

The devil wants to steal your increase.  He wants to kill and destroy the life you have and your more abundant life the Lord has promised. That is who satan is and what he does – kills, steals and destroys.

“⁶ I (Apostle Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

⁷ So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.

⁸ Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

He who plants and he who labors are one…but God gives the increase.  The planter nor the laborer are the Revelator, the Holy Spirit reveals – He gives the increase.  I remind you, the devil wants to steal your increase.  We receive our reward according to our own labor. However, we must be sure to understand the reward and the labor required to receive the reward.

Spiritual growth, drawing nearer to God through faith in His Redemption plan, is the increase. Knowing the Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible, is our reward.  Learning of Jesus, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe, brings the increase.  Jesus IS life and life more abundant.  Fighting the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ as the source and His Cross as the means…the ONLY means by which the promises of God are yes and amen…that is our labor, not outward ordinances of religion.

Outward ordinances of religion are not labor.  They do not plant nor do they water but are in fact nothing more than lustful desires of the flesh.  The religious ceremonies are an abomination to God (Isaiah 1:14).  They are a mere form which are emptied of significance that religion exalts as “labor”.  This labor will always leave the Believer looking for the increase which never comes. Their increase has been stolen by satan, who is the source, and religion is his means. The devil has many means to steal our increase and all too often, for the Believer, religion is the means.

“²⁹ For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.”  Matthew 25:29.

The slothful and unprofitable servant did not labor, he did not plant nor did he water his talent.  Satan not only stole his increase but was allowed to take that which he had been given.  For every one that has labored, fought the good fight of faith and desires more of Jesus for Who He is and what He has done, they shall have an abundance…they shall have life and life more abundant.  However, for those who have not the desire to fight the good fight of faith but labor in the outward ordinances of religion, that which they have shall be taken away.

“¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is Salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;

¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (fight), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
steadfastness.

¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:14-18.

The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.  Don’t let him steal your increase.  Don’t allow him to destroy your reward.  Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…He will give the increase in abundance.

-Donna Clark Warren