The Abundant Life (John 10:10)
- Jesus starts by saying that the thief comes only to….
- It’s actually the word from where we would get our English word Kleptomaniac.
- Definition of: Kleptomania: Impulse control disorder that involves the repeated impulse to steal for no great gain, when the perpetrator has sufficient money to pay for the item and no need for what is stolen.
- Now of course Jesus is referring to the devil or satan here.
- The devil has no need for the things he takes. He takes them because he hates you and the image of God you bear.
- The first activity that Jesus mentions of the devil is stealing. Jesus uses that same word.
- In the original language there is a play on words here with a homonym. “Thief that steals”
- Now when we think about this concept of stealing here, we have to think about more than just physical stuff.
- The devil does not have a physical body so he does not come to steal only physical things.
- He comes to steal your joy, your happiness, your wellbeing, your peace, etc.
- Now the next activity that Jesus mentions is to kill.
- The meaning of this Greek word is: “to kill, to butcher; to offer sacrifice.”
- Again, we can’t think of this in terms of killing the physical only. Kill peace, kill joy.
- Then the next activity of the devil that Jesus mentions is to destroy
- The Greek word means: to destroy, to kill, cause to lose life; to die or perish. to destroy utterly; to bring to naught, make void, to lose, be deprived of; to perish. Violence and strife are often the associative with this word.
- Jesus includes this word to cover all the bases, in case anything wasn’t already covered by stealing and killing.
- Then Jesus has a huge transition in His statement. I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
- There is a lot of contrast in this verse just like there was last week in Matt 16.
- There is also contrast between the stealing, killing and destroying here and the safety of the pasture and gate mentioned in the previous verse where Jesus says I am the gate.
- He came to give life, in the Greek it’s the word Zoe which is the basic word for life.
- And Jesus didn’t come to be stingy with life. He came to give it abundantly.
- The Greek word means: exceeding, going beyond; full, abundant; more than; excessive, in full abundance.
- Pass two: Now that we understand some of the terms etc., lets take a look at how we walk this out.
- Use the first part of this verse as a thermometer.
- Is there too much stealing killing and destroying going on in your life?
- So how do we stop it and stop the influence of the devil in our lives?
- First, repent.
- If you are still not sure, start with pride and idolatry.
- These are sins of humanity, but still very present in our day.
- What are your idols? Check book, social media, last argument.
- Second, this is all about Jesus.
- Maybe part of your repenting also needs to be getting right with Jesus.
- Third, Give thanksgiving and Praise
- Psalm 100:4
- Fourth, Avoid the quick verbal command prayers of binding we talked about last week
- Now the rest of the verse says: I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
- How do we live this out? Make ourselves attractive to His abundance.
- First As I already mentioned get right with Jesus.
- Nobody or no ideology before Jesus in your life.
- Second, Remember the words from Luke 9 Live a surrendered life.
- Living a surrendered life also positions you to receive the abundance of the Lord.
- Tip: living a surrendered life involves being consistent.
- Third, look for abundance in places other than material possessions, or numerical growth.
- Fourth, we must also learn to live abundantly.
- If there is too much stealing, killing and destroying going on in your life.
- Take some of what you have and give it away. It’s a slap in the face of the devil spiritually speaking.
- If you are still not sure, start with pride and idolatry.