Click here for a link to the message. In this message pastor Tim looks at John 10:10 where Jesus contrasts the activities of the devil with the Kingdom of God. This is really a message on Spiritual warfare, how to recognize it and how to stop it.
The tale of two kingdoms (John 10:10)
John 10:10 NASB The word thief here in the original language in the word Kleptes.
- The word Klepte is where we would get our English word Kleptomaniac.
- Now of course Jesus is referring to the devil or satan here with this term thief.
- The definition of Kleptomania sounds like the devil.
- The devil has no need for the things, He takes them because he hates you your image of God.
- Continuing in the verse…
- the first activity that Jesus mentions of the devil is stealing. The thief comes only to steal and kill…
- And Jesus uses that same word, kelptes.
- In the original language there is a play on words here with homonyms
- we also have to think about more than just physical stuff, his thievery happens in the spiritual realm.
- Continuing in the verse… The next activity of the thief that Jesus mentions is to kill.
- It’s the Greek word: thuō
- The meaning of this word is: “to kill, to butcher; to offer sacrifice.”
- This again is primarily in the spirit realm.
- Then the next activity of the devil that Jesus mentions is to destroy, It’s the Greek word apollymi
- Jesus includes this word to cover all the bases, in case anything wasn’t already covered by stealing and killing.
- Then there is a huge transition in what Jesus is saying here.
- He now begins to explain the second kingdom, the Kingdom of God.
- Jesus came to give life, in the Greek it’s the word Zoe which is the basic word for life.
- Life is the opposite of the killing the devil offers.
- And Jesus didn’t come to be stingy with life. He came to give it abundantly,
- The word means: exceeding, going beyond; full, abundant; more than; excessive, in full abundance, exceedingly,
- These are the words that are to describe life in Christ. Life in Christ is to be an abundant life.
- Pass two: Now that we understand some of the terms etc, let’s take a look at how we walk this out.
- Use the first part of this verse as a thermometer.
- That’s why Jesus gave us this description of the devil’s work. To use as a thermometer or litmus test.
- Is there too much stealing killing and destroying going on in your life?
- We took our spiritual temperature and we see too much stealing, killing, and destroying.
- First, repent. Unrepented sin is always an entry point for the work of the devil.
- Second, this is all about Jesus. We can’t get free without Jesus.
- There is only one way into the safety and wellbeing and it is through Jesus Christ.
- Third, Give thanksgiving and Praise
- The devil can’t exist in the same space as Thanksgiving and Praise.
- Fourth, Be careful with what you agree with.
- In moments of trauma and frustration we can give in to subtle agreements to the lies of the devil.
- And even that subtle quite agreement in our heart, gives the devil permission to steal and kill.
- The verse ends by saying that gives life abundantly.
- We can’t gloss over this. God is not a stingy God. He loves to give and do so in abundance.
- The devil in the work of stealing, killing, and destroying will plant seeds of scarcity.
- The devil wants us to think that God can’t and won’t supply abundantly.
- The devil wants us to think through the lens of a poverty mindset.
- A poverty mind set focuses on what you don’t have.
- A poverty mind set hordes what you do have.
- But the abundant life in Christ focuses on what God has done and can do.
- The abundant life in Christ focusses on giving rather than hording.