Choosing the Right Plan
Foundational Text: John 10:10 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.
Does anyone here either know someone who has built their our house, or maybe you have had your own house built? It can be quite taxing. You must first find land to build upon, or find a housing allotment that you want to live in, then you must choose your plans for your house. Some people get real creative and work with an architect to develop their own original plans, while yet others will pick from plans that the builder may already have.
How many of you here, this morning, know and understand that God has a plan for everyone on this earth? God has a plan, He does nothing by chance or just coincidence.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. AMP. Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. I want to explore with, and expose to you this morning our adversaries plan that he has for us. In doing so, we will be able to choose the right plan for our lives. We will for the most part stay with our foundational text, however we may use other supporting scripture to help develop what I believe the Spirit of God would have us to see this morning. However, I would challenge you this morning that you do not just simply read this scripture as you may have done a thousand times before, but allow the Spirit to dig a little deeper within you today to reveal is powerful treasures hidden within the Greek interpretations of many of the words in this verse. John 10:10 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.
I. The Thief cometh not
We must understand that the devil wants to destroy your job, your joy, your happiness, your health, your finances, your marriage, and your kids. The thief just wants to ruin anything he can get his hands on!
A. Thief comes from the Greek word Klepto meaning to steal. Kleptes
1. The picture is that of a bandit, pickpocket, or thief who is so artful in the way he steals that his exploits of thievery are nearly undetectable.
2. This reminds me of the man that was on a program on TV, he would steal your watch, wallet, belt, and many other items right off of people and they would be looking right at him as he did it. He was completely undetectable.
3. Notice that Jesus uses this word to describe our enemies plan, and way in which he steals from us. Satan knows that if he steals outright, his actions will be recognized, therefore, he steals from people in such a deceptive way that he has often accomplished his evil goal before they even know he has stolen from them.
4. This word Klepto describes a thief’s uncontrollable urge to get his hands into someone’s pockets so he can take that which doesn’t rightfully belong to him. Isn’t it interesting that this is where we get our word “kleptomaniac”, which describes a person with a persistent, neurotic impulse to steal. Just as a kleptomaniac can’t help but steal, the devil can’t stop stealing because it is his impulse and his nature to steal. This is precisely the nature and behavior of the thief Jesus is telling us about here in John 10:10.
B. I firmly believe that this tells us not only what he does, but how he is coming.
1. A pickpocket does not announce his appearance in a crowd. Some one who is coming to your house to steal gas out of the gas tank in your car, doesn’t call you up first to let you know what time he’ll be stopping by.
2. The thief cometh, tells us the way in which the devil is going to get close to us. The Greek brings out in this word “to steal”, that it is “to take by stealth”, meaning = Secret act; clandestine practice; means unperceived employed to gain an object; way or manner not perceived; used in a good or bad sense.
II. Coming to Kill
Not only is our enemy coming to steal, but Jesus very plainly tells us that he is coming also to kill.
A. At first glance, this would appear that this means to kill, as the taking of someone’s life. However, the Greek word used here is “thuo”, which means to sacrifice.
1. This word implies offering up, or giving up something that is precious and dear to you. It is used throughout the Bible as the sacrificial giving of animals on the altar, and had nothing to do with killing in terms of murder, but that of a willing sacrifice. Strongly suggesting that the will of the person must be involved in this type of killing.
2. Notice with me that Jesus uses this word to describe the work of the thief in John 10:10, John 10:10 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.
a. What He is telling us is that if the thief hasn’t already walked away with everything we hold precious and dear, he will then try to convince us that we need to sacrifice or give up everything he hasn’t already taken from us.
b. The thief cannot bear the fact that you possess any kind of blessing. Therefore, if he is unsuccessful at stealing the good things from your life, he will try to cunningly convince you to give you everything you possess and love – simply because he doesn’t want you to have it. He may even try to create stressful situations that cause you to conclude that your only solution is to sacrifice things you dearly love.
Examples: Working and sacrificing family, church? No one holding a gun to your head to make you work on Sundays?! You volunteer! If you own a business, you volunteer to have business when you should be attending church. What is that? The thief is killing you!
III. Coming to Destroy!
Can not think of this word in the context of ceasing to exist.
A. Jesus went on to say that the thief also comes “to destroy”, which does mean to destroy, but carries the idea of something that is ruined, wasted, trashed, devastated, and destroyed. Think of this word in terms like this:
1. After the car accident, the car was completely destroyed, or After the New Years Eve party, our house was completely destroyed.
2. In all these instances the verb must not be thought of as indicating extinction, but only change from one state of being to another. Nothing actually becomes extinct, but everything changes.
3. Question: What do you suppose he wants to change your state of being into? (Refer to definition).
B When we put all this teaching together from our study, then the first part of John 10:10 would read:
“The thief wants to get his hands into every good thing in your life. In fact, this pickpocket is looking for any opportunity to wiggle his way so deeply into your personal affairs that ht can walk off with everything you hold precious and dear. And that’s not all – when he’s finished stealing all your goods and possessions, he’ll take his plan to rob you blind to the next level. He’ll create conditions and situations so horrible that you’ll see no way to solve the problem except to sacrifice everything that remains from his previous attacks. The goal of this thirf is to totally waste and devastate your life. If nothing stops him, he’ll leave you insolvent, flat broke, and cleaned out in every area of your life. You’ll end up feeling as if you are finished and out of business! Make no mistake – the enemies ultimate aim is to obliterate you…”
IV. But I’ve Come!!!
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
A. That they might have!! Actually from the Greek tense meaning, “to have and to continually possess.”!!!
1. Zoe = which suggests a life that is filled with vitality.
2. abundantly is the word perissos meaning to be above, beyond what is regular, extraordinary, or even exceeding. This word does not just mean abundance, but super abundance.
Expanded interpretive translation:
But I came that they might have, keep, and constantly retain a vitality, gusto, vigor, and zest for living that springs up from deep down inside. I came that they might embrace this unrivaled, unequaled, matchless, incomparable, richly loaded and overflowing life to the ultimate maximum.
V. Captives be loosed in Jesus Name
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
A. John is telling us this morning that the purpose of the appearance of Jesus was to destroy the works of the devil. That is still the purpose of God today, this morning, and everyday of your life!
1. The word destroy is the word luo a verb meaning to loosen (literally or figuratively), to break, dissolve, unloose, melt, or put off, to loose, loosen what is fast, bound, meaning to unbind, or untie.
B. John 11
John 11:38-44 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, (hiding place), and a stone lay upon it. (39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (40) Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Come out (44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Conclusion: If the thief has come into your life, and you are here this morning and you find yourself separated from the life and power of God, I want to challenge you with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are in your cave, your secret hiding place, in the Name of Jesus, take away the stone from your heart and hear the wonderful, powerful words of Jesus with the power of the Holy Ghost saying to you this morning COME FORTH. How do I do that this morning? By an act of your will, by choosing a new plan, God’s plan. You have been stolen from, lied to, and are on a collision course with destruction by your enemy, you need Jesus!
