THE THIEF STEALS, KILLS, AND DESTROYS
Tuesday – May 28, 2019, Iyar 23, 5779
Greetings dear friends and partners of Eastern Gate Ministries International and The Three Minute Word publication. The pictures this week are from a recent trip to Boothbay, Maine. I know that things have been stolen from all of you by the devil but our God stands ready to restore all. God is so good, He will if you allow, make all things new again. Before we move into this powerful Bible Study of the Book of John let me remind those who are reading this on Facebook to hit the “like” and “share” buttons. Now let’s read our primary Bible text aloud.
John 10:9-13 (KJV)
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.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Today I will be moving forward into verse ten of our primary Bible text. I commonly tell people that if they were to memorize only one verse in the Bible this one would be a good choice. The reason it is a good choice is that it clearly separates what is of God and what is of the curse and evil forces (devils and Satan). When we look at the word “thief” we find it is the Greek word ‘kléptēs’. A kléptēs (person or demon) steals by fraud and in secret, metaphorically, of false teachers or deceivers who steal men away from the truth as in John 10:8, 10 according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament. In the word kléptēs we can clearly see the origins of the term kleptomaniac (a recurrent urge to steal, typically without regard for need or profit). When demons deceive us and steal from us it is of no value to them directly other than they delight in hurting and destroying God’s children. We generally refer to the ‘thief’ as Satan or other demonic entities, but in this context, they can be human thieves and robbers (of course motivated by evil spirits). These are those who are not true shepherds in the body of Christ.
Jesus tells us that these thieves come for one purpose, have but one motivation, which is to steal, kill, and destroy. Some of these false spiritual leaders are those who are not called or appointed by God to the various offices but those who chose it as a line of work. Others may have in fact been called but got into the ditch away from the Truth. I heard a prominent Church leader say that he believed that the reference to stealing in our primary text (John 10:10) had to do with stealing the Word of God and absent the Word of God killing and destruction will follow in our lives. One way the demonic enemies defeat us, bring stealing, killing, and destruction into our life is by corrupted word, false teachings. After all, this is what happened to Adam and Eve. Keep in mind that most of the people, false leaders (thieves and robbers) are not purposely promoting false teaching but have been taught by others and have not been good Berean’s. They have not shown due diligence with the Word of God. The parable of the sower is a good illustration of how this works.
Mark 4:14-20 (KJV)
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
As you just saw there are four groups of people but we should be careful to not jump to the conclusion that they are four equal groups. We see that the Word is of no benefit to three of the groups. One group appears to not have given the Word a place of interest or value at all. The second group has not taken the time to meditate the Word and develop a root system so like a tree with deep roots they cannot be shaken. The third group is those who are distracted by cares of the world, they have other gods. These three groups are unfruitful. The fourth group chose to hear the Word, receive the Word, and produce fruit. This fourth group is the group that I strive to be a part of everyday and I trust you are doing the same. In this group not only will stealing, killing, and destroying be absent but life, the abundant life of God be on full display. He is not talking spiritual abundance but right here and now abundance of all kinds useful in this life.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
