John 10:10(NKJV) is a verse of scripture that most believers know, but many of us have not gotten to a place where its truth is actually manifested in our lives. Jesus declared in this verse, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Our Lord and Master makes a distinction in this truth by telling us first what the devil comes to earth to do, which is to steal, kill, and destroy. We also know from experience that the way the enemy does this is by using people to come against us. But 1John 3:8 tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, so that we would have access to a life that is more than abundant. This is something we don’t have to beg for. Because of what God has done through Jesus Christ, a more than abundant life is ours for the taking. We simply have to walk through the door. Our problem is that we keep misplacing the key.
There are two forces at work within the earth, and we should pay particular attention to the fact that Jesus Christ began this verse in John 10:10 by telling us about the evil force first. He needs us to know that we must always be alert to satan’s devices, and we must never, ever underestimate the degree to which the devil wants us out of the picture. To destroy our defenses as believers, and to draw us away from the Word, from prayer, and from fellowship with God is the devil’s aim. If he can do this, he will have succeeded at placing us in bondage, where our hope is continually depressed and our relationship with God is harmed.
Jesus then tells us that he came to restore what Adam and Eve lost when they sinned in the Garden of Eden. He came to reconnect us with God through the person of the Holy Spirit. Life in the Spirit is more than abundant, because the Spirit’s supply of goodness, love, and power is inexhaustible. And you and I must remember that it was always God’s plan for us to have access to His unlimited supply. It was always His plan that we be connected to Him through His Spirit. Genesis records that Adam and Eve fellowshipped with God through the Holy Spirit daily, and this greatly pleased the Lord. They enjoyed the blissful relationship of fellowship and blessings that God wanted for all of us. But once they corrupted their body-temples with sin, the Holy Spirit could no longer fellowship and dwell with them. So, they lost their connection to God.
Notice that Jesus Christ did not come to the earth immediately after Adam and Eve sinned. Why? Consider that Adam and Eve would not have had the faith to believe in all that Christ would have made available to them. You and I do in truth have the faith to believe in all that Christ has made available; and we should utilize this faith to our highest achievable level. God would not immediately expand Adam’s and Eve’s minds and hearts with the revelation of Christ against their own wills, and we must never forget that their sin had evicted the Holy Spirit, the Teacher and Comforter. Their actions closed the door, and they didn’t have the faith, the key, to open it. Because of Christ, we do!
Heavenly Father wanted us to know for the record that it was we who changed towards Him, and not Him towards us. It was indeed humans who stopped the flow of God’s goodness from heaven when we chose to close the door and break fellowship, and He knew that we would. Jesus Christ came to restore that which was lost. In Matthew 4:17, at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He was telling us that the Kingdom had returned to earth through him. Because of his ministry, sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension, the Holy Spirit would again return to lead, guide, teach, and comfort those who love God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 16:19(NKJV), he said, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This is Kingdom authority and dominion that God has again given to us. Through the confession of our mouths and the beliefs in our hearts, we can bind something on earth, and it’s bound in heaven; through our faith or fear, we can loose something on earth and it will be loosed in heaven.
Jesus Christ said in John 10:9 that he is the door! He reopened the door we once closed. It is by him that we can enter in. We will be saved if we enter in through Christ, because he is the good shepherd who gives life to his sheep. We must be ever mindful that the devil comes to shake our faith in the Word of God, and he does this by attacking our minds, because it is the mind that solidifies our faith in God. We don’t have the luxury of being shy because we have a ruthless adversary. This requires us to come to the throne of God with all boldness, as sons and daughters of the King, with no fear in our hearts.
We must totally immerse ourselves in the accomplishment of Christ, and not be timid; for 2Timothy 1:7(NLT) says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” We have neither the time or space to shy away from our sonship rights in Christ. If we do, the enemy will take our apathy and use it sorely against us. We must mount up in faith and do more than greet our great Master at the door. Again, we must enter in where we can freely go in and out, and find pasture, as John 10:9 tells us. This is the liberty that we have in Christ!
Our faith in our sonship through Christ is the key. Many of us will use it to take a step and enter through the door, but that is all we’ll do. A lack of faith in what Christ has accomplished for us keeps us stuck. We keep waiting for God to do more when He’s completed and finished a mighty work through the Lord Jesus Christ already. Be consistent and persistent. Claim what is yours! Stir up the Gift! Fight the good fight of faith by renewing your mind. Walk in the Spirit daily and trust that you can have what God says you can have as you begin to do what He has called you to do! ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Too Timid to Claim What’s Yours…Don’t Be!”, written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
I need prayer. I was reading your newsletter. So, so much of what’s in there relates to me. Troubled marriage, now divorced. Trying to cope and deal with those feelings. It has been hard for my daughter and I. She shared with me. She can not remember a time when she was not going back and forth between her father and I. She is only eleven years old. After hearing her pain and confusion mixed with frustration. I felt so bad and guilty. Because I caused that. I am the one that left my husband. After I found out he cheated with a co-worker. Perhaps, I should have stayed and tried to work things out and forgive him. He hates me now. We havent spoken in almost five years. When God will I stop carrying that guilt and live my life and Be Happy, Healthy and Whole. Not just for me but for my DAUGHTER to see and witness. She needs it just as much as I do..Please Pray for Us!!
Sincerely,
Lost and Sometimes Hopeless