THE THEIF AND THE REDEEMER

Pastor Larry Gatlin, So Oregon

                                                                                                                                   

JOHN 10:10John 10:10 “he 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. “ NKJV

 

John 10:7-10 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

 

#1. THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO POINT THE WAY TO JESUS.

A.      JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME.” (JN. 14:6)

B.      THE LAW WAS A HARD TASK MASTER.

C.     NO ONE COULD RIGHTLY KEEP IT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.

D.     EVEN THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE AT FAULT AND COULD NOT KEEP THE LAW.

E.      THEY TRIED BUT FAILED.

F.      TRUTHFULLY THEY BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T KEEP THE LAW THEY BEGAN TO ADD TO IT.

G.     THEY HEEPED UPON THE PEOPLE MORE THAN THEY WERE ABLE TO COPE WITH.

H.      THE LAW BECAME A BURDEN AND A SORE ON THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE.

I.         INTERESTING, THAT FATHER IN HIS MERCY AND GRACE LOOKED UPON HUMANITY AND SAID I

 

HAVE A NEW COVENANT, A NEW PLAN, A BETTER WAY.

J.       I’LL OFFER MY SON FOR THEIR SINS AND IN SO DOING MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL WHO’LL COME TO ME BY HIS SACRIFICE TO KEEP THE LAW.

K.      THROUGH JESUS AND OUR COMING INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WE CAN NOW KEEP THE LAW. Heb 10:19-20 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, NKJV

L.       THAT’S WHY EPH. 2:8&9 TELLS US THAT IT IS BY GRACE AND FAITH THAT WE ARE SAVED. AND LET ME ADD MERCY TO THAT LIST. James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.  NKJV

M.     The law was not with out faith or mercy but the religious leaders made it about judgement.

N.      SO ENTER THE ENEMY TO MAGNIFY THE JUDGEMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE LAW AND TRY TO BRING MAN INTO ETERNAL BONDAGE.

O.     HE WAS BEING EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL UNTIL FATHER SAID I’LL SEND MY ONLY SON TO SET THEM FREE.

#2. THAT’S THE REASON I OFFTEN REFERE TO THIS VERSE, JN. 10:10 AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW.

A.      JESUS NOW SAYS THAT HE IS THE GATE KEEPER TO THE SHEEP PIN.

B.      HE IS THE WAY TO ENTER IN.

C.     THERE IS LIFE IN HIM.

D.     IN RELIGION THERE IS ONLY DEATH.

 

THE THEIF AND THE REDEEMER:        (3)

E.      WE MUST REMAIN VIGELANT SO THAT WE NEVER ALLOW OURSELVES TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF FALLING BACK INTO OUR OWN RELIGIOUS WAYS.

F.      SO THAT WE DON’T TRADE ONE FORM OF RELIGION FOR ANOTHER.

G.     THAT’S WHY WE MUST CONTINUE TO FLOW IN THE RIVER OF LIFE THAT IS FOUND IN BEING LEAD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND NOT THE RULES OF MAN.                                                                                                                                                                 

#3HOW DO WE KNOW IF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES ARE FROM GOD OR FROM THE ENEMY?

A.     JOHN 10:10 HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PATTERN FOR DETERMINING.

B.     IF IT STEAL FROM ME

C.     IF IT TRYS TO DESTROY ME

D.     IF IT TRYS TO KILL ME, SPIRITUALLY OR PHYSICALLY,

E.     IT’S A GOOD CHANCE THAT IT IS THE ENEMIES DOING.

F.      THE THEIF COMES BUT FOR TO STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY!”

G.    DISCERNMENT IS ALWAYS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE.

1.      THE LORD WILL NEVER TRY TO STEAL, KILL, OR DESTROY YOUR OVER ALL.

2.      BUT HE MAY OVERHAUL YOUR FLESHLY MAN OCCASSIONALLY.

3.      IF YOU DON’T DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE YOU’LL BE BLAMING GOD FOR THINGS THE ENEMY IS DOING AND BLAMING THE ENEMY FOR THINGS THAT THE LORD IS DOING.

 

H.     THE ENEEMY IS VERY SUTTLE AND COMES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. BUT HE ISN’T, AND WE MUST DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE.

 

9. ANYTHING THE LORD DOES TO DISCIPLINE US WILL ALWAYS BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOVE! Heb 12:5-8

 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.”

 

6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives." 

 

7.If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. NKJV

 

10. TO RECOGNIZE THE THINGS OF THE LORD WE MUST REALIZE THAT HE HAS COME TO GIVE US ABUNDANT LIFE. LIFE THAT IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO MEET ALL OUR NEEDS.
11. WHAT IS ABUNDANT LFE?
1. IT IS KNOWING THAT I AM SECURE IN HIS SACRIFICE
2. SECURE IN HIS LOVE
3. SECURE IN HIS PROMISES
4. SECURE IN HIS ENABLINGS
5. SECURE IN HIS POWER
6. SECURE IN HIS OPPORTUNITIES
7. SECURE IN HIS WISDOM
8. SECUR IN HIS CALLINGS. Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 
9. SECURE IN HIS FOUNDATIONS. 1 Cor 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

10. SECURE IN HIS GLORY. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

 

CONCLUSION:

 

1.      ARE YOU LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

2.      OR THE DEFEATED LIFE

3.      JESUS IS THE GATE TO ABUNDANT LIFE

4.      IT IS THE THEIF THAT TRYS TO KEEP YOU OUT.

5.      TIME TO REBUKE HIM AND MOVE INTO THE LIFE THAT IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT!

 

God Bless you,

Pastor Larry

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