A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day – April 2, 2020
The thief (Satan) 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. (John 10:10)
When you are in a war, you need to know your enemy. I mean, really know your enemy!!! You need to know his tactics and capabilities. You need to know his strengths and weaknesses. You need to have intelligence to know his next move. You need to know what he is trying to accomplish.
We are in a war with this virus attack and you need to know your enemy. To help in this process let’s take a deeper look at John 10:10.
Satan is a thief. Most people think that a thief is after money and possessions. Not so in Satan’s case. He is after much more valuable things than our paltry possessions. He has Kingdoms that he offered Jesus, so why would he need our material stuff. He is after our joy, our dreams, our hope, our peace, our health, and ultimately our faith. He wants us to come to the place that we will reject God and worship him. That is what he offered Jesus, and he will try to offer us the same thing.
Let’s look at the Greek definitions of steal, kill, and destroy. The Greek word for steal is “klepto” which means an abnormal and persistent impulse to steal. In other words, that is Satan’s nature. He is a kleptomaniac. The Greek word for kill is “thuo” which means to slaughter for any purpose. Satan’s nature is to kill, but what I have seen over years of ministry is that there is a purpose to some of his madness. For example, I have seen great ministers of God succumb to tragedies and sickness when they were getting too close to being a danger to Satan’s kingdom such as revelations about the Kingdom of God or the Goodness of God. Those things put a target on your back in my opinion. Satan does not want you to realize God is good. He would rather do his dirty work and have believers attribute those acts to God. The Greek word for destroy is “apoleicho” which means to lick clean. This is a serious thief that has honed his skills for thousands of years. You need to know his tactics!!!
One of the other key scriptures to define Satan is in Revelation 12:10. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
The Greek word for accuser is “kategoros” which means to make a complaint against one in the assembly. One of the prime tactics of the enemy is to accuse us of things. He will constantly try to get you to go back to all those bad things that you did that are under the blood. He is constantly trying to convince you that you are unworthy, which is a lie.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
The bottom line is this. The thief (Satan) is a thief, a liar, and an accuser. You need to know his tactics so you will not mistake his word and actions for the Word of God and the actions of God
