Friday, July 20, 2007

THE ABUNDANT LIFE


"……I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY"

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. (John 10:10).

The only way into eternal life is through faith in Christ Jesus as personal Savior

(John 3:15 KJV) That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.


But do not stop here; to have eternal life is great - but there is more. Christ came that you might have life more abundantly. All believers have life, but not all have abundant life. You are living beneath your privilege if your are a believer and not enjoying the abundant life.


For life to be abundant, it must have abundant resources, and the only unlimited source of life is in the person Jesus Christ the Son of God.

(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


To poses this fuller life, the believer must abide in Him


ABIDE:

(John 15:1 KJV) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

(John 15:2 KJV) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

(John 15:3 KJV) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

(John 15:4 KJV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

(John 15:5 KJV) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


Dynamic abundant living is not for just a few-it is God's norm for all believers. It is spiritual life in depth, and without it, the Christian life becomes inane and meaningless. If you do not have abundant life within you, you will soon yield to the carnal life around you


(1 Cor 3:1 KJV) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

(1 Cor 3:2 KJV) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

(1 Cor 3:3 KJV) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

(1 Cor 3:4 KJV) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?


The carnal life is circumstance controlled; the abundant life Holy Spirit controlled. The carnal Christian life leads to defeat; the abundant life leads to victory in Christ. Man seems to know everything about life except how to live it abundantly. From this moment on, determine not to be satisfied with anything less than God's best: living life abundantly.


1. THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A YIELDED LIFE Rom. 6:10-13

2. THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A SERVICE LIFE Rom. 12:1-2

3. THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A SEPARATED LIFE Rom. 1:1

4. THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A SPIRIT FILLED LIFE Eph. 5:18-20

5. THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A MATURE LIFE 2Pet. 3:18


THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A YIELDED LIFE


(Rom 6:10 KJV) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

(Rom 6:11 KJV) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Rom 6:12 KJV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

(Rom 6:13 KJV) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.


How to live the abundant life is no secret; it is revealed in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."…..In that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God." Faith that saves identifies you with Christ in His death-this is eternal life. Faith that yields identifies you with Christ in His resurrection-this is abundant life


(Col 3:1 KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

(Col 3:2 KJV) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

(Col 3:3 KJV) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

(Col 3:4 KJV) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.


  1. It is one thing to have eternal life by faith. It is quite another thing to have abundant life by faith.

  2. It is one thing for you to be "made the righteousness of God in Him" (2Cor.5:21); it is another thing for you to realize His righteous life is in you (1John 3:7).

  3. It is one thing for you to live in Christ (2Cor. 5:17); It is another thing for Christ to live His life through you (Col. 1:27).


(Romans 6:13) In this verse the believer has a choice. He may yield unto God by faith and enjoy abundant life, or he yield unto sin and endure a defeated life (Rev. 3:1). God would have you know the power of a yielded life; it will lift you above circumstances that circumvent abundant living. The abundant life begins when you yield to Him as Master, allowing Him to live His life through you by faith.


THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A SERVICE LIFE


12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

  1. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the

renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


To live abundantly, you must serve the Lord Jesus Christ, Who Himself became our example. He served all the way to Calvary, and there He was the obedient Servant, "……obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"


  1. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a

servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross).


(Romans 12:1 & 2 the believers are urged to take the necessary steps for abundant living.


  1. You are to "present." This is volitional surrender to the perfect will of God, even though you may not know God's perfect will for your life; it is, on your part, an act of faith (John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself).


  1. You are to "present your bodies." God must control and use the whole man "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of Lord Jesus Christ." Your whole man was redeemed on the cross and sanctified (set apart for service). (1Thes. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ).


  1. You are to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice." This is exemplified in the life of the Apostle Paul; he was a "living sacrifice."


In life, he was a "servant of Jesus Christ" (Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of

God)


In battle, he was a warrior,

(Eph. 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

  1. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

  2. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

  3. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

  4. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

  5. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all

saints;


In the will of God he was "a prisoner of Jesus Christ"


(Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,)


These words were spoken from a Roman prison; he never referred himself as a prisoner of Rome. To the apostle, prison was a part of perfect will of God. With this conviction, he lived abundantly

(Phil 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;)


In death, he was victorious,

(2Tim 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous)


YOU HAVE BEEN ”TRANSFORMED” - CHANGED BY THE POWER OF God, and no longer conformed to this world; but you can be conformed to the "perfect will of God" - and live abundantly!


THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A SEPARATED LIFE

(Not Seclusion)


Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Separation is both positive and negative. You are to be ”separated unto the gospel of God" - this is positive.(verse Rom. 1:1). You are to come out anything that is contrary to the perfect will of God, this is negative (2Cor 6: 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,


TO BE SEPARATED MEANS TO BE SANCTIFIED (SET APART) FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE.


  1. The word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin (John 17: 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.) & (Psalm 119: 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.)

  2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Thes. 5: 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

  3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer unto righteousness "not having spot or wrinkle

(Eph. 5: 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

  1. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

  2. 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish).

  1. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto

salvation and service

(2Thes. 2: 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth)


Without being separated, you can have relationship with God; you cannot have fellowship with Him. You may be united to Him in Calvary, but separated from Him in sin


(Isa. 59:1,.2) 59:1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.


Without separation, you can have influence;

without power, movement without achievemment;

you may try but not trust;

serve but not succeed;

war but not win.


Without separation unto God from sin, your whole Christsian life will be "wood, hay and stubble."

The abundant life is made possible by the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and made a reality by being separated unto Him.


The abundant life is a spirit-filled life


Eph. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

  1. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.


The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. You may be weak, immature and imperfect but, if you have been "born again" of the Spirit (John 3:3-7), He indwells in you


(1Cor. 6:19) Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; & (Rom. 8:9) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.


It is one thing for you to have the Holy Spirit indwelling in you, but does the Holy Spirit have you, that He may fill you with the abundant life? The ABUNDANT LIFE IS NOT FOUND IN ENVIORNMENT OR CIRCUMSTANCES, OR IN THE THINGS YOU MAY POSSESS. It is found in the infilling of the Holy Spirit. "Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18) is a command (unlike water baptism [indirect], it is a direct command). You may be filled many many times (Acts 2:4 & 4:31) 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. The Apostles that were filled in chapter 2, were filled again in chapter 4. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be Spirit-possesed, Spirit-empowered, Spirit-lead, and Spirit-controlled.


(Acts 8:26-40). 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.

29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."

34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"

35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

  1. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.


  1. You are filled with the Spirit that you might have joy (Eph.5:19-20)

  2. You are filled with the Spirit for service

(Acts 6:3; 11:22-24) 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

  1. You are filled with the Spirit for power to be a witness (Acts 1:8 & 2:4-7)1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are

speaking Galileans?

  1. You are filled with the Spirit for the hour of persecution (Acts 7:54-60) 54 When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

  2. You are filled with the Spirit that you may "walk in the Spirit" (Gal.: 5: 16-26) 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

  3. You are filled by the Spirit that you may lead by the Spirit (Rom.8:14) 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.


How can one be filled with the Holy Spirit? First you must desire Him to fill you. Second, you must ask Him to fill you. Third, you must believe that he does fill you.

(John 4:14 & 7:37-38) 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

  1. On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."


THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A MATURE LIFE


2Pet. 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.


The scriptures reveals four stages of spiritual growth in the Christian life:


  1. The baby stage 1Cor. 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? A baby thinks only of self and, if denied the things desired, it will raise a rumpus. It seeks its own; its feelings are easily hurt and it is often jealous. A baby lives to be served - it never serves. It drinks milk, and cannot eat strong meat. It cries but never sings. It tries to talk, but never makes sense. These infant characteristics are so prominent in the lives of many church members. They have been born into the family of God, but have failed to develop spiritually. They are spiritual babies - carnal Christians.


  1. The little child stage 1John 2: 12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

Some Christians grow to be little children spiritually, but stop there. Here are some characteristics of children: they are often untruthful, envious, and cruel. If rebuked, they become martyrs; if crossed they are resentful and often make a scene. They are talebearers, repeating everything they hear (in adult it is called gossip). They are given to emotional outbursts, and are easily puffed up. They love praise and accept it from any source. They seek only the things that appeal to self. Am I a spiritual child?


  1. The young man stage 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.

Spiritual growth to that of a young man is not reached by many. He is

strong and virile and is well able to overcome his enemy. He has a

vision for the future and the faith and courage to tackle it. He is

preparing for his productive years. You, too, can become a young man spiritually by "putting away childish things" (1Cor. 13: 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me) and grow.


  1. The Father Stage 1John 2:13. This stage of spiritual development can be reached by all, but so few ever attain it.

The spiritual father has peace with God

(Romans 5:1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.


He knows the peace of God (Phil 4:7) And the peace of God, which

transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


He rejoices in his spiritual children (1Thes. 2: 9) Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.(1Tim 1:2) To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


He has learned contentment under all circumstances (Phil 4:11) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.


He knows the only source of true strength (Phil 4: 13)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.


He does not brood over the past, but looks to the future (Phil 3: 13, 14)

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is head,

  1. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


He knows that all things work together in his life for his eternal good

(Romans 8: 28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose..


He enjoys abundant life now and will enjoy it in the life to come (Eph.2:

  1. in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable

riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.








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