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Jesus arouse from the dead on the first day of the week with power; therefore let us call upon Him every in fear, trembling and humility; for there is no greater power than His. Who is each of us really before God? Are we something? If we say we are, aren't we really nothing? .... We are only in the sense we are nothing without Him; surely did the inspired Solomon say that: to fear the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. |
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Here in John 10, Jesus promises His children a more abundant life. One thing we do know is that Jesus always spoke in parables:
"And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." (Mark 3:33,34).
So when we look at the statement in John 10 where Jesus says He came to give His children a more abundant life, those who are of the world will be confused by this. Often the misconception by those who cannot hear the parables of Jesus is the belief that the abundant life refers to physical blessings. Some may think they can just accept Christ and pray for that 2005 Ruby Red convertible Corvette, the waterfront property on the French Rivera, perfect physical health, etc. etc. This is altogether false and when truth comes raining down on them that one can neither save themself nor that the gospel is about physical blessings, ... on the contrary even much suffering, then eventually they "go back to the world"; although they never really left it. There is also a flip side to this, some who have been blessed with much material goods of the world believe it is a token of their good works and see the poor as accursed. This is equally tragic. Depending on the seed, this is what Jesus described as falling either on the stony or thorny soil:
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." (Matthew 13:20-22).
The Bible is a spiritual book, about spiritual things, and those who hear the parables of Jesus know the abundant life He spoke of in John 10:10 identifies with an abundant spiritual life. Let's look at some truths about an abundant spiritual life. First I think it would be great to look at the wonderful chapter Romans 6 to see the abundant life is a yielded life:
"For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 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. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:7-14).
The abundant life is also a life where we are servants first to Christ our LORD secondly to our brothers and sisters in the LORD and also to strangers as well. Let's move forward a few chapters and look at what Romans 12 says in part about our lives as servants:
"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. 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. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (Romans 12:1-10).
How wonderful and how sweet are these words! But hold on now, another thing we read in the Bible is that the new life is a separated life in many ways. Let's keep driving on the Romans road at look at the first verse of the epistle:
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1).
In the great epistle, Paul immediately identifies himself as a servant who has been seperated. This has both positive and negative implications; the positive being we are set apart for the gospel, the negative being we are to come out from things that are blatantly contrary to doing God's will:
"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:16-18).
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." (Revelation 18:1-8).
The Holy Spirit will work through the Bible to seperate true believers unto salvation and service:
"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: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15).
That's another wonderful thing about the new and abundant life is that is a Spirit filled life:
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:18-20).
As true believers it is an enormous comfort knowing we are filled with the Holy Spirit even in the hour of our persecution:
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:54-60).
This is why it is always so important that we stay close to the Bible, which is the Word of God alone and in its entirety:
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37,38).
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:17,18).
Finally, the abundant life is one where we continually grow in grace and mature in Christ; the one who thinks they're an expert in scripture after being saved but a short while is only kidding themselves according to the true gospel:
"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:14-18).
Maturing in Christ takes time. There are some who claim to be believers yet for years they never develop spiritually either in the Word or deed. Another stage is evidenced in immaturity such as untruthfulness, envy, cruelty, unrebukeable, resentment and talebearing. Those who graduate from this stage are those who are maturing in the LORD but still must continue to study often and dilligently, to put away youthful lusts and besetting sins and to be able to recognize the enemy better and be able to tackle it. If one can do these, it leads to a stage in the new life that few attain; one who is at peace and able to be content under the most servere of trials. In Philippians 4, Paul wrote:
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:11-19).
Talk about some good news! And some pretty heavy stuff too, this is really what the new life is all about and how much greater than the material world is this?
Dear Reader, the child of Jesus knows that all things work together in their lives for their eternal good, do you?
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28).
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