Lesson 28

Abundant Living

John 10:10

Dead religion is a thief that steals, kills and destroys. But Jesus gives life. "I am come that they might have life, " Jesus said in John 10:10. Forty-four times Jesus spoke of life in the Gospel of John. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The life that Jesus gives is known for its quantity. It is a length of life. John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. This week Dave Denney had surgery to replace the pacemaker that regulates his heartbeat. After it was over, we were in his room and talking about what the doctor had said, Dave's daughter-in-law, Cheryl, said, "The doctor said that this one should last from now on." We all laughed and called him the energizer bunny ("Still-going") and said that he was going to live forever. Then we all agreed that we all were going to live forever just not in this body! Christ has given us eternal life.

The life that Jesus gives is known for its quality. It is a kind of life. It is, according to our text tonight, John 10:10, abundant life. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." The word for more abundantly means "superabundant; superior in quality; beyond measure, more, superfluous; more than is sufficient or required."

Whatever God gives us is done in excess. If you need love his is a perfect love that casts out all fear. If you need inner peace, his is a peace that passes understanding. If you need joy his is joy unspeakable and full of glory. If you need a sense of satisfaction his is a water that you drink and never thirst again. If you need a friend, he is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you need grace, his is sufficient and he giveth more grace. If you need strength he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. If you need victory, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. If you need forgiveness, he takes away the crimson stain and makes us whiter than snow. If you need salvation he saves to the uttermost. If you need a life his is abundant and eternal. No wonder David said, "My cup runneth over." Jesus Christ gives everything you need and more.

Which causes me to wonder, "Is your life and mine, is it abundant life?" Sometimes life, even a Christian life, sure doesn't seem to be very abundant. Sometimes life is boring. Sometimes life is difficult and tough. Sometimes it seems not like life at all but mere existence. The life that Jesus promised is abundant, but the life that we experience is hardly ever abundant. Their are momentary mountaintops when we get a glimpse of abundant life, but we don't live much of our life on the mountaintop. Much of it, maybe most of it is lived in a valley or under a bushel, anywhere except on a mountaintop. Why don't we experience what Jesus promised?

We associate an abundant life with an abundance of things (Luke 12:15) and with an absence of problems (clean house; fat bank account; etc.)

How can we experience abundant life on a regular basis? 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 10 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. Paul's desire for the Thessalonians is that, havng been taught how to walk and how to please God, they would abound more and more.

Grow More And More In The Lord

Fruit - More fruit - much fruit

Growth Commanded, Defined (Character developed -fruit of the Spirit); knowledge of Christ; Increasing likeness to Christ; increasing sensitivity to sin; decreasing frequency of sin

Bible Study - Hear, Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate

Prayer

Spend time with Christians - Fellowship

Practice

Give More And More To The Lord

Not just tithe/offering - save that for next month. II Cor. 8 - give yourself to the Lord; hold nothing back

Go More and More For The Lord?

Get More And More From The Lord