LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE
TEXT: John 10:10 "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."
INTRODUCTION: Here we have, in essence, the motivation for Satan's presence
in your life and the motivation for Jesus' presence in your life. It all boils
down to this scripture. Satan has come to wreck your life. He wants to steal
from you, he wants to kill you, and he wants to utterly destroy you. He doesn't
do that by walking up to you and saying, "Hello, I'm Satan. I've come
to annihilate you today." He uses strategies to decrease your quality
of life. He eats away at your existence, hoping you get to the point where
you loathe the fact you're even alive.
This is in direct opposition to Jesus' purpose for touching your life. He
came to give you life, and to give it to you more abundantly. Are you living
the abundant life?
I want to show you, through the scripture, that God intends for you to live
an abundant life. First, what is your definition of life? Some people have
their lives wrapped up in their possessions or achievements. Luke 12:15 "And
he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Proverbs
1:19 "So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh
away the life of the owners thereof." On the other end of the spectrum
are those who think life is just a game. There is no desire to work or achieve.
It is all about having a good time and taking it easy and not pushing one's
self. The Proverbs is a good place to gain definition of life:
Proverbs 3:21-22 "My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound
wisdom and discretion: [22] So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace
to thy neck."
Proverbs 4:13 "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her;
for she is thy life."
Proverbs 4:20-23 "My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto
my sayings. [21] Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst
of thine heart. [22] For they are life unto those that find them, and health
to all their flesh. [23] Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it
are the issues of life."
Proverbs 6:23 "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and
reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"
Proverbs 12:28 "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway
thereof there is no death."
Proverbs 13:3 "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that
openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."
Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart
from the snares of death."
Proverbs 21:21 "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth
life, righteousness, and honour."
Proverbs 22:4 "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour,
and life."
Now, let's look at other scripture to see God's intention of you living an
abundant life:
Psalm 36:7-8 "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the
children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. [8] They shall
be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make
them drink of the river of thy pleasures."
Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon
him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"
Psalm 37:11 "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace."
Proverbs 28:20 "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that
maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent."
Back to our text, the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. You need to
be aware of the abundant life robbers:
WASTING TIME
Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride,
fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,
neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
BUSYNESS
1 Kings 20:39-40 "And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king:
and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold,
a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if
by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou
shalt pay a talent of silver. [40] And as thy servant was busy here and there,
he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be;
thyself hast decided it."
Busyness causes us to lose things.
NEGATIVE THINKING
Eccles. 2:17 "Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought
under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit."
DEPRESSION
Proverbs 12:25 "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a
good word maketh it glad."
DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS
Behavior/habits - These are the "weights" of Hebrews, which hinder
us in our Christian walk. When they continue to be present in our lives we
get used to them being around and often excuse their presence. This robs us
of abundant life.
Thoughts - 2 Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" We have to do war
against those thoughts that are destructive in us and keep us bound. A continual
daily flushing of the word of God and speaking those things that are correct
will help turn your thoughts toward heaven instead of hell.
Relationships: 1. Work 2. Social 3. Intimate. We choose two of the three types
of relationships. However, the choices we make kill us or bless us. Your social
and intimate relationships you decide. Let me ask you, are those relationships
blessing and encouraging your walk with God or are they hindering and frustrating
your walk with God?
There are five keys to an abundant life:
PRAYER
Life flows from God. If you are not praying you are not enjoying abundant
life. I'm here to tell you that a prayer life is the key!
RENEWED MIND
Some of you need to be delivered from stinking thinking! Your mind will be
renewed as you apply the word of God to it. You must train your mind to think
right. Don't let your mind run amuck. Control it. Feed it. Use it. Expand
it. Faith it.
OBEDIENCE
In: Daily choices; Financial choices, and Life choices.
BALANCE
1. Spiritual. 2. Family. 3. Church. 4. Personal. This is critical to living
an abundant life!
FOCUS
Living the "one thing" life.
Past - "Forgetting those things which are behind." Philippians 3:13
Present - "One thing is needful." Luke 10:42
Short-term future - "Press toward those things which are before."
Philippians 3:13
Long-term future - "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I
seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." Psalm
27:4 Turn off your cell phone!
People who are not focused don't enjoy an abundant life. When you are focused
you have purpose and intention every day. That breeds energy and strength.
That leads to abundant living!
CONCLUSION: One sure indicator of a person living an abundant life: listen
to them talk. Matthew 12:34 "…out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh." Are they speaking life or death? Do they constantly
talk of problems or solutions? Are they continually negative or do they have
anything positive to say? God wants you living abundantly, are you?
