Abundant Living

John 10:10  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Eventhough Christ has presented us with the opportunity of living an abundant life, we seem to always look for more money, better position, greater benefits, right relationships, etc.  Our search is focused on self fulfillment (Luke 12:15-21).  However, God has (already) presented us with the opportunity to live an abundant life!

Psalm 16:11  In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  (Also John 7:37-38)

Ephesians 3:15-21  …Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

ABUNDANCE BLOCKERS

1 Corinthians 10:1-7  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
“Subtle” attitudes and behaviors that block God’s abundance from flowing through our lives may include (but are not limited to) the following…

1.  Testing God, Not believing God’s Word UNTIL He’s proven His ability.

Numbers 14:20-23  The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked.  Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times — not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

2.  Neglecting the Tithe, equivalent to robbing God.

Malachi 3:8-12 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

3.  Unforgiveness.  If we want to receive forgiveness we MUST forgive others.
Matthew 6:14-15 …For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses

4.  Speaking evil about others, bringing discord and division (gossip).
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:… one who sows discord among brethren.

Death & life are in the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21; 13:2-3)

5.  Indecision, a half-hearted obedience in following Christ.

James 1:6-7  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.  (Also Joshua 24:15)

6.  There are many other things that cause us not to live abundantly: a constant anger issue, hidden sin,, etc.  However, walking out of the things that block God’s blessings and into freedom boils down to one activity: repentance, changing the way we think with a corresponding action.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

OBEDIENCE BRINGS ABUNDANCE

1. Obedience, hearing and doing God’s Commandments, brings true prosperity and abundance.  His commandments are summed in Matthew 22:36-40, to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2  Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:…

Verses 3-14 amplify the blessings — They would be blessed in their everyday life, in their homes, their farms, their families.  They would be blessed in the city, their country and when they traveled back and forth. An obedient Israel would be blessed with safety and protection from their physical and spiritual enemies.  They would be blessed in warfare, their enemies would come out against them one way but flee before them in seven ways. The Lord would establish them as a Holy people and would enjoy a special relationship with God, Himself! They would influence the world and be a blessing. The Lord would make them the head and not the tail, they would be above and not be beneath.  God’s purpose in blessing Israel was greater than just enriching the nation for its own sake. He intended to glorify Himself through blessing them as they would in turn be a blessing to the world.

Verses 14-68 amplify the result of disobedience, three times as many!

2.  As God’s people, we must not be ignorant of the enemy’s schemes to keep us out of the blessing God has promised for our families and for the church.  Believe God’s Word.  He promised to never leave you or forsake you.  He IS your abundant life!

Psalm 16:11  In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.