The Abundant Life
In John 10:10 Jesus is speaking to a crowd who has gathered, and he discusses with them what Satan’s main goal is and what His main goal is.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 - NASB)
Jesus explains that Satan’s goal is to take, and Jesus’ goal is to give. Does your life today feel more like its been stolen, killed, and destroyed, or would you define your existence as “abundant”? The abundant life is the offer of Jesus to any who would accept it. He is saying, you are living in black and white, let me show you what its like to see in color! You’ve been eating rice, taste this apple pie! You’ve been slogging through life beaten up, battered, tired, worn out, burnt out, masked up, quarantined, and lonely. Doesn’t sound very abundant does it? Do you really think Jesus died on the cross so you could drudge along, dragging your feet as you walk, barely able to hold it together? You may be like most people, and are sitting here looking around at the world events, and the craziness of our times, thinking “things are out of control, surely this can’t get much worse?! My everyday life is NOT abundant!”
Oh but it could be worse. You could be like the apostle Paul.
You could have been beaten so many times you lost count, more often than not thinking it was going to end with you dead. You could have taken 39 whippings with a leather whip, then got those same 39 whippings 4 more times. You could have been beaten by guys with rods, and stoned. Three different times the boat he was on wrecked, and one time no one could get to him for 24 hours so he had to float on debris! You could have guys trying to rob you, and have literally everyone plotting against you (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Paul describes his day to day as hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless, toiling, reviled, persecuted, slandered, having become the scum of the world, the dregs of all things (1 Corinthians 4:11-13).
Yet despite all that Paul says, “I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ sake” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul’s list of things that DONT impact his contentment are weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions, or difficulties on behalf of his affiliation with Jesus. He goes onto say “for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means and I know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13). Paul has made a shift in what he understands to be the foundation of his contentment, happiness, joy, fulfillment… He used to find his identity in how good of a rule follower he was, that is where he found his happiness and contentment (Philippians 3:4-6). His daily habit tracker needed to be completely filled out and his to-do list completely checked, but then he had an encounter on the road to Damascus one day, and he met Jesus.
What allowed Paul to react to his circumstances by praising God and being content at all times? He was living life in the abundance of Jesus. The abundant life Jesus offers you and me in John 10:10. So what is it?
What is it?
The abundant life is a spiritually fruitful life
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)
Its a life categorized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (There’s a fruit of the spirit Easter egg on this site somewhere too.. 1st person to find it can get a signed copy of Kyle Foshee’s book sent to them!) Notice the list of fruits available doesn’t mention prosperity, longevity, healthiness, big families, good jobs, or fast cars? The abundant life Jesus offers may involve those things but its not centered on those things. We can experience this spiritual fruit of the abundant life only when we have the Spirit of God living inside of us and the evidence of the Holy Spirit living in us is that fruit. Instead of stressing, striving, yearning, and earning our fruit through hard work and hustle - we rely on God to see us through all circumstances and let Him do the work while we are faithful to trust Him to do it. The fruit is the over flowing of the Holy Spirit into our lives, its the work of the Spirit.
The abundant life is an eternal life
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:2-3)
Jesus expounds on his “mission” from john 10:10 of giving abundant life. He is praying to God and discussing how God has given him authority to “give eternal life” to all mankind. He defines the “eternal life” he is offering here as knowing God. The key to the abundant life is knowing who God is. Without that cornerstone you won’t be able to understand what is being offered and who it is that is offering it. The abundant life is the one that is centered on knowing Jesus so that you can get involved in his kingdom business. He has a roll in mind for you in expanding His kingdom here on earth. (Ephesians 2:10)
The abundant life is the one that Jesus invites us all to live
Its a life lived through the lens of eternity - understanding the supreme value of knowing God, and the unbelievably good news of the gospel and how that has no comparison to our temporal reality here on earth. The abundant life allows us to see past our day to day circumstances (Romans 8:18). We have such a terrible focus on the 70-80 years we spend on earth, that most of us totally disregard the unending future that is before us after our time on earth is complete. I had a thought the other day while watching commercials, which is rare seeing as we have seemingly unlimited streaming options, how is every commercial not an advertisement for Heaven? The most amazing news ever is that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection has put those who believe in Him in right standing with God. When we put our faith in Jesus, he covers us with His righteousness, removing our sins as far as the east is from the west. But here’s another five adds for legalized sports betting and free deliveries from Carvana. The thief has stolen our attention, killed our ambition, and destroyed our outreach… We are not living the abundant life.
How do you find it?
Paul says he “count(s) everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” in Philippians 3:8. This knowledge of God,or knowing God, is a direct reference to Jesus in John 17:3 where he notes eternal life is knowing God. Eternal life and the thing of supreme value on earth.. is knowing God. I would start there.
Spend Time with God
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:2-3)
The tree’s fruit is a result of the tree being firmly planted by the water. Our fruit is a result of us being firmly planted in God’s word. The fruit grows from the tree because of the water, not because of the amazing effort of the tree. Judah Smith says have you ever heard of a tree straining to pop out an apple? It’s not the work of the tree that produces the fruit, its what apples trees do. In the same manor, its not your efforts and works that produce the fruit, its your reliance and trust in the Spirit to begin molding and “perfecting” your faith and your life into a more fruitful existence.
Stay connected to the Vine
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. (John 15:1-11 NASB)
In John 15, Jesus makes the analogy of the vine and the branches. Jesus being the vine, we being the branches. We have no shot at producing any fruit, if we are not connected to the vine. Have you ever seen grapes bud and grow on a branch thats lying on the ground? 5 times in 4 verses Jesus says “Abide in me”, then in verse 11: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full”. Can you imagine what life would look like if we had the joy of Jesus in us, and when our joy was absolutely full to the brim and overflowing? Thats the abundant life.
Reprioritize what’s important to you, eternally.
How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods Psalm 4:2Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7
Seeking God for our own pleasure, over the things of the world (v2), causes God to fill our hearts with a gladness that is rooted in His love for us & our love for Him. That gladness is not swayed by our circumstances (v7). God promises to take care of your day to day if you prioritize expanding His kingdom.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)
The commands are just as bold as the promises in this instruction straight from the Savior’s mouth. The command or concept of "DONT WORRY" is said 4 times by Christ here and the loving nickname of "little faith" is ascribed to his followers. What nickname would Jesus give you? The idea of not worrying is contrasted with the command in vs 33 to seek first His kingdom.. the result being everything you worry about will grow strangely dim as you prioritize seeking God. The abundant life of one soaked in the presence of Jesus is a life that doesn’t concern itself with the things of the world. What culture tells us we need to worry about is all of a sudden exposed for what it is - a lie. The things we actually do need - like clothing, shelter, food.. God will provide in ample supply - like bread falling from the Heavens. The truth is the creator wants a relationship with us, wants to put us to work in an effort to help save souls from the lies the enemy has perpetuated. In that vein, may I make a suggestion…
Live the constantly joyful, gentle, worry free, prayed up guarded life Christ calls you to.
Thats a mouthful of a suggestion, I know.. but allow the apostle Paul to explain:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:4-6)
This is really the secret sauce for the abundant life. When you know what’s most important in life (Jesus) and you have put your faith in His payment for your sins and you live in that truth and live from that victory every day you “Rejoice in the Lord always”, and then you do it again to make sure the people in the back hear you! When you have the Holy Spirt indwelling you, your attitude is one of gentleness, understanding that those around you who dont know Jesus are blinded to their sinfulness. Your counter-cultural gentleness is a great example to unbelievers that the Jesus loving abundant life is a far better option.. as the Newsboys once said “Shine, make them wonder what you’ve got. Make them wish that they were not, on the outside looking in”. You can lead a worry free life when you predicate it on presenting your requests to God in EVERY situation - through conversation, through specific requests, through thankfulness for the opportunity to even speak to God and His promise to make it all right.
Jesus death tore the veil at the holy of holies where the high priest would go to offer sacrifice to God for the sins of the people back in the BC era. Behind this veil is where the presence of God dwelt. Jesus removed that barrier and now we can go before the throne of God in prayer anytime and anywhere. Our backstage pass to the creator, our unfettered access to God the father, and His promise to hear us, can produce in us the confidence to worry about nothing. Knowing that God works all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose means that God has a plan to redeem everything we encounter in our lives and use it for His glory. The worry free life is one that is in constance communication with God - we pray and petition and present requests in EVERY circumstance. Commuting, working, meetings, teaching, changing diapers, walking the dog.. its EVERY circumstance.
When you start walking in the Philippians 4:4-6 lifestyle of prioritizing Jesus as the most valuable thing you could have, resulting in constant joy, and you connect with Him through constant prayer, casting all your concerns and requests to Him and trusting Him to redeem anything in your life for His glory, then the rubber hits the road and we find one of my favorite promises in the Bible:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
The peace of God will phroureō your heart and mind. The Greek word phroureō that is translated as “guard” actually has a more militaristic meaning. Its Strongs G5432 and it means “protected by a military guard to prevent hostile invasion”, “to mount a guard as a sentinel”, “to hem in, protect”. The peace of God acts as your military guard against a hostile invasion of your heart and mind by Satan. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) Life is a war zone, a raging river of demons and darkness trying their best to steal, kill, and destroy you because you are an image bearer of God almighty. But God. He knows this and offers to have His peace stand guard over your heart and mind to ward off any hostile invasion and protect you against any attack.
Realize its Jesus giving us the abundant life, its not something we have to earn.. just something we have to accept and believe.
In 2nd Peter 1:1-11 we see the relationship restoration story, but Im going to read it out of order.
God’s own glory and excellence called us, and when we believe, He then grants to us His precious and magnificent promises (2 Peter 1:3b-4a). His promises which flow from His glory and excellence result in our participation in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4b). God’s divine power granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3a), i.e. goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. (2 Peter 1:5-7). Grace and peace are multiples in our lives by the knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:2). The culmination of the knowledge of God invading your should is your living out the progressive growth found in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (2 Peter 1:8). Failure to see this progression in your life indicates you don’t see your sinfulness and need for a savior and are only focused on the here and now (2 Peter 1:9). Seeing this growth in your walk with God is evidence that God has called you, chosen you to receive the precious and magnificent promise.. a confirmation to you and a blessing to Him (2 Peter 1:10). The relationship is restored, the promise is fulfilled, and entrance into the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to us! (2 Peter 1:11).
Fleshed out
The abundant life is not the nice house, nice spouse, 2.5 kids, cute dog, and picket fence. The abundant life is not the NFL contract, its not the corner office, its not a 200’ yacht with a holiday weekend a Jeff Bezo’s credit card. It’s unimaginably more than that. The abundant life is life lived as the one who created it intended for it to be lived. Its a life of contentment, regardless of circumstances, because you have your priorities aligned and Jesus is on the throne of your heart. Its a worry free life, because you trust the promises of the one who made you - seeking to build the kingdom of God over everything, knowing He will take care of the rest. Even though this is how life was designed, and its the best way to live and its the “easiest” way to live (Matthew 11:30) we are in a war. There is opposition. There is a force out to prevent you from finding the joy and peace this side of Heaven that Jesus so desperately wants you to enjoy. Its the reason the promise from Philippians 4:7 rings so profoundly in my mind daily.. The peace of God has set up a front line military defense to prevent the hostile invasion of Satan’s lies against my heart and mind. God’s peace is on duty, on watch, rotating back and forth on the look out to thwart any attempt of Satan to lie and trick me into thinking that Im a failure, not worth it, or should just give up.
Satan came to steal, kill and destroy.
Jesus came that you may have life and have it abundantly.
The choice is yours… accept the offer of Jesus and today and believe in Him as the savior of your life.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:1-4