UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SERVE THE LORD: By Living the Abundant Life

 “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.”  (John 10:10)

What is the “life” this Scripture pertains to, and what does “more abundantly” mean?

The word “life” in this verse is the Greek word “Zoe” which means “vitality” or “to live”, referring to the life which we are living on this earth right now.

“More abundantly” means “super abundant in quantity and superior in quality.”

God is not only concerned about your eternal life and your home in heaven, but He is just as concerned about your life in the “right here and now”.

The Bible says,

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” (Heb. 4:14)

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)

Jesus came and experienced life as we know it.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” (Php. 2:5-6)

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Php. 2:7-8)

Although the Bible says that Jesus was in the form of God and was God, He took upon Himself the form of flesh in order to experience all the feelings and adversities of life.

He knows what it is to experience pain, sorrow, sickness, grief, and betrayal.

He knows what it is to experience a broken heart when all forsook Him, and He knows the emptiness, loneliness, and desperation that being separated from God feels like when He took upon Himself the sin of the world.

But He also knows the gladness, laughter, restoration, and ecstasy that victory over all of these adversities can produce.

Jesus Christ is truly the only One who can honestly say “been there, done that” when it comes to understanding what all this life, both good and bad, has to offer.

That is why the Bible says that He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”.

The Bible says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities”. In other words, no matter what we are going through, Jesus knows and understands exactly what it is like and how we are feeling.

And because of this, He knows exactly what we need to overcome it and be delivered from it.

That is why the Bible says to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Here the word “boldly” means “with assurance.”

We can be assured that Jesus knows what we have need of before we even ask, and we can be assured that before we even ask, He has already provided.

It is God’s will that we be delivered from every evil work and out of every temptation.

It is God’s will that we endure, overcome, and pass through every adversity to receive the abundance that God has already provided for us in advance.

It is God’s will and desire that we have life “super abundant in quantity and superior in quality.” This is one of the reasons that Jesus came, lived, and died, to save us from our sins and deliver us from this “present evil world.”

“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Gal 1:3-5)

This “abundant life” that Jesus has purchased for us with His own blood includes healing.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:5)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1Peter 2:24)

The “abundant life” also includes health and prosperity, not “wealth and riches”, but health and prosperity.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3John 1:2)

“Life more abundantly” also includes mental health and a sound mind.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2Tim. 1:7)

The disciples asked Jesus one day about their having left all to follow Him,

“And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,” (Mark 10:29)

“But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:30)

If your delight is in the Lord, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to follow Him, don’t be afraid to believe God for the desires of your heart.

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and while He is gone He has sent back the Holy Spirit to live in us, to walk in us, to give us the victory, to cause all things to work together for our good, and to deliver us from every evil work.

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1John 5:4)

“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.” (Rom. 8:28)

“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2Tim. 4:18)

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Next- UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SERVE THE LORD: Through Faith in our Eternal Home       

All twelve books in the “How to Walk Christian Series” by Raymond Candy are available now in one collection of two volumes for $6.99 each at bn.com for the NOOK, amazon.com for the KINDLE, on iTunes at the iBookstore for the iPad and iPhone, and at Lulu.com for the PC and all e-reading devices