The Abundant Life

The Abundant Life The Abundant Life Tony Cansler / General Fundamentals of our Faith The begin the study on how to have an Abundant life lets first talk about what an Abundant Life is not. The Abundant Life is not a Flawless Life The Abundant Life is not a Faultless Life The Abundant Life is not a Faultless Fitness Life The Abundant Life is not Fame The Abundant Life is not Fortune The Abundant Life is not Fancy things The Abundant Life is not a Fantasy Life The Abundant Life is not Fun and Games The Abundant Life is not Prosperity and Popularity Then you might say what is an Abundant Life.... John 10:10 KJV 1900 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. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 1 The Abundant Life is a Saved Life Romans 10:13 KJV 1900 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Have you been saved? The Abundant Life is a Submitted Life James 4:7 KJV 1900 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Matthew 11:28–30 KJV 1900 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Acts 9:6 KJV 1900 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Have you surrendered your life to Christ? Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 2 The Abundant Life is a Separated Life 2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 1900 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV 1900 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Romans 1:1 KJV 1900 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, Psalm 1:1–3 KJV 1900 1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. • Separate from Satan • Separate from Sin • Separate from Sinful • Separate from Society • Separate from Self Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 3 Have you separated yourself unto the Lord? The Abundant Life is a Secured Life Ephesians 4:30 KJV 1900 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13 KJV 1900 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 2 Corinthians 1:22 KJV 1900 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. John 10:28–29 KJV 1900 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Are you Secure in Christ? Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 4 The Abundant Life is a Seasoned Life • New Believer 1 John 2:12 KJV 1900 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 KJV 1900 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? The baby stage (1 Cor. 3:1-4) A baby thinks only of self; and, if denied the things desired, it will raise a rumpus. It seeks its own; its feelings are easily hurt and it is often jealous. A baby lives to be served - it never serves. It drinks milk, and cannot eat strong meat. It cries, but never sings. It tries to talk, but never makes sense. These infant characteristics are so prominent in the lives of many church members. They have been born into the family of God, but have failed to develop spiritually. They are spiritual babies - carnal Christians. The little child stage (1 John 2:12). Some Christians Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 5 grow to be little children spiritually, but stop there. Here are some of the characteristics of children: they are often untruthful, envious, and cruel. If rebuked, they become martyrs; if crossed, they are resentful and often make a scene. They are talebearers, repeating everything they hear (in adults, it is called gossip). They are given to emotional outbursts, and are easily puffed up. They love praise, and will accept it from any source. They seek only the things that appeal to self. Are you a spiritual child? P.Barrington • Growing Believer 1 Peter 2:2 KJV 1900 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: Spiritual growth to that of a young man is not reached by many. He is strong and virile and is well able to overcome his enemy. He has a vision for the future and the faith and courage to tackle it. He is preparing for his productive years. You, too, can become a young man spiritually by doing “away with childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11). P.Barrington • Non-Growing Believer 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 KJV 1900 1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 6 spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Some Christians are no longer growing and that spiritual growth could stop for any number of reasons. The harsh reality is if a Christian stops growing then they begin to grow backwards and grow away from God and separate from him. There is no staying in the same place. The further you grow away from the Lord the more Carnal you will become If this describes you let me beckon you to get back to growing. I believe there is three keys to Spiritual Growth. Get in Church if you are out of church. It is entirely possible that you could no longer be growing but still be in church. It is possible that a christian backslide and never get out of church. I would say there is many that get out of church and immediately stop growing. I don’t know that you can grow closer to the Lord and not be in church. Let me encourage you to get back in the Bible as the reality is if you are no longer growing I almost guarantee that you no longer read your bible on a regular basis. I am not talking about a verse or two to Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 7 be able to say oh I read my bible today. I am referring to taking a bible text and reading it and read it until you understand and get it. Dig in the word. I wanna throw one more thing out there, I guarantee that you are not praying like you should pray. The time has came you need to get back to prayer and talk to the Lord. I believe these three things are vital to the growth of a Christian. • Mature Believer 1 John 2:12–14 KJV 1900 12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. This stage of spiritual development can be reached by all, but so few ever attain it. The spiritual father has peace with God (Rom. 5:1). He knows the peace of God (Phil. 4:7). He rejoices in his spiritual children (1 Thess. 2:19 and 1 Tim. 1:2). He has learned contentment under all circumstances (Phil. 4:11). He knows the only source of true strength (Phil. 4:13). He does not brood over the past, but Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 8 looks to the future (Phil. 3:13, 14). He knows that all things work together in his life for his eternal good (Rom. 8:28). He enjoys abundant life now and will enjoy it in the life to come (Eph. 2:7). P. Barrington Have you reached spiritual maturity? The Abundant Life is a Serving Life Matthew 4:10 KJV 1900 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. • Serve Christ • Serve Christians • Serve Non-Christians • Serve Church Do you serve? Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 9 The Abundant Life is a Selfless Life Matthew 26:39 KJV 1900 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:42 KJV 1900 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. The Abundant Life is a Spirit Filled Life Ephesians 5:10 KJV 1900 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be: Spiritpossessed, Spirit-empowered, Spirit-led and Spiritcontrolled -Barrington The more space the Holy Ghost occupies in you life the less room for the things of the world If your life Spirit Filled? Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:41 PM June 14, 2020. 10