Reclaiming Abundant Life

Reclaiming hearts & minds Not with Physical swords but THE SPIRITUAL SWORD Hebrews 4 12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Not just DEFENSIVE but OFFENSIVE Matthew 16 18 …and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.   Series: RECLAIMING ABUNDANT LIFE John 10:10 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. Key question: What is Abundant Life? Abundant life is NOT: Wealth/Health/Fame Make life easier but not more abundant Cynthia Heimel, “Tongue in Chic” column in The Village Voice, January 2, 1990. Atheist/feminist writer in the 90s/2000s “I pity celebrities, no I really do – [celebrities] were once perfectly pleasant human beings. But now their wrath is awful. I think when God wants to play a really rotten practical joke on you he grants you your deepest wish and then laughs merrily when you realize you want to kill yourself. You see [these people] wanted fame. They worked, they pushed and the morning after each of them became famous they wanted to take an overdose. Because that giant thing they were striving for, that fame thing that was going to make everything OK, that was going to make their lives bearable, that was going to provide them with personal fulfillment and happiness had happened and they were still them. The disillusionment turned them howling and insufferable.”   Power/Authority Just hungry for more power No one ever said, “This is enough power”   Pleasure/Satisfaction Become numb… Always need more Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence” “The paradox is that hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure for it’s own sake, leads to anhedonia. Which is the inability to enjoy pleasure of any kind.”   An Arrival point Life changes. Things happen   A lack of struggle Many have found deep joy in the struggle Note: These things are TOOLS, but they are NOT where abundant life is FOUND The enemy wants us to trade GOD for GIFTS   Context of Jesus’ statement: John 10 1 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus is: The Gate – The Only Way in (Protection) The Shepherd – The Only Way Out (Authority)   Key Question: What is ABUNDANT LIFE? What is the “THEIF” False abundant life What is the Abundant Life of Jesus? True abundant life Galatians 5 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,… 20 idolatry, sorcery,… hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,… selfish ambitions,… dissensions, factions,… 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.   When brought to light – Disgusting, gross, vile 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. There are a few things to note about the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT 1: Only available to the Christian believer Common grace means all can experience “SOME,” but only the Christian can experience the “FULL WORK AND BLESSING OF THE SPIRIT” 2: Not Behavior Modification but SPIRIT TRANSFORMATION Both are a process; only one is REAL CHANGE 3: Fruit of the Spirit are not “Weak” Love = Sacrifice Joy = The Natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled Peace = Lacking any anxiety Patience = slow to anger as we wait for God to provide comfort and justice Kindness = Righteous, genuine Concern for another Goodness = Selflessly acting on behalf of others Faithfulness = believing that God is Who He says He is and continuing in that belief despite the challenges of life Gentleness = Might restrained through Humility and grace. Self-control = Moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to our baser desires and fleshly lusts   Imagine: This kind of Parent This kind of boss This kind of church This kind of world   Are you looking for an Abundant Life? Questions to ask yourself: 1: Am I allowing the thief to convince me to trade the fruit of abundant life for cheap substitutes 2: Am I acting as my own god by trying to achieve my personal version of abundant life? Conclusion: A truly abundant life is one full of the spiritual gifts of God that are given to His faithful followers.