Tag Archives: the abundant life

The Abundant Life – #3 – The Separated Life

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The separated life is simultaneously positive and negative.  The old adage – “be in the world, but not of the world,” was derived from the topic of this article.  

Romans 1:1

 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. . .

Read that carefully!  We are to be “separated unto the gospel of God”!  This is  POSITIVE SEPARATION.

2 Corinthians 6:17

 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

We must come out of ANYTHING that is contrary to the perfect will of God. This is NEGATIVE SEPARATION.

FOR THE BELIEVER – TO BE SEPARATED –  MEANS TO BE SANCTIFIED (SET APART) FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE

1. The Word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin.  John 17:17 – Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.  Ps. 119:11 –   Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer unto the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thess. 5:23 – And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer unto righteousness, “not having spot, or wrinkle.”  Eph. 5: 24,27 –  

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; 

26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

4. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto salvation and service.  2 Thess. 2:13 –  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

If we are not separated, we can still have a relationship with God, but we can not have fellowship with Him.  This is the problem of the dominant church spirit at this time – Laodicea.  The majority of churches are now so closely allied with the world, there is no fellowship with God.  They may be united with Him at Calvary, but separated from Him in sin.  

Isaiah 59:1-2

59 Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

Without separation we can have:

  • Influence without power
  • Movement without achievement
  • Trying without trusting
  • Serving without success
  • Spiritual battle without victory

WITHOUT SEPARATION UNTO GOD – OUR ENTIRE CHRISTIAN WALK WILL BE “WOOD, HAY, AND STUBBLE.” 

THE TRULY ABUNDANT LIFE IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – MADE REALITY BY SEPARATION UNTO HIM. 

The Abundant Life – Introduction

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John 10:10

 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.

The only way into eternal life is through faith in Christ as personal savior. 

Once you are saved – do not stop there!  Having eternal life is the most important, but there is so much more.  Christ said that He came that we might have life more abundantly.  ALL believers have life, but not all believers have abundant life.

In order to have abundant life, we need abundant resources.  The only unlimited resource is the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

In order to possess this abundant life – we MUST abide IN HIM!

John 15:1-5

15 I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.

5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.

This kind of vibrant, abundant living is not for just a select few, it is what God wants for ALL believers.  It is a deep spiritual life, and without it, the Christian life is meaningless.

If you do not have abundant life within you – you will soon yield to carnality.  The fleshly life around you will overcome your puny resistance, and and you will be surrounded.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

3 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 carnal Christian life is circumstance controlled – the abundant life is Holy Spirit- controlled.  The carnal Christian life leads to one defeat after another – the abundant life leads to victory in Christ.

Man seems to know everything about life except how to live it abundantly.

Please continue on with this series, and determine that from now on – not to be satisfied with anything less than God’s best – life abundantly.

The Abundant Life – #5 – The Mature Life

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2 Peter 3:18

 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Just as there are four stages of growth in the  natural man, there are four stages of growth in the new born spiritual man, which leads to maturity in the Christian life.

1. The baby stage.  1 Cor. 3:1-4 – 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?  A baby thinks only of itself.  If the baby is denied what it wants, it will wail.  The baby seeks its own, its feelings are easily hurt, and – it is often jealous.  The baby lives to be served – it never serves.  It can only drink milk, and cannot eat solid food.  The baby cries a great deal – but never sings.  It tries to talk – but makes no sense.

IT IS A SAD BUT TRUE FACT, THAT MANY CHRISTIANS DISPLAY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRITUAL BABY.  THOUGH THEY ARE BORN AGAIN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD – THEY NEVER GROW AND DEVELOP SPIRITUALLY.  THE SPIRITUAL BABY IS A CARNAL CHRISTIAN.

2. The little child stage.  1 John 2:12 – I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. Some Christians grow enough to become little children spiritually – but many stop there.  Spiritual little children are often untruthful, envious,  and even cruel.  When rebuked, they take on the role of martyr.  If crossed, they feel resentment, and may even make a scene.  They are talebearers, repeating everything they hear (grownups call it gossip!)  The child is given to emotional outbursts, and their immaturity causes them to be easily puffed up.  They live for praise, and will accept that praise from ANYONE!  The child only seeks after what will appeal to self.

ARE YOU A SPIRITUAL CHILD????

3. The young man stage.  1 John 2:13 – 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.  Another sad fact – not many believers reach the stage of a young man in Christ.  He is strong and virile – well able to overcome his enemy – Satan (in his many forms) The young man’s vision for the future consists of his faith and courage.  He is preparing for his most productive years.  

WE CAN BECOME A YOUNG MAN SPIRITUALLY BY “PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS!”  1 COR. 13:11 – WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPAKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD: BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.

4. The father stage.  1 John 2:13 – 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.  This stage can be reached by all believers – but SO FEW EVER ATTAIN IT.  The spiritual father has peace with God.  Rom. 5:1 – Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  The father knows the peace of God.  Phil. 4:7 – And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  He rejoices in his spiritual children.  1 Thess. 2:19 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?  The father has learned contentment under ALL circumstances.  Phil. 4:11 – Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  He knows the ONLY source of true strength.  Phil. 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  The father NEVER broods over the past, but continually looks to the future.  

Phil.3: 13, 14 –   13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  He knows that ALL  things work together in his life for ETERNAL GOOD.   Rom. 8:28 – 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.

THE SPIRITUAL FATHER ENJOYS THE ABUNDANT LIFE NOW – AND WILL ENJOY IT IN THE LIFE TO COME.  EPH. 2:7 – THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHEW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

This concludes our study of the Abundant Life.  Next up in our deep study of doctrine – Repentance!