ABUNDANT LIFE!
ILLUSTRATION:
A little girl once went to visit her grandmother in the country. Things were fine until Sunday. This lady went to a very old fashioned church that kept the Sabbath by forbidding all work, fun, playing. The little girl woke up Sunday and started right off playing and laughing, as little girls do. Her grandmother immediately rebuked her for breaking the Sabbath. The little girl quieted down, went to church and later went for a walk out by the barn. She went over to an old mule, a droopy eyed, sad faced, long-eared mule. She looked at the mule for a while, and said, “Mr. Mule, you look like you go to my grandmother’s Church!”
KEY TEXT:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly – to the full.” (John 10:10).
• The dictionary defines the word “full” as “complete, perfect, the highest degree, the maximum.” Abundantly = “well supplied, abounding, overflowing.”
• Does that describe YOUR life? It’s fun being saved!
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8).
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
• Yes, it’s true that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil: sin, sickness, poverty!
• However, we don’t automatically experience that abundant life – we must fight!
THE BIG IDEA: Jesus said He came to destroy the works of the devil, and to bring us abundant life. However, we still have an enemy who is a thief, murderer and destroyer, and we must be vigilant if we want to experience that abundant life, joy and peace.
STORY: As a pastor, I have met with people whose lives have been destroyed by the devil!
THE DEVIL DESCRIBED:
The devil… is the gnawing of cancer, the dollar bill in the pocket of the abortion doctor, the blank stare in the face of the homeless. He is the cold ache of arthritis, the limp of one crippled, the despair of poverty… He is the author of fear and the father of lies. He is the panic of sirens, the source of arguing, insanity, slander, lying, cheating, stealing, heresy and sedition. He is the reality and the necessity of an eternal hell. He is the driving impulse of every sexual perversion, of homosexuality and lesbianism, and of all drug and alcohol addiction. He is the blackness of midnight… and the despair of funerals. He is behind every rape, every incest. He is suicide, teen pregnancy, the occult, demonic possession, New Age deceit. He is the backbiting of friends, the jagged edge of a tattered relationship… He is everything cruel, painful, fierce. He is the source of every plague, curse, and blight known to the human family. He is the original instigator of separation between the Creator and His creation, yet we try to act and live like he is not even in our world!” (Rod Parsley, Serious Survival Strategies).
• Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil!
CHOOSE LIFE:
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.” (Deut. 30:19-20).
• God tells us that we choose life or death – and gives us a hint: Choose life!
• God offers life, blessing, joy, health, and prosperity..
• Satan offers death, cursing, depression, sickness, and poverty.
• How do we choose abundant life? Love God, obey His voice, and cling to Him.
• How do we choose death? When we sin. “But the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 3:23).
• When God tells us not to do something, it’s because it leads to death!
• God’s commandments are for our GOOD! (Deut. 10:13).
• Note: Not every bad thing is a direct attack from the enemy – sometimes the natural consequences of our sin, or just living in a sin-cursed earth.
KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS:
• But how can we keep from sinning if we don’t know all the commandments?
“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40).
• If we love God and love people, we experience ABUNDANT LIFE! 10 commandments:
• Love God = no gods before Him, no images, not take name in vain, keep Sabbath holy
• Love people = honor parents, no murder, adultery, stealing, lying or coveting.
• When we sin (we don’t love God and people), Satan steals our life, joy and peace!
• Greatest joy stealer = offenses and unforgiveness!
ILLUSTRATION: The Pet Rattler
A newspaper told the story of a man in Arkansas who had a pet rattlesnake. The man found the snake as a baby. He took it, fed it, and made it a pet. The reptile would come when he whistled, it would eat from his fingers, and it would coil around his arm and let him stroke its head with the palm of his hand or with the tips of his fingers. One day he took the snake to town to show it to his friends. They marveled at its gentleness –marveled that it would eat from his hand. Satisfied that he had impressed his friends the man went back home with his pet snake. When he arrived home, suddenly, with only the slightest provocation, the reptile became angry. That “pet” rattler buried its fangs into the man’s arm. In a few hours, the man was dead. In one quick instant, through that “friendly” serpent’s poisonous fangs, that man met death! Two days after that, this man who should have been sitting with his family in their humble but happy home was sleeping in the mud of an Arkansas grave. With such dread cometh such an hour to every man and woman who makes a pet of sin! (Robert G. Lee, Whirlwinds of God).
JOY OR SORROWS: A Psalm of David
“Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone… Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!” (Psalm 32:1-5,10-11).
• Note that we’re not talking about living a sinless life – that’s impossible.
• But – when we sin – we must be quick to confess our sin so we can be forgiven.
• Sorrow (destruction) comes to the wicked, but joy (abundant life) comes to God’s people!
QUOTE: Billy Sunday said, “If you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity.”
CLOSING CHALLENGE: Choose life!
TEXT: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11).
• Jesus came to save His people from their sins, and give them ABUNDANT LIFE!
• Let go of your sins, and reach out for LIFE!
For more sermon outlines or audio sermons, visit:
www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
