: A woman was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds. She was tired of standing in lines. She was tired of fighting her way down long aisles looking for a gift that had sold out days before.
Her arms were full of bulky packages when an elevator door opened. It was full. The occupants of the elevator grudgingly tightened ranks to allow a small space for her and her load.
As the doors closed, she blurted out, "Whoever is responsible for this whole Christmas thing ought to be arrested, strung up, and shot!"
A few others nodded their heads or grunted in agreement.
Then, from somewhere in the back of the elevator, came a single voice that said: "Don't worry. They already crucified him."
Homiletics (November/December 2006), Volume 18; submitted by Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky
The closer we get to December 25th the closer our lives mirror this ladies. The chaos of parties, presents and people. The commercialized and advertised Christmas becomes the more empty it seems for so many. The expectations and expense of it all don’t seem to measure up to the promise that Jesus gave.
Listen very closely to John 10
Before we go any further we have to ask the question what frustrates our full life that Jesus promised? Misunderstanding. The woman in the story misunderstood the meaning of Christmas, even the people Jesus was talking to couldn’t understand what He was talking about. (John 10:6)
The promise Jesus makes is the promise of life abundant.
I. The door to the full life is a person – I am the door
A) Misunderstanding about abundance.
Conversation with Rik Desoto, he’s anti-theistic – He misunderstands what Jesus promises
Christians misunderstand what Jesus promises.
Jesus didn’t come to change politics to fit our preferences. Jesus didn’t come to make our circumstances comfortable.
Daniel was taken captive, taken serious, taken for granted. He was in a culture and political climate that was opposed to Him. Jesus didn’t make it comfortable for Him but made it possible for His character to shine as a light in the darkness of the Babylonian country and culture.
B) Misunderstanding about entrance
The entrance into full life isn’t something we do. It is a person who invites us to fullness. The word that Jesus uses for abundance or fullness is a life that goes beyond what is expected a life of super abundance. In fact it is the emptiness of our lives that reveal a need for a savior.
Jesus didn’t simply come to save us from the punishment of sin! He came to save us from sin so that we could be satisfied with His presence.
We are called to be sanctified by Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 “For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.” Another translation of sanctification is holy.
If we enter the door it is a door to salvation and sanctification.
II. The depth of the full life is protected – come in and go out
A) Freedom
There are so many things that seek to steal from us today. In 10:10 it clearly says the thief comes not but to steal, kill and destroy. Coming in and going out is a picture of safety and freedom. We no longer have to be bound to the fears and cares of the world.
Isis, Syrian refugees, crazed shooters no longer overwhelm us because our freedom comes from our trust in Christ. Finances, economy, family etc. . . we no longer seek to control them because Jesus is the Good shepherd. He leads us and guides us to decisions that highlight His leadership and kingdom. This is the secret not so secret of abundance. All of the burden and load are carried by Jesus the Good shepherd!!
B) Fellowship
What is it that diminishes our fears and develops our faith? It is time spent in close fellowship with Jesus! We are invited by Him as the door to have a deep fellowship with God that will deepen our trust and dependence on Him. Why does the devil use business? Because when we are busy with things of this world we often forget that the true source of our strength is closeness to Jesus. In my life as a pastor, husband, dad, friend, bus driver etc what I need most is wisdom and strength from God to love and lead, serve and lead those I am responsible for. I will not have that if my fellowship with God is neglected.
Guard you heart with all diligence proverbs says, if that is to happen guard you time with God.
III. The desire of the full life is provided – and find pasture
A) Feeds us sufficiently
What we need He provides. He is the good shepherd. He will provide our daily bread to meet the physical needs we have. He provides mana spiritual bread if we are willing to sit at the table and have an adequate diet of God’s word.
B) Satisfies us completely
There is a desire deep within all human beings to have meaning to our lives. We want to make a difference and have meaning. The world tries to press us toward happiness while God encourages us to seek out significance.
Colossians 3:23-27 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ
Ecclesiastes 3:11 ““He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts
The apostle Paul wasn’t rich in this world’s goods, but he enjoyed the abundant life that Christ offers. He was content with just food and covering (1 Tim. 6:8), but he was rich toward God (Luke 12:21; Eph. 2:7). He gained those riches by coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:8).
Matthew Henry, the well-known pastor and Bible commentator, was on his deathbed in 1714, at age 52. He had suffered the loss of his first wife and of three children. He was relatively young. He could have complained about his early death. But he said to a friend, “You have been used to take notice of the sayings of dying men. This is mine—that a life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comfortable and pleasant life that one can live in the present world” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible [Revell], p. 1:xiv).
The good shepherd gives satisfaction and fulfilment as we enter into fellowship with him. Salvation, satisfaction and all of these lead to God’s plan for man transformation.
IV. The devotion of the full life is presumed – “and they listen to my voice”
What is the one thing that will keep everyone from entering the overflowing better than expected life? A failure to hear and heed the voice of the Good Shepherd.
The good shepherd speaks and shares with us words of salvation, instruction, etc. . .
His words give us opportunity to respond with obedience and devotion.
A) He expects us to be devoted to Him
John 14:15 “If you love me keep my commandments.” If we listen to what Jesus says then we discover that the abundant life involves allowing Jesus to change our do’s and don’ts.
Will we listen to him about sex and what He says about in a sex crazed world?
Will we listen to Him and what He says about money in a money obsessed world?
Will we listen to Him about power what He says about power in a power mad world?
Will we listen to Him about truth and what He says in a there is no truth world?
B) He expects us to be devoted to His church
Matthew 16:18 – He will build His church, Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8 – The church is to carry the gospel to all the nations, 1 Timothy 3:14-15 – Holy and right behavior as God’s household, Hebrews 10:24-25 --We are to encourage each other to love and good deeds. 1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8; Romans 15:6; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 1:27 – The church is supposed to be unified.
C) He expects us to be devoted to His kingdom
The kingdom of God is the abundance that Jesus promises. It is through the surrender to God’s voice that created the world that abundance flows.
The kingdom is the reign and rule of Jesus in our daily life decisions, desires.
Jeremiah 31:14 “I will refresh the priests with an abundance, and My people will be satisfied with My goodness. This is the Lord’s declaration.”
There are far too many Christians whose dependence is on what God gives instead of God Himself.
This is why the world will always look to a human savior instead of Jesus.
"The world still seeks its humanistic, political saviours-its Hitlers, its Stalins, its Maos, its Pol Pots-and only too late does it learn that they blatantly confiscate personal property (they come 'only to steal'), ruthlessly trample human life under foot (they come 'only ... to kill'), and contemptuously savage all that is valuable (they come 'only ... to destroy')." [Note: Carson, The Gospel . . ., p. 385.]
What is the solution to the emptiness the world brings?
Listen to the words of Dr Adrian Rogers,
“Being saved in not just some sort of penalty you pay to get to heaven.”
“When I invite you to Jesus, I am not inviting you to a funeral, I am inviting you to a feast.”
