The Joy Of An Abundant Christian Life

THE ABUNDANT CHRISTIAN LIFE

JOHN 10:10 25 MAR 18 DR. M POPE

INTRO:

As we are one week away from Easter, we are reminded of the new life we have through Christ from being born again. To be Born again means we have experienced a ‘Spiritual Resurrection’. We have eternal life.

What I want to give you today is the second result we have from the resurrection we also have experienced and should be living each day. Let’s call this a ‘Moral Resurrection’.

Where our life is changed to live and walk in the gifts and grace that God has given to us.

How to live and enjoy the Abundant Life. NOT the mediocre life, NOT a powerless life, nor a defeated Christian life, but the abundant life that is offered to each one that has been born again.

How do we attain this life?

1. HOW TO LIVE AND ENJOY THE ABUNDANT CHRISTIAN LIFE

a. It Requires a Life of Surrender

Phil 3:7-10 (turn)

b. It Leads to a Life of Service

Rm 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

c. It Calls One to a Life of Separation

2 Cor 6:17 “Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

d. It Yields a Life of Spiritual Growth

Eph 4:22 (turn) “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, ‘the old man’.

1) Bible Study

2) Prayer

3) Witness and Testimony

e. It Involves a Spirit-Filled Life

Eph 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Col 1:9 (TURN) “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

CLOSE: Spiritual Power Needed

The early Church had little machinery, but they had power.

A young woman, who worked in a large umbrella factory (in Philadelphia), She said to her Pastor one day, in a discouraged manner, "Pastor, I'll have to hunt another job." "What's the matter?" I asked her, "have they discharged you?" "No, they haven't discharged me." "Well, hasn't your factory enough orders to keep going all the time?" "No, not that at all. They have more orders than they can fill; but they haven't enough electricity to keep all the machines going at once, and my machine has to lie idle part of the week, and I lose so much time and pay. The trouble with the factory is, they have more machinery than power."

Let’s not forget brethren, the church can have money, have people, have great programs, but if the people don’t have the power of God, the work becomes wood, hay, and stubble, good for nothing but to be cast away. WE as God’s children, need to live FILLED- with the Spirit of God, seeking His will and His face in all things, let us continue to endeavor to do His work, through prayer, and faith, and only in His power. This is ESSENTIAL to the carrying out of the Great Commission.