The abundant life:
John.10:10,’I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’
Every one of us has a deep desire to live life to the fullest. Don’t we often feel that a full life means having money, owning a nice home, raising happy children, being physically well, having a lot of friends ? While all these things may point to having a prosperous life, we will still feel a lack of something. Yahshua Messiah came to provide the way to such an abundant life...a life full of "joy" that is greater than any other, a "blessedness" that is happiness in its fullest measure, an "assurance" of entering the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and a "peace" that surpasses understanding. Through his teachings in John.15:1-5, Messiah tells us the secrets that lead to an abundant life.
The first step is to read the Bible and meditate on the Word. By reading the Bible, we come to know Messiah. We are able to communicate with him. I always say that we speak to Elohim through our prayers and Elohim speaks to us through the Bible.
When we start knowing Messiah, we start loving him. The more we know Messiah, the more we love him, especially as we grow in understanding His love for us. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
We are more likely to walk in love, if we know His love for us. ‘And walk in love, as Messiah also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Elohim’.(Eph 5:2)for a sweet smelling savour. When our knowledge of Messiah increases then, and our love for him will also increase!
The result of loving is obedience. Messiah desires obedience out of love. He appeals to our sense of love.John.14:15 says,’ If ye love me, keep my commandments.’ Again, John 14:23 says, ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.’ We obey because In order to avoid punishment (like school children), or in order to get what we want(like a child to get what he/she wants), or because we love the person we are obeying(like children loving their parents). People who obey as apart of an obligation will never be consistent. Some will go to church because it is their duty on Sunday, something like a chore. Others will attend church regularly because for their love for Messiah.
When we love Messiah, we will abide in his love. He kept His Father's commandments, and so abided in His love. John.15:10, ‘If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.’ Messiah kept his Father’s will and we also should follow or imitate Messiah’s life and abide in him.
By keeping His commands we 1) abide in His love - John.15:10, ‘If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.’ 2) we will be His friends - John.15:14, ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’3) we abide in Him - 1Jn 3:24, ‘And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.’
When Messiah abides in us, it is no longer I who lives, as Paul says in Gal 2:20, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:’ When we abide in him and he in us, we bear fruit. Without him we can do nothing. John.15:5, Messiah says,’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.’ Paul experienced the abiding power of Messiah.
1Co 6:11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Eph 1:19: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Phil 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Abiding in Christ empowers us to bear fruit, and thereby experience the abundant life!
What are the fruit that we can bear? Apart from the fruit of the spirit (Gal.5:22-23)? In Rom.1:13 Paul speaks of bearing some fruit among the Romans even as he had among the Gentiles. This fruit was winning souls for Messiah. In Rom.15:28, Paul speaks of taking a contribution to the saints, i.e., sharing with those in need. Peter speaks of developing a Christ-like character(2Pet. 1:5-8). We show our fruit by praising God and giving thanks always. Heb.13:15: ‘By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.’ These are the fruit we bear as Messiah\s branches. Bearing such fruit brings joy and happiness to the Christian. We get peace for our thanksgiving.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil4:6-7).
When we show these fruit in our lives, then we will be experiencing the abundant life promised by Yahshua Messiah. Amen.
