flourishinggirl

UNDERSTANDING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

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.

What does Jesus Christ mean here when He says He came that we might have life more abundantly?

An understanding of the words “life” and “abundant” or “abundance” would give us a clear picture of this.

The online English dictionary defines life as follows:

1. The condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.

2. The sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, especially metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.

3. The animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one's life; a short life and a merry one.

4. A corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.

5. The general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that.

In summation, we can define life as the condition that distinguishes between organisms from dead organisms being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction and the power to adapt to our environment through internal changes. In other words, life implies growth and total wellbeing of any individual. Life is made possible by the fact that man is a spirit and has a soul and lives in a body – 1Thess.5:23. The spirit is what keeps the body of man alive. This is why Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection redeemed us back to God so that we can be living spirits again and his intention is that we would afterwards live our lives as dictated by the Holy Spirit through our spirits and this is made possible by renewing our minds (which is an integral part of our soul) with the word of God because the word of God is the food of our spirits that enables us to grow to the point of living life to its fullness. See 1Peter 2:2; James 2:26; Romans 12:1-2 and John 6:63.

Abundant or abundance on the other hand could be defined as follows:

adjective

1. Present in great quantity; more than adequate; oversufficient: an abundant supply of water.

2. Well supplied; abounding: a river abundant in salmon.

3. Richly supplied: an abundant land.

The world Dictionary defines it as follows:

1.	Existing in plentiful supply
2.	Having a plentiful supply (of)

Thus the intention of the Lord is for us to have a plentiful supply of life or have life to overflowing.

Thus among human beings, there are people merely existing as dead spirits walking around in a body (unbelievers) and living spirits walking around in a body.

Every born again Christian is spiritually upgraded to the class of God with the aid of the Holy Spirit who God sends to live in our recreated human spirit which has come alive through the new birth experience. See. 2Cor.5:17.

For example Apostle Paul received this abundant life and was changed from a murderer to an Apostle who was instrumental in writing more than half of the New Testament. 1Cor.15:10

Peter the fisherman was converted from an unlearned ignorant fisherman without guts to a great bold leader instrumental in moving the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to the next level after His ascension. Eg. Peter who once denied Jesus Christ had this impression about him of his enemies – Acts 4:13

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Add examples of your personal testimony how this gospel has changed you and given you and some other people you know abundant life.

Abundant life influences us spirit soul and body. We shall take these one after the other from next week.