Today I want to talk about how we have an abundant life, here and now. We know that we will have an eternity of wonder and delight and pleasure. But did you know that we can actually live in that life now? So many Christians only have a dreary outlook and feel like they have to trudge through this life to get to eternity. They do not realize that they can live victoriously, and joyfully here and now.
This is not to say that we are never faced with difficulties, troubles and trials. For we are. But they do not have to define us or define the tempo of our life. We can choose to live above these things and live in the abundant life that Jesus told us He had come to bring us.
So much has to do with our focus. What are we dwelling on? Are we only looking at the circumstances and situations. They will look so big and overwhelming, if they are our focus. All that we need we have in Jesus, if we can just get this in our minds and hearts.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bear fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.
Jesus gives us some very important information. He uses the illustration of a vine and a branch. We can relate to that right? The same is true of a tree and its branches. The vine is what has the roots that go down deep into the earth and get the needed water and nutrients to sustain the vine and the branches.
If there were no vine there would be no branches. If the branches are disconnected from the Vine they can no long survive. They will dry up and die.
As the branch must stay connected to the vine, we must abide in Jesus.
We must remain in Him.
We must rest in Him.
We must draw all that we need from Him.
He is our source.
Jesus wants us to abide [continue, dwell (live in), endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry] in His Presence.
He wants us to abide in His Love.
He wants us to abide in His Joy.
He wants us to abide in His peace.
When we abide [continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry] in Jesus, we find that we have peace and contentment. We have joy and pleasure.
We are not fretting over every little detail in our life. Rather we can be in a spirit of praise to the Lord.
David also shared with us the truth of living an abundant life even when situations and circumstances were against him.
Psa 16:11 You wilt show me the path of life: in your presence is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
First David tells us that the Lord will show us the path of life. He guides our steps. He leads us by still waters and green pastures. As we abide in Him, we remain in His presence. When we are there, in His presence, we have fullness of Joy. The dreary, woe is me mind set, has to leave. It cannot remain in the full Joy of the Lord as we abide in Him.
Secondly, David tells us that in the Lord’s presence are pleasures [everything that is delightful, pleasant, sweet] forevermore. Always and forever. On going, unending. That means that as we abide [dwell – live in, tarry in, stay in] His pleasures, delights, enjoyment and happiness are ours everyday when abide in Him.
John 10:10 The thief comes 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.
Jesus tells us that He is come, in the present tense, here and now as well as then when He was speaking to the people. It is the enemy who comes to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus has come [ in the present moment, at this exact time] to give us life abundantly. He wants to give us life plentifully, richly, lavishly. This does not mean simply to have a lot of stuff in this world. For we know of many who have more money and stuff than they could use in ten lifetimes, but they are so distraught they would take their own life. Many of these who have found Jesus have learned that true abundant life is found in abiding in Him.
More than all this, Jesus told us that we are to abide in Him and when we do, He will abide in us. Did you catch that. He will abide in us!!!
He fills our life with wonder.
He fills our life with delight.
He fills our life with Joy and Peace.
He used the relationship of a branch and a vine for us to understand that there is a connection between us that cannot be severed for as long as we abide in Him, He will abide in us.
He abides IN us through the Holy Spirit. Oh the wonder of His presence. When we are in that place of communion with Him through the Holy Spirit. There is no greater joy or pleasure than being in that place of communion with Him. It cannot be explained. It has to be experienced!!
He abides IN us through His Word. His word is living and life. It fills us to the brim. We have His truth to guide our every step.
We have to read our Bible daily. We have to hide it away in our innermost being. It will be there always to guide and direct us. It will encourage us as we recall the wonder of our God that it reveals to us.
2Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; you save me from violence.
Psa 91:1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psa 91:3 Surely he shall deliver you[me] from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome [horrible, terrible, awful, disgusting, putrid] pestilence.
Psa 91:4 He shall cover you [me] with His feathers, and under His wings shalt you trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psa 91:5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
Psa 91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walkes in darkness; nor for the destruction that waste at noonday.
As we abide in the vine we are abiding in our God who is our shield, our high tower, our refuge, our fortress. He will keep us as He abides IN in us.
He is our protector from the storms of this life.
He is the place of refuge when troubles come.
He is the shield that turns back the attack of our enemies. Those hurtful words of people. Those negative thoughts that try to enter our minds. The lies of the enemy who comes to say we are worthless, of no value.
These things will bounce off Him as our shield because we have His truth that tells us we are of such great value to Him that He died for us. He took that debt we owed for sin and He paid it in full. He rose from the dead. Now He sits at the Father’s right hand and pleads our cause.
He is our deliverer. He keeps us out of the traps and snares that the enemy has laid in our path. He is the protector that keeps us from all the plagues and destruction that the enemy wants to use against us.
Oh, if we could only get it in our minds and hearts that He truly wants the very best for us. He wants to give us an abundant life. Full of contentment, joy, peace and delight.
We can really and truly live above the fray and the turmoil of this life by abiding in Him.
Abiding in His Presence
Abiding in His Love
Abiding in His Joy
Abiding in His Peace.
We can live our day to day life in wonder and delight if we choose to ABIDE in the Vine, Jesus. He will supply all that we need. He will give us the desires of our heart.
Christianity is not a drudgery to be endured. It is a life of wonder, joy and delight to be fully enjoyed and experienced.
All we have to do, is abide in Jesus. Keep our focus on Jesus. Know that He cares about our daily life. He loves us beyond measure. Let us choose today to live a life of delight and pleasure by abiding in Jesus our Wonderful Lord.