Abundant Life

We are going to start with a reading from the Gospel of John, chapter 10. These are red letters in the Bible, meaning Jesus said them verse one.

John 10:1–12 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

Let's pray. Holy, gracious and merciful Father in Heaven. All the praise and glory is yours. Im Grateful Lord God, For this wonderful body of Christ in Atlanta. I thank you Lord God for giving us multiple chances daily to get more right with you. More things right Today than we did the day before and the day before that for by grace, we are saved. By your blood. Jesus, our sins have been paid and we have been ransomed. And now are guaranteed A room. In a mansion that you have prepared. You, Lord, are the Good Shepherd. I prayed boldly Lord God for my family here today, my brothers and sisters. To Seek God in his wisdom and understanding. That they are strengthened. By the Lord. Resisting temptation. And gaining a relationship. With you Jesus, to have peace and love more abundantly. Thank you Jesus. For taking the cross for us. For making a way for us to be in a right standing with our Father in heaven. Holy Spirit. Guide my heart and my mind. Use my voice to proclaim your message in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. 

 There is a lot to unpack here. For starters, Jesus is calling everybody sheep. And I'm sure everybody here knows that sheep are not very smart.  They have to be watched for constantly, so they don't get hurt into trouble, lost in an open field. In fact, if you have sheep, you probably have a dog that watches over them and keeps them in a group. They can't fight off enemies. They have no why to defend themselves. Their teeth are not sharp. They are extremely vulnerable, also. Very skittish, if one of them steps on the blade of grass and it sounds funny, They all freak out, run around, the dog gets to play and gathers them back into a group and then one bowl movement they freak out again, the dog chases them, brings them back. They're not bright. If one walks off the Cliff, they all walk off the Cliff. They're sheep. And Jesus is calling us a sheep, all of us. 

As I was preparing this and reading, I had a little chuckle because the sheep isn't used for any sports events as a mascot, there not tough but they are used for a mattress company.  

John 10:4 “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

This verse holds a big key. Knowing his voice. This here is making it very clear that he wants a relationship with us, not religion.  

The world today is full of so many distractions between the TV with commercials, the radio. Cell phones. Billboards. There are many different voices pulling our attention in different areas.  But the question is, are you reading your Bible? How is your prayer life? Must important, do you know his voice?

Quick story, true story. There was a guy in Alaska. Two guys were flying out, the pilot and the other guy who didn't know how to fly and as we're leaving in the air, The pilot suffered a medical emergency. The passenger now has become the pilot, he quickly gets on the radio Called for help. He couldn't see nothing because of the weather. However, the guy on the radio told him to follow his every word and he would get him home safely, but he must follow every single word or he will crash into the mountains. The guy has to listen to the voice, in faith to survive.  The plane lands Both guys. ended up living. However, the man on the radio showed up to meet the guy he was speaking to and when he met, He thanked them. He thank them for listening, and doing as he said, the guy stated that most people don't listen to the voice. They do their own thing and they smash into the mountain because they can't see where we're going. But I can see. I watch them. I watch them kill themselves. 

For us to hear God, we must know God. We have to read The Gospel of Jesus Christ. That by the cross and by his blood ,we are saved.

John 10:9–10 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The devil wants to steal our joy. Kill the spirit and destroy our relationship with God. 

The second part, verse 10 I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. 

 Praise God, thank you Jesus. For going to the cross and freely giving your life to save all of us. 

Another question how do we have a more abundant life? How do we have peace in midst of chaos? How do we love and produce fruits of the spirit in a broken world full of hate?

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

The key word is “may” have peace. It is a choice,

Colossians 3:15–17 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Key word “let” the peace, “let” the word of Christ, It is a choice and we have to make a choice to have peace.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

To overcome the world, we must have the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us in the times of tribulation, to comfort us in these hard times. Jesus had said that they are going to come. We will have them as being a Christian and walking a life of faith, but to have peace, we must look at the cross for all of our answers, because Jesus isn't on that cross. He's sitting at the right hand of the Father.

Jesus defeated death and has overcome the world. We must hear and know Gods voice and respond. God LOVES you. Jesus loves us. 

John 17:13–17 “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

The world hates the person baptized in the Spirit, because there is joy fulfilled within them. They are more than conquerors, more than doers, They overcome in the heaviest tribulations. A Spirit filled believe carries the victory of Jesus Christ In their life. See, Jesus wants us to glorify God in our lives here on earth and receive The message of the cross, that God loves us, Christ Freely gave his life for our sin, He that was not sin was made sin to save us in this broken world, that when the tribulations come and the troubles, the storms, all the chaos that we can speak the name of Jesus and point to the cross and have peace. Because we know the truth. God's word is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. And God loves us. God's Word never fails. 

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Jesus is the good shepherd and freely laid down His life for us.

I want everybody here to understand that the thief only comes to steal. He wants to steal your family, he wants to steal your friends, he wants to destroy your relationships, destroy your marriages, Destroy your relationship with God, and he wants to kill you.

However Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus has come that we may have life and that we may have it more abundantly.

Praise God and thank you Jesus. I'd like to challenge everybody if you're wanting to hear more from God or you're unsure if it is from God. Read his word. In fact, just read the red letters of the New Testament. Pray on it. Seek God. Resist the devil and he will flee. 

maybe speak about medical conditions, mental wellness, Always speak Jesus, The Word , remember the devil will flee , there is only victory in the name of Jesus.

I like to read this every so often, leading to the Lord

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you're the Son of God. I believe that on the cross you took my sin, my shame and my guilt and you died for it. You faced hell for me so I wouldn't have to go. You rose from the dead to give me a place in heaven, a purpose on earth, and a relationship with your Father. Today, Lord Jesus, I turned from my sin to be born again. God is my Father. Jesus is my Savior. The Holy Spirit is comforter. the bible is my guide and heaven is my hope in Jesus name and everybody said amen

I would like to close with a reading from the book of

Psalm 103:1–5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

final prayer