The Key to an Abundant Life
Becoming Disciples • Sermon • Submitted
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· 784 viewsWhen we seek God first we will have everyhting we need
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Transcript
Announcements:
No church tonight (I will be out of town until Wednesday”
Kingdom Men Bible Study this Wednesday (All men are invited)
Door to door evangelism (3 gospel conversations, 1 profession of faith)
Business meeting on the 15th (voting on the parsonage…be praying)
Goals for 2020
500 gospel presentations
1500 church invites
take the gospel to every house within 7 miles of the church
25 additions to the church
This morning we are going to talk about “The Key to an Abundant life”
Everyone wants an abundant life
Peace of mind
No worries
Financial freedom
Good relationship
All those things are great and they play a part in a great life
But when we seek those things only, life gets out of order
Contrary to human thinking, Jesus wants us to possess an abundant
Different people have different views on this but the reality is there is only one way to have it
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Contrary to human thinking, God wants us to have an abundant life
Real life is receiving His offer of forgiveness
Contrary to human thinking, God wants us to have an abundant life
What does that word abundant mean?
abundant:
to increase
to overflow
to multiply
copious
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
In this verse we can find the truth of why many spend their whole life searching and never find it
The problem with the biblical teaching of life and human thinking about life is bound up in this verse.
Jesus wants to give us an abundant life
He came to give you life in abundance
Satan is standing close by wanting to keep us from it
Satan’s agenda
Jesus didn’t say he came to give it to some
He came to give it to all!!
BUT our problem is we let Satan talk us out of it
And we have the strategy of Satan who wants
steal, kill, and destro
We will cover 21 verses today that will give us two sides to the coin
Jesus is the Author of life, Satan is the taker of life
The first side is how not to have this life
We believe the lies and fall intot he sins of the world all while trying to get this great life we alsys dreame
We have such a hard time living the abundant life bec
The other side is how to obtain this abundant life Jesus talked about
At the end were going to take a test, so I need you to pay attention
They will keep doing what they have always done
The test is no good if we do not hear the sermon
They will hear the words but they will not heed the words
BUT if you will just listen to this sermon today and believe the truth of God’s word you can have an abundant life
How Not to Have an Abundant Life
How Not to Have an Abundant Life
Jesus has encountered a man who is fighting with his brother over an inheritance
Sometimes we find ourselves in similar situations.
Fighting with family over money
I love how the Bible is so relatable to our own lives
Fighting with siblings over inheritance
Some families split over these things
It should not happen in the Christians heart
Jesus gives the warning: Take heed and beware of covetousness
The word take heed means don’t just listen but do
It means listen up!!
This is very important!
Its very important because we all struggle with this to some extent
We should not look at this man as a bad man
He only wants what rightfully belongs to him!
This was his inheritance
This was his inheritance
He had been waiting his whole life for it
He was not a scam artist
No matter how many things we have, they do not define us
He just wanted what was rightfully his!
He was actually being done wrong by his brother!
Jesus teaches this parable: Verses 16-21
Notice all the times the man uses the word “my”
my crops (v 17)
my barns (v 18)
my goods (v 18)
my soul (v 19)
Why is this man so concerned with himself?
Is this man selfish? Maybe
Is this man greedy? Maybe
I believe the man’s problem is security
Security is a dangerous thing
We all desire it to some degree or another
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be secure in life
The question is where are we seeking security
This man thought it could be found in his possessions
He thought if he could just get enough saved up he would have security
Then Jesus tells him:
“Fool, this night your soul will be required of you”
What is a fool?
The opposite of a wise man (Prov. 1:7)
A fool acts without council (Prov. 12:15)
A fool lacks intelligence
A fool acts as if there was no God (psalm 14:1)
He is a fool because he believed he had control over his own life
Is this man selfish? Maybe
Is this man greedy? Maybe
I believe the man’s problem is security
He wanted security so he stored up his crop
He wanted the abundant life so he spent his whole life saving up for it
He wanted to make himself happy, so he spent his whole life self-centered and thinking only of himself
We all desire it to some degree or another
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be secure in life
The question is where are we seeking security
If I could just have one big year life would be so much easier
If I could just get through this situation things will be ok
If I could just get that relationship problem worked out
If my kids would just straighten up
This is self-reliant thinking and the problem with it is it leaves God out of the equation
Is there anything wrong with working and saving up for the future? Absolutely not!
Is there anything wrong with having an abundance of crops? Absolutely not!
The man is a fool because he spent his whole life laying up treasure for himself, and was not rich toward God”
What he thought he was getting was gave to someone else
What he thought he owned belonged to someone else
“So is anyone who lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God”
A fool in this parable is anyone who is storing up for himself and le
He spent his whole life preparing himself for the future
Where he made plans was not the master plan
This man had it all figured out
GOD OWNS EVERYTHING
But he forgot about his greatest need: God
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof....”
Giving yourself the abundant life is impossible because you are not capable
You do not possess the power to control tomorrow
You do not own anything
EVERYTHING IS BORROWED FROM THE LORD
The abundant life can only come God’s way
He spent his whole life thinking about tomorrow and for that reason he missed his life
How will I make it tomorrow
His whj
His plans were great! But they didn’t include God
Verses 16-21 The Illustration:
Verses 16-21 The Illustration:
This problem with this man was he had the wrong strategy!!
The abundant life can only come God’s way
The error of the man: His future dreams are self-centered and self-indulgent
Now Jesus is going to give us the strategy to have this life He promised.
His treasure was laid up for himself alone
Verse 22-23
He has morally mismanaged his wealth
The man mistakenly thinks he is responsible for himself only
His reality: He wasted his whole life
Jesus calls this man a fool!
Why is he a fool?
Ironically his years are cut short by the one who has authority over his soul
A fool: Is one who acts without God or without wisdom for potential destruction
He spent his entire life collecting things for another man
The Abundant Life is only found through TRUST IN GOD
The Abundant Life is only found through TRUST IN GOD
God did not put us on earth to fret about the things to come
Your purpose in this life is not to be successful in this world!!
God placed you in this life to bring glory to His name
You bring glory to His name when you believe in His Providence
You believe in His providence when you place your trust in Him
The folly of the first man spent his entire life worrying about the future he could not control
He stored his crops
He built bigger barns
He thought he had his future under control until the Lord said tonight you will draw your last breath
The coronavirus
Everyone is panicking
It’s coming to America
Trump doesn’t care if we all die!!
Have we forgotten who is in control of the coronavirus?
If the coronavirus comes to the US I am confident it will bring glory to God!!
And if it brings glory to God I am fine with that!!
What would Jesus say to the one this morning who suffers from worry?
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE!!
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE!!
DO NOT LET SATAN TELL YOU TOMORROW IS OUT OF CONTROL
DO NOT TAKE THINGS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS
PLACE YOUR TRUST IN GOD!!
Do not think life is made up of possessions
PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD TO MEET YOUR NEEDS!!
Why should we trust in God?
Worry is a spiritual marker that we are self reliant
Verse 24
THE PROOF GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Do you know what a raven is?
They are about like a crow
Anyone ever go crow hunting?
I ate a crow one time (tasted like bird steak)
The point is the crow is the least of birds
They were considered unclean animals
If there was an animal on the bottom of the animal kingdom it would be the raven
Ravens don’t sow seeds
They are not worried about the crop failing
They are not worried about the rain watering the fields to feed them
They don’t have barns
They don’t have goods to put in a barn
They don’t know what they will eat tomorrow
BUT God takes care of them every, single, day
AND If God takes this good care of a CROW how much more will He take care of us?
God gave us dominion over the animals (rule)
They don’t have a spirit
They are not made in God’s image
AND God still takes care of them
If God will take care of the birds, how much more will he take care of us?
Birds are not made in the image of God
Why do we think God will take care of them, and neglect us?
You are more valuable than a bird!
Your Value is far greater than a bird!!
If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luke 11
God wants to give you good things!!
He is for you
He wants to bless you!
BUT GOD KNOWS WHAT WE NEED WHEREAS WE DO NOT
BUT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE IT APART FROM HIM
Your human realtionships will fail you
BUT GOD WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!!
HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU
HE IS OUR SHEILD AND GREAT REWARD
How do we find trust like that?
Verse 25-28
Take yourself out of God’s equation
Take yourself out of God’s equation
“if you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest”
In other words we really have no power over our lives at all
Jesus called the man a fool because his life was in the hands of God, not himself
We cannot prevent disaster from striking and no man knows when his time is up
When we learn to trust in God, we juts really begin to see things for what they really are..ALL HIS
No longer are they my barns, my seed, my fields, my crops, my future
Trust in God means they are His barns, His crops, and His future
Our focus begins to change in our life from on us to on Him
Soon we will be saying, “I wonder what God is going to do in this situation”
I wonder what God is going to do about this problem in my life
I wonder how God is going to get me through this lack of work
I wonder how God is going to get me through this tribulation
AND THEN IT BECOMES
I wonder how God is going to use me today
I wonder what God has for me in the next five years
I wonder how my life can be more effective for God
I wonder who I can bless and show the love of God today
LORD I AM YOURS TAKE ME AND USE ME
IF worry rules your life it is a syptom of shallow faith
One who worries really doesn’t believe God is in control
Some things are out of our control
But nothing is out of God’s control
If worry rules us, we have a faith problem
We are saying God I don’t think you got this
Verse 29-30
When we worry and fret about our situation we are acting as if there is no God at all?
Put the things of God FIRST over everything else
Put the things of God FIRST over everything else
Consider the lilies
Consider the lilies
When we worry we are not doing ourselves any good!
God clothes the lilies
“and your heavenly Father knows that you need these things”
The command: Do not seek what you will eat or drink
Is there a need in your life?
Maybe its a financial need
Do not keep worrying because God knows everything we need
Do not
Maybe theres a problem you cant fix
The answer: But Seek His Kingdom, and these things will be added to you
Maybe its a relationship
Do not be afraid
Sell your possessions
Maybe its a faith problem
Maybe its work
Give to charity
Whatever it is GOD KNOWS
Make your treasures about eternal things that last forever
Whatever it is HE CAN CHANGE IT
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
The truth: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
Do not think God is ignorant of your problems!!
What He is waiting for you to do is live like He knows
He can take the problem away just as easy as it came into your life
What He wants from YOU IS TRUST IN HIM TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
YOU HAVE GOT TO QUIT WORRYING ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND START LIVING FOR GOD
“BUT seek the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you”
That is one of the most wonderful promises in the Bible!
You need a car seek the Kingdom first
And He is going to give you everything as long as you seek Him first
You need to be healed seek the kingdom
You need faith seek the kingdom
You need a spouse seek the kingdom
You will get what you need when you get your priorities right!!
God must be over everyhting else!!
You need a some money to pay the electric bill? Seek the kingdom of God
Don’t take things into your own hands and put the kingdom behind your needs
God will take care of you
Verse 32-34
Take a honest look at what owns your heart
Take a honest look at what owns your heart
Where you spend your efforts, time, and energy owns your heart
We go to doctors every time something seems wrong
We get the flu we go
Our bones hurt we go
When you seek this world and the things of it that is where your heart is
Our chest hurts we go
Our head hurts we go
But what do we do about a spiritual problem?
The Great Physician has a test for us
“for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”
I want us all to take a little test this morning
I want you think back over this last week
I want you to think about how many hours you spent seeking the kingdom of God
Maybe it was one hour on Sunday morning
Maybe it was every service
Maybe you spent some in prayer
Maybe some in Bible study
Maybe you went witnessing with us
Try to figure up an amount of time you spent and be honest
The test is no good if we lie to ourselves
Now think about where the rest of your time went
Where did your week go?
How much time did God get last week
It may be work
How much time was invested in the spiritual things
It may be taking care of family
It may be serving somewhere
Is the trajectory of your life headed towards the kingdom
We all have responsibilities
Whta I want you to think about is the time you have to d
I understand we are not going to pray and reads the Bible
Are you living in such a way that your life would say that you trust in God
I also understand we have responsibilities
Jesus asks this question because we are loyal to things we value most.
What I want us to do is figure where our passion is, where our heart is, and if it is seeking the kingdom of God.
It may only be free time we are talking about because you have to work
If one values money, then he will do things that places a higher value on his money than everything else
His conversations are about money
His thoughts are often about his money
He will invest and find joy in
The ration will be different for every one of us so your going to have to figure yours on your own
You may be choosing to work but don’t have to
His decisions are based with money as highest priority
If one values self he will collect possessions
You may spend the majority of your time wiht the Lord doing his
The question is are you seeking the kingdom of God first or this world?
If one values self he will put himself before anyone else
Decisions will be made to elevate himself
The things you do will be self-centered
If one values people then he will put people on top
He will be a servant
He will help others
He will
If one values God, He will always put God above everything else
Money
Time
Comfort
Pleasures
Possessions
Self
My question again to you is this: Where is your heart leading you??
Don’t waste your life putting seed in the barn for someone else
Don’t spend your life thinking there is always tomorrow
Don’t live a life as if there was no God to take care you
The abundant life will only be found when Jesus leads the way
Only when we put our Christian walk over everything else can be truly satisfied
The kingdom first
True change is given by God as a gift
Only when we place our whole complete trust in God can we be fully secure
Everyhtign else to follow
Where is your heart today
It’s this time during the service we come to a decision.
Life is full of decisions.
The point is I have done my part
I have laid the truths of God’s word before you and YOU MUST DECIDE WHAT YOU WILL DO WITH IT
The Key to an abundant life is seeking the kingdom of God
Every Sunday is one less Sunda
~PRAYER~