REFRESH 2023: Living An “ABUNDANT LIFE”

Hope, Healing & Freedom Podcast : Ep 32

TRANSCRIPT

Our key verse for today is found in John 10:10, which says:

“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.”

John 10:10 NIV

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”

John 10:10 AMP

What does it mean to live an abundant life?  FIrst of all, let’s define abundant.  Strong’s concordance defines it as over and above, more than is necessary, superadded. As you can see, the Amplified defines it as to the full, till it overflows. 

I think of a glass of water that is full and overflowing. It’s under a spigot that never stops flowing.  

What do you think of when  you think of living a life of abundance? Have you ever really thought of what that means?  It’s far more than just having your “fire insurance” and knowing that you’re not going to spend eternity in hell.  Stop and think for a moment.  Ask the Holy Spirit what does that mean to live a life of abundance – full, till it overflows?

Did you get an impression? A picture? A scripture verse? How does living in abundance “feel”?  

 As I did that, the picture that came to mind is the difference between watching a movie in black and white or one in full living color. You might be too young to remember the days of black and white but using your imagination you can picture it.  Black in white was okay until we knew the difference of full color, right?  Now that we know about full living HD color black and white is lacking. Before big flat screen TV’s we didn’t know anything different.  Now we can’t imagine watching a show or movie from the small screens of the past.  Living a life of abundance is living in full blown HD living color on a big flat screen TV except in real life it’s 3D!.  It’s not only experiencing love, joy, peace, patience and all of the fruit of the spirit. It’s also knowing your true identity as a son or daughter of the Most High God and knowing that you’re fulfilling your destiny, calling and purpose. You’re not being held back by your past. It doesn’t define you.  Your current challenges are preparing you for your next assignment; they’re not punishment! 

Living the abundant life doesn’t mean that we won’t have challenges or difficulties (John 16:33) but it does mean that we are confident in knowing that He is always with us regardless of our circumstances. 

I’ll be honest. I don’t know of anyone, including myself, that I can say is living life to the fullness of overflowing EVERY DAY in EVERY area of their life.  The enemy has come to kill,steal and destroy in our lives.  He’s not creative but he is persistent.  He robs us of our joy, he steals our sleep, he plunders our finances, he destroys our relationships at every opportunity.  

He only has access in our lives in the places that we give him legal ground.  What is legal ground?  It’s the “footholds” that we give to him.  Ephesians 4:27 says, “Do not give the devil a foothold”.  What is a foothold? A definition of foothold is “A place where a person’s foot can be lodged to support them securely, especially while climbing.” so giving the devil a foothold is giving him a place where he can “land”.  In high school I did a little bit of technical climbing.  That’s when you’re on the side of a mountain you’re all roped up and someone is belaying you to make sure to catch you if you fall.  I remember my instructor yelling at me to put my foot on the “foothold”.  I’m straddled across this rock face looking for the foothold he’s talking about.  I don’t see it.  I’m not making progress up the mountain because I can’t see the foothold.  It was so small that I couldn’t imagine that it would hold my weight.  You see a foothold doesn’t have to be a big space.  It doesn’t have to be a runway.  It’s just a small piece of land, or place, that the enemy needs to work.  

So, what gives him a foothold?  Well, there are several things. Wounded places in your heart.  Lies you are believing. Any place you’re not trusting Him fully and completely.  

Proverbs 4:23 says:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

Another version says “guard your heart”. The implication is that if we don’t tend to the issues of our heart it will affect everything that we do.  If we learn to deal with our heart clear of wounding then it positively impacts our lives.  The opposite is true if we don’t tend our hearts. Our wounded hearts give place to the devil. 

Matthew 15:18-19 says:

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”

Matthew 15:18-19

This scripture in Matthew also deals with the importance of tending our hearts.  Our heart is where the foothold can become a landing strip for the enemy. If we allow our heart to be defiled then it leads to bigger things. (evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander)  A simple all inclusive word would be sin.  Our untended hearts lead to sin and provide a place for the enemy to work.

Our untended heart and mouth can give the devil a foothold. Another scripture that talks about our mouth is the “blessing” and “cursing” chapter, found in Deuteronomy 28. If we obey then we will experience the blessings.  If we do not obey, we bring curses upon ourselves. Proverbs 18:21 says:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue. And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 18:21

We have the power to curse ourselves and others with our speech or bless them. Our tongue can give the devil a foothold. 

I Corinthians 10:4-5 says:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

I Corinthians 10:4-5

Our thoughts can give the devil a foothold.  We all believe a lot of things that we would call lies, or ungodly beliefs.  An ungodly belief is anything that does not agree with God’s nature, his character or His Word.  That’s a huge category!  Everything that fits into that definition is a lie.  We have the weapons of warfare needed to defeat the devil but we have to co-labor with Father God to identify the lies, to come out of agreement with them and then to change the way that we think! We didn’t begin thinking about most things yesterday.  It’ll be a process to change the neural pathways in your brain.  The really good news is that “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37)  He helps us in our weakness.  (Romans 8:26)

Prayer: 

Father God, Thank you for promising to always be with me (Deut. 31:6) and for giving me everything that I need to do all that you’ve asked me to do. (2 Peter 1:3)  I want to live the abundant life fully and completely! (John 10:10)  I don’t want anything to limit me from your best and from the amazing plan that you have for my life.  I know that the enemy has been at work robbing, stealing and killing from me.  I ask you to forgive me for any way that I have partnered with him.  Reveal to me any wounded place that needs healing.  Open my eyes and ears to recognize the lies that I believe and give me the truth!  Show me where my words have given a landing strip for the enemy in my life.  As I walk this journey with you Lord, I trust that you will be with me.  I believe that you are renewing my mind, healing my heart and giving me a fresh perspective in every situation in my life.  In the name of Jesus, Amen! 

Declaration:  He has given me an abundant life and I will walk in it!

RTF Featured on The Shawn Bolz Show

On the second half of this week’s episode (May 20th 2024) of “The Shawn Bolz Show”  RTF directors, Lee and Cindi Whitman, were the guests. Watch for powerful insight and two special listener offers on products to help bring hope, healing, and freedom.