ADVANCE TO THE ABUNDANT LIFE

SERIES: LIVING ABUNDANT LIFE.

TEXT: 2^nd CHRONICLES 7:12-14.

God has a plan for your life-Jeremiah 29:11. There is a battle engaged for your life-John 10:10. Too many of God’s children are losing the battle, marriages, children, finances, life-Matthew 9:36. Last Wednesday we answered four fundamental questions-

1. Who are you?
2. What are you?
3. Where are you?
4. What do you really want? In order to advance to abundant life we need to do two other things:-

• Own it. Own your failures, stop blaming people or God for your failures and faults. If your life and behavior is bad it is because you did not do enough to make it better.

Take responsibility for your life. You are where you are because of the choices you made. You are responsible for you.

When you play the victim in life, you make the person who persecutes you a hero with unlimited power.

You need to know that God is for you and with Him all things are possible.

In John 5, Jesus stands in Jerusalem by the pool of Bethesda (House of mercy) and looks at a man who was sick and at that pool for 38 years.

Jesus asked the man “Do you want to be made whole? The man quickly starts making excuses.

Today Jesus is asking each one of us the same question “Do you want to be what God made you to be? Do you want to live in the abundance God has for you? Then own it.

The only person who can stop you from becoming what God wants to be is you. The only person who will stand before God and give an account for your life is you.

• Embrace positive change.

Sometimes it seems easier to be a victim than to be whole.

Being whole takes work-desire to change. It takes commitment, discipline and energy. Sometimes being a victim attracts attention, care and sympathy.

How can we advance to the abundant life? Let us learn:-

HOW CAN WE GET TO THE ABUNDANT LIFE JESUS WANTS US TO HAVE?

• God wants us to keep moving up to the abundant life, but the reality is that sometimes we get stuck.
• Sometime our Christian life become stale.
• Sometimes we find ourselves drifting away from the things of God. We need renewal and revival.
• Someone has asked the question, “When do we really need revival?”
• When the things of God don’t stir you.
• Whet the glories of heaven do not interest you.
• When the peril of the lost doesn’t move you.
• When the word of God does not attract you.
• When the idea of prayer does not draw you.
• When the house of God does not delight you.
• When you do not see the other things in your life as a way to perform the will of God.
• God wants to revive His people to abundant life.
• In 2^nd Chronicles 7:14 He says, “Humble yourself” take a big step down before God.
• Why do we need to humble ourselves? One reason is our self-sufficiency is foolish.
• God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 men all the way down to 300 to face an army of 135,000-Judges 7:2.
• Every step we make, every breath we take and every moment we live is a precious gift from God.
• Let us humble ourselves-Luke 18:10-14.
• In God’s kingdom, the way to step up to the abundant life is to take a big step down. God wants us to humble ourselves.

HOW CAN WE GET TO THE ABUNDANT LIFE?

• Measure your life against God’s majesty and steer away from sin.
• 14-“Turn from your wicked ways.”
• Turn away from sin and selfishness.
• Everyone needs this first turn-turn away from dishonesty, sex-sin and self-righteousness.
• Turn away from laziness, lack of love and lack of concern for other people.
• Let us depend on God, for if we depend on organizations, we get what organizations can do.
• When we depend on education, we get what education can do.
• When we depend upon man, we get what man can do.
• When we depend on prayer-we get what God can do.

HOW CAN WE GET ABUNDANT LIFE?

• Put priority on prayer and passionately seek the Savior-Vs. 14 “SEEK MY FACE.”
• Seek the face of God, seek His presence.
• God wants a close walk with Him.
• Jeramiah 29 Vs. 11-14 “You shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”
• Jesus said “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
• King David said “O, God, you are my God, early will I seek you……..Psalm 63:1.

CONCLUSION

How can I get to the abundant life God wants me to have?

• Measure your life against God’s majesty.
• Steer away from sin.
• Put a priority on prayer.
• Passionately seek the Savior.