Abundant Life

 
   June 4th and June 11th, 2023
By Tony V. Hammack

John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 AMPC 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].

Outline 

1.) The contrast between the Thief and the good shepherd, Jesus.
2.) Who or what is the thief?
3.) What is Abundant Life?

1.) The Contrast in Outcomes 

We see in John 10:10 the contrast in outcomes between following the thief and following the good shepherd, Jesus. At the core the difference seems to be in the interest of the thief and the interest of the shepherd. 

Who You Follow Matters:  If one finds themselves following a thief, they will find themselves stolen from, killed and destroyed. Those who follow Jesus can find themselves experiencing an abundant life.

There are many deceptive philosophies in the world that offer many things but Jesus said He was the way the truth and the life, no man could get to the father accept through him. (John 14:6)

• Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

The thief is focused on self interest while Jesus as the good shepherd is focused on the interests of the sheep. 

The Hired Hand Compared to Good Shepherd

• John 10:11-13 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

2.) Who or What is the Thief 

It should be understood in light of the Old Testament as well as ancient Near Eastern thought that the “shepherd,” symbolizes a royal caretaker of God’s people. God himself was called the “Shepherd of Israel” in Psalm 18:1; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:10-11; Ezekiel 34:11-6 as well as Zechariah 10:2. God as the over shepherd had given great responsibility to the leaders of Israel, which they over and over again failed to respect. God denounced the false shepherd's in Isaiah 56:9-12 and again in Ezekiel 34 and promised to provide the true Shepherd, the Messiah, to care for the sheep in Ezekiel 34:23. Jesus is saying that He is the fulfillment of this promise.

Often the thief in this passage is considered to be Satan in the minds of believers as they think about the Satanic agenda for humanity. However I believe that the thief in John 10:10 isn’t necessarily Satan himself but people who are not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and have self interest elevated over God’s interest. In the context of the passage in John 10 Jesus is talking to the Pharisees See John 10:1.

3.) What is Abundant Life 

One of the great concepts of the Gospel of John is the Greek word for “life”.   It is found in John 36 times while no other New Testament book uses it more than 17 times. Life is Christ’s gift (Jn 10:28) and he himself is “the life” (John 14:6) 

Life Ζωὴν zōēn life pronounced Zo-Ay can be defined as life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ.

Abundant Περισσός Perissos - (an adjective, derived from the Greek, perí, "all-around, excess") – properly all-around, "more than" ("abundantly"); beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation; "more abundant," going past the expected limit ("more than enough . . . ").

What ever we surrender and give to Christ, Christ can cause to be abundant and blessed. Whatever we hold and keep for ourselves is still in the world system.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God 

• Mark 10:28-31 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Whatever we have given up, it will be multiplied back to us 100 x’s.  The life of discipleship is a combination of promise and persecution, blessing and suffering. God takes nothing from a Christian without making multiplied restoration in a new and glorious form. Beyond the conflicts of history, is the triumph assured to those who belong to God.

I believe we can stand on the idea that Jesus Christ has promised us abundant life. Where we surrender to Him, his hand touches it and multiplies it. Where we hold onto things, Jesus does not have it, so he can’t multiply it. The Blessing of Abraham...

• Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The main blessing is that through faith we might receive the promise of the spirit and receive eternal life. There are some interesting characteristics about Abraham's life that we should also examine in closing. Abraham had an abundant life.

• Genesis 13:2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.

We can expect Jesus to keep his promises and provide us with an abundant life. Get ready! Come into agreement with God so you can receive what God desires to give you.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday for breakfast at 10:00 AM and Church at 10:30 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video.  If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church 

45 Thunderbird Dr. 

Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124

 

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Joseph, A Look at God's Sovereignty

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
	Podcast: Play in New Window | Download To watch the video, click here.

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

The Story of Josephs life is an interesting look into how God can use a very horrible tragedy, and turn it around for good.

Some people thank God for their testimonies, going through very difficult times due to unbridled sin, or other challenges. Now I’m not negating God’s ability to deliver and change a life but I will say God will work with whatever you give him. If you give him a “goody two-shoes” life He can work with that. If you give him a life that’s been ravaged by sin, He can also work with that.

I often tell people. If you give God lemons he can make lemonade. However, God can make a whole lot more than lemonade. Be encouraged. No matter where you are in life, what you’re going through or what you’ve done, a life submitted to Christ can bring God glory.

Joseph was a dreamer
The Persecution

The Jealousy
Genesis 37
When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

The Dream
Genesis 37:7
“We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

I found it interesting that all the brothers, Jacob his father, and his mother all know the interpretation to the dreams seemingly immediately.

Jacob sends Joseph to go check on his brothers to report back to him and when the brothers see Joseph from a distance near Dothan they begin to plot how they are going to kill him. Reuben intervenes and they decide to just throw him into a cistern and tear his coat, the symbol of his father’s favoritism.

Genesis 37:25-28
25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Reuben puts up minor resistance as the first born son of his father to protect his fathers interests but allows the process to proceed as planned by Judah. He does manage to save his life.

Potiphar’s House
Genesis 39:2-6
2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

The Sexual Assault Accusation
Genesis 39:11,12
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Resulting Imprisonment
Genesis 39:20b-23
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

The Cup Bearer and the Baker’s Dreams

The Cry of Desperation “Remember Me”
Genesis 40:14,15
But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

We know that the interpretation of the dreams came true and that the cupbearer to the Pharaoh forgot about Joseph in the dungeon for approximately 2 more years.

Pharaoh had two dreams about abundance and famine. 7 cows sleek and fat came out of the Nile river were eaten by 7 gaunt cows. 7 heads of grain sprouted on one stalk were removed by 7 heads of grain that were scorched by an East wind.

Joseph concluded that a matter firmly established by God was coming. 7 years of abundance and 7 years of famine. Then he proceeded to tell Pharaoh a plan to administrate the grain saving and distribution during the famine.

The Promotion
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Joseph’s plan is to store 20% of the grain during the famine in grain bins for re-distribution during the famine.

The Reunion
When the brothers returned for more grain he again speaks harshly to them but eventually reveals his true identity to his brothers.

The Revelation
Genesis 45:4-8
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.

Ok, what about you? Where are you in life? Are you at home with Jacob, maybe you’re in despair. Some keys from Josephs life include

• Keeping the vision God gave to him.                                      
• Practicing the presence of the Lord.
• Walking in divine favor which included local promotions wherever he found himself.

I believe Josephs attitude was also very key in keeping him through the years of despair. Had he become jaded or embittered toward the Lord his destiny would’ve been aborted.

You and I must remain steadfast, holding onto the vision God has given us, practicing the presence of God in our daily lives and walking in divine favor no matter where we may find ourselves. We must guard our attitudes against bitterness while circumstances would lead a person without overflowing grace into despair.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.
Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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Godly Prosperity

I believe God wants the believer to prosper in every way so that the Christian may have the ability to meet any need that comes up. This ability to meet needs creates thanksgiving toward God. God wants you to prosper spiritually, mentally, physically and financially. If you'd like to know more about how God wants you to do well, thrive and be healthy, come to Jubilee Family Church for the next 4 Sunday's May 4th, May 11th, May 18th, and May 25th at 10:00 AM. We discuss our Sunday messages each following Wednesday also. Each week I'm going to be covering the different ways God wants you to have an abundance. When we know God's heart and we choose to line up with God's ways we stand on a tremendous amount of authority to accomplish whatever it is God wants us to accomplish. You are blessed if you're walking in obedience to the Lord. Remember, you can't give what you don't have.