COME TO THE CROSS - PT 3 - LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

 Highlights from Pastor Jerry’ Kendrick's July 21 Sunday message

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man… how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many… how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5: 12-17).

Before we can have what God wants, we must understand the truths of God’s Word.  We pray, “More Lord!” but we have all we need in Jesus: love, redemption, forgiveness, joy….!!

God is present here today. We thank Him for the CROSS of CALVARY! (John 3:16) The gift of abundant life in Jesus was unwrapped at the CROSS. Jesus, when He walked on the earth, saw people being nailed to the CROSS.  It was the most horrendous punishment. In His humanity, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane asking the Father, “Is there another way? But not My will but Yours be done!”  (Luke 22:42)

Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God and His representative, the Holy Spirit, is within us. The Father raised Jesus up!  He was subject to every temptation and now praying for us that we will not have to experience that separation from God.  Jesus said in John 8:31, 32 Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

John 3:16, 17 - “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”               

Do you KNOW that? According to the ‘law of first mention’ the word KNOW means intimate knowledge. The first time the word ‘know’ was used in Scripture in Genesis 4:1, “Adam knew Eve his wife…” we are talking about having “intimate relationship” with God.   The Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:12, “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-20) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus said to Peter, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” Peter had revelation (intimate knowledge) from the Father by the Spirit.

All my years involved in church - as an altar boy, as a lay reader in the church - I did not know God.  It wasn’t until my conversion at the age of 38 did I come into an intimate relationship with my heavenly Father through His Son Jesus! I hear His voice, He calls me son! I had found the key that opens every door.  I was in the grip of something that I had  never experienced. I am saved and filled with the Holy Spirit!

There are so many key points we need to know…

#1 The Bible tells us over and over again that our greatest passion has to be for Jesus Christ! JESUS SPEAKS THE TOTAL TRUTH! We are already healed (Matthew 15:26); When the enemy comes in with condemnation, confess, “I am redeemed, I am forgiven!” We can’t be naked out there! We are covered in the blood (Exodus 12:13). The enemy knows who Jesus is and who we are in Jesus!

#2 – Keep the unity of the Spirit. Jesus says that in unity with the Spirit we can ask for anything. (Matthew 18:19,20). Agreement in prayer is vital to our walk!

#3. People who are found in faith have intimate knowledge of God. Let’s talk about faith…

-          We have to have faith to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

-          It is the essence of our relationship with God.(Isaiah 62:5)

-          The instrument by which we are saved - By grace you have been saved. SAVING FAITH is having a reliance on the redemption at the CROSS. Faith is believing unto salvation… believing in Jesus. (Romans 10:9-10))

-          Faith believes in the promises of God. (Hebrews 6:12)

-          Faith is the honesty to admit I have sinned and need a Saviour. (1 John 1:9; 2 Cor. 7:9,10)

-          Faith is the key that opens every door. (Matt 16:19)

Faith is not a “push button” faith!  That’s when we pray and hope answers come immediately.  It doesn’t always.

 On the Emmaus Road we see disciples going the wrong way.  Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, from Moses to the prophets, and how they all completely point to the Christ.  Jesus explains triumphant faith. It isn’t until they get to Emmaus and Jesus gives thanks and breaks the bread with them, that they recognize Him. (Luke 24:13-35)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE

In John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” No matter how stressful the world becomes you and I are candidates for the abundant life. The abundant life is…

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the place of joyful peace as you experience Jesus! A place of courage, trust, confidence in Jesus. (Romans 14:17).

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is for the restored, sin forgiven people; for the redeemed life experience because of Jesus on the CROSS of CALVARY. (Ephesians 1:7)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE where we taste and see that the Lord is good because of the resurrected living Jesus! (Psalm 34:8)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is where your guide is the wisdom of the Holy Spirit who is always exalting Jesus. (John 16:13)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is that we KNOW God and pray anointed prayers because of Jesus. (Romans 8:26,27)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE means to releasing of the DIVINE ENERGY that flows as you proclaim the ETERNAL purpose to which you were born. (Ephesians 1:11)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is where your story of what Jesus is doing in your life inspires other and is what He wants so do in everyone’s life. (2 Corinthians 3:3-7)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the heavenly atmosphere we breathe because of our Saviour Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the faith that please God, because of Jesus. (Hebrews 11:6)                                                           

      The ABUNDANT LIFE is you live, your home, your family, your work, because you abide in Jesus. (John 10:10)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the supernatural  anointing that comes with every appointment that Jesus give you. (Psalm 23:5)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the reality that NO weapon formed against you will prosper because of the victory of Jesus. (Isaiah 54:17)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the God-given gift of discernment so you can stop patterns of conflict can be stopped because of the promises of Jesus. (Philippians 1:9-10)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the reality that healing is the children’s bread because of Jesus.(Matthew 15:26)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is the promise that you and your family will be saved because of Jesus and His forgiving love.  (Acts 16:31)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is everlasting life for those who believe. (John 3:16,17)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is citizenship in the Kingdom of God. (Philippians 3:20; Matthew 5:3-10)

     The ABUNDANT LIFE is living in the love flowing from the presence of Jesus. (Romans 5:8)

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