The Abundant Life: The Blueprint for Living with Power

In John 10:10, Jesus Christ made a defining statement about his purpose: “...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

This wasn't a poetic metaphor; it was a statement of fact. If the Lord Jesus Christ said he came to bring abundance, then that abundant life must be available right now. It implies that there is a specific way to access it—a set of keys or signposts that can lead a believer out of lack and into power.

The Word of God puts those keys directly into your hands. It serves as the practical instruction manual 2 Timothy 3:16 designed to teach you exactly how to live with the power of God.

The Problem: Why Are We "Running on Empty"?

If this abundance is available, why do so many believers feel drained, anxious, or powerless?

The Scriptures point to two specific reasons:

1. We Rely on Defective Sources

The prophet Jeremiah recorded a vivid illustration from God in Jeremiah 2:13. He compares God to a "fountain of living waters"—a source that never runs dry. In contrast, he describes human efforts and worldly systems as "broken cisterns." A cistern is a holding tank; if it is cracked, it can hold no water. When we try to find life in our own efforts or in the systems of the world, we are drinking from leaking tanks. That is not the abundant life.

2. We Lack Knowledge

Hosea 4:6 states: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The issue isn't that God is unwilling to help; the issue is often that we simply don't know what He has offered.

The Solution: Knowing the Will of God

The greatest truth you can discover is that the Word of God is the Will of God 2 Peter 1:20-21. It is not a secret to be hidden; it is a promise to be declared. To operate this "instruction manual" effectively, we have to understand a few fundamental principles.

Principle #1: You Must Know What Is Available

You cannot claim a right if you don't know you have it. The instruction manual is clear on what belongs to you:

• Health and Prosperity: 3 John 2 reveals God's heart clearly: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health..." That is the available standard.

• Total Victory: Romans 8:37 tells us that "in all these things"—regardless of the challenge or circumstance—we are "more than conquerors." The literal Greek translation of this word is "super-conquerors."

• There are over 900 promises in God's Word that we can claim.

  
  

Why can we claim this status? Because God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16), and Christ so loved that he willingly laid down his life to redeem us. That exchange is what makes us super-conquerors.

God is not only able to meet your needs (2 Corinthians 9:8),

He is willing (Matthew 8:2-3).

Principle #2: You Must Know How to Receive

Knowing what is on the menu is the first step; ordering it is the second. How do we move God's promises from the page into our lives?

The mechanism for receiving is believing.

In this culture, we often think of believing as a passive mental state (like "I believe it will rain"). But biblically, believing is a verb—it requires action James 2:17. It means acting on the Word of God with the same confidence you would have if you saw Jesus standing right in front of you. When you know what is available and you take action to claim it Mark 11:24, the result is the abundant life Jesus promised.

Ready to Learn the Rest?

God’s ability always equals God’s willingness. If you are tired of broken cisterns and are ready to tap into the fountain of living waters, join us at Raleigh Fellowship. Let’s open The Word and learn how to live the more abundant life.