Recap from the last Message.
Welcome back to our series called A Word in season for 2024. Last time I shared that I believe right now you are standing in a monumental moment of time. A monumental moment, is a moment in time, that will define every moment forward. A moment like no other, that will change the course of history forever. I shared that no matter what your 2023 year was like- good or bad. That the Lord wanted you to lay things down. So they don’t interfere or restrict on 2024, from being the best year you have ever had. Then I left you with a challenge and an application to do this with the Lords leading.
Today I want to carry on with a very well known verse I believe most of you know.
John 10:10
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.
You may recall from our last part of this series that it included a scripture 1 Corinthians 10:13 and I shared that I believe the last line was in fact a question or a choice.
……………………And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously
That we can come out of a test or trial by escape or victoriously!
1. we escape but have not learnt or gain anything from the experience.
2. While the second option, we come out of a test or trial victoriously. Which means you are stronger from the experience. You trust God more and now carry an amazing testimony. For others to experience the same as seen in revelation 19:10.
Well may I suggest that John 10:10 has a very similar question to 1 Corinthians 10:13. Can you see it ?
John 10:10
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.
…I have come that they may have
1. life,
2. that they may have it more abundantly.
I wonder which one you would like to live in and which one you currently live in ?
The scriptures are full of people that just had life.
But also a selected few. That managed to live life to its fullest, which is the life more abundantly Jesus is offering . With amazing riches in heaven awaiting them when they arrived.
It’s interesting that there seems to be a link between, ones with nothing to lose or prove and life more abundantly.
For example if you look at the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4. Which we will be looking at in our next part of the series. She managed to step into life more abundantly through an encounter with Jesus.
But before we do this I want to share about two things that will restrict you from living a life more abundantly. Two things which seem to be very appealing and apparent in the world today. I want to tell you a story, that identifies these two things. But also I believe holds some remarkable advice for all of us in the world today.
Last year I was at a conference, seated with many pastors from around New Zealand. A young lady came and sat beside me. She introduced herself and said to me “How many years have you been a pastor and in ministry ?”. I answered about 13-14 years, as a pastor and in ministry for about another 6 years. She then asked me a remarkable question. She said “As a young pastor, What is that one peice of advice, you can give me for longevity as a pastor in ministry/?”.
I stopped, meditated for a moment. Then said what He asked me to say.
“In proverb 1:32, we see two weapons of warfare that will come against us in life. One called the killer and the other destroyer. As per John 10:10, we know these are both intention’s of Satan.
The killer weapon, is called waywardness. as one focusing only on ‘self’ that’s ended up in a life out of control.
The second the weapon is called the ‘Destroyer is ‘complacency’. Described as someone, who chooses to sit down and stop living,dream and hoping. Which will lead to them giving up on life itself, hence death. As we see in Proverbs 29:18 where there is no vision people perish.
I finished with this piece of advice . (Which is so important for us all)
1. So may your eyes always be on Jesus, so it never becomes about you.
2. May you always have a dream beyond your current dream, so you don’t sit down and give up on the journey”.
Father help us all to stay true to you ! Help us all to keep our focus on Your son Jesus ‘the way, truth and life’. Secondly Lord, may you always place a dream in our heart, beyond the dreams that are currently being realised in our Life. So we may never, sit down, get disillusioned and give up on life.
So we will all hear those word from You one day from Matt 25:23 .. Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Amen
Craig Patten
Founder/Pastor /Prophet
Encounter Centre