Sermons

Sunday’s Coming: The Abundant Life

Opening Illustration:

Well friends, we have one week to the most important Sunday of the year. Resurrection Sunday is next week. Last week we talked about the empty tomb. Do you remember what we learned last week? We learned that the empty tomb defeated death, dismantled the dark forces of Satan, and the empty tomb destroyed darkness forever. Light had one, dark had lost. Satan was vanquished. This Sunday, because of the empty tomb, we have abundant life.

But what is abundant life? Where does it come from? Will I be able to find it and keep it? We will talk about those things today and maybe I might answer those questions for you this morning.

What Did We Learn Last Week:

The Empty Tomb Defeated Death, Dismantled Dark Forces, and Destroyed Darkness Forever!

Illustration:

Good morning brothers and sisters. Happy Palm Sunday to you! It is on this day that we remember the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It is this day that we remember the true passion of Jesus Christ. Christians call this week Jesus’ passion week. This day, some 2000 years ago was a day filled with glee, celebration, light, and praise. Jesus, fulfilling Scripture, came into Jerusalem during Passover season on a donkey. The people, thinking that Jesus had come to set them free from Roman rule, laid down the makings of a new road for their coming King. It was customary for a new King to walk a new road after all. So the people laid down palm branches and their personal robes and tunics for Jesus. Jesus came gently into Jerusalem. He did not come with an army. No weapons. No crown. People in the crowd were confused. Listen to how Matthew captures the moment:

Matthew 21:9-11 ESV

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" [10] And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?" [11] And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

Did you hear that? The people shouting “Hosanna” which means “The Lord saves”. Still, they call Jesus a prophet. Jesus was often referred to as “Master” and “Teacher”. On the day that the King of Kings was in their midst, they still were confused as to His true identity.

Was this the man who raised the dead, drove out demons, healed the sick? Was this the man who made the blind see, the mute speak, and the deaf to hear? He didn’t fit the bill. Where were the miracles? Jesus fed thousands, so where was all the food?

You see, one of the common misconceptions that the people of Jesus’ day had was that He was going to bring to them the abundant life they all wanted. Jesus was going to overcome every obstacles, advance through every adversary, and purge every problem. Jesus was going to finally deliver to them their view of the “abundant life”.

Not much has changed since then. Even today people think that God exists to meet every whim, every desire. The foundation of abundant living is constructed on material possessions, personal wealth, the latest clothing trends, and health. When we hear the familiar text in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly”, they think that Jesus is going to max out their stock portfolio, advance their career, help them climb the ladder of success, and fill their bank accounts to the point of overflow. There are even preachers and teachers who preach that this is indeed the abundant life.

"God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us.” That is a direct quote from Joel Osteen’s book “Your Best Life Now”.

“Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000 . . . in short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal.” That is a direct quote from Gloria Copeland’s book “God’s Will is Prosperity”

Friends, Jesus did indeed did come to deliver to us the abundant life, but not the abundant life that you may be thinking about this morning. Jesus knows your greatest desire is not for a Porsche when you need peace. Jesus knows your greatest need is for His protection, not power or fame. Living the abundant life means focusing on and giving thanks for the blessings in our lives rather than spending our time focusing on what has been taken away or what is missing from our lives. Living in abundance does not mean abundance in possessions or wealth. Those things are all fleeting and fading away. You know that you are living abundantly when your life exudes joy, gratitude, and thankfulness. Abundant living means that we no longer dwell on pursuing the things that the world tells us are important.

This morning, fill out today’s thought…

God’s abundant life is available for anyone!

Brothers and sisters, that is some awesome news. What about people who have lived in rebellion against God their entire lives but have just now come to Christ? Yep, God’s abundant life is available to them. What about teenager who is not just young in their age but young in their faith. They have not even read through the Bible all the way? You guessed it, the abundant life is available for them too. What about the Christian who has made some pretty boneheaded mistakes? The Christian who struggles with addiction? The Christian who damaged his or her marriage? The Christian who is struggling with depression or anxiety? What about that person? Again, God’s abundant life is available for everyone…anyone…anywhere…all the time.

Today’s Thought:

God’s Abundant Life Is Available For Anyone!

Point:

It doesn’t matter if you were alive 2000 years ago when Jesus entered Jerusalem or if you are alive today. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, wants to cover your entire life with His abundant life. God is not looking to guilt you, He is looking to grow you. He is not looking to cast you out, He is longing to build you up. One of my favorite authors is Josh McDowell. Dr. McDowell has a marvelous comment on the abundant life that Jesus Christ offers. Listen to what he says.

“Christ can be trusted to keep His Word that He will exchange our drab existence for joyous living, abundant life! And while true love, total acceptance, and complete security are rare in our frantic world, the biblical evidence that our desires in these areas will be fulfilled in Christ is abundant.”

Today’s Quote:

-Josh McDowell

Background and Context:

Today we are reading from 2 Corinthians 6. Paul loves the people in Corinth. He cares about them deeply. After all, Paul did build the church and led many people attending the church to faith in Jesus Christ. He looked at the men and women in that church as his spiritual sons and daughters. As a father cares for his children, so Paul cares for the church in Corinth. When you read through 2 Corinthians 6, you are confronted with a man concerned for his children. Paul is worried that people who have heard the clear Gospel presentation have not come to a full understanding of what faith in Christ truly means. Some of them believed that Jesus was not enough for their salvation. Christ alone was just not enough for them. They were still struggling with idol worship and they were listening to false teachers. Paul starts out this chapter by stating that the “day of salvation has come”. Jesus is enough. Jesus is the way to true abundant life. Paul reiterates that while the “day of salvation has come” it will not last forever. Just as soon as the dawn comes, the sun sets and the time passes away. Paul wants them…and us for that matter, to make the most of our time. Live for Christ, accept His message, and tell others about Him. So, let’s read from 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 this morning. I am reading from the ESV.

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.

Today’s Scripture:

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 ESV

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2] For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. [3] We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, [4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; [6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; [7] by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; [8] through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; [9] as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

3 Keys To Abundant Living!

I. Embrace The Paradoxes of Faith vs. 3-5

2 Corinthians 6:3-5 ESV

[3] We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, [4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

Point:

If Jesus came to offer an abundant life to all those who might follow Him, how should one walk that road? What are the keys that unlock the abundant life? If the abundant life is available to Christians, how do we find it? Well I believe that the Apostle Paul give us three keys to living the abundant life with and through Jesus Christ. The first key is taken from verses 3-5, embrace the paradoxes of faith.

Paul, in speaking to the church at Corinth, tells the church that he has not put any obstacles in their path to receiving the Gospel. Think about this Christian, what barriers get in the way of you leading someone to Jesus Christ? Let me give you a few practical examples from my own life.

I love the Lord. I love Jesus. I truly do with all of my heart want to see people receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Still, there are aspects of my life that if people really examined, might put them off from coming to the Lord. I do not always measure my words carefully. I say things flippantly without always considering the ramifications of my errant statements. I am not always as considerate of people’s feelings and emotions as I should be. I get angry. These personality flaws and human traits can be off putting to a man or woman who does not know Jesus Christ. If someone were to look at my life in a vacuum, just examining the flaws and foibles, they may never come to faith in Christ Jesus. What about you, what barriers do you present that keep someone from hearing your testimony? Is it a habit that is unbecoming of a Christian? Do you dabble in course humor? Do you use foul language? Do you feel that you need to constantly build yourself up in front of others because the truth is, you feel a lack of self esteem?

Now, return to Paul. Paul claims that his message of the Gospel has no barriers. He has presented a Holy and pure Gospel, one where someone can hear the Gospel clearly. That is saying something isn’t it?

What makes Paul’s message of the Gospel so exceptional is that he has not watered it down even in moments of hardship or affliction. He has not peddled a trivial or trite Gospel that requires no sacrifice, no offering. No, Paul’s Gospel has been the same no matter the audience, no matter the circumstance, no matter how the message might be received.

Paul is living abundantly because he has fully embraced the paradoxes of faith. The paradox of weakness and strength. The paradox of sorrow and joy. The paradox of poverty and wealth. You see friends, faith in Jesus Christ will bring certain benefits. You will have peace. That is a certainty. Yet that peace will be given in the midst of life’s hurricane. You will have blessing. That is a certainty. Yet that blessing will come while battling terminal illness and disease. You will have joy. Boy you will have joy. Yet that joy will come in the middle of tremendous difficulty and hardship. You see, Jesus never said that life would be easy if you followed Him. In fact, He said that life would be hard. In John 15, Jesus reminds His followers that following Him will lead to persecution. In Matthew 5, Jesus tells His disciples that pursing righteousness will lead to others hating you.

I think that one of our greatest problems today is that Christians are discovering that they have bought a lie. The lie is that faith is easy, that faith is without problems, that faith requires no sacrifice. It is a painless following of Christ that requires no suffering and involves no persecution. That is not true or accurate. In fact the truth is precisely the opposite. Pursing Christ will cost us everything but what we receive in return is worth far more than what we have given up. Listen to Paul in the same letter, chapter 12 verse 10.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

3 Keys To Abundant Living!

I. Embrace The Paradoxes of Faith vs. 3-5

II. Endure Hardships With Focus and Grace vs. 6-7

2 Corinthians 6:6-7 ESV

[6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; [7] by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

Point:

So our first key to abundant living is embrace the paradoxes of faith. Our second key is to endure hardships with focus and grace. We discover this from verses 6 and 7.

[4] but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, [5] beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; [6] by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; [7] by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

Illustration:

I cannot imagine anything harder that trying to make one’s way through medical school. It takes upward of 15 years to become a fully licensed physician. Think about the career path that a doctor must pursue to actually practice medicine:

Complete an undergraduate degree (4 years)
Finish medical school (4 years)
Complete a residency in your specialty (3-7 years)
Pursue a fellowship (1-3 years)

Think of the sacrifice that many of these men and women must make so that they can perform surgeries, prescribe medications, and just flat take care of all of us. There is tremendous financial costs. Think about all the time away from friends and family. I have always admired doctors and nurses for that matter for the intense training that they undergo.

I can imagine that a life in medicine can also be lonely. While your family is enjoying vacations, holidays, time away, they are studying or on call at a hospital.

The other day I was on Facebook and I came across Dr. Amy Armstrong’s page. I hope that she does not mind reading her post but her post speaks directly to enduring hardship with focus and grace. Her post captures the difficulty of being a physician. The sacrifices that she made and the hardship that she had to endure. Let me read to you her post. I found it particularly inspiring.

“There was once in my life that God’s voice was nearly audible to me. The breeze stopped and the world eerily stilled. I was a 22 year old newly married, my husband still living away because of his job. I was in med school living alone, studying harder than ever, feeling defeated and wanting desperately to quit. I had made up my mind, and I was sitting on the front steps of USACOM. I told God-I don’t want to do this. I want to be a wife and a mom.

‘I got this Amy. You do what I have called you to do-I go the rest.’

After getting ready for bed last night I walked out of the hotel bathroom and Jack is laying on his bed reading his devotion book he brought to New York City on his senior trip.

This is not me. It is not Jon. It is God.

Whatever you are struggling with today. God loves you. He has a plan. He is faithful. He is bigger and greater than any of your struggles. GIVE IT TO HIM!”

Point:

That will preach won’t if folks. That is a far better word than this preacher can deliver. There is something very comforting to know that when hard times knock at your door, that God will be the one who answers. What if Amy would have given up? What if Amy would have thrown her hands in the air and just said “im done”? What if Amy would have just disregarded the call that God had on her life to be a physician? Think about all the lives that would have been impacted. Think about all the people that would have been deprived of her help.

Paul knew a few things about hardship. Paul was shipwrecked. Persecuted. Stoned. Beaten. Run out of town. Mocked. Reviled. Threatened. Imprisoned. Snake bit. The list goes on and on. Oh yeah, Paul was also beheaded.

Still, Paul had an abundant life through Jesus Christ. No, he was not wealthy. He was not popular, famous, or admired during his time. Imagine if Paul would have given up? What if Paul would have thrown his hands in the air and just said “im done”? What if Paul would have just disregarded the call that God had on his life to be an Apostle? Think about all the lives that would have been impacted. Think about all the people that would have been deprived of his help.

Point:

What about you? Are you enduring hardship today? Maybe you are wondering where this abundant life is that I keep talking about. You are thinking to yourself this morning, “I don’t see this abundant life that you keep preaching about Stuart”. Could it be that the life that you are wanting is not the life that Jesus is offering? Let go of what you think you want and let Jesus provide for you what you need?

James, Jesus’ brother knew that hardships were a part of this Christian walk. Listen to his advice in James 1:2-4.

James 1:2-4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

3 Keys To Abundant Living!

I. Embrace The Paradoxes of Faith vs. 3-5

II. Endure Hardships With Focus and Grace vs. 6-7

III. Engage The Fullness of God’s Promises vs. 8-10

2 Corinthians 6:8-10 ESV

[8] through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; [9] as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Point:

So the keys to the abundant life that Jesus offers to us are as follows:

Embrace the paradoxes of faith.

Endure hardships with focus and grace.

Engage the fullness of God’s promises.

and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; [10] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Punished but not killed. Sorrowful but always rejoicing. Poor but rich. Empty handed but having everything we need.

What is Paul saying? Let Jesus’ words captured in Matthew give us some context.

Matthew 16:24-26 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Jesus makes us a promise here. It is not a promise that is tangible. Meaning, it is not a promise that we can physically hold, touch, sense, or smell. It is a promise that is not seen on this side of life. It is a promise that impacts our eternity. You see, this world tells us that life is in things. Abundant life is in stuff. Real life is casting aside all Biblical guardrails and living by your own standard. Instead of living in The Truth, you can live your truth. You can toss aside any constraints on sexuality, monogamy, or gender. Abundant living is being and becoming your own god. Your ultimate expression of life is featured only in your personal pleasure. The world tells us that we must be all tolerant, all accepting, all encouraging, even it harms the individual or scars innocent passerby’s. This is the way to abundant living.

Jesus tells us a different narrative. What the world promises is a broad road that leads to destruction. In Matthew, Jesus tells us that in order to properly follow Him, we must commit spiritual suicide, putting to death the sinful, wicked self. We must pick up our cross daily. We must pick up our cross and follow Him. What are crosses for? What do crosses do? Crosses are for killing and crosses serve as a doorway to death. When Jesus tells us that in order to follow Him, we must carry our cross, what He is really saying is that in order to follow Him, we must die. We die so that we can live.

If you want life, you must choose death. We kill our truth in favor of the Truth. Brothers and sisters, if your way is leading away from God, it is not God who is at fault. It is not God who needs to change. It is not God who is on the wrong side of history. It is me. It is you who need to change. We should run back to God as the prodigal son did when he came back to his father.

I will close with this final illustration:

How many of you know the name Blac Chyna? Honestly I did not know of her. In fact I had never heard the name before. I was listening to a podcast early in the week and her name and her story was discussed. Blac Chyna is a 34 year old model and socialite. She was engaged to Rob Kardashian. She also used a website that I will not name to engage in personal pornography. She sold explicit images and videos of herself in compromising situations. She posted lots of explicit, raunchy content. Naturally, the world held up Blac Chyna as someone to be idolized and admired. She was wealthy. She was famous. She had power. She was living the abundant life.

Except she wasn’t.

On May 11, 2022 Blac Chyna was baptized. Her baptism day just so happened to line up with her birthday. You see, Angela White was miserable. Oh, that is Blac Chyna’s actual name. When she was chasing after the promise of abundant living, she not only had to expose her body but she had to give up her name. At the tip top of her fame and notoriety, Angela White was empty. She was filled with anger, hatred, and she was getting into physical altercations. Her bank account was full, but something was missing from her life. Thankfully, the story goes that her mother had been praying for her daughter. She sensed that Angela was open to hear the truth of the Gospel. She invited her pastor to come and speak to Angela. That meeting ended with Blac Chyna accepting Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. She was subsequently baptized. In the days following, Blac Chyna was exchanged for Angela White. Angela shut down the website that had been making her millions. Blac Chyna had numerous surgical procedures which Angela White reversed leading to a drastic change in appearance. Blac Chyna had several Satanic tattoos. Angela White went through the long, painful process of having the tattoos removed leading to a transformation of her entire countenance. Today, Angela White is back on TV. Instead of pushing porn, she is proposing peace through Jesus Christ. She called her former way of living “degrading” and told people that she was no longer going to live that way because “it is just not what God wants me to do”.

This is a direct quote from a recent interview with Ms. White.

“Now I’m just going by faith…I’m not even really going by the Blac Chyna way or the Angela way. I’m just letting God lead me, trusting in God in every step that you take.”

Angela White decided to trust God, to believe in His promises. If God can save the pornographer, then He can save anyone. Would you like the abundant life of Jesus Christ on this Palm Sunday? If the answer is “yes”, cry out to Christ this very moment. Ask Him into your heart and let Him renovate your soul.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Bibliography:

Websites:

https://theredeemed.com/abundant-life/

https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/6/2-Corinthians-chapter-6.html

https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/milton-quintanilla/blac-chyna-quits-onlyfans-gets-baptized-after-becoming-a-christian.html

https://gracechurchmentor.org/sermons/series/morning-worship/110-2-corinthians/1499-2-corinthians-6-1-10

https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-6-1-10/

https://dulinsgrovechurch.org/2020/04/13/2-corinthians-61-10-dont-receive-gods-grace-in-vain/

https://www.calvaryfullerton.org/Bstudy/47%202Co/2000/472Co06a.htm

https://www.alecsatin.com/pauls-plea-a-sermon-on-2-corinthians-61-10./

Books:

The Abundant Life by Ray Baughman