Yesterday, I posed the question, “What is abundant life NOT?” The first answer I want us to think about is:

1. Abundant Life is NOT equal to material wealth.

You see, our Western Christianity sometimes equates abundant life with material wealth. Some take this to the extreme by implying that if you do not have material wealth, God has not blessed you. This is simply not true.

Yes, He does provide for our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

Yes, He does own the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10-11)

Yes, He does often crown our efforts with material success. (Proverbs 3:6)

But these verses cannot be separated from other verses,

which tell us blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3),

which tell us how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 19:24)

which tell us to sell our possessions and give to the poor. (Mark 10:21)

There is a wonderful promise found in Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

In this verse we learn of the concept that when we trust God with our finances enough to give generously and joyfully, we will receive back so much blessing we will not have room enough to store it. Sometimes this includes material wealth. But more importantly, it includes spiritual and emotional wealth. If the blessing does indeed include material wealth, we must remember we are blessed to be a blessing. Our blessing from God should overflow to others. That is our response to abundant life.

Back in the late 80’s, my best friend and I lived in Costa Rica as missionary teachers. We taught in a Christian school in San Jose, but each Saturday morning we caught a bus to a refugee camp called Los Guidos. Los Guidos consisted of hundreds of makeshift, dirt-floored houses, built of scraps of wood or pieces of tin. Basically, they were simply shelters from the daily rain. Over several months, we began to develop friendships with the children, many of whom waited faithfully each Saturday for our bus to arrive. One of these faithful children was a 12-year-old boy named Enrique. Enrique attended our Bible school each week, regardless of which sector we were scheduled. One Saturday, after Bible school, Enrique invited us to walk to his house to meet his family. We agreed to go, and he joyfully led us on the dirt road to his house. When we arrived, we saw a 1-room shack, built up on stilts to avoid the mudslides of the embankment on which it was built. We climbed the muddy hill to get to the entrance, thankful that we had chosen to wear our hiking boots that day.

When we entered his home, we were greeted by his mother, father, and 3 siblings, all who lived together in the 1-room home. The home was mostly empty, except for a worn sofa and a few other belongings in the corner of the room. There was one big “window” on the back wall of the home, which was simply a big rectangle cut out of the plywood wall.   The window had no glass, and I just assumed that they must cover the space with a piece of cloth or plastic when the rain came.

Enrique was obviously so very excited to have us as guests in his home. The rest of the family greeted us with sincere hospitality, and we were amazed with the joy exuding from their home, despite their obvious poor conditions. I could tell that Enrique was anxious and excited to show us something, although I could not see what that could be, considering the sparseness of the room. We followed him over to the back wall where the opening was cut for the window. With a grand sweeping motion, he presented the object of his excitement. What he was so anxious to show us was the view of the mountains, which could be seen from the opening. It was breathtaking! We all stood for several minutes taking in the scene, pausing to focus on the beautiful details, which Enrique obviously considered his own precious treasure.

My life was changed that day. I began to see things differently. I began to see things with Enrique’s perspective. Enrique did not focus on what he did not have. Enrique focused on the great blessings that had so richly been bestowed upon him. I have read that “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what we want, but the realization of what we already possess.” My friends, pray that God opens your eyes to the abundant life He has already given you.

Praying for you today!

Sara

Today, I want us to go back and read the whole passage from John 10:10-16. Ask the Lord to reveal to you truth He wants you to know. Read it aloud if you can.

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

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.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Our focus verse is verse 10. Let’s re-read it now.

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.

Abundant Life … such a beautiful phrase often tossed around in the language of Christianese, but what is it? According to my computer dictionary the word abundant is an adjective which means: existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.

It means having plenty of something.

God wants to give you life and give you plenty of it. He wants to give you overflowing life, so richly blessed that it overflows to others around you. He wants to rid you of all that is dead and rotting in your life.  He invites you to rid yourself of grave clothes.  Why?  Because He has made us People of Life.  Abundant, overflowing LIFE!

It is important to note that abundant life is for believers. What is the heading of the scripture passage? It is THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP. These are the secrets of the Kingdom, which we gain access to when we become believers.

So, when Jesus says he came so that we may have abundant life, it means he came to give us life in large quantities, it means we can have plenty of life. But what does this mean practically?

It might be helpful to look at this from a different direction. Let’s ask ourselves what abundant is NOT.

1. Abundant Life is NOT equal to material wealth.
2. Abundant Life is NOT equal to the approval of man.
3. Abundant Life is NOT a picture-perfect life.
4. Abundant Life is NOT found when everything is going just as we want it to—because life on this earth will never be exactly just the way we want it.

For the next few days we are going to break it down further and remember what abundant life is NOT so we can clear our minds and hearts to receive all that abundant life IS.  Pray that the Good Shepherd would help you understand the gifts of abundant life He longs for you to receive.  Read once again what it means when the Lord is your shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23:1,5-6

Amen and amen!  I am praying for you, friends!

Sara

Today, as we review, I want you to ask yourself the questions attached to each characteristic. May the light of His love show you the truth He wants to reveal to each of you. You may want to answer these question over several days and meditate on each one. Click here to purchase a study guide for this material.

If you choose to read through the questions without writing your answers, please pause on each question to formulate your answer.

1. Sheep don’t see very well. In what areas of your life have you been blind? Read 2 Corinthians 5:7 and ask the Lord to calm your confusion, give you clarity, and give you peace.
2. Sheep don’t hear very well. Do you have trouble discerning the will of God? Do you worry and fret about decisions you must make, big or small? Read Isaiah 30:21 and John 10:27. Ask the Lord to speak loudly and tell Him you are ready to listen.
3. The biggest enemy of the sheep is the fox. Do you realize that Satan, our great enemy, often uses small, irritating things in our life to steal our peace and kill our spiritual progress? Do you have issues in your life that Satan is using against you? Read 1 John 4:4. Ask the Lord to help you decrease, so He can increase in every situation of your life.
4. Sheep are not very courageous. They panic easily. However, they are very resilient. What things in your life are causing you to panic? What areas cause you to feel weak? Read Lamentations 3:22-24.
5. Sheep are healthy and happy when their shepherd is gentle, kind, intelligent, brave, and selfless. Do you trust the goodness of God? Read Isaiah 9:6-7 to find out more of His wonderful attributes.
6. Sheep are marked on the ear with the distinct mark of their shepherd. Do you have the distinct mark of the great Shepherd? Do others know that you are a follower of Jesus? How well is your life reflecting the Lord? What areas of your life do you need to become more like Him? Read Galatians 5:22-23.
7. Sheep will lie down only when four requirements are met: They must be free of all fear.  They must be free of friction with other sheep. They must not be tormented by flies or other pests. They must be free from hunger.  What are your fears? With whom do you have friction? What torments you? What do you long for? Read Philippians 4:19.
8. Sheep have a “butting order”. Who do you feel competitive towards? Is there anyone you are jealous of? How can you reach out in love to that person? Read 1Corinthians 3:2-3.
9. When sheep are thirsty, they become restless and begin to search for water. They will drink any water they can find—even polluted water. What are your deepest needs, your deepest longings? What are your habits of trying to meet those needs—what is your polluted water? Ask the Lord to free you of self-medicating your soul. Read Proverbs 3:5-6.
10. A sheep is “cast down” when it is turned over on its back and cannot get up again. A cast sheep will die if its owner does not get to it in time to right it. Read Psalm 42:5-6. Have you ever felt “cast-down”? Did you turn to the Lord or to the world for comfort during that time? Do you feel cast-down now? In which areas of your life do you need to trust God more?
11. Sheep are very bothered by flies; a shepherd must apply an ointment to their heads to prevent flies from going up their noses. What is bothering you? What garbage do you need to remove from your life so that the flies will go away? Read Hebrews 1:9.
12. Sheep are the most fit and healthy and strong in autumn. In autumn the leaves are so beautiful. But what is really happening? They are dying. We, too, are most fit, healthy, strong and beautiful when we die to our own selfish desires. In what area of your life are you selfish? What is your plan to change this? Read Philippians 2:3-16.
13. Sheep who are well cared for will benefit the land—they eat undesirable weeds, and their manure is an excellent fertilizer. How can your life story benefit the kingdom of God? Which of your mistakes can He redeem to help others? Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.
14. Sheep are creatures of habit and will follow the same trails until they become ruts and graze on the same pasture until grass can no longer grow there. They must often move to fresh pastures. What are your comfort zones? How can you get out of these comfort zones in order to experience a more abundant life? Read Isaiah 42:16.
15. Shepherds carry only a rod and a staff. The rod is a piece of wood with a knobbed end that the shepherd uses to protect himself and the flock from predators. He also uses it to discipline wayward sheep. The staff is a long, slender stick with a hook on one end. The shepherd used the staff to catch sheep and draw them near for examination and is used for guiding sheep into a new path or through a gate or along a dangerous route. The shepherd also uses the staff to get a sheep free from a bush in which it is tangled or reach them when they’ve fallen off a cliff onto a ledge. Read Psalm 23 once again. How is the Lord speaking to you right now? Will you trust the Good Shepherd?

Whew! Okay, Sheeple. Let’s go out and trust the Good Shepherd, for we are His sheep.

 Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

                                            Psalm 100:3

Okay. I am sorry for my obsessive reviewing. But let’s begin once again by reviewing our rather lengthy list of sheep characteristics. Ask the Lord, which of these apply to you, then trust Him to change you for His glory.

1. Sheep don’t see very well.
2. Sheep don’t hear very well.
3. The biggest enemy of the sheep is the fox.
4. Sheep are not very courageous. They panic easily. However, they are very resilient.
5. Sheep are healthy and happy when their shepherd is gentle, kind, intelligent, brave, and selfless.
6. Sheep are marked on the ear with the distinct mark of their shepherd.
7. Sheep will lie down only when four requirements are met:
8. They must be free of all fear.
9. They must be free of friction with other sheep.
10. They must not be tormented by flies or other pests.
11. They must be free from hunger.
12. Sheep have a “butting order”.
13. When sheep are thirsty, they become restless and begin to search for water. They will drink any water they can find—even polluted water.
14. A sheep is “cast down” when it is turned over on its back and cannot get up again. A cast sheep will die if its owner does not get to it in time to right it.
15. Sheep are very bothered by flies; a shepherd must apply an ointment to their heads to prevent flies from going up their noses.
16. Sheep are the most fit and healthy and strong in autumn. In autumn the leaves are so beautiful. But what is really happening? They are dying. We, too, are most fit, healthy, strong and beautiful when we die to our own selfish desires.

This is our last day of our detailed study of sheep. Tomorrow you will have a time to reflect on what you have learned, and then we will move on to study more of the our focus passage of John 10: 10-18. First, let’s continue in our study of sheep, asking the Lord which of these lessons we can apply to our own lives.

13. Sheep who are well cared for will benefit the land—they eat undesirable weeds, and their manure is an excellent fertilizer. God has a great purpose for each of us. He wants to use even the wasted things in our lives to bring Him glory. He wants us to serve Him by serving others. He wants us to do our small parts in pulling up the undesirable weeds in our lives and our society. He wants to use us to benefit the land in which we live.
14. Sheep are creatures of habit and will follow the same trails until they become ruts and graze on the same pasture until grass can no longer grow there. They must often move to fresh pastures. Shepherds must carefully choose to move their flocks from one pasture to another.   The Shepherd knows how to lead us to the fresh revelations that we need, but we must follow Him. Often we hesitate, because we don’t want to get outside of our comfort zones.
15. Shepherds carry only a rod and a staff. The rod is a piece of wood with a knobbed end that the shepherd uses to protect himself and the flock from predators. He also uses it to discipline wayward sheep. The staff is a long, slender stick with a hook on one end. The shepherd used the staff to catch sheep and draw them near for examination and is used for guiding sheep into a new path or through a gate or along a dangerous route. The shepherd also uses the staff to get a sheep free from a bush in which it is tangled or reach them when they’ve fallen off a cliff onto a ledge.

In light of this fact and all the others, listen to the beautiful words of the psalmist, David.

            The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

           He makes me lie down in green pastures,

            he leads me beside quiet waters,

           he restores my soul.

            He guides me in paths of righteousness

             for his name’s sake.

            Even though I walk

             through the valley of the shadow of death,

            I will fear no evil,

             for you are with me;

            your rod and your staff,

             they comfort me.    

                                                                                Psalm 23:1-4

     Makes more sense now, doesn’t it? The biblical heroes of our faith saw a lot of sheep. They acted a lot like sheep, just like we do.

My friends, your Good Shepherd will not waste a single thing you give to Him. He will use everything—good and bad—for your good and His glory. But you must trust the Good Shepherd and surrender to His help and healing. Then, your life, your story, will be used to help and heal others. Jesus can be trusted to show us fresh and new things which will satisfy our soul. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will use His holy rod and staff to help you, save you, protect you, and discipline you. Trust Him. He is good. Praying for you today!

Sara

Once again, the teacher in me feels the need to review. Here is our ongoing list of characteristics of sheep:

1. Sheep don’t see very well.
2. Sheep don’t hear very well.
3. The biggest enemy of the sheep is the fox.
4. Sheep are not very courageous. They panic easily. However, they are very resilient.
5. Sheep are healthy and happy when their shepherd is gentle, kind, intelligent, brave, and selfless.
6. Sheep are marked on the ear with the distinct mark of their shepherd.
7. Sheep will lie down only when four requirements are met:
8. They must be free of all fear.
9. They must be free of friction with other sheep.
10. They must not be tormented by flies or other pests.
11. They must be free from hunger.
12. Sheep have a “butting order”—one ewe will be the head of the flock, and the rest of the sheep establish and maintain their position in the flock by butting and thrusting at those below them. Because of the competition for status, sheep cannot lie down and rest in contentment. However, when the shepherd is present, the sheep forget their rivalries and stop their fighting.

Now, let’s continue our study of sheep.

9. When sheep are thirsty, they become restless and begin to search for water. They will drink any water they can find—even polluted water that can cause disease—so a shepherd must lead them to clean, refreshing water that can satisfy them and keep them healthy. In our lives we get thirsty a lot, don’t we? What I mean is, we are easily discontent. We search for anything and everything that will fill us up, satisfy our discontent. But the problem is, often we look toward things that could never really satisfy.
10. A sheep is “cast down” when it is turned over on its back and cannot get up again. A cast sheep will die if its owner does not get to it in time to right it. When the shepherd rights a cast sheep, he must rub her limbs to restore circulation so she can walk again. That’s where we get the word “downcast.” Have you ever been downcast, feeling that you have been knocked down and can’t get back up? Listen to what Psalm 42:5-6 says: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
11. Sheep are very bothered by flies; a shepherd must apply an ointment to their heads to prevent flies from going up their noses. The more we are around garbage, the more flies will bother us. Get rid of the garbage, and the flies will flee. We can shoo away the flies, but they will only come back if the garbage remains. What garbage are you filling your mind and spirit with? Let the Lord convict you as to what needs to be purified in your daily life.
12. Sheep are the most fit and healthy and strong in autumn. In autumn the leaves are so beautiful. But what is really happening? They are dying. We, too, are most fit, healthy, strong and beautiful when we die to our own selfish desires.

Once, a large audience waited expectantly for William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, to give a speech. He got up to the podium, cleared his throat, and said one word … others. Then, he sat back down. All were silent. Many sat stunned and irritated, as they had expected an eloquent speech. Others, those who were wisest, sat stunned and reflective, realizing the power and importance of that one word. Others. Dying to yourself will make you spiritually fit, healthy, strong, and beautiful.

Today, my friends, stay close to your Good Shepherd.   Only He can meet your deepest needs. Only He can right your wrongs. Only He can put your downcast soul in an upright position. Only He can cleanse you of the garbage of life, which bring the pests of sin, shame, and condemnation. Only He can give you eyes to see and a heart to serve others. You have been bought with a price; therefore, glorify the Lover of your soul by trusting in Him, our Good Shepherd. Praying for you today!

Sara