Episode 1: The Abundant Life

In this episode Ben and Saso discuss John 10:1-10 and how the Abundant Life podcast was derived from these verses.

Below are some notes and thoughts directly derived from this episode. Enjoy!

In this episode we will be introducing the Abundant Life podcast. As already mentioned in the intro, it is our desire to encouragement and challenging believers to spiritual change and growth by applying biblical principles to everyday life.

But why? I like the call to action the apostle Paul gives us in Romans 13:11. He says: Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

It’s a call to action for the Christian to rise up. Stop being a complacent, Luke warm Christian. Stop having one foot in the world and one in Christianity. It’s time to grow and walk with God casting off evil. Make your calling and election sure. For the day of Lord is near.

We derived the name of the podcast from John 10:10 which reads: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Abundant life! God wants to give us an abundant life.

Obviously there is a lot to unpack from John 10 so let’s dive in.

Just to get a little context, John 9 talks about how Jesus had healed a blind man and the Pharisees in their blindness couldn’t see that Jesus had performed a tremendous miracle. In John 10 Jesus is still addressing the pharisees through a parallel.

John 10:1-2

False religion exposed and one true religion verified. One way only to eternal life

John 14:6 – Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Saso shares story about Louis Vuitton graduation gift.

The Pharisees believed in the one true God but did not believe that Jesus was God’s son, God in the flesh which is a big deal. This is where many false religions begin, by twisting the nature and character of Jesus. Make no mistake, Jesus IS the only way to eternal life because of his death, burial and resurrection.

John 10:3-5

Saso shares story about Cowboys Boots in Darkest Africa where sheep will respond to the voice of their shepherd even when mixed with other sheep. Cows, not so much…

The sheep hear the voice of the Shepherd and respond to that familiar. We must have the knowledge of God to know His voice. Caution should be given to whose voice we hear and whether it is the voice of God?

We live in a world where so many people and things demand our attention. There is so much noise in the world. We have social media, news stations, radio, internet, advertisements and yet I sometimes wonder how anyone can hear God’s voice amidst all the noise. But God’s word is faithful and never changes, we just need to pick up the book, dust it off, read and meditate.

John 10:6-9

Christ, “the door” (metaphor) as in John 14:6 there is only one way in and that’s through the door. No other substitute, no other atonement or passage. Many hear the Word and do not understand it (lost, or Christians who do not put the work in to understand II Timothy 2:15 Study!)

The door provides security and assurance. Do you lock your doors at night? The Ark was shut by whom?

Salvation is only through the door, Jesus Christ.

Saso share’s kid’s song in relation to Jesus being the door. One door and only door and yet it sides are two…

Jesus is the door and the shepherd. He is not only the way to eternal life, but He is our Savior laying down His life. Shepherds would lead their sheep to green pastures, water, care for them, protect them from predators and that’s what Jesus has done for us. He has laid down His life for us so that we could have eternal life.

John 10:10

What is the thief’s objective? To steal, kill and destroy. Who is the thief? Satan. Who and what does Satan use? False religion, equality, justice (fairness), sinful pleasures, sinful pursuits, employment, status. He uses are desires against us.

To get a little more specific, Satan uses entertainment, movies, TV shows, music, websites, social media, books, magazines, pornography, drugs and alcohol.

The apostle Paul gave us what I like to call a biblical filter. In Philippians 4:8 he says: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

If the entertainment, or behavior that you are engaging is not true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise, then you probably ought not to be engaging.

What is the Good Shepherd’s objective? Primary focus Eternal life John 12:47, John 4:14 He came to save the world, secondary objective is found in Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the spirit.

How does this translate to real life this abundant life? Health and wealth? No! Absolutely NOT!

Acts 16:22-25 Abundant life in adverse situations. The problems of this world do not dissipate but what changes is the God in those situations’ changes. He makes all the difference

Saso shares story about the song “It is well”.

The Abundant life does not mean that God is going to open the windows of heaven and drop riches. It also does not mean God is going to take away all your illnesses and ailments. Can he heal. Of course He can. But you have to remember, God does things because He is God, not because Ben and Saso would like an easy life with tons of possessions, and great health.

Matthew 16:26

You see the abundant life is about the grace that God has already showered you with. Do you realize He didn’t have to save you? He didn’t have to die a horrific death on the cross for you?

John 1:16-17

The abundant life is about what has already been given. You have citizenship in heaven.

John 5:24

Some people might be going through trials and testing and you may not feel like you are living the abundant life. But this life is temporal. In the book of James, life is referred to as a vapor. When you focus on Jesus, and His promises, you can live the abundant life.

What about you?

Do you want a so-so life or do you want an abundant life through Jesus Christ?