Spiritual Blessings
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. God the Father chose you and me in Christ before the foundation of the world. God preordained that we are to be adopted as His sons because of the Lord Jesus. God has blessed us with abundant blessings, in and through His beloved Son.
Gracious Riches
God revealed to all His children the above-all abundance and riches of His grace.
Paul prayed that we’d realise God’s above-all abundance and His gracious riches, and we are to appropriate the riches of His grace and His above-all abundance.
And how we love to read these words and try to imagine His above-all abundance. But do we honestly accept these words as fact or view them as a lovely fantasy?
But God promises to provide all our needs according to the His riches of His grace – and He will wait for us to realise that He alone is our above-all abundant God.
He’s the over-abundant, all-powerful, Creator of the whole universe.
Word of Truth
Can we not trust our Saviour’s word, Who died an ignominious death for love of us? Can we not believe that the above-all abundance and riches of His grace is true?
Faith in GOD
It is not more faith that taps into the above-all abundance and riches of His grace.
Far More Abundantly
Let us take God at His word. Let us believe in the rich resources of our reliable Father. Let us trust Him to supply us with the above-all abundance and riches of His grace, for in Ephesians 3:20-21 we read: Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us to Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever AMEN and AMEN.
It has not dawned upon them that at the heart of these very circumstances they are to find the Lord Jesus, find His grace sufficient, find the life more abundant. -L.E.M.
But in the Word of our Father, faith reads our abundant title to be near to Him and happy with Him, though natural conscience and our sense of the fitness of things would have it otherwise.
But they are also privileged to witness the enemy's crushing defeat, so abundant is the power of God, and thus highly is the spiritual believer honored. -L.S.C.
there are in abundance with all of us, His rich grace abounds over all, and actually takes occasion from our very mistakes to shine out all the more brightly - though, assuredly, the mistakes must produce their own painful and humiliating consequences.
Heavenly Abundance
We should all desire to know Christ’s resurrection power in our own life, for because He died we too have life, eternal life – HIS life more abundantly. But the path to the cross was strewn with suffering and sadness – pain and sorrow - but unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone.
But because Christ died, His resurrection-life has produced heavenly abundance.
a fact of abundant life; the fact of eternal life; and it is a non-negotiable fact, for it is signed in the blood of Christ.
In Him we are delivered from the sin-nature and placed in eternal union with Jesus. This is the fact of life – the fact of abundant life – the fact of eternal life.
This involves a negative attitude toward all doubt of His promises or anything that would raise a doubt; and it also involves a continued refusal to rest upon appearances or feelings, even though these may come in great abundance.
All the blessings in life, flow in abundant measure, from His eternal supply. But most people give neither thought nor thanks for His moment-by-moment provision.
God has promised to supply all your needs according to His abundant riches in glory.
God ‘s Open Secret
For God will give back the years that the locusts have eaten, in sweeter abundance. We read in John, “how is it that thou hast kept the best wine until now…” John.2:10. God uses all our experiences..
Overflowing blessings and provision in abundance have been foreordained for us.
Grace Upon Grace
Our sins are forgiven and we’re made alive – quickened into new and abundant life, and the supernatural grace of sanctifying grace cascades into God’s glorifying grace.
We are been imparted with the fullness of God’s grace – in time and into eternity, for we have all received one gracious blessing after another: the fullness of His grace from His abundance. John 1:16
Saving Grace
Oh, it is natural and right that we glorify in the abundance of God’s saving grace.
Paul tapped into the abundant supply of God’s sufficient grace, which is in Christ.
Eternal Grace
He knew his eternal abundance of life was not due to his own merit or hard toil..
God’s Grace
And abounding and abundant grace has been showered over the heads of the Church. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her so that He might make her holy by cleansing her, washing her with water of the word Ephesians 5:25 – and it is all by grace – God’s grace upon grace.
there are in abundance with all of us, the Lord's rich grace abounds over all, and actually takes occasion from our very mistakes to shine out all the more brightly - though, assuredly, the mistakes and failures must produce their own painful and humiliating results.
Provision of God
God spreads His table with great abundance – even in the presence of our enemies, and Mary sang, He fills the hungry with good things – pressed down and spilling over. For whoever hath, (hunger for the Lord) to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, (spiritual hunger) from him shall be taken away even what he hath.
Inner Soul
The eyes are often considered as mirrors that reflect the depth of the soul, but words are the instrument that reveals the very spirit of a man – for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Heirship with Christ
We share in a joint-HEIRSHIP with Christ, reserved in the heavenlies that’ll never fade God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading - kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4-5 And the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ - provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:17
Spiritual Maturity
God also desires that we are faithful and diligent in our prayer-life for He knows that prayer is a beautiful channel of heavenly grace and spiritual maturity that is poured out in abundance upon those that sit at His feet, listen to His voice and trust in His word.
His Grace
His grace is poured over us in great abundance. His holy correction is administered to us with infinite tenderness, but we need to take time to get to know Him.
Eternal Grace
His divine love is close to each of us perpetually, His eternal grace is poured over us in great abundance, His holy correction is administered to us with infinite tenderness.
Seeking Happiness
Man seeks after happiness, fulfilment, contentment in so many different ways. Many seek it through the insatiable desire for wealth and riches in abundance. Others see it as just getting to the end of a week to escape from the rat-race of life.
Abundant Fruit
Prolific fruit, high-yielding fruit – abundant fruit in its own season.
Heirship
We share in a joint-HEIRSHIP with Christ reserved in the heavenlies that’ll never fade. God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4-5 And the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
and the more we love Him the deeper our love becomes – and we know Him better – and then we start to understand the abundant riches of God’s grace towards us.
The over-abundant riches of His grace towards us are eternally immeasurable.
They who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17).
He has been made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places in order that, having received an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, he might reign in life by one, even the Lord Jesus.
Born Again
The choice depends on whether or not they choose to trust Christ as their Saviour. Those choosing to trust in Jesus are immediately transferred from Adam into Christ – they are born again into a new and abundant life and are given eternal life.
But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
There would be little harm in trying to imitate Christ if such an endeavor did not hide from us what our Lord really desires; and so keep us back from life more abundant.' Christ has come Himself into our hearts to dwell there, and what He wants is to live His life in us, as the Apostle Paul says, For to me to live is Christ.' Christ was the very source and mainspring of all he was and did.
Lord of Hope
Oh believer, make Him your hope. Find your trust and your hope in Him. Fix your heart unstintingly on the Lord, if you will to discover your hope in Him, and you will not be shaken with the passing events, and you will not be overwhelmed by the abundance of human failures – and you will not sink down into the miry clay of the 'Slough of Despond'. For He has confirmed His sovereign word with an oath. He has bound Himself to us with an everlasting covenant.
Abundant Life
Death is forever behind the believer. It is true that many have fallen asleep in Christ – physically died, but to sleep in Him is never death, but life and life more abundantly.
just like the ox. It was to be a time when the people of Israel would build houses and inhabit them – a time when they plant vineyards and eat of the fruit and enjoy the work of their hand. It was to be a time of safety when spears would be fashioned into pruning hooks and nation shall not lift up sword against nation – neither shall they learn war any more. It was to be a time of abundance when the wilderness would become a fruitful field… the desert was to blossom as a rose – the crooked places were to be made straight.
John 10:10 And the life that Jesus offers is a perfect life, an abundant life, an eternal life.
Life of Christ
And yet this perfect, abundant, eternal life is the start of so much more. This perfect, abundant, eternal life is not simply a new life which is immortal. The new life that He gives is His own perfect life – it is His life, living through us.
We can submit to the principle of reproduction in this life and die to self… OR – We can fight against God’s will for our lives – and live to self. We can choose His perfect, abundant, eternal divine life – or live the self-life.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God (Ps. 76:10; 2 Cor. 4:15).
Enriching Grace
The elements of the Law placed men under bondage, for the letter of the law kills, but the personification of grace gives abundant life – a life that’s enriched by grace.
Unique Person & Work
The two natures of Christ is a simple concept and yet it contains a profound reality. Without the two natures of Jesus Christ humanity has no Saviour and no Salvation, but by faith in the unique person and work of Jesus Christ – as Son of God and Son of Man we are given the free gift of life – eternal life – abundant life – by God’s grace.
The measure of our spiritual life is no greater than our heart; the knowledge that is in the head is not the measure of spirituality, the way for your release, emancipation, increase, abundance is the way of the heart.
God’s Inexpressible Gift
Through Christ Jesus we possess life – eternal life – abundant life. We are part of the body of Christ and made saints of the Most High. We are become ambassadorship of Christ on earth and have a heavenly citizenship. We are joint-heirship with Christ and have an inheritance held in trust for us by God.
We have thought that just to mean that we are to have abundance of exuberance.
We are always asking for life more abundant that we might feel wonderfully elated and overflowing and energetic.
The Lord is preeminently practical, and more abundant Life means that, having Life, you will find the need of more to lead you a little further, and you will need it abundantly as you go on, because that Life alone can bring you into the fullness.
And it is His will that there should be the full provision of Life unto the full end, because the purpose is such an abundant purpose.
The other, the land of promise, with rest instead of desert wanderings, and with abundance instead of want - symbols of the two stages of the Christian life.
Discipline for known faults or shortcomings we can easily comprehend; but when it is that peculiar order of training which fits a man to be God's instrument and witness, we can no more understand it than the plants of the earth can understand why they must pass through all the vicissitudes of winter in order to bring forth a more abundant harvest. -J.B.S.
He is proclaiming the fullness of grace that alone comes through the person of Christ, For from His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
Some are even sufficed to gather the crumbs that fall from the tables of others: “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Luke 19:26
Abundant Blessings
Oh yes, He will give abundantly and He will give more abundantly – pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
In this verse, we are reminded that: When there is no guidance the people fall - however, in abundance of counsellors there is victory.
Similarly, there are other instances when victory has been secured, when decisions have been based on wise counsel, or rulings have reflected informed guidance: For in the abundance of counsellors there is victory.
However, we do need to be willing to LISTEN to His voice, whether it is internal or external - and we do need to respond when we receive prompting from His written Word so that we do not fall: For where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counsellors there is victory.
The abiding He speaks of is a reciprocal relationship - it is engaging in a mutual abiding: Abide in Me, and I in you, and the result of this beautiful affinity is a fruitful life which will produce an abundance of fruit that will endure through life and into eternity.
The unseen life that feeds, nourishes, and produces abundant fruit on each of the branches comes only from the roots and central stem of the growing Vine - the true and heavenly Vine without which, each weak little branch would quickly wither into barren unfruitfulness.The fruit that Christ's life will produce are the many sons that He is bringing to glory – the Church which is His Body.
But note - while the command to 'abide' is given to every branch, it is a choice of the will that has to be made if abundant fruit is to be the result: Abide in Me, and I in you.
His abundance of worldly wisdom is a stark contrast with his lack of Godly wisdom and the spiritual understanding seen in Daniel and his three companions.
We have already received all spiritual blessing in abundance, simply because we are in Christ, and in Him we have all that we need to live godly lives, but nowhere in Scripture are we told that we will have the trouble free life that much of Christendom teaches today, rather we are informed of the opposite.
It is when the man or woman of God is prepared to admit their weakness and incapacitates, that they are enabled by Him to draw from the bottomless well of His everlasting supply, and drink deeply from the living waters of God's super-abundant provision.
In the penultimate verse of Ephesians, Paul is offering a familiar and well-loved salutation to his brothers and sisters in Christ: Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Peace, love, and faith are three spiritual qualities that are sprinkled in unfettered abundance throughout Paul's writings, and yet they retain a freshness each time they are bestowed on God's children of faith.Only once in the New Testament, is this phrase peace be to the brethren, used.
He not only caused us to become new creatures, by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection, but supplied us with good seed to sow into the lives of those who do not know His goodness and grace – and then to carry out His own good work in our lives, through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.Paul rejoices that God is able to make all grace abound to us so that always having sufficiency in everything, we have an abundance for every good deed, and he reinforces this truth by quoting from the Psalmist: He scattered abroad.
The principle of generous sowing and abundant reaping reminds us that we are destined for rewards when God carries out His good work in our lives, and we die to self and live for Him.God is the One Who multiplies the seeds we sow, to bring forth much fruit; some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold.
These were the apostles and prophets whom God would soon ordain to write sections of the New Testament Scriptures and to bear witness that Jesus is Christ: the Son of the living God, the one and only way to God, the single and incarnate truth of God, in Whom are the words of the life of God - life that is abundant and life everlasting.
And we are not only enriched in every way but as if to garner our attention, we are reminded that Christ's super-abundant enrichment covers ALL speech and ALL knowledge!
Our hope in the glory of God is the earnest desire and joyful expectation of the consummation of God's rich promise to us, which is grounded on the sure foundation of His eternal Word and His unchangeable character, for then we shall see Him face to face in the fullness of His glory, when still more abundant blessings will be showered over our heads.
It is often the case that a carefree life of ease, abundance, and prosperity can cause us to take our focus off the eternal and on to the temporal, our prayer life can become less fervent and more mechanical, and the reality of Jesus' return does not burn in our heart.
We are blessed in superlative-abundance by God the Father with daily blessings and many manifestations of His love towards us.
But we are charged to set our hearts on things above, for the spiritual blessings that are already ours, have been given in superlative-abundance and unconditional-grace to all who have trusted Christ for salvation.
In Christ, we have been given every spiritual blessing and His spiritual enrichment has already been poured out upon us in superlative-abundance by our Heavenly Father.
Paul discovered that in spite of his sorrow he had a deep and lasting joy, despite his poverty he had riches without measure, and irrespective of his paucity and lack Paul overflowed with immeasurable abundance from the riches of God’s bountiful supply.
We who are all in Christ have already received the abundance of His life, and one day Christ Jesus will return, as He promised, to take us to be with Himself.
There is no time nor place where His sacrifice of intercession does not reach us, thus underlining His promise: I will never leave you nor forsake you.The more we learn of God's Word and the wonderful covenant relationship that He has with His Church, the more we discover His showers of blessing and abundant privileges raining down upon our heads and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, and all that He has planned for those that love Him.
It is only by God's abundant mercy that we have come to this living hope in Christ and, by God's grace, have been endowed with an inheritance that is incorruptible and will never fade away.
Jesus was the single Seed Whose death brought forth abundant fruit.
The Lord Jesus Christ was the heavenly example of a single grain of wheat, falling into the ground and dying - in order to bring forth an abundant harvest, to the glory of God.
GRACE is the highest expression of God's loving-kindness and benevolent blessings to man which is translated into God's unconditional, unmerited favour and showers super-abundant blessings on all who trust in His name.
It is not what we know intellectually that returns us into fellowship with the Father, but simply trusting in His Son for the forgiveness of sins and abundant, everlasting life.
It was not his own, limited, and inadequate strength that Timothy was to draw upon, but the fathomless and immeasurable strength of God alone – which is poured out in rich abundance on those that, by faith, are in union with Christ and maintaining close fellowship with the Father.
Sometimes we are unaware of the abundant blessings that have become ours at the point of our salvation and sometimes it takes time to become aware of all the gifts of grace that have been bountifully bestowed upon us, in Christ Jesus.
God also knows that a poor man living in needy circumstances, a destitute widow without hope in the world, or a penniless orphan, is much more likely to grasp hold of God's great gift of salvation which is given freely to all, rather than a self-sufficient, affluent man, whose super-abundance of material possessions and worldly wealth renders him independent of God's provision and can even cause him to become disdainful of God's free gift of salvation.
From the terrible curse of the Law and the irreversible state of sin and death, which is the fixed and final state of all mankind, the divine nature of our merciful God has reached down to man, in a providential display of His abundant supply, through His unconditional covenant of grace.
But the rich and abundant mercy of God is not only poured out on His people Israel, but embraces all who are members of Christ's Body, which is the Church, and because of the great love with which He loved us, He has drawn us into permanent union with Christ and seated us together with Him in heavenly places.
Intermingled deep within His eternal character of love, there is a multiplicity of godly attributes and divine graces, for He is good and gracious, He is patient and kind, He is long-suffering, and abundant in truth.
Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He took the initiative and loved us first, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for sinful man so that whosoever believes on Him would not be condemned, but be given abundant and eternal life, by grace through faith.
The one who can take up their cross daily, renounce the things of this world, and leave the old self nailed to the Cross, is the one that understands what it means to abide in Christ, to fellowship in His suffering, to bring forth much fruit to the glory of God, and to experience abundant life and fullness of joy.
There can be no shadow of change in His decrees, for God is merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness; and the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
He asked that an overflowing abundance of mercy, peace, and love be showered on all who trust in Jesus. He knew that wolves were prowling around seeking to scatter the little flock of God, and so he asked the Father for mercy to help in time of need and for an abundance of peace and love, in the midst of difficult times.
This great psalm of praise, rehearses the multiplied blessings and eternal benefits that the everlasting Creator has poured out in great abundance on the children of men and the people of Israel.
It was by divine design that the Lord Jesus is so beautifully represented as a tender shepherd; the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for His sheep; the Great Shepherd Who loves His own with a deep compassion; the Chief Shepherd that rescues His scattered straying sheep and gives them life, eternal life, abundant life.
The psalms so often call upon us to bless the Lord with our whole being and never to forget all the multiplied benefits of His grace and goodness that are poured down on us in such abundance, day by day.
We are encouraged to be generous in our gifts and giving, not as a legal requirement or because a percentage of our income is required to meet the demands of a church body or the dictums of a denomination, but simply because cheerful giving and wise generosity is something that delights the heart of the Lord Who has saved us by His grace and has given us all things to richly enjoy, due to His over-abundant kindness.
The hope we have in Christ will never disappoint nor put us to shame, no matter what we may be called upon to face, for God has poured His abundant and overflowing love into our hearts and that love remains sealed in there, until the day of Christ Jesus.
Although Athens was overflowing with an abundance of false deities, Paul sought to correct their thinking by pointing them to the one, true and living God of all creation.Paul began to explain to these pagan intellectuals, that the God Who made the world and everything in it, is the true and living Lord of heaven and earth.
It also seems that as he penned this verse, Paul began to anticipate his next visit to Philippi and the mutual 'joy in the faith' they would have when they next met, for he continued: That in me you may have abundant cause for exultation and glorying in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.
He wants them to eat of the good things He has prepared, and to let their souls delight in the abundance of His grace.
He is slow to anger and desires to restore to them the joy of their salvation - but they must listen to His voice, hear His word, partake of what is good, and delight their soul in the abundance of His blessings.
There is no better place for the believer to be than abiding in Christ, and no more secure situation that being covered by the unfailing and abundant love of God for His own, for when all else fails, God is enough; His grace is sufficient.
Following his introductory greeting to the saints at Corinth, where the amazing grace and abundant peace of Almighty God is the heavenly blessing that Paul bestows in great measure on all the congregation there, He turns his rapt attention and deep affection upon our great God and Father in heaven: Blessed be GOD the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; Blessed be the GOD and Father of all mercies and Blessed be our Father in heaven Who is the God of all comforts.
Yet too often, we are influenced by the world and can become tainted with a humanistic mindset. Secular things that are exalted by man are often despised by the Lord, yet elements that are abhorrent to men... like suffering and persecution, are of the greatest value to our Father and bring to fruition abundant blessings and a joy beyond human comprehension.There is a vast difference, however, between the suffering that comes because one is a Christian and the suffering that comes through evildoing.
Although God's relationship with Israel was severely strained and broken, their stumbling resulted in God's grace being poured out, in great abundant measure, on the Gentiles.
It is David who calls us to: Taste and see that the Lord is good, and we who have trusted in Christ as Saviour have truly tasted of the goodness of God in our own lives, and have seen in abundance the loving-kindness and forgiveness of our gracious Heavenly Father.
The abundance of spiritual gifts of which they could readily boast, were sharply contrasted with a significant dearth of spiritual fruit, all of which are founded on LOVE.
Paul also understood that in the measure that we suffer for the sake of Christ, so also are we given abundant comfort and sufficient grace, no matter what we may have to face.
Indeed, of all the groups of believers recorded in Scripture, it was the Corinthian Christians who were gifted with a greater abundance of spiritual gifts than any other named church.
We are encouraged to be on our guard against all covetousness, for our life does not consist of the abundance of our possessions.
How important, therefore, to take care of our life and to be on our guard against all covetousness, for our life does not consist of the abundance of our possessions, but of the treasure we have stored up in heaven.
My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, is a verse we all love to quote as we rejoice in the abundant supply of our generous God Who is overflowing with gracious-mercy and bubbling over with loving-kindness.
He does not make any promises that will be broken, and the super-abundance of His generosity covers all things.
But as much as we rejoice that all good things come from God and delight to quote this verse as an encouragement to one another and as a testimony to God's gracious provision, it is important to read this verse in its correct context and discover why Paul gave this great promise of abundant supply to his readers.
May we be contented with all that we receive and give God both the thanks and the glory for all His ongoing and abundant supply.
His grace is abundantly sufficient for all our needs, but it is only as we depend on Him that we discover the abundance of His overflowing supply in all we do.
Paul wrote: For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, MUCH MORE those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
But God's gracious response provided life; a full, abundant, satisfying, productive life in this world, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit working through us, and in the world to come life everlasting.
But God graciously dealt with this act of rebellion and provided something so much better - the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reigning in our lives through the One, Lord Jesus Christ.
The abundance or sparsity of a harvest, is directly in proportion to the quantity sown.
A profusion of seeds which has been plentifully sown will bring forth an abundance of grain, while a meagre scattering of seeds will only produce a paltry amount of produce.
Grace is not only God's unmerited kindness and favour that is poured out in liberal abundance on those who do not deserve it, it is also God's unfathomable mercy that does not punish fallen man what we truly deserve, for Christ was made sin in our place.
The glorious hope we have in Him is for bond and free, male and female, old and young, rich and poor.There is no one excluded from this glorious promise which already is 'yes' and 'amen' in Christ, according to His riches in mercy... and it encompasses plenteous redemption and abundance of life in the eternal ages to come.
It is God, Himself, that has promised to fill us to the brim with a great abundance of spiritual blessings – for the joy of the Lord is our strength, the peace of God is our shield and buckler, and the fellowship of the saints is our precious portion, as our hope overflows in and through Him.All His promises, whether past, present, or future, are secured in His unchanging character and unchangeable Word, for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Understanding, discernment, and a knowledge of God's great power, were good requests to make, but perhaps a deeper knowledge of God Himself; His character, His ways, His work, His will, and His glory, may have been more beneficial in this young man's life, and would have produced an abundance of spiritual fruit and prevented him from straying so far from the path of peace.
He came to pay the price for sin and to seek and to save all who would believe on His name, for He alone was God's acceptable ransom price for sin, and He alone could bear witness to God's truth.He came to do the will of His Father and to demonstrate God's incredible love to humanity, by being a light to the darkened world so that all who believe on His name would not abide in darkness but receive the glorious light of His abundant life.
He lists many of the privileges that are ours in Him which include peace with God, access to the Father, His abundant grace, and the exultant hope we have in Christ.
We are to reason that IF God has provided such abundance for common little birds, and dresses insignificant, wayside flowers in such beauty, surely He will care for those who have become His children, by faith.
When we consider God's abundant provision for a simple little flower..
The holy Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world so that all rebellious human-kind could be offered the free gift of redemption for the forgiveness of sins, an escape from death's cruel sting, a release from the curse of the Law, and eternal salvation with life more abundant.
He lists many of the incredible privileges and blessings that are ours by faith in Him, and which the Lord has showered upon all of us in great abundance.
Should we not... in astonished wonder, deep humility, and reverent praise, behold the matchless love and compassionate grace that has been poured out by the Father in such generous abundance on us - even making us His children simply because we have trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour?
While boasting of serious scientific investigation, they refuse to acknowledge the abundance of evidence of the world-wide flood of Noah, which is hidden in plain sight!
Satan had assumed that Job's faith in God was because of the abundant blessings he received from the Lord and falsely accused Job of being a hypocrite who kept his faith in God to save his own skin.
The Lord Jesus is the express image of the invisible God, and during His earthly ministry had been revealing the 'I AM' of the Old Testament as the Good Shepherd, the Door of the sheepfold, the Light of the world, the Bread of life, the living Water, the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (abundant life, eternal life), for in Him was life and His life is the light of all mankind.
The more we make use of the gifts, talents, abilities, and works which GOD has prepared for us to do (works carried out in our new man-in-Christ and not by our old sin nature), the more they will increase and enlarge, and the more they will overflow in abundance.
It was after the children of Israel were redeemed from Egyptian slavery that God revealed Himself to His people, and pronounced abundant blessings on them, if they would hearken to His voice and obey His commands, I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you would not be their slaves, He reminded them, I broke the bars of your yoke and I made you walk erect.
Because every man falls short of the glory of God and His perfect righteousness, Christ Jesus came to fulfil the Law on behalf of fallen man so that whosoever believes on Him will not remain under condemnation and perish but will receive abundant, everlasting life.
Paul was a man who interceded for others in the Body of Christ, and often we discover him to be lifting up Christian brothers and sisters in pleading prayer, earnestly asking the Lord that all who are born from above might mature in the faith, and grow in grace in accordance with the riches of God's super-abundant glory and His perfect will.
It is not a little shower of spiritual strength or a tiny flutter of blessing for which Paul is seeking the Lord on our behalf, but a super-abundant outpouring of multiplied blessings which cascades from God's own divine riches and His infinite kindness into our inner soul and hungry heart.
Let us emulate Paul's passion and his powerful prayer as we also bow our knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and let us also intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ, that each may receive a super-abundant outpouring of multiplied blessings which cascade from God's own divine riches and infinite kindness into their inner soul.
May we all die to self and live for Christ as we all mature in the faith, grow in grace, and, in accordance with the riches of God's super-abundant glory and His perfect will, are strengthened with all-power in the inner man.
He was the sin-sacrifice for the whole world so that whoever believes on Him would not perish but have life - His resurrected life - His eternal life - His abundant life - the new life in Christ.
The Word of God is alive and has within its pages the germ of godly living, just as a tiny ear of corn has within its kernel an abundant wheat harvest.
The Colossian Christians exemplified a little group of believers who were walking in spirit and truth and who had brought forth the spiritual fruit of faith, hope, and love in abundance, and Paul rejoiced to hear that individually and collectively they were growing in grace and in a knowledge of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and was smitten of God for our sakes – so that by grace through faith in His selfless, sacrificial work on Calvary’s Cross, we might be forgiven of our sin, brought back into fellowship with God, clothed in Christ's perfect righteousness, receive access to the throne of grace, and be endowed with the riches of God’s abundant blessings towards us – in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These fools believe that declaring their own words and wishes, will force God to carry out their carnal desires and provide them with an abundance of health and wealth, simply because they named what they want and claim it as their right.
And here we discover the Psalmist giving glory to the Lord in an explosion of praise and joyful thanksgiving for His abundant goodness and everlasting grace: For the Lord IS good and His mercy endures forever.
His provision of knowledge and store of understanding is close at hand for He gives wisdom generously to all who ask, and out of His mouth pours an abundance of godly knowledge and a plentiful supply of spiritual understanding.
He explained that it is equally possible to be abased and live contentedly in humble circumstances without even having the bare necessities of life, as well as living lavishly and being supplied with much more abundance than we need.
Paul was a man who had experienced great abundance, but he had also suffered much lack.
Knowing that Christ has been lavished in such abundance, let us ensure that we live our lives in a manner that is worthy of the great Gift that we have received.
Three times, the Lord not only prevented Balaam from cursing Israel, but caused him to bless the people with great abundance and with victory over their enemies, which enraged the king of Moab!
He was one whose entire life was dedicated to presenting the Person and Work of Jesus the Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world, for John knew that Jesus is the only Way to God, the only Truth that stands fast for ever and ever, the only Life that is eternal and abundant, and the only Light of the world in Whom is no darkness at all.
We thank God for the witness and testimony of John and Christ's other holy apostles and prophets who testified to truth and proclaimed the glorious gospel of Christ Who is the only Way to God, the only Truth that stands fast for ever and ever, the only Life that is eternal and abundant, and the only Light of the world, in Whom is no darkness at all.
This is a non-negotiable, scriptural fact, and knowing God and trusting in the finished work of the true historical, scriptural Jesus Christ is life - eternal life - everlasting life - abundant life, for the Lord Jesus ALONE is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Multitudes of fish came forth in great abundance from the fruitful waters of the seas, and the hand of God fashioned and formed man in the image and likeness of his great Creator.
How similar our reactions are today when, having been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we discover an abundance of problems barring our walk through life.
There would be seven years of plenty and abundance, followed by another seven years of horrifying scarcity and famine.
Joseph told Pharoah that the years of famine were going to be so bad that the seven years of great abundance would be forgotten.
Joseph then advised the king to appoint a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt, and appoint overseers over the land who would take a percentage of the harvest during the seven years of abundance and store it in great warehouses so that it could be rationed out during the 7 years of famine.
This Church age will continue until the Son of David, in His abundant grace, reestablishes His work through Israel and they will become the head and not the tail in Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
King Solomon was the man to whom is attributed the book of Proverbs, and its contents give an abundance of sound advice on how to live an honourable, productive, and rewarding life.
Boaz had expressed his love for Ruth, through the many gifts and abundant kindnesses, he showed her, and she in like manner sat at his feet until dawn as an expression of her love for him.
Some years earlier, Paul had written extensively to this same Church to rejoice in their divine election, their adoption into the family of God, the privileges of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the spiritual blessings that have been poured out in such abundance on all who have trusted Christ for salvation.
He is our all-powerful, omniscient God Whose ways are unsearchable, and yet he even sees the little sparrow that falls to the ground and clothes the wild lilies that are watered by His abundant rivers of life.
Instead, Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, revealed to Abram that the Lord God Almighty is Possessor of heaven and earth and He alone is the One who will supply all our needs, in great abundance, pressed down, and running over, for the Lord our God owns the cattle on 1000 hills.
The king of Sodom was ready to offer him all the abundance of wealth he had redeemed from the enemy combatants, on condition that the rescued souls were given into his evil custody.
Would he choose the king of Sodom and the abundant worldly wealth he was being offered?
However, it was at this turning point in His ministry, that the Lord told the parable of the sower and explained to His faithful disciples why He was speaking in parables, for whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have... even what he has shall be taken away from him.
We are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under His table and yet He is the God of all grace, abundant grace, multiplied grace, and He is the Father of all mercies, comfort, and peace.
May God's abundant grace and incomprehensible peace continue to be multiplied towards all His children as we seek to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk in humble submission before Him all the days of our life, in love.
It was because of their sincere faith in the gospel, their future hope in God's promises, the abundance of fruit being produced in their lives, and the deep love they had for one another, that Paul did not cease to pray for them and to ask that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Men and women of God are given an abundance of wise instruction on how to live godly lives throughout the New Testament Scriptures, and in the final part of his first epistle to Timothy, Paul sums up many of these important instructions and wise exhortations on godliness.
Asaph certainly waxed lyrical with his complaint against evil, ungodly men, who drink the waters of abundance and increase their wealth at the expense of others.
All the writings of the apostle John are pointing us to Jesus so that we may believe on His name and know that we have life, wonderful life, the life of Christ within us, the Spirit of life indwelling us, abundant life, eternal life.
We must never diminish the wonderful partial fulfilment of this beautiful prophecy which was poured out in such abundance on the faithful few who were waiting together in Jerusalem, as Christ had instructed.
And so, they were given the privilege of participating in the birth of the Church, when the Spirit was poured out on them in great abundance and each one was baptised into the Body of Christ and given the gift of tongues so that they could prophesy in other languages about the wonderful works of God to the men of Israel who were present in Jerusalem on that momentous day.
Throughout Scripture, the right hand of God is the place of heavenly authority and sovereign power, and the Bible bears abundant testimony that the Lord Jesus Christ has been given this place of universal supremacy.
In warning against stealing, Paul encourages us towards honest labour and he also reminds us to keep away from corrupt speech, for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Of all the gifts and graces that are poured out in great abundance into the lives of believers, there are three that out-shine and out-last all others.
Every Church-age believer has been cleansed of their sins, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and consecrated to God, because Jesus became our substitutionary sacrifice for sin and breathed into us His own perfect, abundant, and eternal life.
These actions and works can only be carried out through our new abundant life in Christ, which is to be governed and guided by the Holy Spirit working in and through us, so that the works that I do are not of me (my old self), but my new nature in Him.
However, the greatest blessings of all are the abundant, spiritual blessings we have received, through faith in our crucified and risen Saviour, for the means of grace and the hope of glory.
He prayed that we would increase in understanding and knowledge, and be granted greater illumination and spiritual revelation of our Father in heaven and His anointed Son, Jesus Christ, Who died for our sins and rose again the third day to give us His abundant life, according to the riches of His grace.
And it was the Holy Spirit of love Who wooed us and challenged us, convicted and finally breathed new life into our fallen frames, birthing us into God's family, and enlightening us with the abundance of His life.
The truth of this Scripture is an offense to all that are in the world, but to those that have been saved it is life – eternal life – abundant life, by grace through faith.
Paul was convinced that the work that God had started in the believers at Philippi would continue until the day of Christ Jesus, and yet his deep desire for these men and women was that their love for the Lord, and for one another, would overflow in great abundance and that they would keep on growing in knowledge and godly wisdom.
Jesus was teaching His followers that there are two ways to travel through their Christian life: The spiritual gateway; which leads to an abundant and victorious life as we travel through this world where the Lord is glorified in us, or the carnal gateway; where the final result will be loss of reward for a wasted, defeated life where God was dishonoured by one of His blood-bought children.
Let us strive to enter in by the narrow gate and live a victorious and abundant life here on earth, where self is nailed to the cross and Christ is glorified in our bodies, to His praise and glory.
In her early days, the Church was given multiple warnings through the apostles and prophets, that in the last days there would be an abundance of false teachers, false christ's, doctrines of demons, and false prophets.
so it should be the desire of each of us to apply all the godly principles and practices that are so clearly laid out in the Bible, and seek to do them spontaneously and with abundant grace and favour.
One person reaches out to his Lord in want and need, in humble dependency and childlike trust, and he is given God's abundant supply - pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
Faith allows obstacles to be changed into opportunities, and wounds that are inflicted become a witness to the generous grace He pours out into our lives in great abundance.
And he reminds us of the exceedingly great and precious promises that have been bestowed upon us in great abundance, for through them we have the opportunity to be partakers of His divine nature.
And so, dressed in Esau's clothes and having disguised his appearance, Jacob lied to his father and received the most beautiful blessing that was rightfully his, Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and an abundance of grain and new wine.
The blessing Jacob received from his father covered an abundance of food at harvest times and a plentiful supply of drink, but in reality, the blessing he gave to Jacob came from God, and confirmed the things that the Lord had promised to Abraham - first through Isaac, and then through Jacob - just as the prophecy given to his mother stated - two nations are in your womb; two peoples will come from your body and the older shall serve the younger.
The transgression of Adam, which caused death to be passed onto all men, is very different from the amazing, abundant, glorious, and eternal life that is offered to all men as a free gift of grace.
How sad when excessive discipline, a lack of discipline, over-indulgence, or a lack of interest in their child, an abundance rules and regulation, or a lack of them can cause a child to become exasperated so they lose heart.
Jesus was to be glorified and to take His place at the right hand of the Father so that He could endow all His children with His abundant life, by means of the indwelling life-giving Holy Spirit.
We are exhorted to let His Word dwell in us richly, both His spoken and written Word, for they produce in us an abundance of life and the spirit of true wisdom.
But let us rather reverence the Lord our God in thought, word, and deed, and let our lives be a witness in the sight of the children of men of the abundant goodness of God, as we take refuge in the promises in His Word.
To walk in spirit and truth and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, results in a Christ-like life of godly self-sacrifice and the production of an abundance of spiritual fruit for the benefit of others and to the glory of God.
This results a Christ-like life of godly self-sacrifice and an abundance of spiritual fruit.
Too often, we look at the great power with which the apostles in the early Church gave testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and the abundant grace which they received from God in their powerful witness, and bemoan the fact that this is no longer the case today.
But the Resurrection also gave each believer a future hope and great confidence, for in Christ the power of sin and death is forever defeated in the lives of all who trust in Him: And abundant grace was upon them all.
The grace of God is never terminated because His compassion never fails, His tender mercy and loving-kindness are new every morning: Even though He may permit suffering, He will show compassion according to His abundant and faithful love.
He gave us life - the Spirit of life, newness of life, eternal life, and abundant life, because of the depth of His loving-kindness and sweetest compassion.
How much greater will be the blessings and abundant riches for the Gentiles, when the nation of Israel finally recognises Jesus as Lord and welcomes Him as their Messiah and King?
It is because of the immeasurable length, eternal breadth, incalculable height, and abundant depth of God's love, that He demonstrated His love towards us by means of His grace and mercy, when He sent His only begotten Son to die for us so that we might live eternally.
Every little blade of grass or any simple wild flower or fauna, provides a beautiful example of God's abundant provision for his children and the constant care He shows to those that are His.
Suffering is placed alongside great glory, sadness is contrasted with lasting joy, despair is put in contradistinction with the glorious hope that is set before us, while death is forever swallowed up in the abundance of everlasting life.
From beginning to end, John points to Christ as the only way to God, the only truth from God, and the only life of God, in Whom alone is abundant life, eternal life, and the forgiveness of sins.