I was walking out of our bookstore, down the hallway to the lobby of our church. Coming toward me was an anxious looking man. I have a reputation in our church of being something of a theologian (through I’m not sure it’s totally deserved) and I’m often the target of our congregants with perplexing questions. As this man is approaching me, he blurts out, “I know Jesus says we’re supposed to have abundant life (John 10:10), but I don’t think I’m experiencing it… So, what exactly is that?”
For so many people, it’s something we aspire to, that just seems to be outside our grasp. It’s like Jesus saying, “If you believe in me, these things (it’s miracles) will you do and greater, for I go to the father” (John 14:12). It’s one of those things you believe in your head, but it’s hard to wrap your heart and life around it. It’s more like, I believe, help thou my unbelief (Mark 9:24). The fact is it’s true. Jesus intends for you to have abundant life.
So what is life more abundantly for you
So what is abundant life? The word “abundant” used in the book of John means, superabundant in quantity, superior in quality, excess, success, superfluous, excessive, too much. Whatever abundance means to you, it means having all you need with excess to invest in centers. Abundance of feeling love of fulfilled. Abundance with real prosperity (giving of receiving in order to be a blessing to others), not materialism. Real abundance in joy, not just joy because… but irregardless of circumstances. Abundance in peace, not just in your lack of storms, but peace in the midst of storms as well.
The Key that Unlock the Door to Abundance
Listen to how Paul unpacks this in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, beyond what you ask or to think (imagine – moffett/ conceive – NEB) according to his power that works within us.” Look at the breakdown of this verse:
- Able – above the skill to, qualified, dormant ability or power not yet come to pass, or power not yet come to pass. Notice this is potential power, it is ability unrealized.
- To do – perform, to carry out, fulfill, bring to pass, produce inexhaustible power, God doesn’t just hope something will come to pass, He will carry it out.
- Exceedingly – to go beyond the limits of, surpass, out to, greater, limitless.
- Abundantly – see definitions for abundant – above
- Beyond – farther than, outside the reach of what you think is a possiblity, more than.
- Imagine – creating a picture that has never been seen (yet), a meditation, creating a mentality that has never been seen up until this time. It is important to note your subconscious mind (heart) can’t tell the difference between what’s real and imagined. It will take a dominant thought and make it come to pass. Biblical meditation is the key to transforming your personal belief system.
- Accordingly – agreement with, harmony, conforming, capacity, in proportion to the donor
- Power – miracle power of influence, ability, energy, might, enablement
- At work in us – I’m not trying to get God to do what he’s already done. In other words, receive what he’s already done by grace by faith. It is an active recognition of what’s already in you.
Please note, in all these details of this verse God doesn’t release abundance to and though you independent of you, but rather, in accordance to what you ask, think, imagine, or conceive. It comes in accordance to your recognition of what He’s already done In you. When your thinking is renewed to this understanding, the limits of God’s provision are removed from your life.
What Does This Mean to You?
What does all of this mean to you personally? Living a life without limits or in abundance is about coming face to face with your barriers and busting them. God will take dominant, renewed thought and He will exceed them from your heart beliefs.
How do I create new heart beliefs? Dominant thoughts + imagination + emotions + repetition = heart beliefs. If you need help in this area try our Barrier Buster meditation CD or downloads.
You were made for abundance.
