Live the abundant life Christ intends!

​

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Dare to Believe   CURRENT TV SERIES Dare to Believe

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 Do you remember that story back in Genesis 3 when the devil, disguised as a snake, slithered into the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve? And as he spoke with Eve, he questioned both God and Eve when he said, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). Now, God didn’t tell Adam and Eve not to eat from any tree in the garden. He specifically told them not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But the devil came alone and distorted what God had said. He tried to convince Eve that God was trying to hold out on her—that he was depriving her and didn’t want her to enjoy the garden. And you know what? He uses that same lie today when he tells you that God doesn’t want you to enjoy life! He does this because he wants you to think negatively about God. The devil wants you to believe that God is some kind of a cosmic killjoy and he wants to drape your life in darkness. He wants you to believe that God is holding out on you. But the Christian life is an abundant life! Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament we are promised life with a capital “L”. Jesus himself said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). So remember, the life Christ offers you is an abundant life. So don’t let Satan steal the joy God intends for you! DON’T LET SATAN STEAL YOUR JOY! A Necessary Obligation by Dr. Paul Chappell “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:16–18 We tend to think of preaching solely in the context of a pulpit ministry, but the Bible uses the word more frequently to refer to individual witnessing. Each time we share the gospel with someone, we are doing the task that God has laid upon every believer as a calling. We should view it as the critical assignment of our lives—something that must not be overlooked or ignored. There should be a driving passion for the lost that motivates us to faithful service. Charles Spurgeon said, “A man who has really within him the inspiration of the Holy Ghost calling him to preach cannot help it. He must preach. As fire within the bones, so will that influence be until it blazes forth. Friends may check him, foes criticize him, despisers sneer at him, the man is indomitable; he must preach if he has the call of heaven.” Too many Christians are content to let the paid staff of the church do the work of reaching the lost, ignoring the command of God to them to be busy proclaiming the gospel. There are many people that pastors and staff members never meet. God has placed each of us in a position to reach some people more effectively than anyone else. He desires for our heart to be burdened for the lost just as His is burdened. He desires for us to have love for those around us and concern for their eternal destiny.   Today’s Growth Principle:  Every person you meet today will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. Ask God for opportunities to share the gospel with them.