The John 7:17 Challenge: 07 What REALLY is Life to the FULL?

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• published: 13 Dec 2015
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“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10 A Journey to find the Abundant Life. Jesus walked around promising life to the full to all of his followers. Then he also showed us the path in John 7:17, saying if anyone puts his teachings into practice, they would find out or experience that His words and His promises were true. In addition to eternal life, life to the full consists of: REST, CONTENTMENT, PEACE, DIVINE PROVISION, FREEDOM, JOY, and FRUIT. (All covered in Days 1-7) But look into your heart and at those around you. Do you see life to the full as Jesus described it, or do you see fear, anxiety, doubt, worry, frustration, bondage, loneliness, weak faith, deception, and fruitlessness? I see mostly the latter, and God has burdened my heart to fight against this weakness. Millions of "Christians" are going through the motions, having no idea what they are missing. They have settled for less because they can't see the more. They are missing pieces of the puzzle. My friend, I can't describe how amazing scuba diving is to someone if all they have ever done is snorkel. Many assume that they are pretty much the same thing. But that's like saying that flying a hang glider is the same as going to outer space. I was a spiritual "snorkeler" for the first 19 years of my faith in Christ. Then I took Jesus up on his John 7:17 challenge and I found deeper waters and buried spiritual treasure that I didn't even know existed. The relationship I enjoy with Christ today is astonishing and has actually caused some close to me to inquire, "Michael, why are you so special?" I explain that I’m not, but that I too had to ask God the same thing once, because I didn't see many others experiencing Him like I was. That meant I was either delusional as some were saying, or I had found a treasure that not many others find. So, I went up on the mountain one day and asked God, "Why did you choose me to have this kind of an experiential relationship with? He spoke instantly and clearly to my spirit saying, "I chose you, because you chose Me." He wasn't talking about my choosing Him for salvation (God has to choose us first Jn 6:44), but rather my choosing Him back in the relationship. There are two choosings in a relationship with God; He loves and chooses you first, which gives you the ability to love and choose Him back. But you also have to love Him back in His correct love language. God's love language is not just emotional worship, going to church, studying the Bible, listening to sermons, or service projects, etc. God's primary love language is obedience. (Jn 14:21-23, 1 Jn 5:3) But how many of us "Christians" love God this way? He made it clear to me that this kind of relationship and manifest presence is available to anyone who will seek and obey Him like I was doing (Jn 14:21-23). Of course His dealings with you may be different than mine, but the Bible is full of passages that say that God does more for those who fear and obey Him (Ps 25:12, 14, 112:1, 128:4, 147:11, Pro 3:32, 15:29, Phi 4:9, Rom 8:28, 1 Cor 8:3, Jn 14:21) . How many of these boxes would you like to check? • A strong daily awareness of God's presence? • No anxiety now or worry about the future, regardless of what you are going through? • Never worry about money; He always provides? • He gives you clear guidance on major decisions? • He warns you in advance of harmful people? • He warns you before major spiritual attacks? • He tells you in advance of things that are going to happen in your life? • He directs you to have divine encounters with people that need Him. • He gives you future promises for the desires of your heart? • He empowers you and touches the lives of people all around you, almost effortlessly? • He refreshes your spirit, after tough days? • You never feel lonely; you have His presence?