Have you ever noticed how you purchase something, then they ask if you want the warranty to go with it? Maybe you buy a printer, and they ask if you also want to buy ink. You have the main purchase, and you “add on” the additional things. This is how some people treat their relationship with Jesus; it’s like an “add-on” to the rest of their lives. Jesus said that He was giving us a new life. This is a completely new life, not a little something to be added to our real lives. This is a new, exciting, never-existed-before life — your new life with Jesus!
17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
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“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
An abundant life — that’s what we all want. Why does it seem so elusive? Jesus said that He came so that we could “have life, and have it abundantly.” So, why don’t we always feel that “abundant life?”
The Thief
In the scripture above (John 10:10), Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” The thief here ultimately refers to Satan. Satan was an angel who became so prideful that he actually challenged God.
Isaiah 14:12-14 (NASB)
12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
We might think that was pretty dumb. How could any created person or thing be powerful enough to overthrow God? That is a perfect example of how pride can blind us to even the most obvious things. No one, no matter how powerful or intelligent they are, can even come close to approaching the infinite power and intelligence of God. Since God judged him, Satan now hates God. Because we were created in the image of God, Satan hates us, too. He wants to do everything he can to destroy us. If he can’t destroy us, he will try to make us miserable.
Other People
Many people think that having a lot of things will make them happy. Some people are even willing to take things from other people, because that seems easier to them.
Proverbs 1:18-19 (NASB)
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.
Stealing actually destroys the life of the thief. They think they are getting ahead; they think they are creating an abundant life, but they aren’t. They are ruining their own lives, even if they have many things.
Ourselves
Luke 12:15 (NASB)
Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
We spend our lives going to school, work, or other places. We work jobs, so we can make money. Then, we spend the money to buy things. Do we own our possessions, or do they own us? If we are living to simply get more things, thinking that will make us happy, we are in for a rude awakening. Jesus said that even if you have a lot of things, they won’t bring you real life — something worth living for.
Building
Psalm 127 (NASB)
1 <A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.> Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. 3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Solomon was king of Israel, King David’s son. He was the richest and wisest person in the world. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (wives, but without the rights that full wives had). He had an army that could conquer any other army in the world. He used this to expand his kingdom more than anyone before him. Even with everything that he had in this life, he recognized that without God, none of it mattered. “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1) Building a life, or things in a life, without God is useless. Even if you have short-term success, it won’t last.
The Curse
Adam and Eve had it made in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, they gave in to temptation. Because of that, God cursed us work much harder in order to survive.
Genesis 3:17-19 (NASB)
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat from it; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. 18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
We know all too well that it takes hard work in order to “get ahead.” At the same time, we see in Psalm 127 (above) how God tells us that building anything on our own is not the way to go. He also tells us that children are blessings from God. We should enjoy our families and friends. People are eternal souls. As such, the people that we influence in a godly way are all that we can bring into heaven with us. Nothing else in this life is eternal.
The Curse
1 Corinthians 15:19-22 (NASB)
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
The Apostle Paul was another man who had a lot going for him when he was young. Then, he met Jesus, and he found a much better life. Even though he was put in prison, beaten, mocked, and probably lost his inheritance and family, he considered that it was worth it. Living for Jesus and telling others about this new life was far greater than anything this world had to offer. In verse 22 above, Paul references how Jesus saved us from the curse of Adam. Jesus paid the price and took our punishment on Himself. Yes, we still have to work, but we don’t have to live this life on our own, in our own strength.
Peace
John 14:26-27 (NASB)
26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
With all of the horrible things going on in the world, it’s almost impossible to have peace. Jesus said that He left us with peace. If we give Him all of our worries and cares, we can live in His peace.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
The Bible tells us to give all of our anxiety to Jesus. What we consider major problems in our lives, is nothing for Him; He can handle them. He simply wants us to trust Him. We need to do our part, but after that, trust Him with the outcome.
Abundant Life
How can we live an abundant life? By living it in Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit — our Helper and Comforter.
John 14:16-18 (NASB)
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
This is the secret of life — living it with Jesus. Without Jesus, there is no real life. With Jesus, everything around us makes sense. What was a hard life becomes just what Jesus promised: an abundant life.
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The apostle Paul wrote two thirds of the books of the New Testament. He was possibly the greatest apostle ever, but how much do we really know about this man? Where did he come from? What motivated him? What can we learn from his life?
Childhood
Paul was born in Tarsus of Cilicia. In this image, you see Cilicia above the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
Tarsus was a colony of Rome, so this made Paul a Roman citizen. As a Roman citizen, he had special rights that non-citizens did not have. For example, it was a common practice for a prisoner to be whipped and possibly tortured as part of their questioning. Unless a Roman citizen was accused of a capital crime, such as murder, it was considered treason to put a Roman citizen in chains or whip him. Those who committed treason were put to death, so his Roman citizenship gave him special privileges. At some point in his childhood, he moved to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was the capital of the nation of Israel. Even though they were subject to Rome, there was a great deal of autonomy. They were allowed to govern themselves for most things, and they could conduct business on their own. Jerusalem was the center of all Jewish activity. It’s where the temple was located. The Jewish seat of government was located there, as well. It was also where the best Jewish scholars and tutors were. One of the most prominent scholars was Gamaliel.
Acts 5:34a (NASB)
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council
Education
Gamaliel was a very well-known, respected teacher. As such, probably only the best families could afford to have their sons educated by him. Paul was from one of those familes.
Acts 22:3 (NASB)
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
There was an educated, Roman procurator (governor) who was impressed by Paul’s incredible learning and knowledge, though not in a good way. Paul’s training and knowledge were quite apparent to everyone around him.
Acts 26:24 (NASB)
24 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.”
Zeal
Paul was raised as a privileged Jew with great zeal for his own nation. He believed strongly that the Jews were the only people chosen by God, and that everyone had to convert to Judaism. He was willing to put people in prison or even death, if they opposed his way of thinking.
Acts 22:3 (NASB)
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
Stephen
After the resurrection of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost, the early church was growing very rapidly. The apostles were spending too much time trying to handle all of the daily needs of the people, though, so they decided to choose “seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” to help out with serving the people (Acts 6:3).
Acts 6:5 (NASB)
5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
These men are usually considered to be the first “deacons.” The Greek word for deacon means “servant.” Their job was to minister to the physical needs of the believers. They were more than just that, though.
Acts 6:8 (NASB)
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Some of the Jews did not like how much the new church was growing, and Stephen was a big part of it, so they brought Stephen to the “Council.” This was part of their legal system. The Council’s decisions were final; there were no appeals. The Jews falsely accused Stephen of speaking blasphemy against “Moses and God.” Of course, they were lying, but they did manage to convince enough people to convict him and put him to death by stoning.
Acts 7:58, 8:1 (NASB)
58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
This young man, Saul, was later called Paul.
Persecution
Mob mentality took hold of the Jewish people, and they were persecuting their fellow countrymen simply because they had become followers of Jesus. Saul (Paul) was one of the leaders of the persecutors.
Acts 9:1-2 (NASB)
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Saul was not doing this because he was mean. He truly believed that this was how he was supposed to serve God. Simply being dedicated or “having faith” is not enough. We need to believe and follow Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). Saul was going full speed in the wrong direction, but God had other plans for him.
Road to Damascus
Acts 9:3-6 (NASB)
3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
Jesus met Saul (Paul) while he was on his way to persecute Christians. Notice how Jesus said that Saul was persecuting Him, not His followers (see Matthew 26:31-46). After Saul got up, he was blind. Those who were with him led him by the hand to Damascus. When he got there, he didn’t eat or drink anything for three days. Then, God sent someone to help him.
Ananias
Acts 9:10-12 (NASB)
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”
God supernaturally called a Christian to lay hands on Saul, so he could receive his sight. He also showed Saul that Ananias would be coming. God could have healed Saul Himself, but He chose to use a person. He doesn’t need any of us; He chooses to use us, for His own glory, and so we can be part of His plan and His kingdom. Although Ananias was fearful of the prospect of going to Saul, because everyone knew he was there to persecute believers, he obeyed God. Many times, God will call us to do things that make no sense to us. We just need to obey, then we will see and be part of His miraculous plan.
Acts 9:17-18 (NASB)
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
Saul is just beginning a journey that will change his life, and the lives of many others, for eternity.
To be continued…
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