31. Abundant Life

Meet Zoe, the overcomer

See The Lessons

In Your Bible Read This
1 John 2, 12-14 and Galatians 5, 16-26

Here Is Your Memory Verse
Jesus said, "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

Afterwards Talk About This
Ephesians 4.18 says that men were first separated from the life
of God by the fall. What was life like for Adam?

Something To Do Before Next Time
Meditate upon the revelation given in Romans 6, 1-6 and every day
confess the truths out aloud and receive them by faith and prayer.
Ask God to make the truth real and experienced by you.
Make a note of the differences as they begin to appear.

Diploma Work
Study Gal. 2.20, Col. 1.29, Eph. 3.20, Phil. 2.13 and write one
page to explain Paul’s faith approach to life and ministry.

Meditate On This Passage
Galatians 2.20

Spend a Minute to Change the World

Pray for Liberia - 3,000,000 people, 37% Christian

An African nation destroyed by war , many believers have fled or died

It will be a long hard struggle to rebuild

 

Be sure to teach this lesson to others.

Always pray and prepare well adding your own verses and stories to bring it to life.

1. What Is The Overcoming Life

In John 10.10 the word Jesus uses in his own language for life is Zoe. People often think that life is measured by how many possessions we have, but Jesus strongly disagrees. Luke 12.15. Zoe is the life Jesus lived; God’s own life, eternal life, abundant life, real and genuine; a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed now, and lasting forever.

God's Plan Is For You Is Also 'Zoe.'

Romans 8.29-30 says ~

He is making all things work towards His plan and purpose, for your good.

He knew you before time began.

He called you.

He justified you, taking your sins away.

He is busy making you like Jesus.

He has already glorified you, and by faith glory is your certain destination.

2. What Does It Mean To Be Like Jesus?

When God says he is making us into the likeness of his Son, he does not mean our facial appearance but our inner or moral life. God takes his children on a journey of restoration, Genesis 1.26, making us more and more like Jesus, God’s Son, sharing his holiness, his mind, his nature and moral excellence.

We want to be like Jesus but we often make the mistake of trying to help God by striving to be good, or by obeying religious laws. We make every kind of human effort and then get disappointed because we fail. We soon find there is a fierce conflict inside us between two opposing natures, our old sinful nature and our new God loving nature. So our heart desires to do what pleases God but often we do the very opposite. Galatians 5.17-21, Romans 7, 15-25

3. How Can We Release The Life of God?

a. Choose To Live By The Spirit
It is better to allow 'Holy' Spirit to rule your life every day than to try and live life by the rule book. Gal. 5.1; 16; 18. Let Holy Spirit bring the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control into your life. Galatians 5, 22,23

The Two Wings Of God’s Dove
People chase the gifts of the Spirit but the fruit of the Spirit is also very important because it is the release of the character of Jesus. When you see fruit you have the sure proof that God is working in your life to make you more and more like Jesus. The fruit of a changed life is also a good testimony. Holy Spirit plants the fruit seeds in our hearts but we must let the seed grow into a Christ-like life for all to see.

Just because a man might have learned how to use the power gifts of the Spirit does not guarantee a good moral character or a holy life. Always look for the fruit.

b. Choose To Execute That Old Life
Read the list in Galatians 5.19 for a picture of man when he lives only for himself. That ugly old nature comes down to us from the first man Adam, who deliberately disobeyed God to follow Satan’s lies.

God left him and Adam’s spirit by which he knew God died within him; and he was left with only his body and soul. From now on man’s own interests rule his life. He wants his own way not God’s ways. It is that ugly old nature that Paul says we should crucify that is execute, put to death. Galatians 5.24.

How Do You Crucify Yourself?
Try it! Stand, pretend you have a cross, a hammer and nails for feet and hands. That’s right! You can’t do it ! As much as you try you cannot kill your ugly old nature. But here is good news.

Jesus Has Done It For You.
All you have to do is to take that death and a new life by faith. Here’s how.
In Romans chapters 1 to 5 God drives man into a corner. Man is a helpless sinner and cannot save himself until he finds that Christ died for him. This brings man into peace with God. Romans 5 to 7.25 leads the believer as a helpless saint into a corner of despair crying out for rescue. Rom. 7.24. Finding the answer brings man into peace with himself.

What Is That Answer?

It is found by believing Romans 6.1-14.

 

Our ugly old self died once and for all time, on the Cross with Jesus. 6.6.

Our now dead old nature was also buried with Jesus. 6, 4-5

We are united with Jesus in his resurrection, his new life, our Zoe. But watch out, our ugly old nature does not stay in the grave without a struggle. You will have to persevere in this truth to release full victory. Romans 6.4,5,8,10

 

Daily count yourself dead to sin

Daily count yourself alive to God and offer him your body to use. 6.11

By faith release the life of Christ and reign in life as Paul did. Read his testimony in Galatians 2.20; Colossians 1.29; Ephesians 3.20; Philippians 2.13 and Romans 5.17.

 

Romans 8 is a glorious chapter about the Spirit-led life. Read how believers throw off condemnation and the law of sin and death, and move into the law of the Spirit of life, that’s 'Zoe,' the overcomer’s life.

c. Finally, Keep In Step With The Spirit.
In Gal. 5.25 Paul says that now we have true and real life by the Spirit, let us march with him in line like a soldier, prosperously, seeing things turn out well. But watch yourself, Paul also warns us about some temptations in this powerful Spirit-led life. 5.26 - 6.2.

To Close Pray For The

World's Most Unreached Peoples By Name

 

Taken from the Joshua Project 2000 Unreached Peoples List

at www.ad2000.org these people have no church and as yet

no cell, church or mission has committed themselves

to prayer, adoption or church planting among this people.

 

© Dr Les Norman | School of Christian Leadership, UK
Permission is granted to provide copies at cost price for study purposes

but not for sale or commercial purposes. Freely you have received, so please freely give.

 

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