Life To The Full

Life To The Full Is God’s Christmas Gift To You!

One of the traditions we have is to sit down and watch “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I don’t know what it is about that movie that makes me so emotional.  You love to hate the town despot, Mr. Potter. You love to love George Bailey who runs the local Savings & Loan, and doesn’t see how much he is helping people. An angel shows George what could have happened had he not invested in people and resisted Mr. Potter’s influence.

It’s a Wonderful Life exemplifies how one life well lived can make a huge positive impact! Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Jesus birth and life has changed the direction of all humanity. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.

I      The Gift Has Come – “I have come” God entered our physical world in the life of His Son Jesus. It’s a little bit like the many appearances the President made at ground zero after 9/11 to encourage people. But, Jesus showed up in our world, not only to encourage us, but to set the whole mess straight. This is the great incarnation, literally the in-flesh-ment. This is why we sing of Immanuel, God with us.

Scripture describes this fully. John 1:14  states “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. He came into the chaos as a child into a dark, unfriendly world. Yet, this child grew into the sin eater. He offered his life to atone for and purify all of humanity of their sins. He performed the great clean up. This is infinitely greater than the President arriving at ground zero.

II    The Gift Gives Life – “that they may have life” The gift that gives life. This is kind of  like the Red Cross; most people in churches get this in some way. Jesus came to die on the cross for our sins.We’ve heard it so many times it barely registers any more. But think… If he came to give life, what does that mean about our previous condition?

Yes, as Ephesians 2:1 says “you were dead in your transgressions and sins”. We were spiritually separated from God and dead, inert spiritually. So, by receiving the Gift of life, Jesus, we are made alive in Christ. We are regenerated spiritually and are born again.

There is a problem here. This gift of life cannot be borrowed. It must be received. As John 1:12 states “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. Literally – born of God. Many think because they grew up in a church going family they are OK with God. But they haven’t received the gift themselves, they tried to borrow it. They may listen to Charles Stanley every Sunday and say what a man of God, can you believe him?? Yet they live on words borrowed, but never personally received. Have you ever personally received the gift of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ?

III   The Gift Gives Fullness- “and have it to the full” We’ve all heard about Jesus. Many have heard this one verse we are talking about too. Yet few have really recognized and received the richness of blessings God is wanting to give us.

Like Joshua Bell, the violin virtuoso who played in a washington subway station unannounced. Joshua Bell plays a $3.5 million Stradivarius violin. When he plays in concert, he is paid $1,000/minute!! He played his violin for 30 minutes or so. During this time, only a few people stopped to watch.

Sometimes we can’t see the miracle unfolding before our very eyes. We expect a great concert of miracles, like a personal Carnegie Hall experience. Somehow we don’t see it in daily life. This certainly happened at the first advent of Jesus Christ. He came in a common way in a common town in rural Palestine. Few recognized His coming.

Yet, He was and is God with us, Immanuel. Today, we can run into the same problem. We miss that Jesus came to give us life in the full, more abundantly. How does He do that? He, the great gift comes to live in us by the Holy Spirit! He says, I will play within you!

How about 3 very simple and tangible examples that Jesus himself gives when He plays within you: Love, Joy, and Peace.

1. Love – John 15:9, 12 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

2. Joy – John 15:10 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

3. Peace – John 14:27     “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

You can receive these gifts in prayer right now! Simply pray “Lord, help me receive and experience those gifts of grace and glory that you have to offer me. I surrender to your leading Jesus. In Jesus name…Amen”.

Hear a message I preached at Kanata Baptist Church on this topic by clicking below: http://www.multiplyme.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Life-to-the-full_122814.mp3 Life To The Full Is God’s Christmas Gift To You!