Abundance

Good afternoon all. 

I was praying about a topic for this week.  Today’s sermon at church hit a part of me that resonated.  The concept was that of abundance.  What do you think of when you hear the term abundance? Is it an overflowing amount of physical things?  Food, money, number of Facebook friends, worldly possessions?  True abundance is the grace that God gives us, and what can flow from that action.  What about having an abundant life?

Abundance is frequently mentioned in the Bible as something God offers to those who trust in Him. Scripture says that God will provide an abundant life to those who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Abundance in this sense means a life full of everything you need to sustain yourself in joy and purpose.

When Jesus met the disciples after his resurrection along the lake shore.  He provided them with an abundance of fish, so much that they could barely haul in the nets, they were so full.  He then had them share the abundance at their breakfast.  Not only does God bless us with abundance, he gives us the ability to accept his abundance.

2 Corinthians 9:8 “ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

Proverbs 3:10 “then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”  Sounds pretty good!  But this is not a result of our works, but that of God blessing us with his grace!

Romand 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Abundance in Hope!  Abundance in Joy!  Abundance In life!  How can we share this abundance with those in our church?  How can we share this abundance with those in our community?

The past 2 years have changed us forever.  The old ways will not work.  The disciples’ old ways of fishing no longer worked for them.  Jesus told them to throw the nets onto the other side of the boat.  We need to embrace our new ways, our new abundance as we invent new ways to worship, new ways to evangelize, new ways to make disciples of Christ.  We will also have new abundance.  Everything we need to abound in our new works.

What is your new abundance?  What is your new wineskin?  How is God making you new?