KEY VERSE:
“ 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
My friend, Tommy Hanrahan, leads Firestarter Church in Dublin. He is a passionate evangelist and is always looking for ways to share the Gospel. Last year Tommy purchased a large van and painted it yellow. It sticks out like a…well, a big yellow truck; you can’t miss it. If you do travel behind it or attend an outreach event, you will read in big red letters on the rear of the van this quote:
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
The enemy has a plan for your life and that plan is to kill, steal and destroy you; he has shipwrecked the lives of so many people by addiction, abuse, wrong relationships and deception. The good news is that Jesus also has a plan for your life and His plan leads you into a full and abundant life. Here are some ways to have that life:
1. Stay in the Flock
When Jesus compares us to sheep it’s not necessarily a compliment! If sheep see a break in a fence, it’s an opportunity to leave the safety of the field and go play in the traffic and if one sheep wanders into that danger, you can be certain a whole bunch of others will follow! A full life involves being part of a flock; you were never designed to be on your own. You were created for community and formed for family so don’t try to be a loner as a Christian; even the Lone Ranger had Tonto! Choose to stay connected to Life Group and become an active member of church life and see the fullness of doing life together.
2. Feed on Green Pastures
There is so much spiritual junk food out there in Facebook posts, media, books and songs. It is so important that you and I eat right: I see that Maddie always reads the labels to see what is in the dish before she puts a meal together. So, what does junk food look like?
· Junk food gives quick, but fleeting spiritual satisfaction
· Junk food lacks deep, real spiritual value
· Junk food provides a “feel good” spiritual high with no correction, challenge or call to obedience
Any questions on a resource, please first ask your Life Group leader “is this good food?” Also read the word of God every day; you can be certain of its ingredients!
TESTIMONY
IAN RAYNER
John 10:10 is my favourite verse in the Bible; it really sums up my life!
The first part talks about how the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. Well, he certainly didn’t hold back on me! From the beginning, I was abused: once by my mum, then abused in all manner of ways by a family member. This was the foundation to me getting into a life of crime and drugs, even resulting at one point to breaking into churches. Why would God want me?
Then, at my lowest point, at death’s door (literally – I overdosed twice!) and living a squalid, hopeless, destroyed life, Jesus reached out to me through a Christian on the street and within months, my life began to be transformed. The Holy Spirit flooded into my life and began to help me take hold of the fullness of life that Jesus was promising me in this verse, but I had to cooperate and still do, 24 years later.
These 24 years have been an absolute adventure (and yes, tough at times) but that’s life, and I know as I continue to let God steer me, the adventure continues. I have a hope that’s a solid anchor and a future to look forward to. He has blessed me with the amazing, good gift of a wife, a healthy business and an answered prayer of a home with a sea view. And as if that wasn’t enough, He restored my relationship, through the power of forgiveness, with my mum whom I had not seen for 44 years, resulting in her giving her life to Jesus (who I had the honour of leading her to) before she finally went home to be with Him. Also, what the devil tried to use to destroy me, God turned around and again, through forgiveness, healed the abusive family member of cancer, briefly before they went home to Jesus.
Truly a life being lived to the full 😊
What has God said to you through today’s promise?