I Came so that You may have Abundant Life

John 10:10

by Rev. Raul S. Nejudne

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A. God Gave Us an Abundant and Happy Life

What is an abundant and happy life?

Is abundant life defined by money? Or by Luxurious living? Or Influence and Power?

So many people would like to confine their definition of abundant life in money, luxury with power and influence.

But the question is: If money, luxury and power are the only measure of a happy and abundant life, why is it that there are so many rich and influential people who committed suicide?

I browsed the internet and searched for the names of the rich and famous who committed suicides.

I find the names of Prince Alfred of Edinburgh (1899); George Washington Adams (1829)—the eldest son of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States; Edward Howard Armstrong (1954)—an American electrical engineer and the inventor. He has been called “the most prolific and influential inventor in radio history.

I also found the names of Pierre Beregovoy, (1993) – a French Prime Minister; Mary Kay Bergman (1999)—American Voice Actress; Brutus, (42 BC) Roman Politician, the assassin of Julius Caesar; Cleopatra (30 BC) Queen of Egypt; and so many names we can't possibly include in our list here.

There was an article I read in the internet before that says, “…those who achieved all the worldly success they ever wanted to achieve without achieving happiness and satisfaction, would conclude that nothing will ever make them happy. In response, they seek oblivion in drugs and death… (http://chrisyeh.blogspot.com/2011/01/reason-rich-famous-commit-suicide.html)

Now, if money, luxury and power cannot give us the assurance of an abundant and happy life, where can we find a guaranteed source of abundant and happy life?

Jesus gave us the assurance that in Him we can find life in abundance. 

In the gospel of John, Jesus said in chapter 10:7, “… I am telling you the truth: I am the gate of the sheep …” and continues in v.10b by saying, “… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

B.  God Designed Mankind To Be Fruitful

What do you see in this picture?

Most of you can only see seeds.

But if we will look beyond what our eyes can see in the picture, we can also see life and possibilities.

If these seeds will be planted in the soil, chances are: it will grow and develop leaves, then it will become a seedling, a small tree, and then becomes a growing tree and soon it will mature and will bear its own fruits... with seeds.

When God created mankind, He said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)

In other words, God designed mankind to be fruitful.

 

Jesus told His disciples that “...you did not choose Me , but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” (John 15:16)

It’s good to remember that Jesus choose and appointed us that we should go… and bear fruit, not just any kind of fruit but fruits that should remain. In Contemporary English Version the term used was “fruit that will last.” In Today’s English Version, the term used is “fruit that endures.”

What are these fruits that would remain or last or endures? Fruits that would remain or last means fruits or results in our lives that would continue beyond our lifetime.

So many people labor for the wealth of this world: money, luxury and power. The Bible tells us that all things in this world are meant to be destroyed by fire in the end. 

In the second epistle of St. Peter he asked the early believers saying, "...knowing that all things we see shall be destroyed by fire, what kind of people should we be?" Then he said, “…your lives should be holy and devoted to God.” (2Pet 3:10,11 Easy-to-Read Version). The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, admonished the Corinthian Christians that they should not focus on the things that are seen but on the things that are unseen because the things that can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever. (2Cor 4:18)

Back to Jesus' admonition to His disciples in John 15:4, 5. It is noteworthy to remember this very important principle on bearing fruits. Jesus admonished His disciples by saying, “Remain united to me, and I will remain united with you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me… those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.”

This admonition continues to speak to us today.  We need to remember this: God made each one of us to become fruitful. If we are to become what God wanted us to become, then we need to always remain united with Jesus.

C. God Made Us With A Purpose!

The Bible tells us that God has been at work since the beginning of time to fulfill His own purpose. God spoke through the Prophet Isaiah saying, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me… I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46:9b-10)

God's purpose to those whom He chose will stand... and for sure it will come to pass.

Do you believe that in our present conditions we can be fruitful?

 

Of course the answer is a very big Yes! If we can fulfill what God intended us to become, then we will become fruitful in whatever condition and position we are.

Jesus is the best example for us. 

He lived a life being a carpenter’s son and died in the cross in His prime. Yet up on the cross when He received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished, and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”  (John 19:30)

Now, let us examine how the biblical writers describe Jesus’ life here on earth. 

In Philippians 2:8-11, the Apostle Paul said, “He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Because Jesus fulfilled the very purpose of His coming here on earth, God gave Him the honor that all beings will openly proclaim that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

That was how fruitful He was on His short stay here on earth.

By the world’s standard, Jesus was very far from being fulfilled. He died in a dreadful and tragic death that most people on His days would despise. Yet in God’s eyes His death was the very reason for His coming to earth. That was why up in the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished!”

Challenge:

What about us?

Do we know the purpose for which God has created us?

Well, Jesus told us that He chose us so that we should go and bear fruit that will last. I believe that we need to reflect and ask ourselves if we are fulfilling the very purpose of being chosen.

If ever, at some point in time, we have some reservations on the condition of our faith journey, we need to ask God for His direction. James tells us that God is generous and gracious to all who asks Him. But James also warns us that when we ask God's direction, we need to ask Him in faith and not doubt. For whoever doubts in asking God cannot expect to receive anything from Him. (James 2:5-8)

So beginning today, we need to look forward on what God will do through us. He has already given each one of us a seed or seeds that should be used wisely for His honor and glory. Knowing that His purpose and intention will stand until it find its fulfillment, we can run the race with confidence that there is nothing in this world nor the world above or below can stop what God has started in us.

We may look poor, pitiful and wanting in the eyes of the people around us but know, my brothers and sisters, that there is already that source of abundant life that flows in each one of us. That is the very reason why Jesus came.

Let us all face the coming years of service to our Lord with great hope and enthusiasm knowing that one day our lives will eventually fulfill God’s purpose. Let us work together and live a happy and abundant life as God designed us to become.

Amen.

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This message was delivered during the 4th Church Anniversary of Trinity Christian Fellowship at Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 12, 2013. 

The Tale of The Comfort Rooms

One of the outreaches of Trinity Christian Fellowship (TCF) is in the Doem Sleing District of Phnom Phen. Resident of this district are known to be poor in hygiene and sanitation. TCF staff who goes to the community for their feeding and Bible Study programs often complain of the disturbing smell which are obviously from human waste.

Waste everywhere.

When I came to Phnom Phen in January, Rev. Sam Pacha, Pastor of TCF shared with me the need for a community toilet in this district. He asked me to prepare a plan for a community toilet. When I came back to PP, I prepared another plan. This time for the Doem Sleing District. Ptr Sam wanted to present this project to a group of students from the Singapore Management University visiting the Hope Learning Center, an educational assistance ministry pioneered by Pastor Sam.

These Singaporean students visited the Doem Sleing District in the past and gave similar observation of foul odor. Pastor Pacha told them that they, too, had been suffering from this stench since the time TCF started to minister in the area. He also shared to the group their prayer for God to send somebody or a group of people who would provide a community toilet even just to serve the children and some of the church members living nearby.

The Singaporean team with the locals.

And God answered the prayer of the church.

Just in time of my arrival in Phnom Penh, the fund for the toilet was ready and I was asked to handle the project.

The church explored to build the toilet in the houses of one of their members in the Doem Sleing District who readily agreed with a request that their floor would also be repaired. They had been praying for some time already that somebody would help them repair their flooring because it was no longer safe. They shared to the church their prayer concerns especially that the rainy season is fast approaching.

Indeed, God is a God who listens to the pleas of His children.

The bed is the spot where the toilets were constructed.

As an engineer, my first struggle was to decide what kind of material to be used to suit to the requirement of the project. I do not know the place and I do not know the language. So I asked Pastor Sam to give me somebody who can help me look around and do canvassing of materials that we can use for the project.

Tadah!!!

Since the toilet would be constructed inside the house and it needed to be finished in one week because the SMU students would like to do the ceremonial opening, I decided to use steel pipes with concrete flooring. I also have to use a squat type toilet bowl because most Cambodians are comfortable using the squat type than conventional toilet bowl.

Doing the canvassing, buying the materials needed and communicating with the construction workers was really an extra challenge for me. Google sketchup software proved to be handy and useful in drawing a 3D presentation to the workers and even to some material suppliers and to the people who helped me in the process.

It was happy day as dedicated the toilets to the Lord.

During the 5-days work, I always ask God to help me communicate with whomever I get in touch with who do not know either English or the language we use in the construction.  Despite our deficiencies God has empowered us to finish the project, to repair the damaged flooring and a roof extension for the feeding program and Bible study session. The Lord has His own way of filling up every shortcomings we have at hand.

Now their flooring is safer.

In all these things, language was never a hindrance. To God be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.