When I first heard the term “the more abundant life,” which is based on John 10:10, I thought it meant the physical abundance that is available—a good-paying job, nice car, nice clothes, nice house—all the things in the physical realm that would make a person prosperous and comfortable in this world. With God, all those things are available; however, as I eventually learned, there is a much larger category of abundance that supersedes the physical abundance. The more abundant life we can enjoy is primarily in the spiritual abundance that God made available in the new birth.
John 10:10:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus Christ] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
We will focus on three ways we have abundance in the spiritual realm—having peace with God, having bold access to our heavenly Father, and having our spiritual understanding enlightened. And we will see how to claim this abundance.
One way we have spiritual abundance is that we have peace with God.
Romans 5:1:
Therefore being justified by faith [believing what Jesus Christ did], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have peace with God as part of the gift of holy spirit we received in the new birth. We can be thankful for the peace of God that we have received spiritually by way of the accomplishments of Jesus Christ. Anything and everything that kept us separated from God has been eliminated. No amount of turmoil or strife surrounding us can change that.
One way to claim this peace in our lives is to control our thinking and direct our thoughts to God and His Word.
Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Another component of our spiritual abundance is our access to our heavenly Father.
Romans 5:2:
By whom [Jesus Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 3:12:
In whom [Jesus Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
How’s that for spiritual abundance! We have direct access to the Creator of the heavens and the earth! What an abundant resource for us to utilize. One way to claim this access is by boldly going to God for help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16:
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
A third component of our spiritual abundance is the availability of having our spiritual understanding enlightened.
Ephesians 1:18:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
II Timothy 2:7:
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
God tells us it is available to have our eyes enlightened and to understand spiritual truths! Prophets of old desired to know the spiritual truths that were kept secret in the Old Testament and even during Christ’s earthly ministry, yet they are available to us today to know and understand. We claim this truth by reading and studying God’s Word and living the truths therein. This definitely is the more abundant life!
With the new birth, God has given us spiritual abundance to claim. We can have the physical abundance that is promised and much more than that—abundance in the spiritual category. As born-again believers, let’s claim what God has given us and enjoy the rich, spiritual abundance that is ours today.