“He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.” (Job 12:22)

Before I had personally prayed to commit my life to Jesus I had been attending church on Sunday mornings with the family I was living with. I wasn't interested in religious things really, and was only going to church because I felt duty bound to do so because they were committed to it.

A simple prayer changed everything!

Then, one Friday afternoon while driving, I prayed a simple heartfelt prayer and asked Jesus to come into my life and help me. I had been struggling with alcohol and prayed the simple prayer in a fit of desperation. Afterwards, I felt a great sense of relief.

The following Sunday I was back in the same church as usual, but something was very different! The pastor seemed to be preaching much better and clearer than before! He was interesting! I could understand what he was talking about! I enjoyed it! Afterwards, I complimented him on his “new and improved” style of preaching. I told him I was glad he changed his preaching style and hoped he continued to preach this way instead of the boring way he usually did. He just looked at me and said, “Mike! I haven't changed! I spoke exactly the same way I always do! So, if it isn't me, something obviously must have changed with you!” I then remembered that I had prayed to invite Jesus into to my life.”

The light had come on with me!

Jesus is “the light of the world” and after I had received him, he brought his light into my life. That's why I was suddenly different. I was a new creation in Jesus! I had come to see the light!

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 NIV)

Love God first with all your heart! 

“I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Other translations say, “full life” or “satisfying life.” Whether the words in the verse are abundant, full or satisfying, the meaning is really about achieving the kind of life that Jesus intends for you to have -  a life that reflects what He has created you for.

The average lifetime

In his book, In an average lifetime, Tom Heymann says the average American spends 3 years in business meetings, 13 years watching TV, Spends $89,281 on food, consumes 109,354 pounds of food, Makes 1,811trips to McDonald's, Spends $6,881 in vending machines, Eats 35,138 cookies and 1,483 pounds of candy, Catches 304 colds, Is involved in 6 motor vehicle accidents, is hospitalized 8 times (men) or 12 times (women), and spends 24 years sleeping.

Wow! That is amazing! But, I really don't think his list describes the “abundant life” Jesus was talking about in John 10:10. That kind of life is very fulfilling, satisfying, or simply put, it’s happy.

Many get it wrong

There has been, and continues to be, a mountain of opinion, ideas, and instruction on the subject of achieving one’s potential, personal fulfillment and finding happiness. Humanistic psychologists put forth the idea that “self-actualization (the fulfillment of self through reaching one's potential) is the highest expression of a human's life.” Wrong!

Elevating one’s self won't do it for you

In contrast to the so called self actualization stuff which teach us to elevate the SELF and to place our own wants and desires in the first place of importance in our lives, we have the following instruction from Jesus Christ:

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Matt. 22: 37-40).

In other words

The answer is not about SELF, but it's about others, beginning with God first, and then your neighbor next. You already love yourself, and that's why Jesus says to love others as you love yourself.

Put God first, and He will take care of the rest

 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33)

I read in the newspaper this morning that the governor of our state just gave a full pardon to a long time prisoner. Now, that prisoner will be set free. His criminal records will be expunged as though they never existed. His slate will be completely clean. He is now a free man with a new beginning.

This is a picture of what happens when a person becomes “born again” as stated in the Bible in John 3:3 and 1 Peter 1:23.

A new creation

The Bible says it very clearly this way: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Declared righteous

At the moment a person becomes “born again,” God completely forgives their past! He no longer remembers their past sins as though they never happened! He then declares them to be a righteous person!

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1)

“Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:9-11)

Benefits for the righteous

There are wonderful benefits for the righteous in the form of God’s promises! Look what the Bible says about the righteous person.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’” (Psalm 92:12-15)

They will

• Flourish like a palm tree
• Grow like a cedar of Lebanon
• Be planted in the house of the Lord
• Flourish in he courts of our God
• Bear fruit in old age
• Stay fresh
• Stay green
• Proclaim great truths about the Lord:

"The Lord is upright”

“He is my rock”

“There is no wickedness in Him”

Claim the above promises for yourself!

They are for those who are saved. For those who have believed and confessed Jesus as their savior.

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:9-10)

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lam 3:25)

Timing is important! 

“Timing is so important! If you are going to be successful in dance, you must be able to respond to rhythm and timing. It’s the same in the Spirit. People who don’t understand God’s timing can become spiritually spastic, trying to make the right things happen at the wrong time. They don’t get His rhythm – and everyone can tell they are out of step. They birth things prematurely, threatening the very lives of their God-given dreams.” – T. D. Jakes

Let your heart take courage

“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary.” (Isaiah 49:31)

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34)

Not laziness

“Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.”—G. Campbell Morgan

And finally this …

"Frank wasn't known for his patience, and he had absolutely no use for negative conversation. When he got a call from his wife during a busy day at work, she talked slowly and didn't seem very upbeat. Frank interrupted her and exhorted her to be brief and positive. She paused for a moment and then cheerfully replied, 'I discovered the airbags in our new BMW work great!'" 

“Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25

You need others!

We all do! And as you get closer to the “Day approaching” you are going to need Christian brothers and sisters for encouragement and support! That is a huge reason to be a part of a solid fellowship of believers, a church.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:8-10)

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”(Gal. 6:2)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16)

“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6

You must sow seed and do it bountifully if you expect to get an abundant crop

What would you think of a farmer who said, "I'm not going to plant any corn seeds this year. When God gives me some corn, then I'll plant some seeds." So every day he's out there in the field checking it out for corn. "Hey God, where's my corn?" That guy's never going to get any corn. Sowing comes first, then you reap.

God does supply seed

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Cor. 9:10)

God causes what you have planted to grow

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” (1 Cor. 3:6-7)

You get what you plant so sow good things!

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Gal 6:7-9)

“Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37)

Sometimes, when going through life’s challenges, things look bad and it's difficult to feel victorious. But, we are victorious because God said so, and that settles it, no matter how things may appear.

The Battle of Waterloo

The news of the result of the Battle of Waterloo was eagerly awaited by the people of Great Britain because so much depended on it. Unfortunately, somehow or other, the message arrived to the people of Great Britain with one word short, and only two words arrived —'Wellington defeated'. The country was plunged into great despair and mourning, until the mistake was discovered, and the omitted third word arrived—Napoleon —so that it read 'Wellington defeated Napoleon'. Their sorrow was suddenly turned into joy.

We won! 

I have a friend who likes to say, “Hey, I have looked at the end of the book, and we won!” Of course he is referring to the book of Revelation in the Bible. He has discovered the secret of seeing the big and complete picture. God does and will work out everything for the good, no matter how it may look! (Romans 8:28)

God has made you victorious! Period!

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deut. 29:4)

“Butthanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Cor. 15:57)

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

“Any victory that does not more than conquer is just an imitation victory. While we are suppressing and wrestling, we are only imitating victory. If Christ lives in us, we will rejoice in everything, and we will thank and praise the Lord. We will say, ‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord’ forever.” – Watchman Nee

God has provided you with everything you need to be successful! He has filled the earth with everything needed for growth of all kinds. He has given you the ability to grow, excel, and be fruitful. 

Grow and be multiplied!

“But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.” (Acts 12:24)

He supplies and multiplies seed for growth

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Cor. 9:10)

Your faith is greatly enlarged and your love grows ever greater

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.” (2 Thess 1:3)

Grow in grace and knowledge

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

“I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”—John Newton

Because we were lost and we needed a savior

For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 3:11)

He came to save us

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” (1 Tim. 1:15)

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  (Luke 19:10)

According to His mercy

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6

 He is the only one who has the power and authority to save us

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts. 4:12)