Who You Become Depends on what You Receive Part 2 by Bill Click

 

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John10:10)

In part 1, we looked at this saying of Jesus as though we have never heard or read it before. We set aside the teaching we’ve had on it and the ways we’ve understood it. Not because all that was wrong, but because we truly need to receive a “now” from the Lord as to how this revelation of Christ applies to our lives “today” (Hebrews 3:7,13,15; 4:7; 11:1).

Jesus Came so that We Would “Have Life More Abundantly”

As human beings, when we hear “abundant life” we tend to automatically measure it in terms of what we see that seems abundant, as well as what we think, feel or desire that seems to be lacking in our lives. To do so, however, is to operate from the soul realm of the mind, will and emotions. Earlier, to the woman at the well Jesus made it clear:

“The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

First, foremost and always: our connection with God is Spirit dependent. It begins with the Father, and it takes place within us in spirit. (John 3:27; 6:44). That means that this life “more abundantly” does not originate from our natural understandings, motivations or passions. Instead, it is a God-energy and quantity of life that supersedes all earthly existence. This is born out in what (even earlier) Jesus had said to the woman:

“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14).

Jesus uses the phrase “eternal life" to signify what His refreshing “water” would give to the woman. In the Greek, “eternal life" (aionios zoe) can be equivocated as “perpetual life that is not rooted in, conditioned on, or limited by the natural realm.” I realize some would say “that’s Heaven; that means when we die.” But when you look throughout John’s Gospel at the extent and emphases of Jesus in using this word “life" (zoe), you see that it is much more about “life" that is neither scheduled for after death, nor is it future oriented.  It is “life" in the now, even though it is eternal in its experience and measure. 

The Life Jesus Gives

So a primary usage of that word zoe is what we find in John 10:10. That is the type of “life" Jesus was, is, came with, and gives to those who receive it. In fact, He uses the word “have" (echo) in combination with “life" (zoe) and “more abundantly” (persissos). The word perissos means excessively superior and preeminently superabundant. This is not only what Jesus came to give us, but it is in fact who He Himself is (see John 11:25). This “life" is not rooted in the natural; it is instead a supernatural life lived out in a material world, one that is excessively superior and preeminent in superabundance. It is a “life" “more abundantly” that reverberates (echo) outward and touches others with its very same essence.

In other words, we were given some one and some thing so God-like, that if we really walk in it, we will impact others in ways it has been and is now impacting us. This is why it is so very, very important that we each receive more “life" than we have ever had before. For us to be true representatives of Christ in the Spirit, we must each have something vitally alive in our spirits to carry which causes others to be transformed, just as we have been and continue to be.

Therefore, we need to keep the following before us. As human beings, we tend to measure “abundant life” in terms of what we can see, as well as what we think, feel, or desire that seems lacking in our own lives. But to do so is to operate from the soul realm of the mind, will and emotions, not the aionios Zoe echo which Christ is: a perpetual life that is not rooted in, conditioned on, or limited by the natural realm which reverberates outward and touches others with its very same Essence.

Jesus Comes to Edify You

The Enemy comes to criticize you, but Jesus comes to edify you. The word “edify” is oikodomeo, and is translated in differing places as either “build” or “rebuild” (1Cor.10:23). Criticism tears you down, but Jesus builds you up. And if you have been demonically torn down, Christ comes in the Spirit specifically to rebuild you. Jesus edifies His Church in not only a way it will last, but also so that it is firmly founded on the very Zoe He is, according to the “revelation” He will release (Mt.16:16-18; Jn.16:7,13).

Jesus Comes to Endorse You

The Enemy comes to minimize you, but Jesus came to endorse you. The “approval” of God comes from His Glory (doxa - John12:43). Whereas many today would seek after the results of “life" “more abundantly,” the Lord made it clear that we are to seek the His eternal realms in the Spirit which are forever approved. These realms of Christ’s glory will reverberate (echo) outward and touch others with the same Essence we have been transformed by (Col.1:27).

"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal" (John 6:27).

Christ is calling us to His perpetual life that is not rooted in, conditioned on, or limited by the natural realm. A “life" “more abundantly” which reverberates outward and touches others with the very same Essence.

Jesus Comes to Expand You  

The Enemy comes to illegitimize you, but Jesus comes to expand you. Christ wants who He is in you enlarged, so that what He wants to do through you can be expanded. We have never needed supernatural demonstrations of the Kingdom of God more than we do today. We need pure moves of God that are free from hype, exaggeration, casual familiarity, pride and self-advancement. That said, it is normal for human beings who have never experienced the Supernatural to be somewhat cynical. And also normal that some have felt betrayed by what man did with what God was doing.

Cynicism and betrayal are not normal, however, for the Christian who truly loves God, who knows that only Jesus Christ can make the difference, and that only a fresh, perpetual, yet continually maturing move of the Holy Spirit will gather the harvest. The Enemy will use any and every thing available to get you to back away from Christ’s enlargement in you, because Hell fears you becoming expanded in the Spirit, knowing His true work will then be expanded through you.

Good news! A word the Lord has given me recently for His people is that “God has a set up, and He’s not going to let up, until you get up into all He has for you.” Be confident: the Lord is doing His part to bring you into all He has for you. But do not wait for God to do run you down, however. Press in to what He is calling for so you can identify and align with what the Spirit is doing to magnify Jesus. Do so both personally and among each other in the Body of Christ.

Jesus Comes to Embrace You

The Enemy comes to ostracize you, but Jesus comes to embrace you. Jesus Christ will never exclude, banish, shun, ignore, or snub you. It has been made clear throughout Scripture that we will never be abandoned by God (Heb.13:5). He sent this assurance to us through the Holy Spirit, who abides within and among us (Romans 8:9-17; John14:16-18).

That means that as we cling to Christ by the Holy Spirit, we cannot be kept from absolutely any part of what God has for us as we obey Him. The Enemy has told many that they cannot go forward. All the reasons of Hell are lies, because you are not limited to being embraced by others, you have been designed to be continually built, approved and expanded as you are continually embraced by God. There is no force - either demonic or human - that can keep you from the appointed ways of God as you seek daily to purposefully receive more of the “life more abundantly” which reverberates outward and touches others with its same essence.

Bill Click

rpm5clicks@juno.com