God wants people to have an abundant life through Jesus (John 10:10b). He has created pathways for this to happen. This summary is not intended to be comprehensive but introductory. It is planned that each "Plan Pathway" of this summary (e.g. meditation, prayer, worship, etc.) be a topic unto itself.
1. The starting point is the gift of salvation and eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus (John 3:16).
2. Receiving the gift makes the individual into a new person (II Corinthians 5:17)
A. He has the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
B. He loves God in return (I John 4:19)
C. He lives by faith (Galatians 2:20)
D. He wants to live for Christ (II Corinthians 5:15) which is done through discipleship and living within the boundaries of God's Word (John 8:31-32)
E. It includes loving obedience (John 14:15) and doing good works (Ephesians 2:10) that Jesus says are not only what He was doing but even greater than He did (John 14:12).
3. Fundamental to the abundant life is having a plan through which God bestows abundance (Philippians 2:12b-13). God supplies the desire and power to do the plan (vs.13), but the believer is to “work out” the plan (vs. 12b)
A. Every pathway of one’s personal plan can be found in God’s Word (Psalm 119:105). All plans will have some paths in common. However, individual plans will vary depending on such factors as family position (husband, wife, father, mother, child), spiritual gifts, calling, etc.
B. Some parts of the plan are ongoing, that is they are to happen all day long.
1. Meditation on God's Word (Psalm 1:2-3)
2. Prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17)
3. Worship (Psalm 34:1)
4. Testing everything, clinging to the good and abstaining from evil (I Thessalonians 5:21-22)
5. Giving thanks, not for, but in every circumstance (I Thessalonians 5:18)
6. Managing our time (Ephesians 5:15-17)
C. Other factors
1. Appointed (specific) times of meditation (Psalm 63:5-6)
2. Identifying, confessing, and being forgiven of one’s sins (I John 1:9)
3. Loving, serving, and fellowshipping with other believers (Philippians 2:1-4, John 13:35,
Matthew 20:26, Hebrews 10:24-25)
4. Being held accountable by others and holding others accountable (Galatians 6:1)
D. Since children can't do this themselves, it is the parents' responsibility to raise them in this context (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4). The parent who refuses to do this deserves a most severe judgment (Matthew 18:6).
E. It is the pastor's responsibility to see that the abundance is flowing to EACH ONE of the sheep in his flock (Acts 20:28) and to teach the flock ministry skills (Ephesians 4:11-14). Most believers have never had a pastor who has fulfilled this personal shepherding role in their life.
NOTE: every path that is missing from a person’s plan diminishes the abundance (blessings, joy, power, etc.) of life enjoyed.
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