DIG for Wednesday the 29th of November…..abundant life and eternal life is for right now…..John 10 v 10

I’ve just been listing to a song on Spotify called “I’ll Fly Away”, a song about a Christian looking forward to where they will go when they die.

This sentiment is something that I see often in the church and in my opinion is very wrong!

OK, it is fine to look forward to Heaven but when it is your focus that is not right.

Jesus died to bring us life in abundance, but not just in Heaven.

Jesus came to bring us eternal life, but that does not start when we die.

Abundant life and eternal life is for now while you are on earth.

I like the Christian Aid tagline that says, “We believe in life before death”.

Jesus wanted us to live in prosperity and health in this life, we are not meant to be just hanging on and scraping by until we get to Heaven.

Yes, Heaven will be great but your life on earth is supposed to be great as well.

I admit there will be difficulties and hardships at times however the Lord wants above all things that we live in health and prosperity (3 John 2).

Do not believe the doom and gloom merchants who tell you that this life is supposed to be one of poverty and sickness; that is just not Biblical.

Jesus never made anyone sick and never made anyone poor, in fact He did just the opposite.

And what Jesus did for those in the Gospels He wants to do for you; He wants you to live well here n earth and enjoy your life before you head into Heaven.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the abundant life that you have provided for me here on earth”.

John 10 v 10…..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

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DIG for Saturday the 26th of August…..the ultimate aim of sickness is to steal, kill and destroy…..John 10 v 10

There is an erroneous teaching in the body of Christ that says sickness can come from God in order to teach us a lesson or make us humble (see what people say about Paul’s thorn in the flesh).

This however is wrong teaching; sickness is not from God, in fact sickness originated at the fall along with death.

What people fail to realise is that sickness is a form of death.

Sickness is death in progress.

Not many in the church will now say that God will kill us however that is the ultimate aim of sickness.

Sickness is a killer, so how can we associate it with God?

It is the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10 v 10).

Jesus came to bring us life and life in abundance.

Sickness is trying to steal from you, kill you and destroy you; sickness is never about life and life in abundance.

That is why we should always resist sickness and fight it (James 4 v 7).

When people who teach that sickness can be from God I always ask them the same question; “why do you go to the doctor then?”

If sickness was a good thing and from God you should stay sick and learn your lesson, even if it kills you.

But deep down even people who teach this nonsense know that sickness is inherently evil so try to get rid of it.

Sickness is of the devil and needs to be be resisted with all our strength.

We should submit to the truths in the Word of God and thank God for the healing that has been provided through the finished work of Jesus.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you have already provided all the healing I will ever need”.

John 10 v 10…..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

DIG for Wednesday the 16th of August…..oh no, not “if it is Your will” again…..3 John v 2

There are some words that I fear from Christians more than others; “if it is Your will Lord” and “if it is His will” are among the worst.

This may sound humble and may sound like a good sentiment however it displays an ignorance of the Word of God and of the true character of God.

Take healing for example.

When speaking out healing or praying for healing, the words “if it is Your will Lord” is a statement of doubt and unbelief.

The Word is pretty clear that it is always God’s will for us to be healed.

Above all things He wants us to live in health and prosperity (3 John v 2).

Jesus came so that we could live in life, and life in abundance (John 10 v 10).

In the Gospels we see on a number of occasions where Jesus heals all that came to Him.

Never in the Gospels do we see Jesus refusing to heal, and we never see Him putting sickness or disease on a person.

We also see in Scripture that if we see Jesus we see God; He is the express image of the Father and can only do what He does.

So if we see Jesus always healing, we know it is always God’s will that we are healed.

Asking God if it is His will to heal shows an ignorance of Scripture, and shows an ignorance of the true nature of God.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that it is always your will that I live in health, and thank you for this provision through the finished work of Jesus”.

3 John v 2…..Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

DIG for Tuesday the 15th of August….provision always follow vision; I’ll always steal a good line…..1 Kings 17 v 2 to 4

I am never shy away from ‘stealing’ a good phrase or good teaching and this DIG is no exception!

I heard a Bible teacher last night say that provision always follows vision, and it made me think of my own experience and that of Elijah.

Elijah had a word from God (we could call this his vision or mission), and that was to go to the brook Cherith, where he would be provided with water and food.

His provision was not where he was, it was somewhere else.

Elijah took God’s word (his vision or mission) and went where he was told, and of course the provision was there.

I always had plans to move towards more ministry, but was always held back with my full-time secular work.

My plan was to put things in place for more ministry (including the finances) and then give up my job, but that just did not work.

God led me to resign my secular job without knowing how and where my needs would be met, other than knowing that God would provide.

And of course He did!

I had the vision, I put it into place (by leaving my work) and God had already made the provision for me.

My needs and the needs of my family are being met; God’s provision was there for me to put into place His vision.

You see, what I realised was that if we have a vision (or mission or task or role) from God He always follows up with the provision required.

In fact the provision is always in place before we even implement the vision; notice that He told Elijah He had already told the ravens to feed him.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you have already put in place the provision for any vision that you place in my heart”.

1 Kings 17 v 2 to 4…..And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastwards, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there

DIG for Friday the 11th of August…..it is not greedy to want to be rich…..2 Corinthians 9 v 8

I’ve just finished watching a corny and cheesy video on Facebook about what it means to be rich (I don’t know why I watch these things really).

The punch line was, “Being rich is not about what you have, it is about what you give”.

Now this is actually true!

The Bible is quite clear that prosperity and abundance is part of the ‘sozo package’ and is for every believer.

My experience is that most people in the church do not like that truth and want to believe the opposite.

But it is a Biblical truth, however there is a reason for a believer being rich, being prosperous and abundant.

It is not for you to spend on your own lusts, it is for you to give into need and to sow into the Kingdom.

Yes, you can use it to live in comfort and not live in lack, but it is not for your own greed.

We are provided with ‘bread’ for our own provision and ‘seed’ to give to others and to give into need (2 Corinthians 9 v 10).

We are really stewards of what God has given us and need to act in a Biblical manner with His riches.

As givers we become receivers and are able to give more into good works (2 Corinthians 9 v 8).

Never be afraid to be rich or want to be rich, just as long as your attitude is Biblical and your actions are Biblical.

Speak this out today….”Thank you Lord that you provided for my prosperity and abundance through the finished work of Jesus”.

2 Corinthians 9 v 8…..And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work

DIG for Monday the 24th of July…..I want you to have life and not just an existence…..John 10 v 10

As I was driving home from the airport this morning I really felt that I received a word from the Lord.

I was thinking about my life and how blessed I was, and the Lord said, “I want you to have life and not just an existence”.

It made me realise that my life is a blessing, and full of abundance, just as Jesus said it could be.

He came to bring us life in abundance (John 10 v 10).

Life is not meant to be day after day of drudgery, just getting by, just existing.

Life is for enjoyment, for fulfilment and yes, for pleasure.

My belief is that God was not just saying this for me this morning, but for all of you as well.

Jesus did not just want me to live life in abundance, but He wants it for all of us.

Jesus came for you as well as for everyone else.

Jesus has provided acceptance, adoption, healing and prosperity for you through His finished work.

Today I would urge you to take John 10 v 10 and make it your own.

I always finish my DIG by asking you to speak out a truth over your life; I really urge you to do that this morning.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that Jesus came to bring me life and life in abundance. I thank you that today, right now, I accept this abundant life; I take your acceptance, I take your adoption, I take your healing and I take your prosperity”.

John 10 v 10…..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

DIG for Wednesday the 28th of June…..please don’t chase after health and prosperity…..3 John 2

As you know I write quite often about prosperity and health being part of the ‘sozo’ package of our salvation.

Quite often people disagree with me about this, and this is their right.

I saw a comment on a website today, speaking out against the ‘prosperity gospel’ and read this, “we should not go chasing health and wealth”.

And guess what; I agree with them!

We should not go chasing health and wealth, as we do not need to.

We have been provided with wealth and health already through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Above all things God the Father wants us to live in health and prosperity (3 John 2).

God provided this life of abundance through Jesus (John 10 v 10).

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and part of his evil works is sickness and poverty.

So Jesus provided health and prosperity for us, therefore we do not need to chase after them.

God the Father loves us so He sent Jesus, and Jesus loves us so He provided health and prosperity on the cross.

My friends, there is no chasing to be done, just acceptance!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that above all things you want me to live in health and prosperity and you have provided for this through the finished work of Jesus”.

3 John 2…..Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest proper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

DIG for Monday the 26th of June…..never allow yourself to be moved from your prosperity…..Psalm 30 v 6

Prosperity can be seen as quite a ‘dirty word’ in many church circles.

However prosperity is so much more than just about money and material resources, although this is a major facet of prosperity (and the one that has a problem in the church).

During the church service yesterday someone read from Psalm 31, but when they were finished my eyes were drawn to a highlight I had made on another verse, Psalm 30 v 6.

This was a great reminder for me about the prosperity that the Lord has provided for me.

Above all things, the Lord wants me to live in health and prosperity (3 John 2) and has provided this prosperity through the finished work of Jesus, as part of my ‘sozo package’.

Prosperity is about being happy and in joy, it is about living an abundant life, and yes, it is about having more than adequate material resources.

And this is how you should be living as a disciple of Christ; this is one of the many things that He died to provide for you (John 10 v 10).

People may try to move you from this truth with wrong doctrine, however you need to be assured that Scripture tells you that prosperity is part of the sozo package.

Things may also happen in your life that may say prosperity is not for you, but this is the enemy trying to steak, kill and destroy what Jesus has already provided for you (John 10 v 10).

Prosperity is part of the great exchange that took place on the cross, with Jesus taking our poverty and providing richness (2 Corinthians 8 v 9).

Never be moved from this truth!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you want me to live in health and prosperity and you have provided this for me through the finished work of Jesus”.

Psalm 30 v 6…..And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved

DIG for Friday the 31st of March…..Jesus has provided all you need for life and godliness…..2 Peter 1 v 3

In 2 Peter 1 v 3 we see one of the most “life changing” verses in the Bible.

Sometimes we use that phrase “life changing” too much, but it is certainly true for this verse.

The first thing to see is that this verse is in the past tense; it is about something that has happened.

We have been given all things that we need pertaining to life and godliness.

And we are given the key to unlock all these things that include health, joy, peace and prosperity (among other things).

Can you see how important this verse is to you?

Can you see the key?

The key is knowledge of Jesus, He who has called us to glory and virtue.

You can change the direction of your life towards the abundant life that Jesus promised and away from sin and ungodliness.

You can transform your life for the better.

The key is increasing your knowledge of Jesus, and that is done through rightly dividing the Word of truth, the Bible.

Yes, it really is that simple; it may not be easy but it is simple.

Bible study is not boring; Bible study is life changing!

As we increase our knowledge of Him we renew our minds to the truth of the Word and speak out this truth.

This will change our lives for the better.

Go on and give it a try!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you have already provided me with all things pertaining to life and godliness”.

2 Peter 1 v 3…..According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue

DIG for Saturday the 14th of January…..the key is being content, not rich or poor but content…..1 Timothy 6 v 8

You’ll not be surprised to know that I am still meditating over the many experiences I had in India recently.

One of the main things that have impacted on me is the contentment of the believers that we met.

Paul writes to Timothy (and us) telling him to be content with what he has (1 Timothy 6 v 8).

This is not saying that Timothy (or us) has to live in poverty and need.

What Paul is saying is that whatever state you find your self in be content.

If you are rich be content and if you are poor you are also to be content.

If you live in plenty or live in need be content.

The Word never says we should live in poverty or need, contrary to what religion may teach you.

Jesus came so that we could live in abundance John (10 v 10).

Above all things God wants us to live in health and prosperity (3 John 2).

Jesus came and was made poor so that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8 v9).

We are not meant to live in poverty or need however if we are ever in that state, and as we endeavour to come out from that, we are even then to be content.

In India I saw many people wanting to receive a better education, get a better job and make a better life for themselves and their families however at the same time they were content.

They were living out 1 Timothy 6 v 8 as they moved into living out John 10 v10, 2 Corinthians 8 v 9 and 3 John 2.

There is a lot we in the West can learn from these contented brothers and sisters.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you do indeed want us all to live in abundance and prosperity, and thank you for tat provision you made through the finished work of Jesus”.

1 Timothy 6 v 8…..And having food and raiment let us be therewith content