The More Abundant Life

Ovr Lord spoke this word concerning the more abundant life when He said that He had come to give His life for His sheep: ‘‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly’’ (John 10: 10). A man may have life, and yet, through lack of nourishment, or through illness, there may be no abundance of life or power. This was the distinction between the Old Testament and the New. In the former there was indeed life, under the Law, but not the abundance of grace of the New Testament. Christ had given life to His disciples, but they could receive the abundant life only through His resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

All true Christians have received life from Christ. The greater portion of them, however, know nothing about the more abundant life which He is willing to bestow. Paul speaks constantly of this. He says about himself that the grace of God was ‘‘exceeding abundant’’: ‘‘I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.’’ ‘‘Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ.’’ ‘*We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”’

We have spoken of the sin of prayerlessness, and the means of deliverance, and how to be kept free from it. What has been said on these points is all included in that expression of Christ: ‘‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’’ It is of the utmost. importance for us so to understand this more abundant life, that we may clearly see that for a true life of prayer nothing less is necessary than that we should walk in an ever increasing experience of that overflowing life.

It is possible for us to commence this conflict against prayerlessness in dependence on Christ, and looking to Him to be assisted and kept in it, and yet to be disappointed. This is the case when

prayerlessness is looked upon as the one sin against —

which we must strive. It must be recognized as

part of the whole life of the flesh, and as closely

connected with other sins which spring from the same source. We forget that the entire flesh, with all its affections, whether manifested in the body or soul, must be regarded as crucified, and be handed over to death. We must not be satisfied with a feeble, but must seek for an abundant life. We must surrender ourselves entirely, that the Spirit may take full possession of us, and so manifest that life

in us, that there may come an entire transformation — in our spiritual being, by which the complete mas- —

tery of Christ and the Spirit is recognized.

What is it, then, which peculiarly constitutes this abundant life? We cannot too often repeat, or in different ways too often set it forth — the abundant life is nothing less than the full Jesus having the full mastery over our entire being, through the power of the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit makes known in us the fullness of Christ, and the abundant life which He gives, it will be chiefly in three aspects : —

I. As tHe Crucirrep Onz. — Not merely as the

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One who died for us, to atone for our sins; but as He who has taken us up with Himself on the cross, to die with Him, and who now works ont in us the power of His cross and death. You have the true fellowship with Christ when you can say: ‘‘I have been crucified with Christ — He, the Crucified One, lives in me.’’ The feelings, the disposition which were in Him, His lowliness and obedience even to the death of the cross — these were what He referred to when He said of the Holy Spirit: ‘‘He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you’’ — not as an instruction, but as child-like participation of the same life which was in Him.

Do you desire that the Holy Spirit should take full possession of you, so as to cause the Crucified Christ to dwell in you? Understand then, that this is just the end for which He has been given, and this He will surely accomplish in all who yield themselves to Him.

If. As tHe Risen Ont. — The Scripture frequently mentions the resurrection in connection with the wonder-working power of God, by which Christ was raised from the dead; and from which comes the assurance of ‘‘the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead’’ (Eph. 1: 19, 20). Do not pass hastily from these words. Turn back and read them once more, and learn the great lesson that, however powerless and weak you feel, the omnipotence of God is working in you; and, if you only believe, will give you in daily life a share in the resurrection of His Son.

Yes, the Holy Spirit can fill you with the joy and victory of the resurrection of Christ, as the power of your daily life, here in the midst of the trials and temptations of this world. Let the cross humble — you to death. God will work out the heavenly life — in you through His Spirit. Ah, how little have we understood that it is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit to make us partakers of the Crucified and Risen Christ, and to conform us to His life and death!

IIT. As tHE Gioririep OnzE. — The Glorified Christ is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. When the Lord Jesus Himself was baptized with the Spirit, it was because He had humbled Himself and offered — Himself to take part in John’s baptism of repent- — ance — a baptism for sinners — in Jordan. Even so, — when He took upon Himself the work of Redemption, He received the Holy Spirit to fit Him for His work from that hour till on the cross ‘‘He offered Himself without spot to God.’’ Do you desire that this Glorified Christ should baptize you with the Holy Spirit? Offer yourself then to Him for His service, to further His great work of making known to sinners the love of the Father.

God help us to understand what a great thing it is to receive the Holy Spirit with power from the glorified Jesus! It means a willingness — a longing of

the soul — to work for Him, and, if needs be, to suf-

fer for Him. You have known and loved your Lord, and have worked for Him, and have had blessing in that work, but the Lord has more than that to bestow. He can so work in us, and in our brethren around us, and in the ministers of the Church, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as to fill-our hearts with adoring wonder.

Have you laid hold of it, my reader? The abundant life is neither more nor less than the full life of Christ as the Crucified, the Risen, the Glorified One, who baptizes with the Holy Ghost, and reveals Himself in our hearts and lives as Lord of all within us.

I read not long since an expression — ‘‘Live in what must be.’’ Do not live in your human imagination of what is possible. Live in the Word — in the love, and infinite faithfulness of the Lord Jesus. Kiven though it is slow, and with many a stumble, the faith that always thanks Him — not for experiences, but for the promises on which it can rely — goes on from strength to strength, still increasing - in the blessed assurance that God Himself will perfect His work in us. 3