In John 10:10 Jesus is quoted as saying, "... I am come that they might have life and that they might [live] it more abundantly." Many ministers and lay members of the church are afraid to acknowledge this scripture because they feel that it casts a less than favorable light upon themselves and members of their church if they are not all living as abundantly a Jesus professed they ought to live.

The first approach to denigrating the belief in abundance is to suggest that God was not referring to financial well-being, a fine education, quality trade skills, good health, fine relationships and all other things that normal humans would associate with an abundant, quality life. But, in Matthew 7:9-11, God counters that line of thinking with, "... what man is there of you, whom if his son asks [for] bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks [for] a fish, will he give him a serpent? If [Man], being evil, knows how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father in heaven give good things to them [who] ask Him?" This reminds us that even a lowly good man (or woman), given the means, would do as well as s/he is able for loved family, and God is infinitely more loving, able and willing. God was already identified in Ephesian 3:20 as He who "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us". That power (dynamis, G1411, Strong's concordance) referred to here is ability of the Redeemed to apply God's power (of His Faith via His Word) to do mighty works, exhibit astonishing feats of strength, perform miracles, display uncommon virtue, behave with uncanny morality and demonstrate incomparable mental skill and emotional sensitivity. We are also empowered to gain uncommon social influence, power, wealth, and resources with or without armies.

To be even more emphatic about the fullness of the abundance of life that the Redeemed should live, preceding post-resurrection ascension to Heaven, Jesus spoke to a couple disciples as recorded in John 12: 12-14, saying "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And, whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it."

The above-described messages are very clear to me. If any Believer attempts to tell you otherwise, let them consider acquiring a much stronger dose of belief. Christians are to live abundantly, in fact, more abundantly.