Peninsula Vineyard Christian Fellowship Sunday, June 1, 2008

An Abundance Gospel of the Kingdom

or

God’s surprising measure of fullness

For those of us swimming in the charismatic stream, a much-loved Scripture verse quotes Jesus saying: “I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10 : 10, NIV), or “ . . . more abundantly.” (KJV) We are thrilled to hear Jesus speak of abundance and we begin immediately, to dream of “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1 : 17) To our embarrassment, we (the collective, Charismatic ‘we’) often become like spoiled children awaiting the deluge of gifts under the Christmas tree. Or, others of us may become spiritual Pollyannas who steadfastly claim gifts which are not there, all the while., desperately hoping that they will materialize if we just persevere and keep the faith.. Still others of the collective ’we’ teach that, if you don’t live in the lap of American luxury, it is because you’ve lost your salvation, you’re in sin, or you refuse to name, and claim, your inheritance,

But what about the rest of the collective ‘we’, for whom these options come up short on satisfaction? Is there a word on abundance to clarify Scripture’s intent?

Matthew 13 : 1-23

Kingdom abundance—a farming illustration—Matthew 13 : 1-9

Kingdom abundance—but why parables? - Matthew 13 : 10-17

Kingdom abundance—a life illustration—Matthew 13 : 18-23

Kingdom abundance—as Solomon saw it—Ecclesiastes 5 : 10-20

If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desire not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us; we are like ignorant children who want to continue making mud pies in a slum because we cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a vacation at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. C. S. Lewis