Greetings in the name of our loving Heavenly Father and His all-powerful Holy Spirit, with whom we have been reconciled through Jesus. The great gift of Salvation is not just a ticket to heaven; it is also the promise of an abundant life here on earth (John 10:10).
So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children [giving anything], for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” —Luke 18:29-30, emphasis added
When you give your life to Him, He will reveal to you a life of abundance. This abundant life includes deliverance, protection, healing, and the promise of well-being. It brings peace, with nothing missing and nothing lacking. You will experience freedom from curses and evil that are becoming more prevalent in the world (2 Timothy 3:13) in these End Times. However, this abundant life is a gift that we must be willing to receive.
Just because the gift is available does not mean it happens automatically. For example, if I gave you a gift in a large box and you opened it to find a $100,000 check on top of a pile of tissue paper, you might think, “Alright!” If you needed that money to pay your mortgage today to avoid foreclosure, you would grab the check and rush to the bank. However, if you did not look carefully, you might miss the millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds hidden within the tissue paper. You could even throw the box away in your excitement to meet your immediate need.
This is an example of how people often treat Salvation. Jesus saves individuals from hell, which addresses an immediate need since life is but a vapor (James 4:14) and can end at any moment. However, many people go about their lives without being involved in a church, without praying, and without reading their Bibles. As a result, they remain unaware of the abundant blessings that Jesus has provided for them.
God declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). This statement by our Heavenly Father is not referring to book knowledge but to knowledge of THE BOOK. Sadly, some people read or hear the Bible and neglect to do what it says, thereby deceiving themselves (James 1:22). The adversary does not even need to get involved when people do this on their own. It’s not just about adhering to a set of laws to avoid punishment; it is about understanding how the Kingdom of God operates and how to receive the blessings of an abundant life.
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think of everything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. —2 Corinthians 3:5-6
In the Scripture above, we understand that it is not enough to rely solely on the written Word, as the letter alone can kill. It requires the teaching of the great Holy Spirit to truly understand the Word (John 14:26). Each person has been given spiritual gifts, with the most significant being the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Eph. 4:11). These roles, called the five-fold ministry of Jesus, should be found most commonly within the church congregation.
Not everyone is called by the Holy Spirit to be part of the five-fold ministry. This does not mean that these individuals are superior to other believers; rather, they are held to a higher standard and carry a greater responsibility (Luke 12:48, Hebrews 13:17). It’s important to note that they are not infallible; they still make mistakes. Just because the expectations are high does not mean they will not sometimes fall short.
The Holy Spirit is the one who gifts ministers for the purpose of building up the Church, believers, enabling them to carry out the work of the ministry. These ministers help build up the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12). Therefore, it is important to be part of a church where these ministers are present. As we observe the day of the Lord approaching, we are instructed to gather in these environments all the more (Heb. 10:25). Attending church is not an option for those who desire the abundant life. The fivefold ministry helps believers grow into the image of Jesus by imparting gifts and revelations to the body of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit within them. YouTube will not suffice as a main source of spiritual growth because of the abundance of deception and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI has no spiritual substance other than antichrist.
The Holy Spirit serves as our helper, providing clarity regarding the Word of God. Jesus told the woman at the well that believers must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Truth is the Word of God. It is not about your truth or someone else’s truth; it is the truth (John 17:17). Jesus also says, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). To know the truth, one must first have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, who is the teacher of truth.
The word “know” means to have an intimate relationship. To truly know someone means to perceive, understand, and possess knowledge about that person. The Holy Spirit empowers us to comprehend the Word. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we cannot understand God sending His only begotten Son to die for us on the Cross and then be resurrected. The Holy Spirit gives you that understanding. He is the one you encounter before Jesus, for no one can declare that Jesus is Lord unless it is revealed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3).
The abundant life is found, activated, and lived out through a relationship with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. This relationship regulates the flow of abundant life. This is why Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He desires for you to experience the abundant life that He died for you to have. Commandments are not merely rules to follow; they are expressions of His loving guidance that lead us into that abundant life.
If you have accepted Jesus, you have received eternal life, similar to receiving the $100,000 check I spoke of. However, until you dig through the tissue paper, the Word of God, with the Holy Spirit, you will never fully discover the abundant life that is available to you here and now.
Perilous times require protection and understanding, knowing what to do (1 Chron. 12:32). Such guidance is found in an intimate relationship with God. This relationship should be your refuge, the place you turn to like a child seeking comfort from a parent when feeling scared or insecure.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. —Psalms 91:9-11
In these End Times, our relationship with God should be our top priority. It is not about money, clothing, or food, but rather about experiencing the presence of Almighty God (Matthew 6:33) and being a testimony of His goodness. Amid everything happening in our lives and in the world—such as sorrows, shortages, nature’s upheavals, and wickedness—we must follow Jesus’ command: “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). Believe in God and believe in His Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
I continue to pray for you and call you blessed, healed, whole, and prosperous! Until next time, remember . . . Jesus is coming soon! Be ready!
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