How to Experience the Abundant Life Jesus Promised?
Jesus said, “… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly,” (John10:10). (It is not a defeated frustrated life, but a full and meaningful life.) Receiving Jesus Christ is only the first step towards experiencing the abundant life.
Tragically enough majorities of those who received Jesus Christ go through the rest of their lives without ever experiencing the abundant life, which Jesus promised. They are just satisfied with life as usual as long as they have the assurance that they will go to heaven when they die. They are trying to live this life in their own strength. Something like after we got into a plane we try to help the plane to take off and fly it by waving our hands, instead of depending on the power of the engines to do so.
1. Natural man
Apostle Paul explained this in 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15, and 3:1-3. He says there are three kinds of people from the biblical perspective.(One who has not received Christ)v.14, “But the natural man does not accept the things of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised”(1 Corinthians 2:14).
2. The Spiritual Man
“But he who is spiritual appraises all things” (1 Corinthians 2:15).Some of the personal traits of a Spiritual man are: Christ centered, Empowered by the Holy spirit, Introduces others to Christ, Effective prayer life, Understands God’s Word, Trusts God, Obeys God. He demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. Carnal man
(One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life). Some or all of the following traits may characterize the Christian who does not fully trust God:Ignorance of his spiritual heritage, Unbelief, Disobedience, Loss of love for God and for others, Poor prayer life, No desire for Bible Study, Legalistic attitude, Impure thoughts, Jealously, Guilt, Worry, Discouragement, Critical spirit, Frustration, Aimlessness.Before we can walk in the Spirit, we must be filled (controlled and empowered) by the Holy Spirit of God. So,
The question is:
How to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Spiritual Breathing is a concept, taught by Late Dr. Bill Bright that explains how to be filled with the Holy Spirit by Faith.
It is something similar to Physical Breathing. In Physical Breathing you do two things: Exhale the bad air and Inhale the fresh air.
Similarly, in Spiritual Breathing you do two things:
1. Exhale or Confess our sins:
Confess our sins – and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2. Inhale or Receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith, according to
God’s Command, in Ephesians 5:18, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
God’s commands are always God’s will. Therefore,
Along with the command God has also given a Promise:
1 John 5:14 – 15 say, “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us whatever we ask, we know that we have the request we have asked from.” Therefore, we can claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit through a prayer of faith.
Here is a suggested prayer of faith:
Exhale: “Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have been in control of my life; and as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me.
Inhale: “I now invite You to again take control of the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You Promised in Your word that You that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for taking control of my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.” Amen.
Now on the basis of God’s Command and Promise you can know that you are filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Do not depend on feelings. God’s word is our authority. Now we are ready to learn how to walk in the Spirit.
Next question is:
How to walk in the Spirit?
This is a moment-by-moment walk of faith in the Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean you will never sin again. Temptation to sin is all around us. When you face a temptation, by faith you can claim His power to overcome that temptation according to 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” As you claim His promise, God will release His power through the Holy Spirit to help you overcome the snare of temptation, and you can remain spirit filled until you come across another. Repeat the process again whenever you face another temptation and that way continue to keep Christ on the throne of your life. Remember Temptation is not sin and you don’t confess your temptation. Simply thank Him that He is in control of your life. You sin only when you give in to temptation.Spiritual Breathing Confess: Surrender the throne of your life to Christ
By Faith thank God for Filling you with the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 and 1 John 5:14-15.If you retake the throne of your life through a definite act of disobedience – breath spiritually.
Conclusion
As a beginner, you may have to breath spiritually many times a day. But as you practice this spiritual exercise your faith muscles will grow stronger and stronger and you will not fall into sin as often as you did in the past. That is an indication that you are growing spiritually in the Lord. As long as we are surrounded by temptation and sin we will never achieve perfection until we reach heaven.
Something similar to a baby learning to walk. In the beginning he falls down many times in the process of learning to walk. Then as he gains strength he is able to walk without falling. He could still fall if he is careless.The longer the time you keep Christ on the throne of your life the longer you will be able to experience the fruit of the Spirit in your life. That is an indication that you are walking in the Spirit. The moment you fall into sin you may feel guilty and you may not experience the joy that you have been enjoying earlier. So every time you sin confess your sin and surrender the throne of your life to Christ without long delay through spiritual breathing and continue to enjoy the abundant life. This is a life-long spiritual exercise that we all need to practice as long as we are in this world with full of temptations all around.I am extremely thankful to Late Dr. Bill Bright, Founder and President of Campus Crusade for Christ International, for sharing this life-transforming concept with us. Multitudes of Christians around the world have experienced a powerful spiritual revival and transformation of their lives as a result of Practicing Spiritual Breathing and it will surely do the same to anyone who makes an effort to practice it.I am very glad that I could share this concept with you. May your life be a blessing to yourself and to others as you practice this and share it with them.God bless you and have a wonderful day.
