ABOUND

[ To Increase Greatly ]

(Part Two)

We are continuing with and are going to conclude this teaching in this part two. Of course, it is highly recommended that you read part one before you read this final section. Once again, we are studying a topic that is very seldom mentioned in any teachings at any time. I searched through mostly all of my research materials and could not find a chapter related to this subject. With the exception of my very large concordance, I was able to find relevant information for this teaching. That concordance list is what I based this teaching upon. It is a subject that sometimes we do not pay much attention to. I am noted for teaching this type of subject. It is attention to detail of the Word of God and attention to detail is the difference between success and failure. Let’s get right to it.

The context of the next two verses pertains to the subject of tithing.

Not because I desire [seek] a gift [that benefits others]: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. – Philippians 4: 17

This Scripture may appear difficult for some of you, so what I am going to do, is once again, turn to the New English Bible translation. We also did this once in Part One of this teaching. As I mentioned before, the New English Bible translation many times gives a much simpler translation. But remember, this is an exception and we will always use the King James Version. Let’s look at this verse from a different translation.

Do not think I set my heart upon the gift; all I care for is the profit accruing to you. – Philippians 4: 17 - New English Bible translation

However, you may notice that the word that we are studying which is ‘Abound’ is not mentioned specifically in the New English Bible. But the translation of the overall verse is much easier to understand. Paul is saying that he does not care that much about the giving and receiving in the financial realm. His heart is not set upon this part of giving. His heart is set on the fact that the people doing the giving will accrue great profit in their lives. That is what Paul is trying to say in the latter part of this verse. The New English Bible uses the word accrue instead of abound. In the King James Version, when Paul mentions the word ‘fruit’, he is referring to the fruit of the spirit which you can look up in Galatians 5: 22, 23. There are nine fruit of the spirit and they are all great positives in a person’s life who operates the manifestations of the spirit. There are also nine of them. If you are having trouble with the King James Version, just take a look at the New English Bible translation. I also do the same thing when or if I am stuck trying to understand a certain Scripture. Let’s take a look at the next two verses.

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, and odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. – Colossians 4: 18

Paul is expressing his thankfulness and telling the Philippians and all believers that he has everything he needs and that he abounds and is full as a result of the believing and action of the people who were making a sacrifice to God, especially regarding the tithe. God is also well pleased. Now take a look at the next verse which sums up everything said here in a nutshell and you cannot miss the idea pertaining to a believer or believers who are abounding in their walk with God.

But [So] my God shall supply all your need [material things] according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4: 19

You must be able to see that when you walk by the spirit of God and you keep His commandments, then God will supply all of your material things according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Is God rich? God has access to everything. But He gave us free will, as mentioned previously, to listen to Him or to disobey Him. The enemy has blinded people from the presence of God. He has used technology and all type of electronics and electronic devices as only one method to distract people from God Almighty. He is hard at work, so we must work harder. Don’t let him tear you away from practicing the presence of God. This is one of the renewed mind principles – that you practice the presence of God. Did you notice on television how there are so many without natural affection situations going on in shows that you probably enjoy? This woman is in love with this other woman and the same thing is going on for men. Who do you think is behind this? You ever mess around in that area, believe me you are a walking dead man or woman. It’s one of the most difficult forms of possession to get delivered from. That’s why those people are so bold about the way that they feel. It is because they cannot escape the entrapment of this devil spirit which is the strongest one that the devil has.

In contrast to what I just mentioned, if you keep God’s commandments, He will supply all of your material needs and even some desires. Then we can live a life of hope and joy because Jesus Christ is coming back. Our life on this present 2^nd heaven and earth is temporary.

Our next Scripture talks about the renewed mind and to be established in the faith of Jesus Christ. By renewing our mind we teach ourselves how to abound with thanksgiving. Remember, that you can never be negative when you are thankful.

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. -- Colossians 2: 7

Prior to the Scripture, we have already discussed the meaning of this verse, but we will go over it once again. To be rooted and built up in Him and stablished in the faith of Jesus Christ is referring to the renewed mind. You should also remember that the renewed mind is your key to power. We are to change our thinking to line up with what God’s Word says. Renewing our mind is a continuous and sometimes difficult task. But as I said many times, every day gets a little bit better because when we do our best, God will do the rest. If you have a bad habit for most of your life, it takes a great effort to break that habit and to do the right thing. The renewed mind is a slow process, but it is well worth it. By renewing the mind, you will eventually abound in thanksgiving. You will become more and more thankful for the effort that you have put forth because you are seeing results every day.

FURTHERMORE then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by [of] the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. – I Thessalonians 4: 1

Here we have a similar lesson pertaining to the renewed mind. You can see above that it is stated that we ought to walk and to please God. This can only be accomplished by renewing your mind to God’s Word and then God makes a promise that you will abound more and more. Where are we to abound? In all areas of our life we will become more than conquerors and will be able to claim victory in whatsoever we do. In the first part of the verse, God says He beseeches you. That means that He beggingly implores you. He is asking you to change your thinking so that He can make you abound in all areas of your life. The reason God does this is because He gave us free will. God wants us to love Him because we want to love Him. He did not make us like robots and program us to love Him. Another part of the verse says that as we receive, we ought to walk and to please God. I am a teacher of God’s Word. It is my responsibility to teach you how to renew your mind and receive God’s Word. The world has gone crazy lately and people don’t pay attention to anything but their cell phones. This has alienated each of us from one another. This is what the enemy wants. First, he worked on breaking up the family unit and now he is working on breaking up any type of relationship that one person has or had with another. Let us look at what is available to us by going to the second epistle of Peter. The following three verses are power packed in specific areas wherein we can abound by our actions – by our renewed mind efforts. Notice that each area builds one upon another.

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. -- II Peter 1: 5 – 7

We have been talking about abounding and take a look at these three verses. First, we become diligent in our study of God’s Word. Because of this, we add to our believing virtue. Once we obtain virtue, we gain more and more knowledge of God’s Word. This knowledge then allows us to have temperance which is self-control. Self-control is most important today. We cannot react to what the enemy is throwing at us. Once we master temperance, along with that comes patience. With patience comes godliness. Godliness is our true and vital spiritual relationship with God. It is our own unique relationship that only we have with God. Once we obtain this relationship we learn how to express brotherly kindness. This is fileo love, which is the love of the world. Although we may not be able to manifest agape love which is the love of God, we will be able to master brotherly kindness and this is second in strength to agape love. Now we see in the verse that once we can master brotherly kindness, then comes charity. Charity is agape love which is the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. Now if this is not abounding in all things, I don’t know what is. Abounding in all of these characteristics is available to you as you continue to work the Word of God. Put it in your heart and walk out on it – live it. I believe those three verses are outstanding in many ways. Notice how they build one upon another. While we are here, let’s take a look at a short verse pertaining to charity. We are going to go to I Corinthians chapter 13 to show you the great importance of the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation.

And now abideth faith [pistis – believing] hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. -- I Corinthians 13: 13

Isn’t that something? God is trying to tell us something here and it is rather simple. There is faith which is believing and there is hope which is the hope of the return of Jesus Christ and then there is charity which is the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. God specifically points out that the most important of these three principles is charity. You must remember that if you look in the first verse of this chapter, you will accomplish absolutely nothing without charity. Charity is known in more simpler terms to be referred to as the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. We are to love one another and not to compete with and to fight with each other. We are all equal in God’s eyes. No one is better than anyone else. If you have had an attitude for most of your life, you are going to have a difficult time renewing your mind to the Word of God in this area. I myself, have had difficult times in my life renewing my mind to get rid of a bad attitude. The strangest part about this is that when you start doing the right thing, it becomes much easier and much more pleasant than doing the wrong thing in your life.

Many of us today seem to be in a hurry especially to obtain riches. A person who does this is not innocent, but is really a fool. The old cliché I will use is that you can’t buy happiness with money. Let’s go way back into the book of Proverbs and read a Scripture there that stands out pertaining to our subject of abounding.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. – Proverbs 28: 20

You may ask yourself what is this man faithful to. He is faithful to God and God’s principles. This is a man that shall abound with blessings. In contrast, the man that makes haste to be rich and ignores God in his life, shall not be innocent. It’s so simple, but yet it says so much. God is a God of simplicity. Remember once again, that you can never make something too simple.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; -- II Thessalonians 1: 3

END OF PART TWO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~