ENJOYING THE OVERFLOW
Psalms 23:5 (ESV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
David assures us in Psalm 23 that our cup CAN overflow! It is one of the benefits of staying close to the Shepherd and following His counsel, even when it means sitting down with our enemies, counting on Him to settle the score rather than take vengeance, and looking to Him to heal our wounds. The benefit is He will cause our cup to overflow.
The overflowing cup is a sign of ultimate satisfaction. If you were at a party and someone asked if you were enjoying yourself you might say, “my cup overflows.”
When is the last time your cup overflowed? We have times at a thanksgiving meal when we have enjoyed a meal to the point where we feel like we could overflow at any moment! We sometimes get so excited about an athletic activity that we overflow with excitement. When is the last time you overflowed with hope, love, or joy? These are more than mere emotions. This is the overflow of Jesus in our lives – no matter what the circumstances.
First consider the source: Jesus, who not only came to give life but life abundantly (overflowing).
John 10:7-18 (ESV) So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."
Jesus’ laying down His life for us opened up God’s storehouse of blessings.
Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
John 1:16 (ESV) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
The channel of God’s blessings is Jesus Christ and through Him we receive as the Bible says, “grace for grace.”
Let’s consider some of the long lasting abundant or overflowing blessings.
Romans 15:13 (ESV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (ESV) Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
John 16:24 (ESV) Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Hope, love, and joy are some of the overflowing blessings that come by staying close to Jesus, the great Shepherd. We can also feel His presence during the uncomfortable moments when He calls us to sit down with those who have hurt us, or to walk through dark valleys. He has promised to be there with us and to satisfy us so that our cup will overflow.
Is your cup overflowing?
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
FCA Endurance – Clearwater – We have registered and are forming a Clearwater Huddle of the FCA Endurance team. We will be announcing a “start up meeting” in the coming month. Check my website for updates and/or send me an email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please pass the word to athletes in the Clearwater area. For information about FCA Endurance see www.fcaendurance.com .
