The Overflow
Matthew 12:34 – “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, one word echoed in my mind – Overflow. That began yesterday. Today, as I read about David at a time, his men considered stoning him, and he encouraged himself in the LORD. (1 Samuel 30:6)
Then I read in Mark 16:15-18, Jesus’ Commission, Promise, and bequeathal of Power. This assignment was monumental and mountainous. As I read, the Spirit reminded me of the word “Overflow.” In Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45, Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Abundance (perisseuma) = abundance, surplus, overflow.
- Heart (kardia) = heart, but not the physical organ. Rather, the seat of thought or being.
Our words justify and condemn us. Our words are a reflection of who and what we are. Our words are thoughts brought to life and light. The question is, what is overflowing in our hearts? What is the surplus in our hearts?
To fulfill our assignment, we must become saturated with Jesus and His Spirit. Out of that surplus (the uncontainable deposit in us), we speak and act. It’s time to examine the overflow! Are we fulfilling our assignment? If not, could it be that we are not saturated enough to overflow? What is most important in life? That’s what we are filled with!
Lord, help us to seek You above everything! Help us to become crammed full of You and Your Spirit. Help us to overflow with You! We overflow with something; let it be You!
The Supply
Mark 11:25-26 – “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26 [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”].”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, the thought of “Supply” captured my heart. We focus on need, and Jesus focuses on supply. We focus on lack, and Jesus focuses on abundance. We focus on the temporal, but Jesus focuses on the eternal. Do you see a problem? Wrong thinking leads to wrong believing, and wrong believing leads to wrong living.
Jesus warned of the doctrines of the Pharisees and the government. The disciples made it totally natural. Jesus’ reminder of the feeding of the multitude twice conveyed the message – God is the Supply! If He did this with natural bread, what might He do with the spiritual?
In Mark 11, we have the Fruitless Fig Tree. Leaves indicate fruit. Leaves are what can be seen. Jesus’ response to appearance but no fruit was to reject it completely.
He used the incident as a teaching tool. He explained miraculous faith. Not hope but faith. Faith has vision and expectation. Faith sees it done! Today, that is woefully rare. We try to believe rather than believing.
We miss the key to the supply. That is found in verses 25-26. Forgiveness. Not only does unforgiveness endanger our eternity, but it also limits our present. God will not honor unforgiveness. That would violate His nature.
Luke 6:38 is a powerful revelation of God! What we give is what we receive. What we sow is what we reap. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus’ attention was captured by giving. No, this is not about money, but it can include money.
Two kinds of giving took place. All was proportional. The Widow gave out of her lack. The rich give out of their surplus. It is far easier to give when you don’t feel the pain. She gave all, they gave some. She gave her life; they gave money.
Now, use Luke 6:38 here. The proportions are important. The essence of the gift and how it impacts the giver is important. She gave her all, so the principle is, she will get God’s all in return. Her lack turned into her supply. They gave a little of themselves, so a little of God will be their return. This could be giving of anything!
Supply is connected to what we give. What we give is connected to what we believe. What we believe is connected to our relationship with Him! It flows out of our surrender! Total surrender brings total supply.
LORD, enable us to tap into the divine supply!
The Living Book
Mark 4:24 – “And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.”
It has encouragement when we need it. It has direction when we need it. It has correction when we need it. It has inspiration when we need it. It has revelation when we need it. Sometimes, we don’t even know we need what it provides. That’s why we can read the same passage on 100 different days and get 100 different levels of understanding. It is a LIVING BOOK!
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, the first thought that came to my mind was, “What an amazing God we serve, and what an amazing book we have in the Bible.”
In 1 Samuel 17, when David faced Goliath, some important truths were revealed. David (v 40) took what he had, what he knew, and what he had been trained to use rather than Saul’s armor. That’s a word for us.
Remember God’s question to Moses? What’s in your hand? We need to stop trying to be and do what others do and use what we have for the task before us. No person, in their right mind (natural thinking) would have faced a giant trained for war with a stick, slingshot, and a few rocks. David didn’t either.
What? But it says… Read again what David actually said. 1 Samuel 17:45, “You (Goliath) come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, BUT I COME to you in the NAME of the LORD of hosts, the GOD of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.” What was David’s real weapon? THE NAME OF THE LORD! The other things are contact points, nothing more. The real power was THE NAME!
Jesus said in Mark 4:24 – “Take care WHAT you listen to…” Often, our problem is that we LISTEN to the wrong voices. We listen to the hordes of hell, the perception of people, and the longings of our hearts. We even call those a Word from God. But if we LISTEN to the true voice of the Spirit of God, we find the courage and strength to stand or go with what we have rather than waiting on a dream. If nothing is impossible for God, then NOTHING is impossible!
What do you need today? The Book has the answer, encouragement, enlightenment, and inspiration. Read it as a personal letter from God to you!
Invest yourself in the Book of Books and glean from its treasures!
How About Immediately?
Mark 1:16-20 – “As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately, He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and went away to follow Him.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was drawn to reflect on a word used repeatedly in Mark 1 and 2. The word “immediately” captured my attention. How often do we hear a word and then delay? How often do we have an impression and then delay? What does our hesitation say to God, others, and ourselves?
Waiting on God is important, but upon hearing from God, there is no place for hesitation. The only hesitation allowed is when the word is “Wait.” Our hesitation is often rooted in our doubt. We are not convinced God said it. We are not convinced people will accept it. We are not convinced we can do it. We make everything external rather than trusting the Christ IN us and the Holy Spirit who anoints us.
A side note that is revelatory is that the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. Access to the Holy of Holies was now open to everyone. Access to God’s inner sanctuary was now for whosoever will. It came from the top to the bottom. The old was finished, and the new began.
If we grasp the reality that access to God is open to all, then when we hear, we are free to respond IMMEDIATELY! Immediate obedience brings prolonged blessings! Immediate obedience opens the door to God’s presence, and in His presence, there is peace, power, and provision.
My word of the day is IMMEDIATELY! Not when my ship comes in, I will sail, but I will head for the sea NOW and know that ship or no ship, I will sail by the Spirit. Remember when money became the issue and focus, Judas betrayed Jesus.
LORD, help us to have an instantaneous response to Your directive!
Ritualism or God
Matthew 21:18-19 – “Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, something out of Judges and Matthew captured my attention. Some churches and individuals have nothing but form and maybe a faint memory of God’s presence and power. Everything is rote ritualism but devoid of God.
Samson is an example. He became so friendly with the world (Delilah) and so presumptuous about God’s favor that he lost his strength. Judges 16:20, “He did not know (realize) that the LORD had departed from him.”
In Matthew 21:18-19, we see the barren fig tree. Jesus was hungry. Jesus saw a tree that looked fruitful on the outside (actions & words). Jesus found no fruit and cursed the tree at its roots.
How many churches and individuals have the appearance but no presence (fruit)? How many go through the routine and do not know God has departed? Maybe they never knew anything but form. Maybe they no longer believe in or expect power.
What is the answer? Matthew 22:36-40. We are to love God with every fiber of our being and love our neighbors as ourselves. If we get those two right, and everything else gets right.
It all begins with LOVE! It all continues through LOVE! Do we love God with our all? If we do not, we cannot love our neighbors rightly. If we do not love our neighbors, whom we can see, how can we love God, whom we can’t see? LOVE is the motivation and vehicle by which we become!
LORD, help us to avoid ritualism and enter your presence!
Roy's Covenant Corner 