Living in the Overflow

We are living in a challenging time. People are losing hope and feeling discouraged. However, God’s plan for our lives is to live in the overflow. The overflow is a display of His power and love for us to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think.

Get ready because the overflow is coming. You will experience an excess of wisdom, favor, relationships, talents, promotion, and resources. Whatever the circumstances, God's plan is to bring you to a place of plenty. He wants you to have an abundance of peace, joy, and resources. Here is the key: He wants you to overflow with His blessings so that you can be a blessing to the world.

Sam was born in 1918 to parents who were farmers. The family was poor and witnessed the Great Depression. The young boy did many chores to help his parents make ends meet. He milked their cow, bottled up the surplus, and delivered the fresh milk to customers. Sam also delivered newspapers and sold magazine subscriptions to make ends meet. After completing high school, he attended college but worked various jobs during that time, including waiting tables in exchange for meals. After graduation, Sam joined the US Army during World War II. When he returned, he managed a variety store at the age of 26. He took a loan in order to buy his first store and developed crucial business concepts that would later become the key to his success. His store offered lower prices and better-stocked shelves than any of his competitors. Soon he opened a second store. Within three years, his sales volume grew to $225,000. Sam went through much trial and testing, before he opened the first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. Forbes named Sam Walton the richest man in America from 1982 to 1988. In 1992, at the time of his death, he owned 1,960 Wal-Mart stores and employed 380,000 people, generating $50 billion in annual revenue. He served as an elder and Sunday school teacher at his local church. He also generously supported various charitable causes.

When you honor God, He will repay you for your faithfulness. Like with Sam, God has already designed overflow with you in mind. He has lined up the right people, promotions, good breaks, increase, influence, and favor for you. God is going to cause you to stand out, break barriers, and go further than anyone in your family.

You may feel down today. Perhaps you lost your job without savings in hand. God is still on the throne. Heaven’s economy knows no lack, struggle, or shortage. God has promised to meet all your needs according to His riches. You will overflow to the point of bursting at the seams and spilling over. God wants to make you an example of His goodness. Because the goodness of God leads people to repentance.

The Scripture tells us that Isaac, Abraham’s son, lived in a foreign country that was going through a famine. God told him, “Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. Through your descendants all the nations of the world will be blessed.” Despite the famine, Isaac planted crops, and in the same year, reaped a hundredfold because God blessed him. It sounds like the time we are living in, does it not? Many of us are going through challenges and trying to make ends meet. Let me encourage you that if you stay in faith, praise God in the storm, and thank Him in advance, you will see miraculous provisions. Do not worry about how the economy, Wall Street, or the job market are doing. Remember that God is your source and knows exactly how to bless you! Since the beginning of the year, I called 2020 a blockbuster year for those who believe. I believe that it will be even more miraculous despite the current situation because God will get all the glory! The Bible tells us that Isaac became rich and his wealth continued to grow. The Philistines envied him because of all the flocks, herds, and servants that he had. When you honor God, His blessings will chase you down. You do not have to look for the blessing, the blessing will find you.

During the current stay-at-home order, a friend and ministry partner of mine lost his job. Since last year, his place of employment had been cutting corners. His salary was cut in half. Remarkably, my friend did not panic; instead, he prayed and thanked God for provision and a new job opportunity. Just two days later, on a Thursday, he received a call for an interview the next day. He had an interview that Friday and was hired on the spot. Now his salary is now twice as much as it was before. In addition, he can buy stocks in a publicly traded company.

Friend, God knows how to take you from barely making it to a place of overflow. He wants to give you an abundance of peace, joy, health, and resources. His heart is to bless you so that you can become a blessing to the whole world. Let us declare this confession of faith out loud with me: “My God will supply all my needs. I am living in the overflow. I have a surplus of everything good in my life. I have more than enough. I am furnished in abundance. My storehouses are full and overflowing. My cup is running over. I am overflowing with God’s favor. I will lend and not borrow. I am blessed to be a blessing.”

“May every one of you overflow with the grace and favor of our LORD Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:23 (TPT).  
 
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It’s Already Paid For

We live in a world where more and more people feel entitled. We all want free things, but the truth is that nothing comes without a cost. By grace, through faith, we have been saved. But Jesus had to pay for our salvation with His life in order for us to enjoy an abundant life. 

Christ already paid the price for our freedom, but many people continue to live in bondage, bad habits, sickness, worry, poverty, and do not live up to their full potential. Christians are not exempt from problems; however, God has promised to deliver us from our troubles. As we celebrate Good Friday and Easter, let us look at what Jesus’ death did for us.

1. Jesus paid for our salvation. Jesus, who had no sin, endured excruciating pain and agony to free us of our sins. He endured a crown of thorns that was twisted into a circle and thrust upon his head. His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. He hung there for hours with blood and water dripping out of his body. Jesus endured such a brutal crucifixion in order to buy our freedom from eternal hell. God loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son (John 3:16). Now salvation is available to us for free.

2. Jesus bought our healing. Before his crucifixion, Jesus’ body was torn to pieces. The Roman soldiers dragged him through the city, tied him up to a pole, and flogged him 39 times. Scourging was usually done by two Roman soldiers–one on each side of the victim. It involved a short, lead-tipped whip, fitted with balls of metal with protruding metal fragments or pieces of bone, two or three ox-hide leather thongs, or ropes connected to a handle. Flogging was executed with great zeal. Each scouring would quickly remove skin and chunks of flesh. The whip itself traveled so quickly that it generated a small sonic boom. Jesus endured inhumane torture so that we can be free of sicknesses and disease. Each whipping represented 39 major diseases of His time.

3. Jesus took our shame. Jesus took our shame. They put a purple robe on him and struck his head with a staff. He fell on his knees again and again, barely able to walk. They punched him, spit on him, pulled his beard, mocked him, and questioned His divinity. The Roman soldiers cast lots for his clothes. Even so, Jesus took the blame and shame for us. He endured lonely nights and temptation so that we can be overcomers. He gave himself no reputation so that we could live on his.

Libraries filled with books can be written about Jesus’ pain and suffering, but I want to focus on the good part. Jesus, the Son of God, who had the power to call legions of angels to exterminate his enemies, willingly gave himself up for us. He suffered so that we can enjoy life to the fullest. He became captive so that we can live free. His body was torn into pieces so that we can be healed by his stripes.

Although Jesus died a painful death, he did not stay dead. The grave could not hold him. Three days later, the Holy Spirit raised Jesus up. He was seen by his disciples and hundreds of his faithful followers, before ascending into heaven.

What does it all mean?

God has forgiven our sins and blotted them out forever. We do not have to spend eternity in hell anymore. All our sins—past, present, and future—have been paid for. We can now live under his righteousness. We have been qualified to access the throne of the Father from whom all blessings, forgiveness, and mercy flow. Jesus died so that we can live without lack, fear, torment, or spiritual darkness. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him” (Romans 5:8-9).

Jesus took our infirmities upon himself. That means he carried our terrible diseases. We do not have to live in pain, wondering if God wants to heal us. Do not worry or wonder! Healing is a part of your inheritance. You do not have to linger in pain. Viruses and diseases cannot penetrate you. You have a force field of protection. Your health insurance coverage is from out of this world! By his stripes, you are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

This Easter, let us live worthy of His love and suffering for us. Let us surrender our lives to Christ. Let us express our gratitude. Jesus went through hell to give us heaven on earth. Can we give him our love, respect, and adoration? He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to the Father except through His Son. He is hanging on the Cross anymore. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father with a scepter of power and authority. He is slow to anger and full of mercy. Jesus is smiling and looking at you right now with great compassion. He has a great plan for your life. Let us give him our highest praise, glory, and honor! Hallelujah! Christ has risen. Happy and a blessed Easter!

“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’” (Luke 24:6-7 NIV).

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