Overflow

Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.“

Starting with Adam and Eve in the garden, God has made provision for his people.

Genesis 3:21 “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”

God is not “stingy” with His blessings, and delights in seeing His people prosper. Scripture tells us that it is His good pleasure to bless His people.

Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Not only is it God’s good pleasure to provide for His people, He provides in abundance. The psalmist stated in the 23 Psalm that their “cup runs over.”

2nd Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

God gives increase to His people in proportion to His infinite resources, not just a minimum amount out of His riches. The blessings of God do not have an expiration date; He is truly a gracious God.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Father in heaven, thank you for your abundance, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

Why Did Jesus Fold The Napkin

The Gospel of John 20:7 tells us that the napkin , which was placed over the face of Jesus , was just not thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark , Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put Him!”

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.  He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrapping lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. 
 
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m done!”

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because… The folded napkin means, I’m coming back!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Worry

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body not more than clothing?” (Amp)

Jesus covered several topics in His sermon on the mount. In Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 to 27, Jesus speaks about worrying and makes it very clear that worrying about anything does not line up with having faith in God. He also gives several examples of God’s provision for all creation.

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow (seed) nor (reap the harvest) nor gather (the crops) into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not much more than they? (AMP)

Matthew 6:30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is (cut and) thrown (as fuel) into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! (AMP)

When a person is worried about something, they are showing a lack of faith and trust that God is in control of what happens.

Worrying is saying “I know what you said God, but…”

Worrying is saying “I believe you are in control of what happens God, but…”

Worrying is not trusting God.

A simple definition of worry is, thoughts that are being focused on the outcome of something (often expecting negative results), when the person that is worrying has no control over what the outcome will be.

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.” (AMP)

Worrying can cause anxiety…anxiety can cause stress…stress can cause depression…depression can cause worry. Worrying can cause a person to run in a circle going nowhere, if that person allows worry to control or consume them. Worrying is not healthy or good for you.

Proverbs 12:25 “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good [encouraging] word makes it glad.” (AMP)

Whatever happens, can only happen if God allows it to happen.

1st Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares [all anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all on Him for him for He cares about you with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (AMP)

When worry is replaced with prayer, it is a demonstration of having both trust and faith in almighty God.

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). (AMP)

Lord Jesus, I give you all of my cares, and put both my trust and faith in you. In Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev