Living in the Overflow of God's Abundant Life
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to praise the Lord and reflect on the abundant life that Christ offers us. This life is not just about mere existence but living in the overflow of joy, peace, grace, and mercy, even amidst trials and heartaches. The choice to live in this overflow is ours, and it involves praising God both because of and in spite of our circumstances.
We delved into the story of Abram and Lot from Genesis 13, exploring the contrast between their faiths. Abram, a man of unselfish faith, trusted in God's promises and lived by faith, not by sight. In contrast, Lot, who was raised by Abram, chose a path driven by worldly desires and selfishness. This tale of two men highlights the importance of living a life of faith and the consequences of choosing the world over God's promises.
Abram and Lot faced a three-fold problem: the land could not support both their herds, conflicts arose between their workers, and their quarrels were a poor testimony to the surrounding Canaanites and Perizzites. Abram, in his wisdom, chose to resolve the conflict by offering Lot the first choice of the land, demonstrating humility and unselfishness. Lot chose the fertile plains of Jordan, moving towards Sodom, a city known for its wickedness, while Abram remained in Canaan, trusting in God's promise.
This story serves as a powerful reminder to seek God and His promises diligently, to live unselfishly, and to avoid the pitfalls of weak faith. It challenges us to examine what we are holding onto that may be draining our faith and to surrender it to God. By doing so, we can live in the overflow of God's blessings and be a strong witness to the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. Living in the Overflow: Christ offers us more than just life; He offers an abundant life filled with joy, peace, grace, and mercy. This overflow is available even in the midst of trials and heartaches, but it requires a conscious choice to live in it and to praise God both because of and in spite of our circumstances. [24:10]
2. Unselfish Faith vs. Worldly Desires: Abram's life exemplifies unselfish faith, while Lot's choices reflect a worldly, selfish mindset. Abram trusted in God's promises and lived by faith, not by sight, whereas Lot sought after the pleasures and possessions of the world. This contrast teaches us the importance of prioritizing spiritual over worldly gains. [38:12]
3. Resolving Conflicts with Humility: When faced with conflicts, Abram chose to resolve them by offering Lot the first choice of the land, even though he had the right to choose first. This act of humility and unselfishness is a powerful example of how we should handle conflicts, prioritizing peace and relationships over personal rights. [54:44]
4. The Consequences of Worldly Choices: Lot's choice to move towards Sodom, a city known for its wickedness, led to severe consequences, including the loss of his possessions and family. This serves as a warning about the dangers of choosing worldly desires over God's promises and the importance of living a life of faith. [42:47]
5. Surrendering to Strengthen Faith: To have strong faith, we must be willing to surrender our worldly desires and trust in God's promises. This involves letting go of anything that drains our faith and fully committing to God's path, even if it means facing hardships. By doing so, we can live in the overflow of God's blessings and be a strong witness to others. [01:04:25]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[13:46] - Worship and Praise
[24:10] - Abundant Life in Christ
[26:52] - Appreciation and Humor
[28:36] - Introduction to Genesis 13
[30:41] - Abram's Faith Journey
[33:21] - Conflict Between Abram and Lot
[34:56] - Lot's Choice and Its Implications
[36:39] - God's Promise to Abram
[38:12] - Two Kinds of Faith
[42:01] - Pitfalls of Weak Faith
[42:47] - Lessons from Abram and Lot
[50:21] - The Three-Fold Problem
[54:44] - Abram's Unselfish Solution
[01:04:25] - Surrendering to Strengthen Faith
[01:11:34] - Announcements and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Genesis 13:5-18
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the three main problems that Abram and Lot faced while living together in the land? ([33:21])
2. How did Abram propose to resolve the conflict between him and Lot? ([34:11])
3. What choice did Lot make when given the option to choose the land first, and what was significant about his choice? ([34:56])
4. What promise did God give to Abram after Lot chose his land? ([36:39])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Abram and Lot illustrate the difference between living by faith and living by sight? ([38:12])
2. What does Abram's willingness to let Lot choose first reveal about his character and faith? ([54:44])
3. How can the consequences of Lot's choice serve as a warning for us today? ([42:47])
4. In what ways does Abram's handling of the conflict with Lot provide a model for resolving conflicts in our own lives? ([54:44])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to make a choice between something that seemed immediately beneficial and something that required faith. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? ([34:56])
2. Abram chose to resolve the conflict with Lot by prioritizing peace and relationships over his own rights. Is there a current conflict in your life where you can apply this principle? ([54:44])
3. Lot's choice led him towards Sodom, a place of wickedness. Are there any "Sodoms" in your life—places or situations that you know are not aligned with God's will? How can you start moving away from them? ([35:48])
4. Abram lived in the overflow of God's blessings by trusting in His promises. What are some practical steps you can take to live in the overflow of joy, peace, grace, and mercy, even in difficult times? ([24:10])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of surrendering worldly desires to strengthen our faith. What is one thing you are holding onto that might be draining your faith, and how can you surrender it to God? ([01:04:25])
6. How can you be a strong witness to others by living a life of unselfish faith, as Abram did? Think of one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate this. ([53:13])
7. Abram's faith journey included moments of wavering and returning to trust in God. How can you encourage yourself or others to return to a life of faith when facing trials and heartaches? ([30:41])
Devotional
Day 1: Living in the Overflow of Christ's Abundance
Christ offers us more than just life; He offers an abundant life filled with joy, peace, grace, and mercy. This overflow is available even in the midst of trials and heartaches, but it requires a conscious choice to live in it and to praise God both because of and in spite of our circumstances. The abundant life in Christ is not about material wealth or a trouble-free existence but about experiencing God's presence and blessings in every situation. By choosing to live in this overflow, we can find joy and peace that surpasses all understanding, even when life is challenging. [24:10]
John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to consciously choose to live in the overflow of Christ's abundance? How can you praise God today, both because of and in spite of your current circumstances?
Day 2: Unselfish Faith vs. Worldly Desires
Abram's life exemplifies unselfish faith, while Lot's choices reflect a worldly, selfish mindset. Abram trusted in God's promises and lived by faith, not by sight, whereas Lot sought after the pleasures and possessions of the world. This contrast teaches us the importance of prioritizing spiritual over worldly gains. By examining our own lives, we can identify areas where we may be driven by worldly desires and make a conscious effort to prioritize our faith and trust in God's promises. [38:12]
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are prioritizing worldly desires over your faith? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's promises and live by faith?
Day 3: Resolving Conflicts with Humility
When faced with conflicts, Abram chose to resolve them by offering Lot the first choice of the land, even though he had the right to choose first. This act of humility and unselfishness is a powerful example of how we should handle conflicts, prioritizing peace and relationships over personal rights. By following Abram's example, we can learn to approach conflicts with a spirit of humility and seek resolutions that honor God and maintain harmony in our relationships. [54:44]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict you experienced. How can you approach it with humility and prioritize peace and relationships over your personal rights?
Day 4: The Consequences of Worldly Choices
Lot's choice to move towards Sodom, a city known for its wickedness, led to severe consequences, including the loss of his possessions and family. This serves as a warning about the dangers of choosing worldly desires over God's promises and the importance of living a life of faith. By reflecting on Lot's story, we can be reminded of the long-term consequences of our choices and the importance of seeking God's guidance in our decisions. [42:47]
Proverbs 14:12 (ESV): "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
Reflection: Are there decisions you are currently facing where you might be tempted to choose worldly desires over God's guidance? How can you seek God's wisdom and make choices that align with His will?
Day 5: Surrendering to Strengthen Faith
To have strong faith, we must be willing to surrender our worldly desires and trust in God's promises. This involves letting go of anything that drains our faith and fully committing to God's path, even if it means facing hardships. By doing so, we can live in the overflow of God's blessings and be a strong witness to others. Surrendering to God requires daily commitment and trust, knowing that His plans for us are good and that He will provide for our needs. [01:04:25]
James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
1. "I was telling the ministry team beforehand in our pep rally that we can have life through Christ, but it's not just life, but because of Christ, we have it more abundantly. We have more than just life. We have the power. That means that we have joy, and we have peace, and we have grace, and we have mercy, and it's more than just life. It's more than just eternal life, and that it comes even in the midst of trials, and we can live in that overflow even in the midst of heartache, even in the midst of pain, but that choice is ours." [24:10] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Don't you have times where you do that? Your faith starts out strong. Your faith starts out. Powerful. Your faith starts out. You're trusting the Lord, leaning on the Lord, following the Lord. Things are going well, and all of a sudden a famine comes in your life. Trial comes in your life. Pain comes in your life. Something happens, and all of a sudden now I've got to try and figure this out on my own because God isn't working fast enough." [30:41] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Abram was a man of faith. Lot was a man of the world. A close examination of their lives will help us in the growth of our faith. After all, we've been talking about how to avoid the pitfalls, the pitfalls of faith, haven't we? We've looked at five steps that can be seen in weak faith. We fall into trial. There's trial. We look to the world. There's slipping into sin, the judgment of God, and then comes repentance. But we don't want to live with weak faith. We want our faith to be strong, even if it's the size of a mustard seed. Because even the size of a mustard seed, can move mountains, can't it?" [42:01] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "This passage is an eye-opener into faith. It is a passage that should stir us to seek God and his promises with more diligence than ever, just as Abram did. It should frighten us to flee the world, its bright lights, its pleasures and possessions, the very thing that Lot failed to do." [42:47] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Abram, had the right to choose first, and he deserved that right. He was the older, the head of the family. He was the person to whom God had promised the land. He was the leader, the one who had led the pilgrims to the promised land, but Abram did an astounding thing. He offered the first choice of the land to Lot. Abram gave up his claim to choose first, and by this, he illustrates perfectly what it means to act unselfishly, to give sacrificially, to be humble and meek." [54:44] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I have the right to live in all the blessings and the promises of God, and I can claim those rights, and I claim those rights that Christ gives me, and I live in those, and I have the peace of God living inside of me, and I have the joy living inside of me, and I have the blessings living inside of me, and I can come along and I can rub that in your face, but I choose, I choose to lay that aside, not in living my life and how I live my life, not in living my life and saying, I give up all that joy, and those blessings, and that peace, and giving away my peace." [58:06] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "What are you holding on to today that is draining your faith and keeping your faith from being the strongest it could be? What Surrender it. Don't hold on to it any longer. Give it to him. So that no matter what the test, what the trial, what the circumstance, my faith still holds. I know that I know that I know, though the cable is unseen, will not be moved because my God has got me." [01:04:25] (83 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We pray that you would just guide and direct us in everything. In Jesus. Name. Amen. Come and give us. This. the Lord. Bless the Lord. Have a great day." [01:14:53] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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