Overflowing Grace: Embracing Imperfection for God's Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Living for the Benefit of Others

A life lived in the presence of God is not just for personal fulfillment but is meant to overflow and impact the lives of those around us. Just as a tree does not bear fruit for itself, but for others to enjoy, so too are we called to let what God does in us become a blessing to our families, workplaces, and communities. When we allow God’s presence to flow through us, we become conduits of hope, encouragement, and transformation for others, making a tangible difference in the world. [02:16]

Philippians 1:20-26 (ESV)
"as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."

Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from the overflow of God’s presence in you today, and what is one specific way you can intentionally bless or encourage them?

Day 2: Empowered by the Holy Spirit for Others

The power of the Holy Spirit is not given just for our comfort or personal growth, but so that we can be witnesses and bring the message and love of Jesus to every environment we enter. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to impact our families, schools, workplaces, and communities, allowing God’s presence to spill over and touch those around us. The infilling of the Spirit always leads to an overflow, making us agents of change wherever we go. [08:01]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: Where is one place in your daily routine—work, school, or home—where you can invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to be a witness and bring encouragement to others?

Day 3: God’s Strength in Our Weakness

A presence-filled life is not a perfect life; in fact, our weaknesses and imperfections are the very places where God’s strength is made perfect. Rather than disqualifying us, our deficits invite God’s power to work through us, turning our stories of struggle into testimonies of hope for others. When we surrender our weaknesses to God, He fills those places and uses them to encourage and uplift those around us, reminding us that He qualifies the called, not the other way around. [11:45]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: What is one area of weakness or imperfection in your life that you have tried to hide or fix on your own, and how can you invite God to fill and use it for His purpose today?

Day 4: Sharing Your Story for God’s Glory

After encountering Jesus, the Samaritan woman at the well did not wait to become perfect or qualified; she immediately shared her story, and many believed because of her testimony. When we allow God to fill our deficits and then share what He has done in us, our stories become powerful tools that draw others to Him. Your journey, with all its ups and downs, can be the very thing God uses to bring hope and faith to those who need it most. [21:04]

John 4:28-30, 39-42 (ESV)
"So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?' They went out of the town and were coming to him... Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me all that I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.'"

Reflection: What part of your story—no matter how unfinished or imperfect—could you share with someone this week to encourage them or point them to Jesus?

Day 5: Daily Presence and Honest Surrender

To live a life that overflows for the benefit of others, we must daily spend time in God’s presence and honestly surrender our weaknesses to Him. Just as we are instructed to secure our own oxygen mask before helping others, we need to breathe in God’s grace and allow Him to fill every area of our lives, especially those we are tempted to hide. When we do this, His strength flows into our deficits and then through us, making us vessels of His love and power to the world. [23:58]

Psalm 23:5 (ESV)
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

Reflection: When was the last time you truly paused to let God’s presence fill your heart, especially in the areas you feel most weak or stained, and how can you make space for that kind of honest surrender today?

Sermon Summary

Sometimes the most significant moves of God begin with a simple “yes” from someone who feels unqualified. Decades ago, Pastor Paul and Marie left behind security and comfort in Australia to follow God’s nudge to New Zealand, despite every reason to disqualify themselves. Their obedience has impacted countless lives, reminding us that God’s work in us is never just for us—it’s meant to overflow for the benefit of others. Just as a tree doesn’t bear fruit for itself, but for those around it, so too are we called to let the presence and work of God in our lives become nourishment and hope for others.

Living in God’s presence is not about achieving perfection or having all the answers. The Holy Spirit’s power is not reserved for those who have it all together, but is given to empower ordinary people to be conduits of God’s love, encouragement, and transformation in their everyday environments. Whether in our workplaces, schools, or homes, the overflow of God’s presence in us can lift atmospheres, bring hope, and inspire faith in those we encounter. Stories like Gracie’s transformation, or the encouragement received from a friend at just the right moment, illustrate how God’s presence in one life can ripple out to many.

Scripture is full of examples—Moses, David, Peter, Paul, the Samaritan woman—of people with glaring weaknesses and past failures. Yet, when they surrendered their deficits to God, those very places became channels for His strength and grace. Our imperfections do not disqualify us; in fact, they invite God’s presence and power. The key is not to hide our stains or weaknesses, but to bring them honestly before God, allowing Him to fill and use them for His purposes.

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well is a powerful reminder: after encountering Jesus, she didn’t wait to become “qualified” before sharing what He had done. She simply let the overflow of her encounter spill into her community, and many believed as a result. In the same way, we are invited to stop disqualifying ourselves, to breathe in God’s grace daily, and to let what He’s done in us flow through us for the benefit of others. Our lives, surrendered and filled with His presence, can become megaphones of hope to a world in need.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Work in Us Is Meant to Overflow to Others Just as a tree bears fruit not for itself but for those around it, the transformation and presence of God in our lives are intended to benefit others. When we allow God’s work in us to flow through us, our families, workplaces, and communities can experience hope, encouragement, and purpose that go far beyond what we could manufacture on our own. [02:16]
2. The Holy Spirit Empowers Imperfect People for a Public Mission The power of the Holy Spirit is not a private luxury for personal comfort, but a public empowerment for mission. We are called to carry God’s presence into every environment, not because we have it all together, but because God delights to use ordinary, imperfect people as His witnesses and conduits of grace. [05:33]
3. Our Weaknesses Invite God’s Presence, Not His Rejection A presence-filled life is not a perfect life. In fact, our areas of weakness and deficit are often the very places where God’s strength is most clearly displayed. When we stop hiding our stains and instead invite God into those places, He fills them with His power and uses them to encourage and help others. [11:45]
4. Your Story—Even the Messy Parts—Can Be a Megaphone of Hope The Bible is full of people who were deeply flawed, yet God used their surrendered stories to bring hope and transformation to others. When we share honestly about our journey and how God has met us in our deficits, others are encouraged to believe that God can do the same for them. Our testimony, even in progress, can spark faith in those around us. [14:49]
5. Don’t Disqualify Yourself—Let God’s Grace Flow Through You Many of us are tempted to disqualify ourselves from making a difference because of our past, our personality, or our perceived lack. But God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. When we daily breathe in His grace and open our weaknesses to Him, we become vessels through which His presence can overflow to a world in need.

** [21:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - The Story of Pastor Paul and Marie’s Obedience
[02:16] - Fruit for the Benefit of Others
[03:30] - Gracie’s Transformation: Overflow in Everyday Life
[04:21] - Imagining the Impact of Overflow
[05:33] - Called to Carry God’s Presence
[06:45] - The Holy Spirit’s Power: For Us and Through Us
[08:01] - Living Presence in Daily Environments
[09:43] - The Power of Encouragement and Overflow
[10:39] - Disqualifying Ourselves: The Work in Progress
[11:45] - Imperfection Invites God’s Presence
[13:13] - Personal Story: Weakness as a Channel for Grace
[14:49] - Biblical Examples of God Using the Unqualified
[18:15] - The Samaritan Woman: From Deficit to Overflow
[21:04] - The Ripple Effect of One Encounter
[21:46] - Stop Disqualifying Yourself
[22:59] - Common Barriers to Believing God Can Use Us
[23:58] - Spiritual Oxygen: Breathing in God’s Grace
[24:53] - Hiding Our Stains vs. Inviting God’s Strength
[25:41] - Closing Reflections

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Philippians 1:20–26 (ESV) — > as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

John 4:28–30, 39–42 (ESV) — > So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. ... Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) — > But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Observation Questions

In Philippians 1:20–26, what does Paul say is the reason he is convinced he should remain alive? How does this relate to the idea of living for the benefit of others? [05:33]
According to the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4, what did she do immediately after her encounter with Jesus? What was the result in her community? [18:15]
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, what does Paul say about his weaknesses and how God responds to them?
The sermon mentions that a tree doesn’t bear fruit for itself. What is the significance of this analogy in the context of the message? [02:16]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasizes that his continued life is “for your sake” and “for your progress and joy in the faith” rather than for his own benefit? What does this reveal about his understanding of Christian purpose? [05:33]
The Samaritan woman didn’t wait to “get her life together” before sharing about Jesus. What does this suggest about how God uses people, even when they feel unqualified or unfinished? [21:04]
The sermon says, “Imperfection actually invites His presence.” How does this challenge the common belief that God only uses people who have it all together? [11:45]
The message highlights several biblical figures with significant flaws (Moses, David, Peter, etc.). What pattern do you see in how God works through their weaknesses? [14:49]

Application Questions

The sermon shared how Pastor Paul and Marie said “yes” to God despite feeling unqualified. Is there an area in your life where you sense God nudging you, but you feel disqualified? What would it look like to say “yes” anyway? [02:16]
Think about your daily environments—work, school, home, or community. What is one practical way you could let God’s presence in you “overflow” to benefit someone else this week? [08:01]
The story of Gracie showed how her transformation lifted the atmosphere at her workplace. Can you recall a time when someone else’s faith or encouragement changed your day or environment? How might you be that person for someone else? [04:21]
The message says, “Our weaknesses invite God’s presence, not His rejection.” Is there a weakness or area of struggle in your life that you usually try to hide? What would it look like to invite God into that area instead? [11:45]
The analogy of the oxygen mask was used: “Make sure your own mask is on before helping others.” What does it look like for you to “breathe in God’s grace” daily? Are there habits or moments you need to create to receive from God before you try to give to others? [23:58]
The Samaritan woman’s story became a “megaphone of hope” for her community. What part of your story—maybe even the messy parts—could God use to encourage someone else? Are you willing to share it? [18:15]
The sermon challenged us to stop disqualifying ourselves because of our past, personality, or perceived lack. What is one step you can take this week to move past self-disqualification and let God’s grace flow through you? [21:46]

Sermon Clips

And it's an interesting thought that a tree doesn't grow fruit for itself. You ever seen an apple tree eating an apple? An orange tree consuming an orange? No, a tree doesn't grow fruit for itself. A tree grows fruit for the benefit of others. And in a year of presence, church, my prayer and my hope is that as we pursue his presence, as we commit to live a life aware of his presence around us, his presence in us, that we would allow that to flow through us into those in our world. [00:02:09]

The work of the Holy Spirit isn't just for my benefit, it's for the benefit of others. That others can have a deeper sense of joy because of what God is doing through me. That others can have a deeper sense of purpose because of what God wants to do through you. [00:02:46]

Gracie's allowing what God has done in her to flow through her for the benefit of others. What would it look like if a bunch of us allowed to flow through? I wonder how many universities would be different. I wonder how many workplaces would be different. I wonder how many neighbourhoods that God wants to bring a sense of who He is through someone who says, God, the fruit you're creating in my life isn't just for me, but it's for the benefit of others. [00:04:36]

It's not a weight that we carry. It's not an extra thing on our to-do list. It is the most natural thing to allow the overflow of His presence to benefit someone else, to be an available conduit to say, God, you can flow through me. [00:05:09]

As followers of Christ we are called not only to enjoy his presence but we are called to carry His presence so that others may benefit from it. That the presence of God in our life is not just a private luxury, but it is a public empowerment that can transform and empower the lives of those around me. [00:06:48]

The Holy Spirit's power, yes, it brings personal comfort, but it was also given for public mission. I heard someone say just a couple of weeks ago that God fills us to spill us, that the infilling of the Spirit always leads to an overflow towards others. [00:07:54]

When we live presence, our family benefits, our friends benefit, our school and education places benefit, our workspaces benefit, my sports club benefits, everyone who I bump into as a daily day-to-day life can benefit from what God is doing in me and through me. [00:08:22]

Do you know that's not for an elder in a church? That's for every Christian that we can walk into every environment and say, God, what you've done in me, let it flow through me for the benefit of someone else. [00:09:55]

Because what He has done in them, He allows, they allow to flow through them for the benefit of others. Here's the reality. Some of us will discount ourselves from making a difference in someone else's life because we know the areas that are still a work in progress. [00:10:49]

A presence life is not a perfect life. Let me take it a step further. Imperfection actually invites His presence. [00:11:47]

It's right there that the power of God fills. It's right there that the Holy Spirit wants to come and empower. And it amazes me how people's weaknesses become the very thing that God wants to use to flow through you and make a difference in someone else's life. [00:12:45]

I've had to say God here's a weakness and a deficit and that's not something to be ashamed of, it's something that invites your presence and I wonder today how many of us will walk out of this service looking at our deficit very differently than we would. walked in looking at it. It doesn't disqualify you, it qualifies you. [00:14:27]

The truth is God doesn't call the qualified he qualifies the called and each of these examples serve as a reminder to us that although we all have imperfections when those imperfections are surrendered to God they become a megaphone of hope for someone else. [00:16:57]

What would your workplace look like what would your neighborhood look like what would my environments look like if I walked in committed to saying God what you've done in me let it to be for the benefit of others. [00:17:40]

After an encounter with Jesus that changed her life, she went from living and avoiding people to running into town and saying, what he's done in me, let it benefit you. What he's done in me, let it make a difference in your life. [00:20:19]

After an encounter with Jesus, she didn't wait to become a qualified Jesus follower with some time in the bank. She just ran back to those who she once avoided and said, God, what you've done in me, let it flow through me for the benefit of others. [00:21:10]

Many from Auckland University can have an encounter because you're there. Many from Hobsonville can have an encounter because you're there. Many from downtown Auckland can have an encounter because you're there. Many of your family can have an encounter because you're there. Many of your friends can have an encounter because you're there. [00:21:41]

God, you've been so good to me. What you've done in me, would you flow through me for the benefit of others? You've anointed me. Let my cup overflow. [00:22:05]

When if we were just in a moment, not try and hide it, not try and white knuckle it and just hold on until it goes away, but actually open it up to God and say, God, these are an area of weakness. Would you fill it? In my weakness, would your strength be made perfect? [00:23:30]

We're consumed with the one stain, but we want to show everyone else the good stuff. We're in this moment, God's saying, and would you let me into that area? Because in your weakness. That's where my strength finds its purpose. [00:25:28]

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