My Cup Overflows
April 16th, 2006 Psalm 23:5-6
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
INTRO: Welcome – final message as pastor – final message in series – great truths of the 23rd Psalm – not really Easter message but truths we possess because Jesus rose from the dead.
• The Lord is my Shepherd – no want – personal and powerful care
PS 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
• He Restores my Soul – Makes me lie down – green pastures
PS 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul.
• He Comforts me – paths of righteousness – dark valleys – rod and staff
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Four final benefits for having the Lord as you shepherd…
PS 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
PS 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Talk about a great infomercial for why I have the Lord as my Shepherd!
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
1. Abundant _Vindication_ by the Lord.
Enemies = persecutors, adversaries, afflict and distress me, actively oppose
• Understand – not people who we have offended
• Enemies because we have done the right thing – spoken truth
“I don’t have any enemies…” - sad! – because can’t live the life of a child of God without compromise and not make any enemies!
“Well I have!” – Well Jesus couldn’t! – He who combined perfect godliness with purity, sensitivity – yet committed to the truth – made enemies!
If you’re walking with Christ – stand for truth w/o compromise – enemies!
LK 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
“Yea, but He also said… “Blessed are the peace makers” – Luke 6:26
• But didn’t say –“at all costs” – otherwise – “blessed are compromisers”
A time will come when your stand for truth will cause opposition in this life
• Possibly even from those who are close
ILLUS: David had enemies – Saul – loved David until jealousy – insane – turns out that the person who loved David passionately also hated passionately – even hated those who loved David – tried to kill own son
• David had enemies – knew about a table in presence of enemies
• Absalom – philistines – heathen armies…
ILLUS: Imagine all of David’s enemies in a great hall – seated around the edges – table in the middle - David seated at table – all around people who hated him – wanted to straighten him out – say a few things to him – tenseness in the room – who’s going to speak first? – icy stares, cut it with a knife – door opens – Great Shepherd – long flowing robes – eyes like flame of fire – walks across room – enemies say “Now he’ll get what’s coming to him!… Tell him what he needs to hear! – straighten him out!” – what’s He doing? – is He going to eat with David? – no – He’s going to serve him! – in the presence of his enemies – wait on him hand an foot – “David is there anything else?” – “can I get you some more…” – “you should try some of this…” - Table = great banquet / feast! - Lord Himself serves
What is that if not vindication? – if David in the flesh might say – “You think I’m so lame? – apparently the Lord doesn’t think so!”
• This is God’s confirmation on David’s life.
• Was David perfect? – NO – made mistakes – but “Man after God’s heart!”
Make note this - because I have abundant vindication – I know who I am!
• Maybe you’ve experienced – icy stares – someone close – turned on you and exposed the wickedness in their own hearts
• In that place you can begin to doubt who you are…
• If enough people send wrong messages – begins to effect you – confused
• Message you need is what God thinks about you!
• “I love you, my eyes are upon you – you are not forgotten!”
Maybe you’re here struggling – needing vindication – three things…
1. It’s not wrong to look / long for vindication…
2 THES 1:6 it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you
• Not unrighteous but righteous!
2. But only God can bring vindication.
RO 12:19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
3. You must be willing to wait for it.
• David waited a long time – but it was worth it! – He prepared a table in the presence of his enemies.
• In the fullness of time David took throne – greatest king of Israel.
• When Joseph – sold – prisoner – then ruler in Egypt
• When God sent only son to cross -
PHP 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• When God vindicates – it is abundant!
• “I know who I am – I am who God says I am!”
2. Abundant _Provision_ by the Lord.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Anoint head with oil – ceremony of honor – refreshing to a welcomed guest – brought relief, refreshing, modern equivalent – hot towels in first class at the end of the journey.
David saying – “abundant provision – well fed – but also refreshed/renewed
• “Is there anything to drink?” - my cup overflows
• Phenomenal picture that God gives us everything we need!
• Cup overflowing – How much is that? – more than I need!
• Therefore I have everything that I need physically / spiritually
• Spiritually God keeps my cup overflowing!
ILLUS: $1.75 for pop rip off – now refills – in travels – waiters / pitchers
The point is I don’t have to think! – I have more than enough!
Sometimes in life we look our cup – measure our capacity – “I’ve got to 4 appts. 2 calls have to return, problem with furnace, issue needs resolved…”
• OK I’ve got just enough for those things – everyone else forget it!
• And we live according to our capacity and not according to overflow
• God want you to serve Him according to the overflow not capacity!
• “No reason for you to serve me out of principle – interest enough!”
• “More than enough overflow to do what need to do.
• Our cups are to be OVERFLOWING!!
This should be the normal experience of the Christian life
• Abundant energy, strength, faith, overflowing capacity to meet the needs of life.
You say – “…but sometimes I’m not experiencing that!”
• That which quenches overflow – sin
• Problem is we excuse it as nerves, or tired, or under pressure…
• And if we want the overflow in our lives again – need to confess sin
• When sin is seen to be sin – blood of Christ cleanses – cups overflow
• But blood doesn’t cleanse excuses!
“Well, you know I’m just not an overflow kind of person”
• But can’t get away from fact – God wants us to serve out of overflow!
When you sense diminished capacity…
1. Confess sin that hinders Holy Spirits overflow – ask what’s blocking
2. Increase fellowship w/God – that helps overflow – time in Word – time in prayer, increased and focused time – 3 hr challenge
“That’s great for you – but not only not sitting at table – I kicked it over – went off on my enemies –
That’s great that you were feeling diminished and had to reach into your capacity – but not only am I not overflowing – I can’t even find my cup – broken on the floor!”
Look at this next part…
3. Abundant _Opportunity_ from the Lord.
6Surely goodness and love (mercy) will follow me all the days of my life,
• Doesn’t matter how far you are from the Lord – or how discouraged – if you’re one of His children – then you have this in your pocket – it can be in your life too
“Surely goodness and mercy…”
• Goodness = bounty / blessing
• Mercy = favor / loving kindness = Heb. “hesed” – 246 times OT.
• David’s favorite word to describe the attitude of God toward His children
Ps. 86:13For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Ps. 33:5He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Ps. 98:3He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Ps. 36:5Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
• It extends – eternal, persistent, - stubborn love God has for His children. He won’t turn His back on us.
Personal testimony of God pursuing me – and still is…
Doesn’t matter how far you’ve gone – He will not lessen His pursuit – He’s after you! – Relentless!
Over 100 years ago a preacher preached about the hounds of heaven…
• These hounds are after you!
• No matter where you are / what you’ve done – they’ll track you down!
• Therefore – my best days are ahead!
World says if in 30’s or 40’s – little grey – best days are behind you – true!
• But if you’ve got the Lord as your Shepherd – best days are ahead!
• Doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been – best days can be ahead of you in the future
But the devil lies to us to try to dispel our hope and defeat us about future!
• Too many failures – can’t be on God’s first string – on the bench
• Too many years – too late for me, late to the party, trains left station…
• Too many others – I don’t have the training or talents
1 Cor 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
• 2 things you need to serve – emptiness and willingness
• Maybe won’t make the marquee but will make celebration of heaven!
Too Many obstacles – work, family health, training – lies – dogs baying!
• He’s after me – it’s his goodness and mercy that convinces me – no obstacle too big – not worried about others – matters not if failed in the past
• I can do something for God!
• He’ll put me on a new page because of His goodness and mercy!
LAM 3:21This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
4. Abundant _Future_ with the Lord.
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
David wanted to build the temple – God – “you don’t have a vote!”
• Disappointment – song writer of Israel – no place to sing
• Vision will not be fulfilled by him – in his son instead
But the LORD said to my father David, `Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart.
-1 Kings 8:18
• Phenomenal principle - This really brought comfort to me
• Not a person here, me included that hasn’t envisioned some things – haven’t seen them come about
Bottom line is – this life so short - I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
• Might not be able to build the temporary here but I’m moving to the permanent one.
• “When they start singing I’ll be on the front row!”
• My eternity is secure! – notice: “I will” not I might, I sure hope… - I WILL
• Notice “Dwell” – not visit – drop by – DWELL! – at home with Lord!
• in the house of the LORD – not same country, city, neighborhood – “I’m moving in to the house of the Lord – Forever! - We’ll never get over nearness of God.
• “Forever” – break it down – FOREVER… - how long life on earth? – 70
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
• We’re so disturbed and distorted about the here and now – God help us!!
• Forever is coming fast – it’s encroaching on us!
• “I can’t wait to go running through that gate and be with the Lord!”
Now that’s the 23rd Psalm – Abundant life lived in God.
David celebrates it and we can experience it too – yes we can!
Lord, thank you that you are our Shepherd, we thank you for the tenderness of that picture, we thank you that your eyes are upon us wherever we are – I pray Lord for those who feel so far from you – separated from you – looking over milk that has been spilled, plans that have gone in the wrong direction, - might they know your mercy and your lovingkindness. Thank you that you stubbornly pursue us everyday of our lives. We revel and rejoice in your truth this morning – celebrate it – we agree with your Word – we pray that you would sanctify us by your truth – your word is truth – may we live this week in light of these truths – your vindication – we’re waiting, your provision for us let us live from the overflow – the opportunities to live for you and love you - serve you - think of our security, eternally – how rich we are how blessed we are.
Now, these are your sheep – release them to your care – appoint godly men to watch over them feed them your Word – bring them into your kingdom in the full stature of the son’s of God…
My Cup Overflows
April 16th, 2006 Psalm 23:5-6
1. Abundant ______________ by the Lord.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
2. Abundant ______________ by the Lord.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
3. Abundant ______________ from the Lord.
6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
4. Abundant _______________ with the Lord.
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
But the LORD said to my father David, `Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. -1 Kings 8:18
