Surviving Hurts From Others Series

On the other hand, God can and will! He never runs dry. He never fails. He never has a bad mood. If you look to Him your cup will overflow. Overflow with what?

a) With hope- Romans 15:13 "God will help you overflow with hope in him through the Holy Spirit’s power within you."(LB) You never run out of hope because you know He’s never going to let you down. When we came to Christ, eternity started for us.. 1 Peter 1:3 calls it Aa living hope,@ and it will never end. b)Your cup will also overflow with love. I Thess. 3:12- "May the Lord make your love grow and overflow."(NLT) You=ll never know absolute unconditional love except from God! c)Overflow with joy- Jesus said in John 16:24- "Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow." (LB)

Have you ever wondered when you go to somebody’s house how long you’re supposed to stay? Or have you had someone come to your house and you didn’t know how to tell them to "go". There is a custom in the Middle East that everyone knew that had to do with filling the cup. If you came to somebody’s house, the first thing you do is offer them a cup of water or drink.. They drink that cup and you refill it.. As long as the cup kept being refilled it meant you were welcome to stay. If you came to somebody’s house and after several refills, they left the cup empty, it meant it was time to leave. If the host decided he really liked the person and wanted him to stay a long time, they would take the cup and fill it not only to the rim but they would let it overflow. An overflowing cup was a sign that you can stay as long as you want. And something else.. you are special.

When God says to you, "I’m going to fill your cup to overflowing" it means you matter to God and you’re special to Him. If you’re hurting because somebody has hurt you, God is saying this morning, AI=ll protect you so let me settle the score; I=ll take care of your hurt so let me soothe your wounds and I love you and want to satisfy all of your needs.@ He will settle the score, soothe your wounds and satisfy your needs. In God=s words, He says, "I’ll prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. I’ll anoint your head with oil. Your cup will overflow." Now, that=s a deal you can=t refuse.

And you know what happens when you get that deal? All the things we=ve talked about over the last six weeks.. You survive worry, busyness, emotional pain, indecision, dark valleys and hurts from others. How? Because your cup overflows with the truth of the last verse of this Psalm. ASurely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.@ God is overflowing with love for you & saying, AYou can stay with me as long as you want.@

So, we=ve come full circle. For when we have God=s goodness and love, plus the promise of forever with Him we can truly say, AThe Lord is my Shepherd, I shall NEVER want.@

{All Scripture quotes taken from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.}