Higher Ground

What does it take to move to higher ground in one’s spiritual life?  Moving to higher ground is synonymous with spiritual growth.  Let me ask it another way.  How do we make sure that we are living our lives worthy of the Lord by bearing fruit?  The story of King Josiah gives us great principles growth. 

The record of King Josiah’s life is found in 2 Kings, chapters 22-23.  The text reveals four things about Josiah that enabled God to take him and Judah to higher ground. 

1. Openness to the voice of God (2 Kings 22:11A).  We are told that after the book of the Law was read Josiah heard…He was sensitive to the voice of god.

2. Brokenness before the throne of God (2 Kings 22:11b; 19) The great paradox of the kingdom is to go higher you must go lower. 

3. Willingness to do the will of God (2 Kings 22-23).  The reforms that Josiah brought to Judah demonstrate a man who was willing to do God’s will.

4. Single-mindedness to seek the face of God (2 Kings 23:25). Josiah tuned to the Lord with al his heart, soul, and might.  

God will move to higher ground those who are humble before his throne, open to his voice, obedient to his will, and passionate about his presence.    

“Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By Faith, on Heaven's table-land, a higher

plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Principles for Spiritual Leadership from Exodus 14

Principles for Spiritual Leadership from Exodus 14

1. Our availability and willingness to follow the Lord's leadership and depend on the Lord's empowerment makes us spiritual leaders. Moses learned that leading is about what God can do in and through us, not what we can do for God.

2. God may allow us short-term failure in leadership to build character and dependence, and to reveal his power and glory. Moses did exactly what the Lord told him and it made the situation worse for the Israelites.

3. The key to leading people who are discouraged and won't follow is to keep focused on the Lord and follow his leadership. Moses would have to learn that Following the Lord is the only way to be a successful spiritual leader.

4. God allows adversity so that he can multiply his miracles and reveal his power and glory. God wants people to realize that he is Lord.

5. What may seem like aimless wandering in the wilderness could very well be a part of God's plan. (Ex.14)

6. People will question leadership when the direction seems detrimental to the cause. Don't give in to the naysayers, but allow God to prove Himself. (Ex.14) 

Sermon Recap 7.16.2017

True Confession

Psalm 51:1-19

It’s not uncommon to see a lawyer trying to have a confession thrown out on the basis that is a false confession.  It’s the judge’s responsibility to determine if the confession is admissible for trial. 

In like manner, not all confession we make to God is admissible to God.  The Bible speaks of a godly sorrow and a worldly sorrow.  The former leads to repentance, but the latter leads to spiritual death. 

One of the best passages of scripture for identifying a true confession is found in Psalm 51.  King David confesses his sins of adultery and murder to God. There are three truths about true confession. 

1.    True confession understands our condition before God (1-6)

2.    True confession seeks cleansing from God (7-12)

3.    True confession is confirmed with a transformed life in God (13-19).

The Gist...

I love sitting down with people and sharing what Overflow is all about.  The gist of overflow is simplicity.  That’s right, simplicity.  We want to be a simple church, and by simple, I mean a church not built on programs but on 3 simple processes: encountering God, empowering people, and engaging the city. 

In a consumer culture, we often approach finding a church that meets our needs.  Most are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to self, but that is far from the message of the gospel, which calls us to deny and abandon self.

Therefore, at Overflow, we intentionally want to move people from a crowd of consumers to a community of Christ followers encountering God, empowering people, and engaging the city.

Sunday mornings is when Overflow gathers for corporate worship to encounter God.  Soon, we will begin monthly community gatherings as well as seasonal city groups for cultivating healthy and authentic community.  We will also have in place an elements course that will move people from consumers to contributors to the family.   

We are all about processes at Overflow.  We realize that our walk with Jesus is a process.  Come join the process with us.  

Pastor Patrick Mead. 

The Lord Directs

Trusting God’s Providence

Proverbs 16:9

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

I know in my mind that God is sovereign and in control, but I wrestle with trusting His sovereignty.  If I really trusted God’s rule then I would not battle with worry and anxiety so much. 

What I am learning about God’s control is that no door will open for me, unless God opens it, and no door will close, unless God closes it (Rev. 3:7-8). A good illustration of this is found in a true story that happened in Swan Quarter, North Carolina, in 1876.

The Methodist Episcopal Church South needed a new building. When an individual donated a lot on Oyster Creek Road, the congregation gratefully accepted the gift. The property was in a low-lying area, so the church constructed the new building on brick pilings. A few days later, a terrible storm passed through the area. The town flooded! The new church building was lifted from the brick pilings by the rising waters, and it floated down the road. People witnessed as the church building, still intact, moved towards the center of town. Then, at the town’s center, the building made a sharp right turn and drifted with the water until it landed in a vacant lot.

Amazingly, the church sits on the same lot 130 years later. It is now called the Providence Methodist Church. Even more astonishing, however, the site where the building landed was the original location selected by the church for their new building. The landowner had refused to sell the lot to them.  The morning after the flood, the landowner presented the pastor with the deed to the property.

Honestly, we can make our plans, but God determines our steps. It is wise to start each day with a dynamic trust in the Lord.  May our motto be: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  

• Take time to trace the Lord’s meticulous plan in your life. Think of people, events, and meetings that God orchestrated.  How did they influence you in bringing you to where you are now?

• How can tracing God’s providence in the past give you courage for the future?

• Thank God for the people that he has placed in your life! Ask God to use you as an agent of his grace this week.  If you are in need, ask God to send you a Boaz!

•  Share your God story with someone before next Sunday. 

Sermon Recap for 7/2/2017

Trusting God in Hopeless Situations

Psalm 3:1-8

In Psalm 3, we find David running for his life because his son’s revolt.  The prayer he pens is considered a lament psalm, one that he wrote early in the morning.   Three things we learn from this psalm about trusting God when all seems hopeless. 

First, life will present us with circumstances that seem hopeless.  This is often caused by adversity and feelings of abandonment from people and God (1-2). 

Second, it is paramount that we don’t allow the circumstances to dictate our outlook on life.  David, focused on the hope that he had in God’s protection, victory, comfort, and faithfulness (3-4). 

Third, when we allow our upward look to God determine our outlook on life, it results is calmness, courage, and confidence to face the seemingly hopeless situations of life (5-8).

Bible Reading: Where to start

Bible Reading: Where to start

by

Clay Bartel 

Wow, the Bible is a big book. Really big. We have this older King James Version at home that’s 1,750-plus pages. And that’s not one of those large-font books for older people. A lot of folks interested in reading it don’t because of the overwhelming question every Bible beginner asks: Where do you start?

That’s a great question. See, the Bible is not a straight narrative, but rather a collection of stories God – through His Holy Spirit – has given to us at different eras in human history. So you can really start anywhere you want.

But where exactly?

Here’s the quick and easy answer: It starts with your own tastes and interests. Check out this handy guide for starting. If you’re interested in/then read:

•           Inspirational music/lyrics and poetry = Psalms

•           Practical advice on gaining wisdom and overcoming temptation = Proverbs

•           Action/Adventure stories = Joshua, 1 Samuel

•           Basic philosophy/tenets of Jesus = Matthew

•           The Biography of Jesus = Luke

•           Godly Love and Romance = Song of Solomon

•           History of the Church and the Holy Spirit = Acts

•           Staying pure in a prideful, fallen, self-gratifying world = Romans

•           Law/legal matters = Exodus/Leviticus

•           Faith of Abraham/endurance of Jacob/courage of Joseph = Genesis

In all truth, there’s no place that you have to begin. Pick any book you want and start.

There are a few books that I would discourage you starting as they do require some pre-requisites (other books be read/understood first) to bring everything into clearer view. For instance, I would read the Pentetuech and the Gospels before diving into a dense book like Hebrews. I would read and study the entire Gospel before reading Acts. Neither one of those books will make much sense otherwise.

Oh, and if you’re really ambitious, I would read the Gospel as well as most of Paul’s letters and have a good working knowledge of Old Testament Law and prophetic texts before biting into that giant club sandwich known as the book of Revelation. Just saying…

With all the richness of learning and awesome storytelling, it’s a shame that so many let the world distract and discourage them from reading the Bible. To many, the Bible is a telephone book of do’s and don’ts – mostly, don’ts. To others, the Bible is boring or difficult to understand.

Friends, listen to me clearly. The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible, and He will help you read and understand everything with a lot more clarity and relevance than if you try doing it in your own strength. All you have to do is pray and ask Him for help, and He will give it to you. That’s what He wants you to do. All you have to do is ask.

Happy reading!