Chapter 7-The Overflowing Life

John 7:37–39 KJV 1900

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Introduction:

There is a difference of purpose between the Spirit-filled life for holiness and the Spirit-filled life for service!

Holiness is being right, or personal victory.

Service is doing right, or ministry to others.

“Holiness accesses Christ’s life in/to/for you; While service accesses Christ’s life through you to others.”

In order for us to impact others effectively, Christ must flow THROUGH us to them.

The overflowing life impacts others with the life of Christ.

We must regularly drink at the fountain of Christ in order to live the Overflowing Life.

The Prerequisite of the Overflowing Life

John 7:37 KJV 1900

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Notice the word “if”. This is a word indicating that some are unaware of their need for the overflowing life.

Know your need continually for the dynamic empowering of the Spirit of God for service.

Sometimes God lets us know our need, other times He does not make us aware of our need. The key to remember is that we NEED God whether we know it or not!!

If you do not know/realize your need continually then you are self-dependent and not God dependent!

Self dependence for personal victory leads to defeat. This defeat shows in one of two ways: the obvious defeat of a reigning/conquering sin or the more subtle(and often more dangerous) defeat of self-righteousness!

Self dependence for effective service also leads to defeat: the obvious defeat of failure to minister to others or the subtle defeat of failure in ministry to others.

If we are not careful we will “just go through” the motions; and live much of our Christian lives without the power of God.

I do not need to “go through the motions” I need to learn to allow the life of Christ to “flow through me” to others!

The prerequisite of the overflowing life is to Recognize your need continually, so that you will find the answer to your need.

Question to ask: am I being effective for God?

The Principle of the Overflowing Life

The Imagery

The Issue

The Promise of the Overflowing Life

The Source

The Purpose

The Emphasis

Simplified Steps to Accessing the Overflowing Life