C A P A C I T Y 3

Hello Everyone!! 

I hope all is well and that this week is off to a great start!

This week, we're actually just going to get right into it. 

Sunday, First Lady delivered an AMAZING Word on CAPACITY, specifically concerning OVERFLOW. She organized it into 3 points:

OBEDIENCE

SUBMISSION

AVAILABILITY

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Overflow:

verb. Flow over the brim of a recepticle

noun. Excess of surplus not able to be accommodated by an available space

Available space→We have to be available in order to experience the overflow

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OBEDIENCE

Overflow requires obedience. Unfortunately, we want overflow, but we aren't obedient. To help understand this point, we made our first stop in the Book of John. To make it convenient for everyone, instead of linking the scripture, I'll write it in it's entirety below and insert some highlighted points that First Lady mentioned in color:

John 21:1-6

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”[That is what they normally did. Don't get weary in well doing. You will reap if you faint not. (Gal.6:9)]

They said to him, “We are going with you also.”[Get your squad together!] They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.[...the last time...] 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat [Don't look on the left side of the boat for what God said would be on the right], and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude[the multitude is available to you]of fish.[Don't consider the last time. The difference is that either Jesus is now present, or Jesus was always there and now He has given the instruction to do that thing.] 

There were a few points that I found were interesting in this story:

• When your multitude comes, don't act brand new...it was Jesus
•  In verses 7 and 12, once they saw what happened, they knew it was Jesus who had done it; they didn't even have to ask who it was. 
• They were obedient even though they weren't initially aware that it was Jesus who gave the instruction.

• Your multitude won't break you, especially if it is coming from God
• In verse 11, it's mentioned that although there were so many fish in the net, the net didn't break
• The vessel receiving the multitude is reinforced when the multitude arrives. God meets the need when the need arises.
• Peter didn't take a specially made net. I'm sure he took the net he normally would have taken with him to go fishing, which likely wouldn't have supported 153 fish, but the same tool that was normally used was easily strengthened to meet the new need.
• It's the same vessel. The vessel is just stronger.

• Jesus asks questions He knows the answers to, but why?
• I believe it's a part of His gentleness or His way of asking for permission to come in to the situation. It could also be used as a heart check.
• Your response to Jesus matters; it's the difference between going fishing and not catching anything (he was clearly fishing all night), and going fishing and catching so many that you can't pull the net in on your own.
• Your position determines the question that'll be asked to you.
• They wouldn't have seen such a miracle if they weren't doing as they normally would have done. In addition, the other disciples wouldn't have been able to witness the miracle had Peter not been consistent with his fishing.

SUBMISSION

Staying in the book of John...

John 6:1-13

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”  6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.[Same with the previous scripture, Jesus is asking questions He already knows the answer to. God has the plan/solution before the problem even arises.]

7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” [what kind of math...? Philip was clearly looking with his natural eyes]

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” [We miss out on our basket of overflow because we haven't given up our lunch.]

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” [Get it in order!] Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. [Multitude: there were 5,000+ people to feed] 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. [Multitude: they were able to receive as much as they wanted.] 12 So when they were filled, [Multitude: they were filled.] He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, [Multitude: there were some left over] so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments [Multitude: the 12 baskets were FILLED] of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

• Only those who were seated were given the pieces of the loaves
• Your position/placement matters
• You can be in the area, but if you aren't in the instructed position, you are not entitled to what has your name on it.
• Make sure y'all say grace...Jesus did!
• Don't be wasteful...Jesus wasn't

Overflow BONUS:

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

"He's not a God of just enough, He's a God of overflow."

"Lack is foreign when you submit to God."

AVAILABILITY

How are we so busy for God, but are so available for everything else in life?

2 Kings 4:1-7

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” [What do you have in your house? The little is all you need to get started. Don't discredit what's in your house.]

3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels [empty vessels are what gets filled]; do not gather just a few.  4 And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons [Not everyone can be in your secret place]; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”

5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”

And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”[Multitude: She paid off her debt and was able to live on the rest.]

• Multitude: she was prepped for the overflow. The instruction was to not gather just a few, and the promise was that they'll all be full. 
• The oil didn't stop until they were all filled #PromiseFulfilled
• She used the same vessel she had. It just adapted to the need.

Overflow BONUS:

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

"God hasn't gone anywhere."

First Lady ended the sermon with a demonstration to give a visual of how the exterior doesn't matter, but what matters are your contents.

Igloo: The igloo is large and can hold 5 gallons of liquid; however, if it's empty, it doesn't benefit anyone. "Stop holding a capacity and not having any contents." There's no point in having the capacity that you have if you can't hold anything.

The mason jar is small compared to the Igloo. However, God isn't as concerned with your size as He is with what's in you and how available you are. Don't be concerned with the size of the vessel; what matters most is what's in the vessel.

On Sunday, we come to church to be filled...

...but the enemy comes when you're filled. Throughout the week different things happen causing a little to be poured out of you each day/moment. If you don't recharge and be refilled during the week, you'll find yourself empty.

But it's important to set and position yourself...

That way, when you're being poured into, and you add a little more through personal worship, and you add a little more during personal prayer, and you add a little more during corporate Bible study, you begin to overflow.

Because you were in position, similar to Peter, the others who are around will be able to witness and receive a residual blessing.

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As usual, if you have anything to add, any comments to make, or any questions you'd like to ask, please leave a comment and get the conversation going!

Did you miss service and/or the Facebook Live or do you just want to experience the service again? If so, here's the link to Sunday's Service. 

          Sunday Service is every Sunday beginning at 9:30 am and you're more than welcomed to join us!

See you soon,