“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NIV)

When I think of this verse I imagine a big rain barrel sitting under a waterspout receiving a steady stream of water causing it to overflow the brim and running over.

In the same way

Fill your mind with a steady stream of the Word of God until it simply overflows. The Bible says, “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45b) Sounds like overflow to me!

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Prov. 18:24 NKJV)

This is a simple biblical principle that works wonderfully! If you want to “have” friends you have to “show yourself” friendly. It’s an example of “reaping what you sow.” – Friendliness produces friendliness!

She was lonely, depressed and suicidal

Here is an old story about psychiatrist Dr. Milton Erickson, and his advice given to a reclusive woman who was lonely, depressed and suicidal, and what happened to her after taking his great advice.

The ailing 52-year-old spinster lived in a rambling Victorian house with the heavy draperies drawn and dust gathering on faded upholstered furniture. Now wheelchair bound due to illness, the woman rarely went to church, an activity which had been her only social and spiritual sustenance for many years. She’d become isolated and depressed, even suicidal.

The woman’s nephew was a client of Erickson’s, and knowing the doctor would soon be traveling to Milwaukee for a speaking engagement, asked him if he’d be willing to call on his beloved aunt who lived there. Dr. Erickson agreed.

When Erickson arrived, the aunt invited him in and showed him around her gloomy house, it appeared as if nothing had been changed for many years. The furniture and household decorations showed a faded glory, smelling of must. Erickson was struck by the fact that all the curtains were kept closed, making the house a depressing place to be in.

The aunt saved the very best for last, however, and finally ushered Erickson into her greenhouse nursery. This was her pride and joy; she had a green thumb and spent many happy hours working with the plants. She proudly showed him her latest project—taking cuttings from her African violets and starting new plants.

“Not a very good Christian”

Erickson told her that he thought depression was not really the problem. It was clear to him that her problem was that she was not being a very good Christian. She was taken aback by this and began to bristle, until he explained. “Here you are with all this money, time on your hands, and a green thumb. And it’s all going to waste! What I recommend is that you get a copy of your church membership list and then look in the latest church bulletin. You’ll find announcements of births, illnesses, graduations, engagements, and marriages in there—all the happy and sad events in the life of people in the congregation. Make a number of African violet cuttings and get them well established. Then repot them in gift pots and have your handyman drive you to the homes of people who are affected by these happy or sad events. Bring them a plant and your congratulations or condolences and comfort, whichever is appropriate to the situation.” Hearing this, the woman agreed that perhaps she had fallen down in her Christian duty and agreed to do more.

African Violet Queen

Twenty years later, in the Milwaukee Journal, a feature article appeared with a large headline that read “African Violet Queen of Milwaukee Dies, Mourned by Thousands.” The article detailed the life of this incredibly caring woman who had become famous for her trademark flowers and her charitable work with people in the community for many years preceding her death. Her last years were filled with many wonderful friends, a loving purpose, and much happiness! All because she had learned to reach out to others in need, and“show herself to be friendly” to them.

Closer than a brother

The last part of our promise verse (at the top) says, “and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” And, that friend, of course is Jesus! Here is what He said about helping others: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (Luke 3:10-11 ESV)

Golden

And, the “golden rule” says the same thing: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” (Matt. 7:12 NLT)

The Law of Reciprocity

And finally, even though you must always give unselfishly without expecting anything in return when you do so, something very wonderful will begin to happen just the same. Social psychologists call it The Law of Reciprocity – and it basically says that when someone does something nice for you, you will have a deep-rooted psychological urge to do something nice in return. As a matter of fact, you may even reciprocate with a gesture far more generous than their original good deed. Obviously, that happened to the African Violet Queen in the story above. She got back more than she gave!

“Now the Berean Jews were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

When the apostle Paul spoke to the people of Berea they did two important things, first, they were very willing to receive God’s message, and second, they carefully examined the scriptures to make sure what Paul said was true!

They were “more noble-minded”

The passage said they were more noble-minded because they did this!

The word “noble” means righteous, virtuous, good, honorable, upright, decent, worthy, moral, ethical, and reputable.

And it had a positive affect!

According to the following verse, many became believers! “As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.” (Acts 17:12 NLT)

Want to be noble-minded?

Then receive God’s message willingly and then check the scriptures to make sure what is being said is true! It will change your life!

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. (Prov. 21:5 NASB)

Hard work with attention to detail pays off with success and positive benefits but laziness and shortcuts cause failure and poverty.

“Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Diligence defined

The dictionary defines diligence as careful and persistent work or effort, application, concentration, care, industriousness, rigor, meticulousness, and thoroughness.

Benjamin Franklin stated it this way, “Haste makes waste.”

God rewards diligence

“… he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6b NKJV)

“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 2:10 NASB)

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NIV)

There was a king who was very powerful and severe!

No one dared approach him without first having acquired the proper prearranged permission to do so. Even so, if the king didn’t like the person who came before him for any reason at all, the person could be severely punished, imprisoned or even put to death. People in his kingdom were rightly terrified of him.

This King had a dearly beloved son who he greatly cherished!

One day the king’s son, who was with his mother in a different part of the castle, slipped away from her and began looking for his father. He soon heard his father’s voice and burst into the large room where the king was holding court. The child saw his father and cried aloud, “Daddy!” And he ran across the room, jumped onto the Kings lap, and threw his arms around him. The King, looked down at the child and gave him a big smile. He embraced his son and gave him his complete love and attention.

In the same way, today’s Bible promise tells us, we can “approach God’s throne of grace boldly, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Another verse says it all his way, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Eph. 3:12 NIV)

We can do this without fear because He is our Heavenly Father and we can approach Him as such! And, He is always glad to hear from us!

“You have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15 NASB)

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Cor 9:6 KJV)

Success secret

This simple statement about sowing and reaping is a HUGE success secret that most farmers understand, but most others (non-farmers) don’t. And, that’s the principle of getting lots of good seed into the ground so that you can get a great harvest.

In the next few verses of the same passage we learn some interesting things.

• God supplies the seed for the sower, bread for food, increases your store of seed, and enlarges the harvest of your righteousness!

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. (2 Cor. 9:10 NIV)

• He enriches you in EVERY way for a reason. So that you can be generous on every occasion, which will result in thanksgiving to God.

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Cor. 9:11 NIV)

• It not only supplies the needs of the Lord’s people but it overflows with many expressions of thanks to God.

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” (2 Cor. 9:12 NIV)

So, plant good seeds of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of love

“I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’” (Hosea 10:12 NLT)

“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6 NLT)

According to Jesus, he is three things:

1) The way: that is, the way by which those must get to heaven who will ever come there.

2) The truth: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Jesus is the source of truth, who originates and communicates truth for the salvation of men. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NLT)

3) The life: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25 NIV)

Jesus made a straight forward statement! “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

He didn’t say he is “a way” He said He is “the way.” He is in fact the only way! You cannot get to God any other way except through Jesus Christ! But, the good news promise is that “whosoever” (anyone) may come freely.

“whosoever believes in him should not perish but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

You will be saved!

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Rom. 10:9-13 NIV)

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13 NIV)

Rescued from the dominion of darkness!

According to the above passage, you were brought into Jesus’ kingdom where you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins!

To be “rescued” means to be saved from a dangerous or distressing situation, to be retrieved from being lost, to be recovered, salvaged, gotten back.

Mephibosheth - a rescue story

Saul’s son, Jonathan, had a son named Mephibosheth. He was five-years-old when the report came from Jezreel that King Saul and Jonathan had been killed in the battle of Mount Gilboa. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled. (Sam. 4:4). For a number of years thereafter, Mephibosheth lived in abject poverty in the house of Machir, a former servant in Saul’s house.

Mephibosheth was brought before David

After King David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel, Mephibosheth was brought before David, and when the king explained that it was his desire to exercise lovingkindness toward Mephibosheth by returning to him “all the fields of Saul” and by having him “eat bread at my table constantly,” Mephibosheth responded to the King with: “What is your servant, that you have turned your face to the dead dog such as I am?”

What a negative statement to make about himself!

Even though Mephibosheth was the grandson of a King, was being shown lovingkindness by King David, having the great wealth of “all the fields of Saul” returned to him, and will now “eat bread at King David’s table constantly,” he still referred to himself as a “dead dog.” Imagine that! He had so much to rejoice about yet resorted to negative self-talk.

We sometimes do the same!

Just like Mephibosheth we sometimes say negative things about ourselves. It shouldn’t be so! No matter what happens to us our confession should remain positive because of what God has done for us! And say, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37 NIV)

We have good reasons to be positive!

• God has rescued us and brought us into His family!

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13 NIV)

• He has bestowed extraordinary kindness and grace to us!

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a NIV)

• We are “new” and should think of ourselves that way!

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NASB)

“May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes.5:23 NIV)

According to the Bible, you are made up of three distinct parts: Spirit, soul, and body!

Understanding what this truth means to you personally, and as a follower of Jesus Christ, has great potential to help you tremendously!

Defining your three parts

1) Spirit — The part of you that you cannot see because it is invisible.

Your spirit is like a radio or TV signal in that you cannot see them either, yet they exist and are very real. The Bible says that what you see (the physical world) is only “temporary” and what you cannot see (the spiritual world) is “permanent.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

This spiritual-world concept is a little hard for some to comprehend because they cannot physically see the spiritual world. But, it is true! The Bible tells us that God, Himself, is “spirit” and that we must “worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Inside each one of us is our own spirit which is the part of us that gets transformed when we become “born again”. Jesus explained this truth to Nicodemus in John 3:1-12.

Made brand new and perfect!

You become a new creature by Jesus, (2 Cor. 5:17), your spirit becomes instantly brand new and perfect, (1 John 4:17, 1 Cor. 6:17, Eph. 4:24)

And after that your spirit is sealed, protected, and kept by the Holy Spirit.

“After that you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13 KJV)

2) Soul (your mind) — The part of you that thinks and reasons, which is your human mind.

Your mind is not transformed instantly as your spirit is, when you receive Christ. You must continually work daily to bring your thinking into alignment with God’s Word, which is a lifelong process (Phil 1:6). This continual process “renews your mind” and enables you to “prove (demonstrate) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2 NKJV)

This process, or lack of it, explains why some born again Christians continue to struggle with fear, sin, and addictions, even though they are actually redeemed. The better you get at “transforming your mind” and bringing it into agreement with God’s Word, the more victorious you will be in life and as a Christian.

3) Body — The physical part of you.

Your body, the third part of you is the easiest part to understand because you can see and feel your human body. If I ask you how you feel you can easily know and tell me. If I ask you if you are cold or warm, you can easily answer.

This part of you, (your body) is not transformed when you become a Christian. If you are fat, skinny, tall, young, or old, when you are born again, you will be that way afterwards. The Bible calls your body “the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and also only temporary as in “jars of clay” (2 Cor. 4:7). We are told to take care of our bodies and someday they will die and our spirits will leave them (2 Cor. 5:6).

There will eventually come a day at the appearing of Jesus that our bodies, too, will be transformed and we will then have brand new transformed ones, (2 Cor. 5:3).

To recap

The Bible says, “as long as we are in this earthly tent” (your body), you must work to do everything you can do to serve God faithfully until He returns, (Heb. 3:14-18).

You must study your Bible to discover God’s truths (2 Tim. 2:15) and apply them to your thinking to transform your mind (Rom. 12:2).

You must pray for and about things (spirit), (1 Thes. 5:16-18).

God will do it!

And, finally, the next verse following today’s promise about your spirit, soul, and body says that God Himself, will make it happen for you “He will do it”, because He is “faithful!”

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thes. 5:24 NIV)

And, that too, is an amazing and wonderful promise!