Richvale Community Church
Sunday, November 2 2025
- Good morning!Couple things celebrate — to day…First is an extra hour of sleep!!… I know about you, but I can behind daylight saving ..when you gain an hour!. And second — if you’re a Dodgers fan, you’re smiling a little bigger this morning… because they’ve done it again! They are the World Series champs for the second time in a row.....About a month ago, we had the joy of reconnecting with some dear friends from Maine. They were in Reno for a conference, and we hadn’t seen them in sixteen years!It was such a blessing to laugh, share stories, and pick up right where we left off—as if no time had passed at all.Before they left, they handed us a gift—a big can of Tim Hortons coffee. Now, if you’ve ever been to Canada, you know Tim Hortons is kind of like the Canadian Starbucks… but “much better.”There is coffee..thats okay.. I’ll drink it.. and then there is next level coffee..This morning, we’re kicking off a new sermon series entitled “Overflow.” We going be in the book of Philippians.We are going to see that…“What we fill our cups matters!!The word overflow means to run over, to exceed the limit, to be filled to the brim.It’s the language Jesus used in John 4 when He encountered the woman at the well.Jesus broke with all cultural and social norms and protocols when he asked her for a drink of water—Then a Jesus said something startling…In John 4..
John 4:13–14 ESV 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”You see..The water from Jacob’s well——was temporary, It would run out…it could only quench thirst for a little while.But the water Jesus promised is different.. just be for Israel but would be FOR all nations and people…Said the prophet Joel The outpouring the H.S..fill on all flesh..The H.S would satisfy our deepest needs and desires.. welling up into eternal life..Later Jesus says .in John 7:38John 7:38 ESV 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”We are gives the condition to receive spirit…. Simple believe..Whoever believes receives the H.S..whoever believes will have a spring within them that continually flows—into eternal lift .In Philippians, Paul is writing to the church at Philippi—He wrote this letter from Rome around AD 60–62,while he was under house arrest.Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, after being falsely accused by some of the Jewish leaders. They claimed he was stirring up trouble and even defiling the temple. A riot broke out, and Roman soldiers stepped in to keep the peace.As a Roman citizen, Paul appealed his case to Caesar. This appeal led him on a long and difficult journey to Rome…When Paul— arrived in a Rome he is put under house arrest….this is where he Wrote the Prison Epistles..Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians.I love this pointing By Rembrandt 1600’s. He captures Paul thoughtfulness as wrote the churches..In Philipiians..Paul thanks the church for their support and partnership in the gospel andencourages them to continue living a life of joy, no matter their circumstances.Paul begins with a warm greeting…letsPhilippians 1:1–3 ESV 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Notice that Paul addresses his letter to the Whole church at Philippi—“To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.”These weren’t strangers to Paul. They were his friends—his partners in the gospel.About a decade earlier, in Acts 16, Paul received a vision ..calling him to come over to Macedonia.He and Silas obeyed and traveled to Philippi, where they met a woman named Lydia by the river.God opened Lydia’s heart to the gospel, and the first church in Europe was born.But it wasn’t an easy start.After this ..Paul cast a spirit out of a slave girl, her angry owners had him and Silas beaten and thrown into prison. But God Grace was evident..the began to pray and sing songs of praise.., and at midnight an earthquake opened every door and broke every chain. The jailer, witnessing it all, believed in Christ—and that night, he and his whole family were baptized. So..Paul is not writing to strangers. He’s writing to friends who had shared in his struggles and seen God’s power at work..Paul begins his letter with a blessing of grace. He says, “Grace to you.”Grace, at its simplest, is unmerited favor—something we don’t earn but freely receive from God.We can think of grace in a few ways:There is …General grace – the blessings God gives to all people: life, health, breath, family, friends, and daily provision.Saving grace –This his offering in salvation..God reaching out to sinful humanity, rescuing us from condemnation even though we could never earn His favor.Special grace – the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in believers, shaping our hearts, guiding our steps, and empowering us to live for Him.Here’s the thing about grace—God’s grace has no limits. He pours it out freely and abundantly.Alexander MacLaren, the well-known preacher and scholar, once said:“We may have as much of God as we can hold. All Niagara may roar past a man’s door, but only as much as he diverts through his own gate will drive his mill or quench his thirst.” MacLaren.God’s grace flows like a mighty river—but it’s up to us to open our hearts wide to receive it.Paul’s blessing reminds us that grace is not just something we receive—it’s something that’s meant to overflow through us, touching us and others with love, kindness, and spiritual life.T/s How do we allow grace to shape us?1. Grace shapes how we SEE peopleOne of the greatest challenges in the Christian life isn’t receiving grace—it’s giving it.We can easily recognize God’s favor in our own lives, yet struggle to extend that same grace to others.Comedian Mike McIntyre tells a story about driving down a busy road.He’s stuck behind someone going way too slow, trying to overtake—but he’s too chicken to make the move. Cars are piling up behind him. He’s sweating. The pressure is mounting.Then, out of nowhere, a guy in a shiny BMW—three cars back—decides to overtake everyone.He swerves past like a stunt driver in an action movie. And what does Mike think?“Oh, I hope he gets what he deserves!”Giving Grace can be tough…Philip Yancey puts it well:“Grace exposes our self to ourselves.” YanceyWhen Paul writes to the Philippians, he writes through the lense of grace..Philippians 1:3–8 ESV 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.At this point, Paul had been in prison for around two years, with no trial date yet set.You might expect his letter to focus on hispersonal hardships,frustrations, or evencomplaints—after all, he had plenty of reasons to be bitter.But instead, Paul looks beyond himself.He sees how God is at work in others. He writes:“I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3).A. What We Focus On Becomes ImportantIt’s easy to fixate on the wrong things. I’ve noticed it during a kitchen remodel—it’s tempting to become hyper-critical of every detail, focusing on what’s imperfect, while missing the bigger picture of what actually matters.The Philippian church wasn’t perfect by any means!They struggled—internal disagreements, pride, and members who sometimes couldn’t get along.In chapter 2 Paul in fact urges the church to live in unity and humility.In Philippians 2:2–4Philippians 2:2–4 ESV 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Here ..He calls them to set aside selfish ambition, value others above themselves, and look not only to their own needs but also to the needs of others…In Chapter 4He even names two women—Euodia and Syntyche—who had a disagreement.. he urging them to reconcile and work together…This was by no means a perfect church…..Paul speaks with grace…We learn from Paul that grace changes the way we see people.When grace fills our hearts, we start focusing less on people’s faults and more on God’s work in their lives..When Grace shapes our lives …You begin to thank God — not because others have “arrived,” but because He’s still workingPhilippians 1:6 ESV 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.What an amazing promise!This is grace.Grace sees progress instead of perfection.Think of a parent who saves every drawing their child brings home from school.To everyone else, it might look like scribbles—but to that parent, it’s a masterpiece in progress.Grace sees what God is doing in someone’s life—even when it’s unfinished—and says, “God’s not done. He’s creating something beautiful here.” Grace looks at imperfect people and sees God’s ongoing promise.Grace gives us compassion..Philippians 1:7–8 ESV 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.Grace is more than a belief ….not theological terminology..it something that we experience..…Paul experience grace first hand...Paul himself was saved by the Grace of God.. he said “I am who I Am.. by the grace God”He conisdiered himself chief of sinners reconciled by grace…it’s out of our own transformation that we exercise grace towards others..Paul yearns for them in prayer with affection for others … Grace loves with real affection....T/s How do we allow grace to shape us?1. Grace shapes how we SEE people2. Grace shapes how we PRAY for peopleWestern District EFCA has a prayer team. Lisa Brizuela, (our superintendent) Matt Moore’s assistant, is leading this initiative, andPam is part of this cohort, faithfully praying for our churches and pastors.It has been incredibly Cohort encouraging to see how God is using prayer in our District.Just last month, I joined an online meeting with about 20 leaders, and together they lifted up our church in prayer. I left that time feeling deeply encouraged.GRACE SHAPES HOW WE PRAY..Prayer is not easy… .N.T. Wright reminds us that prayer is hard work. Because It takes intentionality, focus, and persistence.Paul could have make all kinds of excuses not to pray… instead he models prayer.verse 3, he says that every time he thought about the church, he gave thanks to the Lord.His prayers were not generic—they were thoughtful, specific, and filled with love.He prayed for their partnership in the gospeland for their relationships,showing that prayer is both relational and missional.Paul knew that prayer makes a difference.Even though he couldn’t be there in person, he trusted that God would work powerfully through prayer.Philippians 1:9–10 ESV 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,Paul prayers that love would be a priority…One of the greatest prayers we can pray for the church is to be a church of love…Paul prays that their Love would abound more and more…..Paul prays that the believers’ love would overflow more and more in knowledge and wisdom.Now, we don’t usually think about love this way that Paul describes it here..love would a bound in knowledge and discernment!When we talk about love, we tend to picture feelings—emotion, affection, warmth.But Paul prays that their love would grow in depth in knowledge and discernment, .Paul prays that the church would love with understanding..It’s one thing to love someone with emotion; it’s another to love them with understanding.Prayer with understanding answers the way…..Philippians 1:10 ESV 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,The believers in Philippi lived in a culture, much like ours, where moral boundaries were often blurred and truth was easily distorted.Paul wants them to have the kind of spiritual insight that cuts through the confusion—to see things the way God sees them.TO discern not just between right and wrong, but between what is good and what is best—between what’s acceptable and what’s truly excellent.Grace impacts the way we pray for others..T/s How do we allow grace to shape us?1. Grace shapes how we SEE people2. Grace shapes how we PRAY for people3. Grace shapes how we BELIEVE in people.A few weeks ago, I met up with Casey from Orchard Church to catch up. We grabbed our coffees and sat down… I took a sip—and, because I hadn’t secured the lid properly, managed to pour half the cup over my shirt.Spills happen in life. The question is: when your cup spills, what comes out?If your cup is filled withbitterness, anger, or unforgiveness,that’s what shows up in your words, your actions, and your relationships.But if your cup is filled with grace, mercy, and peace—that’s what spills out. That’s what others see.Paul tells us to be filled with the fruit of righteousness.Paul prays for the church.Philippians 1:9–11 ESV 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.Paul Praysthat they be Filled with the Fruit of Righteousness…right relationship…The point to be filled with righteousness…Paul often talks about being filledfor example,in Ephesians 5:18, talks about being filled with the H.S..Ephesians 5:18 ESV 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,Paul in not giving us a self-help command.He’s not telling us, “Go out and try harder to fill yourself or change yourself.”He uses the passive imperative tense.—Which means that the action is not something we to do ourselves —it’s something we allow God to do in us.,It’s like standing under a waterfall: the water isn’t flowing because we push it—it’s flowing, and we simply receive it.The passive imperative invites us to stop striving in our own strength and start cooperating with God’s power.So when Scripture commands, “Be filled,” it’s really saying:“Step aside. Let God fill you. Let Him transform you. Let Him lead you.It is both a command and invitation…to make roomD. L. Moody said it like this..“Before we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, our hearts must first be emptied of pride, selfishness, and anything contrary to God’s will. There must be an emptying before there can be a filling.” MoodyWhen your heart is filled with grace,You start to speak life instead of discouragement.You start to believe that the same God who rescued you can restore them.Paul looked at this imperfect church and saw a masterpiece in progress…Paul wants them to know that Grace works regardless of our circumstances…. Grace works in a Ecconimic boom and a recesencion…Paul is in prison.. He seen How God uses His circumstances to reach peopole..Philippians 1:12–14 ESV 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.Paul want them to know that God is working..When Paul was with the Philippians, there were amazing examples of the sovereign power of God - Salvations, deliverance, healings.. and thr jail break.It wouldn’t be surprising that the Philippians wondered where the power of God was in Paul’s present imprisonmentPaul assureS them that Grace was still at work…God didn’t waste one second of Paul’s time during the Roman imprisonment…His Chains became a means of grace for others…Paul tells the church the Gospel spread through the whole prision gaurd…Paul was not just a prisioner but an emissary of Jesus .This witness led to the conversion of many, even some of the palace guard..God never wastes an opportunity…CONCLUSIONOne of England’s well-known clergymen was John Newton—but he wasn’t always a man of faith.Born in 1725, he lost his mother at seven and went to sea as a young man,living recklessly and even sailing to Africa “to sin my fill.”He became a captain in the slave trade, bringing misery to countless people and leaving his own soul broken.Then came a violent storm at sea in 1748.Facing death, he cried out to God. In that desperate moment, grace—undeserved and unstoppable—found him.Newton’s life was transformed.He left the slave trade, turned fully to Christ, devoted himself to ministry,he wrote “Amazing Grace,” and became an abolitionist who helped change the course of history.His story reminds us: no life is too far gone.Grace doesn’t just forgive—it transforms, restores, and overflows.What flows through one life can change the world.CONCLUSIONWhat’s in your cup today?? If you are bumped what is coming out?Grace doesn’t ignore pain, it redeems it. Grace doesn’t wait until everything’s perfect — it thanks God right in the middle of the mess.Maybe today, God is inviting you to look at someone in your life through new eyes.GRACEGrace shapes the way we see peopleIt shapes how we prayand WHAT WE believeDavid Loyd Jones said..The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace, wondrous grace. By the grace of God I am what I am. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)Communion—Begins with a prayer of examine —What is in your cup? 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.Closing Prayer“Lord, fill me again — not to the brim, but to overflow. Fill me with Your grace until gratitude spills out of me. Teach me to see others as You see them — not as they are, but as You’re shaping them to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” John 4:13–14ESV
John 7:38ESV
Philippians 1:1–3ESV
Philippians 1:3–8ESV
Philippians 2:2–4ESV
Philippians 1:6ESV
Philippians 1:7–8ESV
Philippians 1:9–10ESV
Philippians 1:9ESV
Philippians 1:10ESV
Philippians 1:9–11ESV
Ephesians 5:18ESV
Philippians 1:12–14ESV
Richvale Community Church
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