Easter 2016 - "Empty"

"The usefulness of the cup is in its emptiness." -- Bruce Lee

Long before Bruce Lee stated this axiom, Jesus lived it. Colossians 1:17 tells us "Jesus made all things and is in all things." Think about that: Jesus is in all of the known created universe! He was connected to the stars and galaxies, and trees, and sunlight, and wind. Jesus did not hold onto this position, but was willing to empty himself so that he could be like us. Fragile. Alone. Limited to just one body, one mind, and all our human feelings.

1. Jesus Knows What It is Like To Be Empty

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." - Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB) 

Sometimes in life we face the day feeling empty. We fall short at home, work, school, in relationships, and projects, finances, etc. Jesus knows this feeling. He emptied himself to be like us.
King Edward VIII of England gave up his throne in 1936 so that he could marry American Wallis Simpson. Why would he relinquish the throne for one woman? He was motivated by love. If an imperfect flawed man can make such great decisions based on his conviction of love, then imagine how strong was the love that motivated Jesus to empty himself and die on the Cross!

This process led him to live a life as man, and die as a man on the cross. This is what Easter is all about: Jesus pouring himself out as payment for our sins. He was emptied on our behalf! Read the account of his persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection in Mark chapters 15 and 16.

2. His Death Empties Us Of Fear

We can be afraid of the dark, afraid to lose a friend, lose a job, and a list of hundreds of other earthly fears. But we can turn on a light to dispel darkness, find new friends, jobs, and replace most stuff in life. But death is the one experience that does not offer a second chance. This fear leaves us in slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us that through the death of Jesus we are freed from the slavery of our fear of death! We were mastered by this fear and it enslaved us, but now that Jesus has conquered death we have nothing to fear!

3. We Are Emptied So We Can Be Filled

How can we be filled with the things God has planned in our life if we have everything already filled in our life? Our time, our hearts, our homes...all filled to the max by things we want, places we want to be, people we want to associate with. Where is there room for Jesus? Having a job, a career, a spouse, kids, a home, 401K is not a bad thing. Those are good things in life! But when they have already filled every available space we miss out on God's plan.

Jesus told his disciples in John 10:10 that he came so that we "may have life and have it to the full." What does a "full life" look like with God? I believe Paul gives us a description in Galatians 5:22-23 when he describes a life filled with the Spirit of God as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control". Imagine a life that reflected those qualities!

But even if we live a life here on this earth that is filled with such wonderful qualities, we will someday pass from this world into the next. What then? On this Easter Sunday we celebrate one of the greatest gifts ever given! The gift of eternal life. We read it simply stated in John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." WOW! when we leave his earth we do not have to face the destruction of our souls, but are allowed to live for all eternity. It is the life of Jesus that we share, not our flawed life, but his perfect one! This is the amazing story of Easter! His death, burial, and resurrection provides a way for us to share in the amazing righteous life of Jesus, the creator sustainer God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!

Takeaway From Today's Teachings

Today's takeaway is two questions:

1. Are you emptied of yourself?
2. Are you filled with Jesus?

You discover how to answer YES to both questions by watching the video below.

Palm Sunday 2016 - Praise To The King

Praise To The King! Hosanna! The Christ, the Messiah, our Savior has come! These were the cheers which greeted Jesus upon his arrival into Jerusalem that special day over two thousand years ago. He had been ministering in the area for nearly three years, and had often asked not to be worshiped or praised publicly, but on this day, this day of destiny which began his last stretch leading to the cross a few days later, he welcomed the praise and presented himself as King of the Jews! You can read the biblical account HERE in Matthew's record of the triumphal entry.

There is much happening in this entry. There is prophecy being fulfilled; Jesus openly accepting adoration from the people;  the crowds being stirred up in front of their Roman oppressors that here is their true King: Jesus; and the plot to kill Jesus is activated by those that hated him. But it is the praise we are going to consider today.

1. Praise Helps Generate Interest In Jesus

In Matthew 21:10 we read that the whole city was stirred by the praise. They wanted to know who this man was. The Passover was happening this week and thousands of non-Palestinian Jews were in the city for the festival. They had not heard about this amazing healer and teacher from Nazareth.

2. Praise Helps To Silence Objectors

In Luke's account of the entry, the Pharisees in the crowd were asking Jesus to have his followers be silent (Luke 19:39-40). Jesus does not quiet his followers and tells the spiritual leaders that if these people were quiet, then the very stones around them would cry out. There is nothing the Pharisees can say. The King is worthy of praise and he will be praised. In Psalm 149 we read that praise can help to inflict punishment on the wicked. Those who oppose us and our God will be silenced by the praise of our LORD.

3. Praise Helps Us Understand God's Plan

John 12:16 tells us that his disciples did not understand all that had happend the day of the triumphal entry. It was only after Jesus had been glorified that they realized the significance of this special day. Jesus had been very clear with the disciples as to what was going to happen. He told them three times that he would be going to Jerusalem to be handed over to the rulers and killed (Matthew 16:21; 17:22; 20:19). Still they were not ready to accept the plan God had laid out.

A.W. Tozer writes, "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work in us." We are too much like the disciples sometime, making our own plans for what Jesus should be doing instead of discovering and accepting God's plan. Praise places us in perspective relationship with God: He is LORD and creator of everything; I am not. If he has a plan, then I will assume it is better than mine and follow it.

Takeaway From These Teachings

When we praise the entry of Jesus in our life, we refocus our attention on Him, silence our objectors, and create an opportunity for understanding God's plan for us.