Sermon Central
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"Running On Empty" Series
Contributed by Tony Searles on Feb 18, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the fourth in a six part Easter Series. The premise comes from Phil. 2:5-7 where it states that Jesus "emptied Himself, taking on the form of a bond-servant." We too need to be emptied so we can be filled with the fullness of Christ alone.
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TITLE: “Running On Empty”
#4 in the SERIES: “Empty”
MAIN TEXT: Mark 14:43-52
Good Morning! Today, we are jumping into the fourth lesson from our series, EMPTY! Remembering that the goal is all about being EMPTY, so you can be filled with the fullness of Christ!
Over the course of these messages we have been looking at places in our lives where we are FULL, which need to EMPTIED. But, we have also found places where we are EMPTY inside, and we need to be FILLED by Christ in those places! Today, we are talking about those EMPTY places…
TITLE: “RUNNING ON EMPTY”
Our Goal: To Be Filled with the Fullness of Christ!
In fact, we all have our moments when we are RUNNING ON EMPTY! I would dare to say that some of you here today are doing just that. You are “running on empty” right now. Exhausted. Hollow. Discouraged. Void of purpose or passion. And you just feel blah…
“Running On Empty.” Like Forrest Gump, when he ran, just because he felt like running. For 3 years, 2 months, 14 days and 16 hours Forrest ran across America. Maybe for some time now, YOU are like Forrest Gump, just going through the motions, with no meaning or purpose at all. You just keep going because that is what you are supposed to do.
If that is you, and you are RUNNING ON EMPTY, then today is for you! Because Jesus is here to satisfy the longing in your life, to fill all your EMPTINESS!
Let’s read our verses in…
Mark 14:43-52, Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 45 After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 And they all left Him and fled.
51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.
PRAYER:
INTRODUCTION:
This might not be the saddest point in Jesus’ life, but it certainly is ONE of the saddest moments… That moment when Jesus was betrayed by Judas with that fateful EMPTY “kiss.” One of Jesus’ closest and trusted disciples. Followed by His abandonment by the rest of the disciples.
But the MAIN CHARACTER of this text, aside from Jesus, was JUDAS, the betrayer. And we wonder, what led him to betray his friend? And his Lord? He had seen Him do miracles and teach the masses. Then, to only betray him with an EMPTY kiss!
There is something that came to mind as I prepared for today… Empty actions reveal empty lives; but only Jesus satisfies!
So, what about us who claim to be Jesus’ disciples today? Are we guilty of betraying Jesus in some way?
Thinking back to last week’s lesson in Matthew 14:32-42, Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This is where He served His will an EVICTION NOTICE and was readied to walk through the next few moments in His life. Jesus was EMPTIED of His will so that God’s will could be completed in Him. That is why we see Jesus prepared as He was leaving the Garden, because He prepared Himself in PRAYER.
Now, the DISCIPLES, they are another story! We remember that they were not readied in prayer because they were tired, fell asleep and failed to pray. They wanted their sleep and that is what they did!
This is what we read from last week’s verses as Jesus spoke to them. Mark 14:37-38, And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Yet, the disciples serve no EVICTION NOTICE to their wills and they sleep the time away.
But what happens next only serves to reveal the true EMPTINESS & VOID in their lives!
