"Pull The Plug" Series

TITLE: “Pull The Plug”

#5 in the SERIES: “Empty”

MAIN TEXT: Mark 11:11-18

Good Morning! I hope that you have been enjoying this series! In it, we have been learning a lot about ourselves and our need for more of God in us! Together, we have walked through the Scriptures learning more about becoming EMPTY. Remembering that the goal is all about being EMPTY, so you can be filled with the fullness of Christ! (Our theme verse is Philippians 2:7)

Today, we are jumping into the fifth sermon of the six. You guessed it! We will conclude this series together next week on RESURRECTION SUNDAY! I encourage you to make it here next week and invite someone to join you! Let’s pack this place out and fill this Sanctuary with the praises of God as we celebrate our RISEN, LIVING Savior!

Now, as I said last week about this series, we are either dealing with portions of our lives where we are FULL, and need to EMPTIED. Or, we are finding places where we are EMPTY, that need to be FILLED by Christ! Last week, my wife helped me bring a word that spoke to our EMPTINESS. But, this week we are going to delve into what needs to be EMPTIED…

TITLE: “PULL THE PLUG”

Our Goal: To Be Filled with the Fullness of Christ!

Take note that these are the happenings following the celebration of Palm Sunday…

Mark 11:11-18, Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.

15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

PRAYER:

INTRODUCTION:

Obviously, this is Palm Sunday. The day we take note of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Where we recognize how the people praised Jesus so enthusiastically, and rightly so!

Here is the story from the Scriptures. Mark 11:7-10, They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!”

But, we know now that while the people were crying out for Jesus to “save them,” that it was more about Him saving them from the dominance of the Roman Empire! They wanted a champion to ride in to set them free from their oppressor, namely Caesar and the whole Roman Government!

Jesus wanted to be their savior, yet not in the external way, but in the internal. Jesus riding a colt into Jerusalem was His signal, trying to tell them that He was this kind of Conquering King for their SPIRITUAL CONDITION! He would be a humble servant. But Jesus, being a Spiritual Champion for them, was not on their radar. The people wanted a Messiah that would free them politically! Jesus wanted to bring them release from their bondage of sin! The people were looking for a revolutionary who would overthrow the rule of Rome! But Jesus was bringing them a revolution in their Spirit man! Jesus was coming with a completely different Kingdom in mind!

Now, that is the obvious here that most of us have been familiar with for a long time, but what I find more interesting is what Jesus does after this event on Palm Sunday. Because while the people may have expected Jesus to take a left after his procession through Jerusalem and go into the Capital Building to set the politicians straight or even over-throw them. However, Jesus takes a right and enters the Temple for a moment! What that reveals to us is Jesus’ true priority! To deal with those things that matter most, the Spiritual condition of the hearts of His people. AND it also reveals to us just WHO did needs to be dealt with the most! -Those who are religious and would claim to be labeled by the name of God!