The Goodness Of Being Empty

THE GOODNESS OF BEING EMPTY

MATT. 28:6

1. INTRODUCTION. MANY OF US, IF NOT ALL OF US DO NOT LIKE THINGS THAT ARE EMPTY; FOR INSTANCE, WE DO NOT LIKE EMPTY BANK ACCOUNTS, EMPTY GAS TANKS, EMPTY REFRIGERATORS, EMPTY CUPBOARDS, EMPTY STOMACHS, AND EMPTY PURSES OR WALLETS. NO, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE PREFER THAT SOMETHING IS IN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. HOWEVER, THERE IS A GOODNESS OF BEING EMPTY THAT WAS ECHOED OVER 2000 YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS THAT WHEN THE WOMEN AND THE DISCIPLES REACHED THE TOMB, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE TOMB WAS EMPTY.

2. THE TEXT. THIS FAMILIAR PASSAGE RECORDS THE WORDS OF THE ANGELIC MESSENGER THAT PROCLAIMED THAT JESUS HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

a) THE WOMEN REACH THE TOMB TO DISCOVER THAT THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY. THE STONE WAS NOT ROLLED AWAY TO LET JESUS OUT, BUT TO LET THE WORLD IN.

b) IT WAS AN ASTONISHING ANNOUNCEMENT.

c) IT WAS A SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT.

d) IT WAS A JOYFUL ANNOUNCEMENT.

e) IT WAS A GLORIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT.

f) IT WAS A SATISFYING ANNOUNCEMENT.

g) IT WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF RELIEF.

3. THE NECESSITY OF THE RESURRECTION. THE RESURRECTION ON THAT SUNDAY MORNING VALIDATES WHAT JESUS DID AT CALVARY ON FRIDAY. THE RESURRECTION IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS OF OUR FAITH.

a) THE RESURRECTION VERIFIES THAT JESUS WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS.

b) THE RESURRECTION FULFILLS ALL OF THE PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS.

c) THE RESURRECTION SECURES, ASSURES, AND ENSURES OUR ETERNAL REDEMPTION.

d) THE RESURRECTION SIGNIFIES, TESTIFIES, AND IDENTIFIES JESUS’ VICTORY OVER SIN AND SATAN.

e) THE RESURRECTION RECONCILES LOST MAN TO A LOVING, HOLY, AND RIGHTEOUS GOD.

f) THE MESSAGES WE PREACH ARE BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

g) THE SONGS WE SING ARE BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

h) THE PRAYERS WE PRAY ARE BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

i) THE TESTIMONIES WE GIVE ARE BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

j) OUR EVANGELICAL EFFORTS ARE BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

k) THE PEACE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING IS BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION.

4. WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION. ALL OF US WOULD BE ON OUR WAY TO HELL.

a) WE WOULD NEVER EXPERIENCE THE ETERNAL JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

b) WE HAVE NOTHING TO SING ABOUT.

c) WE HAVE NO HOPE.

d) WE HAVE NOTHING TO SHOUT ABOUT.

e) WE HAVE NOTHING TO PRAISE ABOUT.

f) WE HAVE NOTHING TO PRAY ABOUT.

g) WE HAVE NO REASON TO WORSHIP.

h) WE HAVE NO REASON TO WITNESS.

i) WE HAVE NO REASON TO DO MISSION WORK.

j) THANK GOD THE TOMB WAS EMPTY.

5. BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION, WE SHOULD…

a) LIVE BETTER.

b) TREAT EACH OTHER BETTER.

c) PRAY MORE.

d) SERVE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

e) WORSHIP RIGHT.

f) LOVE RIGHT.

g) GET OTHERS TO KNOW HIM.

h) BRAG ABOUT WHO HE IS.