Soul Building

April 11, 2021              NOTES NOT EDITED
Soul Building:  No Pain, No Gain
Romans 8:12-30 

SIS—God never wastes the pain in our lives but uses it to empower for Kingdom service now and purify us for Kingdom living eternally. 

Arnold Swartznegger is best known for his iconic line in the movie, “terminator” where he says, “I’ll be back.” He’s less known for serving as Governor of California from 2003-2011.  Have you ever wondered:  what does it take to be governor of California?  Well, for Swartznegger, it took a lot of iron in his diet – pumping iron, that is.  The road to the governor’s mansion for Arnold Swartznegger passed through the gym.  [Picture of Arnold]

Swartznegger became famous as a body-builder holding the Mr. Olympus and Mr. Universe titles seven consecutive times.  At one point in his body-building career he slept in a gym in Munich because he had nowhere else to stay.  He is a massive man with exquisitely defined muscles – big ones.

It took years of sacrifice and more than a few painful injuries to get a body like Swartznegger’s.  It takes hours of sacrifice and painful exercise to maintain a body like that.  A phrase you will often hear around a gym is:  “No Pain—No Gain.”

That concept aptly applies in nearly ever area of life: from body building to building a career.  It also applies to “Soul Building.”

Just like there is no “painless” way to become a world-class athlete, there is no painless way to become a Christ-like believer.  Body building at the level of a professional like Swartznegger takes a massive amount of dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to pain.

That same principle applies to becoming a Christ-like believer.  Being human will bring you pain.  Following Christ will bring you even more pain.  What you do with and about your suffering will be determined by whether you choose to “surrender to Spirit” or “struggle in the flesh.”  Let’s read how Paul addresses the issue of suffering versus blessing.

READ PASSAGE:  Romans 8:12-30.

This passage explains three significant issues in regard to suffering:

1.  Pain is INEVITABLE (20-23) 

To live is to suffer.  Suffering touches the whole of creation, both living and non-living.  Suffering is universal because “sin is universal.”

Holocaust Survivor, J.C. Beker said, “The tension between Suffering and hope are basic to the Christian life.”

 Paul describes the universal suffering of this life in vss 20-23:

²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 

In these three verses the Scriptures describe the horrible condition of the universe because of sin.  Three different word pictures are used. 

① The word translated, “futility,” (v20) has a wide range of meaning but the key issues are “nothingness and absolute frustration.” In the brilliant translation of the Bible by St. Jerome into Latin, this idea is called, “vanitas vanitatum.”  Empty Emptiness, or as Solomon describes in the Book of Ecclesiates, “vanity of vanity.”  This would be like “pitch black darkness.”  We would call it in our day, a “black hole.” A black hole in outer space is a region that sucks up everything within its gravitational field and is so dense that not even a “speck of light” can escape.  Morally, spiritually, and actually our universe is like a giant black hole.

② Second, the Word describes the state of the world as “slavery to corruption” (v21). This word, corruption, describes a “complete loss of purpose, hence, absolutely worthless.” It can refer to a “rotting corpse.”  The ancient 5^th century BC philosopher, Euripedes, used this word in classical Greek as a word to describe a “shipwreck.”  Nothing is more useless and represents a loss of purpose like a ship decaying in the depths of the deep. This text paints an ugly, malodorous, malignant picture of humanity in the strongest terms.

③ A third description of the awful state of the world because of sin uses the word, “groaning” (twice in fact; vv 22, 23).  It describes the kind of groaning related to the pain of childbirth.  It was a word that describes the deep wailing when one hears of the death of a close loved one.  It is used in the Scripture to describe a human crying out to God in absolute anguish. 

Because of sin, our efforts to find any sense of true happiness apart from God is an absolutely futile effort leading to an emptiness that can only be described as “complete, oppressive darkness.”  Because of sin the entire creation has suffered shipwreck and is decaying in the abyss of uselessness.  Because of sin, the whole creation “groans from unimaginable pain.”

Reading this passage one must come to grips with the harsh reality confirmed by human experience: This is a sin-rotten world and   “pain is inevitable.” 

Now, this would be an ugly, discouraging perspective on life if it weren’t for a significant principle laid out in verse 20:

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 

Note those words, “because of Him.” Though our human reason cannot reconcile fully how a loving, benevolent God could be responsible for the suffering of the world, but that is a fact that cannot be disputed in the Scriptures.  God is sovereign over everything – including evil and suffering.  This does not mean that God is the direct cause, or what the legal system calls the “proximate cause” of evil and suffering, but He is ultimately responsible for suffering—including the suffering of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.  For example, when a drunk driver crashes into another in a Ford Mustang, ultimately Ford might be accused of being responsible for building the car, but the law holds the driver responsible as the “proximate” cause of the accident.  God is ultimately sovereign even over the evil of our world, but not “proximately” guilty for causing that evil.

This brings us to another key issue in the discussion of pain:

2.  Misery is OPTIONAL (18, et. al.)

Paul certainly was no “stranger to pain.”  In fact, we know he had a horrible eye condition that made it hard to write a letter.  In Galatians Paul says: (Galatians. 6:11)

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

This probably refers to a condition caused by a form of malaria that caused the eyes to be swollen, to use a pus-like liquid, and cause the eyes to have a “bulging look.”  Paul also describes in the Book of Corinthians, a “thorn in the flesh.”  Poor eyesight meant Paul often had a secretary write but in this case he wrote “in large letters.”

In addition to the suffering Paul experienced simply by the fact of being in this sin-infected, dying globe, Paul experienced the suffering from living a fully devoted, sold-out life for Jesus Christ.  As a result Paul declares:  Romans 8:24–28 (NASB95)

²⁴ For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. ²⁶ In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Paul experienced as much pain as any of us, but yet, his conclusion is not one of despair, but of great hope.  Look in verse 18:

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

Now, scoot down to verse 24:

²⁴ For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 

This same phrase, “eagerly wait” is used in verse 19 also, but the
brilliant translation of J.B. Philips fills out the meaning of the phrase: 

The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. (Rom. 8:19, Philips) 

Paul experienced immense pain, but he did not give in to misery.  As Barbara Johnson’s book title states: “Pain Is Inevitable But Misery Is Optional So Stick A Geranium In Your Hat And Be Happy!”

We cannot avoid pain, but we can avoid despair.

Now, how was it that Paul could face unparalled hardship and pain but avoid becoming miserable?  Three truths seem to surface in that regard here in this passage:

① Paul got hold of God’s Promise for His life (vv 18-19).

Paul had “heaven in his eyes.”  When one has the eye-blinding glory of God’s eternal promise of heaven shining in one’s eyes, it blinds one to the pain in one’s life.  The hope of heaven is so heavy, that the burdens of this light seem like a feather in comparison.

② Paul got a hold of God’s Purpose in His life.  Look at verse 28.  This is an oft-quoted, but I think much underappreciated, verse in the Holy Record:

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

Not even the greatest disability one can imagine can keep God’s plan for your life from unraveling just as He has ordained that it should.  Not a communist nor a coma will keep the God-ordained plan of your life from unfolding.

Recall, the verse we read earlier in regard to the evil and suffering of this world.  Verses 20-21:

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 

This theme of absolute trust in the Sovereign Grace of God runs throughout Paul’s writing.  Philippians 1:6, for example, states:

 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (CSB) 

Pain is inevitable.  You can’t avoid it.  But, misery is optional.  You can keep your eye on God’s Promise and put your hope in God’s purpose in order to avoid becoming miserable because of the pain in life.  But, another aspect in this regard surfaces in our text—not just looking to God’s promise or trusting in God’s purpose, but Paul experienced:

③ God’s Presence.  Look at verse 26:

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. (CSB) 

People who understand suffering much better than I do, and have experience it much more than I have, have pointed out that “one is never so close to God as when one is suffering.”  Pain does something to bring us to an understanding of God’s presence in our lives like nothing else can.  The great scholar, C.S. Lewis referred to pain as “God’s megaphone.”

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world”. 

Martin Luther, the Father of the Reformation, explained how suffering in surrender to God brings us into His presence:

“Oh!  [God’s] grace and goodness toward us is so immeasurably great, that without great assaults and trials it cannot be understood.” 

I have been in the room of dear saints who have slipped from consciousness, but have not yet slipped from the surly bounds of this earth.  I am convinced that one’s disconnection from those love them does not mean they have disconnected from the Savior Who died for them.  

Paul did not give in to misery because he kept sight of God’s promise, placed his trust in God’s purpose, and rested in God’s Presence. 

Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional.  Here’s where the rubber really meets the road in this discussion of suffering. The issue is not so much that you will suffer, or even how you suffer.  The real key issue is, WHO suffers with you. 

3.  The Holy Spirit is ESSENTIAL (12-17)

Upon what does this whole discussion of experiencing “gain amidst pain” rest?  What we really have in this passage is the very essence of the foundation of the Christian life.  The key issue that resolves our doubts, calms our fears, and allows us to snatch victory from the mouth of defeat is expressed in verses 12-17.

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (CSB) 

There’s the proverbial answer to the “$64,000 Question (1956, $622,027 today).”  What gives ultimate meaning to life?  What is so powerful that even suffering leads to unimagined bliss?  What has such transforming power that death becomes life, the temporal becomes eternal, and the material becomes spiritual?

The Holy Spirit – “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27)

Without the Holy Spirit your life will be a futile, darkened ship lying beneath the sea of misery.  You simply cannot find joy in this life—and certainly no hope for the next life—unless the Holy Spirit of God has filled your life and fused Himself to your soul. 

Notice the word, “obligated,” in verse 12.  Paul is referring to a “creditor/debtor” relationship.  In ancient days (and continuing through even to our day) when someone holds a debt, they control the life of the debtor—even to the point of being able to have them thrown into debtor’s prison until the obligation is lifted by someone.

Every person has a spiritual master.  Either we are fulfilling our obligation to the Lord Jesus Christ or we are debtors to the Devil through the flesh.  It is one or the other – never both.  One is either saved and God’s Spirit resides in him, or one is lost and the spirit of the Devil resides in him.  Everyone is “possessed.”  The issue is:  possessed by what Spirit.  Paul had already talked about the relationship between God’s Spirit and the spirit of saved men and women.  Look back up at Romans 8:8-9:

⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. (CSB) 

Overcoming the pain, disappointment, darkness, and emptiness of this sinful world will not happen unless and until the Holy Spirit floods into your soul and you are saved.  The Holy Spirit’s filling is absolutely essential to salvation – no if’s, ands, or buts about it as my Dad used to say.

Pain and suffering in this world is inevitable.  Misery is optional through complete and total surrender to God.  The filling of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to this process.

Once again I refer to J.C. Beker, A Holocaust Survivor:  “Because suffering is such a pervasive part of our world, the question is not “that” we suffer, but “how” we suffer.”  I would add, it is even more important to realize, “Who,” suffered FOR us and “Who” is suffering WITH us.”

Now, this brings us to the question we must ask and answer for ourselves:  has there ever been a time in my life when I humbly received the filling of the Holy Spirit and was saved?  Everyone can answer that question either “yes” or “no.”  Maybe doesn’t count.  I thought I did does not count.  I joined the church doesn’t count.

The only thing that is absolutely essential in getting past death and into God’s Heaven is:  does God’s Holy Spirit reside in my soul and control my life?

There is no such thing as “painless” living in this life.  But, we also know that as with any endeavor:  “no pain means, no gain.” 

Today, if you have not already done so, you can turn from your sins and invite the Holy Spirit to enter your life and bring about your salvation. 

 

Pain is inevitable.  Misery is optional.  The Holy Spirit is essential. 

Easter 2021: Used Tombstones

 

Easter, April 4, 2021                 NOTES NOT EDITED
Used Tombstones
John 20:1-18    (Service Video: “Joseph Got His Tomb Back”)

SIS—Nothing is more important to understanding the Christian message than understanding the significance of the empty tomb.

SCRIPTURE READING:  John 20:1-11

An eye-catching ad appeared in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, newspaper's classified section a few years ago. Big, bold letters advertised "Used Tombstone." The ad's text read as follows: "Used tombstone for sale. Real bargain to someone named 'Dingo.' For more information call . . . and then the number was listed.”  When Joseph of Arimathea was finally buried, he was buried in a used Tomb.  Jesus borrowed it for three days and gave it back.

There is no more important word in the Easter Story than the word, “empty.”  The word, “empty” is what fills the Easter Story with meaning—and with power.

A little boy named, Philip, was born with Down syndrome. As an eight-years old, he had a hard time finding acceptance, even in the Sunday school class he attended. Through some creative intervention, though, Philip began to be accepted by his classmates. One Sunday morning at Easter, the Sunday school teacher gave her students a plastic, hollow egg and instructed them to go outside and find symbols of new life and place them in the egg. Afterwards, they would share what they found with the class. The children ran about the church property in a fury to find an appropriate item. They then returned to the classroom to share their finds. One by one, the teacher opened their eggs and displayed the symbol they found: a flower, a leaf, even a butterfly. The class responded to each with “Ooos” and “Awws” until the teacher opened the last egg. Instead of a beautiful flower or leaf, the egg was empty. “That’s not fair,” one boy spoke up, “somebody didn’t do it!” Philip spoke up in the egg’s defense, “That’s mine, I did that”. Annoyed the other boy shouted, “Philip, you don’t do anything right! There’s nothing there!” Philip responded “I did do it! It’s empty! Just like the tomb! The tomb was empty!”

There are THREE ASPECTS of the Resurrection Story that outline how fundamental the Empty Tomb is to Christianity:

❶ The Tomb Was Empty: It is the Essential Part of |
      the Christian Message (vv 1-2)

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¹ Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

In all four gospels we have the central issue of the “empty tomb.”  John is the last gospel to be written and records what the church had been teaching for at least 20 to 30 years. In John’s gospel we read

The fact that the tomb was empty that first Easter Morning has never been seriously challenged in over 2000 years. 

Even Jewish scholar, Geza Vermez concludes: "But in the end, when every argument has been considered and weighed, the only conclusion acceptable to the historian must be that . . . the women who set out to pay their last respects to Jesus found to their consternation, not a body, but an empty tomb."

The fact that the tomb was empty and the only reasonable, historic explanation for it was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation—indeed the very essence—of Christianity.  The Apostle Paul would summarize it like this in 1Corinthians 15:14: 

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“If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain”.

 No fact has had a greater impact upon history than the fact of that empty tomb.  Easter has no meaning and Christianity collapses into just another religious fable if there was no resurrection.  

I would never suggest that someone embrace Christianity because it is somehow helpful emotionally, socially, or even spiritually.  Other religious people would argue their particular brand of religion is “helpful.”   No, there is no good reason to embrace Christianity unless it is true.  And, if it is true, all other approaches to spirituality and eternal issues are false.

So, we can take the historical record at face value—as nearly all reputable scholars do and have for two thousand years—When Mary and the other women arrived at the tomb that first Easter – it was empty.  Surprisingly, remarkably empty.

This brings me to another important matter in regard to Easter.

❷ The Empty Tomb Begs for an Explanation?  (Verse 2b)

Mary herself, offers the most logical explanation from a human standpoint.  She says;

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“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

Someone stole the body.  That seemed almost unquestionable because if there is one thing that human kind has learned over the millennia of being on earth is this:  “dead people stay dead!”

The reason there is any debate about the resurrection at all is not that there is no “evidence” for it, as we will see, but because the default position in human, common sense thinking is: “dead people stay dead.”  Resurrections don’t happen!

It is impossible to convince someone of the truth of Christianity if they dismiss, out of hand, the possibility of the “supernatural.” If there is no supernatural, there is no God, and no such thing as meaning, purpose, or even truth—end of discussion.  On the other hand, if there is the possibility of the supernatural—and as I said life is foolish and meaningless without it—then resurrection is not only possible, but it is provable!

Remember Paul said:  “No resurrection.  No truth to Christianity.” 

A persistent “anti-supernatural” bias has permeated every area of modern thought from science to religion to politics.  Any evidence for the resurrection (and there is a lot) is not even considered a “possibility.”

Whether or not you believe the resurrection took place rests on whether or not you have an “open mind” or a “closed mind.”  If you have a closed mind, no amount of evidence will convince you that Jesus Christ raised from the dead and Christianity is nothing but a myth.

You are like the person at a political rally.  This person was a die-hard follower of her chosen candidate and his party.  There was no amount of evidence anybody could ever offer that would get her to change her mind, or her political party.  She was a “Yellow-dog Democrat.”  She would vote for a “yellow-dog” as long as it was running against a Republican.

So, she proudly wore a button that said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my minds made up!”

What you believe is possible determines how you view the evidence for the resurrection and the empty tomb. So, let me survey some of the answers for the Empty Tomb, without a resurrection.

① The first and most obvious human answer was that given by the woman:  Someone took the body.  The question then becomes, “who” took the body and where did they put it.  Keep in mind that in 2020 years of skeptics trying to produce the dead body of Jesus, it has never happened—not then; not now; not ever!  This was the original counter-explanation offered by Jewish authorities to squelch any message of a Resurrected Messiah. Matthew records this original plot to cover-up the empty tomb:  Matthew 28:12–13
 

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¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, ¹³ and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’

Notice, however, no campaign was launched to locate the “stolen body” because the Jewish authorities knew the idea was preposterous on the face of it.  For one, the tomb had the seal of the Roman Emperor and allowing it to be open by such neglect as falling asleep would have been a death sentence for the Roman soldiers.

And, if the disciples had indeed stolen the body they would have had to break into the tomb, violating the seal of the Roman Emperor,  push a two-ton stone up an incline, away from the entrance of the tomb, take the body, and do it so stealthily that the best soldiers in the world would not notice.

② Another theory offered to explain the Empty Tomb without a resurrection is called the “Swoon Theory.”  This states that Jesus survived the brutal beating and the crucifixion, was wrapped head to toe in fabric, placed in a cold, dank tomb and without food, water or care awoke in the blackness, fully refreshed, pushed away a two-ton stone and walked out—again, without the Roman guard noticing.  If the Romans were good at anything, they were good at “crucifying people to death.”  Nobody survived crucifixion.  Plus, the Bible specifically notes the “mixture of blood ushering forth from the spear shoved into His side indicating the Lord’s heart had ruptured.”  Jesus was most certainly dead!

③ Some have suggested that the women and the disciples went to the wrong tomb.  Do you think Mary, the mother of Jesus, forgot where they buried Him? Joseph of Arimathea, who donated the tomb was a prominent man whose tomb would have been well known.  Plus, if they “wrong tomb” was empty, why not just go to the right one?

④ One of the most profoundly unbelievable explanations to attempt to ignore the fact of the resurrection is the Mass Hallucination Theory.  The premise is that everyone who claimed to see the Risen Lord (including 500 at one time, 1Cor. 15:6) were having a “mass hallucination.”  This attempt to explain the Empty Tomb without a resurrection does not meet the criteria for a “single hallucination,” much less 500 people hallucinating at the same time.  Even secular psychiatrists reject such a theory.

The Empty Tomb that first Eastern Sunday begged for an answer as to why it was empty.  Theory after theory has been offered alternatives for the resurrection for over 2000 years. Not one such theory has had any credibility. As we learned earlier, the fact of the Empty Tomb is one of the most historically validated events in human history.  There must be an answer.  There is an answer.  It is the same answer the angel gave the women that first Easter Sunday,  Mat 28:6 

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⁶ “He is not here, for He has risen!

Write this down. It came to me in the shower this very morning:  “People do not reject the gospel because it has been disproven—people reject the gospel because it disapproves of their lifestyle!

Here is what one of the greatest authorities on the resurrection in modern history says about the resurrection as the theory for the empty tomb:  “After more than 700 hours of studying this subject and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, OR it is the most fantastic fact of history” (J. McDowell).

The Empty Tomb is a fact.  The Empty Tomb begs for an answer and the Resurrection is the only reasonable explanation.  Third we must consider:

❸ The Empty Tomb is a Call to Believe (v8)

⁸ So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.  Circle those words, “and believed.” 

It is not enough to simply “see the evidence for the resurrection.”  Facts will never get you into heaven.  The Bible says that “even the devils know the facts of Who Jesus is and What He did, and yet they fear and tremble in the face of eternal punishment” (Jam 2:19, paraphrased).

Let me repeat something I said earlier.  I would never suggest that someone embrace Christianity because it is somehow helpful emotionally, socially, or even spiritually.  Other religious people would argue their particular brand of religion is “helpful.”  Honestly, many times my faith has not been helpful emotionally or socially.  Sometimes, the burden of following Jesus has torn the very fabric of my life.  It hasn’t brought me material prosperity or social status.  But, I don’t believe in Christ because “the gospel is helpful but because it is true.”  Yes, ultimately faith ALWAYS—AND I STRESS ALWAYS—keeps me safe beneath the shelter of the wings of the Almighty.  But, I don’t believe the gospel because it is helpful, but because it is true.  And, because it is true, it IS INDEED, helpful.

The word, “believe,” in verse 8 of John, chapter 20 (and throughout the Bible) is not about “knowing the facts of Jesus life.”  Believing in the Greek New Testament is most often a verb—an action verb.  Believing means “responding to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him even to the point of death!”  Do-nothing faith is not Biblical faith.   James, prompted by the Holy Spirit, writes,  James 2:18:

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¹⁸show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Belief isn’t faith until we act upon it by surrendering to Jesus Christ as the Lord of Life and serving Him sacrificially every day of our lives.  Faith happens when knowledge makes that 8 to 10 inch journey from your head to your heart. [SLIDE] 

[CLOSE] The Empty Tomb most certainly was empty; but, it was empty for a reason.  Jesus emptied the tomb of death so He could fill us with His life.  Easter is about “emptiness” in many ways.  We live in an incredibly Empty universe. Most of the universe is empty space occupied by nothing but dark matter and quantum fields.

Astronomers have found a big empty place in the universe. A massive void. This hole is gigantic, nearly a billion light-years across. Inside it there are no planets, no stars, no galaxies, no gases. It’s just a huge cold, empty spot.  A whole lotta nothing.

It can stretch and even boggle your mind to think of the incredible distances between stars in the sky. You might be aware that a light-year is a unit of distance — it’s the distance that light can travel in one year. One light-year equals about six trillion miles. Quite a distance.

And how about that massive void, that huge cold spot in the sky? It’s 10 billion light-years away and nearly a billion light-years across (six billion-trillion miles across!) Our tiny heads cannot even begin to comprehend a hole that gigantic. It’s been described as a big bubble in the cosmic pancake batter.

But, as empty as the vast cosmos beyond the stars may be, it is not the emptiest place in the universe.  The emptiest space in all creation is the human heart that is not filled with Jesus.  Jesus emptied the tomb so He could fill the emptiness in every human heart longing for meaning and purpose.

Augustine said it so many centuries ago but it is so very true: “My heart is restless [empty] until it finds its rest in Thee.”

If you want to be “filled” with God’s eternal blessings, you must embrace the fact of the empty tomb.  ^①The tomb was indeed, empty.  ^②The only explanation that fits the facts is the Resurrection of Jesus; and ^③the Empty Tomb and Resurrection calls you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.  Then you will celebrate fully Jesus Christ as “Your King.”

CLOSING VIDEO:   “That’s My King!”

The King is Coming. Are You Ready?

Palm Sunday 2021                    NOTES NOT EDITEDf
The King Is Coming: Are You Ready
Matthew 21:1-11

SIS: The King of Kings is coming again and we must be ready to receive Him.

The King of Kings entered Jerusalem over 2020 years ago through the Eastern Gate on what we now call, Palm Sunday.   Let’s read together about that glorious, triumphant day.  MAT 21:1-11 

The Lord arrived that day to a mixed reception.  Some were ready to receive Him and shouted: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.”  The religious leaders on the other hand, according to Luke 19:39 complained of all the shouting and praise for Jesus. His disciples were too “emotional.

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

The word, "hosanna" sums up what it means to receive Jesus as the Lord of one's life so He becomes your Savior.  “Hosanna” comes from the Hebrew OT, particularly the Psalms.  Hosanna is the Aramaic and/or Greek equivalent of "hoshi^eah na" which combines the word for "save us" with "now" (Ps. 118:25-27). Many of the people recognized that Jesus was the Messiah who had come to save them now!  However, they mistook a political idea of salvation for the spiritual salvation Jesus would secure for them on the cross.

The word, “na, or now,” associated with salvation is extremely important.  The Bible reminds us that “Today is the day of salvation” (2Cor. 6:2). There’s no other time to surrender to and to love and serve the Lord than “now.”  You can’t eat yesterday’s manna for it has worms in it, and you aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow so all talk of salvation and devotion must be connected to “now.”  

The Triumphal Entry passages highlight the two primary responses people had then, and still have today, when Jesus rides into their lives:  some are elated -- even ecstatic to receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior.  Others, are skeptical or apathetic on one level or the other, or even openly rebellious toward Jesus. Some have hearts prepared to receive Christ, others have hearts hardened against His love and grace and unprepared to receive Him as Lord. 

Now, here's the point I really want to make today.  There were hundreds of prophecies fulfilled when Jesus came the first time, such as Zechariah 9:9: 

⁹Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

What many Christians do not know is something a pastor pointed out a few years ago: “Prophecies of the Second Coming of Christ outnumber the prophecies of the First Coming eight to one (8:1). Scholars have identified 1,845 Biblical references to the Second Coming” (Dr. David Jeremiah). The Second Coming is mentioned in 17 of the 39 O.T. Books.  It is noted in 23 out of 27 N.T. books.  Seven out of ten chapters in the N.T. deal with the Second Coming.  It is noted in 1 out of every 30 verses in the N.T.

A major consideration in examining the Triumphal Entry of Jesus is to realize that God has always had a plan, and it will always play out EXACTLY AS PLANNED.  The question is:  will YOU be prepared to receive Him as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings when He comes the next time? Most the people were not ready to receive Christ the first time He came, and even more are unprepared for His Second Coming.

I want to take the remainder of our time together this morning, after this long but important introduction to give you three ways you can be ready to receive the King of Kings when He comes again.  I call it, “being on the Hosanna side of the street.”

❶ We must view Our SAVIOR
as more important than our SELVES (v3) 

³ If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately
he will send them.” 

The key to the success of our mission in this life and the key to our rewards in the next is to comprehend the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?”  I doubt very seriously if the man with a highly valued donkey and colt would have given them up because two rough looking itinerant preachers asked.  But, when they dropped the name of Jesus, the man gave up his possessions without so much as a question.  God had prepared this man to be who he was, where he was, with a donkey since before the beginning of time.

Notice the wording in verse 4:  “This took place SO . . . ,” or as the as the NIV translates it, “This took place to fulfill.”  Like so many texts referring to Jesus in the N.T. our text today ties His Identity to the Promise Messiah (Savior) of the O.T.  In this case, the promise of Zech. 9:9.

The most important doctrine in the Bible is the doctrine of the Deity of Christ.  What Jesus did would have had no eternal value whatsoever if it were not for Who Jesus is.  If Jesus Christ was not the prophesied Messiah, His death on the cross was no different than the death of the many thousands of other such deaths—except that he would have been a man of sterling character, unlike many who were common criminals.

But, the death of a man—even the most virtuous man who ever lived—would not have been enough to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.  It had to be God.  Only the Messiah—the promised, prophesied God-Man, could do that.  We must recognize Who Jesus is, and we must understand that our SAVIOR is more important than our SELVES. 

Jesus Christ fulfilled hundreds of prophecies in the O.T. to establish His identity as the Messiah—God in human flesh Who came to “save mankind from sin.” Christianity is not about us, but it is about Who Jesus is, and what He came to do. We must always keep our focus in church on Jesus, and not our selves.

❷ Our SERVICE as more important than our STATUS.  (6)

{6}The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 

In context, this verse had to do with a specific assignment to two specific (unnamed) disciples at a specific moment in history.  The instructions were simple enough (Mat. 21:1-3): 

¹ When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. ³ “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

This wasn’t a very impressive assignment. The disciples did not achieve “celebrity status.”  In fact, as I mentioned, they remained nameless.  But, celebrity status aside, they were faithful.  Their actions, though anonymous, have become a part of God’s eternal record.  They opted for “eternal status,” over celebrity status.

We are in one of the most annoying times of the year for me.  No, I'm not talking about “Tax Time.”  I'm talking about American Idol.  Week after tortuous week that we have to endure the pompous ceremony of an "idol in the making."  I could go on and on but my sermon would degenerate into a rant.

Here's my beef:  there is so much glitter and so little substance to the whole idea of the show -- and I could probably make the same argument for nearly any other Hollywood production.  Hollywood is all about shadow and very little about substance.  Tens of thousands of young people give up nearly everything in life for a shot at becoming the next "American Idol."  And, when -- as will be the case -- one finally does win, what have they gained?  Fame? Fortune? The adoration of mind-numbed, soul-less T.V. audiences?

We live in a society that idolizes status and disdains service.  Society talks a lot about climbing the ladder of success to grab the brass ring, but nearly ignores descending the stairs to minister to drug-addicted homeless stung by the silver needle. 

In the crowd that day was a motley mix of common folk prepared to receive Jesus gladly.  Also in the crowd were those with status and standing in the community, like the Pharisees, were not about to take their cloaks off to be used as the red carpet for the Coming King.  Like most people of status, the Pharisees were used to BEING PRAISED NOT GIVING PRAISE.  The Lord must have really pricked their hearts when he said to the self-righteous Pharisees, according to Luke, (19:40) 

"If people don't praise me, the rocks will cry out."

 Wow!  That had to leave a mark.  The Phariseesin God's eyes didn't even rate the status of "rocks!"They were self-righteous and spent a lot of time “evaluating” others, but precious little time evaluating themselves. 

That was then.  This is now. That assignment for those two disciples was completed.  But, what about you and I.  Do we as disciples of Jesus, today, have an important assignment to carry out?  According to Jesus we do have an important assignment.  His last words to his disciples then, and to us by extension today are these:

Mat 28   ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing  them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Our assignment is not glamorous.  We will not achieve celebrity status.  In fact, we may be persecuted as we carry out the assignment, but we must realize our service to God is more important than our status in life.  We must tell people about Jesus.

A BARBER had just been gloriously converted in an old-fashioned revival meeting. He was really excited about being saved and was determined to tell as many people as possible. The next morning a customer came in for a cut and shave. The barber was trying to muster up words to say but just couldn't figure out how to start a conversation with the man. Finally the barber stood with his razor poised over the man's throat ready to give him a shave and these words popped into his head:  "Are you prepared to meet God?" 

That’s our assignment.  Tell the world about Jesus.  It may not be a glamorous assignment, but it is our duty to God. Perhaps we should put down any sharp objects first.  Like the barber, though, it is sometimes hard to come up with the right words—but we must try.

To be ready to receive the King of Kings when He returns again we must recognize that the Savior is more important than ourselves, and that our service to Him is more important than our status in life.  We must also understand 

❸ Heaven tomorrow is more significant
than Our sacrifice today. (8) 

Something wonderful takes place in the pageantry of the Triumphal Entry that can be easily overlooked.  Watch this: 

 ⁸ A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 

Now, because of the palm branches the people cut and laid in the road in honor of Jesus that Sunday.  This is why the Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday in the Christian calendar. 

The palm tree is one of God’s grand designs. I remember the first palm trees I had ever seen. I got off the plane in the Honolulu airport on my way to my submarine assignment.  I felt as if I had arrived in the Garden of Eden.  In the open areas of the terminal were the most spectacular palm trees.  They looked like giant sentries guarding the airport grounds.  I was so impressed. 

Palm trees in the Bible are associated with victory in the Bible—the victory of good over evil; the triumph of God’s people over our enemies. But, I’m even more impressed by another group that day.

In the first part of verse 8 we read, 

“a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road.”  

Now, that’s impressive.  That is a little more of a sacrifice.  God grew the palm branches so that required no personal sacrifice, but the cloaks were provided by the peoples’ own hard work.  The cloaks cost them something; the palm branches did not.  I think it is more apt to call this Sunday, “Cloak Sunday,” rather than Palm Sunday.  But, nobody on the “Calendar Committee” asked me.  “Cloak Sunday” is more in line with the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem.  Within a week, Jesus would die on a cruel cross for the sins of humanity. The people gave their cloaks for the One who would soon give His life. 

When God made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, he gave nothing less than His Only Beloved Son.  This reminds me of the hen and the pig.  This is one of my favorite stories and I tell it often because it really makes a good point about sacrifice.   Both were asked by the farmer to make a contribution to the morning’s breakfast table.  The hen without reservation gave two eggs.  The pig hesitated and balked.  The hen reprimanded the pig.  “The master is quite good to us.  Is it too much to ask a little in return.”  The pig very quickly replied, “Providing a couple eggs is little enough sacrifice for you, but providing the bacon will cost me everything!” 

How true.  Discipleship takes on a whole new meaning depending how much we have invested in it.  Church is a lot like that barnyard—some are hens and some are pigs.  Too many Christians, people in general, are like the hen, not the pig. They make a small contribution, perhaps, but no great sacrifice.

One of my scripture memory verses a few years ago was Rom. 8:18.  It is a penetrating verse that really makes us stop and assess our readiness to meet Jesus:

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

So often, in life, we focus on our struggles or our sacrifice. This can cause despair.  Struggles are real—no doubt about that.  However, for the follower of Jesus, struggles are not permanent—heaven is! To truly live as a follower of Jesus Christ in our world today requires great sacrifice.

It doesn't require much sacrifice to attend church every now and then.  It doesn't require much sacrifice to have a pot luck every now and again.  It doesn't take much sacrifice to drop a twenty in the plate every once in a while. But living day by day to serve Jesus in this world—that’s a sacrifice!

Over and over in the N.T. there are references reminding believers of the unbelievable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, inexplicable glories that await us.  We must understand that HEAVEN tomorrow is much more significant than any SACRIFICES we face today.

 Jesus entered Jerusalem that Sunday over 2020 years ago and people literally gave Him the coats off their backs.  Since that day millions of people have watched with expectation waiting for the Lord to return again.  Are you prepared to meet the Lord when He comes again? Do you live as if the SAVIOR is more important than yourSELF? Do you live as if your SERVICE to God is more important than your STATUS in life? Do you live as if Heaven TOMORROW is more important than your Sacrifice TODAY?

It has been over 2020 years since Jesus entered the Temple Mount the first time through the Eastern Gate.  Ezekiel prophesied nearly 2600 years ago that Jesus would enter that gate a second time: Ezk 44:1–3

¹ Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut. ² The Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. ³ “As for the prince, he shall sit in it as prince to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the porch of the gate and shall go out by the same way.” 

Note that this gate “shall be shut.” Today, that very same gate is sealed. The gate in its present form was sealed by the Muslim Sultan, Suleiman, 480 years or so ago (1541). The exterior face of the gate is a sealed double entrance that leads into two vaulted halls (copied). According to one source we learn this:  “Historians disagree as to why [Suleiman] did this, but legends abound that, learning of the prophecies which predicted the Messiah's entrance through the Eastern Gate, Suleiman tried his best to make sure it wouldn't happen during his reign. And just in case a sealed entrance didn't thwart the Messiah's coming, Muslims built a cemetery directly in front of the gate - conventional wisdom being that a Jewish Holy man would never defile himself by walking through a Muslim cemetery (copied).

Ezekiel prophesied accurately of both the first and second comings of Christ in this one passage.  He predicted the closing of the Eastern Gate, as well as a time it would be reopened.  To be fore-told is to be forewarned.  Jesus, the King of Kings, is coming again—Are you ready?