The Danger of Being Good and Empty
Notes
Transcript
Everybody or almost everybody wants to be good.
Everybody or almost everybody wants to be good.
Samples of dangerous ways to want to be good. 1) We work so hard at being good we forget who we are doing it for. 2) We may want to be good to win favor of others or increase our standing among peers. 3) May our definition of “good” is inadequate or self seeking.
Samples of dangerous ways to want to be good. 1) We work so hard at being good we forget who we are doing it for. 2) We may want to be good to win favor of others or increase our standing among peers. 3) May our definition of “good” is inadequate or self seeking.
Close to that is that Everyone desires what we like to call “the good life.”
Close to that is that Everyone desires what we like to call “the good life.”
Unfortunately that most often means economic security and comfort. Of course those vary depending on someone’s background and level of expectation.
Unfortunately that most often means economic security and comfort. Of course those vary depending on someone’s background and level of expectation.
So if everyone desires to “be good” or have “the good life.” Why isn’t the world a better place.
So if everyone desires to “be good” or have “the good life.” Why isn’t the world a better place.
Goodness is not enough, nor is the concept of “a good life” enough.
Goodness is not enough, nor is the concept of “a good life” enough.
Background to parable: Jesus is comparing the people of his day to some of the biggest sinners of the Old Testament.
Background to parable: Jesus is comparing the people of his day to some of the biggest sinners of the Old Testament.
Read Matthew 12:43
Read Matthew 12:43
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
Questions about this verse: 1) What is an unclean spirit? 2) Why did it all of a sudden leave? 3) What kind of rest would an unclean spirit search for?
Questions about this verse: 1) What is an unclean spirit? 2) Why did it all of a sudden leave? 3) What kind of rest would an unclean spirit search for?
Life after the spirit leaving
Life after the spirit leaving
Read Matthew 12:44
Read Matthew 12:44
Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.
Why does the spirit go back? What is the condition of the person now? Is empty, swept and in order a good or bad thing? Or is it some of both?
Why does the spirit go back? What is the condition of the person now? Is empty, swept and in order a good or bad thing? Or is it some of both?
How do you think this man feels at this point of the parable? Why?
How do you think this man feels at this point of the parable? Why?
The man might have felt clean but he was empty and without inner substance. Being reformed and nice doesn’t give a life purpose. It is like hanging a sign on our soul, “Room for rent. Immediate occupancy available.”
The man might have felt clean but he was empty and without inner substance. Being reformed and nice doesn’t give a life purpose. It is like hanging a sign on our soul, “Room for rent. Immediate occupancy available.”
What happens to a clean but empty home?
What happens to a clean but empty home?
Read Matthew 12:45
Read Matthew 12:45
Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”
So what happens to “good” people who are “empty”?
So what happens to “good” people who are “empty”?
Why do good people stay empty?
Why do good people stay empty?
1)They think being clean was the goal. 2) Being clean feels good and isn’t being good enough. 3) AA 4) Altar calls 4) Self help programs
1)They think being clean was the goal. 2) Being clean feels good and isn’t being good enough. 3) AA 4) Altar calls 4) Self help programs
What are the dangers of being empty?
What are the dangers of being empty?
The emptiness is filled up by even worse unclean spirits. A hole is left that must be filled.
The emptiness is filled up by even worse unclean spirits. A hole is left that must be filled.
Take a close look at “life in these United States.” In each passing decade: 1) Houses are larger and more luxurious 2)More Americans graduate from college each generation. 3) Life expectancy rises and many forms of disease are in decline, maybe even eradicated. 4) There are more cars, TVs , computers, and other high end gadgets in homes than ever before. 5) With the help of the internet the world is at our fingertips.
Take a close look at “life in these United States.” In each passing decade: 1) Houses are larger and more luxurious 2)More Americans graduate from college each generation. 3) Life expectancy rises and many forms of disease are in decline, maybe even eradicated. 4) There are more cars, TVs , computers, and other high end gadgets in homes than ever before. 5) With the help of the internet the world is at our fingertips.
Yet! 1)The percentage of Americans who describe themselves as happy has declined steadily. 2) The types of and incidences of severe depression has risen drastically. 3) There has been a catastrophic climb in suicide rates at ALL age groups with teens topping it off at triple what it was two decades ago. 4) Our country has been given the idea that we have freedom like we have never had before, yet out prisons are overstuffed to the point where dangerous early release mandates are instituted.
Yet! 1)The percentage of Americans who describe themselves as happy has declined steadily. 2) The types of and incidences of severe depression has risen drastically. 3) There has been a catastrophic climb in suicide rates at ALL age groups with teens topping it off at triple what it was two decades ago. 4) Our country has been given the idea that we have freedom like we have never had before, yet out prisons are overstuffed to the point where dangerous early release mandates are instituted.
T.S.Eliot, a premier poet of the mid-twentieth century described the people of his time as “hallow men, their heads stuffed with straw.” How do you think he would the people of today?
T.S.Eliot, a premier poet of the mid-twentieth century described the people of his time as “hallow men, their heads stuffed with straw.” How do you think he would the people of today?
Back to the parable.
Back to the parable.
The man in Jesus’ parable settled for being clean and nice, because that was more or less in his control.
The man in Jesus’ parable settled for being clean and nice, because that was more or less in his control.
It is something he could pull off. He could discipline himself to be even admirable and known as someone like Scrooge in the Christmas Carol. A man who was once almost despised but now “as good a man as this good old world might know.”
It is something he could pull off. He could discipline himself to be even admirable and known as someone like Scrooge in the Christmas Carol. A man who was once almost despised but now “as good a man as this good old world might know.”
But we can’t fill ourselves. We can occupy ourselves by keeping busy, even to the point of exhaustion. But we can’t fill ourselves. We may have tidied our lives up well but until we allow ourselves to be truly filled from the outside, by God through the Holy Spirit, we remain empty and are opening our lives to those unclean spirits lurking around.
But we can’t fill ourselves. We can occupy ourselves by keeping busy, even to the point of exhaustion. But we can’t fill ourselves. We may have tidied our lives up well but until we allow ourselves to be truly filled from the outside, by God through the Holy Spirit, we remain empty and are opening our lives to those unclean spirits lurking around.
But Jesus is saying that is not enough.
But Jesus is saying that is not enough.
Read John 10:10
Read John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus wants us to have abundant lives not empty lives. Jesus wants us to be filled with the Spirit of God not a bunch of unclean spiritual home wreckers.
Jesus wants us to have abundant lives not empty lives. Jesus wants us to be filled with the Spirit of God not a bunch of unclean spiritual home wreckers.
Our world has enough people who are good and empty. We need a magnificent cor of “full” people. Not just nice or good people, although they are much appreciated, not even just saved people. Our culture needs “full” people, persons whose lives are a grand and holy passion, who are living abundantly that in their presence others feel the overflow of God spilling out into the world. The world, the church needs people with a Holy Spirit fullness which comes from a consistent walk with God, and it is within the reach of every one of us. It may not be easy, but neither is is terribly complicated. It just awaits our accepting God’s way and doing it. It is time we give it a try!!!
Our world has enough people who are good and empty. We need a magnificent cor of “full” people. Not just nice or good people, although they are much appreciated, not even just saved people. Our culture needs “full” people, persons whose lives are a grand and holy passion, who are living abundantly that in their presence others feel the overflow of God spilling out into the world. The world, the church needs people with a Holy Spirit fullness which comes from a consistent walk with God, and it is within the reach of every one of us. It may not be easy, but neither is is terribly complicated. It just awaits our accepting God’s way and doing it. It is time we give it a try!!!