Fullness of God or Emptiness of the World
Fullness of God or Emptiness of the World
Which will you choose?
1. Introduction: As we begin our study in the Pursuit of Holiness book some of us I am sure are debating the alternative lifestyle of Christ likeness. Many of us upon turning from a life of addiction fall prey to the misconception that when we quit partaking of our sinful habit we will be giving up the pleasures and joys of life. We are so deeply seeped in our sinful lifestyle that we anticipate a void where our behavior once occupied our time. The devil is called the slanderer because he desires to convince us that God is not good in that He desires to hold something back from us that is good. Recall in the garden of Eden when he asked Eve “ Really – Did God really say that you must not eat of any of the fruit of the garden? Unfortunately you and I have fallen prey to the same lie that worked in the days of Adam and Eve. The truth that we will examine today is that God promises a manifold of fullness to those who “Taste and See” that He is Good and therefore His will for us can’t be anything but good. Let’s look together at the promises that He has given us in His Word
2. Malachi 3:10: This scripture is often used in the matter of Tithing but its underlying principal is that you can’t out give God!
a. When we speak of fullness in God’s economy we actually mean overflowing.
b. Let’s explore the manifold fullness of God’s blessing.
3. Colossians 1:9(NKJV). Filled with the knowledge of His will.
a. This is the knowledge of what He desires us to do. Knowing great truths is insignificant if we don’t know what God wants us to do.
b. In the past our decisions were self centered and based on faulty emotional reasoning. Therefore they got us into a lot of trouble.
c. Now with the fullness of the knowledge of His will we understand how to apply wisdom in a positive productive manner with far better results.
d. Our spiritual understanding is evident by the way we live which is a radical change especially us.
4. Ephesians 5:18 speaks of not being drunk with wine but instead being filled with the Holy Spirit.
a. We understand this better than some because of the way we allowed ourselves by the addiction we were in bondage to.
b. Now instead we allow ourselves to be controlled by the powerful Spirit of God.
c. According to Ephesians 1:19,20(NLT) this is the same power within us that raised Christ from the dead!
5.John 15:11: Next we learn that we have the fullness of joy.
a. When we are empowered by God to obey His commands we experience a fullness of joy. Most of us don’t have a clue what it is to have a clean conscience. But as we are forgiven the guilt is lifted and we feel an immense sense of relief.
b. The joy that was evident in Christ is also evident in His followers. Imagine Him talking about joy the night before He was crucified.
c. Paul wrote the most joyful book in the bible while under house arrest which demonstrates the fact that this joy does not hinge on external circumstances.
d. This is a more far reaching joy than the fleeting pleasure that we feel while partaking in addiction
6.Ephesians 3:19 This passage speaks of the fullness of God or fullness of life and power of God.
d. we have within us the righteousness of Christ and the blessings that result from it.
e. as we obey Christ He promises to manifest or reveal Himself to us.(John 14:21)
f. in other words we can personally experience the love of God in our daily life. What a glorious privilege it is to know the intimate fellowship of our sweet Savior.
7. Romans 15:29 Paul speaks here of the fullness of blessing of the Gospel of Christ.
a. the Gospel means that Jesus Christ died for our sins ,was buried and raised from the dead.
b. This blessing purchased by God for us at the greatest price ever paid not only proves the depth of His love but assures us of eternity in paradise.
c. We need not fear the enemy that no one can conquer but Christ and that is death.
d. Not only do we enjoy this monumental privilege, but we have the glorious task of sharing it with others..