Sermon Central
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"Eviction Notice" Series
Contributed by Tony Searles on Feb 18, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the third in a six part Easter Series. The premise comes from Phil. 2:5-7 where it states that Jesus "emptied Himself, taking on the form of a bond-servant." We too need to be emptied so we can be filled with the fullness of Christ alone.
TITLE: “Eviction Notice”
#3 in the SERIES: “Empty”
MAIN TEXT: Mark 14:32-42
Good Morning! Today, we are jumping into another lesson from our series, EMPTY! Remembering that the goal is all about being EMPTY, so you can be filled with the fullness of Christ!
In this series, we have been following the last few days of Jesus’ life in the Gospel of Mark and watching how people, and even Jesus, EMPTIED themselves out or came up EMPTY in their lives.
First, Jesus was anointed by Mary, when she DRAINED the contents of her alabaster box upon Him in Mark 14:3-9. Emptying herself of her dreams and desires.
Then, Jesus revealed Himself in a new way to His disciples through their First Communion service, as He would soon POUR OUT His life for us all in Mark 14:22-26. Together, we learned that we need to be available and authentic, just as Jesus was!
But this morning, I want to give you another “image” of EMPTY as we give some thought to “the battle of our wills!” Meaning MY will versus GOD’S will! Because every human that ever lived will fight this battle of the WILLS.
Adam and Eve fought their “battle” in the Garden of Eden, but they lost.
And Jesus fought His “battle” in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet, He won!
And each of us fight this “battle,” sometimes on a daily basis. There are times that we win and other times when we lose. This morning, I want to help you to see how you can WIN!
How are we going to do that? Well, I want to challenge each of you to serve your WILL…
TITLE: “EVICTION NOTICE.”
Our Goal: Surrendering our will to His will!
Mark 14:32-42, They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”
PRAYER:
INTRODUCTION:
After the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples, He went with them to a place called, Gethsemane, or the Garden of Gethsemane. This was a garden just outside of the city of Jerusalem, across the Kidron brook and on the Mount of Olives. According to John 18:1-2, this was a place that Jesus often went with His disciples. What’s interesting is that Gethsemane means “olive press.”
Reminding us that it is a great place to go when you are being “squeezed” by the things of this world. A perfect place to run to when you are “pressed” and in need of God’s strength! Each of us need to find a “secret place” of our own to go to in the pressing time to seek the Lord! Or for our purposes here today, we need to find our own “Garden of Gethsemane” to go to often in the variety of moments we have in our lives. Because, this is where Jesus went in His times of “squeezing/pressure” and upcoming suffering. And it was there that His own “battle of the will” was won. And where Jesus served His will an EVICTION NOTICE so that His Father’s will would prevail in His life!!
THIS, my friends, is what we need to see happen in our own lives! To serve and EVICTION NOTICE to our will, so that God’s prevails in us! That in our own moments of “pressure” and “squeezing” by the stress and struggles we have in our own lives, we have to lose so that God can win!
ILLUSTRATION:
