An Empty Religion
I have been told before that we have a bloody religion; to
which I have to say AMEN. It is the only thing that gives me assurance of
heaven. But today I bring you another thought; short but just as important. We
have an empty religion. Now before you crucify me, read this short sermon to
the end and see if you don’t agree.
We have an emptied Savior – He emptied Himself of all His blood. He could have given just a drop but He emptied Himself. Remember the cross? Before they brought Him there they beat Him with a cat-of-nine-tails, and pierced his brow with thorns that they mockingly made to represent His crown. (the devil always has a substitution for what is good and pure) God gave us music, the devil gave is rock, rap, MOR, and country. God gave us love, the devil perverted it and gave us illicit sex. God gave us salvations plan, and the devil perverted that to with religion. They gave Him 39 stripes with the whip because they knew that 40 woyld kill Him with the loss of blood, and they wanted Him to live to suffer the shame of the cross. Then when they went to break the legs of Jesus on the cross and saw that He was dead, they pierced His side, draining the last of His blood from His body. He emptied Himself of His will. When He was in Gethsemane He prayed and asked God to let this cup pass from Him, but He also said “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” What would you or I have prayed? When it was time to face death He was scared. He wasn’t afraid of thee death, nor the torture that would come before. He knew that it was coming before He ever left heaven to be wrapped in flesh. But He know that in that time of need in His life (death) God the Father would for the first and last time in eternity, turn His back on Jesus, not being able to look at the sin that Jesus bore for us. Yet when we face death, God will be with us. What a comfort to know, yet Jesus had not this luxury.
The high priest would go into the holy of holies and apply the blood to the mercy seat of God. (Then, only the high priest could go before the throne of God, but today we all have an open invitation to go to Him in prayer.) Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.) All the blood that flowed through the veins of Jesus was placed on the mercy seat of God that day for all that would by faith ask God for forgiveness and salvation. The difference between the two sacrifices is that the blood that Jesus offered was perfect. It was the only sacrifice that will ever make a holy God happy
We have an Empty Slate - When we got saved, he empty our slate. He removed them as far as the east is from the west, Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I know people that thing you can lose your salvation. If you are reading this, and you have been born again, then God paid for ALL your sin. Remember, all your sins were in the future when He died for them, quit thinking that He needs your help to keep His promise.
We have an Empty Tomb - Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
So where did He go? I’m glad you asked. It tells us in Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Let me testify, that God hears and answers prayer when we pray. But He tells us in Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Jesus prays for you and I, and I believe that He gets more prayers answered than I do. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
How can I be glad because Jesus was tortured and murdered? Because I am not looking on the act, I am looking ahead at the end results. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When I use to run, a friend who use to run between 20-30 miles a day told me just fix your eyes on the finish line and keep running. I found out that when I focused on the finish I didn’t think about what was happening then. Focus on seeing Him which is invisible and forget about your circumstances today. Jesus went through all that He did because He kept His eyes on the prize. The fact that many on their way to hell would get to go to heaven instead. Why can I do what God asks and tells me to do? Because I know that one day I will see Him which is invisible.
We have an emptied Savior – He emptied Himself of all His blood. He could have given just a drop but He emptied Himself. Remember the cross? Before they brought Him there they beat Him with a cat-of-nine-tails, and pierced his brow with thorns that they mockingly made to represent His crown. (the devil always has a substitution for what is good and pure) God gave us music, the devil gave is rock, rap, MOR, and country. God gave us love, the devil perverted it and gave us illicit sex. God gave us salvations plan, and the devil perverted that to with religion. They gave Him 39 stripes with the whip because they knew that 40 woyld kill Him with the loss of blood, and they wanted Him to live to suffer the shame of the cross. Then when they went to break the legs of Jesus on the cross and saw that He was dead, they pierced His side, draining the last of His blood from His body. He emptied Himself of His will. When He was in Gethsemane He prayed and asked God to let this cup pass from Him, but He also said “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” What would you or I have prayed? When it was time to face death He was scared. He wasn’t afraid of thee death, nor the torture that would come before. He knew that it was coming before He ever left heaven to be wrapped in flesh. But He know that in that time of need in His life (death) God the Father would for the first and last time in eternity, turn His back on Jesus, not being able to look at the sin that Jesus bore for us. Yet when we face death, God will be with us. What a comfort to know, yet Jesus had not this luxury.
The high priest would go into the holy of holies and apply the blood to the mercy seat of God. (Then, only the high priest could go before the throne of God, but today we all have an open invitation to go to Him in prayer.) Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.) All the blood that flowed through the veins of Jesus was placed on the mercy seat of God that day for all that would by faith ask God for forgiveness and salvation. The difference between the two sacrifices is that the blood that Jesus offered was perfect. It was the only sacrifice that will ever make a holy God happy
We have an Empty Slate - When we got saved, he empty our slate. He removed them as far as the east is from the west, Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I know people that thing you can lose your salvation. If you are reading this, and you have been born again, then God paid for ALL your sin. Remember, all your sins were in the future when He died for them, quit thinking that He needs your help to keep His promise.
We have an Empty Tomb - Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
So where did He go? I’m glad you asked. It tells us in Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Let me testify, that God hears and answers prayer when we pray. But He tells us in Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Jesus prays for you and I, and I believe that He gets more prayers answered than I do. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
How can I be glad because Jesus was tortured and murdered? Because I am not looking on the act, I am looking ahead at the end results. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
When I use to run, a friend who use to run between 20-30 miles a day told me just fix your eyes on the finish line and keep running. I found out that when I focused on the finish I didn’t think about what was happening then. Focus on seeing Him which is invisible and forget about your circumstances today. Jesus went through all that He did because He kept His eyes on the prize. The fact that many on their way to hell would get to go to heaven instead. Why can I do what God asks and tells me to do? Because I know that one day I will see Him which is invisible.