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The Problem With Emptiness

June 2005. The Problem With Emptiness. The Problem with Emptiness. Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me

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The Problem With Emptiness

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  1. June 2005 The Problem With Emptiness

  2. The Problem with Emptiness Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after emptiness and became empty?" (Jeremiah 2.4)

  3. The Problem with Emptiness Emptiness versus Substance The Wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away (Psalm 1)

  4. The Problem with Emptiness Substance: Fullness of Life "I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10.10) “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’” (Jn 7.38)

  5. The Problem with Emptiness Life: Expansiveness Creativeness Fruitfulness Outreach Orderly Replication

  6. The Problem with Emptiness Life: Responsiveness Compassion Moral Outrage Companionship/Fellowship Gratitude Praise/Honor Truth/Understanding

  7. The Problem with Emptiness The Enemy of Responsiveness: Sin "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." (Eph 4:18)

  8. The Problem with Emptiness The Weapon of Sin: Deceitfulness "So that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb 3:13)

  9. The Problem with Emptiness The Weapon of Sin: Deceitfulness That evil is power (e.g., vandalism) That evil is actually good (e.g., manipulation) That evil is not really that harmful That evil is 'natural' and inevitable

  10. The Problem with Emptiness Investments: Bad to Good What you sow/reap: Willful, 'obvious' sin --> Selfishness, Discipline Pseudo-goods --> Disappointment, Dryness Less-than-Best --> Sadness, Restlessness

  11. The Problem with Emptiness Recovering from Emptiness For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water (Jer 2.13) Before you go there: prevention, vigilance, engagement As you are going there: honesty/prayer, regret, self-judgment While you are there: honesty/prayer, reflection, resolve, return After you are back: thankfulness to the Shepherd/Teacher

  12. The Problem with Emptiness Emptiness versus Substance Substance: Fullness of Life Life: Expansiveness Life: Responsiveness The Enemy of Responsiveness: Sin The Weapon of Sin: Deceitfulness Investments: Bad to Good Recovering from Emptiness

  13. The Problem with Emptiness Be not drunk with wine… But be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5.18) Being filled with the fruits of Righteousness (Philp 1.11) …to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3.18)

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