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How To Fill an Empty Tank

1. Shows up where you’re at

• These disciples are distraught- immediately after appearing to Mary, Jesus goes to look for his disciples
• 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst,
• Jesus implied intent here was to speak to his disciples to give them instructions on what they were to do and how they were supposed to live out the faith in his absence
• can you imagine how distraught that these disciples must have been when they saw Jesus go into the grave? how it must have affected them? They have staked their whole life on this!
• Few things to notice here- “they met on the first day of the week” Sunday- I don’t know of a NT reference to meeting on any other day- It was a distinction that was a part of the followers of the Way- dont be led astray
• These disciples met even though they were afraid of the jews- they met in spite of the chance at being prosecuted for their beliefs. They still met
• The doors were shut- but Jesus found a way in- not an apparition- a flesh and blood body stood in their midst
• Jesus finds them- and comes to them where they are at he shows up with the goods-
• Nothing is going to stop Jesus from coming into where he wants to be- not even a door
• Here’s the deal
• When you’re distraught- when you’re hurting- When you’re empty and sad- Jesus will show up
• This is what God said to Jacob- Genesis 28:15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
• Psalm 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
• Matt 28:20 Jesus said that he would be with us Forever
• Saints of God- we serve a God that SHOWS UP a God that FILLS UP and and God that wont relent in his pursuit of YOU
• Georgia and Gary- heart issue- 911- guess who shows up for the Aid call? Total peace

1. Gives you encouragement  

• Jesus shows up- busts the door open- and the first words out of his mouth to his disciples
• Peace be with you

• Jesus has been promising this peace to his disciples all along-
• John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
• Here’s what you need to get ahold of- when Jesus speaks it-its true and it happens
• Do you think the disciples stood there in his midst and questioned Jesus?
• “you dont know whats going on Jesus” ” I dont feel the peace”
• Nonsense- the peace of Jesus surpasses all understanding
• Isaiah 55:12 “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
• I claim that verse over my life! Receive that encouragement today in Jesus name! Draw nigh unto the Lord- receive his presence of peace over your life right now in Jesus name
• Met with guy who lost wife “I dont preach what I don’t believe” God brings peace- thats for sure
• Either Jesus brings peace or he doesn’t.
• He IS a God of Comfort- he IS a God of peace- he IS a Show up and give you peace God

1. Tells you The Truth

• 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
• its interesting that when Jesus comes back to the Disciples that he makes it a point to show them his wounds
• even more so that John includes it in the scripture-
• Jesus shows the proof that he was in fact crucified and that he DID come back from the dead
• This here is truth folks- the ultimate truth- death to life- pain to promise- blood to healing
• This act of love from Jesus- takes away any of the questions that the disciples may have had of his death burial and ressurection- they saw it with their own two eyes!
• I’v heard many people say that to believe in God you just need to have faith and I believe that- but we serve a very factual God- A very historically correct God- a test me in this God
• Jesus doesn’t want his disciples to forget what it cost to earn them eternal life- he doesn’t want them to wonder if it was really what happened
• This here is truth folks- Jesus had to experience horrible pain for you to be forgiven
• Blood flowed- tears shed- nails in hands and feet
• I see this as the ultimate truth- our faith is a faith in Blood- many people don’t want to face this truth- but its the truth- your salvation was bought with Blood
• Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
• Heres the truth- Jesus is a truth telling savior- He’s not a guy who beats around the bush and tries to make things seem as though they are not
• Jesus is all about truth- John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
• We’re supposed to be people of truth- this is supposed to be who we are
• Not MEAN- not RUDE but TRUTHFUL- how else can we grow?
• Talking to my DR this week- He was telling me how he told someone to lose weight
• Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
• Zechariah 8:16 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace
• some people experience spiritual pain and misery because they refuse to walk in the truth
• they lie to themselves, they lie to their loved ones, they lie to God
• The Bible says in John 8:44 that Satan is the father of lies- do you want to have kinship with Satan?
  Be truthful- allow God to be truthful with you- you are a sinner that needs a savior- and watch how it fills you up why?

1. Christ Offers forgiveness

• 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
• I know its out of order- but I want you to see this part here before we get to the other parts-
• Now this scripture is a bit cryptic- it almost seems as if we have the power to forgive sins and if we don’t then people dont get forgiven
• Only God can forgive sin- that is- forgive to grant access to heaven
• We can and SHOULD forgive people who have sinned against us but that is for OUR benefit
• Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you
• .mostly, and sometimes their benefit- but our forgiveness doesnt save them so to speak
• if there is someone in your life that you’re harboring unforgivness against, you’re wrong. today is the day when you are going to forgive them “I’m not ready” the bible doesnt say when you’re ready-
• Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
• Here’s what most scholars say about this scripture- and I tend to agree- Christ is here, equipping the disciples for the work of the ministry
• When they go and preach forgiveness- people will receive Christs forgiveness, if they don’t preach it- people can’t be forgiven
• The bottom line is that we are supposed to be the ones who are bringing Christs message of reconciliation to the world- if they don’t hear it from us- they aren’t going to hear it
• The gospel is “Jesus Christ came to save sinners”
• this is the truth that we must preach to the people whom we know-
• Christ forgives YOU you forgive OTHERS
• Here’s the best part tough

1. he Fills you with his presence

• 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
• living this life is hard- its lonely- its difficult-
• right now- in this moment- Jesus breathes on the disciples and gives them the Holy Spirit
• John came baptizing in water but said, “There is one who will come after me. . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 1:7-8 Mt. 3:11: Jn. 1:33).
• John, Elizabeth, Jesus, Johns Father Zacharias were all filled with the HS PRIOR to the Acts experience of the HS
• If you have received Christ, and have been regenerated- you have the HS in you- it is only by the HS that you are able to be saved and be transformed
• When you have the HS, you’ve been regenerated- there will be FRUIT that will show inyour life-
• READ Galatians 5:16-25
• You may HAVE the HS but not be walking in the FULLNESS of it because you are not seeking after the fullness of it
• Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
• This was written to church people- people who were saved, walking with Christ
• In the book of Acts, the endowment of power was for their witnessing, by preaching of the Word.
• . Boldness, not just tongues, was the common denominator of being filled with the Spirit. “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them…when they saw the boldness of Peter…” (Acts 4:8,13).
• Acts 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
• you should be seeking the fullness of the HS
• For the edification of the CHURCH 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
• Not for yourself- for the CHURCH to grow!
• 1 cor 12:4-11 READ

• This is your homework- YOU search out the scriptures and YOU pray and ask God, am I walking the fullness of the HS, and then PRAY and tarry and ask him for the fullness
• I’m a skeptic- I didn’t want the up in the front squiggly- I wanted it to be of God- Went and prayed
• Driving to Eastern wa- almost out of gas- dudes showed up- filled me up- why get it so low?

1. He sends you

• 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
• This interaction with the disciples makes it clear- I’m not saving you, filling you and forgiving you for your benefit- its so you can go out and spread the love
• You will hear me say this over and over and over
• God saved you from hell so that you can help other people get to heaven
• The Gospel is not works, nor is it serving people- the gospel is Believe in Jesus, receive him to be forgiven of your sins and go to heaven
• Service without substance is just sending well fed people to hell
• If you have received Christ, God is calling you to be ALL about HIM all DAY and is SENDING you into the WORLD to share the TRUTH of the Gospel!
• Use what you have! Facebook, Your house, Bologna Sandwiches, your boat, your cabin, your skills.  Wanna go out on my boat? once you get them out there, they have no where to go!
• Matt 28:16