Filled with Christ: The Danger of Spiritual Emptiness

Devotional

Day 1: The Peril of Spiritual Emptiness

In Luke 11:14-28, Jesus warns about the danger of being spiritually clean but empty. When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it may return with seven more spirits, leaving the person worse off than before. This passage challenges us to look beyond mere external cleanliness and order in our spiritual lives. It's not enough to have a life that appears righteous; we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and actively engaged in a relationship with Jesus. The danger lies in becoming complacent, thinking that a clean and orderly life is sufficient. Jesus emphasizes that if we are not actively gathering with Him, we are scattering. Our lives must be filled with His presence, His teachings, and His love. [04:05]

Ephesians 5:18-19 (ESV): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel spiritually empty? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to fill those spaces today?

Day 2: The Subtle Infiltration of Seven Spirits

Pride, self-righteousness, legalism, judgment, love of money, honor-seeking, and hypocrisy are subtle spirits that can infiltrate our lives. These attitudes can lead us away from God if we are not vigilant. The passage in Luke 11:14-28 serves as a reminder to examine our spiritual lives beyond mere external cleanliness and order. It's not enough to have a life that appears righteous; we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and actively engaged in a relationship with Jesus. We must be vigilant against these subtle spirits, which can infiltrate our lives, especially when we are not actively pursuing a relationship with Jesus. [11:14]

James 3:14-16 (ESV): "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."

Reflection: Which of the seven subtle spirits do you recognize in your life? What steps can you take to guard against them today?

Day 3: The Pharisees' Warning

The Pharisees, despite their religious appearance, committed the greatest sin by crucifying Jesus. This warns us that external religiosity without heart transformation can lead to spiritual blindness. The Pharisees were outwardly religious and righteous, yet they were spiritually blind. This serves as a stark reminder that external religiosity without a heart transformation can lead to grave sin. We must ask ourselves if we harbor any of these seven spirits that can lead us away from God. [09:34]

Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV): "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you prioritize appearance over genuine heart transformation? How can you seek true transformation today?

Day 4: Actively Gathering with Jesus

It's not enough to have a clean life; we must actively gather with Jesus. This means engaging in a relationship with Him, aligning our lives with His teachings, and being filled with His Spirit. Jesus emphasizes that if we are not actively gathering with Him, we are scattering. Our lives must be filled with His presence, His teachings, and His love. We must be vigilant against the subtle spirits of pride, self-righteousness, legalism, judgment, love of money, honor-seeking, and hypocrisy. [06:07]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: How can you actively gather with Jesus today? What specific actions can you take to align your life with His teachings?

Day 5: Commitment to Follow Jesus

Following Jesus requires a daily commitment, even when others do not. It means examining our lives, habits, and attitudes, and aligning them with His teachings. We must strive to embody His compassion, humility, and truth. This requires a daily commitment to follow Him, even when others do not. It means examining our lives, our habits, and our attitudes, and aligning them with His teachings. Ultimately, the call is to be like Jesus in every aspect of our lives. [28:27]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: What is one habit or attitude you need to change to better follow Jesus? How can you start making that change today?

Sermon Summary

In Luke 11:14-28, we explore the profound truth that being spiritually clean but empty is a dangerous state. Jesus warns that when an unclean spirit leaves a person, it may return with seven more spirits, leaving the person worse off than before. This passage challenges us to examine our spiritual lives beyond mere external cleanliness and order. It's not enough to have a life that appears righteous; we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and actively engaged in a relationship with Jesus.

The danger lies in becoming complacent, thinking that a clean and orderly life is sufficient. Jesus emphasizes that if we are not actively gathering with Him, we are scattering. This means that our lives must be filled with His presence, His teachings, and His love. We must be vigilant against the subtle spirits of pride, self-righteousness, legalism, judgment, love of money, honor-seeking, and hypocrisy. These attitudes can infiltrate our lives, especially when we are not actively pursuing a relationship with Jesus.

The Pharisees, who were outwardly religious and righteous, committed the greatest sin by crucifying Jesus. This serves as a stark reminder that external religiosity without a heart transformation can lead to spiritual blindness and grave sin. We must ask ourselves if we harbor any of these seven spirits that can lead us away from God.

Ultimately, the call is to be like Jesus in every aspect of our lives. We must strive to embody His compassion, humility, and truth. This requires a daily commitment to follow Him, even when others do not. It means examining our lives, our habits, and our attitudes, and aligning them with His teachings.

Key Takeaways

1. The Danger of Emptiness: Being spiritually clean but empty is perilous. Without the Holy Spirit filling our lives, we are vulnerable to worse spiritual conditions than before. We must actively seek to be filled with Jesus' presence and teachings. [04:05]
2. The Subtlety of Seven Spirits: Pride, self-righteousness, legalism, judgment, love of money, honor-seeking, and hypocrisy are subtle spirits that can infiltrate our lives. These attitudes can lead us away from God if we are not vigilant. [11:14]
3. The Pharisees' Warning: The Pharisees, despite their religious appearance, committed the greatest sin by crucifying Jesus. This warns us that external religiosity without heart transformation can lead to spiritual blindness. [09:34]
4. Active Gathering with Jesus: It's not enough to have a clean life; we must actively gather with Jesus. This means engaging in a relationship with Him, aligning our lives with His teachings, and being filled with His Spirit. [06:07]
5. Commitment to Follow Jesus: Following Jesus requires a daily commitment, even when others do not. It means examining our lives, habits, and attitudes, and aligning them with His teachings. We must strive to embody His compassion, humility, and truth. [28:27]
** [28:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Human Tendency and Standards
[01:16] - Filled with the Holy Spirit
[01:46] - Worse than Demon Possession
[02:52] - The Danger of Being Clean but Empty
[04:32] - Jesus' Contextual Teaching
[06:24] - Gathering with Jesus
[07:48] - Seven Spirits and Their Subtlety
[09:12] - The Pharisees' Example
[11:14] - Seven Spirits Explained
[14:25] - Judging Others
[16:01] - Jesus' Dual Nature
[18:03] - Honor Seeking and Hypocrisy
[20:19] - The Spirit of the Pharisees
[22:14] - Hearing and Doing God's Word
[24:57] - The Call to Repentance
[26:17] - Commitment to Follow Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 11:14-28
- Matthew 23:27-28
- 1 Timothy 6:10

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Observation Questions:

In Luke 11:24-26, what happens when an unclean spirit leaves a person and then returns? How does this illustrate the danger of being spiritually empty? [02:52]
According to the sermon, what are the seven subtle spirits that can infiltrate our lives, and how do they relate to the Pharisees' actions? [11:14]
How does Jesus describe the relationship between being with Him and gathering versus scattering in Luke 11:23? What does this imply about our spiritual engagement? [05:13]
What warning does Jesus give about external religiosity without heart transformation, as illustrated by the Pharisees' actions? [09:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why does the sermon suggest that being spiritually clean but empty is more dangerous than being demon-possessed? How does this relate to the need for the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives? [04:05]
How do the seven subtle spirits mentioned in the sermon (pride, self-righteousness, legalism, judgment, love of money, honor-seeking, and hypocrisy) manifest in modern Christian life? [11:14]
In what ways does the sermon challenge the notion of external religiosity, and how does it encourage a deeper, more authentic relationship with Jesus? [09:34]
How does the sermon interpret the Pharisees' actions as a warning for us today? What lessons can we learn from their example? [09:59]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be spiritually clean but empty? How can you actively seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit this week? [04:05]
Identify one of the seven subtle spirits that you struggle with. What practical steps can you take to address this in your daily life? [11:14]
Consider your current spiritual practices. Are you actively gathering with Jesus, or are there areas where you might be scattering? How can you realign your life with His teachings? [05:13]
The sermon warns against external religiosity. How can you ensure that your faith is not just outwardly expressed but also deeply rooted in a transformed heart? [09:34]
Think about a time when you might have judged others like the Pharisees. How can you cultivate a more compassionate and understanding attitude towards others? [14:52]
Reflect on your relationship with money and honor. Are there ways in which these desires might be leading you away from God? How can you refocus your priorities? [17:10]
The sermon calls for a daily commitment to follow Jesus. What specific actions can you take this week to embody His compassion, humility, and truth in your interactions with others? [28:27]

Sermon Clips

We can be cleaned and empty and we are worse off than if we were not clean. We can have an unclean spirit inside of us that gets kicked out of us. If we are clean but empty, we are in great danger because this passage is right. I'm worse off because it'll come with seven others, and the last state of that person be worse off than the first. [00:03:48]

It's in this context that Jesus says be very careful that you could have been cleaned but you're empty. You said a prayer many years ago, you made a commitment to the Lord many years ago, and your life now has a general order and cleanliness to it, but you're empty because you're not with Jesus. [00:05:36]

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. It's in this context that Jesus says be very careful that you could have been cleaned but you're empty. You said a prayer many years ago, you made a commitment to the Lord many years ago, and your life now has a general order and cleanliness to it, but you're empty because you're not with Jesus. [00:06:57]

These were the people who were some of the most externally pure people. These were the people who probably gave the most time and money to the things of God. These were the ones that crucified Jesus. We have to keep reminding ourselves that these folks who were so religious in so many ways did the greatest most evil act that has ever been done. [00:09:19]

Seven is a picture of perfection. Seven days God created the earth and rested, including rested. Seven is a picture of a number that represents perfection, represents the divine completion. Here's this unclean spirit that was kicked out of my life, comes back with seven other spirits. These are attitudes. [00:07:44]

I wrote down seven things, seven spirits that can be very familiar to those of us who sit in the church and is not exempt, but because we're clean and empty, that's what makes us more dangerous to these, more susceptible to these things. One is pride, exactly in spirit of whatever that I'm Tina says comes now with the religious pride that still love self. [00:10:54]

Self-righteousness, that's another spirit. When I justify myself, self-righteous, I'm the standard. Other people are more worldly, other people are fanatics. I am the standard spirit of self-righteousness. These are the worse spirits than what was in me when I was a worldly person. [00:12:30]

Legalism, that's another spirit, majoring in how much I sacrifice rather than majoring in compassion. Majoring legalism, following the letter of the law, then bursting with compassion. Matthew chapter 12, I have some references. I'll see it out here if it's on the video, you can write it on if you want. [00:13:01]

Judging others, Simon in Luke chapter 7, when you see a woman of the city who's weeping and dry, have tears with the feet with a with our hair, and there's so many ways in which we can judge other people. We can judge, you know what the problem with that marriage is, it's that. [00:14:38]

Hypocrisy, differing weights in private versus public. Differing weights is an abomination to God. You know this way in searching on that way at home, you know this way in searching it that way when you're alone in your thoughts. You'll cover your head with your hair, deal with the head covering physically in church, but your home, my goodness, no chance of you submitting to your husband. [00:19:32]

Let us ask ourselves as we heard from today - do we want to be like Jesus in everything? The Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit having as an ambition that Jesus would be formed in us. Let us study who Jesus was and say, Lord, am I looking completely like Jesus? [00:16:21]

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and do it. That's what matters. Has God been speaking to you about something? Are we doing it? God has been speaking to us and what we've been hearing today. Do we want to be like Jesus? Do you wanna watch programs with Jesus? [00:22:00]

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Filled with Christ: The Danger of Spiritual Emptiness

Devotional

Day 1: The Peril of Spiritual Emptiness

Day 2: The Subtle Infiltration of Seven Spirits

Day 3: The Pharisees' Warning

Day 4: Actively Gathering with Jesus

Day 5: Commitment to Follow Jesus

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Filled with Christ: The Danger of Spiritual Emptiness

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