” I’d like to teach you this evening some more on the Deeper Life. And I have a title here which I want to share with you. And the title is ‘ Empty Vessels Is The Key To Maturity ‘. I want to base our teaching tonight on some scripture we’re very familiar with but I think is one of the most profound statements in the New Testament. That is in Philippians chapter 2 and we’re going to be looking at verses five to nine.
A Profound Statement
The understanding to this chapter can only come and be experienced if we’re willing to walk in humility. That we would allow the Holy Spirit to work that in and through us. This is the key to understanding why Christ came, and in the manner that He did. Humility – being humble – is the key to understanding this. If we have a problem with this it’s simply going to be a mental exercise. It’s just going to be theology simply going in one ear and out the other.
As we read and open the scriptures they are not only for our learning but are to be for our experience. And that is what sorts out the men from the boys. So we’re calling our teaching tonight ‘ Empty Vessels Is The Key To Maturity ‘.. ..
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philipians 2:5
v6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
v7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
v8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
v9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
v10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
v11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is the pathway to the Deeper Life which we preach. And it is that willingness to accept this self emptying. That word we use – the ‘Kenosis’. It’s a willingness to allow through the baptism of the Spirit – the power of the Spirit – the emptying of self. That is the key – that is the understanding – to the Deeper Life. If that is not the focal point you will not really fully understand the Deeper Life – it’s purpose and it’s experience.. .. Pastor Kim
