Dharius Daniels - Running on Empty - Part 2

So we’re talking about this subject today: «Running on Empty.» Running on Empty, December—excuse me, November 27, 2016—commenced what is known in Christian circles as the season of Advent. Everybody say «Advent.» The word Advent simply means «coming.» Therefore, this season is one in which believers celebrate the coming of our Lord and leader, Jesus Christ. It is appropriate to celebrate His coming; it is important to celebrate His coming because if He didn’t come down, we wouldn’t be raised up. His coming is a message to believers, assuring us that God is also Emmanuel—He is God who is with us. Christ’s coming is the assurance and reassurance to all of us that whatever we are walking through, we are not walking alone, for Emmanuel is walking with us. He’s not just God for you; He’s God with you. He’s not just the God of Heaven; He’s the God of the Earth. He’s not just God in the high places; He’s God in the low places. Whatever you’re walking through, even if you’re like David walking through the valley of the shadow of death, you can fear no evil. Why? For Thou art with me. He is Emmanuel—come on, church! He is God who is with me; He is eternally attached to me. He refuses to be separated from me. David said, «I can run here and there, and He’s already waiting for me before I get to where I’m going, and He is still already where I left Him.» He is God who occupies all spaces, in all places, at all times. He is omnipresent; He’s where I left, where I am, and where I’m going at the same time. He eternally and simultaneously exists in three different spaces: He is, He was, and He is to come. He is the already and the not yet. He is God who is with us. He’s in my past, making sure my past doesn’t ruin my present; and He’s in my present, making sure that my present doesn’t ruin my future. He’s in my future, preparing a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He’s God who’s working in my past, working in my present, and working in my future. He is Emmanuel; He is God who is with me. So when the burdens get heavy and the heart becomes filled with despair, we look in the mirror with tears rolling down our faces, and we say, «He is with me—my messed-up self.» He’s—oh glory to God! —He’s with me even when I wasn’t with Him. He was with me when I was faithless; He was faithful. He’s been with me. He was with me when I knew He was with me, and He was with me when I didn’t know He was with me. He was with me when I felt Him; He was with me when I didn’t. He was with me when I could see Him; He was with me when I couldn’t. He is Emmanuel; He is God with us. So it’s important; it’s appropriate that we celebrate His coming. But I believe this series of teachings that we’re engaged in this month pushes us a bit further and challenges us not just to celebrate that He came, but also to reflect on who came. Because just because I know His name doesn’t mean I know who came. Did you hear what I’m saying? Just because someone knows your name doesn’t mean they know you. It’s one thing to know His name is Jesus, but it’s another thing to know who the Jesus is you’re talking about. Because the name Jesus is an all-encompassing name; it is a comprehensive name. It is the epitome and compilation of all other names that were given to God in the Old Testament. It simplifies the complexity of God’s personalities. In the Old Testament, they had to call Him Jireh, and then on one end, they had to call Him Nisi; on the other end, they had to call Him Mekaddish, and on the other hand, they had to call Him Tzitkenu. On the other end, they had to call Him Rapha; on the other end, they had to call Him Shalom. On the other end, they had to call Him Shama. But in the New Testament, He is given a name that’s above all other names. And when you say «Jesus,» it means Shalom, Rapha, and Shama. He’s the Healer, the Deliverer, the Provider, the Waymaker. It’s one thing to know His name; it’s another thing to know who He is. And in this series, we are being challenged not just to know His name, but to know who He was and to explore an aspect of His identity that I believe is important. But because it is perceived as non-spiritual, it’s often overlooked. I want to challenge us to explore this overlooked aspect of His identity because I believe it has major implications for those of us who want God to fix our lives. I want to remind some and inform others that not only was Christ your Savior, but Christ was also a carpenter. I believe there are some people in this room, like me, who not only need to be saved but who need to be fixed. Where’s my real witness? Yes, the Lord saved me. I know— is there anybody here who can say, «Listen, the Lord saved me. I know I’m saved. I know I’ve been redeemed; my name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. But even though I’m saved, I need Jesus to continue working on me because I’m safe, but I need some things fixed.»