Two Room:
Analogy of the way we live = 2 different rooms
Receive Christ – places you on this path…
Fork in the road – chose one and it leads you to the room of Good intentions (host gives you a mask)
PLEASE GOD PATH – make him happy with me
COME TO THE DOOR: plate that says: “Striving to be all God wants me to be”
I am going to try hard and then I will be able to be intimate with God
OVER THE DOOR KNOB: “self effort” – God helps those who help themselves
Walk in and HOSTESS comes to you with a BIG smile: “welcome to the room of good intentions”
EVERYONE IN THE (full of people) ROOM – smiling, laughing, hey how are you… I am fine?! Then someone comes up to you and asks how are you? Before answering the hostess says shhhhh – and hands you a mask. LIKE DISNEY.
Explore in the room and you notice a theme or banner – written in different places – “shamed into hiding”… you must measure up to be close to Christ. You must deal with your sin before you are to be close to Christ
Students many of you – believe in Jesus but you have so much shame – you feel inwardly flawed – something is WRONG with you and all you know to do is PUT ON A MASK – I am guilty!
List different masks…
- “I’m happy” mask
- “I’m better than most” mask
- “I’m a victim of others” mask
- “I don’t care” mask
- “I am very important” mask
- “I am the expert” mask
- “I am not hurt” mask
- “I am the funny guy” mask
- “I am the partier” mask
- “I have the answers” mask
- “I am independent” mask
- “I am cool” mask
- “I have self confidence mask”
- “I will just please others” mask
- “I am calm, just carry on” mask
- “I am perfect” mask
I PUT them on – wear them – for safety and the masks become apart of us
I have to stay loved… I can’t let others see me struggle… I feel so flawed… Jesus is far away.
Shame motivates… same word for shame = anxiety. Shame also keeps you in addictions.
Stumble back to the fork of the road try a different path
There is a new path – and a new room – leave the old room and hear a new VOICE and THEME
Tired, stressed, get real
Come to a door
Plate on the door that says: Living out who God says that I am
Above the door knob – says humility
Hostess says welcome to the Room of Grace
Another room full of people. I cant do this – fake it… lie about everything is ok… as you began to storm out you hear a voice that says “you will fit in just fine here”
There is a garbage can by the door you came in that catches your eye – in the garbage cans are masks. The hostess is actually collecting masks and disposing them.
Banner – Standing with God who takes away my shame and intimately helps me live this life/ deal with sin together
Table set- set for royalty - so inviting – you start to head that way – and a powerful story comes to mind
COVENANT DAVID MADE WITH JONATHAN
2 Samuel 9
v. 1 And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" ….v.3 Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet." 4 The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar." (SHAME/pastureless) 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Behold, I am your servant." 7 And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always." (HONOR AND SECURITY) 8 And he paid homage and said, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog (SHAME) such as I?" 9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants.
ESV