Encouragement on Sunday

The sermon at church yesterday was simple but powerful. Thought I'd share some points that really encouraged me:

Redeemer Presbyterian
April 19, 2009
Dan Seale
Luke 24:13-35
"Burning Hearts"

-On the cross, Jesus had said, "It is finished" triumphantly, but the disciples and His followers only heard defeat

-The disciples felt that Jesus had let them down with His death on the cross, that He had disappointed them; they were probably angry and confused

-The same thing happens to us when things don't turn out the way we think they should. Satan steps in with the age-old lie: that God doesn't care and doesn't love us. We think, "If God really loved me, He would [fill in the blank]."

-These 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus weren't theologically ignorant (v. 19-23), but they still didn't "get it": In verse 21, they say, "we had hoped ...." They were looking for an earthly messiah to rescue them from the Romans.

-These disciples had read the Scriptures selectively and believed selectively

-How often do WE read the Bible selectively, and believe selectively??

-Disappointment is a function of expectation.

-We have expectations of Jesus for things He never promised (like the classic "God wants me to be happy" - the Bible never says that!).

-And we're surprised when we receive what He DID promise (suffering, hardship).

-V. 25-26: Jesus wants these disciples to examine the Word

-V. 27: Instead of doing what He did with Thomas ("See, My hands, My feet, My side; it really is Me, risen"), Jesus explains the Scriptures to these 2 disciples --- He wants to Word to take root in their hearts. He reviews the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and how they have now been fulfilled.

-Their hearts were "burning" not necessarily because they were speaking to Him in person (they didn't even know it was Him at the time), but because He was speaking to them about the Word

-When was the last time your heart "burned" from reading the Word?

-Don't read the Word out of your life and experiences; read your life and experiences out of the Word

-The disciples urged Jesus (the "stranger") to stay with them because it was probably late; they had come all the way from Jerusalem and it would have been unsafe to continue on the road at night. BUT after their "eyes were opened" and they realized they were with Jesus (then He disappeared), they left right away (v. 33) to make the long trek back to Jerusalem to tell the others that they had seen Him and talked with Him.

-The good news of Jesus and the Scriptures prompted them urgently to share the truth with the others.

-God comforts His people through His Word