Bread Of Vision Series

Our Church members have had a lot of interest in the Walk to Emmaus lately, and for a good reason. I have never known anyone who went on a Walk that wasn’t tremendously blessed. If you are not saved when you go on the Walk, there is a very good chance you will be saved before you come home. We have seen that in our fellowship family here at FBC of Eula.

For those who are saved and go on the Walk, let me try to explain it how I understand it. You will not grow much spiritually on the Walk, but you will be blessed. It is not growth that you will probably experience because the elements of growth are not completely present.

However, if there is something in your life that is inhibiting your growth, it will be challenged. There will be pulling downs of strongholds, facing attitudes, releasing areas of pride, unforgiveness and misplaced passions.

I say this to include a warning. If you do not fill your life with the elements of growth when you return from your Walk to Emmaus, the issues you address will either return stronger, or new elements will arixe that are more subtle and difficult to address.

I base this upon personal observation, and my understanding of Matthew 12:43-45: "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."

So what are the elements of growth that you need to have in place and active in your life? If you don’t know them, please look at the back wall, upper, and see the banner.

1. A growing relationship with God.

2. A growing relationship with the Word of God.

3. A growing relationship with God’s family in context with the Church

4. A growing relationship with service and servanthood, including systematic giving through tithes, offerings and charity.

If you are not growing in one of those areas, you are not growing spiritually. If you are not growing spiritually, you probably don’t even recognize the problem because of lukewarmness. I know that is strong, but it is supported by the scriptures.

This is what the Walk does for so many of us. It removes the blinders so we can see. If we see and do not add the disciplines and elements of growth, we go slip into a situation worse than before we were confronted with the truth.

Where does the Walk to Emmaus get its theme? As we continue are series, “After the Resurrection”, we come to Luke 24:13-15. This series will culminate on May 12th when we celebrate the ascension and promised return of Jesus. May 12th will be a wonderful day. I hope you mark in on your calendar.

Now, let’s look at our text.

Luke 24:13-15 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Emmaus was a village about seven miles due north of Jerusalem. Who were the two of them? They were two followers of Jesus, not the 11 Apostles. We will see one’s name is Cleopas.

These were not just talking about the events of the day, but the things that were important to them. Youth today will say, It is what is trending on Twitter.

These two followers of Jesus were discussing Jesus, and Jesus pulled up beside them on the road. The text reads that they knew who Jesus was, knew what He looked like, but God prevented them from recognizing Him at this time.

Luke 24:17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.

This scripture reveals how these felt about Jesus. When Jesus asked them what they were talking about, they stopped walking. When they were faced with explaining to someone who they assumed had not heard, it saddened them that they would be reliving the horrible events again as they explained. The possibility of explaining it to someone sometimes brings the full impact of the event.

I have seen this often, sometimes on the news. A witness of a terrible event, when asked to describe what they saw, breaks down in tears. I understand this. I have experience things in my ministry and held up well. Then when I got home to tell Laura, I have broken down in tears trying to put it into words.