THE FAITH JOURNEY --- WHEN THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WE TRUSTED… (ed is past tense) TRUST vs TRUSTED… WE HAD OUR HOPES UP? WE HAVE BEEN SO HURT THAT WE ARE QUITTING. BUT FOR THREE DAYS ALL OUR HOPES HHAVE BEEN DASHED UPON THE ROCKS. WE HAD OUR HOPES… THEN THE BOTTOM FELL OUT…
Text: Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luke 24:21 (MSG) And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened.
WALKING THE ROAD OF DISAPPOINTMENTS? GOING TO EMMAUS?
Emmaus was about three-score (70) furlongs outside Jerusalem’s city limits. (Or 7 miles north west of Jerusalem.)
There were some areas where there were hot waters coming out of the ground. These were known as “hot baths.”
Emmaus was known as a place of R&R, rest and relaxation.
These men were probably going on a vacation to get away…
LIFE IS FULL OF ACCIDENTS OR COINIDENCES… THAT CAN LEAD TO FINDING THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.
THE COMPANIONS WE KEEP ARE VERY IMPORTANT ON OUR JOURNEY?
WITH WHOM ARE YOU WALKING?
Jesus took time for the thousands, but Jesus would walk with two.
Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
TRAPPED IN NEGATIVITY--- WE HAVE LIMITED VISION?
ARE WE WALKING WITH OUR EYES CLOSED?
Are we so busy in our journey that we refuse to see?
Luke 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
It is good to walk with the “TEACHER.”
Let us walk with the ones that can lead us to GREAT PEARLS OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.
HAVE YOU NOT HEARD THE BAD NEWS? LET ME TELL YOU, I KNOW THE BAD STUFF!
What do we do with BAD NEWS? HAVE YOU HEARD THE BAD NEWS?
LET ME TELL YOU!
Bad news can make us BITTER --- THESE TWO MEN LOST THEIR FOCUS WITH THE BAD NEWS, JESUS IS DEAD… our hopes are dashed again. Listen to the teacher, the Spirit of God and refuse to be stubborn, hurt and bitter.
LET US BE SAD? To focus on the bad news brings BAD RESULTS…
Luke 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
MY DEAR FRIEND, WE MUST REFUSE TO BECOME PART OF THE PROBLEM. I will believe and reach out. I refuse to be a turtle in my shell.
BE CAREFUL WITH WHOM YOU DISCUSS PROBLEMS… THE TONGUE CAN RELEASE POISON. TRY A LITTLE TALK AND WALK WITH JESUS.
THIS IS THE THIRD DAY? DON’T JUMP OUT OF THE SKILLET INTO THE FIRE?
WE HAVE HEARD GOOD NEWS, BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE GOOD NEWS IS CRUSHED BY THE DEATH, NOW WE CARRY THE BAD NEWS, HAVEN’T YOU HEARD THE BAD NEWS?
Luke 24: 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels,which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
IT IS TIME IN OUR JOURNEY THAT A DIAMOND CUTS THE DIAMOND AND POLISHES THEM TO CARRY GOOD NEWS NOT BAD NEWS.
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
UNLOCK YOUR MIRACLE. JESUS CAN OPEN THE EYES THAT ARE SHUT? THE WORD OF GOD WAS WALKING WITH THEM… THE WORD OF GOD DOES THE WORK OF GOD.
WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND US IS FALLING APART WE MUST TRUST THE WORD OF GOD BY FAITH!!! UNLOCK YOUR MIRACLE!!!
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
THE WORD OF GOD WALKED WITH US… HE TALKED WITH US… WE WERE REFRESHED BY MORE THAN A HOME COOKED MEAL… THIS MYSTERY MAN OPENED THE EYES OF OUR HEART AND WE SAW JESUS WAS WITH US… EMMANUEL --- GOD WITH US!
This must become personal --- JESUS MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN TO US…
BE THE LIVING WORD, THE RHEMA.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WAS SHINING ON THEIR PATH.
Luke 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
NEVER DOUBT IN THE DARKNESS WHAT JESUS TAUGHT IN THE LIGHT!
ALL THE NEGATIVE WEIGHTS THAT WE DRAGGING THEM DOWN WERE RELEASED…
WE HAVE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE BAD NEWS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BAD NEWS IS NOT THE FINAL WORD.
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
OUR SADNESS CAN BE TURNED TO JOY.
WE NOW HAVE A STORY TO TELL… THE JOURNEY CAN REVEAL A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIGHT. Now there is a fire burning within the hearts.
CONCLUSION: This Jesus must be personal to you. Mary has seen him? John has seen him? Peter has seen him? BUT WE HAVE WALKED AND TALKED WITH HIM. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! BE PATIENT!
VENTING CAN BE DANGEROUS. Venting in public places can cost dearly. We must COME APART OR WE WILL COME APART?
Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
