Used to be (Luke 24:13-16)
Illus: Sometimes on the road of life we get distracted and loose focus on who we are and what or purpose is. We get discouraged and want to take a long break from serving GOD. Maybe trouble came, or the load got to heavy. It’s easy to become a used to be.
Text: 13 That same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they were talking and thinking about what had happened, 15 Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. 16 But they did not know who he was.
17 Jesus asked them, “What were you talking about as you walked along?”
The two of them stood there looking sad and gloomy. 18 Then the one named Cleopas asked Jesus, “Are you the only person from Jerusalem who didn’t know what was happening there these last few days?”
19 “What do you mean?” Jesus asked.
They answered:
Those things that happened to Jesus from Nazareth. By what he did and said he showed that he was a powerful prophet, who pleased God and all the people. 20 Then the chief priests and our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a cross. 21 We had hoped that he would be the one to set Israel free! But it has already been three days since all this happened.
22 Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the tomb early in the morning, 23 but did not find the body of Jesus. They came back, saying that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some men from our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn’t see Jesus either.
25 Then Jesus asked the two disciples, “Why can’t you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said? 26 Didn’t you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?” 27 Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets.[c]
28 When the two of them came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going farther. 29 They begged him, “Stay with us! It’s already late, and the sun is going down.” So Jesus went into the house to stay with them.
30 After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them. 31 At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared. 32 They said to each other, “When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn’t it warm our hearts?” 33 So they got right up and returned to Jerusalem.
1. Sometimes our desire to serve Jesus fades from a burning flame into just a flicker,We become used to be’s
I used to
1. Go to church every Sunday
2. Read the bible everyday
3. Pray for hours
4. Burn with a desire to witness to the lost
5. Help the Helpless
6. Give hope to the hopeless
7. Teach Sunday school
8. Sing in the choir
9. Play an instrument in church
10. Preach with passion
11. Lay awake all-night thinking about HIM
Now it seems so far away, and I’ve become a used to be
Why do we become used to be’s
1. Someone hurts our feelings
2. Someone talks about us
3. Someone found fault
4. We get discouraged
5. Satan whispers lies to us
6. We feel we are not worthy of service
7. Maybe we get tired of the work
8. Let someone else do it for a while
9. I’m just taking a break
10. We find something else to fan our flame of passion
11. We become bored
12. ONE EXCUSE IS GOOD AS ANOTHER THE TRUTH IS, WE BECAME A USED TO BE
We used to carry the flame of passion for the lost and we stood between them and that great chasm called HELL
CAN WE NOT SAY UNTO THE LORD
LET MY HEART BURN WITH A PASSION FOR YOU JESUS
LET ME RIDE ON THE WIND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND REACH OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS LOST AND DYING GENERATION
CAN WE FORGET THE USED TO’S
AND GET A HOLD OF THE CAN DO’S
I Can
1. Get close to the Lord
2. Read his word
3. Fall in love with Jesus
4. Reach the lost
5. Teach the word
6. Sing his praises
7. Lift him up
8. Become real
