Title: All that we need
Date: 15/7/01
Place: FPCF
Ref: Luke 24: 13-34 (747)
"So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him."
1.All we need is Jesus
We serve a wonderful God!
The greatest living person had just been smashed onto a cross for all of humanity.
-God required a sacrifice
-Lived a sinless life
-Taken back the keys of death and hell
In other words Jesus now had authority over death and the spirit world.
-He was the world’s Messiah
Two men walked back to their homes, alone and dejected.
-Their hope was shattered,
-Their ambitions dissolved
-Their life was over
-They yearned for some answers
They had believed that Jesus was the One - the messiah
Thy reasoned and questioned everything their hearts were sad and then
Jesus drew near
No you don’t understand!Jesus drew near to them
Jesus went from a universally climatic event to drawing near to two down trodden followers.
-Saviour yet friend
-Conqueror yet intimate
-Deliverer yet helper
Jesus drew near!
How many times have we been in a situation where we have felt dejected and disillusioned?
-Times of sadness and fear
-Times of confusion
-Life has turned around and spat in your face
You just want to go home - wherever/whatever that might be.
Yet Jesus doesn’t seem to draw near? Why?
These men may have been walking away but they were still seeking an answer.
They sought after Him.
-Jesus draws near to those who draw near to them.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
So many times we sit about and wait for God to break into a situation with a blinding flash.
-He’s waiting for us
-To start asking Him questions
-We need to seek Him out.
Not only did Jesus draw near he walked with them.
Isn’t that typical of Jesus?
So many times we want Him to take hold of a situation and sort it all out
-We can sit back and let the man do his work!
-Jesus wants to walk WITH us
-He wants to be WITH us,
-Spend time WITH us
-Handle things WITH us
John 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
This is the difference between relationship and servant-hood
-Jesus wants a life WITH you not OVER you¡K
Let US draw near to HIM so he can draw near to and walk WITH us
Something interesting happens next....
2.All We Need is the Word and Faith
Jesus takes control over their eyes ¡V he ¡¥holds¡¦ them.
Why? Why didn’t Jesus want them to see?
As Christians we rely to heavily on what we see, hear, touch and feel.
-When you became a Christian - through sight?
-By faith.
When we pray we open our eyes and see if the answer has come.
Walking by sight. Not by faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Jesus wanted them to believe in Him without actually seeing Him.
They went onto to talk about how they were let down
-Jesus could have shown himself to them
-Their questions would have been answered
-By sight not by faith
What did he do? Went to the word
All the evidence your faith needs is the word of God -by faith not by sight.
If the word says it then it is good enough for me¡K!
Let me give you an example.
-Prayer for...seeing someone saved
-I’ll believe when I see it!
-We’ll put our faith in anything other than God
This is a hard lesson to learn BUT it is an important one!
What is it that moves mountains? Sees miracles? Sees people saved?
-Well I don’t feel like its done
-I haven’t seen God do it yet
-I haven’t heard whether its happened
-What difference does that make?
Where does it say
-prayer will be answered when it feels right?
-prayer will be answered when you see it?
-prayer will be answered when you hear its done?
Prayer is answered when we apply our faith to it -PERIOD!
Lets think about a mountain - your town
Jesus turned to the word to prove who? Himself.
Why didn’t he just open their eyes?
-Every time they had to use their faith in the future
-Need physical proof
Do you have a prayer that needs answering? Are you waiting for the answer?
As long as you are waiting for an answer that you know is coming
Not waiting for an answer before you believe you’ll get one
Maybe you are WAITING before making more of a commitment
-What are you waiting for?
-To SEE if its right?
-FAITH = RISK?
The bible says that Jesus would have gone further. Interesting.
Jesus will share/reveal as much as you are willing to listen to.
-He will always take you further than you are
-If you allow Him
At least these men were keen ¡Kpulled Him aside.
3.All We Need is the Cross
When was it that the men realised it was Jesus?
-When Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them.
-Symbol of his death
-His death given to them
-His whole life committed to them and us¡K
When is it that man’s eyes are truly opened?
-When they see that body broken
-That body given to them
-That death for their sakes
They then KNEW Him
-All fears, doubts, questions and sorrow disappeared.
When we get back to the cross and see what Jesus did for us on a regular basis
-All our doubts will also melt
-We are faced with supreme love and sacrifice
-Everything suddenly becomes worth it
They then had all they needed faith, word and the cross
The result? They went and told the people they KNEW.
