Key Note Address – SATS Graduation 22nd November, 2003



LVC 05/09/2010 Talking the walk Lk 24:13-35Come to the end of our series from Gospel of Luke. Today, one of my favourite passages; the road to Emmaus – ‘Talking the walk’.[Describe the scene]Jesus came up to them – GOD INNITIATES ENCOUNTERS. We seek and ask but He reveals Himself at His discretion.However, sometimes when He does approach us we miss the moment – Vs TEV ‘They saw him, but somehow did not recognise him.’ Why do we miss Him?(a) Disciples were focused on their objective of getting to their destination – we often goal and not process oriented.Need to live more in the moment, not the future… because WE ENCOUNTER JESUS NOW NOT THEN.(b) They did not expect to see Jesus… despite hearing that he was alive. Have you had the experience of not recognising someone because they appear in a different setting?LACK OF EXPECTATION CAUSES A FAILURE TO RECOGNISE.Do we expect to encounter Jesus when we read the Bible? When we come to church?(c) What the disciples were expecting was a political messiah. WRONG EXPECTATION CAUSES A FAILURE TO RECOGNISE.When we pray for revival, what do we expect?(d) They were talking too much. How long had Jesus walked right behind them? They didn’t even greet him when he came alongside.WE TOO TALK TOO MUCH AND LISTEN TOO little e.g. Quite Times, church etc.Note too that they were lecturing Jesus about himself. Do we do this? Do we talk and sing a lot about Jesus as if he weren’t there?To encounter Jesus we need to see with the eyes of our heart (Eph 1:18) that Jesus is with us, and talk WITH him, and sing TO him.So, because of their failure to recognise him Jesus rebukes them – Dull of perception (understanding) and dull of heart.‘You find it so hard to believe and take to heart what the scriptures say’.If we are to hear the Lord then WE NEED TO BELIEVE HIS WORD… AND READ HIS WORD.Then Jesus taught them what the scriptures said about himself. Later (vs 45) back in Jerusalem ‘he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures’.By the way, how did Jesus manage to carry all those scrolls? In His mind! So too we need to carry the scriptures in our minds.But main point from this is that A BIBLE STUDY IS NOT JUST ABOUT JESUS, BUT WITH HIM. See, talk, feel, listen vs 32 ‘our hearts burning within us.’They arrived at Emmaus Vs 28 ‘Jesus acted as if he were going further’ – not pretended, simply ‘appeared to be wanting to go on.’Because they ‘urged him strongly’ to stay, he did. He gave them his company rather than go on with what other thing he was going to do.He ‘tarried’ with them and shared a meal and fellowship.JESUS WILL TARRY WITH US IF WE ASK HIM TO WITH ALL OUR HEARTS.Jer 29:13 ‘You will find me when you seek me with all your hearts.’And Jesus still breaks bread with his disciples’ today – THE LORD’S TABLE IS NOT A RITUAL BUT A COMMUNION.It was in the context of the meal that their eyes were opened and they recognised him. Why? Perhaps as he broke the bread they saw his wrists.Perhaps it was because he assumed the position of host at the table and broke the bread.Perhaps it was his familiar words of blessing that they had heard him say so often before.Note this though; fist He opened their eyes to understand the scriptures, then he opened their eyes to recognise himself –WE ENCOUNTER JESUS IN THE BIBLE. It is not just a book of propositions but also a means of encountering Jesus.Then, no sooner had they recognised him Jesus became invisible to them. Why? Because it was enough.Most often our encounters with him are brief and end suddenly… but they are enough. IF JESUS SPEAKS JUST ONE WORD THEN IT IS ENOUGH.Trust that this is true, ACT ON WHAT HE SAYS and look forward with expectation to when He again initiates an encounter.The Gospel of Luke comes to an end with these wonderful truths:Jesus has risen and is alive.Jesus encounters us today in and through the scriptures, prayer, worship, and the communion table.Then reading on to the very last few verses of Luke He tells us that there is more… we can be clothed with power from on high.The Gospel of Luke ends with an introduction to the Book of Acts.And so it is with us – Our study of Luke ends with the invitation to live with Jesus in the book of the acts of our lives, our church, and our generation.To live in the power of the Holy Spirit and in communion with the living Lord of all… Jesus. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download