Sermon 91
Sermon by Brenda Williams at Wonersh on 24th June 2007.
Seekers in the Bible No4
DISCOURAGED, DISBELIEVING,
DISAPPOINTED
BUT STILL SEEKING
Talk based on -:
Psalm
44 and Isaiah
ch.52 v 13-15 and Ch.53 – end PLUS The
road to Emmaus – Luke
24 verses 13 -35
Most precious times of sharing can be on a walk with husband, friend, children. Met Malcolm in
One of the activities of a Christian Union
House Party Weekend. There
followed walks in the Lakes, in
- for guidance in
decision making, - to get married, to go abroad at various time or not, to move
house or not.
- for the stages our children
were going through from birth, teenage years, career choices, their marriages,
then their family dynamics.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
- for help and
strength in major crises and difficulties. Malcolm’s1st cancer
diagnosed in 1987 – months after giving up medicine to go into ministry full time, and again in the weeks leading up to
March 2004 when Malcolm’s cancer was finally beyond hope of a cure and we
strolled slowly around our local
park (in Margate) when God and His promises became very real to us both.
This is the story of an 8 mile hike from
-
Going home
from the action, after the crucifixion
-
away from the disciples
and other followers and the shared fellowship and comfort that would bring.
Two men or may be Cleopas and his wife (as at Wintershall ‘Life of Christ). A stranger joins them .
Not unusual as need to travel together into the early evening for
protection.
Their conversation shows they were
Discouraged, Disbelieving and Disappointed.
Discouraged - when
there was no need to be! They had heard the reports of the women that the tomb
was empty – that Jesus was alive.
Disbelieving – just
women’s fanciful longings? –and angels saying he was alive? Could they have
been deluded. BASICALLY they were -----
Disappointed – God had
not done what they thought He should! Hoped He would send a Messiah who would
set
They had had their eyes fixed on the glory - but failed to understand the suffering.
Philip
Yancey’s book ‘Disappointed with God ’ gives a perspective on people like
that today – those whose expectations of what God can do are shattered.
The unanswered prayers, the social injustices,
the unhealed bodies and other seemingly unfair occurrences.
READ P 26 BOTTOM PARAGRAPH.
Sometimes it’s because they have a head
knowledge of God – not a personal relationship with Jesus.
Just as often it involves those of us deeply committed to our Lord.
Our Emmaus traveller’s animated conversation continued as Jesus drew
alongside. Maybe they were remembering their Old Testament readings about the
Messiah and the things Jesus used to say about himself. But it just didn’t
make sense.
Why DID He die? –one of the subjects covered in
the Alpha course. Invitations to next course ?
Was JESUS a failure?
What was the point of it all?
What hope is there for
Jesus, unrecognised, asks ‘What are you talking about so animatedly?’
(touch of humour here – he’d been at the centre
of all the action – but he asked a leading question!)
They bring Him up to date (Where have you been!?).
They had their say! They showed
-
the extent
of their knowledge
-
but also
their lack of understanding
-
Particularly
that they still thought the
Messiah was primarily sent to free
-
Not yet
realizing he was sent to free people from the domination of sin in their
hearts.
-
Jesus,
having listened to where they were at in their understanding, then
graciously opens up for them the Scriptures.
Gives them the Big picture --The inclusive
picture.
That suffering is a central part of HIS story.
Then they listened to the word of God, explained by Jesus. - that must have been
some Bible exposition!
WISH I HAD BEEN THERE! DON’T YOU?
We can sometimes go on discussing AND arguing for months and never
arrive at a satisfactory answer. I’ve known times in groups when discussion has
failed because we haven’t led people prayerfully to God’s word as in the
Scriptures.
Today, when the Holy Spirit of Jesus is within the messenger and at work
in the heart of the seeker, the TOTAL message of salvation is explained and
received.
The Christ the Suffering Servant comes before
The Christ the Conquering Redeemer.
The Cross had to come before the Crown.
READ EXTRACTS FROM Isaiah passage
Imagine Jesus
the greatest teacher explaining
the greatest themes from
the greatest book bringing
the greatest blessings to these peoples lives. Eventually!
Their eyes were opened to see Him
Their hearts were opened to receive Him
Their lips were opened to tell others
He didn’t teach them only dry doctrine BUT
‘things concerning Himself’…….‘seeing Jesus in
the Old testament’ –
in the Passover, the tabernacle ceremonies, day of atonement, the
serpent held up in the wilderness and in the Isaiah passage about The Suffering
servant to name a few.
The organisation called JEWS FOR JESUS have
very good insights into this.
Our Emmaus seekers had shared their concerns with Jesus.
Then they had listened to Him. Then they invited Him into their home.
Still a stranger! By divine unrecognition?
They were won over by His conversation, his examples from the
Scriptures.
He had touched base with where they were at. AN EXAMPLE FOR US.
They knew their ‘hearts burned within them’ and they wanted this to go
on and on.
The more we receive the word of God into our hearts the more we
want to have fellowship with the God of the Word.
The more we share the word of God with others the nearer they
will come to the God of the Word.
Just understanding Bible knowledge can lead to - A BIG HEAD
Receiving into our hearts Bible Truth and walking with the Lord Jesus
can lead to - A BURNING HEART.
I have felt so privileged on my Christian journey to have heard the Word
of God preached by men and women who have themselves learned from Lord Jesus
and used His teaching methods to bring the message alive and leave me with a
burning heart for more.
The passage continues with the revelation of just who their walking
companion was JESUS HIMSELF.
Their eyes opened when He sat at table He took the bread, broke it and
blessed it.
Just a common place meal, not like the Last
Supper, but again a meal with a family where the things of God can become real
if we will let them. Grace
before we eat can say volumes about our dependence on God for daily needs.
Talking through what we have read or heard taught on Sundays at church
or children’s groups can transform the Sunday lunch conversation. – not knock the vicar/ways of worship/music!!!
After he had blessed the bread – HE LEFT THEM.
BUT BY NOW
- the evidence of the open tomb,
-the message of the angels to Mary and the other women,
-the stories of other witnesses,
-the explanation from Scripture PLUS
THE PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD JESUS MEANT THEY UNDERSTOOD -
THEY BELIEVED.
THE EVIDENCE FOR THIS ?
They left immediately to join with the other disciples and share their
joy and further encounters with the risen Lord.
The best evidence that we have understood the Bible message about Jesus
Christ and met Him for ourselves through the work of the Holy Spirit in us is
when we are so excited we have to tell others.
This often works in the ordinary daily meetings, through the witness to
friends, work colleagues, fellow students if we are walking with Jesus
ourselves.
What a difference it would make in our church and our communities if
everyone who gathered here could go out and tell about our meeting with the
Living Lord Jesus in our worship in church –YES!
BUT more importantly about the involvement of
our Lord Jesus in the course of our daily lives.
–
It is the
way many seekers first come to realise there someone who can meet with them in
–
their
discouragements
–
their
disbelief
–
their
disappointment
Let’s ask The Lord Jesus to reveal himself to us today in a new way.
To make our reading of God’s word come alive
and be relevant to each person’s situation.
To give us all this ‘burning heart’ experience
as we share with each other what God has done for us and is even now working in
us for His glory.
To give us the opportunity to meet people who
are seeking for answers at their point of need.
Why not share your Story of how you came to faith and what it means to you - Today.