“The Road To Heart Burn”
(The Road To Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35)
INTRODUCTION: Luke Chapter 24 – all turn
Today is “Senior Adult Sunday”!
Senior Adults have traveled down a long road … some for 60 – 70 – 80 years.
They have had a lot of adventures along the way … experienced a great many things.
- There have been tough times … times of rejoicing … times of sorrow … times of victory.
They have found out that expectations and reality often do not always mesh.
- Your life may not have turned out like you expected … like you wanted.
- Your job … your marriage … your children … your retirement …
OR … it may have turned out BETTER than you could ever have imagined.
- AND … you are filled with great memories.
EITHER WAY … it’s been a long journey… well traveled … a road well worn.
THIS AM … we are going to take a look at a couple of travelers down another road.
We cont. in our series on the events during the 40 days between the Resurrection of Jesus … and His Ascension.
They were experiencing some difficulties on their journey.
- I don’t know if they were Senior Adults or not … they could have been.
Whatever their age, all of us can identify with them.
On their journey, they experienced “heart burn” – TITLE – 24:32
I’m sure some of you understand “heart burn”.
- I had a severe case several years ago … The Doctor fixed me right up with the proper medicine.
These 2 disciples also had a severe case of “heart burn” … but of a different nature.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TEXT:
LET’S SEE HOW IT RELATES TO OUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE.
1.- Their Plans Hadn’t Worked Out – 24:13
When I was young & recently married, I had my life all planned out.
- 31 years later, as I look back, very little of that plan turned out the way I had it planned.
AND … do you know what … God had a BETTER PLAN!
I’m sure you Senior Adults can identify with me.
- God has changed your plans many times.
- He’s used many incidents, circumstances, and even tragedies to alter your plans.
Although we may never understand (this side of Heaven) WHY God changed your plans … He always had a BETTER PLAN.
“two of them” … 2 disciples (not of the 12) … could have been a man & his wife … 24:29
They were on their way back home to Emmaus, 7 miles away.
- This was on a Sunday … Jesus had been crucified late Friday afternoon.
They had gotten word that Jesus was missing from the tomb … and that maybe He had risen from the dead.
- BUT … it was all rumor.
They were walking home … sad & discouraged.
2.- They Were Living In The Past – 24:14
As they walked home, they were rehashing the past.
As we get older, we do that a lot, don’t we … AMEN?
“I remember the good old days?”
Truth be known, they weren’t so good, were they?
- We remember them as being so good, because they are in the PAST … and we can remember them any way we want to.
It’s NOT BAD to remember the past … it’s GOOD to remember the past … and learn the lessons from our past mistakes.
- BUT … let’s not DWELL, LIVE in the past.
Too many times, as Pastor, I’ve heard Senior Adults say: “When I was young, I used to teach S.S., sing in the choir, visit the sick … But now, I’m retired … It’s time to let the younger generation take over.”
There is a word in the Greek for that … HOG-WASH!
Don’t live in the PAST … BECAUSE … If you do, you will miss out on all the blessings of the PRESENT!
These 2 were digging up the PAST … and were miserable … because they were missing out on the blessings of the PRESENT.
3.- They Didn’t Recognize Jesus – 24:15-16
“eyes were holden” – NASB – ‘But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.’
These 2 were going home … their hearts were heavy … things had turned out all wrong.
AND … they didn’t recognize God’s hand in it all.
4.- They Considered Jesus A Stranger – 24:17-18
Has Jesus been a STRANGER in your life?
You see, the Christian life is a JOURNEY … it’s not just a DESTINATION.
We think that once we are saved, we just sit back and wait to arrive at our destination … HEAVEN.
BUT … between salvation and Heaven … is a JOURNEY!
You can keep Jesus a STRANGER on your journey … and be like these 2 … “as ye walk, and are sad”.
- OR … you can walk with Him each step of the way … and enjoy His fellowship, joy, peace and strength.
It’s so much harder to walk life’s journey when you’re alone.
Many Senior Adults have experienced the death of a mate.
- It gets lonely … the road becomes more difficult … the journey isn’t as enjoyable as it once was.
LISTEN TO ME … When you make Jesus a STRANGER in your life, you’re only making it WORSE!
As long as these 2 don’t recognize Jesus as an integral part of their lives, they will never find peace & joy.
24:18 – That’s like, on Sept. 14th, 3 days after the terrorist attack …… not knowing that it happened!
Jesus knows everything about you.
- He knows what you are experiencing in your heart & life right now.
He knows the problems you’ve got: health problems … children problems … grand-children problems … financial problems …
- He knows every detail of your life: Your past … your present … your future.
- He knows: Your fears … your loneliness … your worries … your hopes & dreams.
You aren’t a STRANGER to Jesus … don’t make Him a STRANGER to you!
5.- They Told Their Problems To Jesus – 24:19-24
NOW, they are beginning to get somewhere!
They opened up to Him … a “stranger” … and, soon, Jesus is going to reveal Himself to them.
We don’t go to Jesus, because we haven’t finished trying to solve it ourselves.
- As a LAST RESORT, we open up to Jesus … when He should be our FIRST RESORT.
• We admit there is a SOLUTION.
- When we open up to Jesus, we bring the problem to Him … and He’s greater than any problem.
They told their problems to Jesus … and the reason why they were going home defeated.
6.- They Listened To Jesus – 24:25-27
My, what a sermon that must have been!
You think I’M a good preacher … you ought to have heard Jesus preach!!!!!
- The time went by too quickly … must have seemed like 5 minutes.
- I’ll bet they were sorry when it got close to 12 o’clock and they got to Emmaus and the Morning Worship Service was over! (like many of you … “Preach on, brother!”)
Jesus went back to the O.T. and told them all the prophesies about how the Messiah must come and SUFFER … to bear upon Himself the punishment of sin.
- NOTICE – 24:25 – “all”
-
Like so many of those in Jesus’ day, they only remembered the Scriptures about a TRIUMPHANT Messiah … who would come and bring peace, the Kingdom of God, on the earth.
- They were looking for One who would overthrow the Roman government … and make life easier for them … 24:21a
They had ignored the Scriptures about the SUFFERING Messiah … Who would 1st have to come and DIE … before He could give LIFE … 24:26
LISTEN TO JESUS … He’s got something to tell you here this AM.
Jesus didn’t come to serve you … to be your genie in a bottle … your jack-in-the box … your Santa Clause.
- Jesus didn’t save you to be your servant … errand boy … “God-in-a box” to do your pleasure …
If that’s how you think, your thinking of God is all wrong.
We think more of “What can God do to please me” … When we ought to be thinking … “What can I do to please God.” … AMEN?
Jesus is teaching us a LESSON here this AM.
Get into God’s Word … find out how to please Him.
THEN … you will find great pleasure in God!
7.- They Invited Jesus To Be A Part Of Their Life - 24:28-29
“constrained” – GK. – ‘to compel by using force’
They weren’t going to let Jesus go! They wanted MORE!
YOU KNOW, the more you make Jesus a part of your life … the more you want Him involved in EVERY part of your life.
THE OPPOSITE IS ALSO TRUE … the more you leave Jesus out of your life … the easier it is to leave Him out of EVERY PART of your life.
The more you ignore Jesus, the easier it gets to ignore Him … AMEN?
BUT … the more you fellowship with Him, the better it gets … AMEN?
8.- They Recognized Jesus – 24:30-32
24:30 – Sounds like the Lord’s Supper, doesn’t it?
When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on Thursday Night, the night before He was crucified … He started something NEW.
- Jesus showed His Disciples that He was the “Bread of Life” … physically broken in body, so they could be spiritually whole.
When Jesus prayed, broke the bread, and gave it to them … the scales came off their eyes.
YOU KNOW, our eating habits are a lot like our relationship with Jesus, aren’t they?
How do most people eat today? Do we eat around a table, with the family gathered together (like on “Leave It To Beaver?” … Mayberry?)
- NO! Not at my house … I eat in my Lay-Z-Boy in front of the TV!
Do you think that’s how these 2 ate with Jesus?
How do we feast at God’s table?
- If your only worship is an hour or 2 on Sunday … your only Bible reading is in Church … your only prayer time is grace before a meal …
- THEN … your eyes will never be opened to a relationship with Jesus.
Your heart will never “burn” with the brightness and glow of His peace and joy.
9.- Their Lives Were Changed – 24:33-35
It was late … they didn’t usually travel at night.
- BUT … they were EXCITED … they had to tell somebody!
I’ll bet they made that 7 mile trip in record speed.
That’s what walking with Jesus will do for you.
- It will CHANGE your life … get you EXCITED.
Their trip back to Jerusalem was totally different than when they started out from Jerusalem.
- Jesus had changed their sorrow into joy … their defeat into victory … their doubts into hope … their loneliness into fellowship.
Their lives were changed!
- And that’s what Jesus wants to do for you this AM.
CONCLUSION:
Senior Adults have come along way down the road of life.
- Eternity is a lot closer for some here this AM than it is for others.
What a shame it would be to walk down that road … and not recognize the peace, joy, love and victory that Jesus has to offer you.
Jesus is walking with you … do you RECOGNIZE Him?
- Open your eyes this AM … and experience all that He has for you.
STAND – PRAYER
“The Road To Heart Burn” (OUTLINE)
INTRODUCTION: Luke 24:13-35
1.- Their Plans Hadn’t Worked Out – 24:13
- God always has a BETTER plan than any you can make.
2.- They Were Living In The Past – 24:14
- Don’t live in the PAST … if you do, you will miss out on all the blessings God has for you in the PRESENT.
3.- They Didn’t Recognize Jesus – 24:15-16
- Jesus used circumstances when you were lost, to lead you to Him … Do you recognize them NOW?
- Jesus will never leave you, nor forsake you NOW … recognize Him!
4.- They Considered Jesus A Stranger – 24:17-18
- The Christian life is a JOURNEY, not just a DESTINATION.
- When Jesus is a STRANGER, you make the journey WORSE … and forfeit His peace, joy and fellowship.
- You aren’t a STRANGER to Jesus … don’t make Him a STRANGER to you.
5.- They Told Their Problems To Jesus – 24:19-24
- Be honest with Jesus … open up to Him.
o Admit there is a problem.
o Admit you can’t handle it alone.
o Admit that Jesus is the solution.
6.- They Listened To Jesus – 24:25-27
- Jesus came to suffer & die for your sins, to take your punishment … don’t ignore His suffering.
- Don’t think “What can God do to please me?”, but “What can I do to please God?”
7.- They Invited Jesus To Be A Part Of Their Life – 24:28-29
- The more you fellowship with Him, the better it gets!
8.- They Recognized Jesus - 24:30-32
- Feast at God’s table … and your heart will “burn” with the brightness and glow of His peace and joy.
9.- Their Lives Were Changed – 24:33-35
- Walking with Jesus will change your life … and get you excited.
CONCLUSION: Jesus is walking with you … Do you recognize Him? Open your eyes, and experience Jesus!
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
