Today I want to encourage you no matter how hard the struggles of your life are, Jesus understands far more than you even think. You may even be doubting His existence, or doubting His power to change your circumstances. Even as you are doing these things He is watching waiting for an opportunity to sneak up on you. “Sneak up on me?” you say, “is God like that?” Well, sometimes God does disguise Himself and sneak up on us.
When we are feeling down and discouraged he comes close to encourage our faith and hearts with His goodness and His power. And this is exactly what happened to the two disciples on the road to Emmaeus. Jesus had just died and they were discussing what had happened to Him. They had been expecting something different to happen. Now he was dead and they were discouraged. They were hoping he would come and deliver them from the tyranny of the Romans.
These disciples were looking for a political solution to their problems and God had provided a spiritual solution. They weren’t on the same page as God, and God needed to put things right. Maybe today you are not on the same page as God, I pray God will meet you and provide the answers you need. In the book of Luke 24:13-32 we read:
“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
These men thought Jesus was dead. They had some of understanding of who Jesus was, but they lacked a complete understanding. As they pondered these things, Jesus Himself showed up. Just imagine that! He had risen from the dead and yet somehow he was disguised and their eyes were kept from recognizing him. God was sneaking up on them. God can be kind of sneaky like that! Maybe that’s you today, maybe you have many questions about Jesus Christ. I am believing that Jesus Himself will draw near to you and answer your questions.
God wants us to discover things for ourselves some-times, he wants to help you to do that! Jesus began to explain to the disciples how he needed to suffer and die and rise from the dead. They were looking for a political revolution, but as we will see, Jesus came to bring a revolution of the heart! God wants to know how we really feel about things. I believe Jesus hid himself from His disciples initially because He wanted them to be real with him and open with Him. If He had shown Himself to them initially, they probably wouldn’t have shared all that was on their hearts.
Look I’m telling you God knows what your thinking so you might as well be open with him. I believe he likes it when we are real. God is looking for real people! If we are real then we can be confronted with the reality of Hs power and be powerful witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. And Jesus explained from the Scriptures how he had to come and suffer and die and then he just disappeared! He caught them off guard! But he left something behind. In their hearts they were different. God likes to catch us by surprise like that.
In verse 32 as Jesus began to share these things with them from Scripture they later said – “did not our hearts burn within us? While he talked with us and opened the scriptures to us?” What was this fire burning in their hearts? It was fierce and passionate love for God. Song of Solomon 8:6 says “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave, its flames are a flame of fire, a most vehement flame.”
What was this fire burning in their hearts? It was a zeal for the house of God. Remember the story of Jesus in the temple? He ran through them temple with a whip driving out all the commercialism that had crept in to the House of God. He cried out “my house shall be called a house of prayer!” Today you are Gods temple and he wants that fire to remove every other consideration and He wants you to be someone consumed with His plans and purposes in the earth.
What was this fire burning in their hearts? It was a hunger for the things of God. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled! The hunger for more of God was like a fire burning in their hearts.
What was this burning in their hearts? It was the purifying, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit – a refining fire. Malachi 3:2 says “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.” God’s fire burns in our hearts to purify us from all sin.
What was this burning in their hearts? It was an all consuming flame, an excitement, a revelaiton that Jesus was alive. It was the power to go and be a witness for Him! Today I’m believing that fire will begin to burn in your heart as you read this message, as Jesus Himself draws near to you. That He will answer the questions you have. What was is Jesus left behind? It was a deposit of what was to come! It started in their hearts. And revival will start in your heart today!
The Bible tells us to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life. If you can get this fire in your heart it will touch every area of your life! Everything springs from the heart. Jesus knew this secret and he targeted the hearts of human beings to bring His Kingdom to earth. Decisions are made with the heart. Every decision will be influenced and directed by God’s fire. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If your heart is full of fire then out of your mouth will come the fire of God!
I believe Jesus Christ has drawn near to you today to ignite you! To answer all your questions, solve all your problems and set you on fire so you can do the will of God! I am believe Jesus Himself will sneak up on you today!
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