======================================================================== A REVIVAL OF WALKING WITH THE RISEN CHRIST JESUS TO EMMAUS by Edgar Reich ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon focuses on moving from a house of fear to a house of faith, drawing parallels between the disciples' fear after Jesus' crucifixion and the fears many face today. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and believing in the scriptures, proclaiming forgiveness, seeking the Holy Spirit's help, and staying in prayer and unity to transition from fear to faith. Topics: "Overcoming Fear", "Embracing Faith" Scripture References: Luke 24:45, Luke 24:47, Luke 24:49, Luke 24:52, Isaiah 41:10, Luke 11:13, Psalms 22:16, Psalms 16:10, Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:10, Daniel 9:26, Micah 5:2, Exodus 12:13, Numbers 21:8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon focuses on moving from a house of fear to a house of faith, drawing parallels between the disciples' fear after Jesus' crucifixion and the fears many face today. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and believing in the scriptures, proclaiming forgiveness, seeking the Holy Spirit's help, and staying in prayer and unity to transition from fear to faith. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ And good morning, Queensway. Good morning, family. Good morning, friends. And there are some special friends that are watching from far distances away. We're so glad you could join us this morning. And I also wanted to mention friends in Oklahoma, Vicky and Dale. Welcome. The message this morning is a revival in walking with the risen Christ to Emmaus. These are serious times of great turmoil in the world. And many of us have fears, fears of losing our jobs, fear of illness, fear of economic effects. We have fears that food production cannot continue the way it should. We have fears of death for ourselves and our loved ones. It all seems like a nightmare. Many are confused and many don't understand. And we're often given contradictory news. We miss our families and we are required to keep distant from them. So often we feel loneliness. And then it seems to affect many of us, even to the extent of less hope that things can be right again. There is mental illness, mental issues that affect us. Now, for Christians, the Bible tells us that we should move from a house of fear to a house of faith. And we can do that with higher help if we do that wisely and heed God's words and counsel, we shall find good. And whoever leans on, trusts in, and walks in confidence with the Lord, he and she shall be happy, blessed, and fortunate. The Christians at the time of Jesus did this in the midst of great fear. And there was great revival. They moved from a house of fear to a house of faith. Now, there might also be some non-Christians watching today, and I also have good news for you. You can move from a house of death and fear to a house of life. You can start a new life today with the mercy of God, if you would like to. But you will have to ask Him. And now, please come back with me 2,000 years or so to a group of people that was in great turmoil. They were in greater fear and greater difficulties we are in today. There was a person sent by God to the nation of Israel. His name was Jesus. He had said that he was the Son of God, the expected Messiah of the Jewish people. This was confirmed by John the Baptist, a revered Jewish man who was called a prophet. He declared Jesus as the Christ, the expected one. They heard God the Father speak by a voice from heaven during his baptism that he was God's Son. Later, that was repeated with a voice from heaven. They saw his wisdom, they saw his perfect life, and they saw all the miracles that he did. And believers loved him and gave up everything, even some of their jobs to follow him. And they did so for three years. They also believed the scriptures where the prophet Isaiah, for instance, had declared, his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment, with justice, from henceforth even forevermore. However, the disciples in that time, they looked only at their physical circumstances. They expected Jesus to become King and free the nation of Israel from Roman rule. Then came that dreadful day and dreadful night, when the mob came at night and they took Jesus into custody. Jesus had to appear before Jewish leaders and then Roman leaders. The death sentence was pronounced over him. He was crucified and he died on a cruel cross. They killed the Son of God. Some of his followers watched as Jesus died. I wondered how would they have felt when Jesus was crucified. Did their world break apart? Were their hopes dashed? Did shock and dismay overwhelm them with tears and sorrow? I believe so. His 11 closest followers had run away when Jesus was taken into custody by the mob. Now they were overwhelmed by what was happening. Why did they ask? They thought, why did Jesus not set up his kingdom? He said he was the Messiah. The promises of God were not being fulfilled, they thought, and the end seemed near for them. Their faith was shaken. They thought about what the Pharisees and the rulers would do to them. Surely the mob and the rulers would come after them. Would they do to them likewise as they had done to Jesus? Then they decided they needed safety and they moved into a house where they locked all the doors. They moved into a room, into a closed room and locked all the doors. They moved into a house of fear. Are we not doing that now with many living in a house of fear? The Bible tells us that the 11 disciples went into hiding and they locked the room they were in. Fear had set in. Perhaps they also thought, what will we eat? How will we pay our bills? Will we find work again? In the Bible in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus said that there would be times of sorrows that will come to the earth. Some sorrows have started now. Later Jesus said many will fall away from the truth. Why is that? You see, beloved, it is unbelief and not having studied the whole Bible. We judge our relationship with God by the physical circumstances we are in. We do not judge based on the heavenly principles that the Bible teaches us and where we are expected to live by faith and not give up our faith in the only begotten Son of God, Jesus. In Luke chapter 18 verse 1, Jesus said that man always ought to pray and not lose heart. Jesus asked in Luke chapter 18 verse 8, nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Should we not move from a house of fear to a house of faith? Again, going back 2,000 years and after Jesus had died on the first day of the week, there were two men. They lived in a town called Emmaus. They were on that road walking and the third man joined them. We read this story in Luke chapter 24 verses 13 to 48. Initially, we will read from Luke chapter 24 verses 13 to 20. There it says, that very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about all the things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them, what is this conversation that you're holding with each other as you walk? They stood still and looking and they said, then one of them named Cleopas answered him, are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? And he said to them, what things? And they said to him concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty indeed and word before God and all the people and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. And you see here that these disciples had, they had read the Bible, the Old Testament in those days, but they overlooked all of the passages where the Messiah, Jesus would have to die for the whole world. Here they said, but we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. And then they continued to saying to Jesus, yes, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were in the tomb early in the morning and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the woman had said, but him they did not see. And he, Jesus, said to them, oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all of the scriptures are saying and the things concerning himself. And maybe the Lord is saying to many of us today, oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe. Will you believe the whole Bible that I have given you? There are good in there. There is good in there, but there are also sorrows and more sorrows to come in the future. Will you believe me? Will you trust me? Will you live by faith? Will you move from the house of fear to the house of faith? And then I was wondering which passages could Jesus have discussed with these two men on the road to Emmaus. And I have selected some passages where I believe Jesus must have discussed these passages with these two men. And I'll repeat them here. And the first one really comes from the book of Exodus. And in the book of Exodus, it explains about the Passover lamb, the lamb that would keep people from the wrath of God, where the blood of the Passover lamb on the top of the lentils would show the death angel that they belong to God. And so Jesus would have explained the Passover lamb to them and that in fact the Jesus of Nazareth was the Passover lamb. He gave his life. He gave his blood. And then Jesus would have explained in the book of Numbers, perhaps, that the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, was represented by the bronze serpent. Moses had made a serpent of brass and put it on a pole. Anyone bitten by a snake could look upon the snake on the pole by faith and live. Anyone looking by faith upon the cross and Jesus in Jerusalem can live forever and follow him. And the passages concerning this brass snake are in Numbers chapter 21, verses 8 and 9. And I believe Jesus would have asked them, did you not read in the Psalms, in Psalm 22, that the Messiah would have to be crucified to save us? And there in Psalm 22, verse 16, it says, for dogs have compassed me, the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. And then there's another incredible prophecy in verse 18, where it says, they part my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture. And these things happened at the cross after Jesus died. And during his death, the soldiers both parted the garments, they cut some apart, and over one part they gambled. And then Jesus might have asked these two disciples, are you not familiar with Psalm 16, verse 10? Did you not understand that the Messiah will be resurrected? For there it says, for thou wilt not believe my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer than holy one to see corruption. Praise God. Jesus of Nazareth was prophesied by the prophets in the Old Testament, in the Psalms by Moses. And then in Psalms 110, verse 1, he might have said, did you not understand that the Messiah will rise from the dead and sit at the right hand of God? Jesus might have said to them, did you not read all of the prophet Isaiah? And in chapter 50, verse 6, it says, I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that pluck off the hair. I did not my face, I hid not my face from shame and spitting. And then in Isaiah chapter 53, verse 10, it says that that Messiah, the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, he would have to pay the death penalty as a guilt offering for sin. And there in Isaiah 53, verse 10, it says, yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. So his soul was offered for sin. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper his hand. You see, he was resurrected. Praise God. And Jesus might have asked them, are you familiar with the prophet of Daniel? The prophet Daniel forecast the death of the Messiah. And you can even calculate to the day from the book of Daniel to the day when Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross in Jerusalem. And you can start by finding this in Daniel chapter 9, verse 26. And after three, four, and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. You see, there was no cause to put him to death, but he died for the forgiveness of your and my sins. Praise God. Then the prophet Micah prophesied that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem. He might have asked them, do you not know the writings of the prophet Zechariah? Because the prophet tells us about him being pierced for us. And in Zechariah 12, verse 10, it says, and I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplication, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced. Pierced means nails went through his feet and through his hands. And then they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Now, likely there were many more passages that Jesus explained to them, but now they were near the village of where they were going and they invited him to come in first. Jesus said no, but then he sat down with them and as he broke the bread, they recognized him. And then he disappeared before their eyes. And then in Luke chapter 24, verse 32, they said to each other, did our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures. And it was evening then, and they were seven miles from Jerusalem, but they hurried back to Jerusalem to report to the disciples that they had seen Jesus alive. And they found the disciples and he went in with them into that, they let the two into that locked room, and they started to share what happened on the road to Emmaus. And then in verse 36 of Luke 24, it tells us, and they were talking about these things. Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace to you. And so when they saw Jesus, they were still so afraid and he had to eat some food to show to him that he was in fact alive. He was not just a ghost. And in the gospel of Mark, it even tells us that he sharply rebuked them for not knowing the scriptures and for not believing. Perhaps Jesus is rebuking us today, but then he loves us so much. He might have to tell us what is the right thing to do. And then Jesus gave four points to his disciples to help them during this great time of affliction to go from the house of fear to the house of faith. And in the first point, Jesus had said in Luke chapter 24, 45, look at the scriptures and open the scriptures for you, understand them. The second point that Jesus went on to say in Luke chapter 24, verse 47, he said, now I know you are afraid, but I've got a job for you to do in the midst of your turmoil. And he said this in Luke 24, verse 47, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his Jesus name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And the third point was, but Jesus also told them, I realize you need help. And so I'm sending you help. And he said this in Luke chapter 24, verse 49, and behold, I'm sending you the promise on my father, that was the Holy spirit. And the fourth point was, he said to them, but stay in the city until you are closed with power from on high. You have to learn to move from the house of fear to the house of faith, and the Holy spirit will close you with power. And you know, these four points apply to us today, that number one, we need to read the word of God and understand all that will be happening so that we can stand in a future storm, that we will not lose our faith, that we will not give in to fear, that we will move from the house of fear to the house of faith. And then number two, despite all opposition, Jesus said, yes, I want you to proclaim me to others. I want you to share your witness, what I have done for you. Proclaim forgiveness of sin in my name. And then the third point is now, he gave them higher help. Then how will he give higher help to us today? And praise God, him the Holy spirit came at Pentecost and he's still available to us today. And scripture says to us in the Bible, be filled with the spirit. You see, and then we can ask in accordance with Luke chapter 11, verse 13, if you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy spirit to them that ask. You see, we were saved by the Holy spirit to eternal life for those that are true Christian. But after we still commit some sins, when we have fear and doubts, when we give in to wrong at times, then there's less room for the Holy spirit in us. And so we must ask him to fill us again and fill us anew. And we can ask the father to do that. And then the fourth point was that Jesus had instructed them to stay together. And they did so praying and fasting until the day of Pentecost, likely 50 days. They were of one accord and they prayed. The house of fear became a house of prayer and then it became a house of faith. And we can do the same. Pastor Roy has arranged three prayer meetings weekly, including some Bible study. If you want to leave the house of fear, come and pray, learn from the Bible studies. And there are three of those. And when you contact a Queensway Baptist church, you can get those times when we pray together on a Saturday morning, on a Sunday morning and Wednesday night. And Jesus asked, will he find faith on the earth when he returns, when he comes and will he find us in the house of fear or will he find us in the house of faith? Each one of us must decide. You see, one comment might be to rise in shocking indignation and accuse the preacher of asking too much to pray three times a week. Is that too much? The second choice is to not, in general agreement, but take comfort in the fact that there are exceptions and you might to do nothing. And then the third choice is to go down in meek humility and confess before God that we have grieved the Holy Spirit and dishonored our Lord by living in a house of fear, a house of fearing death, a house of fearing man and not moving to the house of faith and the house of prayer. The first and the second choice will confirm the wrong we have done to the Lord, but there will be no change in our lives. The third, if carried out to its conclusion and with many praying across the nation, it can remove the curse and will help you and me to move from the house of fear to the house of faith. The decision lies with us on whether we shall be revived and move from fear to faith. Now, there may also be some watching who have not yet made the decision to follow Jesus Christ as their Savior. You can do that today. You don't need to live in a house of death and pain and rejection forever. You can move to the new house of life through Christ, the Son of God, living forever. And you can ask him to help you to do that. You can repent of your sins, but you might say to me, well, I don't know how to do that. May I help you? You could bow your head right now, wherever you are, just bow it. And if you truly mean it, you can repeat the words after me, but the words have no meaning unless afterwards you follow Jesus. But please consider praying this prayer. Lord, I am a sinner and I have fallen short of your glory. I have done many wrong things. I tell them to you now. I would ask your Son Jesus to have mercy on me. I repent of my sins. Forgive me my sins. I want to follow you. I believe you died on a cross to cover my sins with your blood. I believe you rose again and will come to this earth again. Please forgive me. Please save me. Please make me new again. And I will follow you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. If you truly mean that and you want to follow Jesus, please contact this church in Toronto and Pastor Roy will forward materials to you that will help you in your decision. Now, before Brother Zack leads us in the final song, I just wanted to say a short prayer in closing. Lord Jesus, we thank you for your great love for us. We thank you that you rose again. We thank you that you gave us a way to move from the house of fear to the house of faith, to the house of death, to the house of life. Now, please help us to do that. Help those that made a decision. Help us Christians, Lord, to do the four things that you required of the disciples 2,000 years ago and you're speaking to us today. Help us to share our faith. Help us to be in the house of prayer where we can learn to become stronger in the house of faith. And so we thank you that you are God and that your son, your son, Lord Jesus, and that the things of this world will grow strangely dim when we focus on the Lord Jesus Christ because of his glory and his grace. Help us all and we pray these things in Jesus' name. ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/otfT457T2X4.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/edgar-reich/a-revival-of-walking-with-the-risen-christ-jesus-to-emmaus/ ========================================================================