Standing Still, Looking Sad

16 Thursday May 2013

Posted by eisakouo in Luke, Receiving Revelation

Tags

arriving at the truth, burning hearts, can't handle the truth, disciples, dull, Emmaus Road, Jesus, looking ugly, Luke 24:17, Luke 24:32, present day experience, slow to believe, truth, unbelievers, when God brings truth alive, whys

One day two of Jesus’ disciples were walking down the road towards Emmaus, when unbeknownst to them – Jesus approached and started traveling the road with them. All they could do was “stand still and look sad“, according to Luke 24:17. Like my father used to say when I asked him what he and mother were doing, he would retort – “we are just sitting around looking ugly.” These disciples were sadly moping around looking ugly. Have you ever been in this place? Maybe you’re in this place right now. As these two walked along, Jesus took the Scriptures and explained everything concerning Himself and what they had just witnessed. All their “why” questions were answered as they strolled along to their destination.

My question is… Why didn’t Jesus do this in the beginning of His ministry? Why doesn’t He operate this way with us personally? Why doesn’t He tell us the “whys” before we go through trials, hardships, and the tribulations of life. I sure could have used more information ahead of time!

The key to understanding this is found in verse 25… Jesus called these two “foolish and slow of heart to believe.” Hey, this is harsh – but the truth. Jesus is not really calling them foolish, but dull… dull in perceiving or arriving at the truth. But the word slow means the same thing as it does in English. Someone who takes a loooong time to believe or to arrive at the correct conclusion. Most of the time we accuse God of being slow, but the actual truth is most of the time, if not all of the time… He is waiting for us to come around to truth.

So… if we can barely handle and understand the truth at the end of our difficulties and hardships, how can we ever fully understand or comprehend what God is doing from the beginning. As Jack so elegantly put it… “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!”

These two confessed later of the encounter…

Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us? Luke 24:32

This type of burning is what we all need to feel and experience. It is when God brings the truth of Scripture alive in our present day experience. Until this happens we will just “stand still and look sad.” Not only do you need to hear the voice of the Lord today, but tomorrow, the next day and the next. Take some time to allow the Lord’s voice and truth to burn in your heart. It will change your life.

Blessings,

Pastor

“Being Fed” – The Third Stage of Our Process

15 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by eisakouo in Times of Testing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

disciples, enjoy the Lord, feed, feeding time, John 6:13, seasons, twelve baskets

So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. John 6:13

The last two blogs have focused upon the “testings” and times of “strengthening” the Lord brings in our lives to cause real growth in the believer. While we may mess up the first two stages, it is imperative we constantly feed ourselves with the Lord’s revelation. For the true disciple, it is always feeding time. One of the interesting events of this passage is someone had to help the Lord distribute this enormous meal to the people. Can you imagine witnessing first hand the miracle of Jesus? Can you imagine taking that miracle and giving it away to thousands of hungry people?

What happened to the disciples when this happened? Did they eat some of the miracle food too? According the scriptures there were twelve baskets left over, one basket for each disciple. Each disciple had a testimony of what the Lord had provided. Jesus strengthens our faith with miracles in order that we may serve others in the power of His name. It is good to know as we go out to help others in Jesus’ name, Christ Himself has a supply for us as well.

The Lord has set aside a basket of manna just for you. As His people, we need to expect His meals regularly and enjoy them. Where are you in your process of spiritual growth? If you are not in a time of testing, you are probably in a season of feeding. This means He is building you up and causing growth to occur. Whatever season you find yourself, enjoy it now. Why? It will soon change as the Lord moves you from one state of glory to the next. The important thing is to receive from His hand that which He gives, because it will always be exactly what you need.