WHEN FAITH IS SHAKEN!
Luke 24:13-32
INTRODUCTION: Our Lord Jesus passion of love to His Father caused Him to go to the cross. Jesus passion for the love of His Father for you and I caused Him to leave heaven; it caused Him to come to this earth and to die on the cross for our sin: John 3:16. Our heavenly Father wants us to live with passion for everything He has called us to do also. At times we lose our passion for life, for our jobs, our mates and our families, and our churches but passion that has been lost can be regained. Do you know that restoring your passion for Christ will automatically restore your passion for all He has for you to do? Let’s look at two disciples who lost their passion and had it restored: Luke 24:13-17; Luke 24:18-32. These two disciples had their passion restored. We need burning hearts; we need a fire lit in our souls for Jesus Christ because that is what is behind every truly great life. Passion makes the impossible possible. Passion energizes life! Passion is the difference between just going through the motions of life and living life to the full.
I. WHY CHRISTIANS LOSE THEIR PASSION
Why do Christians lose their passion? . The first step to losing our passion is when we allow doubt to enter our hearts: Luke 24:21. Doubt will always cause you to lose your passion. How many times does Jesus join us in our doubt and we don’t recognize Him? The disciples lost their passion because of disappointment: Luke 24:21; Matthew 16:21;
Matthew 20:17-19. We to can become disappointed in the Lord if we expect Him to act the way we think He should! They lost their passion because of disbelief: Luke 24:25. Disbelief is the root of all other sins: John 3:16-18; Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 14:1. The disciples lost their passion because of discouragement: Luke 24:16. If Jesus is alive and He has conquered death and there is life everlasting and heaven is real Jesus will solve all our problems of life.
II. GOD’S ANSWER FOR OUR LOST PASSION
Maybe you have lost your passion and have let discouragement come into your heart. What can we do to restore our passion? We need to remember God’s plan: Luke 24:26. The disciples thought the cross was a disaster but it was exactly what God had he prophets teach was going to happen. Without the cross there would be no resurrection for us. God’s plan for us may include some suffering as well: Romans 8:17-18. We must return to the promises of God: Luke 24:26-27.
III. RECOGNIZE GOD’S PRESENCE!
Luke 24:31. Jesus had been walking along with them but their eyes were not able to see. As soon as God opened their eyes their hearts were filled with passion! When you know Jesus is real; when you know Jesus is alive and that He cares for you that will restore your passion! If you will invite Jesus into your life He will come in and stay with you and restore His passion in your heart: Revelation 3:20; Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Verses
John 3:16 – 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 24:13-17 – 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
Luke 24:18-32 – 18 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?” 19 “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. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 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. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 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. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 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?”
Luke 24:24 – 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
Matthew 16:21 – 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Matthew 20:17-19 – 17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem,and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Luke 24:25 – 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
John 3:16-18 – 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Hebrews 11:6 – 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Psalm 14:1 – The fool[a] says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
Luke 24:16 – 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
Luke 24:26 – 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Romans 8:17-18 – 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Luke 24:26-27 – 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:31 – 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Revelation 3:20 – 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 – 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.