On the Brink of a Miracle

Pastor Melinda Song

The very first Christmas occurred during a very dark time in the life of Israel. God has been silent for 400 years since God had spoken to His people through the prophet Malachi. God is still at work although the people still felt like God had abandoned them. But now, God is going to announce the source of a new hope in quite an unexpected way – by sending his angel to an old priest who had experienced his own sorrow in life because he and his wife were childless.

I have entitled today’s message “On the Brink of a Miracle” and the text is taken from…

Luke 1:5-25, NIV

1 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Of the four Gospel writers, Luke gives us the most detailed account of Jesus’ birth, childhood and development. He begins his Christmas story by introducing us to two people, the parents of John the Baptist, who are “On the Brink of a Miracle”. 

1.     A godly couple (v. 5-6)

1 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Zechariah was one of about 20,000 priests serving the temple who were divided by King David into 24 divisions (1 Chron. 23-24) due to their large number. Each division would serve in the temple one week at a time, twice a year. Thus a priest could only serve once in his lifetime.

Unlike the religious leaders whom Jesus called hypocrites, Zechariah and Elizabeth were a godly couple who pleased God with lives of outward compliance with inward obedience.

2.     BUT (v. 7)

7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Having children was seen as a blessing from God in the Jewish culture – an indication of divine favour. So being childless was a great disappointment to them and a disgrace for Elizabeth (v. 21)

There was little hope of things changing as they were old. The possibility of a touch from God was remote. Do you ever feel that it’s just time to give up? Yet childlessness was a theme repeated throughout the Old Testament, as with Sarah, Rebekah, Manoah’s wife, and Hannah. God can turn around the situation.

TRUST GOD WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND

Some of you, despite being faithful, are disappointed because of unanswered prayers. You don’t understand why things are happening against you and that is where you need faith to trust God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

You may be facing a dead-end situation right now—financial, emotional, or relational, but if you will trust God He will make a way for you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. This is what a walk of faith is about: you trust God even when you do not seem to understand.

A WORD OF CAUTION! Barrenness was considered a sign of God¡¦s disfavour and punishment so this couple lived with shame because there are some who probably suspected them of serious secret sin. Often we look at people and their difficult situation and blame or condemn them. We look at a couple who haven’t had children and wonder what is wrong? We look at families whose children are turning away from God and people condemn them for not being good parents. We look at couples who have separated or divorced and wonder what they’ve done wrong.

It is all too easy to lay blame on people and condemn them, but here is a couple who were God fearing, who were right with God, yet they didn’t have all the “blessings” we think they should have. The lesson? Even righteous people live with disappointments and hurt and instead of making that greater, we need to empathize with them and support them in their pain.

Zacharias could also have gotten rid of Elizabeth and married a younger woman to have children but he didn’t. Instead he honoured the covenant of marriage and committed the situation to God, the one person who could do something about it.

3.    A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (vv. 8-10)

8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Each morning lots were cast to decide on the priest who would enter the holy place, bearing burning coals from the bronze altar in the temple court, to burn incense which symbolised the prayers of God’s people rising toward heaven. That day the lot fell to Zechariah

HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

In spite of uncertainties, in spite shame in the society; Zechariah not only believed God but he faithfully went to the temple to perform his duties as a priest.

It is important to have the right perspective/attitude when waiting for your promise. The problem with many of us is that when things don’t work out as we plan, we get discouraged, lose our joy and our spiritual life goes downhill. Such people are no more seen at church.

Zechariah DID NOT GIVE UP. We have to keep doing good despite the bad happening in your life.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”

God is looking for people like this today. You may be facing a hopeless situation, an unanswered prayer but can you praise God in spite of the problem?

God has a set time for your breakthrough, but if you want that victory in God’s time, you need to have the right perspective.

Remember the 12 spies? Just because the majority had the wrong perspective, out of the 2 million people who were camped next door to the Promised Land, only 2 made it to the Promised Land just because of the right perspective. Many times it is our perspective that stops our breakthrough.

You show up (that is faith) and God (your faithful God) will show up!

That day was Zechariah’s day! God was ready to make His move. Had Zechariah given up he would have lost his appointment with God.

4.     An Angel shows up! (vv. 11-13)

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

WAIT FOR GOD

Maybe you are waiting for a breakthrough. God is telling you, “Fear not, your prayers have been answered. Today is the day of your deliverance.” Zechariah trusted God in the impossible, kept the right perspective, continued with his devotions and worship, and God decided to step in.

Some of you are discouraged because your prayers are not answered but what if God showed you His side of the story?

Maybe you are praying for your marriage and God is telling that on January 12, 2018, at 3.00 pm you are going to meet the person of your dreams. You will not be discouraged. You will be all excited and relaxed. Why? You know the big day is coming.

God promises that there are set times in our future, but he does not tell us when they will be. There is a set time for the problem to turn around, a set time for your healing, for your promotion, for your breakthrough.

It maybe tomorrow, next week, or a year from now, but when you understand the time has already been set it takes all the pressure off. Do you trust God when you do not understand. Will you continue to do worship God like Zechariah? That is when God works, so don’t give up. You are on the brink of a miracle!

5.     The Angel’s Prophecy (vv. 14-17)

14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Elijah, like John the Baptist, was known for his bold, uncompromising stand for the Word of God—even in the face of a ruthless monarch. The final two verses of the Old Testament (Mal. 4:5-6) had promised the return of Elijah before the Day of the Lord.

GOD HAS A GREATER PURPOSE FOR THE DELAY

John’s birth is not merely a nice story of an old couple having a baby. It is about the fulfillment of prophecy; it is about the special role the child is going to play in the unfolding of God’s eternal plan of redemption for his people and the whole world. God had a greater purpose for Zechariah’s delay.

It would be good for us in the Christmas season to grasp the big picture that our lives fit in to. When we raise the issue of why certain things happen to us – whether good or bad – we fall back on Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We then look for the good thing in the situation.

6.     Zechariah’s lack of faith (v. 18)

18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

Zechariah was questioning God’s ability to fulfill His own Word! He totally dismissed the idea that God can enable an old couple to have a baby even though there is certainly precedent for that in the account of what God did for Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:9-15).

Unbelief is the reason that some prayers are not answered. But let this encourage us also: Even blameless people slip up. God is a God of patience and continues to work with us and often despite us.

7.     The result of unbelief (vv. 19-22)

19 "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Zechariah doubted God and a sign of silence was given. When Zechariah came out dumb the people outside realised that something extraordinary had happened to him.

8.    Elizabeth became pregnant (v. 23-25)

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

God is faithful. His promises never fail! The Lord is your glory and the lifter of your head and He shall take away your disgrace.

Conclusion

Advent begins with Zechariah – God remembers.

It begins with Elizabeth – God is my oath, and

it begins with the birth of John – God has been gracious.

They remind us that from the beginning God has been the author of a story that results in bringing hope into the midst of a dark world to those who will call upon the name of our coming Savior – Jesus.

When it might seem like God has forgotten His people, God remembers.

It reminds us that God is faithful to carry out His oath that He made with Adam and Abraham and every generation of His people throughout history to send a Savior, the Messiah, who would bring hope to all.

And it reminds us that God delights in extending His grace to us.

Whatever your disappointment is at the moment, God has a set time for your situation and when He answers, He not only takes care of your need but it will be for a greater purpose.

Are you in the same situation as Zechariah and Elizabeth - literally they had given up the hope? Don’t give up! Nothing is impossible for God.

He can reach down and touch you at the most unexpected time in your life. God’s touch always comes in God’s perfect time. Don’t give up! Today you are standing on the brink of a miracle. Come and we shall stand in prayer with you.

Why Does God Make Us Wait?

Sis Melinda Song 

Illustration: The well-known New England preacher, Phillips Brooks, was normally a man of poise and calm. But at times he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him pacing the floor like a caged lion and asked, “What is the trouble, Dr. Brooks?” “The trouble is,” Brooks replied, “that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”

If you have been a Christian for very long, you have experienced God’s delays. Assuming that you are not in a state of unrepentant sin and that God has heard your prayer, God does and will respond immediately.

When we pray, remember:

1. The love of God that wants the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it.

-      William Barclay, Prodigals and Those Who Love.

But today we shall look into two instances of delayed response to prayer.

I. AN INSTANT ANSWER THAT WAS HINDERED

Daniel was a man loved of God and a man of intense prayer. One day, while in exile in Babylon, he was seeking God, with fasting, when he saw visions and an angel, a messenger from God, who came to speak with him. This is what happened next…

Daniel 10:10-14, NIV

¹⁰A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. ¹¹He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. ¹²Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. ¹³But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. ¹⁴Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

Daniel’s prayer was heard on day one and an answer was dispatched in instant response to it. But the answer was delayed by twenty-one days due to an angelic war.

What can we learn from this?

1.  Assuming that our prayer is heard instantly and even assuming that God sends us an instant response it is not a guarantee that the answer will arrive the moment it is dispatched.

2.  Our lives as God’s people and our prayers are inextricably bound with events on earth and in heavenly realms too.

Ephesians 6:12, NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

3.  As Christians, we have ‘direct access’ to the throne of God but very often, He chooses to work out his purposes in and through men and angels.

II. A DELAYED ANSWER THAT WAS CAREFULLY TIMED

Acts 10:1-2, NIV

¹ At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ² and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

Cornelius and his family were devout and God-fearing Gentiles and it was in the place of prayer that God revealed Himself to him.

We have to seriously consider that one of the best prayers that we can ask a seeker to pray is, “If you are the true and living God, reveal yourself to me.”

Jeremiah 29:13, NIV

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Hebrews 11:6, NIV

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.

a. The Prayer Was Repeated

We don’t know how and when any of his prayers were answered in the past but at this time it would appear that they were cumulatively presented before the throne of God.

Another story that clearly shows the importance of persistence in prayer is in 1 Kings 18 where God tells Elijah to go to the king and announce that it’s going to rain after a 3 year drought.

Elijah duly gives the king the weather forecast and then he crouches down with his face between his knees (the traditional posture for giving birth) and prays his heart out.

Even though God wants to send the rain, Elijah has to pray and ask God seven times before his servant spots a cloud on the horizon and Elijah knows that his prayer has accomplished what it was meant to.

In the Bible, seven is the number of completion. Elijah prayed in line with God’s will and agreed with God’s plans until his prayers accumulated and he birthed the rain of God. By agreeing with God’s plans we release them on earth.

“God does nothing on earth save in answer to believing prayer.” John Wesley

It is God’s way because He’s given us the authority over the earth. God has put us in charge and releases His power through us... and particularly through our prayers.

Acts 10:3-6, NIV

³ One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" ⁴ Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. ⁵ The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

Like Daniel, Cornelius had a vision and the agent of answered prayer was an angel who gave him instructions to bring Peter back to his house. 

We must not forget that human beings are locked in a space-time continuum.

b. The Time Was Right

Time and time again in scripture we see that God is not in a hurry. Trusting God is in control, that He is good, and that He gives good gifts means trusting that His timing makes better sense than our timing.

The time was right for the Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth to bring the good news of Jesus Christ into the Gentile world.

Note the progression of the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

In Acts 2, the Jerusalem church was born at Pentecost.

In Acts 8, Philip goes to Samaria, meets and shares the gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch, who was saved.

In Acts 9, Saul was converted.

Acts 9:31, NIV

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Acts 10:6-8, NIV

⁶ He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. ⁸ He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

The time was right. Have you ever wondered why God did not simply allow the angel to share the gospel with Cornelius? That’s because God delights to partner with and use human agents.

The trouble with human agents is that they are willful creatures. Jonah is a prime example. Likewise, God had to prepare Peter first before He could use him.

c. The Person Was Ready

Acts 10:9-20, NIV

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹²It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." ¹⁴"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." ¹⁵The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." ¹⁶This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. ¹⁷While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. ¹⁹While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. ²⁰So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

A God-fearer like Cornelius would have no objection socializing with the Jews, but even a moderately orthodox Jew would not willingly enter the dwelling of a Gentile, even if he were a God-fearer, for to enter the home of a non-Jew would somehow contaminate him or make him unclean.

God had to give Peter a vision to indicate that the gospel could and should go to the gentiles, who seemed the furthest from God.  Peter did not receive this word at first, so God had to repeat Himself, prompt Peter through the Holy Spirit and confirm His will with the arrival of Cornelius’s servants.  

The vision changed Peter’s attitude toward Gentiles: "God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean" (Acts 10:28). With this understanding, he invited the men into Simon's home and later he freely entered the home of Cornelius.

In prayer we align ourselves with God’s plans and purposes. Without prayer, Peter may have missed God’s leading. When we pray, we need to listen to God.  Be aware of the promptings He gives us and the people He brings to our minds.  God is pleased to remind us of our purpose and send us in any new direction when we simply come to Him in prayer with ears to listen.  

Does God have to change some of our mind-sets, attitudes and prejudices that are hindering the work of God in our lives or the lives of others?

Just as the seeker is wise to pray, “God reveal yourself to me” so the believer is wise to pray, “God show me what you want me to do.”  God will answer both prayers.

Peter was the answer to Cornelius’s prayer. Have you ever considered that you could be someone’s answered prayer?  

CONCLUSION

We often ask: Will God answer my prayers? When will God answer my prayers? We may even ask, How will God answer my prayers? We have many questions regarding prayer, but have you ever thought, or asked: “Where are my prayers!?” 

The Bible tells us that Cornelius’ prayers and generosity to the needy “have come up as a memorial offering before God.” We are told in The Book of Revelation that deeds on earth are recorded in books in heaven (Rev. 20:21, Dan. 7:10; Ps. 56:8; Mal. 3:16) and that prayers are also being stored up.

Revelation 5:7-8, NIV

⁷ He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

What a comfort it is to know that our prayers are so precious to God that they are stored in golden bowls. They are kept in heaven and the answers will come in the fullness of time.

This is just one reason why we “ought always to pray and not to give up.” Our past prayers may yet be accumulating, even the ones we’ve forgotten may yet come up as a memorial before The Lord!

No doubt you have your story of frustrations in prayer. Take heart. Persistence does not guarantee that you will get what you asked for, but it does promise you will get something better and actually closer to your heart’s deepest desire.

If He is making you wait, there is a very good reason for it. If He is telling you “no” today, maybe it’s because He has a better “yes” waiting for you tomorrow.

Wherever you are at today know that God is right beside you and that there is a purpose for you. Even if that purpose is to wait.

Don’t give up just because you don’t see anything happening today. Maybe there is nothing physically happening that your eyes can see but there is definitely something happening in the spiritual realm as you learn to rely on Christ. He is preparing someone

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14

Today, I would like you to also look at prayer beyond the I-Me-Myself perspective. What if, like Peter God wants you to be someone else’s answered prayer?

If you and I today are to be usable to someone for God’s purpose, we need to ask ourselves the following:

• Am I available, set apart, useful to the Master?
• Am I listening for His promptings? Am I preoccupied with my agenda?
• If I sense His prompting, am I willing to respond?
• If I am unavailable, unprepared, or insensitive to His promptings, the Master may use someone else, and I will miss the blessing (Esther 4:14, 15).

God is looking for vessels He can use—those that are clean, available, and useful. He will prompt and dispatch His servants to carry out His ministry. Will you be alert to His promptings? Will you be available for the Lord to use you to answer someone else’s prayer?

Disappointments

Rev Gideon Lee

Last week we had 4 candidates for water baptism. So we'd like to recognise them by giving them their certificates and a voucher to a Christian book store.

Last week we did on Resurrection Sunday and many things happened after that. Jesus did many things to show that he is alive.

Luke 24:13-33

The Road to Emmaus

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

19 And He said to them, “What things?”

So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Disciples' Eyes Opened

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

This it is the same day, Resurrection Sunday and these disciples which was not part of the main group made their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Jesus appeared to these two disciples while they were on their way. It was as they talked and discussed these things. They were debating about the things that has happened. They were trying to make sense of what had just happened on Resurrection Sunday and Good Friday. Not just casual conversations.

Somehow Jesus decided to keep his identity from them at the beginning. He thought it was beneficial if he kept his identity from these two.

Jesus was leading them in his conversation with them. He was aware of what happened but he purposely kept his identity from them. There is a reason for this as we'll see later on.

The disciples told him what happened and the grammar was all in the past. He was a prophet. He was crucified. We had hope. They did not place any of their hope on what had happened Sunday morning. It has not become a reality for them yet. They were not sure if Jesus was alive.

They heard what the women testified but they were not convinced. I said last week if we wanted more credibility he would have used more reputable men to be witnesses. Women and children at that time were not given prominence.

This morning I want to talk about what discouragement can do to us. What it can to us as Christians. I think all of us have experienced disappointments before. We need to see the picture that is unfolding before us.

For these two disciples you can imagine what is going through in their hearts. They say their Saviour was crucified on Friday. He was tortured. I explained how cruel the crucifixion was. He also experienced betrayal from one of his own disciples. He was betrayed with a kiss by Judas. The disciples saw all this happened.

And now on a Sunday morning they heard that Jesus' body has disappeared. They were not sure. After all these that had happened, they decided to go home. Some of his disciples went back to their old profession. Like fishing. Of these two disciples, only one was named.

Of the four gospels it was only recorded in the book for Luke. These two were not mentioned anywhere else. They were going to Emmaus. It means obscure. They were leaving from Jerusalem, a place of promise. They were walking from a place of promise to obscurity. That's what happens when you are discouraged. You walk away from God's promise. And walk into our own pity party.

We rather walk away from God's promise to obscurity. I can understand why but that's what discouragement does to us. For some reason Jesus decided not to reveal himself to them. Their eyes were restrained.

They have forgotten the truth of God's words. They forgot that Jesus said he will rise again. They have lost all hope and thought someone has taken his body. They forgot that he will rise again.

We have to decide once and for all. That when we walk through the waters, he will be with you.

Isaiah 43:2-3

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

We have to decide once and for all if he had risen. If Jesus has risen there is no reason for us to walk away from his promise. No matter what we feel and our circumstances are. His promise is yea and yes. Let's decide once and for all if he has risen or not.

You have to know that he is the God that when you pass through the waters he will be with you.

Why, because I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel.

I don't know what you are going through. What disappointment or struggles that you are going through. Don't walk away from his promises. We have started a new series in our cell group. Please find a cell to attend. We are studying on the life of Joseph. He went from one disappointment to another. But in the end he was an overcomer.

Last week we studied how he overcome betrayal.

Discouragement and frustration can make us live in the past. I am not saying we cannot remember the past. What I mean is that sometimes we relive all the disappointments we went through. So we tend to relive what has happened.

Luke 24:17-21

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 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.

They were all talking about the past. That's what happens when we become disappointed. Our hope should be on the future. The past should be a springboard for us to spring into the future. It must not hold you. Don't put your hope in the past. These two were talking all in the past tense. I like what Jesus did by asking them what happened. Don't Jesus know what happened? He knows because it happened to him.

I want you to know Jesus knows what happened to you. Yet Jesus ask what happened? That's what I do in counselling. I let them tell me what happened. By talking they begin to understanding what has happened to them. Sometimes the best counselling is to lend them your ear.

Jesus has a plan. He wasn't asking just for fun. As he asked them he brought them to a place of understanding  and finally he revealed himself to them.

And also I want you to know whatever you went through, Jesus is walking with you. These two were not prominent disciples. One of them were not even named. Think about it. I think at the moment of their disappointment and discouragement, the king of Kings and Lord of Lords saw it fit to walk with them. Jesus decided to walk with them. Jesus saw their hurt and their  pain.

Whatever you are going through, God is concerned and is willing to walk with you. That is the message of the resurrection. Death and grave could not hold him back. His desire is for you to know him.

Don't walk away from God's promise. Don't hold to the past. And remember whatever you are going through God is walking with us.

Sometimes discouragement and frustration can cause us to feel that God is not with us. We feel that he is so far away from us. We have all experienced this on our walk with God. We feel that God is not around. And we ask God where are you?

I sometimes say if you cannot feel God's hand trust his heart. Trust that God knows best. Trust that he loves you. That he will not leave you or forsake you. He works everything for good. We sometimes think God is not there.

Luke 24:25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

He was not rebuking them but he was challenging them. He was now focused on the present.

Jesus then shared from the beginning from Genesis. Then to Isaiah as the suffering servant. Then to Zechariah as the pierced man.

Imagine you are walking seven miles. How long will that take? Can someone tell me? I would say maybe about 3 or 4 hours. The time they arrived it was already evening. They started out in the afternoon. As they were walking Jesus walked alongside them. They did not recognise Jesus then they tell Jesus their problems. And Jesus shared the greatest sermon ever.

As they arrived, Jesus pretended that he was going further. But they told Jesus to stay with them as it was late. Only at breaking bread did they recognise him. Sometimes we got short of the miracle because we didn't go the second mile. The disciples said his sharing burned within their heart. They wanted to hear more and they wanted more of Jesus. That was one reason they asked Jesus to stay with them.

When they finally knew it was Jesus, the Bible said they rose up and went back to Jerusalem. Another 7 miles. There must be something great for me to walk 7 miles! In the dark. They went back with the sole purpose of telling the disciples what has happened.

Jesus is alive and these disciples did not keep the good news to themselves. Sometimes discouragement causes us to walk away from his promises and causes us to live in the past. And that we forget he is with us. Get back to him. Get an encounter with the living God.

I pray as TOP we will continue to move forward. In cell on the life of Joseph the one word that keeps coming back is that God was with him.

Tabernacle of Praise, hello. Are you all still awake? Sometimes I wish I was like Jesus where you say pastor don't go yet. We want to hear more. Tabernacle of Praise, God is with us. Amen.