“MIR: Bonfire Hearts”Christ Connect Church (19-April-2014)

Bonfire Hearts

Days like these lead toNights like this lead to

Love like oursYou light the spark in my bonfire heart

People like us, we don’tNeed that much, just some-

One that starts,Starts the spark in our bonfire hearts

- St. James (Blunt)

The Emmaus EncounterLuke 24:13-35 (summary)Two disciples were travelling to Emmaus (7 miles from Jerusalem). They were talking about what had happened to Jesus. While they were deep in conversation, Jesus appeared to them and walked beside them. But His identity was hidden to them and they didn’t recognize that it was Him. He asked them “What are you guys talking about and why are you so sad?”. Then one of them (Cleopas) answered him, “Are you new in town and totally unaware of that had happened in Jerusalem just now?” Then Jesus answered, “What happened?”

The Emmaus EncounterLuke 24:13-35 (summary)So they began to tell Him about Jesus a miracle working prophet whom the Jewish authorities didn’t believe but handed over to the Romans to be crucified. They also said “We hoped that He was the Messiah, the One we’re waiting for. What’s strange is it’s been three days since He died and today some of our women told us that His tomb was empty and that angels told them He is alive. Peter went to the tomb and didn’t found His body”. Then Jesus said, “Why don’t you believe what is written in the Bible about the Christ who must suffer and then be risen?” And He began to teach them these things from the Bible.

The Emmaus EncounterLuke 24:13-35 (summary)When they neared Emmaus and because it was late, they persuaded Him to join them for dinner. At the table, He broke the bread, blessed it and gave it to them. At that moment, their eyes were opened and they knew it was Him, but then He suddenly vanished. “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while He spoke to us and while He taught us?” they told each other. Instantly, they went back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples “It is true! He is risen and has appear to us!”, telling the Eleven and all the other disciples how they encountered Jesus along the Emmaus road.

MIR – Making it Real

Q. How do we, as believers in Jesus, make His resurrection a reality in our day-to-day lives?

Q. What are the essential ingredients to a dynamic, full-on, undeniable reality of having resurrection life in us?

How do we make it real?1. Religious talk is not enoughVerse 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened

Matthew 15:8These people draw near to Me with their mouth,And honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

How do we make it real?2. Experiencing the miraculous is not enoughVerse 19So 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”

“To those who believe, no miracles are necessary; To those who don’t believe, no miracles are enough.”

How do we make it real?3. Being with the right crowd isn’t enoughVerse 22-2422 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.”

Verse 25 “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe…”

An Emmaus MomentWe need an “Emmaus Moment” – a striking and arresting encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus!

Verse 31-3230 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?”

An Emmaus MomentThe fruit of an Emmaus moment is:

1. Our hearts will be set on fire

2. We will not rest easy, but will act immediately

3. We will not be silent, but will speak and testify

“The man with an experience is not a hostage to someone with an argument” – Dr. Derek Prince

Will we be Christ-seekers?Jeremiah 29:13If you will seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart

Revelation 2:4Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love

“Only when the Christians learn to love can they read it” – famous Jewish Rabbi martyred in Worms, Germany in 1096