Were Not Our Hearts Burning Luke 24:30-35, NIV When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Hallelujah! I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “Were Not Our Hearts Burning,” which is based on Luke 24:30-35. Please repeat after me: Were Not Our Hearts Burning - Were Not Our Hearts Burning. The most important thing in our Christian life is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. All Christians must be filled with the Holy Spirit after making a profession of faith in Jesus. It is only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit that we will have power in our lives. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we will have the power to overcome problems, hardships, and sorrows. This is why we must always desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. “Fill me with your Holy Spirit, Lord. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me live a victorious life through the power of the Holy Spirit, overcoming all problems and hardships.” When we are filled with the Holy Spirit; we will experience the amazing grace of God, we can testify to the love of the Lord, and we can be used as precious servants of the Lord. Many people followed Jesus when he came to earth 2000 years ago. They followed to get something from Him. The disciples especially followed Jesus. They gave up their jobs and left their families to follow Jesus. Some of these men had worldly ambitions of having high position and power when Jesus became king. Contrary to these men’s expectations; Jesus died on the Cross leaving them with deep disappointment and dismay. One-by-one these men who followed Jesus left to go back to what once was. They turned back because they did not know Jesus would rise from the dead after three days; or they had heard Jesus speak of his resurrection but did not believe his words. The two disciples in Luke 24 were among those who had turned back. Let us see what lessons we can glean from these two disciples who entertained a stranger on their walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. First, let us think about the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:13 says: “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.” Two of Jesus’ disciples left Jerusalem to go to a village called Emmaus. They were happy, filled with an unspeakable joy when they followed Jesus. We as well are to be mindful that following Jesus is truly a life of joy and happiness. However, from time-to-time we may encounter unexpected problems, tribulations and sufferings. It is especially during these times that we must keep our faith, stand firmly trusting in Him, and not step back. These two disciples were shocked when Jesus was crucified. In deep sadness and disappointment; they decided to go to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem. Spiritually they left Jesus. They walked away from Him because their last experience with Jesus was in Jerusalem, and in their sadness, disappointment and dismay they walked away from Jesus. Their reaction to the death of Christ was to turn around and walk away. Their action can symbolize what mankind generally does when he is in despair. Leaving the bosom of God will bring greater despair, and will result in more serious problems in our lives; but when we continue to dwell in the Lord we will overcome our problems, hardships and hopelessness. On the other hand, if we leave the bosom of the Lord, we will encounter more serious problems. We will encounter bigger troubles. We will suffer greater pain in the middle of the problems we cannot escape. In Luke Chapter 15, we read the parable of a prodigal son who was such a man of greater despair. When he turned away from the home of his father with all its problems; he traveled to a land with even greater problems and bound himself to greater despair. Luke 15:11-14 says: “Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.” The son set off for a distant country and squandered all the wealth he took from his father in wild living. There was a severe famine in that country and when his money ran out; he had to take a job feeding pigs from a field. It was in this condition of near starvation that this young man found himself in deeper despair than what he had experienced when he lived in his father’s house. The prodigal son was once the rich young son of a rich father. He could have enjoyed a good life if he had stayed with his father; but he took his wealth and went far away from his father only to fall into utmost despair. His actions mirror what happens to mankind when he leaves God. Mankind is destined to lose everything and lament in hopelessness when he turns away and leaves God. It was almost dusk when Cleopas, one of Jesus’ disciples, along with another unnamed disciple, left Jerusalem and Jesus to go to Emmaus. They began to walk the downhill path of hopelessness, sorrow, and disappointment. Our life will turn out to be utterly hopeless and sad when we go away from the Lord. We should never leave our Lord under any circumstances. No matter what kind of problems or sufferings we may encounter; we should never leave church. We should never leave our Lord even when we are treated unjustly or deeply wounded by other people at church. We will take a downhill path in our Christian life when we leave our Lord. We read in Luke Chapter 10 a parable of a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho who fell into the hands of robbers. Luke 10:30 says: “In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.’ ” We will fall into the hands of robbers when we go away from God into the world. Our enemy, the devil, who is a thief and destroyer will attack us like a robber and take away our health, joy and possessions; leaving us in a miserable state of hopelessness. However, even in a state of dismay when you find yourself surrounded only by walls with no exists; heaven remains open to you. Look unto the Lord. When we look unto the Lord, He will pour His grace and love upon us. Kneel down before the Lord and pray. Cry out to Him! Then the Lord will hear your prayers and answer them by performing marvelous things. Steve Donahue wrote a book called Shifting Sands: A Guidebook for Crossing the Deserts of Change. This book is about the many problems Donahue encountered when he personally crossed the Sahara desert. He spoke of six ways to cross the desert, the first of which was to follow a compass instead of looking at maps. Donahue related from his own experience that using maps to find your direction is of no use in a desert where you see nothing but sand. In our life which is like the landscape of a desert; we too must find our directions by following our compass, the Lord Jesus. Jesus becomes our compass and will lead our ways. When we march forward, fixing our eyes on Jesus, He will help us overcome all problems. He will lead us to the way of righteousness, peace and joy that He has prepared for us. Where are you heading? Might you be on the downhill path of disappointment and frustration? Are you on a spiritual downhill path; in the middle of problems, maybe being angered by your children, or on the verge of bankruptcy? Are you dismayed, depressed, left without joy? Then it is time for you to come back to the Lord. It is time for you to cling to the Lord. The Lord Jesus of love is with you. Second, Jesus walked along with them. Jesus went to his disciples who, in utter hopelessness after his death, were on their way to Emmaus. They could not recognize him because their eyes were shrouded in despair. Luke 24:15-16 says: “As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” Scripture says that they could not recognize Jesus. They had followed Jesus for three and a half years. They had listened to Him, experienced His grace, witnessed His miracles; but because of their deep sorrow could not recognize Him who was right beside them. It is difficult for people to recognize Jesus when they are in the midst of their suffering and despair. Unable to see Jesus, they sigh in hopelessness and want to die. Some dear ones even give up everything and commit suicide. Remember! The Lord is right next to you. When you feel you would rather die because your life is much too difficult; the Lord is right next to you, walking along with you. He will never forsake you. From the day you came to believe in Him until the day you go to heaven, the Lord Jesus will stay with you. Jesus stays closest to you in times of suffering, holding and comforting you and giving you courage. Open your spiritual eyes. Open you eyes of faith. Then recognize the Lord Jesus Who is right next to you. A light from heaven stopped Saul who was on his way to Damascus to take Christians as prisoners. Saul met Jesus on that road, and was then blinded. Something like scales covered his eyes. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul and prayed, the things like scales fell from his eyes. Acts 9:18 says: “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.” We all have scales that blind our eyes. Some people are unable to think clearly because they are blinded by greed. Others think they are best and are blinded by arrogance. Still others unknowingly hurt others because they are blinded by worldly power. And then there are those who are unable to strop doing wrong things because they are blinded by lust. Kneeling down before the Lord in prayer and repentance; we must, as Christians, get rid of those scales. We must remove those scales from our eyes and behold the Lord Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Until we get rid of the scales from our eyes through prayer and repentance; we will not be able to see the Lord who is right next to us. We will not be able to think or act rightly. Our physical eyes may be open but our spiritual eyes will be blind, and we will live like the blind of this world. Paul’s destiny changed dramatically when the scales fell from his eyes. He dedicated the rest of his life to the Lord, preaching the gospel in all Asia Minor and Europe. Paul was the powerful servant of the Lord who covered the first century with the gospel of the Lord. When scales fall from your eyes, you will also, like Paul, be used preciously by the Lord. You will be greatly used by the Lord. “Lord, remove scales from my eyes. Remove the scales of arrogance, disobedience, complaints, and grudge.” We read in 1 Kings Chapter 6, that the Arameans surrounded the city of Dothan to capture Elisha. Scripture says that Elisha’s servant got up and went out early the next morning; and saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. He rushed back into the house and said: “Oh, my lord, what shall we do? The Aramean army with horses and chariots has surrounded the city!” Elisha did not embrace his servant’s fear. He prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see that You are with us.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. He came to realize the power of God was incomparably greater than the power of the Aramean army. We too will see the angels and their chariots surrounding and protecting us; when we open our spiritual eyes. Lord, open our spiritual eyes! Psalm 119:18 says: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” We will be able to see the Lord Jesus right beside us when we open our spiritual eyes. We can be more than conquerors in the Lord because He is with us; He promises not to ever leave or forsake us. We can live victoriously. We are not alone. We are not abandoned or forsaken. The Lord is with us. He walks along with us. Hymn Number 88 is as follows: He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne; In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower, I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore, Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star, He’s fairest of ten thousand to my soul. Hallelujah! “Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore, Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.” The Lord will take care of us. He will never forsake us. I pray that you will, with faith, walk with the Lord. The Lord comes into our lives and gives us His words of life, healing, and grace. Jesus came to the disciples who were on the road to Emmaus; walked with them, and spoke to them. Luke 24:25-27 says: “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” The Lord Jesus comes to us and speaks to us when we are on our own Emmaus Road, walking in hopelessness and depression. Matthew 11:28 says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Isaiah 41:10 says: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Joshua 1:5-6 says: “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous.” “Be strong and courageous.” “Be strong and courageous.” The Lord will not ever leave us nor forsake us. The great famous painter, Rembrandt, painted a picture he entitled “The Pilgrims at Emmaus.” This painting can be seen by the many who loved his work in the Louvre Museum in Paris. One day Rembrandt was in deep despair because his wife died suddenly. In his state of dismay, he stopped his painting. One day on his own road to Emmaus; he came to realize that death was not the end ? that Jesus was the Lord of Resurrection. So he resumed his work and painted one of his most magnificent pieces called “The Night Watch.” He exhibited this piece in the Amsterdam Museum and when people asked its price; Rembrandt replied: “While I was working on this painting mourning the death of my wife; I came to understand what true life was. So I cannot put a price on this painting.” His next work was the Resurrected Lord with two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Rembrandt read all 18 different Bible versions and completed this painting with prayer. Later, he confessed, “I painted this painting after I came to understand the great mystery of life.” Through his painting, “The Pilgrims at Emmaus,” Rembrandt, in his special gifted way, gave his own testimony of meeting the Lord. Jesus pours His wonderful grace upon us when we meet Him. I pray that you too will meet the Lord, hear His voice, and gain new strength like the two disciples did when they met Him on their way to Emmaus. I want you to meet the Lord Jesus in times of hopelessness. I want you to listen to His voice. When can we hear His voice? We can hear His voice when we worship the Lord, when we pray to Him, and when we meditate on His Word. We must therefore make every effort to worship the Lord. He has a special message for each of us at every worship service. God’s blessings and miracles will follow us when we open our hearts and accept His word with “Amen”. When you bring nonbelievers to church, and they say: “I do not understand it at all,” you should reply: “Naturally! Once is never enough. Why don’t you come again?” If the same thing happens the second time, you should say to them: “Neither is twice enough!” Come again. Then you will understand it.” The Holy Spirit will then pour His grace upon them. There was a man who would drive his mother-in-law to the church I once pastored in Washington, Metropolitan area. He would stay in the car and nap and his mother-in-law would go into the church and worship. It is very hot in Washington in the summer. One day instead of staying in his hot car this man decided to come into the church and sit in a back seat. He was going to take a nap inside the well air-conditioned sanctuary but the Holy Spirit was at work. This man heard the message that day and he was converted. He later went to seminary and became an ordained pastor and missionary. Hallelujah! We must hear the voice of the Lord. When we hear His voice; God’s miracle will take place. When we hear the voice of the Lord, we will be revived. We will be healed. We will gain new strength. They had dinner together after He talked with them. Luke 24:30 says: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.” Their eyes were opened at the moment that Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks. We too break bread with the Lord in remembrance of His Last supper with His disciples. Luke 22:19 says: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ ” Jesus is the Bread of Life. His Word is bread of life. He will come into our hearts when we hear His voice. I pray that you will meditate on the Word and meet the Lord through your meditation. I pray that you will be transformed and gain new strength. Third, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:32 says: “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?’ ” Their hearts were burning within them when Jesus opened Scripture to the disciples. The Holy Spirit will also work and our hearts will burn within us when we hear the Word of the Lord. The hearts of the people were burning and the Holy Spirit came upon them when Peter preached the Word in the house of Cornelius the centurion. Acts 10:44 says: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” The Holy Spirit makes our hearts burn as He gives us the assurance of our salvation, and increases our capacity of faith and courage so that we can live victoriously. What did Jesus say to His disciples after His resurrection? John 20:22 says: “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ ” The disciples needed the Holy Spirit. They needed that burning of their hearts after receiving the Holy Spirit. We can pray fervently when our hearts are burning. We can worship God with thanksgiving when our hearts are burning. We can preach the gospel to nonbelievers when our hearts are burning. I remember what our worship services were like decades ago. We had the fire of the Holy Spirit at every worship service. Many times all the people going to and coming from church would create traffic jams at Seodaemoon Rotary. Pastor Cho would preach at double speed. The fire of the Holy Spirit would came and convert many people. Today we need that fervent work of the Holy Spirit. The disciples went back to Jerusalem from Emmaus with their hearts burning. They went back with renewed dedication to serve their Lord. “Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit now. Make my heart burn again within me. Make my heart as hot as the day I first believed in You, Lord. Fill me with overflowing thanks. Help me so that I will not live lethargically or aimlessly. Help me so that I not drift away with the currents of meaningless worldly affairs. Make my hearts burn. Fill me with joy and thanksgiving. Help me give glory to God with whatever I do. Help me participate in the work of the Lord.” The disciples of Jesus obeyed His command and gathered in the Upper Room to pray fervently for ten days. Then on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The fire of the Spirit was on them. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, his disciples hid behind locked doors. After they received the fire of the Spirit, they rushed out and preached the gospel. Three and then five thousand people came to know Jesus, with repentance, on a single day. It is true. We will change when we receive the fire of the Holy Spirit. We will then become powerful servants of God and moreover, witnesses of the Gospel. Acts 1:8 says: “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.” Hallelujah! One of the leading churches in America is Willow Creek Community Church. Bill Hybels is the Senior Pastor of this church. The success of this church lies in it having the fullness of the Holy Spirit. While still a seminary student, a French professor gave the students a challenge. He said: “The Early Christian Church was equipped with the work and the power of the Holy spirit. The crippled walked. The deaf heard. The mute spoke. When Peter preached, thousands of people came to repentance. Why don’t such things happen these days? That is because the fire of the Holy Spirit in your hearts is extinguished. That is because the power of the Holy Spirit has disappeared. Rise up and experience the power of the Holy Spirit. Receive the power of the Holy Spirit and devote yourself to the Lord all over again.” Bill Hybels was shocked at this challenge. His heart burned within him. So he went to that professor and knelt down, saying: “Pray for me so that I will be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The professor did not think highly of Hybels but in response to Hybel’s desire, he prayed: “Heavenly Father, make this servant into Your great worker.” Hybels began to respond to the burning in his heart by pioneering a church even as a seminary student. When he spoke to our church in 2006, he said that he came to Korea as a ‘nobody’ to participate in our CGI meetings and to specifically learn the secrets of church growth. He heard Pastor Cho’s lectures and was greatly challenged. He went back to the States and incubated his great dream of church growth. Impassioned to spread his dream of church growth; he took his church members to the Crystal Cathedral. Now Willow Creek Community Church is one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. God does not use people just because they are smart and well educated. He uses those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. We will be greatly used by God when we are full of the Spirit. I pray that all of you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. “Lord, we want to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We want to be the people of the Holy Spirit. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. We want to dedicate our lives for You and be Your great servants.” Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He forgave those who were hurling stones at him even at this death. This greatly impacted Saul who witnessed Stephen’s stoning. Later Saul became the apostle Paul. Apostle James was martyred. So was Apostle Peter; as was Apostle Paul later martyred. They were each full of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley received the fire of the Holy Spirit and started a marvelous revival movement all over the world. We should never forget that the history of the splendid growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church is indeed a history of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the center of the church. “Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit like the early Christians and those in the Book of Acts. Make our hearts burn within us. Help us have a blazing love for You. Fill us with overflowing thanksgiving. Make us witnesses of the gospel, serving You with burning faith and spreading Your love all over the world. Fill us with the Holy Spirit now. Help us live victoriously as people of the Holy Spirit.” God will fill our lives with marvelous and unprecedented grace and blessings when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is my earnest prayer for you in the name of the Lord. Let us pray. Our Father of infinite love, grace, and mercy, the disciples who were going down to Emmaus met Jesus. Their hearts were burning when they heard the Lord. They again turned to serve the Lord. Make our hearts burn within us. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we will dedicate the rest of our lives for the glory of God. I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen. 1