From Sadness to Passion: Embracing the Scriptures

Devotional

Day 1: The Disciples' Sadness Reflects Our Spiritual State

Many Christians today find themselves in a state of spiritual sadness and slowness of heart, much like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. This condition is often mirrored in the broader church, which can appear lifeless and uninspired, failing to attract those outside its walls. The world observes this lack of joy and enthusiasm, which starkly contrasts with the vibrant life promised by the Gospel. The challenge for believers is to recognize this state and seek transformation through a deeper engagement with their faith. [12:10]

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:11, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your spiritual life where you feel uninspired or burdened. How can you invite God to bring renewal and joy into this area today?

Day 2: The Burning Heart Through Scripture

True transformation from a sad and slow heart to a burning heart comes through a deep engagement with the Scriptures. As Jesus expounded the Scriptures to the disciples, their hearts began to burn within them. This burning heart is the result of seeing Christ in all the Scriptures and embracing the full narrative of His suffering and glory. Engaging deeply with the Word of God allows believers to experience the vibrant life promised by the Gospel. [14:26]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: Choose a passage of Scripture to meditate on today. How can you see Christ in this passage, and what is He revealing to you about His suffering and glory?

Day 3: Embracing the Whole Counsel of God

The problem with the disciples, and often with us, is a selective belief in the Scriptures. We tend to accept the parts that align with our preconceived notions and ignore the rest. This partial belief leads to disappointment and a lack of assurance. True assurance comes from embracing the whole counsel of God, recognizing both the suffering and the glory of Christ as foretold by the prophets. [46:31]

"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." (Acts 20:27, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a Scripture passage or teaching that challenges your preconceived notions. How can you open your heart to embrace the full message of God's Word?

Day 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Illumination

The Holy Spirit, the ultimate expositor of Scripture, dwells within us to guide us into all truth. We do not need extraordinary visions or experiences to have a burning heart; we need the Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and reveal Christ to us. This is the path to a vibrant, assured Christian life that attracts others to the Gospel. [57:49]

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding of Scripture today? How can you be more attentive to His teaching and illumination?

Day 5: Revival Starts Within

The greatest need of the church today is a revival that starts within, transforming sad and slow hearts into burning hearts. This transformation will attract others to the Gospel, as a living, assured church is the most powerful advertisement for the Christian message. A personal revival begins with each believer seeking a deeper relationship with God and allowing His Word to ignite their hearts. [11:18]

"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" (Psalm 85:6, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to seek personal revival in your spiritual life? How can this personal transformation impact those around you and your community?

Sermon Summary

In the passage from Luke 24, we encounter two disciples on the road to Emmaus, grappling with disappointment and confusion following the crucifixion of Jesus. They are emblematic of many Christians today who lack assurance and are burdened by sadness and slowness of heart. This narrative serves as a mirror reflecting the state of the modern church, which often appears lifeless and uninspired, failing to attract those outside its walls. The world looks at Christians and sees a lack of joy and enthusiasm, which is a stark contrast to the vibrant life promised by the Gospel.

The key to transforming this condition lies in moving from a state of sadness and slowness to one of burning passion and assurance. This transformation is not achieved through mere emotional experiences or visions but through a deep engagement with the Scriptures. As Jesus expounded the Scriptures to the disciples, their hearts began to burn within them. This burning heart is the result of seeing Christ in all the Scriptures, understanding the full narrative of His suffering and glory, and embracing the entirety of the biblical message.

The problem with the disciples, and often with us, is a selective belief in the Scriptures. We tend to accept the parts that align with our preconceived notions and ignore the rest. This partial belief leads to disappointment and a lack of assurance. True assurance and a burning heart come from embracing the whole counsel of God, recognizing both the suffering and the glory of Christ as foretold by the prophets.

The Holy Spirit, the ultimate expositor of Scripture, dwells within us to guide us into all truth. We do not need extraordinary visions or experiences to have a burning heart; we need the Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and reveal Christ to us. This is the path to a vibrant, assured Christian life that attracts others to the Gospel.

Key Takeaways

1. The disciples on the road to Emmaus represent many Christians today who lack assurance and are burdened by sadness and slowness of heart. This condition reflects a broader issue within the church, which often appears lifeless and uninspired. The world sees this lack of joy and enthusiasm, which contrasts with the vibrant life promised by the Gospel. [12:10]
2. True transformation from a sad and slow heart to a burning heart comes through a deep engagement with the Scriptures. As Jesus expounded the Scriptures to the disciples, their hearts began to burn within them. This burning heart is the result of seeing Christ in all the Scriptures and embracing the full narrative of His suffering and glory. [14:26]
3. The problem with the disciples, and often with us, is a selective belief in the Scriptures. We tend to accept the parts that align with our preconceived notions and ignore the rest. This partial belief leads to disappointment and a lack of assurance. True assurance comes from embracing the whole counsel of God. [46:31]
4. The Holy Spirit, the ultimate expositor of Scripture, dwells within us to guide us into all truth. We do not need extraordinary visions or experiences to have a burning heart; we need the Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures and reveal Christ to us. This is the path to a vibrant, assured Christian life. [57:49]
5. The greatest need of the church today is a revival that starts within, transforming sad and slow hearts into burning hearts. This transformation will attract others to the Gospel, as a living, assured church is the most powerful advertisement for the Christian message. [11:18]
** [11:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Reading from Luke 24
[01:59] - The Disciples' Disappointment
[03:45] - Christian Assurance
[05:39] - The Church's Condition
[07:14] - Enthusiasm in the World vs. the Church
[09:58] - The Church's Duty
[11:18] - Revival Starts Within
[12:10] - The Disciples' Sadness
[14:26] - The Burning Heart
[19:11] - John Wesley's Transformation
[20:26] - Diagnosing the Sad Heart
[31:16] - Living in the Past
[35:10] - Reasoning Without Revelation
[46:31] - Believing All the Scriptures
[57:49] - The Role of the Holy Spirit

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the emotions and thoughts of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as described in Luke 24:13-35? How did their encounter with Jesus change their perspective? [03:09]
According to the sermon, what was the primary reason for the disciples' sadness and confusion on the road to Emmaus? [12:10]
How did Jesus help the disciples move from a state of sadness to having burning hearts? What specific action did He take? [02:34]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in illuminating the Scriptures and revealing Christ to believers, according to the sermon? [57:49]

Interpretation Questions

How does the sermon suggest that selective belief in the Scriptures can lead to disappointment and a lack of assurance? What does it mean to embrace the whole counsel of God? [46:31]
In what ways does the sermon describe the modern church as lifeless and uninspired? How does this contrast with the vibrant life promised by the Gospel? [06:57]
What does the sermon imply about the relationship between understanding the full narrative of Christ's suffering and glory and having a burning heart? [14:26]
How does the sermon describe the transformation that occurs when believers deeply engage with the Scriptures? What is the significance of this transformation for the church today? [15:32]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually lifeless or uninspired. What steps can you take to engage more deeply with the Scriptures and reignite your passion for Christ? [15:32]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of embracing the whole counsel of God. Are there parts of the Bible that you tend to overlook or avoid? How can you begin to incorporate these into your study? [46:31]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to the Spirit's guidance in understanding the Scriptures and revealing Christ to you? [57:49]
The sermon suggests that a vibrant, assured Christian life is attractive to others. How can you demonstrate the joy and assurance of your faith in your daily interactions? [11:18]
Identify an area in your life where you have been selective in your belief or understanding of the Scriptures. What practical steps can you take to address this and embrace a fuller understanding? [46:31]
Think about a time when you felt disappointed or confused in your faith journey. How can the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus encourage you to seek understanding and assurance through the Scriptures? [12:10]
The sermon highlights the need for revival within the church. What role can you play in fostering a spirit of revival and transformation in your church community? [11:18]

Sermon Clips

Here are these two men going down from Jerusalem to IM and what is the impression they give? Well, they give an impression of unhappiness, they give an impression of sorrow, they give an impression of disappointment and of utter discouragement. Now it's very important for us to carry in our minds the circumstances in which these two men were to be found. [00:12:07]

The moment the Church of God becomes alive and is on fire, she attracts people from all directions. There is no greater advertisement for the gospel than living Christian people who are assured of their salvation, who know in whom they have believed, and who are patently and obviously enjoying the Christian Life. [00:11:25]

The greatest need of the Christian church at the present time, I see no hope for the church nor for the world until this happens. How can it happen? Well, the incident I want to show you answers the question, and it does it in a typically scriptural manner. It first of all tells us the cause of this first condition. [00:19:19]

The trouble with most of us modern Christians is that we rush to treat a condition before we've really discovered what it is. We're in much too much of a hurry. We want to get big results, and that is why they don't last. Let's follow the biblical, the scriptural method: examination, diagnosis before you even begin to think of your remedy. [00:20:26]

The Bible never offers its remedy before it has first of all given us a diagnosis. The trouble with most of us modern Christians is that we rush to treat a condition before we've really discovered what it is. We're in much too much of a hurry. We want to get big results, and that is why they don't last. [00:20:26]

The ultimate explanation is this: did you notice the emphasis? Oh, fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. [00:45:31]

The trouble with these two men, as it was the trouble with all the Jews, was this: they believed some of the things that the prophets had spoken. They believed some of the things that were to be found in the scriptures, but they didn't believe them all. The scriptures told them that God was going to send a great deliverer, a great Messiah. [00:46:31]

The Holy Ghost himself, who is the author of the scriptures, he is holy men of God spake as they were moved, carried along by the Holy Ghost, and he is in us. He who indicted the scriptures is with us, by our side, within us. He'll expose it, he'll expound it, he'll unfold it. [00:57:49]

The moment you do so, you begin to feel terribly tired. You begin to yawn, and your mind wonders. You can't concentrate, and you say, well, of course, I've had a very busy day, and I can't expect myself to be able to understand and comprehend and concentrate now. You didn't feel that while you were reading the other matter. [00:39:11]

The scriptures and the Christ of the scriptures, that's all you need. As you see him there, your heart will begin to burn. Ah, but say someone, you're not fair, you're not fair. Why not? Well, says this objector, those two men of yours on the road to OS had the Lord himself expounding the scriptures to them. [00:56:49]

The greatest need of the Christian church at the present time, I see no hope for the church nor for the world until this happens. How can it happen? Well, the incident I want to show you answers the question, and it does it in a typically scriptural manner. It first of all tells us the cause of this first condition. [00:19:19]

The moment the Church of God becomes alive and is on fire, she attracts people from all directions. There is no greater advertisement for the gospel than living Christian people who are assured of their salvation, who know in whom they have believed, and who are patently and obviously enjoying the Christian Life. [00:11:25]

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