Sermon Series: The Jesus Life
Sermon Title: Renovation of the Heart
Text:
Luke 24:13-35
13And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
17And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.
18One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"
19And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22"But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24"Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."
25And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26"Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" 27Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
28And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. 30When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon." 35They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 11:33-36
33"No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34"The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35"Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 36"If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays."
Luke 6:43-35
43"For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 44"For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Application:
If we are to truly live the Jesus Life, Jesus needs to take our entire lives, down to the foundation - heart. A true Jesus Life requires a full renovation of hte heart, which happens until Christ is fully formed.
We have to let Jesus go deeper. He never forces His way in, but rather enters only when invited. However, He will approach me first. I have to recognize Him, let Him in, and let Him renovate me.
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus communes with the travellers as Jesus, Lord & Savior, and their eyes were opened. Jeremiah 31:33 declares that God will write His law on our hearts. And one of many times states, "I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Luke 11 and Luke 6 describe the inability to be both good and bad; to have both light and darkness. We have to let Jesus conform our heart to be fully light and let His light shine through us. This happens by letting the word challenge you and actively listening and reflecting on what Goad is saying.
Personal Reflection:
It's harder to walk day to day and not give my whole heart to God, then it is to just give everything to Him. It's harder to hide the darkness from the light than to just let the light eliminate the darkness.
If I let Go, let God, and give Him my whole heart, day-to-day things would just be easier and less stressful.
Key Verse:
The passage the best sums up the sermon is Luke 11:35-36.
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