Walking Towards Glory by Brother Duke Hansen

         As we begin this morning, it is always interesting to think of a certainty in life. There are people who you keep meeting up with through your life, maybe starting in elementary school,  then high school,  then as adults. Every time you run into them, regardless of their age or their position in life, whether they have a lot or they don't, they still have the same problems. People retain the same gripes, complaints, and grievances. They are tried and true set in their ways never changing. You and I should be aware in not falling into this as we walk with God. A sign of growth is in what bothers you 5 years ago, doesn't even get your attention today. Those things should pass away with maturity. Our scripture reading is going to be in a few spots this morning. We will begin reading in the book of Luke chapter 24 and start with verse 1.

        Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

        2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

        3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

        4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

        5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

        6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galilee.

        7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

        8 And they remembered his words,

        9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

        Some people are going to remain the same and be content in their unhappiness, confusion, and ignorance. They won't pursue nor hunger for growth. In our scripture reading, they were met by an empty tomb, angels, and reminder of what Jesus had told them in Galilee. The disciples had the knowledge of Jesus speaking things to them, but lacked the faith to believe in those things. Please drop down to verse 13 in Luke 24.

        13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

        14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

        15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

        16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

        17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

        The setting here is you have to men walking from Jerusalem about 7 miles to Emmaus talking to one another when Jesus started to walk up next to them. If you are prone to beat up on yourself, feel down, upset over your own life, you don't realize that God is right behind you. You are in your own way of understanding. If you get yourself stuck in your flesh, thinking in the flesh, you can break that if you press into your faith.

        18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

        There are many people today who are completely unaware what's truly happening and what will happen in the world. They are blissfully ignorant. The men in the scripture were more focused on the crucifixion of Jesus and not his resurrection. If you start to really focus your faith on that resurrection power, on putting off the old, the shifty man, and study upon his principles, that's where God wants you to be.

        19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

        One of the beautiful things about God is sometimes he will show up and walk with you and talk with you. You can feel his presence in prayer or in reading a scripture. When Jesus first spoke to the men it was a short question. Many of us who are seeking his face or a word from Jesus know that sometimes he is of few words. Today, 99% of churches are not properly informing nor equipping their congregation with what is going to happen in the end times. Many are seeking to make heaven here on earth by an wicked theology. Others are too entangled in the cares of this world to the point of distraction. 

        20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

        You know there were thousands of people in Jerusalem during passover who greeted Jesus with Hosannas and praise only to yell crucify him days later. Those crowds returned on Pentecost. What's cool is you know some of that crowd would be delivered on the day of Pentecost.

        21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

        The two men were sad at what had happened in this verse.

        22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

        23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

        24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him that saw not.

        25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

        God works off principle and not emotion. Man works off emotion. The men knew the word from the prophets, yet they did not believe. If they had faith, they would have been sleeping in front of the tomb. There are men walking in anger and sadness today rather than faith. Verse 25 is a principle in the Old Testament. Paul would write to Timothy to stir up the gift inside of you. Stir your spirit man. We can stir up our flesh too quickly.

        26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

        Some people think God will give them a sign or an answer before they confront their problem. Many of us fight with the spirit of fear. That spirit will cause doubt, anger, stress, and it can tear down your witness over time. There is a principle in scripture where God says He will never leave you nor forsake you. Believe in faith on that and not just put it onto a t-shirt to wear at Walmart. We are going to the book of Zechariah chapter 13. Chapter 13 and we will begin at verse 6.

        6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

        This morning, we feel no guilt over Jesus' death. We cast fault at the Romans of that time or at the Jews. We are all guilty. All of us are guilty. If you are truly born again, will God forgive you of things you did that you know are wrong, but have a repentant heart? Yes he will.

        Awake, O sword, against the man that is my fellow, says the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn time hand upon the little ones.

        Who are the little ones? The little ones are uneducated and unspoiled by life.

        8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

        The two parts referenced here are Israel and Judah. If you recall after Jesus died on the cross, the curtain or veil was torn in the temple (Matthew 27: 50-51) 

        9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

        The third part is you and me. We are the little ones. Jesus was just as excited as the men were when he revealed himself to them. Something for you to remember every day is The Lord is my God. It doesn't matter what's going on in your life, what you've torn apart or burned down. This statement is greater than all of our troubles or concerns. It eclipses our comings and goings in the world.

        As little ones we have to learn to study and to grow in Jesus. Feast on the truth already given to us in this Bible and prepare for the coming famine.