Jesus walks beside us

Luke 24: 13-17

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?

Skip down to verse 25 please.

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

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

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Pray:

I want us to take note. That in our passage that these were men who saw Jesus during the time of his ministry here on earth. And they were sad because they believed that Jesus was dead and gone and never to return.

But while they walked Jesus joined them and in verse 25 he rebukes them for their lack of understanding.

Jesus explains to them the meaning of Moses and the prophets. We don’t know what specific verses he taught them. Perhaps he taught them the verses in Isaiah that we read last week. Perhaps he quoted to them Genesis 3:15 and told them that his heel would have to be bruised by the serpent seed. What we do know is that these men had no idea who they were talking with. As it tells us that their eyes were holden so that they should not know them.

These men who had followed Jesus during the time of his ministry had no idea that they were talking and walking with him.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 13 we read:

Hebrews 13

13 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

I wonder how often we have talked with an Angel or how often we have walked with Jesus unaware that He was right there.

I wonder how often we have judged that someone was too poor to be worth our time. Or judged that they might be too rich to be worth our time. I wonder how often we have missed out on the things that God is trying to show us and to teach us because we neglect to meditate on the word of God and allow him to show us in our lives how he can use us.

An Angel is a messenger. In this case Gods divine messenger sent from above. And the word of God tells us to entertain them. That is to listen to them. To welcome them into your home and break bread with them. Why? Because they have a message from God.

Often times in this materialistic God hating world we tend to evaluate people based on how they dress and what kind of home they live in. But in the eyes of God ALL PEOPLE HAVE VALUE.

But these people were walking with the Lord Jesus Christ himself and had no idea. For 7 miles they walked and talked with Immanuel God in the flesh. These were ordinary Christian men. They were not disciples of prophets. And they had no idea that Jesus had risen.

Here they walked with the creator of the Universe. Here they were walking with the King of all Kings. Here they were walking with the first and the last, the alpha and the omega. They walked beside the light of the world and had no idea.

How sad it is to have Jesus’ walking with you and not even know it. How sad it is to have Jesus teaching you the scripture and to not even know it.

Could he have quoted Isaiah 53 to them? Maybe he said hey, don’t you know that he was bruised for our iniquities. Perhaps he said, remember he would be born of a virgin.

Maybe he talked about the Passover lamb and explained to them what that meant. He could have quoted Psalm 22. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me to them.

Folks the reason we have this book is that God wants us to connect the dots. I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see.

To have Jesus’ walking beside you and not even know.

Open your eyes the stone has been rolled back. This is the one introduced by John the Baptist. This is the one who raised Lazarus from the dead. This is the one who caused the blind to see.

Listen don’t be sad. He is alive and walking right beside you.

I don’t understand how a Christian can be sad. I fail to understand how we miss so much. Open your eyes ladies and gentlemen. Your King walks beside you.

How can we as Christians not want to share the gospel message? I think often it is because we forget that Jesus walks beside us.

Oh, to love our neighbor as ourselves. To be so kind and loving to that neighbor that he or she can see the love of God shed abroad in your heart. And to see that neighbor come to Christ because he or she just wants so badly to have the joy unspeakable and full of glory that you have.

Yet too many of us walk through this life so focused on our circumstances that we are blind to Gods messengers. We are blind to those around us who are in need. We are blind to those around us who just need you to see them. Ignored and pushed aside by everyone. Can you see those among us who are neglected and forgotten? I remind you again this morning. That EVERYONE is valuable to God and therefore they have value to us.

How sad is it to have our names written down in the lamb’s book of life and to go around depressed with our heads hanging down. Wake up Christian.

When someone gets saved an Angel rejoices. And when someone gets saved at Westside Baptist, we ought to have a good old fashioned shouting Pentecostal type revival.

Listen to me. Something is going on here at Westside Baptist. Wake up and see it.

Feb 28th, 2023, this church had 7 people. Four of them were considering another church. Three times in the past year we have had as many as 30, including our fall festival. Wake up and see it. Jesus is walking with us this morning.

And it has NOTHING to do with me. It has EVERYTHING to do with a people who are willing to let God use them.

We should not make the mistake of taking for granted what God is doing for this church. We need to open our eyes and see that Jesus is walking with us.

The church is the last remaining institution of freedom in the West. And if we do not fight for our churches today our grandchildren will curse us in our graves.

Folks don’t take your local churches for granted. Wake up and see what God is doing here this morning. And be grateful for one another.

Hebrews 12:28

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

That verse is saying. Don’t take God for granted. Have Grace. Show Grace.

I got to lift up my voice in praises to God this morning. Let us not take it for granted.

Romans 6

6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Don’t take the gift of salvation for granted by continuing in sin. Often people want to deny the Grace of God. Saying that when we commit sin we are no longer Gods children. But this verse tells us that Grace abounds. But don’t take Gods grace for granted.

Psalm 19:14

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Even when we speak, we should utter acceptable words because Jesus is walking with us. Don’t take him for granted this morning.

Ephesians 3:16-17

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Do we realize what we have this morning in Westside Baptist Church through the Lord Jesus Christ. The opportunity. You know the more people who join us at Westside the more we can do for our community. Look around out there. Do you see a community in need? Open your eyes. Jesus walks beside us. And is telling us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves. To come together and help those in need.

We aren’t building buildings here. We are building people. Building them up for the service of Christ.

Those of you among us who are saved. Do you remember what your life was before Jesus saved you from your sin?

Maybe you were an alcoholic. And spent every morning throwing up and fighting a headache. You ran everyone in your life who loved you away. Then along came Jesus. NEVER forget that the same Jesus is still right there walking with you. Don’t take it for granted.

Perhaps you were a drug addict or addicted to meth. Then you came to the end of yourself, and you fell on your knees and cried out. Lord Jesus help me. I’m a sinner in need of your help. And there he came to turn your life around. Ladies and gentlemen don’t take it for granted. He is still walking with you.

And by the way. If you know someone who is a slave to sin. Someone whose life is falling apart and they are in need of our saviors love and grace. Don’t forget. Such were you. Jesus walks beside you still. Introduce them to the one who can turn their life around.

Too many Christians’ living their life as if Jesus is dead. Don’t you know that he lives. Hey wake up!!! Don’t you know he’s walking beside you.

One day if the Lord tarries. And you are old and in your death bed. Wouldn’t you like to look back on your life and say. I knew Jesus walked beside me. I knew God was doing something at Westside Baptist. And I took part in it.

Don’t be the person with regrets. Don’t be the one who said. I could have done more for my church. I could have done more for my family. I could have done more for my community. No. Be the one who leaves this world with a smile on your face. Be the one who knew he was walking with Jesus.

We come together in the house of God on Sunday mornings, and we sing.

1

I serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, Whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer; And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Do you see him there beside you during the week? Or do you think he is limited to the walls of this building? God is omnipresent. That means He is EVERYWHERE.

We need to wake up and realize the power that comes with having Jesus’ walking beside us.

Revelation 12:11

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Please listen to me carefully. This country is getting more and more unfriendly towards Christians. Yes, we were founded as a Christian Nation. But our enemies are sending Muslims into America and Europe by the millions through illegal immigration. And no, I do not hate Muslims. Like I said the Koran teaches in 3 places that Jesus Christ is God. Having said that. We cannot co-exist with people who hate us and want to kill us. Those who do not understand the entire Koran hate us. Those demons who run our government and are bringing them here hate us.

And their goal is to destroy the church. And they have been doing a pretty good job so far. Their goal is to destroy our communities. Look around they are doing it. Their goal is to cause a low trust society so that unlike them we do not meet together and talk about what they are doing.

The book of Revelation is unfolding before our eyes as our enemies are bringing to America millions of single military aged men who hate us and hate our churches. Wherever these hoards go rape and crime and Shariah law follow.

But I’m not scared. Why? Because Jesus walks with me. We must now more than ever restore the power of living for God to our children. Why? Because evil is powerless against Jesus Christ. We have an amazing power in Jesus. And we neglect it and we take it for granted by refusing to be faithful to Gods house and Gods commandments.

We are commanded to not love our own lives even unto death. But to put Jesus first in all things. Time for us to stop taking our houses of worship for granted.

Our Sunday school teacher brother Virgil just went through the book of Jeremiah. And Brother Virgil does a great job of teaching. And I encourage everyone to be here for our Sunday school session. But in the book of Jeremiah 25:5-9 we read:

5 They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lordhath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:

6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

8 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Many people do not know this because our public-school systems are so lacking in teaching true history. But the pilgrims believed that America was the new Jerusalem and that they were the true Hebrews of the bible.

They had discovered a land where the only King was Jesus. There was no government. They had discovered a land full of abundant resources. And most importantly they had discovered a land where they were free to practice the word of God as they saw fit without fear of being burned alive for heresy by a false church. To them it was the New Jerusalem.

Today we are taught that America was established on the freedom of any religion. But that is a lie straight from the pits of hell. All you have to do is read the quotes of the founding fathers and you will quickly see it was the freedom to practice your desired form of Christianity and not the freedom to worship Satan. I’ll provide you with some quotes as proof:

We have all heard of Benjamin Franklin. He was actually there with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams proofreading the constitution before bringing it to congress. It would seem that Mr. Franklin did not support the religion of Judaism at all. Listen to what he said:

I warn you, gentlemen, if you do not exclude the Jews forever, your children and your children's children will curse you in their graves. Their ideas are not those of Americans, even when they lived among us for ten generations.

Franklin is referring to how Jews had been kicked out of 109 countries because they refused to assimilate with Christian countries throughout European history. The religion of Judaism is un-related to Christianity and openly opposes it in every way.

But rather than just trust Ben Franklin lets listen to what an actual Jewish Rabbi has to say on the subject of Judaism:

The Rabbi Stephan Wise was once the chief Rabbi of the Jewish faith in America. And he is well known for saying two things:

1. He said “Judaism is Communism”

All you have to do is look at the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia to see this truth. Karl Marx, Lenin, Trotsky were all Jewish. And they murdered the Christian King of Russia and his entire family. Before beginning a movement that saw the death of 100 million Christians between 1917 and 1991.

Surely Judaism isn’t what the founding fathers had in mind when they granted freedom of religion.

This same Rabbi was quoted as saying, “Judaism is Satanism”

We need look no further than Anton Levey the Jewish founder of the church of Satan in America to see the truth of this statement.

The Founding fathers did not want mosque, or the Muslim religion being practiced in America. But had no idea it would even happen. In those days everyone was some type of Christian. And people believed in their faith so much that they came to the New World risking EVERYTHING just to be able to practice their form of Christianity. Whether they were Baptist or Methodists or Presbyterian or Anglican or Catholic.

How about I give you a quote from someone who was trained by the apostle John? He might have something good to say about all this:

This is St. Ignatius of Antioch and he was a disciple of the apostle John. He said.

“Christianity did not come from Judaim. Judaism is a perversion of Christianity”

But you see we in America just like our Christian relatives in Europe started taking God for granted. We stopped studying the word of God and going to church. We allowed the spirit of atheism to overtake our church through lies taught both in Hollywood and the school system.

When Darwinism began to be taught in our schools, we should have pulled our children out in protest. When they told us that children would no longer be allowed to pray in public schools. We should have taken our children out.

We are to blame for what American society has become. When will we return to the convictions and standards of the Holy word of God?

Today in public schools across America we are told that kids aren’t allowed to pray. Yet they have introduced drag queen story hour and books about sex that are nothing but pornography. And what do we do?

The average Christian cannot even be bothered to come to church.

Don’t we realize that Jesus walks beside us? Don’t we realize that we are more than conquerors?

Romans 8:35-37

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

When in the course of Christian history we have allowed others to conquer us by walking away from the teachings of the Holy word of God. We have been conquered by foreign nations over and over again. When will we wake up? When will we start to understand?

Jesus walks beside us. Don’t forget the lessons of the Old Testament. Don’t forget the lessons of those who have taken God for granted. Be the Christian that God wants you to be. Be the mom and the dad and the grandmother and the grandfather that a child can look up too. Teach them to be like Christ and bring them to church.

We must not be like the two Christians in our text today. Walking down the road talking as though we are defeated. We are conquerors and more than conquerors. It is past time that American Christian see who walks beside us. It is long past time for us to return to the old ways and seek the old paths of Old Fashioned bible believing Christianity.

Pray:

Alter call