Was (all) that Really Necessary?

[Prayer]

The Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13–26 “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?””

The Season After Resurrection (The “Already” but “Not Yet”)

How many are thankful for the joy and celebration of Resurrection!? He is Risen!

But there is often a time that even though the Holy Spirit is at work, our eyes can’t see it yet.

We are just on the verge of a breakthrough, but all we have is a word from God…all we have is our faith.

We are in the “already, but not yet” season of life.

How many know it’s often in those moments we’re like Peter in John 21…we’re mad things didn’t turn out like we expected.

Anybody ever raised toddlers? Ever had one in the grocery store not get their way (you told them no!)….then they decide to make a scene right there in the grocery store…

They’re flailing around…swinging their arms….making a scene…. ALL OVER A PIECE OF CANDY THEY SAW AND HAD TO HAVE…BUT YOU SAID NO!

Confession: I’m a grown adult and I’ve thrown my share of temper tantrums at God!

“God! You need to fix this!

This is not right! Not fair!

I don’t want to deal with this anymore!

Principle: When dis-appointment sets in like it was with these first disciples…(when things don’t turn out like we thought they should have)…

Our spiritual eyes are blinded from seeing that in the middle of our disappointment Jesus is right there with us.

The Joe’s Cafe Meeting:

February 2025 I had one of those temper tantrums…

Today we are at the start of living in a dream that was in our hearts for years.

I had spent over a year in meetings, hard conversations, and negotiations leading up to this meeting at Joe’s Cafe where I had believed God was going to open up a place and opportunity for us to plant this new Easley Beech Springs congregation.

Instead, I walked into a firestorm. In the course of that conversation all the things I had hoped would happen came crashing down.

I left that meeting dejected and discouraged…and I have to admit I THREW MYSELF A BIG OLE TEMPER TANTRUM!!

But what I didn’t realize is that while I was kicking and screaming at God, the Holy Spirit was already on the other end of town making a place for us in this building!

How many of you have had to endure through a season of “not yet?”

This is that awkward, tense, and trying season between Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost.

In the weeks, months, years leading up to the promise we often walk around like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: paralyzed, discouraged, and dis-appointed.

God didn’t do what I thought he was going to do.

It didn’t happen how I had hoped it would happen.

I thought it was going to all come together. Instead I’m suffering. I’m battling for my life, for my family’s life, for my future.

Like these early disciples we just keep thinking, “Lord, is all this really necessary?!”

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you should rejoice, though now for a little while, it is necessary that you have been grieved by various trials,”

Philippians 1:23–24 “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

Matthew 18:7 ““Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come…”

Luke 24:46 “Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written, it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

[God’s Promise] Even when you can’t trace his path, the Holy Spirit is at work ordering your steps.

Romans 8:26–28 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

The Holy Spirit is at work even when I can’t see his hand.

The Holy Spirit strengthens us as we wait.

They that wait on the Lord…

Psalm 116:1–4 “I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!””

The Holy Spirit shapes our lives, makes us ready, through the process.

the pulling, stretching, and pains of childbirth are the pains of “getting ready” for the promise.

The Holy Spirit is always pointing us back to Jesus.

The reason the disciples can’t recognize Jesus is because they were expecting something else. Things didn’t happen the way they thought it would.

So the Holy Spirit had to “warms their hearts” and open their eyes.

That’s why they had to come to the table

The Table of the Lord

Luke 24:28–32 “So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?””

This may come as a surprise to many of you who have known me through our time pastoring at our Pelzer location the past 5 years. But for three years now, nearly every week of the year I made a commitment to receive the body and blood of Christ at the table of the Lord. It’s not something that I grew up doing that often, but there has been a longing in my heart to grow close to Jesus, especially during seasons of trial and hardship.

What I found was that when I came to the table, to receive from the one loaf and from the cup of salvation suddenly my heart was warmed and my eyes were opened.

It didn’t mean that all the storms outside calmed down. It didn’t mean that the trials stopped. It didn’t even mean that suddenly I knew the answers and everything was resolved.

But I did know was this: “The Lord is risen indeed, and he has appeared to me! I have seen and encountered his real presence right here at the Table.”

Prayer:

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

 Scripture:

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Consecration Prayer:

Lord, we celebrate the memorial of our redemption in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. 

Make these gifts holy and set apart by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the (†) Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him.

As we receive them make us holy also us that we may faithfully receive this holy communion, and serve you all the days of our lives until your soon coming return.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ.

Instructions:

We are going to receive communion today from the one loaf and one cup here at the altar. The one cup and one loaf represent the one body of Christ. We are made into the body of Christ through this one loaf and one cup.

I invite you to come down the aisle on your right, my left, starting at the back of the sanctuary. Come with your hands held open to receive and I will serve you the bread and dip the bread in the cup for you.

After you receive communion our prayer partners are hear at the altar to agree with you in prayer. If God is speaking to you today, if you have a need, I invite you after receiving communion to find a prayer partner and let them pray with you before returning to your seat.

[Worship Team Lead in Song]