Questions That Will Change Your Life #3

May 16, 2010 MW Stockwell Road MBC
“QUESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE” series #3/6

THE QUESTION OF CONSOLATION
Luke 24:33-40

INTRODUCTION:
A. Giant canyons are formed over many years. They begin with a thin stream trickling through a crevice. As it widens more water continues to cut into the earth eventually a channel is opened and water begins to gush cutting out the giant canyons that we see today. So it is with anxiety and worry. Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. What we are left with is an empty faith, a mind consumed with fear and a spiritual life on life support. Somebody once said, “Anxiety is the end of true faith but true faith will be the end of anxiety.”

B. The disciples should have been filled with joy and excitement but instead they were filled with fear and sorrow. Their whole world as they knew it and understood it had just come crashing to a halt. Jesus called them from their lives to fish for men and, to them, their lives were on the line just like His. They were having mental conversations and were struggling with what was going on and I think they were trying to hold it all together to the best of their ability, but it was getting tough. When Jesus entered the room, he immediately addresses the problem. He asks them two important questions, “Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?”

C. How you choose to deal with anxiety, or worry, is very important. If you don’t deal with it, it will deal with you. Many in society will try to drink their problems away while others try to ignore them by sweeping them under the rug. Neither of these will solve anything. What you think you are handling is actually handling you. We have a wonderful counselor named Jesus that can fix anything. Here we are clawing and scratching trying to “handle” things and cope the best that we can and Jesus comes to us and asks us, “Why”. We need to come to that point as well and ask ourselves, “Why AM I trying to handle this on my own?” When you get there you are in the place that Jesus wants you to be so you can get some relief.

D. This morning we will see the answer to ALL of our problems and the way of consolation, or hope for tomorrow that we need to have in this uncertain world. How will you answer THE QUESTION OF CONSOLATION?

BODY:
I. THE PATH OF ANXIETY(Luke 24:11-12, 37, John 20:9, 19)
Note: The question of why is one that is often left unanswered. Many times we don’t know why it just is what it is. In this scenario though we see a recipe for anxiety. All of the pieces of the puzzle fit together and we can see that the troubles and thoughts are symptoms of some greater problems. If we allow these same things to mix together we can rest assured that we will be filled with anxiety!
A. A Dependence on Self to Figure it Out Luke 24:11-12
--“wondering in himself” compare our knowledge and minds with the knowledge and mind of the Lord

B. A Disregard for Revealed Truth John 20:9
--“knew not the scripture”—most of our struggles come because we disregard the truth God has already revealed to us

C. A Deceptive Spirit of Fear John 20:19
--They were afraid for their lives. They felt like they were next.

II. THE PATH TO HOPE (vs. 39-40)
Note: Jesus bursts into the upper room where the disciples were gathered and sees a group of men struggling to keep it all together. Anxiety and fear had gripped them and his first word to them was PEACE! After Jesus asked the questions he commences to reveal the obvious answer for the way to cure the blight the way were in…
A. The Master’s Presence
--Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty! Are you in a position spiritually where the Master is near?

B. The Master’s Proof
--handle me…I am no ghost! I am alive! Later He even ate fish and honey with them!

C. The Master’s Provision
--He shows them his hands and his feet. He showed them the marks in his hands and in his feet! They were marks of suffering and marks of salvation!

CONCLUSION:
Where is the hope today? It is in the marks in hands and feet of Jesus! He won the victory! He defeated our enemy! The next time you find yourself being handled by the stresses of life and anxiety starts to build…remember the question of Jesus and recognize His answer!