Greetings again my Brethren. Well, praise God! With this September edition of Beholding His Glory we start our 20th year of service to God and the Body of Christ. Back in 2002 while I was pastoring at Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart the people said, Pastor Dave you must go to my country and share the Gospel. So, I started travelling as the US Navy allowed, I was still on active duty. The countries started to add up and before I knew it I was travelling every three months. The LORD said, “put a name to my travels” and I thought, well, all I want to do is behold His glory and bam, Beholding His Glory was birthed for the glory of God. Since then we have not looked back. So many flights, miles, countries, so many scrapes God got us out of, so many people, as to date when we went to Ukraine in June of this year Ukraine was 88th country the LORD has allowed me to represent Him in ministry. And I know this is not the end of our travels we have many many miles to go before we sleep. I look forward to the next 20 years if the LORD desires.
Okay, let us continue on with “Waiting on God” as we continue to look at the many circumstances and ways the LORD has visited man. Last month we looked at God visiting man in the wilderness. Wow, what a special place God desires to take us all to so He can show us He is God. The wilderness is often taught as a place of sin and separation from God, but not true. For those who know God the wilderness is the making place in God where we learn God’s ways. It is the place God leads us to so that he can establish His truths and we are taught the way God operates and functions. Not in the land that flows with milk and honey, on no, but in the seemingly stark and barren places where we must lean on our beloved as we come up from the wilderness. It is a shame the church is more concerned about telling the devil what they are going to do to him, in Jesus’ name, than going to the wilderness and learning the secrets that hide in the lessons God provides freely in the difficult, perplexing, and even confusing times. We went to a very big church recently and the people spent more time telling the devil what they are going to do to him instead of talking to Jesus. Something is wrong when in church you are talking with the devil. So this week we will look at another time of visitation in Luke 24:13-15. Of course this is the wonderful story of the two men walking to Emmaus and as they walked Jesus drew near and went with them. Luke writes, “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.” (Luke 24:13-15) Many folks even Bible Teachers often refer to these men as disciples, but that is not what Luke calls them. However, I would say they could have been two of the original Apostles of Jesus. In verse 30 when Jesus breaks the bread and in verse 31 their eyes were opened and they knew Him, “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” (Luke 24:30-31). So let us look at the picture. These two men were walking to Emmaus about 20 miles from Jerusalem and suddenly Jesus (it was resurrection Sunday) shows up, but please note these two men did not know it was Jesus. In their minds Jesus was dead, he was crucified and put to death three days ago, but they also heard some certain ladies said His body was gone and something about an Angel. So they were confused and perplexed. Why I said they could have been Apostles was only the original 12 – 1 (Judas) were at the last super and saw Jesus break the bread. So, verse 31 says when Jesus broke the bread, “their eyes were opened and they knew him.” But wait a minute when Jesus appeared they did not know Him. Why not? I mean if at least a disciples (maybe one of the 70 disciples Jesus sent out two by two) they walked with Him, heard Him speak, and maybe ministered, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” (Luke 10:17) And at best an Apostle, a part of Jesus’ inner circle of friends who saw the Son of God in all of His glory the most. BUT have it be a disciple or Apostle they never recognized Jesus. So too in our lives, Jesus can show up and we not see Him. Now, He probably will not show up in a physical body (He may), but make no mistake my friend Jesus will show up in ways when we least think. He is good at showing up to teach us His ways if we have the eyes of our understanding open. I am amazed these two men did not know Jesus after all they went through. After all, their plans and hopes were crushed. Jesus who they hoped was the Messiah or who they referred as “a mighty prophet in deed and word among the people” was dead. Ah, but Jesus spoke to them, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27) When Jesus shows up to speak peace we must allow Him to touch our heart.
Next month we will continue to look at some circumstances in which the LORD has visited man as seen in some diverse situations. Next week my favorite (not that I enjoy it) the wilderness. Do you see Him draw near? Please know God is near to them who are near to Him. Do you feel His presence? Do you see His hand in your life? He is waiting on us to make our first move. Written by David Stahl
