Jesus makes it clear to His followers - if we follow Him, we WILL be persecuted, just as He was persecuted. When that happens, we are not to despair, but to rejoice - "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5:10) Persecution is a confirmation that we truly are following the Living God!

Pastor gives us a look at the story, "On the Road to Emmaus," found in Luke 24:13-27.

We don't know the actual location of Emmaus, nor do we know the names of those walking with Jesus in this story.

The story takes place later in the day on the day of Jesus' resurrection. Those Jesus walks with do not recognize Him. They are trying to figure out everything that had happened with Jesus and thinking about what the women had said about Jesus being alive and about the disciples having gone to the tomb and found it empty.

Then Jesus begins to explain the scriptures to them concerning Himself. What Jesus shared is not recorded, but wouldn't it be fascinating to hear what was shared during that multi-mile walk!

What did Jesus tell them?

Pastor shares the idea of Jesus, starting with the story of Abraham and Isaac in the book of Genesis:

• Genesis 22:1-18 - this is the story of Abraham and Isaac at Mt. Moriah. Pastor shares some overwhelming details of this prophetic event.
• • God tells Abraham He is going to test him and tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. And Abraham steps into obedience.
  • Pastor explores several phrases found in Genesis 22 "only son," "whom you love, "Moriah." (Moriah is where the temple wold be built in Solomon's day.)
  • Abraham travels to Moriah and "on the third day" they arrive at Moriah and Abraham and Isaac leave the servants and head out the rest of the way alone. Isaac carries "the wood" for the offering.
  • Isaac asks Abraham "where is the lamb?" And Abraham replies that "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."
  • Isaac willingly allowed his father to place him on the altar. As Abraham raises the knife, an Angel of the LORD calls out, "Abraham, Abraham, don't lay a hand on the boy. I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
  • Isaac comes off the altar and the LORD provides a lamb for the sacrifice.
  • In verse 14 we read that Abraham called the place "The Lord Will Provide."
  • What Abraham saw was a picture of the sacrifice of God the Father in giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
  • The story ends with, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." The fulfillment to that promise to Abraham is found in Christ alone.

Jesus is the Living Hope of all the world.

First use of "love" in the Gospels…

Matthew 3:17 - at the baptism of Jesus "this is my Son, whom I love."

Mark 1:11 - at the baptism of Jesus "You are my Son, whom I love"

Luke 3:22 - at the baptism of Jesus "you are my Son, whom I love"

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

As Jesus talked to the disciples, these are the kinds of things He would have reminded them of: He is the only One who is the Savior of the world. The only One who brings forgiveness, life and hope. The only One who brings life forevermore. He is Risen!! He is risen indeed! He is alive! And He is returning!

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This is the final week in our study of 400 years of Kings and Prophets from Solomon to Jeremiah.

King Josiah
• Young King seeks God
• Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem
• Book of the Law discovered
• Reform beyond Judah
• Passover observance - King Josiah gives an order to all people to observe God's Passover. This had not been celebrated according to what was written, not even in the days of the judges, nor in the days of any of the kings of Israel and Judah. Josiah made sure the celebration was carried out according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. He, like David, was a man after God's own heart. He reads the scriptures and applies them and a time of revival begins. We read in 2 Kings 23:25 "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses."
• Death at Megiddo - A prophetic word comes from Huldah telling Josiah of the judgment that is coming from God against the people, but that because Josiah's heart was repentant he would not see the judgment that would come. During this time there was great international upheaval between Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. 2 Kings 23:29 "While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went up to the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to meet him in battle, but Necho faced him and killed him at Megiddo." Jeremiah and the nation were devastated by the loss of king Josiah. Then Josiah's 3 sons reign. None were the king that their father was. They returned to the old ways for faithlessness to God.

Josiah's 3 Sons
• Jehoahaz - 2 Kings 23:31-33; 2 Chronicles 36:1-3 - reigned 3 month doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was imprisoned by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, who was the one who had killed his father. Jehoahaz dies in Egypt.
• Jehoiakim - 2 Kings 23:34 - 24:7; 2 Chronicles 36:4-8 - reigned 11 years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He was an evil and inefficient ruler. Constructed a new palace and Jeremiah denounces him for ignoring the people and ignoring God. Jehoiakim rejects Jeremiah and even burns the first copy of the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 36:23) The city of Jerusalem is overtaken in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and many of the people are deported to Babylon. (Daniel was one that was taken - Daniel 1:1-2). When Jehoiakim dies he is given the "burial of a donkey." Jeremiah 22:13-19. Johoiachin, his son reigns for 3 months doing evil like his father and was taken captive by Babylon - 2 Kings 24:8-16; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10
• Zedekiah - 2 Kings 24:17 - 25:21; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 39:1-10 - reigns for 11 years and he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Zedekiah breaks the treaty with Babylon (Ezekiel 17:18). He looks to Egypt for deliverance but didn't receive any. The false prophets encouraged him in his evil ways. Jeremiah warns Zedekiah of coming suffering and prophecies. But Zedekiah does not change his way and Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians and Zedekiah dies in a tragic way. Jeremiah 39:6-7.

And so ends our study with the nation, the city of Jerusalem a the Temple destroyed in 586 B.C.

Interestingly enough the Temple would once again be destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. in the same month, on the same day. This was a day Jesus predicted because they did not recognize Him and had rejected Him.

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We see singing and songs throughout the Scriptures. Singing connects us with the heart, with one another, and with God!

Everyone who is a true disciple of the Lord Jesus has the Holy Spirit. But does the Holy Spirit have us? It is one thing to know the Living God and to know Jesus as Savior, but it is another thing to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit on a regular, daily basis!

God charges His disciples to "be awake" in all times and all situations. We are especially charged to be awake to God's Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the reality of spiritual warfare, and the signs of the times.

Almost two thousand years ago, John the Baptist called people to repent and prepare for the coming Lord. Today, we are still called to have repentant hearts that receive and extend the forgiveness of the Living God, and to prepare fruit for Him in our lives!

Holiness is a gift, offered to us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But once God has made us holy, we are then called to pursue holiness in our lives!