WEBVTT 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:05.120 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.879 Thank you so much for listening today. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:09.359 We hope it encourages you and inspires you. 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:10.480 Here's today's message. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:14.000 Well, I hope you guys are excited as I am. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:22.000 It is so good to see every single one of you seeing everybody in their their Easter's best dressed up and looking around and seeing this full room. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:25.519 And I'm so excited that every single one of you is gonna be at church next week. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.079 Stand-up comedian, right? 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:34.000 Okay, if you have your Bibles, join me in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:36.000 The Gospel of Luke, chapter 24. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:42.320 And while you're turning there, I want to give you some context as to kind of what we're talking about today. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:44.799 Um, as we mentioned, today he is risen. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:50.000 It's the day that we celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive, that the tomb is empty, and that he's alive and well. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:55.280 So these are things that you'll see in the songs that we sing, and every moment is meant to celebrate what that is. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:01:01.119 But we want to take a different approach today as we unpack what this really does mean for us as followers of Christ. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:04.159 What is our response to the empty tomb? 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:10.239 If you guys didn't get a chance, I want to invite you to go onto our YouTube page and check out our Good Friday service. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:12.400 It was a special service, it's only about 20 minutes. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:19.359 Um, and we unpack the crucifixion, why the crucifixion needed to take place, and what's leading up to the very moment we're in right now. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.799 So that's the context of what's led us up to this moment, why did Jesus have to die? 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.879 All that's addressed on our Good Friday message. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:29.760 So if you didn't check it out, go check it out because it'll help you get understanding as to why are we celebrating? 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.760 Why is Keith dressed up in a jacket? 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.200 Because next week I'm wearing a hoodie. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:37.200 Like this is what that's that gives us context as to what all that looks like. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:46.319 Another reference point that I want to give you, just again from me, um, a lot of times when we're on our faith journey, we're often wondering what do I need to do to continue to strengthen and to grow my faith. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:50.079 There's nothing that I did to strengthen my faith more than just reading God's word. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:51.599 I use other resources. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:56.640 There's a lot of different systems and tools, but what helped me more than anything else is just reading God's word. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:58.719 That literally was the thing that strengthened me the most. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:03.359 And so I want to give you a couple of reference points just for you to have to go back and read at another time. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:06.719 Again, to give you context as to what we're talking about today. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.759 One, I want you to read Romans chapter 5 in its entirety. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:10.400 Just read it. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:16.240 It really does paint the picture of what sacrifice is and who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:19.599 And also 1 Corinthians chapter 15, read it in its entirety. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.479 It really talks about uh the resurrection, why did it take place? 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.000 What does it mean for us? 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:31.919 But inside of chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians, um, there's two verses I want to read before we land and spend the rest of our time um in the Gospel of Luke. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:39.360 It says this: it says, For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:45.039 For just as in Adam all dies, so also in Christ all are made alive. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:54.080 Ultimately, what this passage is going to summarize for us, and I'm going to make every effort to do it, is that we have mankind that was represented by Adam. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:58.319 And Adam entered into a rebellious moment and that created sin. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:00.000 So let me paint the picture this way. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:07.439 If anybody is a sports fan, you understand that you're all part of one team, but one person's actions can bring penalty to the entire team. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:08.800 You guys tracking with me? 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.919 So Adam represented all mankind, he represented humanity. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:19.439 So when he rebelled against God, sin entered the picture, and now mankind was dealing with the consequences of what this one man did. 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:29.680 But then Jesus comes in, and in the same way that we can be impacted by one man's decision, in the same way, Jesus came in and hit the game-winning shot. 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:34.879 And and watch this, and even if I didn't get off the bench, I get a ring too. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.039 As long as I have on the right jersey. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:42.080 We just getting started, y'all. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:47.840 As long as I have on the right jersey, then I can benefit from the success of being on a team. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:54.000 So one person can penalize the team, but also one person can lead us to victory as long as we are on the right team. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:58.159 Ultimately, that is what this moment is really all about for us. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.800 So to give you context, Jesus has lived his life. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.599 He's died as the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:05.120 And now it's been three days. 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:08.800 And these three days have passed, and it's been three days of anguish and despair. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:23.199 And now the disciples get to that third day, and and Mary and a couple other women, they go to the they go to the garden tomb to just kind of be there and to mourn and to grieve, and they find that the tombstone has been rolled back and that they see that the grave is empty. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.399 So from here we get a couple of different accounts that that tell us that they have an angelic encounter. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.800 They have this moment where they recognize the tomb is empty. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:32.720 They see that Jesus left his grave clothes there. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:34.800 They're processing through all of this stuff. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:44.560 The women go back and and they tell, they tell Peter and John, they run and they see that the tomb is empty, but they still are trying to process what the empty tomb really means. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:49.839 They go back, but Mary continues to stay there, and while she's there, she sees Jesus. 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:52.319 He tells her that my work isn't done yet. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:54.560 You go back and tell them, man, we got work to do. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:59.360 So she goes back and she tells the rest of the disciples, I've seen Jesus. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:07.759 Many of them were confounded by this, they were conflicted by this because back in those times they just really didn't respect a culture. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:09.120 I digress. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:09.680 Okay. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:15.360 I may only see one of y'all like once a year, so I'm gonna get it all out now. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:20.800 Okay, so so so so they still didn't know what to do with it. 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:25.519 The rest of the disciples, they stayed there, but there were two that left. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:28.079 I want to talk to you a little bit about what happens with them. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:39.680 So, starting at Luke 24, verse number 13, the Bible says this later that Sunday, two of Jesus' disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a journey of about 17 miles. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:47.120 They were in the midst of a discussion about all the events that that the last few days, and Jesus walked up and accompanied them on their journey. 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:53.199 They were unaware that it was Jesus walking alongside them, for God had prevented them from recognizing him. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:57.920 Then Jesus says to them, You seem to be in a deep discussion about something. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:05:59.600 What are you talking about? 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:02.399 So sad, so gloomy. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:08.480 I gotta pause here because at this moment I just I can't help but to recognize the sense of humor that Jesus has. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:12.959 Like, if we don't think that church is supposed to be fun, just look at the Bible. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:19.360 Jesus is walking alongside these guys that are really confused about what happens, and he walks up and says, Hey, what are you guys so sad about? 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:20.240 What's going on? 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:24.240 So they're like, they respond back to him and they're like, they stopped. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:25.600 Haven't you heard? 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:31.360 Are you the only one in Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that happened over the past few days? 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:33.519 Jesus is like, What things? 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.160 What happened? 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:37.439 Watch this. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:52.319 They asked Jesus what things, and then Jesus says they said to him, to the man of Nazareth, they replied, The mighty prophet of God who performed miracles and wonders, his words are powerful, and he had great favor with God and the people. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:57.759 But three days ago, the high priests and the rulers of the people they sentenced him to death and they crucified him. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:05.040 We all hoped that he was the one to redeem and rescue Israel. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:11.360 Imagine talking to the solution about your problem and don't even invite him to solve it. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:17.279 Early this morning, some of the women informed us of something amazing. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.680 They said they went to the tomb and they found it empty. 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.920 They claimed that two angels appeared and told them that Jesus is now alive. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:33.519 Some of us went to go see for ourselves and we found the tomb empty, exactly like the women said, but no one has seen him. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:43.839 They're still trying to reconcile what they've heard, what they've seen, and measuring that with the fact that Jesus still appears to be absent. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:49.040 If I can be honest, I believe that that's probably a reflection of each and every one of our journeys. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:08:05.759 Where we have moments where we invite Jesus in and we're looking for Jesus, and we see other people who are excited about Jesus, but there's moments where we're like, others have talked about this, others have talked about this great joy, others have talked about celebrating, others have talked about being healed, others have talked about this moment when you accept Christ into your life. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:07.839 But I haven't seen it. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.279 I want to talk a little bit about that today. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.959 So if you're taking notes, and of course, the celebration Orlando, we take notes because that gives you the fast path to heaven. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.480 We know that, that's in scripture somewhere. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.360 I want you to write down this message title. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:25.519 Let's pray. 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.040 Lord, we thank you so much for your word. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.160 We thank you for the opportunity for us to come and gather in your name. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:31.759 We don't take these moments lightly. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.559 So, God, I decrease and ask that you increase. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:39.679 Holy Spirit, you're welcome here, and we ask that you speak and that you move and you challenge us, you inspire us. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:46.240 I pray that you give us open eyes to see you, open ears to hear you, and open hearts to receive everything that it is you want to speak to us today. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.000 It's in Jesus' name that we pray. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.240 Amen and amen. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:58.879 So um, last week, Megan and I, we had the incredible privilege of having our granddaughters in town with us. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:02.399 Um, and it's it's really like we worked so, so, so hard. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:10.559 And when I say we, I mean Megan worked so, so, so hard uh to make sure that they were well taken care of, making sure that their hair was laid, that they were done. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.919 Like she was really on it. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:15.600 I I was there just cheering her along because everybody plays a part on a pitman team. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:16.480 I'm the biggest cheerleader. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:17.519 I'm like, girl, you go ahead. 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:18.559 They're up, go ahead. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.000 They need to take a shower, you go ahead. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:21.519 If you need me to do anything, let me know I'm here. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.720 I'll be upstairs playing Madden. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.240 But if you need anything, um, it's just, you know, but we all play our part. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:28.960 And so on Sunday, uh, my son Keith Jr. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:37.440 and Katrina, his wife, they came down um and we were all together as a family, which are moments I really, really appreciate considering we all don't live in the same city anymore. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:44.399 So we're all together, we're at the house and we're we're relaxing, we're watching TV, and then the time came where it was time for them to go home. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.240 So we're packing up all their things. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:48.240 And so I go outside with Keith Jr. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:52.240 and I I notice, and I completely forgot, that he had bought a new vehicle. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.600 He got like this, I call it like his his dad mobile. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:02.159 Now, now, as we're outside, we're walking around the vehicle, and I'm having conversations with my son that my dad had with me. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.879 Like, I'm looking at the tread on the tires. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.080 Man, like how much gas mileage are you getting on this thing? 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:10.399 Like, I'm talking to him about gas mileage and stuff. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.799 I'm looking at all the space on the inside of it. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:16.559 Like, I'm at a point now where I'm admiring his roof rack. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:18.399 What has happened to me? 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:20.639 Like, seriously, what has happened to me? 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.600 I used to be the guy that was like, man, like, man, what kind of tires are you gonna put in this? 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.600 Now I'm like, man, that roof rack leams very efficient. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:27.120 How much space can you get in your trunk? 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:35.600 And and and it just brought me to this reality of just like how much I've gotten old because to me, I still remember like when I was giving him driver's lessons. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:41.600 Now, now, side note, in the Pittman household, I have been designated as the driver's ed family member. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:45.759 I am the one in our family that teaches all of our children how to drive. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.519 I I didn't choose this role. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:48.559 The game chose me. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:49.840 Now, now here's why. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.559 Here's why. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:11:02.799 Because of the two responsible adults, being myself and Megan, only only one of us has the capacity and the poise to be in the passenger seat and not overreact over every little thing. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.000 I'm looking at you, Megan. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:10.960 So if you ever have ridden with my wife before, have you ever drove with somebody who's like an overreaction person when they're in the passenger seat? 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.639 Like every little thing, like, ah, I'm like, I'm looking out the same windshield you're looking out at. 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:17.360 I see everything that you see, I promise you I do. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:19.200 And you'll be amazed at this, Megan. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.799 I have made it to so many destinations when you're not even in a car. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.679 So imagine that. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.679 I actually know what I'm doing. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:27.759 I digress. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:36.240 So, because I am the designated person that's gonna teach my family how to drive, I now have the responsibility of teaching my children how to drive. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:40.720 So I remember this moment where I'm teaching Keith how to drive, and he's been driving for several months at this point. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:41.919 He's doing very, very well. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.960 So we got to a point where I'm actually comfortable with him. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:49.440 So as we're on our way home after he finished one of his sporting events, I'm in a passenger seat. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.039 It's a straight shot to our house. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:56.720 Just take the highway, get off at our exit, make two left turns, make a right turn, and boom, you're at our house. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.679 You can't miss it. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.720 You can't miss it. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.720 So I said to him, I'm like, man, like, you know where you're at? 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.919 Dad, I know where I'm going. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:03.120 You go ahead and relax. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:03.600 I got this. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:05.600 I'm like, man, my son cares for me. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.320 He does. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:08.480 I lean the seat back, it's been a long day. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:09.600 I close my eyes. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:14.960 I open my eyes up again, and I'm in a neighborhood that I have never been in before. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:20.240 I'm looking around and I'm like, what in the world is going on? 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:26.399 And when I say a neighborhood I've never been to before, I'm talking about a neighborhood I intentionally have never been to before. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:29.600 I'm I'm in a part of town that nobody goes to. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:34.399 So I'm there and I'm looking around and I look over at my son, I'm like, Where are you going? 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:40.480 This dude is still leaning back with the music on, nodding his head, like he's not lost right now. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:43.039 So I say, Where are you going? 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.000 And he's like, huh? 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.759 I said, turn the music down. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.159 Now again, you have to understand my context. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:50.639 My context is I'm the parent who doesn't freak out. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:52.159 I'm the parent that keeps her cool. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.600 So I'm not trying to get out of character. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:57.519 So I'm like, hey man, um turn it turn him and turn the music down, son. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.879 Um where are you going? 00:12:59.279 --> 00:12:59.919 He's like, huh? 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:01.279 I said, where are you going? 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.360 And he and he kind of he jerked for me. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.519 He's like, he's like, hey, I didn't want to wake you up. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:10.080 Um I I I got off at the wrong exit. 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:12.480 And I'm like, and you just kept going? 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.080 Like, why why wouldn't you say something? 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:19.120 Like, why would you intentionally like not say anything to me? 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:25.360 Like you're really gonna like get off at the wrong exit and just keep driving and never say anything. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:34.799 Like, how crazy is it that you're going in the direction that you know is not gonna lead you to the destination that you're supposed to be in, but you're just gonna keep going? 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.600 Man, y'all better talk to me, man. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.440 I got 16 minutes left. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.840 You're you're gonna keep going. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:50.720 You you know the direction you're going in is not gonna take you to where we're supposed to go, but but you're gonna keep going. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:55.519 You know the direction that you're going in is not gonna have any ability for you to refuel, but you're gonna keep going. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.200 Why in the world would you keep going? 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:00.879 And he simply said to me, the signs were there, but I missed it. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.720 Have you ever missed it before, church? 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:10.240 Where the signs were there, but you missed it. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:15.120 I I am the type of person that you don't want to sit next to me at a movie theater because I'm narrating the whole thing. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.120 I'm like, hope yep, I know exactly what's about to happen. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:20.080 Like, I see he's gonna do this, that person's shady, don't trust that person. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.519 Like, I'm I'm that guy. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:27.919 And so whenever I actually get to a movie and there's a plot twist and I didn't see it coming, like I literally beat myself up. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.440 Like, how did I not see that? 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:31.679 Like, dang it, I should have seen that. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.080 I beat myself up because the signs were there. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.879 I should have known that that character was actually the one who was shady. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.759 I should have known that was a person who was actually the one stabbing everybody in the back. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.519 How did I not see the signs? 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:45.919 But what happens when there's a plot twist in our own lives and there's people whose characters are revealed? 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.159 And the signs were there, but we missed it. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:52.080 I saw that you were gonna betray me and I missed it. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:56.320 I saw that this relationship was profoundly toxic and I missed it. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:00.399 I I saw that this was not the place that I'm supposed to, I don't have peace in this relationship. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:01.759 I I'm not happy right now. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:06.639 The signs were there, but yet I continued to go in this direction and I completely missed it. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:17.679 How often do we find ourselves going in directions that are not able to produce peace, but we find ourselves going in directions, even though the signs are saying, turn around, dead end, one way. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:23.679 And we still keep going and we wonder why we end up at the destination that we never wanted to be at. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:29.039 See, for the disciples, the signs were there of who Jesus was, but they missed it. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:32.799 For for the Pharisees, the signs were there, but they missed it. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:38.799 For for the culture, the signs were there of who Jesus was and what he was intended to do, but but somehow they missed it. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:42.080 And then for Jesus, the closest followers, the signs were there. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:51.039 But when they saw the empty tomb and they didn't quite understand how to process through the empty tomb, they were filled with fear, they were filled with anxiousness, they were filled with stress. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:53.440 And then two of them said, Man, you know what? 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.559 I'm checking out now. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:08.799 After all that they've seen, after all that they've done, after walking on water, after multiplying fish and loaves, after healing blind eyes, after doing all the things he's done, these two saw the empty tomb and was like, Man, y'all can have this, I'm out. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.759 They left Jerusalem. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:17.919 Now, here's what you got to understand Jerusalem, that is literally the spiritual epicenter of the world. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:23.039 It is where the temple was, it is where the presence of God was, it is where the community of God was. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.639 So think about this for a moment. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:36.559 When they got hit with a moment where they had been exposed to the empty tomb, and the empty tomb was going to require faith for them to anchor themselves, they hid an environment that required faith from them. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:43.840 They hid an environment that was gonna require something to stretch a little bit, and their response and reaction to it is, I can't do this anymore, I'm out. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:51.840 They didn't know what to do with that emptiness, so they left a place of community. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:55.519 They didn't know what to do with that emptiness, so they left a place of accountability. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:59.840 They didn't know what to do with that emptiness, so they left a place where there was actually strength and support. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:15.279 Isn't it interesting that when we're hit with seasons that lead us down a path of grief and disappointment, it can lead us away from the very place that is supposed to help us, it can lead us away from the very people that are supposed to help strengthen us. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:20.400 They they leave Jerusalem and they're going to a place called Emmaus. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:23.359 Now, here's what you need to understand about Emmaus. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:26.480 That's it's in some translations they say it's seven miles away. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.799 Other translations say it's 17 miles away. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.279 Other translations have said it's 21 miles away. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:35.519 The reason why all those translations exist is because nobody knows where it's at. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:41.039 Biblical archaeology has not been able to find the remnants of a city called Emmaus. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:46.079 So they are doing their best guessing it and saying, hey, it may be seven miles away, it may be 17 miles away. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.960 We don't know. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.279 We have no evidence that it even ever existed. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.160 So watch this. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:57.279 They left Jerusalem where the community of faith was to go to the middle of nowhere. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:02.720 They they left support to go to a place that can't even clearly be defined. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:08.079 And when you look at the definition of what the word Emmaus means, emmaus means hot springs. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.079 Warm bath. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.799 Exactly. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:18.799 Because that's the sound of a baby that's like, man, I could use a warm bath right now. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:22.960 And who among us doesn't like a warm bath? 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:29.440 Like, has am I the only one that's old enough to remember the good old-fashioned Calgon Take Me Away commercials? 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:35.200 When everything is falling apart, but if I can just get in this hot tub and put my feet up, everything will work. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:42.480 So maybe, maybe a mayus for them was an opportunity to go to a place where they can relax, recharge, and get filled up. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:45.759 And I'm somebody who appreciates opportunities to do that. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:51.119 Last year, Megan and I, we went to Cancun for the first time, and this it was a game changer. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.799 Listen, I want y'all to hear me. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.880 I am I am celebration Orlando forever. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:00.079 But if you ever hear about celebration Cancun, get worried. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.799 I'm out. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:04.400 I just other than that, man, we're good. 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:09.440 We get to Cancun, man, and we're there, and we do this aqua massage. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:13.599 And if you haven't done one, I'm telling you, Google it, find yourself there. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.640 I can, you know what? 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:18.960 If you actually, if you pay me, I'll go with you to show you the process of how to get this massage. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.240 I love to serve the people. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.759 This is what I'm called to do. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:30.319 We do this aqua massage, and when we're there, like they take you on this circuit and you go into a hot room and the sauna and then they they massage you with the water. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:34.000 So as we're sitting there, I'm like, Megan, this is amazing. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.799 This is so amazing, we're gonna extend this trip. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.440 So right there on the spot, I say, we're extended trip. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.400 I go and find the people, like, hey man, I want to stay here another two days. 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:47.359 And for the life of me, I could not figure out why I could not convince these people to take my money. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.880 Like, I'm they're like, sorry, I'm sorry, the place is booked, there's no more room left. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.519 Like, you don't gotta go home, but you gotta get up out of here. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:55.279 Like, I mean, they they were like, You gotta leave. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:58.000 I'm like, no, like I uh where do y'all sleep at when y'all stay here? 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:00.880 I'll stay there, I'll stay in one of the like where do y'all stay? 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.559 They're like, nah, bro, you you gotta go. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.240 So it's the it's the last day. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:07.759 And and so, like, I'm I'm a little, I'm feeling a little bit in my in my feelings right now. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:10.880 Like, that's that that last night, and you know that you're leaving the next morning. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:13.759 We got an early flight, so like my vibe is off the entire time. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.119 Megan didn't understand it. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.839 I'm staring down people, like, man, what y'all doing here? 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:22.880 Man, y'all not leading no church or nothing. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.720 You don't know nothing about no burdens and stress, man. 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:27.200 Like, y'all need to give up, you need to give up your spot for me. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.160 Isn't that what the Bible says? 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.440 That you gotta give a profitable war. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:30.799 Like, who's gonna give up their room for me? 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.559 Like, I'm I'm feeling all types of ways. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.160 I'm staring down people while we're eating it. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.759 Like, yo, like, what is wrong with this guy? 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:40.559 There is somebody somewhere in the world right now telling the story about remember we went to Cancun, that guy just kept staring at us? 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.119 That was me. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.319 I'm so sorry. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:44.480 I was in my feelings. 00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:48.720 So that night we're back in the room and we're packing up, and um, and Megan's like, You good? 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.839 I'm like, Yeah, I'm fine. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:53.599 And then and then God said to me, like, yo, man, like, what's wrong with you? 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:59.279 Now again, when God speaks to me, it's a combination between a message translation and ebonics. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.599 So he's like, Bro, what's what's wrong with you? 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.079 And I'm like, Lord, I just wanted to spend a little bit more time. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:06.079 I just needed to be disconnected a little bit longer. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.119 And he hit me with this. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:14.720 He said, Keith, there's a big difference between going on a retreat to recharge and escaping in an effort to avoid. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.079 Exactly. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.720 I'm like, Lord, you gotta drop that on me when I'm back at work. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:23.200 You can't put this on me while I'm in vacation mode. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:36.720 He he hit me with this idea that there's a big difference between getting alone with God and getting recharged in his presence versus getting away from the community of God because you don't want to avoid the problems that are there. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:44.400 Man, like it hit me hard because there's a big distinction between getting alone with God and running away from God. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:54.880 See, we all have the Emmauses in our lives that we think are helping us to get away to recharge, but what they're doing is actually helping us to avoid the things that we don't want to deal with. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:22:03.119 See, for those disciples, Emmaus was a place to go because they had some emptiness that they Couldn't define and they were trying to escape to avoid it. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:07.839 There was emptiness that they couldn't define, so they were trying to escape. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:15.279 Emptiness that they couldn't define, so they were trying to get away from it. 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:18.640 What do you do with the emptiness in your life? 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:34.160 Who do you turn to when those areas of your lives just aren't lining up the way that you thought they would line up in that emptiness and that gut feeling that you have where you don't feel at peace, that the things aren't resolved, that somehow you don't feel, you don't feel like the things are going the way you want them to? 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:41.440 Where what is your emmaus, the place that you end up turning to, so that you can escape and avoid the very things that God is saying, will you just bring it into my presence? 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:44.400 Well, will you and would you consider inviting me into it? 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:52.400 Turns out that Emmaus wasn't a place for them to get recharged, it was a place for them to avoid, and we all have those things that we escape to. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:23:03.119 Some of it is toxic relationship after toxic relationship, because we'd rather deal with the dysfunction with someone than to deal with peace and harmony away. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.200 That's the tension that we have to wrestle with. 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:06.559 Where is your Emmaus? 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.759 Where are you turning to? 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:14.640 This is why passages like Psalm 46 remind us that the Lord is my strength and my refuge, whom shall I fear? 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:18.799 We're not supposed to run from God when we have promise, we're supposed to run to him. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:24.960 What the disciples from Emmaus did is that they withdrew to get away from it all, but God He didn't leave them there. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:40.400 The beautiful thing is that Jesus meets them while they're on this journey, that while they're walking away from Jerusalem, that while they're walking away from the place that he told them to stay, that while they're walking away from the emptiness that they were trying to avoid, that Jesus shows up and says, Man, what are y'all talking about? 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:47.039 Isn't it beautiful that even when we get off track, that God knows exactly where we are to try to reroute us? 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:54.079 You ever use your map and you get off track and it's constantly rerouting you because it understands the direction you're going, it's not gonna lead you to the destination. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:56.559 And sometimes you can get off at an exit somewhere else. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:59.680 Sometimes it requires you to make a you have to make a U-turn. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.599 I love how the Holy Spirit works. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:05.839 So Jesus comes to them and says, Listen, I I you're getting away from what I called you to do. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:11.519 You're getting away from the direction I called you to go in, and so you're gonna have to make some changes. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:18.319 The biggest thing I want you to walk away with for us today is this I must change if I want it to change. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:22.559 I I have to make some changes if I want things to change in my life. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:30.640 I can pray about it, I can invite other people into it, but until I'm willing to do what's necessary to change, I'm gonna continue to get the same results. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:37.759 There's three primary thoughts that I want you to walk away with today that I think can help anchor and reinforce some of the things that we're sharing about. 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.119 Here's the first thing we need to change. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.519 We need to change perspective. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:54.160 We need to change perspective for these disciples that while they were on this journey having a conversation about the crucifixion, about the suffering, about the disappointment, they're talking about the pain of culture. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:59.680 They're talking about the dysfunction of everything that David experienced, they're talking about what the Pharisees did. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:03.599 They're talking about the other disciples, they're talking about a lot of different things. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.920 Their perspective was off. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:09.920 So when Jesus shows up, the Bible says that he actually corrects them. 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:15.279 And what he begins to do is he points them to the word of God. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.200 I want you to catch this. 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:23.680 That as they were talking about a lot of different things, they were talking about disappointment, empty tombs, pain, suffering. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:25.359 Some people saw him, some people didn't. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:33.200 They're dealing with a lot of these cultural nuances, and Jesus shows up in the world and he points them back to the word of God. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:43.039 Jesus is helping us to understand that if we continue to focus so much on what's happening around us, we won't recognize who's dwelling on the inside of us. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:47.359 He takes them back to the word of God. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:54.160 You know what you look at, you end up looking like. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:25.119 What you look at, you look like. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:31.119 Because if I'm not careful, I'll look to culture and then I'll start looking like culture. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:39.039 And now Jesus has lost his influence in people's lives because I'm no longer presenting a version to him that's consistent with scripture. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:44.319 I've once heard it said this way if people hate you because of Jesus, that's okay. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:47.119 If they hate Jesus because of you, we got a problem. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:56.319 And unfortunately, because we're looking to people and they're not looking at scripture, we end up modeling a version of Christ that's inconsistent with his very nature. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.920 We have to change perspectives. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:02.160 Jesus shows up into their world and says, I need you to look at my word. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:09.839 I need you to look at what I'm showing you, I need you to look at what I say about you, I need you to change your perspective. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:18.480 Jesus invites them into this moment where he does this divine Bible study, walking them through the word of God and showing them him through things that they were familiar with. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:20.319 We have to change our perspective. 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:24.480 The next thing that we have to change is we have to change our direction. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:38.000 After Jesus shows him himself through his word, after Jesus breaks bread with them and their eyes become open and they have this revelation of who Jesus is, the Bible says that they get up immediately and go back to Jerusalem. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:41.839 Now, what you got to understand is that that is a dangerous trip. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.920 It's a profoundly inconvenient trip. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:50.160 In fact, we notice that when they are with Jesus, they asked Jesus to stay with them because it's getting late. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:28:00.319 Because it was not good to go and travel at dark times when you knew that there were gonna be bandits and robbers out there, specifically at times when there was a lot of traffic coming off of Passover. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:04.160 So I wonder why the disciples didn't say, you know what, man, it's getting late. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:06.240 We'll head back to Jerusalem tomorrow. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:08.880 You know, we all like that idea, but hey, I'm gonna sleep on it. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:10.079 I'm gonna think about it a little bit more. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.440 I'll process through it a little bit more. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:16.720 There was something on the inside of them that said, I am not gonna stay here another moment. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:27.279 There was something inside of them that said that we got this revelation of the goodness of God, and instead of me delaying me getting to my destination, I'm going to get up and change directions right now. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:37.839 See, I remember for Megan and I, man, a couple years ago, we were looking at our finances, and I began to pray this prayer, like, Lord, I just I just need more, I need more income, I need, I need more resources. 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:40.000