Sunday Morning Worship Service | Pastor Anthony “A Trail of Trial”
by Anthony McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Acts 17:27, Luke 24:13-31, Matthew 18:19-20

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/anthony-mccool--sunday-morning-worship-service-138
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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hold this hope this hope if Jesus acts 17 27 says that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him though he be not far from any one of us can we lift our hands across this place right now when two or three are gathered together in a perfect harmony and in unity even enjoy even in Praise yes even in disappointment and even in hurt even in the Brokenhearted he is there and not far from any one of us let's lift up that name of Jesus right now mighty God we know that you're moving up and down these aisles right now Lord we know that just the mention of your name just to cry out in your name that we have a savior who's looking down from on high ready to meet us right where we're at Lord that's our hope today Father We Lift Your Name on High we need you in our lives we need you in our situation we need to right now in your name Jesus we pray Jesus name just remain standing I'm going to get right into the to the word of the Lord Luke 24 beginning at verse number 13. and behold two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus which was from Jerusalem about three score furlongs and they walk together of all these things which had happened two followers of Christ on the day of the Resurrection begin to travel back home and it came to pass while they communed together and reasoned Jesus himself Drew near and went with them but their eyes were Holden that they should not know him they traveled back to their home place many theologians suspect but this traveler met them on the way but they did not recognize who it was verse 19 says and he said unto them what things they said unto him concerning Jesus of Nazareth what is it you two were talking about which was a prophet Mighty indeed and word of to God before all the people and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him again this is on the day the afternoon of the Resurrection but we trusted they said that it had been which should have redeemed Israel this Messiah that came was supposed to redeem our land and redeem our people and beside all this today is the third day since these things were done then he said unto them oh fools fools not in the context as we use it in our slang but he was Jesus The Stranger who had not yet revealed himself to them was giving them a gentle rebuke and he said Slow of heart to believe are you that all the prophets had spoken ought not Christ who had suffered these things and enter into his glory and beginning at Moses and all the prophets this traveler began to expound unto them all the scriptures all the prophecies regarding pointing to this Messiah and they deny unto the village whether they went and he made as though he would have gone further but they considered him saying they invited this Stranger in and said abide with us for its evening time and the day is forcing and he went in and tarried with them and it came to pass as he sat at me with them as he sat at the table he took bread and blessed it and he break and gave unto them and that moment that he broke the bread in front of them at their table in their house these two followers of Christ verse 31 it says in their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their side one more time before you're seated could we pray over this sermon mighty God we thank you today for your word Lord celebrating last Sunday the Resurrection on this Sunday after the resurrection there might be somebody under the sound of my voice and when I say there might be somebody every one of us would publicly Proclaim that we acknowledge that the Tome is empty but any one of us right now might be on a journey though acknowledge that you've risen from the grave we might not fuel you we might not know that you're with us on the journey that we've been tasked to go upon Lord your word tells us that you're going to be with us every step of the day and Lord we cry out to you on this day yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Lord I have faith tonight that I today that I will fear no evil for that you're with me Lord I acknowledge got your reason but I want to feel you and know you on this day in Jesus name we pray amen and amen you can be seated I want to speak to you for a few moments this morning on the title a trail of trial a trail of trial nothing quite captures the Allure and the minds of our society even today than to be in the midst of someone of renowned or important and not even realize it a few years ago there was a reality show that got great ratings and lasted for several seasons called Undercover Boss and this CEO or boss would go on the front lines where their workers were and work with them and hear this is where the transparency would really take place of what the workers were dealing with and what they thought of who they were working for and there's different uh scenarios where the the CEO finds a diligent worker and rewards them here is uh of the Adam Levine of the voice of a a lead singer of Maroon 5 he's acting as a parking meter security guard and chastising the people a bit and if they're patient with him he rewards them with concert tickets in Disguise and here is Greg Maddox Cy Young winner eight-time All-Star uh led the NL and MLB in so many different statistical categories he's retired now but he dresses up like a a cameraman and uh goes on set with this young hot shot MLB star who's kind of cocky and the circumstances are set up where this this young MLB star thinks he's shooting a commercial and the circumstances are set up where Greg Maddox enters and throws BP to him not realizing the king of the off-speed pitch and curveball in this young MLB Hot Shot can't even hardly make contact with his pitches his hero right there but doesn't even realize that greatness in his midst there's a story during the presidential transition from the bushes to the Obamas that in the transition Laura Bush and Michelle Obama dressed up just in plain clothes and put sunglasses on and and put hats on and they went out to the to the public shopping areas and went around and nobody recognized him and as they got more and more comfortable they begin to kind of poke at people's interests asking who they've voted for and they responded people talk to us very different about their political views not knowing who we were Bishop tells a story that he was working on a tractor out front here and in his work clothes and uh dirt on his face and uh some some type of project and a man pulled up and uh said I I'm wanting to get a Bible study and uh Bishop began to speak to him and they had some conversation but Bishop said the man was still just a bit disinterested and the man finally said well sir you seem to know a lot but you know I would really like to speak to the pastor to which Bishop explained I tell you what sir if you'll come Sunday morning I'll make sure and set up a meeting with him after church not not knowing who who he was talking to right there in its midst and we see this same kind of parallel story in the Gospel of Luke and Luke's gospel is the most orderly of the four gospels setting in order the events of our Lord's life from the beginning in chapter 1 verse 1 and he traces with careful accuracy the impressions of two disciples who like so many of us need encouragement along the way Luke emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ and also his concern for Humanity the discourse recovered in Luke 24 reveals our savior's Tinder and yet firm approach to discouragement it's worthwhile to note that this particular account deals with one of five appearances which occurred the day of the resurrection and this Sunday being the Sunday after Easter I find it appropriate with our timing very possibly this was the fourth of these appearances and it took place in the afternoon of that first Easter Sunday The Narrative is only briefly dealt with by the gospel writer whereas the natural mind would be concerned with times and places and appearances the Holy Ghost inspired Luke to write chiefly about the attitudes of two of Christ's followers and how Christ's presence transformed their minds we read merely into the gospel text that these two disciples one named cleopas and the other goes unnamed on the day of the Resurrection we're traveling to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem the paucity in detail regarding the disciples is illustrated by the fact as I mentioned that we only know one of the two followers names the other man's name we do not know and the Simplicity of the story in itself has its own charm there are no weighty details and little to no description and we can easily identify ourself for we are not to criticize these two followers but rather step into their shoes and experience what it was they were feeling we can identify ourselves with their hopes the fears and disappointments of these disciples on the way to Emmaus in a sense we the same were Travelers restraining to find the meaning of a circumstance finding faith in a trial it's only when Christ comes on the scene that we are able to pull the reveled ends together the whole thing seem to dismal mistake as far as cleopas and his fellow disciple were concerned the long walk to Emmaus from Jerusalem gave them ample time to refresh reflect on the dramatic events of the last few days by themselves at this time the two men begin to talk more freely they begin to express their disappointment they begin to talk about their hurt and their pain and how their expectation did not turn out to be what they thought would happen it says they communed together and reasoned and when this happened Jesus himself Drew near and went with them but they did not know who he was the fellowship as I mentioned earlier of two believers is attended to by a special blessing the presence of the Lord is that blessing and most of us myself included don't always acknowledge that he's going to show up when we are together yes we often preach and don't purposefully misinterpret me yes in our praise and our clapping and in our our worship and we should do those things because yes we serve we we don't aspire to emotionalism but we are creatures of emotion who have an intellectual understanding and when we understand that a savior resurrected from the grave and conquered death yes we should give him praise but there's not always and every day is not always a moment of Praise sometimes you will receive a reporter deal with the situation we're in humanity it's met with discouragement and doubt and fear even when communed but together by those emotions he still shows up and in fact he draws even closer they commune together and reason the fellowship of these two Believers is attended by that special blessing of his presence in Matthew he said again I tell you if two of you on Earth agree if you harmonize together together you make a symphony tune to the same key about anything and everything whatever you shall ask it shall come to pass by your father fellowshipping may or may not be a time of rejoicing for the two of the road to Emmaus it was a time of sadness and this Traveler caught up with them on the path and said what manner of communication are these that ye have as you walk and are set this was the day of the Resurrection you know when we we have this typified view in our mind of you know this past Easter Sunday no day really other than Christmas stands out on the the Christian's calendar it's it's a day of rejoicing it's a day of adorning ourself in bright colors it's a day of family and getting together but this first Resurrection Sunday had a different time of remembering these these followers were sad even though they had heard the testimony of the empty tomb they had not yet seen him or felt him and they walked back home as this traveler met them and in the midst of their desperate grief these two disciples were sharing their innermost feelings of disappointment they had watched the events of the past three days crush and strangle their hopes of a Messianic Kingdom hopes that had once burned high with anticipation had flickered and died as Pastor Whitley so eloquently preached to us this past Sunday evening they thought the Messiah was going to be this militaristic hero who had all of this diplomatic Acumen who was going to restore the nation of Israel and it had not yet met their expectation the hopes that it once burned High it flickered and died and the shameful betrayal by one of his followers and and then they had just witnessed Calvary and even Peter the one who said Lord I will die for you if the reasons so call for it had sent you denied him and lied even knowing who he was The Darkest Hour for these two followers who had rest and given their life on the way back home but a traveler met them Jesus caught up with these disciples and walked with them we like the two Emmaus disciples can become despondent when we see events that happen with with us only with the natural eye and not with God's spirit we can only realize the potential that lies within Christ as we are LED through some deep valley of sorrow or from some high peak of pain necessity is not only the mother of invention but it's also the other of faith humans who stagger beneath a load of grief will often look up through the blinding tears to find a savior who is watching and waiting I want you to know First Apostolic Church of Knoxville and anyone that is listening online and anyone that will tune into this television broadcast that the Lord Our God Jesus Christ is there though the storm persists and though the Thunder Contours and crashes about your ears you have a savior that is going to meet you where you're at I'm reminded of the story of the disciples in The Book of Mark when they were out on sea and the Savior saw them toiling and Rowing for the Rin the wind was contrary unto them and it says it was about the Fourth Watch of the night that he cameth unto them walking upon the sea and notice he would have passed them by but when they saw him walking upon the sea they supposed it had been a spirit and cried this lets me know that all it takes from you is an invitation all it takes from you is just to call out on your savior's name he doesn't require some eloquent prayer there's not a three-step membership process it doesn't matter what your family lineage is it doesn't matter how many zeros are in your bank account all you have to do is call out on his name and he will reveal himself to you note the Jews who used to divide the night into three watches laterally adopted the Roman division into four watches as here so at the rate of three hours to each the Fourth Watch Reckoning from 6 PM by this account this story took place at 3 A.M in the morning and if you look at the geography the disciples were probably out in the middle of the sea just as far away from Land as they could be and that's when the storm came but they also served a God who never slumbered or slept and he's just sitting there looking down from on high waiting for his sheep on his name the tear in your eyes you watch others worshiping in the Holy Ghost and you see the expression of Joy on their faces that tear is proof that you are near to God even the broken hopes and dreams of your life the crushing defeats may be of the Lord for your self-sufficiency will die when you can know his nearness however in his presence there is fullness of joy although the joy will only come after you've come completely broken and crushed upon the raw Christ Jesus there was something about this Traveler which drew the attention of these two followers he rebukes them but in a loving way he says don't be slow of heart he noticed he didn't perform a miracle right in front of them to make him believe he said remember what the scriptures have said and this traveler began to expound upon the scriptures and it was a softening and a warming of their heart previously at an early hour the Lord had been mistaken by Mary Magdalene as the gardener later he would be mistaken by the disciples as he stood on the Sea of Galilee but with regard to cleopist and his friend he appeared in another form as they walked back home in disappointment these mysterious appearances of Christ to his disciples hiding himself as it were from their eyes from their flesh but revealing himself to their hearts hold a lesson for us today as he corresponded with Thomas who we refer to as doubting Thomas our Lord pronounced a special blessing on the individual who can believe without seeing he said Thomas because thou has seen me thou Hast believed blessed are those that have not seen yet still believe these disciples had labored under the false impression that Jesus would at this time deliver the Jewish Nation from political bondage in their minds they could accept the joyous welcome which Jesus was received with the palm branches and they could accept when Jesus was being referred to as the king of kings Calvary had confounded their minds and they could not understand suffering and death that it was Triumph and not a tragedy their highest hopes have been blighted by the seeming finality of Gethsemane they said we trusted that it had been he but should have redeemed Israel we we thought he was the one who was going to redeem Israel but it was much bigger than a group of people at a certain point in time for it was the entire world more than that the quiet retiring manner of Jesus during his lifetime continue to confound his followers after his death and Resurrection whereas Dearing his ministry his disciples were constantly seeking the spotlight and trying to receive the highest recognition the chief of seats in his kingdom who's the greatest in their Kingdom to Who Do You Love the most let me sit next to you but Jesus sought the quietness of a mountain Retreat to the Solitude of a home in Bethany and we find him here quietly talking to his disciples common travel their minds so distressed with the horrible scenes at Calvary and they refused in their flesh to associate the appearance of this plain unimposing individual with a glorious Resurrection they were guilty of trying to fit God into their Petty program instead of realizing that it is God who is the director of the Divine Symphony there are Parts like ours only mirror the entire orchestration and the difficulty of these two Travelers like us today is having the faith these two Travelers these two followers of Christ knew the scriptures they heard the testimony of the women that had visited the empty tomb they had also had seen the vision of angels which said that he was alive very conclusive evidence we might think perhaps having a front row seat to the Miracles during Jesus time on Earth and his ministry but circumstances like ours and preconceived notions like we experience how the Lord will move can have a way of casting a shadow over our minds and hearts reasoning together they were but it was based on their experiences that day but a traveler caught up with them a stranger they didn't know caught their attention and he began to appeal with them through the Prophecies of the word of God it says he started with the words of Moses and he began to explain all the scriptures that it had to say about his sign of the Messiah coming he talked about this messiah's birth his life his death and Resurrection what a confirmation also we have of the Old Testament that this traveler Jesus was putting such Authority into the Old Testament and the what Authority the Lord invested in the scriptures the disciples so downcast though begin to feel a quick in their spirit this stranger began to open Prophecy Before Their Eyes recall events that they already knew in their hearts began to warm he expounded unto them and all the scriptures concerning himself yes we can only speculate on what all this stranger begin to teach during this trail of trial but I believe he probably started with the Tabernacle and began to disclose the Passover Lamb and how it would be used to pass over and typify sin maybe he quoted again from the lips of David and the Messiah would cry out my God my God in his Humanity why hath Thou forsaken me perhaps he alluded to the prophet Jonah who said on the third day will I Rey arise maybe he talked about Micah and the Messiah coming from Bethlehem perhaps he mentioned Zechariah and said that it would be a smitten Shepherd and that he would be betrayed by his friend on and on such knowledge prophecies that had come true these two followers Faith just begin to be built on and on the discourse continued in harmonic Beauty and eloquence until it seemed that the two Saul Christ everywhere and everything foreshadowed in the scriptures the Revelation not yet complete the scriptures had been opened to them their hearts had been warmed by the word and like a skilled Craftsman who carefully unveils his Masterpiece who carefully reveals himself who who they were really walking with back to a Emmaus the Lord opened the door for their understanding precisely the right moment and as the three reached the village of Emmaus Jesus appeared to be continuing on his journey but the disciples showed a courteous concern that yes it was getting dark and yes potentially worried about his safety but they had been so uplifted during this conversation that they just didn't want it to end this companion they met on their trial began to uplift their spirits they said abide with us for its evening and the day is parsipping and that Ray of Hope had been sparked in their hearts teaching of this stranger they were just reluctant to see him go the Lord as he does accepted the invitation and shortly after entering the home while at the supper table the Lord assumed the role of the house he took the bread and began to break and as he blessed something sparked in their minds I believe I've Fellowship like this before I've believed I have experienced a relationship like this before would you look at that Clippers those hands they're scarred scarf this this trial of disappointment well what I thought was defeat I I heard that the tomb was empty but but I hadn't seen him and he's been with us this entire time Jesus had revealed himself unto him I want you to know this morning that Jesus will use the familiar to reveal the spectacular he will use the customary to emphasize the miraculous a simple act like having the relationship and the intimacy at the dinner table and breaking bread caused those blinded eyes to recognize the hands that not only fed them that had fed countless individuals and that feed us today those nail scarred hands reached across and fed them with bread and in a moment Jesus had revealed himself to you that that they thought that that they had been forsaken but Jesus had been with them the entire time and I want you to know right now whatever role that you may be traveling on whatever what whatever Emmaus may be in your life Jesus is right there with you I know last week you celebrated Easter and I know that you would publicly Proclaim that the tomb is empty but you might have came here today and say I still can't see him I still can't feel him but I want you to know that he is there and if you will call out on him I just believe that he will reveal himself to you musicians come in that moment Christ was risen in that moment they say I think I've seen this somewhere before Christ had dispelled their fears his presence had driven the dark clouds of misunderstanding and doubt away as he always does when he's invited upon the sea yes calm the Raging storms and and calm the winds and that's fun to preach about but he can also bring peace to the disquiet and the Restless mind whether in a tempest at sea or some deep Chasm of discouragement our Lord continues to say be of good cheer it is I Be not Afraid and the writer Dr Luke with The Tender Touch of a physician as he was seemed to probe the very depths of human suffering and disappointment the two disciples experience reveals a God who is Ever mindful of those who struggle down roads of discouragement we serve a God who is not far removed from the suffering of his creation but he came down and experience the pain and the suffering that you experience on this day maybe you received some news or report that prodded you on this pathway of disappointment a trail of trial maybe a family situation maybe something completely out of your circumstances and you still have faith and you you you you you still acknowledge that he's savior but you just you can't feel him where where are you at in this moment I don't understand why why did you ask why am I the one being called to this road of them in man he will meet you right where your and if you feel that it's mundane that's the atmosphere for a miracle stand with me Emmaus is where you go when something unreliable has happened that you can't make sense of so I ask you what is your Emmaus today what has led you on that road of uncertainty that that trial of a trail yes you're a follower of Christ yes you've heard the testimony and we celebrated Easter Sunday but still [Music] you don't know where he is there is no place that you will go that he can't find you yeah he reminds us he reassures us and he mixes helps us make sense of things or at least helps us make peace yes we celebrated Eastern the E the empty tomb but maybe in this time after the resurrection you don't see him because of the Shadow from the trials of life and you've been tasked to go down a road of uncertainty and maybe you're experiencing doubt skepticism hurt pain and the tears that you cry you may feel like you're on this journey alone the enemy in our flesh would say oh because you feel like that you're not a true follower of Christ but because you feel like that oh you you just don't have what it takes and you don't have the strength and the power that's an absolute Lie from the end spite of those human emotions it's when you acknowledge Him in spite of those incomprehensible circumstances it's when you acknowledge Him still on that trail of disappointment that he's going to meet you right where you're at and that tear is proof that you're close to him that hurt is proof that you're close to him that disappointment is proof [Music] that you have a savior at 3am in the middle of the night you're out in the middle of the sea just as far out as you could be mention of his name and the invitation for him to step in I believe today that if we'll be founded on this word and let it warm our heart that the Savior can reveal himself to us today and I believe that you're going to find out that he's been with you the entire time today is April the 16th the Sunday after Easter [Music] nothing really stands out about this day I looked up uh holidays today I think it's National Orchid day what a celebration last Sunday was Easter Sunday today's April the 16th nothing particular stands out about today nor thern it rained this morning and now the sun's kind of out just feels kind of ordinary don't it no special speaker no earmarked Revival service but just a customary for you to gather together Jesus Jesus that's when he likes to do his best work he used the familiar to reveal the spectacular he used the customary to emphasize the miraculous it doesn't take a preacher to get up and spit three-fourths down to the congregation sorry if I hit you on the first two rows it doesn't take some great oratory all it takes is you to trust in his word and just invite him in you would bow your heads right now I believe by faith this morning as we pray if you will invite him in Believing on the word that you have heard believing in the prophecies believing that we serve a savior who has risen from the grave if you believe that with her with your heart warmed I believe if you'll step up here and invite him into your heart today invite him into your home I believe he's going to take some nourishment he's going to take that bread and I believe as he does so you're going to see some nail scarred hands and I believe as he does so you're going to say I remember when he moved this last time I remember a miracle prior and then my faith is built up I see him revealing himself to me if you're on a road to Emmaus whatever circumstance or Emmaus that you may be facing I invite you to step forward at this time as a proclamation of Faith a proclamation that you're inviting Jesus into your heart you're inviting Jesus into your home it might be a situation in your family it might be a negative report it might be uncertainty over a trial that you've been facing whatever that whatever that is situation is that sent you on that road I want you to know that we have a god who's right there with you it doesn't matter what time of the day it is it doesn't matter how much disappointment it doesn't matter how much hurt or pain in fact the more you have the closer you are to him and if you'll just reach up right now and say cheeky sister I know you've risen from the grave but I need to feel you right now I need you right now I I trust in your word but show up right now [Music] days may be darkest but your night is [Music] in this house when evil is rising the ordinary is the recipe [Music] from the beginning [Music] that had a stronghold but your life was Stronger [Music] not too far gone [Applause] all the games [Music] oh that turn it over now [Music] Tomorrow there's hope God [Music] challenges [Music] [Music] in the morning foreign [Music] anymore [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] prayer warriors foreign [Music] [Music] all there is hope because you're free [Music] [Music] for tomorrow [Music] [Applause] because you are alive Jesus [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] come on he's going to keep his promise he oh he's gonna keep his promise [Music] would you lift up your hands right now all over the sanctuary come on Heaven has invaded our Sanctuary today you've heard from heaven you've heard from Heaven this morning the response the response is faith the response is Faith to the word of God that he can take your trial and use it for his good and for your good but the other part of that is obedience faith and obedience work together that when you hear the word of God you obey the word of God and you respond to it and we believe that Faith with baptism in the name of Jesus Christ puts you in Covenant with him that you get to claim all of his promises and all of his were together as you are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and we believe in the promise that he will give us his Spirit when we when we receive his Spirit we are brought into the body of Christ that's where Fellowship is that's where healing takes place and that's where Community is built when you are brought in to the body of Christ and so we make an appeal to you today if you would like to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ we have someone ready who will do that if you would like to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost we've got people who are here to pray with you today because we believe his word we believe that he keeps his promises and I believe that we're going to have faith and obedience hallelujah