SNS - May 31st, 2012, Edition

Pastor Steven Furtick at Elevation Church
November 5th, 2011
Blessed and Broken - Breaking of Bread

*** Luke 24:13-35 " Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread." ***

• God can appear to me even when I'm headed in the wrong direction.
• God never leaves me, He plays hide and seek so that I can learn to see Him on a deeper level.
• God works in our lives by taking us, blessing us, breaking us, and giving us. Same as He did with His son Jesus. This is how God uses us.
• Everyday in our life we are in one of these stages.
• Taking Stage
• The "Taking us" stage can be really uncomfortable.
• When God is taking you, you don't know where He is taking you. You only know you aren't where you were.
• God can take you out of numerous situations and circumstances.
• God doesn't take you to deprive you. He takes you to bless you.
• Blessing Stage
• He might not always bless you the way you want, but its always good and it's always a blessing.
• Breaking Stage
• God can't give bread to the world that hasn't first been broken.
• When God breaks you, He has a purpose fo rit.
• The only way God can bless us is by breaking us. The blessing is the breaking stage.
• During the breaking stage, you can realize its not really about you.
• Giving Stage
• "It is doubtful whether God can use a man greatly until He has broken him deeply." A.W. Tozer.
• What's the reason God is breaking me?
• God has a purpose through it all, so that He could give me (to those who need help).
• If I want God to use me He's first going have to take me, then He's going bless me, then He's going break me.
• No matter what stage the bread (we) are still in His hands. He never puts us down, and He never lets us go.
• I'm in the Master's hands and He knows what He's doing. Just stay in His hands.
• Even in the worst situations I'm in His hands, I'm always in His hands!

This was a podcast I listened to at the end of May. All through today Randy and I have been going through some real struggles. We aren't fighting, but God has really placed on both of our hearts that things need to change. We don't really know what God is doing, and we are both feeling really lost and hurt and confused and scared. Just going back over these notes and realizing that we are in God's hands gives me overwhelming peace.