Keeping Christ Centered

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Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:20

Hello, and welcome to another podcast of Legacy of Freedom. I'm your host, Eric McBride. Glad you're here with us today. We're going to be talking about being centered in Christ. Have you ever felt like you got off center? Have you ever felt totally pulled away and distracted in your walk? Well, you're probably not alone. But there's good news. We can always get our focus on the one who matters most. The one who keeps everything in check. That's Jesus Christ. Glad you're here today. Get your pencil, your pen, your notebook, your Bible. Get ready to take some notes. I believe God wants to speak to us today and reveal his truth in our hearts that we can live a legacy of freedom. Well, when I was just spending some time with God this morning, he brought this to my attention after the resurrection. Luke chapter 24, the day of his resurrection, that same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along, they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them, but God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, What are you discussing so intently as you walk along? They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleophus, replied, You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days. What things? Jesus asked. The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth, they said, He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leaders, our leading priest and other religious leaders, handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel and all this all happened three days ago. Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning and they came back with this amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive. Some of our men ran out to see. Sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said. Verse 25, then Jesus said to them, You foolish people, you find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in Scripture. Wasn't it clearly predicted that Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory? Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets explaining from all the scripture the things concerning himself. I can just imagine the perplexity, the feeling of dismay. All their hope was in Jesus. He is the prophet of prophets, he is the very Son of God, God incarnate.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

And many had had revelation. This is the Christ. This is the one who was promised.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

And all their hopes have been crushed, and now their focus is on what's not rather than seeing what is. The Bible says that God kept them from recognizing him. You may be walking in some despair. There are some things that can keep you from seeing. But when Christ is center, and you go back to the Word, because Jesus began to speak the Word, He began to reveal the truth of Scripture, the prophecy of the Word of God. These things must have taken place, he said. Why are you so foolish that you don't believe? Where's your faith? Many times he would ask his disciples that where is your faith? When our eyes get off center, when Christ isn't the center of our life, and he's put to the side when other things have come up or other things have happened, things that are rocking your world, things that are just so overwhelming, and that becomes the center of your focus that you forget the prophecies of the scripture that Jesus said in this world, you shall have tribulation. You will have tribulation, but be cheerful, because I have overcome the world. When Christ is sinner in your life, you know that he has overcome all things. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, He's ascended to the Majesty on high, seated at His right hand. And the Word of God says he ever liveth to make intercession for the saints. You may not see him today. You may not recognize he's with you, but get your focus on the Word. The Bible says in this passage that as Jesus spoke to them, their hearts begin to burn within them.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

God's word is a holy fire. It has the ability to burn up all the things that are trying to consume us. It has the ability to purify our hearts, to resolve the conflict, to sanctify what needs to be sanctified. And his word gives us hope.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Jesus rose from the dead. He said, No one takes my life. No man takes my life. I lay it down freely. And if I lay it down freely, I have the power to take it up again. Early on Sunday morning when they came to that tomb, expecting to finish what they started to prepare his body, to finish preparing his body. And they questioned who will roll away the stone for us. And they arrived to find the stone was rolled away. Jesus is who he says he is. He did what he said he would do. And he promised many things that he is more than able to fulfill. He will keep his promises. If you've gotten your eyes off of Jesus today because of disappointment or discouragement or even things falling out of place.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

As you talk about Jesus, don't be surprised when he shows up. And he begins to ask some questions to get your focus centered on Christ. So let's pray.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Father, I just thank you, Lord, for the grace of Jesus Christ. I thank you, Lord, that you're the one that comes to bring us back to the place where Christ is centered. Father, we can't run this race without Christ being centered. We can't run this race effectively. Feeling like that you haven't kept your promises and that you've failed us, Lord. You will never fail. You have never failed. So today, Father, let your grace pour over us. Let our hearts be focused upon Jesus and let us run this race with endurance, that we may leave a legacy of freedom for others to follow to Jesus. We thank you for this. We love you for this, and we give you all the praise. Be enthroned in our hearts again, in your rightful place.

SPEAKER_00 12:05

Amen.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

He's a God who gives rest. Why don't you rest in this truth today? Until we meet again, live in such a way that you leave a legacy of freedom for others to follow in your footsteps to Jesus. We'll see you next time. God bless you.