How’s your praise? How’s your joy? How’s your hope? How’s your encouragement? Are you lacking in these areas? Are you discouraged, defeated, battered and bitter? Are you struggling in your walk with God? Are you questioning your trials and temptations? Is the enemy whispering to your soul, “There is no hope.” That is a dangerous, slippery slope, a destructive path that leads to all sorts of evil.
12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
That is a place for the dead. If you are dead in your trespasses and sins (See Eph 2:1-2) then we urge you, “Look and live, my brother live! Look to Jesus now and live!”
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.
If you are saved and have been given new life in Christ, and have found yourself in this place of despondency, Christ has a word for you. You need a resurrection of praise!
For various reasons, we can find ourselves in a place of despondency. Noah Webster defines despondency for us as “A sinking or dejection of spirits at the loss of hope; loss of courage at the failure of hope, or in deep affliction, or at the prospect of insurmountable difficulties.” A child of God should not be despondent, but it does happen to even the best of us.
Luke 24 gives us the aftermath on the lives of the disciples after their Hope had been nailed to a cruel rugged tree and laid in a tomb. To them, their Hope was dead. These men who had left all to follow Jesus were now heading back home, disillusioned and defeated, their Hope dashed to pieces. In Luke 24:13-34, we’re given a wonderful glimpse at the heart of Jesus as He comes along to two of His disciples who were wallowing in the pit of Despond.
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
These men were discouraged, shaken to the core with despair, and not knowing what to do next. But this next verse speaks to us the heart of the Savior toward those who are in the state of despondency,
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Its no wonder they didn’t know Him. Their Hope was dead. That’s the problem with despondency. it hides our eyes from seeing Jesus. Jesus didn’t suffer and die to leave us hopeless, but to give us a Hope that even death cannot defeat! But they couldn’t see that! And often, we cannot see it either! So Jesus has to come near, and probe our souls.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
The disciples answered Him by telling Him about how their Hope had been crucified, and how that it had been just three days since it happened. They explained how certain women of their company had reported that the tomb where their Hope was laid was empty, and that Hope was risen.
To get to the bottom of our problems, Jesus will ask, Why are you sad? What is holding you down? What is depressing you? He doesn’t send them to the quack and prescribe them anti-depressants, He doesn’t coddle them in their unbelief, but instead, points them to the promises.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
After that, the men invited Jesus (Still not knowing it was their Hope, alive and well) to dinner. He complied, and as He broke bread with them, the Bible says, “Their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight” (See Luke 24:31) These men, once wearied with life and wearied with their journey, sprang to action. They had seen the Lord! They ran to tell the others. As they were telling the others, Jesus appeared in their midst.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
That’s just our problem today. We need Jesus in our midst. What were the disciples doing before Jesus appeared? Wallowing in their despondency. If we’re going to have a resurrection of praise, we need Jesus in our midst. We meed a fresh vision of Jesus to revive us again! Jesus knew that and (after spending time demonstrating to them that He wasn’t a ghost! Luke 24:37-43) pointed them once again to the Promises:
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Jesus then did three things to resurrect their praise.
First, He opened their understanding of the Scriptures.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
We are in desperate need of that. That requires an open Bible by the way. If our Bibles our closed, so will our understanding be closed. We cannot know God after our own intellect, but must have Him revealed to our spirits.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Jesus leaves for the right hand of the Father. The disciples return with great joy and where do you find them? In the temple, praising and blessing God.
Do you want to know how to tell if a Christian is despondent? His face will tell you. His words will tell you. But so will his church attendance. If you are missing church frequently, if you are missing Sunday evenings, and Wednesday night prayer meetings, chances are high...you need a resurrection of praise. You need a fresh vision of Jesus. Let Jesus draw near again.
Does Your Praise Need a Resurrection?
How’s your praise? How’s your joy? How’s your hope? How’s your encouragement? Are you lacking in these areas? Are you discouraged, defeated, battered and bitter? Are you struggling in your walk with God? Are you questioning your trials and temptations? Is the enemy whispering to your soul, “There is no hope.” That is a dangerous, slippery slope, a destructive path that leads to all sorts of evil.
Jeremiah 18:12
12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
That is a place for the dead. If you are dead in your trespasses and sins (See Eph 2:1-2) then we urge you, “Look and live, my brother live! Look to Jesus now and live!”
Isaiah 45:22
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.
If you are saved and have been given new life in Christ, and have found yourself in this place of despondency, Christ has a word for you. You need a resurrection of praise!
For various reasons, we can find ourselves in a place of despondency. Noah Webster defines despondency for us as “A sinking or dejection of spirits at the loss of hope; loss of courage at the failure of hope, or in deep affliction, or at the prospect of insurmountable difficulties.” A child of God should not be despondent, but it does happen to even the best of us.
Luke 24 gives us the aftermath on the lives of the disciples after their Hope had been nailed to a cruel rugged tree and laid in a tomb. To them, their Hope was dead. These men who had left all to follow Jesus were now heading back home, disillusioned and defeated, their Hope dashed to pieces. In Luke 24:13-34, we’re given a wonderful glimpse at the heart of Jesus as He comes along to two of His disciples who were wallowing in the pit of Despond.
Luke 24:13–14
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
These men were discouraged, shaken to the core with despair, and not knowing what to do next. But this next verse speaks to us the heart of the Savior toward those who are in the state of despondency,
Luke 24:15
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.”
The Savior drew near to them. They didn’t know Him at first. The Bible says,
Luke 24:16
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Its no wonder they didn’t know Him. Their Hope was dead. That’s the problem with despondency. it hides our eyes from seeing Jesus. Jesus didn’t suffer and die to leave us hopeless, but to give us a Hope that even death cannot defeat! But they couldn’t see that! And often, we cannot see it either! So Jesus has to come near, and probe our souls.
Luke 24:17
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
The disciples answered Him by telling Him about how their Hope had been crucified, and how that it had been just three days since it happened. They explained how certain women of their company had reported that the tomb where their Hope was laid was empty, and that Hope was risen.
To get to the bottom of our problems, Jesus will ask, Why are you sad? What is holding you down? What is depressing you? He doesn’t send them to the quack and prescribe them anti-depressants, He doesn’t coddle them in their unbelief, but instead, points them to the promises.
Luke 24:25–27
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
After that, the men invited Jesus (Still not knowing it was their Hope, alive and well) to dinner. He complied, and as He broke bread with them, the Bible says, “Their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight” (See Luke 24:31) These men, once wearied with life and wearied with their journey, sprang to action. They had seen the Lord! They ran to tell the others. As they were telling the others, Jesus appeared in their midst.
Luke 24:36
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
That’s just our problem today. We need Jesus in our midst. What were the disciples doing before Jesus appeared? Wallowing in their despondency. If we’re going to have a resurrection of praise, we need Jesus in our midst. We meed a fresh vision of Jesus to revive us again! Jesus knew that and (after spending time demonstrating to them that He wasn’t a ghost! Luke 24:37-43) pointed them once again to the Promises:
Luke 24:44
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Jesus then did three things to resurrect their praise.
First, He opened their understanding of the Scriptures.
Luke 24:45
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
We are in desperate need of that. That requires an open Bible by the way. If our Bibles our closed, so will our understanding be closed. We cannot know God after our own intellect, but must have Him revealed to our spirits.
Second, He commissions them to preach.
Luke 24:47–48
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Third, He promises them resurrection power.
Luke 24:49
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Jesus leaves for the right hand of the Father. The disciples return with great joy and where do you find them? In the temple, praising and blessing God.
Do you want to know how to tell if a Christian is despondent? His face will tell you. His words will tell you. But so will his church attendance. If you are missing church frequently, if you are missing Sunday evenings, and Wednesday night prayer meetings, chances are high...you need a resurrection of praise. You need a fresh vision of Jesus. Let Jesus draw near again.