How Can You Have Joy In A Troubled World? Grace Christian Fellowship John 16:16-33 Introduction: Today we will continue and hopefully finish John 16 from where Darien left off last week. If you recall, we are nearing the end of what we call the farewell discourse. It is a long section of Scripture taking place in the upper room with Jesus and his disciples just prior to his arrest, mock trial, conviction, and eventual crucifixion. It is in these last moments that Jesus pours into his disciples his final thoughts, his final instructions for what is to come. I loved the way Darien framed this last week as he talked about a coach who had trained his team, but all of the sudden before the big game he was gone. In fact I remember in 2017 when Alabama was playing Clemson for the National Championship game and Nick Saban fired the offensive coordinator just days before the game because of distractions around Lane’s newly acquired job at Florida Atlantic. Here was Lane who was the play caller and the mastermind behind the offense and in the biggest game of their lives he was gone. Alabama would go on to lose that game. To a much greater degree this must be how the disciple feel as Jesus tells them he is going away and that he is going to be killed. But Jesus is so full of compassion in these verses. He has every right to be focused on his own task. After all he is the one who is about to go through this agonizing death, but his focus is on his disciples. He doesn’t want them to worry. He wants them to have greater faith. He wants them to have true joy that is bigger than their circumstances. So let’s pick up in verse 16 as we answer the question, How can you have joy in a trouble world. In verses 16-21 I want us to see that (I) the sorrow is temporary 2 16 "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." All through the Bible we get the concept of messianic timing. It was the God ordained time in which things were to occur. We see Jesus say things like “my time has not yet come”. Jesus is trying to communicate to the disciples that the time is near for his death. It is but “a little while away”. I think it is difficult for us to really put ourselves in the place of the disciple sometimes. These were just common men. Fishermen or tax collectors or whatever they were. And all they have known to this point is to follow Jesus. They just followed him. Tried to learn from him. They had no idea what is would be like when he was gone. In fact even that they haven’t really accepted. Their minds our clouded by preconceptions of Judiasm. They don’t always follow what Jesus is teaching. And they probably deep down hope that Jesus is going to establish some sort of earthly rule that will provide them some security. We will see this in the garden when Peter is ready to wage war to prevent Jesus from being taken. But Jesus also says “in a little while” you will see me (again). Jesus want’s his disciples to realize that the sorrow is only temporary. One of the things that my wife, Brooke, always says is I can do anything as long as I know there is an end in sight. Right, we just need some assurance that the difficult thing won’t last forever. We need hope. [Jhn 16:17 ESV] 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?" Now stop right here do you see something in verse 17 that was not in verse 16. We now have this phrase “because I am going to the father”. 3 You see there is some debate around what the little while is. Is Jesus talking about he is going to die, but the he is going to be resurrected in 3 days? Is that the little while? Or is he talking about something else. I think the key to understanding is in that phrase that we get from the disciples “because I am going to the father”. Look back at verse 6. [Jhn 16:7 ESV] 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. So I believe the “little while and you will see me” is referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit. That is the context of this entire chapter, the coming of what Paul calls in Romans as “the Spirit of Christ”. So because I go away to the Father “not his death, but his ascension”, the Holy Spirit will come like we see in Acts 2 at Pentecost. Which really fits with the rest of the entire chapter. Jesus wants them to know that the sorrow they will have is only temporary 18 So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? Now I’m right on the line of being Gen X and Millennial, and sometimes when I think back to my childhood I realize just how different we were built. I never forget on teacher I had in shop class. Much of it was not about shop by the way. Have you ever heard that there is no such thing as a dumb question? Well he didn’t subscribe to that. I’ll never forget one day in class this guy in the back of the room raised his hand and asked a question. I don’t remember what the question was but it must have been a dumb one, because what I do remember is how that shop teacher responded. He said real calmly, little man, did you know people might think you’re a dummy, but they don’t really know for sure. But the moment 4 you open your mouth and ask a question like that, everybody knows you’re a dummy. Proverbs 17:28: "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent". Now our disciple didn’t have Mr. McCreless but maybe they did read Proverbs because nobody wants to ask the question. But Jesus is determined to show them the temporary nature of their sorrow so he gives them an illustration. [Jhn 16:20 ESV] 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. Jesus knows that these disciples are headed for sorrow. The road will not be easy. But ultimately they will have joy. And you as a believer has this very same promise. [Rom 5:2-5 ESV] 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice (definition find deep and abiding joy) in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. God is not allowing us to go through difficult seasons for no reason. He is sovereign and in control of all things. And while we may not know His exact purpose we can be assured that He is doing something in and through our trials. Our sorrow is temporary but our joy is everlasting. Jesus further explains it this way. 5 [Jhn 16:21 ESV] 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Jesus compares the suffering and the joy to a woman who is giving birth. Now, I can tell you I have several children and I am somewhat of an expert you could say in observing this phenomenon. I can tell you that the process appears from my vantage point to be very, very difficult. But I will never forget the moment when the first time in my life I heard the doctor say, I can see her head. It was as if in that moment for the first time I really understood that I was about to be a Dad. I was completely and totally responsible for another human being. I was filled with an overwhelming amount of joy. And I remember when they handed my daughter to my wife and she held her and she just smiled and cried these tears of joy. As great as the pain and the suffering was, it was in that moment completely gone and it was replaced with joy. And that joy of being a parent never goes away. Sure there are difficult times, but it is lasting. That brings me to my second point, (II)True Joy is Eternal [Jhn 16:22 ESV] 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. This reunioun with Christ or the Spirit of Christ creates in us a joy that cannot be taken from us by anyone. Now this Jesus points to 2 characteristics of this Joy. There is joy in having direct access to God in Prayer. [Jhn 16:23-24 ESV] 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 6 I will admit that I got hung up a little bit here. What does Jesus mean ask nothing of me? Is he saying don’t pray to Jesus? No, that’s not it at all. You have to think about this in the context of the disciples. Up until this point in their lives all they have known about following Jesus has been to follow him. And if they were in need they would ask him. Jesus would talk to the Father for them, and then things would happen. In fact all of John 17 is going to be exactly that, Jesus praying on behalf of the disciples to the Father. So Jesus now because I am going away, things are going to be different, you now have direct access to the Father. And he gives a promise, ask it in my name and you will receive it. And then we get a “so that”. Why does the Father answer these prayers? So that your “JOY” may be made full! Now, what does it mean to pray in Jesus name? First of all, it is our identity. We recognize and declare that we are in Christ. But more importantly is aligns our motives. That is to say that if I pray for something in the name of Jesus I am saying, Father I am asking this because I believe it is the thing that Jesus would also pray. Not out of selfishness or ambition, but I truly believe it is a desire of Christ for this thing to happen. So not only is access to God in prayer a characteristic of joy, but also true Spiritual Discernment. (25) [Jhn 16:25 ESV] 25 "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. I think one of the most profound parts of Scripture is in comparing the disciples that are presented in the gospels. Often they appear confused, without direction, they don’t understand, they have no vision of the Kingdom. They are being repremanded for being out of line. But then Acts 2 happens. And all of the sudden, these disciples are presented in a completely different light. Teaching with authority. Some are writing Scripture in connection with the Holy 7 Spirit. Preaching deep theological Kingdom truths. All of this after Jesus has ascended! Remember what Darien said last week in John 16:13 [Jhn 16:12-13 ESV] 12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. Not only is the Holy Spirit called the Spirit of Christ as we saw in Romans, but he is called by John in this chapter as the “Spirit of Truth”. And knowing the truth is a great source of our Joy. So why does the Father want to answer our prayers, and why does he want us to know the truth through discernment? Because he loves us. Verse 27. [Jhn 16:27 ESV] 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. If you want to please the Father, or better yet if you want to be loved by the Father, then he asks us to love His Son. How do you do you love the Son? [Jhn 14:15 ESV] 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I want to be careful here, because I believe that you are saved by grace through faith. Not of works lest any man should boast. There is no amount of good deeds that can get you to heaven or earn one ounce of favor with God. But I do want to make a connection between faith and obedience in light of John 14:15. [2Co 13:5 ESV] 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 8 How do you know if you love Christ? How do you know if you are in the Faith? What is the test. If you love Christ, you will desire to know his Word, and you will desire to keep his commandments. You will not do it perfectly, you will fail, just as I fail, but in you will be a desire to love God and to love people. There will be a desire to flee from Sin. And when you fall into sin you will be broken unto repentance. You are not saved by obedience, but obedience is an outpouring of a life that is in Christ. Some of you this morning may not know if you belong to Christ. Scripture calls us to examine ourselves. It doesn’t ever say did you pray a prayer. Did you go through confirmation, were you baptized? None of that. It always lands right here, is your life bearing the fruit of the Spirit. And if it isn’t then you have cause for great concern. If this is you then scripture is clear, believe on Jesus Christ today, and repent and place your faith in him. [Jhn 16:28-30 ESV] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 29 His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." In these verses we can see ourselves. We see the first elements of faith in that they have an intellectual understanding of what Jesus is saying, but their faith is very weak. Just like us. We can read the truth of God, we can write in our journal. We can even pray about some Scripture that we have read and think. That’s awesome God thank you for showing my that truth. It can be a delightful experience to have with the Lord, and I don’t want to take away from that. BUT, when do you really understand a passage like this? [Jhn 15:19 ESV] 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 9 It’s not really when you read it. On a deeper level you understand it when you experience it. When do you really understand a passage like “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me”. It’s not when you read it, when you understand it, it’s really when you live it. I think Jesus’ tone in verse 31, is dripping with irony. [Jhn 16:31 ESV] 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? In fact if I were paraphrasing this verse into modern language it might go something like, “oh do you now?”. They do understand to a degree, but the trials that lie ahead of them are about to take this small faith and grow it into something that is unshakable. Peter who not long after this very moment will go on to deny Jesus 3 times. I don’t know that man, I never heard of him. Who will hear the rooster crow and realize that he has failed in his own power. The failed Peter who Jesus would return to and ask the question, Peter do you love me? Peter do you love me? Peter do you love me? I can almost here Jesus say after all that? Now Peter, now do you believe me? And Peter would have said, Oh Lord, now because I have gone through all of this, now I really believe! It is that Peter, not failed Peter, but tested Peter, the redeemed Peter who goes on to write this: [1Pe 1:6-7 ESV] 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The test is coming vs 32. 10 [Jhn 16:32 ESV] 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. They will fail. It doesn’t mean they aren’t believers. The test is for a purpose, to strengthen, to grow. Why am I telling you all this, Jesus says? [Jhn 16:33 ESV] 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Listen Church, Jesus doesn’t just speak these words to the disciples in the upper room. I believe he has in mind, all of you, and me. And any disciple that would be called to him. To believe in Jesus is to be at odds with the world. And there is a promise here that in this world. In this evil system that you find yourself a part of. you will have tribulation. You will have trouble. You will have sorrow. Jesus says take heart, I have overcome the world. This is the victory. Only Jesus can say this. Only he has the power. If I say cheer up, buck up, hang it there it is meaningless, because I don’t have the power to do anything. Not the case with Jesus. The creator, God himself, says, I know your trouble, but rest in me, because I am the One that holds it all. We have nothing to worry about because of that.  Lord’s Supper  Invitation o Are you going through a trial? Pray this morning that God would grow your faith. o Maybe this morning you know another believer who is going though trials and God is showing you an opportunity to encourage them and support them in the midst of it. o Maybe this morning you have examined yourself and you have concerns that your faith is not real.