Heart Trouble

HEART TROUBLE

John 14:1-14

S: Assurance

C: Comfort in the midst of trouble

Th: Jesus going to the cross

Pr: WE CAN BE ASSURED OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

Type: Inductive

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Trust in Jesus

Version: ESV

RMBC 16 March 05 AM

INTRODUCTION:

1. Have you ever been filled with worry?

ILL Worry: two tents

A man went to a psychologist and said, “Doctor, you’ve got to help me. Sometimes I feel like a Teepee and then, at other times, I feel like a Wigwam.”

The doctor thought about it for a moment and then he said, “I better treat you for anxiety. You’re two tents!”

ILL Worry: Snow White

In the classic Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the dwarfs return home from a hard day at the mines, their picks slung over their small shoulders. From a distance, they see that their small cabin in the woods is unexpectedly aglow, and a billow of smoke drifts from the chimney. Warily, they make their way into their cabin and discover that an intruder is asleep in their bedroom. Their imaginations run wild as they discuss what vile creature slumbers in their room.

The other dwarfs urge Dopey to go and investigate. "Don’t worry. We’re right behind you," they assure him. Dopey carefully cracks open the door and enters. Just then, the "thing" under the sheets stretches, and Dopey and the other Dwarfs flee in unbridled terror. "What was it?" they scream. "Did you see it? Did you see it?"

Dopey nods his head vigorously.

"Was it a dragon?"

Again Dopey nods yes.

"Did it have horns?"

Using his fingers to imitate horns, Dopey nods again.

"Did it slobber?"

Dopey nods again, slobbering profusely.

The fears of the dwarfs have grown larger with each question.

"What was it doing?" they ask.

Dopey closes his eyes and snores.

Doc cries, "There’s a monster sleeping in our beds! Let’s get him while we can."

Once again they venture up the stairs to deal with the beast in the bed. Gathering around the bed, they raise their picks to deal the fatal blow to the monster. But when the sheets are thrown back, they find a harmless guest, Snow White.

Have you ever noticed that…

2. Worry can be so paralyzing.

Perhaps there is a “worrier” in your home.

Or perhaps you are the “worrier,” and every situation that occurs there is an anxiety.

Like…

• What did I say yes to?

• How are we ever going to pay for this?

• What if I get sick?

• What if they say no?

• No one can live up to his/her standard!

• How am I ever going to get this done on time?

So why worry?

Someone has compared worry to being in rocking chair.

There is a lot of movement, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.

We try all kinds of things to make us feel better.

We explore new philosophies.

We go to counseling.

We go to Barnes & Noble to get a book on self-help techniques (they have shelves of them).

But there is no doubt, there is cause for concern when we look at the problems of the world.

There are rising costs of living.

There is plenty of international crisis – Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, North Korea, Nigeria.

There are judges being shot.

And our own county government figures can’t seem to figure out how to run itself.

When we were last studying in the gospel of John a few weeks ago…

3. The disciples were naturally anxious.

These are hearts that are far from tranquil.

It has been a busy night so far.

They had argued about who was the greatest.

Then Jesus embarrassed them by washing their feet.

Judas’ sudden departure left them puzzled.

And Peter has been silenced because Jesus told him that he was going to deny Him three times.

To top it off, Jesus has said He was leaving.

They were losing Jesus.

He has spoken of His impending departure, and He tells them that they can’t follow.

But He was their Messiah and their friend.

Their hopes were hanging on Him.

They had plenty of reason to worry.

Let’s consider today’s text in its entirety:

(1) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (4) And you know the way to where I am going.”

(5) Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (6) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (7) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”