How Do We Face Trouble In This World?

Alba 5-4-14 8-21-2022 (Revised)

HOW DO WE FACE TROUBLE IN THIS WORLD?

John 16:32-33

How many of you have a pressure pot? Pressure cooking has been around for a long time. In our basement we have the pressure cooker that my mother used many times, mostly when she was canning something. It would be dangerous to use that now because the seal is old and cracking.

Today the pressure pot has been revived and is used for more than just canning. We have one and Janine uses it to quickly cook meats, make soup and even boil eggs.

Some of you have had pressure all week long, some unique to you and some common to us all. We live in a world that is full of concerns and worries. And all the more so with a weakened economy, a weakened military and a question of leadership. These concerns put pressure on us.

But there are other pressures as well. It may be that you’ve got pressure in your family. Or maybe you’ve got pressure in your checkbook, or you’ve got pressure in your relationships, or health pressures. We face troubles that come from many places.

Well, you shouldn't be surprised. Jesus told even the apostles, recorded in John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation.” And these were the ones closest to Jesus.

In the World, in our surroundings, we will have tribulation. The Greek word for tribulation is thlipsis, a word that suggests that tribulation is like being pressed together or receiving pressure.

So that means that we will have afflictions, troubles, anguish, and persecution in this world. Especially if we are Christians.

Just ask a band of untested disciples who would eventually become hated, pursued, persecuted falsely condemned, tortured. That is why Jesus gives them a warning beginning in John chapter 15 and continues into chapter 16. Listen to what Jesus said to them.

John 15:18 “18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

“20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

--Then skip to chapter 16

John 16: 1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

--And skip down to verse 16

16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “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 go to the Father’?” 18 They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

--Now skip to verse 25

25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.

“26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! 30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”