Jesus is speaking to His disciples trying to encourage them. Jesus knows these men are about to face the darkest night of their soul. These men had been in many difficult situations before. Their leader was always there to guide and encourage them. But now, Jesus is about to leave them, they will suffer persecution, misunderstanding. Some will even drift away and deny the very Lord they have given up all, to follow.
Jesus is trying to help keep these men solid in the things of God. He offers these instructions:
I. Let Not Your Heart be Troubled!
1. Jesus knew what it was to have a troubled heart. John 11:33; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 22:42-44
2. my friend, no class, or type of people are exempt from a troubled heart. That includes Christians. God's children.
3. Many times, the pastor is called upon to help in the times of troubled hearts.
a. At the bedside of a dying loved one.
b. Many a young couple trying to adjust to each other and the pressures of life.
c. Many times, sin makes its mark in the lives of young people.
1) Drugs
2) Sex
3) Alcohol
d. My friend, this world is full of troubled hearts.
4. Jesus stands and says, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.”
a. Jesus doesn’t want you to be troubled.
b. Your Pastor doesn’t want you to be troubled.
c. You don’t want to have a troubled heart.
5. What is the steps to cure a troubled heart?
II. You Must Know God as Your Heavenly Father
1. The basis, the foundation, the starting place for a calm heart. It is being a child of God.
2. Not enough to know about God, you must know Him as your Heavenly Father.
3. Jesus in talking to his disciples, started with the fact of his heavenly father.
4. Here's the problem, not everyone who thinks God is their father really is.
a. Many are deceived as to their relationship.
5. In John 8:20-30, 38-44; Jesus dealt with the problem.
6. In Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23, Jesus gives us a warning concerning this.
7. God desires fellowship as your heavenly father. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Presence, Provision, Protection
8. God desires to be your heavenly father. 2 Peter 3:9
9. God as your heavenly father is not conditional.
a. If he is now, he will forever be.
b. The blessings of a father, and the fellowship of a father do change.
c. Our heart and life must be right.
III. You Must Express Faith in Jesus
1. You believed in God, believe also in me.
a. The word believe is also faith.
2. Throughout the Bible, the success of the Christian’s life is measured “by His faith.” Not finances or fortune, not fame.
a. Matthew 9:29
b. Luke 22:32
3. Now your faith must be in someone, or some object, and our faith is to stand in our Lord Jesus.
a. The Bible teaches, “He is worthy and able.” Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 10:19-23; Romans 10:17.
b. The more you know about Jesus the stronger our faith.
4. Let me give you an object lesson.
a. In Mark 9:18-24, a troubled hearted father, and his son.
b. In Luke 8:40-56, a troubled hearted father, and his daughter.
5. Every time a person becomes troubled hearted in the New Testament, Jesus questioned them concerning their faith.
a. Mark 4:35-41
b. Matthew 14:27-31
6. When we become trouble hearted it’s because we have forgotten who our Father is, what our faith in Christ can do.
a. One lost sheep
b. Ephesians 3:17-20
IV. You Must Rest Assured in Your Future.
1. In my Father’s House are many mansions.
a. Assurance because Jesus said, “If it were not so I would have told you.”
b. Titus 1:2
2. What are you resting your future on?
a. Can you say, “My future is as bright as…”
b. My ability to perform. My health does not fail.
c. My resources do not fail.
d. The stock market does not fail.
3. My future is as bright as Jesus, as long as Jesus is I AM.
a. Circumstances cannot alter. Romans 8:35-39
b. Death has not, cannot, defeat my future in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
4. My future is as bright as Heaven as long as there is a Heaven. 1 Peter 1:4. I have a future.
V. In Closing:
1. Is your heart troubled? The cure for a troubled heart is:
2. To know God as your Heavenly Father. 1 John 5:11-13
3. Exercise your faith in Jesus, make yourself trust in the words and commands of Christ.
a. The problem is not that Jesus cannot.
b. Our lack of faith is what keeps Jesus from working in us.
4. Remember: when it is all said and done, you have a home in Heaven: and nothing can take that from us.
5. Matthew 11:28-30
