John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
• People think that once they get saved, everything in their life will go well and fine after that…
• With no troubles…no heartaches…no lack…and no slack…
• But what they’re really looking for is something or someone to take away all their troubles so they can live their lives free of things that they don’t like…
• They want to have their cake and eat it too…they want all the good stuff without changing their lifestyle to get it!
• But what they find is that after accepting Christ as their Savior…their friends reject them…
• Or…their family opposes their decision to follow Christ…
• Or…things they don’t like or enjoy still happen to them!
• Actually…just because you accept Christ as your Savior and Lord doesn’t mean that bad things won’t ever happen to you after that!
• So, many people say… “Well, if all this stuff is going to happen to me anyway…then why would I want to follow Jesus Christ?”
• Well…the #1 reason to follow Jesus is because you can’t get to heaven without it!
• You have to make up your mind to follow Him no matter what…no matter where it leads!
• It may not be a bed of roses…sugar and spice and everything nice!
• In our text…Jesus summed up all he had told them during this night…
• He tied together themes from three different passages…
John 14:27-29 (KJV)
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
John 16:1-4 (KJV)
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
• But the benefits of serving God far outweigh the hardships that will come!
• So…what are some of the benefits of being saved and serving the Lord?
John 16:8-11 (KJV)
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
• With these words he told his disciples to take courage!
• In spite of the inevitable struggles they’d face, they wouldn’t be alone!
• Jesus doesn’t abandon us during our struggles either!
• If we remember that the ultimate victory has already been won, then we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome of times!
• In John Chapter 17…Jesus prayed for His disciples for what He knew they would go through after He left them and went back to the Father…
John 17:15-23 (KJV)
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
• Jesus knew His disciples would have trouble here on earth…
• And knowing He wouldn’t be here physically to lead them, He asked God to lead them for Him!
• What we need to realize is that God sent the Holy Ghost to lead us in Jesus’ absence…
John 16:13 (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
• We don’t have to be blind-sided by the cares and tribulations of this life…
• He’s told us that we’d have trouble…He told us things would happen…
• But…He also told us that He’s already overcome the world!
• Now…if He’s overcome the world…and He told us to be of good cheer because of it…
• Then we can live happy, productive lives…knowing that whatever comes our way won’t get us down…and we can live victorious lives for Him!
• He told us in Hebrews 13:5-6 (KJV)…
5 Let your conversation (or lifestyle) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
• Jesus assured us to always be with us…Satan and the world can’t give you that!
• Luke told us in Chapter 10:17-20 (KJV)…after Jesus had sent His disciples out into the world…
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (or take you out).
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
• So…Satan does have power…but not OVER the power of a child of God!
• That’s the power of the Holy Ghost!
• Paul assures us of a promise given by Jesus Christ in Philippians 4:19 (KJV)…
19 But my God shall supply all your need (not your greed) according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• Jesus gives us…His followers…the hope of heaven in John 14:1-6 (KJV)…He says…
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• Song - “All my hope is in Jesus” – Satan and the world can’t promise you what Jesus can!
Conclusion:
• If you don’t know the Lord right now…the only way you’re gonna see God…see Jesus…see loved ones gone before…or the splendor of Heaven…is to surrender your life to Jesus Christ!
• Why serve Jesus? Because He’s the only way to get to God or His Heaven!
• Why not surrender to Him right now?
• Let’s pray!
