Walking in Joy - John 16:16-33

Thank you for joining us. That key Life Fellowship for our

Pulpit Ministry podcast. Each sermon on this podcast is

from our 11 a.m. Sunday service.

We are glad that you have joined us digitally, but would love to

see you in person on Sunday mornings at either 9 a.m. or 11

a.m. Now, let's open God's word and

ask him to reveal his truths for our lives.

If you would turn to the 16th chapter of John's gospel, and we

will be discussing this morning. Joy and what it means to walk in

joy. Before I begin this, message

this morning in between Services.

I went into my study and opened a book.

That is dear to my heart. It is the Valley of Vision which

is a Collective Book of Puritan prayers.

And there's no name to who prayed this and no person gets

credit for it. But I read this, it's an O

Christ. All thy ways of Mercy tend to an

end in my delight. Now, de sweep sorrow suffered

that I might rejoice. This person understood that

Christ. We sorrow for his Joy X

promises, shown my future happiness.

Given me a living Fountain. Thou Art preparing, joy for me.

And meet for joy. I pray for joy.

I wait for Joy. I long for joy.

Give me more than I can, hold desire or think of measure out

to me. My times and degrees of Joy at

my work business and duties. If I weep at night, give me joy

in the morning. Let me rest in the thought of

thy love, pardon for sin. My title to Heaven, my future

unspotted state. I read those words.

As I prepared to bring this message, this morning was

overwhelmed. By the joy of the Lord Jesus is

going to talk about that today. It's not going to seem as we

begin to read this that he's talking about Joy at all.

In fact, you will wonder, what is his point?

And he's going to get to his point, but his point is going to

be Joy. He has promised his disciples

way back in chapter 14 of John's gospel, that he is going to send

to them the indwelling Holy Spirit.

He has made that promise over and over again to them in John's

gospel, reminding them that with the spirit is going to come some

things. We know the fruit of the spirit

love joy, peace patience, kindness goodness, gentleness

faithfulness and long-suffering. And here he is going to teach

them about walking in Joy. That's what I want us to learn

today. I want us to learn how to walk

in true Joy. What this really means.

He's going to teach them that Joy is not something that you

have to go out on this crazy hunt for.

But that Joy has been provided for you in Christ.

His Joy is Promised by Jesus himself, as we will see today,

it's procured by his sacrifice. That means he obtains it for you

through his sacrifice. If you could go down to the

supermarket or to Walmart and purchase it, there could be no

price put on it because it would be too much for any of us to pay

on our own. Christ procured it for us

through his sacrifice. And it is provided by the

indwelling Holy Spirit again that he has promised to all who

are in Christ. So Joy is something that every

believer has direct access to but that many Believers often

forfeit in their day-to-day lives many Believers often

forfeit. This Joy walking in the Sorrows

of this world, walking in the grief of this world, walking in

the pain of this world. The trials of this world in the

sufferings of this world, Jesus is going to teach his disciples

today, that it should not be so. Here in John chapter 16 he is

John 16 · chapter mention

going to talk to them about walking and joy and how they can

walk enjoy. I pray that you would learn this

lesson that he gave to his disciples two thousand years ago

that still applies to us. Even today, John chapter 16

John 16:16

verse 16, we will begin. Here, we win at verse 33 but

let's read it in its entirety before we teach the elements of

it. It says here in verse 16 where

we left off. Last week in a little while you

will see me no more and then after a little while, you will

see me some of his disciples said to one another, what does

he mean by saying in a little while?

You will see me no more and then after a little while, you will

see me and because I am going to the father Disciples wondered.

What was he talking about? What what could he possibly mean

by this statement? In a little while, you will see

me no more and then after a little while, you will see me.

Of course it's caused much debate in the theological

circles throughout the ages. What is Jesus actually talking

about here? Is he talking about the fact

that he's going to die? And just hours because that's

where we find ourselves here, just hours from the cross, is he

going, is he talking about the fact that he's going to die and

that he's going to be buried. And, and for three days, that

little while they will not see him and then, in a little, while

three days, they will see him again, is he talking about that?

He could possibly be talking about that.

That's one Theory. Is he talking about his

Ascension to the father? And his later return is

imminent, returned, a scripture, declares that he talking about

that when he says in a little while you won't see me.

But then, in a little while you will, they're wondering, what is

he talking about? Is he talking about?

Is Ascension in regard to this in a little while you won't see

me but then in a little while just days. the holy spirit is

going to descend from heaven upon you and while you and you

will see me again as the Holy Spirit living in you, God in

spirit, you have you have seen me, God incarnate But you will

see me in just a short time, God, in spirit living and

dwelling. And you what I would say to

everyone here is let's not make this a debate.

Because in every one of those instances they didn't seem they

saw him again so it's really irrelevant what he's talking

about in regard to this. In fact it's so irrelevant.

That Jesus, they're going to ask the question.

If Jesus is not even going to answer them.

We read on this text is, what does this mean?

Because I'm going to the fob, you'll see me a little while you

won't see me. And then after a little while,

you will see me again because I'm going to the father Verse

18, and they kept asking, what does this mean by a little

while? We don't understand what he's

saying. And Jesus saw that they wanted

to ask him about this. And so he said to them, are you

asking one another? What I meant when I said in a

little while, you will see me no more and then after a little

while, you will see me, isn't it?

Funny how Jesus did that? He knew what they were

wondering. He poses the question is this

what you guys are talking about? I tell you the truth, you will

weep and mourn while the world rejoices you will grieve, but

your grief will turn to Joy. Jesus doesn't even answer the

question that he knows that they have.

He talks about a bigger issue, the fact that they were going to

have grief and the fact that he's going to turn it into what

did he say? Joy.

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has

come, he's going to illustrate this.

But when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of

her joy that a child is born into the world.

All the pain is worth it at that point in time.

So, with you now is your time of grief, but I will see you again

and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy in that

day, you will no longer. Ask me anything.

I tell you the truth, my father will give you whatever you ask

in my name, according to his will, he says, in verse 24,

until now, you have not asked for anything in my name, ask and

you will receive Receive and your joy will be complete.

Please see the context of this don't miss, as he's talking

about Joy. The whole time though, I have

been speaking figuratively. A time is coming when I will no

longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about

my father, In that day, you ask in my name, in my name.

I am not saying that I will ask the father on your behalf.

He doesn't have to. He's giving you direct access to

the father through his sacrifice.

Know, the father himself loves you.

It's for all the people who say, I understand that the father

loves the son, but he can never love me.

No, he loves you. What's this?

Why? Because you've loved me.

The Father loves you not because you're lovable, not because

you're good in and of yourself, not because you're worthy of his

love. He loves you because you loved

me and have believed that I came from God.

I came from the father and end of the world.

Now, I'm leaving the world and going back to the father and

then Jesus disciples said, now you are speaking clearly.

And without figures of speech, what he's been saying the whole

time Now we can see that, you know, all things and that you do

not even need to have anyone ask you questions, this makes us

believe that you came from God. They recognize the omniscience

of Christ and they say this makes us believe.

You believe it last? Jesus answered, but a time is

coming and has come when you will be scattered each to his

own home. And you will leave me all alone.

I love that. Jesus tells the brutal truth.

Plain and simple. Yet, I am not alone for my

father is with me. He says you're going to feel as

if you left me alone, you're going to feel bad about this.

You're going to try to Bear the weight of that you can't.

Don't worry about it. The father is going to take care

of me. I have told you these things so

that in me you may have peace in this world.

You will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the

world. Jesus is talking to his

disciples here about walking in complete joy and walking in

complete. Joy comes.

Write this down first by trusting in, God's transforming

power, verses 16 through 22. As we read that, we see that

they're first. In that text.

What we see is this we see that if we're going to walk enjoy, we

must trust that the Lord will transform our confusion.

Into Clarity verses 16 through 18.

They're asking the same question over and over and over in a

little while you won't see me. But then, in a little while, you

will see me, this doesn't make sense.

Never in their life. Have they ever encountered

anything like this? They know that when people die,

you never see them again. What are you saying?

You won't see me and then you'll see me in a little while again.

Jesus is telling them that things are going to be confusing

confusing in your life and just a moment.

But I'm going to bring all of those things into Clarity.

I have the power to transform your confusion into Clarity and

that is exactly what Jesus does he transforms our confusion into

Clarity? This brought confused and into

their lives for a moment. As they tried to understand all

of this from the human perspective from their own

intellect. Remember they weren't getting it

as we read through that text at first.

Then all of a sudden everything began to click because they were

no longer trying to understand through the natural intelligence

of man. They began to understand and to

see things through the spiritual and all of a sudden and seeing

things through the spiritual. Their confusion was transformed

into Clarity. We find ourself confused in this

world often. Don't we confused and void of

Joy. When we try to understand this

world with our own human, Human intellect from a human

perspective. You watch the news.

You're going to find yourself confused.

And then it's going to move you to a state of an absence of joy

in your life. You began to watch everything

going on in this world, from just your human intellect and

your human understanding, you will be depressed very soon.

That's why in these chaotic times anxiety and depression is

on the rise. Is so many people are confused.

How could we not be confused? Everyone seems to be confused.

We don't know the difference between right and wrong.

We don't know the difference between male and female.

We don't know the difference between God and Satan in these

days. You continue to look at things

from a human perspective, you're gonna join in and all the

confusion, you're not going to understand, either you're going

to be depressed and anxious about everything.

But aren't you thankful those of you who are in Christ, we can

walk enjoy. When we trust in God's

transforming power, the fact that he can transform our

confusion into Clarity and joy comes when we see the truth,

when we get into the word of God, when we, when we meditate

on the word of God, when we get on our knees in prayer, all of a

sudden, All the confusion is transformed into Clarity and I

confusion doesn't just go away and is replaced by Clarity.

No, he begins to transform your mind in Christ Jesus.

And as it is transformed, now you have Clarity where you once

had confusion. Now since to each of you this

morning, if you are confused about life right now, at this

moment, I don't care. We like to often say it's only

teenagers are can who are Confused.

You might be retired and still confused.

If you're confused about life at this point, what is true life?

It is only in Christ that you will find clarity about the

meaning of life. Why?

Because he is the resurrection and the life Clarity comes when

your mind is transformed in Christ.

This statement that they're looking at it, it brought

confusion into their life, what does he mean?

He's going to in a little while, I'll be gone and then in a

little while we're going to see him again.

N. Jesus is going to just as he

does in our life. Take their confusion and give

them Clarity. And when this happened, When

this happened at his resurrection.

Things begin to become clear when they went to the tomb that

morning and it was empty, they ran back to toe all the other

disciples. Things began to clear up.

Hey, you know what we were confused?

He was supposed to be the Messiah and then how he's in a

tomb, then someone came back and said he was in a tomb, but the

tomb is empty. just like you said, they received a little

Clarity in the midst of their confusion, and then We know this

on the day of Pentecost, after his Ascension into heaven, he

had already promised them. The promised Holy Spirit.

Told him to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came on

them and here they are in Jerusalem, waiting and waiting.

I'm waiting. And finally, the Holy Spirit,

does descend on the Believers and in that moment great clarity

came. In fact immediately Peter said

this is what Joel said was going to happen.

This is it this is the promise of Christ.

This is the promise of the prophets.

We have a little more clarity. He took their confusion, he made

it clear. Then we know this.

One day. Because Christ has ascended into

heaven, where he has promised us, that he will return to this

earth. He is going to return and he's

going to bring ultimate Claritin so I choose not to get into the

debate with all of the scholars about was it talking about?

His resurrection was a talking about his Ascension, wasn't

talking, and the coming Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and his

Ascension, maybe in reference to the return of Christ is talking

about all of those things. It is Christ.

Who brings Clarity to our confusion.

When he returns to this earth. He's going to bring complete

Clarity. Paul wrote about this in First

1 Corinthians 13 · chapter mention

Corinthians chapter 13. When he said this in verse 12,

now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror poor reflection

as in a mirror mirror kind of looks like you especially in

their days. They just would take a piece of

glass and polish it the best that they could, didn't have all

these fancy cosmetic mirrors. Like you ladies have where you

can blow up a nose hair where it looks like it's four miles long.

They had a piece of polished glass, that's all they had and

so they could tell that was an image of what they were looking

at. But it wasn't a clear image.

It had some clarity but it wasn't all the way.

Clear. He said you see it as a poor

reflection as in a mirror. He said, but then then you will

see or shall see face to face, you are going to see

face-to-face. The glory of the Lord,

everything is going to be clear. He says, now I know in part I

don't park. There are some things that are

clear. And it is removed, my confusion

about some things. he says, but then Then.

I shall know fully even as I am fully known, it is trusting in

God's transforming power that he is constantly Transforming Our

confusion into Clarity and he will ultimately do that when

Christ returns to redeem this wicked world, it's going to make

all things clear. Many people say this when I get

to heaven, the first thing that I'm going to ask is no, you

won't. The first thing that you're

going to do, when you get to heaven, is you're going to bow

at the feet of Jesus face-to-face than all of your

Earthly questions are going to be answered in all of the

confusion of this life is going to be gone and you will have

complete Clarity. He is going to transform and is

transforming for those of you who are in Christ.

You're a confusion to Clarity and that ought to bring you

great joy. The disciples wanted hey, fix

our confusion. Jesus said no, making a fixture

confusing. I'm going to transform it into

Clarity. That's why they said, oh, now we

see, now we get. It was like those moments in my

study where I have that portion of scripture that's difficult to

interpret in the Holy Spirit, then gives me insight into it

and I'm overwhelmed with joy. Why?

He's taking my confusion and he's made it into clarities

turned it into clarity. God is a master of doing that,

isn't he is a God who transforms our confusion and declared him.

We find great joy in that Christian know that perhaps

you're confused about something right now, go to your knees, go

to the word of God. And see if God is Not faithful

to transform your confusion to Clarity, our answers are found

here in these 66 books, that are bound between two pieces of

leather. They are here it.

We wonder why we don't have joy. We don't have joy because we

don't seek Clarity from the Lord we accept confusion.

He says, guys, you don't have to say except confusing.

You want to find Joy. Trust in my power, to transform

your confusion in the clarity. Secondly, Jesus also tells them

this It is he who has the transforming power to transform

our grief into Joy. Not only, does he transform our

confusion into Clarity, he transforms our grief into Joy.

Spurgeon said this, he said your sorrow itself, shall be turned

into Joy. Not the sorrow to be taken away

and joy to be put in its place, but the very sorrow which

Grieves you the same thing that causes you to suffer and mourn.

He says shall be turned into Joy.

That's the transforming power of God.

God not only takes away the bitterness and give sweetness in

sweetness and it's Displays, but turns the bitterness into

sweetness, it's self. What is he saying?

He's saying exactly what Jesus is saying.

I'm going to turn your grief into Joy.

Look at verse 20. He says it right there.

Verse 20 of chapter, 16. I tell you the truth, you will

weep and mourn while the world rejoices they're going to

Rejoice at the fact that I died. And I'm gone.

I am no longer a thorn in the flesh of the religious leaders,

you will grieve, but your grief will turn to Joy.

That word turn is be transform. Your grief will be transformed

into joy. And why is that so important?

Because the God who transforms Winter into spring or watching

it happen right now in just days.

We have seen the green leaves bud in the flowers bloom and two

and a quarter inches of yellow pollen on all of our vehicles,

showing us. This showing us that God doesn't

just take away winter and replace it with spring.

There is a transformation that happens.

He transforms winter into spring and then spring into summer and

then summer into fall. He is a God God, who transforms?

He transforms your confusion into Clarity and he transforms

your grief into Joy. What a promise from Christ, not

that he's going to do as the world would desire him to do and

here's how the world does things.

Take my grief away so that I don't have to suffer the Greek.

And just give me joy. No, God, doesn't work like that.

What God does is he allows you to suffer grief so that he can

display his transforming Supernatural, power to take

grief and to turn it into Joy. So that he receives all glory

and honor and praise as a God who transformed.

Will transform our grief into Joy.

The desire for God to simply just remove your grief, make you

go away. Is the desire of an immature

Christian at best. It is the desire of an immature

Christian at best. Because where would we be

Church? Where would we be?

Without a God. Who transformed the sorrow of

Christ. And the suffering of Christ and

the grief and the pain of Christ, where would we be

without a God who transformed the greatest suffering, that the

world has ever seen and to the greatest joy that we could ever

know? Look at the illustration that

Jesus uses there and verse 21 you ladies who have children

here understand it quite well as men, we have no idea.

Unless we've had kidney stones. But in verse 21, he uses an

illustration. That's why I don't have to come

up with some cool. Hip illustration.

Jesus has a great one right here. a woman giving birth, he

says, a woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time

has come She's in labor when her baby is born when he transforms

her pain into Joy. When her baby is born, she

forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born

into the world. What an illustration that the

Lord gives us. I'm going to turn.

Your grief in your pain. Into your greatest joy just like

the pain of Labor turns into the mother's greatest joy.

Oh, those of us who have children and who were there in

that moment, we got to see God transform.

The greatest pain that our wife is ever gone through besides

dealing with us. Into the greatest joy as she

held that child for the first time.

And she wept and she praised her God all of the pain at that

moment in time was transformed into Joy.

What are you saying that he does?

He transforms grief into Joy, he transforms confusion into

Clarity that brings us great joy.

It is in the same cross. Jesus didn't have a cross of

sorrow and suffering and then a separate Cross of joy.

It is in the same cross that suffering.

Enjoy means where the father took the suffering of the Cross

and he changed it into transforming it into the joy of

Christ. Look what Hebrews says in

Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2, it says let us fix our eyes on

Hebrews 12:2

Jesus, the author and Perfecter of our faith who for the joy,

set before him Endured the cross.

Scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne

of God, he was transformed from a position of suffering and

pain, and Agony and death. To a position of honor and

Authority where he was seated at the right hand of the father.

What a blessing we get. When we see that, we have a God

who by Nature transforms things Transforming Our confusion into

Clarity and Transforming Our grief into Joy.

I must hurry. Number two.

He walk enjoy not only by trusting in God's transforming

power but secondly by believing God's promises.

I really believe in God's promises in verses 23 on down

through 28. Jesus is going to speak of some

specific promises though. We should cling to all of his

promises and he's want to speak of specific promises here.

One our access to the father and to the Ascension of Christ and I

want to break that down because he speaks of both of them here

in reference to the Joy. And the lives of the disciples.

He says, in that day, you will no longer.

Ask me anything. I tell you the truth.

My father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name, ask and you

will receive, and your joy will be complete.

No, I have been speaking, figuratively, figuratively.

A time is coming when I will no longer use this, kind of

language, but will tell you plainly about my father, and

that day, you will ask in my name.

I am not saying that, I will ask the father on your behalf.

No. The father himself loves you

because you have loved me and have believed that I came from

God. What is Jesus saying there?

He's saying you can have joy because of your access to the

father I want Christians to understand this because many

Christians fail to understand this principle we have in Christ

and since we are in Christ, we have direct access to almighty.

God, the Father Many people don't understand that.

That we can as Hebrews chapter 4 tells us.

Hebrews 4 · chapter mention

Because of Christ. We can approach the father in

confidence Hebrews 4:14 says, therefore, since we have a great

Hebrews 4:14

high priest who has gone through the heavens Jesus, the son of

God, let us hold firmly to the faith.

We possess he says because of Christ in our confidence in

Christ and also allows us to have confidence in something

else. Watch this.

But we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with

our weaknesses but we have one who has been tempted in every

way just as we are yet guests, as we are yet with is was

without sin. 4:16 says let us then approach the throne of

grace with confidence. So that we may receive mercy and

find Grace to help us in our time of need.

There are many of you even as believers who are missing out on

great joy because you think that something you did as a Believer

has hindered your access to the throne of grace and that is

positively not true. It is in Christ, the great high

priest that we have access to the father.

That's what Jesus is telling them, you're no longer, going to

have to count on me to intercede for you.

I am interceding for you. Now, what you were going to

realize is, you have direct access to the father.

When you ask in my name, according to my will, the father

will act and react on my behalf for you and on your behalf.

Half because he now loves you because you love me.

What promise? Not to bring us great joy that

we have access to the creator of the universe.

The throne room is open to his children.

The veil has been torn. You can confidently walk into

the holy of holies because of the great high priest.

The Lord Jesus Christ. Who made a way for you through

his sacrifice he gives us access to the father Through that torn

Veil, his broken beaten body and allowed us access into the

presence of a holy God and Christ.

We now have peace with God that hostility that once was there

between God and unbelieving man has been reconciled.

And it is through him. The finished work there at

Calvary. We can have great joy in

accessing the father. He says that you can approach

with confidence. Oh how many times has the enemy

kept you from approaching the Throne of God because of

something you did. Oh you're not worthy.

No not the crisis. But you can't really think that

you can still approach God in your condition.

No, I can't. But Christ has covered my sin

and so I can I can confidently. Trust in the finished work of

Christ as access to the father and with that becomes.

Rejoice in my life. We walk by Joy by believing

God's promises. The promise that he has told us

that we have access to the father but also the Ascension of

Christ in this text. The two main promises that we

see here verse, 28 speaks of the Ascension of Christ.

It says I came from the father and entered the world.

Now I'm leaving the world and going back to the father with

there's no debate there. He's obviously talking about the

Ascension because he's going back to the father.

What is the Ascension of Christ have to do with anything in

relation to our joy? Well unfortunately, the

Ascension of Christ is that most of the time, untalked about

aspect of the finished work of Calvary, it is his death, his

burial, his resurrection and his Ascension that gives us great.

Hope Jesus is wanting them to see the importance of his

Ascension because they're going to see that in just a short

while. Is Jesus Ascension confirms some

things for the believer, for one.

It confirms says, it should bring you great.

Joy his head. He is who he said that.

He is our, we can remember in John's gospel.

How many times have we seen? Jesus said that.

I came from the father. And I came not to do my will,

but the will of the father, and then when I'm done doing his

will, I'm going to return to him.

And so when we see the Ascension of Christ that he has truly

return to the father, you know what, we can have confidence in

the work of Christ has done. It's complete, he doesn't have

to come back and do another thing so that we can be saved so

that we can be secure in him. So that all of our sin can be

forgiven and we can walk and true Joy.

He doesn't have to do a single thing, it is already done.

In fact, on the cross, Jesus declared it is, what finished?

What a declaration with his Ascension, it put the stamp on

it, he is who he says, he is when they saw him leaving this

earth going into the clouds to go back to the father.

But don't, you know that the disciples were elbowing one

another, he's going back to where he said he came from.

He is the Christ, the son of the Living.

God has a spirit has allowed us to see that and allowed us to

believe that he is who he says he is.

And don't, you know, they were overwhelmed with great joy at

the Ascension of Christ. He confirmed, he is who he says

he is, but it also confirmed that his work was finished.

It's done. Yes to do.

Nothing else to redeem those who he desires to redeem finish.

He's Ascension also confirms. That there is.

Constant. Intercession occurring on behalf

of the Saints. Consonants that, you know, he

doesn't have to intercede. He doesn't have to intercede in

reference to our access to the father.

But he is there and he is interceding for us.

What does that mean? Hebrews chapter 7 makes this

Hebrews 7 · chapter mention

very clear. Verse 23 says now, there have

been many of those priests talking about the lineage of

high priest under the levitical system since death prevented

them from continuing and office. He said, there's been a lot of

them because they all die. That's one.

Common thing that we all have in common, isn't it?

We all die. But because Jesus lives forever.

He has a permanent priesthood. All of the priests in the Old

Testament. Time had a temporary priesthood.

It was for their life, but when their life was over, it was

done. But Christ who lives forever,

the resurrection and the life. He is a permanent priesthood.

Therefore, he is watch this able to save completely those who

come to God through him. He doesn't need your help, he

doesn't need anything extra from you.

He is able through his intercessory work, as the

atoning sacrifice to save you completely because he always

lives to intercede for them. What Does that mean?

That means this one Kirk misses up on this Earth as a nun,

glorified believer. When I blow it though, I don't

want to blow it. I long to live a life that is

pleasing to God. But when I do, because I do, and

I can just be around me long enough and I'll prove that. when

I do, Christ intercedes on my behalf.

None of my sins as a Believer will be held to my charge

because the great high priest who lives forever is constantly

there in a position of my atonement just as the high

priest would go in once a year and perform sacrifice for the

sins and then a sacrifice for himself.

Christ has presented a sacrifice once and for all and he

continually sits there and that position of intercession as our

great high priest. No sin will be held to my charge

because Christ is the high priest who lives forever that

ought to bring you great assurance that ought to bring

you great confidence. That ought to bring you great

joy and it is the Ascension of Christ.

That shows us. That's where he is.

Jesus isn't wandering, aimlessly around on this earth.

Now, in fact, Jesus said when people start saying here's

Christ, I saw him here and I saw him there.

He said, don't listen to those people. he is seated at the

right hand of the Throne of God, the high priest who lives

forever interceding on behalf of all, who trust in him, and in

his sacrifice, And his Ascension confirms that.

Romans 8, verse 31 says, what shall we say in response to this

Romans 8:31

if God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all.

How will we will? He not also along with him?

Graciously, give us all things, who will bring any charge

against Those whom God has Justified or chosen none.

You can't bring a charge against, that's why.

Because when it charges brought against us, even by the accuser

of the brain that Brethren's Satan himself.

Jesus says they have been forgiven but you don't know

what? Kurt did.

Yes, I knew it. Kirk did before the foundations

of the earth and he is whiter than snow because of my Twice.

Oh, doesn't that bring you great joy to know that you have an

intercessor who lives forever to intercede for you who will bring

a charge against Those whom God has chosen.

It is God. Who justifies he chose to

justify me? No one could bring a charge

against me. Why?

Because God himself chose me to be righteous in Christ.

And he has declared me righteous.

That's what Justified means. Verse 34, who is he?

That condemns Christ. Jesus.

He's the one who got his appointed to judge the living

and the dead who died and more than that, who was raised to

life. He died and more than that.

He was resurrected and is at the right hand of God, how did he

get to the right hand of God? Don't forget the Ascension of

Christ. He ascended into heaven and

gives us great confidence and great joy.

Because Christ ascended into heaven, we have confidence that

now he is as the word of God says, at the right hand of God

and is also interceding. Or us. when the father sees,

those of us who are in Christ, he sees the righteousness of his

only begotten son, the Lord Jesus that has been imputed to

us because they're in that position of great high priest

Christ, constantly and forever intercedes for us.

What A Savior we have. Ascension confirms.

The intercessory work of Christ in the continual intercessory

work of Christ but it also confirms that Christ will return

again. He will return again.

In fact, if we go to the account of his Ascension in Acts chapter

Acts 1:9

1 verse 9, verse 8, he promises the Holy Spirit and that when

the Holy Spirit comes They will receive power to be his

Witnesses. But then he says this in verse 9

or this occurs in verse 9, watch this after he said this, he was

taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their

sight. He was taken up into the air

raptured if you would for all the people don't want to believe

in a Rapture argue with Jesus about that, he just got raptured

up into heaven. They were looking intently up

into the sky as he was was going when suddenly two men dressed in

white, Stood Beside them. Men of Galilee they said, why do

you stand here looking into the sky?

Where did he go? What do you?

Where did you go? He's been telling you the whole

time. I'm going to the father The

reason I'm going to the father's because I'm the intercessor for

you. You have no hope of going to the

father apart from me. I am the way the truth and the

life. No man comes to the father but

by me because he goes to the father, we can have great joy

knowing this that because he went to the father has at his

Ascension. We too will go to the father as

well, but also, we can have great Joy about because of what

he's about to say. Why do you stand here looking

into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been

taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way.

You have seen him go into heaven.

We have great joy in knowing that Christ is going to return

when we see the Ascension. She the fact of the Ascension,

it seals the promise of his return. he went away as at his

Ascension from this Earth to the father leaving us a promise that

one day I will return and he's going to return and if the

Ascension of Christ and looking at that doesn't bring you great

joy and the return of Christ because you see his Ascension

Might one examine your heart today to see if you really

believed in the return of Christ?

I don't know about you but I can answer for me.

I longed for his appearing just as the Apostle Paul says, he

longed for his appearing. Why does he longed for his

appearing? Because with his appearing, He

will bring reward, he said there's a crown of righteousness

that is kept for me, but not me only.

But for all of those who long for his appearing, if you don't

long for the appearing of Christ, perhaps there is not a

crown of righteousness that awaits you in and I would dare

to say this if there is not a crown of righteousness that

awaits you, you are not in Christ because it is the crown

of Christ. His righteousness that we will

be crowned with only to take it off. because we are So Unworthy

and to lay it at the feet of Jesus, where it been long, What

great joy we have and talking about the Ascension of Christ

because the Ascension confirms that he will return again.

Psalm 19, the psalmist said this in verse 8, he said the precepts

of the Lord are, right? It's precepts and Promises of

the Lord are right. And he goes on to say giving Joy

to the heart. And we look at all the chaos in

this world, think about the Ascension of Christ.

And what that means, it confirms that he is who he said he is.

Because Christ went back to the father.

I know that he is everything that he said that he is because

Christ has returned it to the father.

I know that everything that he had to do in the Plan of

Redemption, he accomplished, there's nothing else that I can

do. I can't help him out with my

works. I can't help him out with my

baptism. We're about to see baptism in a

second and let me just tell you this any of you who are about to

get baptized thinking that it's going to save you your

dreadfully wrong. You need to be saved this

morning before your baptized because baptism is agreeing with

the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ

that you already understand. Baptism.

Won't save you church membership.

Won't save, you religion will not save.

You religion is man's attempt to get to God.

Christ is God coming to man, that is the difference between

Christianity and all the Pagan religions of this world that are

false and leading people to hell.

It is in Christ. We truly know God.

It's almost as the precepts of the Lord are, right?

Giving Joy to the heart. It's when we know Christ and we

know his promises and we dressed in those promises that we walk

enjoy. Thirdly.

Lastly. We walk in Joy by faith in God

in Christ position. This is a big one faith in

Christ position. Verses 29 through 33, speak of

the position of Christ. And disciples said, now you are

speaking clearly, and without figures of speech.

Now we can see that, you know, all things you see how he

transformed their confusion to Clarity.

We see we see now clearly we're hearing you now.

We can see that you know all things and that you do not even

need to have anyone ask you questions, this makes us believe

that you came from God. Jesus clearly failed for them.

His omniscient power that he knows everything and they said

this means you are really God. He says you believe it last but

a time is coming and has come when you will be scattered each

to his own home yet and you will leave me all alone yet, I am not

alone for my father's with me. I told you these things so that

in me, you may have peace in this world.

You will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the

world. Jesus is offering joy to his

disciples here based on his position and faith in that

position position. Regarding specifically.

Here is attributes his attributes to know who Christ

is, it's important that each of us who claim Christ in this

room. And in this, World study the

scriptures all that we can so that we can see his attributes

clearly, so that we can know who he really is.

Because there are all sorts of false Christ being presented in

our day, How do we know the true from the counterfeit?

We learned the truth. We learned a true we Focus On

Christ who he is here. They see his attribute of

omniscience though we would serve ourselves well to learn

all of his Divine attributes that we see in scripture, this

specific one here is highlighted They receive Comfort because of

his omniscience, he knows everything.

That should bring us great comfort today to know that

Christ knows everything. He knows your weaknesses.

He knows your Temptations. He knows your flaws.

He knows your shortcoming. He knows your strengths.

He knows your heart. He knows all things and it

brings us great joy as Believers to see that.

That he exercises, his omniscience here, to let us

know. That he knows everything.

And he still loves us. He's not going to hold it

against us. He let them know here, watch it.

You're going to abandon me. I know that too.

That's what they said. They said we see that.

You know everything and so that we know you come from God.

He said I also know that you're going to abandon me Don't beat

yourself up about it. Fathers not going to.

Abandon me. Don't beat yourself up about

that. I do know all thing.

It's not going to shock me when you abandon me.

I'll be fine. So, will you?

Rest in my peace, what a compassionate savior.

He knows. He knows that Peter is going to

deny him just as he is already said. and In This Moment, He

reminds him of it again. and in the context of this is, don't be

troubled by will be troubled by it.

There's a greater plan. I can't help, but go to the

banks of Galilee. where I've actually stood, where they

believe is the actual location where Jesus fed his disciples

fish on the shore of Galilee after his resurrection, when

they saw him there, I can't help but go there and think of Peter

who disrobed and jumped in the water out of a boat, like some

raging lunatic and swam as fast as he could to Christ on that

Seashore, as he had prepared that fish for breakfast.

I can't help, but imagine the joy that flooded the heart.

Saint Peter, when he heard those words, Go feed my sheep.

Go feed my sheep. Oh, I can you imagine everything

in Peters mind is everything began to just come to the front

of his mind? He remembers the conversation

that he and the Lord had in Luke chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

Luke 22:31, the Lord says to Peter Simon Simon.

Luke 22:31

Satan has asked to sift you as wheat?

But I have prayed for you Simon. That your faith may not fail.

Oh, did Peters Humanity fail? Yes.

His faith. Never failed.

We see that on the banks of Galilee his faith never felt.

And when you have turned back, wow, he said, Peter, your faith

is going to hold you. Because it's true.

You can say the same thing about Judas.

You can say that about Peter, he said, and when you have turned

back, Jesus told him right there.

You're going to have an issue. You're in a fall, you're not

going to fail. Faith is going to uphold you.

It's faith mean because of your faith.

In me. I am going to uphold you and

when you return, that's a doctor to perseverance here.

We see it again the True Believer always return and when

you return Strengthen your brothers.

How did he strengthen them with the joy that he received from

the Lord after he was strengthened?

But a gracious compassionate savior.

We see there. We can walk enjoy by faith in

Christ's position regarding his attributes and his great joy in

seeing them to know that he knows all he sees all even

before anything happened. That he is determined in

eternity past to love you. If you were in Christ here, this

morning in spite of you, What joy we have.

They're not only that he's teaching them to walk.

Enjoy. By faith in Christ position

regarding his attributes, but also regarding his

accomplishments. Not only who Christ is, That

wasn't enough. But what Christ did and will do.

For those who are in Christ, we will walk in Great Joy Church

when we learn to rest by faith in the accomplishments of Christ

in, in that alone, not in. Did you get the raise that you

wanted not in? Did you get the promotion that

you wanted? Not in?

Did you score the grade on the test that you desire?

Not in anything of this world? but when we learn to rest, In

the accomplice accomplishments of Christ Alone.

We'll have great joy. Look what he says to them in

this world, you will have trouble.

But take heart. I have overcome the world.

What a statement? He tells them.

You're going to be scattered. He's already told Peter you're

going to deny me. And now he says, there's going

to be all kinds of trouble in this world.

Can we testify to? Yes, that's true.

What he says, for each of us. Take heart.

That means don't lose heart. Don't lose.

Hope. Don't lose faith.

Trust in him, take heart. I have overcome the world.

He says your Hope For Joy is in mine accomplishments.

Well, isn't that true? Any hope of joy that we have in

this wicked and disgusting and dark and satanic and evil World

any hope and joy that we have is found in the accomplishments of

Christ and Christ Alone? John says it like this in his

first epistle chapter 5. He says for everyone born of

God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has

overcome the world. Even our faith.

It is a our faith in Christ's victory.

That allows us to overcome the world.

There's so many Christian songs these days about how you're an

overcomer and they forget to say that you're an overcomer only

because of the accomplishments of Christ that he is an

overcomer. You're not an overcomer in and

of yourself because you develop some kind of positive thinking

or some kind of psychological help.

You're not an overcomer in and of yourself at all.

You are the world. But it is in Christ.

And his accomplishment through his death, his burial, his

resurrection, his Ascension and we know his return, it is in

that his accomplishments that we will overcome the world, who is

it? John says That overcomes the

world. Who is it?

The successful. The rich, the famous.

The nice, the perfect. No, who is it?

That overcomes the world. The religious.

No. Who is it?

That overcomes the world only anytime you see the word to only

in your Bible, I want you to start highlighting that and see

how exclusive the gospel is only.

He who believes that Jesus is the son of God.

What Joy? That we receive those of us who

believe that. In this world you have trouble,

but take heart, I have overcome the world, you can have joy in

the midst of this world. In the midst of all the chaos

because I have overcome the world now because you like the

circumstance that you're in. Not because you like the

situation that you're in not because you like the culture

that you live in a country that you live in, not because of

those things. Take heart.

Because my accomplishment, I have overcome the world in your

place. Therefore, now if you were in

Christ, you too are an overcomer you wanna walk enjoy.

Trust by faith in Jesus Christ his position who he truly is, he

is the Overcomer who through his death on a cross.

Overcame sin. He overcame sin for all who will

believe in him. He will forgive you and he will

wash you of that sin. This very day that alienate you

from a holy God. He will allow you to overcome

your sin because he has overcome this world, we trust in Christ

today. Going to walk.

Enjoy trust in Christ. Yes.

You know, walking confusion and chaos and depression anxiety.

Keep trusting in you. One of that angers, a lot of

people. It's the truth because the word

of God says that it's true. In trust in your own emotions.

Don't feelings. Or you can trust by faith in the

accomplishments of Christ. And when you do great, joy is

yours for the taking. You will walk in that Joy, you

have access to that Joy. He is earned it for you.

His accomplishments for his accomplishments, he proved that.

He is truly Lord, that he is truly savior.

And that he truly came from the father.

My, what he did. We learned in John chapter one

way back. Then, verse 14, the word became

flesh and made his dwelling among us.

And we have seen his glory, the glory of the one, and only who

came from the father full of grace.

And Truth. He proved to be exactly who he

said that he is, he's proving it here even more.

So in John chapter 16 promising his disciples joy to walk in

John 16 · chapter mention

through his accomplishments. What accomplishments we don't

Talk about the accomplishments of Christ enough.

How about his virgin birth that could have only happened through

the supernatural power of God. It's impossible for a virgin to

Bear. A child, yet a virgin buried a

child, you say explain that. To me, I cant its immaculate.

It is the Immaculate Conception, it is Supernatural, it is done

by God, there is no explanation for it, it for it.

All I can tell you is that it's true.

Jesus was born of a virgin. What?

An accomplishment. No one ever has been born of a

virgin. No one ever will be born of a

virgin. But the Christ, why?

Because that seed of God was placed into that woman.

Just as Genesis 3:15 said that it would be in his through the

Genesis 3:15

Virgin birth. That we have great joy in

knowing that our savior is a supernatural savior, all of the

others saviors and said religions were not virgin born.

It's important that you see his accomplishments.

He came into this world. Born of the Virgin, Mary just as

scripture say, Not only that. He lived a powerful life and a

perfect life. He displayed the power of God

through his miracles, through his authority, through his

teaching, he displayed the power of God, through his life of

piety and Perfection, living the letter of the law, perfectly

never sinning. No one else can make that claim.

It is only the Christ mom and cannot make the claim.

That he is perfect for. He is a sinner.

Buddha could not make a claim that he is perfect.

He too is a sinner. All religious leaders, Charles

Taze Russell, the religious leaders of the Jehovah's,

Witness, guess what? He can never claimed to be

perfect. He was a sinner.

The Mormon. Or later as well.

Joseph Smith Center, but it is in Christianity.

It is in Christ that our far master that we follow prove that

he is who he says that he is by his accomplishment of living a

sinless life. How many of the false religions

of this world and say he's a good profit.

Know he is the perfect Savior and his nothing less.

He is the only one to which we can come to God, the Father

accomplishments of Christ should bring us great.

Joy is atoning sacrifice on the cross.

Where he bore the wrath of God. In the place of wicked Center.

Every sin that I ever committed. Has placed upon his back.

The Wrath that I deserve. The death that was mine, Jesus

Christ, bore that death for me, no religious false religious

leader in all the history of all of the false religion ever died

for their people. Yet Christ, didn't only died for

me, he died in my place, satisfying the Wrath of the holy

God satisfy his indignation on my behalf restoring me to a holy

God. Once I was a sinner separated.

Now I have been unified with the master of the universe.

Why the accomplishments of Christ?

It is Christ. Who did this.

It should bring us great joy. To know that our Lord.

That's home for the sacrifice. It's home to as a sacrifice,

excuse me for the center. He is the atoning sacrifice.

We see his accomplishment there on the cross.

What we see is accomplishment in his burial No one other than

Lazarus. During the times of Christ

walked out of a tomb. The only reason that he walked

out of atoms because Jesus told him to because he is the

resurrection and the life and it is in the resurrection of Christ

that accomplishment that we see that he is who he said that he

truly is doing what only God could do.

And we see his Ascension into heaven, had he not come from

Heaven. I can guarantee you this.

He couldn't have returned to Heaven.

He'd already told his followers at No one knows how to get

there. Except he who's come from there

and the only way that you're going to get there is if you

follow me I am the way the truth and the life.

No man comes to the father but by me.

He proved he was through his accomplishments his Ascension

into heaven, where he sits at the right hand and making

intercession for those who believe.

And he will prove one day. To the whole world.

At his return. When he comes to judge the

living and the dead. Those of you men who are here on

Thursday nights, we are in Revelation.

The 19th Chapter, we have just seen the marriage banquet of the

Lamb. And Christ is about to put his

foot, in the Stirrup of that white stallion.

And the host of Heaven who are clothed in white because of him

are about to return to the Earth where he will rule and Reign

forever. We can think of his

accomplishments that have not yet come to pass.

Why? Because they are written in

eternity past they are as good as done.

He will return. That ought to bring us great

joy. Can't we find true joy and walk

and true Joy regarding the accomplishments of Christ.

Oh, we don't Ponder those things enough.

Do we Christian So, what do we do with this?

What do we do with the lesson on walking enjoy?

We asked this question. Of course, are you walking

enjoy? Are you walking enjoyed today?

In order to answer that question, you have to answer

some others. Are you in Christ?

I'm not talking about. Are you in church?

You're here. That's already answered.

Going to church, doesn't mean you're in Christ.

It means you're in a building with Christian.

Being raised in a Christian home, doesn't mean that you're

in Christ, it means that you were fortunate enough to be

raised in a Christian home. I'm asking you this question.

Are you in Christ in reference to the joy that we talked about

this morning? Because if you're not in Christ,

you do not have access to his Joy.

It's not for you. For those who are in Christ,

have you truly surrendered to Jesus as your lord and savior?

That's the question that I'm asking you today.

Have you surrendered to Christ? Have you trusted in him to

forgive you of your sin and to place you in right standing with

God, the father, have you repented of your wickedness and

turn to him and him alone to save you, have you?

If you haven't, perhaps today, you will turn from your sin and

turn to Christ as a spirit draws, you and Woos you out of

Darkness that you'll turn from the religions of this world.

And you will turn from all of the chaos of this world, and you

will turn to Christ and Christ Alone who will save you.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Will you call upon him today as the spirit draws you to receive

salvation? Maybe you are saved today, you

know, Christ. Are you walking in joy as a

believer? Are you walking in that Joy?

Are you walking in the joy that he provided for you through his

accomplishments? Are you for fitting?

That Joy is f what Jesus did for.

You doesn't really matter. It does matter.

Doesn't it? It does matter that we exercise,

the blessings that we've been given enjoy is one of those

blessings are you walking in that by trusting, in God's

transforming power, perhaps you're in a situation now, you

need God to transform that situation.

Are you resting in him with great joy in knowing that he's

in control? Are you resting in a familiar?

Passage of scripture that I've mentioned over and over in

Romans 8:28 that all things are working to the good to those,

Romans 8:28

who love him who are called. According to his purpose.

Are you resting in that? That brings great joy in your

life? Not you're missing out on a

promise that Jesus is giving to his disciples here.

Are you walking enjoy by believing in God's promises

trusting in his word. I want to help you if you're not

reading his word daily, you're not.

I don't say that the beat you up, I say that because I love

you. I don't want you to miss out on

the joy that comes with knowing and walking in the promises that

we find here in the word of God, get into it and read it is.

So when I don't understand it, get into a Bible study where

they teach it. Then, as you continue to study

it, you will see that your confusion is, says it did in the

lives of the disciple. It's transformed into Clarity.

You begin to learn. You begin to grow.

Are you walking enjoy believing in the promises of God?

Are you indifferent to the word of God?

Indifference to the word of God seems to be an epidemic in the

so-called church. I might bring my Bible to church

with me, I might read it, I might not this is just for free

it has nothing to do with the sermon.

Get in the word. See, if you're not overwhelmed

with joy, in the promises of God, see if he's not faithful to

every single one of them, are you walking enjoy by faith in

Christ position? Are you trusting in who Christ

really is the fact that he is truly king of kings and Lord of

lords, and that by his accomplishments, your

relationship with God, the father has been settled once and

for all, are you walking in the joy of those things?

If not Christian, I would say to you, repent confess.

See what it is in your life that has waited you down.

That's inner that weight that so easily entangles.

You cast it off today as you confess your sin to the Lord

knowing this that he is faithful and just to forgive you, your

sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

If you're here today and you're not a believer, You will live a

life. With the absence of joy.

Only to spend an eternity in hell with an eternal absence of

joy. Trust in Christ today that your

joy may be complete. Let's pray together, father in

the name of Jesus, we thank you for your word.

We thank you for truth. As your truth is gone forth.

May it do exactly what you desire for it to do.

May it draws Sinners to repentance and Faith this

morning. may it encouraged the same.

And may we rejoice in the joy that we have in Christ.

Holy Spirit. We yield to you.

May your work be done in Jesus name.

Amen. Thank you for listening to the

key Life Fellowship, Pulpit Ministry podcast.

If you would like to talk with one of our pastors, please email

us at info at Key Life Fellowship, dot org or call us

at 28 1689 1604. You can also visit our web site

at www.ttil.tv.com. We hope and pray.

You have a blessed week and remember you are light in the

dark. We hope and pray.

You have a blessed week and remember you are light in the

dark.