Take Heart

Amen. You may be seated. Kids, you are dismissed to your King's Kids class.

! And if you would open up your Bibles to John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

! I'm going to be preaching on verses 16-33 on page 1072 and 1073 of your Pew Bible.

And as you are turning there, yesterday I was riding my mountain bike next to the Pike River,

making incredible speed. And I couldn't notice. I would take glances over at the river as I was

riding, just to keep my eyes focused on the path, of course. And there are these autumn leaves that

had been falling and they're kind of running down the river. It's just a beautiful sight to see.

The Pike River, you know, was running. And I could see at one point into the river and I noticed

a salmon. Not going downriver with the flow, pointed upriver. It had been making progress

up the Pike River, dodging obstacles, jumping over little baby waterfalls.

That fish had been swimming against the current. It's the fall run.

Christian, you are to be swimming against the current of the world.

The world, as we are defining it in the Gospel of John, is sinful humanity in organized rebellion

against God. And the world, billions of people are generating currents.

Currents. Currents of thought. Currents of lifestyle. And as Christians, we're not to go with the flow

downstream. We are to swim against the current. To live against the current. But the thing is,

in order, Christian, for you to stand against the current, make progress against the current,

do you know what you're going to need? Courage. It takes courage to go against the flow of the world.

It takes courage. And Jesus, at the end of the farewell discourse proper,

he closes on a note of courage. Take heart. I have overcome the world.

Jesus has called us out of the world. We're no longer of the world, but we're still in the world

to bear witness to Christ to the world. And that task of bearing witness and bearing fruit

is going to be challenged by the world. Jesus spoke about it earlier as being hated by the world for

his name's sake. You know what it's like. You start having conversations with people you care about,

and you start making claims about Jesus that are very unpopular. You say things like, well,

Jesus himself said he's the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father but through me.

And what you're saying is, all other religions and ways of being, they are false attempts of salvation.

There's only one true salvation. It's in Jesus. That sounds intolerant to the world.

It sounds narrow-minded. Culturally insensitive. We will say things like, there's real sin against a real God,

and there are real consequences with real accountability.

that result in judgment. That sounds old school. Something from the 1800s.

We will make claims that Jesus himself made. He embraced the biblical design of marriage and of men and women.

One man, chromosomal, one woman, chromosomal, united together by God for life in the covenant of marriage.

And so we will say things like, there are only two biological sexes.

And trans men and trans women, though image bearers of God,

these are distortions of God's good and purposeful design.

You say things like that,

you're going to be called intolerant,

narrow-minded,

bigoted,

insensitive.

And you know what can result with that?

You can start getting fearful.

You can start just keeping your mouth shut.

You can start avoiding conversations.

You just kind of show up,

but check out.

We will encounter hostility from the world,

because the words of Jesus,

when abiding in us,

we bear Christ-like fruit,

and we will bear witness to Christ,

and it is not popular.

And when we have these conversations with people,

it's not nameless faces in a crowd.

If your life is anything like mine,

these conversations are happening with real people.

People I love,

and they love me.

And it's hard,

and it gets awkward,

it gets challenging and difficult.

These aren't nameless faces.

These are sons and daughters of ours.

These are moms and dads of ours.

These are friends of ours,

co-workers,

teammates.

It gets personal,

because the stakes are high.

You're going to need courage,

because it's really easy just to drift

in the current of the world.

You need courage

to take a stand against the current.

And this morning,

you're going to see four reasons

to take heart.

From John chapter 16,

John 16 · chapter mention

16 through 33,

let me read that now.

A little while,

and you will see me no longer.

And again,

a little while,

and you will see me.

So some of his disciples said to one another,

what is it 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'm going to the Father.

So they were saying,

what does he mean by,

quote unquote,

a little while?

We do not know

what he is talking about.

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him.

So he said to them,

is this what you are asking yourselves,

what I meant by saying,

quote,

a little while,

and you will not see me.

And again,

a little while,

and you will see me,

quote,

question mark.

Truly,

truly,

I say to you,

you will weep and lament,

but the world will rejoice.

You will be sorrowful,

but your sorrow will turn into joy.

When a woman is giving birth,

she has sorrowed,

because her hour has come.

But when she has delivered the baby,

she no longer remembers the anguish.

For joy,

that a human being has been born into the world,

so also you have sorrowed now.

But I will see you again,

and your hearts will rejoice,

and no one will take your joy from you.

And that day,

you will ask nothing of me.

Truly,

truly,

I say to you,

whatever you ask of the Father in my name,

he will give it to you.

Until now,

you have asked nothing in my name.

Ask,

and you will receive,

that your joy may be full.

I've said these things to you in figures of speech.

The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech,

but will tell you plainly about the Father.

In that day,

you will ask in my name,

and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf,

for the Father himself loves you,

because you have loved me,

and have believed that I came from God.

I came from the Father,

and have come into the world,

and now I am leaving the world,

and going to his Father.

His disciples said,

Oh,

now you are speaking plainly,

and not using figures of speech.

Now we know that you know all things,

and do not need anyone to question you.

This is why we believe that you came from God.

Jesus answered them,

Do you now believe?

Behold,

the hour is coming,

indeed it has come,

when you,

who say you believe,

will be scattered,

each to his own home,

and will leave me alone,

yet I am not alone,

for the Father is with me.

I have said these things to you,

that in me you may have peace,

in the world you will have tribulation,

but take heart,

I have overcome the world.

Four reasons why,

Christian,

you must be courageous.

Reason number one,

you know the truth,

you know the truth of the gospel,

and not just the truth of the gospel,

you know the gospel's transformational power.

Throughout this passage,

maybe you're picking up on it,

Jesus is making a lot of references to time,

about a coming time,

but he's also kind of,

at the beginning,

speaking kind of like vaguely,

even cryptically,

he's talking about,

a little time you will see me,

or not see me,

and then a little time you will see me.

Like what,

his disciples were like,

what is he talking about?

What is this,

what is this language?

Well,

I'm going to come back,

to what he's actually talking about,

in a second.

But let me just point out,

the time focus.

Jesus says,

a little while,

verse 16,

and again a little while.

17,

the disciples are like,

what do you mean by a little while?

And again,

a little while.

What do you mean by a little while?

We don't know what he's talking about.

Jesus then says,

well,

you want to know what I mean by a little while?

And again,

a little while.

And then Jesus,

then starts talking about,

this kind of like,

then and now.

You're going to have sorrow,

now and then,

you'll have joy.

It's all time related.

There's going to be this time,

where you don't see me,

and you are going to be sorrowful,

and in anguish about that.

But then there's going to come a time,

where you do see me,

and when you do see me,

you're going to be full of joy.

And then he starts talking about,

an hour is coming,

verse 25,

the hour is coming,

will no longer speak to you plainly about the Father.

And he says,

26,

in that day,

in verse 32,

behold,

the hour is coming,

indeed it has come.

So Jesus is like,

pointing his disciples,

at the end of the farewell discourse,

he is saying,

hey,

in just a short time,

some stuff's going to happen.

You're going to not see me,

then you're going to see me,

and when you don't see me,

you're going to be sorrowful,

but when you see me,

you're going to be full of joy.

Why,

why is Jesus,

speaking so vague?

Well,

in verse 25,

Jesus acknowledges it.

The hour is coming,

when I will no longer speak to you,

in figures of speech,

that's the reference,

to the little while,

that vagary,

where his disciples are like,

what is he talking about?

They didn't understand it.

But for us,

who live 2,000 years,

on the other side of the cross,

because Jesus is saying this,

just hours away,

from being crucified,

and then raised from the dead,

when we look back,

on these words,

we can see,

what the disciples,

were clueless about.

They had no idea,

that the Messiah,

the Son of God,

the Son of Man,

in order to accomplish salvation,

according to God's plan,

this Messiah,

would be crucified,

and then raised from the dead.

They had no idea.

They would,

if you told them at this point,

did you know the Messiah,

is going to be crucified,

on a Roman cross?

They would be like,

that's ludicrous.

That's not how the Messiah,

is going to roll.

They weren't ready.

So Jesus is speaking,

in rather cryptic terms here,

but then he tells them,

I'm going to speak to you plainly.

But the thing is,

the disciples think,

that when he starts talking about,

where is that,

in verse 28,

I came from the Father,

and I've come into the world,

and now I'm leaving the Father,

and going to the world,

they're kind of like,

hey,

he's like,

we can understand that.

He's finally speaking plainly.

But they don't get it,

because Jesus then rebukes them.

They say,

we believe,

you're the guy.

We know you came from God.

And Jesus is like,

oh,

now you believe.

Because they don't fully believe.

They don't know,

that this Messiah,

the God in the flesh,

standing before them,

is going to be crucified,

and raised from the dead,

in order to accomplish,

their salvation.

They don't know that.

They don't believe that yet.

But we do.

They didn't know the truth.

But we know the truth.

Brothers and sisters,

take heart.

You know the gospel.

That Jesus himself,

God in the flesh,

was crucified,

and then three days later,

raised from the dead.

And here's why

that should be

a tremendous encouragement

to you.

In 1 Corinthians 15,

the Apostle Paul talks about that

as being of first importance.

Christ's death,

according to the Scriptures,

he was buried,

and then he was raised

from the dead three days later,

in accordance with the Scriptures.

Paul says,

that's of first importance.

Those gospel facts,

Christ died,

buried,

raised,

that is of first importance.

Do you know why?

It's the only message

that can save a sinner.

I'm not ashamed of the gospel,

for it is God's power

unto salvation.

This gospel,

veiled here in John 16,

has been made clear to us,

and not only just clear,

not just the facts of it,

but the power of it.

Because many of us in this room

have been transformed

by this reality

of Christ dying

and being raised from the dead.

And so when we encounter

the currents of the world,

and we feel the force on us,

we know the truth.

We're on solid ground.

This is what is the true truth,

Francis Schaeffer.

It's the most true truth.

This sounds very

narrow-minded

and offensive.

When we say things like,

but I know the truth.

And the fact is,

we do.

We know God's plan of salvation.

We know it.

Christ's death

and resurrection.

His name is the only name

given among men

by which we

must be saved.

So,

the first

reason why

you are to

take heart

in the world

is because you stand

on the solid ground

of the gospel.

Christ's death

and resurrection,

the power of God

unto salvation.

The second truth,

the second reason,

is we also have joy.

We know

the truth.

It's been made clear

to us

and

we've been transformed

by the truth

or at least many of us

in this room have,

but we also have

joy.

Did you notice

the emphasis on joy

in verses 20-24?

Truly, truly,

I say to you,

you will weep and lament,

but the world will rejoice.

The world,

when it crucified Jesus,

was like,

we're just

giving you all a service.

We're just helping

everybody out.

Woo-hoo-hoo!

He's dead.

His disciples

were grieved.

But then Jesus says,

your sorrow will

be turned

into joy.

And then he

uses an illustration.

He says,

when a woman

is giving birth,

she has sorrow

because her hour

has come,

but when she has

delivered the baby,

she no longer

remembers the anguish

for joy

that a human being

has been born

into the world.

Now,

I have never

delivered a baby

and neither

has Jesus,

but he's using

the illustration.

So we can know

these things

now sorrow,

then joy.

In verse 22,

so also you

have sorrow now,

but I will see you

again.

I will see you

again,

Jesus says,

and your hearts

will rejoice

and no one

will take

your joy

from you.

Do you know

what kind of joy

Jesus is talking

about?

He's talking

about an irrevocable

joy,

a joy

that you

never lose,

a joy

that's always

present,

a joy

that is

constantly

bubbling up

within you

because of

something.

And do you know

what the because

is?

Because Jesus

is alive.

Because he's

been raised

from the dead.

He didn't

stay dead.

And because

Jesus has been

raised from the

dead,

that means he

is victory

over sin,

death,

and the devil.

And we can

celebrate that.

And so when his

disciples would

see him three

days later,

they would be

shocked and

overjoyed

that he's

alive.

What he said

about himself

is true.

We have the

benefit that

when we see

him,

or when he

sees us,

we will be

totally filled

with joy

at being in

his presence.

You know,

the disciples

are dead

now.

Physically

dead,

spiritually

alive.

And I can

say that

they're

spiritually

alive because

of John

11,

where Jesus

is speaking

to Martha,

verses 25,

26,

and 27.

Jesus said

to her,

I am the

resurrection,

the life.

whoever believes

in me,

though he die,

yet shall he

live,

and everyone

who lives and

believes in me

shall never die.

Do you believe

this?

And she said,

yes,

Lord,

I believe that

you are the

Christ,

the Son of

God,

who is coming

into the world.

She didn't

know at that

point that the

Messiah would be

crucified and

raised from the

dead.

But we do.

He's alive

today.

We can rejoice

in knowing that

our Savior is

alive today.

And there's

coming a day

when he will

see you

face to face.

What this

means is

you don't

need to fear

your death.

And what that

means is

what is the

worst thing

the world

can do to

you?

The Apostle

Paul would

use language

like this.

This is

Philippians

121.

For me to

live is

Christ.

Hey,

I'm going to

fruitful labor

for me.

And to die

is gain.

If I'm

killed,

I'm in the

presence of

Jesus.

Win,

win.

And so

he had this

constant sense

of joy.

And

do you

need

courage

to live

against the

current of

the world?

You have

reason to

be joyful.

Jesus is

alive.

And your

death day

is not your

last day.

You will be

ushered into

the very

presence

of Jesus.

Jesus.

The

Salvadis

used to

have a

dog.

We are a

one and

done dog

family.

Despite

some people's

objections.

His name

was Gus.

He was a

black

Labrador

retriever.

He's an

English lab,

which means he

had a blockhead,

just a massive

blockhead.

He weighed

110,

115 pounds.

He rode

low.

He was a

low rider.

And

sometimes Gus

would get

out.

He'd get

lost.

Gus,

Gus,

come home.

Where are

you,

Gus?

And then

Gus had a

soft spot

for food.

So what we

learned was

you put some

kibble into

a cup and

you just

shake it.

And if he

was 17

miles away,

he would

hear that

and come

running in

low rider

Gus fashion.

Have you

ever lost

a dog?

Christian,

have you

lost your

joy?

Are you

wondering where

your joy

went?

Where are

your joy?

Come

back joy.

Do you

know where

you need to

look to

find joy?

look at

the empty

tomb.

Look at

what the

Bible says

where Jesus

is not.

He's not

dead.

He's alive,

seated at the

right hand of

God,

reigning on

high,

bringing about,

building his

church,

fulfilling the

great commission.

Oh man,

don't let your

hearts be

troubled.

our Jesus

is alive,

and his

work is

unstoppable.

Reason

three,

we've got

capital B

back up.

We know

the truth,

we've got

the joy,

we've got

capital B

back up.

Have you

ever seen

those police

shows where

two police

officers arrive

on a scene

and they're

observing a

crime in

progress?

And one of

them gets

on the horn

like,

this is out

of Mary

7,

we need

backup

immediately,

send backup.

And so they

wait for

backup because

they're going

to address

the problem

with numbers

and force.

brother,

sister in

Christ,

you need

backup.

And you've

got capital

B

backup.

Jesus

has called

us to

abide in

him and

to bear

fruit for

him and

to bear

witness to

him.

And when we

bear witness

to him,

we bear

witness to

who he is

and what

he's done.

he's died,

he's been

raised from

the dead,

he's reigning

on high right

now.

We proclaim

the gospel,

we're unashamed

of it because

it's the power

of God

unto salvation,

but that

will not be

welcomed by

the world

all the

time.

In fact,

it's not

only the

world that

can grow

cold to

the gospel,

it's not

only the

world that

doesn't like

being called

to repent

of sin and

believe in

Jesus.

There will

be times

where brothers

and sisters,

am I not

right?

That where

we're like,

I think I'm

just going to

take the day

off from

following Jesus

today.

I'm just

going to

give myself

a break.

You know

what?

You know

what?

Who's been

to a water

park in a

lazy river?

Oh,

glory.

Just cruising

around.

I just

want to

float in

the lazy

river of

the world.

No big

deal.

I'm not

hurting

anybody.

I just

don't want

to be

encumbered

by Jesus

today.

I don't

want to

put the

effort into

bearing

fruit.

I don't

want to

kind of

ruffle

feathers by

bearing

witness to

him.

I just

don't

want to

treasure

Jesus

today.

I don't

want to

pursue

people in

love who

are unlike

me and

can get a

little snippy

with me.

I don't

want to

do that

today.

I just

want to

coast

today.

I don't

want to

tell other

Christians

about my

life.

Because I

don't want

them to

really know

what I'm

like and

I certainly

don't want

them holding

me quote

unquote

accountable.

So I'm

just going

to drift.

I don't

want to

really

serve.

I'll

just throw

money at

stuff.

You know

what?

I don't

really want

to give

because I've

got other

things I

want to

do with

the money.

You start

daydreaming

about oh

man it was

really nice

when I was

part of the

world.

I could do

everything I

wanted to.

I wasn't

getting hamstrung

by Jesus.

I didn't

feel nearly

as bad as

I do now.

I feel worse

now for being

a Christian

than I was

when I was

not a

Christian.

Because the

Holy Spirit

is living in

you.

Do you

know what

you need in

those moments?

Backup.

You need

backup because

you are

adrift

you have

either

forgotten

the gospel

that Christ

died and

was raised

from the

dead

or you're

disregarding

the gospel

or you've

been distracted

from the

gospel

or you're

doubting the

gospel.

I'm not

sure if this

is true.

So you're

thinking

the thing

is in

those

moments

you're

lacking

joy

too.

You're

conflicted

maybe even

miserable

because you

know too

much.

You're

like

man

I just

want to

coast with

the world

but then

there's the

Jesus thing.

And you

know it's

true.

In those

moments

you need

backup.

You need to

call in

backup.

You need

to pray.

You need

to ask.

And Jesus

is very

clear here.

Ask your

father.

Ask your

father in

heaven and

he is eager

to give you

what you need.

In verse

23

Jesus

says this

in that

day you

will ask

nothing of

me.

The day

that he's

talking about

is after

his

resurrection

when Jesus

is making

appearances

but he's

not necessarily

present.

And in his

absence he's

saying ask

the father

in my

name

because you're

in me

now.

And he

will give

whatever you

ask.

Until now

you've not

asked him

nothing in

my name

because you've

been asking

me.

But now

when I'm

gone

ask and

you receive

that your

joy may

be full.

What Jesus

is saying

here is

that anyone

who believes

in him

that person

because of

the gospel

his death

and his

resurrection

his blood

and his

empty tomb

has given

you 24

7

365

access

to

God

the

father

all

places

at any

time you

can go to

God the

father

the capital

B

backup.

He's

everything you

need for

life and

godliness

happiness.

And what

comes with

that is

fullness of

joy.

Ask

and you

will receive.

Now

Jesus isn't

saying like

ask for a

million dollars

and you will

receive it

and then you

will be

really joyful.

That's

worldly.

Jesus

is when he

says in

my name

he's talking

about

God

for my

name

for my

kingdom

for the

glory of

God.

And so

when we

ask things

in the

name of

Jesus

we are

thinking like

oh God

would you

bear

lasting fruit

in me

oh God

would you

empower me

by your

spirit

so that I

can give

effective

witness to

Jesus.

You're

wanting

to

please

Jesus

to please

God.

That's what

you're praying

for.

And he's a

giver of that.

He's got deep

pockets.

Your father

in heaven

well there is

good news

here.

There's this

old word

it's the word

backslider.

And it's

the idea

of a

Christian

who's

making

progress

slips and

falls and

then slides

backwards.

Jenny and

I were at

a football

game this

past Friday

and there

is this

grass lawn

and it was

a little wet

and it was

on a hill

looking over

the football

field.

And Jenny

and I

managed our

way up on

the top of

the hill

and then

there's these

teenagers

like oh

so and

so.

And they're

running to

meet each

other and

this girl

totally slips

falls on her

back and

then slides

backslidden.

The world

is a slippery

place.

It's easy

to slide.

It's easy

to become

dull.

It's easy

to become

ashamed of

Jesus.

It's easy

to enter

in a season

where you're

not bearing

fruit.

But you

know what?

You are

loved.

In verse

27,

for the

Father

himself

loves you

because you

have loved

me and

have believed

that I came

from God,

the proof

that you're

loved by

God the

Father is

that at

some point

you were

like,

I believe

Jesus.

I believe

that you

came from

God and

you came

from me.

If you

were to

go to

your Father

and ask

because he

loves you,

you can go

with confidence.

Ask him

to help

you.

To go

from backslidden

to fruit

bearing.

to

bearing

witness

about

things

of this

world

that are

passing

away,

to bearing

witness

to the

salvation

that's

found in

Jesus

alone.

You've

got capital

B

backup,

Christian.

And if

you are

facing a

situation

where you

have to

confront

somebody

and speak

the truth

and love

but you're

afraid but

you know

what pleases

Jesus,

call in

the backup.

If you

want to

share the

gospel with

someone in

your family

but you're

afraid that

they're going

to disown

you for

the rest

of your

life,

call in

backup.

And then

call in

other people

to call in

backup for

you.

Because when

you are in

a group of

people and

you're locked

arms together

in prayer

to God

while you

are all

experiencing

the current

of the world

that that is

actually a good

place to be.

The third

reason why

you can take

heart is

if we've

got capital

B

backup.

The fourth

reason

is the

reason Jesus

gives in

1633.

Take

heart for

you have

for I

have overcome

the world.

Again,

this is at

the end of

the farewell

discourse.

Jesus is

wrapping up

this kind

of speech

he's giving

to his

disciples.

He's preparing

them for

his departure

and he's

saying bear

fruit, bear

witness,

you're going

to be hated

but take

heart, I've

overcome the

world.

When Jesus

is getting

his

getting at

in verse

33 is a

tension, a

normal tension

for every

Christian.

Normal.

Normal.

And it's

this.

In the

world you

will have

tribulation.

Now, Jesus

could have been

talking about

kind of like

the challenges,

the hardship,

the difficulties

of living in a

creation subjected

to frustration.

It's the

hardships

everybody faces

because whether

they're Christians

or non-Christians,

it's just part of

living life in a

fallen world.

But that's not

what he's

talking about.

Because

contextually, the

world he's

talking about is

sinful humanity

and organized

rebellion against

God.

And he's been

telling them,

you're going to

be hated.

And so what

he's saying is

expect hardship

from the world

because you're

being faithful to

Jesus.

Expect it.

but that's

only part of

the tension.

The other

part of the

tension

is peace

and joy.

Jesus says,

I have said

these things to

you that in

me you may

have peace.

In the world

you will have

tribulation.

He's talking

about a

simultaneous

experience

where from the

world we're

experiencing heat

but because

we're in

Jesus we're

experiencing

peace.

It's normal.

That's the way

we live.

That's part of

life on this

side of glory.

It's attention.

When we are

abiding in

Jesus we are

bearing the

fruit of the

spirit.

Love, joy,

peace,

patience and

we are being

hated by the

world.

for his

name's sake.

The peace

that Jesus

is talking

about is an

experiential

peace.

It's a

settled

confidence

that what

matters most

is pleasing

to Jesus.

It's a

joy that

is forward

aimed, a

confidence.

It's also

known as

hope.

When you

have joy

and hope

and peace

in Jesus

that things

are, he

settled

everything

between me

and God.

And I just

want to

please him

above all

else.

That that

posture of

heart is a

peaceful

posture of

heart.

And it

doesn't mean

there's not

going to be

hardship

around you.

peace.

Jesus is

preparing us

for both.

This peace

is a

peace in

knowing that

Jesus' death

and resurrection

has already won

the victory

over the

world,

over sinful

humanity and

organized

rebellion against

God.

He has

cast down

the devil

and therefore

he has also

won the

victory over

the world.

His grace

poured out

at the cross

is an

unstoppable

release of

power and

life that

will go for

all time.

It's going to

extend and

radically change

things,

culminating in

his coming

and his

judging and

his

recreating

heaven and

earth,

giving us

new resurrected

bodies for

those who

believe.

That's the

power of

the cross.

And so

now it's

as good as

done.

Did you

know that

every person

that has

ever lived

will

bow his

or her

knee

before

Jesus

and

confess

him

as

Lord?

Did you

know that?

Some of

us are

going to

be like,

oh yeah!

Other of

us will

confess

in spite

and in

horror.

But Jesus

has accomplished

the victory

through his

death and

his

resurrection.

It's

just a

matter of

time before

he comes

back and

he brings

it to

fruition.

You know

what that

does?

That gives

you courage.

It's a

tender courage.

Because

anybody that

opposes

us,

our

battle

is not

against

flesh

and

blood.

We've

been

united

with

Christ

in his

death and

resurrection

the moment

we believed

and therefore

we too

share in

his victory

over the

world.

So the

world's

threats

and the

world's

temptations,

it's all

passing away

brothers and

sisters.

It's all

passing away.

four reasons.

You know

the truth

plainly

of the

gospel and

its power

to transform.

You have

the joy

and the

resurrection.

You have

the capital

P

backup

of God

the Father

24-7

365

and you

have the

victory

that Jesus

accomplished

because you've

been united

to him.

Do you

know what all

this means?

Take heart.

Be faithful.

Be bold.

Don't shrink

back.

Press on.

Jesus

purposefully

ends the

farewell

discourse

on an

encouraging

note

because he

knows he's

calling us

to live

counter-culturally,

to stand

against the

current of

the world,

world.

He says,

take heart.

I have

overcome the

world.

Let me pray.

Lord Jesus,

we are so

grateful that

your

death and

resurrection

has set us

on solid

ground in

which we

can stand

against

the world

and the

devil,

even

say no

to our

own sinful

hearts.

God, we

would ask

that you

would use

these reasons

in order to

compel us

to witness.

Compel us to

say hard

things, loving

things, but

hard things

to the people

around us.

That we

would make

much of you,

Lord Jesus.

We would

magnify you

among all

people.

may may

may

would come to know you, Lord Jesus,

and give you the praise due your name.

It's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.