John 16:16-33 (Having the Right Perception)

 

Intro: Final night – Sharing heart

A)Teachings about Love / servanthood. Heaven.

 

B) Each time: Comfort – Helper is coming!

 

C)Challenge to Abide – Result bear fruit

1) But you are going to be doing that in a Hostile world – Hated me – hate you.

 

D) Again HS – Helper

1) Working in you to convict the world of sin / righteousness and of Judgment

 

E) HS is going to guide you into all truth

1) Tell you things to come.

2) Glorify me.

3) Take of what is mine and declare it to you.

 

Brings us to v.16

"A little while, { He is going to use this phrase 7 times in v.16-19}  A little while

 

I find that  the Lord’s a little whiles are usually very different from mine.

A)I can be like a little kid – how long is the wait going to be? -  Minutes not hours / not days / not mths/ yrs

 

B) But you look at some of the people in scripture – Suffering for 20 yrs

C) Those are two concepts I don’t like to put together

Suffering and yrs

 

D) See others waiting for a promise from God – waiting 10-15 yrs or more

1) Waiting for the promise / patiently enduring  = I don’t like that either. { Frustrating to me.

 

E)But I have found that spiritual hindsight is 20/20

1) IN the end when I look back I see the Lord’s timing was perfect – Always is ! Always on time.

 

 

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

 

17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" 18 They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

 

They were confused: What we have here is a play on words.

A) "A little while, and you will not see Me; the word see there means to gaze.

 

B) We get our English word: Theater from it.= to watch intently.

C) So what He is telling them is that in a little while they are not going to be able to gaze on Him any more

1) They are not going to be able to watch him intently.

 

D) There was going to be a change in their relationship with Him because He was going to His father.

 

But then He says: ; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"   A)Word See here = to perceive/ to have understand / to have insight.

 

B) So what He is telling them is this: When I go to my father: After the Cross/ Rez – after HS comes {Context is v.12-15 – Guide / tell / declare

 

C) After that – you will perceive me / understand / have insight into what I am telling you.

 

Exactly what Happened 1 John 1:1-4

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, [that word Gaze] and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life —  2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us —  3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

 

Jesus is the Word of Life! In Him is Life.

A)They got it – after He went to the father.

 

B) But right now they are confused!

 

C) So they were talking to each other about Him and what He said – when in reality they should have been talking to Him.

 

19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'?

 

You are confused and inquiring amongst yourselves why not just ask me?

A)We can do the same thing. – Run to this person run to that person – never the Lord

 

B) I believe that if we took the time to really quiet our hearts and get ready for an answer –

1) He would give it!

 

C) Our problem is we are so busy- to take the time and quiet our hearts

 

D) And sometimes we really don’t want to hear the answer God is going to give.

1) I do that – I can anticipate what He is going to say

2)  Really don’t want to hear that / because it means Change …../ I don’t want to change{ Key

Now put yourself in the disciples shoes for a moment.

A)They have left everything to follow Jesus. Professions / family / everything ordinary

 

B) For a pretty unordinary life. No permanent residence. { No jobs –

1) For 3 yrs they have been in this ministry training school – with the one they are convinced is the messiah

 

C) They have been waiting for something to happen

1) And now the one that they have left everything for is now leaving.

 

D) I remember Oregon { Michael Harrington

1) Great Job City of Escondido – Left moves

6 weeks later – I am leaving – Shocker

 

E) Well that doesn’t even compare to what these guys were probably feeling.

1) The one they left everything for is leaving them – Even though sending the Helper – { Confused

 

 

Now in order to help their confusion Jesus shares with His disciples 3 things to replace their confusion and sorrow with Joy.

#1 He gives them a principle to hold on to. V.20

 

 

Here is the Principle: The object of your pain will eventually bring you joy.

A)V. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful,         happen the very next day. Cross

 

B) But then He says: but your sorrow will be turned into joy.  {RESURRECTION}

 

C) To illustrate this pt – He uses the concept of Child Bearing

 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; {Don’t you wish it was just an hour}

 

D) But it is true – She has sorrow – why called labor

1) “ Don’t tell me to breath – I HATE YOU – for doing this to me”

 

E) I don’t want anymore ice – YOU PUSH …..

1) That is the anguish a woman goes thru in Labor

 

Jesus continues

but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  It is amazing to me how that happens – literally forget.

 

Not long after – talking – I want to have another one.

 

I have been there for 3 – would want to do that ever.

Any man tries to say women aren’t tough – clueless

 

So Jesus is making a great illustration here.

A)But look at v.20 again – key phrase – your sorrow will be turned into joy. 

 

B) Notice He doesn’t say that your sorrow is going to be replaced by Joy.

 

C) He is not talking about removing the sorrow and replacing it with Joy

1) That is what I want – Take it away Lord and replace it

 

D) Not what He does – Instead He TRANSFORMS the sorrow into Joy.

 

E) The same baby that gives the mother pain – later gives it Joy!

1) Repeat that process its whole life.

 

That is the Christian life: We go thru suffering – The Lord wants to take that suffering and transform it into Joy.

A)Takes something – so hard – so difficult – make it out the other side – { Joy fills heart – blessing / growth

 

B) I don’t have this down – I hate suffering – Wimp

1)Age I need a physical I have avoided for a year going to the doctor – Denise – I know there is pain involved

 

C) But in my spiritual life the longer I walk with the Lord – the more I seeing this principle come true.

D) Often times in the pain – I want to quick – I want to give up on a person

1) I want to take the easy way out.

 

E) But when I press thru – more often than not I watch the Lord transform the pain into Joy.

 

Paul’s testimony: 2 Corinthians 4 – talks about being hard-pressed/ perplexed/ persecuted/ but not forsaken/ struck down,

A)But then He goes on to say this: That which meant death for us – resulted in Life for others

 

B) That was His Joy!  The people who were impacted by his suffering – became living epistle written on his heart { HIS JOY

 

C) Paul personally learned 2 Cor 12 – Thorn in the flesh – messenger of Satan buffet

1) Result – how suffering transformed into Joy?

 

D) He discovered in his weakness – that the Lord's grace was more than enough – to carry him thru

1) He actually seemed stronger and more anointed in his weakness

 

E) Result: Paul said I will rejoice in my suffering – because when I am weak – really I am stronger!

1) Because the Lord’s power is being made perfect in my weakness.

 

So Jesus is teaching His disciples – Your sorrow is going to be transformed into JOY and that is a Joy that cannot be taken AWAY!

22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 

 

#2 Now at this point He also gives them a power to lay hold of. The power to transform that which produces sorrow into joy is the power of prayer.

23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 

 

A) Now Understand what Jesus is saying here is a new revolutionary concept to them. God asking them to ask

 

B) They didn’t have the right before this to ask

 

C) The Priest asked for you. – But now Jesus is giving them ACCESS and AUTHORITY to the Father !

 

Asking in my name: Involves two things!

A)Authority – and conformity

 

B) Authority – Use His name{ I know that If I go to a certain restaurant – I say so and so sent me.

1) Drop a name

Bb)  Better service – Based on his authority – based on who He is

 

C) Might throw in a free dessert!

1) Might comp the meal.

 

D) But there is another key aspect to that happening

1) Conformity – See when I use that name – I am representing a connection to that person.

 

E) I need to accurately represent.

1) If I am a jerk – He is going to say don’t use my name any more.

 

Well this is sort of the same idea.

A)Come to the Father in the name of Jesus – coming in the Authority of Jesus

 

B) But at the same time I want to ask in conformity to who He is !

1) Father just give me that Lexus – Yacht/name it claim it

 

C) Not the heart of Jesus – Foxes have holes -… his head !

 

Now if I have the means to purchase that stuff – I can surely pray – Lord is this ok? –

A)I know people have Boats – vacation homes and they are constantly blessing others with their means

 

B) That can be a good thing!

C) So He was letting them know – they now had access to approach the father -  He continues

 

V.25 "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.  26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 

 

C) We take this for granted – We can talk to God.

1) For them this was new – this was special

 

D) We can talk to God and He is going to listen – and even answer!

1) Jesus gives the reason.

 

27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.  28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father." 

 

A) Dwell on that tonight – the Father in heaven who loves you so much is asking you to ask Him !

 

B) And When Jesus says here that He came forth from the father – He is not talking about a place

1) Talking nature and Character

 

C) He is made up of the same eternal substance as the father.

Now at this point the disciples sort of try to get out of this conversation RD v.29-30

 

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

 

Ok we got it ! – No need to discuss this further – notice the response of Jesus.

 

31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?

32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

 

A) “All alone!” - In prayer, in agony, in blood filled tears, while His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, during His betrayal, at the moment of His arrest. –

 

B) All alone(re:man) yet not alone(re:Father!)

 

C) This is such an important thing for us to remember – Never alone

 

C) There are times I feel so alone –

    1) Never alone – Jesus is with us

 

So He gives them a principle to hold on to:  Sorrow turned into JOY

Power to lay hold of – the power of prayer

 

#3 A position to lay claim tov.33

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

 

Hear both statements: One is a Promise – You will have Tribulation.

A)That is something you can count on! – Life is full of tribulation – that is a Promise

 

B) The other is an OFFER – You CAN have peace!

1) Tribulation is Promised and peace is offered

 

C) The Position for peace – In me you MAY have peace.

1) ." A person can follow Jesus, yet deny themselves that peace. We gain the peace Jesus offered by finding it in Him.

 

Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 

 

We can be over comers in the midst of great tribulation – Because Jesus overcame.

A)His Victory becomes the source for our Victory

 

B) Not fighting for Victory – but from a position of victory

1 John 5:4,5 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

 Endure = Hupomeno – Conquer – we run with endurance because he conquered

 

 

Romans 8:35,37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”