November 14, 2021 BUT TAKE COURAGE
John 16:19-20, 22, 33
“Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me?’ Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy.” “Therefore you too now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.” “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
We for sure have dealt with sorrow and tribulation. However, as believers, we can experience peace even the midst of troubles and trials. Jesus was revealing future events to His disciples; He knew they would experience great sorrow when He would be crucified, BUT He also knew that their sorrow would be turned to joy. Even though the disciples had been with Jesus for three years, they had no knowledge or understanding of the events about to unfold. They did not understand that the death of Jesus meant that the Holy Spirit would be sent to live in them. The Holy Spirit came to live not among us, but IN us-and that makes the difference in everything. As great and awesome as it was to be with Jesus, it would be far greater for Him to live in them through the Holy Spirit. God understands that we have sorrow in this life, but He has made a way for us to overcome what faces us and to know the peace that He gives. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that we do not grieve, or sorrow as those who do not know God. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is THE life-changer. His resurrection means that we are forgiven of all our sins; that we are His sons and daughters; that we have a destiny with Him; that we have been given new hearts, new minds, and a new nature; that we are complete in Him; and that we have been made overcomers in life. It does not mean that we are exempt from difficulties; but it does mean that we are not defeated by the difficulties. The world does not have the hope that we have, and the world does not have access to the Spirit of God who comforts and gives abiding joy. The word for us today is that Jesus gives us peace in the midst of trials, persecutions, and difficulties. Jesus knew the implications of Him dying for us and then being raised from the dead. Let us embrace the fact that we live post-resurrection. Now, the Holy Spirit of God, LIVES IN US this very moment and we are joined to God and we are safe and secure in Him, even when the storm rages about us. “but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 14:16, 26 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever.” “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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