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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good morning everyone welcome back to free Grace Baptist Church and a warm welcome to the visitors that are here some all the way from the other side of the country welcome back glad to have you worshiping with us this morning few announcements before we get started our evening service will be as usual at 5:00 p.m. this evening and Wednesday night bible study here at 7:30 um I forgot to mention it last week but there is the church directory is being updated it's on the little table at the back you've probably noticed it and if you were in last the last directory you've probably gotten an email this week asking for any updat so please uh look at after that if you're new to the church you want to be in the directory make sure you contact whim kirkoff um and if you have any changes as well and then the last thing we're going to have a brief meeting for the members of free Grace Baptist after this morning service in the fellowship hall that will just take a few minutes so for our call to worship this morning we're going to turn to Psalm 2 Psalm chapter 2 why do the Nations rage and the people plot a vain thing the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying let us break their Bonds in pieces and Cast Away their cords from us he who sits in the heavens shall laugh the Lord shall hold them in derision then he shall speak to them in his wrath and distress them in his deep displeasure yet I have set my king on my Holy Hill of Zion I will declare the decree the Lord has said to me you are my son today I have begotten you ask of me and I will give you the Nations for your inheritance and the ends of the Earth for your possession you shall break them with a rod of iron you shall Dash them to pieces like a Potter's vessel now therefore be wise o Kings be instructed you judges of the earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling kiss the son lest he be angry and you perish in the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all those who put their trust in him amen please turn with me to hymn number 378 and we'll stand as we sing Look ye Saints the sight is glorious hym 378 he s his glorious see the of Sorrows now from theorious to it shall [Music] Sor Angels Jesus gra in the seat of th by the of [Music] heavenor of S ground him the Savior Saints and Angels around him oh PR his spr Mar wor of Love Tri for Jesus the highest station [Music] king of kings and L [Music] of may be seated let's turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious and merciful Heavenly Father we come before you this morning rejoicing that we are able to be found in your house rejoicing that this house of worship is open and that we are are free to gather free to worship Our God as we see fit according to the scriptures and we pray oh father that you would bless our time together bless our worship and may the Holy Spirit attend both the worship and the preaching both the preacher and the hearer I pray oh God that you would do a good work in our hearts encouraging the downcast and uplifting those who are Marching forward and bringing those to Gospel Light that have not yet out of Darkness Be gracious to us this day we pray oh God we thank you for our sister churches that are meeting this morning as well we pray you'd bless the brethren in Suri bless Pastor Mike as he leads and teaches there I pray you'd continue to grant them unity and growth and maturity bless the work in the north Okanagan pray you'd cause that congregation to grow as well not only in numbers but in fruitfulness in that part of the world bless the work out in Ryden Ontario as well we thank you Father for the the churches in western Canada that we have associated with that are wanting to um work together as reformed Baptists we pray oh God that you'd bless each of these sister churches bless the conferences coming up in the new year as well we thank you for these opportunities and we pray oh God that your blessing would rest upon these we pray for those that we know of in distant lands that are are working to see the gospel spread for in in Africa in Kenya Lord do a good work there do a good work Lord in Myanmar we pray for our brother Peter that you'd continue to uphold him and those that work with him and the children the orphans that they are are looking after be gracious to them and we pray oh Lord that you would bring peace to that nation and bring a ceasefire to this ongoing Civil War Lord we pray that in our own Nation you would bring peace we know oh God that as long as wickedness Reigns there is no true peace the peace that we see around us is but a facade and we pray oh God that you would have mercy upon our nation that you would revive the Church of Jesus Christ and that you would awaken on the streets of this nation Sinners that are dead in trespasses and sins cause the gospel to be preached from many Pulpit this day and Lord bless the preaching of the Gospel here in our Pulpit bless Pastor Butler as he as he comes in a few minutes we thank you again for this opportunity to be together we pray oh God that our worship would be pleasing in your sight please cleanse us oh God even now from all unrighteousness we know that we fall short of the righteousness that you require we thank you that Christ has taken our sins upon the cross and has provided a righteousness that is foreign to us but is beautiful and spotless and clean so that we can one day stand before you in your presence we thank you for all of these blessings we pray your continued blessing now in Jesus name amen amen we're going to stand again to sing from the alter Psalm 22 c 22c as in Charlie please stand with me as we [Music] sing the my before my Breen GA there his name will I praise the the children of his PR with his glor and for his sorrowful the will not he has from their good [Music] be where s will I my to his [Applause] and [Music] sis me shall live and praise the Lord to his Mercy sing the end of all Earth take the see the they worship the king [Music] Earth you may be seated for our morning scripture reading we're in Mark chapter chap 11 we'll begin at the beginning of the chapter Mark 11 and we will read through verse 19 this morning Mark 11 verse one now when they drew near Jerusalem to Beth and Bethany at the Mount of Olives he sent two of his disciples and he said to them go into the village opposite you and as soon as you have entered it you will find a Colt tied on which no one has sat loose it and bring it and if anyone says to you why are you doing this say the Lord has need of it and immediately he will send it here so they went their way and found the Colt Tied by the door outside on the street and they loosed it but some of those who stood there said to them what are you doing loosing the colt and they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded so they let them go then they brought the Colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it and he sat on it and many spread their clothes on the road and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road then those who went before and those who were who followed cried out saying hosana blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord blessed is the kingdom of Our Father David that comes in the name of the Lord hosana in the highest and Jesus went into the Jerusalem and into the the temple so when he had looked around at all things as the hour was already late he went out to Bethany with the 12 now the next day when they had come out from Bethany he was hungry and seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves he went to see if perhaps he would find something on it when he came to it he found nothing but leaves for it was not the season for figs in response Jesus said to it let no one eat fruit from you ever again and his disciples heard it so they came to Jerusalem then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple and overturn the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves and he would not allow anyone to carry Wares through the temple then he taught saying to them is it not written my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it a den of Thieves and the scribes and chief priests heard heard it and sought how they might destroy him for they feared him because all the people were astonished at his teaching when evening had come he went out of the city well the chapter starts off with the triumphal entry what we've called the triumphal entry Jesus rides into Jerusalem on this Colt very humbly he was the king of kings and Lord of lords the people that were expecting Messiah probably expected a messiah riding in on a steed fly armed surrounded by armies that's not how Jesus did it but he did it in fulfillment of Prophecy Matthew tells us that it's Isaiah 6211 that he fulfilled tell the daughter of Zion behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a Colt the fall of a donkey not many people were expecting this type of Entry but this is the way he came let us pray that we will see Jesus when he is least expected to be found even in our midst today Father in Heaven I pray that you would work in our hearts we sometimes look for the big picture the amazing things uh the Razzle and The Dazzle when you are to be found in a still Small Voice when you are to be found humble and riding on a donkey and Lord I pray that you would speak to every heart today here according to the need of that heart and according to the need of the kingdom of God as you build your church we ask these things in Christ's name amen amen for our final hymn we're going to sing again from the alter Psalm 20b as in bravo 20b and stand with me again as we sing [Music] they take us on prot to well and from his holy gra and and streng you may your sa and all your all offerings there in mind gr your heart all that you DES in your salv joy ouring Lo oh may the Lord fill your PR and gr to all you have and I know the Lord will s and his anointed one withing life of his holy and Sh and we most only one be bless the name of God the Lord Weise and right of and oh my your have Lord Save the King and may He [Music] we well please turn with me in your Bibles to John's gospel as we continue to work our way through through this fourth gospel John chapter 16 we are in the upper room discourse of our Lord Jesus also known as the farewell discourse so there is repetition and I believe the repetition is by Design repetition fortifies the instruction and it's very interesting one of the elements that we'll see this morning is jesus' emphasis on answer to prayer so as the disciples will see the world as it were collapsing around them in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ they are never Les to be of good cheer to take heart and to realize they have access to the throne of grace to be equipped and empowered for the work that God has called them to so our Focus this morning will be verses 16 to 24 in John 16 I'll begin reading in verse 16 to the end of the chapter 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 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 they said there what is this that he says a little while we do not know what he is saying 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 most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice and you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will be turned into Joy a woman when she is in labor has sorrow because her hour has come 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 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 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 until now you have asked nothing in my name ask and you will receive that your joy may be full 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 in that day you will ask in my name and I do not say to you that I shall pray the father for you for the father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came for for from God I came forth from the father and have come into the world again I leave the world and go to the father his disciples said to him see now you are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech 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 Jesus answered them do you now believe indeed the hour is coming yes and uh 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 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 Amen let us pray Our Father in Heaven thank you for your word thank you for the Lord's day and this great privilege to gather together in your house with your people and to come to the father through the son in the spirit we pray for the min Min and the aid of the spirit even now you would guide us and lead us into what our Lord is teaching the disciples here may it be an encouragement to us and may it build us up in our Most Holy Faith and may you cause us to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation and give us that boldness and courage to stand fast on the truth of the Old and New Testaments and give us that boldness to set that forth in the midst of opposition even as these early disciples were charged by the Lord forgive us for all sin and all unrighteousness we pray as well that the spirit would bring conviction for sin to any here that are dead in their trespasses and sins we don't appeal to their free will to make good decisions but we appeal to the god of absolute unrivaled power and sovereignty to Open Hearts and to make men willing in the day of your power be glorified here be glorified throughout this nation and to the uttermost parts of the earth as your gospel is preached may it run swiftly and may it be glorified we pray in jesus' name amen well as I said we are in the upper room discourse the passage that I read concludes that so we're in about the second to the last section I say about because there's a lot of verses and it may take us more than two sermons to complete the chapter but notice specifically what we have here in verses 16 to 24 basically Jesus is highlighting the joy that is associated with his departure he has not been hesitant to speak of his own death he has not been hesitant to speak of his own Resurrection the disciples have been somewhat hesitant to get their minds wrapped around that so I think that repetition in terms of that emphasis is necessary for them but on the heels of having said what the promise of the spirit will mean for them in terms of verses 12 to 15 the spirit will guide you into all truth the spirit will glorify me Jesus says he goes on to highlight the benefit that is associated with his death and again it's got to be a tough one they love Jesus they've been with Jesus for three years now they've also been in this upper room where Jesus has promised them that there's going to be opposition to them there's going to be persecution for them there's going to be likely death and exclusion and all those sorts of things and so it would probably be a diff a ult thing to to relate their current uh situation with joy but that's precisely what Jesus does in verses 16 to 24 so we'll look first at the announcement of his departure in verses 16 to 18 and then secondly the benefit of his departure in verses 19 to 24 so note first in verse 16 he declares this and then there's confusion about it in verses 17 and 18 but note the Declaration in verse 16 a little while and you will not see me and a little again a little while and you will see me because I go to the father this isn't the first time in John's gospel that we have seen this convention and essentially at least chronologically it means that Jesus is on the Brank of going to the Cross jesus' departure is at hand if you be go back to John 7 where Jesus is disputing with the religious leadership he mentions this to them as well in 7:33 then Jesus said or Jesus said to them I shall be with you a little while longer and then I go to him who sent me you will seek me and not find me and where I am you cannot come and more immediately in the upper room discourse itself if you look at chapter 13 specifically at verse 33 little children I shall be with you a little longer H you will seek me and as I said to the Jews where I am going you cannot come notice again in verse 36 Simon Peter said to him Lord where are you going Jesus answered where I am going you cannot Follow Me Now but you shall follow afterward so the little while that Jesus refers to in 1616 is simply his death his resurrection his Ascension to the right hand of the father and I hope to show that in just a moment basically that's what he means a little while and you will not see me why because he's going to die he's going to go into the grave but then he says and again a little while and you will see me again why because he's going to be raised the Third Day by the power of the father the the spirit Inseparable operations of God and then he says because I go to the father so basically in short Compass here in verse 16 he comprehends all of the events associated with his coming into the world Christ came into this world not simply to be a religious teacher not simply to be an example for us but to live for Sinners to die for Sinners and to be raised again for sinners in other words what he is highlighting in verse 16 with this little while simply refers to the Gospel of our Salvation all of the elements that are necessary all of the elements that are crucial death resurrection and Ascension to the right hand of the father that's the emphasis and the son emphasizes that that he is sent by the father he'll return to the father upon the completion of his Redemptive work and he will send the Holy Spirit from that right hand of God Almighty so that the disciples will always see him again Vis through the ministry of the spirit remember in 1418 he promised not to leave them as orphans but he would come to them again he comes to them again yes in the second coming when he judges the living and the dead he comes through the power of the holy spirit so that's what Christ is talking about I think it corresponds as well to the hour remember in John's gospel in John 27812 13 16 and again in 17 in fact you're close to 17 look at verse 1 Jesus spoke these words lifted up his eyes to heaven and said father the hour has come glorify your son that your son Also may glorify you that hour is upon him that's why it's a little while and that's why he says in a little while you're not going to see me but then after that you will see me because I go to the father so he is speaking specifically concerning those events connected with his life death resurrection and to Sanchez now note their confusion in verse 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 Brethren that's puzzling to us cuz we know the answer we know the situation we've read through scripture we've heard this preached if you've been in the church and uh this particular Church in terms of the upper room you'll have heard it a lot it's why stress repetition fortifies instruction God knows Christ specifically here as a wise teacher knows that we need to get these things drummed into our heads now the disciples at this point were not tracking and I think you'll see why as we go through this particular passage especially understanding what we've seen already in terms of the ministry of the spirit according to for 14 1526 and 27 and then 16: 12- 15 Christ is speaking not of a personal individual sealing of the Holy Spirit upon belief in Jesus he is talking about the Fulfillment of the Prophet Joel on the day of Pentecost in the temporal mission of the Holy Spirit to come and to bless the church and to equip the church for her mission to go into the world and Make Disciples of all the Nations so up until this point yes as individual believers they had the spirit but up until this point they didn't have what they're going to have in Acts two in terms of an ability to properly understand what was involved in Christ's first coming so notice with reference to their confusion Verse 18 they said therefore what is this that he says a little while we do not know what he is saying now this isn't simply a limitation by Nature they're finite and God's infinite so they don't get it it's not simply a limitation by sin they've got confusion and they've got darkness and they've got that sort of thing affecting them I would suggest it's a confusion based on circumstance with reference to the immediate context they're still probably thinking about 15 18 to 164 and the fact that unbelieving Jews are going to persecute them they're going to exclude you from their synagogues they're going to kill you and they're going to think that they're doing service to God Almighty I got to say Brethren if I was in that immediate context that Bell would have stayed wrong with me they're also still perplexed about the fact that he is going to depart from them I'm going to leave you he says they have become very fond of him they love him they care for him the thought of him being crucified the thought of him going before the San and being condemned as a malactor certainly probably had a lingering effect upon their abilities to interpret things but as well it's easier for us on this side of life death resurrection and Ascension on high and the day of Pentecost and the outpour of outpouring of the Holy Spirit to understand these things than they themselves were they just weren't tracking and we can't blame them for that we're not letting them have it for that but Jesus is leading them and preparing them and encouraging them and exhorting them for Ministry in this present evil world so that brings us then to the benefit of his departure in verses 19 to 24 remember in John's gospel in the Bible the Bible teaches that Jesus is one person with two Natures he is truly man he is truly God in theology we call that the Hy estatic Union the union of the two Natures in the one person we don't have two persons we don't have sort of a conglomerate we have a beautiful mystery of our Christian faith revealed for us understood by us but explainable no we're not infinite we've got some shortcomings when it comes to this but does the bible teach it yes we have an Evidence of him acting according to his divinity in verse 19 now Jesus knew that they desired to ask him and he said to them so Christ according to his divinity knows what their perplexity is he knows what their confusion is and he heads it off at the pass he doesn't say well you know they're going to figure it out no Jesus pressence and he wants to use this question and confusion on their part to give them education or information concerning his part notice his declaration then in verse 20 he says most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice and you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will be turned into Joy now he notices or he observes there the sorrow of the disciples he gets it that's what I love about Jesus he gets it he was in all points made like us yet without sin what's the Apostles implication of that therefore he is able to have compassion upon us we have omnipotent compassion in our Lord Jesus Christ notice Jesus doesn't slap his forehead say can't believe it guys how are you not getting this how are you not picking up what I'm putting down he doesn't do that and he doesn't lambas them because they are sorrowful he understands that the the god of Psalm 103 he knows our frame he he pies us he knows that we're but dust this is our blessed savior so he recognizes their sorrow again at the first part of verse 20 most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and Lament The departure of Christ was not via airplane the departure of Christ was not via train the departure of Christ was via the cross the bloodied brutally battered Savior for Sinners dying as a criminal upon that cross of course they're going to weep of course they're going to lament if they're not connecting to the the dots at this point if they're not standing at the foot of the cross concluding that oh yeah he's going to raise again the third day which there's no evidence that that was true that not that he would rais from the dead but that they got it they were not to be found even after the resurrection we see this perplexity and we see this confusion so the sorrow associated with the death of a friend the sorrow associated with the death of a of a master the sorrow associated with the death of one that you love of course there's going to be weeping and lamentation when Christ is brutalized by unbelieving Israel and the Roman Empire who endorses that that Wicked Behavior as well notice he acknowledges The Joy involved for the world look at what he says in verse 20 most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament but the world will rejoice now who's the world well in the context it's unbelieving Israel if you look back at 1518 if the world hates you you know that it hated me before it hated you and then notice in verse 25 but this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law they hated me without a cause it was WR written in their law and then in 162 they will put you out of the synagogues yes the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God's service so in context it would be unbelieving Israel but by extension we know it's all Sinners everybody in opposition to God because of their bent nature because of their adamic nature but why would the world Rejoice at the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ cuz they hated him they absolutely despised him he came to his own his his own received him not John prepares us for that in the prologue in John Chapter 1 what do we find when Jesus is standing before the Sanhedrin they they slap him these are supposed to be dignified men rulers of the the the political and religious aspect of of of Israel while subject to the Roman Empire they were the highest Authority within Israel they're acting like fiends slapping the Savior spitting on the Savior it's like what we read in Psalm 2 why do the Nations rage and the people plot a vain thing they they take their stand against Yahweh and against his Christ why is that because they hate God and when they see Jesus crucified on the cross that's going to cause them great joy in fact two passages that we ought to see in relation to this go back to Matthew's gospel in Matthew 11 Matthew 11 A Familiar passage but I don't think we always contemplate why Jesus says what he says Matthew 11 at verse 16 but to what shall I liken this generation it is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to to their Companions and saying we played the flute for you and you did not dance we mourn to you and you did not lament kind of odd games for children to play funeral uh I don't know that I'd encourage my children or my grandchildren to to play funeral but such as such as it was was we played the flute for you you did not dance we that was in the context perhaps of a wedding celebration we we mourned to you and you did not lament but then notice for John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he has a demon the son of man came eating and drinking and they say look a glutton and a wine bibber a friend of tax collectors and sinners but wisdom is justified by her children why do you think Jesus used that statement well it was true they were making that claim notice look or he says the son of man came eating and drinking and they say who's that the opponents of Jesus and they say look a glutton and a wine Biber a friend of tax collectors and sinners Brethren this wasn't just an intramural religious debate oh he teaches a few things a little bit differently go to the book of Deuteronomy Deuteronomy chapter 21 Deuteronomy chapter 21 this is what I believe is the background to what Jesus is saying in his statement here Deuteronomy 21 at: 18 if a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother and who when they have chastened him will not heed them then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the Elders of his City to the gate of his City and they shall say to the Elders of his City this son of ours is notice stubborn and rebellious he will not obey our voice he is a glutton and a drunkard now against the complaint that wow that's severe with reference to your son he's not talking about a 2-year-old that doesn't eat his peas talking about an adult Rebel Son that's engaged in gluttony and wine bibbing but note what the remedy for such a case is we call it the case of the incorrigible son verse 21 then all the men of his City shall Stone him to death with stones so you shall put away the evil from among you and all Israel shall hear and fear so in the upper room when Jesus tells us that his departure will Mark sorrow for his disciples but joy for his haters absolutely positively that's the case people are going to Rejoice they're going to stand at the foot of the cross and mock him the religious leaders again supposed to be exhibiting some sort of dignity and refinement and some sort of class stand at the base of the Cross and mock a suffering man and they say vile things like he saved others let's see him come down from the cross and save himself of course the world rejoices when Jesus is crucified on the cross of course the world rejoices when what they have sought by way of accusation he's a wine Biber and a glutton and by way of direct confr confrontation John 8 and John 10 how does Jesus disputes with the religious leaders end in John 8 and John 10 they pick up stones to throw at him why because he being a man made himself equal with God so if this Blasphemous TR maker is hung upon a Roman cross the world is going to rejoice in that Christ acknowledges that but then notice in verse 20 he says but your sorrow will be turned into Joy how could that be cuz he'll be raised again the third day he doesn't stay in the Tomb he is raised by the power of God Almighty he has fulfilled all of the obligations laid upon him in the Covenant of redemption he has lived the life he has died the death he is raised again he will Ascend on high Victorious and triumphant look ye Saints the sight is glorious see the Man of Sorrows now Christ says to the disciples you're going to weep you're going to lament when I go into that grave the the world's going to rejoice when I go into that grave but when I come out of that grave you're sorrow is going to be turned into joy and I think by way of implication the joy of the world will be turned into sorrow and all the stuff they tried to do to sideline the savior in the gospel narratives Carry On In the book of Acts with reference to the Church of the Lord Jesus As She Goes Forth to do what Jesus command it do they meet with reception are they welcomed into the synagogues no that's not it at all so Jesus underscores what is going to happen in terms of the little while note then that Jesus uses an illustration and the illustration is common that of a woman in labor who gives birth to a son it's seen in Isaiah 26 it's used in Isaiah 66 it's used in Micah 4 but note the Curious language in verse 21 a woman when she is in labor has sorrow because her hour has come I don't think that's accidental Christ's hour has come there is sorrow before the joy there is cross before the crown there is hardship and difficulty before Eternal blessing and that's what he's emphasizing with this particular analogy now of course I don't have to preach this to the ladies in the congregation and the men who've had children you know it's sor ful perhaps your wife reminded you of that throughout the ordeal but what happens after the sorrow of Labor the joy of a baby I've been around long enough to know that that sometimes ladies compare their labor stories ladies if you ever want to rid the room of Men start talking about your labor stories we'll all go meet somewhere else I'm just just kidding please don't blog that but I've yet to meet the woman who has said it wasn't worth it it's always worth it however bad however hard however painful it's always worth it why for joy that a human being has come into the world see Jesus assumes something something he assumes that children are a blessing I know that's not an assumption shared by our fellows in the world what with abortion and infanticide and all kinds of murder of helpless people but Jesus assumes it's a creaturely natural function of parents to love their spawn and so he uses that analogy it's just like that sorrow travail hardship difficulty why because of the joy that's in view no woman laments the fact that she went through Labor she might lament that she went through that kind of labor but not that she went uh through Labor in principle why CU she's holding a baby she's nursing a baby she's playing ball with a baby she's watching her baby drive she's watching her baby get married showing my age here Brethren sorry she's watching her baby walk down the aisle the joy that a baby brings the sorrow was worth it the sorrow of the Cross is worth it the sorrow of a life as a man of Sorrows is worth it all of that is what Christ is saying to affirm the reality that for the moment you're going to have weeping and lamentation for the moment it's going to be a time of distress for a moment your enemies are going to rejoice and they're going to wave their flags of Victory but know this the time is coming when that that will no longer be the case so note what he recognizes or affirms rather in verse 22 after the illustration he recognizes their present sorrow over his departure generally over his words generally probably over the fact that they're going to be persecuted generally but then he confirms his resurrection notice in verse 21 I'm sorry verse 22 therefore you now have sorrow but I will see you again that's the resurrection from the dead they didn't always get it Matthew 16:17 and 20 Jesus said I must go to Jerusalem I must be tried at the hands of wicked men I must be crucified and I must be raised again I mean after the first announcement in Matthew chapter 16 when Jesus says that Peter says may it never be Lord God forbid it Lord and Jesus rebukes him severely and says Get Behind Me Satan you're not thinking man's uh thinking God's thoughts here you need to think properly concerning the Messianic Mission so brother pointed out when he comes on the the the back of that donkey into Jerusalem that wasn't the expectation Zechariah prophesied the the coming of messiah in just that fashion their Prejudice was such against Jesus that they wouldn't see it they couldn't see it that's the god-hating world that would rejoice in his crucifixion but even the disciples had trouble puzzling it all together so Jesus confirms the resurrection there in verse 22 and then notice he says and your heart will rejoice and then look at this last bit and your joy no one will take from you that's an interesting beautiful illustration or beautiful statement the promise is the presence of lasting Joy look at what he says there so therefore you now have sorrow he acknowledges that but I will see you again he confirms his resurrection and he says your heart will rejoice and Joy no one will take from you what's one of the benefits associated with the departure of Christ lasting Joy lasting Joy now Brethren the promise is the presence of lasting Joy not the absence of any suffering the promise is a promise of lasting Joy not the promise of the ab Ence of any suffering Jesus is not Benny hen Jesus is not Kenneth copelan Jesus is not teaching health wealth and prosperity Jesus is not saying oh it's just going to be constant non-stop joyfill living for you the way those Heretics do we need to get this we can both be sorrowful and afflicted in the circumstances that we find ourselves in and yet have a lasting joy that nobody can strip from us I know it sounds odd sounds crazy but lots of us call it the Christian life so when Jesus says what Jesus says here he is not discounting what he has said in 1518 to 164 he is not saying oh yeah I was just kidding you're going to have such lasting Joy they're going to include you in their synagogues and they're not going to kill you and think they're doing service to God we need to get our minds wrapped around this reality Edward clink says the definitive and permanent nature of the disciples Joy is not based upon the absence of any future grief and affliction but by the placement of all grief and suffering into the larger context of the death and resurrection of Jesus you're still going to have problems in fact Brethren that that's the way Jesus ends The Upper Room discourse in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world so the presence of lasting Joy does not mean the absence of suffering Affliction and hardship as well the promise is the presence of lasting Joy not success in temporal matters you ever heard anybody invoke Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me that doesn't mean you're going to grow a foot overnight and be a star NBA player that doesn't mean you're going to be able to stand in the ring against you know the latest Powerhouse and MMA and and best them just like when we move down to jesus' emphasis on asking from God he mentions it in John 14 he's going to mention it again in John 16 when Christians debate about the nature of the whatever we ask and some suggest well whatever we ask new cars new homes great job promotions because after all Jesus says whatever we ask when we go to the text like that it tells tell us more about us than it does about the text the whatever we ask Ness that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Ness does not eliminate the reality that we live in a sin cursed world that is still in opposition to God most high and the Christ who's enthroned at his right hand this again is just reviewing John 15:18 what's Jesus say if they hate the master aren't they going to hate the servant so we can't take this reference to Lasting joy as to mean no problems and one other passage in the Old Testament that we should turn to I apologize to the people that were here Wednesday night but I think it needs repetition numbers 20 Numbers Chapter 20 just trying to clear away the misconcep caption that the promise of lasting Joy must always mean present Prosperity no it doesn't now Brethren I'm not suggesting if your car breaks home on the way home or on the on the road on the way home today you can pray God grant us wisdom grant us Grace we need to get another car I can't run to work I you know live 20 mi away I think we should all be able to get 10 if we had to there's nothing wrong with asking God there's everything wrong with expecting God to put a Porsche in your driveway expecting God to prosper everything that you do because he said you're going to have lasting Joy notice in numbers chap 20 specifically at verse two the people of Israel do what the people of Israel do they sin now there was no water for the congregation so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron now as we saw on Wednesday night that's a necessary element for life is water that they recognize the problem of no water isn't the problem it's the means they employ to address the problem they immediately turn against Moses and Aaron verse three the people contended with Moses and spoke saying if only we had died when our Brethren died before the Lord that's a reference to Kora and his rebellion and Dayan and his Rebellion we'd rather Fire come down out of heaven or the Earth open up and swallow us whole it'd be much better than organ failure and complete shut down after 3 days because we don't have water again a sentiment that I quite share all things being equal what I rather you know dehydrate and die because of organ failure and and you know confusion and all the lot that goes with it or you know quick zap of the fire the opening up of the ground and me following in as long as it's an immediate death I'll I'll I'll for that but if there's a moment or 10 or 20 that I'm I just don't think I can handle that but notice what they go on to say in verse four why have you Moses not God they're not men and women enough to blame God but that's who they're blaming why have you brought up the Assembly of the Lord into this Wilderness that we are an and our animals should die here Moses you're a killer You're a murderer this isn't the first rodeo either they have done this before up until this point notice in verse 5 and why have you made us come up out of Egypt again that was yahweh's Deliverance to bring us to this evil place it is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates nor is there any water to drink the point I tried to point out with that last Wednesday night was that the promised land was the land wherein the promise of milk and honey flowed wasn't nothing about the journey getting there the journey may be rough the journey is going to be rough it's going to be a whole lot rougher because you compounded every step of the way by your whining but that's another argument same with us there's a new covenant parallel there we're promised Everlasting joy in the presence of God I I believe we have that down payment now I believe every Blood Bought child of God In This Place rejoices in their lord Jesus Christ wanting that communion that the Triune God blesses his people with but we've not fully entered into what it will be when we get to heaven what does the old uh The Book of Revelation teach us there's no sorrow there there's no pain there there's no hunger there I don't think we get that one in North America the way our brothers and in Myanmar get that one longing for a place where there's no more hunger where there's no more thirst and where that Chief enemy itself is gone there is no more death there that's promised to us in what we call the escaton or the the final stage there ain't no promise like that for now there's sorrow there's death there's hunger there's thirst but even so guess what they can never strip from us the lasting Joy associated with Christ's life his death his resurrection which means the Forgiveness of sins for all those who believe in him and a righteousness given to them by which they may now enter into the presence of God Christ says in John 10 I came that they might have life and they might have it abundantly so the Lord Jesus affirms their sorrow confirms his resurrection and then underscores the reality that once you've seen these things you've been privy to them and the spirit has flipped the light on for the for the full significance to make its impact in your heart there's going to be lasting Joy how do you do acts 5:31 if Jesus is lying remember acts 5:31 how's unbelieving Israel deal with the Christian church well they put them in jail they then Scourge the apostles again you know there's con conventions or things or concepts in Scripture that we're just not pretty to I I have never seen anybody scourged I I I can read about it I you know read the gruesome descriptions and history books or scripture itself the apost were scourged beaten whipped when they leave there you know what they didn't do they didn't say oh call the lawyer get him on the phone immediately I'm going to sue the government I'm not saying it's always wrong to call your lawyer and sue the government but they left there rejoicing why because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name so they deprive them of physical health and strength they deprived them of Liberty they deprived them but they really didn't of the privilege to pre preach Christ name crucified and in that they Rejoice what about Paul and Barnabas in Acts 16 when they're in the stocks after having been beaten by the Roman Rod what are they doing there at midnight they're singing psalms of praise to God that's what Jesus is talking about you're going to have a lasting Joy Based on what happened life death Resurrection Ascension on high that is the buoy in the midst of the troubled Seas that's the anchor to keep you stable whatever they do to you however they treat you this one thing they can't do they cannot strip from you faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Salvation that you have in him that is where your joy lie and then Jesus goes on we'll end this quickly it is a bit repetitious here in this particular section again I think for fortification but notice that Jesus encourages them in verses 23 and 24 he encourages them in verses 23 and 24 he encourages them first with the illumination by the holy spirit in 23A and when with an invitation to pray in 23b and 24 if you look with me at verse 23 he uses two different words for our word ask 23A and in that day you will ask me nothing most assuredly I say to you whatever you ask the father two different words two different things going on in the first instance he is telling them what he has already told them the spirit according to 1426 is going to teach you about Jesus the spirit according to 152 6 and 7even who proceeds from the father and the son Spirit of Truth is going to teach you John 16 vers 12 to 15 the spirit of Truth is going to guide you into all truth when Jesus says in 23A and in that day you will ask me nothing I think it refers to Pentecost when Jesus pours the Spirit out upon the church what do we find we find Peter get up and we find Peter preach that sermon in Acts 2 is glorious it is christocentric it is crystal clear and what's the emphasis the true Humanity of Our Lord the death of Our Lord the resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord in other words the spirit made these things clear such that they no longer have to ask him what's the significance about your life death and Resurrection it's all been illuminated oh yes couple of weeks ago we baptized and we looked at Acts chapter n the Apostle Paul Saul of Tarsus knew the Old Testament he knew it up down back and around and yet the vital key to interpret it was lacking so on that road to Damascus when Jesus comes and and explains I am Jesus whom you are persecuting the light Shone Paul's humbled Paul says I see it now everything is yay and amen in our Lord Jesus that's the experience of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost the spirit makes clear why Jesus came why Jesus lived lived why Jesus died and why Jesus rose again this is the advantage that Jesus speaks of in 167 it is to your advantage that I go away so that the spirit comes and the spirit illumin and guide you into all truth it's kind of like first John 2:27 but the anointing which you have received from him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you now this is not suggesting there's no need for training ministers there's no need for a Ministry there's no need for any sort of sort of AC seeking God for further acquisition of truth that's not what it means it means the events cons connected with the gospel will become crystal clear to its Chief proponents namely the apostles who are going to be tasked to go into the world and turn it upside down for the Lord Jesus so that's what he means there you're not going to ask me why because you're going to know by the presence and the power of the holy spirit that I promis to send for that very reason and we know from 16:16 that the spirit's task is to glorify Jesus well how does he glorify Jesus by taking what is Jesus who takes it from the father and gives it to the disciples that's why you're not going to ask so what Jesus is saying practically is you've got confusion I get it I understand it but wait a little while and everything will be crystal clear and then you'll go out and you'll Proclaim this glorious gospel to the then known world and the power of God will be manifest and then he invites them to pray he invites them verse 23b and and 24 most assuredly I say to you whatever you ask the father in my name he will give you again the whatever you ask has to be conditioned first and formost by the context 14:12 tells us that they are tasked to go do Greater Works 1518 to 164 tells us that they're going to suffer persecution I doubt they're thinking about new cars I doubt they're thinking about summer homes I doubt they're thinking about better fishing boats they're thinking how do I navigate and how do I continue to go forward to do these Greater Works that he has tasked me with all the while the world is trying to kill me so that whatever we ask is conditioned by that context and whatever we ask is always conditioned by the revealed will of God it isn't God's revealed will for all of us to drive Porsches I don't even know why I pick Porsche that's not even I don't think a great car anymore is it says the Volkswagen driver it's an amazing thing we come to these passages whatever we ask whoa and completely neglect the context the men to whom the promise is given now there is an extension to be sure we can go to God and bring our petition large or small we can go to the throne of grace through our Lord Jesus Christ and in that we have his ear and I think that's the next significant emphasis notice whatever you ask the father in my name I think what Jesus is doing here is showing us something of what John does in the prologue the law was revealed through Moses but Grace and Truth has come through our Lord Jesus Christ there's a covenantal shift a covenantal transition Christ fulfills the old Covenant as the true Israel of God and he brings to pass the New Covenant in the New Covenant we come to the father through the son in the spirit the old Covenant they didn't not that the father son and spirit are not present in the old Covenant but the revelation of the father son and spirit comes to full blaze in the New Covenant so it's like when Jesus teaches that Samaritan woman in John 4:24 the woman the uh the uh the hour is coming and is now that the true worshippers of God will worship in spirit and truth I don't think that means the mind and the Heart the thoughts and the feelings I think it means God the spirit God the son you come through the Sun to the father in the spirit that's what he's highlighting in terms of their praying now from here on out the way that you're to pray is to the father through the mediator the Lord Jesus Christ he underscoring once again trinitarian theology in the upper room discourse in the last verse verse 24 until now you have asked nothing in my name ask and you will receive that your joy may be full that Joy may be full that is what he calls us uh calls these disciples to pray for in light of the Greater Works in 14:12 and in light of the persecution that is coming to them according to 1518 to 164 so Brethren hopefully there's something in here for us to be encouraged by and I would suggest the Chief Boon of this passage is the life death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ the fact that he comes down from heaven for us men and for our Salvation the fact that he takes on our Humanity with all of the essential properties and all the common infirmities thereof and yet without sin so that he could live for us die for us and be raised again for us that ought to promote Joy we have everything in the Savior we have every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ according to Paul in Ephesians 1:3 we have after the the the resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ not the absence of Affliction not the absence of trial not the absence of hardship but we always have the presence of lasting joy and we have that Holy Spirit that uh Christ promises here in the passage to give to us to teach us to illumin us to to guide us primarily in the context for these Apostles and their their assault spiritually speaking of course on the then known world but the spirit is by uh given by Christ so that we're not orphans in this present world what Jesus encourages the disciples with here is most excellent their sorrow would be turned to Joy if you've thought it any moment of Psalm 30 you wouldn't have been wrong for his anger is but for a moment his favor is for Life weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning as well their Joy could never be stripped from them I got to think that was particularly calculated to encourage them upon advising them of their mistreatment when they go out and they preach and teach whatever happens if you're in a jail cell your back is opened by the Roman Rock or by the the Jewish whip if you're destitute if you're exiled look at Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 he he suffered he suffered greatly but he had that lasting Joy we'll see something of that tonight when we turn to Philippians chapter 1 weather in prison WEA about to die weather continuing life what's he say for the me to live is Christ Christ and to die is gain that's what we as God's disciples Christ disciples have may this passage encourage us and I want to encourage any and all who are not Believers to look unto the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and you will be saved that's the promise that God gives God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life so please do not t do not resist exist but rather look unto the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved well let us pray Our Father in Heaven thank you for our Lord's teaching thank you for the gracious instruction that we have here in the upper room discourse and as well for the theological instruction concerning Father Son and Holy Spirit the nature of the living and the true God we praise you for your goodness and for your mercy we pray for your continued blessing upon us we pray for your blessing upon that word as it's preached today and we pray in Jes Jesus name amen well please stand with me and we'll close our service by singing 564 564 God God of Isel who only to live one in glor to in glory blessed his glor to all [Music] eternity the whole earth his [Music] [Applause] glory the let his [Music] glor before I read a benediction just a reminder members please go upstairs in about 5 minutes time it will be brief um perhaps you can get a friend or an neighbor to watch your children so that the adults can just gather up there and and get through that business so 2 Corinthians 13:14 a wonderful benediction as we consider our blessed God the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen well please be seated e e e e