12/11/16 A Little While!
Intro: ‘Christianity
isn’t a Joy ride, but a Joy Road’
Have you ever driven down a rough road, a
dirt road? Was the trip bumpy? Was it one of those roads that had a lot of pot
holes? Maybe it was wet and muddy and you slid all over the road. Maybe it was
a road that was slick, icy and you hung unto the steering wheel with all your
strength. Was it one of those roads where you were out in the Bundy’s it was
dark and your eyes would not leave the road because of the possible deer or
bear that would jump out from the side of the road. It was probably hard to
believe in a little while all this would be behind you, but while you’re on
that road it felt like forever. Jesus told His disciples in the Upper Room
prior to His own death that the road in front of you will not always be a
freshly paved highway. There will be some bumps along the way, some slippery
spots; but he did tell us we can have joy even if for a little while there
might be sorrow. “Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we
give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” 2
Corinthians 6:10 (NLT)
Text: John 16:16-20 (NKJV)
16 "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." 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'? 20 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.”
1. Joy is Deliverance:
The
fruit of the spirit produces deliverance: “The fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control.” The fruit of the spirit gives joy, so are you a source of joy?
Are you delivered, and if you are delivered you will have this rare commodity!
“A
little while” seven times that statement is made: “A little while” do you think
the Lord is trying to tell us something today? Is it possible that we might
have a need to be delivered? And if it need be for a while we suffer we can
still experience joy because we are delivered?
Dr. J. I. Packer makes some relevant
comments about Christian teaching on joy: Joy is being able to experience the seriousness
of some of life’s circumstances and the reality of our human and spiritual
position, and at the same time having joy: “Our hearts ache, but we always have
joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and
yet we have everything.”
Joy is commanded by the apostle Paul, which implies
that it is more than a whooshy feeling.
- “Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” Philippians 1:4
- “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2
- “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
Joy
is not fully experienced in this life—it is, but an anticipation of heaven. Joy
is anticipated now, as a foretaste of heaven, and because the joy of heaven
will be so great we may experience joy even when the road is very bumpy, for we
know joy is not postponed forever. Even on the night before his death, with the
certainty of the cross ahead for Jesus and desertion and ultimately persecution
for his followers, Jesus told the disciples that joy could be complete if they
kept in obedience to his love: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy
may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11
“Our hearts ache,
but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We
own nothing, and yet we have everything.” We are delivered!
Jesus predicted His
death and resurrection. His death: "A little while, and ye shall not see
me." His resurrection: "And again, a little while, and ye shall
see me, because I go to the Father.” The prediction puzzled the disciples, and
they began to ask among themselves what Jesus meant. Jesus knew that they were
puzzled and asked them about their perplexity, wishing to help them. Jesus'
claim: "I go to the Father". "I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
His way delivers us In A
little while!
2. Joy is Divine:
It is possessed and given only by GOD! Its
roots are not in earthly or material things or cheap triumphs. It is the joy of
the Holy Spirit, a joy based in the Lord, It is His very own Joy. Joy does not
depend on circumstances or happiness. Happiness depends upon happenings, but
Joy that God implants in the believer’s heart overrides all, even the most
troublesome matters of life and death. This is a rare commodity in the church!
REAL Joy! Someone who’s world isn’t rattled every time something unexpected
happens, this individual is able to go with the flow, move on, get over it. Their
feelings are not hurt so easily.
Jesus said there was to be sorrow at first. He
would be going away and leaving the disciples by sacrificing Himself for the
world, after sorrow there was to be uncontrollable joy. Jesus said that He
would arise, and His resurrection would cause His followers to burst forth with
joy. His resurrection meant that death was conquered. Men no longer had to die,
no longer had to be condemned for sin. They could be delivered from sin and
death by following Jesus. Jesus gave a good illustration of the violent
contrast between the sorrow over death and the joy of the resurrection. The illustration
describes a woman's travail in giving birth. She suffers so much that she
literally groans and grasps in desperation for the new life to begin. Once the
child is born, the sorrow and pain are all forgotten, for a new life has
emerged.
The believer's joy of really knowing the resurrection of Jesus Christ
cannot be taken away by any man. The fact is there: Jesus did die for man's
sins and arise again to give man a new life—a life that is both abundant and
eternal. The believer knows it. His joy is permanent, deep-seated, and
unmovable, when the trials and sorrows of earth come upon him, he
still knows the joy of the Lord's presence and care.
Where Does Christian
Joy Come From?
Joy comes from an appreciation that the believer is accepted in
Christ and loved. It has well been said that happiness comes from
circumstances, but joy comes from the knowledge of our relationship with the
Lord. Our joy is found in knowing the truth. God does not make us happy by
removing our circumstances, but rather he gives us joy in our circumstances,
knowing that He is using them to mold us into the image of Jesus. Joy comes
from realizing that we are saved for an eternity with God in who is fullness of
joy forever more. James wrote ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you
face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith
produces perseverance …” ‘Trials are to be received joyfully because we know
that through them God is routing out our sinful dispositions and leading us to
trust him more.
Joy comes from a habitual response to God. Galatians reminds
us: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit.” The fruit of the Spirit is produced by our
crucifying the sinful nature and being led by the Spirit. Christian qualities
are not things we can cultivate by ourselves. They are not the result of some
amazing self-improvement plan. No, rather these characteristics are the overflow
of a life abiding in Christ and remaining in him; a life starving the flesh,
crucifying it, and a life walking in and by the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion: And
the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in
the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a
sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)
The angel opens his discourse
by saying, that he announces great joy; and next assigns the matter of joy,
that a Savior is born. These words show us, first, that, until men have peace
with God, and are reconciled to him through the grace of Christ, all the joy
that they experience is deceitful, and of short duration. Joy comes to those
who worship Him! “They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with
great joy.” Luke 24:52 (HCSB)
What a beautiful scene, the disciples still
doubted Jesus and all that He came to do, so He makes another appearance shows
His body His nailed scared hands ask for food to eat and there in the same hour
ascends to heaven just as He hand planned all along. A light bulb goes on in
the disciples understanding. They found the joy the joy that only comes through
worshipping Him!
Imagine being filled, when was the last time you really
experienced God? Were you filled? Was there a certain feeling? “Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set
before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God. “ Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
I love the wording in the NIV
“Let us fix” that’s it (Turn your eyes upon Jesus…)
We can have this Joy by
keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He
was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew
would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside
God’s throne in heaven. So do you think it is worth waiting a little while?
‘Christianity
isn’t a Joy ride, but a Joy Road.’
In : Sermon
Tags: "book of john" "joy"
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