Thank you for joining us. That key Life Fellowship for our
Pulpit Ministry podcast. Each sermon on this podcast is
from our 11 a.m. Sunday service.
We are glad that you have joined us digitally, but would love to
see you in person on Sunday mornings at either 9 a.m. or 11
a.m. Now, let's open God's word and
ask him to reveal his truths for our lives.
If you would turn to the 16th chapter of John's gospel, and we
will be discussing this morning. Joy and what it means to walk in
joy. Before I begin this, message
this morning in between Services.
I went into my study and opened a book.
That is dear to my heart. It is the Valley of Vision which
is a Collective Book of Puritan prayers.
And there's no name to who prayed this and no person gets
credit for it. But I read this, it's an O
Christ. All thy ways of Mercy tend to an
end in my delight. Now, de sweep sorrow suffered
that I might rejoice. This person understood that
Christ. We sorrow for his Joy X
promises, shown my future happiness.
Given me a living Fountain. Thou Art preparing, joy for me.
And meet for joy. I pray for joy.
I wait for Joy. I long for joy.
Give me more than I can, hold desire or think of measure out
to me. My times and degrees of Joy at
my work business and duties. If I weep at night, give me joy
in the morning. Let me rest in the thought of
thy love, pardon for sin. My title to Heaven, my future
unspotted state. I read those words.
As I prepared to bring this message, this morning was
overwhelmed. By the joy of the Lord Jesus is
going to talk about that today. It's not going to seem as we
begin to read this that he's talking about Joy at all.
In fact, you will wonder, what is his point?
And he's going to get to his point, but his point is going to
be Joy. He has promised his disciples
way back in chapter 14 of John's gospel, that he is going to send
to them the indwelling Holy Spirit.
He has made that promise over and over again to them in John's
gospel, reminding them that with the spirit is going to come some
things. We know the fruit of the spirit
love joy, peace patience, kindness goodness, gentleness
faithfulness and long-suffering. And here he is going to teach
them about walking in Joy. That's what I want us to learn
today. I want us to learn how to walk
in true Joy. What this really means.
He's going to teach them that Joy is not something that you
have to go out on this crazy hunt for.
But that Joy has been provided for you in Christ.
His Joy is Promised by Jesus himself, as we will see today,
it's procured by his sacrifice. That means he obtains it for you
through his sacrifice. If you could go down to the
supermarket or to Walmart and purchase it, there could be no
price put on it because it would be too much for any of us to pay
on our own. Christ procured it for us
through his sacrifice. And it is provided by the
indwelling Holy Spirit again that he has promised to all who
are in Christ. So Joy is something that every
believer has direct access to but that many Believers often
forfeit in their day-to-day lives many Believers often
forfeit. This Joy walking in the Sorrows
of this world, walking in the grief of this world, walking in
the pain of this world. The trials of this world in the
sufferings of this world, Jesus is going to teach his disciples
today, that it should not be so. Here in John chapter 16 he is
going to talk to them about walking and joy and how they can
walk enjoy. I pray that you would learn this
lesson that he gave to his disciples two thousand years ago
that still applies to us. Even today, John chapter 16
verse 16, we will begin. Here, we win at verse 33 but
let's read it in its entirety before we teach the elements of
it. It says here in verse 16 where
we left off. Last week in a little while you
will see me no more and then after a little while, you will
see me some of his disciples said to one another, what does
he mean by saying in a little while?
You will see me no more and then after a little while, you will
see me and because I am going to the father Disciples wondered.
What was he talking about? What what could he possibly mean
by this statement? In a little while, you will see
me no more and then after a little while, you will see me.
Of course it's caused much debate in the theological
circles throughout the ages. What is Jesus actually talking
about here? Is he talking about the fact
that he's going to die? And just hours because that's
where we find ourselves here, just hours from the cross, is he
going, is he talking about the fact that he's going to die and
that he's going to be buried. And, and for three days, that
little while they will not see him and then, in a little, while
three days, they will see him again, is he talking about that?
He could possibly be talking about that.
That's one Theory. Is he talking about his
Ascension to the father? And his later return is
imminent, returned, a scripture, declares that he talking about
that when he says in a little while you won't see me.
But then, in a little while you will, they're wondering, what is
he talking about? Is he talking about?
Is Ascension in regard to this in a little while you won't see
me but then in a little while just days. the holy spirit is
going to descend from heaven upon you and while you and you
will see me again as the Holy Spirit living in you, God in
spirit, you have you have seen me, God incarnate But you will
see me in just a short time, God, in spirit living and
dwelling. And you what I would say to
everyone here is let's not make this a debate.
Because in every one of those instances they didn't seem they
saw him again so it's really irrelevant what he's talking
about in regard to this. In fact it's so irrelevant.
That Jesus, they're going to ask the question.
If Jesus is not even going to answer them.
We read on this text is, what does this mean?
Because I'm going to the fob, you'll see me a little while you
won't see me. And then after a little while,
you will see me again because I'm going to the father Verse
18, and they kept asking, what does this mean by a little
while? We don't understand what he's
saying. And Jesus saw that they wanted
to ask him about this. And so he said to them, are you
asking one another? What I meant when I said in a
little while, you will see me no more and then after a little
while, you will see me, isn't it?
Funny how Jesus did that? He knew what they were
wondering. He poses the question is this
what you guys are talking about? I tell you the truth, you will
weep and mourn while the world rejoices you will grieve, but
your grief will turn to Joy. Jesus doesn't even answer the
question that he knows that they have.
He talks about a bigger issue, the fact that they were going to
have grief and the fact that he's going to turn it into what
did he say? Joy.
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has
come, he's going to illustrate this.
But when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of
her joy that a child is born into the world.
All the pain is worth it at that point in time.
So, with you now is your time of grief, but I will see you again
and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy in that
day, you will no longer. Ask me anything.
I tell you the truth, my father will give you whatever you ask
in my name, according to his will, he says, in verse 24,
until now, you have not asked for anything in my name, ask and
you will receive Receive and your joy will be complete.
Please see the context of this don't miss, as he's talking
about Joy. The whole time though, I have
been speaking figuratively. A time is coming when I will no
longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about
my father, In that day, you ask in my name, in my name.
I am not saying that I will ask the father on your behalf.
He doesn't have to. He's giving you direct access to
the father through his sacrifice.
Know, the father himself loves you.
It's for all the people who say, I understand that the father
loves the son, but he can never love me.
No, he loves you. What's this?
Why? Because you've loved me.
The Father loves you not because you're lovable, not because
you're good in and of yourself, not because you're worthy of his
love. He loves you because you loved
me and have believed that I came from God.
I came from the father and end of the world.
Now, I'm leaving the world and going back to the father and
then Jesus disciples said, now you are speaking clearly.
And without figures of speech, what he's been saying the whole
time Now we can see that, you know, all things and that you do
not even need to have anyone ask you questions, this makes us
believe that you came from God. They recognize the omniscience
of Christ and they say this makes us believe.
You believe it last? Jesus answered, but a time is
coming and has come when you will be scattered each to his
own home. And you will leave me all alone.
I love that. Jesus tells the brutal truth.
Plain and simple. Yet, I am not alone for my
father is with me. He says you're going to feel as
if you left me alone, you're going to feel bad about this.
You're going to try to Bear the weight of that you can't.
Don't worry about it. The father is going to take care
of me. I have told you these things so
that in me you may have peace in this world.
You will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the
world. Jesus is talking to his
disciples here about walking in complete joy and walking in
complete. Joy comes.
Write this down first by trusting in, God's transforming
power, verses 16 through 22. As we read that, we see that
they're first. In that text.
What we see is this we see that if we're going to walk enjoy, we
must trust that the Lord will transform our confusion.
Into Clarity verses 16 through 18.
They're asking the same question over and over and over in a
little while you won't see me. But then, in a little while, you
will see me, this doesn't make sense.
Never in their life. Have they ever encountered
anything like this? They know that when people die,
you never see them again. What are you saying?
You won't see me and then you'll see me in a little while again.
Jesus is telling them that things are going to be confusing
confusing in your life and just a moment.
But I'm going to bring all of those things into Clarity.
I have the power to transform your confusion into Clarity and
that is exactly what Jesus does he transforms our confusion into
Clarity? This brought confused and into
their lives for a moment. As they tried to understand all
of this from the human perspective from their own
intellect. Remember they weren't getting it
as we read through that text at first.
Then all of a sudden everything began to click because they were
no longer trying to understand through the natural intelligence
of man. They began to understand and to
see things through the spiritual and all of a sudden and seeing
things through the spiritual. Their confusion was transformed
into Clarity. We find ourself confused in this
world often. Don't we confused and void of
Joy. When we try to understand this
world with our own human, Human intellect from a human
perspective. You watch the news.
You're going to find yourself confused.
And then it's going to move you to a state of an absence of joy
in your life. You began to watch everything
going on in this world, from just your human intellect and
your human understanding, you will be depressed very soon.
That's why in these chaotic times anxiety and depression is
on the rise. Is so many people are confused.
How could we not be confused? Everyone seems to be confused.
We don't know the difference between right and wrong.
We don't know the difference between male and female.
We don't know the difference between God and Satan in these
days. You continue to look at things
from a human perspective, you're gonna join in and all the
confusion, you're not going to understand, either you're going
to be depressed and anxious about everything.
But aren't you thankful those of you who are in Christ, we can
walk enjoy. When we trust in God's
transforming power, the fact that he can transform our
confusion into Clarity and joy comes when we see the truth,
when we get into the word of God, when we, when we meditate
on the word of God, when we get on our knees in prayer, all of a
sudden, All the confusion is transformed into Clarity and I
confusion doesn't just go away and is replaced by Clarity.
No, he begins to transform your mind in Christ Jesus.
And as it is transformed, now you have Clarity where you once
had confusion. Now since to each of you this
morning, if you are confused about life right now, at this
moment, I don't care. We like to often say it's only
teenagers are can who are Confused.
You might be retired and still confused.
If you're confused about life at this point, what is true life?
It is only in Christ that you will find clarity about the
meaning of life. Why?
Because he is the resurrection and the life Clarity comes when
your mind is transformed in Christ.
This statement that they're looking at it, it brought
confusion into their life, what does he mean?
He's going to in a little while, I'll be gone and then in a
little while we're going to see him again.
N. Jesus is going to just as he
does in our life. Take their confusion and give
them Clarity. And when this happened, When
this happened at his resurrection.
Things begin to become clear when they went to the tomb that
morning and it was empty, they ran back to toe all the other
disciples. Things began to clear up.
Hey, you know what we were confused?
He was supposed to be the Messiah and then how he's in a
tomb, then someone came back and said he was in a tomb, but the
tomb is empty. just like you said, they received a little
Clarity in the midst of their confusion, and then We know this
on the day of Pentecost, after his Ascension into heaven, he
had already promised them. The promised Holy Spirit.
Told him to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came on
them and here they are in Jerusalem, waiting and waiting.
I'm waiting. And finally, the Holy Spirit,
does descend on the Believers and in that moment great clarity
came. In fact immediately Peter said
this is what Joel said was going to happen.
This is it this is the promise of Christ.
This is the promise of the prophets.
We have a little more clarity. He took their confusion, he made
it clear. Then we know this.
One day. Because Christ has ascended into
heaven, where he has promised us, that he will return to this
earth. He is going to return and he's
going to bring ultimate Claritin so I choose not to get into the
debate with all of the scholars about was it talking about?
His resurrection was a talking about his Ascension, wasn't
talking, and the coming Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and his
Ascension, maybe in reference to the return of Christ is talking
about all of those things. It is Christ.
Who brings Clarity to our confusion.
When he returns to this earth. He's going to bring complete
Clarity. Paul wrote about this in First
Corinthians chapter 13. When he said this in verse 12,
now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror poor reflection
as in a mirror mirror kind of looks like you especially in
their days. They just would take a piece of
glass and polish it the best that they could, didn't have all
these fancy cosmetic mirrors. Like you ladies have where you
can blow up a nose hair where it looks like it's four miles long.
They had a piece of polished glass, that's all they had and
so they could tell that was an image of what they were looking
at. But it wasn't a clear image.
It had some clarity but it wasn't all the way.
Clear. He said you see it as a poor
reflection as in a mirror. He said, but then then you will
see or shall see face to face, you are going to see
face-to-face. The glory of the Lord,
everything is going to be clear. He says, now I know in part I
don't park. There are some things that are
clear. And it is removed, my confusion
about some things. he says, but then Then.
I shall know fully even as I am fully known, it is trusting in
God's transforming power that he is constantly Transforming Our
confusion into Clarity and he will ultimately do that when
Christ returns to redeem this wicked world, it's going to make
all things clear. Many people say this when I get
to heaven, the first thing that I'm going to ask is no, you
won't. The first thing that you're
going to do, when you get to heaven, is you're going to bow
at the feet of Jesus face-to-face than all of your
Earthly questions are going to be answered in all of the
confusion of this life is going to be gone and you will have
complete Clarity. He is going to transform and is
transforming for those of you who are in Christ.
You're a confusion to Clarity and that ought to bring you
great joy. The disciples wanted hey, fix
our confusion. Jesus said no, making a fixture
confusing. I'm going to transform it into
Clarity. That's why they said, oh, now we
see, now we get. It was like those moments in my
study where I have that portion of scripture that's difficult to
interpret in the Holy Spirit, then gives me insight into it
and I'm overwhelmed with joy. Why?
He's taking my confusion and he's made it into clarities
turned it into clarity. God is a master of doing that,
isn't he is a God who transforms our confusion and declared him.
We find great joy in that Christian know that perhaps
you're confused about something right now, go to your knees, go
to the word of God. And see if God is Not faithful
to transform your confusion to Clarity, our answers are found
here in these 66 books, that are bound between two pieces of
leather. They are here it.
We wonder why we don't have joy. We don't have joy because we
don't seek Clarity from the Lord we accept confusion.
He says, guys, you don't have to say except confusing.
You want to find Joy. Trust in my power, to transform
your confusion in the clarity. Secondly, Jesus also tells them
this It is he who has the transforming power to transform
our grief into Joy. Not only, does he transform our
confusion into Clarity, he transforms our grief into Joy.
Spurgeon said this, he said your sorrow itself, shall be turned
into Joy. Not the sorrow to be taken away
and joy to be put in its place, but the very sorrow which
Grieves you the same thing that causes you to suffer and mourn.
He says shall be turned into Joy.
That's the transforming power of God.
God not only takes away the bitterness and give sweetness in
sweetness and it's Displays, but turns the bitterness into
sweetness, it's self. What is he saying?
He's saying exactly what Jesus is saying.
I'm going to turn your grief into Joy.
Look at verse 20. He says it right there.
Verse 20 of chapter, 16. I tell you the truth, you will
weep and mourn while the world rejoices they're going to
Rejoice at the fact that I died. And I'm gone.
I am no longer a thorn in the flesh of the religious leaders,
you will grieve, but your grief will turn to Joy.
That word turn is be transform. Your grief will be transformed
into joy. And why is that so important?
Because the God who transforms Winter into spring or watching
it happen right now in just days.
We have seen the green leaves bud in the flowers bloom and two
and a quarter inches of yellow pollen on all of our vehicles,
showing us. This showing us that God doesn't
just take away winter and replace it with spring.
There is a transformation that happens.
He transforms winter into spring and then spring into summer and
then summer into fall. He is a God God, who transforms?
He transforms your confusion into Clarity and he transforms
your grief into Joy. What a promise from Christ, not
that he's going to do as the world would desire him to do and
here's how the world does things.
Take my grief away so that I don't have to suffer the Greek.
And just give me joy. No, God, doesn't work like that.
What God does is he allows you to suffer grief so that he can
display his transforming Supernatural, power to take
grief and to turn it into Joy. So that he receives all glory
and honor and praise as a God who transformed.
Will transform our grief into Joy.
The desire for God to simply just remove your grief, make you
go away. Is the desire of an immature
Christian at best. It is the desire of an immature
Christian at best. Because where would we be
Church? Where would we be?
Without a God. Who transformed the sorrow of
Christ. And the suffering of Christ and
the grief and the pain of Christ, where would we be
without a God who transformed the greatest suffering, that the
world has ever seen and to the greatest joy that we could ever
know? Look at the illustration that
Jesus uses there and verse 21 you ladies who have children
here understand it quite well as men, we have no idea.
Unless we've had kidney stones. But in verse 21, he uses an
illustration. That's why I don't have to come
up with some cool. Hip illustration.
Jesus has a great one right here. a woman giving birth, he
says, a woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time
has come She's in labor when her baby is born when he transforms
her pain into Joy. When her baby is born, she
forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born
into the world. What an illustration that the
Lord gives us. I'm going to turn.
Your grief in your pain. Into your greatest joy just like
the pain of Labor turns into the mother's greatest joy.
Oh, those of us who have children and who were there in
that moment, we got to see God transform.
The greatest pain that our wife is ever gone through besides
dealing with us. Into the greatest joy as she
held that child for the first time.
And she wept and she praised her God all of the pain at that
moment in time was transformed into Joy.
What are you saying that he does?
He transforms grief into Joy, he transforms confusion into
Clarity that brings us great joy.
It is in the same cross. Jesus didn't have a cross of
sorrow and suffering and then a separate Cross of joy.
It is in the same cross that suffering.
Enjoy means where the father took the suffering of the Cross
and he changed it into transforming it into the joy of
Christ. Look what Hebrews says in
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2, it says 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, he was transformed from a position of suffering and
pain, and Agony and death. To a position of honor and
Authority where he was seated at the right hand of the father.
What a blessing we get. When we see that, we have a God
who by Nature transforms things Transforming Our confusion into
Clarity and Transforming Our grief into Joy.
I must hurry. Number two.
He walk enjoy not only by trusting in God's transforming
power but secondly by believing God's promises.
I really believe in God's promises in verses 23 on down
through 28. Jesus is going to speak of some
specific promises though. We should cling to all of his
promises and he's want to speak of specific promises here.
One our access to the father and to the Ascension of Christ and I
want to break that down because he speaks of both of them here
in reference to the Joy. And the lives of the disciples.
He says, in that day, you will no longer.
Ask me anything. I tell you the truth.
My father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name, ask and you
will receive, and your joy will be complete.
No, I have been speaking, figuratively, figuratively.
A time is coming when I will no longer use this, kind of
language, but will tell you plainly about my father, and
that day, you will ask in my name.
I am not saying that, I will ask the father on your behalf.
No. The father himself loves you
because you have loved me and have believed that I came from
God. What is Jesus saying there?
He's saying you can have joy because of your access to the
father I want Christians to understand this because many
Christians fail to understand this principle we have in Christ
and since we are in Christ, we have direct access to almighty.
God, the Father Many people don't understand that.
That we can as Hebrews chapter 4 tells us.
Because of Christ. We can approach the father in
confidence Hebrews 4:14 says, therefore, since we have a great
high priest who has gone through the heavens Jesus, the son of
God, let us hold firmly to the faith.
We possess he says because of Christ in our confidence in
Christ and also allows us to have confidence in something
else. Watch this.
But we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses but we have one who has been tempted in every
way just as we are yet guests, as we are yet with is was
without sin. 4:16 says let us then approach the throne of
grace with confidence. So that we may receive mercy and
find Grace to help us in our time of need.
There are many of you even as believers who are missing out on
great joy because you think that something you did as a Believer
has hindered your access to the throne of grace and that is
positively not true. It is in Christ, the great high
priest that we have access to the father.
That's what Jesus is telling them, you're no longer, going to
have to count on me to intercede for you.
I am interceding for you. Now, what you were going to
realize is, you have direct access to the father.
When you ask in my name, according to my will, the father
will act and react on my behalf for you and on your behalf.
Half because he now loves you because you love me.
What promise? Not to bring us great joy that
we have access to the creator of the universe.
The throne room is open to his children.
The veil has been torn. You can confidently walk into
the holy of holies because of the great high priest.
The Lord Jesus Christ. Who made a way for you through
his sacrifice he gives us access to the father Through that torn
Veil, his broken beaten body and allowed us access into the
presence of a holy God and Christ.
We now have peace with God that hostility that once was there
between God and unbelieving man has been reconciled.
And it is through him. The finished work there at
Calvary. We can have great joy in
accessing the father. He says that you can approach
with confidence. Oh how many times has the enemy
kept you from approaching the Throne of God because of
something you did. Oh you're not worthy.
No not the crisis. But you can't really think that
you can still approach God in your condition.
No, I can't. But Christ has covered my sin
and so I can I can confidently. Trust in the finished work of
Christ as access to the father and with that becomes.
Rejoice in my life. We walk by Joy by believing
God's promises. The promise that he has told us
that we have access to the father but also the Ascension of
Christ in this text. The two main promises that we
see here verse, 28 speaks of the Ascension of Christ.
It says I came from the father and entered the world.
Now I'm leaving the world and going back to the father with
there's no debate there. He's obviously talking about the
Ascension because he's going back to the father.
What is the Ascension of Christ have to do with anything in
relation to our joy? Well unfortunately, the
Ascension of Christ is that most of the time, untalked about
aspect of the finished work of Calvary, it is his death, his
burial, his resurrection and his Ascension that gives us great.
Hope Jesus is wanting them to see the importance of his
Ascension because they're going to see that in just a short
while. Is Jesus Ascension confirms some
things for the believer, for one.
It confirms says, it should bring you great.
Joy his head. He is who he said that.
He is our, we can remember in John's gospel.
How many times have we seen? Jesus said that.
I came from the father. And I came not to do my will,
but the will of the father, and then when I'm done doing his
will, I'm going to return to him.
And so when we see the Ascension of Christ that he has truly
return to the father, you know what, we can have confidence in
the work of Christ has done. It's complete, he doesn't have
to come back and do another thing so that we can be saved so
that we can be secure in him. So that all of our sin can be
forgiven and we can walk and true Joy.
He doesn't have to do a single thing, it is already done.
In fact, on the cross, Jesus declared it is, what finished?
What a declaration with his Ascension, it put the stamp on
it, he is who he says, he is when they saw him leaving this
earth going into the clouds to go back to the father.
But don't, you know that the disciples were elbowing one
another, he's going back to where he said he came from.
He is the Christ, the son of the Living.
God has a spirit has allowed us to see that and allowed us to
believe that he is who he says he is.
And don't, you know, they were overwhelmed with great joy at
the Ascension of Christ. He confirmed, he is who he says
he is, but it also confirmed that his work was finished.
It's done. Yes to do.
Nothing else to redeem those who he desires to redeem finish.
He's Ascension also confirms. That there is.
Constant. Intercession occurring on behalf
of the Saints. Consonants that, you know, he
doesn't have to intercede. He doesn't have to intercede in
reference to our access to the father.
But he is there and he is interceding for us.
What does that mean? Hebrews chapter 7 makes this
very clear. Verse 23 says now, there have
been many of those priests talking about the lineage of
high priest under the levitical system since death prevented
them from continuing and office. He said, there's been a lot of
them because they all die. That's one.
Common thing that we all have in common, isn't it?
We all die. But because Jesus lives forever.
He has a permanent priesthood. All of the priests in the Old
Testament. Time had a temporary priesthood.
It was for their life, but when their life was over, it was
done. But Christ who lives forever,
the resurrection and the life. He is a permanent priesthood.
Therefore, he is watch this able to save completely those who
come to God through him. He doesn't need your help, he
doesn't need anything extra from you.
He is able through his intercessory work, as the
atoning sacrifice to save you completely because he always
lives to intercede for them. What Does that mean?
That means this one Kirk misses up on this Earth as a nun,
glorified believer. When I blow it though, I don't
want to blow it. I long to live a life that is
pleasing to God. But when I do, because I do, and
I can just be around me long enough and I'll prove that. when
I do, Christ intercedes on my behalf.
None of my sins as a Believer will be held to my charge
because the great high priest who lives forever is constantly
there in a position of my atonement just as the high
priest would go in once a year and perform sacrifice for the
sins and then a sacrifice for himself.
Christ has presented a sacrifice once and for all and he
continually sits there and that position of intercession as our
great high priest. No sin will be held to my charge
because Christ is the high priest who lives forever that
ought to bring you great assurance that ought to bring
you great confidence. That ought to bring you great
joy and it is the Ascension of Christ.
That shows us. That's where he is.
Jesus isn't wandering, aimlessly around on this earth.
Now, in fact, Jesus said when people start saying here's
Christ, I saw him here and I saw him there.
He said, don't listen to those people. he is seated at the
right hand of the Throne of God, the high priest who lives
forever interceding on behalf of all, who trust in him, and in
his sacrifice, And his Ascension confirms that.
Romans 8, verse 31 says, what shall we say in response to this
if God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all.
How will we will? He not also along with him?
Graciously, give us all things, who will bring any charge
against Those whom God has Justified or chosen none.
You can't bring a charge against, that's why.
Because when it charges brought against us, even by the accuser
of the brain that Brethren's Satan himself.
Jesus says they have been forgiven but you don't know
what? Kurt did.
Yes, I knew it. Kirk did before the foundations
of the earth and he is whiter than snow because of my Twice.
Oh, doesn't that bring you great joy to know that you have an
intercessor who lives forever to intercede for you who will bring
a charge against Those whom God has chosen.
It is God. Who justifies he chose to
justify me? No one could bring a charge
against me. Why?
Because God himself chose me to be righteous in Christ.
And he has declared me righteous.
That's what Justified means. Verse 34, who is he?
That condemns Christ. Jesus.
He's the one who got his appointed to judge the living
and the dead who died and more than that, who was raised to
life. He died and more than that.
He was resurrected and is at the right hand of God, how did he
get to the right hand of God? Don't forget the Ascension of
Christ. He ascended into heaven and
gives us great confidence and great joy.
Because Christ ascended into heaven, we have confidence that
now he is as the word of God says, at the right hand of God
and is also interceding. Or us. when the father sees,
those of us who are in Christ, he sees the righteousness of his
only begotten son, the Lord Jesus that has been imputed to
us because they're in that position of great high priest
Christ, constantly and forever intercedes for us.
What A Savior we have. Ascension confirms.
The intercessory work of Christ in the continual intercessory
work of Christ but it also confirms that Christ will return
again. He will return again.
In fact, if we go to the account of his Ascension in Acts chapter
1 verse 9, verse 8, he promises the Holy Spirit and that when
the Holy Spirit comes They will receive power to be his
Witnesses. But then he says this in verse 9
or this occurs in verse 9, watch this after he said this, he was
taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their
sight. He was taken up into the air
raptured if you would for all the people don't want to believe
in a Rapture argue with Jesus about that, he just got raptured
up into heaven. They were looking intently up
into the sky as he was was going when suddenly two men dressed in
white, Stood Beside them. Men of Galilee they said, why do
you stand here looking into the sky?
Where did he go? What do you?
Where did you go? He's been telling you the whole
time. I'm going to the father The
reason I'm going to the father's because I'm the intercessor for
you. You have no hope of going to the
father apart from me. I am the way the truth and the
life. No man comes to the father but
by me because he goes to the father, we can have great joy
knowing this that because he went to the father has at his
Ascension. We too will go to the father as
well, but also, we can have great Joy about because of what
he's about to say. Why do you stand here looking
into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been
taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way.
You have seen him go into heaven.
We have great joy in knowing that Christ is going to return
when we see the Ascension. She the fact of the Ascension,
it seals the promise of his return. he went away as at his
Ascension from this Earth to the father leaving us a promise that
one day I will return and he's going to return and if the
Ascension of Christ and looking at that doesn't bring you great
joy and the return of Christ because you see his Ascension
Might one examine your heart today to see if you really
believed in the return of Christ?
I don't know about you but I can answer for me.
I longed for his appearing just as the Apostle Paul says, he
longed for his appearing. Why does he longed for his
appearing? Because with his appearing, He
will bring reward, he said there's a crown of righteousness
that is kept for me, but not me only.
But for all of those who long for his appearing, if you don't
long for the appearing of Christ, perhaps there is not a
crown of righteousness that awaits you in and I would dare
to say this if there is not a crown of righteousness that
awaits you, you are not in Christ because it is the crown
of Christ. His righteousness that we will
be crowned with only to take it off. because we are So Unworthy
and to lay it at the feet of Jesus, where it been long, What
great joy we have and talking about the Ascension of Christ
because the Ascension confirms that he will return again.
Psalm 19, the psalmist said this in verse 8, he said the precepts
of the Lord are, right? It's precepts and Promises of
the Lord are right. And he goes on to say giving Joy
to the heart. And we look at all the chaos in
this world, think about the Ascension of Christ.
And what that means, it confirms that he is who he said he is.
Because Christ went back to the father.
I know that he is everything that he said that he is because
Christ has returned it to the father.
I know that everything that he had to do in the Plan of
Redemption, he accomplished, there's nothing else that I can
do. I can't help him out with my
works. I can't help him out with my
baptism. We're about to see baptism in a
second and let me just tell you this any of you who are about to
get baptized thinking that it's going to save you your
dreadfully wrong. You need to be saved this
morning before your baptized because baptism is agreeing with
the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
that you already understand. Baptism.
Won't save you church membership.
Won't save, you religion will not save.
You religion is man's attempt to get to God.
Christ is God coming to man, that is the difference between
Christianity and all the Pagan religions of this world that are
false and leading people to hell.
It is in Christ. We truly know God.
It's almost as the precepts of the Lord are, right?
Giving Joy to the heart. It's when we know Christ and we
know his promises and we dressed in those promises that we walk
enjoy. Thirdly.
Lastly. We walk in Joy by faith in God
in Christ position. This is a big one faith in
Christ position. Verses 29 through 33, speak of
the position of Christ. And disciples said, now you are
speaking clearly, and without figures of speech.
Now we can see that, you know, all things you see how he
transformed their confusion to Clarity.
We see we see now clearly we're hearing you now.
We can see that you know all things and that you do not even
need to have anyone ask you questions, this makes us believe
that you came from God. Jesus clearly failed for them.
His omniscient power that he knows everything and they said
this means you are really God. He says you believe it last but
a time is coming and has come when you will be scattered each
to his own home yet and you will leave me all alone yet, I am not
alone for my father's with me. I told you these things so that
in me, you may have peace in this world.
You will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the
world. Jesus is offering joy to his
disciples here based on his position and faith in that
position position. Regarding specifically.
Here is attributes his attributes to know who Christ
is, it's important that each of us who claim Christ in this
room. And in this, World study the
scriptures all that we can so that we can see his attributes
clearly, so that we can know who he really is.
Because there are all sorts of false Christ being presented in
our day, How do we know the true from the counterfeit?
We learned the truth. We learned a true we Focus On
Christ who he is here. They see his attribute of
omniscience though we would serve ourselves well to learn
all of his Divine attributes that we see in scripture, this
specific one here is highlighted They receive Comfort because of
his omniscience, he knows everything.
That should bring us great comfort today to know that
Christ knows everything. He knows your weaknesses.
He knows your Temptations. He knows your flaws.
He knows your shortcoming. He knows your strengths.
He knows your heart. He knows all things and it
brings us great joy as Believers to see that.
That he exercises, his omniscience here, to let us
know. That he knows everything.
And he still loves us. He's not going to hold it
against us. He let them know here, watch it.
You're going to abandon me. I know that too.
That's what they said. They said we see that.
You know everything and so that we know you come from God.
He said I also know that you're going to abandon me Don't beat
yourself up about it. Fathers not going to.
Abandon me. Don't beat yourself up about
that. I do know all thing.
It's not going to shock me when you abandon me.
I'll be fine. So, will you?
Rest in my peace, what a compassionate savior.
He knows. He knows that Peter is going to
deny him just as he is already said. and In This Moment, He
reminds him of it again. and in the context of this is, don't be
troubled by will be troubled by it.
There's a greater plan. I can't help, but go to the
banks of Galilee. where I've actually stood, where they
believe is the actual location where Jesus fed his disciples
fish on the shore of Galilee after his resurrection, when
they saw him there, I can't help but go there and think of Peter
who disrobed and jumped in the water out of a boat, like some
raging lunatic and swam as fast as he could to Christ on that
Seashore, as he had prepared that fish for breakfast.
I can't help, but imagine the joy that flooded the heart.
Saint Peter, when he heard those words, Go feed my sheep.
Go feed my sheep. Oh, I can you imagine everything
in Peters mind is everything began to just come to the front
of his mind? He remembers the conversation
that he and the Lord had in Luke chapter 22.
Luke 22:31, the Lord says to Peter Simon Simon.
Satan has asked to sift you as wheat?
But I have prayed for you Simon. That your faith may not fail.
Oh, did Peters Humanity fail? Yes.
His faith. Never failed.
We see that on the banks of Galilee his faith never felt.
And when you have turned back, wow, he said, Peter, your faith
is going to hold you. Because it's true.
You can say the same thing about Judas.
You can say that about Peter, he said, and when you have turned
back, Jesus told him right there.
You're going to have an issue. You're in a fall, you're not
going to fail. Faith is going to uphold you.
It's faith mean because of your faith.
In me. I am going to uphold you and
when you return, that's a doctor to perseverance here.
We see it again the True Believer always return and when
you return Strengthen your brothers.
How did he strengthen them with the joy that he received from
the Lord after he was strengthened?
But a gracious compassionate savior.
We see there. We can walk enjoy by faith in
Christ's position regarding his attributes and his great joy in
seeing them to know that he knows all he sees all even
before anything happened. That he is determined in
eternity past to love you. If you were in Christ here, this
morning in spite of you, What joy we have.
They're not only that he's teaching them to walk.
Enjoy. By faith in Christ position
regarding his attributes, but also regarding his
accomplishments. Not only who Christ is, That
wasn't enough. But what Christ did and will do.
For those who are in Christ, we will walk in Great Joy Church
when we learn to rest by faith in the accomplishments of Christ
in, in that alone, not in. Did you get the raise that you
wanted not in? Did you get the promotion that
you wanted? Not in?
Did you score the grade on the test that you desire?
Not in anything of this world? but when we learn to rest, In
the accomplice accomplishments of Christ Alone.
We'll have great joy. Look what he says to them in
this world, you will have trouble.
But take heart. I have overcome the world.
What a statement? He tells them.
You're going to be scattered. He's already told Peter you're
going to deny me. And now he says, there's going
to be all kinds of trouble in this world.
Can we testify to? Yes, that's true.
What he says, for each of us. Take heart.
That means don't lose heart. Don't lose.
Hope. Don't lose faith.
Trust in him, take heart. I have overcome the world.
He says your Hope For Joy is in mine accomplishments.
Well, isn't that true? Any hope of joy that we have in
this wicked and disgusting and dark and satanic and evil World
any hope and joy that we have is found in the accomplishments of
Christ and Christ Alone? John says it like this in his
first epistle chapter 5. He says for everyone born of
God, overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has
overcome the world. Even our faith.
It is a our faith in Christ's victory.
That allows us to overcome the world.
There's so many Christian songs these days about how you're an
overcomer and they forget to say that you're an overcomer only
because of the accomplishments of Christ that he is an
overcomer. You're not an overcomer in and
of yourself because you develop some kind of positive thinking
or some kind of psychological help.
You're not an overcomer in and of yourself at all.
You are the world. But it is in Christ.
And his accomplishment through his death, his burial, his
resurrection, his Ascension and we know his return, it is in
that his accomplishments that we will overcome the world, who is
it? John says That overcomes the
world. Who is it?
The successful. The rich, the famous.
The nice, the perfect. No, who is it?
That overcomes the world. The religious.
No. Who is it?
That overcomes the world only anytime you see the word to only
in your Bible, I want you to start highlighting that and see
how exclusive the gospel is only.
He who believes that Jesus is the son of God.
What Joy? That we receive those of us who
believe that. In this world you have trouble,
but take heart, I have overcome the world, you can have joy in
the midst of this world. In the midst of all the chaos
because I have overcome the world now because you like the
circumstance that you're in. Not because you like the
situation that you're in not because you like the culture
that you live in a country that you live in, not because of
those things. Take heart.
Because my accomplishment, I have overcome the world in your
place. Therefore, now if you were in
Christ, you too are an overcomer you wanna walk enjoy.
Trust by faith in Jesus Christ his position who he truly is, he
is the Overcomer who through his death on a cross.
Overcame sin. He overcame sin for all who will
believe in him. He will forgive you and he will
wash you of that sin. This very day that alienate you
from a holy God. He will allow you to overcome
your sin because he has overcome this world, we trust in Christ
today. Going to walk.
Enjoy trust in Christ. Yes.
You know, walking confusion and chaos and depression anxiety.
Keep trusting in you. One of that angers, a lot of
people. It's the truth because the word
of God says that it's true. In trust in your own emotions.
Don't feelings. Or you can trust by faith in the
accomplishments of Christ. And when you do great, joy is
yours for the taking. You will walk in that Joy, you
have access to that Joy. He is earned it for you.
His accomplishments for his accomplishments, he proved that.
He is truly Lord, that he is truly savior.
And that he truly came from the father.
My, what he did. We learned in John chapter one
way back. Then, verse 14, the word became
flesh and made his dwelling among us.
And we have seen his glory, the glory of the one, and only who
came from the father full of grace.
And Truth. He proved to be exactly who he
said that he is, he's proving it here even more.
So in John chapter 16 promising his disciples joy to walk in
through his accomplishments. What accomplishments we don't
Talk about the accomplishments of Christ enough.
How about his virgin birth that could have only happened through
the supernatural power of God. It's impossible for a virgin to
Bear. A child, yet a virgin buried a
child, you say explain that. To me, I cant its immaculate.
It is the Immaculate Conception, it is Supernatural, it is done
by God, there is no explanation for it, it for it.
All I can tell you is that it's true.
Jesus was born of a virgin. What?
An accomplishment. No one ever has been born of a
virgin. No one ever will be born of a
virgin. But the Christ, why?
Because that seed of God was placed into that woman.
Just as Genesis 3:15 said that it would be in his through the
Virgin birth. That we have great joy in
knowing that our savior is a supernatural savior, all of the
others saviors and said religions were not virgin born.
It's important that you see his accomplishments.
He came into this world. Born of the Virgin, Mary just as
scripture say, Not only that. He lived a powerful life and a
perfect life. He displayed the power of God
through his miracles, through his authority, through his
teaching, he displayed the power of God, through his life of
piety and Perfection, living the letter of the law, perfectly
never sinning. No one else can make that claim.
It is only the Christ mom and cannot make the claim.
That he is perfect for. He is a sinner.
Buddha could not make a claim that he is perfect.
He too is a sinner. All religious leaders, Charles
Taze Russell, the religious leaders of the Jehovah's,
Witness, guess what? He can never claimed to be
perfect. He was a sinner.
The Mormon. Or later as well.
Joseph Smith Center, but it is in Christianity.
It is in Christ that our far master that we follow prove that
he is who he says that he is by his accomplishment of living a
sinless life. How many of the false religions
of this world and say he's a good profit.
Know he is the perfect Savior and his nothing less.
He is the only one to which we can come to God, the Father
accomplishments of Christ should bring us great.
Joy is atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Where he bore the wrath of God. In the place of wicked Center.
Every sin that I ever committed. Has placed upon his back.
The Wrath that I deserve. The death that was mine, Jesus
Christ, bore that death for me, no religious false religious
leader in all the history of all of the false religion ever died
for their people. Yet Christ, didn't only died for
me, he died in my place, satisfying the Wrath of the holy
God satisfy his indignation on my behalf restoring me to a holy
God. Once I was a sinner separated.
Now I have been unified with the master of the universe.
Why the accomplishments of Christ?
It is Christ. Who did this.
It should bring us great joy. To know that our Lord.
That's home for the sacrifice. It's home to as a sacrifice,
excuse me for the center. He is the atoning sacrifice.
We see his accomplishment there on the cross.
What we see is accomplishment in his burial No one other than
Lazarus. During the times of Christ
walked out of a tomb. The only reason that he walked
out of atoms because Jesus told him to because he is the
resurrection and the life and it is in the resurrection of Christ
that accomplishment that we see that he is who he said that he
truly is doing what only God could do.
And we see his Ascension into heaven, had he not come from
Heaven. I can guarantee you this.
He couldn't have returned to Heaven.
He'd already told his followers at No one knows how to get
there. Except he who's come from there
and the only way that you're going to get there is if you
follow me I am the way the truth and the life.
No man comes to the father but by me.
He proved he was through his accomplishments his Ascension
into heaven, where he sits at the right hand and making
intercession for those who believe.
And he will prove one day. To the whole world.
At his return. When he comes to judge the
living and the dead. Those of you men who are here on
Thursday nights, we are in Revelation.
The 19th Chapter, we have just seen the marriage banquet of the
Lamb. And Christ is about to put his
foot, in the Stirrup of that white stallion.
And the host of Heaven who are clothed in white because of him
are about to return to the Earth where he will rule and Reign
forever. We can think of his
accomplishments that have not yet come to pass.
Why? Because they are written in
eternity past they are as good as done.
He will return. That ought to bring us great
joy. Can't we find true joy and walk
and true Joy regarding the accomplishments of Christ.
Oh, we don't Ponder those things enough.
Do we Christian So, what do we do with this?
What do we do with the lesson on walking enjoy?
We asked this question. Of course, are you walking
enjoy? Are you walking enjoyed today?
In order to answer that question, you have to answer
some others. Are you in Christ?
I'm not talking about. Are you in church?
You're here. That's already answered.
Going to church, doesn't mean you're in Christ.
It means you're in a building with Christian.
Being raised in a Christian home, doesn't mean that you're
in Christ, it means that you were fortunate enough to be
raised in a Christian home. I'm asking you this question.
Are you in Christ in reference to the joy that we talked about
this morning? Because if you're not in Christ,
you do not have access to his Joy.
It's not for you. For those who are in Christ,
have you truly surrendered to Jesus as your lord and savior?
That's the question that I'm asking you today.
Have you surrendered to Christ? Have you trusted in him to
forgive you of your sin and to place you in right standing with
God, the father, have you repented of your wickedness and
turn to him and him alone to save you, have you?
If you haven't, perhaps today, you will turn from your sin and
turn to Christ as a spirit draws, you and Woos you out of
Darkness that you'll turn from the religions of this world.
And you will turn from all of the chaos of this world, and you
will turn to Christ and Christ Alone who will save you.
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Will you call upon him today as the spirit draws you to receive
salvation? Maybe you are saved today, you
know, Christ. Are you walking in joy as a
believer? Are you walking in that Joy?
Are you walking in the joy that he provided for you through his
accomplishments? Are you for fitting?
That Joy is f what Jesus did for.
You doesn't really matter. It does matter.
Doesn't it? It does matter that we exercise,
the blessings that we've been given enjoy is one of those
blessings are you walking in that by trusting, in God's
transforming power, perhaps you're in a situation now, you
need God to transform that situation.
Are you resting in him with great joy in knowing that he's
in control? Are you resting in a familiar?
Passage of scripture that I've mentioned over and over in
Romans 8:28 that all things are working to the good to those,
who love him who are called. According to his purpose.
Are you resting in that? That brings great joy in your
life? Not you're missing out on a
promise that Jesus is giving to his disciples here.
Are you walking enjoy by believing in God's promises
trusting in his word. I want to help you if you're not
reading his word daily, you're not.
I don't say that the beat you up, I say that because I love
you. I don't want you to miss out on
the joy that comes with knowing and walking in the promises that
we find here in the word of God, get into it and read it is.
So when I don't understand it, get into a Bible study where
they teach it. Then, as you continue to study
it, you will see that your confusion is, says it did in the
lives of the disciple. It's transformed into Clarity.
You begin to learn. You begin to grow.
Are you walking enjoy believing in the promises of God?
Are you indifferent to the word of God?
Indifference to the word of God seems to be an epidemic in the
so-called church. I might bring my Bible to church
with me, I might read it, I might not this is just for free
it has nothing to do with the sermon.
Get in the word. See, if you're not overwhelmed
with joy, in the promises of God, see if he's not faithful to
every single one of them, are you walking enjoy by faith in
Christ position? Are you trusting in who Christ
really is the fact that he is truly king of kings and Lord of
lords, and that by his accomplishments, your
relationship with God, the father has been settled once and
for all, are you walking in the joy of those things?
If not Christian, I would say to you, repent confess.
See what it is in your life that has waited you down.
That's inner that weight that so easily entangles.
You cast it off today as you confess your sin to the Lord
knowing this that he is faithful and just to forgive you, your
sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
If you're here today and you're not a believer, You will live a
life. With the absence of joy.
Only to spend an eternity in hell with an eternal absence of
joy. Trust in Christ today that your
joy may be complete. Let's pray together, father in
the name of Jesus, we thank you for your word.
We thank you for truth. As your truth is gone forth.
May it do exactly what you desire for it to do.
May it draws Sinners to repentance and Faith this
morning. may it encouraged the same.
And may we rejoice in the joy that we have in Christ.
Holy Spirit. We yield to you.
May your work be done in Jesus name.
Amen. Thank you for listening to the
key Life Fellowship, Pulpit Ministry podcast.
If you would like to talk with one of our pastors, please email
us at info at Key Life Fellowship, dot org or call us
at 28 1689 1604. You can also visit our web site
at www.ttil.tv.com. We hope and pray.
You have a blessed week and remember you are light in the
dark. We hope and pray.
You have a blessed week and remember you are light in the
dark.