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[0:00] The following message was given at a Sunday celebration at Trinity Grace Church in Athens.! For more information about Trinity Grace, please visit us at TrinityGraceAthens.com.

[0:11] ! And again, a little while, and you will see me.

[0:36] So some of his disciples said to one another, 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.

[0:47] And because I'm going to the Father? So they were saying, what does he mean by a little while? We do not know what he is talking about.

[1:01] Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him. So he said to them, is this what you are asking yourselves? What I meant by saying a little while, and you will not see me.

[1:12] And again, a little while, and you will see me. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament. But the world will rejoice.

[1:23] You will be sorrowful. But your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come.

[1:37] But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

[1:47] So also, you have sorrow now. But I will see you again. And your hearts will rejoice.

[1:58] And no one will take your joy from you. In that day, you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

[2:15] Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be full. I have said these things to you in figures of speech.

[2:27] The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day, you will ask in my name.

[2:38] And I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. For the Father himself loves you. Because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

[2:51] I came from the Father and have come into the world. And now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech.

[3:06] Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you. This is why we believe that you came from God. Jesus answered them, Do you now believe?

[3:21] Behold, the hour is coming. Indeed, it has come. When you will be scattered. Each to his own home.

[3:32] And will leave me alone. Yet, I am not alone. For the Father is with me. I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace.

[3:47] In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world.

[4:00] This is the word of the Lord. What brings you joy?

[4:11] Joy. I did some research. I was looking around online. Here's a handful of things that I found that came up.

[4:22] See if any of these are on your list. Listening to music. Sharing a meal. Exercising. Spending time with loved ones. Journaling.

[4:33] Performing acts of kindness. Seeing the sunset. Hugging. Engaging in hobbies. Connecting with nature. Drinking coffee. Eating deviled eggs.

[4:44] With or without paprika. I think the time that we probably see our cultures scramble for joy.

[4:55] Most clearly is at Christmas time. Black Friday. Cyber Monday. They open the floodgates to so many things that are on our list.

[5:05] Buying and selling. People are looking forward to giving gifts. To traveling. To spending time with loved ones. Hugging. Listening to music. Sharing meals together. Deviled eggs.

[5:16] As folks attempt to maximize their joy. They spend more. So it's probably not surprising to you. That there's this kind of economic spike in December.

[5:28] That impacts the rest of the year. One December. A leading economist. Was asked to give his thoughts. On the financial implications.

[5:38] Of all the buying and selling and trading. That happened over Christmas. And even though he was thinking purely in economic terms. His words could not have been more relevant.

[5:50] He said. The significance of Christmas. Will not become clear. Until Easter. The significance of Christmas.

[6:02] Will not become clear until Easter. How profound. For us as well. At Christmas. An angel. Announced Jesus' arrival.

[6:13] As good news. Of great joy. You remember this. Now in the upper room. The same Jesus. Whose arrival was announced by the angel.

[6:25] Is now announcing. His departure. How is it. That he can tell his disciples. To take heart. How can he speak so much of joy.

[6:38] When in the same breath. He tells them that they will have. Tribulation. Tribulation. This doesn't sound like a Christmas vacation to me. Tribulation and joy.

[6:50] Together. This. What he's describing. Something very different. From what our culture is scrambling for. This. What we're seeing. Is a courageous joy.

[7:03] It doesn't depend on circumstances. And actually gives you. An enduring grit. In the face of adversity. This.

[7:13] Is the kind of joy. That's promised to those who belong. To Christ. Including those of us. In this room. I think that the main point for us. This morning. Very simply. Is this. Take.

[7:24] Heart. Take heart. Jesus. Has overcome the world. To give us courageous joy. In the God who loves us. Take heart.

[7:34] Jesus has overcome the world. To give us courageous joy. In the God who loves us. We're going to look at what Jesus brings. By looking at three different points.

[7:45] Jesus transforms our sorrow into joy. He transforms our silence into asking. And he transforms our fear into courage. So let's look.

[7:56] First point. Jesus transforms sorrow into joy. As we've seen already. A number of times. The disciples. Have been stunned.

[8:08] Into silence. For a few chapters now. They haven't really said anything. Since chapter 14. Jesus has covered. A lot of ground. And now.

[8:19] He's kind of circling back. To something that he said before. In verse 16. He says. A little while. And you will see me no longer. And again. A little while. And you will see me. He's saying.

[8:31] I'm going. And then I'm coming back. Jesus. Here is still speaking. Of his coming death. Burial. Resurrection.

[8:42] And ascension. But it's as if. The disciples are still. In shock. They are not processing. What Jesus is saying.

[8:53] They're still stuck. Back in chapter 14. Trying to make sense of all. Their jaws are dropped. Their hearts are filling with fear. Jesus begins.

[9:03] To guide them. Into an explanation. To make sense of their confusion. Look at verse 20. Truly truly. I say to you.

[9:15] You. Will. Weep and lament. But the world. Will. Rejoice. So essentially. He's saying. You will be.

[9:26] Very sad. And the world. Will be. Very happy. But. Your sorrow. Will turn. Into. Joy.

[9:38] So there's. These two responses. To Jesus's departure. He's laying out here. And ultimately. His death. Two. Responses. The world. Will be happy. And you.

[9:49] Will be sad. The world. Rejoices. At the death. Of Jesus. In part. Because Jesus. Has been. Exposing. Their sin. They don't like that.

[10:01] So they will. Rejoice. At the crucifixion. The death. Of Jesus. Christ. Makes them. Happy. Because in their eyes. He is. The ultimate.

[10:12] Kill joy. And so they. Rejoice. In him. Being killed. Everything. Will soon. Appear. To be upside down. For the disciples. Jesus. The author.

[10:22] Of life. Will be put. To death. And the disciples. Will weep. And the unbelieving world. Will rejoice. That's what he's saying. But then read the rest.

[10:34] Of what Jesus says. In verse 20. You will be sorrowful. But. Your sorrow. Will turn. Into. Joy. Their sorrow.

[10:45] Will turn. Into. Joy. Joy. Jesus. Turns. To this. Analogy. About childbirth. I'm. I'm no expert.

[10:55] In this. But I was around. For all four. Of our kiddos. Being born. You don't have. To be an expert. To understand. The timeless point. That Jesus. Is making here.

[11:07] Having. Babies. Hurts. That's his point. Having babies. Hurts. It's hard. It's painful. It's uncomfortable. So.

[11:18] Here's the question. Is childbirth. Sorrow. Or joy. Which one is it? Just think about this. A thought experiment.

[11:28] If we were suddenly. To be teleported. Into a scene. Zoomed in. On. A person's face. And you. All you can see is. Blood. Sweat. Pain.

[11:39] And screaming. Without reference. To the context. We would wonder. Is this. Sorrow. Or. Joy. Right?

[11:50] Well look at verse 21. When she's. Delivered the baby. She no longer remembers. The anguish. So it's not sorrow.

[12:03] Or joy. It's sorrow. That turns. Into. Joy. It's eclipsed. By joy. Transforms. To joy. Theologian.

[12:14] Charles Ross said. The tears. Which they shed. Are as good seed. Which shall bring forth. A harvest. Of joy.

[12:26] They are. These tears. Are as water. Which it is. The Lord's gracious. Purpose. To turn. Into the wine. Of joy. Incredible.

[12:39] It's incredible. Is. Is there sorrow. In your life. Right now. But it seems. That the Lord. Would want you. To know. That he. Is in the business.

[12:50] Of turning. Our deepest. Pain. And anguish. Into the sweetest. Wine. Of joy. At the right time. At the right time.

[13:03] I think. This text. Draws us. To ask the question. How should we. Understand. The timing. Of this joy. The Lord's.

[13:13] Returning. That he's talking about. In verse 16. It says. A little while. Now. We will see him again. The disciples.

[13:23] Who were listening to this. They did see him. After the resurrection. And it says. They rejoiced. They were really happy. But the reality is. That Jesus. After that.

[13:34] Ascended to heaven. After the resurrection. He won't be back. Until. The end of time. So when. Are we. To expect.

[13:45] Joy. Us. In this room. When are we. To expect. Joy. Is life. All grief. Until the end of time. When Christ. Returns.

[13:56] Is that. What we should expect. Well I would. I would agree. That this world. Is not. Our home. It's not.

[14:08] And yes. It is. Absolutely. Riddled. With sorrow. Just take five minutes. And talk to anyone. And you will find. Sorrow. And yes. There will be.

[14:20] Maximal joy. When Christ. Does return. But this world. Is not. All. Grief. It's not.

[14:30] All. Grief. Instead. I would argue. That there is. Real joy. Now. And more. Joy. Later. Real joy.

[14:41] Now. And more. Joy. Later. Look at the second half. Of what. Jesus says. In verse 21. He's talking about. This analogy. When. When she has. Delivered the baby. She no longer.

[14:52] Remembers. The anguish. For. Joy. That a. Human being. Has been born. Where? Into the world. Joy.

[15:04] Into the world. Even. In the place. That is full. Of disbelief. Suffering. Sorrow. So. Even here.

[15:14] The woman. Experiences. Joy. At bringing. A child. The physical world. And the spiritual world.

[15:26] Should not have a false dichotomy. Between them. The physical world. Is not all. Grief. It's possible.

[15:38] To have. Godly. Joy. In the world. In accord. With God's. Good design. It's possible. We can rejoice. In babies.

[15:49] It's a happy thing. Babies are here. And we can rejoice. In weddings. And in waterfalls. And cupcakes. And music. These are good things. They can be good gifts. That point us.

[16:00] To. A glorious God. It's joy. What's more. Is that. The good news. Of Jesus Christ. Purchases us. Joy. Right.

[16:10] Now. Even in the midst. Of sorrow. Even though. We. Turned against God.

[16:21] The rightful king. Of creation. He doesn't treat us. As our sins deserve. Rather than. Executing us. For our rebellion. He poured out. His full.

[16:32] And righteous. Judgment. On Jesus. For our sins. That anyone. Who puts their trust. In him. For the forgiveness. Of their sins. Can be made right. With God. In other words.

[16:43] We can look back. At the cross. To see. An unshakable. Objective. Reality. That Christ. Died. For our sins.

[16:53] That's. Joy. Right there. We keep looking back. At that. He's done it. Our greatest. Sorrow. The greatest one.

[17:04] You could possibly imagine. Has already been. Decisively. Dealt with. For all. Eternity. Every other problem. You have. Will be. On a. Lesser scale.

[17:15] Than the most significant. Pardon. That Christ. Has granted. For you. That's. Reason for joy. Eternal joy. Unshakable. Joy. Just look at Paul.

[17:28] Every time. That he's in prison. Whenever. He's in the most. Sorrowful. Earthly. State. What's he doing?

[17:38] He's singing. Praises to God. In the bowels of prison. He's preaching the gospel. To the prison guard. He's writing. The most joy filled.

[17:49] Letter. To the Philippian church. While he's in prison. Why? It's because he knows. The significance. Of Christmas. In light of Easter.

[18:01] That's what's happening. In Paul's world. Christ. Has defeated. Every. Sin. And the greatest. Enemy. Death. No longer. Has a hold on him. That's how Paul.

[18:11] Can write to the Corinthians. That he is. In second Corinthians. Sorrowful. Yet. Always. Rejoicing. Simultaneously. Sorrowful. Yet.

[18:22] Always. Rejoicing. See. Jesus. Transforms. Our sorrow. Into joy. Through his resurrection. So that we can have joy. Even in the midst.

[18:33] Of the world's sorrows. Knowing. That he. Is bringing us. All the way home. Into even. Greater. Joy. Joy. Now.

[18:44] Unshakable joy. Now. In light. Of what he's done. For us. At the cross. Second point. Jesus transforms. Silence. Into asking.

[18:58] In verse 23. We see Jesus say. In that day. You will ask. Nothing of me. So what is it.

[19:09] Jesus is referring to here. That phrase. That day. It comes up. In. Old Testament writings. It's often associated with.

[19:20] A time of distress. Coming before the appearance. Of the Messiah. In Judaism. Interestingly. They use this phrase. The birth pains.

[19:31] Of the Messiah. In reference to this. This day. They're referring to the. Period of tribulation. Prior. To the arrival. Of the Messiah.

[19:41] Same kind of language. We're seeing here. Now. In their minds. The arrival. Of the Messiah. Was going to be. Kind of like this. One stop shop. They expected.

[19:53] The Messiah. To come. Immediately. Judge the enemies. Of God's people. And then set up. The kingdom of God. That's what they were expecting. What they didn't understand. Was that the Messiah.

[20:03] Was going to come. Not once. But twice. The first time. Would be to complete. His work. The death. Burial. And resurrection. Jesus is talking about. So for the disciples.

[20:15] Hearing this. That day. Of waiting. For the birth pains. Of the Messiah. Would be completed. Between the cross. And the empty tomb. Up to the time.

[20:26] He was taken away. From them. And placed on the cross. They had not asked. For anything. In his name. At that time. However. A new era. Began. After the ascension.

[20:37] Of Christ. And will go on. To the end. Of the time. When Jesus comes again. Including our time. Right here. Right now. Jesus urges them.

[20:48] In verse 23. Whatever. You ask of the father. In my name. He will give it. To you. Ask the father.

[20:59] In my name. Well we live in a small. Enough town. To know the significance of. The name drop.

[21:10] Right. The name drop. The cop pulls you over. When he comes up to your window. You recognize. The last name. That's on that badge.

[21:22] It just so happens to be. Your cousin's wife. Sister's nephew-in-law. And you're so relieved. Phew. You throw that name out. And bam. You're off the hook. Praise God. But the name drop.

[21:36] Is only as powerful. As the person's relationship. With the name dropped. Right. You don't want to drop. The wrong name.

[21:46] Especially if there's. Unresolved conflict. That you didn't know about. And they had like a falling out. Or something. You didn't know about that. But. If a dear friend.

[21:57] Or relative. And everything's good. Their relational benefits. Can be extended to you. By virtue of the name.

[22:08] You see. Well this right here. What we're seeing is. The divine name drop. That's what we're looking at. Jesus is urging his disciples. To come to the father.

[22:19] In his name. So this is. This is vital. To see. Because. This is not. Some distant relative. Okay. This is the relationship.

[22:29] Of the son. To the father. The divine son. To the divine father. It is. An intimate. Near. Relationship. This is a relationship. That has been going on.

[22:40] Since before creation. They are not. Estranged. They are on good terms. This is the son. That the father. Looks upon. And says. This is my son.

[22:50] In whom. I am. Well. Pleased. This is the son. Who obeyed. His father. Perfectly. He has an. Unvarnished. Relationship. With. The father.

[23:01] So we know. That when we come. To the father. In this name. It's all good. Praise the Lord. We can approach him.

[23:11] In prayer. Knowing. That the father. Is thinking. Any friend. Of my son. Is a friend. Of mine. But maybe. Even more shocking.

[23:21] Than that. Is the fact. That the father. Takes it a step further. He's thinking. Any friend. Of my son. Is a son.

[23:32] Of mine. A son. Of mine. Just look at. Verses. Twenty six. And twenty seven. In that day. You will ask. In my name. And I do not.

[23:42] Say to you. That I will ask. The father. On your behalf. For the father. Himself. Loves you. Because you. Have loved me. And have believed.

[23:53] That I came. From God. The father. Himself. Loves you. He loves you. That's shocking. What he's saying here is.

[24:04] It's just absolutely shocking. There are not really. Many references. To God. Being father. In the old testament. Directly. But it is one of the primary names.

[24:16] Jesus uses. For his relationship. To God. Throughout. His earthly ministry. People have not related. Generally to God.

[24:26] In this way. Before now. But now. Jesus is paving. A new. Way. Forward. And how to relate.

[24:37] To God. And part of the shift. Is to go from. Silence. To asking. In the same way.

[24:48] A child relates. To a father. It's well documented. That children who are. Continually neglected. Eventually. Will stop crying.

[25:01] Over time. They. Eventually. Become conditioned. That their crying. Is ineffective. It leads to nothing. So. Really.

[25:13] It's. A form of hopelessness. That's tied. To silence. It is not so.

[25:24] For those. Who come. In the name. Of Jesus. To the father. Even though. We were. We were. Orphaned. From God. By our sin.

[25:35] Jesus. Has made a way. For us. In his name. To come. To his father. As. Our. Father. This is not.

[25:48] A different God. From the old testament. This is the dawning. Of a new. Era. The son. Is bringing. Us. He's bringing you. Into the family.

[26:01] The relationship. Dynamic. Has shifted. Just. For a moment. Think about. People. Who have become. Like family. To you. Over time. At first.

[26:13] When they come over. There's kind of like. That formality. Wall. That separates you. It's kind of this. Holding back. Right. But as time goes on. And trust. Is formed. And the relationship.

[26:24] Deepens. They move. Past. The formality. And become. Like family. They're the people. That come in. Through the garage door. Right.

[26:34] They come in. That weird side entrance. You don't let anybody else. Go through. They come in. They open the refrigerator. They've got a toothbrush. Next to the sink. You're wondering. How that got there. They've got a spot.

[26:45] At the table. With you. And your family. They're there. Well just think of it. God the father. Brings you in. Even. Closer. Than that.

[26:56] Through Jesus Christ. You're not. Like. Family. You are. Family. Family. The walls are down.

[27:18] Our relationship with Jesus. Jesus. Gives us. Relationship with the father. And he doesn't just tolerate you. He's not just putting up with you.

[27:29] Sitting at the family table. He does in fact. Love. You. He loves you. Just marvel at his love. In Ephesians 2. Verses 4 through 5.

[27:40] But God. God. Being rich. Being rich. In mercy. Because of the great love. With which he loved us. Even when we were dead. In our trespasses.

[27:51] Made us alive. Together. With Christ. By grace. You have been saved. Oh. He's not far off.

[28:01] And distant. He's near. We have the ear. Of our father. The father himself. Loves you. He loves you.

[28:14] And when silence. Is transformed. Into asking. This father. We are drawn into a relationship. With this father. We're with him.

[28:27] And Jesus says. In verse 24. Ask and you will receive. Now is this. Any. Random thing. A kid comes up to you. I want a Maserati dad.

[28:40] Is that what's going on here? Well as Walt pointed back. Out back in. Chapter 15. The asking. And the receiving. Are based on the boundaries.

[28:50] Of the relationship. The asking. Is rooted in obedience. And it's remaining. In Jesus. And his love. And his word. So it's. It is asking.

[29:01] But it's asking. Within the boundaries. Of the relationship. Of the son. And of the father. Together. You can think of it. In terms of being adopted. Into the family. And now. You are part.

[29:11] Of the family business. God the father. And God the son. Have been cultivating. The family business. Long before. You or I arrived.

[29:22] You are part. But now. You are in the family. And so. The family's business. All of a sudden. Is your business.

[29:33] Our asking. Is in relationship. To building up. The family biz. That's what this asking. Is all about. We are entering. Into the mission.

[29:44] Of the father. And the son's relationship. So. Requests. For things. That feed. Our pride. Or our greed. Or our selfish ambition. These things.

[29:54] Fall outside. The purview. Of the family business. They don't make sense. In the conversation. That's not what they're about. The request. That the father delights in.

[30:05] Are requests. That express. Our dependence. On him. The requests. That bring honor. And praise. To him. The requests. That build up.

[30:16] His family. His people. The father loves you. And he's brought you. Into the family. So that your silence. Can be transformed.

[30:27] Into asking. How can your prayers. Build up the family business. That's my question to you. How can your prayers. Build up the family business. How might you grow.

[30:38] In your dependence. On the father. This is a. This is fodder. For your prayer. How can. You bring him. Honor. In your job. In your parenting.

[30:50] In your marriage. In your time. In your resources. These are the things. He wants you to come to him with. How can you be used. To build up. God's people. Jesus.

[31:01] Urges you. To come. To the father. In his name. And ask. And ask. And ask. And ask. He delights. To answer these prayers. What's the expected result.

[31:12] Of this dynamic. Relationship. With God. The father. Look at verse 24. With me. It says. Ask. And you will receive. That your joy.

[31:25] May be full. What? That your joy. May be full. Just. Just imagine. That your life. Has a container.

[31:37] And it's labeled. Joy. How can it be filled. To the top. That's what he's getting at here. Jesus says. That this kind of praying. This kind of asking.

[31:47] This kind of. Dependent. Familial. Asking of the father. For the sake of the family business. Is actually how your joy. Will be made full. This is it.

[31:59] This is not a restraint. To your joy. But a redirection. To your full joy. You think you'll be happy. In circumstances. Nope.

[32:10] You think you'll be happy. In more things. Nope. You think you'll be happy. With perfect health. Or a bigger house. Or better vacations. Nope.

[32:23] Your full joy. Will be found. Ultimately. In relationship. To the father. Through the son. In light. Of the family business. You want. Your joy.

[32:33] To be full. Nod your head like this. If you want your joy. To be full. I want my joy. To be full. If you want your joy. To be full. Then there are. A few pours.

[32:44] That will fill you up. Pour number one. Repent of sin. And independence. From the God. Who made you. Stop putting your God hope.

[32:55] In things that are less than God. Including yourself. That's the first pour. To full joy. You want full joy. Pour number two. Is this. Put your trust.

[33:06] In Jesus Christ. For the forgiveness. Of your sins. So that you might be made right. With the God. Who loves you. Be adopted. Into his family. With God. As your father.

[33:17] Fill her up baby. Pour number two. What about. Pour number three. Do you want your joy. To be full. Align. The mission. Of your life.

[33:28] With the family business. To live in dependence. On God. To glorify God. And to build up his people. Fill it all the way. To the top. That's what Jesus's invitation.

[33:39] Is to you this morning. If you want full joy. Come to the father. And live for the family business. And dependence on the one. Who loves you so much.

[33:49] He adopts you. Even though you are an enemy. And he brings you close to the table. This is where your full joy will come. Regardless of your circumstances. Your house. Your vacations.

[33:59] Your health. And everything else. So break the silence. Break the silence. And ask your father. Without restraint. For the tools to do these things.

[34:10] And you will begin to experience. Full joy. Full joy. So what's. What's standing in the way of these things for you? What's standing in the way?

[34:22] Today. I encourage you. After the service. On this father's day. Go to the father. Go to the father. And ask him to cut out anything. That is hindering these requests today.

[34:34] So that you can experience full joy. True joy. Abundant joy. Point number three. Jesus transforms fear into courage.

[34:45] Now we hear. From the disciples. Starting in verse 29. Ah.

[34:57] Now you are speaking plainly. And do not use. Figurative speech. Now we know that you. Know all things. And do not need anyone to question you.

[35:07] This is why we believe. That you came from God. So you see. The disciples think. Ah. It's all cleared up now. I got it. They believe that they understand the plan.

[35:20] But they don't. Really understand the magnitude. Of what is about to happen. Because. You see in verse 31. Jesus questions their takeaway.

[35:31] And says. Do you now believe? Really? See the disciples have a false sense of understanding. I can't help.

[35:43] But think of. Some of the conversation. We've had with our kids. About finances. Our kids are very young. They see a toy that they want. And they ask. Can you give me that toy? And we say.

[35:56] No buddy. It's too much right now. And the kid says. Well just scan it. I say. Well we can't right now.

[36:07] Well. Give me the card. And I'll do it. No. It doesn't. It doesn't work like that buddy. Well from his perspective. All you have to do is scan the plastic.

[36:17] It's not that hard. Right? Come on. I'm with you. I see how this thing works. Well that's. That's the disciples right here. And so often it's us. But Jesus is prompting them.

[36:32] Guys. It's more complex than you realize. Verse 32. Behold. The hour is coming. Indeed it has come. When you will be scattered.

[36:44] Each to his own home. And will leave me alone. In a matter of just a few hours. This very night. The disciples will scatter.

[36:56] At the arrest of Jesus. That same bold Peter. Who proclaimed. I will die for you. He will be reduced to a coward.

[37:07] And deny Jesus three times. By the time the night is over. In his most crucial hour. Why? It's because they became afraid.

[37:19] They were afraid. The vulnerable circumstances of life. The pressure. From the people around them. Dominated their thoughts.

[37:32] They lost sight of Christ. And forgot his words. In the midst of the crisis. Fear won. And they ran. Christian counselor.

[37:47] Ed Welch. Wrote about the roots. Of this kind of fear. In a book. Whose title. Captures it all. The title of the book is. When people are big. And God.

[37:58] Is small. What's the root of fear? When people are big. And God. Is small. So much.

[38:10] Of our problem. Just like the disciples. Stems from a problem. Of proper. Perspective. I'm sure you've probably seen those pictures.

[38:22] Of people posing with their hand up. Holding the Eiffel Tower. You've seen those. The person's. Up close. And the tower's far off. So it can look like. They're holding the entire.

[38:33] Tower in the palm of their hands. They get it just right. I saw one picture of a person. Pretending to chomp. The sun. Out. Of the sky. It was a pretty epic picture.

[38:44] It looked like the guy. Could just. Literally gobble the sun up. With one bite. But is that the truth? The truth is. That the sun is so big.

[38:57] That more than a million earths. Could fit inside of it. It's 27 million degrees. Fahrenheit. It's gravity is.

[39:08] So intense. That it. Holds the entire. Solar system together. The planets. Comets. Asteroids. Pieces of space. Debris. And everything. Revolves around it.

[39:20] The truth is. It keeps us alive. And holds everything together. That. Is a matter. Of perspective. But when it comes to our fears.

[39:34] When we see people as big. And God as small. We must constantly. Constantly adjust our perspective. To see the truth.

[39:46] The truth is that. Contrary. To what our eyes are telling us. Like the sun. God the sun. Is supremely powerful. He's keeping us alive.

[39:58] And is holding. All things. Together. We need to be reminded. Again and again. Of this reality. Because the eyes of our heads. And our hearts. Play tricks.

[40:09] On us. And they lead us. To believe that. People are big. And God is small. But Jesus. Begins to transform. Our fears.

[40:20] And to give us. A right. Perspective. This is what Jesus. Goes on to say. In verse 33. If you look at it. I have said. These things to you. That in me.

[40:32] You may have peace. In the world. You will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome. The world. Notice in that.

[40:44] That little sliver of text. Right there. There are two. In's. In the world. And in me. In the world.

[40:56] And in me. At one and the same time. You can be in both. The world. And in Jesus. In the world.

[41:12] And. In. Jesus. What does the world. Have to offer us. In the world. You will have. Tribulation. Oppression.

[41:22] Affliction. Burden. Distress. Sum it up. Trouble. Trouble. And yet. Jesus has something.

[41:34] To offer you. In me. You may have. Peace. A confident. Hopeful.

[41:47] Calmness. I recently saw. A video of a. Storm chaser. Who built. An armored vehicle.

[41:57] That can drill itself. Into a secure position. In the ground. And withstand. Being inside of a tornado. Very cool.

[42:09] This. Is what. Jesus. Is offering. At a much. Greater level. To you. This morning. We will be. In the world. With various storms.

[42:20] In our lives. But we can be. In Jesus. Experiencing. His peace. Even while the. Storms. Swirl around us. This is what.

[42:30] Jesus holds out. To his followers. Peace. In him. In the midst. Of tribulation. How can that be? How can that be possible? He tells his disciples.

[42:42] That. He has. Overcome. The world. The sin. And the unbelief. That. Led. To death.

[42:52] And eternal. Separation. From God. Christ has overcome that. That's what he tells them. So. So now. All who place. Their trust in him. Can sing.

[43:03] Like we did earlier. No power of hell. No scheme of man. Can ever pluck me from his hand. Oh death. Where is your sting?

[43:13] That's what we can say. For me to live is Christ. And to die. Is gain. This is what. This is what he wants us to know.

[43:25] Jesus wants us to know. That all things. Are going. According. To plan. Not our plan. That's clear with the disciples. This is not our plan right now.

[43:36] That's clear with. Our distress in our own lives. But all things are going according to plan. All things. Not our plan. But God's plan. He's got this.

[43:48] Even. The scattering. Even. The fear. Even. The death. On a cross. He's telling us. These things. So that we might have.

[43:59] Peace. In him. He's saying these things. So. You. And I. Will not fear the storms to come. On the other side of the cross.

[44:13] The resurrected Jesus. Appeared to a couple of his followers. On the road to Emmaus. In Luke 24. He says this to them. Oh foolish ones.

[44:25] He's called me that a lot. Oh foolish ones. And slow of heart. To believe. All that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary.

[44:36] That the Christ should suffer these things. And enter into his glory. And beginning with Moses. And all the prophets. He interpreted it to them. And all the scriptures. The things.

[44:47] Concerning. Himself. All of it. It's all gone. According to plan boys. Do not be slow of heart.

[44:57] To believe. Take heart. He says. Take heart. Do not be slow of heart. But take heart. What does it mean to take heart? Take heart.

[45:08] Every time. Take heart. Comes up. In scripture. It means something like. A combination. Of these things. It's like a stew. Blended together. Of courage.

[45:18] Comfort. And joy. All at the same time. Courage. Comfort. And joy. All at the same time. When Jesus forgives the paralytic. Of his sins.

[45:29] The first thing he says is. Take heart. My son. Your sins are forgiven. Have courage. Comfort. And joy. Your sins.

[45:40] Are forgiven. When Jesus demonstrates his power to the disciples. And he's walking across the water. And they are terrified. The first thing that he says to them is. Take heart.

[45:51] It's me. Don't be afraid. He knows that they were afraid. He's telling them. Take heart. Have courage. Comfort. And joy.

[46:02] All at the same time. Courage. Comfort. And joy. So now he calls us. To take heart. He calls you to take heart. Have courage. Comfort.

[46:12] And joy. Why? Not based on your performance. But on Christ's performance. That's what he's pointing to. Meditate on this reality. Take heart. Because I have overcome the world.

[46:26] I have overcome the world. I. Jesus Christ. The long awaited savior. I have. I have already in the past done something.

[46:38] I have overcome. Toppled. Trampled. Come out victorious. I have overcome what? The world. The wiles of the devil. The ruler of this world.

[46:49] Mockery. Unbelief. Sin. Hatred. Death. I have overcome all of it. All of it's done. So do not be afraid.

[47:00] Do not be surprised. It's all going according to plan. In the world. You will have tribulation. But take heart. Take heart this morning.

[47:14] Have courage. Comfort. And joy. The significance of Christmas. Is now made clear. At Easter. I transform. Sorrow into joy.

[47:26] Is what he's telling us. I. Put you. Into the family. Of God. The father. I transform. Your silence. Into asking. I help you live. For the family.

[47:37] Business. I transform. Your fear. Into courage. Take. Heart. Trinity Grace Church. Take heart. Jesus has overcome the world.

[47:47] To give you. Us. Courageous joy. In the God. Who loves us. So let's take heart. As we walk out of this place. Not in ourselves.

[47:59] But in the God. Who loves us. And gave himself. For us. Let's pray to this father now. Oh Lord. How majestic.

[48:10] Is your name. In all the earth. This morning. We. Give you. The highest. Praise. The highest. Honor. We gather. Not to make much. Of ourselves. This morning.

[48:20] But to make. Much. Of you. The good father. Who sent. The son. To do what we could not do. Laying his life down. So that we could be adopted. Children of the living God.

[48:32] So we come to you now. In the name of Jesus. And thank you. For all the mercies. And graces. That you poured out. On us. And Lord. We ask that you.

[48:43] Increase our joy. As we look forward. To the day. When we will have full joy. So Lord. We cling to you now. Our good father. In the name of Jesus.

[48:54] We pray. Amen. You've been listening. To a message. At a Sunday celebration. At Trinity Grace Church. In Athens.

[49:04] For more information. About Trinity Grace. Please visit us. At TrinityGraceAthens.com For more information. For more information. For more information. For more information. For more information. For more information. For more information. For more information. For more information.

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