WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.719 John chapter 17, starting at verse 11. Our Lord Jesus prays to his Father, 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:17.400 and now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:25.539 keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one. 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:34.060 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest to me, 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:40.780 I have kept, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:51.460 And now come I to thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:59.659 in themselves. Verse 14, I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:07.740 because they are not of this world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest 00:01:07.740 --> 00:01:15.040 take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:25.640 even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. As thou has sent me into 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:34.580 the world, even so I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify myself, 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:43.740 that they also might be sanctified through the truth. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:52.899 You may be seated. The Bible says that the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord 00:01:52.899 --> 00:01:55.939 endures forever. Let's pray. 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:13.319 Father, we acknowledge even right now there's a battle over our minds and our souls. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:18.060 Lord, the enemy does not want your people to hear your word. 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:27.500 We confess, Lord, we're so easily gripped by our own fear and our own flesh. We confess that we are weak. 00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:34.480 We are in the courts of our king, but yet we feel sad and disappointed in other ways. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:41.859 Our hearts long for a true, eternal, soul-filling joy. 00:02:41.860 --> 00:02:49.720 So we ask, like the hymn says, from our fears and sins release us. 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:52.660 Let us find our rest in thee. 00:02:53.720 --> 00:02:56.880 You are our strength and consolation. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.540 Hope of all the world thou art. 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:02.400 Dear desire of every nation. 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:06.220 Joy of every longing heart. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:09.960 May your word fill us, Lord. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:24.259 May your people today hear from you, O God, through the words of Jesus Christ, God the Son, who took on flesh and who sanctified himself, that we would be sanctified in his truth. 00:03:24.259 --> 00:03:27.780 We ask this in his name and for his sake alone. 00:03:28.399 --> 00:03:28.759 Amen. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.340 Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:46.539 my prayer for you this week, my hope for today is that you can see in the words of Jesus how he fulfills his joy in you. 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:52.219 How our Lord Jesus Christ fulfills his joy in you. 00:03:55.459 --> 00:04:04.579 This is true every week, but especially today, I come to you as a poor, tired pilgrim, not from a position of strength or mastery. 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:07.639 I'm preaching this to myself, to my own soul. 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:09.319 I just need you to know that right away. 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:18.399 So if you and I expect this world to fill us with joy, we will be disappointed. 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:29.779 If you and I expect this world to fill us with joy, we will be disappointed. 00:04:29.779 --> 00:04:38.679 This is the time of the year where smiles are everywhere, at least in the marketing. 00:04:39.559 --> 00:04:45.579 And any marketer worth his salt knows that you try to sell the hope of joy with smiles. 00:04:46.739 --> 00:04:49.899 Listen to these familiar songs of silver bells. 00:04:50.739 --> 00:04:54.979 City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:58.879 In the air, there's a feeling of something. 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:04.200 Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:06.720 Listen to this. 00:05:06.900 --> 00:05:10.319 As shoppers rush home with their treasures. 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:13.879 Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:16.360 This is Santa's big scene. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:18.360 It's true, isn't it? 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:33.699 Psychologists did a study, and those who already have depression report that in this season of silver bells, depression gets worse. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:38.639 64 people with depression report that depression gets worse. 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.920 If we expect the world to fill us with joy, we will be disappointed. 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:48.319 Now, put your eyes on our scripture text. 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:50.280 Look at what Jesus says in verse 13. 00:05:51.540 --> 00:05:53.580 Really, this one verse is the whole sermon. 00:05:56.199 --> 00:06:00.920 Jesus, he has already said, I am not in this world. 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:02.560 I'm with the Father. 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:03.860 He's already there spiritually. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:04.900 He's already accomplished. 00:06:05.020 --> 00:06:05.560 It's finished. 00:06:06.280 --> 00:06:09.420 And in verse 13, he says, I am coming to you, Father. 00:06:10.900 --> 00:06:13.740 Now, notice, he says what he says next for your sake. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:17.960 He says, these things I speak in the world. 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:18.960 Why? 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:25.379 That they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 00:06:27.960 --> 00:06:34.560 Jesus is praying to the Father while he's still in the world so that John and his disciples can be within earshot. 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:39.259 He is praying so that we can know how the Son prays. 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:49.139 And that his joy of being at the right hand of the Father, ruling over all, that his joy would be fulfilled in them. 00:06:49.139 --> 00:07:02.699 I believe in these verses we see five ways or so of how, just how our Lord Jesus Christ fulfills his joy in his disciples. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:11.240 The world wants to try to promise joy coming at you from the outside. 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:20.699 If you dress this way, if you're in a certain atmosphere, if you buy certain things, it's all coming at you from the outside. 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:25.620 Jesus says, no, I'm going to fulfill my joy inside of you. 00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:28.480 What is the joy of the Lord? 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:41.420 The joy of our Lord Jesus Christ is inner gladness, delight, rejoicing, a genuine happiness that is based on spiritual realities. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:44.699 What's the first way? 00:07:44.960 --> 00:07:45.939 Number one is this. 00:07:47.640 --> 00:07:58.800 In this isolated world, Christ fulfills his joy in you, dear believer, as you experience oneness with his people. 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:08.180 In this isolated world, Christ fulfills his joy in you as you experience oneness with his people. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.580 That's what he says in verse 11. 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:20.860 Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:30.660 The same apostle John gets a vision of heaven, and he writes that letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor. 00:08:31.960 --> 00:08:37.480 Notice the words in Revelation 2, 3, to the church in Ephesus. 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.519 He commends them. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:42.779 This is our Lord Jesus Christ through the pen of John, the same disciple. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:52.460 He commends the church for enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake and not growing weary. 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:57.379 Well, there's the vision of this promise, this prayer of Christ being fulfilled in the church. 00:08:57.819 --> 00:08:59.340 They've gathered in his name. 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:02.340 They've gathered as Christians, as a body. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:05.519 And they are standing together as one in Christ. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:07.960 They are enduring and bearing up. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:13.960 And he's able to report years later, decades later, the church has not grown weary. 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:17.019 Christ has sustained them through the persecution. 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:24.420 He is fulfilling his joy in them as they band together and hold together in the name of Jesus as one. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:29.519 If you're a Christian, this is true for you too. 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:38.639 You do not grow weary when you bear together in this world as one with Christ's church by gathering in his name. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:46.519 And as we do that, the spirit that dwells in each believer, it's concentrated when his people come together. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:50.799 So we just saw in Sunday school how he multiplies the fruit of the spirit. 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:54.059 It's multiplied when God's people are coming together. 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:57.939 And that same spirit starts to work that out in each life together. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:01.419 Being one as a father and son are one. 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:07.559 See, this truth made that list of the fruits of the spirit hit me in a new way this week. 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.319 Listen to this. 00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:09.759 Galatians 5.22 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.419 The fruit of the spirit is... 00:10:12.979 --> 00:10:18.360 Now, listen to the list, but think about which of these are internal and then which of these just work themselves out. 00:10:18.979 --> 00:10:27.879 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.799 You see how it starts by the inside. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:35.139 The spirit fills you on the inside with Christ's love. 00:10:36.339 --> 00:10:38.319 He fills you with Christ's joy. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:41.179 He fills you with Christ's patience. 00:10:41.599 --> 00:10:43.819 It's still internal, but it's relating to other people. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:49.419 That's the joy of Christ in heaven being fulfilled in his people on earth. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:56.159 So if you're full of the love, the joy, the peace, and the patience of Jesus, you almost don't need to list anything else. 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:57.879 It's all going to overflow, isn't it? 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:05.620 So dear Christian, don't expect this world to fill you with joy. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:12.740 According to John 13 and John 16, Satan is the prince of this world. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:19.980 Instead, ask the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the prince of peace, to fill you with his joy. 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:22.779 Don't expect the world to fill you with joy. 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:28.439 1 Corinthians 1.20 calls the wisdom of this world ignorant foolishness. 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:33.199 Our Lord Jesus Christ, he is the wisdom of God. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:37.039 He is the one who will fulfill his joy in you. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.120 What is it? 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:39.120 What is this joy? 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:45.980 The joy of our Lord Jesus Christ is a part of God's very essence. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.379 God is joy. 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:50.679 We have a notion of joy because that's who God is. 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:58.080 His spirit manifests Christ's supernatural joy in you who are his children. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:10.900 So yes, in this isolated world, Christ fulfills his joy in you, dear believer, as you experience oneness with his people. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:25.520 Number two, in this violent world, if you belong to Christ, he fulfills his joy in you as you trust him to guard and keep you. 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:36.779 Yes, even in this violent world, Christ fulfills his joy in you, dear believer, as you trust him to guard and keep you. 00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:38.799 Look at what he says in verse 12. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:45.120 While I was with them, this is his disciples, I kept them in your name. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:47.100 I have guarded them. 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:50.919 Not one of them has been lost. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:53.779 Jesus says, it is accomplished. 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:55.600 I finished the work you gave me to do. 00:12:56.459 --> 00:13:00.000 And the work of Jesus is the perfect obedience to the Father. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:03.659 And that includes him guarding and keeping his disciples. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.439 Every single soul the Father gave to him. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.059 It is Christ who keeps you. 00:13:13.199 --> 00:13:17.639 Listen to how Paul echoes this truth to the church in Thessalonica. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.339 2 Thessalonians 3.3. 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:22.460 He writes, the Lord is faithful. 00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:28.460 He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:34.899 We sing in these beautiful Christmas hymns that he rules the world with truth and grace. 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:42.080 He makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and the wonders of his love. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:50.240 Jesus says, not one of those souls that the Father gave him were lost. 00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:52.540 Not one soul lost. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.800 It's Christ who guards you. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.400 It's Christ who keeps you. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:00.740 Christ will not lose you. 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:08.320 Don't expect this world, though, to fill you with joy. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:13.279 1 Corinthians 11.32 tells us that this world is condemned. 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:18.159 Our Lord Jesus Christ, he guards you and keeps you. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:20.600 And he says, you are no longer condemned with the world. 00:14:20.680 --> 00:14:21.519 You belong to me. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:23.399 I'm the one who hold you. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:27.819 And I will fulfill my joy in you. 00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.699 What is this joy? 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.659 The joy of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.419 It is a deep-seated pleasure. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:42.319 It is a depth of assurance and confidence that he holds you. 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:48.120 When you rest and trust that he holds me and keeps me and guards my soul, 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.779 this ignites a cheerful, glad heart. 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:55.819 You're full of gratitude for the Lord who keeps you. 00:14:57.339 --> 00:15:03.039 So yes, in this violent world, Christ fulfills his joy in you, dear Christian, 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:07.159 as you trust him to guard you and keep you. 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:15.480 Number three, in this world of lies, Christ fulfills his joy in you, dear Christian, 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.139 as you receive God's word from Christ. 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:26.179 In this world of lies, Christ fulfills his joy in you as you receive his word from Christ. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.799 Jesus fulfills the word of God in two ways here in this passage. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:34.199 First is in verse 12. 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.379 Take your eyes to verse 12. 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:43.740 Jesus is praying to the Father, knowing exactly how he will be handed over and tied up. 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:45.840 And in verse 12, he says, 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:51.700 The son of destruction was lost, that the scripture might be fulfilled. 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:57.720 If you skip down a couple verses, in verse 14, 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.340 Jesus says, 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:02.460 I have given them my disciples who I guard and keep. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.139 I've given them your word. 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:14.080 Now, Judas is described in the book of Matthew as turning. 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:16.240 Let me read it for you. 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:23.240 In Matthew chapter 27, Judas says in the temple, 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.439 I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:31.920 And he throws the money back at the rulers, the religious elite of the world. 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:39.360 But the term that Matthew uses, it does not define true repentance and change of direction. 00:16:40.140 --> 00:16:43.460 It's only really meaning a changing of the mind. 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:45.920 That's how the ESB correctly translates it. 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:49.000 Judas changed his mind, but as someone put it, 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:51.820 he merely felt regret and sorrow. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:54.360 There was not a genuine conversion. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:17:01.500 Judas did not experience spiritual penitence, but only emotional remorse. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.620 Judas was so trapped in sin that he was willing to be an instrument of Satan. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:14.539 We're told in Luke 22, 3, that Satan entered Judas, who was called Iscariot. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:18.620 So you see, this is really an expression of the great cosmic battle. 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:23.440 It's the promised seed of Eve, Jesus Christ, against the serpent. 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:26.759 And Judas has taken the side of the serpent. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:30.039 And Jesus comes to fulfill all scripture. 00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:33.839 That the serpent will, in fact, injure him. 00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:40.759 And to the point of death, Jesus will fulfill the scripture by laying down his life and becoming accursed. 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:46.059 So Judas made his choice. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.519 He chose this world. 00:17:48.579 --> 00:17:51.200 And he experienced the lies of Satan. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:55.379 In this world of lies, the worldly leaders said to Judas, 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.759 after he had thrown the money back at them, 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.299 what is this to us? 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:01.299 See to it yourself. 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:04.299 You see, even with the example of Judas, 00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.799 the contrast is so stark. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.819 You put your trust in Christ, 00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.440 he will satisfy you. 00:18:10.659 --> 00:18:11.940 He will not disappoint you. 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.639 You put your trust in the world, 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.399 this world is full of lies. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:17.460 You will be disappointed. 00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:23.099 Trust is the lifeblood of any relationship. 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:25.599 So a lie is like a cut. 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:29.000 And the relationship starts to hemorrhage trust. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:33.139 You can trust Jesus. 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.299 Jesus says, 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:37.980 I give my disciples your word. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.799 He comes as the great prophet. 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:43.740 He comes to speak the truth of God. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.159 In the word of Jesus, you can trust. 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:52.900 Listen to how the church in Sardis held on to the word of Christ. 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:56.440 In Revelation 3.8, Jesus says to the church, 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:58.560 I know that you have little power, 00:18:59.080 --> 00:19:04.840 and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 00:19:06.300 --> 00:19:08.779 Jesus keeps you, and he gives you his word, 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.200 and you keep his word. 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:17.120 This world of lies, it can feel like we are. 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:19.820 crawling through barbed wire and thorns. 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:23.720 I mean, it's a vicious world that Christ has left us in. 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:28.740 I love how the hymn shows the work of Christ. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:32.300 No more let sins and sorrows grow, 00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:34.120 nor thorns infest the ground. 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:37.940 He comes to make his blessings flow 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:40.279 far as the curse is found. 00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:43.019 And as the word of God goes out 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:45.019 through his church, through his people, 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:48.579 the power of the Spirit draws all who belong to him. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:50.779 They hear the shepherd's voice and follow him. 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:53.740 And he keeps them, and they keep his word. 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:58.059 And by doing that, he fulfills his joy in his people. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:03.839 So don't expect this world to fill you with joy. 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:09.539 1 Corinthians 7.31 says that the fashion of this world will pass away. 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:12.279 But our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.119 his throne is forever, 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:17.379 and he will fulfill his joy in you. 00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:21.660 Don't expect this world to fill you with joy. 00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:24.260 In John 14.27, 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:28.220 we saw that this world does not receive the Spirit of God. 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:31.880 But our Lord Jesus Christ fills you with his Spirit. 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:35.960 And his Spirit brings the joy of Christ in heaven 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:38.240 and fulfills it in your life. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:41.440 What is that joy of Christ? 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:45.559 It is the deep down sense of well-being that abides in you 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.940 when you know that all is well between you and your Lord 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:52.839 because of Christ's finished work for you. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.059 How can you trust that? 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:56.660 Because he promises it in his word. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:00.579 So yes, in this world of lies, 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:04.460 Christ fulfills his joy in you, dear believer, 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.660 as you receive God's word from Christ. 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.700 Hold on to it. 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.860 Number four. 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.560 In this world of rejection, 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:17.580 Christ fulfills his joy in you 00:21:17.580 --> 00:21:22.560 as you learn that you belong to Christ, 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.100 not to the world. 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:29.040 We hear this promise, we receive it by faith, 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.100 but we need to learn it. 00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:33.040 In this world of rejection, 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:36.300 Christ fulfills his joy in you 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:41.519 as you learn and I learn that we belong to Christ. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.399 Body and soul, both in life and in death. 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.859 We don't belong to this world. 00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:53.059 This world is not one you want to belong to. 00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:58.199 Listen to this disturbing description of our country. 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:03.679 Blood grows hot and blood is spilled. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:06.639 Deception breeds and thrives. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:10.299 Universal suspicion reigns. 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:14.099 Each man feels an impulse to kill his neighbor, 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:17.279 lest he first be killed by him. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:21.579 Revenge and retaliation follow. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.960 Does that sound like our country? 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.399 Sound like human nature? 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:32.900 That was written in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. 00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:36.259 Don't put your hope in this world. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.100 Look at what Jesus says in verse 14. 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.500 The world has hated them 00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:44.920 because they are not of this world, 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:48.140 just as I am not of this world. 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:55.080 Jesus has been saying this. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:56.680 The world hated me first. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:59.420 If you belong to me, the world will hate you. 00:22:59.820 --> 00:23:01.840 The world hates you because you have my word. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:07.099 As the church holds on to the word of God, 00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:10.439 the world hates the Christian even more and more and more. 00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:14.039 It's easy to want to cower and back down, 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:17.059 maybe let go of some parts of the word of God. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.759 It's easy to want to try to keep one foot in each camp. 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:25.399 You want to be across the borderline of these two kingdoms 00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:26.899 with one foot on each side. 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:31.280 Jesus says, if you belong to me, 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:33.540 you don't belong in this world. 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:36.320 You are either under Adam's curse in the world 00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:38.360 or you are under the blessings of Christ 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:40.340 in the eternal kingdom of heaven. 00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:45.780 The good news is that we don't do this alone. 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:47.380 He's speaking of his disciples. 00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:50.780 The world hates all of my disciples 00:23:50.780 --> 00:23:54.420 and none of my disciples are of the world 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:58.000 because all of my disciples are united to me, 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.700 Christ says, 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:00.759 and I am not of this world. 00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:04.860 We see this promise in Romans 7 verse 4. 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:06.539 You belong to another, 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.900 to him who is raised from the dead 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:13.380 in order that we might bear the fruit of God. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.880 In verse 15, Jesus says, 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:19.300 I do not ask God that you take them out of the world, 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:22.580 but that you keep them from the evil one. 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:24.000 In verse 16, 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.339 they are not of the world 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:29.220 just as I am not of the world. 00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:32.159 The world is vicious, 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:34.699 but yet Jesus says it's good 00:24:34.699 --> 00:24:36.359 for you and me, his people, 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.480 to remain in the world. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:40.019 Look at what he says in verse 15. 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:43.799 I do not ask that you take them out of the world. 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:48.980 God wants you who belong to Christ 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.119 to remain in the world, 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:53.299 and Jesus is praying right now from heaven 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:55.259 that the Father will protect you, 00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:57.459 protect your soul from the evil one 00:24:57.459 --> 00:24:58.779 as you remain here. 00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:01.319 He keeps you by the power of his spirit. 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:04.479 The Lord Jesus knows the war for your soul. 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:05.099 It's vicious. 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:06.979 The enemy is coming at you. 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.399 The world hates you, 00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:10.739 and yet he prays for you. 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:14.839 The evil one will try to deceive Christ's disciples 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:18.000 into thinking that they are of this world. 00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:21.099 Jesus says, 00:25:21.439 --> 00:25:22.399 you belong to me. 00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:25.119 I am not of this world. 00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:29.099 Don't expect this world 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:30.559 to fill you with joy. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.179 In John 8, verse 23, 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:34.919 Jesus says, 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:37.359 I do not belong to this world. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.899 Neither do you if you belong to me. 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:42.820 Instead, our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:46.000 he opens the floodgates of the blessings of heaven, 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:50.500 and he does that in order to fill you with his joy. 00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:54.620 James 5, 6 says that 00:25:54.620 --> 00:26:00.080 it was the world that slew Christ. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.100 Our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:04.400 he endured the cross. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:08.240 He was made to bleed. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:11.440 He was publicly shamed. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:14.660 He took on the curses of this world 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.940 and the judgment of God 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:18.559 for those souls who were in this world 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:21.640 in order to confirm, 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.660 you belong to me. 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.339 I have purchased you with my blood, 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:27.019 and I will fulfill my joy in you. 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:31.339 What is this joy of our Lord 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:33.620 who gave up his life on the cross, 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.059 was buried, 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.500 and rose again? 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:40.740 The joy of the Lord is not an experience 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:43.880 that comes from favorable circumstances. 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.779 It's the opposite. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.859 It is a gift of heaven 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:49.559 to your soul 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:52.339 through the most difficult trials 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:54.400 that this world can pile on. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:58.059 Number five, 00:26:58.059 --> 00:27:00.740 in this sinful world, 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.220 Christ fulfills his joy in you, 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:03.819 dear believer, 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.700 as God sanctifies you 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:08.059 by his truth. 00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:11.779 Yes, in this sinful world, 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:14.859 Christ fulfills his joy in you 00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:18.460 as God sanctifies you in truth. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.980 See what Jesus prays in the final verses, 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.779 17, 18, and 19. 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:25.500 It says, 00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:25.859 Father, 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:28.420 sanctify in the truth, 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.339 my disciples. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:33.279 Your word is truth. 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:36.259 As you sent me into the world, 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:38.740 so I have sent them into the world. 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.180 And for their sake, 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.779 I sanctify myself, 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:45.660 that they also may be sanctified in truth. 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:49.140 Jesus says, 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.480 for their sake, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:54.080 I sanctify or consecrate myself. 00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:59.240 It means to be set apart, 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:01.440 to be marked, 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:03.779 to be cut and made holy. 00:28:05.560 --> 00:28:07.060 The cross of Jesus, 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.759 it's referred to by Paul 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.779 as the circumcision. 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:13.080 This is Christ being cut, 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.620 being sanctified, 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:16.019 being set apart. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.659 And Jesus, 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.599 in this prayer, 00:28:18.739 --> 00:28:19.019 says, 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:21.059 I consecrate myself 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.439 for their sake, 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:24.019 for the sake of my disciples. 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.599 And he does this 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.339 so that you 00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:29.159 will be sanctified 00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:30.239 in his truth. 00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:34.439 How does this happen? 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.079 How does God 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.519 sanctify his disciples 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.599 in his truth? 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.399 Well, 00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:43.779 what I want to emphasize 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:45.359 from today 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.139 in these verses, 00:28:47.199 --> 00:28:48.039 it's the truth 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.839 that Christ 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:49.819 was sanctified 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.519 for you. 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:53.099 So your sanctification 00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.419 begins by resting 00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:55.740 in that truth. 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.859 I love how 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:59.399 one Scottish pastor 00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:00.419 in the 1800s, 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.339 Horatius Bonar, 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.339 he wrote this, 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:04.500 faith is rest, 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.079 not toil. 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.539 It is the giving up 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.839 of all the former 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:11.039 weary efforts 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:12.220 to do or feel 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.079 something good 00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:14.359 in order to make 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:15.279 God love 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.759 and pardon you. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:19.279 Faith is the calm 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.399 reception 00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:22.039 of the truth 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:23.199 that God 00:29:23.199 --> 00:29:24.599 loves you 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.899 and pardons 00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:26.879 your sin 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:28.760 of his goodness. 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.500 Rest upon 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.880 God's free love. 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.880 He so loved you 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.040 in the world 00:29:36.040 --> 00:29:37.240 that he gave 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.700 his only begotten 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.160 son. 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.860 Rest in the joy 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:43.980 of who Christ is. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:46.060 He is the son of God 00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:47.780 consecrated for you. 00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.080 And as we rest 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.700 in this truth, 00:29:50.800 --> 00:29:51.500 we find out 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.100 the greatness 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:53.580 of God's love 00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:54.180 to you 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.220 in Christ. 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:59.500 That's what we focus 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.560 on in Christmas 00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.500 in this season. 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.140 God the son 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.720 took on flesh, 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.940 consecrated himself, 00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:08.980 he fulfilled, 00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:09.980 he accomplished 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.680 all the work 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.520 his father gave him 00:30:11.520 --> 00:30:11.940 to do 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.140 to show you 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.220 the love 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.000 of the father 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.880 for you. 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.600 In verse 18, 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.260 Jesus says, 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:21.620 Father, 00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:22.720 you sent me 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.700 into the world. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:28.520 The Lord Jesus 00:30:28.520 --> 00:30:29.400 was sent 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.240 on a mission 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.380 into this world 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:33.380 and it was 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:33.980 to minister 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.580 to you. 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.740 Ultimately, 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.720 it was to fulfill 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.460 his joy 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.160 in you 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:40.880 for the glory 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.360 of God. 00:30:43.280 --> 00:30:44.180 And now, 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.940 Jesus says 00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.720 of his disciples, 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.120 so I have sent 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.680 them 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.140 into 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:49.260 the world. 00:30:50.540 --> 00:30:51.480 God doesn't 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.040 take us out 00:30:52.040 --> 00:30:52.500 of the world, 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.280 he keeps us 00:30:53.280 --> 00:30:53.780 in the world, 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.879 and as the 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.420 father sent 00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:55.680 him, 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.279 he sends 00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.079 his disciples. 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.859 Alistair Begg 00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.480 pointed out, 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:00.960 we cannot 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.480 minister 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.680 to a lost 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.139 world 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:04.240 unless we 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.779 are in it. 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.039 And yet, 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.599 we're in the 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:07.859 world, 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:08.579 not because 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.119 we belong 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.720 to the world, 00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.839 but we're in 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.299 it as a 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.759 sojourner, 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.779 as a pilgrim. 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.299 We are in 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:14.700 the world, 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.180 but we are 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:15.839 not of 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.460 the world. 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.879 In 3 John 00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.720 1-4, 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.700 sorry, 00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.279 chapter 1, 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:21.819 verse 4, 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.639 we read, 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:23.360 I have no 00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:24.220 greater joy 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.380 than to hear 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.860 that my 00:31:25.860 --> 00:31:26.640 children are 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.280 walking in 00:31:27.280 --> 00:31:27.740 the truth. 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.000 We receive 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.440 the truth, 00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.360 and we walk 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:30.820 it out as 00:31:30.820 --> 00:31:31.460 pilgrims and 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.420 sojourners in 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:32.980 this world. 00:31:36.780 --> 00:31:37.660 Jesus was 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:39.320 sent by 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:39.720 God, 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.240 and he was 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.320 sustained by 00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:44.220 the power of 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.980 the Holy Spirit, 00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:46.420 and it's that 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.380 same Holy Spirit 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.100 who sustained 00:31:48.100 --> 00:31:48.620 Christ, 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:50.300 who now is 00:31:50.300 --> 00:31:50.920 sending and 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.759 sustaining his 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.259 disciples, 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.900 his people, 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.079 as we march 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.599 out his 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.700 mission on 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.160 the earth. 00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:57.559 He accomplishes 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:57.720 it. 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.200 We are his 00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:58.759 hands and feet 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.359 marching it 00:31:59.359 --> 00:31:59.579 out. 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.279 And we do 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.759 this before 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.480 the face of 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.160 God himself, 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.859 before the 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.359 Lord Jesus 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:04.859 who looks 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.980 down on 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.640 his church 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.579 with pleasure. 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.160 This is the 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.640 great high 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.319 priestly prayer. 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.400 It's a glimpse 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.059 into how Jesus 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.700 prays from 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.039 heaven, 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.579 and it reminds 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.079 us of the 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.920 Numbers 16 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.619 blessing that we 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:17.839 say, 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.500 the Lord bless 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.000 you and keep 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.180 you. 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.879 All of those 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.460 themes are here 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.079 in these verses. 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:24.500 I love how the 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.400 hymn makes that 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:25.859 connection. 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.579 We ask our 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.440 Lord Jesus on 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.559 this mission as 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:29.279 pilgrims in the 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.599 world, 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.700 Lord, ever lift 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.980 thy face upon 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.279 me. 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:34.759 Resting 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.799 neath thy 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.299 smile, 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.039 Lord Jesus, 00:32:37.799 --> 00:32:38.859 earth's dark 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.740 shadows flee. 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.220 So we do not 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.960 expect this world 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.720 to fill us with 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.059 joy. 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:49.919 Galatians 6.14 00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.639 says that the 00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.639 world is crucified 00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.299 to you, 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.740 and you are 00:32:53.740 --> 00:32:55.139 crucified to the 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.480 world. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.980 In John 7, 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.440 Jesus said that 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.279 the proud of this 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.599 world hate Christ. 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.079 Why would the 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:07.639 proud of this 00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:08.779 world be able to 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.679 fulfill us with the 00:33:09.679 --> 00:33:10.559 joy that only God 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.159 can give? 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:13.200 By contrast, our 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.060 Lord Jesus Christ 00:33:14.060 --> 00:33:15.400 humbly entered 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.800 this proud world, 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.000 and he did that to 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.680 fulfill his joy in 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.360 you, his people. 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:23.019 Do you see how the 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.580 joy of Christ is 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:25.640 independent of what 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.560 is happening around 00:33:26.560 --> 00:33:27.279 us in the world? 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.980 The joy of Christ is 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:32.480 a cheerful heart that 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.519 leads to cheerful 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.380 behavior. 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:38.100 in this sinful 00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:40.540 world, our Lord 00:33:40.540 --> 00:33:42.400 Jesus sanctifies 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:43.820 his people by 00:33:43.820 --> 00:33:45.000 his truth as we 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.720 walk with him. 00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:49.260 Well, the only way 00:33:49.260 --> 00:33:50.940 that we can respond 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.040 to this glorious 00:33:52.040 --> 00:33:53.500 truth of how Christ 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.620 fulfills his joy in 00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:56.280 us is to rejoice. 00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.840 Rejoice because 00:33:58.840 --> 00:34:00.300 Christ has accomplished 00:34:00.300 --> 00:34:01.480 his mission in the 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.520 world so that you 00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:04.060 can have his joy 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:05.319 fulfilled in you. 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.259 I want to take you 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.619 back once again to 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.340 verse 13. 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.360 Jesus said to the 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.420 Father, I am coming 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.699 to you, and these 00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:15.179 things I speak in the 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:16.820 world, that they may 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:18.900 have my joy fulfilled 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:20.099 in themselves. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.159 If we expect this 00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:24.299 world to fill us with 00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:25.099 joy, we will be 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.639 disappointed. 00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:27.340 But if we expect 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:29.039 Christ to keep his 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.980 promise and fulfill 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:31.099 his joy in us, we 00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:32.639 will be satisfied. 00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:37.500 George Swinnock, a 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.880 Puritan, in a book 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.940 called The Blessed 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:41.699 and Boundless God, he 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.279 wrote this, 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.960 Those who have never 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.799 seen the sun are 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:47.039 amazed at a candle. 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.940 Likewise, those who 00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.980 have never known the 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:52.019 blessed God are fond 00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.920 of pitiful things on 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.360 earth. 00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.400 Our Lord Jesus Christ 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.400 came revealing the 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:59.039 radiance of the glory 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.880 of God. 00:34:59.880 --> 00:34:59.920 God. 00:35:02.140 --> 00:35:03.720 He reveals the joy of 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.099 heaven. 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.019 What is this joy? 00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:08.200 It's spiritual life. 00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:10.539 Psalm 16, as we read 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:12.640 today, in verse 11, we 00:35:12.640 --> 00:35:14.059 read that it's in the 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.860 presence of God that we 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:17.780 find a fullness of joy 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:19.840 at the right hand of God 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:21.579 where Christ is seated, 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:23.860 our pleasures forevermore. 00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:26.900 Father, in verse 13, our 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:28.460 Lord Jesus said, Father, I 00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:30.039 am coming to you. 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:31.960 And now from the right 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:33.460 hand of the Father, for 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:35.340 he has ascended, the Son 00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:37.940 of God, he prays for you, 00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:38.920 Christian, who are in the 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.460 world, and he prays that 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.740 his Father will guard you 00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:43.860 and keep you and fill you 00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.620 with his joy. 00:35:48.660 --> 00:35:49.900 I had a phone call this 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:51.760 week with a dear brother, 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.780 a Christian who's been 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.900 going through some of the 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:54.960 hardest trials you could 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:56.600 imagine for the last two 00:35:56.600 --> 00:35:57.300 or three years. 00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.340 And he was telling the 00:35:59.340 --> 00:36:02.720 story of not feeling this 00:36:02.720 --> 00:36:03.000 joy. 00:36:04.040 --> 00:36:05.960 He said, it's just been so 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.300 hard. 00:36:06.580 --> 00:36:07.420 And when he's feeling 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.400 stirred up like that and 00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:10.220 the weight of life in this 00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:11.920 world and the sin and the 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:13.060 brokenness, the 00:36:13.060 --> 00:36:15.780 disappointment, he just 00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:17.120 drives back to Scripture. 00:36:17.320 --> 00:36:18.519 He's memorized the book of 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:20.019 Romans from chapter 1 all 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:21.160 the way through chapter 14. 00:36:21.159 --> 00:36:22.239 He's reciting Scripture 00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:22.799 constantly. 00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:24.440 He's memorized about 10 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.940 different Psalms that he's 00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:27.259 trying to recite to himself. 00:36:27.859 --> 00:36:29.440 And he said there was a week 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:31.000 a little bit ago where he 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:32.579 just went into work, took his 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.539 lunch break, went to the 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:36.079 grocery store, and just had to 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:37.619 sit in his car and start to 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:37.940 journal. 00:36:38.779 --> 00:36:40.399 I wrote down some of what he 00:36:40.399 --> 00:36:40.879 was sharing. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:54.740 He said later on when he got 00:36:54.740 --> 00:37:10.300 home, he had seen that a call 00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:12.260 had gone to his phone and it 00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:13.320 was just a short little voice 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.640 message of another Christian 00:37:14.640 --> 00:37:16.539 brother letting him know they 00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.460 were praying for him because 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:19.280 God put him on their heart. 00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:21.700 He said that that didn't 00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:23.180 instantly change how I was 00:37:23.180 --> 00:37:25.019 feeling, but it was a very 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.920 small reminder. 00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:28.660 That fellow Christian was 00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:30.500 praying and took time to make 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.600 a quick phone call because 00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:33.519 Jesus Christ is praying for 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:33.780 him. 00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:36.160 Jesus Christ sees what he is 00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:37.680 enduring in this world. 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:39.480 And Jesus Christ is praying, 00:37:40.419 --> 00:37:42.199 Father, keep my dear son. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.519 Guard him and fulfill my joy in 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:47.519 him as he endures the pain of 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:48.019 this world. 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:49.779 He's taking up his cross and 00:37:49.779 --> 00:37:51.039 fill him. 00:37:52.579 --> 00:37:53.719 And so when the Lord stirs you 00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:55.759 to pray for one another, I 00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:57.739 believe this is how the joy of 00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:59.719 Christ in heaven multiplies the 00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:01.559 blessings for his people on 00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:01.899 earth. 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.480 He doesn't take us out of the 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:06.359 world, but he prays that the 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:07.820 spirit of God in fellow 00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:09.840 believers will stir one another 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:12.340 up and spur one another on in 00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:12.900 the faith. 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:16.740 Reminding each other the Lord 00:38:16.740 --> 00:38:18.420 keeps you, dear brother, dear 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:18.840 sister. 00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:20.400 The Lord guards you. 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.000 The Lord loves you. 00:38:23.140 --> 00:38:26.240 We can rejoice and we can rest. 00:38:27.140 --> 00:38:28.599 We're going to sing in a moment. 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:32.860 Jesus, I am resting, resting in 00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:34.920 the joy of what thou art. 00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:36.800 I am finding out the 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:40.079 greatness of thy loving heart. 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:43.340 Thou has bid me gaze upon thee 00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:46.099 and as thy beauty fills my soul, 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:48.940 for by thy transforming power, 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.559 thou hast made me whole. 00:38:52.660 --> 00:38:55.079 So dear Christian, rejoice and 00:38:55.079 --> 00:38:56.240 rest in Christ. 00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:59.320 He has accomplished his mission in 00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:02.760 this world so that his joy may be 00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:03.600 fulfilled in you. 00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:05.019 Let's pray. 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:11.480 Oh Lord, please train our hearts to 00:39:11.480 --> 00:39:13.700 treasure your son, Jesus Christ, 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:14.420 above all. 00:39:15.680 --> 00:39:18.320 Please grow our faith, grow our love, 00:39:19.120 --> 00:39:21.340 grow our joy as we rest in him. 00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:24.440 In the words of 1 Peter 1.8, 00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:26.880 though we do not see our Lord Jesus 00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:29.460 now, we believe in him and we 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:32.059 rejoice with joy that is 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:34.660 inexpressible and filled with glory. 00:39:34.960 --> 00:39:36.960 Please give us more of this joy, 00:39:37.260 --> 00:39:37.720 we ask. 00:39:38.160 --> 00:39:38.460 Amen.