I would like you to turn your Bibles this morning to John chapter 14.
! And I would like to ask that you follow in your own copy of the Scriptures as I open the
Bible. We're going to rely upon this morning to challenge our hearts and help us see the Lord
Jesus more clearly. John chapter 14, beginning there in verse 1.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many
rooms. If it were not so, wouldn't I not have told you that? I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am, you may be also. Most of us have probably at one time or another heard that
passage read in the context of a funeral. How many of you have been there? And it's almost,
it kind of ranks right up there with the 23rd Psalm. Most funerals somehow or another get to
that passage. I shouldn't say most, but many. And this morning, I don't want to put you in kind
of a funeral mindset and think, well, here we go. A pastor's going to do a funeral sermon. Not at all.
Not at all. I want you to think very carefully about this passage and its application to all of our
lives and particularly to the fact that we live in a broken world where we, on a daily basis, struggle
with all kinds of challenges. I do want you to understand that John chapter 13 verse 1 in some
way serves as an introduction for all that you're going to find in John 13 through 17. So let's go
back just for a moment and look at John chapter 13 verse 1 to frame what we're going to discover in our
lesson in part today. Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come
to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them
to the end. There is a sense in which John, as a good author, gives us right from the outset an overview
of what is going to follow. And if we were to break down the passage that this section is part of,
the larger context is Christ's ministry to His disciples in the shadow of the cross.
And as you think about what was it that drove the Lord Jesus in His relationship with the disciples,
yes, it was the glory of the Father, but it was also without question an unwavering love for them.
And we're going to see that over and over again. You remember that in the context of what had taken
place, they had come together to celebrate ostensibly the Passover. And in that context,
Jesus went about instituting the Lord's Supper, the bread and the cup. And following that,
we have the foot washing, we have Jesus teaching the matter of loving one another. And in that context,
also revealing that Judas was going to betray Him. On the heels of that, He'd spoken to Peter who was
full of Himself and, hey, the rest of these dudes, they're walking out on you, but not me.
And we find that Jesus let Peter know that He was going to drop the ball and He was going to fail.
After that,
Jesus,
sensing the heart of His disciples, steps in and encourages them with very, very practical words.
And I cannot help but stop and recognize here this morning just how poignant and how precious the heart of
the Lord Jesus is in this passage. We find here that He is tender to the twelve and to what was going to
take place. He understood their heartaches and their anxieties, and He was very, very interested in their
well-being. There probably isn't a single one of you here this morning that didn't pick up on Monday
that something very significant happened at OSU. Am I right or wrong?
How many of you know that at OSU, there was an individual who took it upon himself to drive a car
and try to harm a number of different individuals, ultimately was shot. And it occupied the news for
hours on end. How many of you have picked up on the fact that it was all over? I remember,
truth of the matter is, I was driving back from deer hunting, turned on the radio, and what did I hear?
I heard something that happened at OSU, and it was like, whoa! My first thought after I heard that it
happened at OSU was, guess what? I thought about Emma. Emma, where are you? Are you out here today?
Children's Church. I thought about Emma, and I thought, well, is she okay? That was the first thought I had.
And the second thought I had was, I wonder how Tim and Meredith are doing. That was my second thought.
I thought, oh, you know, and just natural. You know, you think about people you care about, and you,
oh, man, I hope she's okay. And I shot up one of those bullet prayers as you're driving. You know,
I'm not one of those guys who has to pull over to the side of the road and close my eyes when I'm
praying. It was all right. We could cover it. And we think about things, and we react.
And here, when we think about the challenges of life, illustrations such as Monday kind of reminds
us that we live in a difficult world, and there are things that are constantly bombarding us and
challenging us and causing us to take our eyes off of the unvarying, unwavering certainty we have in
the Lord Jesus Christ. There are some of you sitting here this morning that have been in a doctor's office
and heard the most heartbreaking news. There are some of you here that have come home to an empty
house and found out that your spouse has left. There are some of you that have had that phone call
late at night, and you find that the child that you have invested your heart and your prayers and
your life and energy in has done something that is profoundly grievous and breaking your heart.
And in the midst of all of that, you find that the anxieties and the challenges of life are almost
overwhelming. What I want you to do this morning is listen very carefully as we see in this passage
an undeniable and sufficient remedy for the anxiety and the depression and the challenges that all of
us have in the daily life that we live in this broken world. I think it's important for us,
first of all, to recognize the context. And so Christ's context counts. What do you think about that?
It'd be wrong for us to actually just dive into John chapter 14 and say, all right, this is all about
you guys feeling better about yourselves. I want you to think about where Jesus was because it's important.
Jesus was just moments away from the cross. He was about four, five, six hours. And Jesus knew exactly
what was coming. Isn't that right? He knew that he was going to suffer an incredibly hard and difficult death.
He knew he was going to take the sins of the whole world. And for us, dealing with our sin is bad enough.
But just imagine being absolutely sinless and having to deal with the sins of other people.
Furthermore, he also knew that his father was going to turn his face away and that that communion
and that intimacy that he had enjoyed from all eternity past was going to handle this momentary breach
and it was going to break his heart. And yet here we find the Lord Jesus in the midst of what he was
going to go through, stopping to think very carefully about those that he loved.
Here he was thinking about the emotional insecurity, the spiritual need of his 12.
And instead of pondering and focusing on himself, his primary concern was for those that he had loved
that had been given to him by the Father. And in the face of all that was going to take place,
his counsel and his encouragement to them was for their good, not for his own.
I think that's significant. Because the truth of the matter is, is that most of us,
when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, we do not think the least bit about anybody else but
ourselves. And one of the things that should characterize those who sit under the teaching of the Word of God,
and I want to say this carefully so it resonates in your heart, one of the things that should characterize
those who sit under the teaching of the Word of God is that their lives should be
conformed, transformed
by the power of the Word of God and the illustration of the character of Christ.
By virtue of enjoying the ministry of the Spirit of God and the Word of God in your life, you ought to
consistently think less of yourself and more about others by virtue of thinking often about Jesus. Is that right?
Do you get that point? Don't lose it.
Can I tell you a little sidebar? This is not in my notes, but just something to hold on to.
People who think a lot about themselves are never happy. Can I say that slowly so you don't miss it?
Let me say it slowly because it's important. People, people who think a lot about themselves are never happy.
Okay, that's enough of that. Stop, Tim, while you're ahead.
I just want to drive the point home. Being like Jesus means
being others-focused
rather than self-focused. That's what we find here in Jesus.
In the face of what was in front of Him, His thoughts were about
others.
I am struck, very frankly, and convicted
by what Christ's love really looks like.
I'm struck by just how complete
and how blessed it was and is.
And I'm convicted about how shallow
my own love often is.
It's okay to think about
other people periodically, but
how about thinking about other people
when you're really deep in the
troubles of your own life?
Instead of
pouting and descending
into that swamp of self-pity
in the face of His betrayal,
His abandonment, His crucifixion,
His Father turning His face away,
here we see Jesus
in His unwavering love
for frail,
disobedient, broken
disciples
that He was willing to invest
His energy and life for.
So here's a point to hold on to.
Commit yourself
this morning
to learning more about
the love of Christ
because here's a very interesting truth.
I want you to get this.
Learning about the love of Christ
invariably transforms you
to love like Christ.
Can I say that carefully?
Learning about the love of Christ
transforms you
to love like Christ.
I want you to notice,
secondly,
in the face of this
circumstance,
here,
Jesus gives a command.
And Christ's counsel here
is pretty critical.
Let me break this down
into three parts for you
and kind of work our way
through the passage actually.
First of all,
Jesus gives His command
to obey.
He says here,
let not your hearts
be troubled.
Believe in God.
Believe also in me.
For one thing,
a troubled and persistently
traumatized heart
is a choice.
Again,
because this is important,
I'm going to say it slowly.
A troubled and persistently
traumatized heart
is a choice.
Jesus made it clear
to His disciples
that they could choose
to be troubled
or choose not to be troubled.
That's what He meant
when He said,
let not your hearts
be troubled.
How many of you recognize
that when God says something,
He says it
and He means it
and it's valuable.
It's to be held on to.
So when He says,
hey,
don't do this,
don't choose
to let your heart
be troubled.
Some of you are thinking
to yourself,
well,
I can't help it.
And I understand that.
But the fact of the matter
is that when Jesus said this,
He was speaking
gospel truth
and He was speaking
something for our value
and our sake.
And it's actually
a novel idea today
that we should actually
be able to control
our thought life
to a certain degree.
It's lost its popularity
in some realms,
the idea that,
hey,
we're actually responsible
for the way we think.
So let me kind of
work your way
into this with me.
It says,
we have some control
over where we let
our minds take us.
Some.
How many of you understand
what I mean by some?
How many of you,
don't raise your hands
and wave at me
because I know,
how many of you recognize
there are times
when your little pea brain
thinks the most despicable,
absolutely offensive,
unbelievably wicked things?
Nod your head
if you've had a problem
with that.
Okay,
there are a couple of you
that I think have reached
the point of entire
sanctification
or are brain dead
this morning.
Okay?
I can't remember
who it was.
Martin Luther?
He said that our hearts
are idol factories.
We're just full of wickedness.
Jeremiah says,
the heart is deceitful,
desperately wicked.
Who can know it?
And so here's the fact.
We do have some control
over where our minds take us.
We've all had our minds
bring up thoughts
that were absolutely despicable
and the first time
it comes up,
it's like,
oh,
can't be doing that.
Right?
We have complete control
over how long
we stay there.
We have complete control
we have complete control
over how long
we stay there.
One of the problems
with our contemporary culture
is we have failed
to recognize
that thoughts
produce actions
and actions
produce consequences.
Do you follow that?
Thoughts
produce actions
and actions
produce consequences.
And while we cannot
to a certain degree
control everything
that our mind
thinks about,
we are in complete control
over how long
we let our mind
be occupied
and consumed
by some of the most
destructive
and wicked
and despicable thoughts
you can imagine.
So let me put it
a different way
or just kind of
add on to this.
While having
a persistently
troubled mind
is absolutely natural
for the sinful soul,
it is not
to be
the normal
state
of the believer.
We'll continue
to deal with
our thought life
until Jesus
takes us home
or Jesus
comes back
but the fact
of the matter
is that
those who are
in Christ Jesus
are different
than those
who aren't.
We know the passage
it says this
if any man
be in Christ Jesus
he is a
what?
You don't have
to stay
the way
you were.
I love
telling people
that.
I love it.
One of the
sweet privileges
of the gospel
is to say
to people
you know what
you have
good reason
to be
absolutely
sorry
and sick
of the
consequences
of your
sin
and I have
good news
for you
you don't
have to
stay there.
Christ Jesus
died on the
cross
to deliver
you from
that sin
and to
help you
grow
and change
and so
we
in our
ongoing
struggle
with those
sinful thoughts
of our past
and the old
habits and
attitudes that
we have
we may
continue to
struggle with
it
we will
but we're
not
enslaved
by it
and why
would I
say we're
not enslaved
by it
for one
I am
reminded
in principle
of what
it says
in Galatians
chapter 5
verse 16
just a
question
how many
of you
know
Galatians
chapter 5
verse 16
and it's
a go to
verse
how many
of you
know
what a
go to
verse
is
let me
introduce
you to
a thought
a go to
verse
is one
to hang
on to
that you
need
on a
short
it kind
of
comes up
pretty
regularly
in your
life
okay
I'll give
you a couple
for Tim
Kenoyer
Tim Kenoyer
has
verses
that are
memorized
about
anger
you don't
have any
idea why
I would
memorize
those
verses
you know
Tim Kenoyer
has
verses
about
his
tongue
no
idea
why
I
would
memorize
those
Tim
Kenoyer
has
verses
that are
memorized
about
lust
and
passion
you know
idea
why
I
would
you know
it's
like
and here's
the deal
Galatians
chapter 5
verse 16
how many of you
know it
raise your
hands if
you do
come on
raise your
entertain
me
you'll
stay here
till
one o'clock
here we go
here's
the deal
walk by
the spirit
and you
will
what
you will
not
fulfill
the lust
of the
flesh
how many
of you
are sick
and tired
of what
goes on
in that
fleshly
little
despicable
heart
you have
well
you don't
have to
be a
slave
rely upon the
Holy Spirit
to help
you
but I
really
like
hitting
myself
in the
head
with a
hammer
no
it
hurts
I want
you to
understand
in this
passage
when Jesus
says
let not
your hearts
be troubled
he is
calling us
to recognize
that we've
got a
responsibility
here
I want
you to
understand
as Jesus
gave this
command
he then
followed it
up with
some solid
reasons
and so I
want you to
think about
these solid
reasons for
not being
troubled
and that's
important
I was
listening to
a song
this morning
that was
very very
popular back
in 1988
1988
John's
laughing at
me
1988
some of
you weren't
even born
back then
okay
and I
debated
actually
pulling it
up on my
phone and
holding it
to the
microphone
so you
could hear
this and
say
but
John
help me
out here
you know
it's like
don't worry
be happy
I wrote
the words
to this
song
sing it
forget it
there's a
reason why
I don't
do these
things
more often
it's because
it's such
an abysmal
failure
but it
was a
very very
popular song
in 1988
about not
worrying
being happy
you know
it's like
don't worry
be happy
by the way
Billy where are
you thank you
for doing that
rap
good theology
great
just slow
down I
can't read
that fast
but other
than that
it was good
okay
a lot of
good thoughts
in that one
but here's
the deal
the world
gives us
very very
shallow
reasons
for not
being anxious
that's not
the way
Jesus is
here he is
saying to his
disciples
hey listen
don't
let
your heart
be troubled
why not
well
number one
believe in him
personally
look at the
passage
believe in
God
believe also
in me
and here
we are
Jesus is
speaking to
the disciples
and you can
imagine that
when Jesus
says believe
in God
the disciples
would have
said yeah
duh
I mean what
were they
they were
good Jewish
boys
did good
Jewish boys
believe in
God
I mean
what's
the deal
yes
he says
believe in
God
now you
can either
take this
as an
imperative
he's saying
believe in
God
believe in
me
or you
could take
it that
he's giving
an indicative
hey you
believe in
God
duh
believe in
me
why
who is
Jesus
he's God
the son
and when
we are
believing in
God
and we're
believing in
Jesus
what happens
to all the
things that
we are
unjustly
anxious
and worried
about
what happens
to them
well
how many
of you
have a
little
twilight
paris
tune
every now
and then
in your
head
you know
it's like
how's it
go
you know
God
is in
control
that's
that's my
traffic song
you know
it's like
God
is
okay
in case
you didn't
know it
I hate
H-A-T-E
capitals
and kind of
take it up
to 24
points
and bold
that I
hate
being
late
if I
have an
appointment
with you
and you
look out
you'll probably
see me drive
by about
10 minutes
early
I'm embarrassed
to show up
that early
so I take
an extra
circle around
the block
that's me
Jesus says
I want you
to believe
in me
personally
believe in
me
and so I
want you to
recognize
this morning
that
on a
practical
level
when you
find
yourself
flooded
with
anxiety
when you
find yourself
overwhelmed
by the
circumstances
and the
troubles
that you
are in
you can
either
choose
to go
ahead
and circle
the drain
yet another
time
or you
can
consciously
and deliberately
fix your
heart
upon the
absolute
certainty
of the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and the
fact
that
when
he
hung
on
the
cross
and
he
died
he
said
precious
words
he said
it
is
finished
and beloved
when Jesus
looked at his
disciples who
he knew
were going
to abandon
him
and he
knew
were going
to be
overwhelmed
by the
anxiety
of the
moment
he said
to them
you believe
in the
father
you believe
in God
believe
in me
second
thing
that I
want you
to look
at here
in this
passage
is that
Jesus
also
says
believe
in his
promises
I
go
to prepare
a place
for you
and if
I go
and prepare
a place
for you
I will
come
again
and will
take
you
to
myself
that
where
I
am
you
may
be
also
we
don't
sing it
very often
anymore
but there
was a
song
when I
was
growing
up
that
people
liked
I've
got
a
mansion
just
over
the
hilltop
right
how many
of you
remember
that
good
old
song
it's
like
I've
got
a
mansion
you know
it's
a little
southern
sound
and it's
really nice
song
yeah
walk
those
streets
of what
gold
and
yeah
the idea
of having
a mansion
pretty
appealing
but that's
really not
what Jesus
was talking
about
the fact
of the matter
is
is that
here he
was
in the
shadow
of the
cross
telling
his
disciples
that
what
was
going
to
take
place
was
for
their
good
and
outcome
that's
favorable
he says
listen
in my
father's
house
are many
rooms
if it
were
not
so
would
I
have
told
you
that
I
go
to
prepare
what
was
he
going
to
prepare
for
them
he
was
going
to
prepare
a
way
for
them
to
spend
eternity
with
him
that
where
I
am
you
may
be
also
it's
understandable
that his
disciples
were
troubled
at the
prospect
of his
leaving
they'd
spent
three
years
with
him
they
had
laid
aside
their
careers
they'd
walked
away
from
their
families
they had
found
themselves
as
things
progressed
and got
closer and
closer to
the
cross
they found
themselves
to be
in some
senses
kind of
ostracized
by society
they were
hated
by the
religious
elite
they knew
it
they were
afraid for
their lives
and Jesus
says hey
listen by
the way I'm
leaving
I'm leaving
but the
good news
that Jesus
has he
says I
am leaving
I'm going
to heaven
and I
will return
so you
can be
with me
I wonder
how often
you actually
find yourself
thinking
about
what it's
going
to be
like
to be
with
Jesus
think
about
that
actually
thinking
about
what it's
going
to be
like
to be
with
Jesus
you know
a lot
of times
when we
think about
getting to
heaven
we're
thinking
about
our
physiological
issues
you know
it's
like
when I
get to
heaven
I won't
have
osteoporosis
or you
know I
won't be
a diabetic
and I
can have
all the
cake
I want
and you
know
we're
thinking
about
all these
kind of
superficial
things
the greatest
joy
of heaven
is not
going to
be
our
menu
it's
going to
be
Jesus
I love
that passage
you've heard
me cite it
so many
times
whom having
not seen
you love
do you know
who it's
talking about
Jesus
the fact
of the matter
is is that
here is
Jesus
and he's
saying to
his disciples
I'm going
to go
prepare a
place for
you
I will
come
again
I will
come
again
how often
do you
think about
that fact
Jesus
is coming
back
and he
is going
to take
you home
very
interesting
that the
New Testament
church
lived with
this sense
of
imminency
it's like
hey
Jesus
today
how many
of you
remember
Waleed
Bittar
who's
our
missionary
up there
in Canada
anytime
you call
Waleed
you know
what he
says on
the phone
when you
call him
and he
picks up
the phone
I've
recited it
before
he didn't
come
he's got
that accent
he didn't
come
he's always
disappointed
that Jesus
didn't come
but there's
tomorrow
there's
time
could come
tomorrow
and here
Jesus is
saying to
his disciples
listen
I'm going
to go
away
but hang
on
I'm coming
back
I'm coming
back
and so
here's the
thing I
want you
to focus
on
a sure
cure
for a
troubled
soul
is knowing
how the
story
ends
do you
understand
that
a sure
cure
for a
troubled
soul
is knowing
how the
story
ends
!
I
remember
I
remember
actually
speaking
with
individuals
who'd
had
the
surgery
and
were
sad
that
they'd
done
the
surgery
as a
grumble
well here
I am
I'm lying
on the
gurney
okay
and I'm
thinking
so how's
this story
going to
end
and I
thought
to myself
it really
doesn't
make a
difference
because
sooner
or later
I am
going to be
in heaven
and it
won't be
a problem
and here
is Jesus
talking to
his disciples
and he
says listen
I'm going
to come
again
I'm going
to take
you to
myself
that where
I am
you can
be also
so when
you find
yourself
caught up
in the
troubles
of this
life
and there
are
troubles
don't
ever
kid
yourself
you are
going to
have
troubles
until the
day
you
slip
into
eternity
I
remember
thinking
to myself
when I
was a
teenager
you know
what
this is
before I
could
drive
when I
start
driving
life's
going to
be
better
does
anybody
remember
being
that
airheaded
to think
that
when you
could start
driving
it would
be
better
Kevin
you remember
that
when I
started
driving
or when
I
graduate
from
high
school
there was
some
doubt
about
that
but
you
know
when I
graduate
from
high
school
it's
going
to be
better
!
When I
graduate
from
it's
going
to be
better
when I
see
Jesus
that's
the end
of the
story
and so
if you
find yourself
being
absolutely
overwhelmed
by the
challenges
of your
life
I want
to tell
you
something
number
one
believe
in
him
personally
believe
in
his
promises
and
third
believe
in
his
path
there
in
the
passage
Jesus
made
the
statement
you
know
verse
four
you
know
the
way
to
where
I'm
going
and
then
there's
good old
Thomas
verse
five
Lord
we
do
not
know
where
you
are
going
how
can
we
know
the
way
how
many
of
you
like
literalists
I
mean
people
who
read
the
fine
print
and
really
want
to
get
into
the
minutia
how
many
of
you
have
ever
signed
papers
to
buy
a
house
raise
your
hand
if
you
have
do
you
know
that
they
put
almost
a
full
tree
on
the
table
in
front
of
you
I
mean
it's
like
and
you
know
I've
actually
been
in
the
presence
of
someone
who
thought
they
needed
to
read
some
of
that
stuff
now
I
what
does
this
mean
on
page
14
stop
I
want
you
to
recognize
!
that
here
is
Jesus
dealing
with
Thomas
and
Thomas
was
a
he
wanted
to
know
the
fine
print
Jesus
said
hey
you
know
the
way
where
I'm
going
and
Thomas
said
no
just
a
minute
really
where
help
me
out
here
Jesus
what
are
the
details
and
what
does
Jesus
say
to
him
Jesus
said
to
him
I
am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
life
no
one
comes
to
the
father
except
through
me
I
love
that
Thomas
wanted
to
know
all
the
particulars
of
his
journey
isn't
that
right
it's
like
hey
so
you
go
down
150
feet
and
then
you
turn
right
and
then
you
know
Jesus
says
hey
trust
me
I'll
get
you
home
believe
in
me
I
am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
life
and
so
here
we
find
Jesus
making
it
undeniably
clear
relax
don't
fret
the
details
I
am
the
way
the
truth
and
the
life
and
no
one
comes
to
the
father
but
through
me
here's
the
point
apart
from
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
you
have
no
confidence
of
where
your
journey
is
taking
you
and
the
end
is
going
to
be
brutal
but
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
you
have
absolute
confidence
of
where
you're
going
to
spend
eternity
and
you
can
have
complete
confidence
in
not only
the
day
by
day
path
that
he
takes
you
on
but
how
the
outcome
is
I
do
like
this
passage
for
another
reason
because
there's
a
mistaken
idea
that
Jesus
ultimately
that
his
value
to
modern
culture
is
that
he
gave
us
a
nice
picture
of
how
but
really
he
can't
be
believed
in
entirety
do you
understand
that
either
Jesus
was
who
he
says
he
is
and
the
God
and
savior
of
this
universe
or
he's
a
liar
can't
have
it
both
ways
because
here
is
Jesus
saying
I
am
the
way
the
truth
the
life
and
no
one
comes
to
the
father
except
by
me
you're
not
getting
home
without
me
you're
not
getting
there
apart
from
me
there
is
no
salvation
in
any
other
person's
name
I
remember
having
a
conversation
just
a
couple
weeks
ago
with
an
individual
who
made
that
very
interesting
statement
to me
about
all roads
lead
to
Rome
all
roads
lead
to
heaven
follow
me
it's
like
hey
we
all
believe
our
own
thing
and
we're
going
to
get
there
it's
going
to
be
all
right
I
said
no
that's
not
true
that's
not
true
I
said
there
are
really
only
two
religions
in
the
world
only
two
one
who
believes
that
men
can
work
their
way
on
up
the
!
ladder
by
doing
nice
things
the
other
is
believing
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
the
fact
that
God
sent
his
son
to
die
for
our
sins
that
whosoever
believes
in
him
might
be
saved
and
not
perish
so
here's
the
thing
that
I
want
you
to
think
about
this
morning
in
very
practical
terms
all
of
us
here
every
one
of
us
face
daily
challenges
and
trials
isn't
that
right
don't
ever
don't
ever get
caught
by thinking
that
if
you
were
someone
else
or
if
you
were
in
a
different
place
or
you
had
a
different
job
or
you
had
different
physical
challenges
that
things
would
be
infinitely
better
that's
not
the
truth
the
only
thing
that
will
make
a
world
of
difference
in
the
way
in
which
you
handle
the
challenges
and
trials
of
your
life
is
who
you
are
focused
on
and
who
you
are
trusting
you
believe
in
God
believe
in
me
believe
in
me
believe
in
my
promises
I'm
going
to
take
you
home
believe
in
my
path
because
I
am
the
only
one
that
will
get
you
there
let
me
close
with
this
and
have
you
think
about
it
I
made
the
statement
earlier
that
it's
normal
and
natural
it's
completely
understandable
for
those
who
do
not
know
Christ
to
spend
their
entire
lives
consumed
to a
certain
degree
by
a
persistent
anxiety
about
their
life
and
its
uncertain
does
that
make
sense
does
that
make
sense
if
you
don't
know
Christ
you
have
every
reason
to
be
anxious
about
how
the
story
ends
because
there
is
that
nagging
feeling
in
your
heart
that
it's
not
all
right
and
it's
not
all
good
and
I
don't
know
how
this
yes
you
do
your
conscience
is
bearing
witness
that
there
is
a
day
of
judgment
coming
and
that
uncertainty
really
is
reflective
of
the
shadow
and
God
sent
his
son
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
to
die
for
!
your
sins
take
away
all
that
shame
and
guilt
and
give
to
you
complete
confidence
in
how
the
story
ends
do
you
know
what
the
average
Christian
should
be
unbelievable
advertisement
that
they know
the one
who can
make
a world
of
difference
in a
broken
world
isn't
that
right
so
when
was
the
last
time
someone
said
to
you
hey
what's
the
deal
with
you
did
you
win
the
lottery
no
are
you
on
different
meds
no
do
you
have
a
better
family
no
what's
the
deal
oh
I
have
Jesus
what
yes
and
I
know
how
the
story
ends
I'm
going
home
not
only
that
I
know
who's
getting
me
there
it's
Jesus
I
gotta
tell
you
close
off
with
this
we
live
in
a
world
everybody
lives
in
a
world
like
me
we
live
in
a
world
around
people
that
are
constantly
bagged
with
anxiety
and
frustration
and
disappointment
and
heartache
and grief
am I
right
this
passage
informs
you
how
to
live
a
life
that
is
victorious
and
is
so
atypical
that
the
unbelieving
world
will
ask
you
a
reason
for
the
hope
that
is
in
you
we're
not
going
to
do
this
next
Sunday
but
I'd
like
you
to
text
me
text
me
or
email
me
or
even
in
an
old
fashioned
way
drop
me
a
note
and
say
you
can't
believe
this
pastor
I've
been
focusing
on
Jesus
and
I
had
people
say
to
me
what's
going
on
with
you
how
come
you're
so
happy
in
the
midst
of
the
mess
I
mean
after
all
we're
done
with
politics
there's
other
things
to be
messed
about
right
I
want
you
to think
about
your
life
does
it
reflect
your
confidence
in
Christ
or
are
you
here
this
morning
and
you
desperately
need
him
to
be
your
savior
let's
close
in
prayer
our
father
god
this
morning
as
we
think
about
the
lord
jesus
christ
we
are
so
very
thankful
for
the
blessing
we
have
of
knowing
him
as
our
god
and
savior
knowing
the
certainty
of
his
promises
and
knowing
how
the
story
ends
and
so
we
would
ask
this
that
as
we
go
through
our
week
that
lies
ahead
should
you
tarry
and give
us
life
that
we
are
an
honest
illustration
of
confidence
in the
lord
jesus
christ
there's
some
of us
here
that
need
to
confess
and
repent
of
falling
back
to the
old
ways
of
being
focused
on
our
self
and as
a result
being
profoundly
unhappy
there
are
also
those
that
are
here
today
that
do
not
know
the
lord
jesus
and
my
plea
would
be
this
that
today
would
be
the
day
of
salvation
that
you
would
be
glorified
we
ask
this
in
jesus
name
amen
holy