WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.839 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:06.339 Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.960 If you have your Bibles, please. 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:15.439 I think there's a Pew Bible. 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:17.940 It says it's page 902. 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:24.900 And we're going to read John 16, starting in verse 16. 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:26.839 So let's read it. 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:29.039 And I would say this. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.379 Take a deep breath. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:34.939 Put your cell phones away. 00:00:36.299 --> 00:00:38.219 Let your heart slow down. 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:41.679 Let God take care of the world. 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:46.460 And receive the gift of God's written word. 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:52.480 A little while and you will see me no longer. 00:00:53.480 --> 00:00:57.400 And again, a little while and you will see me. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:03.339 So some of his disciples said to one another, what is this that he says to us? 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:06.039 A little while and you will not see me. 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:08.039 And again, a little while you will see me. 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.060 And because I am going to the Father. 00:01:11.060 --> 00:01:15.960 So they were saying, what does he mean by a little while? 00:01:15.960 --> 00:01:18.780 And we do not know what he is talking about. 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:22.079 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him. 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:24.359 So he said to them, 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:28.500 Is this what you are asking yourselves? 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:33.099 What I meant by saying a little while and you will not see me. 00:01:33.219 --> 00:01:35.859 And again, a little while and you will see me. 00:01:36.859 --> 00:01:41.560 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. 00:01:42.260 --> 00:01:45.799 You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:51.459 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:56.019 But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish. 00:01:56.599 --> 00:02:00.739 For joy that a human being has been born into the world. 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:08.800 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you. 00:02:09.019 --> 00:02:12.939 In that day, you will ask nothing of me. 00:02:12.939 --> 00:02:18.359 Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, I will give it to you. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.300 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. 00:02:21.579 --> 00:02:25.020 Ask and you will receive and your joy may be full. 00:02:26.379 --> 00:02:29.259 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:35.939 The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:38.500 In that day, you will ask in my name. 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:43.400 And I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:50.780 For your Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:55.180 I came from the Father and have come into the world. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:58.240 And now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:05.020 His disciples said, ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech. 00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:10.460 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you. 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:13.640 This is why we believe that you came from God. 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:17.320 Jesus answered them, do you now believe me? 00:03:17.980 --> 00:03:19.379 Behold, the hour is coming. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:25.300 Indeed, it has come when you will be scattered each to his own home and will leave me alone. 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:28.160 Yet I am not alone for the Father is with me. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:32.799 I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. 00:03:33.079 --> 00:03:36.020 In the world you will have tribulation. 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:38.680 But take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.939 This is the written word of God. 00:03:41.359 --> 00:03:42.079 Thanks be to God. 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:42.560 Let's pray. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:47.879 Father, blaze a trail to the foot of the cross. 00:03:47.939 --> 00:03:53.180 That we may look up into the face of Jesus and see your glory. 00:03:53.180 --> 00:04:01.599 And once again, and once again decide to live all out for you. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:05.800 I ask this in Christ's name. 00:04:06.420 --> 00:04:06.700 Amen. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:07.280 Amen. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:08.680 Okay. 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:17.780 My wife Sherry and I, over 30 years ago, we had a couple, an older couple. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.720 They were, gosh, essentially our age. 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:21.720 They were 30 years older than us at the time. 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:23.420 He was a PCA pastor. 00:04:24.320 --> 00:04:27.360 He was the editor of the PCA magazine at the time. 00:04:27.460 --> 00:04:28.380 We were living in Atlanta. 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:29.880 We were fairly new Christians. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:33.600 At least new Presbyterians. 00:04:34.460 --> 00:04:36.520 And they were our small group leaders. 00:04:36.760 --> 00:04:38.980 And they discipled us. 00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:41.120 We got to be close to them. 00:04:41.220 --> 00:04:42.360 I got to be close to him. 00:04:42.760 --> 00:04:44.180 It was Bob and Shirley Sweet. 00:04:44.760 --> 00:04:48.080 And Shirley used to disciple Sherry. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:54.180 And one of the great things I loved about them was that they gave us these little short sayings. 00:04:54.279 --> 00:05:01.360 They gave us these kind of, you know, memorable one-liners that we still repeat to each other all the time. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:02.860 Here's one. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:03.860 Here's one for you. 00:05:04.099 --> 00:05:04.799 If you're a parent. 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:07.719 I remember Bob telling me about his older daughter. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:10.360 And she was really a strong-willed child. 00:05:10.479 --> 00:05:10.699 Right? 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:12.519 Who has strong-willed daughters. 00:05:12.719 --> 00:05:12.919 Right? 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:16.360 She's a very strong-willed daughter. 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:18.400 And he sat her down one time. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:21.040 And he said, listen, it's okay that you're strong-willed. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:23.660 Just not self-willed. 00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:26.560 It's like, boom, light bulbs went in my head. 00:05:26.640 --> 00:05:27.680 I said, man, that's so good. 00:05:28.020 --> 00:05:30.319 Because God gave us a strong-willed daughter too. 00:05:31.020 --> 00:05:32.660 I think I said it to her a few times. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:33.560 But isn't that great? 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:35.300 It's okay to be strong-willed. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:36.700 It will serve you well. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.720 Just not self-willed. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:40.439 So write that one down. 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:46.319 He also, another sort of one-liner was, for so often, especially early in our marriage 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:50.639 and as we were, you know, as we kind of walked along with them, we were trying to make decisions. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:54.180 And it seemed like we were sort of going back and forth on certain things. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:58.560 We'd go this way and it seemed like God would, we'd have to go over here and do something different. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:00.920 It was just trying to navigate life. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:03.379 And for us, it felt like good night. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:06.339 You know, we just can't seem to know what's going on and what we're doing. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:08.860 But Bob sat me down and he said, Bill. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:09.519 And he showed me. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.039 He goes, you know, here's how you sail and you can tack back and forth. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:13.939 And this is kind of how things are going for you. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:18.159 He said, but with God, it's always a straight line. 00:06:20.039 --> 00:06:22.639 Sherry and I repeat that to ourselves, each other too. 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:24.099 Hey, it's a straight line. 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:27.279 It's this idea that, you know, God is sovereign, right? 00:06:27.919 --> 00:06:32.659 And we have, he's sovereign, but we have responsibilities. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:40.460 And because God is sovereign, I don't have to be anxious about the future because it's a straight line. 00:06:40.760 --> 00:06:42.740 But I can't be complacent either. 00:06:43.140 --> 00:06:44.880 So I'm going to make a decision, right? 00:06:45.020 --> 00:06:47.180 With God, it's always a straight line. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:48.340 There's another one. 00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:49.100 Write that one down. 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:53.680 Now, this one I'm going to give you really applies to the text here. 00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:57.400 Because he was telling a story of his older kids. 00:06:57.400 --> 00:06:57.980 They were older. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:03.220 And he was telling me that they were, maybe, I think it may have been like 4th of July or Thanksgiving. 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:05.139 Because all the kids were home and they're all older. 00:07:05.340 --> 00:07:07.120 But they were talking about their lives. 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.180 And they were explaining and they were kind of complaining. 00:07:09.660 --> 00:07:11.379 You know, about, oh, my job is hard. 00:07:11.460 --> 00:07:13.939 And this is, you know, I don't, my boss doesn't get me. 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:18.300 And then this other kid was sort of bellyaching about this part of his life. 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:22.819 And he was just hearing this sort of cacophony of just all his complaining. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:24.120 And he finally said, all right, time out. 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:26.720 He goes, listen, let me tell you something. 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:31.000 He said, stop being so surprised. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:32.159 Because here's the truth. 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:33.740 Here's the one-liner. 00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:36.540 He said, all of life is uphill. 00:07:38.100 --> 00:07:38.819 All of it. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.920 All of life is uphill. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.160 I think that's right. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:47.660 Sherry and I repeat that to each other all the time. 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:50.000 It's all uphill when we start complaining. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:55.879 And I just envision Bob sort of giving it to his kids. 00:07:56.520 --> 00:07:57.920 You know, mic drop. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.460 Or if he smoked, you know, put his cigarette down and walk out of the room. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:03.720 You know, all of life is uphill. 00:08:03.780 --> 00:08:04.819 And I get used to it, right? 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:09.740 At the very end of our very long text. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:11.460 That was a long text to read, wasn't it? 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:23.699 But at the very end in verse 33, Jesus sort of gives this last word, the last word of his farewell discourse before he shifts gears and starts to pray. 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:26.240 The high priestly prayer that we find in John 17. 00:08:26.960 --> 00:08:31.700 It's almost sort of like, I don't want to say a mic drop. 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:35.480 But it's really just an amazing summary of everything he's been saying. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:40.080 When he says, you know, in this world you will have trouble. 00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:43.379 Our text says tribulation. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:44.840 But it's trouble. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:48.059 Or some places it's trials and sorrows. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:49.799 In this world you will have trouble. 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:51.480 He says, but take heart. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.559 You know, or cheer up. 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:54.399 I've overcome the world. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:59.679 That's the last word of this long and amazing farewell discourse he's been giving. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:06.179 Now, I think all of us get the idea that all of life is uphill. 00:09:06.319 --> 00:09:08.179 Like in this world you will have trouble. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:09.100 Right? 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:13.959 In a room this size with many people out here, there's a whole range of experiences. 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:14.519 Right? 00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:16.939 You know that life is trouble. 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:20.220 But you've kind of avoided it for a good long while. 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:20.740 Okay? 00:09:20.779 --> 00:09:21.679 And that does happen. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:26.240 But you know that maybe just over the next ridge there could be something. 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:27.879 Because you just know that's how life is. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:28.679 We all know that. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:32.500 There are some people in the room that have had a really difficult time. 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:36.720 And you're embittered at what has happened. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:46.200 And there's a whole group of us as well that have and understand that it's, you know, because life hasn't been easy. 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:51.220 But in time you've come to see the meaning of what's going on. 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:55.560 In time you've come to see the good that has come out of the trial and the sorrows. 00:09:55.560 --> 00:10:00.200 Because God, you know, really empowered you to be able to trust him in it. 00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:06.019 And one of the sayings that Bob and Shirley gave to us, and I know it's not original to them, but boy is it true. 00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:17.579 He said, you can either get bitter or better. 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:18.639 Right? 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.740 You either get bitter or better. 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:24.220 But all of life is uphill. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:25.500 It's hard. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:33.539 So if we look at the text, in particular, the front end, like verses 16 through 24, here's what we find. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:39.219 Here's how Jesus starts to ease into talking about the difficulties of life. 00:10:39.819 --> 00:10:43.179 He's telling his disciples about his death and resurrection. 00:10:43.339 --> 00:10:44.039 They're a little confused. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:44.939 They don't know what he means. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.759 What he's going to go away and then he's going to come back. 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:49.819 But he's telling them about his death and resurrection. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:53.439 They have many questions about what Jesus meant. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:55.579 Jesus knows this. 00:10:55.599 --> 00:10:57.699 And that's happened a few times in John, right? 00:10:57.719 --> 00:10:59.339 He knows what's in a man, right? 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.899 He knows what people are thinking. 00:11:00.959 --> 00:11:01.620 It's amazing. 00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:04.539 This Jesus is phenomenal. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:05.580 He's amazing. 00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:06.320 Right? 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:07.039 He knows. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:10.139 He knows that the questions they're asking even before they ask. 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:14.240 And he tells them, he says, look, there will be a time that you will weep. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:15.139 Right? 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:17.519 Because death is painful. 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:20.259 They're going to experience Jesus' death. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.740 And they're going to weep. 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:26.379 But there's but the world will rejoice. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.180 They're going to be there. 00:11:28.259 --> 00:11:29.820 The world's going to like what happened. 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:30.539 You're not. 00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:35.379 And he says, you know, your sorrow will turn to joy. 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:37.600 And he said it will be like giving birth. 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:38.340 Right? 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:42.060 Pain is forgotten when there's a joy of the new life. 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:49.119 And I just thought, just sort of as an aside, I thought, gosh, I wonder, you know, we all can't, not all of us in this room can relate to childbirth. 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:53.239 Maybe we should, maybe what might be good is, you know, passing a kidney stone. 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:56.939 And I thought, well, that doesn't really work. 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:58.739 Because it is painful. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:01.440 But all you birth is a kidney stone. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.820 So that would be terrible. 00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:06.480 I don't know, unless you're a urologist. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:07.940 Because I've been in a urologist's offices. 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:11.460 And he had framed kidney stones on the wall. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:12.019 I remember seeing. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:15.120 I guess it is sort of like a picture of your kid. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:15.799 I don't know. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:24.320 But the thing, the point, though, that Jesus makes is that this pain, new life comes from it. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:29.440 He really, that imagery of new life coming from the pain. 00:12:29.900 --> 00:12:31.900 That's what, this pain is not for nothing. 00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:33.440 Essentially is what he's saying. 00:12:34.280 --> 00:12:34.520 Okay. 00:12:35.280 --> 00:12:42.120 And then he says, when you see me again, your sorrow will become joy so deep that it can never be taken from you. 00:12:42.140 --> 00:12:45.700 And he's just telling these great, about what's about to happen. 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:58.620 And then, then he says, that day when your pain turns to joy, that day, it will truly be new life. 00:12:58.640 --> 00:13:00.320 Because he's talking about his resurrection. 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:01.879 He's talking about when he appears. 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:05.420 And that day ushers in the whole church age. 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:06.120 Right? 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:13.780 But that day when he's there, their joy, all their questions are answered on that day when Jesus appears. 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:16.500 All their questions are answered. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:20.620 In fact, now the questions will be transformed into prayers. 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:25.519 That they'll go directly to the Father and offer up prayers to the Father. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.779 All their questions will be answered because of the resurrection. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:34.500 And that day, new life is born. 00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:41.220 But although all of life will be uphill, you can have a foundation of joy. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.620 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:45.379 You can have a foundation of joy in an uphill life. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:47.560 Okay. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.060 So let's try to unpack all that. 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:52.259 So all of life is uphill. 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:57.980 We see this in the mix of sorrow and joy when he's talking to the disciples. 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:01.620 So there's a time of sorrows and there's a time of joy. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.159 That really does represent how life is. 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:04.399 Right? 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:14.360 And so this time of sorrow for the disciples during that time, there are three things that we can look at that we can apply directly to our lives. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:18.379 These are the types of sorrows that you and I will experience in this world. 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.439 Have experienced. 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.340 Will experience. 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:24.500 Where the first thing was the disciples experienced personal loss. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:27.259 Jesus actually died. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:29.539 It was a painful time. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:32.100 This person that they loved had become their friend. 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.559 Their rabbi had become their friend. 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.700 They were following Jesus. 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.600 They were really. 00:14:35.820 --> 00:14:36.840 And he dies. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.899 And they felt the pain of that loss. 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:42.600 That is part of the uphill life in this world. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:49.180 If you've ever had anybody in your life die, you know how disorienting that is. 00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.180 It's painful. 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.519 And there's other types of loss. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:58.620 You may have had ideas that it was a loss of a dream for your family or your children. 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:04.960 And the pain of seeing what they go through, that kind of loss is very painful as a parent to watch. 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.860 And so we have deaths of dreams. 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:13.480 All that loss is part of the uphill life, right? 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.899 Personal loss. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.000 There's another thing that the disciples went through. 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:22.100 Jesus said the world is going to rejoice when you are in sorrow. 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:25.580 That's our experience as followers of Jesus. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:29.560 More and more our culture is losing any sense of transcendence. 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.840 And we are swimming upstream. 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:36.480 In fact, all of life is uphill and it's also upstream, right? 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:39.639 It's that we're feeling the pull of our culture. 00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:43.460 And that is part of all of life being uphill. 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:46.860 And the last thing is disappointments. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.980 The disciples were disappointed. 00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:55.899 When Jesus appears in Luke 24 on the road to Amazus and he's talking to the disciples, 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:59.580 they had hoped that Jesus was going to redeem Israel. 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:05.720 So their expectations, they were experiencing disappointment at that time. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:08.100 And let's look at that. 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:10.480 Let's think about how all of life is uphill. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:16.900 We experience so many disappointments because we have expectations here and the reality is here. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.340 And all that stuff in between is disappointment. 00:16:20.400 --> 00:16:22.360 Now you may find this really hard to believe. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.440 I'm going to give you a one-liner about disappointments, okay? 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.700 And it's great. 00:16:27.020 --> 00:16:28.180 Hopefully I can do it well. 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:32.399 But you're going to find this really hard to believe that I took a preaching course with Tim Keller. 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:35.359 Are you sure you did? 00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:35.979 Yes, I did. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.939 It was a week long. 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:38.599 I audited the class. 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:40.120 Maybe that's why I didn't learn anything. 00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:41.500 But it was fantastic. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:48.039 Tim Keller was there along with someone that had mentored him, Ed Clowney. 00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.339 It was a great week. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:49.959 It was fantastic. 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:52.579 But he marched us through the sermon that he had written. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.000 And he was telling us how he did it and what he was thinking. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.779 And this sermon was about Jacob and Rachel, right? 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:04.220 If you know the Old Testament story, you know, Jacob fell in love with Laban's daughter. 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.519 Laban was his uncle. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:09.500 And Rachel was at least one of two daughters. 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:12.140 Her older sister, Leah, compared to her. 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:15.339 Like the Bible tries to describe how beautiful Rachel was. 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:17.699 Like just like wow, like beautiful. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:21.419 And then Leah, her older sister, I'm not sure, maybe just in comparison. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.980 But like no. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:28.919 You know, you're going to pick Rachel over Leah every time. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.299 And so he says, I want to marry Rachel. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:37.439 And Laban, her dad, says, you've got to work for me for seven years. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:42.140 And he was so in love with her that after seven years, it only felt like seven days. 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:46.600 And then on the night of the marriage, they get married. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:53.059 It must have been really dark because Laban sends Leah into the tent to consummate the marriage. 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:55.200 And so he ends up, but he doesn't know it's Leah. 00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:55.680 Right? 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.400 That's the story. 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.700 Jacob doesn't know it's Leah. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:01.559 But he marries their, they consummate the marriage. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.559 And he wakes up married to Leah. 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.380 He wakes up. 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:09.960 And his expectations, he was very disappointed it was Leah. 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:10.760 Right? 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.160 And so Keller marched her through and he said, now here was my point. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:18.920 He said, anything you hope for in this life other than God will disappoint. 00:18:20.040 --> 00:18:24.440 Anything you hope for other than God, it will disappoint. 00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:26.100 And here was his one liner. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:30.100 He said, it's always Leah in the morning. 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.020 And that's, right? 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:34.900 It's always Leah in the morning. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:39.480 No matter what you're hoping in other than God, you will be disappointed. 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.200 It's always Leah in the morning. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.539 All of life is uphill. 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:48.059 And anything you place your hope in, it's always Leah in the morning. 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:53.220 I guess it was Oscar Wilde or Bernard Shaw. 00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:58.779 One of them said, the two tragedies in life are not getting what you want. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:02.139 And the second tragedy is getting what you want. 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.539 It's always Leah in the morning. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.779 All of life is uphill. 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.759 But there is a day. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:13.859 There is a day that changes everything about life. 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:16.099 Look at verse 23. 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:22.199 You will ask nothing of me, Jesus says, on that day. 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:26.000 And what he is saying is, all your questions will be answered. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.680 All of them. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.680 In the resurrection. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:32.180 Because I defeated death. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.840 All of your questions will be answered. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:40.059 And all of your questions now will be turned into prayers because you can go directly to the Father. 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.920 And then when the Holy Spirit comes, right? 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.340 All this stuff starts to add up. 00:19:43.339 --> 00:19:47.099 But on that day, all your questions will be answered. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:52.599 And so, two ways that your questions get answered, even in this life. 00:19:52.679 --> 00:19:54.500 Whatever your questions are about life. 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:59.339 First of all, it's the event of the resurrection that changes everything. 00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.740 The event, right? 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:07.139 Many people, maybe some of your, maybe you, maybe someone you know, 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:10.659 might be, have pushed away from the faith. 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:13.600 You know, have walked away. 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:16.360 They believed at one time, but now they don't. 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:22.720 Again, Tim Keller says, one of the things you can do that's really helpful is really listen. 00:20:23.060 --> 00:20:27.460 Really listen intently to people that are struggling with their faith or have walked away from their faith. 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:31.820 But after you've listened for a while, a good thing to do is this. 00:20:32.060 --> 00:20:37.380 Ask them why they originally believed that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.400 You know, why did you originally believe that? 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:41.640 Because bring them back to the resurrection. 00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:42.560 That's so important. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:46.360 But ask, why did you originally believe that Jesus rose from the dead? 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:49.240 And how did you come to decide now that he didn't? 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:53.680 Keller says, they usually say this is a very helpful question. 00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:56.920 Because the resurrection of Jesus, everything changes. 00:20:58.080 --> 00:21:01.820 This is, that true event is significant. 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:04.220 It answers all your questions. 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:10.319 Now, it's an event, but this is what's even more important about this. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:13.339 The resurrection is a person. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:19.220 Remember the story of Jesus' good friend, Lazarus, when he died. 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:22.240 Even Jesus felt the pain of the loss. 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:24.019 He cried, right? 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:32.120 But Martha, Lazarus' sister, came to Jesus and said to him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:36.319 And that's how, you know, Jesus was never in a hurry, right? 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:37.620 He was in full control. 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:42.259 But she said, look, if you had just, and she had questions. 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.980 Like, why, you know, why did you lay? 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.980 How come you didn't come quicker? 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.539 Or she had all kinds of questions. 00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:53.819 But she says, but even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you. 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:57.140 And then Jesus says, your brother will rise again. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:02.299 Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:04.240 See, Martha had her theology right. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:07.960 She knew lots of things about Jesus, and she could spout them off. 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:12.860 And she knew lots of things about theology, that there was a day coming when everyone would be resurrected. 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:16.939 She said, she had that right, but she was missing something, and Jesus goes right for it. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:20.719 And he said to her, yeah, you're talking about the resurrection. 00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:23.500 He said, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:22:24.199 --> 00:22:28.339 Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.939 And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:34.179 I love what Jesus was doing there. 00:22:34.219 --> 00:22:35.959 This is what we all need to be doing. 00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:37.879 The resurrection is an event. 00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.439 It's true. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:40.259 And there's lots of implications for that. 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:44.240 But Jesus said, look, here's what's at the bottom line of it. 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:46.859 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.539 We come to Jesus. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:53.400 We may know the truth about the resurrection, but do you know Jesus? 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.379 Do you know the resurrection? 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:58.099 I love how he's done that in this passage. 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:08.240 All of our questions, all of our theology is absorbed and wrapped up in Jesus. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.700 It's him. 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.900 It's always Jesus. 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:17.180 Now here's one liner that fits here. 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:20.380 And it's the bonus one liner that's in your outline. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:23.180 I love this one so much. 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.400 I just want to pass it on. 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.200 Because it fits here. 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:30.380 If you look at the book of Job, right? 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.660 And you know that story. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.120 This is a guy who had everything. 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.719 He had wealth. 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:37.439 He had a family that loved him. 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:40.579 And God said he was a righteous man. 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:44.059 He loved God with every ounce of his being, right? 00:23:44.719 --> 00:23:50.439 And so, so much so that Satan came to God and said, yeah, let me, Adam. 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:55.099 If I take everything away from him, I bet you he will curse you. 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.259 He will forget your name. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.439 He'll walk away from you. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.880 And God said, nope, he won't. 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.480 Go ahead. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.440 Let's watch. 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.460 And so, Satan takes everything away from him, right? 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:10.200 And so, in the meantime, all his friends come around to sort of console him. 00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:12.360 And they're always asking why. 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:14.500 Why do you think God did this to you? 00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.279 Why do you think, you know, this happened? 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.460 Why, why, why, why? 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:19.480 They're just sitting there trying to figure this out. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.380 They're asking why. 00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:22.539 And they're trying to, they think they have the answers. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:26.399 And, you know, Job does pretty well. 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:30.859 But it gets to the point towards the end where God starts to really speak. 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.099 He speaks out. 00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:34.799 And he says this in Job 38, 4. 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:38.139 Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth, Job? 00:24:38.899 --> 00:24:43.599 Tell me, if you have understanding, tell me all your answers to why. 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.500 Right? 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:46.359 And then Job finally goes, all right. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:49.460 He says this in Job 42. 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:53.600 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear. 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.120 Right? 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:57.680 It's almost like I know a bunch of stuff about you. 00:24:58.600 --> 00:25:01.200 You know, I know a bunch of things about you. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:04.920 But then he says, but now my eyes see you. 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:08.240 Job is saying, now I know you. 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.740 I know you. 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.559 And so, here's the one-liner. 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:14.100 I don't know who came up with it. 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:16.940 But if you ever want to understand what the book of Job is about, 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:19.779 here's your summary of the book of Job. 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.220 It's fantastic. 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:21.940 I love it. 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.420 You ready? 00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:25.019 Here's, here it is. 00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:29.140 It is better to know God than to know why. 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:33.779 It is better to know God than to know why. 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:43.220 All the questions that you have are wrapped up and absorbed up in a person. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:43.820 It's Jesus. 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:49.519 It is better to know Jesus than to know why. 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:52.099 It is. 00:25:52.439 --> 00:25:53.339 I can tell you. 00:25:53.899 --> 00:25:54.599 It is. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:26:00.480 And all of your questions get transformed into prayers. 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.099 Right? 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:05.759 Jesus said these things to you. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.220 Right? 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:08.379 Because, see, it's about a person. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.740 It's Jesus. 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:09.980 Jesus said this. 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:13.700 Because he says, in me, you might have peace. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.259 In me, you will have peace. 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.660 All of life is uphill. 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:23.440 But he preceded that by saying, in me, you will have peace. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:31.720 Now, that very last line, Jesus has been saying many, many times through the farewell discourse. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:34.360 He's been saying things like, I said these things. 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:36.460 And here's a series of them. 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.980 John 15, 11. 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:42.839 He said, I tell you these things. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:45.160 These things I have spoken to you. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.420 That my joy may be in you. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.819 And that your joy may be full. 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:51.240 He wants people to be joyful. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:53.860 He's been telling them things. 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.740 And he wants them to experience joy. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:58.099 But John 16, 1 and 16, 4. 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:02.160 It's in the form of a warning. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:04.039 I don't want you to fall away. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:08.039 I don't want you to get so overwhelmed with life that you walk away. 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:10.700 So I'm telling you these things that you don't walk away. 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:13.319 I'm telling you these things that you can be joyful. 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:15.799 I'm telling you these things that you don't walk away. 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.819 And then we get to John 16, 33. 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:20.400 He said, I'm telling you these things to you. 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:22.120 That in me, you will have peace. 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:25.460 In the world, you will have trouble. 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.420 Tribulation. 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.259 But cheer up. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.900 I have overcome the world. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:33.059 So what are these things that he's been telling us? 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.779 Telling his disciples and then telling us. 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.880 There are lots. 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.779 There's many things. 00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:41.059 But it's things like, I go to prepare a place for you. 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.259 Right? 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:44.039 Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you. 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.860 Jesus said, I'm sending the Holy Spirit. 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.500 Will preached on that last week. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.460 I'm sending the Holy Spirit. 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:53.180 So you have power to live in an uphill world. 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.500 I love you. 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.720 And the Father loves you. 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.820 We see that in verse 27 in our text. 00:27:58.060 --> 00:28:02.060 And he says, I'm sending you into the world to do good things in my name. 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:10.600 But the one final climax that he tells them is, I've overcome the world. 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:14.119 I've overcome the world. 00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:17.619 How did Jesus overcome the world? 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:20.659 Well, remember that day. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.259 The resurrection. 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:26.119 On that day when he appeared to his disciples. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:28.240 On that day, that glorious day. 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:32.700 Tragedy became victory. 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:37.119 Death is not the end now. 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.460 It goes on. 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:46.059 He overcame the world through the resurrection. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:48.779 He's overcoming the world continually. 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:51.240 By sending the Holy Spirit. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.659 You know, on the day of Pentecost. 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.720 The Holy Spirit. 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:58.619 The power to live in a disappointing uphill world. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:01.480 Is what this Holy Spirit resides in us. 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:03.019 Because all of life is uphill. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.819 It's always Leah in the morning. 00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:07.700 And it is better to know God than to know why. 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:09.819 So he sends the Holy Spirit to fill us. 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.220 So that we can know God. 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.220 This is eternal life. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.319 That they may know you. 00:29:13.379 --> 00:29:15.519 The only true God in Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:19.700 It's joyful power for the uphill journey. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.079 Resurrection. 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.660 Sending of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.900 And finally when he returns. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.539 When the new heavens and new earth. 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.759 Are in its fullness. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.259 And so what Jesus is saying. 00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:33.599 That the best is yet to come. 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.500 The best is yet to come. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.379 So let me. 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:39.299 A couple more one-liners. 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.900 To sort of finish this off. 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:43.539 I think I stole this from Steve Brown. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.359 But in light of. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.240 Jesus' resurrection. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.980 The coming of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.920 The new heavens and new earth. 00:29:51.139 --> 00:29:51.639 Where you know. 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:51.920 It. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:52.279 You know. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:54.079 The best is yet to come. 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.879 All of that. 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:56.420 In light of that. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.639 We live in Jesus. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.980 And in Jesus. 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:03.160 We have nothing to prove. 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.059 Protect. 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.000 Or lose. 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:07.539 That's the last word on your outline. 00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.839 We have nothing to prove. 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:09.859 Protect. 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.099 Or lose. 00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:15.359 So we can bring everything into the light. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.699 We can confess our sins. 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.319 We can bring everything into the light. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.319 So that we can be free. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.579 And we can follow Jesus. 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.779 Because of the resurrection. 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.819 Because the spirit is indwelling us. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:27.079 And because the best is yet to come. 00:30:27.879 --> 00:30:27.959 We. 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.179 We. 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:30.560 There's no problem sacrificing in this life. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.900 You will miss out on nothing. 00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:33.060 Because. 00:30:33.600 --> 00:30:34.440 We have Jesus. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.039 We have all we need in him. 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:38.379 And so. 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.639 One of the things that Shirley. 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:41.519 Used to tell Sherry all the time. 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.259 Was that. 00:30:43.619 --> 00:30:43.899 When. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:45.700 In an uphill world. 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.819 Where things are difficult. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.539 She used to say. 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.899 You can do anything for an hour. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.059 You can sort of hang in there. 00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:51.839 Just for an hour. 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.819 And those hours add up. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.720 And the week will be over. 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.139 Right. 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.379 You can trust God. 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.220 In that hour. 00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.839 Just turn your thoughts to him. 00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.819 And you can do anything. 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.779 For the next hour. 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:03.240 And I think that's how we sort of become like Jacob. 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.000 In this life. 00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:05.019 Right. 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.859 We have Jesus. 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.859 We have Jesus. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.720 It's not Leah. 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:09.559 You know. 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.200 It's Jesus. 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.319 And we have him. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.579 And so we can do anything. 00:31:15.159 --> 00:31:16.079 For a lifetime. 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.319 We can sacrifice anything. 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:21.059 Because the best is yet to come. 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:25.379 And the other one line or two. 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.539 Along those lines. 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:29.319 That when we would go to Bob. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:29.839 Or to Shirley. 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.879 We'd be talking to them. 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.420 They used to always say to us. 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.720 Well have you taken it up? 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.859 Have you taken this up? 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.439 To God. 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:38.119 Have you prayed about this? 00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.919 Why are you coming to us and complain? 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:40.919 We told you. 00:31:40.979 --> 00:31:41.979 All of life is uphill. 00:31:42.679 --> 00:31:44.339 Have you taken it up to him? 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:47.399 And I think that's. 00:31:48.979 --> 00:31:50.059 When Jesus is saying. 00:31:50.219 --> 00:31:51.740 Have you asked in my name? 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:54.099 Have you taken it up to him? 00:31:55.179 --> 00:31:56.459 Have you laid it at his feet? 00:31:56.959 --> 00:31:58.179 And so that you can be. 00:31:58.179 --> 00:31:59.839 Like your rabbi Jesus. 00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:00.439 And say. 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.240 Not as I will. 00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.779 But as you will. 00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:05.500 That's the full life of surrender. 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.860 That comes from. 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.140 You have Jesus. 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:11.180 You have the resurrection. 00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:13.700 You don't look at your life. 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.420 The way it's going. 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:16.539 You look at the one who is life. 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:18.220 Because it's all uphill. 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.200 All of it. 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.480 You have Jesus. 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.820 If you're in Christ. 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.640 So you take your eyes off of your life. 00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:27.800 And you put it on the one who is life. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:29.560 Jesus. 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.420 And so have you taken it up? 00:32:32.520 --> 00:32:34.000 Do you take it up to him in prayer? 00:32:34.320 --> 00:32:35.460 Do you lay it at his feet? 00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.340 And trust. 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:37.759 Having palms up. 00:32:38.540 --> 00:32:40.540 Receive and surrender completely to him. 00:32:41.540 --> 00:32:43.000 That's what it means to be in him. 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:46.380 Be in him is absolute total dependence. 00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.420 And so when Shirley would say. 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.520 You can make it through an hour. 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:50.280 Yeah I can make it through an hour. 00:32:50.280 --> 00:32:53.759 If I redirect and direct my thoughts to Jesus. 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:53.879 Peace. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.879 Who is the life. 00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:58.359 I can have peace. 00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:00.819 In the difficult uphill world. 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:03.640 And it will feel like. 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:05.640 It's just seven days. 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.759 In the new heavens and new earth. 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.879 All right. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.700 So here's the thing. 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:12.059 I have a final conclusion. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.720 I might have to go pretty far for this. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.539 But I was thinking. 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:18.279 Of sort of one liners. 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:20.599 Maybe that's how I was trying to do that with this. 00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.460 Hopefully it went okay. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:23.740 Hopefully you've got a lot of one liners you can take with you. 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.359 And just sort of work on those. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:25.640 Right. 00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:29.740 But there was this article in Southern Living. 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:30.640 This past summer. 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:32.039 I ran across it on the internet. 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.519 And it's that line. 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:36.539 That sort of stereotypically is said. 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:38.200 By the old ladies in the church. 00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.559 About other people. 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.539 Which is you know. 00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:41.400 Bless her heart. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.539 You know that line. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.059 You know. 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:44.920 Bless your heart. 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:46.960 In that article. 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:49.339 It listed out a bunch of different ways that can be said. 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.359 Most of them were bad. 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:50.920 You know. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.319 Bless your heart. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:53.099 Which means. 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.179 Well you're not very smart. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:54.740 You know. 00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.139 But. 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:59.859 I want to rescue that phrase. 00:33:59.939 --> 00:34:01.779 And there's one other one I want to rescue too. 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.059 Because. 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.460 In an uphill world. 00:34:05.339 --> 00:34:06.980 Where it's always Leah in the morning. 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:08.980 You know. 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:10.000 Everything's hard. 00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.059 It's difficult. 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:15.659 I want us to be sympathetic to those around us. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.639 And when we see pain. 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.619 Acknowledge it. 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:22.380 And go and bless them. 00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:24.119 By just acknowledging the pain. 00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.920 It is hard. 00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.739 Don't dismiss. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.599 Don't bless your heart. 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:27.860 No. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.239 It's. 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.500 Bless your heart. 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:33.559 The other phrase I want to rescue. 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:35.820 Is the one that could be said the same way. 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:36.719 Right. 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:40.239 You run across somebody that's just making really bad decisions. 00:34:40.459 --> 00:34:40.779 And just go. 00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:41.699 You need Jesus. 00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.339 You know. 00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:45.359 But it's true. 00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:46.559 It's true. 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:49.359 We need Jesus. 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:52.659 And that's what we all need. 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.980 That's what all of us need to be. 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:56.459 We need to be pointing each other back to Jesus. 00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.739 Have you taken it up? 00:34:58.919 --> 00:34:59.859 Oh life is uphill. 00:34:59.919 --> 00:35:00.859 What are you hoping in? 00:35:01.319 --> 00:35:01.639 Man. 00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:02.659 You need Jesus. 00:35:03.379 --> 00:35:05.559 You need a relationship with him. 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:08.099 You need to be close with him. 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:12.099 So here's a translation. 00:35:12.319 --> 00:35:13.699 Here's where we'll close with this. 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:17.759 So I want to have a new translation for John 16.33. 00:35:18.399 --> 00:35:18.779 Right. 00:35:18.859 --> 00:35:19.539 So when it says. 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:19.739 You know. 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.619 In me you will. 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.099 You may have peace. 00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.839 Why don't we just say. 00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.039 You need Jesus. 00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:25.559 All right. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.480 So that's part of the. 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.619 How we're going to translate it. 00:35:28.759 --> 00:35:29.599 Where he says. 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:31.319 In this world you will have tribulation. 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:33.840 Let's just say all of life is uphill. 00:35:34.600 --> 00:35:34.760 Right. 00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:35.360 So we'll say. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.960 Here's Jesus speaking. 00:35:38.080 --> 00:35:38.400 Man. 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.580 You need me. 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.039 Why? 00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:41.280 Because life is. 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.760 All of life is uphill. 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.360 And then he says. 00:35:44.580 --> 00:35:45.360 But take heart. 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.360 I want to say cheer up. 00:35:46.640 --> 00:35:46.880 Okay. 00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:49.480 When he says. 00:35:49.580 --> 00:35:50.700 I have overcome the world. 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:52.080 Why don't we say this. 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.980 So Jesus is speaking. 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.340 He says. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.360 You need me. 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:55.840 Why? 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:57.360 Because all of life is uphill. 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:59.080 And it's always Leah in the morning. 00:35:59.080 --> 00:35:59.400 Right. 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:01.740 But cheer up. 00:36:03.180 --> 00:36:05.119 I have climbed that hill for you. 00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:08.559 All of life is uphill. 00:36:08.680 --> 00:36:09.200 But cheer up. 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:11.480 I have climbed that hill for you. 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:14.420 I live the life you couldn't live. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.180 Jesus. 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:15.500 You know. 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.440 In Hebrews. 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:18.079 It says that Jesus was tempted in. 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.720 Every way as we are. 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.619 Yet without sin. 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:24.220 So he lived the life you couldn't live. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:26.059 He walked uphill for you. 00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:27.200 He walked that life. 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:29.759 But you know he walked the last hill too. 00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:32.699 That last hill to the cross. 00:36:33.359 --> 00:36:36.119 That was a hill that you deserve to climb. 00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:39.739 You deserve to go and receive God's wrath. 00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:42.659 But Jesus climbed that hill for you. 00:36:43.379 --> 00:36:47.079 And scripture says he's the propitiation for our sins. 00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:48.359 You know what that word means? 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:53.760 It means all of God's wrath was exhausted on Jesus. 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:55.180 He climbed that last hill. 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:57.800 All of God's wrath was exhausted on Jesus. 00:36:58.140 --> 00:36:59.420 There's none left for you. 00:37:00.200 --> 00:37:02.460 And so here's how we'll translate this last verse. 00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:05.960 You need Jesus because all of life is uphill. 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.360 Cheer up. 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:09.599 I climbed the hill for you. 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:12.360 And I climbed that last hill too. 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:18.180 That's joy. 00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:19.960 That's our joy. 00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:21.000 He's our joy. 00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:24.800 Let's just bask in that and let's pray. 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:25.840 Father. 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.559 Oh Jesus. 00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:31.800 We need you. 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.860 That's it. 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:35.120 You're the resurrection. 00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:37.500 You're the life. 00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:39.539 We need you. 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:41.300 Why? 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.779 All of life is uphill. 00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.579 It's hard. 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:49.739 But you climbed that hill for us. 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:51.739 And you went the extra mile. 00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:54.099 You climbed that last hill. 00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:56.940 The hill we deserved. 00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:59.239 Thank you. 00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:01.219 Now in that freedom. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:04.519 We truly have nothing to prove. 00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:06.559 Protect or lose. 00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:09.380 So Father give us a vision. 00:38:09.759 --> 00:38:11.340 For the well-being of others. 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:13.000 To love them well. 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.820 As you have loved us. 00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:18.139 Teach us not to hoard or covet or anything. 00:38:18.279 --> 00:38:20.199 But to let go of everything. 00:38:20.599 --> 00:38:21.880 So that we can love well. 00:38:22.659 --> 00:38:23.659 It's in Jesus name. 00:38:24.219 --> 00:38:24.519 Amen. 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.099 For more information. 00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:29.400 Visit us online at southwood.org. 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.400 Thank you. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:31.400 Thank you. 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.539 Thank you. 00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:49.659 Thank you. 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:55.659 Thank you.