WEBVTT 00:00:11.499 --> 00:00:14.365 Well, good morning, Valley View. 00:00:14.365 --> 00:00:16.132 Great to be with you today. 00:00:16.132 --> 00:00:23.265 As we continue in our study of the book of John this week, we're going to wrap up chapter 16. 00:00:23.265 --> 00:00:26.166 And I told you last week we're picking up speed. 00:00:26.166 --> 00:00:29.699 Sometimes it's taken us many weeks to get through a chapter. 00:00:29.699 --> 00:00:34.399 Today we're going to wrap up Chapter 16, picking up speed. 00:00:34.466 --> 00:00:42.365 In fact, speaking of picking up speed, I listened to an interview with a professional bull rider this week. 00:00:42.432 --> 00:00:45.198 Don't worry, I'm not taking up a new hobby. 00:00:45.198 --> 00:00:47.765 Not yet. At least. 00:00:47.765 --> 00:00:55.633 What was really interesting about this guy, he's he's a Christian, outspoken in his faith, well known, well-respected in the bull riding community. 00:00:55.633 --> 00:00:57.466 I guess that's a community. 00:00:57.466 --> 00:01:12.698 And one of the things he talked about in this interview that utterly fascinated me was how absolutely laser focused and calm a bull rider can be in the midst of just utter absolute chaos. 00:01:12.698 --> 00:01:20.299 I mean, there can be no more dangerous, chaotic thing that a human being almost can choose to encounter. 00:01:20.533 --> 00:01:34.099 And yet in that moment, in fact, he he talked about this one particular rodeo, where he was doing well, scored real high, was set to win, basically just had one ride left to finish. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:40.933 And so he gets in the gate, gets settled on the bull, jumps out of the gate, and the game is on. 00:01:40.933 --> 00:01:42.665 He's riding the back of this bull. 00:01:42.665 --> 00:01:48.433 And he said, I was so locked in, I was so in the zone that I was just thinking about all the other kinds of things. 00:01:48.498 --> 00:01:49.865 Man, this has been a great rodeo. 00:01:49.865 --> 00:01:50.632 It's been a lot of fun. 00:01:50.632 --> 00:01:54.033 I've got to hang out with some of my good friends along the way. 00:01:54.033 --> 00:01:57.698 Gosh, I wonder where we're going to go tomorrow for lunch. 00:01:57.698 --> 00:01:58.766 You know what? 00:01:58.766 --> 00:02:03.933 I don't think I've heard them play this song before at this rodeo. 00:02:04.033 --> 00:02:05.899 Of course, at that moment, he got kicked off. 00:02:05.899 --> 00:02:09.299 He got a little too relaxed in the moment. 00:02:09.299 --> 00:02:16.765 How can that be, though, in one of the most chaotic moments of life that anyone could experience? 00:02:16.765 --> 00:02:24.733 Here he is in this state of calm, state of peace, even the state of joy. 00:02:24.799 --> 00:02:27.133 How can that be? 00:02:27.133 --> 00:02:42.332 Well, in today's passage, we're going to look at how Jesus talks about this with the disciples, how in the midst of the chaos of life and they're about to encounter absolute chaos, that there can also be peace and joy. 00:02:42.432 --> 00:02:44.199 How can that be? 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:49.133 That's hard to believe at times, especially depending on what you're encountering in life. 00:02:49.133 --> 00:02:52.165 Well, let's look at what John Chapter 16 has to say. 00:02:52.165 --> 00:02:56.466 And if you don't have a Bible, we have a few Bibles out in the connection corner. 00:02:56.466 --> 00:02:59.466 Those are tied to the page numbers you'll see on the screen. 00:02:59.466 --> 00:03:04.366 We're going to be on page 849 in that church Bible John, Chapter 16. 00:03:04.466 --> 00:03:13.532 And I'm going to start by reading just the first couple of verses, verses 16 through 19, to help us get our bearings. 00:03:13.633 --> 00:03:32.799 And what I want you to see in the passage as we go-- in fact, I think there are going to be four main ways Jesus talks about finding peace and joy in the midst of chaos and to help make this memorable-- You know, I think it should be a God given right that everyone have a custom license plate on their car. 00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:35.665 Why do you have to pay extra for that and come up with that? 00:03:35.665 --> 00:03:39.399 That should be something we all enjoy to its fullest. 00:03:39.399 --> 00:03:41.233 I guess I could have by now, but I haven't. 00:03:41.233 --> 00:03:44.233 But I asked Isaac to create one for our church. 00:03:44.233 --> 00:03:46.866 A custom license plate for our church. 00:03:46.866 --> 00:03:49.598 In fact, he's going to throw it up on the screen now. 00:03:49.598 --> 00:03:58.199 Battle right? In the spirit-- by the way, in the spirit of custom license plates, we've left out some vowels, some letters. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:08.832 Those four letters are going to tie in with each of the four ways I think this passage talks about finding peace and joy in the midst of chaos. 00:04:08.899 --> 00:04:13.332 Which does require a bit of a battle. 00:04:13.399 --> 00:04:15.998 You do have to fight for that. 00:04:15.998 --> 00:04:18.533 It doesn't automatically happen. 00:04:18.533 --> 00:04:21.365 Life isn't naturally easy. 00:04:21.365 --> 00:04:27.565 In fact, if we expect life to be easy, that's a whole nother set of problems that are going to come. 00:04:27.733 --> 00:04:31.333 But what we need to do to find peace and joy in the midst of chaos is to battle for it. 00:04:31.333 --> 00:04:35.865 So we're going to look at each of those letters BATL and see how those show up in this passage. 00:04:35.865 --> 00:04:37.098 But first, let's get our bearings. 00:04:37.098 --> 00:04:48.932 Let's get the setting, verse 16, a little while and you will see me no longer and again, a little while and you will see me. 00:04:48.932 --> 00:04:58.132 So some of his disciples said to one another, What is this that he says to us A little while, you will not see me again, a little while you will see me, and because I'm going to the father. 00:04:58.132 --> 00:05:01.365 So they were saying, What does he mean by a little while? 00:05:01.365 --> 00:05:04.399 We do not know what he is talking about. 00:05:04.466 --> 00:05:07.432 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him. 00:05:07.432 --> 00:05:10.598 So he said to them, Is this what you are asking yourselves? 00:05:10.598 --> 00:05:13.233 What I meant by saying a little while you will not see me. 00:05:13.233 --> 00:05:15.033 And again, a little while and you will see me. 00:05:15.033 --> 00:05:18.466 Is this what you're trying to ask me? 00:05:18.533 --> 00:05:25.833 So we've seen leading up to this passage that Jesus has been saying to the disciples, Some hard times are coming, some chaos is coming. 00:05:25.833 --> 00:05:27.098 I'm about to leave. 00:05:27.098 --> 00:05:28.065 It's going to get hard. 00:05:28.065 --> 00:05:30.233 And there I have no idea what he's talking about. 00:05:30.233 --> 00:05:32.932 Even last week, he said, look, I'm really about to go. 00:05:32.932 --> 00:05:33.699 I'm going to leave. 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:34.966 I'm going to send you the Holy Spirit. 00:05:34.966 --> 00:05:36.199 You're going to be better off with him. 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.531 It's going to be hard, but it's going to be good. 00:05:39.632 --> 00:05:47.399 But now when he says again in a little while, he seems to be kind of upping the sense of urgency with them. 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:53.798 I've been saying it's going to come and it's just a little while longer now, just a little bit longer. Be ready. 00:05:53.798 --> 00:05:57.031 It won't be much longer. 00:05:57.132 --> 00:06:05.932 And their response to that is to pretend they know what he's talking about is to ask one another, Do you know what he's talking about? 00:06:05.932 --> 00:06:07.331 Because I don't want to ask him. 00:06:07.331 --> 00:06:13.598 I don't want to be the one that doesn't know that or that appears to not know. 00:06:13.665 --> 00:06:17.165 You ever been in that situation. 00:06:17.232 --> 00:06:20.098 That sums up college for me in a lot of ways. 00:06:20.098 --> 00:06:22.499 I remember this organic chemistry class. 00:06:22.499 --> 00:06:24.432 Everyone's favorite class. 00:06:24.432 --> 00:06:34.365 I actually like the subject, but going into the final, let's say I was underprepared, I think would be a proper way to say that. 00:06:34.365 --> 00:06:44.932 And so they thankfully, they had some kind of extra study session where the teacher's assistant was going to come and try to equip people in my situation. 00:06:44.999 --> 00:06:45.966 So I show up for that. 00:06:45.966 --> 00:06:48.298 I'm thinking, man, this will help me get ready for the test. 00:06:48.298 --> 00:06:54.598 The guy is explaining one of the key topics related to the test, and I have no idea what he's talking about. 00:06:54.598 --> 00:06:56.365 I'm totally lost. 00:06:56.365 --> 00:07:02.531 And in that moment in my mind, I'm thinking to myself, John, this would be a great time to ask a clarifying question. 00:07:02.531 --> 00:07:07.031 This would be a time for you to learn something here, to get better for the test. 00:07:07.031 --> 00:07:14.065 But what I don't want to ask, I feel like maybe I should already know that I don't want to be the guy in here who doesn't know the thing we should know. 00:07:14.065 --> 00:07:18.165 But my hand is kind of naturally wanting to shoot up here and ask him. 00:07:18.232 --> 00:07:22.932 And while I'm contemplating all this, I hear him say, okay, so that's how you do that problem. 00:07:22.932 --> 00:07:27.132 And by the way, if you don't know this by this point, you're in big trouble. 00:07:27.266 --> 00:07:29.831 And so that hand just kind of comes right back down. 00:07:29.831 --> 00:07:33.399 There's no way I'm putting that thing up at that moment. 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:39.432 I'm not going to reveal my utter ignorance in that moment. 00:07:39.499 --> 00:07:41.432 And you see that with the disciples. 00:07:41.432 --> 00:07:43.266 No, no, no. 00:07:43.266 --> 00:07:44.531 We maybe should know this. 00:07:44.531 --> 00:07:47.065 We want to ask who's going to be brave enough to. 00:07:47.065 --> 00:07:49.831 Now, here's the beautiful thing of what happens here. Jesus sees this. 00:07:49.831 --> 00:07:52.365 He anticipates that, he knows this. 00:07:52.365 --> 00:07:55.298 I mean, however they're doing it this could be divine knowledge. 00:07:55.298 --> 00:07:56.865 It could just be you've picked up on that one. 00:07:56.865 --> 00:08:01.732 You can tell someone's confused and he initiates. 00:08:01.831 --> 00:08:03.798 I love this about Jesus in this moment. 00:08:03.798 --> 00:08:09.966 He doesn't shame them, you morons, you idiots. 00:08:09.966 --> 00:08:12.065 No, he says, Are you guys talking about this? 00:08:12.065 --> 00:08:15.432 Is this what you're wanting to ask me? 00:08:15.499 --> 00:08:16.732 He initiates with them. 00:08:16.732 --> 00:08:21.966 He doesn't shame them, doesn't guilt them for not knowing. 00:08:22.031 --> 00:08:34.066 And, you know, sidenote, I hope that if you're new to the faith, that that's what you feel here, that you can come with whatever questions you have. 00:08:34.099 --> 00:08:42.231 We try to make it easy for you to find your place in Scripture, to navigate your way through the Bible with page numbers. 00:08:42.231 --> 00:08:45.731 And we say all time, come as you are, so you don't have to stay as you are. 00:08:45.731 --> 00:08:46.932 Come, come as you are. 00:08:46.932 --> 00:08:52.798 If you didn't grow up in the church, there's all kinds of stuff that you're going to need to learn along the way. 00:08:52.798 --> 00:08:58.831 But our hope is that you never feel shame or guilt for not knowing something at this point in your journey. 00:08:58.831 --> 00:09:00.466 That's okay. 00:09:00.532 --> 00:09:02.032 It's just part of it. 00:09:02.032 --> 00:09:05.265 If you join anything new, you've got a lot to learn. 00:09:05.265 --> 00:09:13.566 I mean, it could be taekwondo or bookbinding, whatever it is, whatever hobby you take on, there's a lot to learn. 00:09:13.566 --> 00:09:16.099 We're not just talking about a hobby. 00:09:16.099 --> 00:09:21.566 We're talking about the essence of life and purpose and meaning. 00:09:21.566 --> 00:09:26.666 Jesus doesn't shame the guys who were closest to him for years. 00:09:26.698 --> 00:09:29.698 We're not going to do that here either. 00:09:29.765 --> 00:09:31.932 I hope. 00:09:31.932 --> 00:09:33.166 And I love that approach. 00:09:33.166 --> 00:09:36.666 Now, what he does, though, in this moment, he doesn't shame them. 00:09:36.666 --> 00:09:39.231 Are you guys talking about this? 00:09:39.231 --> 00:09:43.566 But he also doesn't avoid difficult conversations. 00:09:43.566 --> 00:09:45.432 So look at verse 20. 00:09:45.432 --> 00:09:50.331 Look how he does engage with them. 00:09:50.432 --> 00:09:51.865 Is this what you're asking yourselves? 00:09:51.865 --> 00:09:53.698 What I meant a little while. 00:09:53.698 --> 00:10:01.032 Truly, truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. 00:10:01.032 --> 00:10:08.032 You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 00:10:08.099 --> 00:10:11.466 So he points out to them, Look, I know you're trying to ask something. 00:10:11.466 --> 00:10:14.231 It's something you don't understand. 00:10:14.231 --> 00:10:17.298 But when he responds to them, he doesn't avoid difficult conversations. 00:10:17.298 --> 00:10:19.032 He doesn't avoid difficult topics. 00:10:19.032 --> 00:10:25.399 So he says to them, right off the gate, what's about to happen is going to create sorrow in your life. 00:10:25.466 --> 00:10:33.831 In fact, the words he uses there are often used in combination in describing ancient cultures where there was this practice of especially at a funeral. 00:10:33.831 --> 00:10:39.731 I'll show you how much this person meant to me by how loudly I wail. 00:10:39.731 --> 00:10:43.032 You know, we don't do that in our modern American culture. 00:10:43.032 --> 00:10:44.198 In fact, the opposite. 00:10:44.198 --> 00:10:46.698 The more stoic you are, the more calm you are. 00:10:46.698 --> 00:10:49.166 It shows how much they meant to you. 00:10:49.166 --> 00:10:54.432 I'm going to not express emotion, use self-control, stand strong for them. 00:10:54.432 --> 00:11:01.666 But it was the opposite then. Let me even hire people to cry behind me to show you how much this person meant to me. 00:11:01.798 --> 00:11:09.298 This extreme display of grief overwhelmed, completely disabled by grief. 00:11:09.298 --> 00:11:20.365 These are the kind of words that are being described here, this depth of sorrow that just takes you to a place where you almost can't function. 00:11:20.465 --> 00:11:23.399 Jesus says this, This is coming. 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:27.764 This is out ahead of you. 00:11:27.831 --> 00:11:37.032 And what is kind of the stab in the back in the midst of this is that in the midst of your overwhelming sorrow, guess what's happening around you? 00:11:37.032 --> 00:11:39.532 The world rejoices. 00:11:39.532 --> 00:11:44.631 The world is so glad to be rid of this guy. 00:11:44.698 --> 00:11:54.131 The Pharisees have had this guy in their face telling them all they're doing wrong, highlighting their self-righteousness, and they are sick of him. 00:11:54.131 --> 00:11:57.764 They can't stand the sight of him. 00:11:57.831 --> 00:12:01.131 They're so glad to be rid of him. 00:12:01.231 --> 00:12:05.698 I've been reading the book and there was an interesting chapter in this book. 00:12:05.698 --> 00:12:08.932 It wasn't titled this way, but this is what it's about. 00:12:08.999 --> 00:12:11.365 It's all about the history of genocide. 00:12:11.365 --> 00:12:12.164 Okay, don't leave. 00:12:12.164 --> 00:12:13.798 Don't be too worried. 00:12:13.798 --> 00:12:15.731 Again, not research. 00:12:15.731 --> 00:12:20.365 It was fascinating, though, some of the observations about humanity. 00:12:20.465 --> 00:12:29.231 Why is it that one group of people chooses to hate another group of people to the point where they need to feel like they need to eliminate them from the face of the earth? 00:12:29.231 --> 00:12:33.599 One of the observations he made, it was so interesting. 00:12:33.599 --> 00:12:44.764 Oftentimes when this happens between two groups of people, usually often one group became just slightly better off than the other, just a little bit better. 00:12:44.764 --> 00:12:51.264 Maybe they lucked into some occupation as a group that allowed them to make just a little bit more money and get along just a little bit better. 00:12:51.264 --> 00:12:57.264 And one of the observations he made is how this reflects human nature. 00:12:57.365 --> 00:13:04.899 We're most likely to dislike a neighbor who just is doing a little better than us. 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.432 I got that. 00:13:05.432 --> 00:13:07.631 How did you get a 2021 car? 00:13:07.631 --> 00:13:10.532 I'm driving a 2017. 00:13:10.532 --> 00:13:11.764 Who do you think you are? 00:13:11.764 --> 00:13:13.664 You're better than me. 00:13:13.664 --> 00:13:14.698 We all went to Disney. 00:13:14.698 --> 00:13:17.365 We went to Gatlenburg. 00:13:17.365 --> 00:13:18.865 How? 00:13:18.865 --> 00:13:20.532 Your no better-- we live in the same neighborhood. 00:13:20.532 --> 00:13:21.432 You live right next door. 00:13:21.432 --> 00:13:23.798 How dare you? Who do you think you are? 00:13:23.798 --> 00:13:25.565 How did you afford that big bookshelf? 00:13:25.565 --> 00:13:28.999 I just have this little one, but... It's a lot. 00:13:28.999 --> 00:13:43.399 We're much more likely to hate and despise someone who is just barely better than us that we know, than the super rich guy we've never met. 00:13:43.465 --> 00:13:45.231 Something about our human nature. 00:13:45.231 --> 00:13:49.499 And you see this come out, We'll be in the depths of sorrow. 00:13:49.499 --> 00:13:55.065 Jesus says, You disciples weep, lament and the world will be rejoicing. 00:13:55.065 --> 00:13:57.432 They will be so glad to be rid of him. 00:13:57.432 --> 00:14:10.032 They will be glad that he's no longer there, reminding them of their self righteousness, of the way they have tried to save themselves. 00:14:10.099 --> 00:14:18.099 Now, one of the things he says to follow that up, though, look back at verse 20. 00:14:18.164 --> 00:14:19.131 Is this what you're asking? 00:14:19.131 --> 00:14:21.664 Truly, I say to you, the world will rejoice. 00:14:21.664 --> 00:14:27.365 You will be sorrowful-- last sentence, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 00:14:27.432 --> 00:14:29.932 So you will be wracked with grief. 00:14:29.932 --> 00:14:32.231 Those who hated Jesus will be gloating. 00:14:32.231 --> 00:14:34.932 They will be in ecstasy. 00:14:34.932 --> 00:14:38.831 But your sorrow will turn to joy. 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:39.599 How? 00:14:39.599 --> 00:14:42.932 The question I ask at that point is how? 00:14:43.032 --> 00:14:47.631 How does that happen? 00:14:47.698 --> 00:14:50.264 That's not an easy thing to do. 00:14:50.264 --> 00:14:53.731 When I'm preparing a message for a Sunday morning. 00:14:53.731 --> 00:14:58.932 This is the point in my preparation where I go, I need some kind of good illustration to drive this home. 00:14:58.932 --> 00:15:08.798 How can I illustrate to people that you can be in the midst of grief, pain, suffering, difficulties, and in an instant it turn to joy? 00:15:08.798 --> 00:15:10.198 Keep reading. 00:15:10.198 --> 00:15:11.532 Here it is for us. 00:15:11.532 --> 00:15:19.899 Verse 21-- When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come. 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:29.932 But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 00:15:30.032 --> 00:15:32.032 So also you have sorrow now. 00:15:32.032 --> 00:15:35.831 But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice. 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:38.231 I've seen childbirth. 00:15:38.231 --> 00:15:44.831 First of all, if it were up to men to continue the human race, it's probably not happening. 00:15:44.831 --> 00:15:50.365 One guy generation would be like, I'll try that and no one else would do it again. 00:15:50.365 --> 00:15:53.631 But humanity depends on you, John. 00:15:53.698 --> 00:15:57.298 Sorry, too bad. 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:04.164 And here you have a woman who is in this place of utter exhaustion. 00:16:04.164 --> 00:16:12.731 Can't go on. Overwhelming, undeniable, unbelievable pain. 00:16:12.798 --> 00:16:37.099 And then she hears that baby cry, first breath, and you put that baby on her bare chest, skin to skin and all that grief and sorrow and pain in a moment turns to joy. Immeasurable, indescribable, overwhelming joy. 00:16:37.164 --> 00:16:48.532 And so all of this leads us to the first letter in our BATL license plate, the ways that we move from sorrow to joy in a moment. 00:16:48.631 --> 00:16:49.798 How can that happen? 00:16:49.798 --> 00:17:01.798 believe, believe that pain and sorrow can produce joy, believe that it is even possible. 00:17:01.798 --> 00:17:12.198 That's the starting place and as I say that I reason I say that very hesitantly because I know that's not easy. 00:17:12.265 --> 00:17:18.132 I don't pretend to understand whatever sorrow you are encountering. 00:17:18.198 --> 00:17:22.365 I mean, in a room this size, there's lots of challenges that people are facing. 00:17:22.365 --> 00:17:26.265 And of course there are a wide variety of sorrows. 00:17:26.265 --> 00:17:29.731 Some we bring upon ourselves. 00:17:29.832 --> 00:17:31.698 Be like, Yeah, that's on me. 00:17:31.698 --> 00:17:32.397 I caused that. 00:17:32.397 --> 00:17:34.198 I can't blame anyone else. 00:17:34.198 --> 00:17:36.597 It's hard. It's painful, it's awful. 00:17:36.597 --> 00:17:38.932 I did that. 00:17:38.932 --> 00:17:43.365 Some sorrows, some challenges come just as natural part of life. 00:17:43.365 --> 00:17:48.365 Someone passes away, sickness comes upon you. 00:17:48.464 --> 00:17:54.198 These are things maybe I don't control, but also they just happen. 00:17:54.265 --> 00:18:06.298 Some sorrows are brought into your life by someone may even just be outright evil and have foisted upon you. 00:18:06.397 --> 00:18:07.698 I don't know what you've encountered. 00:18:07.698 --> 00:18:11.698 I don't know what you're going through. 00:18:11.798 --> 00:18:24.164 If I could go through the room, though, I guess my bet is that there is someone here who can relate to what you've been through and that they can say there is joy on the other side. 00:18:24.164 --> 00:18:25.597 It's unimaginable. 00:18:25.597 --> 00:18:29.065 It's so hard to believe. 00:18:29.164 --> 00:18:36.097 But if we take a step back and like the expectant mother, we come to it believing that there is joy on the other side. 00:18:36.097 --> 00:18:42.798 That is the first step to even experiencing joy and peace in the midst of sorrow. 00:18:42.865 --> 00:18:45.798 So that’s letter B. 00:18:45.798 --> 00:18:50.397 Let's keep going. On to Letter A in our BATL license plate. 00:18:50.498 --> 00:18:56.798 Look at this next group of verses versus 23 and 24. 00:18:56.865 --> 00:18:58.731 In that day you will ask nothing of me. 00:18:58.731 --> 00:19:05.132 Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask of the father in my name, he will give it to you. 00:19:05.132 --> 00:19:08.132 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. 00:19:08.132 --> 00:19:14.765 Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. 00:19:14.865 --> 00:19:21.932 Letter A in the acronym of BATL is Ask by Faith. 00:19:22.031 --> 00:19:24.932 So first believe that it can possibly be true. 00:19:24.932 --> 00:19:26.498 Letter A, ask by faith. 00:19:26.498 --> 00:19:27.964 He's telling them here. Ask. 00:19:27.964 --> 00:19:29.298 You haven't asked yet. 00:19:29.298 --> 00:19:30.597 You've asked nothing of me. 00:19:30.597 --> 00:19:33.597 In my name ask. 00:19:33.765 --> 00:19:38.097 And he points out the difference here, by the way, because we've talked about what it means to ask in his name. 00:19:38.097 --> 00:19:41.632 It doesn't just mean you tack his name on to any prayer and he gives it to you. 00:19:41.632 --> 00:19:49.597 No, ask according to his will, versus what they have been doing up to this point is to ask according to their will. 00:19:49.664 --> 00:19:50.832 And you know what I'm talking about. 00:19:50.832 --> 00:19:52.664 You've done it. 00:19:52.664 --> 00:19:58.464 Before you knew Christ, when you prayed to him, it was a, let's say, a bit of a bargaining chip. 00:19:58.464 --> 00:20:06.865 Lord, if you do this for me, Lord, if you just show up this one time, I promise I'll never, ever do that again. 00:20:06.932 --> 00:20:08.698 Or the opposite. 00:20:08.698 --> 00:20:15.765 Lord, I'll, if I do this for you, will you, you need to be there for me no matter what. 00:20:15.765 --> 00:20:17.065 That's not in his name. 00:20:17.065 --> 00:20:18.932 That's in your name right at that moment. 00:20:18.932 --> 00:20:20.097 That's for your glory. 00:20:20.097 --> 00:20:23.798 Do this for me, Lord. 00:20:23.865 --> 00:20:29.865 But when things change, when we pray in His name. God, I want to see you honored. 00:20:29.865 --> 00:20:32.065 I want to see you glorified. 00:20:32.065 --> 00:20:37.597 I care about your name being proclaimed to the world and you having your way. Even in my life. 00:20:37.597 --> 00:20:41.198 Even if it's hard, even if it's not what I would naturally choose. 00:20:41.198 --> 00:20:45.365 Would you work according to your name? 00:20:45.464 --> 00:20:49.365 And he's saying to them, Look, you need to ask. 00:20:49.365 --> 00:20:55.432 There will come a day where you've been confused, you've not understood. 00:20:55.432 --> 00:20:58.231 I've tried to explain, you've not heard it. 00:20:58.231 --> 00:21:02.164 There will come a day where he says, You will ask nothing of me. 00:21:02.332 --> 00:21:06.964 You won't need to ask because it'll be made clear. 00:21:06.964 --> 00:21:12.265 You'll know. All the confusion will be cleared up. 00:21:12.365 --> 00:21:16.964 In fact, there will be joy that is made full. 00:21:17.031 --> 00:21:30.964 I know this isn't a perfect illustration of this issue of asking, asking by faith, asking God, according to his name, to show up in the midst of sorrow and pain. 00:21:30.964 --> 00:21:40.097 But I think it's related and it's a powerful picture of the power of prayer, of the power of asking specifically for God to move. 00:21:40.164 --> 00:21:44.498 We were in Little Rock a couple of weeks ago, visiting with friends, various other things. 00:21:44.498 --> 00:21:51.698 Julie met with some friends who-- they were well connected, an older couple. 00:21:51.698 --> 00:21:57.164 This one lady in particular had been a mentor to her, and this mentor told Julie the story. 00:21:57.164 --> 00:22:00.432 She said, You know, my husband and I, one night we were hanging out. 00:22:00.432 --> 00:22:02.765 It was just one of those nights where the day had gotten away from us. 00:22:02.765 --> 00:22:04.464 Nobody had done anything to prepare for dinner. 00:22:04.464 --> 00:22:06.464 And we said, You know what, let’s go out. 00:22:06.464 --> 00:22:08.531 Let's go out to eat. 00:22:08.531 --> 00:22:11.065 And so the husband said, Look, I want to go to Cheers. 00:22:11.065 --> 00:22:13.597 That's the name of the restaurant there. 00:22:13.597 --> 00:22:15.131 I want to go to Cheers. 00:22:15.131 --> 00:22:16.597 30. 00:22:16.597 --> 00:22:17.330 Okay, great. 00:22:17.330 --> 00:22:19.097 They settled on that. 00:22:19.097 --> 00:22:25.298 But she says in that moment she goes, You know what, I haven't heard from my friend Pat in a while. 00:22:25.365 --> 00:22:27.865 I know there's very little chance she'd come. 00:22:27.865 --> 00:22:28.730 You know, it's already 00:22:28.730 --> 00:22:34.664 00, spur of the moment thing, but I'm going to invite her anyway. 00:22:34.664 --> 00:22:38.498 Pat had just lost her husband, you know, she's around 70 years old. 00:22:38.498 --> 00:22:42.631 They were high school sweethearts, Pat’s struggling. 00:22:42.631 --> 00:22:44.131 We've had a hard time getting connected. 00:22:44.131 --> 00:22:46.530 Let's just see if we can get her to come. 00:22:46.530 --> 00:22:47.365 So they called. 00:22:47.365 --> 00:22:48.298 She texts Pat. 00:22:48.298 --> 00:22:49.897 Pat, we're going to dinner 00:22:49.897 --> 00:22:51.365 30. 00:22:51.365 --> 00:22:52.964 Would you like to join us? 00:22:52.964 --> 00:22:55.030 Not expecting to even hear back from Pat. 00:22:55.030 --> 00:22:59.198 Almost immediately, all caps, Yes, I'll be there. 00:22:59.198 --> 00:23:00.464 Okay, great. 00:23:00.464 --> 00:23:02.530 See you there. 00:23:02.530 --> 00:23:06.631 30, here comes Pat. 00:23:06.730 --> 00:23:07.464 And they're just curious. 00:23:07.464 --> 00:23:10.664 Pat, very enthusiastic response. 00:23:10.730 --> 00:23:12.230 We're glad to have you join us. 00:23:12.230 --> 00:23:15.830 But tell us why the enthusiasm? 00:23:15.897 --> 00:23:26.498 And Pat said, I was at home, very lonely, full of sorrow and grief, missing my husband tremendously. 00:23:26.498 --> 00:23:33.730 And she said, I'm sitting there on the couch with my two dogs and just feeling like, Lord, would you have someone reach out to me? 00:23:33.730 --> 00:23:39.230 In fact, she said, I began to pray, Lord, would you have someone ask me to dinner 00:23:39.431 --> 00:23:45.431 30? 00:23:45.498 --> 00:23:48.530 That was her husband's favorite place to go. 00:23:48.530 --> 00:23:51.565 That couple was their favorite couple to hang out with. 00:23:51.565 --> 00:23:55.498 God, would you just show up in this moment? 00:23:55.597 --> 00:24:00.164 Sometimes we’re hesitant to pray specifics of--- what if God didn't do that? 00:24:00.164 --> 00:24:02.298 Does that mean he's not God? 00:24:02.298 --> 00:24:04.498 No. 00:24:04.498 --> 00:24:09.330 But when he does, there's no doubt. 00:24:09.431 --> 00:24:24.730 Ask by faith, believe that he can bring whatever tragedy occurs, on the other side that he can bring joy, that he can bring peace. 00:24:24.798 --> 00:24:29.765 In fact, he says your joy will be full in the midst of the challenges. 00:24:29.765 --> 00:24:35.730 Now, that's asking that's letter A, ask by faith. 00:24:35.830 --> 00:24:46.698 And now to letter T in the BATL acronym, How do we experience peace and joy on the heels of sorrow in the midst of chaos? 00:24:49.230 --> 00:24:53.664 I have said these things to you in figures of speech. 00:24:53.664 --> 00:25:02.330 The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the father. In that day, you will ask in my name. 00:25:02.330 --> 00:25:14.230 And I do not say to you that I will ask the father on your behalf, for the father himself loves you because you loved me and have believed that I came from God. 00:25:14.230 --> 00:25:17.365 I came from the Father and have come into the world. 00:25:17.365 --> 00:25:24.230 And now I am leaving the world and going to the father. 00:25:24.298 --> 00:25:29.431 He says on the front end I have said these things to you in figures of speech. 00:25:29.431 --> 00:25:35.530 I've been speaking to you in a way that maybe isn't super obvious. 00:25:35.597 --> 00:25:40.765 And part of you hears that and goes why? 00:25:40.765 --> 00:25:43.030 It feels a little deceptive. 00:25:43.030 --> 00:25:44.765 Jesus, it's hard enough to follow you. 00:25:44.765 --> 00:25:52.998 Why are you making things harder by being vague or teaching in parables, or teaching in a way that doesn't make obvious sense right away? 00:25:52.998 --> 00:25:59.365 Why would you do that? 00:25:59.431 --> 00:26:06.097 One of the things we need to be aware of is the letter T Trust His timing. 00:26:06.164 --> 00:26:08.565 Trust his timing. 00:26:08.565 --> 00:26:15.265 In the midst of moving from chaos to peace and joy, trust His timing. 00:26:15.365 --> 00:26:18.164 And there's a reason why you would speak in figures of speech. 00:26:18.164 --> 00:26:20.631 There's a reason why you would hold back information. 00:26:20.631 --> 00:26:32.631 There's a gigantic difference between keeping information from someone to be deceptive and manipulative versus holding it back until they're ready for it. 00:26:32.631 --> 00:26:38.065 There's a huge difference between the two and Jesus is doing this one. 00:26:38.131 --> 00:26:39.065 You know what I'm talking about. 00:26:39.065 --> 00:26:40.198 You've experienced this. 00:26:40.198 --> 00:26:46.464 Just think about the ways you've told a child about how humans come into the world. 00:26:46.530 --> 00:26:51.530 There's a way to do that unfolding information, to meet them where they are age appropriately. 00:26:51.530 --> 00:26:57.998 And it would actually be cruel to just dump everything on them all at once. 00:26:58.065 --> 00:27:00.897 You've experienced this in your own life. 00:27:00.897 --> 00:27:05.530 I mean, I think about the fact that I'm pastor here. 00:27:05.530 --> 00:27:08.164 I never thought I would be a pastor. 00:27:08.164 --> 00:27:18.330 I mean, in fact, Julie would often say, God didn't call you to be a pastor because you didn't marry a pastor's wife. 00:27:18.330 --> 00:27:22.365 And they don't usually hire divorced people, right? 00:27:22.565 --> 00:27:26.265 I think she was saying that tongue in cheek. 00:27:26.265 --> 00:27:28.565 The point being, I never thought I'd be a pastor. 00:27:28.565 --> 00:27:36.631 Not that I hated the idea, but I just felt like God had called us into kind of more para-church missions, ministry, creating content, serving marriages and families. 00:27:36.631 --> 00:27:42.765 Loved what we were doing there, never even considered it. 00:27:42.765 --> 00:27:47.397 And then one day out of the blue, I'm sitting in church. 00:27:47.397 --> 00:27:50.798 This is two and a half years ago now, sitting in church in Little Rock. 00:27:50.864 --> 00:28:02.597 And I'm thinking about all the things we've seen God do in ministry, thinking about all the ways this church we are at teaches kids to know God's Word, the emphasis on God's word. 00:28:02.597 --> 00:28:09.263 And then I think about Valley View and how much it meant to me growing up, how much people had invested in me. 00:28:09.263 --> 00:28:13.564 It's just this overwhelming sense of gratitude. 00:28:13.663 --> 00:28:19.463 And in that moment, the phrase that came to mind was, Go there and do that. 00:28:19.564 --> 00:28:26.498 And it went from, I'll never be a pastor to Yes, Lord, yes, I see you're in this. 00:28:26.498 --> 00:28:28.364 Yes, I'll move forward. 00:28:28.364 --> 00:28:31.298 Never thought that would be the case. 00:28:31.298 --> 00:28:34.030 Yes. 00:28:34.030 --> 00:28:39.963 Now, if he had told me ten years before that you're going to be pastor someday. 00:28:40.064 --> 00:28:42.864 Can you imagine obsessing over that, trying to figure that out? 00:28:42.864 --> 00:28:50.864 Maybe even pushing back against it, trying to hide that from my wife all along the way? 00:28:50.931 --> 00:28:51.131 No. 00:28:51.131 --> 00:28:54.530 But he revealed it in His timing. Trust His timing. 00:28:54.530 --> 00:28:57.897 He knows what you need to hear and when you need to hear it. 00:28:57.897 --> 00:29:03.431 And so he is speaking to the disciples here in figures of speech. 00:29:03.431 --> 00:29:06.897 The hour is coming when I won't have to do that anymore. 00:29:06.897 --> 00:29:13.597 It'll be clear to you it won't have to be unfolded anymore. 00:29:13.663 --> 00:29:23.431 But for now, I speak in figures of speech. Trust His timing, Trust that he knows what is best. 00:29:23.530 --> 00:29:30.198 Trust that even in difficult conversations, he's in control. 00:29:30.198 --> 00:29:41.463 I was reminded of a dad who was asked by one of his children, Dad, where babies come from? 00:29:41.463 --> 00:29:52.330 And of course, caught off guard, wondering how he's going to respond, stalling for time, he says, What do you mean? 00:29:52.397 --> 00:29:53.431 File that question away? 00:29:53.431 --> 00:29:56.163 By the way, what do you mean? 00:29:56.163 --> 00:29:56.663 Come on, Dad. 00:29:56.663 --> 00:29:57.463 You know what I'm talking about. 00:29:57.463 --> 00:29:58.963 You know what I mean? 00:29:58.963 --> 00:30:00.730 Do they come from the hospital or the stork? 00:30:00.730 --> 00:30:03.397 Which is it? 00:30:03.397 --> 00:30:04.064 Yeah, you're right. 00:30:04.064 --> 00:30:04.963 I knew what you meant. 00:30:04.963 --> 00:30:09.498 I knew exactly what you were talking about. Its the hospital. 00:30:09.763 --> 00:30:10.931 Timing. 00:30:10.931 --> 00:30:12.998 Trust His timing. 00:30:12.998 --> 00:30:19.198 Trust He knows what's best to give you what you need when you need it. 00:30:19.198 --> 00:30:25.897 Even if it's not all clear to us in the moment. 00:30:25.963 --> 00:30:28.631 Believe, ask, trust. And now letter L. 00:30:28.631 --> 00:30:30.163 Let's look at the next group of verses. 00:30:30.163 --> 00:30:37.364 Verse 29, His disciples said, Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech. 00:30:37.364 --> 00:30:42.463 Now we know that you know all things, do not need anyone to question you. 00:30:42.463 --> 00:30:46.463 This is why we believe that you came from God. 00:30:46.564 --> 00:30:50.631 Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? 00:30:50.631 --> 00:30:59.663 Behold the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered each to his own home and will leave me alone. 00:30:59.663 --> 00:31:01.798 But I'm not alone, for the father is with me. 00:31:01.798 --> 00:31:11.998 I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take heart. 00:31:11.998 --> 00:31:15.564 I have overcome the world. 00:31:15.663 --> 00:31:18.030 Amen. 00:31:18.030 --> 00:31:19.397 So here's what we see here. 00:31:19.397 --> 00:31:23.263 His disciples in the moment are saying, oh, okay. 00:31:23.263 --> 00:31:28.931 Now you're speaking clearly, even though he's just repeating the same thing he has said for a number of chapters. 00:31:28.931 --> 00:31:30.230 Oh, we get it now. 00:31:30.230 --> 00:31:31.998 This is why we believe. 00:31:31.998 --> 00:31:36.064 And Jesus in this moment, He says, Do you really believe? 00:31:36.064 --> 00:31:40.030 It comes across-- It might come across a little bit like a scolding. 00:31:40.097 --> 00:31:42.963 Come on now, Do you really? 00:31:42.963 --> 00:31:45.097 And maybe that's what he's doing. 00:31:45.097 --> 00:31:55.030 But I also think he's acknowledging reality, that there is an immature, maybe underdeveloped belief here. 00:31:55.097 --> 00:31:57.097 That happens. 00:31:57.097 --> 00:32:06.030 It doesn't mean it's unbelief, but maybe immature, underdeveloped belief. 00:32:06.030 --> 00:32:11.631 Think about-- in fact, I heard, you've seen the movie Top Gun. 00:32:11.631 --> 00:32:18.163 You've seen that there is this school where fighter pilots are tested to be able to fight one another in the air. 00:32:18.230 --> 00:32:25.298 And I listened to an interview with one of the guys who runs that school, actual Top Gun commander. 00:32:25.364 --> 00:32:26.830 And he said, it's so shocking. 00:32:26.830 --> 00:32:32.463 He said, you every time, of course, to get to Top Gun, you've already got to be the best of the best. 00:32:32.463 --> 00:32:38.364 And who's cockier in this world than a fighter pilot, but you make them the best of the best fighter pilots. 00:32:38.364 --> 00:32:48.263 And so everyone coming here thinks they're going to come in and show the instructors how it's done and zero of them have a zero, have any chance at all. 00:32:48.263 --> 00:32:51.198 They have no idea what they don't know. 00:32:51.198 --> 00:32:57.097 They don't realize that they're only just beginning to learn the things that we're going to teach them. 00:32:57.097 --> 00:32:59.330 They are so outmatched. 00:32:59.330 --> 00:33:01.698 It's like they're not even, might as well not even be flying. 00:33:01.698 --> 00:33:05.163 The comparison between the two. 00:33:05.263 --> 00:33:09.597 And yet their belief in themselves is real. 00:33:09.597 --> 00:33:15.663 It's just immature, under informed, underdeveloped. 00:33:15.663 --> 00:33:16.397 And you've been there. 00:33:16.397 --> 00:33:20.763 You know what I'm talking about Believing something with extreme passion. 00:33:20.830 --> 00:33:28.963 And yet you realize later, yeah, I had a little more to learn about that, had a little more insight to gain. 00:33:28.963 --> 00:33:33.896 Jesus says, Do you really believe? 00:33:33.997 --> 00:33:39.997 You think you understand fully, but yet you don't yet. 00:33:39.997 --> 00:33:43.663 You don't know yet. 00:33:43.730 --> 00:33:48.696 And what I love about this... 00:33:48.763 --> 00:33:55.196 I love that Jesus didn't have to have perfect people to run the church. 00:33:55.196 --> 00:34:00.663 The disciples weren’t perfect at all. 00:34:00.663 --> 00:34:02.064 He didn't need perfect people. 00:34:02.064 --> 00:34:05.396 He didn't have to put together the winning team. 00:34:05.396 --> 00:34:12.463 In fact, Paul says in First Corinthians, he says to followers of Christ, Consider your calling brothers. 00:34:12.463 --> 00:34:15.931 Not many of you were wise. 00:34:16.030 --> 00:34:18.197 Thanks Paul. What? 00:34:18.197 --> 00:34:21.996 According to worldly standards, in the eyes of the world. 00:34:21.996 --> 00:34:25.463 Not many of you were all that sharp. 00:34:25.563 --> 00:34:31.931 Not many of you were powerful, not many of you were of noble birth. 00:34:32.164 --> 00:34:38.197 This isn't the team that Caesar assembles to take over the world. 00:34:38.264 --> 00:34:43.697 No, no, Jesus didn't need perfection. 00:34:43.764 --> 00:34:51.030 But he goes on to say, God chose what is foolish in this world to shame the wise. 00:34:51.030 --> 00:34:55.597 God shows what is weak in this world to shame the strong. 00:34:55.597 --> 00:35:11.496 God chose what is low and despised in this world, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are so that no one standing in his presence would have any grounds to boast. 00:35:11.496 --> 00:35:13.664 Do you see the beauty of that? 00:35:13.664 --> 00:35:16.864 He didn't choose the perfect. 00:35:16.963 --> 00:35:19.563 We know who we are. 00:35:19.563 --> 00:35:21.996 We're not perfect. 00:35:21.996 --> 00:35:28.864 And when we stand before him, we know it's because of him, not because of something great I did. 00:35:28.864 --> 00:35:31.097 He didn't need the disciples to be perfect. 00:35:31.097 --> 00:35:32.630 He doesn't need us to be perfect. 00:35:32.630 --> 00:35:37.931 And let me plead with you to plead with you. 00:35:37.931 --> 00:35:47.130 Don't let the devil overwhelm you in shame and guilt if you've maybe made poor choices, you've walked away from him. 00:35:47.130 --> 00:35:53.431 If you've stepped away from the faith for a season, he wants to bury you in the shame of that. 00:35:53.431 --> 00:35:56.264 Who are you to think you can go back there and show your face again? 00:35:56.264 --> 00:36:02.731 Who are you to think that you can ever call Christ Lord again because of what you've done? 00:36:02.831 --> 00:36:04.463 No. 00:36:04.463 --> 00:36:18.364 Not many of you were wise or strong or of noble birth, but you're called and you can stand before him in humility. 00:36:18.463 --> 00:36:32.530 And all this leads to letter L and what he's talking about in this last group of verses which we see in verse 33, I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have troubles-- guaranteed. 00:36:32.597 --> 00:36:33.597 But take heart. 00:36:33.597 --> 00:36:35.563 I have overcome the world. 00:36:35.563 --> 00:36:38.864 And so letter L says, Look to Him to overcome the world. 00:36:38.864 --> 00:36:47.764 Look to him, expect him, anticipate that he will overcome the world. 00:36:47.864 --> 00:36:49.097 Take heart. 00:36:49.097 --> 00:36:52.364 That word is also translated as Be courageous. 00:36:52.364 --> 00:36:56.764 Be ready to stand firm against difficulties. 00:36:56.831 --> 00:37:01.996 Take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:37:02.063 --> 00:37:02.963 Look to him. 00:37:02.963 --> 00:37:06.197 Expect, anticipate, trust. 00:37:06.264 --> 00:37:14.331 All this to bring this all together in the BATL for joy and peace, in the midst of sorrow, in the midst of chaos. 00:37:14.331 --> 00:37:18.431 Here's the last thing I want to say. 00:37:18.496 --> 00:37:22.764 This world does not offer peace. 00:37:22.831 --> 00:37:30.496 Turn on any channel of any thing and all you hear is chaos. 00:37:30.496 --> 00:37:31.664 Madness. 00:37:31.664 --> 00:37:39.396 Where are you going to find peace and hope and joy and love and stability and life? 00:37:39.396 --> 00:37:41.664 Where are you going to find it? 00:37:41.664 --> 00:37:46.164 There's a lot of places we look. 00:37:46.231 --> 00:37:59.396 The only place I've found it is in Christ is in the hope in him, in his life, on my behalf, in place of me, in his blood, pouring over my sins, over my wrongs. 00:37:59.396 --> 00:38:03.931 And I don't have to walk in the shame and guilt of that any more. 00:38:04.030 --> 00:38:15.297 I can find real life and joy and peace, even in the midst of tribulation and chaos and challenge. 00:38:15.297 --> 00:38:26.764 And my encouragement to you is to come to him, to lean on him, believe in him in the midst of whatever he has brought your way. 00:38:26.764 --> 00:38:33.130 Let's pray. 00:38:33.197 --> 00:38:39.530 God, we thank you for this morning. 00:38:39.597 --> 00:38:42.764 Jesus, thank you for giving us hope. 00:38:42.764 --> 00:38:44.797 Where would we be without it? 00:38:44.797 --> 00:38:49.630 What would I do when hard times hit? 00:38:49.697 --> 00:38:52.364 Where would I go? 00:38:52.364 --> 00:38:53.331 I can't go inward. 00:38:53.331 --> 00:38:59.429 I've let myself down time and again and all the things the world offers. 00:38:59.429 --> 00:39:00.530 They give temporary relief. 00:39:00.530 --> 00:39:02.864 They do. 00:39:02.864 --> 00:39:12.264 But we want lasting, pure, abundant, full joy and peace. 00:39:12.329 --> 00:39:14.864 Thank you, Lord, that you provide that. 00:39:14.864 --> 00:39:18.264 Jesus, help us to walk in that today. 00:39:18.329 --> 00:39:29.496 I pray today, Lord, that today, specifically as each person leaves so many hands came up today saying I need a miracle. 00:39:29.697 --> 00:39:37.996 Lord, whether that miracle comes today or not, I pray that there is an abiding sense of peace like never before. 00:39:38.063 --> 00:39:39.496 Thank you for working in our lives. 00:39:39.496 --> 00:39:41.264 Jesus, we love you. 00:39:41.264 --> 00:39:44.197 Amen.