October 20, 2013 Sunday Sermon - Take Heart For I Have Overcome The World

Today we will be looking at the very last words Jesus spoke in his farewell discourse. As he speaks these final words he points to something that might be one of the biggest reasons we stumble and wander in our faith and zeal for the Lord. 
Please turn to John 16:16-33 (pg 903 in the pew Bible, and 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 (pg 966)

Sometimes we stumble as we lose sight of the future because of the present pain.

• John 16 :21-22 - Jesus doesn't necessarily soften the current suffering but gives us the way to get through - the reality of the temporariness of our current situation and of the joy that awaits us. 

The motivation for staying on course with Jesus is the promise of future joy.

• We now only see dimly…  we are all called to walk in faith
  

John 16:33- In the world you will have tribulation - In Christ we have His peace, in the world we will have tribulation.
Tribulation- suffering due to the pressure of circumstances, or even pressure of antagonistic people…a pressing or a pressure related to anything that burdens the spirit.

Take heart – be courageous, cheer up…
Jesus- I have (past tense) overcome the world!

• Future promise- already done!
  

2 Corinthians 14:16- We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  (We are living a dual existence - we are in Christ and yet we are in the world)

Is your inner self being renewed day by day, or are you too focused on this world?

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Please consider posting a comment with your thoughts in the light of God's exhortation and encouragement in the scriptures:
I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. (Romans 15:14 NIV)  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) 

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