Session 2 The Power of Sorrow: Unto Spiritual Maturity or Spiritual Crisis?
“Let me drink from the river of Your pleasures as I delight in Your beauty” (Ps. 36:8; 37:4)
I.HOW WE RESPOND TO SORROW DETERMINES OUR SPIRITUAL DESTINY
A.How we respond to Jesus when sorrow engulfs our heart determines our spiritual destiny.
4But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you ofthem…6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (Jn. 16:4-6)
1.I believe the 2020s will be the most dramatic transitional decade in human history. We areapproaching a time of a global trauma of deep sorrow that will leave hundreds of millions ingreat pain. This will be the most intense time of sorrow in history surpassing even the traumaof WWII when 50 million died in 6 years and cities were extensively damaged by bombs—London, Rotterdam, Warsaw, Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, etc.
2.At the same time as this global trauma, hundreds of millions of believers will enter intosupernatural joy and peace. The contrast will be so dramatic as the Lord transforms people sothat they are filled with peace, thus becoming living portrait of His glory to many unbelievers.
B.We can respond to sorrow in two different ways. Sorrow can lead us to a desperate hunger toconnect with Jesus in deep way to seek answers and to receive supernatural joy, peace andconfidence. However, many believers have been overcome with sorrow related to unfulfilledexpectations, fears of coming trouble, the pain of betrayal, the shame of their personal failure,despair related to regret in their life, confusion about the direction for their life, etc.
C.If we respond to the Lord rightly, we can avoid a great spiritual crisis in our life that would result inus quitting and being overcome with dark emotions.
II. REVIEW: THE END-TIME CHURCH IS TRANSFORMED IN CONTEXT TO BETRAYAL
A surprising part of God’s plan is to use an unprecedented outpouring of the Spirit in the context ofa culture of betrayal, persecution, and pressure as part of the optimum environment to transform theChurch. Multitudes will be progressing toward mature love, while others will be overcome withoffense that will lead them to betray other believers. Betrayal touches our heart in a very deep way.Betrayal is an “accelerant” that leads to faster growth in humble love or in bitterness and offense.
10“And then many will be offended, will betray one another…” (Mt. 24:10)
16“You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends…” (Lk. 21:16)
B.Betrayal is both a demonic attack to hinder our spiritual growth and a divine gift to enhance it.
C.Jesus’ reason for emphasizing persecution and betrayal (Mt. 24; Jn. 13-17) was so that they wouldnot stumble (16:1). Our greatest danger is not in being betrayed but in responding to it wrongly,leading to our spiritual failure and falling short of the grace of God (Heb. 12:14-15).
1These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble [be overcomeby offense]. 2They will put you out of the synagogues…[and] kill you…” (Jn. 16:1-2)
D.The Lord is leading His people to be transformed by embracing and imparting Matthew 5:44—to be like our Father (5:45). That is, to be a living portrait of what the Father is like (5:45).
Embracing this ushers us into a supernatural lifestyle as we love those who betray us.
44“I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you…
45that you may be sons of your Father…for He makes His sun rise on the evil…” (Mt. 5:44-45)
III. THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING WITH JESUS IN TIMES OF SORROW
A.Jesus repeated “these things” 7 times in John 13-17 (13:19; 14:29; 15:11; 16:33; 17:13). “Thesethings” include about 25 truths and promises in John 13-17 together with the troubles that Jesushighlighted in Matthew 24. I identify 12 types of trouble that challenged the early Church.[See Session 1 Cultivating A Vibrant Heart Even In Times Of Great Trouble (Jn 15:12-27)]
4“These things I told you that, when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”
(Jn. 16:4)
B.Jesus called believers in Sardis to “remember” in seeking to overcome spiritual dullness (Rev. 3:3).They were to recall how and why God called them to be wholehearted and what He promised to do and to remember how they once responded in tender love with dedication (Acts 19). Our tendency is to forget, so we must be intentional about remembering the divine storyline. The enemy doesn’t want us to remember God’s truths and promises and His narrative of our life and ministry.
2…strengthen the things which remain…3Remember how you have received and heard…”(Rev. 3:2-3)
1.About 60 years later, Jesus visited John telling him to call His people to remember (Rev. 3:3).The call to“remember” is one of the most emphasized exhortations in the Scripture with over80 references—over 60 in the Old Testament and over 20 in the New Testament. Along with the command to praise or thank God, it is one of the most emphasized commands in the Bible.
2.When we “remember,” then it makes sense to walk out our kingdom commitments. When we“forget,” then we lose sight of many things, become discouraged, and lose motivation.
C.I remember my journey in being trained by God related to betrayal began in my first propheticencounter as a pastor (Dec. 19, 1976), when the Lord told me that in the future I would be opposed by many but my “greatness” would be related to receiving God’s gentleness, responding to my adversaries in gentleness, and growing in the ability to impart this to others (Ps. 18:35; Mt. 5:44).
35…Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great. (Ps. 18:35)
D.The overarching theme of John 13-17 is found in John 14:1 where Jesus commanded the disciples
not to allow trouble to dominate their heart. There are human dynamics involved as indicated
by His command to “let not…” Jesus promised to release His peace (14:27) and joy (15:11)
into the hearts of those who continue not to allow trouble to dominate their heart. See my message
and handout on this theme: https://mikebickle.org/resource/01-overcoming-anxiety-fear-shame-and
betrayal-jn-141-m-bickle/?ett_series_id=11751
1“Let not your heart be troubled…believe also in Me…27Peace I leave with you…” (Jn. 14:1, 27)
E.If we do our part in replacing the thoughts that trouble our heart with His truths and promises, then
Jesus will do His part in imparting His joy and peace that is stronger than our troubled emotions.
F.In John 13-17, Jesus gives us line-upon-line insight into God’s heart (about 25 truths and promises)
that equips us to overcome painful and dangerous emotions that entrap many believers.
G.As we obey John 14:1, His peace guards our heart and mind (Phil. 4:7). Prayer or talking to God
includes saying, “Thank You. Show me more.”—related to the 25 truths and promises in John 13-17.
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God; 7and the peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds… (Phil. 4:6-7)
H.To better understand what Jesus spoke on Thursday night (Jn. 13-17), we go back to what He said
on Tuesday (Mt. 24-25)—two days before the Last Supper (Jn. 13). He prophesied racial conflicts,
pestilences, betrayals, martyrdom, the siege of Jerusalem (Zech. 14:2), and more in Matthew 24.
Notice that Jesus called them “to be not troubled” (Mt. 24:6) and then repeated it in John 14:1.
Jesus continued in the same conversation in His last two messages—in Matthew 24 and John 13-17.
6You will hear of wars and rumors of war. See that you are not troubled…7For nation [ethnos]
will rise against nation…there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes… (Mt. 24:6-7)
I.Summary: In John 13 and Matthew 24, Jesus highlighted the increase of fear with despair from
wars, societal crisis, persecution, etc., grief from the death of loved ones, shame from personal
failure, and bitterness from betrayal—as troubles the apostles and the end-time Church would face.
IV. REASONS THE APOSTLES WERE TROUBLED BY FEAR, GRIEF, SHAME, & BITTERNESS
A.Trouble #1—Death of their beloved leader and other friends: Jesus reminded them that He was
going to be taken from them in death (13:36). The thought of Jesus dying brought grief to them
(Jn. 16:16, 20-28). Jesus told them on Tuesday that some of them would also be killed (Mt. 24:9).
B.Trouble #2—shame over personal failure: Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him (13:38).
He said that “all” would stumble that night (Mt. 26:31). They all felt the crisis of shame that night.
C.Trouble #3—bitterness of betrayal: They would be betrayed by loved ones (Mt. 24:10; Lk. 21:16).
D.Trouble #4—societal crisis: This includes ethnic conflict, lawlessness, deception, etc. (Mt. 24:7-12).
E.Trouble #5—persecution: The early church experienced physical, social, and economic persecution.
Some were killed, beaten, or imprisoned (Jn. 15:19-20; cf. Mt. 24:9; Lk. 21:12; Jn. 16:2).
F.Trouble #6—natural disasters: pestilence, earthquakes, famines, droughts, hurricanes, tsunamis,
forest fires, volcanos, floods, etc. (Mt. 24:7; Lk. 21:11, 25).
G.Trouble #7—fearful cosmic sights: There will be signs in the heavens, etc.
11“…there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…25There will be signs in the sun,
in the moon, and in the stars…with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring…” (Lk. 21:11, 25)
V.RECEIVING GOD’S JOY & PEACE—5 OF THE MANY TRUTHS THAT JESUS EMPHASIZED
A.We can cultivate a vibrant heart filled with God’s peace even in times of great trouble. We obey the
command “to not allow trouble to dominate our heart” by engaging in conversation with Jesus
saying, “Thank You, show me more!” specifically related to each promise and truth in John 13-17.
1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (Jn. 14:1)
B.Truth #1—Jesus has provided the way for us to live with Him in the Father’s house forever (14:2-3).
C.Truth #2—God’s love for us—we can engage in a deep relationship with God (14:23; 15:5, 9).
D.Truth #3—Access to supernatural resources through Spirit-led prayer as God supplies our needs.
E.Truth #4—How Jesus responded to the apostles when they stumbled (Mt. 26:31; Lk. 22:31-32).
F.Truth #5—The joy of eternal rewards for obeying Jesus—bearing fruit that remains forever (15:16).
VI. CONNECT TO THE BIG PICTURE OF JESUS’ DESTINY WITH THE FATHER (JN. 16:5)
A.Jesus wanted them to ask Him where He was going so that it would comfort them (16:5). Some
point out that Peter had asked Him this question (Jn. 13:36), and Thomas implied it (Jn. 14:5).
They were both concerned to know what location in Israel that Jesus might temporarily go to
instead of wanting to understand His destiny with the Father out of love for Him (14:28).
5“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” (Jn. 16:5-6)
28“If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’…” (Jn. 14:28)
1.Jesus wanted His disciples to connect to the big picture of His story. Sorrow was dominating
the perception of the disciples. Their questions were focused on their temporal circumstances
and comfort. They did not want Him to go on another trip without them.
2.In John 11, after Jesus raised Lazarus from dead, the Jewish Sanhedrin determined to kill Him
immediately (Jn. 11:53). Therefore, Jesus left Jerusalem—going to Ephraim a city NE of
Jerusalem (Jn. 11:54) and then to Perea (Mt. 19:1) for about 4 to 8 weeks so that they could
not arrested Him. Jesus returned to Jerusalem in time to die on specifically on Passover.
B.We overcome sorrow by engaging in the big-picture story of Jesus’ destiny—as Paul highlighted
(Eph. 1:20-23). Jesus sits in the highest governmental position in creation—far above all angels and
demons. The Father put all things under Jesus’ feet— He transferred the “ownership” of all things to
Jesus. He gave Jesus to the Church as the vehicle through which He expresses the fullness of God’s
glory on earth. Our eternal destiny and story is deeply connected to Jesus’ destiny and story.
20…when He [the Father] raised Him…and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21far above all principality and power and might…22He put all things under His [Jesus’] feet…
and gave Him to be head…to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all.
(Eph. 1:20-23)