Peace in the Midst of Tribulations! John 16:30-33

Text:  “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33.

 Good morning, troubled Christian!  Day by day you and I are sorely troubled.  We are troubled by the world and the state of the world all around us.  We are troubled by the Devil, and all the hordes of Hell in the Spiritual realm that hate us with a deep and deadly hatred.  We are troubled by our own too often treacherous flesh - our weaknesses, faults and failings - the ’…thorns we are often given by God in order to keep us humble.  All Christians worth our ’…salt…’ should necessarily be similarly ’troubled Christians’.  Fact.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution…but continue thou in the things which thou has learned and hast been assured of, knowing of Whom thou hast learned them…”  (2 Timothy 3:12;14)

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me (Christ Jesus); for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.”  (John 16:13)

When we Christians look at our daily and constant troubling and persecutions in a positive manner - then we can gain great assurance that we are indeed the children of God, and seeking to live lives that are faithful to Him and to the spreading of the Gospel of Salvation in Christ alone.

The world, the flesh, and the Devil only take time to trouble genuine Christians!  False professors are seldom troubled, they pose no threat to Satan’s plans.  Our persecutions, trials, and troubles prove the reality of our faith!  We are either in the great Spiritual Battle or out of it!

The moment Christ’s disciples showed full assurance of Christ’s Deity; that He was indeed the God the Son; that He was indeed the omniscient (all-knowing) God; that He had come to the world in bodily form to suffer and die for our sins - that is when they needed to be taught about the ’…tribulation…’ every true Christian believer MUST face. 

Forewarned is forearmed.  Get ready, Christian!  Bad times are coming to Christ’s church!  Are YOU willing to suffer for the Christ of God?

“And whosoever doth not bear his/her cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he/she have sufficient to finish it?”  (Luke 14:27-28)

The moment that you and I reach a maturity of Christian assurance of Salvation in Christ alone - through His Cross alone; washed in His precious Blood alone; and all by His free grace alone - we come immediately to the attention of Satan, the world, and the weakness of our own natural flesh.

Furthermore, the moment that we dare stand up for Christ in service; begin to teach others His teachings on Eternal Salvation; begin to be fervent witnesses for Him and win precious souls - we are bound to receive the full blasting of the pit of Hell!  Satan hates genuine serving Christians!  The world detests all serving saints! Our own treacherous flesh is in league with our Satanic enemies!

Yet, take heart, troubled Christian!  Today’s Bible reading in our Journey In John’s Gospel teaches us a wonderful truth to hold onto, especially in the midst of such promised and inevitable tribulations:  the Lord Jesus promises, “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  Hallelujah!  We are not alone in all our troubles!  The Lord is right here with us, to watch over us; to shelter us; to protect us; and to bring us safely through ALL our daily tribulations.  Wow!  This paints a very different picture!  Bring it on, Satan!  Our Lord has overcome ALL troubles!  Victory in Christ!

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may be found in Christ…not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”  (Philippians 3:8-9)

Today’ selected Bible passage reassures us of Christ’s deep inner peace, even in the face of sore trials, testing, and tribulations.  His promise always stands!

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  (John 14:27)

Thought:  “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17)