“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Here’s the deal.
In this world, we will have trouble.
But Christ desires for us to live in His peace; for He has overcome the world.
So, take heart!
It is interesting and important for us to note; that in its cognate form, ‘take heart!’, must also be understood as ‘be of good courage!’
Are you of good courage? Do you live life courageously in Christ?
Remember Joshua 1:9?
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
In congruence to YHWH’s words to Joshua, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals His Divine nature yet again, to His disciples - His ‘Joshua-s’ - who are not only destined to enter the Promised Land, but to ‘go and make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; and teaching them to obey everything that Christ has taught us. And surely He will be with us always – to the very end of the age.’
Christ resonates the very Words of YHWH as He concludes His commission with the promise of His constant presence with us.
The Promised Land for Israel, then, may have been the land of Canaan; but the Promised Land for us, today, is the nations of the world!
Church, are we prepared to enter into our destiny?
Are we prepared to make disciples of all nations?
Then, we must learn to be of good courage.
More precisely, we must learn to live courageously in Christ.
The Lord’s words cannot be clearer.
That is why He has chosen to reveal to His disciples – then and today – exactly why and how we must live courageously in His final exhortation just before His arrest, and Crucifixion.
Our Lord Jesus Christ wanted us to be clear on why and how we must be emboldened.
He wanted us to be clear why and how we will live in His peace in the face of all the troubles of the world.
Have you been disheartened? Have you been felt emotionally disturbed lately? Or perhaps you feel that you have lost courage?
Take heart! Be of good courage! Be bold, be strong!
For our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world!
It is not on you to overcome the world… it is on Christ, and He has already done so.
That which remains for us is to simply believe.
Believe in Christ.
Be assured in His victory.
Be obedient to His word, and you will find assurance in His promises.
Christ encourages and emboldens us to live courageously; for He has overcome the world.
Christ has given us reason to live courageously as His disciples, and as His friends. (John 15:14)
This is where we begin our understanding of why we must learn to live courageously in Christ.
Jurgen Moltmann in his notable work, The Trinity and the kingdom, explains -
“By virtue of friendship with God in the Spirit, we have the chance to influence God and to participate in his rule. God does not want the humility of servants or the gratitude of children for ever. He wants the boldness and confidence of friends, who share his rule with him.”
That which Moltmann speaks about - is the maturing of your faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you intentionally maturing or deepening your faith and relationship with Jesus?
How do I do that? How do I live courageously in Christ?
Christ shows us precisely how in John 15 – 16.
By default, our understanding of every facet life has to offer, is worldly in nature. And that is why as Christians, who understand that that our very nature is fallen, we rightfully view definitions of riches, power, prestige, knowledge and even health, with some degree of suspicion.
We are learning to live in heaven’s reality, even as we are living in the world.
Stop solving the troubles of life on your own. You really don’t have to go at it alone. It is a fool’s errand.
Stop solving the troubles of life with an earthly perspective. At best, you may devise an earthly solution. However, be mindful that with all things earthly, it would simply be a temporary fix.
Remember that God promises to be with you? That is, if you do not ignore Him…
Stop. Pray. Act.
Always pray first.
In fact, never face the day before you face the Lord in prayer.
Try it, and see what the Lord will do in your life.
Besides, what have you got to lose? You already have done what you could and you are still where you are… just saying… …
Remain in Christ. Remain in His love. Remain in His words. Remain in His will. And soon, you would begin to realize that you have began to live courageously, in His peace, because you have embraced the reality of being a recipient of His victory.
It is in this tension will we then fully appreciate and realize that Christ remains our only source and means of experiencing heaven on earth.
Obey Christ’s commands and you will remain in His love. (John 15:9-13)
What a beautiful promise.
And how do we remain in His love? By loving one another, as Christ loved us.
You remember the children’s song, ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so’?
This is where the biblical basis of the song is taken from. Now you know.
Are there brethren in Christ who is a challenge to love? Or perhaps, to express more love towards?
They are the ones whom the Holy Spirit is challenging you to love!
Be mindful, for if we are unable to love a fellow disciple of Christ, what hypocrites do we make ourselves out to be if we profess to love the world?
Legacy. It’s a word that has been around a while. Everyone invokes the spirit of the word, without the Word of the Spirit.
But for us bible-readers, we know the Word of the Spirit. And that’s real legacy.
Open your bibles for yourselves. Read Galatians 5:22-23 and Matthew 28:18-20 for starters.
You want legacy? Bear these fruits. They will last. I personally guarantee it.
Woah…. Slow down. Ask whatever in Christ’s name and God will grant it?
Yep. Slow down… there is a caveat.
You must remain in Christ and His words must remain in you. (John 15:7)
For these very words of Christ to be understood correctly, Christ’s words, Christ’s desires, Christ’s hopes, Christ’s aspirations must be your own, and yes, God will grant you your prayers.
Sounds simple enough?
It is definitely something we must all continue to work out in our lives, for to pray in Jesus’ name is to invoke a status of which we are absolutely and truly undeserving of.
Larry Hurtado helps us understand,
“To pray in Jesus’ name and through him means that we enter into Jesus’ status in God’s favour, and invoke Jesus’ standing with God and the efficacy of his redeeming work (over against our own sinful deficits) to be given access to God.
In this light, Christians do not properly approach God as an expression of some ill-founded sentimentality about God’s ‘daddy-hood’.
Christians properly call God “Father” neither to make God ‘sire’ of the world or of us, nor because we want to deify fatherhood and maleness, but instead precisely because we enter into Jesus’ relationship with God as Father.
We are to consider ourselves as enfranchised into Jesus’ sonship with God.”
As long as Christ has not yet return, troubles will abound in the world.
May you, my dear brother and sister in Christ, choose courage over fear, and peace over turmoil, in the blessed assurance that since Christ has given us the heads-up, He will give us His hand-up.
His peace is solid. His victory is confirmed.
So, take heart! Be encouraged! Live courageously, in a world where there is far, far too little of it.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done – on earth, as it is in heaven.
Impress upon your hearts and spirits, Your unction of living courageously in the promises of Your Son - Jesus Christ.
May we remain in You, as You remain in us.
May we remain in Your love, in Your Words, in Your Will and in Your Peace.
Grant us the wisdom, strength and courage to make a difference in the world through the Holy Spirit’s power and anointing.
Grant us the privilege and power of courageous living in a world fraught with fear and uncertainty.
May we honor Your Holy Name, as we fully live in Your peace and victory over the troubles of this world.
May everyone come to Jesus through the witness of our courage in Christ.
We thank you, and pray all these in the Name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
John 16:33
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Here’s the deal.
In this world, we will have trouble.
But Christ desires for us to live in His peace; for He has overcome the world.
So, take heart!
It is interesting and important for us to note; that in its cognate form, ‘take heart!’, must also be understood as ‘be of good courage!’
Are you of good courage? Do you live life courageously in Christ?
Remember Joshua 1:9?
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
In congruence to YHWH’s words to Joshua, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals His Divine nature yet again, to His disciples - His ‘Joshua-s’ - who are not only destined to enter the Promised Land, but to ‘go and make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; and teaching them to obey everything that Christ has taught us. And surely He will be with us always – to the very end of the age.’
Christ resonates the very Words of YHWH as He concludes His commission with the promise of His constant presence with us.
The Promised Land for Israel, then, may have been the land of Canaan; but the Promised Land for us, today, is the nations of the world!
Church, are we prepared to enter into our destiny?
Are we prepared to make disciples of all nations?
Then, we must learn to be of good courage.
More precisely, we must learn to live courageously in Christ.
The Lord’s words cannot be clearer.
That is why He has chosen to reveal to His disciples – then and today – exactly why and how we must live courageously in His final exhortation just before His arrest, and Crucifixion.
Our Lord Jesus Christ wanted us to be clear on why and how we must be emboldened.
He wanted us to be clear why and how we will live in His peace in the face of all the troubles of the world.
Have you been disheartened? Have you been felt emotionally disturbed lately? Or perhaps you feel that you have lost courage?
Take heart! Be of good courage! Be bold, be strong!
For our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world!
It is not on you to overcome the world… it is on Christ, and He has already done so.
That which remains for us is to simply believe.
Believe in Christ.
Be assured in His victory.
Be obedient to His word, and you will find assurance in His promises.
Christ encourages and emboldens us to live courageously; for He has overcome the world.
Christ has given us reason to live courageously as His disciples, and as His friends. (John 15:14)
This is where we begin our understanding of why we must learn to live courageously in Christ.
Jurgen Moltmann in his notable work, The Trinity and the kingdom, explains -
“By virtue of friendship with God in the Spirit, we have the chance to influence God and to participate in his rule. God does not want the humility of servants or the gratitude of children for ever. He wants the boldness and confidence of friends, who share his rule with him.”
That which Moltmann speaks about - is the maturing of your faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you intentionally maturing or deepening your faith and relationship with Jesus?
How do I do that? How do I live courageously in Christ?
Christ shows us precisely how in John 15 – 16.
- Remain in me as I remain in you… (John 15:4) - to ‘remain in Christ, as Christ remains in you’ is to intentionally let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God inform and inspire your life.
By default, our understanding of every facet life has to offer, is worldly in nature. And that is why as Christians, who understand that that our very nature is fallen, we rightfully view definitions of riches, power, prestige, knowledge and even health, with some degree of suspicion.
We are learning to live in heaven’s reality, even as we are living in the world.
Stop solving the troubles of life on your own. You really don’t have to go at it alone. It is a fool’s errand.
Stop solving the troubles of life with an earthly perspective. At best, you may devise an earthly solution. However, be mindful that with all things earthly, it would simply be a temporary fix.
Remember that God promises to be with you? That is, if you do not ignore Him…
Stop. Pray. Act.
Always pray first.
In fact, never face the day before you face the Lord in prayer.
Try it, and see what the Lord will do in your life.
Besides, what have you got to lose? You already have done what you could and you are still where you are… just saying… …
Remain in Christ. Remain in His love. Remain in His words. Remain in His will. And soon, you would begin to realize that you have began to live courageously, in His peace, because you have embraced the reality of being a recipient of His victory.
It is in this tension will we then fully appreciate and realize that Christ remains our only source and means of experiencing heaven on earth.
Obey Christ’s commands and you will remain in His love. (John 15:9-13)
What a beautiful promise.
And how do we remain in His love? By loving one another, as Christ loved us.
You remember the children’s song, ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so’?
This is where the biblical basis of the song is taken from. Now you know.
Are there brethren in Christ who is a challenge to love? Or perhaps, to express more love towards?
They are the ones whom the Holy Spirit is challenging you to love!
Be mindful, for if we are unable to love a fellow disciple of Christ, what hypocrites do we make ourselves out to be if we profess to love the world?
- Bear fruit – fruit that will last. (John 15:4-5, 16)
Legacy. It’s a word that has been around a while. Everyone invokes the spirit of the word, without the Word of the Spirit.
But for us bible-readers, we know the Word of the Spirit. And that’s real legacy.
Open your bibles for yourselves. Read Galatians 5:22-23 and Matthew 28:18-20 for starters.
You want legacy? Bear these fruits. They will last. I personally guarantee it.
- Pray with confidence; ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (John 16:23-24)
Woah…. Slow down. Ask whatever in Christ’s name and God will grant it?
Yep. Slow down… there is a caveat.
You must remain in Christ and His words must remain in you. (John 15:7)
For these very words of Christ to be understood correctly, Christ’s words, Christ’s desires, Christ’s hopes, Christ’s aspirations must be your own, and yes, God will grant you your prayers.
Sounds simple enough?
It is definitely something we must all continue to work out in our lives, for to pray in Jesus’ name is to invoke a status of which we are absolutely and truly undeserving of.
Larry Hurtado helps us understand,
“To pray in Jesus’ name and through him means that we enter into Jesus’ status in God’s favour, and invoke Jesus’ standing with God and the efficacy of his redeeming work (over against our own sinful deficits) to be given access to God.
In this light, Christians do not properly approach God as an expression of some ill-founded sentimentality about God’s ‘daddy-hood’.
Christians properly call God “Father” neither to make God ‘sire’ of the world or of us, nor because we want to deify fatherhood and maleness, but instead precisely because we enter into Jesus’ relationship with God as Father.
We are to consider ourselves as enfranchised into Jesus’ sonship with God.”
As long as Christ has not yet return, troubles will abound in the world.
May you, my dear brother and sister in Christ, choose courage over fear, and peace over turmoil, in the blessed assurance that since Christ has given us the heads-up, He will give us His hand-up.
His peace is solid. His victory is confirmed.
So, take heart! Be encouraged! Live courageously, in a world where there is far, far too little of it.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done – on earth, as it is in heaven.
Impress upon your hearts and spirits, Your unction of living courageously in the promises of Your Son - Jesus Christ.
May we remain in You, as You remain in us.
May we remain in Your love, in Your Words, in Your Will and in Your Peace.
Grant us the wisdom, strength and courage to make a difference in the world through the Holy Spirit’s power and anointing.
Grant us the privilege and power of courageous living in a world fraught with fear and uncertainty.
May we honor Your Holy Name, as we fully live in Your peace and victory over the troubles of this world.
May everyone come to Jesus through the witness of our courage in Christ.
We thank you, and pray all these in the Name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.