The Cure for a Troubled Heart, Part ThreeB

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Even the Spirit of Truth

The world cannot receive him, because they neither see him nor know him.

The did not see or recognize Jesus…they will not see or recognize the Spirit either.

But for his disciples, as for all who do repent and believe, we will have the Spirit of truth indwelling us permanently.

Even the Spirit of truth, the text says....

“Even” supplied by translators. Not there.

NASB, that

NIV, the

NLT, He is the Spirit

NKJV; the Spirit

Best translated without “even”

Like God the Father, like Jesus, the Spirit IS TRUTH. He is true.

We will talk more about this in a few moments, but this title of the Spirit of Truth emphasizes his ministry of teaching, reminding, and leading the disciples and use INTO truth.

Church, we do not have to scramble or dig for truth. Truth is literally living inside us. Truth is preserved in the pages of God’s Holy Word.

All we have to do is....is want it.

Seek for it.

Be receptive to it.

Be humble.

Be teachable.

Be available.

Be faithful.

As Greg likes to say, be FAT - Faithful, Available, Teachable.

Have you ever had that moment when you are reading the word and the text literally jumps out at you with understanding, insight, and application?

Perhaps a text you have read dozens of times and just suddenly, it is there.

Perhaps a text that you have even used and relied upon numerous times and suddenly, the context of the text or the application based on your current circumstances suddenly comes to life?

Where does that come from?

The Spirit of Truth that resides with in.

The meaning of the text never changes.

But our understanding of it may very well.

The application of it may well vary depending on the circumstances.

The HOLY SPIRIT is actively working to grant us understanding, to recall to remembrance the TRUTH that we are reading and meditating on.

Problem is, he cannot work with what is not there.

Are you regularly and carefully spending time in the word, hiding it in your heart, storing it in the recesses of your mind? Do not think it in vain, for who knows how or when the Spirit might draw it to mind, might grant understanding, or how he might admonish the application of it to your life.

We have a family - John 14:18.

John 14:18 ESV

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Orphan

A child deprived by death of one or usually both parents

a young animal that has lost its mother

one deprived of some protection or advantage.

To be an orphan is to NOT have a home.

It is to NOT have parents to watch over, care for, and protect you.

To be an orphan is to lack the advantages that comes with loving and caring parents.

Jesus is saying… I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU LIKE THAT.

I will come to you.

I will send the helper.

You WILL have me.

You will have my protection

You will have my care

You will have a home with me.

Church, what does this promise, this reality do for you?

What does it do for a troubled heart?

How do we rest in this when our circumstances and feelings seem to send another message?

We rest in the truth…believing that because God is TRUE and because he is good, he will make good on his word.

Here is the deal....This Spirit he sent to permanently indwell us…HE IS THE SEAL OF HIS PROMISE....

2 Corinthians 1:22.

2 Corinthians 1:22 ESV

22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Ephesians 1:13.

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 4:30.

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit, indwelling us IS THE PROMISE that we are not left as orphans.

WE HAVE A FAMILY! We have a place with God. And it is as secure as the Spirit within us.

We have life - John 14:19.

John 14:19 ESV

19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more...

A reference to his death.

But you will see me

A reference to the fact that they will see him again after his death. They will see him after his resurrection.

This will serve as verifiable proof that they too will live again.

It will prove he is the resurrection and life…even more potently then through Lazarus’ resurrection.

But, because Christ will live, so will they.

So will we.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 ESV

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

He died…so that we might live...

and that we might live unto another.

Jesus came to give life.

John 10:10.

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus came, not to condemn and kill, not to judge (the time of judgment is coming, but it was not the intent of his first coming), but to GIVE LIFE.

He came to offer HIS LIFE in exchange for ours.

When we confess, repent, and put our faith in Jesus, HIS LIFE becomes ours. Our life is tied up with his.

And we are given life eternal with him.

The benefits of a divine community is life, abundant and eternal life. Life which will reach it’s fullest and most glorious reality in the future yet to come.

We have a teacher - John 14:25-26.

John 14:25–26 ESV

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Jumping ahead slightly to John 16.

John 16:12-13.

John 16:12–13 ESV

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

I have spoke while with you BUT (Contrast between their roles) the Holy Spirit will teach and bring to remembrance all I have said. – PROVIDES AID FOR OUR FORGETFULNESS and failure to understand

Being part of the divine community means that we are not left without a source of truth.

He will teach, will bring to remembrance, he will guide (literally lead) into all truth….

The Spirit will illuminate, teach and grant understanding.

Apart from His working, we cannot know truth.

1 Corinthians 1:20-31.

1 Corinthians 1:20–31 ESV

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The message is FOLLY to the world. The only way it makes sense is if the Spirit of God grants understanding.

Thus, Jesus is promising, by the authority of His Father’s name, to send the Spirit to bring truth to bear on our hearts and minds.

Father will send in Jesus name – In His authority, honor, and power.

1 Corinthians 2:9-13.

1 Corinthians 2:9–13 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Point is this…Jesus promises access to truth, THROUGH the indwelling Spirit that he will send.

Next week, we will consider two more...

We have peace - John 14:27.

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Peace - a state of concord (harmony). A state of well being.

The Septuagint (The Greek translation of the OT) translate the OT word for peace, Shalom, as this Greek word Eirene.

It describes a situation that results from the cessation of hostilities or war BUT it can also refer to the state of law and order that makes the fruits of prosperity possible.

It represents a peaceful conduct toward others.

HOWEVER, it also speaks of personal peace, not merely in the negative sense of the absence of conflict, but positively of completeness, wholeness, contentment, welfare, health, prosperity, harmony, and fulfillment.

Peace is one of the blessings that flow from a right relationship with God.

MacArthur notes...

John 12–21: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Nature of Peace

Objectively, peace in the New Testament has to do with a person’s standing before God; subjectively, with the believer’s resulting experience of peace in everyday living. Peace with God, of course, is the bedrock on which all other peace is based. If there is no peace with God, then there cannot be any real peace in this life

But because of this reality, biblical peace has less to do with our circumstances and more to do with our relationship.

Experientially knowing peace in our daily lives IS DEPENDENT upon having peace with God…peace that only comes through His reconciliation us to Himself.

And this reality only comes through our confession of sin

Our repentance from our sin

and our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to die for our sins.

Biblical peace lives above our earthly circumstances and IS NOT DEPENDENT upon them.

Peace can prevail internally while violence and war peak all around us.

Peace can prevail externally while the violent upheaval of turmoil can rage internally.

THUS peace is a state of being that lacks nothing and has no fear of being troubled in its tranquility. It is, as Bill Mounce describes it, “euphoria coupled with security.”

When God announces PEACE to the shepherds in the field, he is offering them freedom from all care and the security of his blessing and presence.

Not everyone receives this kind of peace. But only those who are HIS.

Thus he says, “MY PEACE I give you… NOT as the world does…but it is my peace, a superior peace, a superior sense of security and freedom from the cares and turmoil of this world.

Jesus’ parting gift to his disciples is PEACE. In other words, Jesus is a mediator of peace.

Peace I give you....Jesus says. MY PEACE I leave with you.

This peace comes to us THROUGH HIS OWN PERSON.

The Son sends the Spirit to live in with us.

The Son promises to live in us.

The Son lives in the Father

We, therefore, are in the Father.

PEACE comes as a result of divine union with us.

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. Mere Christianity. C.S. Lewis

Jesus promises us peace.

This feels so hard, if not impossible to achieve in this massively broken world, doesn’t it? It feels like a pipe dream.

But it is not.

Philippians 4:6-9.

Philippians 4:6–9 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Isaiah 26:3.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Colossians 3:15.

Colossians 3:15 ESV

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

The men who wrote these words were enduring some difficult trials and hardships. They were not spoken in a void. They were spoken from a hard life into hard lives.

Peace IS possible no matter our circumstance BECAUSE THAT PEACE comes from God, not from our circumstances, not from the world.

NOT as the world gives....

The worlds kind of peace is superficial.

The world’s peace is circumstantial.

The world’s piece focuses purely on being without trouble, to have no worries, to not be experience trouble or turmoil.

It tends to be focuses entirely on external circumstances.

If their external circumstances would just settle down, they could know internal peace.

The world’s peace is dependent on self, a confidence and reliance ONLY on self.

Problem is, true peace does not come this way.

We start each day with our personal security resting not on the accepting love of God and the sacrifice of Christ but on our present feelings or recent achievements in the Christian life. Since these arguments will not quiet the human conscience, we are inevitably moved either to discouragement and apathy or to a self-righteousness which falsifies the record to achieve a sense of peace. But the faith that is able to warm itself at the fire of God’s love, instead of having to steal love and self-acceptance from other sources, is actually the root of peace. Richard Lovelace

True peace can only be found in a person, not in a circumstance.

It is found ONLY in Christ.

This peace comes because we know that Christ is secure.

Jesus is no security against life’s storms, but He is perfect security in them. Author Unknown

The kind of peace that Christ offers provides a solid sense of security that no matter what turmoil rages around us, we can trust in Him. He can rest secure. We can feel secure. We can dwell secure.

BECAUSE

He never changes.

He never leaves us.

The Spirit IS ETERNALLY with us.

True spiritual peace is completely different from the superficial, ephemeral, fragile human peace. It is the deep, settled confidence that all is well between the soul and God because of His loving, sovereign control of one’s life both in time and eternity. That calm assurance is based on the knowledge that sins are forgiven, blessing is present, good is abundant even in trouble, and heaven is ahead. The peace that God gives His beloved children as their possession and privilege has nothing to do with the circumstances of life. 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Moody, 2002, p. 313. John MacArthur

FOR THIS REASON, his next command, a reiteration of what He spoke in John 14:1 can be true...

“Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

God promises His peace…yes.

But make no mistake, there is no conflict between this promise he makes to us and us need to obey the command.

The Bible often speaks of the believers needs to appropriate the blessings of God through our obedience.

Eph 5:18 - while we ARE given the permanent indwelling of the Spirit, we are also commanded to be FILLED with the Spirit.

Gal 5:16,25 - while we his indwelling, we are told to WALk in the Spirit.

The indwelling never changes…but the blessing of intimacy and community with God will be directly proportional to our obedience.

THUS, when Jesus command us here (again) to not let our hearts be troubled, there is no conflict with the promises peace that he is leaving with us.

He IS leaving us peace.

He is leaving us Himself

He is leaving His Spirit.

WE MUST, however, choose to trust Him, to rest in that truth, to obey him.

Going back to Isaiah 26:3 for a moment...

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Peace comes WHEN we actively choose to trust in the person and promises of God.

External and internal peace is something we must pursue through faith and obedience to God.

BUT peace is never far off....for the foundation of peace IS HIS PRESENCE WITH US.

HIS presence with Us, the Spirit’s presence IN US is the cure for that which troubles our hearts.

If we fail to find peace in our trouble, it is not because Jesus has failed to be peace, but because we have failed to appropriate that promised peace into our lives.

God can work peace through us only if He has worked peace in us… Those who are in the best of circumstances but without God can never find peace, but those in the worst of circumstances but with God need never lack peace. Matthew 1-7, Moody, 1985, p. 214. John MacArthur

To live in constant anguish over the past, fear over the future, or even concern over the present is to fail to appropriate the peace that is promises AND provided for us through the indwelling Spirit.

Another consideration is this....

We can fail to experience inner peace due to a guilty conscience or shame/regret that comes from not trusting in God’s forgiveness.

Consider 1 Timothy 1:3-7.

1 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

The aim for Paul and those who teach is to protect sound doctrine, to guard truth and protect it from distortion and error.

According to verse 5, this is so that we, as followers of Jesus, can have a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith.

When we walk in the truth, when we walk in the Spirit, we have no reason to suffer from a troubled heart due to a guilty conscience because we are living repentant and humble lifestyles.

BUT, when we fail to do so, when we wander from truth....

1 Timothy 1:18-20.

1 Timothy 1:18–20 ESV

18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

When we wander from truth, when we don’t have a clear conscience due to walking in sin, we make a mess of our faith.

Perhaps, the reason we have a troubled heart, perhaps the reason we do not have peace is because we have unrepentant sin in our hearts that the Spirit is seeking to draw out and cause us to repent.

Another reason for lack of peace...

We fail to rest in His forgiveness WHEN we do confess and repent.

I am going to debunk a common misconception today.

There is NOTHING in scripture that speaks to the need for us to “forgive ourselves.”

Too often I hear of people saying, I know that God forgave me, or that someone else forgave me, but I just could not (or struggled to) forgive myself.

Problem is…this concept does not exist in scripture.

Instead we see this..

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins, WHO is faithful and just to forgive?

God.

Who then also promises to cleanse?

God.

Is God’s forgiveness better than our own?

So, when we fail to “forgive ourselves” what are we really failing to do?

We are failing to trust in the sufficiency of God’s forgiveness, thinking we somehow need to add something to it, namely our own forgiveness of ourselves.

Now, having said that, I understand what the intent of the statement is, but listen the cure for unresolved guilt, shame, regret, remorse IS NOT self forgiveness, but GOD’s forgiveness.

Sometimes, the lack of peace in our life comes from a failure to really trust in God’s forgiveness and His promise to cleanse and sanctify us. Some how we add to it by insisting that it is not enough and we need to forgive ourselves or that our cleansing is on us.

And certainly, while there is responsibility on us to obey, to turn away from sin, GOD takes the responsibility for the actual cleansing as we respond in obedience and faith.

THUS, a failure to find peace after we confess and repent of our sin is rooted in a failure to trust God’s promises to us.

Peace comes WHEN we choose to rest in His promises forgiveness AND his promised cleansing.

God does not turn away a humble and contrite heart.

Psalm 51:17 ESV

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

And this ultimately brings us right back to where true peace is found…God…His nearness, His person, His promises, His being.

This is why we can have hope and joy in our temporary physical separation.

We have hope and joy in separation - John 14:28-31.

John 14:28–31 ESV

28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Recognize for a moment, what Jesus’ death meant to Himself...

YES, it was a moment of suffering and agony beyond anything that you and I can imagine.

HOWEVER, at the end of it, when all was said and done, when the act was complete....Where was Jesus going?

He was RETURNING to His Father.

The God who had never been separated from one another from eternity past....and never shall be again to eternity future...

Death for Jesus meant that His work was done and He was able to return to the Father in a way He had not been since his incarnation.

I am not sure this was a point I truly considered until this week studying this text.

What a PRECIOUS and INCREDIBLE thing for Jesus.

If the disciples had truly understood this, they would have rejoiced in this reality.

John MacArthur points out Four Facets of what Jesus’ death meant to Himself.

His ministry would be vindicated

His work will have been completed and the separation from his father would be put to an end. The glory he had with the father from before the world began would be restored.

His message would be verified

I have told you this now…so that when it happens...

You will believe.

Jesus’ words and teachings will be more fully understood and verified AFTER his death and resurrection…and even after his ascension.

But they are spoken here for a reason....so that when all things come to pass as they ought, they will see and believe.

His mission would be victorious

The ruler of this world…has no claim on me.

I am not defeated by the devil, for what I go do to do, I go to do of my own accord.

Death would not hold Jesus. It was a necessary evil, but contained no power over him.

The same is true for us, by the way. Death IS a necessary evil (until we happen to be raptured) but it does not hold power over us.

His motivation would be validated

SO that the world may know I love my Father....I obey.

I will endure all of this…I will see to the end…because I want the world to know the purity of my motive.

And because these things are true, we can look forward to our future reunification (unification) with Jesus in that future time.

There is joy in the separation because of what Jesus’ death meant to Himself…because being ONE WITH HIM means that we too will reap the benefits of his going away, of his death.

Church...

Big Idea: Jesus promises an eternal community as a cure for our troubled hearts.

And as part of that eternal community, we reap all the benefits of union with that community.

Conclusion

Nine cures for troubled hearts (John 14-16)

An Imperative – Believe in God – John 14:1.

Big Idea: A troubled heart is soothed through confident belief in God.

Security - A Permanent Place with God– John 14:2-3.

BIG IDEA: Jesus promises security, access, and purpose for our troubled hearts.

Access - An Always Open Door – John 14:4-11.

Purpose - A Meaning in Trouble – John 14:12-14.

Belonging - An Eternal Community - John 14:15-31; 16:4-11.

Big Idea: Jesus promises an eternal community as a cure for our troubled hearts.

Jesus us promises us community with the Trinity - John 14:15-17, 20.

Benefits of Divine Community

We have love for God that motivates obedience - John 14:15, 21-24.

We have a forever helper - John 14:16.

We have an ever present helper - John 14:17.

We have truth - John 14:17.

We have a family - John 14:18.

We have life - John 14:19.

We have a teacher - John 14:25-26.

We have peace - John 14:27.

We have hope and joy in separation - John 14:28-31.

Abba, as we meditate upon this glorious truth of our community with you, may we take full advantage of the benefits of Your Divine Community in our pursuit of growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

Application

Why are we sometimes afraid of truth?

It exposes our flaws, weaknesses, sins, and disobedience.

It exposes our idols

It reveals God’s will for us which may be different than our fleshly will for ourselves.

It may ask sacrifice, self denial, and obedience of us.

It will require us to submit to another.

It will reveal our lack of sovereign authority over our lives.

As followers of Christ, how do we discipline ourselves to love truth more?

Foster a humble heart EVERY DAY of our lives

Live in biblical community with the body of Christ

Spend time daily reading, studying, memorizing, mediating on the Word of God.

Live a daily lifestyle of active repentance.

Guard ourselves from the influences of worldly philosophy and teaching.

Sit under solid biblical teaching.

Examine all teaching by the Word to ensure it is sound and accurate.

Pray for understanding

Pray for a love of truth

What is a family?

A group of people who are committed to “unselfishly choosing for another’s highest good.”

A group of people who unconditionally love and serve one another for the glory of God.

What positive messages have you recieved about being part of a divine family from your earthly families? What negative messages?

How can we better display the reality of our divine family through our earthly lives?

Forgive more

Serve more

Initiate reconciliation more, even when you are not the guilty party.

Let our words and actions be seasoned with more grace to bless those who hear.

What is implied by the fact that the Spirit acts as our teacher?

We don’t know it all.

We lack understanding.

We fail to apply truth to our lives.

He knows more than we

He understands more than we

We need help.

Why is this reality a good thing?

Keeps us humble

Keeps us dependent on God

Keep us close to him

Give us reason to worship and adore him.

How do we foster a teachable heart into our daily lives?

Regularly remind ourselves of the work of the cross

Live in relatonship with others. Our sins will be shown back to us. Keep us humble

Give thanks for our weaknesses and short comings.

In what ways do/have you sought peace independent of God? Why will all these reasons fail?

In what way(s) does considering the significance of Jesus’ death to Himself strengthen your regard for and intimacy with Him?

It helps us to see and know the heart of God better. Intimacy is established through a deep knowing of one another. The more we know God, the more we understand his heart, the more we will love and adore him.

Related Media

Related Sermons