An Encourging Reality in Troubling times.

Intro: A golfer who had been playing badly went to a psychiatrist who told him to relax by playing a round of golf without a ball. “Do everything you would normally do, but use an imaginary ball,” advised the psychiatrist.” The golfer tried it the next day. He stepped up on the first tee, imagined he got a 260-yard drive, made a fine approach shot to the green, then putted for a par. The round went splendidly and as he approached the 18th hole, he met another golfer playing the same way—no ball. The other golfer had seen the same psychiatrist. They decided to play the last hole together and bet $10 on the outcome. The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first fellow then took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, he exclaimed, “Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin on it brought it right back into the hole! I win.” “No you don’t,” said the second golfer. “You hit my ball.

Many people live in an imagery world, a belief that they can live their best life now, but the reality is that this world is troublesome and trying and I pity the person whose hope is in this life! Because this will be the best that they receive, because eternal death awaits them!

But The Christian can have encouragement and comfort through out their life as we focus on the reality of Jesus and His ministry. In this text we see the disciples receive troubling news, Jesus was about to die, and one of them would be tray Him, Peter would deny Him, and all the others would desert Him. When Jesus died don’t you know there hearts were troubled and tossed around like the waves of the sea on a windy day. But Jesus gives them words of truth that will settle their hearts and these words can settle our hearts today. These words our reality to us trust Jesus.

CPS: The reality is that our troubled heart can be calmed because Jesus promises us peace in a troubling world, He is preparing us an eternal dwelling place, He will personaly return for us, and He has paved us a path to the father.

I. Jesus promises us peace in a troubling world.

A good title for the age we live in today would be “The Cardiac Age” there is good reason for us to have troubled hearts. *Crime w/o accountability * The rising cost of living * The international identity crisis *Political corruption *Escalating violence a cross the world and in our neighbor hoods, Etc...

The disciples had their troubles too, there Master was to be put on a cross and they would be unfaithful. Their hearts would be troubled for sure. However, twice in this chapter we read the words let not your hearts be troubled (1 and 27). Troubles means to be greatly distresses and Heart (kardia) it is not the blood pumping organ within our breast but the inner-self, the volition of man. A.T. Robertson calls it the seat of spiritual life. This world can be rocked with trouble but if you believe continually in Jesus your spiritual life will not be shaken.

The reality for the disciple of Jesus is that even though He is not visibly present with us he gives us peace.

A. Peace in His Presence

(John 14:16-21)

1. The Holy Spirit is with us forever (16-17)

2. Jesus is in us (18-19)

Peace isnt the absence of troubling circumstances it is the presence of Jesus. Ps. 23:4.

B. Peace in His Accomplishments

Jesus gives us peace, not as the world gives it to you… John 16:33, He has overcame the world!

II. Jesus is preparing us an eternal dwelling place

III. Jesus will personally return for us

IV. Jesus has paved us a path to the Father.