In This World

Text:

John 16:33 KJV 1900

These things I have 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.

Introduction

Jesus warned His disciples that they would face tribulation in the world, but encouraged them to find peace in Him

The Greek word for tribulation, "thlipsis," appears frequently in the New Testament, indicating that suffering and hardship are expected parts of the Christian life

Christ did not promise to shield believers from all troubles, including poverty, toil, sickness, or slander

In fact, some of the most devoted followers have undergone significant trials as part of their spiritual growth

OT

Job

Joseph

Jeremiah

NT

Peter was Crucified upside down

James the First Martyr

Paul

2 Corinthians 11:23–33 NLT

Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

2 Timothy 2:3–5 NLT

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

2 Timothy 2:12 NLT

If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.

The Unappreciated Truth

Except for rare and exceptional circumstances that enable Christians to enjoy prosperity and freedom, most believers throughout history have suffered tribulation.

The normal experience of the church has been to endure as a persecuted minority in a hostile world.

For Christians in this modern Western hemisphere, we have been providentially protected from tribulation; it is easy to relegate tribulation to a future period in history.

For Christians suffering around the world, tribulation is an ever-present reality.

The severity of the tribulation may vary from time to time and from place to place, yet it is a reality.

Christ’s promise remains true, “In this world you will have tribulation. But be confident! I have overcome the world.”

The world may not admire or support Christians for their faith,

Jesus assured His disciples that He had overcome the world,

Jesus is the source of our strength and Jesus is our comfort in the time of trouble.

As believers, we can view tribulations as opportunities for spiritual development, with the promise that God will work all things for their good.

The heavier the weight to lift, the greater the power needed to lift it.

God’s grace is sufficient.

where sin abounds grace abounds greater.

The Rock

 In the old days, people always sought refuge from storms, floods, and the enemy, in the clefts of rocks. A cleft is a crack or a crevice or a hollow place in a rock where you can stand for refuge. So it is with a person pursued by Satan on the journey of life. His only refuge is in the clefts of the ROCK OF AGES. Deut. 32:4 “He is the Rock” and the clefts were made there by the nails and the spear and we have a place to run in refuge from hell and the storms of life.

I go to the Rock

I Go To The Rock Verse: 1 Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to, who do I talk to when no one wants to listen, who do I lean on when there's no foundation stable I go to the rock I know that's stable I go to the Rock. Chorus: I go to the rock of my salvation I go to the stone that the builders rejected, run to the mountain and the mountains stand by me, when the earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ the solid rock I stand when I need a shelter when I need a friend I go to the rock. Verse: 2 Where do I go when there's no one else to turn to, who do I talk to when no one wants to listen, who do I lean on when there's no foundation stable, I go to the rock I know that's stable I go to the rock. Verse: 3 Where do I hide till the storms have all passed over, where do I run to when the winds of sorrow threaten, is there a refuge in the time of tribulation when my soul needs consolation I go to the rock.

The Doc

The ills of the world

Indicates there is another world

We are in the world but not of the world

The devil - Satan is the ruler of the world system

The world system is anti-kingdom of Heaven

It is run by the anti-Christ, who is yet to be revealed.

While it is true that the Church will have a measure of tribulation.

We are saved from the wrath to come

The world will endure the greater measure of God’s wrath on mankind during the great tribulation.

The ungodly will suffer God’s full wrath in the eternal lake of fire.

The RX for your problems

Trouble will find you

Tribulation is inevitable

Dr. Jesus prescribes Joy for tribulation

Romans 5:3 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

Patience

knowing that God comforts the faithful in all tribulations (2 Cor 1:4

2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

and that the present tribulation prepares incomparable glory in eternity (2 Cor 4:17). (Jn 16:33). Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Tribulation,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 2106.

THe Crop

Be of good Cheer

In John 16:33 He turns to the triumph,

and the seventh occurrence of the words, “These things have I spoken,” indicates that the discourse is now to be summed up.

John 14:25–26 ““These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” “And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.”

John 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

John 16:1 ““These things I have spoken to you so that you will not be led into sin.”

John 16:4 “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. However, I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

John 16:6 “But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart.”

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

In John 14:1 ““Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

We Are Headed for a Wedding in the Sky

THe Woman at the well is us

6 is the number of man

7 is perfection.

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