"DON'T LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLE"

On this last Sunday of May, I want to conclude our sermon series on Mental Health Awareness. Last week we talked about “Responding Like Jesus”

Thanks to my dear wife who started us off on the topic: “The Mind of A Mother” and Sis. Marilyn talked about “Our mental health and how it intersects with our spiritual health” - Jesus Gets It. Today, I want to discuss a subject that’s inescapable. No matter who you are, what you have or have not young or old, educated or uneducated it will find you. I just a matter of time before it find you.

Subject: "DON'T LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLE"

DO NOT LET IT LEAD..

John 14:1-3

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

In my Father’s house are many rooms.

If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

context/ Background

The writer John says: Jesus just told His disciples, His close friends behind closed doors, that there’s traitor among them, He’s going away; Peter will deny him three times, Satan is against them all and all of them(disciples) will leave him alone. Upon hearing all of this bad news the disciples are all DISCOURAGED-upset-agitated-disturb

Have you ever experience series of bed news that makes you knees weak?

TROUBLE IS INESCAPABLE

In the words of Lucky Philip Dube, a South African reggae musician: “We all have troubles now and again. No matter how hard we try trouble will find us one way or another. People had trouble since the Pope was an alter boy.”

If you are blessed to be this side of life it just a matter of time before you find yourself in trouble. I wish I could tell you that when we become Christians all of our trouble will go away, that Christ is the vaccination to your trouble but I am so sorry to tell you believing in Christ will not exempt you from heartbreak.

Someone said “there are three(3) kinds of people in this world: 1) Those In Trouble, 2)Those Coming Out of Trouble, and 3) Those who are about to Get in Trouble

No matter what group you find yourself in this morning there’s hope for you if you are a believer in Christ. This the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian how we go through trouble. He makes a promise to you of how to stand and walk through your shadowed of death and come out strong with a healthy heart and healthy mind.

Jesus himself, experience trouble John 11:33 “When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled.” He is God who knows what it feels like to go through trouble but he kept His eyes on the Father.

COMFORT AND PROMISE

“Don’t let your heart be troubled.” - It is our responsibility guard our heart, Instruct our heart in the direction of trusting in God, our Heavenly Father and trusting in Jesus our saviour and friend (Believe in God; believe also in me.”)

Jesus commend these early believers to be fixated on Trusting In God in season of trouble and Not on the problem or trouble because we can draw strength and peace from God the Father through Jesus our Lord.

Notice: that God does not promise the absence of difficulty or the promise to take away whatever shadow of death you’re going through this morning or this year, but promise to walk with you. Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (ESV)

If we let our heart make all the decisions in time of trouble, it will deceive us and cause us to miss blessing of seeing God with us and leading the way.

The Human Heart

Why we must not follow our heart in time of trouble - Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?

FAITH IN GOD

To trust in God is hold on to His promises which are written in His word made perfect in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hold on to God and hold on to Christ.