I Am Not Alone - Part 2

Bryan Chapell: I believe in something that is beyond this world, and I may face difficulty and frustration and family hurt and family harm, but I have a deep and abiding peace because I believe in a God who is working all things together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Guest (Male): So glad you joined us for today's Unlimited Grace. The Audio Broadcast Ministry of pastor and author Brian Chapel. In today's episode, Pastor Brian shares the second half of a lesson from John 16. Dr. Chapel asks the question, what would a spirit led life look like as we investigate the words of Jesus to his disciples at the last supper. You can find this lesson and many others when you visit unlimitedgrace.com. And while you're there, look for Dr. Chapel's book Grace at Work. In this book, Pastor Brian shares how your work is a unique opportunity and calling for displaying God's character and care. Let's hear now from Dr. Brian Chapel as he shares the second half of the lesson I am not alone.
Bryan Chapell: Let me ask that you look in your Bibles this morning at John chapter 16. John chapter 16 as we continue through this long dinner discourse, Jesus at the last supper talking his disciples about things that are to come and things that they will face. Last week, chapter 16, we saw he talked about the coming of the Holy Spirit that that inner voice that would convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, but at the same time would convince God's people of his power and presence in their lives. As you continue through that talk after dinner, you see Jesus saying, what would be the effects of being led by that spirit in all of life? What what would a spirit led life look like? John 16 verses 16 and following answer that question. Let's stand as we read God's word in honor of the Spirit who gave it. John 16 16. Jesus said, a little while and you will see me a little longer. And again a little while and you will see me. So some of his disciples said to one another, what is this that he says to us a little while and you will not see me? And again a little while and you will see me. And because I'm going to the Father. So they were saying, what does he mean by a little while? We do not know what he's talking about. Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, is this what you are asking yourselves what I meant by saying a little while and you will not see me and again a little while and you will see me? Truly truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you. In that day, you will ask nothing of me. Truly truly I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day, you will ask in my name and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech. Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you. For this is why we believe that you came from God. Jesus answered them, do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming. Indeed, it has come. When you will be scattered each to his own home and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome the world. Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, we would appeal for this very spirit promised in the scripture that opens the heart of your disciples that they may understand a peace that passes understanding because they are made to understand a God who is working in the world beyond human understanding and ability to make what honors Christ come to pass. And that becomes the deepest and most profound joy of his people regardless of what this world holds. Open our hearts to this truth because in the moments of trial it is hard to hang with it and to have it hold on to us. So we pray again for that working of your spirit that not by external means, but that that internal witness that you would convince us of the truth of Christ's word and grant us the peace that comes from it. This we ask in Jesus's name. Amen. Please be seated. Now if some of you are like me, we were kind of raised in settings where people said, God will always answer your prayers as long as you pray in accord with God's will. Great. One little problem here. I want to know what what is God's will? I I mean, he's the king of the universe. He knows the end from the beginning. I'm I'm just this human being. I don't even know if I will walk out of the sanctuary alive. How would who am I to stand up to God and say, I know how you should run the universe? So so how do I pray? And and and even the apostle says, we don't know how to pray. So what happens? Again, Romans 8:26, we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but what happens? The spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Verse 27, and he who searches hearts knows what is in the mind of the spirit because the spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with what? The will of God. Now this is amazing. Jesus is encouraging us to pray according to what pleases, glorifies, brings honor to his name. And I say, I don't always know how to do that. I mean, I'm just I am just praying for the job. I I I'm I'm just praying for my wife to get back. I How do I pray in accordance with the will of God? And Jesus is saying, I I I know it may sound silly. The spirit takes the wheel. The Holy Spirit will take our prayers and conform them to the will of God with groanings too deep to utter with with conviction and yearning that's even beyond my ability to form the words. It's not that I don't say what I desire, but but even as Jesus said, Lord, not my will, but your will be done. We are praying, God, this is what I think, but but you by your spirit must take control. And I yield to that. I I I I think of it this way. I spent last week with my mom and again had the opportunity to remember, you know, what she did when she decorated cakes, how she would take that icing syringe or that piping funnel, you know, and she would just kind of glop in the icing, right? Just glop it in one end and and and and the other end of the syringe, there's that that wonderful decorator tip. And what I think is I think our prayers are like the glop. And the Holy Spirit is the decorator tip that is taking our prayers and as we offer them to God is conforming them to God's will so that his purposes are coming forward. And what are those purposes? Don't forget Romans 8:28. That's the end of those great verses on prayer. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. Listen, I'm just praying for a new pony. And God is offering me the power for all things to work together for good. Which would you rather have? I mean, C. S. Lewis said, our our main problem with prayer is not that we ask for too much, we ask for too little. We we we're trying to just kind of, you know, micromanage our lives. And what the Holy Spirit's promise is, I will take your prayers and I will work all things together for good in ways that you cannot fathom, imagine, arrange because you're just human and finite, but God can do that by his spirit in humility. We go before God and say, I need your help and I pray my best according to the knowledge I have, but God, take my prayers and by your Holy Spirit conform them to your purposes. Why would you trust God to do that? John 16 and verse 27. Why would you trust God to take your prayers and make them what they ought to be? Verse 27 right at the beginning, for the Father himself loves you. That's why. Because he knowing more than you know, he understanding more than you and and loving you beyond your fathoming will work all things together for good for those who love him. Now I know your thought may be, what if I'm not one of those? What if I'm not deserving of him working all things together for good? Well, then you need John 16 as well. Look at verse 29 of John 16. Jesus's disciple said, ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech. Now what does he just said? He has just said, God the Father will answer whatever you ask as long as you and and them thinking selfishly against it. Oh, got it. Now you're not speaking figuratively. We'll get whatever we ask. We got it. We understand that. We believe that you are the one sent from God. And what does Jesus do then to remind them verse 29 after they said you're speaking plainly and not using figures of speech, he says verse 31, oh, do you now believe? Verse 32, the hour is coming. Indeed, it is come when you will be scattered each to his home and will leave me alone. The world will betray me and you will too. You will abandon me, you who say you believe in me. You will abandon me and walk away. But knowing all of that, what has Jesus just said to them? But you ask the Father to help you. And I will not leave you alone. Ask the Father to help you.
Guest (Male): You're listening to Unlimited Grace, the Audio Broadcast Ministry of pastor and author Brian Chapel. Sometimes your job can feel merely like the daily grind that's needed to provide for family or pay the bills. Yet you can worship God by your work rising above drudgery, duty, or self-interest with the understanding that your job is a unique calling for displaying God character and care. Your work becomes worship when you see the glory beyond the grind, the mission in the mundane, and the grace at work. This is the focus of Pastor Brian Chapel's book Grace at Work. As a thank you for supporting our ministry here at Unlimited Grace, we would like to send you a copy of this book to encourage you and help you understand how your work fulfills God's purposes even if he calls you to labor in difficult places or for difficult people. You can request your copy of Grace at Work when you donate online at unlimitedgrace.com or by calling 844-41 Grace. That's 844-414-7223. And now more from Brian Chapel on today's Unlimited Grace.
Bryan Chapell: The world will betray me and you will too. You will abandon me, you who say you believe in me. You will abandon me and walk away. But knowing all of that, what is Jesus just said to them? But you ask the Father to help you. And I will not leave you alone. Ask the Father to help you. It is this this great grace of God on display again that calls his people forward even when they know they are not deserving and calls their prayers forward even when they know they haven't got it all figured out. Lord, I just come to you in humility knowing I'm not deserving, knowing I've not walked with you in every avenue of life that I should, but still God, I come humbly on my knees saying, I can't fix this. You have to fix it. I offer my prayers, I offer my desires, but by your Holy Spirit, God, work all things together for good because I can't figure this out. And when we offer that prayer, when there's this this humbling of ourselves before him, then what ultimately happens is not only a promise of joy that will come after the sorrow, not only the promise of nearness to God so that he is so loving of us that he is working all things together for good, but if we know that, then what finally comes is is peace. Even when I haven't got it all figured out, look at verse 33, the very end of the chapter. Jesus says, I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome the world. There there is no sugar coating on this. There is just honest straightforward reality. Jesus says to his disciples, in this world you will have tribulation. It will be hard. And in the same breath, he is saying, but you can have peace through it because you can know that as you are seeking me by the Holy Spirit, I am working all things together for good. And this is not baby talk. This this is not saccharine nothing. This this is real hard truth. To whom is Jesus speaking? He is speaking to his disciples who will be praying to him in the worst and the most awful moments of life that any of us can imagine. This same Jesus who says, you ask the Father in my name and you will receive. He who says that to these men, what will happen to them? We know some from the scriptures, we know others just from church history. Some of this is with greater certainty than other, but the accounts will be familiar to you as they are common among God's people. What happened to Stephen who listened to Jesus saying, whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give it to you such that Christ's glory will be known. What happened to Stephen? Stoned. While Paul, the future apostle, held the cloaks of those who stoned him. And Paul who witnessed Stephen looking up to heaven even as he was dying and Paul began to understand there was a promise beyond the things of this world. James beheaded. But by his testimony before he was beheaded led to the conversion of his executioner who then was beheaded after him. Peter crucified head down. Andrew hanged. Thomas burned. Philip crucified. Matthew beheaded. Nathaniel flayed and crucified. James the second clubbed. Simon crucified. Judas Thaddeus, the other Judias beaten with sticks. And finally John, the one who's writing down the words. The only one we know not to have been martyred in death, but rather martyred in life. Exiled to Patmos without Christian help or friend. All of them suffered hugely. All things work together for good. Explain that to me. Well, perhaps part of the explanation comes from an unlikely source. Tacitus, the Roman historian, secular and not Christian, who nonetheless recorded what happened to Christians of this era. He spoke about Nero, remember the one who fiddled while Rome burned and then blamed the Christians for the burning. Tacitus, no friend of the Christians, wrote, Nero inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations. People called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate. Accordingly, mockery and death awaited his disciples too. They were covered with the skins of beasts and torn by dogs or they were nailed to crosses or they were doomed to flames and burnt as nightly illumination in the gardens of Nero. Well, what was the good of that? Tacitus writes, hence even for those criminals who deserve extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion in the kingdom because it seemed their suffering was not for the public good, but for the passion of an evil man. And Christianity spread as people said if they would die for their faith, if they could have joy in the midst of sorrow, if they could still have peace despite what is happening to them, if they have something that is beyond this world, I want what they have. It's not just an ancient story. On the 10th of this month, before the US House Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organization, our own Congress reported the worst violence against Christians in the 21st century has taken place in India's Orissa state at the hands of Hindu nationalists. In one attack, as many as 500 Christians were killed, many hacked to death by machete wielding Hindu radicals, and thousands more injured, and at least 50,000 left homeless. Those are our brothers and sisters. Those those are ones who are right now suffering for the faith. And what is happening is one of the greatest conversion movements of all of Christian history is happening in India right now, and there is push back such as the world cannot in any other way bring by death and persecution. And God's people are standing firm with joy singing to their torturers. They are standing there with peace believing that in in the obstacles and the persecution that is coming to their families that God is nonetheless working. I don't know, friends, we talk about a comprehensive calling here, what God may be calling us to be and to do, to stand in the workplace, to stand in the neighborhood, to be with friend and family and neighbor and say, I believe in something that is beyond this world, and I may face difficulty and frustration and family hurt and family harm, but I have a deep and abiding peace because I believe in a God who is working all things together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose because of the power of the Holy Spirit. That is ours. That is what is at work now and in our world. That is why when Jesus could say in verse 33 these words, people were not overwhelmed. He said in verse 33, I have said these things to you that you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome the world. He's not even gone to the cross yet. He's not risen yet, but he speaks in the past tense because he recognizes the purposes of God are so sure, the promises of God so certain that he can speak as having already accomplished the purposes of God knowing that his God, your God, will accomplish all things together for good. And so we can have this strange thing called peace that passes understanding because of that profound work of the Holy Spirit yet among us.
Guest (Male): That's Pastor Brian Chapel, and you've been listening to Unlimited Grace. You can find a collection of more valuable resources at unlimitedgrace.com. When you visit, you will find today's message and many others from Pastor Brian. While you're there, you can sign up for Pastor Brian's daily devotional sent right to your inbox. Also, be sure to request a copy of Dr. Chapel's book Grace at Work. We'll send you this book right away as our way of saying thank you for your most generous financial support. Please be sure to join us next time as once again we endeavor to put Christ at the center of our efforts so that lives might be transformed by his unlimited grace. This ministry is brought to you by Unlimited Grace Media and continues to be made possible with your generous financial support.