Break Me, Please!
It Happened in an Upper Room • Sermon • Submitted
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Expecting Transformation
Expecting Transformation
How many of you have read the book, “what to expect when you’re expecting?”
I remember the times leading up to all 4 of my children’s birth. I also vividly remember the pain, discomfort, and anxiety that my wife went through each time her body began to prepare for labor. I remember being with her in the delivery room as she endured the pain and sorrow of labor as she squeezed my hand with a newfound superhuman strength!
But I also remember the moment when each of our children were born and the hours of painstaking labor seemed to evaporate as they laid that little pruney, wrinkly, and gooey looking little baby on her chest for the first time. What happened to the sorrow?
What happened to the suffering that was just taking place?
It seemed to fade away. The memories of those hard experiences were muted by the rapture of joy that takes place at the birth of a new human being. It’s amazing.
As women bare children, they expect sorrow and pain. They expect that there is a good reason for calling the process of childbirth labor!
The experienced mother also knows that once she goes through that trying time of labor, awaiting her on the other side is a joy that is unmistakable and irreplaceable.
While not every person will personally experience the pain and joy of childbirth. Each and every Christian is destined to go through a process of transformation. Many times, that transformation involves pain and suffering.
When hard times and persecutions come what are the expectations of the world, our sinful flesh and satan? Right, their expectations are that we will fail… give up… stop trying.
I mean when someone is made to go through sorrow… what is the goal?
During those times its almost like you hear the voice of Ivan Drago saying... “I must break you!” (Rocky IV)
As I was preparing this week… my mind kept coming back to two strangely different yet related thoughts… Pregnancy… and Rocky IV. I know, weird right?
Both have a certain amount of pain and sorrow involved… and through some difficulties.... the result is victory and ultimate joy...
A similar concept is true in our lives as Christians…
As we grow in our faith.... there are times when we are given opportunities to be transformed through our suffering and our sorrows become beneficial to us!
As you open your bibles to John 16, we find Jesus again comforting the troubled and anxious hearts of his disciples as he reveals to them that everything he has told them… and all the sorrow and difficulties that they will face as Christians.... have been designed to aid in their transformation.
As we go through the text today we’ll be framing our discussion around 3 thoughts: Transforming Joy, Maintaining Joy and Testing Joy.
Jesus shares that while our sorrows and sufferings may seem overwhelming and overcome-able .... the miracle of the cross gives us a transforming Joy.
First, Jesus describes the importance of Transforming Joy.
I. Transforming Joy
Typically, in our lives what do we expect? Our sinful flesh usually expects the worse...
Police pulls you over.... You’re not expecting him to invite you to a bbq...
the school calls you in the middle of the day and wants to talk with you about your kid....
The doctor calls and wants to talk with you about your blood tests (personal story from this summer)
Unexpected things happen in life… and our minds often say,… uh oh... time to expect sorrow.
Jesus’ disciples were no different. Jesus said, I’m leaving.... and I’m going to equip you and empower you for ministry… I’m going to come back and bring you to be with me and the Father in the most awesome place you can imagine.... and the disciples response is anxiety about what is to come and fear of the all the sorrows that tomorrow may bring.
That is why Jesus says in verse 1,
“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
Guys, everything I have told you tonight at supper has been so that you don’t fall away!
There are two important phrases in verse 1 that will help us to grasp what Jesus is saying.
When Jesus says, “these things”, he is referring to the reality of coming persecution that he described back in chapter 15:18-25. Remember, that is when Jesus said… ‘since the world hated me… don’t be surprised when it hates you too!’ If you stand up for me.. if the world sees evidence of my life in yours.... then they going to come after you. Be ready!
The other phrase that we need to clarify is the phrase the ESV translates as “to keep you from falling away" (other translations use the phrase… “to keep you from stumbling or being offended”). The word that is translated as “falling away”, “stumbling” or “offended” is a Greek word that gives us our English word “scandal”. It’s a passive verb, which means that it communicates that some outward influence has led you into sin, to fail morally, to reject the true belief or embrace false teaching.
So, Jesus is warning his apprentices and reminds them that they don’t live in a bubble. Yes, you have accepted Christ… but...
The world will reject you… persecute you… cause you sorrow.... I am telling you these things so that when all of that happens you won’t be caught off guard to the point that all of those outside influences causes you to doubt your faith and be rendered ineffective as my disciples.
I’m telling you these things so that you can stay strong and have hope!
In verses 5-15, Jesus reminds the disciples of what the Holy Spirit will do when He comes and as He empowers Christ’s followers for life and ministry… He will glorify Christ as He enables Christ’s followers to be effective for Him.
Then in verse 16, echoing what He already shared back in John 14, almost in Yoda-esk fashion.... (, I know it is not very spiritual, but when I read this verse Yoda immediately came to my mind.)
If you read verse 16 from your Greek NT, it would sound something like this: ‘a little while and no longer you are seeing me… and again a little while and see me you will…’
Tell me you didn’t just picture a 3’ tall wrinkly green man with pointy ears! — maybe not… :-)
Look at the disciples response in verse 17-18,
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 am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”
Jesus is telling them again that in just a little while, he would be leaving. In just a few hours the process will begin and His disciples won’t see him any more. But, then… at some point in time... they will see him.
They don’t get it… Jesus knows that… they are anxious because he is talking about leaving them and then adds that they will experience sorrow because the world hates them… and will come against them....
So, Jesus breaks it down for his disciples and in verses 20-22, Jesus gives a prediction of their transformation.
A. Prediction of Transformation
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.
Jesus, turns the tables of mental expectation upside down and tells his disciples…. Hey guys, Yes sorrows will come so you should expect them… but don’t dread them... why?
Because the Joy of tomorrow will snuff out the sorrows of today!
Jesus uses the illustration of a woman who is giving birth and says that the woman has sorrow because her hour has come.
The word translated as “sorrow” could also be translated as pain, grief, affliction and is used in 1 Cor. 2:7 where it is translated as “excessive sorrow” and again in Phil 2:27 where it is translated as “sorrow upon sorrow’.
Whether you have an epidural or not.... the process of child birth involves excessive pain and for some ladies it is pain upon pain…
I’v heard stories of husbands who have experienced severe compound fractures in their hands as their wives are given superhuman strength during childbirth and take the opportunity to inflict pain on the man who “did this to them”.
But, once that baby is born… the hours of labor… and the pain of the pregnancy fades .... when that newborn baby gets placed on momma’s skin for the first time… the sounds in the room change from a battle cry to a joy-filled celebration at the miracle of life.
Jesus says, yes, sorrows will come.. that’s a fact. You should expect them! But, trust me… as you come through those sorrows you will be transformed.
Everything will not always stay the same… expect change… expect transformation!
In verse 22 Jesus’ prediction is: “… I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
When we see Jesus our sorrows will be turned into to joy… our hearts will be made to rejoice... and for the child of God… that joy, the true joy that comes through saving faith in Christ, can never be taken away.
Remember, joy is not a feeling.... it is a posture/position. Our joy as Christians is not based on our emotions… our joy as Christians is based on the gospel transformation that takes place in our life when we respond in faith to Christ. Your joy has little to do with you and how you feel.... and everything to do with Christ and what He has done!
Jesus was teaching his disciples that true Gospel transformation takes the sorrows of today and changes them into lasting joy!
Sorrows will pass, but true joy will last.
Next, Jesus shifts his comments from Transforming Joy to Maintaining Joy.
II. Maintaining Joy
Let’s look at verses 23-27 together.
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 to you 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.
Jesus is teaching that we maintain transforming joy through the proper mind-set and response. In a sense, Jesus is giving the disciples a prescription for continued growth.
A. Prescription for Continued Growth (23-27)
In verse 23 Jesus says,
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.
Based on the context of Jesus’ conversation, the phrase “In that day” refers to a time after Jesus has left but then re-appears to the disciples. A time when their soon coming sorrows will be turned into joy.
“In that day” refers to a day on the other side of the cross… most likely Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given....
At the cross a new era began.... a new arrangement was initiated.
As you read through the gospels, before the cross, the disciples are instructed to either ask Jesus directly or to pray to the Father. Matthew 6:9 records Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray.
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
After the cross, the disciples were to pray (ask and talk with God) in Jesus’ name (John 14:12-14, 16:23-24).
In verse 23 Jesus says.... soon you won’t be able to ask me anything… because I won’t be here.
What you will do, is practice the disciple of praying directly to the Father.... in my name and when you do that… my Father will hear your prayers and will answer you.
Christian… want to maintain your joy? Follow the prescription for continued growth…and engage in a healthy prayer life… praying in Jesus’ name.
What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name?
Some people have wrongly interpreted it to mean that we can just tack the name of Jesus on the end our prayer and then God is obligated to answer us.
A lot of prosperity gospel preachers will use this verse to mean that we can just ask for whatever we want… in Jesus name and God will give it to us. I mean it says… “My father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive.” --- so God… in Jesus name, give me a new car.... a new house.... a pay raise.... a wife or husband.... a boyfriend or girlfriend....
When we pray, we are to ask in Jesus name.... and doesn’t the bible say in verse 23 that if we ask in Jesus’ name, that the Father will give it to us?
If that is true then why are do the prayers of so many people seem ineffective? Why does it seem like God’s not hearing.... or if he is hearing, he is just not answering?
Ineffective prayer may mean that you are coming before God in your own name instead of in Christ’s name.
James Montgomery Boice said that “much modern prayer, even by serious Christian people, is useless and ineffective because the people involved approach God thinking that he is obligated to grant their request because of something they have themselves done for him.”
Praying in Christ’s name is not some magical spell we can recite to get what we want… or force God to do something for us. … Jesus’ name is not just something we can say and everything will be better...
(Illustration of Liberia: bush sacrifices to appease the gods... )
Have you ever prayed.... God, give me more money, new job, happiness....and I’ll do ____________ for you?
Without realizing it.. what you are doing is engaging in a civilized version of attempting to somehow appease God so that you can get what you want.
Have you ever heard… when you don’t know what to do … just say Jesus?
That is bad theology! Jesus is not a magical word that fixes our problems… Jesus’ name is not some divine loophole that obligates God to do what we want....
We cannot approach God on our own. We don’t have access on our own. There is nothing good or redeemable in us that would even get us close to being able to access God’s throne.
Only a real relationship with Jesus does that. Our identity in Christ and relationship with Him grants us entrance…
When we pray in Jesus’ name… we are coming to the Father completely based on the merit of Christ.
One author pointed out that Christ’s full name is: the Lord Jesus Christ, which means Yahweh (Jehovah), the Savior, God’s Anointed.
That is the name and the character of the One whose merit we depend on for access to God.
There is no virtue or quality in us that makes us worthy to come into God’s presence. Only those who are poor in spirit.... relying on Christ and not themselves can expect to have their prayers answered.
When we practice the discipline of prayer.... we are given access to God based on Christ’s merit but we must also pray in agreement with Christ’s character.
When we pray.... seeking that our joy be made full… we are to ask for what Christ would want, not just for what we desire.
Here is a reality about prayer that we need to understand.
Prayer is not a process through which we persuade God to do what we want. If you look at prayer as a way that you get something from God. Then you’re looking at prayer wrong.
Prayer isn’t way that we get something from God.... prayer is a way that God does in and through us what He wants.
As we engage in prayer.... verse 24 describes what God wants for us.
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Jesus wants for your joy in Him to be full and overflowing.
Our lives are transformed when we repeatedly pray in Jesus’ name and are filled with His joy.
As Christians.... people who have responded to faith in Christ… who are consistently praying in Jesus’ name… coming before God based on Jesus’ merit… asking God to help us to want the things that Jesus wants..... why does God answer our prayers? Why does God give us a fullness of joy?
Jesus tells us in verse 27.
for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
Because of your faith in Christ.... and that you have believed in Christ.... responded by faith that He is the only Son of God..... God in the flesh..... Because of your belief.... based on your faith.... God loves you.
Why does God answer His children’s prayers? Because He loves you.
Jesus says that the Father loves us because we love Jesus and believe in Him. That is how we can have joy and security.
Jesus is encouraging every one of our hearts this morning by reminding us of the profound truth that God loves you! And that truth… is the basis of your joy and security.
True joy and security only comes through true gospel transformation.
So far in this passage Jesus has predicted the transformation of sorrow into joy. He has given us instructions for maintaining joy through prayer in His name. Now, Jesus gives the disciples a sobering warning, telling them that soon their joy would be tested.
III. Testing Joy
Here is the math equation that Jesus gives his disciples in verses 28-33.
A. Belief + Sorrow = Peace (28-33)
Look at verse 28 with me.
I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Jesus is summarizing his mission. Jesus, being God the Son, was sent by the Father and came into the world… and now He was going to be leaving and returning to His place with the Father.
Simple enough to understand right?
That is what the disciples thought when they respond in verse 30,
Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
At this point. I think that the disciples thought they were pretty smart. They make this statement seeming like they understood at least some parts of Jesus’ ministry and the role of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had told them that when the Holy Spirit came, their sorrows would be turned into joy. They had listened to Jesus’ teaching on transforming joy and on prayer. They were comforted by the truth that God loved them.
They thought they were on point and said.... now we understand everything! We believe!
Look at verse 31,
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
Jesus’ answer reflects that while the disciples did believe.... their belief was a lot more shallow than they realized.
Really? Now you believe? After not understanding for so long… after witnessing all the miracles I did and not getting it… you think you fully believe now after one nights worth of conversations?
As Jesus continues in verse 32, it is almost as if he’s saying… ‘Guy, I know that you believe… but how deep does your faith run?.... we’ll see...... you seem to have some confidence today, that’s great!.... but wait until tomorrow when your confidence is put to the test… when your faith is tested in the pressure cooker of the real world… then we’ll see the true fruit of your faith.’
Then in verse 32 Jesus says,
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.
Guys, What will your depth of faith be when you see me arrested.... when you run away and hide.... leaving me alone when I am taken before pilate.... whipped, beaten… and hung on a cross....
How confident will you be then in these things you believe? Where will your joy, security, hope, and confidence be when your hearts are breaking with sorrow?
Look around the room today. Every one of these people has the potential to fail you… and probably will. As humans our faith will be faulty… and our promises are often weak.
But, one promise is sure.... when we are in Christ… we are never alone. Jesus knew that soon his disciples would scatter and hide… leaving him all alone to stand trial, be abused, brutally beaten and crucified.
But, Jesus could have joy, peace, and hope.... even in shadow of such horrible pain and sorrow.
Why? Because he was not alone. The Father was with him.
What happens when your belief in Christ is tested through situations of sorrow? What does belief + sorrow equal?
For the person who has responded in faith to Christ and surrendered to Him as Lord… Christ says in verse 33...
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.”
That is the gospel perspective for the Christian..... in Christ we have peace.
As we look at this joy transforming process that Jesus has described. Belief is the key. Do we believe?
Jesus believed that his sorrow would turn to joy. Jesus believed the disciples’ sorrow would also be transformed into joy. Jesus believed that as his disciples prayed in His name, their joy would grow and multiply. Jesus believed that the Father Loves them.
Jesus says to us.... do you believe? If so, then have confidence.... have joy because as you go through the sorrows of life… your belief in me… in the gospel will transform the sorrows of your heart to joy and you will have peace.
The gospel is the only truth that is able to transform sorrow into joy!
And Gospel transformation is the only path that leads to true peace.
The miracle that took place on the cross.... transformed sorrow into joy and brought ultimate peace for Jesus and his apprentices.... and that very miracle can do the same for you today.
Are you nervous or anxious… even a bit afraid because you thought you had life all figured out just to be faced with a situation that smacks you in the face and challenges your faith… your beliefs....your confidence?
Jesus knows the sorrows of your heart. Jesus knows the trials you are going through. Jesus knows what you have already been through.... and He knows what you will go through tomorrow.
Jesus knows who will win the election in November.... and He knows exactly how that person will be used to help accomplish His will in the world.
Jesus knows the condition of your heart. He knows whether you have true faith or not.
To those who have a relationship with Jesus, He is telling us in this passage that our belief plus the sorrows that will come as a result of our faith.... will result in a joy, peace and hope that cannot be found or mass produced in any other way.
How can Jesus guarantee that our sorrows will be transformed into joy and that we may have peace?
Jesus’ confident encouragement is recorded for us in verse 33.... “… take heart (be encouraged and confidence in this…), I have overcome the world.”
The curse of sin.... and the fallenness of the world.... Jesus has overcome it all! He is victorious!
If you are a Christian and have surrendered to Jesus as your Lord and Savior.... the sinful world system that comes against you every day hates the fact that it can see Jesus in you.
Christians have confidence that our sorrows of today will be transformed into joy, peace because of our hope in Christ!
Jesus has already won!
Jesus has already overcome the world! Jesus says, I have already overcome any obstacle that you can imagine!
So, when the sorrows of the world corner you and keep saying “I will break you”.
The Christian can have confidence that Jesus uses our brokenness for His glory.
In our brokenness we are transformed by the gospel… and Christ gives us joy… peace… and hope.
Christian… you need to expect transformation. Don’t be surprised when the world tries to break you.
As we close today, as you meditate on God’s Word this week… go home and read Romans 8:28-29 and see how they apply to what we talked about today.
Romans 8:28 is a commonly quoted and misquoted verse and needs to be read in the context of verse 29.
“… For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose…” for those very same people that he has called.... he has determined that they will be changed into the image of His Son!
We may come to Christ as we are… in our state of helpless brokenness.... But we are not to stay like that....
We are destined to be transformed in to the image of Christ through the power of the gospel.... and through that transformation process.... we receive lasting joy and peace in Christ.
Main Idea:
Lasting Joy only comes through true gospel transformation
Response:
Expect transformation! Expect to have sorrow over sin… expect to suffer for the name of Christ… Expect to be broken by the world.... and then....
Bring your brokenness… sorrow… sufferings… and anxieties to Jesus.
Why? Because Jesus has given us His Word..... He has sent us His Spirit to dwell within us… He has enabled us to have entrance into God’s through… in His name… and Jesus has overcome the world!
He has done all of this so that when the sorrows of life come… when the world tries its best to break us.... we won’t fall away from Him!
Actually, according to Jesus the opposite will happen. When the world comes and says… “I will break you”… we can confidently say.... bring it on! Jesus is using this to make me more like Him!
When we acknowledge our brokenness.... we have strength
...as we are humbled... Christ is exalted....
The miracle of the cross.... changes everything. That miracle is still changing sorrow into joy today.
You will experience sorrow today. You may experience pain tomorrow. But, todays sorrow and pain fades as we, by faith, embrace the never ending joy and peace of Christ.... that is yours to access through your relationship with Christ...… and in Christ we are able to enjoy a joy, peace, love and hope that have no limits.
Jesus did not save us to just stay the same as we have always been.... No, He Expects us to be transformed… and as we are transformed by the gospel… we will have lasting joy!
— Let’s pray —
Lasting Joy only comes through Gospel Transformation