SENSING GOD DURING THE STORM
John 16
INTRODUCTION:
Archibald Rutledge tells the story of looking out his window and watching a bird build a nest. He spent the better part of a day watching the scene. During the night, a bad storm came. Rutledge went to the window the next morning to see how the bird’s nest had survived the storm, and it hadn’t. It was down on the ground, torn apart and shattered. But then his eyes saw the bird. And it wasn’t mourning or standing beside that devastated home. Instead, the bird was back in the tree, laboring, building another nest.
I want to talk to you about the storms of life today. Scott Peck in his book, The Road Less Traveled, opens it up with these three words: "Life is hard." I think my favorite passage of Scripture in the Gospels is John 13-17. Five chapters in that great Gospel, the account of Jesus spending some intimate time with his disciples right before the garden and the trial and the crucifixion. It’s the most intimate part, I think, of all the Gospels.
In John 13, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. It’s in that same chapter that Judas left the room to betray him. It’s where Peter says, "Lord, if all the other disciples leave you and run away from you, I want you to know you can count on me. I’ll stand beside you." John 14 is where our Lord talks to them about going to prepare a place for them. He talks about how important it is for him to go away so that the Holy Spirit can come and minister to us as the children of God. John 15 is the account of the vine and the branches. I think it’s such a beautiful story of relationships and how we are to abide in Him. If we live in Him, our fruitfulness is not of ourselves but what He provides. He provides the nourishment that we need to blossom as people. And John 16 is what we’re going to study in just a moment, where Jesus prepares his disciples for His death and departure, for the storm. John 17 is where Jesus prays for the church. It’s truly the Lord’s Prayer, although it’s not called that. It’s where he comes before the Father and intercedes for us as His children.
Now, I want you to turn to John 16. To be honest with you, as I knew I was going to be preaching two sermons on "Sensing God in the Storm," I already had my second message prepared the same day as the first. But in the morning, I awakened early, and it was one of those moments where I knew God had awakened me. In my mind were the words of Jesus when He said, "In this world, you will have tribulation." Immediately I recognized where that was and got up at the house and opened up my Bible.
I got into John 16 and for the next couple of hours; the Spirit of God began to pour thoughts out of this passage into my heart. I just got on the computer and typed as quickly as I could. This is a message that God gave me, and I learned a long time ago that when God gives me a message, I share it.
His are a lot better than mine.
He has some real truths for us. It hit me that Jesus prepared his disciples for an incredible storm in their life
How Jesus prepares us for the storm:
1. He lets us see the clouds.
The first thing Jesus does for his children when there is a storm approaching is let us see the gathering of the storm. He doesn’t allow the storm to just catch us unaware, where all of a sudden we’re out in the midst of it, getting battered and blown, with no clue what happened. He begins to prepare His people when they’re entering into what I call the "storm stage" of life.
You’re open to John 16. Get your pens out. I want you to underline verse 1. Jesus said, "I am telling you this to keep you from being afraid." Verse 2, "You will be chased out of the Jewish meeting places. The time will come when people will kill you and think they are doing God a favor. They will do all these things because they don’t know either the Father or Me." Underline the next verse. "I am saying this to you now, so when the time comes (when the storm comes), you will remember what I have said." Underline the next phrase. "I was with you at the first, and so I didn’t tell you these things. But now I am going back to the Father who sent me and none of you asked me where I’m going."
A. So that our fears will be lessened.
Jesus looked at the disciples and said, "You have no idea what’s coming so let me get you ready. The clouds are going to gather and I want you to realize that things are going to happen so that your fears will subside."
B. So we will be secure in Him.
Jesus lets us see the storm gathering, so that we will have security in Him. That’s why He said to them, "I want you to remember the words I have said when this time comes." What you’ll remember even more than the storm is the fact that I prepared you for it and told you it was going to happen. There’ll be a sense of security and you’ll say, " God knew all about this before it came."
C. Because the timing is right.
You see, there’s a time for us to hear God talk to us about the storms of life. And for the disciples, it was time. He said, "While I was with you, I didn’t tell you these things. I’m waiting until now because the timing is right, because I’m going to leave and you’re going to be asking questions, and you’re going to be battled and bruised and you’re going to be wondering what’s happening."
2. He assures us that he has our best interests in mind.
He assures us that when the storm comes in our life, He has our best interests in mind. Look at verse 6 and part of verse 7: "You are very sad from hearing all of this. But I tell you that," now underline this next phrase, "I’m going to do what is best for you." That’s why He said, "I’m going away. I want you to understand that this storm that you’re about to encounter is what’s best for you."
Now, humanly speaking, when we’re in the middle of the storm, none of us really feel that, do we?
Do you remember when your parents used to discipline you and tell you it’s for your good? I never bought that as a kid. Whenever they disciplined me, my parents did two things that were just life changing to me.
First, they never disciplined me without first telling me that they loved me and it was for my good. Then they did it. The second thing they always did was, 15- 20 minutes afterwards, tell me again how much they loved me.
3. He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us.
He sends the Paraclete, or "one who walks alongside of us." He sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and to comfort us during this very dark time in our lives. Look what he said in the latter part of verse 7, "The Holy Spirit cannot come and help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you."
The Holy Spirit will:
A. Reveal truth about sin and God’s justice.
B. Guide the believer in full truth.
C. Glorify God during the midst of this storm.
In all four gospels, it’s recorded that Jesus told us believers that he would send the Holy Spirit to us to comfort us, to walk alongside of us and to minister to us.
4. He gives us enough light for today.
He reveals enough knowledge to help us get through the storm. He doesn’t let us see the end of the storm. Would you look at that in verse 16?
Jesus told His disciples, "You will see me for a little while and then for a little while you won’t see me. They said to each other, `What does Jesus mean by this? What does He mean by saying that He’s going to the Father? What is this little while that He’s talking about? We don’t know what He means." Now, go up to verse 12 with me. Jesus said, "I have much more to say to you, but right now, it would be more than you could understand." Look at verse 23, "When that time comes, you won’t have to ask me about anything." Right now, they’re full of questions. They’re about to enter the storm and they’re asking the typical question: "Why is this happening to me?" He says, "When that time comes, you won’t have to ask me about anything." Look over in verse 24. "Then it will be given to you so that you will be completely happy." Look at verse 25, "I have used examples to explain to you what I have been talking about, but the time will come when I will speak to you plainly about the Father and will no longer use examples like these." When he prepares us for the storm, He gives us just enough light.
A couple of years ago, I used an illustration with you about getting into your car at night after a wonderful time with your family at a restaurant. You get into your car, and turn the lights on. The lights shine a few hundred feet ahead, but you can’t see your house. You can just see a few hundred feet ahead. What would happen if you said, "I turned the lights on. If I can’t see my house, I’m not going." No, you just use the light that’s available to you. You start moving the car in the right direction and the light just stays a few hundred feet ahead of you. And as you move the car, the light gives you what you need at that moment. That’s the same way it is during the storm. Jesus said, "You’re not ready yet to understand everything. It’s okay. I’ll just give you enough light for you to see where you are right now, and you just keep walking." You see, our problem is many times we stop and say, "God, I ain’t going unless you show me more light." Then the light stops. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light..." -- walking in the light, not standing in the light.
Because of Him you wil never walk alone.
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