“Now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
Suppose you are on holiday. Now imagine it is a Sunday morning, and you want to find a church where you can join fellow Christians in worship of the Risen Saviour. (You do attend worship when you are away from home, don’t you?) However, you are in a strange city, and you don’t know anything about the church services that may be offered in the city in which you find yourself this morning.
Being a good Baptist, you opt to attend the services of a Baptist church that you discovered while searching online. As you enter the building, you are unconsciously assessing whether the service you will shortly attend is a biblical service or whether you have stumbled into another of the multiplied religious organisation masquerading as an assembly of the Risen Saviour in this day. You note whether the grounds are well tended and free of clutter, an indication of the members’ care for Christ’s image. Were you greeted warmly as you entered the building? Is the auditorium clean and neat? Are the people present eager to worship? Do they appear to be glad they are there? Is the congregation engaged and animated in their conversations with one another? Or do they give off an air that they would rather be somewhere else? You are taking in multiple pieces of information without giving a great deal of thought to the matter.
Among other things you are looking for is whether there is evidence of joy in the worshippers. Are those present at that service joyful or are they merely raucous. Many religious organisations have trained those participating in their presentations to mimic the joy that marks God’s holy people. To be certain, some religious organisations have trained themselves to attempt to be actors pretending to enjoy the genuine smile of Heaven by dancing, by lifting their hands and shouting, by gesticulation, or any of several other actions meant to emulate joyous people. Nevertheless, because you know the joy of Christ’s Spirit, you are unconsciously looking for that undeniable joy given only by the presence of the Spirit of Christ that is present in every church that is true.
Based on your observations before the service ever begins, you will have begun assessing the spiritual character of the congregation. And you will shortly draw a more reasoned conclusion about the congregation based on the music, the prayers, and especially as you hear the message. You will know that either you will have been seated with Christians who are eagerly walking in the presence of the Risen Saviour, or you will have witnessed one of the multiplied lacklustre religious organisations dotting the land.
What is a church? When you visit a church, how will you know if it is a true church? You know very well that there is a distinction between a religious organisation and a church. Both entities may be called a church, but one will enjoy the smile of Heaven, and the other will have at best a reputation. Those churches enjoying the smile of Heaven are marked by infectious joy—joy that cannot be contained, joy that is obvious, and joy that affects all who venture into the services of that congregation.
God’s people are joyous people. The child of God doesn’t have to work up his joy, the joy that marks his life cannot be hidden even during the dark hours that come into each life eventually. As Horatio G. Spafford has testified, and as we Christians have sung ever since he penned the words,
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. [2]
Spafford knew the reality of the words he wrote. Here is the reason I make such a positive statement about this man. This beloved gospel song was written by a Chicago Presbyterian layman named Horatio G. Spafford. Spafford was born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. As a young man Spafford had established a most successful legal practice in Chicago. Despite his financial success, he always maintained a keen interest in Christian activities. He enjoyed a close and active relationship with D. L. Moody and the other evangelical leaders of that era. He was described by George Stebbins, a noted gospel musician, as a “man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scriptures.”
Some months prior to the Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan, and his holdings were wiped out by that devastating disaster. Just before this financial calamity, his only son had died. Seeking a rest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to join and assist Moody and Sankey in one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in 1873. In November of that year, due to unexpected last minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago. However, he sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S. S. Ville du Havre. He expected to follow in a few days. On November 22, the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel. The Ville du Havre sank in about twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone.”
Soon after receiving the cable Spafford left by ship to join his bereaved wife. As the ship on which he sailed passed over the site of the wreck of the Ville du Havre, Spafford was told that this was the site of the wreck and presumed to be where his four daughters were drowned. Spafford went to his cabin and penned the words that so significantly described his personal grief, but which also spoke of his hope. [3] The hope of a Christian cannot be destroyed by the griefs that come into life. The child of God is buoyed up by an unseen hand that assures all who know Christ that they are not deserted. Our God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” [HEBREWS 13:5].
As followers of the Risen Saviour, we will not be spared sorrow or grief such as comes to all mankind, but we will be confident that our Saviour is always with us. And because He is ever with us, His joy will be integral to our life. Do you not recall Jesus’ promise delivered to His disciples? “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” [JOHN 15:10-11].
The Christian may not be happy, but the child of God who walks with the Risen Saviour will know the joy which our Master has promised. Jesus has promised His own, “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” [JOHN 16:20-24]. As God’s joyful people, join me in exploring this vital topic today.
THE PROMISE OF JOY — “Now I am coming to [you, Father], and these things I speak in the world, that [My disciples] may have My joy fulfilled in themselves” [JOHN 17:13]. Christians are joyful people. The world may attempt to oppress the people of God, but they cannot steal our joy. What I find surprising is the fact that our joy is grounded in the most grievous wrong every perpetuated by the hand of man. Of course, I’m speaking of the crucifixion of the Son of God. The Saviour opened this portion of His High Priestly prayer with the little word, “Now.” Our blessed Saviour was acknowledging that His sacrifice was imminent. Soon, He would be nailed to the Cross as all the vileness, all the evil, all the wickedness, all the filth of fallen humanity would be poured out on Him.
It is precisely as Isaiah foretold so many centuries before the Messiah was presented to Israel,
“Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.”
[ISAIAH 53:4-6]
As John opens the Gospel bearing his name, he writes, “[The Son of God] came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him” [JOHN 1:11 ISV]. Imagine that! Though He was the Creator, those whom He created refused to receive Him, refused to acknowledge His right to receive their gratitude. The promised Messiah, God’s Anointed One, presented Himself to the people who had long prayed that the Father would fulfil His promise, and when He presented Himself, the people to whom the promise was given would not receive Him. What arrogance! What hubris!
We who profess to follow Jesus as the Christ shouldn’t condemn the people of ancient Israel as we sometimes are prone to do. For almost two millennia we have had the message of life declared throughout the world, and this is especially the case here in North America. And most people have not believed the message that we proclaim. Many fellow Canadians have at best a cursory awareness of the necessity of salvation. Tragically, our neighbours and our own families are depending upon a false hope that their own supposed goodness can compel God to accept them on their own terms!
Is it any wonder that people are so unhappy, so depressed, so consumed with their own worries as they move through life! We pretend we are gods, and we are not even able to fix our own broken condition. The best we can do is find what makes us happy for only one brief moment. That which makes us happy is transient, and what we imagined would make us happy is discovered to be a gossamer film that is revealed to be evanescence. The car that would make us happy grows old and needs to be repaired. The clothing we thought would make us happy soon shows signs of wear and needs to be replaced. The spouse we thought would make us happy forever is soon discovered to be flawed, and we wish we hadn’t entered into that bond. Everything grows old too soon, and we ourselves are always changing as we age. Our desires are constantly changing, so that whatever happiness we imagined we would find soon disappears.
In the text before us this day we see that our Master says that it is what He has said while in the world that assures joy for His disciples. We see Him saying, “These things I speak in the world, that [My disciples] may have My joy fulfilled in themselves” [JOHN 17:13b]. It should be apparent that we will benefit from finding what things the Master spoke during His days in the flesh if we will know His joy in our lives.
In the verses preceding our text, Jesus said the time for His sacrifice had come. Thus, He asked the Father to glorify the Son, thus assuring that glory would be given to the Father. Then, our Lord confessed that this new quality of life, which He identified as “eternal life,” was to be defined as knowing the Father and knowing Jesus Christ as having been sent by the Father. Therefore, since Jesus had glorified the Father on earth by doing what He had been appointed to do, He requested that He would again be glorified with the glory that had been His before He came to our broken world.
It is exciting to know that Christ shares His glory with those who are born again. Paul explains this truth in this way: “Brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” [ROMANS 8:12-17].
Soon after writing these words, Paul would pen the following in the same vein, “The Spirit [also] helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” [ROMANS 8:26-30].
We are destined to be glorified with Him, and we are already being glorified with Him, so the impact on our lives is joy—real, lasting joy! We Christians have something the world didn’t give—something the world can never give—and the world can never take away what God has given us. That we are being glorified with Christ is wonderful, but the best is yet to come. Writing in one of his earliest letters, Paul looked forward to what lies ahead, writing, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore, we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” [2 THESSALONIANS 1:3-12].
What a contrast! We who are twice born will be glorified with Christ and the lost will be shut out and sent away from His presence. The world relentlessly seeks happiness, and we who follow the Master rest in His joy. There is more, much more, that Jesus said which points to the joy that is ours. He revealed the character of God so that none of us need to question what God is like. The Son of God has fully revealed the Father and given us a relationship. This, also, causes us genuine joy.
THE SOURCE OF JOY — “Now I am coming to [you, Father], and these things I speak in the world, that [My disciples] may have My joy fulfilled in themselves” [JOHN 17:13]. Scope in on Jesus’ request for disciples, “That they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” The joy we Christians possess is given to us who believe by Christ. We may be assured that if Christ gave it, the world cannot take it from us. When we put our faith in Him, His Spirit took up residence in us with the result that we received His joy.
In the pages of the Old Covenant we read some delightful statements concerning the joy which is ours as those known by the Lord GOD. For instance, in one Psalm, a Miktam, David testifies,
“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
[PSALM 16:11]
According to this Psalm, to be in the presence of the LORD is to know joy. This appears to imply that outside of His presence, such joy will be unknown. It is assuredly an encouragement to seek the presence of the LORD. It is an encouragement for us to so live that we do not jeopardise our relationship with the Lord GOD.
Another of the Psalms David wrote contains this testimony.
“O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices,
and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great through your salvation;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
For you make him most blessed forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.”
[PSALM 21:1-6]
Again, the Psalmist informs us that the blessing of gladness is identified with the joy of God’s presence. To be in the presence of the Saviour is to know His joy.
When Jesus says, “Now I am coming to you, [Father],” we are alerted to the fact that it is because Jesus has tasted death for every person and is risen from the dead that we have the promise of joy. It is because He has ascended on high where He now stands at the right hand of the Father that we can have His joy. However, we may forget, though we who are saved will be the ones who receive His divine Spirit. Jesus promised, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” [JOHN 16: 7].
Then, throughout the remainder of the Word, wherever we witness the Spirit of
Christ working in power, those in whom He works are marked by joy. For instance, despite the difficulties encountered in Pisidian Antioch, we read that after the disciples had shook off the dust from their shoes, “The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” [ACTS 13:52].
Really, this should not surprise anyone since the Word of God plainly testifies, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” [ROMANS 14:17].
Moreover, we are taught in the revelation provided by the Apostle when he writes the Galatian Christians, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” [GALATIANS 5:22-23]. Therefore, where the Spirit of God is, there is joy, overflowing joy! And this says nothing of all the other evidences of God’s presence with His child.
Nor should anyone imagine that the joy which the Spirit of Christ gives is given only to those who have long cultivated His presence. We sometimes imagine that only those who have been followers of Christ for a long time can know His joy. Truthfully, some of the sourest saints are those who have been in the Faith for the longest time. I have often said, it does not matter how long you have been on the journey, what counts is how far you have come. Listen to the Apostle’s assessment of some quite young followers of the Saviour. In his first missive to the saints in Salonica, Paul wrote, “We know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” [1 THESSALONIANS 1:4-7].
Wow! The Apostle says these young believers in Thessalonica received the Word despite great opposition that ensured suffering for them, and the receipt of the Word was marked by joy! They believed in spite of opposition! The Spirit of Christ ensured that they would be able to rejoice despite the pain inflicted by those who hated Christ!
God has promised us joy, not happiness. This is not some sort of inane laughter while undergoing persecution. We are not giddy or somehow uncaring! But we are confident that the pain inflicted by those opposed to the message of grace is not to be compared with what lies beyond this moment we call life. This is the teaching of someone who knew something about suffering. The Apostle to the Gentiles wrote, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” [ROMANS 8:18-30].
I have included the extended passage to remind us that it is the Spirit of Christ Who now works in the life of each follower of Christ. And the Spirit of our Lord enables the people of God to look beyond what these physical eyes are capable of seeing in order to see by faith what awaits the saints who look to Christ for the life He alone can give. It is by the presence of His Spirit and with His guidance that we who are redeemed are enabled to make the divine calculation that eternity is far greater, far richer, far more rewarding than this moment we call now. A full lifetime in this flesh cannot be compared to the eternal condition that lies in store for all who love the Lord, all who are saved by His wonderful grace. And we who are saved can’t begin to imagine what lies beyond these days in which we are now compelled to exist.
The Apostle provides rich encouragement for the people of God when he writes,
“‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him’—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit” [1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10a]. We dare not even presume to speak of what God has planned for His redeemed saints as though we know what we are talking about. Multiple individuals have spoken as though they are capable of speaking about what lies beyond this moment we call “life.” We hear people tell fanciful tales of dancing on a sea of glass with a dead mother, or supposedly knowledgeable people purporting to give vivid descriptions of God on His throne, and yet other liars spin weird and imaginative tales out of their vivid imaginations.
None or these deceptive, erroneous, fictitious, spurious tales spun out of the fertile imagination of wicked men and women add anything to our understanding of our God or what He has planned for His people. All that these specious stories accomplish is to inflate the self-importance of those fabricating the tales. What is especially distressing is that there are professed followers of Christ who are enthralled to hear these stories. And they want to encourage others to agree with the validity of the fallacious tales.
However, the Apostle to the Gentiles, who actually was transported to what he identified as “the third heaven,” said he was proscribed from speaking of what he heard. Paul wrote, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak” [2 CORINTHIANS 12:2-4 NET BIBLE (2nd ed.)]. The point of this excursus is to remind us that we have no idea what lies in store for us as redeemed people. However, we know the One Who died for us, taking our sin upon Himself; and more importantly, we know Him Who has been raised for us, giving us life and the adoption as redeemed individuals beloved by the Father. We anticipate a glorious reception into the presence of the Living God, Whom we know as our Father. Now, that knowledge gives us joy such as the world can never know.
Our joy is dependent upon what Jesus taught while with the disciples and before His return to the Father. If Jesus had not returned to the Father, there would be no joy for His disciples. They would, however, still have His teachings. Before thinking about His return to the Father, let’s focus once more on His teaching as recorded in John’s Gospel.
What essential truth did Jesus teach that will ensure our joy? Let’s do a quick review of the Gospel of John so that we can get a grasp on the truth that Jesus taught in the days before His Passion. Jesus taught that without being born from above, one can never see the Kingdom of God [see JOHN 3:3, 5]. He taught that He did what the Father did because He came from the Father [see JOHN 5:19-23]. Jesus taught that the one who believes Him shall never come into judgement [see JOHN 5:24]. And He taught that judgement of all people has been committed to Him [see JOHN 5:25-29]. Moreover, the Master taught that the Father delights to give His child whatever they ask [see JOHN 16:23].
These teachings form a sound basis that accounts for the joy that is ours when we rest in Christ as Master over life, when we receive Him as ruler over our own life. And these promises are but a brief sampling of all that Jesus taught that serves as foundation for the joy that marks our lives. Here is the joyous conclusion: holding to Christ, you and I are promised joy, genuine heaven-sent joy—joy that cannot be taken away. The truth that must be received is that Jesus is very God in human flesh, that He gave His life as a perfect sacrifice for all mankind, that He has returned to the Father and that He shall come again to judge the world in righteousness, and that the Father is delighted to give His children whatever they ask in the Name of Christ to glorify the Father. There is joy, real joy, in this life as one who follows Christ Jesus as Master over life.
TRUE JOY — “Now I am coming to [you, Father], and these things I speak in the world, that [My disciples] may have My joy fulfilled in themselves” [JOHN 17:13]. In His prayer, the Master says that His joy is fulfilled in us who believe. Note that the Master did not present this as a request of the Father—this is an assertion by the Son. Upon His return to the Father, the joy of which Jesus spoke would become the possession of each disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. The import of this knowledge is that you and I, as followers of the Son of God, do not need to seek joy—we possess joy!
Jesus offered this prayer, offering the request openly, thus ensuring that the Spirit would bring to John’s mind what had been said, so that those redeemed individuals who would follow the Master would know that Jesus has promised His redeemed people joy. It seems as if I am compelled to say on many occasions that there is an enormous difference between happiness and joy, and I will make that distinction once again at this point in the message. Happiness speaks of our present situation under our hap in life. The circumstances in which we find ourselves determines whether we are happy or whether we are not happy. Happiness is the result of pleasant or agreeable hap in life. We may be pleased with a particular set of circumstances, in which case we are happy, or we may be disappointed with our circumstances, in which case we are unhappy.
Contrast the concept of happiness with the joy we receive in Christ our Lord. Joy is independent of our hap in life. Joy speaks of confidence in who we are and of certainty of our destiny. Joy as experienced in the life of one who follows Christ arises from who you are in Him. Joy results from the knowledge that you are kept by His grace and that whatever circumstances may be, He will never leave you to grapple with what you are facing in your own strength. We who believe are comforted when we read, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” [HEBREWS 13:5]. We know that our Saviour is committed to us and that He will always seek what is best for us. Surely, this is the import of His promise, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” [MATTHEW 28:20b].
The people of God are a joyous people, not because they are inanely happy as though oblivious to the broken condition of the world, but because they know God Who rules over all and Who overrules all. It is not just that we have come to know God, rather it is that we are known by God. Those in this dying world know there is a God, but they do not know God. We who are saved both know God and we are known by God. We who are saved have learned the reality of the affirmation, “If anyone loves God, he is known by God” [1 CORINTHIANS 8:3].
Here is the confidence we possess as those who now follow the Risen Lord of Glory, “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’” [2 Timothy 2:19a]. God knows who we are, and He has known us longer than we have had the breath of life within us. Note how the Lord encouraged Jeremiah when the Weeping Prophet was first appointed to his service. The Lord GOD said,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
[JEREMIAH 1:5]
It seems apparent that God knows those whom He has chosen to be saved, those who are redeemed by the blood of His Son. And if we are known to God, we can be confident that He will accomplish His perfect will in each of us. As the Apostle has testified, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” [PHILIPPIANS 1:6].
Paul prayed for the saints in Salonica, and in doing so, he revealed a truth to encourage all who are twice born. The Apostle prayed, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” [1 THESSALONIANS 5:23-24].
We blessed people, the redeemed of God, are filled with joy in no small measure because the Spirit of Christ is with us, always testifying that we are children of God. And because we are His children, we are loved. Therefore, we are filled with joy in the knowledge that we are loved even though the world stands opposed to our Lord and Saviour.
Here is something that we must never forget: we are on the winning side. Christ Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave. The Apostle of Love saw the conquering Saviour, and has given us a description, writing, “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” [REVELATION 19:11-16].
We who are redeemed will see this with our own eyes, for we shall see Him as He is. We shall not be deserted to the tyranny of this dying world. And for this reason, we are filled with hope and good cheer knowing that our Master shall reign, and we shall reign with Him for all eternity. We invite as many as will receive Him as Master to join us in this triumph. All who receive Him shall be delivered into His Kingdom. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Horatio Gates Spafford, “It Is Well with My Soul,” 1873
[3] Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 1982) 127
