Now this afternoon, for just a few moments, I'd like to call your attention to John's Gospel, John Chapter 14. If you would turn up that passage. John Chapter 14. I'm going to read a number of sections out of the chapter without reading the chapter through. And then I'd also like to read one verse from chapter 15. So John 14, we'll begin in verse one with God's word open before us. Let's seek the Lord in prayer. Ask the Lord now to speak to your heart through his word. Let's pray. Oh Lord, as we bow now in thy presence with thy word open before us, we pray that we may discover it to be a living word to our souls. We thank you for our Savior. We thank you for his knowledge of us. We thank you that he knows us even better than we know ourselves. We pray therefore, Lord, that thou wilt indeed search our hearts, minister to our heart needs, and lead us in our walk with thee in the way everlasting. Take me up, dear Lord, make me a vessel fit for thy use, Purge my lips with that coal from the altar, and grant to me strength of heart and mind, clarity of thought and speech, and especially unction from on high. We pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. John chapter 14, we are in a section of John's gospel now that some refer to as the inner sanctuary. a very intimate section of John's gospel in which we are taken in very close communion, if you will, fellowship with the Savior, words spoken only to his disciples. So this is Christ speaking now. Hear it as from him. We begin in verse one. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. You would jump down to verse 12 now. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. And jump down to verse 25, if you would. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled. neither let it be afraid. And then if you would look ahead into chapter 15, just one verse, verse four, Christ again speaking, speaking still, I should say. Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. Amen, we'll end our reading with that verse in John 15. We know the Lord will add his blessing to the reading of his word for his namesake. If I could call your attention to a statement that the Lord makes twice in this section of John's Gospel, you could say that this statement, this exhortation as it is, really Functions as bookends to a section of John's gospel in this chapter notice the very beginning of verse Or of chapter 14 where he says let not your heart be troubled You believe in God believe also in me Jump down to verse 27 Look at the very end of the verse there. Let not your heart be troubled Neither let it be afraid Oh, it seems like the Lord knows us, doesn't he? He knows what we're prone to. I love the words of J.C. Ryle in his commentary on this text. He says, heart trouble is the commonest thing in the world. No rank or class or condition is exempt from it. No bars or bolts or locks can keep it out. partly from inward causes and partly from outward causes, partly from the body, partly from the mind, partly from what we love and partly from what we fear, the journey of life is full of trouble. Even the best of Christians have many bitter cups to drink between grace and glory. Even the holiest saints find the world a valley of tears. What an appropriate statement and a good comment on that text. Christ himself, you know, experienced a troubling of his own heart. We have an instance where he shared in a matter that troubles all our hearts, and we have another instance where he faced an issue that is far graver than anything we've ever known or will know. In the instance where he shared in our heart trouble, we read in John 11, verse 33, when Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. This is in the setting now of the death, the death of Lazarus. Christ came to the grave and he wept with those who wept, and his heart was troubled. the occasion being the mourning of the sisters of Lazarus over his death. In a deeper sense, of course, Jesus would have been stirred and grieved in his heart because he knew, like no one else would know, that death was the result of sin. He knew the misery that men brought upon themselves on account of their rebellion against God, and these things produced a deep agitation of soul in our Savior. It is certainly in connection with his soul being troubled that we read those familiar words, Jesus wept. The other instance of Jesus being troubled in heart is recorded in John chapter 12, verse 27. He says, now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour, but for this cause came I unto this hour. Here we find Christ facing the solemn task of entering into the most intense hour of his passion. Soon he would be apprehended and tried and crucified, and in the course of his sufferings and what would amount to the crowning penal affliction of his sufferings, he would be cut off from his Father. No wonder his heart was troubled. This is the same Jesus, then, the same Jesus that knows heart troubles, the same Jesus that knows heart troubles to a degree we'll never know. He's the one that says to us in the words of our text, let not your heart be troubled. And again, verse 27, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I would like for just a few minutes this afternoon to analyze this exhortation for a moment or two, that we might hear these words spoken to us by Christ himself, let not your heart be troubled. Let's think for a moment, if we may, on the things that lead to a troubled heart. The things that lead to a troubled heart. And in the context of this statement, The inability of the disciples to understand God's purpose led to their being troubled in heart. They didn't understand it. They didn't know it. Christ had declared it to them, but they didn't know. All they knew was that he's leaving, and he's leaving them soon. And they didn't understand God's purpose, so their hearts were troubled. We can understand their agitation. What could be worse than Christ's departing if we thought His departure was absolute and forever? The essence of blessing is His presence. By contrast, His absence would constitute the greatest deprivation, especially to those who knew the blessing of His presence. And so history records that the greatest disturbance of soul has come upon those that experience Christ's presence being withdrawn. I think of the example of Martin Luther before the Diet of Worms. I'm sure you know the story. I'm sure I've referenced it. The night before his second appearance, before that diet, when he felt the weight of the Reformation on his shoulders, and he had this awful sense that God had withdrawn from him, and it led to deep agitation in his soul. He could be heard from outside the door crying out unto God, not to leave him, not to abandon him, but to be with him, to return to him. There are other things also that contribute to a troubled heart. I suppose we could spend a long time dwelling on any number of things. The state of the world contributes to a troubled heart. If you can watch the news and take note of all that's taking place in the world, either on a local level or on an international level, and not be troubled, you'd have cause to wonder about the state of your heart. The condition of the church can contribute to a troubled heart? The fastest growing church movement in America is made up of those that forsake church altogether and decide to apply the same principle to church that they apply to schooling, hence the home church movement. According to Barna surveys, the most dedicated Christians in America are to be found in that movement. Let me pause here long enough to say I don't believe in that movement. I understand, unfortunately, where people come from because of the condition of the Church, and it leads to a troubled heart. Your own personal spiritual condition can contribute to a troubled heart. How tired we become of the sins that so easily beset us. How impatient we become with our lack of sanctification and spiritual growth. How easy it becomes to be discontented with little faith and with great unbelief. Oh, that contributes to a troubled heart. The burdens we bear toward others can contribute to a troubled heart. How easily we become agitated when someone we know who was near and dear to us sets out on a path that will only lead to sin and guilt and misery down the road. That distresses our hearts. The state of the world, the condition of the church, our own inconsistencies can all combine to trouble our hearts. And this can be especially the case when parents think of their children. What kind of a world are they going to inherit? If the church is in constant decay, what will be for them? If the best example they have found is me, what will that do for them? in the coming years. So it's not hard, is it, to surmise there are any number of causes that contribute to a troubled heart. Like I say, I have scratched the surface. I'm sure we could spend much, much more time multiplying things that contribute to this condition. And how precious do the words of our text become when we find ourselves swallowed up by the perplexities of this present evil age when Christ says, let not your heart be troubled. I'm very much aware that if those words were spoken by anybody but Christ, they would come across as hollow and empty and would seemingly mock us. But coming from Christ, they're words to be heard and heeded. So let's consider next Christ's consolation for a troubled heart. We've seen a few of the things that lead to it. What is Christ's consolation for a troubled heart? The first word that Christ gives by way of consolation is a call for faith. You believe in God, believe also in me. I said a moment ago that we find two instances in which Christ himself was troubled in soul. It might seem on the surface of things to be an inconsistency on Christ's part to tell his people not to be troubled. How can one who undergoes the troubling of his own soul tell others not to be troubled? The answer is found, of course, by knowing and believing that the trouble that Christ underwent was designed to spare us from having to undergo troubled hearts ourselves. So we can say that because He, Christ, underwent trouble and travail of soul in His atoning death, we are spared from the trouble of death. Because he underwent the trouble and travail of his father's wrath, we need not be troubled about condemnation. Because of his righteousness being imputed to us, we need not be troubled about our standing with God over the issue of our own justification. Because he was troubled by the curse of the law, we are freed from that trouble. Because His shed blood purges us from sin, we need not be troubled by the issue of purity. And because He's risen and ascended into heaven, we need not be troubled by the issues of His providence. He rules and reigns over all, and works all things together for good to those He loves and calls. Oh, there's a pretty good basis, then, isn't there, for Him to tell us not to let our hearts be troubled because of all the things that troubled Him? It is with good reason, then, that He says, let not your heart be troubled. When He precedes such a remark with the statement, peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, and we understand just how He's provided that peace by making peace through the blood of His cross, then we have good grounds for taking him at his word by not allowing our hearts to be troubled. So the first word of consolation comes through our Savior directing our attention to himself. He believe in God, believe also in me. And if we believe in him, then we can know the grounds upon which he has secured our peace. He also gives a word of consolation by pointing us to heaven. I go to prepare a place for you, he says in verse two. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. I know, and I'm sure you know too, you probably heard this saying or something similar to it, that there's such a thing as being so heavenly minded that we're no earthly good. You ever heard that one? If our heads are so high in the clouds that we become careless in our duties and responsibilities, then such a saying becomes applicable. But on the other hand, this text teaches us that if we're heavenly-minded enough, then our hearts won't be troubled. Again, the words of J.C. Ryle. It is but little that we understand about heaven while we are here in the body, and that little is generally taught us in the Bible by negatives much more than positives. You get what he's saying there? He's saying basically that we only understand heaven in terms of what it's not. Our frame of reference is only in this present world, and heaven's going to be so much better. Ryle continues, but here at any rate, there are some plain things. Heaven is a father's house, the house of that God of whom Jesus says, I go to my father and your father. It is in a word home, the home of Christ and Christians. This is a sweet and touching expression. Home, as we all know, is the place where we are generally loved for our own sakes and not for our gifts or possessions. The place where we are loved to the end, never forgotten, and always welcome. This is one idea of heaven. Believers are in a strange land, and at school, in this life, in the life to come, they will be home. Heaven is a place of mansions, of lasting, permanent, and eternal dwellings. Here in the body we are in temporary lodgings, tents, and tabernacles, and must submit to many changes. In heaven we shall be settled at last and go out no more. Here we have no continuing city. Hebrews 13 verse 14, our house not made with hands shall never be taken down. Oh, may we become then heavenly minded enough to escape the heart troubles that entirely made of things of this present evil world. So we see some of the things that lead to a troubled heart. We have Christ's consolation for a troubled heart. It remains for us to consider finally, briefly, the action we must take for a troubled heart. If Christ gives the exhortation twice to let not your heart be troubled, then the implication is very plain that there is something we must do in order to not allow our hearts to be troubled. And this is why I included in our reading, chapter 15 and verse 4, where Christ says, abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye except ye abide in me. Abiding in Christ encompasses simply having faith in Christ. It includes keeping our minds and hearts fixed on Christ, and it also takes in maintaining constant communion with Christ through prayer. Isn't it interesting that it is in the context of keeping our hearts from being troubled that Christ raises the matter of prayer? Chapter 15, verses 13 and 14, he says, And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. I know I've remarked on the use that Spurgeon makes of such a text. When he says, go to God and plead your cause before him. Go to God before a lawyer goes before a judge and make your case. And here is how you make the case. Father, be glorified in your son. Grant me what I'm seeking thee for, because in granting it to me, I do believe, Lord, that you will be glorified in your son. And by the same token, we're given another reason. for the Lord answering prayer, that is, that your joy may be full. Lord, grant me the thing I seek thee for, that my joy may be full. We have something similar to this found in James chapter one. You're probably familiar with the promise given in verse five. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. Oh, that's a verse that oftentimes is taken as what we sometimes call homiletically a capital text. You can kind of lift it out of its context, you know, and make it a general proverb, so to speak. And yet there is a context in which that statement occurs. One could argue that this wisdom gained for the asking appears in a context of a troubled heart. The epistle is addressed to those that were undergoing various trials and temptations and to those who didn't understand what was happening or why. To such inquirers, the word comes, if you lack wisdom, ask of God. I dare say that most of the time it is when the people of God become negligent or careless about spiritual things and our minds are too much on the things of this world and not enough on the glory of Christ or the glory of heaven. It is during those times that we become all the more vulnerable to troubled hearts. What did Christ himself teach regarding the word of God being unfruitful? It's traceable to the cares of this world or the deceitfulness of the world's riches, which keep the word from being a source of consolation to our hearts. As we seek the Lord then, during these days, during our times in prayer, during our church prayer meetings, as we seek the Lord, let's be seeking him to keep us free from troubled hearts. Let's seek him to keep our minds and hearts so stayed on him that the enjoyment of the peace he promises will indeed be our continual portion. I'm so glad that it's Christ himself that spoke these words. They come to us then, don't they? With total divine authority. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. Oh Lord, give us the grace to believe. Let's close then in prayer. Oh Lord, as we bow now in thy presence and bring this meeting to a close, we thank you that Christ knows us. We thank you that Christ can minister to us. We pray, dear Lord, that Thou wilt indeed deliver us from troubled hearts, deliver us from anxiety and distress and discouragement. We thank You, Lord, that our Savior shows to us an awareness of these things. We know it in our own experience. We know it in the experience of others. We know it throughout church history. We thank you that it's not an unusual thing. Even your very own disciples suffered at that time from troubled hearts. So Lord, help us not to count it strange when we find ourselves in that condition. But as we find ourselves in that condition, Oh, may we hear Christ himself saying to us, through his word and by his spirit, that we are, let not our hearts be troubled. May we instead believe the more in God and believe in Christ, whom to know is life everlasting. So Lord, hear our prayers and minister thy word to our hearts, even after the voice of man is silent. We pray these things in Jesus' name, amen.