Lesson 40

A Sure Cure For A Troubled Heart - Part 1

John 14

Talk about a bunch of bad news all at once! The disciples had a bomb dropped on them by Jesus in the upper room. Not just one bomb but three! First, He told them that one of them was a devil, a traitor and pretender. Who was He speaking of? Could it be possible? Next, He told them of His departure. He would be leaving them soon and they couldn't go with Him. Where was He going? Why couldn't they follow? They had come to depend upon Him. They loved Him! They had forsaken all, family, friends, business, everything to follow Him for these past three years. And now, just like that, He would be gone and they would be on their own again? The final shocker had been that Jesus predicted Peter's denial. Peter, of all people? Peter was the cream of the crop. He was a leader among them. Peter would deny his Lord? Surely not Peter! Peter was the strongest among them, the most vocal, the boldest, the bravest and one of the closest to Jesus. Peter had done things with the Lord that none of them would ever do! Why, Peter had walked on water!

That was John 13. And so, having given them the bad news, Jesus gives them some good news in John 14, our text for today. This chapter contains a message of comfort. The words of Jesus in John 14 have been used to comfort the hurting and heartbroken throughout the years and centuries. Here are tranquil words for troubled hearts.

In fact, both at the beginning and toward the end of this chapter, Jesus speaks of troubled hearts. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled. John 14:27 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. The theme of John 14 is what I have titled this message today, A Sure Cure For A Troubled Heart.

Like the disciples, we too are bombarded with bad news, disturbing news. Our hearts are often heavy and broken and troubled. The Greek word for "troubled" means "agitated and restless." We can relate to that, can't we? We know what it is to have heart trouble, a troubled heart. But Jesus says, "Let not your heart be troubled nor afraid." How is that possible? How can we have an untroubled heart? How can we continue when our lives are suddenly devastated and turned topsy-turvy? The answer is in John 14. "Let not your heart be troubled, Jesus says. Then He adds, "Ye believe in God, believe also in me." Jesus says that He is believable. This word "believe" means to trust. Can you trust Jesus when all seems dark and dreary? You must!

What can cure a troubled heart? The answers are found in the words and promises of Jesus recorded in John 14. In this chapter which is almost exclusively the words of Jesus, the only exception being 3 verses (vs. 5, 8, 22) each of which records a brief question or statement by one of the disciples, there are nine keys that cure a troubled heart. If we will believe and trust Jesus Christ in these nine areas, we will experience an untroubled heart.

The Place That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:2.

God's people have a place being prepared for them, a beautiful, wonderful, glorious place no matter how ugly this world may get. Heaven. Heaven is a real place. It is referred to as a country in Hebrews 11:16, as a kingdom in I Peter 1:11, and as a city in Rev. 21:1-2. But in John 14:2, Jesus uses my favorite illustration to speak of heaven. "My Father's house." My Father's house equals home. A place where a family dwells. The Bible tells us here that there are many mansions in my Father's house. No cabin in the corner of glory land for me. I've got a mansion being prepared for me. Don't you feel better already knowing that you have a place?

The Promise That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:3-4.

Do you see the promise? "I will come again." What a cure for a troubled heart! Jesus is coming again. This promise is not referring to the death of a believer when we go to be with the Lord. Nor does this promise refer to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This promise is of a personal, bodily return of Jesus, first for His people at the resurrection and rapture and finally with His people to establish His kingdom upon the earth. This is, in the words of Titus 2:13, our "blessed hope." Jesus is coming again. And so we say with John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." What a cure for a troubled heart!

The Pathway That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:5-6.

In verse 5, Thomas admitted his ignorance and uncertainty. He wasn't sure but he wanted to know the way. If your not sure, you need to get this settled. Jesus settles it in verse 6. Jesus is the way, the truth, the life. No man comes to the Father except through Jesus. I remember witnessing to a girl named Marilyn during my freshmen year in college. One evening, a group of us were walking across campus and Marilyn was the only unbeliever in the group. So we were talking to her about the Lord. She said, "I believe that Buddhist will make it to heaven by being good and sincere Buddhists and the at Hindus will be in heaven by being good and sincere Hindus and that Christianity isn't the only way to heaven." At that point I showed her John 14:6. This is what Jesus said. No man will go to the Father except through Jesus. Marilyn got mad and rejected what I said. Really she rejected what Jesus said. Jesus is not simply a way, one of many ways, to heaven. He is the way. The only way. He is the truth. He is the life. Jesus is the way, without Him there is no going. Jesus is the truth, without Him there is no knowing. Jesus is the life, without Him there is no growing. He is the way - He is how men are Saved. He is the truth - He is how men are Sure. He is the life - He is how men are Satisfied. To get your salvation, the object of your faith and the source of your salvation settled is a sure cure for a troubled heart.

The Plan That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:7-12.

At this point, Philip speaks up, v. 8. He is confused. That is one sign of a person who is troubled - they are confused, even about things they know intimately and assuredly. In verses 9 and 10, Jesus emphasizes something that He was already clearly taught and demonstrated. There is no essential difference between Jesus and God. Jesus is God manifest in human flesh. But how can we be sure? The answer is in verse 11. Believe it because I say it, Jesus said. Believe it because you see it, Jesus also said.

In verse 12, Jesus states two utterly staggering, fantastic truths. He says that we can equal His works. And then He says that we can exceed His works. Now, that's hard to believe. Let me attempt an explanation through an illustration. (Read from Barnhouse analogy). God is working through us. We are part of God's plan. To know this is have a sure cure of a troubled heart.

The Prayer That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:13-14.

Jesus knew that a sure cure for a troubled heart was prayer. The songwriter said, "We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer." I would modify that words to What A Friend simply by saying, "We should never stay discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer." Prayer has a way of calming and curing our troubled hearts. And in verses 13-14 of our text, Jesus explains the fundamental condition of having our prayers answered. This is not the only condition for having prayer answered, but it is the most basic condition. Do you know what it is? It is asking! The theology of prayer is the theology of asking! Our Lord used the word 21 times in His teaching on how to pray. In fact, the word "pray" literally means to ask.

Mat 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Mat 18:18-19 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

John 15:7 If ..., ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:16 ... whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 16:23-24 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

James 4:2 Ye have not, because ye ask not.

Our text has the same message. Please understand that these are not the only conditions for having our prayers answers but the primary, fundamental condition is that we ask. What power prayer has! It is a sure cure for a troubled heart.

The Principle That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:15, 21, 23, 24.

Here is a divine principle. Love is the key to obedience. Love is not a sentimental, soft, inactive emotion. Love is not a romantic feeling. Love is obedience. Love is doing what Jesus said.

The object of our love is Christ. Christianity is not a creed, it is a living Christ. It is not just a matter of obeying certain precepts and principles; it is a matter of obeying a person. Christianity is not based on laws; it is based on love. It is not a theological proposition; it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The object of our love is Christ and the obedience of our love is His commandments. The test of true love for Jesus Christ is measured in obedience. Jesus did not give us suggestions. He did not give us multiple choices. He gave us commandments! Love Christ enough to obey. This principle of love and obedience is a sure cure for a troubled heart.

The Presence That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:16-20, 22-26.

Although Jesus himself was going away and would not be with them in a personal, bodily form, He promised them "another Comforter." There are two Greek words for "another". One word means another of a different kind. If I say, for example, "Give me another option", I'm asking for an option of a different kind. The other Greek word for "another" means another of the exact kind. If I say, "Can I have another brownie?" I am suing the word another with this meaning. Jesus promises "another Comforter". Another of the exact same kind. As who? As himself. He has been there to comfort His disciples. He promises to send another just like Himself to comfort His disciples. The word for "Comforter" is "parakletos" which means "one called along side" and expresses the idea of companionship, partnership, encouragement as well as an advocate.

Please notice at the end of verse 16 that Jesus promises that the Comforter whom He sends will abide with the disciple forever.

Who is this Comforter? Who did Jesus promise to send in His place? Who is it that comes along beside us and abides with us forever? According to verse 17 it is the "Spirit of truth" and according to verse 26, it is the "Holy Ghost." Jesus promises the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit is not someone foreign to the people of the Old Testament or to believers prior to Pentecost. The Old Testament speaks often of the Spirit of God. But what Jesus promises is a change in the Holy Spirit's ministry. According to the end of verse 17, His previous ministry was to dwell with them but His new ministry would be to dwell within them. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit within a believer would begin, according to Jesus with the arrival of the Comforter. He would be a internal, resident teacher, according to verse 26, to enable the disciples to understand and remember what Jesus had said.

Jesus will have more to say to His disciples about the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, in chapter 16. But isn't it good to know that we have the Holy Spirit residing and abiding within our hearts. His presence is a sure cure for a troubled heart.

The Peace That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:27.

Jesus Christ gives peace to our troubled hearts. His peace is a different kind of peace, a divine kind of peace. It is not like the peace that comes from the world. The world's peace comes in a pill or a thrill or a bottle or a bank account. At best, the peace which the world offers is partial and temporal.

In Christ, we experience supernatural peace, the kind of peace that can be asleep in bottom of a boat in the midst of raging, life-threatening storm, the kind that can perfectly self-controlled in the midst of mockery and unjust treatment. The peace that Christ promises us is a sure cure for a troubled heart.

The Power That Calms And Cures A Troubled Heart, 14:28-31.

Jesus wraps this section up by reminding them of things that are going to happen.

The Saviour goeth to do His best, v. 28. "I go away" - that's the cross. "I go unto my Father" - that's the crown. When it happens, I don't want you to be surprised. I tell you ahead of time so that your faith will be strengthened, v.29.

Satan cometh to do his worst, v. 30.

Saints, let us arise and go with Jesus, v. 31.

There is power in knowing that Jesus is in control. He is never surprised by events because He knows the end from the beginning.

Here then is the sure cure for a troubled heart ...

A place - heaven

A promise - Jesus is coming again

A pathway - Jesus is the only way to heaven

A plan - God is working through us.

A prayer - We must simply ask

A principle - Love obeys Christ.

A presence - The Holy Spirit abides within us.

A peace - From Christ, we are given supernatural peace

A power - Jesus knows all and is in absolute control.

Beloved ...

"Let not your hearts be troubled"