1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,810 Speaker: My favorite movie franchise of all time is the 2 00:00:04,810 --> 00:00:06,040 Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. 3 00:00:10,919 --> 00:00:12,629 Morgan Young coming through with the applause. 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:13,099 Thanks man. 5 00:00:14,029 --> 00:00:15,469 Favorite movie franchise of all times. 6 00:00:15,759 --> 00:00:19,169 And I love the movies and I love the books. 7 00:00:19,169 --> 00:00:23,199 In fact, if you have never ventured into that level of 8 00:00:23,199 --> 00:00:25,430 nerddom, um, you're missing out. 9 00:00:26,089 --> 00:00:31,780 But let me invite you, Amazon on Audible has the Audible versions of 10 00:00:31,790 --> 00:00:36,109 The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings narrated by a guy named Andy Serkis. 11 00:00:36,590 --> 00:00:40,880 If you don't know who Andy Serkis is, he's the voice of Gollum from the movies. 12 00:00:41,189 --> 00:00:43,200 And so it is excellent. 13 00:00:43,210 --> 00:00:44,290 It is fantastic. 14 00:00:44,290 --> 00:00:45,860 I'm on my second round through. 15 00:00:45,860 --> 00:00:50,890 And now that you've lost some respect for me, um, it's my favorite series. 16 00:00:50,910 --> 00:00:54,655 And in the first of The Hobbit movies that, that you watch. 17 00:00:55,085 --> 00:00:57,935 The, the movie is called An Unexpected Journey. 18 00:00:58,765 --> 00:01:03,805 And in a lot of ways, I think that's an apt description for the Christian 19 00:01:04,593 --> 00:01:05,925 faith, for the Christian walk. 20 00:01:06,464 --> 00:01:10,324 I think it's an appropriate descriptor for discipleship. 21 00:01:11,144 --> 00:01:15,765 This, this morning, if my voice lasts, we're here to talk about this. 22 00:01:17,255 --> 00:01:17,885 Hold on a sec. 23 00:01:18,964 --> 00:01:20,234 Spiritual warfare right now. 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:22,149 We're going to win. 25 00:01:22,660 --> 00:01:24,620 This morning, we're here to talk about discipleship. 26 00:01:25,149 --> 00:01:28,500 But before we even get there, we've got to define what discipleship is. 27 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:33,220 I say the word discipleship, there's probably a dozen different categories 28 00:01:33,220 --> 00:01:35,639 of what you might be thinking or people out there might be thinking 29 00:01:35,639 --> 00:01:36,949 about when it comes to discipleship. 30 00:01:38,009 --> 00:01:40,120 What I'm talking about when I say discipleship is discipleship 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,610 in its broadest capacity. 32 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,890 That is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 33 00:01:44,565 --> 00:01:47,775 to live your life as a follower of Christ. 34 00:01:47,985 --> 00:01:49,325 What does that look like? 35 00:01:49,325 --> 00:01:50,525 What should we expect? 36 00:01:50,535 --> 00:01:52,985 That, that's the question to ask and answer this morning. 37 00:01:53,495 --> 00:01:55,345 What should discipleship be like? 38 00:01:55,345 --> 00:01:59,435 What should we expect on this unexpected journey of discipleship? 39 00:01:59,435 --> 00:02:02,274 I think our text is going to answer the question and it's going 40 00:02:02,274 --> 00:02:03,395 to answer the question this way. 41 00:02:03,425 --> 00:02:08,655 Discipleship is hard and discipleship is worth it. 42 00:02:10,175 --> 00:02:13,795 Discipleship is hard and discipleship is worth it. 43 00:02:14,855 --> 00:02:16,085 We're in John 16. 44 00:02:16,095 --> 00:02:18,005 If you've been with us, you've heard this, you know. 45 00:02:18,005 --> 00:02:20,655 But just in case, just to catch us up, we're on the way to the Garden of 46 00:02:20,655 --> 00:02:23,915 Gethsemane, or we're just getting into the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. 47 00:02:24,425 --> 00:02:28,025 Judas is gathering the forces to come and betray him. 48 00:02:28,534 --> 00:02:29,924 He's going to betray Jesus. 49 00:02:29,924 --> 00:02:31,034 Jesus is going to be arrested. 50 00:02:31,034 --> 00:02:31,954 He's going to be tried. 51 00:02:31,954 --> 00:02:32,954 He's going to be crucified. 52 00:02:32,954 --> 00:02:33,685 He's going to be buried. 53 00:02:34,090 --> 00:02:38,550 That's all in the, uh, hours that awaits in front of Jesus and his disciples. 54 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,790 So in this moment, some of the last moments Jesus has with his disciples 55 00:02:42,790 --> 00:02:46,260 prior to the cross, he's preparing them for what life is going to look 56 00:02:46,260 --> 00:02:50,440 like following him after the events of the cross and after the resurrection. 57 00:02:50,700 --> 00:02:54,369 In our context, in John 16, 16 through 24, he's going to be talking 58 00:02:54,369 --> 00:02:57,950 specifically about the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus. 59 00:02:58,465 --> 00:03:01,465 And what the disciples should expect regarding that, but we're gonna take 60 00:03:01,465 --> 00:03:05,105 it and we're gonna begin to understand what we should be expecting now as we're 61 00:03:05,105 --> 00:03:08,734 on the backside of that as disciples, as followers of Jesus, what should 62 00:03:08,734 --> 00:03:13,224 that mean for us as we look forward to following Jesus for the remainder of 63 00:03:13,224 --> 00:03:17,015 our time before he either comes to get us or calls us home to be with him. 64 00:03:17,845 --> 00:03:19,184 John 16 16. 65 00:03:19,365 --> 00:03:22,895 Jesus says this a little while and you will see me no longer and again 66 00:03:22,895 --> 00:03:24,385 a little while and you will see me. 67 00:03:24,995 --> 00:03:27,845 So some of his disciples said to one another, what is this that 68 00:03:27,845 --> 00:03:29,204 he says to us a little while? 69 00:03:29,515 --> 00:03:29,995 Thank you, sir. 70 00:03:30,435 --> 00:03:33,385 A little while, and you will see me, and a little while, and you will not see me. 71 00:03:33,395 --> 00:03:36,835 And again, in a little while, what is this he says to us? 72 00:03:36,885 --> 00:03:39,135 A little while, and you will not see me, and again, a little 73 00:03:39,135 --> 00:03:40,165 while, and you will see me. 74 00:03:40,335 --> 00:03:42,045 And because I am going to the Father. 75 00:03:42,045 --> 00:03:44,744 So they were saying, what does he mean by a little while? 76 00:03:44,755 --> 00:03:46,315 We do not know what he's talking about. 77 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:47,910 Okay, let's stop there for a second. 78 00:03:48,170 --> 00:03:51,780 So Jesus enters into the conversation with him and he says this, a little while. 79 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,680 It's the word in the Greek, mikron, which is where we get our word 80 00:03:54,690 --> 00:03:56,820 micro, means small, brief, tiny. 81 00:03:56,829 --> 00:04:01,099 If you grew up in the 80s with micro machines like I did, micro, small. 82 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,460 He's saying just a little while and you will not see me. 83 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,978 Now we may be tempted to think, based on our church age minds, that 84 00:04:08,978 --> 00:04:10,599 he's talking about his ascension. 85 00:04:11,019 --> 00:04:13,750 Uh, that he's talking about because he has talked about that prior to this. 86 00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:14,959 He's talking about his ascension. 87 00:04:14,959 --> 00:04:18,550 He's talking about the time that we're in right now where we don't see him. 88 00:04:18,819 --> 00:04:22,380 So a little while like John later in the, in the letters that he writes, he's going 89 00:04:22,380 --> 00:04:24,430 to say, beloved, it's the last hour. 90 00:04:24,580 --> 00:04:26,320 He doesn't mean a literal hour. 91 00:04:26,780 --> 00:04:29,980 And so here maybe he doesn't mean a literal little while, but he's just 92 00:04:29,980 --> 00:04:32,900 saying a little while meaning this time period that we're in and you won't 93 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,620 see me, but then you'll see me again. 94 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,590 But I think what Jesus is saying is no, in just a matter of hours, 95 00:04:38,590 --> 00:04:39,490 you're not going to see me. 96 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:40,909 I'm going to be taken from you. 97 00:04:41,315 --> 00:04:42,755 I'm going to be arrested. 98 00:04:42,755 --> 00:04:43,645 I'm going to be crucified. 99 00:04:43,645 --> 00:04:46,455 I'm going to be buried and you're quite literally not going to see me. 100 00:04:46,925 --> 00:04:49,625 And then he says, but then a little while after that, you'll see me again. 101 00:04:50,075 --> 00:04:52,805 After the resurrection, he would appear to the disciples again. 102 00:04:53,405 --> 00:04:55,374 And so he's giving them an idea of what's coming, but they have 103 00:04:55,375 --> 00:04:56,705 no frame of reference for this. 104 00:04:56,985 --> 00:04:59,735 So they amongst themselves are beginning to ask themselves and 105 00:04:59,735 --> 00:05:02,315 wonder to themselves, what in the world is Jesus talking about? 106 00:05:02,885 --> 00:05:06,935 And this is conversations that are taking place between Peter and 107 00:05:07,125 --> 00:05:09,754 James or between John and, and, and. 108 00:05:10,005 --> 00:05:13,175 and Thaddeus or somebody else where they're trying to figure 109 00:05:13,175 --> 00:05:16,045 out what, what is going on? 110 00:05:16,045 --> 00:05:18,085 What is Jesus saying with all of this? 111 00:05:18,565 --> 00:05:19,335 They don't get it. 112 00:05:19,355 --> 00:05:20,595 They don't understand. 113 00:05:21,255 --> 00:05:22,775 And let's not fault them. 114 00:05:23,194 --> 00:05:27,665 Because remember, it's been a while since we studied the triumphal entry, but for 115 00:05:27,684 --> 00:05:30,945 these disciples, the triumphal entry, they were still listening in their minds 116 00:05:30,945 --> 00:05:34,405 to the echoes of a Hosea and a blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 117 00:05:34,915 --> 00:05:39,475 They were replaying the highlight reel of Jesus fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy 118 00:05:39,475 --> 00:05:41,255 by riding the donkey into Jerusalem. 119 00:05:41,990 --> 00:05:44,850 And they didn't see Jesus at that point be like, Hey, no, no, no, no, no. 120 00:05:44,850 --> 00:05:46,260 It's not time for me to be king yet. 121 00:05:47,090 --> 00:05:50,000 Remember, Jesus stepped right into the fulfillment of that prophecy. 122 00:05:50,890 --> 00:05:53,839 And so let's not fault the disciples saying, Why don't you get it yet? 123 00:05:54,539 --> 00:05:56,070 They still don't get it yet though. 124 00:05:56,890 --> 00:05:59,620 And so they're confused and they're perplexed and they're anxious and they're 125 00:05:59,620 --> 00:06:02,230 wondering what is he talking about? 126 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,239 Maybe you're wondering there because they, they quote him. 127 00:06:05,239 --> 00:06:07,770 They say, what does he mean when he says to us, verse 17, a 128 00:06:07,779 --> 00:06:09,199 little while you will not see me. 129 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:10,820 And again, a little while you will see me. 130 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:15,399 And because I'm going to the father, well, Jesus didn't right here say 131 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:16,330 that he's going to the father. 132 00:06:16,330 --> 00:06:20,300 But if you let your eyes look back up the page at verse 10, look at verse 10, 133 00:06:20,310 --> 00:06:22,500 which was part of this whole conversation. 134 00:06:23,020 --> 00:06:25,440 Jesus said, the spirit's going to convict the world concerning 135 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:26,939 righteousness because I. 136 00:06:27,395 --> 00:06:30,515 Go to the father and so there it is the disciples. 137 00:06:30,515 --> 00:06:34,745 They're taking all of this in and they're just flat out confused This 138 00:06:34,745 --> 00:06:36,565 is not what would they expected? 139 00:06:37,005 --> 00:06:41,254 This is not what their plans for Jesus were their plans for Jesus was the throne 140 00:06:41,264 --> 00:06:46,154 the kingdom the the the restoration of the Davidic Dynasty, they're ready to 141 00:06:46,635 --> 00:06:51,475 To get Rome out and get Jesus on the throne and so Jesus is beginning to say 142 00:06:51,475 --> 00:06:54,784 these things and they're starting to really go Maybe he's really serious. 143 00:06:55,115 --> 00:06:56,745 What in the world is he talking about? 144 00:06:56,985 --> 00:07:03,854 Look at verse 19 Jesus knew Jesus knew We let our eyes just kind of glance 145 00:07:03,854 --> 00:07:08,344 over that But I think what we see here is some of the unveiled deity of Jesus 146 00:07:09,125 --> 00:07:12,515 Because if you look back, these are conversations that they're having offline. 147 00:07:13,335 --> 00:07:14,595 They're not talking to Jesus. 148 00:07:14,615 --> 00:07:17,950 They're not asking Jesus about these things They're not saying to Jesus, 149 00:07:17,950 --> 00:07:19,550 Hey, Rabbi, what are you talking about? 150 00:07:20,690 --> 00:07:21,800 Jesus knew. 151 00:07:22,530 --> 00:07:26,020 Just like when Jesus feet were being washed by the sinful woman in the 152 00:07:26,020 --> 00:07:30,230 house of Simon the Pharisee, and Simon was thinking to himself, if 153 00:07:30,230 --> 00:07:32,820 he only knew what type of woman this was, he wouldn't let her touch him. 154 00:07:33,859 --> 00:07:35,860 And Jesus responded to his thoughts. 155 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:36,079 Why? 156 00:07:36,079 --> 00:07:37,100 Because Jesus is God. 157 00:07:38,050 --> 00:07:41,430 And so here we see a veil pulled back right on the doorstep of one of the 158 00:07:41,430 --> 00:07:45,020 most humiliating moments in Jesus life being nailed naked to the cross. 159 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,150 We see His omniscience, His divinity in full tact here, as He knows 160 00:07:49,159 --> 00:07:52,190 what's going on in the hearts of His followers in these conversations. 161 00:07:52,190 --> 00:07:53,919 And He enters into their confusion. 162 00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:58,730 He enters into their grief and their, their panic and their unmet expectations. 163 00:07:58,730 --> 00:08:02,420 And He says this, He says, is this what you're asking yourselves? 164 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:06,770 Are you talking about what I meant by saying a little while and you will see me? 165 00:08:06,780 --> 00:08:07,470 You will not see me? 166 00:08:07,470 --> 00:08:09,180 And again, a little while and you will see me? 167 00:08:10,409 --> 00:08:15,170 This is an act of mercy and grace in our Savior moving into their perplexity. 168 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:19,180 What we're going to find though, as our text continues to unfold, 169 00:08:19,199 --> 00:08:24,450 is Jesus doesn't rescue them from these challenged expectations. 170 00:08:25,610 --> 00:08:27,650 Jesus doesn't come in here to say, well, let me just make 171 00:08:27,650 --> 00:08:28,550 everything better for you. 172 00:08:29,790 --> 00:08:31,990 And he also doesn't say, build a bridge and get over it. 173 00:08:33,125 --> 00:08:35,995 What we're going to find is Jesus is quite honest with his disciples about 174 00:08:35,995 --> 00:08:40,414 what discipleship is going to be like for them in the very short term with 175 00:08:40,414 --> 00:08:41,815 the cross and then the resurrection. 176 00:08:42,294 --> 00:08:45,554 But then as we extricate this to where we are today, this is going to be 177 00:08:45,575 --> 00:08:48,765 things that are true about discipleship for the rest of their lives and now 178 00:08:48,785 --> 00:08:50,404 true for us in our lives as well. 179 00:08:51,445 --> 00:08:53,845 The first thing that we need to reckon with, with discipleship, is 180 00:08:53,845 --> 00:08:58,324 that discipleship often means unmet or challenged expectations for us. 181 00:08:58,984 --> 00:09:01,275 Point number one this week is this, expect discipleship to 182 00:09:01,275 --> 00:09:03,125 challenge your expectations. 183 00:09:04,435 --> 00:09:05,655 Expect discipleship. 184 00:09:06,995 --> 00:09:10,795 That is following Jesus to challenge your expectations. 185 00:09:11,915 --> 00:09:13,635 Things that you thought it would be like. 186 00:09:15,285 --> 00:09:17,805 There are plenty of things in life that challenge our expectations, right? 187 00:09:18,744 --> 00:09:21,245 Marriage challenges our expectations. 188 00:09:21,894 --> 00:09:24,025 Parenting challenges our expectations. 189 00:09:24,505 --> 00:09:26,985 Work challenges our expectations. 190 00:09:27,265 --> 00:09:29,444 School challenges our expectations. 191 00:09:29,935 --> 00:09:33,344 Our health can challenge our expectations. 192 00:09:34,525 --> 00:09:37,584 As human beings, we are prone to think about the future, and we are 193 00:09:37,584 --> 00:09:38,895 prone to want to plan our future. 194 00:09:39,834 --> 00:09:42,415 And with that comes an expectation of what our future will be like. 195 00:09:42,895 --> 00:09:46,225 And often times it's radically different from what we expect it to be. 196 00:09:47,145 --> 00:09:51,194 When I graduated from high school, way back in 2002, I decided I was 197 00:09:51,194 --> 00:09:53,314 going to go to a college called Rhodes College in Tennessee. 198 00:09:54,170 --> 00:09:55,420 I decided to go there. 199 00:09:55,420 --> 00:09:56,329 I was like, this is going to be great. 200 00:09:56,369 --> 00:10:01,100 I was going to major in philosophy because that's a useful major to have in life. 201 00:10:02,110 --> 00:10:04,709 But I also wanted to go and just convert the whole philosophical 202 00:10:04,709 --> 00:10:05,550 department there at Rhodes. 203 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:06,589 That's who I was, by the way. 204 00:10:06,589 --> 00:10:07,360 I was that kid. 205 00:10:08,110 --> 00:10:10,719 Man, God had to break me in my self righteousness in so many different 206 00:10:10,719 --> 00:10:11,839 ways, and this was part of it. 207 00:10:11,839 --> 00:10:15,979 But anyways, I went to Rhodes, and I was there for two weeks. 208 00:10:16,430 --> 00:10:19,689 And I tell you what, church, I was overcome with homesickness 209 00:10:19,689 --> 00:10:21,199 like a little school boy. 210 00:10:21,650 --> 00:10:22,830 Like, I just was broken. 211 00:10:23,535 --> 00:10:25,205 And I ended up leaving Rhodes. 212 00:10:25,405 --> 00:10:26,875 I came back here to Dallas. 213 00:10:27,285 --> 00:10:32,585 I ended up working at the Gap for six months while I was here in Dallas and 214 00:10:32,655 --> 00:10:35,285 never want to go back to work retail. 215 00:10:35,505 --> 00:10:37,944 Sorry to those of you who are in retail, but I know the pain. 216 00:10:37,944 --> 00:10:40,960 I understand it because I I entered into that foray for a little while, 217 00:10:41,250 --> 00:10:44,400 worked at the Gap for six months, and then I ended up out at Master's 218 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:46,200 College, now Master's University. 219 00:10:46,450 --> 00:10:50,499 And at Master's, I was there, and I expected it to go one way, and it still 220 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:53,470 wasn't going the way that I expected it, and I didn't really love my time there. 221 00:10:53,730 --> 00:10:56,179 But then the second semester that I was there, which was the fall 222 00:10:56,179 --> 00:11:02,220 semester of 2003, I met a cute girl named Amanda, and lo and behold, she 223 00:11:02,220 --> 00:11:05,580 agreed to go out on a date with me, and the rest, as they say, is history. 224 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,780 So, I had my expectations for what my life was going to be like. 225 00:11:10,310 --> 00:11:11,190 I was going to go to Rhodes. 226 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:12,240 I was going to major in philosophy. 227 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,810 I was going to go be a pastor, or I was going to go be a professor somewhere, 228 00:11:14,810 --> 00:11:15,760 and I was going to do all these things. 229 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,490 And God had radically different plans for me. 230 00:11:18,710 --> 00:11:22,780 We live our life with our expectations, but so often our expectations are changed. 231 00:11:23,170 --> 00:11:24,130 They're challenged. 232 00:11:24,619 --> 00:11:28,390 I wonder how many of us in this room might say that following Jesus has looked 233 00:11:28,410 --> 00:11:31,100 different for us than we thought it was going to look when we were first saved. 234 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,100 If I asked for a show of hands, I imagine most hands of those 235 00:11:35,130 --> 00:11:36,320 that are saved would go up. 236 00:11:37,740 --> 00:11:40,829 See, the disciples at this time, they wanted Jesus plan to match their plan. 237 00:11:42,064 --> 00:11:44,895 And the reality that they were being confronted with was Jesus plan, God's 238 00:11:44,895 --> 00:11:46,295 plan, was not going to match their plan. 239 00:11:46,815 --> 00:11:49,455 Their expectations were being challenged in real time. 240 00:11:50,565 --> 00:11:51,435 Think of the book of Jonah. 241 00:11:51,445 --> 00:11:52,745 Jonah is a great example of this. 242 00:11:53,255 --> 00:11:56,354 Jonah had an expectation of how God should treat the unjust 243 00:11:56,355 --> 00:11:57,695 and the unrighteous, didn't he? 244 00:11:58,965 --> 00:12:02,305 In Jonah's mind, the Ninevites, they were worthy of the wrath of God. 245 00:12:02,805 --> 00:12:05,265 In God's mind, they were worthy of the mercy of God. 246 00:12:06,045 --> 00:12:08,365 Jonah had to wrestle with, and he didn't do a very good job of it. 247 00:12:09,255 --> 00:12:13,215 His expectations of what it looked like to be a follower of God being challenged. 248 00:12:13,875 --> 00:12:17,105 Christian, your expectations are going to be challenged by God as a disciple. 249 00:12:18,095 --> 00:12:19,775 Three broad categories that it could be challenged. 250 00:12:19,775 --> 00:12:20,865 Number one is God's timing. 251 00:12:21,915 --> 00:12:25,805 How many of your expectations of God's timing for your life have been challenged? 252 00:12:26,895 --> 00:12:29,494 You've thought, well, I think God should do this for me at this time, 253 00:12:29,494 --> 00:12:30,785 and maybe God hasn't done that. 254 00:12:31,645 --> 00:12:34,375 Or maybe you thought, I think God shouldn't do this for me at 255 00:12:34,375 --> 00:12:35,725 this time, and God has done that. 256 00:12:36,575 --> 00:12:38,535 Your expectations for God's timing have been challenged. 257 00:12:38,535 --> 00:12:39,665 Or maybe it's God's provision. 258 00:12:40,405 --> 00:12:43,065 You've had expectations saying, God, I need this. 259 00:12:44,350 --> 00:12:46,569 I expect you to provide this for me. 260 00:12:47,410 --> 00:12:49,930 And yet God has withheld that provision for you. 261 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,729 I remember when my wife and I were in Arizona pastoring at a church there. 262 00:12:54,769 --> 00:12:56,160 I was an associate pastor there. 263 00:12:56,590 --> 00:13:00,050 Uh, we had some good friends of ours from Kansas City, Missouri, 264 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,940 because we had lived there prior, and they were moving out to Arizona. 265 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:06,770 And we were super excited because we thought, man, this is going to be great. 266 00:13:06,780 --> 00:13:08,374 They can come to our church and we'll have this. 267 00:13:08,705 --> 00:13:10,505 Friends at our church because we were lonely. 268 00:13:10,505 --> 00:13:13,115 We are at a church that was a small church, not very many young 269 00:13:13,115 --> 00:13:14,645 families in that church at all. 270 00:13:14,645 --> 00:13:18,545 And so we were just wrestling with that and, and this was gonna be huge. 271 00:13:18,545 --> 00:13:20,855 And, and I personally just thought, man, this is gonna be so good. 272 00:13:20,855 --> 00:13:22,265 God, this is such an answer to prayer. 273 00:13:22,445 --> 00:13:25,265 You're bringing friends with us to partner in ministry and to be here 274 00:13:25,265 --> 00:13:26,495 with us and to be part of this. 275 00:13:27,194 --> 00:13:29,745 And the way it worked out, according to his job and everything else, he 276 00:13:29,895 --> 00:13:32,925 ended up with a job that was about an hour away from our church and they 277 00:13:32,925 --> 00:13:34,485 ended up going to a different church. 278 00:13:34,485 --> 00:13:37,235 And I'll be honest, church, I was, I was frustrated. 279 00:13:38,205 --> 00:13:42,095 I had to wrestle and work through anger with God because He didn't measure up to 280 00:13:42,095 --> 00:13:46,195 my expectations of providing for my wife and I friendship that we so desperately 281 00:13:46,195 --> 00:13:47,585 wanted during that season of life. 282 00:13:49,135 --> 00:13:50,955 Has God challenged your expectations? 283 00:13:51,894 --> 00:13:52,834 Maybe it's not provision. 284 00:13:52,834 --> 00:13:57,364 Maybe it's a doctrine that initially you bought into because you're like, 285 00:13:57,364 --> 00:13:58,834 yeah, that doctrine, I believe it. 286 00:14:00,045 --> 00:14:03,185 But maybe the challenge to your expectation is all of a sudden there's 287 00:14:03,185 --> 00:14:06,560 somebody in your life who's living in such a way that, It contradicts what 288 00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:08,570 that doctrine says they should be doing. 289 00:14:08,570 --> 00:14:11,390 And now all of a sudden it's not just a doctrine, but it's something that's going 290 00:14:11,390 --> 00:14:13,120 to impact this relationship with someone. 291 00:14:14,140 --> 00:14:16,830 And you're sitting there going, God, I didn't expect it to go that way. 292 00:14:18,890 --> 00:14:22,109 Discipleship will often challenge our expectations, just like it does here for 293 00:14:22,109 --> 00:14:24,789 the disciples that were following Jesus. 294 00:14:24,789 --> 00:14:26,270 Discipleship is hard. 295 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,390 As we work through these three points, I want to talk to three 296 00:14:29,390 --> 00:14:30,390 different groups of people. 297 00:14:31,150 --> 00:14:33,839 Three different groups of Christians that I think cover the 298 00:14:33,839 --> 00:14:35,089 gamut in the room this morning. 299 00:14:35,790 --> 00:14:40,340 The first group are the baby Christians, those that are brand new to the faith. 300 00:14:41,020 --> 00:14:43,510 You've just been saved within the last year or so. 301 00:14:44,949 --> 00:14:47,209 The second group are the seasoned Christians. 302 00:14:47,870 --> 00:14:49,820 You've been a Christian for some period of time now. 303 00:14:49,830 --> 00:14:51,559 You've lived some life as a Christian. 304 00:14:51,559 --> 00:14:52,799 You've experienced some things. 305 00:14:53,479 --> 00:14:56,180 And then the third group I want to talk to this morning are the aged Christians. 306 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,310 Those that are, are nearing the finish line, if I can put it gently. 307 00:15:01,230 --> 00:15:03,780 And I'm not going to classify or categorize any of you 308 00:15:03,780 --> 00:15:05,270 in any of those categories. 309 00:15:05,670 --> 00:15:07,529 You can place yourself in those categories. 310 00:15:08,860 --> 00:15:10,749 But I think that, that encompasses all of us. 311 00:15:10,750 --> 00:15:13,720 And I want to talk to those three groups as it talks about discipleship 312 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:14,809 and what we should expect. 313 00:15:14,820 --> 00:15:17,270 And with this first one, our expectations being challenged. 314 00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:20,740 If you're brand new to the faith, you'd be in that baby Christian category. 315 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:26,470 Maybe for you, it's that your challenges is, your family is opposing 316 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,400 your faith in Christ in a way that you didn't expect that they would. 317 00:15:30,839 --> 00:15:35,039 Or maybe for you, you're struggling now as a brand new Christian to let go of a 318 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:40,600 past sin that you once loved and embraced and you're thinking, man, I didn't 319 00:15:40,610 --> 00:15:41,910 realize I was gonna have to give that up. 320 00:15:42,870 --> 00:15:46,629 Or maybe for you, it's, it's, you just didn't experience your life improving 321 00:15:46,630 --> 00:15:47,634 as much as you thought it would. 322 00:15:48,255 --> 00:15:50,474 You thought coming to faith in Christ was going to mean that your life was 323 00:15:50,474 --> 00:15:52,944 going to get dramatically better, and it's gotten a little bit better, but 324 00:15:52,944 --> 00:15:54,795 not as much as you hoped it would. 325 00:15:56,594 --> 00:16:00,514 To you this morning, I want to just encourage you, keep pressing. 326 00:16:02,234 --> 00:16:03,224 Jesus is worth it. 327 00:16:04,324 --> 00:16:07,505 Talk to the seasoned believer, the aged believer, the mature saint, and ask 328 00:16:07,505 --> 00:16:09,155 them, has Jesus been worth it for you? 329 00:16:09,155 --> 00:16:11,104 And I think the answer that you're going to get is yes. 330 00:16:12,045 --> 00:16:13,324 Keep your nose in the Word of God. 331 00:16:13,365 --> 00:16:17,114 Keep learning as much about Jesus as you possibly can, and you will 332 00:16:17,114 --> 00:16:19,545 find that your expectations will begin to be informed more by the 333 00:16:19,545 --> 00:16:22,495 Word of God than some presumptions that maybe you had coming into it. 334 00:16:23,755 --> 00:16:24,625 Seasoned believer. 335 00:16:25,025 --> 00:16:27,814 Those of you that have been in the church for a while, you've been a believer for a 336 00:16:27,814 --> 00:16:32,064 while, maybe your expectations are still being challenged as a follower of Jesus. 337 00:16:32,835 --> 00:16:35,605 Maybe you thought, you know, the longer I'm being a Christian, the easier my 338 00:16:35,605 --> 00:16:38,085 marriage is gonna be, but maybe what you're finding right now is that your 339 00:16:38,085 --> 00:16:42,005 marriage is running into some, some tough spots, some tough stretches, 340 00:16:42,014 --> 00:16:46,505 stretches that you didn't expect to be there as a seasoned believer. 341 00:16:48,045 --> 00:16:51,115 Or maybe for you, you just thought you'd be passed a sin by them. 342 00:16:52,375 --> 00:16:54,915 This is a sin that maybe you, you battled as an early, as a baby 343 00:16:54,915 --> 00:16:56,715 Christian and you thought by the time I'm a seasoned believer, 344 00:16:56,925 --> 00:16:58,285 certainly this is going to get easier. 345 00:16:58,285 --> 00:16:59,915 I'm not going to have to battle this sin anymore. 346 00:16:59,915 --> 00:17:01,945 And yet you're finding that's not the case. 347 00:17:03,564 --> 00:17:07,223 Or maybe you're frustrated over why God hasn't saved the person that 348 00:17:07,233 --> 00:17:10,844 you've been praying for and pleading for him to save for years now. 349 00:17:10,844 --> 00:17:13,034 And you're sitting there saying, God, why haven't you met my 350 00:17:13,054 --> 00:17:15,624 expectations by saving so and so? 351 00:17:17,513 --> 00:17:21,223 To you, seasoned Christian, I want to encourage you this morning that 352 00:17:21,223 --> 00:17:23,614 he knows exactly where you're at and what you're walking through. 353 00:17:25,253 --> 00:17:26,513 And that he hasn't given up. 354 00:17:27,763 --> 00:17:30,465 I wanna encourage you to remember the doctrines that you know and 355 00:17:30,465 --> 00:17:31,695 perhaps you take for granted. 356 00:17:32,274 --> 00:17:35,425 I wanna encourage you to remember the promises, like the fact that he is right 357 00:17:35,425 --> 00:17:39,885 now interceding on your behalf, that right now you are being guarded by God's 358 00:17:39,885 --> 00:17:42,975 power through faith for salvation, and ready to be revealed in the last time. 359 00:17:43,495 --> 00:17:45,925 I want you to remember that you have been commissioned by Jesus 360 00:17:45,925 --> 00:17:47,784 to go with the gospel to the lost. 361 00:17:48,774 --> 00:17:52,944 I want you to remember that He delights to save the lost 362 00:17:56,364 --> 00:17:57,114 aged Christian. 363 00:17:58,635 --> 00:18:01,564 Maybe you're here this morning with your own challenged set of 364 00:18:01,564 --> 00:18:04,445 expectations about what discipleship should be like right now. 365 00:18:05,314 --> 00:18:08,175 Maybe you're not as eager for heaven as you hoped you would 366 00:18:08,184 --> 00:18:09,445 be at this stage of your life. 367 00:18:10,735 --> 00:18:14,135 Maybe you thought, well, uh, younger, I always thought to myself, well, 368 00:18:14,175 --> 00:18:16,594 I, I'm good going to heaven, but not until this or not until this. 369 00:18:16,594 --> 00:18:19,984 And maybe you thought when you got to that point where heaven was a stone's 370 00:18:19,984 --> 00:18:22,804 throw away, you thought to yourself, well, it's going to be better. 371 00:18:22,804 --> 00:18:23,604 I'm going to be ready. 372 00:18:23,844 --> 00:18:26,185 I'm going to be eager to go and meet Jesus at that point. 373 00:18:26,185 --> 00:18:29,394 But maybe right now you're battling with the questions about, is my 374 00:18:29,394 --> 00:18:30,695 family going to be okay without me? 375 00:18:32,164 --> 00:18:34,544 What about my lost loved ones that I'm going to leave behind? 376 00:18:35,975 --> 00:18:37,865 Maybe you're even wondering and you're fearful over what 377 00:18:37,865 --> 00:18:39,115 death is going to be like. 378 00:18:40,245 --> 00:18:44,024 And so your expectation that you're going to be ready is, is not quite reality. 379 00:18:45,384 --> 00:18:49,414 Or maybe, aged Christian, you're, you're discouraged because your expectation was 380 00:18:49,424 --> 00:18:53,434 you were going to finish strong, full of life, and vibrant, just like Moses 381 00:18:53,434 --> 00:18:56,204 was when God eventually took him home. 382 00:18:56,985 --> 00:19:00,444 And yet what you're finding is your body is breaking down, your mental faculties 383 00:19:00,444 --> 00:19:02,004 are not quite as sharp as they used to be. 384 00:19:02,945 --> 00:19:09,375 And those expectations are leaving you frustrated, or perhaps at this point 385 00:19:09,385 --> 00:19:14,285 you thought that you'd be confident 100 percent in your eternal state, 386 00:19:15,534 --> 00:19:18,104 and you find that you're battling more doubt than you thought you would. 387 00:19:19,814 --> 00:19:24,034 I want to encourage you, aged believer, to finish strong, 388 00:19:25,195 --> 00:19:26,804 regardless of your physical state. 389 00:19:27,634 --> 00:19:28,794 Finish strong. 390 00:19:29,674 --> 00:19:32,655 Don't let the enemy distract you with doubts or thoughts that you know 391 00:19:32,655 --> 00:19:34,125 are not ultimately from the Lord. 392 00:19:34,834 --> 00:19:36,285 Remember Paul's words to you. 393 00:19:37,309 --> 00:19:40,599 That these earthly tents they're wearing out, but God has prepared for you a body 394 00:19:40,599 --> 00:19:42,769 that he has got ready for you in glory. 395 00:19:43,879 --> 00:19:47,949 Think of Paul's words when he talked about reaching the finish line 396 00:19:47,949 --> 00:19:52,459 and having the, the, the crown of righteousness awarded to him by Jesus. 397 00:19:53,839 --> 00:19:57,089 Remember the promise is the truth of God's word that you can rely upon. 398 00:19:59,469 --> 00:20:04,379 As disciples, our expectations are going to be challenged. 399 00:20:05,229 --> 00:20:06,219 But church, God is faithful. 400 00:20:07,479 --> 00:20:08,839 God is faithful. 401 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:10,729 And in the end, he's better. 402 00:20:11,425 --> 00:20:15,215 His plan for us is better than our plan for ourselves. 403 00:20:16,444 --> 00:20:18,955 Point number two, pick up in verse 20. 404 00:20:19,945 --> 00:20:24,125 Jesus continues, He says this, Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and 405 00:20:24,125 --> 00:20:25,945 lament, but the world will rejoice. 406 00:20:25,955 --> 00:20:28,894 You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 407 00:20:29,155 --> 00:20:33,034 I mentioned that Jesus is not here to rescue them from their turmoil. 408 00:20:33,035 --> 00:20:36,564 He's not the helicopter parent that doesn't want their kid to suffer. 409 00:20:37,434 --> 00:20:40,294 He tells them, no, no, you're going to weep, and you're going to lament, 410 00:20:40,314 --> 00:20:41,044 and you're going to be sorrowful. 411 00:20:42,159 --> 00:20:46,550 These words, they suggest pain and grief and even anxiety and fear. 412 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,210 And Jesus is telling the disciples up front, this is 413 00:20:50,210 --> 00:20:51,330 what's going to happen to you. 414 00:20:51,949 --> 00:20:54,009 These are the things that you're going to face. 415 00:20:54,949 --> 00:20:58,249 And then he compares it, look in verse 21, he says, he compares it to labor. 416 00:20:58,249 --> 00:21:02,729 He says, when a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come. 417 00:21:02,730 --> 00:21:06,870 But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for that. 418 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,270 For, for a joy that a human being has been born into the world. 419 00:21:12,020 --> 00:21:14,960 We're gonna talk about the joy here in the third point, but what I want us to 420 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,920 realize and understand up front here is that Jesus acknowledges that discipleship 421 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,080 means that there is going to be a cost. 422 00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:24,659 That, that being a disciple, a follower of Jesus, means that there 423 00:21:24,659 --> 00:21:28,110 are going to be things that hurt, that there's gonna be pain, that 424 00:21:28,110 --> 00:21:29,760 there are gonna be seasons of sorrow. 425 00:21:30,490 --> 00:21:33,370 And again, for the disciples in the immediate context, he's 426 00:21:33,370 --> 00:21:35,080 talking about the three days. 427 00:21:35,290 --> 00:21:36,280 Well, more Yeah. 428 00:21:36,370 --> 00:21:37,090 Th the three days. 429 00:21:37,210 --> 00:21:37,601 The, the, the death. 430 00:21:40,730 --> 00:21:43,220 He's saying during this time you're going to weep and you're going to 431 00:21:43,220 --> 00:21:47,320 lament and you're going to watch the world celebrate my death. 432 00:21:48,590 --> 00:21:49,939 He says, but joy is going to come. 433 00:21:51,889 --> 00:21:56,220 But these are words that stick with us even after the resurrection of Jesus. 434 00:21:57,024 --> 00:22:00,185 And again, if I was asked for a show of hands, I'm sure every believer's hand 435 00:22:00,185 --> 00:22:03,774 would go up here if I said, how many of you as believers have gone through trials, 436 00:22:04,325 --> 00:22:10,385 have wept, have lamented, have felt pain, have battled fear and anxiety at times, 437 00:22:10,535 --> 00:22:14,134 and have watched the world rejoice over the things that are causing you the pain? 438 00:22:16,184 --> 00:22:18,695 This is part of what it is to be a follower of Jesus, and I just 439 00:22:18,695 --> 00:22:21,545 want us to see, church, that Jesus doesn't bury the lead on that. 440 00:22:22,655 --> 00:22:25,295 He's not selling you a bill of goods when he says, come and follow me. 441 00:22:26,195 --> 00:22:27,325 In fact, it's quite the opposite. 442 00:22:27,325 --> 00:22:28,475 What does Jesus tell his followers? 443 00:22:28,475 --> 00:22:30,875 He says, if anyone wants to come and follow me, let him take up his. 444 00:22:31,669 --> 00:22:32,600 Cross. 445 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:37,820 Let him take up his instrument of execution and come and follow me. 446 00:22:39,279 --> 00:22:42,399 Our second point is we talk about what to expect as disciples of Jesus. 447 00:22:42,399 --> 00:22:44,739 Discipleship is hard along those lines. 448 00:22:44,739 --> 00:22:47,739 Second point here, expect discipleship to cost you worldly joy. 449 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:54,990 Expect discipleship following Jesus to cost you worldly joy. 450 00:22:55,104 --> 00:22:59,820 Again, the disciples were gonna watch Jesus nailed to a tree. 451 00:23:01,090 --> 00:23:07,009 Well, John at least was he was gonna hear the mockery from the crowds 452 00:23:07,009 --> 00:23:09,514 watching his savior suffocate to death. 453 00:23:10,654 --> 00:23:14,794 He's going to hear the crowds celebrating and mocking Him, saying, You who save 454 00:23:14,794 --> 00:23:16,944 so many, you can't even save yourself. 455 00:23:17,594 --> 00:23:18,894 Heal yourself, physician. 456 00:23:19,754 --> 00:23:21,985 Get down from the cross and we'll believe in you. 457 00:23:27,954 --> 00:23:32,784 Church, following Jesus often puts us in a position that 458 00:23:32,784 --> 00:23:34,934 the world is going to mock us. 459 00:23:36,774 --> 00:23:38,715 But not only that, the world's also going to hold out things to 460 00:23:38,725 --> 00:23:40,534 us and say, Why don't you come over here and enjoy these things? 461 00:23:42,485 --> 00:23:45,354 Why don't you come join the chorus mocking Jesus on the cross? 462 00:23:45,354 --> 00:23:46,284 It'll be way better for you. 463 00:23:46,284 --> 00:23:49,164 Why would you want to associate With that one, 464 00:23:52,504 --> 00:23:55,814 following Jesus is going to cost you worldly pleasures. 465 00:23:56,995 --> 00:23:58,905 Listen, salvation is free, discipleship costs. 466 00:24:01,664 --> 00:24:04,794 Salvation, 100 percent free. 467 00:24:05,764 --> 00:24:07,894 It is a gift of God that no man should boast. 468 00:24:08,834 --> 00:24:14,235 Discipleship, which begins at salvation and continues until we stand face to 469 00:24:14,235 --> 00:24:16,735 face with Jesus, discipleship costs. 470 00:24:18,524 --> 00:24:21,294 Chuck Swindoll, I remember him once said this when I was in high school, he 471 00:24:21,294 --> 00:24:25,144 said, A ministry or discipleship that costs nothing accomplishes nothing. 472 00:24:27,725 --> 00:24:30,745 A relationship with Jesus, following Him, one that costs you 473 00:24:30,765 --> 00:24:34,294 nothing, accomplishes nothing. 474 00:24:36,104 --> 00:24:37,834 I need to share the fact that we are following Jesus in 475 00:24:37,834 --> 00:24:38,715 a broken and fallen world. 476 00:24:38,725 --> 00:24:40,384 Discipleship is going to cost us. 477 00:24:41,155 --> 00:24:44,634 And so again, let me talk to our groups, baby Christians. 478 00:24:45,274 --> 00:24:48,644 Perhaps you're realizing discipleship costs as you're watching friendships 479 00:24:48,644 --> 00:24:52,124 that once you held dear for a long time turn into relationships where they are 480 00:24:52,205 --> 00:24:55,534 walking away from you because you are now a believer, a follower of Jesus. 481 00:24:57,169 --> 00:25:01,379 Perhaps for you, you once stood with them and mocked Christians and now you're 482 00:25:01,379 --> 00:25:02,580 the Christian that they're mocking. 483 00:25:04,530 --> 00:25:07,320 Or maybe for you, you're all of a sudden coming to terms with the fact 484 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:10,639 that the things that you used to go out and do on Friday nights, you no longer 485 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,930 want to do as a Christian, but there's part of your flesh that still wishes 486 00:25:13,930 --> 00:25:15,700 you could go back and do those things. 487 00:25:18,659 --> 00:25:20,729 To you, I want to say, press on. 488 00:25:21,169 --> 00:25:21,820 It's worth it. 489 00:25:22,909 --> 00:25:24,929 Even when it feels like you're missing out. 490 00:25:26,979 --> 00:25:28,729 Remember Jesus words to his disciples. 491 00:25:28,729 --> 00:25:29,040 He said, 492 00:25:33,465 --> 00:25:34,415 But to lose a soul. 493 00:25:36,385 --> 00:25:38,905 Christian, if you are brand new to the faith, you've 494 00:25:38,914 --> 00:25:40,414 gained your soul for eternity. 495 00:25:41,195 --> 00:25:47,294 It may cost you some things in this world, but in the long term it's worth it. 496 00:25:47,294 --> 00:25:47,805 It's worth it. 497 00:25:47,865 --> 00:25:48,835 Keep pressing on. 498 00:25:48,875 --> 00:25:49,794 Count the cost. 499 00:25:49,794 --> 00:25:50,645 Follow Jesus. 500 00:25:50,655 --> 00:25:51,645 Take up your cross. 501 00:25:52,475 --> 00:25:56,964 Seasoned believer, that cost continues as we progress in our faith, doesn't it? 502 00:25:58,194 --> 00:26:00,764 Maybe it's you've had family that's put up with your faith 503 00:26:00,774 --> 00:26:03,134 for a certain amount of time, but recently they've just cut you off. 504 00:26:03,144 --> 00:26:04,514 They don't want anything to do with you anymore. 505 00:26:06,455 --> 00:26:12,099 Or maybe it's that you've watched Your atheist coworker, or your coworker 506 00:26:12,099 --> 00:26:16,109 that is openly mocked and rejected God, get everything that you wish you had. 507 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:18,469 They get the promotion. 508 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:20,050 They get the new house. 509 00:26:20,070 --> 00:26:21,729 They get the new, new, new car. 510 00:26:21,729 --> 00:26:24,489 They get all the upgrades that you wish that you could have and that you don't. 511 00:26:26,409 --> 00:26:28,770 And you're sitting there saying, man, it costs. 512 00:26:29,449 --> 00:26:32,819 Because you know that to get that promotion, they were willing to 513 00:26:32,819 --> 00:26:35,229 do things that you're not willing to do because you're a follower of 514 00:26:35,229 --> 00:26:36,749 Jesus, you're a disciple of Christ. 515 00:26:38,465 --> 00:26:43,695 Or maybe the cost for you is you're fighting and battling a sin and the 516 00:26:43,695 --> 00:26:47,334 temptation comes in to say, well, what's a little bit of sin in your life? 517 00:26:47,334 --> 00:26:50,205 After all, you can't lose your salvation and it's not going to hurt anybody. 518 00:26:51,735 --> 00:26:54,315 And the cost for you is to continue to fight, to continue 519 00:26:54,675 --> 00:26:56,124 to battle that temptation. 520 00:26:57,274 --> 00:27:00,245 To you, Christian, I want to say keep making eternal deposits. 521 00:27:01,574 --> 00:27:02,825 Keep making eternal deposits. 522 00:27:02,825 --> 00:27:06,325 Remember Jesus, when he told the disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, he said, 523 00:27:06,645 --> 00:27:08,455 don't store up treasure here on earth. 524 00:27:08,990 --> 00:27:12,110 We're moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal but store up for 525 00:27:12,110 --> 00:27:17,179 yourselves treasure in heaven keep making eternal Deposits through your 526 00:27:17,179 --> 00:27:21,009 faithful obedience to the Lord stay the course regardless of the cost 527 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:27,999 Aged Christian, what is discipleship still costing you? 528 00:27:29,340 --> 00:27:32,149 Maybe it's the question that comes into your mind is heaven really gonna 529 00:27:32,149 --> 00:27:36,810 be worth everything that I've had to give up Is it really going to pay off? 530 00:27:37,550 --> 00:27:41,399 Is the sacrifice that I've had to make in this life going to be worth it in the end? 531 00:27:41,639 --> 00:27:45,200 Or perhaps you're already grieving the loss of some earthly pleasures 532 00:27:45,499 --> 00:27:47,999 that you are going to have to give up when you go to be with Christ. 533 00:27:47,999 --> 00:27:51,480 You're thinking, okay, man, I'm not going to be able to watch my grandkids grow up. 534 00:27:52,709 --> 00:27:54,929 I'm not going to be able to enjoy my retirement. 535 00:27:58,340 --> 00:28:00,679 To you, aged Christian, I want to encourage you to keep your eyes fixed 536 00:28:00,679 --> 00:28:04,020 on the author and perfecter, the finisher of your faith, Jesus Christ. 537 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:08,179 Remember what awaits for you. 538 00:28:09,409 --> 00:28:11,550 Hearing him say, well done, good and faithful servant. 539 00:28:12,875 --> 00:28:15,065 Which will fill your heart with more joy than anything else 540 00:28:15,065 --> 00:28:15,945 this world could offer you. 541 00:28:16,825 --> 00:28:17,315 Stay the course. 542 00:28:19,375 --> 00:28:22,615 Discipleship is hard, and these first two points have been stressing that, 543 00:28:22,615 --> 00:28:24,805 but I want to encourage you with a thought this morning, and that's this. 544 00:28:25,095 --> 00:28:28,434 It's not our job to explain why it's so difficult. 545 00:28:30,175 --> 00:28:31,574 That's beyond our pay grade. 546 00:28:32,965 --> 00:28:35,375 The comfort that we have is we have a Savior who's told 547 00:28:35,375 --> 00:28:36,295 us it's going to be difficult. 548 00:28:37,425 --> 00:28:39,445 Again, you don't have a Savior that's doing the bait and switch. 549 00:28:39,595 --> 00:28:41,245 Hey, come follow me, it's going to be great. 550 00:28:41,695 --> 00:28:44,325 And then you come to follow Jesus only to realize that it's not as 551 00:28:44,325 --> 00:28:45,075 great as you thought it would be. 552 00:28:46,425 --> 00:28:47,524 Jesus is being clear. 553 00:28:47,524 --> 00:28:48,675 He's being clear with his disciples. 554 00:28:48,675 --> 00:28:50,834 And yes, he's talking about the cross and the resurrection. 555 00:28:51,285 --> 00:28:54,834 But it applies even beyond this to what discipleship continues to be like for us. 556 00:28:55,845 --> 00:28:57,374 He's saying it's going to bring sorrow. 557 00:28:57,374 --> 00:28:58,624 It's going to bring lament. 558 00:28:58,664 --> 00:29:00,035 But then what does Jesus say? 559 00:29:00,035 --> 00:29:01,884 It's not only going to bring sorrow and lament, but he says 560 00:29:01,884 --> 00:29:02,884 it's also going to bring what? 561 00:29:03,964 --> 00:29:04,434 Joy. 562 00:29:05,135 --> 00:29:07,175 And that's the rest of the metaphor of childbirth. 563 00:29:07,879 --> 00:29:10,739 And I'm glad Jesus says this, not me, because I'm a man up here, 564 00:29:10,739 --> 00:29:12,939 so I don't think I've got the grounds to say what He says here. 565 00:29:12,939 --> 00:29:14,819 But this is Jesus, so this is God. 566 00:29:14,819 --> 00:29:17,719 So we're gonna take God at His word here when He says that for, for 567 00:29:17,719 --> 00:29:22,409 you ladies, the pain of childbirth is, is eased, it's comforted, and 568 00:29:22,409 --> 00:29:25,609 it's, it's consumed with the joy then of holding your newborn child. 569 00:29:27,289 --> 00:29:28,870 That's what He talks about here. 570 00:29:29,339 --> 00:29:32,269 He says, yeah, there may be seasons of sorrow, but they're gonna be 571 00:29:32,269 --> 00:29:35,189 met by, by times of joy that are going to overwhelm the sorrow. 572 00:29:36,504 --> 00:29:40,335 And then he goes on and he says this in verse 22, So also you have sorrow 573 00:29:40,335 --> 00:29:44,225 now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no 574 00:29:44,225 --> 00:29:45,634 one will take that joy from you. 575 00:29:46,210 --> 00:29:48,560 In that day you will ask nothing of me. 576 00:29:48,970 --> 00:29:51,720 Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in 577 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,080 my name, He will give it to you. 578 00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:58,210 And so Jesus, again, is talking about the period of sorrow that's going to be 579 00:29:58,220 --> 00:30:03,290 marked during the interlude, the three days when He's dead before He rises again. 580 00:30:03,290 --> 00:30:06,820 But now He begins to transition even into what it's going to be like after that. 581 00:30:07,870 --> 00:30:11,645 Because the resurrection and everything about to happen, in here is going to 582 00:30:11,655 --> 00:30:15,775 change the dynamic of the relationship that the disciples have with God forever. 583 00:30:15,775 --> 00:30:18,145 And it's changed our relationship forever too. 584 00:30:18,575 --> 00:30:19,475 Because notice what he says. 585 00:30:19,475 --> 00:30:22,864 He says, in that day, that day when your hearts are filled with joy 586 00:30:22,864 --> 00:30:26,474 again, because you're going to see me again in that day, he says, you're 587 00:30:26,475 --> 00:30:28,425 not going to ask anything of me. 588 00:30:29,275 --> 00:30:32,325 To this point, the disciples had looked to Jesus to provide what they needed. 589 00:30:33,305 --> 00:30:34,775 They had had Jesus with them. 590 00:30:35,205 --> 00:30:37,585 And so if they needed something, they went to Jesus. 591 00:30:37,585 --> 00:30:39,295 If they had a question, they went to Jesus. 592 00:30:39,645 --> 00:30:43,835 But Jesus says, Now in that day, you're not gonna ask anything of me. 593 00:30:44,045 --> 00:30:44,994 He says, Truly, truly. 594 00:30:44,994 --> 00:30:48,074 Instead, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my 595 00:30:48,074 --> 00:30:50,235 name, He will give it to you. 596 00:30:50,835 --> 00:30:54,415 So there's a dynamic shift here where now all of a sudden the disciples 597 00:30:54,415 --> 00:30:56,805 are gonna have a relationship with the Father, such that they're gonna 598 00:30:56,805 --> 00:31:01,685 have access to the creator of the universe that they've never had before. 599 00:31:02,554 --> 00:31:03,094 Why? 600 00:31:03,695 --> 00:31:08,335 Because on the, the, the cross, when Jesus died and says, Tetelestai, it is finished. 601 00:31:08,645 --> 00:31:10,605 Something happens in the temple. 602 00:31:10,765 --> 00:31:12,735 What happens in the temple to the veil? 603 00:31:14,125 --> 00:31:15,035 It's torn in two. 604 00:31:15,675 --> 00:31:16,925 From top to bottom. 605 00:31:17,605 --> 00:31:22,165 As if God was to say, in case any of you are mistaken, who's doing this? 606 00:31:23,234 --> 00:31:27,645 The veil is torn such that now the writer of Hebrews can say, let us 607 00:31:27,655 --> 00:31:32,834 with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive 608 00:31:32,835 --> 00:31:34,744 mercy and grace in time of need. 609 00:31:34,745 --> 00:31:34,759 Amen. 610 00:31:35,860 --> 00:31:39,800 Do you, do we understand that, that before the cross, the disciples had no 611 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,010 such concept of access to the Father? 612 00:31:43,170 --> 00:31:47,180 But after the cross, because of Jesus Word, because the veil is torn, and 613 00:31:47,180 --> 00:31:51,229 the way is thrown open, they now get to enter into this access with the Father, 614 00:31:51,229 --> 00:31:55,779 where they can pray for anything, ask for anything in the name of Jesus, 615 00:31:55,789 --> 00:32:00,330 which is an important qualifier, and the Father will give it to them. 616 00:32:01,740 --> 00:32:04,830 And Jesus is saying, this is part and parcel of what's gonna bring you joy. 617 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:04,880 Amen. 618 00:32:05,555 --> 00:32:06,425 Look at verse 24. 619 00:32:06,445 --> 00:32:09,285 Until now, you've asked nothing in my name. 620 00:32:10,235 --> 00:32:13,425 They didn't have this dynamic of praying to the Father through the Son. 621 00:32:14,065 --> 00:32:19,045 But now ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. 622 00:32:20,514 --> 00:32:22,935 Their discipleship is going to be fully orbed now. 623 00:32:23,700 --> 00:32:27,890 They're going to be complete in their ability to follow Jesus because 624 00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:31,180 they will now have the great high priest interceding on their behalf. 625 00:32:31,410 --> 00:32:34,460 And now they will be able to seek the Father's help and receive from 626 00:32:34,460 --> 00:32:35,799 the Father the things that they need. 627 00:32:35,799 --> 00:32:38,560 And so Jesus is saying, the joy that's coming is better than 628 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:39,979 anything else is going to cost you. 629 00:32:40,849 --> 00:32:42,970 And that's our third and final point this morning, church, as we 630 00:32:42,970 --> 00:32:47,030 think about following Jesus in our expectations and what we should expect. 631 00:32:47,030 --> 00:32:50,530 Expect point number three, discipleship to yield a better joy. 632 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:52,460 Expect it. 633 00:32:53,460 --> 00:32:54,200 Bank on it. 634 00:32:54,270 --> 00:32:54,920 Count on it. 635 00:32:54,930 --> 00:32:58,070 Expect discipleship to yield a better joy. 636 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,290 And we have to remember, because we're cutting this up and chopping it 637 00:33:01,290 --> 00:33:05,250 up as we're preaching through this, but within earshot of this for the 638 00:33:05,250 --> 00:33:10,840 disciples was John 15, where Jesus had talked about abiding in Him and 639 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:12,799 the branch that abides in the vine. 640 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:16,264 And in that same context, He said this in John 15, 11. 641 00:33:16,895 --> 00:33:21,455 He said these things, I've spoken to you that my joy may be in 642 00:33:21,455 --> 00:33:25,055 you and your joy may be full. 643 00:33:25,885 --> 00:33:29,785 See, the disciples had not yet stepped into the full reality of discipleship. 644 00:33:31,005 --> 00:33:34,365 They didn't know discipleship and the blessings of being able to go 645 00:33:34,365 --> 00:33:38,955 to the father for help to navigate this life the way that you and I do. 646 00:33:39,805 --> 00:33:40,585 But they would. 647 00:33:42,235 --> 00:33:46,105 But first, Jesus had to go away and then to come back again, 648 00:33:47,065 --> 00:33:48,085 he had to go to the cross. 649 00:33:48,525 --> 00:33:53,545 and then walk out of the grave so that we could have this access to the Father. 650 00:33:54,955 --> 00:33:57,145 And so as we navigate this life of discipleship, that's why 651 00:33:57,145 --> 00:34:01,484 discipleship is hard and discipleship is worth it because it's worth it. 652 00:34:01,485 --> 00:34:02,784 Because we're not alone. 653 00:34:03,225 --> 00:34:05,805 It's worth it because we're not doing this of our own power. 654 00:34:06,195 --> 00:34:08,405 It's worth it because as we've been talking about, we've 655 00:34:08,405 --> 00:34:09,543 got the Spirit within us. 656 00:34:09,715 --> 00:34:12,574 And now not only do we see that we've got the Spirit within us, but 657 00:34:12,574 --> 00:34:15,645 we've got the Son interceding for us so that we can pray to the Father. 658 00:34:15,645 --> 00:34:17,754 And the Father is going to listen and respond to our prayers when 659 00:34:17,754 --> 00:34:19,675 they're prayed in His name. 660 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,429 Now, let me talk about that qualifier for just a second. 661 00:34:23,449 --> 00:34:27,199 When we're praying in the name of Jesus, what we're doing is we're praying for 662 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:33,170 something and asking for it, for His sake, for His name, for His glory, for His 663 00:34:33,170 --> 00:34:36,250 honor, and in accordance with His will. 664 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:42,489 Maybe Jesus wants you to drive a Bentley for His sake and His glory and His 665 00:34:42,489 --> 00:34:45,728 honor, but you can't bank on that, okay? 666 00:34:47,030 --> 00:34:49,860 If you want to pray once, hey, Jesus, I'd love to have a Bentley 667 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:51,219 if it'd be for your glory. 668 00:34:51,389 --> 00:34:53,929 Great, pray that once and then let's move on from that prayer if the Bentley 669 00:34:53,929 --> 00:34:55,109 doesn't show up the next day, right? 670 00:34:55,650 --> 00:34:57,850 This concept has been abused by the church, hasn't it? 671 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:00,709 Well, look, the Bible says you're going to have anything that you want. 672 00:35:00,709 --> 00:35:02,280 Just pray for it and God's going to give it to you. 673 00:35:03,190 --> 00:35:05,990 That's why we have to understand it's in accordance with His name. 674 00:35:06,199 --> 00:35:09,130 It's for His glory and for His will. 675 00:35:09,610 --> 00:35:10,650 His will would be done. 676 00:35:11,490 --> 00:35:15,015 And so, church, as we pray, As disciples, grow more and 677 00:35:15,015 --> 00:35:16,655 more into the image of Christ. 678 00:35:16,875 --> 00:35:19,785 We will find that we pray more and more for the sake of Christ 679 00:35:19,805 --> 00:35:21,115 and in accordance with His will. 680 00:35:21,575 --> 00:35:24,925 And we will find that God begins to answer more and more and more of our prayers. 681 00:35:25,445 --> 00:35:27,205 And that in turn, what's that going to produce in us? 682 00:35:27,630 --> 00:35:32,680 This abiding joy, this joy, this is a different joy, right? 683 00:35:33,310 --> 00:35:35,120 This is a joy that satisfies. 684 00:35:35,340 --> 00:35:36,380 It's a joy that abides. 685 00:35:36,380 --> 00:35:37,819 It's a joy that transcends. 686 00:35:37,820 --> 00:35:39,970 It's a joy that anticipates the 687 00:35:42,450 --> 00:35:43,500 full realization of it. 688 00:35:45,849 --> 00:35:51,070 I had to get a car recently because my son is turning 16 and he's taking 689 00:35:51,089 --> 00:35:55,520 the Explorer that we have so that heaven forbid if he hits anything, 690 00:35:55,530 --> 00:35:57,280 hopefully he wins in the Explorer. 691 00:35:57,740 --> 00:35:58,860 It's our thought process there. 692 00:35:59,325 --> 00:36:00,465 No, but he's a good driver. 693 00:36:00,525 --> 00:36:03,045 I'm confident in his abilities behind the wheel. 694 00:36:03,545 --> 00:36:07,685 But we added a car, and so researching all of that, I found this week that 695 00:36:07,865 --> 00:36:12,304 part of the joy of that process is the anticipation of getting it, of 696 00:36:12,304 --> 00:36:15,465 doing the research and finding what you like and what you don't like. 697 00:36:16,044 --> 00:36:19,974 And then you get it, and that anticipation is realized in the thing that you have. 698 00:36:19,975 --> 00:36:23,605 Now we all know as human beings that earthly possessions disappoint 699 00:36:23,605 --> 00:36:24,745 us in that regard, right? 700 00:36:25,475 --> 00:36:26,135 Jesus won't. 701 00:36:26,985 --> 00:36:29,345 As we live this life in anticipation of being with Him. 702 00:36:30,005 --> 00:36:33,935 That better joy, when we finally get to be with Jesus, that's gonna 703 00:36:33,935 --> 00:36:37,205 be a joy unlike anything else we've ever experienced before. 704 00:36:37,715 --> 00:36:40,035 So expect discipleship to yield a better joy. 705 00:36:40,775 --> 00:36:42,005 Back to the Hobbit, if I can. 706 00:36:42,755 --> 00:36:46,034 There's a scene early on in the Hobbit where Gandalf, the wizard, 707 00:36:46,464 --> 00:36:48,094 this is how nerdy it gets, okay? 708 00:36:48,125 --> 00:36:50,515 So just if you, if you're thinking about, maybe I should look into the Hobbit. 709 00:36:50,515 --> 00:36:51,545 There's wizards, okay? 710 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,400 And dwarfs, and orcs, and hobbits. 711 00:36:55,620 --> 00:36:59,460 The hobbit's talking to the wizard, and the wizard's trying to recruit the 712 00:36:59,460 --> 00:37:00,680 hobbit to go on this journey to kill. 713 00:37:00,710 --> 00:37:02,520 There's a dragon too, to kill a dragon. 714 00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:07,420 So the hobbit is going to go kill the dragon with the wizard and the dwarfs. 715 00:37:07,790 --> 00:37:08,130 Okay? 716 00:37:09,819 --> 00:37:11,930 Anyways, Gandalf is talking to Bilbo. 717 00:37:11,970 --> 00:37:13,090 Those are their given names. 718 00:37:13,279 --> 00:37:17,030 Um, and he's trying to recruit him to go on the journey. 719 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,880 And he's talking to him, and, and at the same time, he's conveying 720 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:23,930 that this journey is going to be a little bit adventurous and dangerous, 721 00:37:24,230 --> 00:37:25,440 and there's some risk involved. 722 00:37:26,610 --> 00:37:29,740 And Bilbo makes it very clear that that's not something that 723 00:37:29,740 --> 00:37:30,810 hobbits are interested in. 724 00:37:31,030 --> 00:37:32,650 And so Bilbo says this to Gandalf. 725 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,660 He says, Sorry, I don't want any adventures. 726 00:37:35,709 --> 00:37:36,200 Thank you. 727 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:37,210 Not today. 728 00:37:37,249 --> 00:37:37,949 Good morning. 729 00:37:38,620 --> 00:37:40,529 Please come to tea anytime you like. 730 00:37:40,660 --> 00:37:41,630 Why not tomorrow? 731 00:37:41,939 --> 00:37:42,319 Goodbye. 732 00:37:45,090 --> 00:37:46,659 Bilbo doesn't want the risk. 733 00:37:47,209 --> 00:37:48,280 He doesn't want the adventure. 734 00:37:49,170 --> 00:37:51,580 He's happy to have Gandalf around if Gandalf just wants to come and 735 00:37:51,580 --> 00:37:52,900 have some tea with him in his house. 736 00:37:53,950 --> 00:37:55,330 But how about we do that tomorrow? 737 00:37:56,460 --> 00:37:57,090 Come back tomorrow. 738 00:37:57,090 --> 00:37:59,070 Let me, just leave me alone to myself today. 739 00:38:01,365 --> 00:38:06,305 Church, that's how a lot of us treat our relationship with Jesus, discipleship. 740 00:38:07,845 --> 00:38:11,025 Jesus is beckoning us into a life of discipleship that's going to cost, it's 741 00:38:11,025 --> 00:38:14,345 going to challenge our expectations, but in the end it's going to yield a joy way 742 00:38:14,345 --> 00:38:16,245 better than any joy this world offers us. 743 00:38:16,245 --> 00:38:21,334 And yet, we are so risk averse to doing anything that might put us 744 00:38:21,345 --> 00:38:25,005 in danger for Jesus that we look at Jesus and say, thanks, but no thanks. 745 00:38:25,005 --> 00:38:27,765 But if you want to come to tea, I'm good with you coming to tea. 746 00:38:28,055 --> 00:38:29,565 Just how about tomorrow, not today? 747 00:38:31,945 --> 00:38:33,925 And when that's our approach to discipleship, we leave 748 00:38:33,925 --> 00:38:34,784 so much on the table. 749 00:38:36,305 --> 00:38:39,185 So much on the table that He could do for us and through us. 750 00:38:39,945 --> 00:38:42,775 Our three groups again, baby Christians, early Christians. 751 00:38:43,205 --> 00:38:45,774 Listen, in the years in front of you, you're going to experience God's provision 752 00:38:45,774 --> 00:38:47,654 in the ways that you have never imagined. 753 00:38:48,724 --> 00:38:50,965 But here's what I want to encourage you along the lines of what Jesus is 754 00:38:50,965 --> 00:38:52,245 talking about here in this third point. 755 00:38:52,585 --> 00:38:56,274 I want to encourage you early on in your walk with Christ, baby Christians. 756 00:38:57,065 --> 00:39:00,505 Develop a deep pattern of prayer in your life. 757 00:39:02,235 --> 00:39:04,115 Ingrain prayer as a part of your life. 758 00:39:04,645 --> 00:39:06,944 Begin praying and asking God to do big things for you. 759 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:11,280 In accordance with the will of God and for the sake of Jesus. 760 00:39:11,750 --> 00:39:14,490 Talk to any believer in the room who's been a believer for a while, 761 00:39:14,490 --> 00:39:17,610 myself included, and we would all say, I wish I had prayed more as a 762 00:39:17,610 --> 00:39:21,460 young Christian and made it more a regular part of my walk with Christ. 763 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:26,869 Develop that early on, and it will pay dividends for you and your 764 00:39:26,869 --> 00:39:28,229 relationship and your discipleship. 765 00:39:28,870 --> 00:39:30,370 Second season Christians, let me talk to you. 766 00:39:30,740 --> 00:39:35,610 Don't let prayer slip to the back burner, or if it has, get it off the back burner. 767 00:39:37,210 --> 00:39:39,280 We need to be continually praying. 768 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:43,670 And it's easy for us in this stage of discipleship that's the majority 769 00:39:43,670 --> 00:39:47,960 of our lifetime as Christians to fall prey to the to do list Christianity. 770 00:39:48,865 --> 00:39:52,825 Well, I show up to church and I, I do the daily Bible reading and I listen to the 771 00:39:52,825 --> 00:39:55,995 podcast and I'm serving and I'm taking notes and I'm attending a community 772 00:39:55,995 --> 00:39:59,615 group and I'm putting off sin, therefore I'm good, my discipleship is great, 773 00:39:59,615 --> 00:40:01,105 but there's a key component missing. 774 00:40:04,514 --> 00:40:07,454 See, that's like trying to have a good marriage through keeping on top 775 00:40:07,455 --> 00:40:10,655 of your honey do list and remembering the significant milestones and stay, 776 00:40:10,695 --> 00:40:15,695 staying faithful to your spouse, but yet never communicating with her. 777 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:22,560 Never actually having the very fabric of the relationship in place. 778 00:40:24,490 --> 00:40:28,930 You can do all of the other things, that's not going to make a good relationship. 779 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,100 So seasoned believer, get prayer off the back burner. 780 00:40:32,140 --> 00:40:33,989 Bring it back in. 781 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:37,400 Start praying big things for God and trust Him with what He will do. 782 00:40:37,430 --> 00:40:41,339 And then finally, aged believer, don't forget to keep praying 783 00:40:41,350 --> 00:40:42,620 and ask God to keep using you. 784 00:40:42,620 --> 00:40:44,950 Some of you in the room are retired. 785 00:40:45,630 --> 00:40:46,540 I had to break it to you. 786 00:40:47,010 --> 00:40:48,600 There's no retirement from discipleship. 787 00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:51,890 You are not off the hook. 788 00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,230 We need you desperately. 789 00:40:55,500 --> 00:40:59,860 If you are on the backside of your life, you would say, man, 790 00:41:00,110 --> 00:41:01,329 the finish line is approaching. 791 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:04,460 Don't sideline yourself. 792 00:41:05,540 --> 00:41:09,980 You have some of the most fruitful wisdom to impart to future generations 793 00:41:10,750 --> 00:41:12,010 of anybody else in this room. 794 00:41:13,060 --> 00:41:16,970 So pray, keep praying, keep praying that God will use you, 795 00:41:17,170 --> 00:41:19,930 that you will be fruitful all the way through until the end. 796 00:41:22,110 --> 00:41:23,460 Rest is coming, but not yet. 797 00:41:24,930 --> 00:41:25,380 Not yet. 798 00:41:27,770 --> 00:41:28,350 Discipleship. 799 00:41:28,990 --> 00:41:30,600 What does it look like to follow Jesus? 800 00:41:31,230 --> 00:41:34,190 If somebody were to ask you that question, I think an appropriate response 801 00:41:34,190 --> 00:41:36,980 would be it's hard and it's worth it. 802 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:41,010 It's hard and it's worth it. 803 00:41:42,339 --> 00:41:47,740 As Jesus continued to prep his disciples for life without him, as Judas was 804 00:41:48,340 --> 00:41:52,579 making his way there, he knew they would face unexpected challenges. 805 00:41:53,479 --> 00:41:56,240 He knew they would have to forfeit worldly pleasures that it was 806 00:41:56,240 --> 00:41:57,530 going to cost them to follow him. 807 00:41:58,710 --> 00:42:04,140 And He knew that it was going to be proved to be a greater source of a better joy 808 00:42:04,170 --> 00:42:05,620 than anything else this world could offer. 809 00:42:08,290 --> 00:42:11,550 Discipleship is, in so many ways, an unexpected journey. 810 00:42:12,730 --> 00:42:13,879 It's an unexpected journey. 811 00:42:15,020 --> 00:42:17,949 I'm just glad that our guide is the Spirit, not Gandalf. 812 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:20,859 Will you stand with me and let's pray.