23 “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.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall
receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time
cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall
shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that
I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and
have believed that I came out from God.
28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again,
I leave the world, and go to the Father.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and
speakest no proverb.
30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not
that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest
forth from God.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.”
1. Ask In My Name
2. Plain Talk
3. Peace And Tribulation
1. Ask In My Name
Verses twenty-three and twenty-four: “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.”
Do you see those words “in that day”? I am asking an important
question. It is very important to understand when “that day” will
occur. Because whenever that day comes, it will be a day that
“whatsoever” they “shall ask the Father in” Jesus’
“name, the Father
“will give it” to them. What a promise!
So when will it be “that day”? Was it during, or after the forty
days that Jesus appeared to his disciples [after He arose from the
grave] [having conquered death]? In “what day” would His disciples
be able to ask “whatsoever” of the Father in Jesus’ name, that
HE
would give to them?
The answer is right before you. You need to fasten on to it, and
BELIEVE it. The disciple’s future sorrow turning into joy is
THREE
FOLD.
• First, after the resurrection, the disciples sorrow turned into
joy knowing that Jesus Christ was alive … having risen from the
grave. “And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with
great joy: [Luke 24:52].
• Second, the disciples of Jesus Christ and all the believers of
Jesus Christ for the last two thousand years will have their sorrow
turned into joy when we meet the SON of GOD in the clouds in the
translation of the Body of Christ … The Church. [1 Peter 4:13]
“But
rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that,
when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy.”
• Lastly, at the beginning of the Millennium the Jewish people will
have their sorrow and mourning turned into joy. [Zechariah 12:10]
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they
shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for
him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness
for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” [Isaiah
35:10] “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain
joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
The answer is this. “That day” is a reference to a future day.
“That
day” is in reference to the days in an upcoming KINGDOM … the
Kingdom of Heaven. During the MILLENIUM the saints of
GOD will ask
“the Father in my name”, and the FATHER will give it them.
Therefore, John sixteen is pointing doctrinally to the time of the
millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. This promise is
primarily for those believers living on the earth in that time.
Now, hear me. John sixteen verse twenty-four applies to us, too
[DEVOTIONALLY]. We need to ask of the FATHER, because the
LORD wants
us to have our JOY be made FULL. Amen!
“Hitherto have ye asked
nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be
full.”
In this dispensation … the Dispensation of Grace the most important
thing to ask in Jesus Christ’s NAME is what the man asked Jesus for
in the book of Mark, chapter nine, verse twenty-four. Let us go
there. “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said
with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” [Mark 9:24]
If a man, or a woman, or a child, can come to this point and ask God for
this HELP, he or she is on the road to SALVATION. Amen! If we
ASK
for HELP to BELIEVE on the NAME of Jesus Christ,
GOD will give the
GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE to you. What greater
thing can be asked for? This is the
most important “whatsoever” we can ask for in this age. Whatsoever
else we ask for, after that issue [salvation] is settled, is
frosting on the cake. We need to claim the promises of God!
2. Plain Talk
Verse twenty-five: “These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs:
but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in
proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.” And verse
twenty-nine: “His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou
plainly, and speakest no proverb.”
Bottom-line, and there is no “ifs” and “buts” about it, only
GOD can
open up your heart [and mine] to what in is this Bible.
Look what
the BOOK says in First Corinthians. “For what man knoweth the things
of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things
of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received,
not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we
might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” [1
Corinthians 2:11-12]
It is only by the Spirit of God that this BOOK becomes
PLAIN. Amen!
Now, we have already seen who this SCRIPTURE is talking to … in the
first person. Jesus Christ is talking to his disciples, and every
one of them is a Jew. Remember, Israel was still in THE LAND. Do you
see that word: “time” again, here in our text? It is referring to a
“time” that is coming, that has a millennial fulfillment for the
nation of Israel. During the “time” of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus
Christ will “shew you [Israel] plainly of
the Father.”
For us, who live now in “the times of the Gentiles”, [Luke 21:24] we
have the Holy Ghost in us [if we are saved] that reveals to us the
deep things of God. [1 Corinthians 2:10] “But God hath revealed them
unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the
deep things of God.”
3. Peace And Tribulation
Verse thirty-three: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be
of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
In “the times of the Gentiles” is the CHURCH age, and it is that
period of time when God would take out some of the [Gentiles] for
own people. [God has been doing this for the last two thousand
years.] This is shown to us in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.
Turn to Acts chapter fifteen.
Now, look at verse fourteen. “Simeon hath declared how God at the
first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his
name.” [Acts 15:14] It was by the mouth of Paul that the
Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel, and believe on the Jesus Christ.
The believers in this age [the true Christians] have something that
the world doesn’t know, nor understand, nor can it understand, and
it is this: “the peace of God”. Only Christians have it! Amen! It is
a promise of God to the believer, and it is in Philippians four,
verse seven: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” [Philippians
4:7]
Jesus Christ, [in verse thirty-three of our text in John], knew that
His disciples, and all the believers in this age, would have to face
troubles, trials and tribulation in this life. Now, this being so
... is
just part and parcel of being a Christian. It is the baggage! Philippians chapter one,
verse twenty-nine bares this truth out. Look at for yourself.
“For
unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on
him, but also to suffer for his sake;" [Philippians 1:29].
Go to
Second Corinthians chapter one, verse five: “For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and
salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings
which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your
consolation and salvation.” [2 Corinthians 1:5-6]
Knowing all this would fall on us as believers, Jesus sent the
COMFORTER to INDWELL in us who believe. [Acts 1:8] This began the
ministries of the Holy Ghost in indwelling the believer, in sealing
the believer, empowering the believer, comforting the believer, and
filling the believer of Jesus Christ. [Thus, the Body of Christ …
the Church … began with these ministries of the Holy Ghost in the
believer … fifty days after the RESURECTION of Jesus Christ.]
We see the COMFORT of God that brings PEACE to the believer in
Second Corinthians chapter one, verse four: “Who comforteth us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are
in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God.” [2 Corinthians 1:4]
Finally we have this. When Jesus said: “be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.” He was showing us the way the Spirit filled
Christian would hold sway in the spiritual warfare in this life. If
Jesus Christ overcame the world, it follows that Jesus Christ would
make provision for the true Christian to overcome the world, and
HE
HAS! Amen! [1 John 4:4] “Ye are of God, little children, and have
overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is
in the world.”
Hebrews chapter two, verse ten: “For it became him, for whom are all
things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings.” [This is the purpose for trials, tribulation and
sufferings.] “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are
sanctified are all of one:” [This a reference to the Body of Christ
… the Church] “for which cause he is not ashamed to call them
brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the
midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” [Hebrews 2:10-12]
John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you,
that ye should not be offended.
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service.
John 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have
not known the Father, nor me.
John 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall
come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I
said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
John 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you
asketh me, Whither goest thou?
John 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath
filled your heart.
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you
that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and
of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see
me no more;
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot
bear them now.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you
things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and
shall show it unto you.
John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said
I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a
little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
John 16:17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is
this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me:
and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to
the Father?
John 16:18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little
while? we cannot tell what he saith.
John 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and
said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A
little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while,
and ye shall see me?
John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and
lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but
your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her
hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she
remembereth no more
the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you
again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from
you.
John 16:23 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.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the
time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I
shall show you
plainly of the Father.
John 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto
you, that I will pray the Father for you:
John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved
me, and have believed that I came out from God.
John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world:
again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou
plainly, and speakest no proverb.
John 16:30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest
not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou
camest forth from God.
John 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall
be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and
yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might
have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.