A Courageous Heart

John 14:16-31

REALIZING THE NEED OF A "WHOLE-HEART", JESUS BEGAN TO INSTRUCT HIS DISCIPLES CONCERNING THEIR HEARTS. HE HAD TOLD THEM HOW TO GET AND KEEP CLEAN HEARTS, HOW TO HAVE CALM HEARTS, AND HOW TO HAVE PRAYING HEARTS. THIS MORNING. WE WANT TO CONSIDER A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WHICH DEALS WITH WHY WE CAN AND SHOULD HAVE COURAGEOUS HEARTS IN THIS WORLD.

THERE IS NOTHING QUITE SO UNSETTLING AS WALKING IN DARKNESS, NOT KNOWING THE WAY. HOW MUCH BETTER TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH US WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO PROTECT US FROM HAZARDS ALONG THE WAY. FOR THREE YEARS, THE DISCIPLES DEPENDED UPON JESUS CHRIST FOR EVERYTHING. HE TOOK CARE OF THE STORMS, SUPPLIED THEIR EVERY NEED, AND ANSWERED THE CRITICS. IT WAS EASY TO BE HIS DISCIPLE AS LONG AS HE WAS BY THEIR SIDE, BUT NOW JESUS WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE THEM. HE WOULD NOT BE THERE TO TALK WITH THEM AND HELP THEM IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. THE DISCIPLES BEGAN TO FEEL LONELY, WEAK, AND WITHOUT DIRECTION.

JESUS CAME TO THEM WITH WORDS OF ASSURANCE. NOTE: VL8 CHRIST WOULD NOT ABANDON HIS CHILDREN. HE WOULD SEND THEM ANOTHER (OF THE SAME KIND) COMFORTER. WITH THIS NEW COMFORTER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WOULD COME THE COURAGE TO FACE WHATEVER NEED BE. CONSIDER WITH ME THIS MORNING WHY THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD BRING COURAGE TO THEIR HEARTS AND OURS TODAY.

I. HE IS A "LIVING HELPER".

II. HE IS A "LIVING COMPANION".

III. HE IS A "LIVING TEACHER".

IV. HE IS A "WELL OF WATER".

CONCLUSION: A HELPER, A COMPANION, A TEACHER, AND A SOURCE OF FLOWING REFRESHING WATER. IT IS OURS TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH. WITH SUCH A SUPPLY OF ENERGY, THE DISCIPLES WERE MORE PREPARED TO FACE THE DARK NIGHTS AHEAD OF THEM. THEIR FEARFUL HEARTS WERE STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED WHEN THEY HEARD THAT CHRIST WOULD STILL BE WITH THEM IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. CHRIST BY HIS SPIRIT IS WITH US. COURAGE DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHO YOU ARE BUT ON WHO IS STANDING BESIDE YOU.