Summary: John 16:33 "I told you these things..." like "I am the vine, you are the branches, unless you abide in me...", "You did not choose me but I chose you to bear fruit", and "As much as the Father has loved me I have loved you" - we're to bear fruit - if I want peace in my life, I need to be a branch and daily abide in Jesus - Jesus is saying, "I want you to know, if you want to be in Me, and you want this peace in the midst of this trouble, then you have to become a branch in the vine. You have to let your life become entwined with My life. You can't just add Me as an attachment." - "In Me" you have peace, "In this world" you have trouble. We're living in two realities at the same time. - we're to take heart - hold on, don't dispare, and turn to the cross - Heb 6:13-20 - we must be anchored and focused on the cross where Jesus overcame At the cross we see... - that God loves us - God allows freedom but He maintains control (God is in control yet He gives us freedom) - God can use the worst for eternal good (the cross anchors us to this hope!) - it is the bright shining piece that is part of the greater canvas that God is painting Jesus on the cross is saying... - I love you - there is freedom but I have never lost control - I will take the worst and use it for eternal good - there is a canvas bigger than you understand The cross reminds us... - Jesus suffered loss - Jesus suffered rejection - Jesus went through pain - Jesus suffered death What the enemy means for evil - God will turn for good!
