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Contentment

I. How has your suffering in difficult times affected those around you? Are you a positive influence to others in your trials?

II. Read Jn 16:1-4. How could this be an encouragement to the disciples? Does it encourage you?

16“I have said all these things* to you to keep you from falling away. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. [The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.]

*These things:

  1. Jn 14.1-3 Future home with Christ and the Father in Heaven. Motif of Jewish husband preparing for his betrothed and fetching her.
  1. Jn 14.10-11 They have seen the Father by seeing Jesus.
  1. Jn 14.12 They’ll do greater works than Jesus did.
  1. Jn 14.13-14 Promise of answered prayer.
  1. Jn 14.15, 21 They’ll show their love for Him by their obedience to Him.
  1. Jn 14.16-17, 26 Promise of the Holy Spirit

6a. Truth

6b. Indwelling

6c. Will teach them

6d. 15.26 Will bear witness about Christ

  1. Jn 14.23, 28 Promise of the Father and the Son coming to live with each disciple.
  1. Jn 14.27 Peace
  1. Jn 15.1-11, 16 Instruction and promise of they being part of the vine, Christ’s enabling presence. Abide in…

9a. His love

9b. His commandments

  1. Jn 15.12-13, 17 Commandment to love one another
  1. Jn 15.14-15 Promotion from servants to Christ’s friends
  1. Jn 15.18-25 Warning and encouragement to expect the world’s resistance and God’s support
  1. Jn 15.27 A mission to bear witness about Christ to the world
  2. Read Jn 17:12. Why would Christians need “keeping”?

“Keeping” translates the aorist active of tēréō. Zodhiates:to watch, observe attentively, keep the eyes fixed upon. Kittel: literally to guard. So to protect and preserve. As in Jn 10.28-29.

III. Read Jn 17:17. How does this play out in Christian contentment?

Action: Sanctify: reserve and preserve for exclusive use by God.

Means: Truth, via God’s word. Ps 119.9, 11, 105