The Coming of the Comforter                                     John 16:1-33                                      (Continued)

3. THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLY GHOST (John 16:16-33) (Continued)
2. Their Sorrow Turned to Joy (John 16:20-24) (Continued)
3. The joy of enduring quantity (John 16:22-23)
1. The coming of joy at the presence of the Lord (John 16:22)
2. The joy that no man can take away (John 16:22)
3. The power of praying in the name of Jesus (John 16:23)
1. Not to ask of the Son. This is not a command against praying to the Son under all circumstances. Rather, it is a change in standard practice. Instead of asking the Son to speak to the Father in our behalf (John 16:26), we can boldly come to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) in the name of and by the authority of the Son. See also Romans 8:32.
2. But to ask of the Father
1. In the name of the Son
2. To receive of the Father (see Romans 8:34)
4. The joy of complete quality (John 16:24)
1. To ask in the name of the Son
2. To ask and to receive
3. To have fullness of joy (John 15:11; 1 John 1:4). The joy of the Christian life is directly related to asking requests of the Father and having them granted (1 Samuel 2:1; Job 33:26; Isaiah 56:7; Romans 12:12; Philippians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).
3. Their Confusion Turned to Understanding (John 16:25-30)
1. Speaking in proverbs (John 16:25)
1. The time past: a time of proverbs (Matthew 13:10-17; Mark 4:33; John 16:12)
2. The time to come: a time of plainness (2 Corinthians 3:12)
1. No more in proverbs; there are no parables in the New Testament epistles.
2. To plainly show the Father
2. Speaking plainly (John 16:26-28)
1. Concerning prayer (John 16:26-27)
1. The change in protocol concerning prayer (John 16:26)
1. The old way: ask the Son to ask the Father for you.
2. The new way: ask the Father in the Son’s name.
2. The change in relationship to the Father (John 16:27)
1. The Father Himself loves you.
2. The cause for the change
1. You have loved the Father’s Son.
2. You have believed in the Son.
2. Concerning His leaving (John 16:28)
1. The Son came
1. From the Father
2. Into the world
2. The Son leaves
1. The world
2. To go to the Father
3. Surprising the disciples (John 16:29-30)
1. They recognize His plainness of speech (John 16:29).
2. They believe that He came from the Father (John 16:30).
1. Because He knows all things
2. Because He does not need men to ask Him
4. Their Tribulation Turned to Peace (John 16:31-33)
1. The scattering of the disciples (John 16:31-32)
1. Jesus questions the fullness of their faith (John 16:31).
2. Jesus prophesies the failure of their faith (John 16:.32).
1. The hour has come.
2. The disciples will be scattered (Matthew 26:31, 56; Zechariah 13:7).
1. Every man to his own
2. Leaving Jesus alone
1. Yet not alone
2. For the Father is with Him
2. The overcoming of the world (John 16:33; John 14:27; Romans 8:37)
1. Peace is available in Jesus Christ.
2. Tribulation will be had in the world.
3. But Christ has overcome the world.
4. The disciples can be of good cheer.