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John 16:33 - Peace In Tribulation.

John 16:33 - Peace In Tribulation.

John 16:33 (KJV)  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. 

John 16:33 (CWR)  I'm telling you this so that in me you can 
have peace.  As long as you're in this world, you'll have trouble.  
But take heart!  I have defeated the evil one and have overcome the 
world.  

CONTEXT

The Disciples' Grief Will Turn to Joy: John 16:16-33.

The worlds defeat (25-33). In the next few hours, the disciples 
would watch their world fall apart; and yet Jesus assured them that He 
was the winner. "I have overcome the world" is a fact, not a 
promise, and it applies to us today. We are overcomers through Him (1 
John 5:1-5). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe 
re John 16] 

CONTENT

Notice the contrasts: between "in me" and "in this world" and 
between "peace" and "trouble." [NIV SB] 

APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis On Verse 33.

Art thou asking the reason of this, believer? Look upward to thy 
heavenly Father, and behold him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou 
art one day to be like him? Wilt thou easily be conformed to his 
image? Wilt thou not require much refining in the furnace of affliction 
to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy 
corruptions, and make thee perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is 
perfect? Next, Christian, turn thine eye downward. Dost thou know what 
foes thou hast beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, 
and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that 
Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he 
"goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Expect 
trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee. Then look 
around thee. Where art thou? Thou art in an enemy's country, a stranger 
and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then thou 
art not God's friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the 
enemy of God. Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere. When 
thou sleepest, think that thou art resting on the battlefield; when 
thou walkest, suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are 
said to bite strangers more than natives, so will the trials of earth 
be sharpest to you. Lastly, look within thee, into thine own heart 
and observe what is there. Sin and self are still within. Ah! if 
thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to fight thee, and no 
world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyself evil enough 
to be a sore trouble to thee, for "the heart is deceitful above all 
things, and desperately wicked." Expect trouble then, but despond not on 
account of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He 
hath said, "I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and 
honour thee." [Morning and Evening by Charles H.Spurgeon] 

God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we 
overcome. The strain is the strength. If there is no strain, there is no 
strength. Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He 
cannot, unless you will accept the strain. Immediately you face the 
strain, you will get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take 
the step, and God will give you to eat of the tree of life and you 
will get nourishment. If you spend yourself out physically, you 
become exhausted; but spend yourself spiritually, and you get more 
strength. God never gives strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but 
only for the strain of the minute. [My Utmost for His Highest by 
Oswald Chambers] 

Christ's humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for 
the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And He came to 
make us partakers of the divine nature. So long as we are united to 
Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the 
hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity 
of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character. And how 
this is accomplished, Christ has shown us. By what means did He 
overcome in the conflict with Satan? By the word of God. Only by the word 
could He resist temptation. "It is written," He said. And unto us are 
given "exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might 
be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption 
that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. Every promise in 
God's word is ours. "By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of 
God" are we to live. When assailed by temptation, look not to 
circumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the word. All 
its strength is yours. DA123  

Nothing could be more verifiable:  In the world you will have 
trouble!  We have trouble with our health, marriage, children, career, 
finances, even in our Christian walk, and the list goes on forever!  How 
in the world can we have peace?  This scripture clearly shows that 
peace and troubles can go together!  But how, you say? The key is 
knowing that God is in complete control of everything and that troubles 
in our life very often cause us to seek Him more.  "In Me" suggests 
that there is a place of refuge, a place of peace, even in the midst 
of real life problems.  How can we be found "in Him?"  If you want 
to be in Seattle, and you are not there, you must go there.  Take 
steps in that direction.  The same applies to the peace of being in 
Him.  If you are searching for peace in the midst of the storm of 
life, spend time reading His word; speak often and long to Him; listen 
for His still, small voice of comfort.  And peace will come!  [In 
His Time; Walk With Wisdom] 

  Coming to know the Lord at thirteen was a turning point in my 
life. The adolescent years were filled with deep grief and turmoil for 
me as our family faced life with my father, who was an abusive 
alcoholic. Each day as I was learning everything I could about a heavenly 
Father, I had to face my worldly father. There were times when the 
alcohol and abuse seemed too much to bear, and those days of trial and 
tribulation were extraordinarily difficult. 
  One day while reading my Bible, I came upon John 16:33. I 
remember weeping as I experienced a sense of the Lord's presence. At that 
very moment, God revealed to me that through him I could have peace 
in all things and that although we live in a fallen world, I could 
have joy through him because the world has no power over God. He has 
overcome the world. He is the conqueror, defeater, and deliverer, and he 
reigns over all things. That Scripture verse carried me through my high 
school days until I left home to find healing. God used it to give 
peace to my heart during my toughest days. 
  Oh yes, and this is no small thing: My earthly father now 
serves the God who reigns over the world. He never misses church on 
Sunday. 
  Tina Samples is a music therapist, worship minister, speaker, 
singer-songwriter, pastor's wife, and mother of two boys. [The One Year Bible Live 
Verse Devotional] 

  God has kept no secrets. He has told us that, while on this 
yellow brick road [of life], we will experience trouble. Disease will 
afflict bodies. Divorce will break hearts. Death will make widows and 
devastation will destroy countries. We should not expect any less. But just 
because the devil shows up and cackles, we needn't panic. 
  Our Master speaks of an accomplished deed ... "It is finished" 
(John 19:30). The battle is over. Be alert. But don't be alarmed ... 
The manuscript has been published. The book has been bound. Satan is 
loosed for a season, but the season is oh-so-brief ... Just a few more 
scenes, just a few more turns in the road, and his end will come. [Grace 
For The Moment SB By Max Lucado] 

EXCELLENT MINI-VIDEO ON THIS PASSAGE:

http://www.itiswritten.com/television#episodes/2299