2022.02.20 Joy, Full of Glory, Eagerly Awaiting
William Akehurst, HSWC
1 Peter 1:3-12
What is Joy? Is it Happiness?
This following in hashmarks “###” came to me as I was delivering the message below. And I had to come back and write it down.
# # #
Joy full of Glory and expectantly awaiting CHRIST’s Return. 1 Peter 1:3-12.
At Vs. 8. “Joy unspeakable full of glory”, something came out of my mouth that I had not prepared regarding Joy and Happiness.
Happiness is a physical feeling we experience based on our state of existence. And Happiness can be altered and disrupted by the experiences of our reality.
Joy however, is a Spiritual state of being that only comes from the FATHER by way of HOLY SPIRIT in us.
The difference is that happiness can be lost during sorrow. But in CHRIST, and by HIS SPIRIT, we can find Joy in those same times of sorrow.
Joy is one of the fruits of the SPIRIT, Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, …”
So in order to experience true Joy in our lives despite our circumstances, requires us to be fully surrendered to CHRIST JESUS and sealed by HOLY SPIRIT.
I think of my dad’s death. He was working outside his home when the LORD called him HOME! When the coroner came later in the evening, she said something that I will always remember. Dad had a smile on his face, and she said, we can’t put a smile on the face of the deceased, he saw something coming, and it made him smile.
I’d say it made him JOYFUL!
And gave me peace in knowing that JESUS came for my dad, and dad left us a smile to know…it is well.
So I could rejoice that day when the LORD called my dad HOME, with the very JOY that only the LORD could place in me.
# # #
Picking up on the past week’s messages, we looked into the Roman Road, scriptures that lead us to salvation. In that we stopped at Romans 3:23 and examined our shortcoming to who GOD created mankind to be.
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Remembering that we all fall short of GOD’s Glory, but through JESUS CHRIST, we can be restored to Glorify FATHER GOD.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Then we looked at GOD’s GLORY.
Revealed in the Heavens and Earth Psalm 19:1-3, and through mankind created in GOD’s Image in Genesis.
Next, we examined that JESUS is the GLORY of the FATHER as we were designed to be, but when sin entered into this world, all mankind was tainted with sin and short of GOD’s GLORY. JESUS on the other hand was sinless, having not the bloodline of Adam, but the bloodline of GOD the FATHER by the HOLY SPIRIT through the virgin birth.
Finally we see the GLORY of GOD in HIS Narrow Path to Salvation through JESUS CHRIST by HIS GREAT MERCY that we should be restored to how HE designed and created us to be.
So, as we examine 1 Peter 1:3-12 today, we can praise GOD for being MERCIFUL to us.
It is through that mercy that HE has made us to be born again into hope that is alive through the death and resurrection of JESUS.
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We are GOD’S CHILDREN, with an inheritance waiting in heaven that is pure and everlasting.
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
RESERVED for those who are kept by god’s power by faith, believing in his great gift to all who would receive; salvation.
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
SALVATION HAS COME to us some 2000 years ago through JESUS CHRIST. We have even marked our calendars by HIS existence.
But this Vs. 5 speaks of salvation to be revealed in the last time.
This was written by Peter after seeing the MESSIAH, the long awaited ONE, and HIS death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The last time…when CHRIST shall return for his church, those who are saved by the Grace of GOD will see salvation revealed in the rapture of the CHURCH.
And IN THIS, we can rejoice!
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
BUT, WE can expect to go through some stuff, to refine us and purify our faith, to make it stand firm in adversity and become strong in the LORD and be a Praise, Honor and Glorifying faith when JESUS RETURNS.
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
We believe and have joy that isn’t defined by words, but it brings glory to JESUS.
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
And when we come to the end of life, whether individually or collectively, Our Faith will become sight, as we see what Salvation truly is in light of being in GOD’s Presence.
9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
SALVATION FUTURE. The prophets of the ancient scriptures foretold of GOD’s grace that would come to us, even to this very day.
1 Peter 1:10-12 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT of CHRIST, they wrote of the sufferings of the MESSIAH, and the Glory that would come.
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
IT WAS REVEALED to them by the HOLY SPIRIT, so that their reports would bring the GOOD NEWS to all people.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
We look back at Salvation having COME (PAST)
Yet when we receive CHRIST JESUS as that MESSIAH who was prophesied long ago, we receive HIM now (PRESENT)
And then, Scripture speaks of Salvation in the last days, in the end of time as Salvation yet to come. (FUTURE)
The JOY of knowing that we are saved, and will be saved produces Joy that is not definable. And We wait for HIM with great expectation.
GOD’s LOVE and the way HE Shows it is amazing. HE calls us HIS CHILDREN!
1 John 3:1-3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
AND the WORLD doesn’t want any part of us because it didn’t recognize the MESSIAH, CHRIST JESUS.
WE are GOD’s CHILDREN, but it hasn’t been revealed what it will be like, we can imagine, but what actually will take place is beyond our imagination.
WE shall see HIM as HE is!
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
While We Wait, we must examine ourselves, confess our sins and allow JESUS to cleans us. (1 John 1:9)
JESUS tells us we will have times of sorrow, but HE promises to come for us. JOY will fill our hearts in believing in HIM.
John 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
JESUS has gone to prepare our place. And promises to come and get us. Whether individually in death, or collectively in the Rapture of HIS CHURCH.
John 14:1-3
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Comfort and Rejoice in those words.
EAGERLY AWAITING JESUS to come for us.
Titus 2:13 …waiting (looking) for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
EAGERLY WAITING for HIS 2nd Coming, bringing us into all purity, without sin, for our Salvation and Presentation before GOD the FATHER.
Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
KEEP LOOKING, Be Joyful in the LORD and HIS Love for you.
Jude 1:21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
It’s YOUR CHOICE and IT’s PERSONAL
Romans 10:9-10 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
