First Baptist Church, South Haven
Join us for in-person worship in the sanctuary or live on Facebook at 10:30am. The service will also be posted to YouTube and Archive later in the week.
Inexpressible and Glorious Joy
1 Peter 1:8-12
Pastor Jerry Koller
1 Peter 1:8-12 NIV
· The phrase have not seen in verse 8 is a reference to the past.
· You do not see Him now is a reference to the present.
· Love is in the present tense and is to be understood as a regular or continuous activity.
· Believe comes from a word that means to have confidence in or to depend on.
Inexpressible (vs. 8) means to not be able to put into words.
Glorious means splendor. It means unbelievably delightful.
Both words are used to describe the joy of which the saints are filled. Notice this joy is present even though it exists with trials, grief, or sorrow.
Peter knew a thing or two about suffering trials and persecutions as did the Apostle Paul who said,
2 Timothy 1:12 NIV
Love and belief in Jesus should result in an inexpressible and glorious joy.
The phrase you are receiving (vs. 9) reflect the tension of what scholars call “the already but not yet.”
A study of the Scripture will reveal three aspects of salvation—a past, present, and future aspect. They can be summed up in the statement, You were save, are being saved, and will be saved.
Past Aspect:
Ephesians 1:3 NIV
Present Aspect
Philippians 2:12-13 NIV
Future Aspect
1 Peter 1:5 NIV
Salvation’s progression includes foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification (Romans 8).
The word soul is to be understood as the entire person, a living being that included the material and immaterial.
Prophets of God spoke of the grace that was to come as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (vs. 10).
· This caused them to search intently and with the greatest care (vs. 10 states) as to the time and circumstances involved (vs. 11).
The Holy Spirit revealed to them that their prophesies would not come about in their lifetime (vs. 12).
· Their message would serve those in the future, not themselves.
Matthew 13:17 NIV
Even angels long to look into these things. (vs.12)
· Angels are spiritual beings created by God.
· They are servants and ministers of God who are powerful beings.
· Prior to Jesus’ coming, the Gospel was mystery to the angels just as it was to the prophets.
· Jesus did not come to save them. As such, salvation has no bearing on them.
The phrase to look comes from a word that means to peek into a situation as an outsider.
In verse 11, the Spirit moved the prophets. In verse 12, the Spirit moved individuals to preach the Gospel.
APPLICATION
If you are in Christ Jesus, we have experienced, we are the recipients of what the prophets foretold and longed to understand experientially.
Our faith is not in some abstract ideas or a set of rules and regulations. It is grounded in Jesus Christ.
We have never seen Jesus face-to-face like Peter did. Yet we love Him. How are you expressing this love?
We believe in Him for we walk by faith and not by sight.
Someday, all those who are in Christ will have the opportunity to see Him face-to-face.
In the meantime, as we live as sojourners in this world, may we do so by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus Christ.
Are you filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy in Jesus?
· Pete Danapilis is scheduled to have back surgery on 10/19. Pray that it is successful and he gets relief from pain.
· Rocky (Stan Robinson' uncle) is hospitalized in Arkansas with a staph infection in the blood from the dialysis port. He has to have the IV in and receive antibiotics for another three weeks at least
· Norma Bales (Curt Bales’ mom) is receiving Hospice care.
· Joyce Bocock is consulting with an oncologist. Please continue to keep her in prayer.
· Gary Wilson (Jeff Wilson's dad) has had a recurrence of cancer. He is choosing not to pursue treatment. Please keep him and his family in prayer.
· Elizabeth (Rhonda Dobberstein's niece) is 7 months pregnant with a very high-risk pregnancy. She is bleeding and needs surgery to get her cervix stitched, but it keeps getting postponed. Please pray that the baby remains stable.
· Craig & Theresa Reese (Rhonda Dobberstein's brother and sister-in-law): Theresa, is receiving Hospice care. Craig has taken time off from work so he can be with her 24/7.
· Linda Newell is recovering from surgery to have a rotator cuff repaired.
· Ruby Robinson (Stan & Jean Robinson’s sister-in-law, Bruce Robinson’s stepmom) has been diagnosed with colon cancer and is receiving chemo which is making her very sick. She is not able to work.
· Beth Bocock is recovering from a knee injury.
· Vincent Bryant (Miriam Bryant’s son) is recovering from a broken ankle.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.
First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com