Joy, Full Of Glory, Eagerly Awaiting...

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.

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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.

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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,