JOY UNSPEAKABLE & FULL OF GLORY
Reading: 1 Peter Chapter 1 (NIV)
Text: v8 (AV) ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Background
The apostle Peter, wrote to the Jewish Christians who had been scattered due to persecution around the time of the stoning of Stephen, during the period prior to Saul's conversion (Acts 8v1-4).
It’s a letter of encouragement to these Christians going through much trouble and trial, especially concerning their present sufferings and their future glory.
The text in v8 is familiar but "What is that Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory?" and "How can this be a real experience in our own daily Christian lives?"
Introduction
The phrase is written literally in Greek as "you exult with joy unspeakable and glorified" The Amplified Bible is a little more explicit: "and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy."
The immediate context of this verse is "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him..."
The wider context is that these Christians were experiencing with serious difficulties and troubles.
They had been scattered by persecution with all the deprivations and trials disrupting their lives;
they were living literally in exile from their homes and families; they were suffering big problems where they were presently living yet their faith and their trust in God were unshakeable.
No wonder they had the joy that comes down from heaven; that glorious joy that’s too great to be expressed in words; a joy that others can know nothing of.
Three points:
1. What is this Heavenly Joy?
2. Why you can experience this Special Joy
3. How you can receive this Unspeakable and Glorious Joy.
These believers were already experiencing this supernatural joy. It was already theirs. Peter here was making it plain so that they could see and understand amidst their earthly problems and trials.
As Christians in this world, we’re standing against falling standards and general acceptance of many things contrary to the Christian and the Bible way. It's hard work to stand uo for Christian values and not be influenced by the continual peer pressure of what is now generally accepted as “normal”.
But for these Christians of Peter’s time and for us today, we are encouraged to stand firm in our love FOR Christ; in the power of faith and trust IN Christ; and sustained by the Unspeakable Joy OF Christ.
We need to stop, be still, and look up from our difficulties or oppositions. We can renew our love for Christ, hold fast tour faith and trust in Christ, Than we will begin to experience that special spiritual peace and joy of Christ in our hearts. The peace that passes all understanding and the joy and power of being children of the Living God. This peace and joy comes wrapped in the glory of heaven.
1. WHAT IS THIS HEAVENLY JOY?
It is firstly a sense of belonging.
R A Torrey of Moody Institute fame; Reuben Archer Torrey (28 January 1856 – 26 October 1928) was an American evangelist, Congregational pastor, educator, and writer.
I quote from one of his illustrations:–
of a young woman who wore a locket that she would never allow anyone else to open and look into. Everyone thought it was a romantic thing and her loved one was pictured inside. Eventually this young woman died. When her locket was opened it contained no picture of a young man, no sweetheart. What it contained was a small slip of paper with these words:- "Though I have not seen Him, I love Him."
The Lord Jesus Christ was her only object of love and heart's devotion. She had gone to be with the one she loved most, her unseen but beloved Saviour. Can we proclaim that today? Having not seen Him we love HIM?
We belong to Jesus; we can have a sense of belonging. A deep inner experience of belonging to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
It's a belonging that was established by God long before you were born; even "BEFORE the foundation of the world!" You can't have a belonging more certain and secure and eternal than that.
The hymn writer Norman Clayton put it like this (and we sang it earlier in this service):-
Jesus my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no power of evil can sever;
He gave His life to ransom my soul.
Now I belong to Him!
Now I belong to Jesus
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
Joy floods my soul, for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me;
His precious blood He gave to redeem.
Now I belong to Him!
Now I belong to Jesus
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
This Joy is supernatural
Human joy is centred on either people or things. Both can fail and bring disappointment or worse. Human joy lasts but for a moment or short period.
This joy is a heavenly joy; the fruit of a deep heart relationship with the Eternal Lord; the foretaste of the riches of His glorious inheritance which is ours when we get to heaven; it’s the promise of God to His children - For the Word of the Lord abideth forever!
It is an Inexpressible Joy
What is this word "unspeakable"? It is beyond description; it is heavenly and how can we describe heavenly things?
It can only be felt and experienced in the heart and none of us can describe the joy we experience as a result of belonging to Him and resting in Him. The Greek which is a rich expressive language even finds it difficult; using words translated as exceeding rejoicing with great delight.
Its a joy that cannot fail as long as we remain IN HIM and we allow Him by His Spirit to remain IN US, in our innermost being. Its a joy that the world or any person can’t take away from us. It’s not a joy of the mind but a joy of the heart. The mind can be sad, but the heart can still be joyful.
It is a Glorious Joy
The Greek literally says it is a Joy Glorified by God Himself. The joy is ours but it is to glorify the Lord.
This Joy unspeakable, is a fruit of His grace. It's all of Him and nothing of us; it is for our good and for His glory. It’s a glorified joy because He wants His glory to be shown in our hearts. What a power that is - to have His glory in the form of His joy residing within our innermost being.
In John 7v37 we can read: 'In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water."'
Joy Unspeakable, like a river of living water; flowing in from God watering and nourishing you spiritually, flowing out in love to those around you.
This joy unspeakable is not in words but its like a never ending inexhaustible spiritual fountain; Its a healing spring of life. It's vital; it's sustaining; it's eternal and it's glorious.
2. WHY YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THIS SPECIAL JOY
Simply "Because Jesus died for you!"
Jesus said in John 15v11:- "These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
In John 10v10 He said:- "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly."
What promises! fullness of joy and life more abundantly!
You can experience joy unspeakable because you are assured that your sins are blotted out.
ILLUS: A little boy came out from Sunday School and said: The teacher said our sins are blotted out. Where are they afterwards? Well said the wise mother; you know those letters you pencilled on that piece of paper yesterday? Yes I rubbed them out the boy replied. Where are THEY now? the mother asked. He replied: They are nowhere!
Well that's just the same as our sins when God has blotted them out. They are nowhere, they have ceased to exist.
What joy to know that God has not kept an account of our wrongs; what joy to realise that it’s true because God's word says so; what joy to know it is true because the holy Spirit in our hearts witnesses this glorious truth to us.
We can have unspeakable joy because we know we will live forever not here in this poor frail human body; but in eternity in a glorious resurrection body. We will be with Him, we will appear with Him at His coming; we will sit with Him in heavenly places.
We can have joy because we are sons of the King of all kings..
You are a son/daughter of The Eternal King. What better reason for Joy unspeakable than that?
We can have total confidence in God. If God has said it in His word then it IS so! There is joy unspeakable for all those who are His. It is there 24 hours of every day. No hit or miss, no conditions; we don't have to be in happy circumstances; we do have to realise it is ours by right, by the Word of God.
3. HOW YOU CAN RECEIVE THIS UNSPEAKABLE & GLORIOUS JOY
What must we do to get it if we don't believe we have it already? It's in our reading and leads up to our text:- Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
It's spiritually discerned so feelings don't come into it. But the facts of God's word are olur guarantee. WE can experience it through the working of God’s Holy Spirit living within our innermost beings.
We can have joy unspeakable the moment we fully open our hearts to the Lord.
Many Christians never fully open their hearts. They're fearful because an open heart makes us vulnerable to being hurt or worse. But throwing our hearts totally open to Jesus is the safest thing we can do. God is love; He will never fail or forsake or hurt or disappoint.
We can put our confidence in Him, not others and certainly not ourselves.
Peter and Paul knew what it was to put their total trust and confidence in Him; they went through many extreme situations. But with their hope and confidence in Him, they were vindicated many times; provided for; rescued; helped and blessed in their loyalty and service for their Master the Lord Jesus Christ.
How do we come to the point of total trust and complete love of Christ when we can't see Him and never have. How do you love Him and believe in Him when you can't see Him?
It’s not effective when it’s only in our minds, it has to take root deep within us, in our innermost, in our spiritual being.
There’s a comparatively modern chorus:
Open the eyes of my heart Lord,
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You, I want to see You.
To see you high and lifted up
Shining in the light of your glory
Pour out your power and your love
As we sing, Holy, Holy, Holy.
Seeing Him with the eyes of your heart; you love Him all the more; you trust Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.
All this is true Christianity.
APPLICATION
How well do you know Jesus who gives joy unspeakable and full of glory? Is there a special warmth deep within your soul? Can you discern the glow of His presence and the light of his glory in your life in the good times, in in the problems, and the troubles we all face?
Do you know this joy unspeakable? It's yours in return for a full surrender, an open heart, and a desire to fully believe.
Without having seen Him you love Him; though you do not even now see Him, you believe in Him, and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy!
To every heart that's wide open to the Lord Jesus; that joy is yours, and the glory is His!
1 Peter 1v8 NLT: You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy.
Or as the King James Bible says:
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
To every heart that’s wide open to the Lord Jesus; that joy is yours, and the glory is His!
