Rejoice | 1 Peter 1:6-9
Rejoice | 1 Peter 1:6-9
July 18, 2012
Book: 1 Peter
INTRODUCTION
Every day we have reasons to be stressed, frustrated and upset about things in life. Life brings many unexpected circumstances where we can easily lose our joy. I don’t know if you are sitting here with any stress, burden, rejection, loneliness etc; but I want to give you keys from the Bible to be joyful. No matter what your circumstances, you can rejoice in the Lord.
HF: How do have rejoice in troubles?
David Prayed in,
Psalm 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. So this message is about joy for a God’s child. If any of you are not a believer, I request you to accept Christ in your heart.
In Luke 15 Jesus tells three parables. One is about a man who had 100 sheep and lost one, another is about a lady who lost a valuable coin, and another is about a father who lost a son. The lost sheep is found, the lost coin is found, and the lost son is found. Each of them pictures a lost soul brought back to God, forgiven and blessed and in each story, there is a common response: Rejoicing.
Lost Sheep
When the sheep is found the person calls his friends and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Lost Coin
When the woman found the lost coin she said, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Prodigal Son
When the father found the prodigal son he said to his slaves, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate.” So they began to celebrate. When the older approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He became angry and refused to go in, to which the father said, “We have to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Each case is a picture of salvation and there was tremendous joy. Kindly note that salvation and celebration go together. Salvation and joy go together. When you are saved God is joyful, the angels are joyful, the church is joyful, and the one who is redeemed is joyful.
Now come with me to 1 Peter 1.
Salvation joy is Peter’s theme
The subject here is salvation:
V5 speaks of ‘the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.’
V9 ‘the salvation of your souls.’
V10 ‘concerning this salvation.’
Salvation is the theme of Peter here.
But Peter also parallelly shows us that joy or rejoicing is a result of salvation.
V6 ‘In this you greatly rejoice.’
V8 ‘inexpressible and glorious joy.’
Joy is a result of God’s gift of salvation. The Bible is a book of joy. The main theme that runs through the book of Psalms is joy.
Psalm 4:7
Fill my heart with joy.
Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Psalm 9:2
I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
Psalm 32:11
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord.
Psalm 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
Isaiah 35:10
and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 61:10
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation.
Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6
..you welcomed the message in severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
Joy is a result of God’s gift of salvation. So Peter is writing to the persecuted believers in Asia Minor that they have a source of joy in troubles.
1 Peter 1:6-9
6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though 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, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. The subject here is joy.
Charles Spurgeon: “The steps by which we ascend to the place of joy are usually moist with tears. Amid the ashes of our pain lie the sparks of our joy, ready to flame up when breathed on by the Holy Spirit.” Joy comes out of pain.
Therefore, in our troubles, we can experience joy. You may tell me, pastor, you don’t know what trouble I am going through. How can I have joy in trouble?
1. Biblical Understanding of Trouble
1. Don’t be surprised at trouble
1 Peter 4:12-13
12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
2. Troubles have a purpose
Troubles are necessary for our spiritual perfection.
1 Peter 1:6 KJV
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: God brings trials because it’s necessary for our spiritual perfection.
1 Peter 5:10
….after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
3. Troubles bring pain
1 Peter 1:6
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. When you are troubled it brings physical and mental anguish, sadness, sorrow, disappointment, anxiety and so on. Trouble brings pain.
4. Troubles come in various ways
1 Peter 1:6
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
5. Troubles last only a little while
1 Peter 1:6
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
2. Trouble of the Early Church
1. Accused of wrongdoing
1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds.
2. Unjust suffering
1 Peter 2:19
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because of he is conscious of God.
3. Suffer for doing good
1 Peter 2:20
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
1 Peter 3:14
If you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.
1 Peter 3:17
It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
So, in this world we will have trouble; however, a believer, a saved person should not lose his joy. Peter says that salvation and joy always go together. When you see what your troubles produce, you should be joyful. Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”
Now the question is, “How do we experience that joy?” Peter gives us the answer. Our joy depends on what we choose to concentrate on in the trouble.
3. Reason for rejoicing
1. A Protected Inheritance
1 Peter 1:6 In all this you greatly rejoice…
In the earlier verses of this chapter, v3-5, Peter mentions about our eternal salvation. Peter tells that we have an inheritance in heaven that can never perish, spoil, or face. Peter calls us to rejoice for the glorious eternal inheritance that belongs to the believer. Look up and rejoice.
Hebrews 10:32-35
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
I’m not asking you to deny suffering. It’s going to be there. But I am saying, decide which way you’re going to look.
ILLUSTRATION
Imagine you are on a train passing through the mountains. On one side is a high mountain, and you’re running very close to it, and all you can see is dark rocks. On the other side, magnificent valleys, meadows, streams, and lakes are in your vision, stretching as far as your eye can see. What are you going to look at?
Well, some people in life just choose to stare at the dark mountain. That’s their perspective. On the other hand, if you want to rejoice, look at your new life, your security in Christ. Undoubtedly the reason that so many Christians are miserable and weighed down with burdens is that they don’t look at their glorious, protected, eternal inheritance.
The joy of anticipating your inheritance should take away the pain of the trial.
2. A Proven Faith
1 Peter 1:7
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire.
I rejoice even though I am going through trials because trials prove the genuineness of my faith. It is a joy to know that your faith is true. How do you know if your faith is true? When severe trials come.
How do you test the quality of any metal or gold? Gold is refined in fire or a furnace. When gold passes through the fire, the impurities are burnt off until the gold is pure. When we go through fire, it tests the genuineness of our faith. How? When you go through a trial and you’re still believing in God and you haven’t questioned God and walked away, that’s the evidence that your faith is real. And when you have that proven, tested, tried, and revealed genuine faith, there’s joy in your heart.
3. The Promised Honor
1 Peter 1:7
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
God will honour you when you suffer for the sake of Christ. So when we face trouble, we not only have the joy of proven faith, but it is the joy of anticipated reward.
We usually sing praise, glory, and honour to God. As much as that is true, in this context, praise, glory, and honour have to do with you. In other words, God wants to grant you praise, God wants to grant you glory, and God wants to grant you honour. It doesn’t say here that it will result in us praising, glorifying, and honouring Him, but that we may be found because of our faith worthy of praise, worthy of glory, worthy of honour when Jesus comes.
When the Lord comes we will receive from Him praise. Praise means verbal commendation.
The second term that Peter uses is glory. This has a reference to the glory that we receive.
Romans 2:7
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Romans 2:10
..but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good. God’s going to give us glory. God is not just going to give us verbal commendation. He is going to give us His glory. We will be made perfect literally.
And the third word Peter uses is the word “honor.” This means rewards will be given to us because of our service rendered to Him. Jesus is coming to reward us. He is going to give to everyone according to their work.
1 Corinthians 3:14
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
2 John 8
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
Here is a great truth God who alone is worthy of praise, God who alone is worthy of glory, and God who alone is worthy of honor will give all three to us.
And when will it happen? At the revelation of Jesus Christ, the day of Christ when He returns to judge and reward His redeemed people.
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Our eternal reward, of course, is connected to our faithfulness here. We will be rewarded with a greater joy if we have expressed a greater joy in this life.
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Peter says no matter what your circumstances, no matter what your trials, you should have full joy, you should greatly rejoice in your inheritance, your proven faith, your promised honor.
4. A Personal Fellowship.
This is the sweetest of all sources of joy.
1 Peter 1:8
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.
Why do you rejoice? Why is your joy inexpressible and full of glory? Because you have a personal fellowship with God. Because you love Him, and you believe in Him. It is love and trust.
Would you notice that first phrase in verse 8? “Even though you did not see Him?” You see, it’s usual to trust and love someone you’ve seen, touched, and someone you’ve come to know. But these Christians had never met Jesus Christ. They never touched Him. They never ate with Him or walked with Him. The Christians never talked with Him. They never heard His voice. They never felt His hands or gazed into His eyes. “And yet,” he says, “you love Him.”
Now, which of the apostles apart from Judas, mostly demonstrated a weak trust and faith in Christ? Peter.
Which of the apostles of Christ, apart from Judas, had to face Jesus Christ and have his love questioned? Peter.
Now, Peter commends these suffering believers and says to them, “You’ve never seen Him but you love Him, and you don’t see Him now but you believe in Him.” See the contrast here. Peter is saying, “You’re far beyond where I am, or where I was, because I saw Him and I couldn’t hold onto my love to Jesus, and I saw Him and I couldn’t sustain my faith.”
So there are two elements of a relationship: Love and trust. Peter is saying, you love Jesus, you trust Jesus, therefore you are in a relationship with Jesus, so be joyful.
And what makes us rejoice? A protected inheritance, a proven faith, a promised honour, and a personal fellowship.
“Filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Its joy is above speech. It’s so divine that exceeds the power of speech and thought, you can’t communicate it. We rejoice with a joy that is the joy of the Spirit.
5. A Present Deliverance.
Beyond the future inheritance and honour and alongside the present personal fellowship is the promise of a present deliverance.
1 Peter 1:9 ….for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Flowing out of that personal fellowship we have with Christ through love and trust, we are now receiving the salvation of your souls. Soul means the whole of you. Salvation has delivered us from sin, guilt, condemnation, wrath, hopelessness etc. We have a constant present-tense salvation. We have been delivered and we are receiving salvation, so you rejoice.
CONCLUSION
Well, there’s really no reason that we should lose our joy. We can look to a protected inheritance. We can thank God for a proven faith and hope for a promised honour. And we can enjoy personal communion and fellowship. We have present deliverance. Beloved, you need to tap the resources of joy that are available to you as a Christian.
Jesus said in
John 15:11
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
There was a moment in history that was elusive. This was when Jesus was arrested and died.
John 16:19-22
19‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
There was a dark hour, the time when Jesus was in the grave. But when Jesus burst out of the tomb and saw those disciples, their sorrow was turned to joy. There was still a time of difficulty even when Jesus rose from the dead when the disciples were struggling with all that was going on because they had not yet received the resident Holy Spirit. And then Jesus said, “I’m going to go away and send you the Spirit, and the Spirit will take up residence in your life.” And the Spirit is the source of joy. Galatians 5 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…”
This morning, let’s look to the Lord and that can in turn give us joy and rejoice in our lives no matter what the situation you are going through.