The Joy of Knowing Christ (1 Peter 1:3-8)

Introduction

It's interesting, when there are so many different things you want to say at an occasion like this,
that in looking at one of (Name)'s favorite Scripture passages, we find--almost in outline form--
the very ideas which I believe should grab our attention.

First Peter 1:3-8 is printed on the inside of your memorial folders. That passage begins and ends
so appropriately with a praise to God, and a focus upon the joy of knowing Christ. Between
those "brackets" lie three truths which penetrated (Name)'s very being. . . . Three truths which
God would have us to rest upon in times like these.
The First Truth

God, in His mercy, has provided for new life through the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
o Another passage records Christ's teaching about new birth: John 3.
o The key to this first truth is faith in the finished work of Christ.
The Second Truth

Each believer possesses an inheritance which never deteriorates.

o The nature of this inheritance is incorruption.
o This inheritance includes our new bodies....
o The receiving of this inheritance is in heaven.
o The receiving of this inheritance includes the fullness of salvation: freedom from not only the
penalty, and the power, but also from the presence of sin.
o (Name) is now experiencing the joy of his inheritance.
o The key to the second truth is also faith in the trustworthiness of a God who has given a pledge
of our inheritance by giving the Holy Spirit.
The Third Truth

Trials and difficult times are often a necessary experience in our attempt to glorify Christ.
o Trials are often necessary.
o Trials have a purpose in God's plan.
o (Name) desired to glorify Christ -- through all the struggles life brought. He kept a diary the last
months of his life. One entry particularly stuck out as I read it. In the midst of describing his
failing condition, and relating some of the hardest days and worst news yet relating to his cancer,
he spontaneously recorded this poem, a song he had memorized:
"How good is the God we adore,
Our Faithful, Unchangeable Friend;
Whose Love is as good as His Power,
And knows neither measure nor end.
'Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We'll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that's to come.

That so characterized (Name)'s implicit trust in a God who always was, and is, worthy of our
complete trust and confidence.

God WILL call each of us to face various trials. Our only rest now is in the assurance that God
will remain faithful, and that when Christ takes us to be with Him, that then we find complete
rest.

Second Timothy 4:7-8 speaks of a struggle: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who
have longed for his appearing."
A little over a year ago, much of the world watched with amazement as Canadian Ben Johnson
easily outdistanced Carl Lewis in the 100 meter dash. I will never forget Johnson's look of
triumphant disdain and Lewis's look of amazement as they crossed the finish line. Johnson's
victory was short lived. The world's admiration soon turned into revulsion as we learned that
Johnson had cheated: steroids were the cause of his triumph. His was a hollow victory.

Even though in the eyes of millions of TV viewers he had apparently won, his victory was not
final until it had been proven that he had won lawfully. You see, it isn't enough just to win, you
must also win according to the rules of competition. Johnson's moment of glory was quickly
overshadowed by his treachery and deception. His name has come to symbolize hollow victory.
Paul, the apostle, may have had this in mind when he penned Second Timothy 4:7. "I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." There is some debate about
the exact meaning of the last phase, "I have kept the faith." Paul may be saying that he has not
diluted or contaminated the pure gospel that he received from the Lord Jesus Christ. But the idea
of athletic contest is prominent in verses 7-8. It could be that Paul is thinking of the early
Olympic Games. After an event, the judges were consulted to determine if the winner had
competed according to the rules. If he hadn't, the prize was awarded to another. In this passage,
when Paul writes "I have kept the faith," he may be saying, "I've not cheated. I've followed the
rules. I've not been disqualified." His was not a hollow victory.
Today, there are many men in various positions who have been widely admired for what they do
and say. But often, theirs is a hollow victory. What they are in public, and what they are in
private, differ widely. I think of Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision. He was a serviceman in
WW II, and saw the desperate needs of millions around the world. After being discharged from
the military, he devoted his life to providing food and aid to the world's starving and homeless --
and in the process lost his wife and family. He spent the last years of his life separated from his
wife. His daughter recently wrote a book chronicling her father's obsession with his ministry, and
consequent destruction of his family. His was a hollow victory.

A good friend of mine shares one of his memories: that of breakfast one morning in a Denny's
restaurant with his father and Merrill Unger, a well-known Bible teacher, seminary professor,
scholar, author, and conference speaker. His voice was filled with anguish as he said, "I have lost
my son, I have lost my son." All of his achievements paled in comparison with his son's rejection
of Christianity. His, too, was a hollow victory.

The fact that (Name) had an effective career in Panama, and in the military, and a great ministry
among many, is a great tribute to him. But it would have been a hollow victory if he had
sacrificed his marriage on the altar of ministry or career. (Name) experienced years of productive
ministry, and a successful career . . . and with the same wife! That is a greater tribute. But even
that would have been a hollow victory if he had sacrificed his children on the altar of ministry or
career. He didn't! Years of fruitful service with the same wife and with seven children who have
married well in the Lord, and who are now endeavoring to serve the same God he served. That is
not a hollow victory!

But even that would have been a hollow victory, if, when faced with terminal cancer, (Name)
had cursed God, abandoned his trust in God's faithfulness. He didn't.

The Greeks had a unique race in their Olympic games. The winner was not the runner who
finished first, but the runner who finished first with his torch still lit. (Name) competed according
to the rules, finishing the race not only with a good ministry, but also with a godly marriage, a
solid family, and an abiding faith. (Name) finished with his torch lit!
Summary: In this world where many things we think are sources of joy in our lives, we
sometimes mistakenly identify them as the true source of this great emotion. Let us look at
God's Word what does it says about God's Fullness of Joy

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Knowing the Fullness of God’s Joy

Text: Psalm 16:11

Intro:

This Sunday is our 1st week that we are now having our monthly theme this July entitled “Know
God, Know Joy”. As I was meditating our text this month found in Psalm 16:11, I can’t help but
to ask God, what kind of joy does God wants us to understand or grasp at this point in time? If
you ask many people, including ourselves, what are the things that make us joyful? You see
there are a slight difference between happiness and joy that can be found in this world.
According to Wikipedia, “happiness” is defined as a mental or emotional state of well-being
which can be defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from
contentment to intense joy. While “joy” is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
On this 2 meanings we can see that being happy is an emotion while joy is the highest level of
that emotion. So being joyful or full of joy means we are not just happy, but super, mega, or
having a great emotion of being happy.

In this world where many things we think are sources of joy in our lives, we sometimes
mistakenly identify them as the true source of this great emotion. Allow me to give you a
glimpse of what the word means in the light of God’s Word. Let’s read our text today Psalm
16:11

Psalm 16:11 NIV

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal
pleasures at your right hand.

English Standard Version

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right
hand are pleasures forevermore.

In this verse we can see 3 sources of joy that God wants us to experience:

1. His Path of life – “landas ng buhay”

“You make known to me the path of life”

John 14:6a Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Jesus is the only way to that life
we ever wanted to experience. He has the roadmap to that life that goes to His Father that is
why He also said in the 2nd part of the verse “no one can come to the Father except through
Me” which means He knows the Way where infact He is the “only” Way to that life! And the
verse says that “God will make known to us that way” He will never keep that as a secret! God
wants us not just to be happy, but joyful and He will not be contented in keeping the 1st source
of joy to us, but to make them known to us the path of life. It is to discover that way to that joyful
life with God.

David is the author of this Psalm and as a shepherd to his own flocks, he should know the path
where his sheep is walking through. The shepherd knows the way and after him his sheep
follow. In John 10 Jesus clearly states the function of a shepherd, not just an ordinary one but a
“good” one. What does this shepherd do which makes him as “good” to his sheep? Let us read
in verse 1 to 5:

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but
climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own
sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice.

5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not
recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Here we can see that the shepherd becomes “good” because of these qualities:
 • he enters the gate appropriately (not gate-crashing it) v2

• the sheep listen to his voice – v3

• he calls his sheep by their names and leads them out (one by one) –v3

• his sheep follow his voice because they know it– v4

• they will not follow a strangers voice – v5

What truths can we find in these verses in John 10?:

• God wanted to be our shepherd, so long as we allowed Him to. He will not gate-crash our
hearts in order to make known the path to that kind of life God wanted for us!

• If we could only listen to His voice

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Knowing God's Fullness Of Joy (Know God, Know Joy)

Contributed by Cesar Datuin on Jun 28, 2018 (message contributor)

based on 1 rating

(rate this sermon)

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Scripture: Psalms 16:11, Habakkuk 3:17-18 (suggest scripture)

Tags: Joy Of The Lord, Fullness Of Joy
Denomination: Christian Church

Summary: In this world where many things we think are sources of joy in our lives, we
sometimes mistakenly identify them as the true source of this great emotion. Let us look at
God's Word what does it says about God's Fullness of Joy

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• If we could only know Him by His many Names and attributes to us and be lead accordingly

• If we can just follow all His voices, His promises

• And not follow other sources of voices like the sound of this world

You see, this is the problem, God is so willing to be made known to us but we just don’t know
how?

Illustration:

A story about a son who always asked his father about a car as a birthday present. But instead
of giving the car, the father gave a Bible that this young man could read. With much
disappointment, the son did not bother to open up the given Bible and just held a grudge over
his own father until his father died. In his loneliness, he remembered the Bible that was given by
his late father and to his surprise, the Bible has a note inside and a car key. The note states that
the car is still parked at the car dealer ready for pick up. If only the son just give a moment with
the gift given by his father, he should’ve gotten the car while his father is still alive. There is a
chance the father makes him known the promised gift but his son has taken it for granted!

How long did God want to be noticed by men, even in the creation of this world? He is not a
stupid God when He created man and the woman even when He knew they will fall into sin. But
He has His own plan and purpose and that is to save them and make known to them once more
the path of life! Have you discovered the path to that life?
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2. His Joyful Presence – (presensyang nakakapagpaligaya)

“in your presence there is fullness of joy”

Can we name a person who can make us happy, or can make us joyful? Or what are the things
that can make us joyful? Is it possession (materially, financially,) power (authority, rights),
pleasure (vacation, travel)? If all of these things are our motivation so we study hard, work hard
and eventually die hard to get all of these, then we become prideful. You see man is created not
to be contented with what he has now. He will try to do anything just to get the full capacity of
this world for his usage.

We can see that in our technology where man tirelessly finds a way to simplify life by doing
things comfortable, elegant, fast, efficient and cost-saving. Even in anything you can see today
there are always a new version and the cycle never stops, ex. Cellphones, computers, cars,
clothes, foods, accessories etc. Name it there will always be a newer version. Because of all
these technologies, there are many big C’s which slowly eats up our society (not cancer, nor
catastrophe, nor calamity) but what we call “contentment”. Contentment (kaluguran) is a mental
or emotional state of satisfaction may be drawn from being at ease in one's situation, body and
mind. Contentment is about our satisfaction being fed.

This is a serious problem that we deal every day, we never be contented with what we have.
How many times we change our cell phones, computers and other electronic gadgets? How
about our cars, clothes, personal accessories like watches, jewelries etc.? And to others, even
people we tend to replace with other (girlfriends, boyfriends, friends). It seems that man will
never be contented, even to the point that we wanted to be just like God! (Eve was tempted to
be like God).
Summary: In this world where many things we think are sources of joy in our lives, we
sometimes mistakenly identify them as the true source of this great emotion. Let us look at
God's Word what does it says about God's Fullness of Joy

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What does the Bible say about this emotion? The Apostle Paul learned a lot about this subject

Philippians 4:11-13:

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

ASND:

11Hindi ko sinasabi ito dahil nanghihingi ako ng tulong sa inyo. Sapagkat natutunan kong maging
kontento anuman ang kalagayan ko. 12Marunong akong mamuhay sa hirap o ginhawa. Natutunan ko na
ang lahat ng ito, kaya maging anuman ang kalagayan ko, busog man o gutom, sagana o salat, kontento pa
rin ako. 13Kaya kong harapin ang kahit anong kalagayan sa pamamagitan ng tulong ni Cristo na
nagpapatatag sa akin.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB:

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with
difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

ASND:

Ngunit sinabi ng Panginoon sa akin, “Sapat na sa iyo ang aking biyaya, dahil ang kapangyarihan ko'y
nakikita sa iyong kahinaan.” Kaya buong galak kong ipinagmamalaki ang aking mga kahinaan, nang sa
ganoon ay lagi kong maranasan ang kapangyarihan ni Cristo. Dahil dito, maligaya ako sa aking kahinaan,
sa mga panlalait sa akin, sa mga pasakit, pang-uusig at sa mga paghihirap alang-alang kay Cristo.
Sapagkat kung kailan ako mahina, saka naman ako pinalalakas ng Dios .

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The 2nd source of our joy is His joyful presence within us if we learn to be contented in any life’s
circumstances.

“The Bible calls us to allow our convictions, not our circumstances to govern our sense of contentment.”
–Rob Kuban

What is your conviction? Is it to satisfy our fleshly desires or is it to rely on God’s power and strength
because of His presence that brings us joy regardless of our situations may be?
You see, one way of dealing with contentment is being grateful or thankful.

Illustration:

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of
showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would
be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the
trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the
middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and
they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have
a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve
us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to
protect us, they have friends to protect them."

Conclusion:

Church, His eternal pleasure is to see His people worshipping Him, serving Him and His joyful presence
will be over them satisfying them. There will be no more heat (problems) that will beat them down but
instead God will be their Shepherd to lead them to the path of life.

Why don’t we do this now here on Earth because this will be a practice of what we will be doing in
Heaven! Knowing God is knowing what the Lord’s joy is all about and that is His path of life, His joyful
presence and His eternal pleasure!