Seeing by the Holy Spirit

Seeing by the Holy Spirit

Welcome and Thank Paulina and Amberly

1 Peter 1:8-9

Not seen him

Peter saw Jesus – he walked with him – he was part of the inner circle

Watched him suffer and die

Saw the empty tomb

Saw him resurrected – alive again

He also heard him speak, received his, correction, love and forgiveness.

Watched him ascend into heaven

But we haven’t seen Jesus

Why we rejoice – the goals the salvation of our souls.

Why do you follow Jesus?

What is the goal? The primary reason that is above all others.

Salvation of our souls

Not the earthly blessings, not to just avoid hell, not to just get to heaven. – it is to get to Jesus

Peter is bringing focus – above all it is about your salvation

Even though we don’t see him now we believe in him

So we rejoice with inexpressible joy

Think of a time you were so joyful / happy you let out a shout –

This joy is so great it is inexpressible, a great joy or even a proclamation is not enough to express the joy

Thomas – John 20:24-29 (spoke about this on Wednesday night)

Jesus knew the day would come – when those of who have not seen him would believe

Above all else – it is about our salvation – redeemed from the bondage of our sin

Goal – the culmination – goal achieved

Not a future salvation but a salvation now. 1 Peter 1:3

We rejoice - now

1 Peter 1:10-12

But how / why do we believe even though we don’t see

Hebrews 11:1 – proof of what is not seen. (Study Hebrews 11)

2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight”

Believing without seeing is not new in the Bible

The prophets of the OT Believed in the Messiah to come but they would never see Jesus come

They gave prophecies that were not for their current benefit but for the benefit of people who would come hundreds even thousands of years later

Abrahm though not a prophet received a promise he would not see come to pass

Isaiah 53 (There are hundreds in the OT)

Matthew 13:16-17

The prophets gave their prophecies not for themselves but for us.

But how did the OT prophets know and believe?

The spirit of Christ within them testified in advance that Christ would suffer vs. 11

So Jesus – through the Holy Spirit - spoke to the Prophets about what was going to happen to him.

Jesus has always been at work for the redemption plan.

He was not just hanging out in heaven until he was born as a man

Peter says even the angels want to see it

How do you believe

Others in our current day by the Holy Spirit preached the Gospel to you

Jesus never changes Hebrews 13:8

Jesus by the Spirit spoke to the prophets to prophecy of his first and even his second comings.

Jesus by the Spirit spoke to all those people who would be part of your own faith journey – though you have never seen him you believe.

Even it says the Father drew us unto Salvation – he does this by the Spirit John 6:44-46

Taught by God – revealed

No one has seen God – we see God through Jesus Christ

John 14:8-11

Now it is your time

The Holy Spirit desires to use you to preach the gospel to others

So though not seeing Christ they will believe in him for the Salvation of their souls – and have an inexpressible joy

Be open the move of the Holy Spirit – can be in small ways – (Laundromat )

Spirit of Christ works in you for faith to believe and like the prophets he works in you to lead others unto salvation

Peter slips in a promise – let’s go back a minute

1 Peter 1:8 – though not seeing him now

Not now but we will - The day will come when we will see Jesus face to face

Hebrews 11:8-16

Now we look forward to our promise of Christ’s return

Not just a physical seeing, but an understanding, a revelation

1 Corinthians 13:11-12

Revelation 22:1-4

What if we don’t have this joy?

Even now the Spirit of Christ works within us to strengthen our faith – so even though we don’t see now we confidently believe.

Don’t be blinded by your sufferings – Remember who Peter was writing too.

Be open to the leadings of the Spirit 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

You don’t have to have it all figured out

Allow the Holy Spirit to remove our wounds, and imperfections

Have someone to pray for you

Immerse yourself in the word.

Read Isaiah 53, again and again

The mere fact that we are saved now we should rejoice now

Remember even now the spirit of Christ works in you to lead others unto a real and present salvation even though they don’t see it now

We have joy in our salvation now

We have joy that since Jesus has saved us now we can be confident that the day will come when we too will see him face to face.

We see by the Holy Spirit