Sermons From First Peter - Ministering Not To Themselves, But To Us (1:10-12)

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                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"

           Ministering Not To Themselves, But To Us (1:10-12)

INTRODUCTION

1. Already in Peter's epistle we have seen several blessings enjoyed by
   the "elect" of God...
   a. E.g., born again to a "living" hope - 1Pe 1:3
   b. E.g., having a joy "inexpressible and full of glory" - 1Pe 1:8

2. As one continues in verses 10-12, he finds that Peter expands upon
   the topic of the "salvation" Christians enjoy as a result of their
   faith (please read)

3. If one takes the time to contemplate upon what is found in this
   passage, he should not fail to be impressed with how privileged we
   are in God's sight
   a. For there we learn that we are the recipients of a gospel that
      was prophesied and has come to us only through the efforts of a
      very distinguished company of individuals!
   b. And in their efforts, they were ministering not to themselves,
      but to us who are now Christians!

[To illustrate just how privileged we are, let's begin identifying
those who have ministered to us...]

I. WE HAVE BEEN SERVED BY "THE PROPHETS"!

   A. WHICH IS THE MAIN THOUGHT OF THIS PASSAGE...
      1. When the prophets prophesied, they were often intrigued by 
         what they revealed - 1Pe 1:10-11
         a. This is because they were inspired or moved by the Holy 
            Spirit, and not by their own will - cf. 2Pe 1:21
         b. Therefore, they often expressed perplexity concerning those
            things they prophesied - e.g., Dan 7:28; 8:26-27
      2. But as pointed out in our text, it was revealed to them that
         they were not serving themselves, but us! - e.g., Dan 12:8-9

   B. CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS POINT...
      1. We who are Christians have been served by such people as:
         a. Moses, Samuel, and David
         b. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel
      2. These men (and many others) spent their lives, and in many 
         cases even gave their lives, in service to you and me!
      3. Yes, these great "heroes of faith" suffered much in their 
         service to God and to us who are now in Christ - cf. He 11:
         36-38

[Does this not indicate that we must be very special in God's sight?
We who have been ministered unto by the prophets of Almighty God, and
who endured all these things for our sake?

And yet, there is even more...]

II. WE HAVE BEEN SERVED BY "THE HOLY SPIRIT"!

   A. THIS THOUGHT IS ALSO EXPRESSED IN OUR TEXT...
      1. For it was the Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets to 
         proclaim things to come - 1Pe 1:11
         a. It was He who inspired David and Isaiah to foretell the 
            sufferings of Christ - e.g., Ps 22; Isa 53
         b. It was He who likewise moved the prophets to proclaim the 
            glories to follow
            1) E.g., the resurrection of Jesus - Ps 16: 9-11
            2) E.g., His ascension and coronation - Dan 7:13-14
      2. And it was the Holy Spirit who inspired the apostles to reveal
         the gospel - 1Pe 1:12
         a. As Jesus promised He would, in His discourse to His
            apostles - Jn 16:13
         b. As Paul said He did, in writing to the Ephesians - Ep 3:5

   B. AGAIN, CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS TRUTH...
      1. Through His ministry of inspiration and revelation in the
         lives of the prophets and apostles, we have been served by the
         Holy Spirit
      2. Because of His work, we have today the completed revelation of
         God's Word in our hands!
      3. This is in addition to the "sanctifying work" of the Holy 
         Spirit to which Peter referred in 1Pe 1:2

[Do we appreciate the service that the Holy Spirit has rendered for us
throughout the ages?  Is this not an indication of the great value God
must place upon His people?

But there is even another group of distinguished individuals who served
their lives in our behalf...]

III. WE HAVE BEEN SERVED BY "THE APOSTLES"!

   A. THIS WE CAN GLEAN FROM VERSE 12...
      1. "...those who preached the gospel to you"
         a. This is a likely reference to the apostles of Jesus Christ
         b. Who were commissioned to preach the gospel, as recorded in
            Mk 16:15-16
      2. As they carried out this "Great Commission", they considered
         themselves but servants for those to whom they preached
         a. As Paul said, they were but "seed-throwers" and 
            "water-boys" - cf. 1Co 3:5-7
         b. They were serving as servants of Christ - 1Co 3:21-4:1; 
            2Co 4:5

   B. THEREFORE, WE HAVE BEEN SERVED BY MEN...
      1. Such as Peter, James, John, and Paul
      2. Who gave their lives for our sake, to convince the world that
         our faith in their testimony is not unfounded, but that Jesus
         did indeed rise from the dead! - cf. 2Co 11:24-29

[When we take the time to think about those who spent their lives 
ministering to us, we can't help but conclude that Christians hold a 
very high place in God's scheme of redemption as it has unfolded 
throughout the ages!

But before we conclude this lesson, let me point out another noble 
group that has served those who are God's "elect"...]

IV. WE HAVE BEEN SERVED BY "ANGELS"!

   A. VERSE 12 TELLS US THAT ANGELS HAD A KEEN INTEREST...
      1. In things prophesied by the prophets
      2. In things proclaimed by the apostles through the gospel

   B. WHY SUCH A KEEN INTEREST?
      1. They too were involved in the process of foretelling and 
         revealing the salvation in Christ!
         a. E.g., Gabriel's appearances to Daniel - cf. Dan 8, 9
         b. E.g., Gabriel's appearances to Zacharias and Mary - cf. 
            Lk 1:11-19, 26-38
      2. But like the prophets, angels were also in the dark concerning
         the details of coming salvation
      3. And so, the angels were serving not themselves but us! - cf. 
         He 1:13-14

CONCLUSION

1. Our Father in heaven must hold His "elect" (the church) in high 
   regard to have them served by such a distinguished company!

2. To be so privileged should motivate us to praise God for His grace
   and to devote our lives in grateful service to Him and His people

3. But the grace God bestowed toward us reached its peak when addition
   to all these (prophets, the Holy Spirit, apostles, angels) He sent
   His only Son to serve us as well!

   "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
   and to give His life a ransom for many." - Mt 20:28

Shall we not respond with grateful service through faithful obedience
to His Will?
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