The text that Pastor John will be preaching from this morning is found in the book of First

Peter, Chapter 1. If you're using a Q Bible, that's on page 1438.

1st Peter, chapter 1, we will read verses 3 through 12. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy

has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are

protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials that the proof of your faith

being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor

at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

And though you have not seen him, you love him.

And though you do not see him now, but believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy

in expressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith

the salvation of your souls.

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry.

Seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in these things which now have been announced to you through

those who preach the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Jesus said one time to his disciples,

Blessed are your eyes, for they see. And blessed are your ears, for they hear. For truly I say to you, many

prophets and righteous men desire to see what you see and did not see it and to hear what

you hear and did not hear it. Blessed are your eyes. In other words, if there have been many great godly, holy men of old, who have yearned and longed and inquired and searched for something that now you experience.

Their yearning and their longing should be an echo of the gratitude and the excitement you feel about no longer being those who yearn but half.

...