3rd Sunday of Advent - “Joy”
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— Third Sunday of Advent:
Message: "Today, we light the third candle, the candle of Joy. Rejoice, for the coming of the Lord is near! Just as John the Baptist proclaimed the Messiah's arrival, let us prepare the way in our hearts. With joy, we look forward to the birth of Jesus, who brings immeasurable joy to our lives.
— Prayer
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— Today is a special day. One that our kiddos have been working on for several weeks.
— We have been singing the 12-days of Christmas our whole lives.
— But do you know the larger story about this song?
The Twelve Days of Christmas
— From the mid-1500’s until mid-1800 people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly.
—During this time, the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ was written as a subtle way of celebrating Christ’s birth in public without risk of prosecution.
— The song’s lyrics had a hidden meaning known only to members of the church, each element of the twelve days offering code meaning for a religious reality.
1. The partridge in a pear tree stood for Jesus Christ
2. The two turtledoves stood for the Old and New Testaments
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope, and charity.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels
5. The five gold rings represented the first five books of the Old Testament (the Law).
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation
7. Seven swans a-swimming signified the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking represented the beatitudes.
9. The Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Spirit.
10. Ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed.
— Each element of the lyrics offers a positive reason to celebrate Christianity.
— The current value of the 12- days of Christmas is $46,729.86… That is some Christmas!!
— There are only a few more days before December 25th. As you listen today to our kiddos singing and performing.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Sophia Gallo
2. Lilli Kollmar
3. Annalise Gallo
4. Kash Kollmar
5. Kason Kollmar
6. Andrew Kollmar
7. Sophia Gallo
8. Annalise Gallo
9. Lilli Kollmar
10. Andrew Kollmar
11. Thomas Colley
12. Kash Kollmar
— There is nothing like having the kiddos do a play for Christmas… Thank you very much
— And for Cis, Joyce, Kris and the others that have spent a great deal of time putting this together, writing, re-writing, practicing… Thank you…
— Around of applause for the kiddos and those that helped put this whole thing together.
A Celebration of Joy - Really?
== How about you? How are you feeling this year?
== In our world today. It’s marked by war, turmoil, inflation, higher costs for everything, and much much uncertainty.
== Did you get a big unexpected bill to be paid before Christmas?
== Are you out of work? Are you ill or injured? Is your family life a mess?
== Is strife, anger, sin in our lives… These and many more will certainly be JOY killers.
How do we find Joy?
== As followers of Christ, our understanding of joy is rooted in a profound and enduring source… …our relationship with Christ.
== There is not a formula here, a relationship with Christ DOES NOT mean that you will have Hope and Joy. We MUST CHOOSE Joy!!!
The Foundation of Joy: Relationship with Christ
== The Bible consistently ties our Joy with our Faith in Christ
== So how do get over the hump that the world has dealt us… By Faith, By Faith, By Faith.
== We are going to look a passage from the Book of Philippians, Chapter 4.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
== What Joy did Paul have as he wrote this letter to the Philippian Church?
== He has found the one promised, Jesus the Messiah
== He is part of the team to bring Jesus and his message to the world.
== But he also was a man who was constantly persecuted for his faith
== He was in prison, stoned, beaten and eventually he was martyred for his faith
Paul found Joy? Shouldn’t We?
== Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
==Paul’s attitude teaches us an important lesson: Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances.
== Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him.
== Paul faced false teachers, severe people problems, and threat of death, yet several times in this letter, he urged the Philippians to be joyful.
== Written while he was in prison, often in horrible conditions and a unsureness of what lies ahead.
== IN the few minutes that we have left I want to take a look at our passage for today.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
== Our JOY is not/should not be tied to our “feelings”
== Our JOY is/should be in a person - Jesus Christ
== He tells us to “REJOICE!” to “REJOICE” (To be Glad) in the Lord.
== These are action words… Rejoice, always, always Rejoice!
== Paul did not call us to an empty, put-on show of happiness.
== We should be sensitive to the pain, sorrow of others.
== He called for genuine joy, which is possible only “in the Lord.”
== It is only through a relationship with God that we find joy in pain, suffering, persecution, and sorrow.
What is the antidote?
= OK, I get it,
== I need to change my attitude!
== I need to begin to look at my circumstances of life… differently
== As verse 8 says
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
= honorable
= just or right
= pure
= lovely
= commendable
== These are the elements when brought into our lives that can bringJoy… If you choose JOY!
JOY in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?
== How about real “Joy” for those who have nothing, no one.
== Maybe you are experiencing the worst circumstances in your life
== You don’t know what to do, our where to turn
== The apostle Paul, writing from a prison cell, exemplified Christ-centered joy. Listen to Philippians 4.12-13
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
= "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.
== In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
== I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
“Joy” is ROOTED in Christ's strength
=So… How do we find this “JOY”
== In prayer, ask God to give you a Joyful outlook even though life is a mess!
24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
= Ask and you will receive, that your Joy may be full
= Prayer aligns our hearts with God's will, deepening our connection with Christ and fosters joy that surpasses understanding.
This Joy of ours…
=Christ-centered joy is not meant to be hoarded but shared with others.
= Not something that is to be faked or contrived
= Is individual… as with Hope it’s gradual.
= As we begin to look for Joy in our circumstances… We find Joy in our circumstances.
== Close
== We are called, are called to show and share Joy.
== Joy that we understand comes in a relationship with Christ. That is planted and cultivated through prayer, gratitude, contentment, and selfless service.
== In doing so, we become bearers of the joy that surpasses all understanding.
== This joy glimpses the eternal and unshakeable gladness found in Christ alone.
== May our lives be a testimony to the joy that springs from the hope and salvation we have in Jesus Christ.