Joy to the World
Notes
Transcript
Happiness is extremely over rated. It’s common. We have all experienced happiness. Happiness is cheap. Any one of us can conjure up happiness by doing something we enjoy. You can be happy fixing a car, reading a good book, or spending time with good friends.
What are some things that make you happy?
Joy is something all together different. Joy is more that just being happy or excited. More that being please. Joy is something that sets us apart from the world. Joy is a gift that cannot be taken away. So what is joy?
Joy is closely related to gladness and happiness, it is more than emotion. Joy is a choice. In fact, it is part of the fruit of the Spirit.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
If joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, that means it is produced as we yield to the Holy Spirit.
Our joy is not based on circumstances. It is based in Jesus. Salvation comes only through His name. Salvation produces joy.
Let’s look to before the birth of Jesus.
You will find the story in Luke 1. You find a woman named Elizabeth who has been told by an angel that she will conceive in her old age. She has never had a child, so this seemed impossible. Then you have a very young girl named Mary. Mary was also visited by an angel and told she would have a child though she was a virgin. Both of these women had a hard time believing this, but they did believe. These 2 women are related. Mary is told to go visit Elizabeth, so she does. That is where we pick up the story..
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
This is such an amazing story. I want to draw your attention to a specific part. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy at the greeting of Mary. Just being carried into the presence of someone carrying the presence of Jesus sparked joy in a fetus! Unspeakable, uncontainable joy!
I wish it were always that easy, that simple. Walk into your friends house and joy overwhelms you. Come into a Sunday morning where we are worshipping Jesus and you can’t help but feel joy. Like we’ve said before. Anything worth anything will cost you something. In this case, you have to make a conscious decision to cultivate and practice joy.
The Bible never commands us to do something that comes naturally, have you realized this? Every direction, every command that comes from God grates again our nature as humans. Why? He wouldn’t have to tell us to do something if we were already doing it. Through God’s Word, He tells us to rejoice. This is something that the world does not understand. The Psalms, Philippians, and some many other places command us to rejoice because we have a Jesus. As Christians, we are called to have joy because of who Jesus is and what He has done.
Now, if joy is not simply happiness or excitement, then what does it really look like?
Joy celebrates!
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Get excited about the things that excite God! This is why we clap and cheers when someone gives there life to Jesus.
Joy reads.
The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
The greatest source of strength, joy, and peace are from the very words of God our Creator. There are times when I have been unable to see the light. Everything is dark and hopeless. IN those moments when I open the Scripture, my joy is renewed. When Jesus asked Peter if he was leaving, Peter said, “Where else would we go? You have the very words of life.”
Joy sings.
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to remember lyrics? Sometimes a beat or rhythm is so catchy, you can’t get it out of your head. Sing worship, sing praise, sing God’s Word. Joy will fill your hearts in these moments.
Joy gives.
Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
Poverty is not a money issue. It is a heart issue. I’ll never forget a sermon I heard from Christian Dawson. Paraphrase, Sometimes you have to do something to feel like doing something. You can’t have a craving for something you have never tasted.
Generosity produces joy. Joy produces generosity.
Joy asks.
You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
Jesus is telling us to ask for what we need. It’s almost ask if Jesus is telling us, “You are missing out on some much that I have available for you by not asking.”
Asking involves recognizing that you are dependent on God for what you truly need.
Joy hopes.
Have you ever listened to old hymns? One of my favorites is “It is Well”. Not because of the music, but because of the story behind the hymn. (Tell story)
Joy comes from focusing on Heaven and bringing it to Earth
but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
This is where our joy is found. Jesus the Savior. He came so that we could enjoy fullness of life.
This time of year can bring joy mixed with sorrow. Today I pray that you can find joy in Jesus.
