The Joys of Christmas

Title: The Joys of Christmas

Text: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy . . .”

(Luke 2:10 RSV).

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8–15

Offertory Prayer: Father God, you are the giver of every good and perfect gift. You have given the indescribable gift of your Son Jesus Christ to us and for us. Today we come bringing ourselves and our substance in the form of tithes and offerings. Bless these gifts to the honor and glory of your name and to the advancement of your cause on earth. Amen.

Introduction

For many Christmas is a sad time rather than a glad time.

Psychiatrists are busier following Christmas and the New Year than at any other time of the year.

It is said that the psychiatric rooms at our hospitals are more likely to be filled to capacity at that time of the year than at any other period.

Perhaps this is because many people are reminded of how empty and meaningless life without God has become for them.

Jesus came into the world to bring joy, to communicate love, and to make peace possible.

A part of the joy of Christmas is receiving.

Many people have never learned how to graciously and humbly receive from others.

There are many who cannot believe that God is the great giver.

Perhaps this is due to a low sense of self-esteem and a feeling of great unworthiness.

Some are unable to accept a gift from others without trying to repay them in some form or another.

There is no way one can truly experience the richest joy of Christmas unless he or she develops the fine art of being a grateful receiver.

Another of the great joys of Christmas is the joy of giving.

God loves a cheerful giver.

God so loved that he gave.

God is generous, gracious, even extravagant in his gifts.

To see gracious, undeserved giving is a shocking experience for those who have built their lives on the development of their acquisitive instinct.

Many never enter into the joy of Christmas because they have become like Scrooge.

They live only to get.

The angels sang about the great joy that would come to those who recognized and responded to what God was doing in the gift of the Christ child.

I. The joy of Christmas is the joy of knowing that God is for us.

A sum of the whole message of the New Testament may very well be found in the question of Romans 8:31: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Karl Barth (Reformed Theologian); Geoffrey William Bromiley; Thomas Forsyth Torrance (Scottish Theologian)

Romans 8:31–39 “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lor…”

(Rom. 8:31–39).

Living in a “performance-oriented society,” in which success is judged on the basis of performance and in which rewards are bestowed in recognition of achievement, some find it difficult to believe that God is a gracious and loving giver.

A sense of guilt often brings an attitude of self-condemnation, and we find ourselves unable to believe that the great God who gave the Ten Commandments and who spoke thorough Christ the words of the Sermon on the Mount is really for us.

The Christmas message declares that God always has been and always will be for us if we will trust him and let Christ have the place in our lives that rightfully belongs to him.

II. The joy of Christmas is the joy of belonging to God’s family.

Christmas is usually a family-oriented affair.

For some this can be a painful experience, while to many it is indeed a joyous and pleasant experience.

At Christmastime many are deprived of the joys of family relationships because of deaths that have taken place or because great distances separate them from the members of their families.

At such a time we need to recognize and respond to the joys of being members of God’s family.

We enter this family through the spiritual birth (John 1:12).

John 1:12 “But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,”

d. We can stand in amazement before the joy of knowing that now we are the children of God (1 John 3:1–2).

1 John 3:1–2 “Look at how great a love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.”

III. The joy of Christmas is the joy of experiencing liberation from fear (Luke 2:10).

Luke 2:10 “But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:”

It was normal for the shepherds to respond to the presence of the indwelling glory of God with a holy awe and a reverential fear.

The angels spoke words to dispel that fear.

Christmas can bring the joy of knowing that we need not live under the tyranny of fear.

We need not be afraid of the past. Through Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness for all of our sins (1 John 1:9).

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

b. Because of the promise of his abiding presence, we need have no fear in the present (Matt. 28:20).

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

c. Our living Lord has promised to be with us day by day as the Light of the World.

d. When we follow him we do not stumble in the darkness (John 8:12).

John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.””

3. We need to have no fear of the future, for our Lord has promised to prepare a place for those who love him (John 14:1–3).

John 14:1–3 ““Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

4. We can live our lives with fullness of joy if we will recognize Jesus as the great liberator and deliverer from fear.

IV. The joy of Christmas is the joy that comes to those who become givers.

We cannot give away what we do not have.

A. Many fret and are unhappy because of their inability to give things they would like to give.

B. What do we have that we can give at Christmastime?

1. We can give the gift of our faith to those who have not yet come to know Jesus Christ as Savior.

a. We can share the testimony of what he has come to mean to us and encourage others to put their confidence in him.

2. We can give the gift of helpfulness to those about us who carry heavy burdens.

3. We can give the gift of encouragement to those who are depressed.

4. We can give the gift of friendship to those with whom we are associated.

5. We can give the gift of forgiveness to those who have mistreated us.

6. We can give the gift of acceptance and affirmation to those who are uncertain and insecure.

7. We can give the gift of kindness to those who are suffering physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

8. We can give the gift of gratitude to those who have been kind to us and to those who have ministered to others.

Conclusion

To truly experience the joy of Christmas, we must recognize and respond to Him who was born to be our Savior and King.

He is the great joy bringer, and he wants to use us in helping other people to find joy, which is deeper and richer and finer than happiness.

Happiness is the result of something that happens.

Joy is an inward condition of the heart that comes about as we recognize the greatness, the graciousness, and the goodness of God.

May you have the joy of Christmas during this Christmas season.