The Good News of Joy

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Text: Luke 2: 8-10

Luke 2:8–10 (NLT)

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 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 Good News of Joy

We’ve been in a series entitled "The Gifts of Advent", and each week,

Pastor has reminded us that the season of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian calendar.

Advent is typically four weeks, starting the first Sunday after Thanksgiving.

And the word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means anticipation or arrival.

So, Advent marks the season where we look forward to the coming of Christ—the arrival of the Savior and the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people.

Advent is all about anticipation and waiting.

It’s about expecting the arrival of God’s fulfilled promise of a savior to come into the world.

There are four themes in Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

Now, these four themes—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—are not just abstract ideas.

These are the gifts that Christ brings to the world.

Pastor has reminded us that these are the very things that help us live a quality life.

Hope is the fuel that keeps us moving forward.

Peace is the calm in the midst of the storm and and assurance that God’s presence is always with us.

Love is the power that keeps us connected to one another and to God’s purpose.

But today, we’re talking about Joy.

Now, joy is not just an emotion or a feeling that comes and goes.

Joy is a gift from God.

It’s a deep, strength that doesn’t come from our circumstances, but from knowing that God is with us and that our lives have purpose in Him.

Dr. Al Sharpton once said, "Joy is not just a feeling; it is a declaration of the goodness of God, even in the face of adversity."

Which means that joy does not deny the pain, the struggle, or the disappointment that we might be going through.

But joy rises above it.

It means that joy is not just about what’s happening around us but about the declaration that no matter what we face, God is still good.

Joy is the deep assurance that, even in the darkest moments, we can trust that God is still working for our good.

And that’s why we can still have joy.

Not because everything is perfect or easy, but because we know that the One who holds our future is holding us.

That’s joy—knowing that in the midst of it all, we are never alone and We are never forsaken.

And that, my brothers and sisters, is what set’s the stage of the Good news of Joy.

if you’re taking notes I want to give you a few lessons about this good news and the first lesson is…..

1. The Promise of Joy (Luke 2:10-11)

Luke 2:10–11 (NLT)

10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

It’s in the is text, we find the announcement of the birth of Jesus,

not to royalty or to the wealthy,

but to a group of shepherds out in the fields.

These shepherds were among the lowest in society, often considered unclean and unworthy of attention. But here, in the quiet of the night, an angel appears with a message that will change everything.

The angel speaks directly to them: “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy.” This wasn’t just a simple announcement—it was a declaration of God’s plan being fulfilled.

The Savior, the Messiah, the Lord, had been born in Bethlehem, and His arrival would bring great joy to all people.

This text is great becauce The angel's words to the shepherds were filled with an invitation to experience something new

—a joy that would spread across the world, touching every person, no matter their status or situation.

This was not just any joy;

this was the joy that came with the birth of the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior of the world.

The joy of the Messiah’s birth was not confined to one group, one nation, or one people—it was a joy meant for all.

Jesus came to the world not empty-handed but with a purpose.

His very arrival was to fulfill God’s promise of joy to the entire world.

And this joy is intentional.

This is a joy designed and delivered by God Himself.

This is not a fleeting happiness based on circumstances; this is deep, lasting joy that is anchored in the presence of Christ.

It’s a joy that has been promised and now delivered in the most unexpected way—through the birth of a child, in the humble town of Bethlehem.

and When we look at the life of Jesus, we see how He continued to fulfill this promise of joy.

His presence brought joy to everyone He encountered, starting with those shepherds.

Imagine the joy they must have felt—God’s own Son, the Savior of the world, was born and they were the first to hear about it! It’s a joy that didn’t wait for the perfect conditions, but met them right where they were, in the middle of their ordinary lives.

Jesus came to give joy not just to the rich or powerful, but to the poor, the marginalized, and the brokenhearted.

His joy was for the weary, the oppressed, and the hopeless. In John 15:11, He tells His disciples, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Jesus came to bring a joy that wasn’t temporary or dependent on circumstances but a joy that completed them. This was a joy that gave purpose, gave hope, and gave life.

And we see this in His interactions with those around Him.

When He healed the blind man (John 9:25), He didn’t just restore his sight; He restored his joy.

When He met the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), He didn’t just offer her water; He offered her living water, filling her with joy that would never run dry.

Because Every person Jesus encountered, every situation He entered, was transformed by the joy He brought with Him.

Jesus' joy is not limited by time or space.

It’s not tied to what we have or don’t have.

It’s not dependent on our circumstances.

The joy that the Messiah brings is eternal, unshakable, and accessible to anyone who believes in Him.

The promise of joy that was announced by the angel to the shepherds that night is still true for us today.

This joy is the joy of knowing that God is with us.

It’s the joy of knowing that Jesus has come to dwell with us, to fulfill God’s promises to us, and to bring us peace, hope, and joy in the midst of life’s trials.

This is the joy that the world desperately needs, and it’s the joy that Jesus offers to each of us, freely and without measure.

2. The Purpose of Joy (Philippians 4:4-5)

Philippians 4:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Paul writes these words to the church in Philippi while he is in prison, under house arrest in Rome.

Despite his own challenging circumstances—being confined and uncertain about his future—Paul commands the Philippians to “rejoice in the Lord always.”

This instruction is especially powerful because it comes from someone who understands hardship and suffering, yet still encourages others to embrace joy in all situations.

Paul isn’t calling them to rejoice in their circumstances, but in the Lord who remains faithful, no matter what they are going through.

His joy is not based on external conditions but on an inner peace that comes from knowing God is present and sovereign.

Paul exhorts the believers to let their gentleness be evident to all even, and This gentleness is a product of true joy in Christ, and it should be visible in how we interact with others.

Paul ties this joy and gentleness back to the reality that “The Lord is near,” which refers both to the return of Christ and the present nearness of God in the believer’s life.

which begs me to raise the question, “why should we have joy?”

Why, in the midst of trials, should we choose joy?

The answer is simple but profound: because joy is rooted in the undeniable truth that God is near.

Purpose of Joy is to regulate us so that external conditions do not change our internal condition. It’s like a thermostat for the HVAC system in your home. No matter how hot or cold is gets outside, if the thermostat is set to 73 degrees, the house is gonna remain 73 degrees. 

We don’t rejoice because everything is perfect; we rejoice because the Lord is with us, and He is in control.

Paul’s says to “rejoice always” and this helps us to shift our focus from our circumstances to the God who is in control of them.

Paul says, “Rejoice always,” because Joy is not about ignoring the hard things in life, but about choosing to find peace in the presence of God, no matter what’s happening around us.

When we face difficulties—whether it's financial struggles, relationship issues, or health challenges—

we are invited to rejoice, not because we have all the answers, but because we have the presence of the Lord.

His presence brings a peace that surpasses understanding and allows us to rejoice even in the storm.

The purpose of joy is twofold: it is continual, grounded in the presence of God, not the circumstances of life,

and it is public, meant to be visible to all Because Joy that is rooted in the Lord isn’t something we hide away for ourselves; it overflows and touches others.

and it’s In this way, our joy becomes an outward expression of God's inward peace.

We see 1. the Promise of Joy

2. the Practice of Joy

and next we see

3. The Power of Joy (Nehemiah 8:10)

Nehemiah 8:10 KJV 1900

10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

In Nehemiah 8:10, we find the words of Nehemiah, the governor of Jerusalem, who, along with Ezra the priest and the Levites, was leading the people of Israel in a time of great spiritual renewal.

The Israelites had returned from Babylonian exile and were rebuilding Jerusalem.

and After hearing the law read aloud, the people were overwhelmed with sorrow, realizing how far they had fallen short of God’s commands.

But Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites spoke words of encouragement to them, telling them to stop weeping and to rejoice. Nehemiah specifically says, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

the joy of the Lord is your strength.

the joy of the Lord is your strength.

the joy of the Lord is your strength.

the joy of the Lord is your strength.

This scripture is a powerful reminder of how joy in God has the power to sustain us in difficult times.

Nehemiah is addressing a people who have faced hardship, loss, and uncertainty, yet he encourages them not to focus on their grief or despair.

Instead, he calls them to embrace the joy that comes from knowing God’s presence and promises.

The joy of the Lord, Nehemiah says, is not only a gift but a source of our strength.

This joy is able to carry them and us through the challenges they and we face.

The power of joy is that when you have it, it helps you get through the day.

Just as Nehemiah spoke to the Israelites, urging them to find strength in God’s joy, we too can find the same strength today.

In our lives, we face struggles

in our work, we face struggles

in our relationships, we face struggles

in our health, we face struggles

in our country, we face sturggles

In our ministry teams, we face struggles

but instead of complaining, having sleepless nights,

worrying,

know that the joy of the Lord gives us the ability to endure.

It's not about pretending everything is fine or ignoring the hardships we face, but about choosing to anchor our hearts in the eternal joy that God provides.

When you experience the joy of the Lord, it gives you something eternal to look forward to.

This joy isn’t dependent on the day-to-day ups and downs of life.

It’s a joy that is anchored in the truth of God’s love, His faithfulness, and His promises.

When Nehemiah tells the people that “the joy of the Lord is your strength,” he is reminding them—and us—that joy is a supernatural source of strength that empowers us to move forward.

Even when everything seems difficult or uncertain,

God’s joy becomes the strength that helps us press on.

It helps us not to lose heart, but to keep going because we know that God is our strength, our refuge, and our hope.

So what's the good news of joy? We have a promise—A promise of joy that transcends our circumstances, a joy that is rooted in the hope of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection.

We have a purpose—Joy is meant to be continual, not dependent on what happens around us, but on who God is. It’s also meant to be public, shining through our lives for the world to see.

We have power—The joy of the Lord is our strength. It gives us the ability to endure, to stand firm in the midst of trials, and to move forward with hope in God’s eternal promises.

What’s the good news of joy?

We have His presence—In every moment, God is near, and His presence fills our hearts with joy, no matter the circumstances. We have His provision—God’s joy sustains us, it strengthens us, and it fills us with peace, knowing that He provides for us in every way.

And what's the good news of joy?

We have a future—a future filled with hope, a future that is secure in Christ, where joy will never fade away. So we rejoice, because the joy of the Lord is our strength, and in Him, we have everything we need.

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV) "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

Psalm 100 KJV 1900

A Psalm of praise. 1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

Philippians 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Psalm 30:4–5 KJV 1900

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.