Joy - The Promise Fulfilled

You will notice that the pink candle is lit today, along with two purple ones. I want to take a bit of time to explain the advent candles. This is a tradition that began back in 1839 in Germany, as a way of showing how the birth of Jesus Christ was God bringing light into a sin-darkened world.

There has been a variety of colors used over the years, with what you currently see as the most common. The meanings for the four weeks can vary depending on the chosen focus. This year, as we’re going through our theme of The Promises of Christmas, I am using the order of hope, peace, joy, and love. The third candle almost always has a theme of Joy. Sometimes it is referred to as the Shepherds’ Candle. Pink supposedly represents rejoicing.

That’s enough history for now. Today, we are continuing in our Advent Series—The Promises of Christmas, as we look specifically at the area of Joy, the Promise Fulfilled.

Joy is one of those words that has been domesticated and watered down by our culture. People say they find joy in a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Some find joy in having a new phone. Others say they experience joy with a clean house. Some say they have joy when they find a great sale at the store. Our world tends to define joy as a temporary emotional high — a feeling produced by pleasant circumstances. But biblical joy is entirely different. Joy is not rooted in possessions, comfort, or momentary happiness. Joy is anchored in God’s salvation, His character, and His unchanging promises.

During Advent, we look forward and backward at the same time — backward to Christ’s first coming, and forward to His return or second coming. And in both directions, the believer discovers that God Himself is the source of lasting joy.

Today, we will look first at Mary’s song, often known as the Magnificat. Then, we’ll take some time looking at some verses in the book of Philippians, as Paul reminds the Philippian church to rejoice in the Lord always.

In these two passages, separated by decades and different circumstances, we discover the same truth: Joy is not tied to what we possess or what we feel, but to the God who saves.

Joy is rooted in God’s salvation, not in possessions or comfort.

JOY IS ROOTED IN GOD’S SALVATION (Luke 1:46–49)

Luke 1:46–49 NASB95

And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

Mary begins her song by saying,

“My soul exalts [magnifies] the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced [rejoices] in God my Savior.”

Her joy is not because she has had an easy life. In fact, we can assume she has basically been shunned by her community, because she was pregnant before marriage. Historically, someone who was pregnant before marriage was to be put to death. It’s not going to become any easier for her; her life is about to get harder. She will soon be on her way to Bethlehem with Joseph, for the census, while late in her pregnancy. She will face suspicion, misunderstanding, and hardship. Yet her spirit rejoices.

Why? Because her joy is rooted not in circumstances, but in salvation. How do we know this? She calls God:

“my Savior.”

Her joy flows from God’s mercy, God’s character, and God’s covenant faithfulness. This seems to be where the focus of her worship was. All of our worship is a result of the fact that God has provided us with salvation. Mary had already received information from the angels that the child within her would be the One who would save His people from their sins.

True joy begins when we recognize our need for rescuing and the greatness of God’s salvation. Until a person understands this, they’ll be pursuing everything else, hoping to find joy, but it will always turn up empty and meaningless. Possessions may fade, comfort may vanish — but salvation is certain and secure.

Mary continues in her song of praise, reflecting and remembering as to why she was giving joyful praise.

JOY GROWS AS WE REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS (Luke 1:50–55)

Luke 1:50–55 NASB95

“And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him. “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Mary bases her joy in God’s unchanging promises. She remembers His mighty deeds; she remembers His mercy; she remembers His justice; she remembers His provision; and she remembers His covenant faithfulness. She wasn’t just thinking of herself, but the fact that God’s mercy was going to continue even for others down the road: His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.

We see Mary reflecting back upon history in verses 51-45. She recited the amazing mighty deeds which God had already done for His people. She remembered all the ways in which God had provided for Israel, and even the promises to Abraham.

One reason we lack joy today is because we forget. Joy grows when we rehearse God’s faithfulness — when we intentionally remember His past mercies. The old children’s worship song of Count Your Blessings ought to be a song we rehearse in our minds quite often. We ought to take the time to not just give a blanket thankfulness for God’s faithfulness. We need to take time to do inventory of God’s faithfulness. We need to count His many blessings; name them one by one. Count His many blessings; see what God has done. I am convinced that if we did that, just like Mary, we would see our joy grow to overflowing.

Now let’s move forward a few decades to another book in the New Testament, the book of Philippians.

JOY IS COMMANDED AND SUSTAINED BY GOD’S PRESENCE (Philippians 4:4–5)

Philippians 4:4–5 NASB95

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Read that first part again as Paul writes,

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

This is not a suggestion but a command, as seen in the imperative voice in the Greek. Do you ever wonder why Paul repeated this command? Is it possible that being joyful is not always easy? Is it possible that circumstances can sometimes smother joy?

I believe that to be true. We should remember that the circumstances and situation in which Paul wrote this was not at all ideal. In fact, Paul’s command is given from prison. Obviously, this wasn’t some emotion. Being in prison doesn’t cause a person to be filled with joy. Instead it was a recognition that God was and will always be in control. It seems to me that this is something all believers should probably work at practicing.

You see, comfort wasn’t part of the picture here. Paul understood that the source of joy is the Lord Himself. Paul also realized the fact that God never changes. Therefore, joy is never at the mercy of circumstances.

If it helps, maybe we can take another look at the criteria surrounding the command. Rejoice in the Lord. If you are focused on the Lord, if you fix your eyes on Jesus, then joy should be the result. If we know Jesus, we have the key to rejoicing in the Lord.

In fact, Paul finishes his thought with this sentence.

“The Lord is near.”

This was that hope which Paul already had from the promises in God’s Word. Just like Paul, we have experienced the redemption of God through Jesus Christ. This provided peace to Paul in the worst of circumstances. This should provide peace to us in the worst of circumstances. This also provided great joy to Paul as he longed for that future reunion with our Savior. This should also provide great joy to us as we look forward to being forever in His presence.

JOY DRIVES OUT ANXIETY AND FILLS US WITH PEACE (Philippians 4:6–7)

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We know, as do all of the saints of all time, that joy can seem so fragile with everything attacking us. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We already have the promise that the Lord is near, from the last verse. That should give us an even greater reason to be anxious for nothing. Wherever we go and whatever we experience, we are assured that God’s presence is with us at all times.

Paul connects joy with prayer, thanksgiving, and peace. Joy teaches us where to go with our burdens. The trials and burdens can cause us to forget the truths of the Bible, causing us to let go of our joy. During those difficult times, we must go to the Rock of our salvation.

We are reminded to present everything to God in prayer. We know that God is totally sovereign and is completely capable of doing whatever needs to be done for His glory and for our good. Throughout the Bible, we are told to leave our burdens and cares and concerns on the Lord. And when we do that, whether it be praise, basic prayer, deep petitions or supplications, we have all of our prayers framed with thanksgiving; knowing that our Lord hears us and will answer according to His perfect will.

We are reminded in 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” And Paul reminds us to do this with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving strengthens joy even more so. We are encouraged to know that our Lord’s love for us is so rich and deep and wide that we are filled with joy. His love is immeasurable; the joy which fills us is also immeasurable. And that joy leads to peace — a supernatural peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The word guard is a military term which shows God’s peace at work in the totality of the believer to provide absolute protection. But understand that this is only for those in Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Mary’s joy was in her Savior who provides salvation. Paul’s joy was in Christ who completed the work of providing salvation. Our joy is anchored in the same truth: Joy is rooted in God’s salvation, not in possessions or comfort.

This Advent, may our hearts echo Mary’s words:

“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

And as a result, may we live out Paul’s command:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

The coming of Christ brings joy that transcends circumstances.

Joy is rooted in God’s salvation, not in possessions or comfort.