The Advent of Joy

This is the third Sunday of Advent. The theme of this Sunday’s worship is joy. The Nativity story in the Gospel of Luke is riddled with joy and rejoicing. Joy permeates the experience of some of the primary characters in the story. It is a reminder that God’s redemptive work in the lives of his people brings great joy.

The first time joy enters the picture is when the angel tells Zachariah that he will become a father in his old age; his son will be called John, and "He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth." God’s promise is fulfilled, and Elizabeth, though barren all of her life and now well past childbearing years, conceives a child. God is up to something (God is always up to something). Some months later, in the Galilean village of Nazareth, the angel Gabriel appears to a young woman named Mary and gives her astonishing news. The Holy Spirit will come upon her, and she will conceive a child and he shall be the Savior of his people. At the end of the announcement the angel tells Mary that her kinsmen in the flesh, Elizabeth, is also expecting, and Mary immediately begins plans to go visit Elizabeth.

Zachariah's wife, Elizabeth, is about six months pregnant when her niece, Mary, pays her a visit. When Mary greets her aunt the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, receives prophetic inspiration, and exclaims in a loud voice, "Mary, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you bear… As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." When Elizabeth actually delivers her son, "Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared in her joy."

Six months later Mary finds herself in labor in a stable in Bethlehem. Shepherds in the surrounding fields are watching their flocks by night when suddenly an angel of the Lord appears to them and says, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."

The joy in this passage revolves around two women in impossible circumstances — both of them are miraculously pregnant. One was barren and past childbearing years; and like Sarah and Hannah in the Old Testament, God provides a child despite her age and physical condition. That child will grow up to be the last of the old covenant style profits, heralding the fulfillment of God's promise to send the Messiah. The other woman, Mary, was a virgin, and at the beginning of her childbearing years; and yet God conceived in her a child without the help of a man. And that child would be the foundation of a new covenant, the Messiah that God had long ago promised. The joy these two women experience is inexpressible.

We discover in this passage that joy has its source in God. What is joy? Joy is the celebration — the unrestrained happiness — of experiencing the work of God’s redemptive plan in your life. It is the emotional outburst of rejoicing and basking in the love that God has blessed us with by sending his one and only son Jesus in our stead. It is the embracing of the gift of eternal life given to us even though we have not done anything to earn this glorious gift from God. Our joy is completed as we live in fellowship with the Son, looking forward to the blessings of heaven someday.

Let me ask you a question: Does the redemptive work of God in your life bring you joy? Joy in the Christian's life should flow as naturally from the believer's heart as singing does from a bird at sunrise!

The message of the Nativity story is that joy is available who hear the call of God in their life, and respond. So let me take some time this morning and talk about the coming of joy into our lives through Christ.

I. THE NATIVITY REMINDS US TO REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Be joyful always;”

A. THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE JOYFUL BELIEVERS

1. the non-Christians in our culture see too many mean-eyed furrowed-brow, locked-jaw, crossed-arm, petty-minded, unsmiling Christians

a. I don't mean any of your of course!

2. the world needs to see joyful believers who can praise the Lord no matter what their circumstances are or their lot in life may be

a. the Apostle Peter told the recipients of his first epistle that the Christian's joy is an inward grace that issues from the believer's faith despite trials and temptations

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6–9, NIV84)

3. joy is not merely a simplistic or sentimental way of dealing with life, but a way to meet life head on

ILLUS. In 1988 Bobby Mcferrin wrote and sang a song that became very popular. The lyrics were simple:

Here's a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry, be happy.

In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy.

Don't worry, be happy now.

CHORUS: Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy.

Don't worry, be happy. Don't worry, be happy.

Ain't got no place to lay your head

Somebody came and took your bed

Don't worry, be happy.

The landlord say your rent is late

He may have to litigate

Don't worry, be happy.

CHORUS

Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style

Ain't got no gal to make you smile

Don't worry, be happy.

'Cause when you worry your face will frown

And that will bring everybody down

Don't worry, be happy.

CHORUS: (Don't worry, don't worry, don't do it.

Be happy. Put a smile on your face.

Don't bring everybody down.

Don't worry. It will soon pass, whatever it is.

Don't worry, be happy.

I'm not worried, I'm happy...)

I hated that song. But in it, Mcferrin implies a deep-seated joy that circumstances cannot doom.

4. joy is an effectual, spiritual gift given by God to believers that helps to sustain us in difficult times and increases our happiness in good times

a. happiness is a feeling and usually is determined by outside events or circumstances

b. joy, on the other hand, is an attitude, a disposition, a mind-set that flows from a deep conviction that God is alive and real and in your life and in control

1) it enables you to meet the challenges of life and to wade into impossibilities with enthusiasm and expectancy

2) "rejoicing always" in the Lord enables you to let go of the frustration and pick up the broken pieces and start over again

B. REASONS BELIEVERS CAN REJOICE

1. 1st, we can rejoice because of saving grace

“ ... an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”” (Matthew 1:20–21, NIV84)

a. Jesus came to give us what we need most — redemption

b. as sinners we are slave to sin, it is our master, and we do its bidding

1) the result is that we are lost, in rebellion against God and doomed to eternal punishment

c. but in Christ we have saving grace

2. 2nd, we can rejoice because of sustaining grace

“You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” (Psalm 18:35, NIV84)

a. God does not save us only to leave us to our own strength

ILLUS. In the Lincoln Museum in Washington, you will find, among other things, Lincoln's well-used Bible. In the flyleaf is a note he scribbled as he made his way by train to the capitol for his inauguration. Listen to his words as he asks for sustaining grace from God: "I go to assume a task more difficult than that which has devolved upon any other man since the days of Washington. He never would have succeeded but for the aid of Divine Providence, upon which he at all times relied. I feel that I cannot succeed without the same divine blessing which sustained him, and on the same Almighty Being I place my reliance for support. And I hope you, my friends, will all pray that I may receive the divine assistance, without which I cannot succeed, but with which success is certain."

b. we can rejoice because of sustaining grace

3. 3rd, we can rejoice because of glorifying grace

“[Father] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:” (John 17:22, NIV84)

a. the day is coming when all believers will hear the trumpet of God that signifies our Lord's Second Advent

b. on that day all those who have given their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ are going home

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20–21, NIV84)

c. we can rejoice because of glorifying grace

1) the Scriptures tell us in Isaiah: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him

4. we are to rejoice in the Lord always because his grace is sufficient for every part of our life

II. THE NATIVITY REMINDS US THAT JOY IS A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22–24, NIV84)

1. the Bible teaches that your ability to have joy and to rejoice in the things of God is tied to the redemptive work of God

a. joy is the emotion of salvation — we rejoice with joy inexpressible because the Spirit gives us soaring delight in Christ

1) his beauty of his sacrifice for us — while we were yet sinners — is an astounding act of love and grace that brings joy to our hearts

2. and yet ... we know that even the most mature of God’s people experience periods of joylessness

ILLUS. For instance, Job had that Harry Bailey moment when he wished he’d never been born. David prayed that he might sprout wings and fly away from his troubles. Elijah, even after calling down fire from heaven and defeating the 450 prophets of Baal fled to the desert and prayed that God would take his life.

a. if these men struggled, then we may assume that we might have such moments, too

3. while joy is a gift of the Spirit, like all the gifts of the Spirit joy is like a crop that must be properly cultivated and harvested

a. but, according to Paul, our passions and desires war against the fruit of the Spirit

ILLUS. Some people simply, by nature, tend to be sad, and joy is an ongoing challenge to them. But there are other reasons. Young moms are often surprised at how tired they are — sleepless and exhausted — and they wrestle to find joy. If you are grieving or suffering, you may not realize that God has specific joys for you even in your present circumstances. Sometimes we run after other gods thinking we will find joy, only to find sorrow. And don’t forget that our Enemy, the devil, hates us and will steal every ounce of joy he can.

b. just as there are the fruit of the Spirit, there are also the fruit of the flesh

1) they include hate, sorrow, conflict, anxiety, malevolence, evil, disloyalty, cruelty, and self-indulgence

4. so, how do we go about cultivating joy in our lives?

A. 1st, MAINTAIN A GRATEFUL HEART

1. Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi is known as the Epistle of Joy

a. Paul’s gratitude is reflected in every line of his letter to the Philippians

b. writing from a Roman prison, and possibly facing death, the apostle still refuses to register even the slightest complaint

c. he tells the Philippians: I thank my God every time I remember you

2. in every verse he seems to sing with thanksgiving, almost as though he were composing a psalm

a. he denies himself the option of focusing on the negative aspects of his imprisonment

3. Paul encouraged himself by thinking about how God was using his situation to bring the gospel to others

a. reflecting only on his own discomfort would have led to depression

4. if you want to experience joy, you’re going to have to sit down and count your blessings instead of listing your misfortunes

a. when you consider providential ways in which you have seen God work, like Paul, include the blessings He has poured out on others through you

B. 2nd, FOCUS ON FUTURE HOPE

1. Paul labored and suffered with his future rest in mind

a. he wrote to the Philippians “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)

2. Paul had a valiant, courageous confidence in Christ

a. he could see the good results of bad situations

b. but more important than that, he saw the final victory in Christ

3. in Philippians, Paul attempts to communicate his hope to us

a. he knows there will be a happy ending, and he wants us to remember that even in the worst of circumstances

ILLUS. The apostle cites Christ as an example of such hope. Jesus faced the Cross with a mind clearly focused on His goal. His suffering was of less importance when He considered the needs of mankind. He put aside self-pity and clothed Himself with compassion for men.

b. Paul tells us: “For the joy set before him [he] endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2)

4. hope is a winch by which we tie into Christ and hoist ourselves out of the muck of despair

a. if we’re going to have joy in life you need to think beyond the present

C. 3rd, PURSUE GODLY GOALS

1. Paul kept his spiritual goals clearly in mind

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8–11, NIV84)

2. Paul’s goal, to know Christ, meant following and imitating Christ, even in suffering and death

a. to know Him would be worth any price because of the final payoff – eternal life

b. Paul struggled toward those goals with every ounce of energy

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NIV)

3. when we are busy pursuing godly goals there is no time for anxiety, regret, or disappointment

a. instead of becoming desperate for worldly happiness we become desperate to follow Christ, and joy is our reward

D. 4th, PRAY

1. the impulse to pray when we are in trouble is almost automatic

a. but prayer ought to be more than an appeal for deliverance

b. it is more than a toll-free order system by which we obtain or change circumstances to make us happy

2. as we make our appeal to God, we often feel it is our “right” to grumble and worry until He delivers us

a. not so, according to Paul

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NIV)

b. according to Paul, it is our privilege in Christ to be free of anxiety and to rejoice in the Lord always

3. joy does not wait on the answer to prayer, but grows through prayer itself

a. to continue worrying is a breach of faith

E. 5th, THINK GODLY THOUGHTS

1. Paul writes to the Philippian believers:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:8–9, NIV)

2. tragedies and difficult circumstances have a way of cutting off our fresh air

a. we become so engrossed in the painful moment that we see, hear, think, and feel little else

b. we begin choking on stale, cloudy thoughts

3. but Paul points out that we can choose what to think about

a. we can focus on gloom and doom

b. or on promises and praise

ILLUS.. In one of his letters to a young man in the ministry named Timothy, Paul told him to stir up the gift of God that was in him. The Greek word of stir up means to rekindle as in getting a fire burning brightly again. That requires some personal effort. One of the surest ways to rekindle the spirit of joy in your life is to take the "poker" of your memory and stir up some past occurrences in your life when God was at work. You need to recall the times that God intervened in your life and answered your prayers. Meditate upon your blessings. Throw the "logs" of praise, thankfulness and gratitude on the fire of God and see if the flame of the Holy Spirit does not burn more brightly in your life.

F. 6th, LEARN CONTENTMENT

1. Paul learned to be content in any situation

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11, NIV)

2. when we worry over the things we don’t have instead of finding contentment in what we do have, joy shrivels and dies

ILLUS. Monte Shinkle once told me about an experience they had in one of their church’s mission trips to Mexico. In one community, he observed Mexican women washing their clothes in a place where hot and cold springs bubbled up side by side. They boiled their garments in the hot springs and rinsed them in the cold. Monte remarked to his guide, “I suppose the people think God is generous to them.” “No,” the guide replied, “just the opposite. They grumble because He does not supply soap.”

3. contentment is never found in the amount of our blessings, but in our attitude toward our blessings

a. dissatisfaction breeds anxiety and frustration

1) contentment fosters joy

b. discontent blackens everything around it

1) contentment transforms turbulence into peace

4. and while discontent seems to occur naturally, contentment is grown through small, painful steps of cultivation

a. you don’t just decide to be content, the Apostle Paul says, you learn contentment

5. how is contentment learned?

a. by maintaining grateful hearts, focusing on future hope, praying pursuing Godly goals and thinking Godly thoughts

b. above all, contentment is learned by seeking first the Kingdom of God instead of seeking the things of this world

6. if you will learn to do these six things, you will begin to experience the real joy that God announced to the shepherds and want to give to us

Martin Luther said it best when he wrote; ". . . The Christian ought to be a living doxology." Doxology is a word that simply means A Praise to God. When joy of salvation is a part of your life and you find yourself rejoicing in the things of God, you will be a witness to the world and a "praise unto God."

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