Joy To The World

Luke 2:8–14 MEV

And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid. But the angel said to them, “Listen! Do not fear. For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men.”

Joy To The World. It is something that we sing every Christmas.

The scripture says that the Joy will be to all people but sadly it is not that way.

What brings us Joy?

If you were to ask people they would give you different answers.

You would hear getting to spend time with friends and family.

The food is great.

The presents, Santa Claus.

Christmas lights and trees.

And don’t forget the music!

As we go through the next few weeks I want us to be thinking about where that Joy really comes from and how it affects our lives and all those around us.

Celebrating Christmas started in the year 98 AD.

That was 1,921 years ago.

Today the world especially the business world has capitalized on this Christian Holy Day.

As a matter of fact many public schools will not have a “Christmas Play” or put up a Christmas tree. Instead they call in something like a Holiday play or a Holiday tree. (Which is funny because Holiday literally means Holy Day.

But why do they do this? Why are they running away from the name? Because it has Christ in it.

They are taking a day that was set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus and turned it into a secular celebration.

They want to enjoy all the festivities of this time without observing why we have it to start out with. If it wasn’t for Jesus we would not have this Holiday.

As I said earlier this is a season of Joy but so many people do not have joy.

Around Christmas the suicide rate climbs.

I have a friend whose mother, the day before Christmas, jump from the Arkansas River Bridge and committed suicide.

I want us to remember through the next few weeks that many people are struggling. They are going through a rough time in their lives.

Just because someone puts up lights on a tree, shops for presents and sings Christmas songs does not mean that everything is okay inside.

As a matter of fact you may be here today and you are struggling during this season. Please know that this church is their for you.

Christy and I are their for you and we are here to support you and encourage you. Do not go through this season feeling alone and depressed instead come to us and let us be that person that you can talk to.

Now how do we get that joy, keep the joy and help others with that joy?

Thank God for what He has given you.

I know that it is easy to think we have it bad but it could be worse.

Do you remember the man named Job? He lost everything. It can be difficult but you must that God for what He has given you.

You can thank him for the breath He has given you if you cant think of anything else.

2. Pray for those who are less fortunate than you.

That could be a missionary who is away from their family.

Maybe a service members family whose Dad, Mom, spouse are over seas or who has died in battle.

Or your neighbor who has lost someone they love.

A friend who is not a Christian

And when I mean pray, I mean pray. Call them up, go to their house. Whatever way you can pray over them out loud do it.

Don’t just tell someone you will pray for them.

3. Remember that Jesus is the Reason for the season.

When we begin to understand that Jesus is the reason

not Santa

not presents

not family

not food

not friends

not music

not time off of work.

We would not have Christmas if it wasn’t for Jesus.

When the host of Lord said to the shepherds that their would be Great Joy to all people it was because the Son of God had come to earth in Human flesh and chose to live among us.

Before Jesus came their was no perfect sacrifice so therefore we lived under the weight of the Law.

After Jesus came he would die and His death would change the world.

If we have believed on Jesus and His words then we are under His blood not the law and now we are judged by His blood.

Jesus blood washes away all the blackness of sin and purifies us as clean and white as fresh falling snow.

This is how we can have Joy.

This is how we can keep Joy even in bad circumstances

This is how we can help others to have joy.