Celebrating Joy

The Point: We can Experience great Joy because Jesus Saves

Last Week

Last class we spoke about anger.

We aimed to speak about the importance of controlling your anger by bringing it to God.

This week

We will be talking about Joy.

The emotion that should keep us going daily.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Joy as Feeling

Joy is a feeling called forth by well-being, success, or good fortune. A person automatically experiences it because of certain favorable circumstances. It cannot be commanded.

Anger is an emotion instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view.

Joy is opposite to anger.

As Christians we should have joy in our lives no matter the earthy conditions of our lives.

Why? Because we find joy in the Lord.

I have found joy in the Lord throughout the years when I am going thru hard situations.

Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Setting

Tis the season

How many of you celebrate Christmas?

If you don’t that is fine.

But one of the labels that this time of the year has is “Its the most wonderful time of the year”.

Xmas for me is surrounded in good times, and even some sad ones.

But it is a time of the year where joy is present, with family coming together and gifts being exchanged.

But Joy should not be tied up to a one time of the year event.

We should be joyful and happy and jolly all year round.

Sometimes life is hard and joy seems really far off.

We Christians are supposed to sing even when times are tough.

Psalm 46:1–3 NKJV

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:1–3 RVR60

1 Dios es nuestro amparo y fortaleza, Nuestro pronto auxilio en las tribulaciones. 2 Por tanto, no temeremos, aunque la tierra sea removida, Y se traspasen los montes al corazón del mar; 3 Aunque bramen y se turben sus aguas, Y tiemblen los montes a causa de su braveza. Selah

Impart 1

Psalm 95:1–3 NKJV

1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:1–3 RVR60

1 Venid, aclamemos alegremente a Jehová; Cantemos con júbilo a la roca de nuestra salvación. 2 Lleguemos ante su presencia con alabanza; Aclamémosle con cánticos. 3 Porque Jehová es Dios grande, Y Rey grande sobre todos los dioses.

In this world everyone wants to be happy.

There is nothing wrong with that. That is a good thing.

Sometimes we associate joy with fun only.

When you get older, joy can be laying on a beach doing absolutely nothing, instead of going to a theme park.

Happiness / Joy

Happiness is associated with things that have “happened” which have brought to you contentment.

Joy is a state of being.

Does that mean you will be with a SMILE on your face everyday.

It just means that you are still even though things around you may be shaking.

It means that even though you lost a loved one, you are trusting God to know what is best.

It means that even though your situation between your parents is not happy and maybe hasn’t been for awhile, you trust that God can bring peace eventually.

It means that even though your struggling to please God, He is on your side desiring for you to get up.

Why is this? Because our life will change and sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad.

But when God is our joy, He does not change.

In this passage God is called the ROCK of SAlVATION.

Why because when we thing of a ROCK, we think of an unmovable ground.

Circumstances will move and life will sometimes get shaky, but if we are on the Rock we can learn to be still and know that He is God.

There are people out there that do not know how to handle tough situations in life.

Many turn to different things such as drugs, bad relationships and even suicide.

We as Christians turn to God.

The author of the Psalm calls for a Joyful shout!!!

Hence why we scream at church because we have the Lord to turn to.

What has recently led you to praise God?

What are some ways you can express joy and thanks to the Lord during your daily routines?

Impart 2

Luke 2:4–7 NKJV

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

When you think about this story is there anything that seems wrong to you?

Why would God not provide a decent house for His Son to be born?

Why would God stress them out like that?

Can you imagine being the mother of God’s Son and not having any place to stay?

That sounds like a messed up story.

How about Joseph? That is literally God’s Son whom he has been called upon to help raise and he can not even provide a proper place to lodge?

A lot of emotions must have been erupting here.

God allowed His Son to be born in the humblest of situations to allow us to also be content in our circumstances.

If the Great God could be born in a feed basket for animals and be content, are we not to also be content when we have even more?

Impart 3

Luke 2:8–14 NKJV

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

“I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

The most important joyful event in history was the arrival of Jesus Christ.

Why? Because the good news was that we would be saved for eternity through that chosen Baby’s birth.