Advent - Joy, the Promise and the Presence.

Introduction –

Joy! Today we discuss joy. Joy in 2020? Joy in the middle of COVID? Joy when families are horribly broken? What is Biblical JOY? And how can we cultivate it?

Before we jump right into it let me be very clear, we are not talking about fake, bumper sticker joy. No – turn the frown upside down. No cliché taken out of context scriptures. At the end of 2020 we need honest, realistic, Joy that can see us through the realities of life in a very fallen world.

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Luke 2:1–20 NASB95

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

· Shepherd life was difficult, low on the cultural status ladder, almost slave labor –

· Yet the Good news of Jesus’ birth points their lives in the direction of hope and a promise. (Salvation, New Community, Empowered living, New Heaven and Earth).

· The status of the shepherds did not change but their future did!

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What is Biblical Joy -

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A joy that is sustained by God’s promises not your current circumstances! (Promise)

Psalm 105:42–43 NASB95

For He remembered His holy word With Abraham His servant; And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout.

Exodus 15:1 NASB95

Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and said, “I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

· God’s victory over Egypt let them know He will take them into the promise land as He had promised Abraham. -

· You may be living in the wilderness but remember the promise land is in front of you.

· Human joy is a fleeting emotion based on good circumstances.

· God’s joy is a gift given to us as we remember his many victories and we look toward His incredible promise.

Joy is dependent on His Promise not Your circumstance.

Matthew 5:11–12 NASB95

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

· True joy can survive the harshest of circumstances because it is not dependent on circumstances. Rather it is dependent on God’s Promise of eternal life.

His Sacrifice Was Motivated By His Love and Joy

Hebrews 12:1–3 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

· The joy of Jesus was you, His worldwide church.

· The joy of creating a people for the presence of God gave Jesus the strength to face the cross.

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This is not a fake joy

· This is a joy, that understands through love, Jesus defeated sin for us.

· Through love Jesus defeated the grave for us

· And through love God will create a new Heaven and Earth for us, His people.

Biblical Joy is not dependent on our current circumstances but is powered by the Promises of a God who gave up everything for us, in love.

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Not only is our joy sustained by the promises of God.

But Joy comes down to where we are. (Presence)

· Good news of the birth of the King of Peace first given to Shepherds

· God joins the poor and the forgotten as his first bed is an animal feeding troth.

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John 1:1–5 NASB95

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:14 The Message

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

Joy meets us where we are and reminds us of our destination in Him.

· Joy met the 3 Jewish boys in the fiery furnace.

· Joy met Daniel in the lions den

· Joy met Matthew in a Tax booth

· Joy met the prostitutes, tax collectors, and all sorts of sinners around a dinner table.

· Joy met the woman caught in adultery – As He stooped down to her and gave her life a new destination.

· Joy met a murderer named Saul on the road to Damascus and set His life in a new direction.

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Not only is joy sustained by the promises of God, but Joy also became a man and this man, Jesus, desires to meet you in the middle of your circumstances.

· In your current circumstances Jesus is there.

Is it a Blue Christmas? Jesus Longs to Give You His Presence.

· In your pain, suffering, sickness, fear, heart ache, Jesus is there.

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(Have worship team come up)

Biblical Joy is not a bumper sticker, it is not positive thinking, it is not ignoring your circumstances.

Biblical Joy Is About His Promises and His Presence.

· Biblical joy is a person, He is Immanuel – God with us.

· He is the one who became the lowest of man, so he could lift us up.

· He is the one who took upon himself our sins, so we could take His righteousness.

· He is the one who defeated death, so we too may have resurrected life.

· He is the one coming back, so we can experience the wonder of the New Heavens and Earth for eternity.

· And He is the one, who is with you in the midst of suffering, pain, sorrow and grief.

He is the one who will wipe away every tear from your eyes.

· He is Jesus and He is our Joy.

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

John 15:11 NASB95

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.