It’s OK to be joyful—and happy.

It’s OK to be joyful—and happy.

Rediscovering Christmas

Luke 1:5-45

Me:

1. When my son was born

a. IMAGE baby picture

b. You could see my smile under the mask

i. We didn’t know if it was a boy or girl

ii. Oh the joy we had

c. Times where not always joyful

i. When he got his girlfriend pregnant

ii. IMAGE Raelyn

We:

2. What makes you happy

a. It’s Christmas time

i. We are having the family over tonight

ii. Maybe for you it’s your friends

iii. Your church

b. Maybe there is no happiness

i. Some people in life are hopeless

ii. Other are joyless

iii. Christmas will not be a happy time

1. Matter of fact it’s the opposite

c. I want to show you something

i. It’s OK to be joyful

ii. We think that it’s not ok

iii. Life is so hard

iv. What’s there to be happy about

v. The post office ruins Christmas for me

vi. I want to show you something

God:

3. The Christmas Story

Luke 1:5–45 (NLT) — 5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.

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· Both Zechariah and Elizabeth are of a priestly line

· In that day there was a lot of corruption in the priesthood (Money changers)

· Notice what is next

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6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.

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· They had not succumbed to the corruption of the day

· But they had a problem

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7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

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· Not having children was a black mark

· This would bring them shame

· The neighbors would gossip

· I want you to see that even in the Christmas story there is headache

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8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.

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· Doing a holy ritual

· An angel appears and he was overwhelmed with FEAR

· He thought he was about to die

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13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

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· Wow what a statement

· John the Baptist

· And yes he do those things

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18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

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· Oops this is not gonna end well

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19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!

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· Oh boy nothing like a dressing down an angel who stands in the very presents of God

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20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

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· It could have been worst

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21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary. 23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.

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· Just like that

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24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

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· Joy of the Lord

· Now story two

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26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

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· When an angel appeared

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30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

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· The name of Jesus

· Matthew says this “for He will save His people from their sins.”

· The Christmas story is so much more than a baby in a manger

· It’s a God that loves you and will save you from the judgement of your sins

· The joy of the Lord

· Listen

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32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.

37 For the word of God will never fail.”

38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. 39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth.

41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?

44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.

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· Jumped for joy

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45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

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· You believed what the Lord had said.

You:

4. It’s OK to be Joyful

a. This world is cruel

i. It’s not fair

ii. It’s broken

b. But that’s not where your happiness is based

i. Even an unborn infant understood that

ii. My disappointments are different than yours

iii. But our JOY is found in the same place

iv. In the name of Jesus

v. Can we just trust his timing