JOY Full

Good morning, I’m excited to be back with you this morning… as we begin a series based on Advent, which will be out of the normal order. But this week we’re going to be looking at the idea of Joy in our own lives. But before we jump in, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.

Pray

I Remember being a kid in small-town New Hampshire on Christmas morning. The snow was falling outside, it was freezing, so cold that you had to be layered up in at least two pairsof clothing plus a winter jacket, plus a winter hat, winter gloves, a scarf, snow boots and of course 3 pairs of socks.

But inside our house on Christmas morning, it was warm, it was snug. I remember it being quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. And I rushed up to the top of the stairs at my house, where my 3 older sisters and I waited below to hear mom and dad tell us if Christmas had come finally come!

Now of course, we knew better to wake our parents up too early. If we did that, well Santa might not have come. But as soon as we could hear our parents’ footsteps below, all 3 of my sisters and I all yelled together? Did Santa come? Of course, we would quietly and patiently wait. For what seemed like an eternity to hear a resounding YES!

At once we would rush down the stairs, each of us trying to be the first to see all that Santa had brought us that year. All excited to see big boxes with beautiful red and green wrapping paper. Eager to see what was waiting in our Christmas stocking by the fire place… Each filled with excitement a thrilling day of opening presents.

One-by-one, we would each take a turn. My dad would normally play “Santa.” He would turn to one of my 3 sisters and say her you go Steph, this ones from mom and dad. Then he would turn to Jen, and say here Jen, this one’s for you, then Melynda. Here Melynda, here’s one from Grammy and Grandpa Hanks. Then my dad… Santa, would turn to me and give me my first present of the Christmas morning. Man, the excitement of that moment, the expectation of what was to come.

And one-by-one, my dad, would hand out the presents. He would pass the gifts along to each of us small kids. Until finally, the biggest present of all, was given. The best gift of the morning, the tub full of beanie babies, the Nintendo game system complete with duck hunt, the bow and arrow with the deer decoy.Yes, the big gifts were always reserved for the last.

This morning, we can be confident that God has given us his best, and yet the best is yet to come. Maybe you’re dealing with physical ailment. Facing a financial struggle or a loss of a loved one and the life has knocked you down. So far down that the Joy of Christmas is hard to find.

You see, 2 weeks ago we look at the idea of giving thanks in all circusmstance, last week Pastor Tim Miller spoke on doxology and giving praise to God and this morning… Our focus will be on Joy. Today, there are at least 4 reasons why you can have Joy at Christmas and all year long.

1. Jesus is our Joy. 2. Your extraordinary to God 3. God is with us (our shepherd) 4. God wants to use you.

1. You can have Joy at Christmas because Jesus is our Joy!

According to the National Retail Federation estimates, the average American will spend $700 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion. Shopping malls will be packed with the last-minute gift shopping, online retailers will be flooded with 1-click shopping orders and restaurants will be jammed with rushing shoppers who don’t have time to make a sit-down-meal for the family. Yes, the Christmas season is upon us. And while shopping and holiday sweaters aren’t a bad thing in of themselves…

After the Christmas season is over, the tree has been taken down, the lights have been stored in the garage and the chocolate chip cookies have all been eaten… If Jesus isn’t at the center of our JOY at Christmas time… Then once Christmas is over, we have no Joy.

That takes us to our scripture this morning. In between the old testament and new testament periods, we have 400 years of silence. We end the old testament in the book of Malachi, with the nation of Israel that is in Palestine but under the Persian and ME-doe-Persian rule. Then in Luke 2, we pick back up. Things hadn’t changed too much; the people of Israel more less go from rule of one nation or group to that of another. Then in Luke 2, we pick back up with now a Roman government ruling the people of Israel. See God’s people are a chosen people, a royal priesthood. But they too looked forward to the best gift of all which up until they received the messiah, well they were just waiting...

In Luke 2: 8-12 we read 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Let’s unpack these verses. The shepherds would have been keep watching over their sheep in the region around Bethlehem, about six miles south Of Jerusalem. There were staying out in the fields with their flocks at night, which was customary at the time because during the day, sheep would have been grazing in the throughout the field, yet at night time… The sheep were move to sheepfolds where the shepherds could take turns keeping watch over their flocks.

For those that have served in the military there is a responsibility to keep watch. For army men and women, who have served in foreign wars… Those keeping watch during the earlier hours of the morning are protectors of those sleeping.

In verse 9 it tells us: 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Now, so we’re aware… Terror amongst shepherds would have been a natural response to what was taking place. These men are of course in their normal environments keeping watch over these sheep that have been entrusted to them and the last thing that their expecting is a radiating angel to show up on the scene. This also make sense because angels didn’t always bring good news… as with Sodom and Gomorrah for instance, sometimes angels brought news of destruction or devastation. But in this instance the angels brought good news of great Joy.

Friends, that JOY that was brought that day was the same Joy that we have this day… You see, so often, we look at Joy as something that we have based on our circumstance. But the true Joy of Christmas friends, is found IN Christ alone. In fact, when we realize in our own lives that JOY begins with Jesus, then others… and finally ends with you… that’s were true JOY begins.

2. Joy at Christmas because your extraordinary to God

Perhaps you’ve never valued yourself. Perhaps, you’ve spent most of your life being at the other end of the joke where others are laughing at you… Not with you… Listen God loves you. Your extraordinary to your father. We see that the shepherds are ordinary men but God they matter to God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.

God used the lowly things. God used the shepherds, God used average guys for a God sized purpose. In my studies, I found from John MacArthur notes that shepherds in the new-testament were near the bottom of the social ladder. They were uneducated and unskilled, increasing viewed as dishonest, unreliable characters, so much so that they couldn’t even testify in court as they couldn’t be relied upon for their word.

But here’s the key… These men were known by God. God knew what was on the inside and God saw the potential within them, that perhaps they didn’t even recognize they had.

Paul writes in romans 8:28-30 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

See God knew these shepherds by name. To us, they’re just listed as Shepherds… But to God. These were chosen men, these were his children with a specific calling on their lives. Other shepherds had come before, we read about Jacob, Moses, and David… But the key is that God will take humble beginnings at turn them into amazing endings. (I think of youth group students.)

See God knows our hearts. There’s nothing that God doesn’t know. In 1 Samuel 16:7 in speaking of David the lowly shepherd, then turned king and the ancestor to Jesus: 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the he

See when the hearts right… God will use that… Resuming in Luke 2:99 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified

So we know… Shone around – Perilampo (petty lampo) only appears 2 times in the New Testament first is in Luke 2, and the 2nd time is in acts 26. Paul, in Acts 26 is defending his proclaimation of the gospel before King Agrippa. See Paul too had an encounter with the Messiah and this changed his life. It reads:

Acts 26: 13-18

13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[ ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

See Paul, just like the shepherds, just like the disciples and just like so many before had had an encounter with Jesus and in an instant, it changed everything. And it wasn’t enough to change His heart. No good wanted use a God-Sized encounter for a God-sized purpose. So that Paul could then go and share the Jesus with others so they to may have open eyes and turn them from darkness to light.

God foreknew these Shepherds. God predestined them for one of the most amazing journeys of their lives. They would be the ones to discover the first Christmas ever, and what excitement they would have had.

Resuming Luke 2:10 it says:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Notice it doesn’t say for some people, or a couple people… but for all people there is great joy. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

It’s important to notice, that God had told the shepherds what they would find… and here, God keeps his promise. The shepherds found the baby lying in the manger. Which by the way a manger was nothing more than a feeding trough for animals… and in the same way that this sweet baby boy was born in a manger, that was used to feed animals…

He would one day be given nailed to a cross and his body would be given, his blood would be shed and friends… ultimately, from the day that he was born until the day that he died.. he was given for you and me.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Guys I don’t know about you this morning… but its comforting to know that nothing can separate me from the Fathers loves. That no matter what we face, that God in these very moments is interceding on our behave… and friends… we are extraordinary to God this morning.

3. God is with us (he is our shepherd)

We can have Joy at Christmas time because Jesus didn’t stay a baby. No Jesus came, as a baby, but he grew up. And he didn’t just grow up. He had a purpose… and that purpose was you. He is Emmanuel, God with us. This morning If you choose to let God be your shepherd you will be safe and protected.

As we read a few weeks ago we see in Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

John 10:11 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Because God is our Shepherd, he provides for us. He see’s us before we go to bed at night. He is there with us throughout the day and he is there when the day comes to a close.

Isaiah 40:11 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

As a parent each of us want good things for our children. We’ve all worked our whole lives to provide daily food, a warm home and even fun and entertainment for our children. A loving parent wants the best for their Children. God sent His son so that no longer would there need to be separation from Him because of our sins, but so that His Holy Spirit may indwell within us.

Hebrews 4:15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Jesus came. He lived a perfect life, he died for you and me. But heres the key… He can empathize with everything you face today.

There’s no problem that you face alone. There’s no sickness that you face that God isn’t capable of healing. There’s no financial mountain that you can’t climb over.

John 16:20-22 says 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy

During Christmas time, many of us are saddened by the loss of a loved one. Many of us feel alone, isolated, hopeless. We worry about our job. We ask if and when our health will get better? Or if our financial situation will improve. Romans 8: 31-32 reminds us: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

What they should we do? Trust God at His word. Trust God’s promises. Matthew 6:10 reminds us how to pray, how to ask things of God where it reads: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What are you holding onto this morning that you’re unwilling to trust God with? Maybe you’ll trust God with your family life, your job and your past. But there’s an issue that’s too big to trust God with this morning. Trust God because He Loves you.

4. God wants to use you.

Luke 2:17-20 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

We read in Acts 20:35 that Jesus said: “It’s better to give than receive.”

For us at Christmas and always, we can take our cares and attentions away from our own problems and put them on those of someone else. The true Joy at Christmas is Jesus.

See here’s the key. The shepherds had an encounter with Jesus and it changed everything. They could have choice not to have listened to the angel. The Messiah was coming regardless. But they had a choice to make. Do we listen to what the angel is telling us? Or do we continue with our normal work?

See God has purposed us to come and see. God has, is and will continue to do marvelous works in our lives. He’ll continue to do amazing things through us, but are we willing. See if we choose to follow Jesus this may cost us everything. But isn’t it worth it?

For those of us that have never said yes to Jesus. Perhaps that’s you perhaps that some of your friends, family or co-workers. But these are people that may have heard rumors of Jesus. But have never been willing to taste for themselves the glory of the Lord which you so attest to.

Maybe you’ve accepted the gift of our Lord and savior… But if we were honest, we could do a better job at witnessing to others. (guys I fall into this group so often) this Is me preaching to myself. Romans 10:14-15 tells us: “14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Here’s a secret. You’re the messenger. Today, you’re being sent. Today, your commission is to go tell it on the mountain. Go tell it to your co-workers. To the person in the shopping mall, to your neighbor…. This time of year, people are searching for the truth. Rumors of glad tidings of great joy, and peace to the world, good will to men. Will you as a friend as a co-worker as an acquaintance shine your light for Jesus this Christmas season? That’s the Joy of Christmas.

See after the encounter with the messiah… The Shepherds didn’t keep the joy to themselves. Luke 2:17-18 tells us: “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

The Joy at Christmas is Jesus. Will you spread the word concerning him? You see, if you remember from a few weeks ago… I asked you to write down a couple names of people that you could be praying for… and so I would ask just 2 questions… 1st. I would ask if you’ve been faithfully praying for the names of the people you’ve wrote down. And 2. Would I encourage you to look for an opportunity to share your faith not only with these people, but also with others in your life?

Call ushers forward at this time. (Communion)

As they’re coming forward… I’m encouraged this morning because ultimalty our joy is Jesus.

In a moment, we’re going to take communion together. And the truth is, we have the priviledge to do this because ultimately… Jesus was given for our sins… and so in a moment the elements will be passed out. Firs the bread and then the cup… And if you’ve accepted Christ as your Lord and savior, we will be taking communion together in just a moment… but before we take the elements together, take a moment right where you are and spend time with the father… for as

1 Cor 11:26 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Take a moment right where you are, as the elements are being passed out and spend time in prayer.

1 Cor 11:23-25 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” pray…

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Pray

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown here great mercy, and they shared her Joy… Luke 1:58