Joy To The World

Once again we have blessed to enter into what is called the Christmas Season. Now we know Christmas means many things to many people. Whether we are looking for St nick, Rudolf and the crew , tinsel and lights, trees and decorations, Vacation, Family, food , whatever our motivation, i ask youy to take time out for the the savior. Remember the true reason for the season.

Christmas is the time when we should remember it is the one of the pivotal moments in the history of the world., for it is the day that God became man. It is the day that we celebrate the birth of hope, the birth of redemption and the birth of salvation.

Every baby born is one full of possibilities. When one looks at a newborn one looks at what might be and what can be .

But the avenues that were opened up by the birth of Jesus are more than possibilities they are lifelines and fulfillment .

Lifelines for our future and fulfillment of prophecies.

Those prophecies speak of a messiah, a deliver , a wonderful counselor a prince of peace that make lives worth living and future secure.

Now not much is known about early Jesus! other than a few prophesies in the old testament and a few short chapters in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

From Matthew we know that he was sought out, from Matthew we know that he was threatened even at an early age.

From Luke we find out about his lineage and his humble means. For Luke tells us that while heavenly angels announce his greatness, and John declares that the word became flesh,Luke tell us that there was no room and he was born in a stable. Yet that is a reminder to us that humble beginnings do not limit your possibility.

in fact this celestial announcement was made to those who were considered lower class and unclean but that just goes to show you that the good news of Jesus is for everybody. For Matthew says the rich sought him out but it was the Shepherds that carried the news.

The shepherds who were at work minding their own business when they encountered something out of the ordinary, and when the angel showed up they became afraid. Now , in the Jewish culture it was believed that to see God was to experience death, and I sure they were afraid. Now today the way we will run at anything out of the ordinary, I sure that the angel would have had to catch us before he could calm us down.

But found in that 10th verse are these words

The New King James Version Chapter 2

Then the angel said to them, g“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy hwhich will be to all people.

Father God i come as humble as I know how, asking you to bless these words of mine. that something i say will strengthen a saint or bring someone to altar asking what must I do to be saved.

Joy to the World.

i am not going to be long this morning we have a afternoon program at two so that I am planning on few minutes and then we are going to close it on up. is that alright. But in that 10th verse are three themes i want to touch on, just three .

that is afraid, good tidings and joy. Give me a few minutes and we going to wrap this up!

FEAR

Do not be afraid. that what the Angels said.

That is a message that God has been giving man from the beginning.

God told Joshua fear not

Jesus told the Apostle Fear not

Angel told Mary Fear not

You see fear will stop us from doing what God has for us to do!

Just because we can see it does not mean that God can’t se it. We have said many times before that Faith is the opposite of fear. These lowly shepherd not only conquered there fear of the unknown but that they acted on their faith.

We have to learn to act on our faith. and leave fear behind. God is going to do some wonderful things if we just have faith to trust him. Shepherds became witnesses because they overcame their fear. we too much become witnesses of Christ we when overcome our fear. There is a sin sick world in nedd of of a message . A message of hope , that message started when God so loved the world. that message was actualized when that baby in swaddling clothes was born. that faith that in that day in the town of Bethlehem

What is Joy? that on that day a Savior was born.

Not a politician but a savior

not a reformer but a savior

not a rich man but a savior

not judge but a savior.

Good News

And just like the Angels and the shepherd we have to bring the good new news of Jesus Christ.

Somebody has to tell that God became man so that he can we would not be stuck in the sin of Adam,

Somebody got to tell that a savior came so that we might have eternal life.

Go tell it ,

I know that it was his redemptive work on the cross

I know that it was his resurrection

I know that it was his ascension to sit at the right hand of the father

But it started with his birth. that why we need to tell it

that’s why we need to share this good news.

that why it is the reason for the season.

And Jesus came for everyone. While not everyone will accept him he is there for everyone.

Joy

Now the Greek word is Chara, delight, reason for gladness

Webster calls it a feeling of great happiness

Webster tells you that things or people can bring you joy, or success or luck.

but I am here to tell you that that their is a christian definition of Joy that is a little different that what Webster will tell you.

First of all there is no luck in finding joy, You want Joy it is not matter of finding luck, it is a matter of finding Jesus. getting to know him for your self.

Webster will tell you that things can like flowers or people can bring you joy.

But i tell you the joy that I have the world didn’t give it tome and the world can’t take it away.

Finally Webster tells you that joy is the same thing as happiness but i am telling you to me happiness is a fleeting emotion and joy is is the spiritual connection with Jesus that allowed me to to do what I need to do!

Joy is faith in the one who cannot fail. joy is that peace that makes it acceptable to be in pain, i didn’t say enjoyable but acceptable.

joy light in darkness

Joy pleasure in pain

Joy richness in poverty

Joy happiness in despair joy

Joy  sunshine on rainy day

Joy heat when its cold joy

Joy love in hate joy

Joy strength when I’m weak 

I was ecstatic when Obama won the presidency

but a politician can bring me joy.

I Follow the armed conflicts and no matter how great the soldier , military battles can’t bring me joy.

Money can’t bring Joy

Things can bring joy

people can’t bring joy

only a relationship with jesus can bring you joy. So that no matter what comes i got joy

Somebody woke up this morning in pain but they still had joy

somebody is weak but they still have joy

Somebody being feeling hat but it didn’t stop their joy.

Joy is knowing Jesus

Joy is faith in God’s word

Joy is abiding with jesus

Joy is enduring with jesus

need joy get Jesus

and if you got jesus you have Joy