The Joy of Christmas

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Intro

Generally speaking, Christmas is a time of celebrations, decorations, buying and receiving gifts, feasting, office and classroom parties, and TV specials

We associate the word “joy” with Christmas, but I don’t know if there is a lot of joy connected to Christmas, during this season.

I see fun: enjoying a Christmas play, looking at Christmas lights, having time off from school or job

but I also see a lot of . . .

pressure: places to be, things to do list, stuff to buy

sadness: things fall through, don’t have funds to do what you want, missing of loved ones

Then when joy is present, it is usually associated with things going “right” with Christmas.

give all the gifts I wanted to give

or receive a gift that I really wanted

lady gets proposed to

maybe a family member from the military being able to be home

but I don’t really a see a lot of joy being connected to the birth of Christ

And as I studied the Christmas story, the question came to my, “Why don’t we have more joy about and during Christmas?”

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

10 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; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

according to the angel, Christmas is about good news that causes great joy for all people, for the Savior, Christ the Lord has been born!

so why don’t we have more joy at Christmas?

Joy comes from understanding

you will not have joy, if you don’t understand why you should have joy

you can’t have joy, if you are unable to comprehend the reason for joy

let’s compare a 3 year-old with a 30 year old person

tell a 3 year old that you have a million dollars for them, probably will say ok, and keep playing

they don’t understand what a million dollars really is

they can’t comprehend what that means for them

in fact if you put a some gummy bears and a check for a mil on the table, most if not all would have joy about the candy, but not about the check . . . .because they don’t understand

Why don’t they understand ? because of a lack of knowledge, teaching, maturity, experience, exposure (never paid a bill)

now if I told the 30-year old . . .

hugging, clapping, shouting, tears of happiness, shout dancing without music

there would be joy because they understood, what that check means for their lives

a lack of joy for Christmas comes from a lack of understanding, lack of comprehension of what Christmas means for our lives

and when it comes to Christmas, many of us are like that three year old

so this morning, we are looking for a better understanding, and that better understanding will lead to more joy about the greatness that is Christmas

the angel said that a Savior has been born

The Savior was sent to those who would believe

John 1:12 NASB95

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

sent for those who would put their faith in him

Jesus preached, proclaimed, died for our sins, rose again, showed himself to his disciples (not just the 12, but to over 500 at one time), then he ascended into heaven

But since he didn’t set up shop and take over the world, we mistake meekness for weakness

born in a lowly manger, raised by poor parents from a no-name place (can anything good come from Nazareth), traveled around without a home, died a criminal’s death

now he did rise again, but he did not gather his disciples and storm into the temple

disciples even asked, “are you about to restore the kingdom now?”

and we are left with, “He’s coming back”

there is a little let down . . . .it seems that Jesus left things unfinished

But the truth is that our Savior did not leave things unfinished . . . for he said on the cross, it is finished . . . He has the ability to call things that are not as though they were

he has the power to write the end of the story before it gets there

for he is the same yesterday, today, and forever . . . he is eternal, he is already in forever

the truth is that Jesus is not weak, but merciful . . . he’s not slow, but patient

the truth is that he is coming back, and just like when he was born: it was prophesied, signs to look for were given, and he still surprised everyone

same this time - it will be unexpected, though he has told us what to look for

the truth is that you just have to have faith in him, believe in him, trust in his words

And when you understand that you have to believe in Jesus, believe that Jesus will come back and finish the story, you can have joy

cause that means that he will also finish your story

your story seems a little unfinished, you might be a little let down by where your story stands right now . . . but God will finish your story

he who has begun a good work in you, will complete it

when you understand that, you can have joy!

The Savior was sent to save us from our sins

sins separates us from God, sin leads to bad consequences, sin leads to death, sin leads to not only death in this world, but the second death, which is eternal punishment

But since many of us were raised in church, and have a christian playlist on our phones

since many of us have people who will testify that we are a good person

since many of us can think of a lot of other people worse than us (in our minds)

sis many of us have not been to jail for mass murder

our sins don’t look so bad in our eyes, we never felt evil or separated or far from God

But the truth is we desperately needed a Savior to save us from our sins

We were wicked, and evil, and separated and far from God

one of our sins was pride, that said “we ain’t so bad”

look at this description of the people of Israel which is also a description of us

Isaiah 64:5–7 NLT

5 You welcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways. But you have been very angry with us, for we are not godly. We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved? 6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. 7 Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.

and you can’t say that was just the people of Israel, Romans 3 breaks it down for all of us

Romans 3:9–12 NASB95

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

we were ungodly, sinful, wicked . . . even our good deeds are like filthy rags before God

not only were we sinful, but we did not approach God and plead for mercy and help

not even one!

And when you understand that, God in his grace and mercy . . . sought us out

that’s like your spouse cheating on you, cold busted, but won’t admit, won’t say they are sorry

you could drop the hammer and they lose everything, and yet YOU seek them out to reconcile, you call their phone, you leave messages . . . let’s work things out, you know what you did, and if you repent, we can get back together

when you understand that about Christmas . . . you will have joy

The Savior was sent so that we could have eternal life

For God so loved the world . . . .

eternal life is real, Heaven is real . . . Jesus told the thief on the cross, today you will be with me in paradise

Paul wrote, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”

there is more than this life

But since many of us have lived comfortable lives, or live comfortable lives now

since we have 1st world problems (not real problems, inconveniences)

McDonald’s ice cream machine is down

somebody used up all the hot water

my cell phone has been disconnected

our dryer stopped heating this week

since we have 1st world problems . . .

the good news of going to heaven, just sounds . . . alright

heaven seems so far away, and we have plenty that we enjoy here

ever have the conversation: I hope that have _________ in heaven

fishing, pizza, football, video games . . . .

we like earth so much that we want to bring some of earth with us

But the truth is that heaven is so far beyond our imagination, that the best of this life will pale in comparison!

you won’t miss a thing!

The Bible gives us hints like mansions, paradise, crystal clear waters, perfect temperature, light from God himself, streets of gold, walls and gates of precious stones, tree of life, leaves that will heal you, everything new, no more tears, sorrow, death, or crying, no evil allowed within

all races of people getting along

also, the truth is that if we could look into hell, and see the torment that we escaped, we would be more thankful

And when you understand that, you will have joy about Christmas

understand the glory of heaven that awaits, and the despair of hell that you escaped from, you will have exceeding joy that God sent his son, sent a Savior so save us from hell, and send us to heaven

The Savior was sent so that God could adopt us as his children

Galatians 4:4–5 NASB95

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

salvation is more than life after death, it’s about being his children in this life

there’s the blessings, purpose, guidance, spiritual fulfillment, joy, peace, love

But since we think that means, easy life, easy road, nothing but blessings, good things on top of good things . . . we miss the joy of Christmas.

But the truth is that being God’s children also means being rebuked, corrected, trained, disciplined, and taught

when you are young and immature, you are not very joyful about being taught, trained, and disciplined

it’s now that my oldest has his own children, now that he has matured to the point that he has comprehension and understanding . . . . he calls says thank you for how you raised us, taught us, disciplined us

he has joy about it, glad about it . . . because he understands

The truth is that just like immature children, we don’t take kindly to the Lord raising us

we don’t understand that his discipline is proof that he truly is our heavenly father, and that he loves us

if we understood that , we would have joy

God doesn’t make everything easy, but I have a good Father . . . joy

he disciplines me because he loves me . . . joy

he allows me to go through things because he is preparing me . . . joy

What if the Savior had not been born?

speaking of children, The truth is that, just like children, we have gotten too use to the benefits and assurance of being saved. We take his blessings and provision and protection for granted . . . because he is so faithful, we neglect to be thankful and joyful

I had to teach my child that lesson: don’t take what I do for you for granted

famous McDonald’s thank you story (Elijah and Josiah never had a problem with saying thank you)

the reason they never had a problem is that Matt taught them!

children have no idea of how much you do for them . . . until they get older and they have to take care of all of life’s needs for themselves (lack of understanding)

old, but famous Christmas movie, What a wonderful life . . a man got to see the great impact that his life had on others . . . he thought he had not accomplished much, until he saw what life would have been like, it he had not been born

What if if we could see our lives, if the Savior had not been born . . .

grace and mercy removed, changed heart removed, fruit of the spirit removed, protection removed, transformed mind removed, restraint from the Holy Spirit removed, guidance removed . . .

what would happen to us and our loved ones

prison, dead, homeless, lost your mind, lost everything,

what would the world be like, you think it’s bad now

And when you understand a little of how bad things would be if Jesus had not come

when you get a little comprehension of “if it had not been for the Lord on my side” . . . you will have joy at the thought of Christmas

I encourage you to remember and try to understand

that the Savior was sent to those who believe

the savior was sent to save us from our sins

the savior was sent so that we might have eternal life

the savior was sent so that God would be our father

that if it wasn’t for his coming, we would be most wretched indeed

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

the angel said this is good news of great joy for all people . . . what about the people in this room

arent’t you glad Jesus came, lived, suffered, bled and died, rose again

saved you, changed you, reconnected you with God the Father, keeps you,

protects you, guides you, has a place in heaven prepared for you, is coming back for you?