The Best Christmas Ever Week 3:
Joy
Joy: a source or cause of great happiness : something or someone that gives joy to someone Christmas is a season of joy, however, most would gauge this joyfulness on circumstantial things.
Deep, abiding, resilient joy is found in Christ alone.
Today we are going to break down J.O.Y. and see how we can have the Joy of the Lord through out every area of our lives, in all circumstances, year around.
I. Justification with God
Joy begins first and foremost with being in a right relationship with God, through the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus.
Psalm 32:1-5 NLT
1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Psalm 51:10-12 NLT
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
We may have forgotten what it was like or we may have simply strayed away and need our hearts to be made clean and new again. Either way, now is the time, and right here is the place to experience the joy of salvation.
II. Obedience to God
John 15:9-14 NLT
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 17:13 NLT
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.
III. Yielding to God
Psalm 37:3-5 NLT
3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 40:8 NLT
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
Luke 22:41-43 NLT
41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.
The Best Christmas Ever is Cause for Great Joy
If material possessions could give deep and abiding joy then why aren’t all the millionaires and billionaires the most happy and positive bunch on planet earth?
If joy could be purchased from Walmart or Amazon and delivered to your front door then why doesn’t everyone have it?
If indescribable joy could be found in likes, follows, and digital friends then why aren’t all the social influencers teaching the rest of us courses on how to get it?
I’m pretty sure we all know the answer… and yet, many of us keep looking in the same old places for joy.
And that my friends is why the Christmas season is such a special one.
We have eternal hope in the promises of God made alive in Christ.
We have unshakable peace in Christ who will return for His church.
We have the gift of deep, abiding, and resilient joy through our love for and understanding of Christ.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Our great high priest.
The prince of peace - wonderful counselor.
Friend of sinners.
Immanuel.
God with us.
And He knows what it means to suffer.
There are many of us who, like King David, need to ask for help this year. And believe me when I say, it’s okay. Jesus already knows.
Joy
Joy: a source or cause of great happiness : something or someone that gives joy to someone Christmas is a season of joy, however, most would gauge this joyfulness on circumstantial things.
Deep, abiding, resilient joy is found in Christ alone.
Today we are going to break down J.O.Y. and see how we can have the Joy of the Lord through out every area of our lives, in all circumstances, year around.
I. Justification with God
Joy begins first and foremost with being in a right relationship with God, through the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus.
Psalm 32:1-5 NLT
1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Psalm 51:10-12 NLT
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
We may have forgotten what it was like or we may have simply strayed away and need our hearts to be made clean and new again. Either way, now is the time, and right here is the place to experience the joy of salvation.
II. Obedience to God
John 15:9-14 NLT
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 17:13 NLT
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.
III. Yielding to God
Psalm 37:3-5 NLT
3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalm 40:8 NLT
I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
Luke 22:41-43 NLT
41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.
The Best Christmas Ever is Cause for Great Joy
If material possessions could give deep and abiding joy then why aren’t all the millionaires and billionaires the most happy and positive bunch on planet earth?
If joy could be purchased from Walmart or Amazon and delivered to your front door then why doesn’t everyone have it?
If indescribable joy could be found in likes, follows, and digital friends then why aren’t all the social influencers teaching the rest of us courses on how to get it?
I’m pretty sure we all know the answer… and yet, many of us keep looking in the same old places for joy.
And that my friends is why the Christmas season is such a special one.
We have eternal hope in the promises of God made alive in Christ.
We have unshakable peace in Christ who will return for His church.
We have the gift of deep, abiding, and resilient joy through our love for and understanding of Christ.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Our great high priest.
The prince of peace - wonderful counselor.
Friend of sinners.
Immanuel.
God with us.
And He knows what it means to suffer.
There are many of us who, like King David, need to ask for help this year. And believe me when I say, it’s okay. Jesus already knows.