The Gift: Joy!

Nick

Christmas Series • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

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Good Morning and Merry Christmas!!!!

-New years eve service (no morning service) we will be having a watch night service Sunday night @10:30PM.

Im excited to continue this series we kicked off last week! “The Gift” we all love getting gets and giving gifts. Especially during the Christmas season. Most of the time these gifts are temporal and have costed us something financially. In this series we are going to be unpacking the greatest gift of all time....Jesus, but we are going to look even deeper into how He offers us some particular gifts. The gifts of Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy

So fare we have hit on how Jesus has brought us the gift of hope, love, and peace …

Biblical hope is all about God’s faithfulness. His past faithfulness motivates the hope for the future. Looking forward by looking back.

The gift of love that Jesus brings is not merely a theoretical concept but a deeply personal experience. When we open our hearts to Him, we encounter a love that forgives, heals, and redeems. His love has the power to bring peace to our souls, joy to our hearts, and hope to our circumstances.

-Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and he will bring us peace for our souls. We must be willing to repent and lay our sins before His feet so we can truly experience peace. When we cling to our sin, we have only chaos, no peace.

Read Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

PRAY!!!

Joy Defined Section:

-Joy: is Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice.

-JOY is a State of delight and well being that results from knowing and serving God. A number of Greek and Hebrew words are used to convey the ideas of joy and rejoicing. We have the same situation in English with such nearly synonymous words as joy, happiness, pleasure, delight, glad-ness, merriment, felicity, and enjoyment.

-The words "joy" and "rejoice" are the words used most often to translate the Hebrew and Greek words into English. Joy is found over 150 times in the Bible. If such words as "joyous" and "joyful" are included, the number comes to over 200.

-Biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. It's a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to follow God and trust that He will fulfill his promises.

-The biblical story shows how we live in a world that’s been corrupted by our own selfishness. It’s marked by death and loss, and this is where biblical faith offers a unique perspective on joy. It’s an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances but because of their hope in God’s love and promise.

The Pursuit of Happiness: In our world, happiness is often pursued as a fleeting emotion tied to circumstances. We seek happiness in possessions, relationships, and success. While these bring temporary satisfaction, they do not provide the enduring joy that God desires for us.

Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 2:10–11“All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.”

-We can have all the things the world has to offer, just as Solomon says he did…Yet he says it was all futile and chasing wind.....Because none of it could fulfill him, none of our worldly pursuits will ever give us what we are truly looking for and give us the joy the way the Lord does.

The Source of True Joy: Unlike happiness, joy is a profound and spiritual gift from God. It transcends circumstances and is rooted in our relationship with Christ. The birth of Jesus brings an eternal joy that goes beyond the external factors that often dictate our happiness.

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

The Difference Between Joy and Happiness:

-Happiness is based on circumstances; joy is based on Christ.

-Happiness is situational and can change with our surroundings. Joy, however, is constant because it is anchored in the unchanging nature of God.

-Happiness depends on what happens; joy depends on what has happened.

-Our joy is not contingent on our current circumstances. It is rooted in the finished work of Christ on the cross and the promise of eternal life.

-Happiness is temporary; joy is lasting.

-Happiness may be fleeting, but the joy that comes from knowing Christ endures through all seasons of life.

-let us shift our focus from the pursuit of fleeting happiness to the embrace of lasting joy found in our Savior, Jesus Christ. May the joy of the Lord be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10),May this Christmas be a reminder that true joy is not found in the gifts under the tree but in the gift of Jesus, who came to bring us eternal joy and salvation

With all this in mind we can learn how to have Joy in the trials and wilderness.......

Joy On The Mountain Top Section:

-Christmas is a time of celebration, but how can we carry that joy beyond the festivities and into the mountaintop moments of our lives?

-The Mountain Top Experiences: We all experience moments of triumph, success, and celebration in our lives—those mountain top experiences where everything seems to be going well. It could be a promotion at work, the birth of a child, a personal achievement, or a season of abundance and prosperity.

-Sometimes its easy tot lose focus or prioritize our relationship with God while everything is going well on the mountain top.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 30:6–7“When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.”

-Recognizing the Source of Joy: As we revel in our mountain top experiences, it's crucial to recognize that true joy comes not from our circumstances but from the Lord. Our joy should not be contingent on external success or favorable circumstances but anchored in the unchanging character of God.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

We must learn to cultivate Joy in God's Presence:

-Gratitude in Abundance: Express gratitude to God for the blessings and successes on the mountain top. Acknowledge that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above (James 1:17).

-Worship in Celebration: Use the mountain top moments as opportunities for worship. Celebrate God's faithfulness and acknowledge His role in your triumphs.

-Share the Joy: Share the joy with others. Invite them into the celebration and extend the love and blessings you've received to those around you.

-The Testimony of Joy: Our joy on the mountain top becomes a powerful testimony to the goodness of our God. It's a witness to the world of the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

-As we celebrate Christmas on this mountain top, let us remember that the joy we experience is a gift from God. May our hearts overflow with gratitude, worship, and a desire to share this joy with others. Let our mountain top experiences be moments that draw us closer to the Lord and serve as a radiant testimony of His goodness. In all circumstances, whether on the mountain top or in the valley, may the joy of the Lord be our strength.

Manny talks about waiting....

Jesus Brings Joy Section:

the gift of joy that Jesus has brought into our lives.

-The Prophetic Promise of Joy: Long before that holy night in Bethlehem, the prophets spoke of a coming Messiah who would bring unimaginable joy to the world. The birth of Jesus fulfills these prophecies and ushers in a joy that transcends time and circumstance.

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

-Lets Unwrap the Gift of Joy Jesus had brought us all.

The Joy of Salvation:The birth of Jesus is the beginning of our salvation story. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, bringing us unparalleled joy.

The Joy of Relationship:Jesus not only saved us but invites us into a personal relationship with Him. This relationship brings joy as we experience the love, grace, and companionship of our Savior.

Scripture Reference: John 15:11 "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

The Joy of Purpose:Discovering our purpose in Christ fills our hearts with joy. As we align our lives with His will, we find meaning and fulfillment beyond anything the world can offer.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

-With all of this in mind about how Jesus has brought us Joy, I want to also talk about how Jesus receives us with open arms and boundless joy when we come to Him. Christmas is not only a celebration of Christ's birth but a proclamation of His everlasting love and the joyous reunion that takes place when we turn to Him.

-Jesus extends the Invitation for us all to Come to Him. Matthew 11:28 ““Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Weary and Burdened: Many of us carry burdens, whether they be the weight of sin, the struggles of life, or the challenges of the world. Jesus invites us to come to Him, acknowledging our weariness and burdens.

The Promise of Rest: In coming to Jesus, we find rest for our souls. His arms are open wide to provide comfort, peace, and solace for those who seek Him.

The Joyful Reception:

To often we can lose sight that God rejoices when we come to Him…Last Sunday as we unpacked how sin holds us captive, but once we acknowledge it and take it before God He doesn't receive us begrudgingly or passively but he receives us lovingly and rejoicing!

Read Luke 15:1-31 Our God Rejoices when we return to HIM!

The Father's Joy in the Parable: In the parable of the prodigal son, we see a vivid picture of the Father's joy when the lost son returns. The father doesn't just receive him begrudgingly but with overwhelming joy, celebration, and love.

Jesus' Joy at Our Return: When we come to Jesus, we are met not with judgment but with a celebration in heaven. His joy knows no bounds when we turn to Him, seeking forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation.

The Birth of the Savior: The birth of Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's joy in bringing salvation to humanity. He sent His Son into the world to reconcile us to Himself and to offer the gift of eternal life.

Receiving the Gift of Joy: As we come to Jesus, we receive the gift of joy—joy in salvation, joy in forgiveness, and joy in the assurance of His presence in our lives.

-let us come to Jesus with open hearts, acknowledging our need for Him. In the parables of Luke 15, we see a God who rejoices when the lost are found, a Savior who welcomes sinners with open arms. May we embrace this truth, knowing that Jesus receives us joyfully, offering forgiveness, redemption, and a love that knows no bounds. As we bask in the joy of His embrace, let us also extend that same joy to others, sharing the good news of salvation found in Christ alone. May the joy of the Lord fill our hearts this Christmas and always