Advent - JOY
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Good morning, today is the 3rd week of ADVENT the week of JOY. I really hope you have taken the time to meditate on the last two weeks because in all honesty without our HOPE being anchored in God and with out the PEACE of Jesus, there is no JOY.
You see joy is more than happiness. Happiness comes from external items that decay and die. Happiness is short lived. I am happy when I eat cheese cake, and then I eat it all and no longer am happy.
Joy is internal, it is based on our great HOPE in God and the Peace we receive through Jesus.
Joy is beyond our problems, joy is an internal ecstasy and stillness that has nothing to do with external situations. Joy is sourced through the internal presence of God, the Holy Spirit.
So, today I want to talk to you about how we can live in JOY!
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Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Psa 98
and now turn with me to
and now turn with me to
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
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These 2 verse remind me of my favorite Christmas carol.
JOY TO THE WORLD.
Joy to the World
Written by Isaac Watts
Watts wrote it after reading .
He wanted an Advent song that reflected the promise of the first Advent and the promise of the second Advent.
Let’s hear it and you will see what I mean.
(play song)
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I LOVE THAT SONG BUT-
I LOVE THAT SONG BUT-
How can I experience Joy when the world around me and in me is chaos?
I am thinking of my family in Arkansas. My cousins just lost their dad on Thursday to Lung cancer.
How can they experience Joy this Christmas?
In that song two words stand out to me.
In that song two words stand out to me.
JOY
JESUS IS LORD. (740x in NT)
Look again at
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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What does JOY mean in my- Marriage? Money? Xmas ? Family?
What does JOY mean in my- Marriage? Money? Xmas ? Family?
How can I have Joy in my marriage, money Xmas, in my Family?
Going through marriage problems – How do I get joy
Going through financial problems – How do I get joy
Going through a rough Xmas due to the loss of a loved one – How do I get JOY
Going through chaos and struggles in your family –
How do I get JOY?????????
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The answer to that question in three words.
The answer to that question in three words.
Christ the Lord
kurios (koo'-ree-os); supreme in authority, controller, Lord.
kurios (koo'-ree-os); supreme in authority, controller, Lord.
Control—something I like to have—don’t want to give up!
Drive, Remote… Money, Day, People, Perfect Xmas
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So we have TWO choices.
So we have TWO choices.
Make Jesus Lord—Don’t make him Lord
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When you surrender—you relinquish control.
And when He has control – You will have Joy
JOY COMES IN SURRENDERING TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
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JOY COMES IN SURRENDERING TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
THE PARTIALLY SURRENDERED LIFE.
THE PARTIALLY SURRENDERED LIFE.
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Believe in Lord—don’t trust Him with everything!
Believe in Lord—don’t trust Him with everything!
Believe in the Lord—still do whatever I want!
Believe in Lord—but I want to be in control!
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Give him some things—not everything! RIP BIBLE
Give you my Sundays—but not Friday & Saturday nights.
Trust you with my salvation—but still worried about my children.
God’s my provider—no way I’m giving 10% of my money.
Jesus is my Lord—not forgiving that person who hurt me.
gossip, white lies, greedy, sleep w/girlfriend—God will understand.
gossip, white lies, greedy, sleep w/girlfriend—God will understand.
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Trust in the Lord with some of your heart, lean on your own understanding, in some of your ways, acknowledge him, and you can make your own paths straight. PSV - Perverted Standard Version
Maybe this is you?
Maybe this is you?
Joy comes when we surrender our lives to Jesus as Lord.
WHAT HAVE YOU NOT SURRENDERED TO THE LORD?
WHAT HAVE YOU NOT SURRENDERED TO THE LORD?
Children, Health, Temper, Relationships, Finances, Future?
What areas do you need to surrender?
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Luke warm, half hearted, partially surrendered life.
Jesus is no part time Lord—he doesn’t want part time followers.
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Your think....Man pastor this is rough. I thought we were talking about JOY.
Well we are… But I want you to have the real thing and not just a fleeting happiness you might get from living in sin....
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Let’s look at the
THE FULLY SURRENDERED LIFE.
THE FULLY SURRENDERED LIFE.
For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
My dreams of a big church made of 20 and 30 – No joy – my dream not God’s
God’s dream of restoring and building a small country church – God’s dream – My joy!
Can you say this in all areas of your life?
I am telling you, the areas you surrender will become areas of Joy.
My marriage – rough and unhappy until we surrendered it fully to Jesus – Then JOY.
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Have you surrendered?
Have you surrendered?
You want joy in your marriage? – Have you surrendered all your marriage to Jesus as Lord?
You want Joy in your finances? – Have you surrendered to all to Jesus as Lord?
You need Joy in your family? - Have you really surrendered your family to Jesus as Lord?
You need JOY this Christmas due to a lost loved one? – The Joy of the Lord is my Strength. Rely on His Joy in you.
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Casual approach—buddy, homeboy
Not just little Lord Jesus in manger… dying Lord Jesus on cross.
Risen soon returning King of Kings.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Reason we don’t trust him we don’t really know him!
Reason we don’t trust him we don’t really know him!
It’s all about relationship… Love the Lord your God.
We surrender to His Lordship when we really trust Him
We trust Him when we really know Him.
And we will have JOY when we surrender to Him.
It is all about having a relationship with God.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Big difference calling Jesus Lord—surrendering to Him as Lord
God desires for your life to be full of JOY.
And that Joy comes when we surrender to Jesus as Lord.
Your marriage
Your finances
Your career
Your dreams
Your family
Your entire life.
Surrender it all to Jesus - Your gift at the manger of your heart.
Surrender it all to Jesus - Your gift at the manger of your heart.
And be prepared for Joy unspeakable.
And be prepared for Joy unspeakable.
A JOY that will hold you and satisfy you even in the hardest of times.
A JOY that will hold you and satisfy you even in the hardest of times.