The Joy Of Christmas

Alright, let's stand up. We're going to sing for Jesus is the reason for the season without him there would be no Christmas. Amen. We celebrate by giving each other gifts, but he gave the greatest gift of all.

Jesus

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amen

I want to thank the praise team for a lifting us up a man.

Y'all pray for the pastor?

A couple things I want to address in in 2018 would look into it as is the first lady said we're looking to make sure we have volunteers for the food Ministry is God blesses us with that. But we also want to make sure that we bring them in together. So I'm looking for someone who will help me start our Men's Ministry, you know, maybe on the second Saturday or something like that where we can sing with her Saturday where we can get together and have breakfast and fellowship. So if you're interested in coming together as a Men's Ministry, please put it on your connection card off, you know me and who might want to come together now and I'm sure as the women are looking at Mission work. We need to come together individually because what I want to really do in 2018 is is a process where we can mentor a man. And so we need men mentoring young men and women mentoring young women amen and in girls, so I'm really looking for those who Gifts and talents to step up and really share with our younger generation a man and then turn they can share with us because a lot of times they know things about computers and apps and stuff like that that we're not aware of where we can learn as well. So we want to make it learning, you know, what in both directions. Amen. So 2018, let's make sure that's it. Let's be in prayer about learning and growing as a church body. Amen. So today we're going to look at what I titled this message is called the joy of Christmas the joy of Christmas the joy of Christmas, so if you would stand with me are foundational scriptures going to come from Luke Chapter 2 verses 18 through 14 a man. I'm not I'm sorry verses 8 through 14. So Luke Chapter 2 if you have your Bible we're going to be reading from the new King James translation. If not, it should be up on the screen there. Luke Chapter 2 beginning with verse 8. I want you to read this with me together. So let's reverse ate now. There were in the same country Shepherds living out in the field keeping watch over their flock By Night verse 9 and the hole in the angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were greatly afraid verse 10 Then the angel said to him do not be afraid for behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people verse 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a savior. Who is Christ the lord verse 12 and this will be the same to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a Manger verse 13 and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying and verse 14 glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace Goodwill toward men. Amen now share with me and our confession of faith. If you would repeat this after me, I am not moves. By what I see. about what I feel I am moved by what I believe. I believe the word of God the victory is mine. I have it now. I can see it through the eyes of my face. In Jesus name. Let's give God one big hand of Praise a man. And you may be seated in the presence of the Lord. So the last couple of weeks we've heard some amazing messages from two amazing young men and the first week we heard from Brother Jarren Williams and he talked to us about why Mary Mary in it's it was a reminder to ask the guy can use any of us for his plans and his purpose is a man. He is married to bring the king of kings and Lord of lords on this side of Heaven. Amen. And then we heard from Brother Jamal Kimball. He talked to us about how every dark cloud has a silver lining and he reminded us that no matter what we doing what we're going through our blessing is in the breaking and sometimes when we're going through stuff God is breaking us so he can bless us. And so today I want to share with you about that that that that issue of joy joy in the season so we can get caught up in a lot of stuff and forget the joy of Christmas. Amen. And we think of joy joy, is this the state I call it a happy state that results from knowing and serving. God. See Joy is not something that you get from things. It's a result of having a relationship with God through Christ Jesus. It's actually what what what we call one of the fruits of having this kind of intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is called Joy tell your neighbor Joy. There's joy joy is different from happiness. A man Joy comes from this relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The interesting thing about Joe it's not something that you can create. You can create Joy. You can't do a bunch of stuff and say, you know, we can say the word but the word Joy actually comes as a result of the fruits of the spirit in relationship with Jesus Christ. No, it's interesting that the Bible distinguishes Joy from pleasure. The Greek word for pleasure is the word which we get our word Hedonism from and that's the philosophy of self-centered pleasure-seeking and so joy and pleasure the same thing. I like what Paul says in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 in verse for he refers to false teachers as lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God the Bible says and verse for Traders headstrong hottie lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. And so when we start talking about pleasure, we really talk about self. Does that make sense?

Joy comes from the relationship with God a lot of times this pleasure comes from stuff that I just want to do. A man that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

It's only bad if you don't have a relationship with God and all you do is want to pleasure yourself. Are you with me? Say Joy. No, the the author of the the song Joy to the World is Isaac Watts. No, we seen as we sing the song all the time. I want you to look at the lyrics. He says Joy to the World the world which means having this intimate relationship with God Joy to the World. There's something that comes in the world when you have an intimate relationship with God in the Bible defines us as Joy. He says Joy to the World. The Lord is come. And because of the Lord come and let Earth receive her King. In which would all of this happened? He says let every heart prepare him room let every heart prepare him room. So some place in your heart you need to prepare for Jesus to come in. And when you prepare for Jesus to come in then you receive a gift call Joy. Because then you're an intimate relationship with him. After the song says let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing.

That sprays. And heaven and nature sing. So sometimes when you're out there and you hit them Thursday giving God praise. I'm heaven and nature sing.

And as soon as it several times and heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing and Heaven.

And then it goes a little deeper. He says Joy to the World the Savior Reigns. Let me see the songs and pointing out he gets that from Psalm 98. It shows in the in the song Wild fields and floods rocks Hills and plains repeat the sounding Joy while feels and floods rocks Hills and plains repeat the sounding Joy. So everything around us is giving God praise.

It's not by accident that you can hear the water roaring that's giving God praise. It's not by accident that you can see the leaves flattering giving God praise in the song is this what I feels and floods rocks Hills and plains repeat the sounding Joy. Repeat the sounding Joy. repeat

Yeah, lucky the pastor. Can you sing?

Not not not. Here's what I want to want you to see cuz we're talking about joy and what gets in the way of Jordan says no more. Let's send and Sorrows grow.

TC some of the stuff we got to stop doing no more next send and some of the stuff we've been through we can't allow that's our to grow in that's cuz it keeps us from experiencing Joy. Does that make sense? So the joy of Christmas is not to let sin and sorrow overtake you but your understanding this intimate relationship God wants something for you and that's Joy.

He says no Thorns infest the ground he comes to make His blessings flow.

He wants to bless us. As far as the song says as far as the curse is found far as the curse is found far as far as the curse is found. So where there is sin and issues and problems he wants to bring healing and joy and and and happiness. There are no matter what it is no matter how challenging is no matter how bad it is. God wants to do something with that. He wants to take it from a negative and make it a positive as far no matter where they have no matter where you have to go to matter. What you been through. God wants to take the bathroom and make them good. Joy to the World

he said in the song He rules the world with truth and Grace Grace's unmedicated favor. He just gives us blessings. Not that we deserve them, but that's what he calls his grace. Joy to the World he wants us to be in a certain State during this time. Not only during this time, but all the time he wants us to always experience Joy. There's something about Jordan when you're on break and enjoy no matter what your situation is, you know, you can get through it. You know what the trailers you know that if you keep on getting up God will work it out. That's what Joe is all about.

Lynn offices He rules the world with truth and Grace and makes the nation's prove the glories of his righteousness. And the wonders of his love. And wonders of his love in the wonders of his love. He he loves us so much. But no matter how bad we get or how about sometimes we turn our back on him. He still loves us. You know, sometimes you got to think about that God even when I don't want to have anything to do with you you still are taking care of me.

That's it. That's an amazing thing. That's a wonder. How could God love someone that he created who doesn't want to have anything to do with him? That's Wonder That's The Wonder of his love. I can't I cannot put my finger on that. But I'm so grateful that God did love me because if he didn't I wouldn't be right here. I'm so grateful that you took care of me when I thought I was taking care of myself, but he was taking care of me and he brought me to this place. I'm so grateful, but it took me out of the Miry clay and put me on a solid foundation. I'm so grateful when I thought I knew everything. No, I didn't know anything.

the wonders of his love

the wonders of his love the Wonder the Wonders I just left now what you think about that? Because when we get caught up in some of the things that are important think about the wonders of his love. Think about how much he loves us how much he cares about how much he's done for us. Even when people disappoint us even when people misuse and abuse that he's never done that to us.

the wonders of his love So what's the good news of the great joy?

first the good news of great joy Is that through Jesus got entered into this daily life? in this world and he redeemed us that good news. That's good news y'all. That he broke through all of that went when we should have been dead sleeping in my grave and he put a bunch of surrounding protection around us and make sure didn't know her how more danger come to us. That's good news. Then we're all sitting here because of his Mercy because of his grace because of his blessings because of his love that's good news. That's what I want to tell somebody. I'm here because of God's wondrous love for me. It's so if you don't get anything material with God has given you everything. Amen, some of them kids is like I ain't trying to hit at pastor.

The second thing is God is saved the world and saved us. Let me tell you all salvation finger on this thing. But because I messed up. God paid the price for me messing up. Because I fall short Jesus Took on the responsibility because of what I did. And he said don't worry about it. Just say it's the one I think about it. Not that I want to do it intentionally, but you know how sometimes you messed up and you don't intend to he's already paid the price for that. Already took care of that. There is nothing that you can do. There's nothing that is so big that God can't handle. That's good news. That's good news. Some people going through crazy if we were driving the freeway earlier this week and there was someone who has struggled over the 101 in the 880 trying to commit suicide.

I bet you didn't know about the good news. Because of the new about the good news, they would know they have been forgiven no matter what they went through or what happened to God will take care of it.

That's the good news.

How God is redeem the simply saved us? leaves that by God's grace

all of my sins all of your sins have been forgiven to say that stop for a second. Think about that my stuff been forgiven.

How come on y'all think about it for a second, you know, you can't hide it from God. We can hide it from each other. Believing in in in hot God knows about it. He still says you've been forgiven. You know that lie that you told the lost in your mind. You know the people that you hurt. Open forgiven.

So I can have joy. Because I know someone loves me unconditionally.

Cuz what I come to realize is I'm not perfect.

I need a perfect guy. Cuz I continually mess up. Amen. Let me tell you something. If you don't think you messing up then you not doing anything for the kingdom of God.

Come on, cuz did you start operating in working in the kingdom of God? You realize just how much you missed the mark But if you get self-sufficient and you start thinking in your head, I'm good. That's what I want to ask you to check yourself. Check yo self in relationship to what the Bible says and see just how good you are or not. But he still loves you. Did he still forgives you? A man say the good news is joy. The Bible says in Luke Chapter 2 verses 8 and 9 and Amplified translation translation. It says in that vicinity there were shepherds living out under the Open Sky in the field watching and shifts over the flocks by night person. I says and behold an angel of the Lord stood by then. And the glory said Glory. Say Glory. You're not you got understand. What was he saying that he says in the glory of the Lord flash than showing all about them and they were terribly pricey. Showed up. in the midst of that Darkness While they were watching over sheep God showed up and he said the glory of God showed up see when the glory of God shows up it lights up everything. Let me tell you about the girl. It's called the Shekinah in the Old Testament. And that's when the power of God lumination of God the glory of God shows up and want to go and got shows that you really can't see everything.

Let me tell you about the glory of the Lord.

It always symbolizes God being there. Sometimes we get a little glimpse of the glory, you know, when he heals your body. And you know, which guy you get a glimpse of the glory when he protects you I tell you I'm telling you we been in car driving down the road having the swerve. I know it wouldn't be the glory of God. Let me tell you bills need to be paid and they get paid. I know that was the glory of God. Let me tell y'all we've experienced just a little bit out of Glory. Can you imagine being in the darkness out in the open watching over sheets It's Your Ship and the glory of God shows up. That was scary. You know they had on the Facebook some object down in La that looks like a elephant light thing that was going on people's like what is this? Is this real? You know, I don't know what it was but it was enough to get everybody's attention. Can you imagine when the glory of God shows up? I don't care. What you doing in the corner in the booth in the back in the dark when the glory of God shows up is going to shine on that situation.

Say Joy. In Exodus chapter 24 verse 16. The Bible says now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai and the cloud covered its 6. Can you imagine the glory of God coming down on Morgan Hill? What's 6 days? Is going to be some people passing out. They going to be so scared cuz it's you talking about lights. I'm talking about illumination that you can't even imagine. When the glory of the Lord. The Bible says here that the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai in the cloud cover that 6 days and on the seventh day he call to Moses out of the midst of the coffee. Sometimes before things happen. God has to show up.

Let me try again. You trying to figure out how to fix stuff let God show up. Invite him into it. licensure

And he'll work it out.

Are you with me?

And Isaiah chapter 6 verses 1 2 & 3 the Bible says in verse 1 in the year that King Uzziah died. He says I saw the Lord sitting on the throne high and lifted up in the train of his robe filled the temple. I'm trying to give you a little glimpse of why we have joy because the Bible says the train filled the temple. If I still have said instead sarafem, those are angels each on what each one had six wings with two he covered his face into he covered his feet and with Chewy flew first 371 cry to another said holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of Glory Come on, y'all we if we get a glimpse of this and we get a little glimpses bit and start operating in the glory and started then start allowing the glory of the Lord to come on us. We will experience the joy of the Lord. TCC what the devil wants to keep us in darkness. The devil wants to keep us in confusion. The guy with the devil wants to get bison hatred and the devil wants to keep us at each other so that we don't experience the glory of the Lord in the joy of the Lord see if I can keep your mind occupied with stuff that's not important. You will never experience the joy of the Lord cuz you know what you're always find a problem with this a problem with my apartment would help him with this situation and never ever experience the joy of the Lord. See some of us can really enjoy Christmas cuz we worried about too much stuff.

Tell your neighbor it's the joy of the Lord.

It looks at the 10 going back to our text. Luke chapter 10 chapter 2 verse 10 and says the Bible says the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold. I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to just some of us. I'm just trying to see if y'all awake. You know, y'all be like yeah, that's how you know.

Did I miss something?

Look what the Bible says. Then the angel said to them do not be afraid for behold. I bring you good tidings of great great joy, which will be to all people that says God wants us all to experience the joy of the Lord. Not just some folks. Not just the ones who just you know what before you called yourself a Christian. They used to call you a heathen. But you know what even in that state God wanted us to experience the joy of the Lord. That's why he kept doing stuff for us when you thought you were doing it for yourself. That's why you kept moving situations and circumstances and you thought it was all about you.

Because he loves each and every one of us. He cares about us. He didn't say you had to call yourself a Christian. He said you had to love him with all your heart soul and mind. Are you with me? And the love each other. As you love yourself.

Seaweed and wrap this thing up and get it all confused and and crazy cuz we missed the first two ordinances trying to hide everything in religion. If we can get the first one right love God with all your heart soul and mind. Then he can help us get the second right love your neighbor as you love yourself and we wouldn't have all this conflict and all this these problems in the world now, but see some people want to be insecure. They want to hide under that cuz uncle's want to be right so that somebody else can be wrong, but we all wrong if we can get the first to write. It said we never really experienced the joy of the Lord cuz we never really learn how to love God. With all of our heart soul in mind because you know what he did. He came to bring the good news to all of us so he didn't hold back he gave his all but we holding back on him trying to be cute. And politically correct. And we missed the joy of the Lord are y'all with me or is it getting warm in here now? Like okay pastor quit fussing at us. It's Christmas. We supposed to be having fun. I'm trying to help somebody. Amen. So Joyce a joy. Joy is the settled guarantee that God is in control of every detail in my life. That's what Joy is. I can operate enjoy when I know that God is in every detail of my life Joy. It's the quiet, ultimately everything is going to be alright. Does George when I know everything is going to be alright, no matter what. They say how they treat me is all going to be. Alright, that's joy. Joy is the determine Church to praise God no matter what I'm going through. That's Joy. That's Joy.

Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10 it says and Nehemiah continue to go and celebrate with the Feast of rich food and sweet drinks and share Gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared and that was some of us going to do. We might call it Christmas breakfast or Christmas lunch or Christmas dinner, but we going to chill with some family members who ain't prepared nothing.

y'all get it y'all together y'all getting you nothing, you know you

The Bible says this is a sacred day before I don't need the ejected and sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength. She there's something amazing about the joy of the Lord it will get you up to do things to give God glory and bless somebody else.

See the joy of the Lord gives you energy and and an inability when you don't know where you going to go and how you going to get it. Does that make sense the joy of the Lord when I want when I know I want to give God praise. I want to give him glory you find the time now always tell people everybody find the time to do what's important to them. Don't ever tell me you don't you run out of time. No and just wasn't important to you. because there was some reason you can find time to do a and b is important trust me you going to find time to do be So if you want to give God praise you'll find time to do with a man when when it says in psalm 16 verse 11. You will show me the way of life granting me the joy of your presence in the pleasures of living with you forever. That's the joy of the Lord and some Chapter 30 verse 5. The Bible says for his anger is but for a moment his favors for like weeping may endure for a night, but guess what Joy comes in the morning.

Is the joy of Christmas? No matter what you going through? It's the joy of Christmas remind someone to get to the joy of Christmas. Yes, things may not be perfect. Yes, you may not have all the stuff that you want. But when you look at what you do, have you can find and join that are you with me? In John chapter 16 verse 24 the Bible says until now I want somebody to get this until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. See the reason why. I think it's all about having stuff. It's not all about having stuff. It's about knowing where the joy of the Lord comes from. See some of us think if I have some stuff I'll be happy happy has nothing to do with it. Cuz you know just like you happy one moment. You'll be sad the next but here is joy joy will will always be the same whether you emotionally up or mostly down because you know where it's coming from. Does that make sense?

Following Christ put you in a relationship to have present joy and it leads towards Eternal Joy. Luke chapter 2 verse 11. The Bible says for there is born to you this day in the city of David a savior. say savior Who is Christ the lord?

Save your means deliver. preserver The Lord has all power. And because the Lord has all power. He's able to save it. So when a text says for there is born to you this day in the city of David David a savior. Who is Christ the Lord. That means he's got all power to save you in the midst of your situation. Are you with me?

Say Good Tidings. I want to Bible talks about Good Times. He's not talking about a person nor religion know it's Kris doctrines confessions or out work forms. He's not talking about that. He's not talking about. What are you talking about? He's talking about personal relationship. Good news for you personally that if you have relationship with God through Christ Jesus, he'll bring you the joy of the Lord. He didn't say you had to Define yourself as a

You said you had to have a relationship with you? So in 2018, I want people to go into 2018 knowing that it's about relationship. She can't hide in the building. We can't hide in these four walls because he knows what you had the relationship out without. You know what I'm saying? He knows what's your relationship with him? Even when you don't come to this building? Now, let me tell you something for all the perpetrators. Who confusing people?

They calling themselves lovers of God. What doing everything that will give that won't give God glory. Can I ask you to stop? I'm not talking to anybody in here. Amen. So don't need y'all be all. You know, the Pastor said as you know, but if there's a shoe you need to put on.

I'm leave it at that.

Say the joy of the Lord. In Luke chapter 2 verse 12 13 and 14 what the Bible says it says in verse 12 and this will be a sign for you by which you will recognize him. You will find at the store.

After searching a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. So remember he was talking to the Shepherds. They were out there man watching over the sheep and he told them if you go searching for this you will find it. Is there a lot of us are sitting there waiting for it to come to you? What the Bible says you need to go seek it?

And you'll find it in verse 13. The Bible says then suddenly there. With the angel and army of the truth of Heaven. Javelinas are praising God is at sea. This always amazes me because first of all the glory of the Lord came down and then he open up heaven and there was an army of angels praising God.

Army of angels giving God praise

remind me of angels. fighting for us

That's what's going on. on the other side the syllabus can't see

And you wonder why you still here? Because there's some angels. fighting on your behalf amen March 14th They were singing Glory to God in the highest heaven and on Earth peace among men with whom he is. Well pleased man of Goodwill man of his favor.

It's I want to share this with you as we close out. I heard the song. The song was entitled the Christmas shoes. And it just kind of reminded me. Really? What a joy of Christmas comes from this is what the lyrics are. It says. It was almost Christmas time. And there I stood in another line trying to buy the last gift of two or two not really in the Christmas mood. And standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously pacing about like little boys do and in his hands. He held a pair of shoes. His clothes were worn old he was dirty from head to toe and when he came to his when it came as time to pay I couldn't believe what I heard him say. He said sir. I want to buy these shoes for my mom, please. Is Christmas Eve? Is shoes are just her size. Could you hurry sir? Daddy says there's not much time you see she's been sick for a while and I know these shoes will make her smile And I want her to look beautiful. If momma meets Jesus tonight.

So we get worried about so much stuff. He was a little boy.

Who could possibly be losing his mind? And all he wants for her. Is a pair of shoes?

So she can look her best for Jesus.

I could go on. But I want to know how many of us. I really try to give our best. Richie's It's not about one more present. It's not about one more gift. It's not about that is really about. given from your heart just like he did for us. so the joy of Christmas is really all about giving from the heart. As soon as we close out today. If you worried and concerned about Russian and getting that last gift. think about giving from your heart That's the joy of Christmas. Amen. And I give God a big hand of praise.

So here's the next step. I want you to read Luke Chapter 2. It's Christmas Eve and maybe as family and friends you get together and just read chapter to read chapter 2. And if you know someone who's down or frustrated or depressed because Christmas now, let me say this to everybody be extremely sensitive during this time. Because there are a lot of people who have lost loved ones during this time. And we need to be in the praying mold that God will be there for them in the way that they need. Amen extremely sensitive. It's not about stuff really. It's about the heart and it's about the joy. And so if you know someone who might be going through not feeling as best not and I do not just the best because of maybe losing a loved one. Maybe just things are overwhelming from pray for And then ask God to see if you can give them some of this joy of the Lord. Share with them a meal. Call someone make sure that people that you know are safe as best as you possibly can. Be there for that's what this is about. It's about being the example that Christ was for us. Amen. Yeah, y'all give God praise. I'm going to turn this over to D.

going to share with

amen Let the Church Say Amen That's a wonderful wood for Christmas in it.

You know, we only got one more week.

in this year

and then week is not promised to us. Call only thing we can claim is right now.

as Pastor was preaching and maybe thought about this guy was singing sang this song. Say I want to see all this to all of my haters.

Said they some graduated with me. And saying they all would drive around and find cars. And bragging about that college degree. Simba when they see me they said they're going to mr. Nobody. But he said my friends if they could see me now. I have Jesus and he mean more than the world to me that make me feel that I'm somebody.

And make me feel them somebody so you need Jesus. Jesus is all we need so we only got a little more time and this year. Hippie at the Ark of Safety Showtime.

Jesus is standing and waiting and we know that Jesus is the reason for this season.

Cuz he died for us. That we all may have a right to the tree of line. You don't want any of us to Paris. He wanted all of us to be saved. But all we have to do is come to him and make him my Lord and Savior.

so there's anyone that how to autosave would like to come and get on board now is your time Tomorrow, I promise. Just today.

So there's still room. at the cross

Kathy just told you that he he died.

Annie Rose

and we are celebrating his birthday.

This the day they set aside for Jesus. And if you love him and want to be with him. The plays that he went to prepare for us one day we want to be with him.

So is today in Showtime? right now why the blood is still running warm in your vein? This is your time.

So we have done what God have required for us to do. Just give you the invitation to him.

But there's still room y'all.

So now we are getting ready to take. How about tithes and offering? just so Joe and giving

I know God has blessed me and the wonderful way. So that's why I ties I wouldn't ask nobody to do anything that I wouldn't do. So let us pray father we come now and we come thanking you for the offering even before we receive it over as your father. We ask you to bless those that have a desire to gilland and Have Nots bless the one that do give lovely as you to give it back tenfold. 6404. Oh gracious father. We love you and we praise you in Jesus name in for his all of God's children said amen.

Let us pray father God now. We thank you for this gift floor and I'll crush your father. We ask you to bless it. Once again, let it be used for the purpose that it was taken the help you looking at me all night for you father. We love you and we praise you in Jesus name and put his sex and all I got is cheering said amen.