Valley Grove Assembly of God
December 7, 2008
“Are You Wired for Joy or Wired for Stress?”
Luke 2:8-20
Verse 10 “but the angel reassured them…don’t be afraid,” he said, “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!”
INTRODUCTION: [Show strings of tangled Christmas lights all in a heap on the floor. Pick them up and try to straighten them out. Show the building of stress at not being able to untangle them. Yell to someone in the congregation, “I’m absolutely stressed--BRING ME CHIPS!” Have someone from the audience bring you a BIG bag of Potato Chips.]
Then ask, “Are you wired for Joy or wired for Stress?”
At the frantic holiday season many of us have to say we are probably more “wired for stress” than “wired for joy” because there is not enough time to get everything done or not enough money to pay for everything. Many pressures press in from all directions. One thing after another comes our way to distract us from the real meaning of Christmas and tries to tear us down. Stress is something we all cope with in our 21st century lifestyle, but sometimes it becomes just too much and overwhelms us to the point where we give in to self-destructive habits like binging on junk food--a whole bag of chips or a half gallon of chocolate ice cream in one evening. Lack of sleep, overwork, juggling too many things all at once contribute to a downward spiral as well as even more devastating self-destructive habits.
Read Scripture here: Let’s take a look at a familiar scripture.
Luke 2:8-20
The verse I want you to focus on is Luke 2:10, “the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of GREAT JOY FOR EVERYONE.”
1. Joy is for you: The long awaited birth of Jesus was to bring salvation to a world in turmoil and stress--good news, great joy--meant for everyone. Are we seeing this today in our world and in our individual lives? Sad to say, we only seem to get glimpses of his joy so much of the time, but it doesn’t have to be that way for you and for me. Jesus has come. He has already brought good news of great joy and it is for you and me. We have to believe this scripture that it is for ME personally.
It takes faith to believe that there are better days ahead--to believe that our situation will turn around when it looks bleak--when we are going through trying times. A scripture in I Peter 1:8 shows us that joy is connected to our faith when Peter says, “You love Him [Jesus] even though you haven’t seen Him. You trust Him and even NOW you are happy with a glorious and INEXPRESSIBLE JOY. Isaiah 12:3 speaks of joy in connection with our salvation when he says, “with JOY you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation.”
David prayed, “restore unto me again the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12.) Our joy can be restored if we have lost it. Joy is for you through your faith in Jesus.
2. Great Joy: When you ask some people how they are they will answer with a pitiful, “Oh, I’m hangin’ in there.” Joyful people don’t barely HANG IN THERE--they express evidence of great joy--overflowing in spite of their circumstances. Scriptures all point to GREAT joy--OVERFLOWING joy--ABUNDANT joy. Jesus told His disciples, “I have told you this so that you will be FILLED with my joy. Yes, your joy will OVERFLOW.”
Jesus in His prayer to the Father said, “I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be FILLED with my joy” (John 17:13).
Concerning joy, scriptures talk of being filled, overflowing or with abundance of joy.
3. Getting Rewired: Taking a look at your current circumstances, has the fullness of joy disappeared from your life? Have the cares of life robbed you from living in such a way that your needs are met. If so, how is it possible to rewire yourself for joy and unwire yourself from stress?
The shepherds took action when they said, “Come on. Let’s go to Bethlehem to see…” Luke 2:15.
In the Psalms David prayed, “I will bless the Lord who guides me, even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is FILLED WITH JOY…you will show me the way of life granting me the JOY OF YOUR PRESENCE and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Psalm 16:7, 11). The KJV says, “in thy presence there is FULLNESS OF JOY.” If we are going to be rewired for joy we need to spend time coming into God’s presence.
Jesus explained this to his disciples by using the picture of a vine and the branches. He said, “I am the vine and you are the branches…if you are connected to the Vine you will bear fruit and He told them, “I am telling you this that you will be FILLED with my joy” (John 15:11).
Too often we neglect being connected to the Vine. We run on empty and find that we become frustrated and stressed needlessly because we don’t think it is important to spend time in His presence. We become disconnected from His joy when we skip going to church, let our Bible gather dust and fail to sing songs and to thank Him.
Another scripture we have overlooked is that we pray in the Name of Jesus. He told His disciples, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.” The New Living Translation says, “You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my Name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy” John 15:24 NLT
Sometimes we don’t even bother to pray about things. We just look at the circumstances. People say, “Oh, it won’t do any good to pray.” We asked one man, “Would you like us to pray for your healing, and he said, “Oh, it can’t help.” Then he changed it to “I guess it can’t hurt.” We need to approach God with faith that He WILL hear and He WILL answer and that we will receive the by product of His abundant joy besides.
Some other things that will help us get rewired for joy is our self-talk. Quit talking negatively about yourself and your circumstances. Scripture says “let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” He would have never said, “Oh, I’m just a born loser.” Begin to say what God says about you-- “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Or “My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Not only what we say is important. What we DO and allow others to do is also important. Don’t let others define your life by planning your day for you. Don’t feel guilty for not living up to others’ expectations of what you should or should not do. Don’t take on the responsibilities of other people because you don’t want them to suffer pain or experience discomfort. All of these things only add to your stress. Say, “God what do you want me to do today. What’s your assignment for me? Then let Him instruct you.
Conclusion: Are you wired for Joy or wired for stress at this Christmas season?
[Go over to the box and take out another string of lights and plug them in. They light up perfectly. Then sing Joy to the World for your closing song]
Let us pray:
