GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS: JOY
Luke 2:10
#giftsofChristmas
INTRODUCTION… Joy to the World (p)
Today we are going to talk about something that is complicated and also wonderful. Wonderful and complicated. Complicated and wonderful. Doesn’t that sound like fun? We are going to talk about “joy” which at first glance probably shouldn’t be complicated and wonderful, but I think it is. Let me explain about the wonderfulness and the complicated nature of “joy” by comparing two songs that are both titled “Joy to the World.”
The first song is called “Joy to the World” written by Hoyt Axton and performed by Three Dog Night and came out on November 18, 1970. Now, I need a little help when I read you these verses. I need one or more people to say “Neh Neh Neh” at the right time and I will point at you to say “Neh Neh Neh.” If you don’t know the song, it’s ok. If you do know the song, you already know when to “Neh Neh Neh.”
Words: “Jeremiah was a bullfrog [Neh Neh Neh] Was a good friend of mine [Neh Neh Neh] I never understood a single word he said, But I helped him drink his wine. And he always had some mighty fine wine. Singin' joy to the world, All the boys and girls now, Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, Joy to you and me. [Neh Neh Neh]”
Now that is the first song. Notice that in this song “joy” is tied to a wine drinking frog.
The second song is also called “Joy to the World” which was written by Isaac Watts in 1719. Unfortunately, there is no “Neh Neh Neh” in this particular song, sorry.
Words: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Let earth receive her King, Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.”
That is the second song. Notice that in this song “joy” is all about the King of the Earth arriving and Creation singing about the Savior of the World.
Now, just on the surface, one song is about a wine drinking frog and the other is about the King of the Earth’s arrival. Both are about “Joy to the World.” I hope you can see why I believe “joy” is complicated since how can “joy” be about both things? One seems silly and the other seems important. Admittedly one song is secular and one song is religious, but still, joy is complicated.
If you were to look up “joy” and quotes about “joy,” you would find joy is connected to and defined by: friends, experiencing the journey, happiness, a choice, being the opposite of grief, new experiences, God, singing, the focus of our lives, and about 100 other things.
Joy is complicated, at least to me, because I am not sure how to define it without a song or a poem and where it comes from also seems to be up to each person. I know joy when I see it or feel it. I know when joy is not present or when someone does not have joy. Joy is weird and complicated.
Joy is also wonderful. It seems to be wonderful no matter if it is connected with a drunk frog or the entire Earth at Christmas time. Joy is a positive emotion. Because I know where joy ultimately comes from, I believe joy is a gift from God. God is the author of joy. God has joy therefore when we have joy it is part of us being in the image of God. Joy is a positive emotion so it is like happiness in that way, but it transcends circumstances, so it is not like happiness in that way. Some even think joy cannot be taken from us once it is given.
SERMON SERIES FOCUS
This year for Christmas we are focusing on the gifts of Christmas. Christmas is that time of year when we set aside time and energy and effort and thought to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and what His birth means for us. We can do that in a year that is spectacular and also in a year that has been spectacularly stressful. We gain much because of the birth of Jesus. We understand more about God because of the birth of Jesus Christ.
We receive peace because of the birth of Jesus Christ. We focused on that last week.
We receive joy because of the birth of Jesus Christ. This is our focus this week.
We receive salvation because of the birth of Jesus Christ. That is next week’s focus.
JOY TO THE WORLD
I want to remind you about the words of “Joy to the World” that have to do with the Birth of Jesus because He is our focus during Christmas as believers. Some of the words I read before, but I want us to hear all the words of the song. The joy that we are focusing on comes from knowing Christ.
Words: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Let earth receive her King, Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
Joy to the world, now we sing, Let the earth receive her king, Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the angel voices ring, Joy to the world, now we sing, Let men their songs employ, Joy to the world, now we sing, Repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove, The light of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love
Joy to the world, now we sing, Let the earth receive her king, Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the angel voices ring
THE SCRIPTURES
We are focusing on joy and the joy that the birth of Christ gives us. Let’s get to the Scriptures that focus our hearts on the gift of “joy” in the midst of the narrative about the Birth of Christ. I want to focus on joy because I know 2020 has been more than stressful and more than a letdown and more complicated than it needed to be. We need to focus on joy that is a gift from God and refocuses our hearts in the midst of hard times.
Let’s focus on the Scriptures.
JOY AND JOHN IN THE WOMB
The first passage I want us to focus on this morning is in Luke 1 and directs us to joy and John in the womb. Even before what we normally consider the Christmas story, joy was present and shared. John the Baptist was the herald of the Messiah and his birth is recorded in the first part of Luke 1 even as Mary is receiving the news that she will bear the Christ-child. Mary goes and visits her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John.
READ LUKE 1:43-45 (ESV)
[Elizabeth is speaking] “And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Let’s not miss the fact that when the baby growing inside of Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice that he jumped around. John, full of the Holy Spirit even in the womb, reacted with joy to the presence of Mary and the growing Jesus inside her womb.
That. Is. Awesome.
Why would the baby be joyous? Why would Elizabeth be joyous? What about this situation is joyful?
Authentic joy and true happiness is absolutely found is God's presence. Elizabeth and John (in her womb) were in the presence of the Lord and that presence brought them joy. The presence of God brings joy. The presence of God brings joy. The presence of God brings joy.
We have joy in the presence of God because He is God.
We have joy in the presence of God because His plans and promises are perfect.
We have joy in the presence of God because He is always good and works for our good always.
We have joy in the presence of God because He is a saving and merciful God.
We have joy in the presence of God because He loves us.
The passages about joy do not stop there.
JOY AND THE ANGEL’S GOOD NEWS
The second passage I want us to focus on this morning is in Luke 2 and directs us to joy and the angel’s good news. This is where I normally think of joy in the Christmas narrative. In the middle of the Christmas narrative we have the announcement of the birth of Jesus by angels to shepherds. It is quite a sight. These shepherds are minding their own business and minding their sheep when angels arrive on the scene and explain that something significant has happened.
READ LUKE 2:9-11 (ESV)
“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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The angel appears and explains that what is happening is not the cause of any kind of fear. What is happening is the opposite of fear in every single way. The birth of Jesus Christ is not about fear, but faith. It is not about fear, but favor. It is not about fear, but fulfillment. Faith and favor and fulfillment all lead to joy. Faith and favor and fulfillment all lead to joy.
The angel appears to them and explains that what is happening in Bethlehem with the birth of Jesus is Good News. The Good News is great joy for all people.
What about Jesus’ birth is news that brings joy?
True joy comes because we base our lives on God’s Truths. We also trust in Him with our lives and futures and He can be trusted. Even when what is going on around us is garbage or stressful, we can have joy because our lives are not based on those things, but rather on God’s Truths which are trustworthy and eternal.
Jesus’ birth means that the God of our faith is fulfilling His Old Testament promises for a Savior.
Jesus’ birth means that salvation is coming to all people through what Jesus will do on the cross.
Jesus’ birth means a personal relationship with God is actually possible.
Jesus’ birth means that the Source of eternal life has come to offer us life with God forever.
All of this is a gift from God that we have not earned. This is all based on grace. All of this gives us joy which means we can be secure and happy in God through Christ no matter what happens because it is a gift not dependent on us or circumstances. A rock solid foundation in faith in Christ is joyous!
JOY AND THE WISE MEN
The third passage I want us to focus on this morning is in Matthew 2 and directs us to joy and the wise men. After the birth of Jesus, the joy continued. The birth of Jesus story describes a bright star in the sky that marks His birth. Folks in the East see the star and travel to find Him. A few years after Jesus’ birth they finally find Jesus and finding Him brings them nothing but joy and also the desire to worship Him.
READ MATTHEW 2:10-12 (ESV)
“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
These wise men traveled to find Jesus and when they see the star and they find Jesus, the emotion they feel is joy! The verses tell us that it is exceeding joy! Joy overflowing. They find Jesus and the actions they take because their hearts are joyous is… worship. They fall down on their knees and know their place in creation as created beings who worship an Infinite God.
It was an absolute blessing to be in the presence of Christ and their hearts were full of joy and their actions were worshipful. They gave gifts to Him honoring Him as a King and as a Savior. God protected these men by directing them home with a dream.
What is the result of a joyous heart?
Worship. Gift giving. Remember I said that joy is wonderful and also complicated. I can’t tell in this passage if the joy came first and then the worship and gift giving happened or these wise men were already worshipful and ready to give gifts and then joy was the result. All I know is joy and worship and giving are all tightly tied together in this passage.
How can we choose joy during life’s trials? Worship and give.
How can we find joy when we don’t feel joyful? Worship and give.
How can we trust God to turn our trials into joyful blessings? Worship and give.
How can joy grow in our hearts when life is harder than it should be? Worship and give.
Worship and give and we will find that joy follows close behind.
APPLICATION
This year for Christmas we are focusing on the gifts of Christmas. Christmas is that time of year when we set aside time and energy and effort and thought to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and what His birth means for us.
The presence of God brings joy. If you are struggling with this wonderfully complicated thing called joy… pursue the presence of God. Pray. Spend time meditating and listening to the Bible. Play worship music so loud in your house the roof shakes.
Faith and favor and fulfillment all bring joy. If you are struggling with this wonderfully complicated thing called joy… perhaps you have been focused only on you and you need to get off of you. Look for fulfillment by serving others and sharing the Gospel with them. The Gospel is Good News and when we share the Gospel, we have joy whether or not the person accepts the Lord. When you and I share faith, we are doing what God favors and we will be fulfilled by Him and this leads to joy.
Worship and giving brings joy. If you are struggling with this wonderfully complicated thing called joy, worship more. Sing more. Pray more. Play worship music more. Give more. Buy gifts or make gifts or send cards of encouragement to others. Worship and giving brings joy.
JOY TO THE WORLD MASHUP
So to conclude this morning, I wrote a mash-up version of “Joy to the Word” that I need one or more people to say “Neh Neh Neh” at the right time. I know this year has been so hard with COVID. I know church online stinks. I know the stress of this time is getting to even the strongest of us. And yet in the middle of all of it… Jesus gifts us joy that is based on Him and His promises and not our circumstances!
Words:
“Jesus Christ is our Savior, [Neh Neh Neh], He is our Lord and Red-ee-mer. [Neh Neh Neh] Singin' joy to the world, All the boys and girls now, Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, Joy to you and me. [Neh Neh Neh] Joy to the world [Neh Neh Neh], the Lord is come, [Neh Neh Neh] Let earth receive our King, Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven sing [Neh Neh Neh] and nature sing [Neh Neh Neh], And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing! Joy to the World! Our Savior Reigns!
DISCLAIMER
I want to mention something that I think is important before we completely finish. This sermon today was directed to believers in Jesus Christ. Believers in Jesus Christ are those who have joy because of the presence of God. Believers in Jesus Christ are those who have accepted the Good News of Jesus. Believers in Jesus Christ are those who worship and give. If you search for joy and you leave Jesus out of it, you will find absolutely nothing.
That is the truth. Joy is based on a relationship with God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you do not have a personal relationship with Him, you will never have joy. Never. Never.
May you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and by believing in Him you may have life in His Name. I’d love to chat with you about your decision to follow Christ if that is a decision you need to make.
PRAYER
