Go! And Rejoice in the Joy of Jesus (Advent Joy)
“Good News of Great Joy”
Introduction – Joy That Cannot Be Silenced
Every December, the world chases happiness—lights, tinsel, songs, food, presents.
But happiness is fragile, happiness fades when the decorations come down and reality returns.
Happiness disappears when the lights go out… when the holiday ends… when January arrives with bills and burdens.
Joy, however — real, eternal, unshakeable JOY — remains when happiness dries up.
Joy is not a mood swing.
Joy is not a personality type.
Joy is not pretending everything is fine.
Joy is the unshakeable unbreakable reality that God is with us.
Joy is the fruit of Jesus—born in Bethlehem, crucified at Calvary, risen in glory and reigning forever!
When the angel appeared on that first Christmas night, Heaven did not declare:
“Good news for good people who finally earned it.”
The angels didn’t come to announce a reward for the good.
They declared good news of great joy for people drowning in sin, darkness, fear, and confusion — GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY for sinners, for strugglers, for the broken — for people like us.
Today, from the Word of God, we will discover:
1. Joy for the Broken
2. Joy from Abiding in Christ
3. Joy in the Storm
4. Joy in Christ’s Salvation
Go! And Rejoice in the Joy of Jesus!
Point 1 — Joy Has Come to the Broken
Luke 2:8–11 (NLT): “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!’”
Shepherds in the first century were social outcasts, They were considered unclean and they were not welcome in the temple.
Humble shepherds, dirty unclean, despised, ignored. Yet they received Heaven’s first Christmas invitation.
Why? Because God’s joy is for the unlikely, the unworthy, the forgotten.
The angel declared:
Good news (euangelion) — the Gospel!
Great joy (chara) — not just calm happiness, but deep explosive delight! – Joy rooted not in circumstances but in God’s grace.
Great joy, for all people — including us, right here, today.
Isaiah 9:2 (NLT): “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.”
This prophecy was given 700 years before Jesus’ birth.
Jesus is that Light — joy that breaks into our darkness.
Jesus is the Light, shining into our darkest places.
Joy begins not when life is perfect — Joy begins when grace meets our brokenness.
Max Lucado wrote: “Jesus came not for the good, but for the confused. Not for the proud, but for the broken.”
That is joy! Joy is the overwhelming truth. Joy is the realisation that God knows everything about us… and still loves us.
The Night The Lighthouse Shone
A terrified sailor in a violent storm once wrote, “I could not see the harbour, I could not see the shore, but I saw the lighthouse—and I knew I was not lost.”
Jesus is Heaven’s lighthouse—joy shining through terror.
Even when the waves of life crash, joy declares: You are not lost. The Saviour has come.
The storm does not mean God has left you.
Joy declares: The Saviour has come for YOU.
Point 2 — Joy Flows from Abiding in Christ
John 15:9–11 (NLT): “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
Advent joy is not a seasonal feeling—it is a relational reality.
Jesus says: “Remain in my love.”
Greek word: µ??? (meno) — to stay, continue, dwell, make your home.
Joy isn’t found in success, popularity, or comfort. Joy is found in Jesus Himself.
Jesus does not offer seasonal joy — He offers His own joy!
He doesn’t give joy like a gift that can be lost—He fills us with His own joy.
His joy becomes our overflowing joy!
Joy is relational, not circumstantial.
Joy is not about what is under the Christmas tree — it is about Who hung on the tree.
Psalm 16:11 (NLT): “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
Joy is not a place.
Joy is not a feeling.
Joy is a Person—Jesus.
Tim Keller: “If Jesus is your real joy, nothing can take it away.”
The world can break your heart, but it cannot break your joy when your joy is Christ Himself.
The Branch That Tried to Produce Fruit Alone
A branch snapped off the vine tried desperately to produce grapes.
It failed, shrivelled, and died.
But once reattached, life surged through it again. Fruit appeared.
Christian, you were not created to survive on your own - you were not created to live disconnected!
Abide in Jesus — and you will overflow with joy.
Point 3 — Joy in the Storm
Not joy AFTER the storm — joy IN the storm!
Philippians 4:4–7 (NLT): “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Paul wrote this from prison.
Chains on his wrists — yet joy in his heart.
He wasn’t waiting for release to rejoice—he rejoiced because Christ had released him from sin!
Greek word for rejoice: ?a??? (chairo) — to celebrate, to be glad continually, regardless of circumstances.
Not: Joy when life is good.
But: “Always…”
Even:
When the doctor calls.
When the job goes.
When the tears fall.
How?
By placing everything into God’s hands through prayer, with thanksgiving, trusting that the Lord is near.
And God responds with a gift:
Peace that guards our hearts like soldiers at the city gate.
Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT): “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
Charles Stanley said: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
Joy says, “I trust God enough to obey Him.”
That is joy — trusting God enough to obey even when the outcome is unclear.
Point 4 — The Gospel: Joy in a Person, Not a Season
Christmas joy did not begin in a manger.
It began in Heaven, where the eternal Son said Yes to becoming our Saviour.
Christmas joy is not a temporary emotion.
It is eternal salvation joy.
Why did Jesus come?
Jesus was born to die for our sins..
He was laid in a feeding trough because one day He would become the Bread of Life.
He lived among sinners so we could live with God.
He experienced rejection so we might be accepted.
He suffered the shame of the cross.
He carried our sin He suffered the punishment we deserved.
He died the death we deserved so we could live His life.
He was buried in a tomb, but death could not hold Him.
He rose again on the third day ? conquering sin, death, and hell!
Without Jesus, joy is temporary.
With Jesus, joy is eternal.
Joy is alive because Jesus is alive!
Call to Action — Go! And Rejoice in the Joy of Jesus
Do you want this joy?
Do you want real joy?
Then…
Repent — turn from sin and self.
Believe — Jesus is Saviour, Messiah, Lord!
Trust — His love is enough.
Abide — daily remain in Him.
Stop letting the world drain your joy.
Stop letting fear silence your song.
Stop letting wounds define your worth.
The joy of the Lord is yours:
Go! And rejoice in Jesus today!
Go! And announce the good news of great joy — the Saviour has come!
Invitation to Salvation:
If you do not yet know Jesus personally, this joy can be yours right now.
If you do not yet know Jesus, He invites you now.
Pray with me from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I confess I need You.
I turn from my sin and I trust in You.
Thank You for dying for me.
Thank You for rising again so I may have life.
Be my Saviour, my Lord, and my joy forever.
Amen.”
If you prayed that — Heaven rejoices with great joy over you!
Closing Benediction
Romans 15:13 (NLT): “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Church—Go! And rejoice in the joy of Jesus!
