Iliff and Saltillo UM Churches
December 14, 2003
Third Sunday of Advent JOY
JOY in the Lord--Rejoice
Philippians 4:4-9
Introduction: Today on the third Sunday of Advent our theme is joy. The angels announced in Luke 2:10 “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Too often we lose our joy during the most joyful of all seasons for one reason or another. Jesus came to bring joy to the individual heart in spite of all of the joy robbers that come our way. Did he succeed? This morning let us look back to the events of this week. Was joy evident in your life?
In today’s scripture, Paul was aware of the struggles that we go through, and he pointed out some things that Christians in the early church could do to restore joy to their lives. These same things apply to us today as well.
Let’s take a look at today’s scriptures:
1. Rejoice in the Lord: First of all Paul boldly states: “Rejoice [in the Lord] always! The very first thing he says is to rejoice, but not just to Rejoice Always over the good things in their life. He knew that they didn’t always have Totally Good Things happening all the time. He didn’t simply say Rejoice Always. The important part is that he pointed them to the Lord--he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. He was seeing things in a different way perhaps from what they were seeing it.
STORY: Grandma’s glasses
One day two little boys were playing, and one asked the other, “Wouldn’t you have to wear glasses all the time?
The other little boy thought a minute and answered, “No, not if I had the kind Grandma wears. She sees how to fix a lot of things, and she sees a lot of nice things to do on rainy days. She sees when people are tired and sick and what will make them feel better. She always sees what you meant to do even if you haven’t got things just right. He went on to say, “I asked her one day how she could see that way all the time, and she said it was the way she had learned to look at things as she grew older.
So it must be her glasses.”
Paul knew that the early Christians were probably wondering, “How is it possible to rejoice in view of our difficulties?” You might wonder this too. Paul wanted them to get the point and he restated this same thought to them. “I will say it again--rejoice.” He knew that he needed to get their attention off of the problems at hand. He says, “I will say it again--rejoice in the Lord always.” The Advent candle reminds us that JOY comes through Jesus.
2. Gentleness: the next clue he gives them might not seem to fit. He talks about GENTLENESS. He says, “let your gentleness be evident to ALL. Not just SOME people. Not just the people who are nice to you. He is saying, “Be gentle toward the abrasive people you run into in the stores or in traffic or in your families.” Be gentle toward people who are not yet Christians as well as Christians. Be able to give up your personal rights and show consideration and gentleness to others.
Mom used to say “if you talk nice to people the Bible says it will “heap coals of fire upon their heads” and it will make them feel ashamed of how they have acted or what they said.
STORY: One woman said, “that doesn’t work. I poured a cup of hot coffee over my husband’s hand and he only got that much madder at me!!”
A gentle spirit toward all will do much toward disarming an adversary. Why is this?
Paul goes on to say the Lord is near to settle disputes. We don’t have to. It’s up to us to show a spirit of gentleness which opens the way for JOY to come into negative situations.
This prayer illustrates the point:
“A Different Type of Prayer”
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the
jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single
mother who worked nine hours that day and
was rushing home to cook dinner, help with
homework, do the laundry and spend a few
precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed,
disinterested young man who can’t make change
correctly is a worried 19 year old college student,
balancing his apprehension over final exams with
his fear of not getting his student loans for next
semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum,
begging for money in the same spot every day
(who really ought to get a job)! is a slave to
addictions that we can only imagine in our worst
nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking
annoyingly slow through the store aisles and
blocking our shopping progress are savoring this
moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report
she got back last week, this will be the last year
that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all
the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is
not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.
Open our hearts not just to those who are close to us
but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judgment and
quick to forgiveness and patience
and empathy and love. Let your JOY well up in our hearts.
Amen (author unknown)
3. Do not be Anxious About Anything: Paul is saying do not be OVERLY CONCERNED about things. This is a joy robber. When we stew and worry unnecessarily about things we lose our joy and replace it with worry and anxiety. What were you OVERLY CONCERNED about this week? Did it rob you of your joy? Instead he says whatever you are concerned about, take it to the Lord with prayer, petition, and thanksgiving.
prayer--an attitude of worship replaces the anxiety
petition--your requests--name them--come boldly to the throne. Hebrews 5:16 NIV says, “let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receiver mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
thanksgiving--for past answers, present, and for future answers
Why? Because God can do something about the things that plague us and cause undue concern and stress. We know that we are not immune from sickness and sorrow and financial problems and we should not be insensitive to others. But Paul realized that it is possible to have joy in spite of adverse circumstances if we can put into practice some of these positive Christian virtues.
What happens? The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.
I Thess. 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always. Give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is telling us to redirect our thoughts, attitudes, and actions and put the things you have learned into practice. And if you do--this is a CONDITIONAL promise--The God of peace will be with you. Romans 12:12 says to be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Let us Pray:
