EVERLASTING JOY
LUKE 2:8-15
INTRODUCTION: Do not fear. For behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 MKJV) Arthur Gossip wrote, "The New Testament is the happiest thing in literature, with the sound of singing in it everywhere; opening with the choir of angels over Bethlehem and closing with the Hallelujah chorus of the redeemed. No matter how you look at it, the gospel is good news of great joy." (copied) This morning do you have joy? Real Joy? Everlasting joy? What is joy? Why did the angel proclaim Christ’s birth as an occasion of great joy? How can you and I have everlasting joy?
I. What is Joy?
A. Webster defines joy as the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.
B. Joy is not happiness.
1. We tend to equate "happiness" with joy but they are two totally different ideas.
2. Happiness comes from the world around me. Happiness is conditioned by and often dependent upon what is "happening" to me.
3. Happiness is dependent upon my circumstances.
4. Joy is not affected by external happenings.
5. Joy is a state of mind characterized by peace, a stability despite life’s inconsistencies
C. Man’s illusive and futile search for joy.
1. Joy cannot be found in pleasure
• Lord Byron lived a life of extravagant pleasure. At the end of his life, he wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."
2. Joy cannot be found in wealth and riches
• Jay Gould was one of the wealthiest men of his time. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."
3. Joy cannot be found in prestige or fame.
• Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret." (The Bible Friend, Turning Point, May, 1993)
II. Why did the angel proclaim Christ’s birth as an occasion for great joy?
A. It meant the fulfillment of a great hope.
1. Luke 2:11 For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ (Messiah) the Lord.
2. The first promise of the coming Messiah was in the garden. – Genesis 3:15 (MKJV) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
3. The long cherished hope of the nation of Israel was being fulfilled the very night that the angel as God fulfilled His promise of providing the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel.
4. Isaiah 9:6 (MKJV) For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
5. We can have great joy because God ALWAYS keeps His Word.
6. 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
7. D.L. Moody said, "God never made a promise that was too good to be true." And God has never made a promise that He will not keep.
B. It meant deliverance from a deadly evil.
1. Luke 2:11 (MKJV) For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
2. In the garden when man sinned the most deadly viral strain permeated his very soul – the virus of sin.
3. Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.
4. The root of the human problem is that the dynamic deadly disease of sin is operating within every soul.
5. Romans 5:12 Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men in that all have sinned.
6. Jesus birth announcement was the announcement of a Divine Redeemer who would save the souls of all who come placing their faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.
7. Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
8. We can have great joy today because God has provided a Savior who has provided victory over death.
9. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. It meant restoration to our right status
1. Luke 2:11 (MKJV) For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
2. When man sinned in the garden two things happened.
a. Man desired to be under self rule and to be equal to God. Genesis 3:5 says, For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
b. Man was alienated from God. Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
3. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
4. John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
5. We can have great joy because God gave His son to reconcile us unto Him as our Father and God.
III. How can you and I have everlasting joy?
A. Recall this definition of joy - a state of mind characterized by peace and stability despite life’s inconsistencies.
B. This world’s joy is small, its delight is marginal, but heaven has sent us joy immeasurable and indescribable.
C. Jesus Christ is the only source of real, everlasting, mega joy.
D. John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
E. Believing in Christ results in joy
F. Acts 16:30-34 And leading them outside, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household. And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his household. And taking them in that hour of the night, he washed from their stripes. And he was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And bringing them up to the house, he set a table before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his household.
G. Simple Obedience to God’s Word results in joy.
H. I Peter 1:8 …believing in Him you rejoice with unspeakable joy and full of glory
I. The millions who have trusted Christ can say that their happiness when they first had evidence that their sins were forgiven, that the burden of guilt was rolled away, and that they were the children of God, was unspeakable.
J. John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
K. Obedience to God’s statutes brings joy and wisdom. Joy is the byproduct of obedience.
L. Fellowship with God’s people results in joy.
M. 1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
N. A person filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit rejoices in Christian fellowship.
Conclusion: The angel declared, behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. There is great joy in that God kept His promise to provide a Deliverer, a Savior – Jesus Christ, God incarnate. Have you received that joy? Is He your Savior and Lord? Are you walking in obedience with Him? Someone has said Joy is Jesus First Others second, yourself last. Do you have everlasting joy?
