The Joy of Christmas
Thesis: The joy of Christmas is found in the baby Jesus. He is the only source that can produce lasting joy in our lives. Joy is therefore a choice and it centers on our willingness to choose to surrender ourselves to Jesus or not. This is the great gift exchange program of John 3:16.
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Introduction:
Dr. Wilt from The Joyful Noise Letter Dec. 2003 edition stated: “What is joy? It is one of the most important things in the whole universe. C.S. Lewis called it “The serious business of Heaven.” Joy marks the difference between existence and life. Its presence upgrades survival to being. Joy is our enjoyment of God and the good things that come from God…”
"Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."--Mother Teresa
Joy is found by looking at it’s letters J.O.Y. -- Jesus Offers You the gift of eternal life which therefore brings joy to your hearts and lives. Your part is to accept His gift and then give Him a gift back which is your life. This is the great gift exchange program of John 3:16. Jesus freely gives to us and we in exchange freely give back to Him.
Proverbs 10:28: “The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.”
CHRISTMAS SURVEY
What do people believe about the birth of Christ? A few days ago Newsweek Magazine conducted a poll asking some questions about Christ and His birth.* Here are some of the results:
67% - believe that the entire story of Christmas is historically accurate
24% - believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention
If Jesus had never born, people believed there would be:
63% - less charity
61% - less kindness
59% - less personal happiness
58% - less tolerance
47% - more war (16% say less, 26% say the same)…
SOURCE: Brian Mavis, SermonCentral.com. Citation: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6653824/site/newsweek/
* For this NEWSWEEK Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates interviewed by telephone 1,009 adults, aged 18 and older on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Contributed to Sermon Central by: SermonCentral PRO
We are to receive joy at this time of the year. We as Christians are to dispense joy at this time of the year. Yet for many today this time of the year brings no joy only more stress. It brings more busyness-more debt-more depression. So where is the joy
The Paradox of Our Time in History
The paradox of our time in history is that....
We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less.
We buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We’ve added years to life, not life to years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window, and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you (as an e-mail), and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just shrug it off.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your spouse and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment, for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
To all my friends in my life, thanks for being there.
-George Carlin
What happened to American’s joy? Whole stole joy from Christmas time and from so many at this time of the year? - The Grinch?
Illustration: The Grinch
He hated Christmas! Why? Because when he was little he brought a Christmas gift for this girl. It was homemade and from the heart but all the other kids ridiculed him and made fun of him and belittled his gift. He became so angry and hurt that he began to despise the gift of giving. He chose to hate and bitterness robbed him of his joy. He rediscovers the joy of Christmas when he takes away all the Christmas gifts from the Who’s. He observes that instead of crying and being bitter they still gather outside to sing because they are very joy filled Who’s. The Grinches heart is changed when he hears them sing songs of joy after waking up to no presents. He discovers that the joy of Christmas is found in the heart of what Christmas represents. For Christians that joy is rooted and found in the message of Jesus’ birth. His birth tells us that God is with us personally. This reality – this message when embraced brings with it joy!
There is another famous story told this time of the year. It is the Charles Dickens tale of a person named Ebenezer Scrooge - A Christmas Carol.
Illustration of Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge was a man filled with greed and bitterness and hated Christmas. He was a man overrun with pain, suffering, and loss and it caused bitterness in his heart. This bitterness had caused the loss of all joy in his life. He became a man filled with anger and greed. But then the angels came and he had a change of heart. His famous quote is, ‘I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy” Charles Dickens after the visit of the three angels. He had rediscovered joy and he speaks as if he was now flying high at Christmastime and wanted to fully embrace the joy filled message of the season. Why the change? Truth is because his heart was changed due to a divine encounter with 3 angels which helped him to focus and reflect on what Christmas was really about. It’s about giving – It’s about being thankful for what God has provided to us. Joy and even life is not found in money it’s discovered in a heart which is connected to a divine plan from above.
T.S. - Scrooge and the Grinch both discovered what joy really was and is and it changed both of their lives. It’s amazing what happens to a life when they discover the great experience of joy. So let me ask you a question today:
I. Have you experienced the gift of joy this year? Do you know were to find it?
a. Is there joy in your heart and life? Is there joy in your mind and soul?
i. Is your joy real and genuine?
ii. Was it there once upon a time and now it has vanished?
iii. Is Joy still around or has she vanished from your life?
b. We have just touched the ice berg on exploring the questions, “What happened to the joy of Christmas and do I know what it is?”
i. We want to know were it went and were to relocate it because I believe we all want joy in our lives.
1. I am always amazed at a guy named Paul who said “I rejoice always no matter what happens in my life!”
a. I have often asked myself the question “How can he have joy in the midst of persecution and hardship?”
b. I believe the reason he could have joy at all times was because He discovered the one who is able to fill our lives with joy. Jesus!
i. "A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing."--Martin Luther
ii. For some of us here today we want to be like Paul and rediscover the joy of life.
1. But to do this we are going to have to slow down and take a breath.
a. We are going to have to root out the go-go-go mindset!
i. The more is better deception.
ii. The hurry up disease must be medicated by the great physician Jesus.
2. For others maybe you need to learn how to think of yourself less and think of serving others more.
a. Some of us really need to reach out and touch someone. Instead of saying feed me-burp me-serve me! Because it’s all about me!
i. "You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."--Anne Lamott
b. When we come to the end of life, the question will be, "How much have you given?" not "How much have you gotten?"--George Sweeting
3. For some we need to learn the importance of love in our lives.
a. Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived; Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the others......, including Love. One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally under, Love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?" Richness answered, "I’m sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you." Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please." I can’t help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat." Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go with you." Sadness answered, "Love, I’m sorry, but, I just need to be alone now." Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn’t hear Love calling to him. Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge and asked, "Who was it that helped me?" "It was Time", Knowledge answered. "But why did Time help me when no one else would?", Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."-idk
b. "Love is not a matter of counting the years, it´s making the years count."--William Smith
4. For others we want more joy this time of year and to find it we must look within at our spiritual condition.
a. I believe Joy is discovered in the depths of our soul and spirit. It comes from above not below. It comes from within not from without. Then joy will be found.
5. For some we need to change the thought, “I just have to endure this trial of Christmas for another year and make it to the New Year.”
a. We have to get out of the survival mindset and get into living and enjoying each day that God has given us.
b. Some people live in the past and never have future! While others live in the future but never have a here and now!
c. Truth is joy is with us if we have embraced the Christmas story and baby Jesus. Joy is to be enjoyed today right now at this very moment.
iii. Paul Graves wrote a letter to his grandson and said this about our subject joy:
1. …There will be many times in your growing years when you will feel many hurtful things, and joy will be the last thing you feel. Well, that’s alright, because joy is really less a feeling and more an attitude you have to claim as your own. Right now, you only know feelings, good and bad feelings. But joy doesn’t begin in your feelings. Joy really begins in the soul GOD gave you as you grew inside your mommy…I am reminded to rejoice. To rejoice is to come back to joy again. God wants us to return to joy again and again. God’s basic desire is for all the people to be filled with joy. It is that special attitude deep in our souls that tells us life is so very good. But because God gave us all the brains to make our own choices, we can choose to be joyful or to be stingy with our lives. Too many people choose to be stingy. I think it’s because they haven’t played in the water like you do. Or maybe they have just plain forgotten what it is to be filled with a moment of joy over the simple act of giving yourself to something beyond your self. Joy happens because something really good has happened… It may be all kinds of things that remind us that life was created by God to be very good…(From The Joyful Noise Letter.”
a. Our wise old grandpa tells his grandson that joy is found in the Lord and it is a choice he must choose.
b. The truth is we too must understand this joy filled truth ourselves. We must choose joy to experience joy and joy is found only in Jesus.
i. Norman Vincent Peale stated, “Practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast for us.”
ii. Robert Foster put joy this way, “Joy is an inward singing that cannot be silenced by outward negative circumstances. Yes, even when life seemingly is falling apart.”
c. Joy is a choice we must commit ourselves to today if we want to enjoy the joy of the season.
i. It comes back to what Joshua said “Choose this day whom you will serve but for me and my House we will serve the Lord!”
ii. Choosing the right King- the right way is what brings us joy!
c. Jesus is the reason why we have this season and when we incorporate Him into our lives joy comes with it. Think about this thought taken from the Joyful noise letter Dec. 2004 edition:
i. The reason for the season:
1. His arrival was eagerly anticipated, but not just by children.
2. He came on Christmas day, but not down a chimney.
3. He worked in a woodshop, but not making toys.
4. He had a beard, but it was not white.
5. He had some helpers, but they were not elves.
6. He did a miracle, but not on 34th Street.
7. He rode into town, but not on a sleigh.
8. He carried a lot of weight, but He was not heavy.
9. He hung on a tree, but not as an ornament.
10. He disappeared into the clouds, but not to the North Pole.
11. His return is eagerly anticipated, but not predictable.
d. So let’s travel back in time to that original Christmas morning and hear what the angels where saying about Joy and Jesus! The blessing of the double J’s!
i. An angel appeared to the Shepherds and told them that he had a message of “great joy” for them. Let’s recall this Heavenly announcement of great joy.
1. Scripture Text: Luke 2:1-14:
a. 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
b. We are told from our scriptural account that Great Joy will be for all the people!
i. This great joy is associated with the birth of the Messiah-the Savior-Jesus!
ii. This great joy is tied in with his birth and we need to see the connection and then plug into it!
1. We need to see that great joy comes from the Good News!
iii. So at Christmas we need to look around and re-discover this great joy for the new upcoming year!
ii. Truth is this Christmas season some will find it and yet others will attempt to find it and totally miss it. And the reality is some will not even look for it at all.
1. I heard a person say recently to me, “It’s Christmas and I always get depressed!” The truth is for many people Christmas season does not bring joy instead it brings depression, stress and disillusionment with life.
a. Why? Because they have not found the joy of life!
b. It’s interesting that I have pointed them in the right direction to find the joy of life and they still continue to say but I do not want to go that way. I want to go this other way. I have repeatedly told them you will not find joy that way but they continue to go in the opposite direction any way.
2. Cal and Rose Samra share this story from Holy Hilarity: From Rev. John L. Wallace.
a. Christmas: An answer to depression page 188,189: It wasn’t long ago that a psychologists started telling us that the ‘holidays’ are not a source of joy for everyone. Like the drunk I encountered on the subway on Christmas Eve, they’ve been told the Christmas season is a time we’re supposed to be happy, but they can’t find the way. It does not have to be so, as I found when I was away in the service as an air force chaplain for four straight years (1955-1959). Somehow the real Christmas story came to me as I longed to be home. Wasn’t it true that Mary and Joseph were away from home at The convenience of the government? As we sang our Christmas carols amid the Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert, or listened to a four – year- old Korean orphan sing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” at our party for the children in postwar Korea, I got the message: “Christ can be born anywhere where there is a heart to love Him.” Against the blustery winds of Panyong Do, it was good to recall that the love of God knows no boundaries. In Him we will always be at home. Christmas may not measure up to the warmth projected from your favorite Christmas catalog, because loneliness, alienation, and trouble are real. Some people will always have to live in their own, private war zone. Life can be hard. However, it was into that kind of world that God sent Jesus, and it was to the people of that world that the angels sang! Even without a Christmas tree, Christ can be born in our hearts today. Let’s remember the true message of Christmas: Emmanuel- God with us!
T.S. – Joy is found in the message of Christmas – Jesus is God with us! It is the message of God’s love being revealed through Jesus in a personal way. Jesus -- God in the flesh came from Heaven to Earth and with Him and His presence comes joy. This joy has come and it is to be embraced by us personally.
II. Have you discovered the one who brings Joy to the world? Jesus?
a. Scripture Text Luke 1:26-45:26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.” 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. 39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” 46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
i. Mary upon the news of her immaculate conception was filled with joy and rejoiced in the Lord.
1. She received the message of the birth of the Messiah and it filled her with the joy of the Lord.
a. When she embraced the message of the coming of Jesus her life was filled with joy and the message of Good News.
b. Even though her divine miracle was from God I am sure she still endured some critics and gossips about her divine conception.
i. Can you imagine what some were whispering in the shadows about her?
ii. Mary went to see Elizabeth and when she met her the baby - John the Baptist leaped for joy in her womb.
1. Elizabeth was filled with joy herself because of the news of the coming birth of the Messiah.
b. We sang this song this morning Joy Too The World but I wonder- did it bring you joy? Did you listen to the words you sang?
i. Verse 1:
1. 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.
a. Did you catch the phrase “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” This truth is what Christmas is all about and it is a pinnacle moment in history for every one of us.
b. The understanding and embracing of this fact is what births joy into our hearts and lives.
c. We are told in the song to receive our king- have you done this?
d. We are challenged in the song to prepare room for Him in our hearts – Have you prepared a place for Him in your heart?
i. Have you made room or have you closed the door to Him?
ii. Did you at one time give Him space and then eventually kicked Him out?
2. Your answers to these questions will determine if you have joy or not!
ii. Verse 2:
1. 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.
a. The truth is joy comes to those who recognize and acknowledge that Jesus our Savior reigns.
i. He reigns in this world and he wants to reign in your heart.
ii. When we let Him reign in our hearts then joy floods our lives in spite of our circumstances.
b. Joy comes to all of those who praise the Lord for being in control of the world and of their lives.
iii. Verse 3:
1. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
a. Joy comes to us when we no longer let sin grow in our lives but instead we stomp it down and out.
b. Sin is what I said last week – “It’s Self Inflicted Nightmares!”
c. Sin will rob you of joy and cause you to suffer more and reap the whirlwind of sorrow.
d. Sin always causes more pain – more suffering and chokes out any joy we may have.
iv. Verse 4:
1. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
a. Joy comes to us as we learn the importance of living by truth and by grace.
b. The glory of righteousness presented to us as a gift from Jesus should fill us with joy.
c. His love and its wonder should impact us with the Spirit of Joy because His love has opened up the door of Heaven to you and me.
d. I genuinely believe that joy fills a life when a person has a personal experience with the Wonder of God’s love.
c. Could it be that the reason many of us have lost that joyful feeling is because we have lost a relationship with the one who brings joy?
i. Could it be that sin has swallowed up our joy and pushed joy out of our hearts?
1. The Baptist Witness stated: “Christmas is love tugging us back to God with the powerful clasp of a tiny hand reaching out from a bed of straw.”
2. "With all the celebrations, sometimes the truth is lost, that every step this Baby took brought Him closer to the Cross"--Ray Boltz
ii. Could it be that you have no joy right now because you have never embraced the one who dispenses joy – Jesus Christ? The truth is it’s for everyone!
iii. Could it be that the reason we have no joy is you don’t have a relationship that produces joy?
Conclusion:
J - Jesus
O - offers it to
Y – you
How? He offers it too you if you decide to say yes to Him and no to yourself! You decide to believe in His Sacrifice and to embrace his forgiveness and grace.
That good thing from God – the Supreme gift too all the world - comes from God and is given to each of us is Jesus Christ! Our role in this Christmas gift exchange program is to say yes to Jesus and receive the gift from God. Then we are in return supposed to give our own personal lives as a gift back to God. He gives a gift then we give him back a gift. This whole gift exchange idea is what produces a life that is filled with joy and a life that has meaning and purpose for all eternity. The idea comes back to the thought it is better to give then just to receive. So let me ask you have you given God a gift this Christmas season?
PLAY DVD: Singer Rebecca Saint James testimony about her missions trips.
Have you accepted His gift and given one in return -- your life? When you do you will discover JOY!
Are you willing to give God your time, your resources, your heart this Christmas season and the rest of next year? If you do you will discover great joy! It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
--"You’re not ready to live until you are ready to die"--Chuck Swindoll
