Surprised By Joy

Christmas 2018

Surprised by Joy

I would have more joy if ____________________.

Isaiah 9:1-3a NIV

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those where in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Napthali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy …”

Napthali – Land of my struggle, a place of great wrestling and entanglements

Luke 1:39-41 NIV

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 2:25-32 NIV

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

Leaping babies and weeping Men

Luke 2:36-38 NIV

“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

• Mary was a pregnant teenager, vulnerable to being shunned by everyone. Elizabeth was a barren woman who miraculously became pregnant.

• Simeon and Anna were the vulnerable. They were elderly and widowed yet were completely joyful.

Mary – pregnant and embarrassed

Elizabeth – barren and shunned

Simeon and Anna – elderly and forgotten

Joy – Greek and Hebrew “calm delight, cheerfulness”

Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine …”

• Do you think God meant for all of us to experience joy?

• Do people like being around you because of the joy you have?

• Do people who smile a lot annoy you?

• If I interviewed your mailman or your or one of your teachers, would they say you’re joyful?

If being a Christ follower was contagious, would anyone want to catch what we have?

Joy comes to us:

In Unusual Times

In Unusual Places

From an Unusual Person

In the 3rd Century, a dying young man wrote these words to a friend:

“It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy that is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. They are Christians – and I am one of them.”

Joy to the world! The Lord has come:

let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room.

Worship Team Sings “Joy to the World”

The Table:

Psalms 51:8-12 NIV

“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.