“Great Joy” - Luke 2:8-20

Описание: By: Rev. Robin A. Riggs, PhD.
For: 12/6/2020
Fairmount Church of God, Fairmount, Indiana

There are so many reasons or us to be afraid in the world at the moment, and there are so many things that are out there just waiting to steal our joy. But here are 3 good reasons for Christmas joy this year.

Take a look at the popular Christmas Carol “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.” It’s interesting to note the comma after “Merry” is often misplaced, causing it to read “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen.” The original punctuation indicates that the song is for all gentlemen— to one and all— whether merry or not, with the hope and blessing that God will cause them to be merry.

YouTube Song & Lyrics here:    • God rest ye merry gentlemen-lyrics-pentatonix  

Text: Luke 2:8-20

1. The good news of GREAT JOY is that the Messiah has come at all!!
Jesus didn’t have to come to earth, He wanted to. Because you really matter to God a lot!. You really do! You matter so much that Jesus came to let you know it.
-This is good news because it shows us that God is a gift giver and He wants you to be like Him.
— You see, not only do YOU REALLY. MATTER TO GOD, but you have never locked eyes with anyone who doesn’t! Each of us is special. Regardless of race, income, gender, education, religion- each really, really matters to God- so they better to us to!

2. The good red of GREAT JOY is that the Messiah has come to save.
Luke 2:11 Jesus was born into the world on that first Christmas as our Savior - to be saved you must let Jesus into your life.
-This isn’t just for forgiveness for the past, but for freedom from things that bog you down in the present and for fulfillment in the future.
-If you want true Christmas joy, then now is the time to let Jesus into that area o your life you’ve been holding back from Him. -Work, family, marriage, friends, neighborhood, school, conversations, investments, actions, thoughts, shopping, TV, language, reading, sports, etc.
If you want a little Christmas joy, then let Jesus into your everyday.

3. The good news of GREAT JOY is that the Messiah has come for all!
-That night the angels announced, “Peace on earth to men on whom his favor rests.”
-Christmas is a time for reconciliation. It’s a time to break down barriers, build bridges, restore relationships that have been broken and/or damaged.
-This is your ministry if you are a Believer.
—2 Corinthians 5:18
-If you want a little Christmas Joy this year reconcile with those around you. The Messiah came for all people,

The good news of great joy are those found above. But what are the SOURCES of this GREAT JOY? The angel promised great joy. Is it something we are supposed to feel? Experience all the time or just once in a while?
-The message the angel brought was intended, among other things, to bring “great joy” into our lives. Yet many don’t have that great joy that is spoken of. It’s a sign we’ve gotten of track.

Look at your own spiritual life- Is joy a prominent characteristic? Is it something you expect? Where does it come from? How do you explain it to others?

Sources of Joy:
1. Jesus is alive.
Matt 28:8- There was great joy when they found that Jesus was alive!
-Jesus is alive, unlike the other religious leaders in history. Jesus is different. It’s because He is who He says He is. God’s only Son.
-It’s easy to become jaded. To let that be old news. But this is enormously good news! WE serve a risen Savior. This opens the door for us to have hope beyond this life. It gives us confidence that death is not the end.

2. Experiencing God’s power working through you.
-Luke 10:17 (& vs 21) Jesus sent out 72 of His disciples to do the work of the Kingdom. They “returned with joy.” There was great joy for the in seeing the power of God work through them.
-Jesus, was also “full of joy” at hearing the work HIs disciples accomplished. Their success filled Jesus with joy! This was like a test run, Jesus knew he would one day return to heaven and his disciples would need to continue the work He started.

3. Enjoying closeness to Christ.
-John 15:11 Jesus shared how to have complete joy, He said when we obey the teaching of Christ, we will abide in Christ. That means we will be close to Him. And when we abide in Christ, we will find our lives to be fruitful.
-Many people, even church people don’t have that joy and part of the reason is that they are distant from God.
-He gives us the path toward His joy: obey, abide, abound.

4.Seeing God answer our prayers.
-John 16:24 Jesus tells us to ask and expect answers, and when we receive answers, our joy will be complete. Many times, we pray without any real expectation that God will answer.

The message of great joy is that the Savior has come to us. He died for us and we rejoice hat He lives again. We find joy in close fellowship with Him every day. And we know He hears our prayers. His salvation, presence and response to our prayers fill us with joy.
Great joy. Full joy. Is ours.