the gifts of christmas: joy

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THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS: JOY

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For Further Study

JESUS: GOD’S GIFT OF JOY

1. God is with us—what a promise!! We can walk through every day with God’s presence! Look at Exodus 33:12-34:10 and see Moses’ desperate plea to God—that he would not move forward unless he knew God was with him…and notice how God responded. Powerful!

Luke 2:10-12: And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD”

2. God with us—He is powerful, and He is loyal in His love for us. Notice how David reacted to times of great opposition—notice how he clung to the reality that his God is powerful and steadfast in love. Read Psalm 59.

Pastor Doug Schillinger December 22, 2013

Jesus is Savior, Christ, and Lord!! Hebrews 12:1b-2: let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

II. REJOICE ALWAYS—GOD IS WITH US! John 1:14: The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Psalm 16:11: You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

III. CONFRONTING THE GRINCHES THAT STEAL OUR JOY GREED/SELF ABSORPTION Isaiah 58:10-11: and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. HIDDEN SIN Psalm 32:2-3, 5, 11: Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! LIFE IN THE PIT: Psalm 40:1-3: I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.

3. Paul’s statement “rejoice in the Lord always” was not blurted out by someone trying to sound religious, or someone trying to come up with a catchy phrase—this statement was lived out by Paul in some of the most difficult situations. Read Acts 16:16-34. Notice the impact Paul’s joy in hard circumstances had on those around him. Notice the result in v. 34. 4. My favorite passage to go to, and to take others to, when we battle very desperate times, is Romans 8:28-39—printed below. How many promises can you claim from these powerful verses? Romans 8:28-39 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all— how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you would like to investigate the truth claims of the Christmas story, we have a free book for you at the Resource Center called The Case for Christmas