Salt Lake City, Utah
December 10, 2006
December 10, 2006 Emmanuel: The Source of Joy
3rd Sunday of Advent
I. Introduction
Everyone wants to be happy. Who would argue with that? The desire to be happy is so basic to human life that it appears in the second sentence of America’s Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” 230 years later, this pursuit of happiness is big business. a recent CNN report, “Americans will spend $750 million on self-help books this year and more than $1 billion on motivational speakers. More than 100 colleges now offer classes in positive psychology — [which might be considered] the science of happiness." Of course, there are other approaches to feeling happy - low tech, low energy, widely available. Like one of my personal favorites – chocolate!II. A Biblical Understanding of Joy
The desire to be happy is certainly not a modern phenomenon, but the writers of Scripture don’t talk about happiness very much. Instead, they focus on something quite different and far more important: Joy. We tend to equate “happiness” with joy but they are actually are quite different, because each springs from a different source. Happiness is an emotional response to things that happen around us. We feel happy when people treat us nicely, when we have pleasurable experiences, when we receive a compliment. Now I want to be careful here – happiness and pleasure are not bad in and of themselves. God created the world good, and desires for us to take pleasure in his creation so that we may give thanks and praise to God.But joy is distinctly different. We see this most clearly because the Bible describes Christian joy not only in times of celebration, such as in today’s gospel reading when Elizabeth’s baby “leaped for joy” in her womb to hear Mary’s greeting, but even flourishing in the midst of pain and difficulty. Romans 5:3 says, "We rejoice in our sufferings." In 2 Corinthians 8:2 Paul writes about the churches of Macedonia, saying, "In a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have over flowed in a wealth of generosity." In 2 Corinthians 6:10 he describes himself "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything." Throughout Scripture, joy and rejoicing are evidence of a deep and abiding gladness, even a kind of exultation, in the protection and provision of God. It is the kind of joy that does not separate happy days from sad days, successful moment from moments of failure. It is a divine gift that does not leave us during illness, grief, oppression, or persecution. It is not just pleasure in what God gives us, but a response to the person and character of God – a joy in who God is. It does not depend on the circumstances of our lives, or even on our momentary feelings. D.L. Moody wrote that “joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition; if flows right along, for it is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring which the world can't see and don't know anything about.”So if joy does not depend on our external circumstances, what does it depend on? How do we find that boundless joy of God in our sad and broken world? Remember, it's the joy of God. It's found in God because God is its inexhaustible source and eternal goal. This joy, Jesus' joy, God's joy, will not be our experience unless we live in relationship with him. It is a joy based on our confidence in who God is, and what God has done. That joy which is the fruit of the Spirit is the joy that erupts in our hearts because we know that no matter what, we belong to Christ who loves us and gave himself up for us. Galatians 5 tells us that joy - along with peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – is the fruit of God’s Spirit at work within us. Joy is the natural inner life of God’s people. III. Increasing our Joy this Season
Someone might say, “Sue, even Christians don’t go around rejoicing all the time.” On the one hand, don’t confuse happiness with joy. Joy can be a much quieter, steadier, more subtle and perhaps we don’t recognize it. We cannot turn joy on and off like a switch - the Spirit doesn’t work like that – but there are some things we can do to be more receptive to growing joy in our lives. (These things spell JOY)At this time of year especially, focus on Jesus. In my favorite Christmas TV special, Charlie Brown asks if anyone knows what Christmas is about, and Linus recites the story of Christ’s birth from Luke 2. Have we forgotten that Christmas is not primarily about us- our family, friends, church, presents- but about Him? One year a Christmas afternoon visitor asked five-year-old Ruth, "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?" After a moment’s hesitation, she answered, "No, but then it’s not my birthday!" Focusing on Jesus will lead us to focus on other people. Joy does not come from getting all we can get, but in sharing ourselves. Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these, you do for Him. If you want joy this Christmas, find someone in need, and in the name of Christ, give to them of your time and your treasures. We are also called to participate in the ministry of reconciliation - healing hurts, binding up wounds, getting over grudges, forgiving people who have hurt you and asking for forgiveness where you have hurt others. And there is a sense in which you might increase your joy by taking care of yourself. Are you taking time to grow spiritually? Are you involved in a discipleship study group? Are you spending time with Christian friends who truly care about you, who will pray with you about your trials and temptations? Are you asking the Holy Spirit to help you to see unresolved conflicts and false expectations in your life, the things that can drag you down and rob you of joy? IV. Conclusion: JOY in a Nutshell (what Jesus Offers You)
Today, on the third Sunday of Advent - the day we light the candle of Joy – it all comes down to this. Emmanuel – God with us – is the true source of joy. Jesus -- God in the flesh came from Heaven to Earth. This joy has come and it is to be embraced by us personally. It is the embracing of the gift of eternal life given to us even though we have done nothing to earn this glorious gift from God. As Christians, we have joy in our hearts because we understand and experience the truth of the sacrifice of Jesus. God blessed us with forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus on a cross. God gave us a gift, we never earned it. He promised it, but it’s still our responsibility to accept it.The US Declaration of Independence says that all people have the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Jesus Offers You more. Jesus offers Eternal Life. Jesus offers freedom from sin. Jesus offers radical transformation. Jesus offers you a place at his eternal banqueting table. The world may offer happiness – only Jesus Offers You true, abundant, delicious JOY.“Joy to the World” is more than just a song, it’s a blessing of hope of eternal life, by trusting in the saving love of Jesus Christ. Have you taken hold of this joy? Will you?