Part 3: Joy

ILLUMINATE: THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

PART - 3

1. JOY TO THE WORLD?

“But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!’”

Luke 2:10-11 (NLT)

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4 (NIV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

• Biblical joy is not a result of where we are in life, but where we are in Christ.

2. JOY HAS A SOURCE:

• Joy is a gift, not a destination.

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

Matthew 2:9-10 (NIV)

• Get serious about joy.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

• Joy of the Lord is more than emotion–it is a spiritual condition.

“...for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10c (ESV)

3. HOW TO TRULY CELEBRATE A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS:

• Get serious about obeying the Word of God.

“If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:10-11 (NIV)

• Represent Jesus by sharing joy.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 (NLT)

• God wants you to be a giver of joy.

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS TO:

• Do this week’s YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “Joy: A Countdown to Christmas” (7 days).

• Check out this week’s blog or podcast: “Joy to the World?”

• Get more information about our next Baptism Day on January 30th.

• Put Jesus first by getting serious about obeying the Word of God.