JOY – Rejoice, Sing and Prasie – Sermon 1 December, 2013

JOY

Rejoice, Sing and Praise

Luke 1:39-56  Romans 15:5-13

Joy is talked about widely in scripture. It is found in nearly every book of the Bible. Sometimes it occurs as a noun referring to one’s state of being, because of an event. Sometimes it’s a verb referring to joy’s action, namely rejoicing.

Joy is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Joy is felt in a memory from the past. It is referred to in the present tense as Apostle Paul expresses his Joy in the writing of the epistles. And also in the future tense in the context of fullness of Joy when we get to heaven.

The Bible tells us that Joy can be created by material pleasures and drinking, but that it is a false joy.

Joy comes through faithfulness and obedience, trials and sadness.

CS Lewis has said of Joy that “It is the serious business of Heaven” and “It is a necessity not a luxury”. And Robert Louis Stevenson   has said “To miss Joy is to miss all”.

Joy manifests in us in 3 ways.

1. When good things happen (Natural Joy). For example a child waiting for Christmas.

2. When you have done the right thing (Moral Joy). Most people have experienced both natural Joy and Moral Joy. But Joy was intended by God to be a much deeper experience.

When one comes to Christ as saviour, we are no longer limited to experiencing merely natural and moral Joy.

3. Spiritual Joy is something the world cannot give nor understand, because it comes in the form of an embrace from God.

When we are going through dark times. He is there.

When we cannot feel him. He is there.

When we least expect Him. He is there.

When we feel we are all alone. He is there.

When we feel like giving up, he is there, ready to embrace us so that we are able to experience Joy.

Consider Mary.

A virgin engaged to an older man named Joseph. She is from a culture not like ours. It was a big shame for a young righteous girl to be found pregnant.

What would people think? The parents would be put to shame. Joseph would be put to shame. So she is sent away to be with Elizabeth Where she could be hidden in isolation. Imagine Mary’s turmoil as she goes to Elizabeth. She must have little joy at the thought of having to defend herself. But the meeting was not an embarrassing or a devastating event. Rather the Holy Spirit came down and filled Elizabeth. The Baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for Joy. God embraced them and brought Joy in a way that only He can do.

How many of you need to experience that kind of Joy in your life today.

You may be struggling through a difficult situation.

You are uncertain of the future.

You are troubled in your spirit.

You have been struggling in life.

You or a member of your family is passing through difficult time.

May be facing family crisis, sickness, depression, etc.

My message today is simple.

Open up your heart and let God embrace you and bring Spiritual Joy.

A joy like no other.

A joy not from things that happen to you.

Nor from your sense of well-being.

But from a God who wants to carry you and let you know he is in control.

This joy becomes the reason for our praises and singing to glorify God for who He is.

Krikor Youmshajekian