Sunday, December 16, 2007

Joy
1 Peter 1:3-9

I. Introduction

We are now celebrating the third week of Advent.

As we just witnessed in the lighting of the candles, the first week we were reminded of the hope we have in Christ. We have this hope because He came to earth the first time and provided the way for us to once again be friends with God.

Last week we were reminded of the peace that fills our hearts because our sins are forgiven and we are no longer enemies of God. We also have this peace because we know that no matter what happens in this life, Jesus is coming back and will make every wrong thing right.

Today we are being reminded about joy and that is what I would like to take a few minutes to talk about today before we enter into a time of rejoicing through music, song, testimony, dance, drawing a picture or whatever godly expression of joy you would like to offer to the Lord this morning.

Before I go any further, I have asked Philip and Larissa to share the following with you from the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles Schultz.

CB: All it would take to make me happy is to have someone say he likes me.
Lucy: Are you sure?
CB: Of course I'm sure!
Lucy: You mean you'd be happy if someone merely said he or she likes you? Do you mean to tell me that someone has it within his or her power to make you happy merely by doing such a simple thing?
CB: Yes! That's exactly what I mean!
Lucy: Well, I don't think that's asking too much. I really don't. [Now standing face to face, Lucy asks one more time] But you're sure now? All you want is to have someone say, "I like you, Charlie Brown," and then you'll be happy?
CB: And then I'll be happy!
Lucy: [Lucy turns and walks away saying] I can't do it!

While I hope you will personally walk out of here today with a sense of joy, it is also my prayer that you will leave here
with a fresh understanding of the joy you can bring to others – all Lucy had to say was “I like you, Charlie Brown.”

II. Joy

The biblical definition of the Old Testament word for joy, simhah is simply: a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure; b)
the joy (of God); and c) a glad result, a happy issue.

A. Joy in occasions and circumstances

While we often talk about how the joy we receive from God should not be dependent on our circumstances, there are actually a number of biblical examples of rejoicing that occur as a result of certain circumstances, accomplishments, or
acts of God.

One thing I think we need to be honest about is that circumstances and situations do impact our joy.

I am not saying they need to steal our joy, but I think we are being dishonest with ourselves if we do not acknowledge that we are impacted emotionally by our circumstances.

The key is not to be completely overwhelmed by our circumstances; I am going to come back to this later.

The Scriptures are clear that many things in this life (not just God) cause us to rejoice – here are just a few:

   - A wise child (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; and 27:11)
   - A kind word (Proverbs 12:25)
   - Meeting a loved one (Exodus 4:14)
   - Ointment and perfume (Proverbs 27:9)
   - God's law (Exodus 19:9)
   - Godly parties – called feasts in the Old Testament (Nehemiah 12:43).

In fact, Leviticus 23:39-40 commands us to rejoice in the blessings God gives to us in this life:

“Now, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep the festival of the Lord, lasting seven days; a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day. 40 On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.” (NRSV)

Clearly our primary focus of joy is to be in the Lord as we celebrate His salvation, and the Old Testament is filled with references to the joy that fills the hearts of those who have been rescued from sin and stand in right relationship with God.

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing (shout) for joy. Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your name may exult in you.” (Psalm 5:11, NRSV)

By the way, the word “exult” means “to jump for joy.”

You will literally find dozens of passages in the OT that talk about our joy in relationship to the salvation of God.

But once joy is absent from your life, and there may be some here who cannot remember the last time you truly felt joyful about anything, then all that is left is anger, bitterness, rage, shame, insecurity or whatever.

Listen, I believe it is possible that many of you are weak and sick because somewhere along the line the enemy of your soul has completely stolen your joy.

It is a medical fact that your emotional and spiritual health has a huge impact on your physical health.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for
whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (NRSV)

Now the people were grieved because they had just heard the covenant law of God read to them and they realized that they were falling far short; but what does the passage say? Do not be grieved!...The joy of the Lord is your strength!

Whose joy? The Lord’s joy!

Listen to the word of the Lord in Zephaniah 3:17-18, “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness (or singing), he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing 18 as on a day of festival.” (NRSV)

If you are like me, you are saying to yourself, “God might rejoice over others, but He could never rejoice over me.” Listen, my friend, in Zephaniah God is speaking to a broken and disobedient people – He is calling them to repentance and says that when the people return to Him, this is His response.

B. Joy that comes from our future hope (Advent)

There is so much we could say about joy, but now let us look at the kind of rejoicing that is based on the future
coming of Christ in the Spirit of this Advent season – to do so I would like to look briefly at a couple of passages in
the New Testament.

One of the many reasons for sharing this is to answer the question, “How can I have joy when I am experiencing difficulties and turmoil all around me?”

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12, NRSV)

In this passage, how can we can rejoice and be glad even though we are the subject of malicious gossip or experiencing persecution because we follow Christ?

Because we are looking forward to that great reward we will receive from God if we endure to the end.

“Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it
must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!” (1 Peter 4:12-16, NLT)

We rejoice because…
   - We are partners with Christ
   - We anticipate the return of Christ
   - The Spirit of God rests upon us in a unique way when we suffer for Christ

However, we need to discern whether we are suffering for Christ or because of our own sinful actions and choices.

“You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the
pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into
the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” (John 16:20-22, NLT)

Our anticipation of the future return of Christ helps us through the pains of life in the same way the anticipation of holding that baby helps a mother through childbirth!

Finally, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when
Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9, NRSV)

“So be truly glad.” The NRSV says, “in this you rejoice.” What are we rejoicing in?

   - His great mercy
   - Your new birth
   - Your living hope (great expectation)
   - Your future inheritance in Christ
   - The strengthening of your faith through the fiery trials of life – everyone experiences fiery trials, but at least in Christ      you reap some positive benefits
   - The salvation of your souls

III. Application

The final thing I would like to share is that rejoicing is a community event (it is meant to be shared).

“And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you together with your sons and your daughters… and the Levites who reside in your towns (since they have no allotment or inheritance with you).”
(Deuteronomy 12:12, NRSV)

“Rejoice during your festival, you and your sons and your daughters…, as well as the Levites, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows resident in your towns. 15 Seven days you shall keep the festival to the Lord your God
at the place that the Lord will choose; for the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings, and you shall surely celebrate.” (Deuteronomy 16:14-15, NRSV)

So, we are going to take some time and rejoice. We are going to do that primarily through singing, but you are free to dance, draw pictures, shout, etc. I only ask that you are sensitive to the Spirit and those around you.

Finally, our joy is to be: Great (Zechariah 9:9, Acts 8:8); Abundant (2 Corinthians 8:2); Exceeding (Psalm 21:6, 68:3); Animated (Psalm 32:11, Luke 6:23); Unspeakable & Full of Glory (1 Peter 1:8); Constant (2 Corinthians 6:10, Philippians 4:4); Forevermore (1 Thessalonians 5:16); With awe (Psalm 2:11); In hope (Romans 12:12) In sorrow (2 Corinthians 6:10); Under trials (James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6); In the midst of persecutions (Matthew 5:11-12, Luke 6:22-23, Hebrews 10:34); In the midst of calamities (Habakkuk 3:17-18); and Expressed in songs (Ephesians 5:19, James 5:13)