Embracing the Joy of Christ This Christmas
Summary
In this festive season, as we are surrounded by Christmas songs and decorations, it is crucial to remember that the essence of this celebration is Jesus, the greatest gift to humanity. Without Him, all festivities are meaningless. This period should prompt us to self-examine our connection with Jesus, who came to die for our sins. The theme of today's message is "Joy to the World," inspired by the song of the same name. The joy we celebrate is because the Lord has come, bringing salvation and reigning as our Savior. His love is wondrous, extending even to those who do not yet know Him. He rules with truth and grace, offering forgiveness and a path to righteousness.
The scripture for today is from Luke 2:8-20, where the angel announces the birth of Jesus as good tidings of great joy for all people. Joy is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, emphasizing God's desire for us to live joyfully. The enemy seeks to rob us of this joy, but when we choose to be joyful in Christ, it becomes a powerful weapon against him. Joy is a natural response to the gracious gift of Jesus, and it must be a choice we make, rooted in our understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for us.
The shepherds in the field, who were awake and alert, received the angel's message. Their readiness and willingness to act upon the message highlight the importance of being spiritually awake and responsive to God's call. As we celebrate this season, we must ask ourselves if we are ready to be used by God and if we are eager to encounter Jesus. The shepherds' haste to see Jesus and their subsequent spreading of the good news serve as a model for us to follow. We are called to share the joy of Christ with others, not just during this season but throughout our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- The essence of Christmas is Jesus, the greatest gift to humanity. Without Him, all celebrations are meaningless. This season should prompt us to examine our connection with Jesus, who came to die for our sins. [31:19]
- Joy is a natural response to the gracious gift of Jesus. It is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, emphasizing God's desire for us to live joyfully. Choosing joy in Christ becomes a powerful weapon against the enemy. [42:05]
- The shepherds' readiness to receive the angel's message highlights the importance of being spiritually awake and responsive to God's call. We must be ready to be used by God and eager to encounter Jesus. [50:41]
- Sharing the joy of Christ with others is a responsibility we have, not just during this season but throughout our lives. The shepherds' haste to see Jesus and their spreading of the good news serve as a model for us. [01:05:07]
- Our joy in Christ is not dependent on circumstances but on God's promises. Even in hardship, our joy remains because it is founded on God and His promises, not on ourselves or our situations. [01:16:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[31:19] - Joy to the World: The Essence of Christmas
[31:55] - The Savior Reigns: Understanding His Rule
[32:40] - The Wonders of His Love
[35:14] - Singing Joy to the World
[38:31] - Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8-20
[42:05] - The Power of Joy in Christ
[45:35] - Choosing Joy: A Spiritual Weapon
[50:41] - The Shepherds' Readiness and Response
[52:16] - Great Joy: Beyond the Season
[53:15] - The Significance of Jesus' Birthplace
[57:47] - God's Promises and Our Fulfillment
[01:01:10] - Praising God: A Season of Gratitude
[01:05:07] - Eager to Encounter Jesus
[01:09:11] - Sharing the Greatest Gift: Jesus
[01:16:48] - Joy in Hardship: Founded on God's Promises
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:8-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What message did the angel bring to the shepherds in the field, and how did they react to it? [38:31]
2. How is joy described in the sermon, and how many times is it mentioned in the Bible? [42:05]
3. What actions did the shepherds take after receiving the angel's message, and what does this reveal about their character? [01:05:07]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' birthplace, and how does it relate to God's promises? [57:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon emphasizes that joy is a choice rooted in understanding who Christ is. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your current understanding of joy? [42:05]
2. The shepherds' readiness to receive and act on the angel's message is highlighted. What does this teach about spiritual alertness and responsiveness to God's call? [50:41]
3. The sermon suggests that our joy in Christ is not dependent on circumstances but on God's promises. How can this understanding impact a believer's response to life's challenges? [01:16:48]
4. The sermon calls believers to share the joy of Christ with others. What are some practical ways this can be done beyond the festive season? [01:09:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. How can you deepen your connection with Him during this festive season? [31:19]
2. Joy is described as a powerful weapon against the enemy. What specific steps can you take to choose joy in your daily life, especially in challenging situations? [42:05]
3. The shepherds acted with haste to see Jesus. How can you cultivate a sense of eagerness and urgency in your spiritual life? [01:05:07]
4. Consider the people in your life who may not know Jesus. How can you share the joy of Christ with them in a meaningful way this week? [01:09:11]
5. The sermon encourages believers to praise God for the gift of Jesus. What are some ways you can incorporate gratitude and praise into your daily routine? [01:01:10]
6. Reflect on the idea that joy in Christ is not dependent on circumstances. How can you remind yourself of God's promises when facing difficulties? [01:16:48]
7. The sermon highlights the importance of being spiritually awake. What distractions or habits might be hindering your spiritual alertness, and how can you address them? [50:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, the Heart of Christmas
The essence of Christmas is not found in the decorations, songs, or festivities, but in Jesus Christ, the greatest gift to humanity. This season serves as a reminder to examine our personal connection with Jesus, who came to die for our sins. Without Him, all celebrations are meaningless. The joy of Christmas is rooted in the salvation He brings and His reign as our Savior. His love extends to all, even those who do not yet know Him, offering forgiveness and a path to righteousness. As we celebrate, let us focus on the true meaning of Christmas and deepen our relationship with Jesus. [31:19]
Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV): "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."
Reflection: How can you intentionally focus on Jesus as the center of your Christmas celebrations this year, and what steps can you take to strengthen your relationship with Him during this season?
Day 2: Choosing Joy as a Spiritual Weapon
Joy is a natural response to the gracious gift of Jesus and is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible, highlighting God's desire for us to live joyfully. The enemy seeks to rob us of this joy, but when we choose to be joyful in Christ, it becomes a powerful weapon against him. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in our understanding of who Christ is and what He has done for us. By choosing joy, we align ourselves with God's promises and find strength in His presence, even in the midst of challenges. [42:05]
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): "Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you feel the enemy is trying to steal your joy? How can you choose to embrace the joy of the Lord as your strength in that situation today?
Day 3: Spiritual Readiness and Response
The shepherds' readiness to receive the angel's message highlights the importance of being spiritually awake and responsive to God's call. Their willingness to act upon the message and their haste to see Jesus serve as a model for us. We must be ready to be used by God and eager to encounter Jesus, not just during this season but throughout our lives. This readiness involves being alert to God's voice and open to His leading, allowing us to experience the fullness of His presence and purpose in our lives. [50:41]
1 Peter 1:13 (ESV): "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Are you spiritually awake and ready to respond to God's call in your life? What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart that is eager to encounter Jesus and be used by Him?
Day 4: Sharing the Joy of Christ
Sharing the joy of Christ with others is a responsibility we have, not just during this season but throughout our lives. The shepherds' haste to see Jesus and their subsequent spreading of the good news serve as a model for us. We are called to share the joy of Christ with those around us, extending His love and grace to others. This involves being intentional in our interactions and looking for opportunities to share the hope and joy we have in Jesus, making a lasting impact on the lives of those we encounter. [01:05:07]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus this week? How can you intentionally share the joy of Christ with them in a way that is meaningful and impactful?
Day 5: Joy in Hardship, Founded on God's Promises
Our joy in Christ is not dependent on circumstances but on God's promises. Even in hardship, our joy remains because it is founded on God and His promises, not on ourselves or our situations. This joy is a testament to our faith and trust in God's unchanging nature and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. By focusing on God's promises, we can find peace and joy even in the midst of trials, knowing that He is with us and will see us through. [01:16:48]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: What promise of God can you hold onto today that will help you find joy in the midst of your current challenges? How can you remind yourself of this promise daily?
Quotes
"Because this came about or what is happening is being done in the name of Jesus. And some people are celebrating without even having a connection with Jesus. It is my prayer that we will connect with Jesus. That this period will be a time that ourselves, we will, you know, do self-examination and ask ourselves how connected I am to this Jesus who came to die for the world of sin." [00:30:21] (34 seconds)
"So, over three hundred times, joy is there. And the devil has one objective to the believer's life. Or to a believer is to take away the joy from you. The devil's, well, one of the devil's schemes is to make you joyless. Amen. While Jesus wants you to be joyful, the enemy wants you to be joyless. And so, if you are a believer, you are Christian, and you are properly connected to Christ, and you really understand and you really have made that choice to be joyful in him." [00:40:57] (37 seconds)
" shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night shepherds now there are certain lessons I want us to pick or certain things I want us to begin to reflect upon as we go through this season of Christmas and what not and some of those things is what I'm going to point out from these verses that we are going to read now the verse 8 tells us that there were some shepherds who were attending to their flock by night which means they were awake they were not asleep they had to stay awake to take care of the sheep and those these are not people who may be higher up in society these are people that people may even look down upon these are people that nobody probably even cared about but they have a certain attitude which I believe drew God's attention and decided that I'm going to give mercy to these people because they will be good stewards of the message and they will be good stewards of the message they will be good stewards of the of the saviour and we'll find out as we go along and these were awake now you need to be a Christian who is awake who is alert you cannot be in your comfort zone these people were not in their comfort zone because in the night time is the time for sleeping is the time probably for doing other things but here in the kingdom they were stuck with the sheep in the night time in the field somewhere I don't know what the weather was but you know normally in the night the weather gets cold in some places and these were the people that Jesus God chose to send an angel to deliver the message of the coming Lord into this world praise the Lord these were the people and the point I sought to draw from this verse is that you cannot be lazy and expect God to reach out to you to use you Amen because these people were awake you cannot be sleeping all the time and expect to be used by God you need to be awake you need to develop a certain attitude towards God these people we understand they were not there for the purpose because they were not aware some message was going to come but they have developed a certain attitude which to me is not a lazy one they were people who were ready to work people who were ready to do things so as we go through these festivities that is one of the things we should ask ourselves am I a lazy person?" [00:46:22] (0 seconds)
"Now God trusts me with the message. Can he use me? Now the verse 9 reads, it says, And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, well about them, and they were so afraid. The point I want to make there is that what? The glory of God shone. If you are awake to the things of God, if you are awake as a believer and as a Christian, you will see the glory of God. The glory of God will shine around you. Praise the Lord. So the angel appeared. It terrified them because it was, I believe it was an experience they've never had before." [00:50:11] (52 seconds)
"Another thing, lesson I want us to learn from this is this. When they receive the message, they not just hear it for their clothes, their whatever and say, oh, we are too busy with this sheep. How are we going to leave this flock and go? But once they receive the message, they say, we need to go. Praise the Lord. They say, what? What? We need to go. Read the verse 14. No, sorry, verse 16. 15 and 16. Verse 15 and 16. It says, Glory to God in the highest and honor, peace, goodwill to men. Come on, 15. It says, and it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even into Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord had made known to us." [01:03:44] (73 seconds)
"Now the verse 16 is what I want to pay attention to. And they came. With what? With haste. So they were eager to obey. They were eager to do. They were eager to go and see Jesus. How eager are you to encounter Jesus? How eager are you to come to Jesus? Our attitude towards God and towards the things of God sometimes is very lackadaisical, very relaxed. But these people with haste, with haste went to Jesus. So this season is a season where you come to Jesus and say, Lord, here I am." [01:05:02] (44 seconds)
"Because when you read further, it says that what? When they have encountered Jesus and they have seen him and everything, they went to spread the message abroad. And people were eager to hear them. So don't just go through this period only thinking about what gift you are going to receive. But ask yourself, who can I give this glory to? The greatest gift of all time to Jesus. Who can I reach out to?" [01:09:00] (31 seconds)
"praising God must not be something hard to do either on your own with instrument or without instrument you praise God all the time anytime anywhere the message I sought to bring to you today to the world and this joy that come to the world because the Lord has come gives us responsibility you know you know has called us to be part of spreading this good news to people because if the world we live in is going to experience true and genuine joy it is when we all sincerely commit to the Lord and bring people to commit to the Lord as well you just be a church member I'm not talking about just coming to church but having a perfect relationship with him because he has come but have you opened your door for him to come in he has come to the world that's joy right there I'm going to let him in and be full and because he brings his joy or you're going to just continue on your you know human time. this is the message and anybody that has received the joy of the lord like i said before hardship will not stop you from remaining joyful amen isaiah chapter 35 let me read that and i close 35 verse 10." [01:16:48] (101 seconds)
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