Finding Unshakable Joy in God's Presence

 

Summary

In our journey through the Christmas story, we encounter the recurring theme of "fear not," a message that resonates deeply with us as we face life's uncertainties and challenges. This season, we are reminded of God's presence, which brings hope and peace that surpasses all understanding. Today, we focus on joy, a profound gift that Jesus offers us, distinct from fleeting happiness. While happiness is temporary and dependent on circumstances, joy is a deep-rooted contentment that stems from God's grace and presence in our lives.

Joy is not about the external circumstances but about who God is and what He has done for us. It is a steady undercurrent, a background music that sustains us through life's ups and downs. As we explore the Christmas story, we see that joy is found in God's presence. Psalm 24 illustrates this as it celebrates God's return to His people, symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. Similarly, Jesus, our Emmanuel, brings victory over sin and death, filling us with unshakable joy.

The nearness of God is the anchor of our joy. As we draw closer to Him, we experience His peace and security. Paul encourages us to rejoice always because the Lord is near, both in His imminent return and His constant presence through the Holy Spirit. This joy is manifested in our lives through praise, thanksgiving, and a hopeful anticipation of Christ's return.

C.S. Lewis reminds us that joy is about experiencing God's presence. The more we immerse ourselves in His Word, prayer, and worship, the more we are filled with this unshakable joy. It is a discipline that requires us to focus on God's promises and His faithfulness, even amidst life's distractions and fleeting happiness.

As we prepare our hearts for Christ's coming, let us reflect on God's grace in our lives and choose to ground our joy in His nearness. By doing so, we embrace the life God has given us, filled with His goodness and grace. This joy brings confidence, peace, and hope, knowing that God is with us now and forever. Amen.

Key Takeaways:

1. Joy vs. Happiness: Joy is a deep-rooted contentment that comes from God's grace and presence, unlike happiness, which is temporary and circumstantial. Joy sustains us through life's challenges, offering a steady undercurrent of peace and hope. [04:24]

2. God's Presence as the Source of Joy: True joy is found in God's presence. As we draw closer to Him, we experience His peace and security, anchoring our joy in His nearness. This joy transcends circumstances and is rooted in who God is and what He has done for us. [08:28]

3. Rejoicing in God's Nearness: Paul's exhortation to rejoice always is based on the reality of God's constant presence through the Holy Spirit. This joy is expressed through praise, thanksgiving, and a hopeful anticipation of Christ's return. [10:04]

4. Experiencing Joy through God's Word and Worship: C.S. Lewis emphasizes that joy is about experiencing God's presence. Immersing ourselves in His Word, prayer, and worship fills us with unshakable joy, even amidst life's distractions. [13:38]

5. Cultivating Joy as a Discipline: Joy is a gift and a discipline that requires us to focus on God's promises and faithfulness. By grounding our joy in His nearness, we embrace the life God has given us, filled with His goodness and grace. [19:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:49] - Joy in the Christmas Season
- [04:24] - Happiness vs. Joy
- [06:49] - Joy as Deep Contentment
- [08:28] - Joy in God's Presence
- [10:04] - Rejoicing in God's Nearness
- [13:38] - Experiencing Joy through Worship
- [15:50] - Emmanuel: God with Us
- [17:02] - Joseph's Obedience and Joy
- [19:03] - Cultivating Joy as a Discipline
- [20:56] - Embracing God's Grace and Joy

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Joy in the Christmas Story

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 24
2. Philippians 4:4-7
3. Matthew 1:18-23

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Observation Questions:

1. In Psalm 24, what is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant being returned to Jerusalem, and how does it relate to the theme of joy in God's presence? [08:28]

2. According to Philippians 4:4-7, what reasons does Paul give for rejoicing always, and how does he suggest we handle anxiety? [10:04]

3. How does the story of Joseph in Matthew 1:18-23 illustrate the theme of "fear not" and the joy found in God's promises? [17:02]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the difference between happiness and joy? [04:24]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the return of the Ark of the Covenant in Psalm 24 symbolize the joy found in God's presence, and how does this relate to the coming of Jesus as Emmanuel? [08:28]

2. In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul emphasizes rejoicing because "the Lord is near." How does this nearness of God provide a foundation for joy, even amidst life's challenges? [10:04]

3. Reflecting on Joseph's response to the angel's message in Matthew 1:18-23, what can we learn about obedience and trust in God's promises as a source of joy? [17:02]

4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between joy and God's grace, and why is this distinction important for understanding true joy? [06:49]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced joy despite challenging circumstances. How did God's presence or promises play a role in that experience? [06:49]

2. In what ways can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's grace in your daily life to experience more joy? Consider specific practices like prayer, Bible reading, or worship. [13:38]

3. How can you shift your focus from seeking temporary happiness to embracing the lasting joy that comes from God's presence? What practical steps can you take this week? [04:24]

4. Think about a current situation causing you anxiety or fear. How can you apply Paul's advice in Philippians 4:4-7 to find peace and joy in God's nearness? [10:04]

5. Joseph chose to trust and obey God despite his fears. Is there an area in your life where you need to trust God's promises more fully? How can you take a step of obedience this week? [17:02]

6. C.S. Lewis talks about joy as experiencing God's presence. What specific actions can you take to draw closer to God and experience this joy more consistently? [13:38]

7. As you prepare for the Christmas season, how can you intentionally focus on the joy of Christ's coming rather than getting caught up in the busyness and distractions? [20:56]

Devotional

Day 1: Joy as Deep-Rooted Contentment
Joy is a profound gift that Jesus offers, distinct from fleeting happiness. While happiness is temporary and dependent on circumstances, joy is a deep-rooted contentment that stems from God's grace and presence in our lives. It is not about the external circumstances but about who God is and what He has done for us. This joy acts as a steady undercurrent, a background music that sustains us through life's ups and downs. As we explore the Christmas story, we see that joy is found in God's presence, much like the celebration of God's return to His people in Psalm 24. Similarly, Jesus, our Emmanuel, brings victory over sin and death, filling us with unshakable joy. [04:24]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt unhappy. How can you shift your focus from the circumstances to God's presence and grace to find joy?


Day 2: God's Presence as the Source of Joy
True joy is found in God's presence. As we draw closer to Him, we experience His peace and security, anchoring our joy in His nearness. This joy transcends circumstances and is rooted in who God is and what He has done for us. The nearness of God is the anchor of our joy, and as we draw closer to Him, we experience His peace and security. This joy is manifested in our lives through praise, thanksgiving, and a hopeful anticipation of Christ's return. [08:28]

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally draw closer to God today to experience His peace and security?


Day 3: Rejoicing in God's Nearness
Paul encourages us to rejoice always because the Lord is near, both in His imminent return and His constant presence through the Holy Spirit. This joy is expressed through praise, thanksgiving, and a hopeful anticipation of Christ's return. The nearness of God is the anchor of our joy, and as we draw closer to Him, we experience His peace and security. This joy transcends circumstances and is rooted in who God is and what He has done for us. [10:04]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: How can you incorporate praise and thanksgiving into your daily routine to cultivate a sense of joy in God's nearness?


Day 4: Experiencing Joy through God's Word and Worship
C.S. Lewis reminds us that joy is about experiencing God's presence. The more we immerse ourselves in His Word, prayer, and worship, the more we are filled with this unshakable joy. It is a discipline that requires us to focus on God's promises and His faithfulness, even amidst life's distractions and fleeting happiness. By grounding our joy in His nearness, we embrace the life God has given us, filled with His goodness and grace. [13:38]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to immerse yourself more deeply in God's Word and worship?


Day 5: Cultivating Joy as a Discipline
Joy is a gift and a discipline that requires us to focus on God's promises and faithfulness. By grounding our joy in His nearness, we embrace the life God has given us, filled with His goodness and grace. This joy brings confidence, peace, and hope, knowing that God is with us now and forever. As we prepare our hearts for Christ's coming, let us reflect on God's grace in our lives and choose to ground our joy in His nearness. [19:03]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: Identify one promise of God that you can meditate on today. How can this promise help you cultivate joy as a discipline in your life?

Quotes


Well, this morning, we are continuing our walk through the different elements of the Christmas story, and the theme that keeps coming up again and again is this idea of fear not, as people encounter situations and circumstances that make them uncertain, make them maybe anxious, or even scared, and yet the message is the same, fear not. And I think we can all relate to this in many ways, because we know that life has its challenges. There's pain, there's hardships, there's circumstances that are beyond our control that cause us to become anxious, to become fearful, to become worried, and we just don't know what to do. And yet what we've seen over the past two weeks, and what we'll see again this week, is that it's ultimately God's presence with us in the form of His hope, that reminds us that He has overcome all things, and that He will bring all things back under His rule and reign. The peace that comes, that transcends all human understanding, is ultimately what gives us the confidence and the courage to move forward in the face of fear, in the face of uncertainty. [00:00:00] (77 seconds)


And this is the season of doing things that make us happy. All right, we go out and we see the different lights displays, whether the trail of lights, whether it's Peppermint Parkway, or whether it's driving around our neighborhood. It's drinking hot cocoa. It's snuggling up on a couch watching Christmas movies. It's singing Christmas carols. It's gift exchanges and wearing ugly sweaters to parties. It's all of these wonderful and fun things. And they're all good and great. And I'll tell you that my family has probably checked off almost all of those already this Christmas season. [00:04:41] (40 seconds)


And what we see as we look at the biblical text, that the two words that are very closely related, they come from the same root word, and that is joy and grace. They both flow together. And what we see is that ultimately, the more aware I am of God's grace, or God's goodness in my life, the more, I experience his joy. Joy, it's this feeling that isn't predicated by how good or how bad life is, but it's this deep sense of contentment and peace that comes from ultimately knowing and experiencing God's grace and his presence in our lives. [00:06:05] (44 seconds)


See, true joy is not about circumstances, circumstances, but it's about who God is and what he's done for us. And this is the joy that Jesus offers us, a permanent joy that doesn't matter how great life is or how sad life is at a given moment. It says, I'm choosing to be joyful because I know that ultimately my life is covered in his grace, that my hope and my future is secure because of what God has done for me. He's done for us. [00:06:49] (35 seconds)


Rick Howe, an author, he wrote, he talks about joy in this way. He says, joy can become a steady undercurrent in our lives, a background music that plays continuously in our lives. And it's this joy that flows from deep inside of us that permeates us continually, even in our darkest days. It's joy, not happiness, that ultimately sustains us through the ups and downs of our lives. [00:07:32] (24 seconds)


And what we see is that joy flows from grace and is found in a couple of ways. And as we look at the Christmas story in our text for this morning, we see three things, that joy is found in God's presence. Psalm 24, it's a hymn, that was written most likely by David at a very critical moment in the history of God's people. [00:08:08] (25 seconds)


And the Ark of the Covenant, keep in mind, is the symbol of God's presence among his people. And so we get this picture that, we are to celebrate God as the King of glory. We're to remove all the barriers to prepare our hearts and our minds to receive him as he makes his way into his home, into the sanctuary and triumph. [00:08:43] (24 seconds)


And in the same way, Jesus is the one who is coming, who has come, who has conquered and brings victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil, who paves the path for our relationship with God. And who ultimately fills us with this unshakable joy, this peace that knows no end, this hope that is not determined by anything in our lives, but based on what he has done. [00:09:07] (29 seconds)


That it's about being close to God, that as he draws us closer to him, as we draw closer to him, we find this peace. And it's in his presence that we become anchored in the joy because we know that we are secure, that we have it all under control. Not by our strength, but by his strength. Paul says this, rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice. And then he says, why? Because the Lord is near. [00:09:56] (31 seconds)


And ultimately, it's God's nearness, that enables us to live with joy, even in the face of anxiety, of uncertainty, and even fear, because we know that God is with us, and that He hears our prayers. C .S. Lewis, author from the early 20th century, mid -20th century, in his book, Mere Christianity, he describes joy in this way, that it's about experiencing the presence of God. And so, the more time we spend, with God in His presence, the more familiar we are with His Word, the more time we talk to Him through prayer, the more time our hearts and our minds are directed toward Him and His goodness and His faithfulness and His love and worship, the more we gather together as God's people, the more we experience this unshakable joy. [00:12:13] (55 seconds)


And as we step into this life of joy, ultimately, we find the confidence for every season. And as things in our life try to steal our joy, which happens on all fronts, we know exactly what to do. Paul tells us in the very next verse, he says, don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. It's this reminder that because of God's closeness to us, we're able to bring our concerns. We're able to acknowledge His sovereignty. His provision, His goodness, His faithfulness, which ultimately instills trust. [00:13:47] (43 seconds)


And so for us today, in the midst of a world in which we can find ourselves maybe feeling like Joseph, we have this reminder that says, do not fear, because God is with us, that the promised Emmanuel is with us, that we are united to him, and it's God's presence that is not distant or conditional, but it is real and personal and right here with us. [00:17:58] (32 seconds)


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Transcript
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