26
Dec '24
Joy to the World
26
Dec '24
Introduction: People are sad. Many are depressed. Most of humanity is looking for happiness and prosperity. Where can they get it? What would you tell them? How are you doing deep down inside? Is there real JOY?
How can we have JOY? Try this:
1. JOY comes in the birth of our Savior Jesus! (Luke 2:10-11) – “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Listen to the words of a favorite Christmas song: “JOY to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.” This message to the shepherds, which has been announced through the centuries, is GREAT NEWS! God has a remedy for man’s sin; that should bring jubilant JOY!
2. JOY comes in answered prayers! (John 16:14) – “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Has God answered any prayers lately? Please do not forget to be filled with gratitude toward Him. From there, JOY will flow!
3. JOY comes through the fruit of the Spirit by the Holy Ghost! (Galatians 5:22-23) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”
Did you notice that this work of the Holy Spirit is called fruit, not fruits? Remember, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:1-7). The fruit comes from the vine and extends through the branches.
One last thought… sometimes the branch has to be pruned—cut—in order to produce more fruit. Are you being pruned?
4. JOY comes in having a relationship with Jesus Christ regardless of trials! (1 Peter 1:8) – “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
Troubles and trials are to be expected; however, as the believer stays connected to Jesus, the Vine, there is a release of His life-giving power to overcome the enemy of defeatism.
With that being said, sing out:
“Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.”
“Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.”
Love y’all,
Pastor Randy Reese