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The Message for Dec 11, 2016
Advent 3: The Gifts of Christmas - Joy
Matthew 11:2-11
Rob Miller, Pastor
We continue our Advent series on The Gifts of Christmas. We
unwrapped the gifts of Hope and Love last week and the week before.
This week we unwrap the gift of Joy. Next week is the gift of Peace.
We are in the season of Advent -- the season of preparation and
celebration of Jesus’ birth and his coming again. These gifts of
Christmas are the gifts that Jesus brings into the world. He brings
Hope and Love and Joy and Peace.
Today’s topic is Joy! Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
My good friend Mr. Webster, whom I use quite often to advise
me about certain words, defines joy like this…
Joy - “to experience great pleasure or delight—a state of
happiness and the expression of that emotion.”
I wonder if maybe, just maybe, sometimes we in the Church
forget that Joy is a gift that God gave to everyone and Joy is a gift to
be shared in and through the church.
Think about for a moment…
God gave the gift of joy to everyone and joy is to be shared with
everyone. I’ve noticed, and maybe you have too, that sometimes joy
seems to be missing in the church. Unintentionally, I’m sure…
Robert Louis Stevenson the great writer and poet used to keep a
journal and in one entry he wrote, “I have been to church today and
surprisingly I am not depressed.”
We can laugh about that statement because we can relate…
I want to know… whose idea was it to make church boring and
depressing? It ought not be that way. Church ought to be the most
joy-filled place on earth.
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Why? because of the gifts God has given to the church – Hope,
Love, Peace, and especially Joy. Jesus brings these gifts to us because
he reigns. He is King of kings and Lord of lord…
I grew up in the church. Church has always been a part of my
life. I’ve seen the good, and the bad, and the ugly sides of church…
And for some reason God called me to be a pastoral leader in the
church. I did not choose to be a pastor. It was God’s bright idea. I
have to tell you, God has a great sense of humor calling me to be a
pastor that’s for sure. Which reminds me, God doesn’t call the
qualified… God qualifies the called… and that includes you too.
So let me ask you this, If God has a great sense of humor then
why do we in the church take ourselves so seriously sometimes?
Let’s have a little fun here this morning. Perhaps one of these
stories will bring you a little joy, I hope…
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A mother was giving instructions to her three young children as
they were walking into worship. She asked them... "And why is
it necessary to be quiet in church?" Her 6-year-old son
responded, "Because people are sleeping!"

A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on
and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered,
"Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?

The pastor asked little Tommy, “Do you say prayers at home
before eating?" "No sir," little Tommy replied, "I don't have to.
My mom is a good cook."
I’ve noticed that we could probably use a little more Joy in
church…
Some people insist that you must give up everything to be a
Christian. We’ve talked about this before. I don’t believe that to be
true. Jesus asks us to give up those things that are sinful – things
that get in the way of our relationship with him. The fullness of God’s
love in Christ Jesus was never intended to make anyone sad or
depressed or bored.
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Jesus does not say, “I came so that you might have sadness.”
Jesus says, “I came so that you might have life and have it
abundantly.” (John 10:10)
That’s what our Gospel reading is all about. Jesus is bringing joy
into people lives. He is restoring the wrongs in this world. He is
making things right again. He puts things in a right relationship with
God. You can see and hear the joy that Jesus brings.
If real joy is about pleasure and delight, as Mr. Webster says
then the church is where we should express those things. After all it is
only through Jesus that we can have real, meaningful joy.
Joy is not found in the temporary, earthly things of life. The
most miserable people on earth are not those who suffered from
catastrophes or hardships, the most miserable people are those who
had everything they wanted, except the ability and the attitude to
enjoy life.
Real joy is not found in pleasures, or money, or military might.
Consider these quotes.
Lord Byron lived a life of sinful pleasure but wrote, “I am full of
nothing but regrets and grief.”
Jay Gould an American billionaire said on his death bed, “I
suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
Alexander the Great conquered the known world and having
done so he wept saying, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Real joy is a gift from God.
The Bible is a love story that brings joy to earth with the birth of
Jesus and continues bringing joy to earth through the work of the Holy
Spirit. From the first book – Genesis, to the last book – Revelation,
the Bible is all about God coming into our lives and then sending us
out into the world with Joy.
The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language, which
has more words for joy and rejoicing than any other language. There
are 27 different words in the Old Testament for some aspect of joy.
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“You show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness
of joy.” (Psalm 16)
Worship invites us into God’s presence to experience joy. God is
the source of all joy, even in times of struggle and conflict, God comes
in… Joy comes out!
I am going to ask you a few questions and you give me the
answers as printed on the screens… Okay?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had joy and rejoiced even
though they were being thrown into a fiery furnace. Why?
Because they knew they were coming out!

Daniel had joy and rejoiced when they bound him and threw him
into a den of hungry lions. Why? Because he knew he was
coming out!

Paul and Silas had joy and rejoiced when they were arrested and
thrown into prison. Why? Because they knew they were coming
out!

People who trust in God and place their hope in Jesus can live
with joy and rejoice no matter what the world throws our way.
Why? Because we know we are coming out!
We hear things and we see things differently than the world
does, why? because of Joy the greatest gift we share in Christ Jesus no
matter what…

Some people see and hear defeat, but we can see and hear
victory!

Some people see and hear sickness, but we can see and hear
healing!

Some people see and hear condemnation, but we can see and
hear forgiveness and mercy!

Some people see and hear only despair and sadness, but we can
see and hear Joy!
As disciples of Jesus we are on a different frequency. We are not
boring or depressing. We are people of Joy. Others should be able to
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look at us and want what we have Joy! We have joy even when things
seem to going wrong?
As the Psalmist writes… “Weeping may linger for the night, but
joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
God comes into our world, into our lives, and Joy comes out!
We can hear and we can see things that the world cannot see or
hear. As you go about preparing for the celebration of Christmas this
year please, please, please remember this:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!”
(Philippians 4:4) Amen.