Joy in Hope of Glory
Notes
Transcript
Clearly we are well into this season we call Advent. We have explored the topics of Hope and Peace, and today we’re looking at Joy.
Joy is at the center of the story of Christmas. We read last week from Luke 2, where the angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds in the field and said, Luke 2:10
Luke 2:10 (ESV)
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
There are those in our culture who will accuse Christians of being pie in the sky, unrealistic positivity, promoting a fake happiness that doesn’t apply to the real world. Even secular songs can seem to sing of a phony poly-annic positivity that seems in direct opposition to the reality of many people’s lives. We sing songs of “Joy to the World,” and this being the “Most Wonderful Time of the year,” and the “Hap-Happiest season of all.”
Every one of us knows someone for whom that is not true. There are always going to be individuals for whom this time of year is difficult because it brings back sad memories. Perhaps of a loss. I can tell you as a pastor that just because we’re in the holidays doesn’t mean that people quit dying. It doesn’t mean people don’t get sick. It doesn’t mean that our mortal lives are magically given respite from the difficulties that impact us throughout the rest of the year.
For many this is the first holiday season without a loved one and the ache of missing them feels especially amplified at this time of year. Some of you are not thinking of someone you know, but are reflecting on your own sense of loss.
I have no doubt that what is true today about life’s happenings was just as true 2000 years ago. And so the angel still says to all of us in the midst of suffering and loss, Luke 2:10
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
“Fear not…” How often do we hear that imperative in the Scriptures? Fear leads to so many different emotions. We’re afraid of so many different things that we have no control over. We’re afraid of the political climate of the day. We’re afraid of the economic climate. We’re afraid we won’t see a loved one again. Ultimately we’re afraid we’re not good enough for God to love.
And then God announces, “I LOVE YOU!” In the most profound way God sends that message not in a way that would cause us to run and hide but in the person of a baby! We know the verse of John 3:16, ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That is a reason to celebrate.
The news is of great joy that will be for all the people. Note it doesn’t say that it IS for all the people, but it will be for all the people. It was not just for those people 2000 years ago, it will be for all people. It’s for you and for me.
We’ve been looking at Romans 5 as a summary during this season and we read, Romans 5:2
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
This is the Lord to whom we have gained access by faith by grace in which we stand, and so we can look forward to and set our hope in the fact that God will be glorified.
The truth is that during this time of the year we are celebrating much more than just the birth of a baby. We are celebrating that we are not left in the squalor of our own sin, that there is hope, there is a peace that lies ahead.
If we go back to what that angel said, Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Good news of great joy for all the people, for unto us is born a Savior,-
One who save
One who rescues
One who lifts us out of our present circumstance
One who comes to us in the midst of our fears
One who comes to us in the midst of our sadness
One who comes to us in the midst of our loss.
One who comes to us in the midst of our need to be saved.
Clearly this is a reason for great Joy!
As we focus on joy this morning another verse came to mind just last night, it’s another verse that speaks of joy specifically and joy in the midst of those times when joy would not be expected. The brother of Jesus wrote to the church,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
How can we do that? James gives us reason. James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
In Romans 5 we read Romans 5:2
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
but Paul goes on: Romans 5:3
Romans 5:3 (ESV)
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…
Wait, so now we rejoice - have joy - in our sufferings? Let’s go on
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
In the midst of everything that is going on around us, in the midst of the suffering, in the midst of the sadness we can trust that this is not the end. We’ve all heard the phrase what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
Well…its something like that. God uses it all. think about how God has used you in various situations. Who better to lead you through a season of grief than a person who has been there? Who better to lead anyone through something than those who have gone through it - God can use you.
I’m going to give a plug for a ministry that is out there called Grief Share. Grief share is a ministry that helps people through the journey of grief and loss in a supportive environment led by people who have been there. You can find more information at
Griefshare.org
Griefshare.org
I encourage you, if you are struggling with grief and loss this season to recognize it and make a commitment to work through it in a healthy way. I can help you find a group if that is something you’re open to it. Perhaps this is something you want to begin in the New Year.
Joy in the Hope of Glory
Joy in the Hope of Glory
In the midst of this season of Advent we’ve explored Hope, and we’ve explored Peace, and today we’ve looked at Joy. I hope that by now you’re seeing how all of these work together. Because we have Hope, the Hope of Glory, we can be at Peace.
Because we are at peace we can relax and let go of our fears knowing that God has met us where we are as we are.
Because God has given us that hope and that peace we can have joy no matter what the circumstance of our life this season.
I’ve heard people say that joy is something different than happiness. And that is true, but we also have to recognize there is something similar in there. Rather than get into that argument I will simply say that joy is something deeper and enduring. Joy is something that we can have in the midst of tragedy, loss, and even grief.
The news that Jesus is born is great news, and truly does bring a reason for great joy for all people. It’s a message from God that God does indeed love us. That love is for all people.
This season as people are celebrating around us and perhaps we don’t feel in the moment like celebrating, that’s okay. As people are saying this is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and the “Hap-Happiest Season of All” and you’re not feeling it -that’s okay.
And…
And… don’t forget in the midst of whatever you are feeling God has sought you out. God has sent for you a child to bring you salvation. God has brought to you hope. God has offered to you a genuine peace knowing your future.
For all of us in the midst of recognizing we are not holy as God has called us to be holy, in recognizing we have fallen short of what God requires of us, in recognizing we are sinners and in that condition separated from God. We can rejoice in God…
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
And that gives us a lot of reason for joy!
Joy to the World! To God be the glory. AMEN!