In this sermon series, we have looked at 3 of the 4 themes of the Advent calendar. We have talked about Hope, Peace, and Love, and today we get to talk about Joy. The tradition of Advent started in the Middle Ages as a way to prepare hearts for Christmas and as a way to keep Jesus the main thing during this busy time of year. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Christmas is so much more than just a season, it is a time to remember that the only Son of God stepped out of the Glory of Heaven and became the very thing that He came to save so that we might not only be saved, but to also become high water mark of Christian faith. 

Passage

Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

11 You make known to me the path of life; 

you will fill me with joy in your presence, 

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Teach

What is Joy, especially concerning Christmas?

Some of us might think of the movie “Elf” starring Will Ferrell. 

• "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." – Buddy
• “Good news, I saw a dog today”
• “There is room for everyone on the nice list”

While joy is very much a feeling, we understand that it plays a key role in the life of the Christ-follower. 

Galatians 5 tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. In other words, when you receive the Holy Spirit upon receiving Salvation through Christ, Joy is one of the many gifts that is imparted to you, via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

So again, I ask you, how would you define Joy?

“Christian joy is a deep, enduring sense of gladness and contentment that stems from a personal relationship with God, rooted in faith and the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, allowing believers to experience joy even amidst difficult circumstances because of their hope in God's promises”

The Psalmist writes in our target verse today that God makes known to him the “path of life,” which simply means that God has revealed His plan for us. I know there are a lot of planners in this room and I know that this verse in particular brings joy to your hearts because you already know to whom you belong and that the purpose of your life is already set in a predetermined direction. 

But the focus of the message today is the joy that is mentioned in this passage and the root of it. 

“you will fill me with joy in your presence,”

Notice that the source of joy in this passage simply comes from the presence of the Lord. 

Have you ever just been happy to be around someone?

What is the source of that joy? It’s intimacy. It is the deep connection that we share with one another. She brings my life so much joy (most of the time) because I know that there is not another person on this planet who loves, supports, and encourages me as much as she does. 

Don’t miss this. It’s incredibly similar when it comes to the joy that Christ brings to our lives. That joy is birthed out of a place of intimacy with a Savior who not only CHOSE to take your sin on the cross but has offered to never leave you or forsake you, promised that no weapon formed against you will prosper, promised that you are made to be more than a conqueror through Him, promised to be your shield and buckler in times that you are under attack. 

It’s the same kind of intimacy and closeness that brings joy when our minds and hearts meditate on God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Joy is one of the only gifts in the basket that calls us out of the dark and hard places in our lives because our life is built on the steadfast and enduring life of Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 3:1 (NIV)

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!...

How do you rejoice in the Lord if you don’t know anything about the Lord? How do you rejoice in the Lord if you are not seeing things about the Lord that cause joy to rise up in your heart? That is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us eyes to see the beauties of Jesus that call joy up out of our hearts.