Joy to the World - Part 1

This is Christmas week and Michael writes how Christmas looks back at God’s promise of our Savior, our Redeemer Jesus Christ. It also looks forward to when Christ shall come again as King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts when he was inspired to rejoice about the ultimate victory, when we shall see the Lord Jesus as He is ... for eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. Joy and rejoicing in the Lord is not the result of a fleeting momentary feeling, instead, joy is a command. Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, for this is the will of the Lord concerning you. The commandment of Jesus Christ is that His joy may be in you. Jesus said, ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full.

Joy is the theme of the book of Philippians. Warren Wiersby says that in each of the four chapters, there is a thief that will steal your joy. Whereas happiness depends on circumstances, joy is not happy happenstances, rather, joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord. Regardless of the tribulations of this world, our joy is in the Lord. He is our comfort and strength, He is our sufficiency in all things and He is our all in all, working all things together for good to those who love Him.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were preaching in the city of Philippi and Lydia, a prominent business woman, a seller of purple, invited them to stay in her house. While Paul and Silas were teaching, a young slave girl followed them around. This slave girl was possessed with a devil spirit and her masters used her to make money by fortune telling. Paul and Silas cast out the devil spirit. When her masters found out, they realized that they had lost their source of income so they instigated an uprising against Paul and Silas in the town square. In the midst of the riot, the authorities took Paul and Silas, threw them into prison and charged them for inciting the riot. In jail, Paul and Silas were singing praises to God when the doors of the prison were miraculously opened. Paul said, despite tribulation and persecution, my joy is in the Lord. Joy is a deliberate, purposeful, and intentional choice. Paul’s mission and commission was to live his life “as it becometh the gospel of Christ” ... for we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and Him crucified to deliver us from sin and the consequences of sin.  

If you are not joyful, then you have allowed one of the four joy-thieves to steal your joy. The joy thief in the first chapter of Philippians is “people”. Who is it that has hurt wounded you which you have built up anger and resentment against them. This root of bitterness will steal your joy. Who have you hurt whom you did not ask for forgiveness? The misdirected blessing is focusing on ourselves instead seeking to forgive and bless others. It is a fact of life that people will disappoint you. If you look at others you’ll be distressed. If you look into the mirror, you’ll be depressed, but if you look to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be blessed. Every relationship in this life will end in sorrow except one. However God has said, whatever comes to pass, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Let's continue Michael's message on "Christmas Joy" in the next post. Merry Christmas in Christ, Brian