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December 16, 2007AM

Philippians 2:1-5, 4:4-6

Challenging Chains with Joy

 

The sounds of Christmas joy.

 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’”  (Luke 2:10, 11)

  As I was leaving the Church on Wednesday I went to retrieve the garbage bins.

   At the sidewalk I heard a commotion coming from the front of the church.

    When my eyes caught up to my ears I saw two Jr. High age girls.

     It was obvious they did not love each other.

      There was a third person in the group.

       A younger boy did not like one of the girls.

        I heard some words spoken that were far from joyous.

         I stood there and watched, hoping they would see me.

          If they did, my presence did not make any difference.

           The voices raised and the arms flailed.

           Backpacks swung through the air.

            I thought I was watching a hockey game.

             A few tender right hooks were thrown.

              After some dancing and decking the skirmish was over.

               But the boy’s voice continued to ring out.

                Once I was certain the physical confrontation was over I relaxed.

                 I retrieved the garbage cans and dragged them down the parking lot.

                  But ringing in my ears the whole time was this screaming boy.

                   He continued to verbally hound the girl.

                    Even as I got into my car I could hear him on Eustane.

                     I drove to the corner.

                      And he was still there yelling, this time at an adult.

                      I thought to myself, “Ah, the sounds of Christmas joy.”

                       As I continued home I followed a car.

                        I read the license plate on the car in front of me.

                         It said, in capital letters, “WHATEV”!

                        I could just feel the joy all the way home.

This world has gone mad!

 People are brutal to each other.

  They say the nastiest things.

   They struggle under the weight of life.

    They are anxious and living in panic.

     People want a piece of each other.

      All the lights and decorations don’t mask the frustration and tension.

       And Paul has the gall to say, “complete my joy.”

        Let me remind you that Paul spoke of experiencing joy while in prison.

         His life was no cup cake of sweetness.

          His life was rough and jagged.

           He didn’t hear Christmas carols floating around his chains.

            Paul summed up life for us in 1:29, 30.

            “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now heart to be mine.”

             Even in the midst of suffering a conflict Paul experienced joy.

              Joy was a part of his life.

               How do we find joy in the midst of suffering and conflict?

                And how can we share this joy with others?

Obviously joy has a beginning point.

 It does not seem to be a natural ingredient of life.

  If it was natural to this world then we would see a lot more of it.

   If it was natural to this world the angel’s message would not be new.

    No joy has to have a beginning point in our lives.

 

I   Paul tells us about THE BEGINNING OF JOY.

     Verse 1 shows us how joy begins.

      It begins in Jesus.

       John the Baptist knew that when he said, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete.  He must become greater; I must become less.”  (John 3:29, 30)

        He knew that in Jesus was fullness of joy.

         John was full of joy at hearing the Bridegroom’s voice.

          Jesus said to His disciples, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  (John 15:10-12)

           During His last dialogue with His disciples before His arrest He said, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”  (John 16:24).

           It is so fitting that the angel’s news of great joy was Jesus’ birth.

            In Jesus is fullness of joy.

             How does Jesus’ presence bring joy into your life?

Jesus floods your life with His love.

 His love becomes the incentive for everything you do.

  You are motivated and driven by His perfect love filling your life.

   His perfect love casts out fear.

    His perfect love empowers you to live for others and love them.

     And Jesus floods your life with His Spirit.

      In Jesus you participate in the Spirit.

       You have fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

        You become a partner with the gift Jesus gave.

         Jesus floods your life with His love and His Spirit.

          You are completely immersed in God.

King David knew the beginning of joy.

 In Psalm 16:11 he spoke of joy being experienced in the presence of God.

  “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

   The Apostle Peter quoted this verse on the Day of Pentecost.

    He knew that David was not speaking of himself but of Jesus.

     Peter said that David “foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.  This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he had poured out this which you see and hear.” (Acts 2:31-33).

      Living in Jesus is THE BEGINNING OF JOY.

       Peter later wrote, “Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.” (1 Peter 1:8)

        Are you experiencing that personal relationship with Jesus?

         Have you experienced His forgiveness of your sins?

          Has your heart been transformed by His perfect love?

           Joy is living in the environment of Jesus’ love and activity.

           We can’t give joy to others until we have experienced it ourselves.

II  Now let’s see what Paul says about THE BEGETTING OF JOY.

     How do we beget joy?

      How do we propagate joy?

       How do we give birth to joy in others, or complete their joy?

        We do it by totally agreeing on something.

         We must be united, in full accord.

          Joy boils down to this.

           “Do nothing from selfishness or conceit.”

           “Count others better than yourself.”

            “Look after the interests of others ahead of your own.”

             In all things, “Have the mind of Christ.”

              Jack Mueller said, “For the Christian there is no road that bypasses his fellowman.”

               C.S. Lewis wrote, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

                Fanny J. Crosby lived in joy and begat it in others.

                 At age 6 she was blinded by a Dr.’s mistake.

                  At age 9 she wrote;

“Oh what a happy soul am I, although I cannot see!

I am resolved that in this world contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy that other people don’t!

To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot and I won’t.”

                   Jeremy Taylor prayed:

“Lord, do Thou turn me all into love, and all my love into obedience, and may my obedience be without interruption.”

Paul knew that God gives to us a heavenly gift called joy.

 The joy God gives is radically different in quality from any natural joy.

  Joy begins when we live in the long expected Jesus.

   He is our Emmanuel, God with us.

    And joy spreads when we involve Jesus in the lives of others.

     Joy happens when we introduce others to Jesus.

      Joy happens when we treat others as Jesus treated us.

       Joy happens when we live without anxiety.

        Joy happens when we pray about everything.

         “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”  (Phil. 4:4)

          Love equals joy which equals contentment.

           “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”  (Phil. 4:11).

           Joy is the way we live in Christ, regardless of the circumstances.

            And Joy is the sharing of Jesus with a world gone mad.

             How is your life in Jesus today?

              And how are you doing sharing Him by living an unselfish life?

Will You Serve Me in Love?

I am a child living less than a mile from here.  I am growing up pretty much on my own.  Mom treats me like I’m a nuisance, and most people don’t even act like I exist.  I need someone to look at me, to spend time with me.  I need someone to love me for me.  Will you play with me, hold me, tell me I matter?  Will you serve me in love?

I am old now, or at least that is what you would say.  I don’t feel old, but I guess I am.  I used to have friends and my family used to come around, but now they are all gone.  I am lonely.  I feel like nothing I do matters. I have lived, I have learned.  Will you listen to me, sit with me, learn from me, give me purpose?  Will you serve me in love?

I am your friend, I think.  We talk about everything but what really matters, what is in my heart.  I am struggling right now, I need to know some answers.  Will you tell me about this God thing?  I see that you go to church, but you never really talk about it.  Can God help me?  Can you help me?  Will you tell me, love me, stand by me, hold me accountable?  Will you serve me in love?

I am your mother, your father, you brother, your sister.  I am your family.  I live with you everyday.  I know more about you than anyone.  Why have you pulled so far away from me?  Why do you treat me as if I weren’t a real person?  Will you respect me, live as Christ in front of me?  Will you serve me in love?

I am your neighbor.  You see me everyday, and we are polite.  Always nodding heads or saying hellos.  We smile and wave, but you don’t know me.  You don’t know what I am going through, what is eating at my heart.  I see you go to church each Sunday and I wonder if you will ever ask me to go.  Will you reach out to me, minister to me, help me?  Will you serve me in love?

               Readings by Shane Yancey Will You Serve Me in Love?

 

Closing Song   Come Thou Long Expected Jesus