Luke 2:8-14 NKJV // Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
- Good tidings of great joy
Matthew 2:1-2; 8-10 NKJV // “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
- To understand what JOY really is, we need to understand the depth of LIGHT vs DARKNESS
- IMMANUEL – God with us
- Jesus IS JOY
- God’s JOY is not CIRCUMSTANTIAL it’s PERSONAL – it’s about HIM
- Worship the WHO not the WHAT
- Who God is will always be worthy of praise because that is simply His nature.
- Change my joy focus
- Remember the darkness
- When we remember the darkness, the light shines even brighter
