Advent 2021 - Week 3
Jesus, Our Joy
One of the defining characteristics of Christ-followers is their joyful demeanor. On this third week of the Advent we’ll be exploring the meaning of Joy. Let’s encourage ourselves in the Lord as we bring forward to our hearts and minds how to have joy in the midst of our troubles and hardships.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
—John 16:33
This week we are invited to reflect on the joy we have access to, by grace, through our faith in Jesus.
I. Pause to be still
As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.
This begins with a breath
From the waters You were blessed
Pushing through the pain and blood
Into the arms of love
And Your mother's face above
Before You came she was afraid
In the night she cried and prayed
"Oh, God am I strong enough?"
To be the arms of love
To be the mother of this son
O beautiful one
My child, my son
We rejoice
From generation
To generation
We rejoice
And magnify the Lord
All, like sheep, have gone astray
But You will call them back one day
By the marks of pain and blood
Back to the arms of love
The good Father's face above
O beautiful one
My child, my son
We rejoice
From generation
To generation
We rejoice
We rejoice
We rejoice
—Josh Garrels - “The Light Came Down Album” 2016
PRAYER OF APPROACH
Lord, in this busy season please help me to be still. I am opening my ears now to hear You, quietly preparing my heart for the wonder of Your coming at Christmas.
II. Rejoice and Reflect
WATCH
THINK
After creating the world God said that everything was “very good”.
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
—Genesis 1:31
Despite the natural consequences of choosing living independently from God, He didn’t quit humanity. Even though we live in a fallen world, we still naturally find joy in beautiful and good things of life like an abundant harvest on the hills (Psalm 65:11-12), a good glass of wine (Psalm 104:15), a wedding (Jeremiah 33:11), children (Proverbs 23:24-25). There’s even a Hebrew proverb that compares the joy that a perfume may bring to your nose, with the joy a good friend brings to your heart (Proverb 27:9).
We live in a world, marked by death and loss, which is definitely not a joy-fest due to our own selfishness. However it is exactly in this environment that biblical faith offers a singular perspective on Joy.
Joy is an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love and promise.
—Bible Project
Clearly, we see this through the Israelites, as when they were slaves in Egypt, as when they were in the middle of the desert. No matter their circumstances, and/or how vulnerable they might be, they chose to rejoice anyway.
God’s people’s joy is not determined by their struggles but by their future destiny and redemption.
Even though Israel suffered under the govern of an oppressive empire, the prophet Isaiah knew that sorrow and sadness wouldn’t have the final word. Isaiah, in this next passage, brings forward the truth by reminding us about God’s character, sovereignty and power.
“Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.
Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins.
Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.“Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel,
for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations.
My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm.
Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below.
For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!“Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.
For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing. The worm will eat at them as it eats wool. But my righteousness will last forever. My salvation will continue from generation to generation.”Wake up, wake up, O Lord! Clothe yourself with strength! Flex your mighty right arm! Rouse yourself as in the days of old when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile.
Are you not the same today, the one who dried up the sea,
making a path of escape through the depths so that your people could cross over?
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?
Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors? Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies? Where is their fury and anger now? It is gone!
Soon all you captives will be released! Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate!
For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar. My name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. I stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. I am the one who says to Israel, ‘You are my people!’”—Isaiah 51
DISCUSS
Identify three or more allusions (an indirect reference) in Isaiah 51 that may help us to recall important truths from other stories and portions of Scripture. What truths do you think the author wants us to recall from these allusions?
What commands of God do you identify in the passage (i.e. “listen to me” Isaiah 51:1)? What do these commands have in common?
How has God personally comforted and provided for you in the past, and how can those stories provide reasons for you to rejoice in the midst of your disappointments today?
THINK
Jesus brings great Joy! His birth was announced as “good news that brings great joy” (Luke 2:10). When Jesus began to proclaim the Kingdom of God, He rejoiced and gave thanks to God, His Father (Luke 10:21). He taught about the same joy He experienced, during seasons of wilderness:
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
—Matthew 5:11-12
After his resurrection and ascension, it was Jesus’ followers’ turn to proclaim and announce the Good News of the risen King. Jesus commissioned them, and as they did it as He taught them, the new Christian communities were known for being “full of joy” (Acts 13:52) even in the midst of persecution (Acts 5:41).
Joy is a gift from God’s Spirit given to us through Jesus, by faith (Romans 15:13). It’s also a sign of Jesus’ presence with and in us, in the midst of hardships. As a response to that, we choose to embrace it and live it by trusting who God is and His character. As you can see trust plays a major role here.
But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe [trust] that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
—Hebrews 11:6 (AMP Version)
When we believe that Jesus’ love has overcome death—not only the physical one but also all death produced by Sin—Joy becomes the reasonable norm in the darkest of any circumstances. This doesn’t mean that we won’t feel “less pleasing emotions” or that we’re supposed to suppress our sorrow, grief and even hardcore emotions. the important thing to do is to acknowledge them and move forward by making a deliberate decision to trust Jesus, knowing that loss won’t have the final word. That’s what we see Paul doing in Scripture.
Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. (…)
—2 Corinthians 6:10a
Joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love.
DISCUSS
Joy is fully attached to trust, to faith. When we trust God and His Word we enjoy fullness of Joy.
What specific fears or doubts have held you back from trusting and rejoicing in God?
Instead of replaying your past or current fears, shift your focus to God. What comes to mind as you remember God’s trustworthy character?
Jesus leads all who trust in Him into an experience of God’s love and promises. The path isn’t easy, but it leads to Life. What is one step you can take today to trust and follow him?
READ
Today I choose to rejoice in God as my safe place.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD! I WILL BE JOYFUL IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION! The sovereign LORD is my strength! He make me as surefooted as a deer able to tread upon the heights.
—Habakkuk 3:17-19
CRAFT YOUR HABAKKUK PRAYER
But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.
O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.
—Psalm 59:16-17
III. Ask God for help
Forgive me Lord when I believe the lie that I don’t have enough, and that you’re not enough to me. Forgive me Father for not trust you wholly when I am going through hardships, and I let them blur my vision and understanding of You and what You’re doing. Forgive me for not trusting that You’re constantly good and you are creating something good. I cry out to you: “I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.” Help me to see myself, my life, this world, and people around me through your eyes according to your heart, so I may rejoice when I am struggling and feeling tempted, when I am rejected and persecuted because of You. You are the God who sees me, and You know what I need.
Pause and present your requests to Him.
IV. Yield to His Will in your life
YIELDING PRAYER
Jesus, You are my Joy and I trust you. Today I yield to Your Holy Spirit and to the power of the Most High God. May I not resist Your Word, Your ways. I am the Lord’s servant, may Your words that you speak over my life be fulfilled.
I choose to believe
You're working in the waiting
Though the future isn't clear to me, no
I trust You anyway
Lord, I am thankful that I get to partner with You in Your plan of salvation, I yield to you Holy Spirit.
YIELDING PROMISE
And now, as I prepare to take this time of prayer into the coming day, the Lord who loves me says:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people—Acts 2:17
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.—Psalm 16:11
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.—Psalm 126:5
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness. —Isaiah 35:10
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to You, in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.
Want more?
The First Coming of the Messiah — Part III
READ
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise
Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever. ”Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home.—Luke 1:26-38
LISTEN
Joy (Elizabeth) by Poor Bishop Hooper
Who is this you carry?
Child you shine like never before
Who is this the holy
Spirit that I’ve never known
Spirit that I’ve never known
Tell me how your journey
Brought me such heavenly gold
Now I feel this baby
Turning like he now beholds
Some presence that he’s never known
You are the most blessed of women
And your child will be no different
Only more, only more
How could this scene happen
That the mother of my Lord I’d find
From the moment your sweet greeting
Beheld my ears some joy inside
Burst forth in goodness truth and light
You are the most blessed of children
And your life will be no different
Only more only more
You are the most blessed of children
And your life will be no different
Only more only more