Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.   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. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:8-14 NKJV

Angel called it, ‘Great joy’

I don’t think we understand joy? Our culture defines it as intense and jubilant happiness, pleasure or satisfaction. But it’s hard to have “jubilant happiness” in some of the really difficult situations we experience in this life. Know what I mean? How on earth do you have euphoric, frenzied, overblown bliss in times of loss, pain or extreme pressure? I don’t think you can. But that’s not a problem, because that’s not what Biblical joy is all about. It has very little to do with our situations; it has everything to do with God. It’s holy and pure. It rises above circumstances to focus on our sovereign God.

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice!

Phil 4:4 NLT

I know that always being joyful might seem like a stretch, especially during the tough times. If you are talking about plain happiness, it would be downright impossible. But I’m not. I’m talking about a deep down settled joy that comes from knowing who you are in Christ; that He loves you and will always love you regardless of your circumstances or behavior. Now who could love you like that? Jesus, that’s who…and because He does, you can have joy in the most difficult of circumstances.

In Your presence is fullness of joy Psa 16:11b NKJV

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Romans 4:7-8 NLT

Do you know the JOY that comes from having your past wiped away? Of being delivered from sin?

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Cor 1:9-10 ESV

Jesus, our deliverer, came to save us, to help us escape, to recover and be rescued.

· Do you know the joy of being delivered from sin and shame?

· Do you know the joy of being healed, set free, made new?

· Do you know the joy of being rescued from alcohol, prescription drugs, or any other destructive life style?

· Do you know the joy of escaping out of unhealthy habits and relationships?

· Do you know the joy of being set free from negative thought patterns, thoughts of suicide, hopeless, and despair?

Story of lame man…(Acts 3:1-11)

One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing. The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. I’m not talking about Christmas traditions here.

Although…I must say Christmas traditions are healthy for families. They establish continuity, create memories, and bring out the best in us. I’m not talking about going through the motions here…fake it till you make it kind of thing. I’m talking about all out celebration of who you are in God…what He has done for you and what he is going to continue to do for you. I’m talking about celebrating CHRIST, this Christmas season. That’s not dependent upon your finances, your difficult family members, or the crazy traffic this time of year. It is dependent upon JESUS!

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. Psalm 89:15-17 NKJV
 
 

Posted under Heart to Heart