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Advent 2022: Joy – Luke 2:8-14 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning. I'd like you to turn with me to Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. And I'll be reading verses 8 through 14. Luke 2.
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! Luke 2, 8 through 14.
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And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them, and they were filled with great fear.
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And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
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For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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And this will be a sign for you.
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You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
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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 among those with whom he is pleased.
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Father, thank you for your word and the life that it gives us.
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May we be nourished on it today for your glory and for our joy.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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This second week of the Advent season, we have, I'm in the South too long.
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We have the opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of joy in the gospel and in our daily lives.
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One thing that the scripture clearly teaches us is that God wants you to experience great joy.
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God created you and me with the unique capacity to experience joy.
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He has equipped us with physical senses that enable us to enjoy the world around us.
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We not only see with our eyes, but we delight in seeing the beauty of sunsets and flowers and puppies and newborn babies.
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We enjoy the wonderful sounds of waterfalls, jingle bells, bird songs, symphony orchestras, and familiar voices.
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We savor the flavors of milk and honey and smoked jalapeno peppers.
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We relish the flavors of peppermint and pine and vanilla and breezes from the sea.
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And we take pleasure in the sensations of fur and cotton and water and sand between our toes at the beach in the summer.
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And in the gentle, warm touch of friendship.
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We also experience joy in significant events like births and weddings, victories and accomplishments and unexpected surprises.
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God designed each of us with the capacity to enjoy the world he made.
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And I believe he expects us to express our delight.
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It is an act of worship when we direct our delight in joy toward him.
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In spite of the curse that has tainted our fallen world, we still have the capacity to experience much joy in it.
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But I believe God also wants us to experience another sense of joy.
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He has actually given us the capacity to enjoy him.
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King David declared it in Psalm 16 when he said,
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In your presence there is fullness of joy.
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At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
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And in Psalm 43 he specifically calls God my everlasting joy.
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In spite of the judgment that looms over a rebellious world, the Lord has made it possible for us to experience joy in him even now.
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That is Advent joy.
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God holds out to you the possibility of experiencing joy in him through the good news of Advent.
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Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
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Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
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Psalm 34 8.
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Now, we should expect an increase of joy in a holiday season that celebrates the coming of the Savior into the world.
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But we should also be aware that much of the joy we observe at this time is from different sources.
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Some are looking forward to a vacation from school.
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Some are still dreaming of a white Christmas.
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Most anticipate visits with good friends and family.
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These as well as the giving of gifts and receiving of gifts bring about happy emotions in all of us.
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But much of the joy observed at this season isn't really Advent joy.
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Joy that is dependent on a season is not Advent joy.
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And any joy that has its source in temporal circumstances is not Advent joy.
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The uniqueness of Advent joy can be observed in the story of the incarnation.
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And in the association of joy with the announcement of Jesus' birth.
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That announcement points to joy's significant role in the gospel.
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The passage we read from Luke teaches us that God sent the long-awaited Messiah into the world as a baby
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so that you would experience a fuller and more lasting joy.
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I believe this truth is emphasized in the passage through an interesting contrast in the story.
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The contrast is between the initial response of the shepherds who saw an angel
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and the response that the angel indicated most accurately corresponds with the message he was bringing.
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I'd like to focus on our time together on that contrast.
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Because I believe this contrast highlights two things that God wants us to understand
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in order to experience Advent joy.
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First of all, the better you understand your need for the coming of Jesus,
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the more you can understand and experience great Advent joy.
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The first part of the contrast is found in verses 8 and 9.
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Look at those verses again with me.
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And in the same reason, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
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And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
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and they were filled with great fear.
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Now, this is not the first time in the Bible that we've seen angels appearing
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and bringing great fear to those who observed them.
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The Bible records many angelic visitations,
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and several include responses such as the shepherds.
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If you remember, the prophet Daniel wrote of being completely drained of strength,
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falling into a deep sleep, and then trembling on his feet,
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simply at the vision of a heavenly being.
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And in the previous chapter of Luke's account here in chapter 1,
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both Zechariah and Mary had to be told to not be afraid.
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But what is unique about the appearance of the angel to the shepherds
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is the addition of the phrase,
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the glory of the Lord shone around them.
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Verse 9.
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It's easy, I think, to pass over the significance of that phrase.
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During the Exodus, when the glory of the Lord appeared at Mount Sinai,
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we're told that it was in a cloud,
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and was like a devouring fire at the top of the mountain.
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Exodus 24, verses 15 through 18.
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And another time, when Moses asked God to see his glory,
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God had to put Moses in the cleft of a rock
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and covered him with his hand
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in order that he might shield him from a direct view of God's glory.
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And that was to protect him from death.
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Exodus 33.
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Now, of the shepherds, it says,
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that glory shone around them.
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The shepherds' fear was understandable.
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Not only because they saw a supernatural being,
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that was frightening enough,
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but also because of such an encounter with God
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that must have been terrifying,
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likely heightened their own sense of sinfulness
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before a righteous God.
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Most of us here have, at some time,
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become very aware of our need of Christ.
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But many people still don't understand that need.
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Well-meaning Christians often misrepresent the need.
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Jesus is presented at someone who simply helps us in our loneliness
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or gives us a reason to live,
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provides significance for our lives,
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or even helps boost our self-esteem.
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But the gospel message says that we need to be delivered
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from God's good, righteous judgment and wrath.
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The greatest need everyone born into this world needs,
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or has,
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is to be delivered from the judgment of a good God.
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If you don't sense that need,
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it's because you're not a,
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you don't see your own self,
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really,
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in view of this good God.
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And this understanding is essential
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to experiencing adventure.
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The other part of the contrast is observed in verse 10.
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And the angel said to them,
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fear not,
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for behold,
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I bring you good news of great joy
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that will be for all the people.
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The great fear of verse 9 stands in stark contrast
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with the great joy of verse 10.
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Now,
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I admit that the author of the gospel
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doesn't comment specifically on the contrast,
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but the connection is just so obvious.
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In light of the contrast,
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I would like to suggest that the Holy Spirit intended
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that contrast to communicate something important to us
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about our experience of the gospel.
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I believe that in order to fully experience
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great Advent joy,
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you must not only need to grasp your need,
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your need of Jesus's coming,
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but second,
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you need to understand
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the joy
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of the good news
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and
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the good news
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that brings
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that joy.
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Now,
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what do we mean by joy?
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I like
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older definitions
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because
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they're a little more
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full.
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Webster,
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1828
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definition of this
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English word joy
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says,
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the passion
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or emotion
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excited by the
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acquisition
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or expectation
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of good,
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the excitement
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of pleasurable
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feelings
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which are caused
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by success,
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good fortune,
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gratification
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of desire
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or some good
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possessed
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or by a rational
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prospect
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of possessing
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what we love
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or desire.
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Gladness,
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exaltation.
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Isn't that a little more
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full than the Oxford
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a feeling of great
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pleasure or happiness?
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This definition
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cites various
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causes of joy,
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but at its core
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is a
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pleasurable
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feeling,
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a passion
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or emotion
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excited by the
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acquisition
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or expectation
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of good,
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the excitement
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of pleasurable
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feelings.
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Joy is typically
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understood in that
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way.
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There has been
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a great deal
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of discussion
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about the
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difference between
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joy and happiness
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in the Christian
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world.
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some make a
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strong
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distinction
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like one
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popular
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19th century
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evangelical
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who wrote
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this.
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Joy is
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distinctly
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a Christian
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world
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and a
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Christian
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thing.
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It is the
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reverse
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of happiness.
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Happiness
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is the
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result of
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what happens
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of an
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agreeable
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sort.
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Joy
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has its
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springs
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deep down
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inside
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and that
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spring
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never runs
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dry
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no matter
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what happens.
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Only
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Jesus
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gives joy.
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He had
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joy
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singing
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its music
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within
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even under
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the shadow
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of the
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cross.
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As wonderful
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as that
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sounds to
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us,
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it really
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doesn't
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agree
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with either
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the English
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or the
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Hebrew
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definitions
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of the
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word
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joy.
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joy in
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the Bible
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refers to
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emotions
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and
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celebrations
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but
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both
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the
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godly
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and
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ungodly
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are
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referred
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to
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as
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having
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or
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experiencing
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joy.
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The
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main
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distinctions
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in the
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Old
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Testament
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are the
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objects
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of the
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joy
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which
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for the
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godly
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is God
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himself
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and
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its
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duration
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salvation.
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Job
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20
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verse 5
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declares
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the joy
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that's the
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same
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Hebrew
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word
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simcha
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the
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main
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word
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for
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joy
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all
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throughout
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the
17:54
Bible
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it
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says
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the
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joy
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of
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the
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godless
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is
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for
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a
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moment.
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And
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on the
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other
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hand
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Isaiah
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says
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that
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the
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godly
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are
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promised
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an
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everlasting
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joy.
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I draw
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your
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attention
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to this
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because
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over
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the
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years
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some
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have
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tried
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to
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present
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joy
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as
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something
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altogether
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different
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from
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the
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happy
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emotions
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that
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we
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share
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with
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all
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people.
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What
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they
18:30
suggest
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is
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something
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like
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an
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emotionless
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joy.
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Oxymoron
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if I
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ever heard
18:37
one.
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That
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just
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isn't
18:40
so.
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The
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various
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biblical
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synonyms
18:45
that
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depict
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joy
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simcha
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and
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sason
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and
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gil
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and
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ranan
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they
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are
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all
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distinguished
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by
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the
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way
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emotion
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is
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expressed.
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There
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is a
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joyful
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shouting
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there
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is a
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joyful
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singing
19:03
there
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is
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intense
19:05
joy
19:05
there
19:06
is
19:06
quiet
19:06
joy
19:07
but
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in
19:08
all
19:09
cases
19:09
the
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joy
19:11
is
19:11
clearly
19:12
observable.
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Nehemiah
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even
19:17
records
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a time
19:18
when
19:18
the
19:19
people's
19:19
joy
19:19
in
19:20
Jerusalem
19:20
was
19:20
so
19:21
great
19:22
that
19:22
it
19:23
was
19:23
heard
19:24
at
19:24
a
19:24
far
19:25
distance.
19:27
Nehemiah
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12
19:28
43
19:28
says
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this
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and
19:29
they
19:29
offered
19:30
great
19:30
sacrifices
19:31
that
19:31
day
19:31
and
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rejoiced
19:32
for
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God
19:33
had
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made
19:34
them
19:34
rejoice
19:35
with
19:35
great
19:36
joy
19:37
the
19:37
women
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and
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the
19:38
children
19:38
also
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rejoiced
19:40
and
19:40
the
19:40
joy
19:41
of
19:41
Jerusalem
19:41
was
19:42
heard
19:42
far
19:43
away.
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Now
19:48
the
19:48
angels
19:49
announcement
19:49
of
19:50
great
19:50
joy
19:52
of
19:52
the
19:52
good
19:52
news
19:53
of
19:55
great
19:55
joy
19:55
to
19:56
the
19:56
shepherds
19:56
was
19:56
described
19:57
as
19:57
one
19:58
that
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brings
20:01
the
20:02
same
20:02
great
20:03
joy.
20:04
joy
20:05
it's
20:06
joyous
20:06
news
20:07
because
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it's
20:08
the
20:08
fulfillment
20:08
of
20:10
the
20:10
long
20:10
awaited
20:11
answer
20:11
to
20:12
the
20:12
human
20:12
predicament.
20:14
It
20:14
is
20:14
the
20:15
news
20:15
of
20:15
the
20:15
anticipated
20:16
messianic
20:18
king.
20:19
It
20:19
is
20:19
news
20:20
of
20:20
a
20:20
savior
20:21
who
20:21
is
20:21
Christ
20:22
the
20:22
Lord.
20:24
It
20:24
is
20:24
news
20:24
of
20:25
God's
20:25
gracious
20:26
plan
20:26
to
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save
20:27
his
20:27
people
20:28
from
20:28
his
20:28
wrath
20:29
through
20:30
the
20:31
death
20:32
the
20:33
sacrificial
20:34
death
20:34
of
20:35
Jesus.
20:37
It
20:38
is
20:39
the
20:39
news
20:39
of
20:39
forgiveness.
20:41
It
20:42
is
20:42
the
20:42
news
20:43
of
20:43
granting
20:43
a
20:44
righteousness
20:45
to
20:46
those
20:46
who
20:47
are
20:47
unrighteous.
20:51
I
20:52
can't
20:52
help
20:53
but
20:53
believe
20:54
that
20:54
the
20:54
contrast
20:55
seen
20:55
here
20:55
in
20:56
these
20:56
few
20:57
verses
20:57
is
20:58
intended
20:58
to
20:58
emphasize
20:59
the
21:00
wonder
21:00
of
21:01
the
21:01
message.
21:03
It's
21:04
benefit
21:04
to
21:05
Israel.
21:06
It's
21:06
grander.
21:08
It's
21:08
mystery.
21:10
And
21:10
it's
21:10
amazing
21:11
initiation
21:14
in
21:15
these
21:16
humble
21:16
circumstances
21:18
among
21:22
shepherds
21:23
and
21:23
sheep.
21:25
But
21:26
I
21:26
also
21:27
believe
21:27
there
21:28
is
21:28
something
21:28
more
21:29
being
21:29
communicated
21:30
here
21:30
by
21:31
the
21:31
phrase
21:31
great
21:32
joy.
21:34
The
21:35
prophets
21:35
of
21:35
Israel
21:36
wrote
21:36
a
21:36
great
21:37
deal
21:39
about
21:40
joy
21:40
and
21:41
predicted
21:42
a time
21:42
when joy
21:43
would be
21:43
prominent.
21:46
I
21:47
mean,
21:47
they
21:47
didn't
21:48
just
21:48
indicate
21:49
that
21:49
there
21:49
would
21:49
be
21:50
joy
21:50
at
21:50
the
21:50
arrival
21:51
of
21:53
the
21:53
new
21:53
heavens
21:53
and
21:54
the
21:54
new
21:54
earth.
21:54
But
21:56
they
21:56
prophesied
21:57
that
21:58
joy
21:58
would
21:58
characterize
21:59
the
22:01
new
22:01
heaven
22:01
and
22:02
the
22:02
new
22:02
earth.
22:04
In
22:05
Isaiah
22:05
65,
22:06
17
22:07
through
22:07
19,
22:08
we read
22:08
this,
22:08
for
22:09
behold,
22:09
I
22:10
create
22:10
new
22:11
heavens
22:12
and
22:13
a
22:13
new
22:13
earth
22:13
and
22:15
the
22:15
former
22:15
things
22:15
shall
22:16
not
22:16
be
22:16
remembered
22:17
or
22:17
come
22:17
to
22:18
mind
22:18
but
22:19
be
22:20
glad
22:20
and
22:20
rejoice
22:21
forever
22:22
in
22:23
that
22:24
which
22:24
I
22:24
create
22:25
for
22:28
behold,
22:29
I
22:29
create
22:30
Jerusalem
22:30
to
22:32
be
22:33
a
22:34
joy
22:35
and
22:36
her
22:36
people
22:37
to
22:39
be
22:39
a
22:40
gladness.
22:42
And
22:43
then he
22:43
says
22:43
something
22:44
interesting.
22:45
I,
22:47
the
22:48
Lord
22:48
speaking,
22:49
will
22:49
rejoice
22:50
in
22:51
Jerusalem
22:52
and be
22:53
glad
22:53
in
22:54
my
22:54
people.
22:56
No
22:56
more
22:57
shall
22:57
be
22:57
heard
22:58
in
22:58
it
22:58
the
22:58
sound
22:59
of
22:59
weeping
23:00
and
23:00
the
23:01
cry
23:01
of
23:01
distress.
23:02
Now,
23:05
this
23:05
passage
23:05
informs
23:06
us
23:06
that
23:07
God
23:07
himself
23:08
rejoices.
23:10
It's
23:10
a part
23:11
of who
23:11
he
23:11
is.
23:13
And
23:14
that
23:14
he
23:14
has
23:15
destined
23:15
us,
23:16
the
23:17
people
23:17
of
23:17
God,
23:18
to
23:18
reflect
23:19
his
23:19
joy
23:20
in
23:20
one
23:21
great
23:22
climactic
23:24
amazing
23:25
eternal
23:26
way.
23:28
We
23:29
characterize
23:31
our
23:31
joy
23:33
and
23:33
reflect
23:34
his
23:34
joy.
23:36
And
23:36
that
23:36
joy
23:37
will
23:37
never
23:37
end.
23:41
Now,
23:41
though the
23:41
prophet spoke
23:42
of a day
23:43
that is
23:43
still to
23:43
come,
23:43
there's
23:44
no doubt
23:44
that God
23:45
wants you
23:46
to experience
23:47
this joy
23:48
now.
23:50
Advent
23:50
joy is
23:51
a message
23:51
of present
23:53
joy
23:53
as well
23:54
in the
23:55
anticipation
23:56
of a
23:58
future
23:58
joy.
24:01
The
24:01
first
24:01
Christians
24:02
experienced
24:03
this
24:03
joy.
24:07
And
24:07
joy was
24:08
a
24:08
prominent
24:08
characteristic
24:10
of the
24:10
early
24:10
church.
24:12
One
24:12
theologian
24:13
in the
24:13
late
24:14
19th
24:14
century
24:14
said
24:15
this,
24:15
the
24:15
New
24:15
Testament
24:16
is the
24:16
most
24:17
buoyant,
24:19
exhilarating,
24:20
and joyful
24:21
book in
24:22
the entire
24:22
world.
24:23
Do you
24:25
see it
24:26
that way?
24:27
In the
24:28
pages of
24:29
the New
24:29
Testament,
24:29
we see
24:30
joy
24:30
everywhere.
24:31
We see
24:32
it in
24:32
the
24:32
proclamation
24:33
of the
24:33
gospel
24:34
in
24:34
Philippians
24:34
1.
24:35
We see
24:36
it in
24:36
the
24:36
joy
24:36
of the
24:37
salvation
24:38
of the
24:38
lost
24:38
in
24:39
Luke
24:39
15.
24:41
We see
24:42
joy
24:42
in
24:42
suffering
24:43
Romans
24:45
chapter
24:45
5.
24:46
We see
24:47
joy
24:47
in
24:47
persecution
24:48
Acts
24:49
541.
24:50
We see
24:51
joy
24:51
in
24:52
prison
24:52
Acts
24:53
1625.
24:55
Joy
24:55
at the
24:55
loss
24:56
of
24:56
property
24:56
for
24:57
the
24:57
sake
24:57
of
24:58
Christ
24:58
Hebrews
24:58
1034.
25:00
And
25:00
joy
25:01
because
25:02
of
25:02
faithful
25:02
disciples
25:03
written
25:05
by
25:05
John
25:06
in
25:06
2nd
25:07
John
25:07
and
25:07
3rd
25:07
John.
25:09
The
25:09
New
25:10
Testament
25:10
also
25:10
directly
25:11
instructs
25:12
us
25:13
to
25:13
rejoice
25:14
in
25:14
the
25:14
Lord
25:14
always
25:16
in
25:18
Philippians
25:18
chapter
25:19
4.
25:20
And
25:20
it
25:21
reminds
25:21
us
25:21
that
25:22
our
25:22
joy
25:22
in
25:23
the
25:23
midst
25:23
of
25:23
trials
25:24
is
25:25
inexpressible
25:27
and
25:28
full
25:28
of
25:28
glory.
25:29
1st
25:30
Peter
25:30
1.
25:30
8.
25:32
Now
25:33
in
25:33
case
25:33
you're
25:33
wondering
25:34
inexpressible
25:35
doesn't
25:36
mean
25:36
there
25:36
that
25:36
it
25:37
can't
25:37
be
25:37
seen.
25:39
It
25:40
just
25:40
means
25:40
that
25:41
you
25:41
can't
25:41
express
25:42
it
25:42
enough.
25:45
No
25:46
matter
25:46
how
25:47
expressive
25:48
your
25:48
emotion
25:49
of
25:49
joy
25:49
is,
25:49
it
25:50
is
25:50
not
25:50
enough
25:51
to
25:53
meet
25:54
with
25:54
the
25:54
glories
25:55
of
25:56
what
25:57
we
25:58
have
25:58
been
25:58
given
25:59
and
26:00
promised.
26:02
Advent
26:03
joy
26:03
is a
26:04
joy
26:04
that
26:05
transcends
26:06
all
26:06
other
26:06
joys
26:07
because
26:07
it
26:07
is
26:07
based
26:08
on
26:08
the
26:08
goodness
26:09
and
26:09
greatness
26:10
of
26:11
God
26:11
the
26:11
Father
26:12
the
26:12
Son
26:12
and
26:13
the
26:13
Holy
26:13
Spirit
26:13
in
26:14
their
26:14
presence
26:15
and
26:15
eternal
26:16
work
26:16
on
26:16
our
26:16
behalf.
26:17
It is
26:18
a
26:18
relational
26:19
joy
26:19
that
26:19
we
26:20
experience
26:20
a
26:20
joy
26:21
we
26:21
share
26:22
with
26:22
one
26:23
another.
26:24
It
26:24
is
26:24
an
26:24
experiential
26:25
joy.
26:26
It
26:26
is
26:26
observable
26:27
and
26:27
undeniable.
26:30
It
26:30
is an
26:30
effectual
26:31
joy.
26:31
It
26:32
powerfully
26:32
affects
26:33
the way
26:33
we
26:33
live
26:34
and
26:35
strengthens
26:36
us
26:36
to
26:36
resist
26:37
the
26:37
misguided
26:38
joys
26:39
of the
26:40
world.
26:40
And
26:44
it
26:44
is
26:44
a
26:45
lasting
26:45
joy.
26:47
A
26:47
joy
26:47
that
26:48
never
26:48
ends
26:48
but
26:50
ever
26:50
increases.
26:56
The
26:57
contrast
26:57
of
26:57
fear
26:58
and
26:58
joy
26:58
in
26:59
the
26:59
story
26:59
of
26:59
the
26:59
shepherds
27:00
encounter
27:00
with
27:01
the
27:01
angels
27:01
and
27:02
the
27:02
glory
27:03
of
27:03
the
27:03
Lord
27:03
instructs
27:04
us
27:04
about
27:04
God's
27:05
desire
27:06
for
27:07
us.
27:08
It
27:08
teaches
27:08
us
27:09
that
27:09
God's
27:10
or
27:11
God
27:11
sent
27:12
the
27:12
long
27:13
awaited
27:13
messianic
27:15
king
27:15
into
27:15
the
27:16
world
27:16
as
27:16
a
27:16
baby
27:16
so
27:17
that
27:17
you
27:17
would
27:18
experience
27:19
great
27:20
joy.
27:22
Fear
27:23
and
27:24
joy
27:24
in
27:24
our
27:25
own
27:25
lives
27:25
are
27:26
often
27:26
gauges
27:27
of
27:27
spiritual
27:27
health.
27:29
Fear
27:30
has
27:30
many
27:30
causes
27:31
but
27:33
it
27:33
generally
27:33
indicates
27:34
that
27:34
we
27:34
haven't
27:35
fully
27:35
embraced
27:36
and
27:37
experienced
27:38
Advent
27:38
joy.
27:40
I
27:42
would
27:42
like
27:42
to
27:42
close
27:43
with
27:43
a
27:43
quote
27:44
from
27:44
a
27:44
pastor
27:45
who
27:45
spent
27:45
a lot
27:46
of
27:46
time
27:46
studying
27:47
the
27:47
topic
27:48
of
27:49
joy
27:49
and
27:50
is
27:50
somewhat
27:51
of an
27:51
authority
27:52
on
27:52
Jonathan
27:53
Edwards
27:54
perspective
27:55
of
27:55
ever
27:56
increasing
27:56
joy.
27:58
And
27:59
he
27:59
writes
28:00
this
28:00
perhaps
28:04
the
28:04
greatest
28:04
mistake
28:05
you
28:05
could
28:06
possibly
28:06
make
28:07
is
28:08
to
28:08
think
28:09
that
28:09
an
28:09
emphasis
28:10
on
28:10
joy
28:11
breeds
28:12
passivity
28:12
or
28:13
leads
28:14
to
28:14
a
28:14
safe
28:15
and
28:15
self
28:16
absorbed
28:17
lifestyle
28:17
or
28:18
an
28:18
approach
28:19
to
28:19
Christianity
28:20
in
28:20
which
28:21
the
28:21
believer
28:21
is
28:22
so
28:22
obsessed
28:23
with
28:23
the
28:23
condition
28:23
of
28:24
his
28:24
heart
28:24
or
28:25
his
28:25
emotional
28:26
state
28:26
of
28:26
being
28:27
that
28:27
he
28:27
neglects
28:28
his
28:28
family
28:29
or
28:29
ignores
28:30
the
28:30
need
28:30
of
28:30
his
28:31
neighbor
28:31
or
28:31
becomes
28:32
coldly
28:33
indifferent
28:33
toward
28:34
the
28:34
lost
28:35
or
28:35
retreats
28:37
in
28:37
isolation
28:37
from
28:38
the
28:38
hurts
28:38
and
28:39
needs
28:39
of
28:39
others
28:39
and
28:42
then
28:43
he
28:43
goes
28:43
on
28:43
to
28:44
define
28:45
this
28:46
joy
28:47
it
28:47
is
28:47
a
28:48
deep
28:48
delight
28:49
and
28:50
joy
28:50
in
28:51
the
28:51
all
28:51
satisfying
28:52
beauty
28:53
of
28:53
Christ
28:54
that
28:54
stokes
28:55
the
28:56
white
28:56
hot
28:57
flame
28:57
of
28:58
passion
28:58
for
28:59
the
28:59
plight
29:00
of
29:00
the
29:00
nations
29:01
it
29:02
is
29:03
the
29:03
it
29:03
is
29:04
deep
29:04
delight
29:05
and
29:05
joy
29:05
in
29:06
the
29:06
all
29:06
satisfying
29:07
beauty
29:07
of
29:07
Christ
29:08
that
29:08
energizes
29:09
the
29:10
will
29:10
of
29:10
man
29:11
or
29:11
woman
29:11
to
29:11
make
29:11
whatever
29:12
sacrifices
29:13
are
29:13
necessary
29:14
to
29:14
preserve
29:15
a
29:15
marriage
29:16
that
29:16
is
29:16
falling
29:16
apart
29:17
it
29:19
is
29:20
deep
29:20
delight
29:21
and
29:21
joy
29:22
in
29:22
the
29:22
all
29:22
satisfying
29:23
beauty
29:24
of
29:24
Christ
29:24
that
29:25
empowers
29:26
the
29:26
human
29:27
heart
29:27
to
29:27
overcome
29:28
addicted
29:29
behavior
29:30
and
29:31
sustain
29:31
the
29:32
soul
29:32
in
29:32
its
29:33
fight
29:33
against
29:33
sin
29:34
and
29:34
temptation
29:35
it
29:37
is
29:38
deep
29:38
delight
29:39
and
29:39
joy
29:40
in
29:40
the
29:40
all
29:40
satisfying
29:41
beauty
29:42
of
29:42
Christ
29:42
that
29:43
enables
29:43
weak
29:44
and
29:44
broke
29:44
the
29:45
weak
29:45
and
29:46
broken
29:46
soul
29:46
to
29:47
persevere
29:48
when a
29:48
job
29:49
is
29:49
lost
29:49
or a
29:50
child
29:50
rebels
29:50
or a
29:51
promise
29:51
is
29:52
shattered
29:52
or a
29:52
dream
29:53
comes
29:54
to
29:54
not
29:55
it
29:57
is
29:57
deep
29:57
delight
29:58
in
29:59
the
29:59
joy
29:59
of
30:00
an
30:00
all
30:00
satisfying
30:01
beauty
30:02
of
30:03
Christ
30:03
that
30:03
encourages
30:04
the
30:04
timid
30:05
and
30:05
fearful
30:06
heart
30:06
to
30:07
engage
30:07
and
30:07
confront
30:08
the
30:08
Christless
30:09
culture
30:09
in
30:10
which
30:10
we
30:10
live
30:11
with
30:11
the
30:11
good
30:11
news
30:12
of
30:12
the
30:12
gospel
30:12
of
30:13
the
30:13
cross
30:13
of
30:13
Christ
30:14
and
30:14
the
30:15
life
30:15
of
30:15
forgiveness
30:16
and
30:16
hope
30:17
that
30:18
can
30:18
only
30:18
be
30:19
found
30:19
through
30:19
faith
30:20
in
30:20
Jesus
30:20
it
30:22
is
30:22
deep
30:23
delight
30:23
and
30:24
joy
30:24
in
30:24
the
30:24
all
30:24
satisfying
30:25
beauty
30:26
of
30:26
Christ
30:26
that
30:26
will
30:26
sustain
30:27
a
30:27
church
30:28
through
30:29
adversity
30:29
and
30:30
bind
30:31
the
30:31
hearts
30:31
of
30:31
its
30:32
people
30:32
together
30:32
in
30:33
unity
30:33
and
30:34
love
30:34
and
30:35
mutual
30:36
affection
30:37
this
30:40
is
30:40
the
30:41
joy
30:41
that
30:42
is
30:42
ours
30:43
for
30:43
the
30:43
taking
30:44
now
30:45
and
30:46
forever
30:46
because
30:48
God
30:48
has sent
30:48
to us
30:49
his
30:49
son
30:50
a
30:51
savior
30:51
who
30:52
is
30:52
Christ
30:53
the
30:53
Lord
30:53
joy
30:55
to
30:56
the
30:56
world
30:56
indeed
30:57
so
31:00
may
31:00
God
31:01
bless
31:01
you
31:01
today
31:03
and
31:04
this
31:04
next
31:05
year
31:06
with
31:07
a
31:07
greater
31:07
awareness
31:08
of
31:09
your
31:09
need
31:09
of
31:09
Christ
31:10
as
31:12
well
31:12
as
31:13
with
31:13
a
31:13
greater
31:13
experience
31:14
of
31:15
the
31:16
satisfying
31:17
fullness
31:17
of
31:17
Advent
31:18
joy
31:19
this
31:21
season
31:21
and the
31:22
coming
31:23
year
31:23
let's
31:24
pray
31:25
together