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Advent 2019: Joy - Luke 2:8-14 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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If you'd like to turn with me to Luke chapter 2, we're going to be reading from verses 8-14.
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! Luke chapter 2, verses 8-14.
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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 around them.
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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 the baby wrapped in swaddling claws and lying in a manger.
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And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying,
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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.
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Thank you for its nourishment, its light, its counsel, its comfort, its power.
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By your spirit, speak to us today.
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In Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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In this second week of the Advent season, we take the opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of joy in the gospel message and in our daily lives.
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One thing that the scripture clearly teaches is that God wants you to experience great joy.
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See, God created you and me with the unique capacity to experience the emotion of delight.
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He has equipped you with physical senses that enable you to enjoy the world he created.
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We not only see with our eyes, but we delight in what we see.
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We delight in his creativity and the beauty of a sunset or flowers or puppies or newborn babies.
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We enjoy the wonderful sounds of a waterfall, jingle bells, bird songs, symphony orchestras, and familiar voices.
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We savor the taste of milk and honey and smoked jalapeno peppers.
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We enjoyably breathe in the sense of peppermint and pine and vanilla and breezes from the sea.
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And we find enjoyment in the sensations of fur and cotton and water and sand between our toes at the beach in summer.
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And in the warm touch of friendship.
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We also experience joy in significant events like births and weddings, victories, accomplishments, and unexpected surprises.
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God designed each one of us with the capacity to enjoy the world around us.
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And I believe he expects us to give expression to our delight.
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It's an act of worship to do that.
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In spite of the curse that has tainted the world, this fallen world, we still have the capacity to enjoy, to experience much joy in the world.
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But God has also created us to experience another kind of joy.
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God gives us the capacity to enjoy Him.
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The psalmist declared in light of the Lord's guidance,
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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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Psalm 1611.
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And he specifically calls God my exceeding joy.
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Psalm 43.
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Psalm 43.4.
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In spite of the judgment that hovers over a rebellious world,
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We've been given favor by God to experience this joy in Him even now.
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This is Advent joy.
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God holds out to the world the possibility of experiencing joy in Him through the good news of Advent.
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Psalm 34.8 says,
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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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Now, we should expect an increase of joy at a holiday season that celebrates the coming of the Savior into the world.
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We should expect it.
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But we should also understand that much of the joy that we observe at this time has different sources.
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Some of you are just looking forward to a vacation from school.
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Some spend time outside in the snow.
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Most anticipate visits from good friends and family.
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We give and we receive gifts.
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All these foster happy emotions within us.
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And the social atmosphere becomes naturally more jubilant.
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But much of the joy that is observed at this season isn't Advent joy.
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Joy that is dependent upon a season is not Advent joy.
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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 association points to joy's important role in the gospel.
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The passage we just read from Luke teaches us that God sent the Messiah King,
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the long-awaited Messiah King, into the world so that you would experience great 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 heard the angel and saw the glory of the Lord
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and the response that the angel indicated would most likely correspond to the message that he was bringing.
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I'd like to focus on that contrast this morning because I believe it highlights two things.
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Two things that God wants you to understand in order to experience greater Advent joy.
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First of all, the better you understand, the more you understand your need for the coming of Jesus,
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the more you can experience Advent joy.
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The first part of that contrast is found in verses 8 and 9, so let's look at that again.
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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 the angel of the Lord or an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
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and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,
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and they were filled with great fear.
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This isn't the first time we see in the scriptures that angels have suddenly appeared and scared people out of their wits.
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The Bible records many angelic visitations,
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and several included responses similar to the shepherds.
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The prophet Daniel wrote of being completely drained of his strength,
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falling into a deep sleep,
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and when the angel touched him and comforted him and had him stand up,
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he was trembling,
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simply at a vision of an angel.
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And in the previous chapter of Luke's account,
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both Zechariah and Mary were told by the angel Gabriel not to fear
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because they were both troubled.
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at this appearance.
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But what is unique about this appearance 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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During the Exodus,
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when the glory of the Lord appeared on Mount Sinai,
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we're told that it was in a cloud,
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and it was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain.
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Exodus 24, 17.
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And another time,
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when Moses asked God to see his glory,
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he had to put Moses in the cleft of a rock
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and cover him with his hand
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in order to shield him from a direct view of God's glory,
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to protect him from death.
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Of the shepherds,
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it simply says that the glory shone around them.
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They were right in the midst of it.
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It wasn't on a mountain far away.
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They weren't shielded from anything.
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It was just all around them.
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Their fear was understandable,
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not only because they encountered a supernatural being,
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frightening enough,
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but also because such an encounter with the glory of God
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likely highlighted their own sense of sinfulness
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and pending judgment
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before a holy and righteous God.
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To most of us here,
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our need for Jesus is pretty obvious.
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But many people still don't understand that need.
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They argue it away.
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Even for many Christians,
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we might not completely understand
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or we misrepresent our real need.
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Jesus is often presented as someone
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who can help us in our loneliness,
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give us a reason to live,
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meet some need for significance
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or boost our self-esteem.
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You can see this in a lot of the
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more popular Christian songs.
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But the gospel message starts with the truth
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that we need to be delivered
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from God's righteous judgment
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and an eternal death sentence.
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I believe understanding this is the first step
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to appreciating the good news of Jesus' coming.
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The other part of the contrast
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is observed in verse 10.
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Look there again.
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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,
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verse 9,
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stands in stark contrast
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contrast
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with the great joy
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of verse 10.
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Now, I admit that the author of the gospel
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doesn't say anything about the contrast,
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but the connection does appear to be obvious.
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And in light of that contrast,
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I'm going to suggest
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that the Holy Spirit intended it
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to be read by us
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to communicate something important
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to us
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about the experience
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of the gospel.
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I believe that in order
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to fully experience
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the great joy of Advent,
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you and I not only need
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to better understand
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our need of His coming,
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but we need to better understand
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the joy
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associated
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with the good news.
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So, first of all,
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what do we mean by joy?
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An older Webster's definition,
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1828 version.
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I like that version.
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It's not politically correct.
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Says this about joy.
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It's the passion or emotion
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excited by the acquisition
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or expectation of good.
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That excitement of pleasurable feelings
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which is caused by success,
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good fortune
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and gratification of desire
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or some good possessed
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or by a rational 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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Now, that definition
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coincides very well
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with the definitions
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that the biblical words
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give us
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or are translated
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by our English word
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joy
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or rejoice
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or gladness.
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There's been a lot
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of discussion
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over the years
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about the difference
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between joy
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and happiness
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in the Christian life.
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Some make a strong distinction
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like this popular
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19th century evangelical
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who wrote,
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joy is a distinctly
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Christian word
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and a Christian thing.
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It is the reverse
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of happiness.
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Happiness
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is the result
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of what happens
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of an agreeable sort.
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Joy
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has its springs
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deep inside
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and that spring
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never runs dry
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no matter what happens.
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Only Jesus
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gives joy.
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He had joy
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singing 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 cross.
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joy
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Now you're like
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I might read that
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and go,
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wow,
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that sounds great.
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But as wonderful
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as it sounds,
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it doesn't agree
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with either
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the English
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definition
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of joy
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or the biblical
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definition.
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Joy in the Bible
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is used
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of emotions
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and celebrations
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of the ungodly
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as well as the godly.
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It's used
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of a donkey.
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The main
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distinctions
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that we do find
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in the scripture
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are in the objects
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of the joy.
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God
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and his care
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being prominent
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and
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its duration.
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Job 20
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verse 5
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declares
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the joy
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of the godless
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is for
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a moment.
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Whereas
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Isaiah
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says
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the godly
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are promised
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everlasting
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joy.
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Isaiah
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51
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11
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I draw
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your attention
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to this
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because
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over the years
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many have
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tried to
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present joy
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as something
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altogether
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different
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from the
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happy
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emotions
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that we
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share with
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every human
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being.
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They promote
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an emotionless
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joy
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because it's
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deep and
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spiritual
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has nothing
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to do
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with our
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feelings.
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This
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just isn't
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so.
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The various
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biblical synonyms
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that depict
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joy like
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simcha
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and
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sason
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gil
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ra'anan
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!
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These are
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all
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distinguished
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primarily
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by the
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way
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the emotion
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is expressed.
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There's
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joyful
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shouting,
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there's
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joyful
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singing,
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there's
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intense
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joy,
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joy,
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there's
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quiet
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joy.
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But in
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all cases,
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joy is
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clearly
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something
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observed.
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As a matter
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of fact,
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Nehemiah
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records a
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time in
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Israel's
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history when
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the people's
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joy was
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actually heard.
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That's what it
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says.
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It was
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heard.
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Verse
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43 of
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chapter 12
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of Nehemiah
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says,
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And they
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offered
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great
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sacrifices
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that day
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and
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rejoiced
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for God
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had made
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them rejoice
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with great
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joy.
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The women
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and the
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children
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also
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rejoiced
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and the
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joy of
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Jerusalem
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was heard
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far away.
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The
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angel's
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announcement,
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good news
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to the
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shepherds,
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was described
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as one
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that brings
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great
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joy.
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First of
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all,
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it's joyous
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news because
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it's the
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fulfillment of
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a long
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awaited
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promise
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to
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mankind.
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A long
18:40
awaited
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answer
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to the
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human
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predicament.
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It's
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news of
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a savior.
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It's
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news of
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the
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anticipated
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messianic
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king's
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arrival.
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It's
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news of
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God's
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gracious
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plan to
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save his
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people from
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his own
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wrath.
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It's
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news of
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the
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impartation
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of
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righteousness
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to
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those
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who are
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unrighteous.
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It's
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good news
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of the
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dawning
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of eternal
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life in
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a renewed
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universe.
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others.
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It's
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the news
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of an
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effectual
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sacrifice
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on our
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behalf.
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I can't
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help but
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believe that
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the contrast
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in these
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verses are
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intended to
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emphasize the
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wonder of
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the message.
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It's
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benefits to
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Israel,
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it's
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grandeur,
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it's
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mystery,
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and it's
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amazing
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initiation in
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these humble
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circumstances
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among sheep
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and shepherds.
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we're
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right to
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focus on
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that aspect
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that God
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in all
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his stated
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glory would
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appear as
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a child
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in a
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cave
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among
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animals.
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But you
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have to
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remember
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that the
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announcement
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came in
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one of the
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greatest
20:19
displays
20:20
of
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trembling
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fear
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to the
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shepherds.
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But I
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also believe
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that there's
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something more
20:35
being communicated
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here by this
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phrase,
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great joy.
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The
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prophets of
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Israel wrote
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a great
20:42
deal about
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joy,
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and they
20:45
predicted a
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time when
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joy would
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be prominent.
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joy.
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I mean,
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they didn't
20:51
just indicate
20:52
that there
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would be
20:53
joy at
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the arrival
20:54
of a
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new world,
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but they
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prophesied
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that joy
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would characterize
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that world.
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If you
21:06
want to look
21:06
at Isaiah
21:07
65,
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17 through
21:09
19 for
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an example,
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it's
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amazing.
21:12
the
21:14
prophet
21:15
writes,
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for behold,
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I
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create
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new
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heavens
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and a
21:20
new
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earth,
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and the
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former
21:22
things
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shall not
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be remembered
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or come
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to mind,
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but be
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glad and
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rejoice
21:29
forever
21:30
in that
21:31
which I
21:31
create.
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For
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behold,
21:33
I
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create
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Jerusalem
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to be
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a
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joy.
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and her
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people
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to be
21:45
a
21:46
gladness.
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What did
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God have
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in mind?
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It's
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mind-boggling,
21:55
I think.
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I mean,
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what do you
21:59
think of
21:59
when you
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think of
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heaven?
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Sitting
22:05
at the
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beach
22:05
a lot?
22:06
dutifully
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serving?
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That's
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not the
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picture we
22:14
get from
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the
22:15
prophets,
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anyway.
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I
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will
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rejoice
22:21
in
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Jerusalem
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and be
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glad in
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my
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people.
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No
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more
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shall
22:24
be
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heard
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in it
22:25
the
22:25
sound
22:25
of
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weeping
22:26
and
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the
22:27
cry
22:27
of
22:27
distress.
22:30
It's
22:30
an
22:30
important
22:31
thing
22:32
to
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realize
22:33
this
22:33
idea
22:34
of
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joy
22:36
replacing
22:37
suffering.
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I think
22:39
it impacts
22:39
us most
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because we
22:40
know what
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suffering is
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like.
22:42
We
22:43
experience
22:43
it.
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We
22:46
spirits it
22:47
all our
22:47
lives
22:48
in one
22:49
way or
22:49
another.
22:50
This
22:50
world is
22:51
characterized
22:51
by
22:52
suffering.
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And yet
22:55
God
22:55
promises a
22:56
time when
22:57
that
22:57
suffering
22:57
will be
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gone
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completely.
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And I
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think it
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increases
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the joy.
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At
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least
23:05
the
23:06
very
23:07
understanding
23:07
of it.
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But this
23:09
passage tells
23:10
us that
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the Lord
23:11
is a
23:11
God who
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rejoices
23:12
and he
23:13
has
23:14
destined
23:14
us to
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reflect
23:16
that
23:17
joy.
23:23
Now,
23:24
though the
23:25
prophet spoke
23:25
of a day
23:26
that is
23:26
still to
23:27
come,
23:29
there's
23:29
no doubt
23:30
that God
23:30
wants you
23:31
to experience
23:32
this joy
23:32
now.
23:34
Advent
23:34
joy is
23:36
a message
23:36
of present
23:37
joy.
23:39
Joy was
23:40
a prominent
23:41
characteristic
23:41
of the
23:42
early church.
23:44
One
23:44
theologian
23:45
in the
23:45
late
23:45
19th
23:46
century
23:46
declared,
23:47
the New
23:47
Testament
23:47
is the
23:48
most
23:48
buoyant,
23:49
exhilarating,
23:50
and joyful
23:50
book in
23:51
the world.
23:54
And in
23:55
the pages
23:56
of the
23:56
New
23:56
Testament
23:56
we see
23:57
joy in
23:59
the
24:29
New Testament
24:29
also directs
24:30
us to
24:31
rejoice in
24:32
the Lord
24:32
always.
24:34
Philippians
24:34
4.4
24:35
And it
24:36
reminds us
24:37
that our
24:37
joy in
24:38
the midst
24:39
of our
24:39
troubles
24:40
is
24:41
inexpressible
24:42
and full
24:43
of glory.
24:45
1 Peter
24:46
1.8
24:47
Advent
24:52
joy
24:53
is a
24:56
joy that
24:57
transcends
24:58
all other
24:59
joys
25:00
because it
25:01
is based
25:02
on the
25:03
goodness
25:04
and
25:05
greatness
25:06
of God
25:08
our
25:08
Father
25:09
and his
25:10
Son
25:10
and his
25:12
Spirit
25:13
in their
25:15
delight
25:16
for each
25:18
other
25:18
and their
25:20
eternal
25:20
work
25:21
on our
25:22
behalf
25:23
to
25:25
share
25:25
in
25:26
their
25:26
joy.
25:28
It's a
25:28
relational
25:29
joy.
25:29
It's a
25:30
joy we
25:30
share.
25:32
It's an
25:32
experiential
25:33
joy.
25:33
It's
25:34
observable
25:34
and
25:35
undeniable.
25:37
It's an
25:38
effectual
25:39
joy.
25:39
It
25:40
affects the
25:41
way we
25:41
live and
25:42
strengthens
25:43
us to
25:43
resist
25:44
the
25:45
pleasures,
25:47
the
25:47
temporary
25:48
pleasures,
25:49
the
25:50
insignificant
25:51
in
25:51
comparison
25:52
pleasures
25:55
that are
25:56
all around
25:56
us.
25:59
And it
26:00
is a
26:00
lasting
26:01
joy,
26:02
a joy
26:03
that never
26:03
ends but
26:04
only
26:05
increases
26:06
for ages
26:08
to come.
26:09
I believe
26:13
God wants
26:14
you to
26:16
experience
26:17
more fully
26:18
his great
26:20
advent
26:20
joy.
26:22
The more
26:23
you appreciate
26:23
why Jesus
26:24
had to
26:25
come,
26:26
why he
26:26
came,
26:27
how he
26:28
came,
26:29
I believe
26:29
the more
26:30
you will
26:30
experience
26:31
his everlasting
26:32
advent
26:33
joy.
26:37
Now
26:37
many
26:38
of the
26:39
history
26:39
of the
26:39
church,
26:41
philosophers
26:41
who have
26:42
looked at
26:43
the Bible
26:44
and Christian
26:44
teaching
26:45
have
26:46
criticized
26:46
the Bible's
26:47
emphasis
26:48
on the
26:48
fallenness
26:49
of humanity.
26:51
They
26:52
suggest
26:52
that
26:53
such a
26:54
negative
26:54
view
26:55
of
26:55
human
26:56
nature
26:57
leads
26:58
to
26:59
low
27:01
self-esteem,
27:04
hinders
27:04
human
27:04
potential
27:05
and
27:05
progress,
27:06
happiness.
27:08
Now,
27:08
I can
27:09
see what
27:09
they're
27:09
saying
27:10
if
27:10
there
27:12
were
27:12
no
27:12
God
27:12
and
27:13
if
27:13
there
27:14
were
27:14
no
27:14
solution.
27:17
But there
27:18
is a
27:18
solution.
27:19
The baby
27:20
born in
27:20
Bethlehem
27:21
is Christ
27:22
the Lord
27:22
and became
27:24
the atoning
27:24
sacrifice
27:25
that satisfies
27:27
God's
27:28
justice
27:28
and provides
27:29
you with
27:30
an undeserved
27:31
righteousness
27:32
and everlasting
27:34
ever
27:35
increasing
27:35
joy
27:36
now
27:37
and
27:37
forever.
27:42
And I
27:42
believe this
27:43
doesn't just
27:43
apply to
27:44
salvation.
27:45
It applies
27:46
to us
27:46
in our
27:47
daily
27:47
lives.
27:48
And it's
27:49
very helpful
27:50
to us
27:50
in our
27:51
daily
27:51
lives.
27:52
When you
27:52
look at
27:52
the world
27:53
today,
27:53
the ideal
27:54
person is
27:54
one who's
27:55
got it
27:55
all
27:55
together.
27:56
Or at
27:57
the very
27:57
least can
27:58
say,
27:58
I've got
27:59
this.
27:59
that's
27:59
the
28:00
theme
28:00
right?
28:00
Of the
28:01
modern
28:02
individual.
28:06
And
28:06
it's
28:07
contrast
28:08
for us
28:09
perhaps
28:09
are those
28:10
who
28:10
believe
28:14
that the
28:14
Christian
28:15
life
28:15
needs to
28:17
be so
28:18
solemn
28:18
that
28:19
there's
28:20
no
28:20
expression
28:20
of joy
28:21
or very
28:21
little.
28:26
And
28:26
both
28:27
extremes
28:27
I think
28:28
are misguided.
28:29
because
28:36
when we
28:36
truly
28:37
understand
28:37
our
28:38
need
28:38
for
28:40
Christ
28:40
even
28:42
now
28:43
it's
28:44
not
28:44
meant
28:44
to
28:45
cause
28:45
us
28:45
to
28:46
walk
28:46
around
28:46
in
28:47
gloom
28:47
and
28:47
doom
28:48
but
28:49
it's
28:49
meant
28:50
to
28:50
drive
28:51
us
28:51
to
28:53
the
28:53
one
28:53
who
28:53
can
28:53
help
28:53
us.
28:55
And
28:55
the
28:55
more
28:56
we
28:56
experience
28:57
that
28:57
pain
28:58
or
28:58
frustration
28:59
of
28:59
failure
29:00
and
29:00
inadequacy
29:02
and
29:02
all
29:03
those
29:03
things
29:03
that
29:03
we
29:04
are
29:04
trying
29:04
to
29:04
get
29:04
rid
29:05
of
29:05
the
29:05
more
29:05
we
29:06
experience
29:06
that
29:07
the
29:08
more
29:09
it
29:09
should
29:10
drive
29:10
us
29:11
to
29:11
the
29:11
one
29:12
who
29:13
is
29:13
our
29:14
strength.
29:14
as
29:16
Nehemiah
29:16
said
29:17
to
29:17
those
29:17
people
29:17
who
29:18
were
29:18
rejoicing
29:19
the
29:19
joy
29:20
of
29:20
the
29:20
Lord
29:21
is
29:21
your
29:21
strength.
29:23
How
29:23
can
29:23
you
29:23
have
29:24
joy
29:24
in
29:24
suffering?
29:25
How
29:25
can
29:25
you
29:25
have
29:25
joy
29:26
and
29:26
feel
29:27
miserable
29:27
about
29:28
your
29:28
own
29:29
self?
29:30
I
29:30
don't
29:30
know
29:31
but
29:31
it's
29:31
possible
29:32
because
29:36
we
29:36
know
29:36
when
29:38
we
29:39
convince
29:39
ourselves
29:40
when
29:40
we
29:40
tell
29:41
ourselves
29:41
it
29:42
doesn't
29:43
really
29:44
depend
29:44
on
29:45
me
29:45
that
29:48
we
29:48
can
29:48
go
29:48
to
29:48
God
29:49
and
29:49
you
29:50
know
29:50
what
29:50
he's
29:51
just
29:51
delighted
29:53
when
29:53
we
29:53
come
29:54
to
29:54
him
29:54
like
29:54
that
29:54
and
29:56
then
29:56
he
29:56
answers
29:56
us
29:57
and
29:57
then
29:57
we
29:58
receive
29:58
it
29:58
and
29:59
then
29:59
we're
29:59
excited
30:00
that
30:00
God
30:00
came
30:01
through
30:01
for
30:02
us
30:02
and
30:02
it
30:02
helps
30:03
us
30:03
the
30:03
next
30:03
time
30:04
we
30:04
are
30:05
in
30:05
similar
30:05
circumstances
30:06
God
30:09
wants
30:09
us
30:10
to
30:10
know
30:10
our
30:10
need
30:11
of
30:11
Christ
30:11
for
30:13
salvation
30:13
and
30:14
for
30:14
just
30:15
getting
30:15
up
30:15
in
30:15
the
30:16
morning
30:16
sometimes
30:18
he
30:22
wants
30:22
us
30:23
to
30:23
know
30:23
that
30:23
so
30:23
that
30:24
we
30:24
can
30:24
experience
30:25
and
30:25
appreciate
30:25
more
30:26
deeply
30:26
what
30:29
he's
30:29
done
30:29
on
30:29
our
30:30
behalf
30:30
the
30:30
gospel
30:31
coming
30:32
of
30:32
Christ
30:32
I'd
30:34
like
30:34
to
30:34
close
30:35
with
30:35
reading
30:38
a
30:39
quote
30:39
or
30:40
part
30:41
of a
30:41
quote
30:42
of a
30:42
pastor
30:43
who
30:43
who
30:45
aware
30:46
of the
30:46
possibility
30:46
that
30:47
some
30:47
might
30:48
think
30:48
that
30:48
emphasizing
30:49
this
30:50
emotional
30:51
aspect
30:51
of joy
30:52
could
30:52
result
30:53
in
30:53
self
30:54
absorbed
30:55
isolation
30:56
among
30:57
people
30:57
among
30:58
the
30:58
church
30:59
and
31:01
he
31:01
argued
31:01
that
31:02
Advent
31:02
joy
31:02
has
31:03
the
31:03
opposite
31:04
effect
31:04
he
31:07
wrote
31:07
it
31:09
is
31:09
deep
31:10
delight
31:10
and
31:11
joy
31:11
in
31:12
the
31:12
all
31:12
satisfying
31:13
beauty
31:14
of
31:14
Christ
31:15
that
31:15
stokes
31:16
the
31:16
white
31:17
hot
31:17
flame
31:18
of
31:18
passion
31:19
for
31:19
the
31:20
plight
31:20
of
31:20
the
31:20
nations
31:21
that
31:24
energizes
31:25
the
31:25
will
31:26
of
31:26
man
31:26
or
31:27
woman
31:27
to
31:27
make
31:27
whatever
31:28
sacrifices
31:29
are
31:29
necessary
31:30
to
31:30
preserve
31:30
a
31:31
marriage
31:31
that
31:32
is
31:32
falling
31:33
apart
31:33
that
31:35
empowers
31:36
the
31:36
human
31:36
heart
31:37
to
31:37
overcome
31:37
addictive
31:38
behavior
31:39
and
31:39
sustains
31:40
the
31:40
soul
31:41
in
31:41
its
31:41
fight
31:41
against
31:42
sin
31:42
and
31:42
temptation
31:43
that
31:45
enables
31:46
a
31:46
weak
31:46
and
31:46
broken
31:47
soul
31:47
to
31:48
persevere
31:48
when
31:48
a
31:49
job
31:49
is
31:49
lost
31:49
or a
31:50
child
31:50
rebels
31:50
or a
31:51
promise
31:52
is
31:52
shattered
31:52
or a
31:53
dream
31:53
becomes
31:54
nothing
31:55
that
31:58
encourages
31:58
the
31:59
timid
31:59
and
31:59
fearful
32:00
heart
32:00
to
32:00
engage
32:01
and
32:01
confront
32:02
the
32:02
the
32:03
Christless
32:04
culture
32:04
in which
32:05
we live
32:06
with the
32:06
good news
32:07
of the
32:07
gospel
32:07
of the
32:08
cross
32:08
of
32:08
Christ
32:09
and the
32:10
life
32:10
of
32:10
forgiveness
32:11
and hope
32:11
that
32:12
can only
32:13
be found
32:13
through
32:14
faith
32:14
in
32:14
Jesus
32:14
and
32:17
it
32:17
is
32:17
the
32:17
deep
32:18
it
32:18
is
32:18
deep
32:19
delight
32:19
and
32:20
joy
32:20
in the
32:20
all
32:21
satisfying
32:21
beauty
32:22
of
32:22
Christ
32:22
that
32:24
will
32:24
sustain
32:25
a
32:25
church
32:26
through
32:26
adversity
32:27
and bind
32:28
the hearts
32:28
of its
32:29
people
32:29
together
32:29
in unity
32:31
and love
32:32
and mutual
32:33
affection
32:34
salvation
32:36
this
32:36
is
32:37
the joy
32:38
that is
32:38
ours
32:38
for the
32:39
taking
32:39
now
32:40
and
32:40
forever
32:41
because
32:41
God
32:42
has
32:42
sent
32:42
to
32:43
us
32:43
his
32:44
son
32:44
a
32:44
savior
32:45
who
32:45
is
32:45
Christ
32:46
Jesus
32:47
the
32:48
Lord
32:49
joy
32:50
to the
32:50
world
32:51
indeed
32:51
!
32:52
to
32:52
to
32:53
to
32:53
to
32:54
to
32:54
to