The Second Sunday of Advent
The Angel‟s Candle
Symbolizes: JOY!
“JOY to the World!”
Luke 2:8-14
In the same region there were
some shepherds staying out in
the fields and keeping watch
over their flock by night. And an
angel of the Lord suddenly
stood before them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around
them; and they were terribly
frightened. But the angel said to
them, "Do not be afraid; for
behold, I bring you good news of
great joy which will be for all
the people;
Luke 2:8-14
for today in the city of David
there has been born for you a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign for you: you
will find a baby wrapped in
cloths and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there appeared
with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and
saying, "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace
among men with whom He is
pleased."
(Luke 2:8-14)
WARNING: don‟t confuse joy
with happiness!!
WARNING: don‟t confuse joy
with happiness!!
Happiness:
1. temporary feeling based on good
“happenings” (things that occur by
chance)
WARNING: don‟t confuse joy
with happiness!!
Happiness:
1. temporary feeling based on good
“happenings” (things that occur by
chance)
2. outer response to positive
circumstances; quickly changes
Joy:
1. It is divine. It is possessed and
given only by God. It is a fruit
of the Spirit.
Joy:
1. It is divine. It is possessed and
given only by God. It is a fruit
of the Spirit.
2. It is not tied to circumstances
or feelings; present in trials.
Joy:
1. It is divine. It is possessed and
given only by God. It is a fruit
of the Spirit.
2. It is not tied to circumstances
or feelings; present in trials.
3. Our faith in Jesus activates
joy.
Joy:
1. It is divine. It is possessed and
given only by God. It is a fruit
of the Spirit.
2. It is not tied to circumstances
or feelings; present in trials.
3. Our faith in Jesus activates
joy.
4. Rejoicing is worship.
“It is no accident that the words
„joy‟ and „rejoice‟ appear
particularly where there is
express mention of fulfillment in
Christ, of being in Him, and of
hope in Him…the whole New
Testament message is about
the proclamation of God‟s
saving work in Christ is a
message of joy”
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament; p. 357.
Joy; Rejoice in Luke…
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid,
Zacharias, for your petition has been heard,
and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you will give him the name John. "You will
have JOY and gladness, and many will
REJOICE at his birth. (Luke 1:13-14)
"For behold, when the sound of your greeting
reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb
for JOY. (Luke 1:44)
"And when he comes home, he calls together
his friends and his neighbors, saying to them,
'REJOICE with me, for I have found my sheep
which was lost!' "I tell you that in the same
way, there will be more JOY in heaven over
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
righteous persons who need no repentance.
(Luke 15:6-7)
How do we experience JOY?
J
O
Y
How do we experience JOY?
J esus- the JOY Giver
O
Y
Who is Jesus?
Who is Jesus?
“for today in the city of David there has
been born for you a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord”
Savior- “a deliverer who
snatches someone from some
terrible disaster”
“ For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save that which was lost.”
(Luke 19:10)
Who is Jesus?
“for today in the city of David there has
been born for you a Savior, who is Christ
the Lord”
Christ- “the Anointed One”
Greek for “Messiah”
“He said to them, „But who do you
say that I am?‟ And Simon Peter
answered and said, „You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God.‟”
(Matt. 16:16)
Who is Jesus?
“for today in the city of David there has been born
for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”
Lord- “Master, Owner, Majesty,
Deity”
“that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow…and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.” (Phil. 2:11)
“he who has seen Me has seen the
Father” (John 14:9)
Other titles for Jesus…
> Jesus- “One Who Saves”
"She will bear a Son; and you
shall call His name Jesus, for
He will save His people from
their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
Other titles for Jesus…
> Jesus
> Prince of Peace
Other titles for Jesus…
> Jesus
> Prince of Peace
> Son of God
Other titles for Jesus…
> Jesus
> Prince of Peace
> Son of God
> Emmanuel
How do we experience JOY?
J esus- the JOY Giver
O
Y ou- the JOY Receiver
What are we like?
What are we like?
“All of us like sheep have gone
astray, each of us has turned to
his own way; but the Lord has
caused the iniquity of us all to
fall upon Him.” (Isaiah 53:6)
What are we like?
“There is none righteous, not
even one…For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of
God.” (Rom. 3:10, 23)
“And you were dead in your
trespasses and sin” (Eph. 2:1)
What gifts have we received from
Jesus?
What gifts have we received from
Jesus?
1. Redemption- for sin
“In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His
grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
What gifts have we received from
Jesus?
1. Redemption- for sin
2. Propitiation- for God‟s wrath
“and He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins…”
(1 John 2:2)
What gifts have we received from
Jesus?
1. Redemption- for sin
2. Propitiation- for God‟s wrath
3. Reconciliation- for man‟s
estrangement
“And not only this, but we also
exult in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom
we have now received the
reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11)
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled.”
By Charles Wesley
How do we experience JOY?
J esus- the JOY Giver
O [zero; nothing between you & Jesus]
Y ou- the JOY Receiver
Has anything come between you
and Jesus?
Has anything come between you
and Jesus?
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, so
neither can you unless you abide in
Me.” (John 15:4)
“These things I have spoken to you,
that My joy may be in you, and that
your joy may be made full.”
(John 15:11)
Joy Stealers…
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
2. Ungratefulness → selfishness
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
2. Ungratefulness → selfishness
3. Unconfessed sin → carnality
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
2. Ungratefulness → selfishness
3. Unconfessed sin → carnality
4. Unyieldedness → pride,
selfishness
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
2. Ungratefulness → selfishness
3. Unconfessed sin → carnality
4. Unyieldedness → pride,
selfishness
5. Unmet expectations → greed,
disappointment, comparison,
envy
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
2. Ungratefulness → selfishness
3. Unconfessed sin → carnality
4. Unyieldedness → pride,
selfishness
5. Unmet expectations → greed,
disappointment, comparison,
envy
6. Worry → control
Joy Stealers…
1. Unforgiveness → bitterness
2. Ungratefulness → selfishness
3. Unconfessed sin → carnality
4. Unyieldedness → pride,
selfishness
5. Unmet expectations → greed,
disappointment, comparison,
envy
6. Worry → control
7. Busyness → exhaustion,
frustration
Joy Stealer #8
FINALS!
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him
endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of
God.”
(Hebrews 12:2)
“Rejoice in the Lord
always; again I will
say rejoice!”
(Philippians 4:4)
How do we experience JOY?
J esus- the JOY Giver
O [zero; nothing between you & Jesus]
Y ou- the JOY Receiver
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav‟n and nature sing,
And heav‟n and nature sing,
And heav‟n, and heav‟n and nature
sing.
by Isaac Watts