Joy | Christmas at DC | Pastor Johnny Mitcham
Christmas at DC
Joy
“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.” Luke 2:10 ESV
Soul Tattoo: Jesus is the only one who brings true joy.
No Jesus, No Joy / Know Jesus, Know Joy
5 reasons why people to do not receive the GOOD news:
1. Spiritual Blindness
• “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV)
• “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)
“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” —Charles Baudelaire
2. Pride and Self-Sufficiency
• “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6 NIV)
• “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 NIV)
“God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.” —Dwight L. Moody
3. Love of Sin and Worldly Pleasures
• “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19 NIV)
• “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NIV)
“Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it is hurtful.” —Benjamin Franklin
4. Fear of Persecution or Rejection
• Scripture:
• “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” (John 12:42-43 NIV)
• “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12 NIV)
The approval of God is the only thing that makes you free from the approval of man.” —Tim Keller
5. Lack of Faith or Belief in the Supernatural
• “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)
• “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV)
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” —C.S. Lewis
Soul Tattoo: Jesus is the only one who brings true joy.
No Jesus, No Joy / Know Jesus, Know Joy
5 reasons why followers of Jesus should experience GREAT joy.
1. Forgiveness of Sins and Reconciliation with God
• “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7 NIV)
• “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1 NIV)
“There is no joy like the joy of forgiveness, and no freedom like the freedom of being right with God.” —Billy Graham
2. Assurance of Eternal Life
• “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11 NIV)
• “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13 NIV)
“He who has the Son has life. He who has everything else and not the Son has nothing.” —Adrian Rogers
3. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
• “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” (Galatians 5:22 NIV)
• “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11 NIV)
“The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.” —A.W. Tozer
4. Adoption into God’s Family
• “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NIV)
• “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15 NIV)
“The Christian is not a person who has gone from being a slave to a free man. He is a person who has gone from being a slave to a son.” —Sinclair B. Ferguson
5. Purpose and Meaning in Life
•“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
• “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV)
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Soul Tattoo: Jesus is the only one who brings true joy.
No Jesus, No Joy / Know Jesus, Know Joy
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” CS Lewis