Joy
Let’s begin with Joy. How is Joy different than happiness? I think is like uncontained happiness, delight, elation.
Here is a video of Joy. That is our grandson, Zak, blowing out his birthday candles for the first time.
This is the Joy we should be feeling as Christians. Excited, Eager and bubbling over with this Joy that we should be sharing with others.
I picked Joy to the World to sing with Joy but wondered whether I should have picked,
I have that Joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart. I have that joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart to stay. And I'm so happy, so very happy, I have the love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy I have the love of Jesus in my heart.
In scripture, we are all familiar with the 100th Psalm, “Make a joyful noise, all ye lands, serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing”.
Acts 2:25 & 26 says, “What David said are really the words of Jesus, “I always see the Lord near me and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful and I will live in hope”.
Psalm 35:9 says, “I will celebrate and be joyful because you, Lord, have saved me.”
1Thessaloinians 5:16 - “Always be joyful!”
Jude1: 24 “Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence”.
Let’s make a joyful noise by singing # 270 Joy to the World verses 1 & 4.
Next let’s look at Peace
I’m sure some of us after all the excitement and joy of Christmas Eve and Day, were happy to take a moment and say, Ahh, finally, peace and quiet. We all need that calmness to gather our thoughts and strength to keep going.
I wonder if we polled people to see what their top 5 wishes would be for the New Year, how many would say, World Peace? We all definitely want it. Peace among nations, among people, among family, friends and more. We want inner peace.
Christ is the Prince of Peace.
Jen D’Esposito presented the idea of Jesus being the “piece” needed for “peace”, Perhaps sometimes we’re are missing the right Piece. Jesus is the piece to peace.
Scripture tells us:
Psalm 62:25 Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.
64:10 - May the Lord bless his people with peace and happiness and let them celebrate.
85: 8 & 10 I will listen to you, Lord God, because you promise peace
to those who are faithful and no longer foolish.
1 Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite.
Numbers 6:26 May the Lord be good to you and give you peace.
Matthew 5:9 God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!
Luke 2:14 Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.
John 14:27 - I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.
Lets join together in singing hymn # 617 Near to the Heart of God, all verses.
Next is Love
Ahh love. There are so many kinds of love. Our daughter and her family live in Philomath OR. Philomath means the love of learning. Too bad they put the Oregon State University in the bordering city of Corvallis. We all know about romantic love. And of course, we can love friends, our church, ice cream and various other things.
What about the unconditional love of a parent? Recently, I was trying not to impart some motherly advice to our daughter about some decisions they need to make. I just couldn’t help myself and when I did, I said, I won’t mention this again but I just had to say a few things. Then I said, I love you more than you can ever know. Then added, but perhaps now that you are a mom, you might have some idea. Folks, that is the kind of love God has for us. That parental, unconditional, never-ending love, one in which He tries to let us do our thing even though it may not be the right choice and yes, sometimes that nudge that maybe we don’t appreciate. God loves us so much, more than we can ever know.
That love that John 3:16 tells us, God love the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
God wants us to share love with others, too. Hear this from:
1 Corinthians 13: 1- 8 & 13 What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge?
And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive?
I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! 13 - For now there are faith, hope, and love.
But of these three, the greatest is love.
John 13: 34-35 says, But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.
Let’s join together and sign # 256 Love Has Come, verse 1
Hope
Hope is when our dog sees my husband and I put our coats on, I get my pocketbook and the car keys. She is so hopeful that we are going to take her and she will be getting a ride.
I think hope is kind of the half - glass full and expecting it to be filled. It is a positive feeling. Hope you have a nice day. Hope all your wishes come true. Hope you feel better. We never say, hope you don’t get that raise you wanted. Hope you stay sick. No, we want the best for others.
Hope is a lifeline. Those that don’t have hope, we have nothing and give up.
The Israelites had hope that the Messiah would come and save them. That hope came in our savior Jesus Christ
In scripture we hear -
Romans 12:12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.
Hebrews 6:18-20 from the Message says - We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us,(in the order of Melchizedek).
Romans 15:13 - I pray that God, who gives hope will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Ephesians 1:18 - My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.
The next hymn is # 542 My Life is in You Lord
Faith
Faith is believing or trusting in someone or something based on spiritual understanding rather than proof. In many ways Faith and Believe go together. Ever heard of a Faith Fall or Trust Fall? In a classroom I shared, a substitute teacher had the students try it. She had one boy stand on the counter and the others locked arms together to form a net sort of. Then the boy had to fall backwards and have faith that his classmates would catch him. Did he have proof they would be able to do it? No, he had to have faith. It worked. We often need to take a leap of faith as did people we read about in the Bible.
There are many stories in the Bible where people were healed due to their faith or the faith of others in Jesus. A crippled man walked, a woman healed, an officer’s servant healed, the blind could see, some raised from the dead.
Hear are other messages of Faith:
Hebrews 11:1 says - Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives proof of what we cannot see. ( Hebrews 11 is entitled The Great Faith of God’s People)
1 Peter 1:21 - And when he did come, it was to lead you to have faith in God, who raised him from death and honored him in a glorious way. That is why you have put your faith and hope in God.
Matthew 21:22 - If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.
Acts 8:17 - Peter and John placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:39 - But everyone who has faith in Jesus will be set free.
Romans 10:17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.
Galatians 2:16 - But we know that God accepts only those who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one can please God by simply obeying the Law. So we put our faith in Christ Jesus, and God accepted us because of our faith.
And then there is this passage from James 2:14-17
My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? 15 If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, 16 you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? 17 Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!
Let’s join together in the first verse of # 245 - O Come All Ye Faithful
Believe
We all believe a little differently and believe in different things. It is the way we interpret things and why we have misunderstandings and disagreements. In fact, that is why we have so many different religions. We are fortunate in our church as Jeff, who openly says we are free to disagree with him but he preaches what he understands from his readings and interpretations.
We have several creeds that have been written to help state what we believe. We usually said the Affirmation of Faith but today, please stand and join in saying the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Some scripture references for Believe -
Mark 1:15 - He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!
Mark 16:16 - Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be save. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned.
John 2: 22 - And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the scriptures and the words of Jesus.
Romans 10:9 - So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord”, and you if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death.
James 2:24 - You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what believe.
Church World Service put out this message on magnets and sent them to participants last year - Believe
there is
good in the world.
I believe God wants us to Be The Good
So for the New Year ahead take this message - We are called to not just have joy, peace, hope, love, faith and beliefs but to use all those things together to be Christians of action. Go out and do things in a way that people will know we are Christians.
Our final hymn is # 429 They’ll know we are Christians By Our Love. (1,2,4)
Benediction
From Romans 15:13
I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the Power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
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