Rejoice!

There is no evidence Jesus Christ was born on 25 December, but there is evidence to the contrary. In fact, we don’t even know the exact year of His birth, forget the date and month. It is not impossible to go back 2000 years and pinpoint the exact date of the Lord Jesus’ birth, given the tools available to us today, but they don’t want to do it. They are afraid if they do, their findings will blow up to smithereens the myth of Christmas and Jesus’ “birthday’’ and blow up the Multi-billion dollar business the festival supports.

Whatever might be the truth, there can’t be two opinions that the Almighty God actually became a man and lived among us and this historical truth is unparalleled

 In history. The angel who appeared to the shepherds announced  he was  bringing them the good news of great joy for all the people in Luke 2:10-11.

The theme of joy is found in more than 500 places in history.

Paul wrote his letters to the Philippians from a Roman prison, waiting to be executed. In its four short chapters, he mentions ‘joy’ about a dozen times, directly and indirectly. The Christian life is a joyous life. In Christ, the Christian “rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1Peter 1:8), in spite of his temporary afflictions, (1Peter 1:6). Christian joy is no mere gaiety that knows no gloom but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhances it. “The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus” (Act 5:41).

1. Salvation is the primary reason for a believer’s joy. Jesus said in John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete”. There is no greater joy than the assurance that our sins were forgiven, that the kingdom of God is among us, that we have inherited the eternal life right here on earth, that we share the glory of the Lord with Him; that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us every day.  Ephesians 4, 5 proclaims that “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.  God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ”.

“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness” sang Hanna when her sustained prayers brought in the desired result (2 Samuel 2)

Psalms 40:16 says ‘Our LORD, let your worshipers rejoice and be glad. They love you for saving them. King David begged God to restore the joy of his salvation. His adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder has brought him no joy. Jesus affirmed that when a single soul is saved, there is celebration in heaven!

2. Christians rejoices in His grace, because of His grace. God told St. Paul “My grace is sufficient for you’’ even as He refused to heal him of his chronic illness.. We rejoice because God is sufficient for us, the Lord is our shepherd and we are never in want. “First seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness, then all rest will be given to you”. Rejoicing is the natural result of having our needs fulfilled. It is in joy the Psalmist was able to say “The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not be in any want’’. The Lord will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in heaven (Phillip. 4:9). By his grace, they are justified freely (Romans 3:24).  For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).  As Paul pronounces the benediction in 2Corinth 13:14 notice how he had reversed the order of the Trinity placing the Son at the top! “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”. That’s to emphasize the superiority of grace.

3. Christians rejoice because of God’s unfailing presence in their lives. The psalmist tells God “Because You have been my help, I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings”. (Psalms 63:7).  The Holy Spirit indwells us, comforts us and keeps us protected from the evil that surrounds us as we live down here. There are numerous promises in the Bible that affirm us we don’t lose our joy when persecuted or are facing hardship. God promised Joshua that “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live for I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you” (Joshua 1:5).

More examples are “I will send you another comforter; Who touches you touches my eye; “No weapon designed against you will prosper; I have engraved your figure on my palm; my presence will go with you; He has caused us to become a kingdom of priests. The Lord  is my shepherd, I shall not be in want, etc. St. Paul contends “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans  8:38). The promises are too many to print here!

4. The work of the Word of God in their life is another source of eternal joy.

There are 170 verses on this theme in the Holy Bible– claiming that the law (or word of God) is the fountainhead of everlasting joy. Psalms 119:92 If your law had not been the source of my joy, I would have died from my sufferings.

Nehemiah 8:10-12 when Nehemiah had completed the work on the wall, he started a spiritual reformation among the Jews, with the help of Ezra. When the people returned to their homes, they celebrated by eating and drinking and by sharing their food with those in need, because they had understood what had been read to them (the Word of God), and great festivities took place.

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Psalms 19:10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

John 1:14 The Word became human and made His home among us.  

The Bible has a promise for every conceivable human situation. The dependability and infallibility of God’s word bring us joy. Being able to study His words is a privilege--before a famine for God’s word comes (See Amos 8:11)

5. Spreading the Word or helping those who are in Gospel work should be a Christian’s joyful duty.

Phillip. 1:18 Paul speaks approvingly even those who preached the Word just to spite him! It is our duty to bring joy into the lives of people around us by giving them the gospel. ‘Woe unto me if I don’t preach the gospel” says Paul. Look at the Thessalonians’ example:

1Th 1:6-8  They received the message with great joy amidst trials and passed it on, becoming an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. News about their faith in God has gone everywhere.

Jesus said he won’t return until the gospel is preached all over the world. That the word is being preached everywhere is another source of joy for Christians.

To sum up:

Luke 10:20  Jesus tells the seventy disciples that they must rejoice because their names are written in Heaven, not because the demons obeyed them.

Mat 5:11-12  Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad. You’ll be rewarded in heaven.

Beaten up severely, bleeding and tied up, Paul spent the night in prison with Silas, singing and praising God! It is not our circumstances that make us happy. Jesus actually wants us to be happy when we are in dire straights:

Joyousness  doesn’t depend upon material conditions, what the world calls success or blessings.  Jesus never promised a rose garden to believers. On the contrary, He warned them of trials and persecutions. Paul taught in Act 14:22  "We must pass through many troubles to enter the kingdom of God”. Many rich are unhappy while the poor are happier.

Finally, it’s not only the angels, but even God is happy when you obey Him. He promises through the prophet:

Jeremiah  32:41  ‘’I will rejoice over them to do good for them, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all my heart and soul”.

Habakkuk experienced and expressed his joy in his song in Habakkuk 3:17--

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

><><><><><><><><><