Unexpected: Week 2 - Unexpected Joy

WEEK 2: Unexpected Joy Let’s open our Bibles together to Isaiah 9. Last week we started our Christmas series called Unexpected: The Story That Changed The World. Christmas sprang from a Hopeless situation. By human definition, mankind fell, creation was cursed, and hope was lost, but God promised to send a Deliverer. That Deliverer came in a dark hour of human history when no one expected it and he brought hope to a world that didn’t deserve it, but desperately needed it. Isaiah 9 is a prophecy given 750 years before Jesus was born and it gives us a glimpse of the bleak background of Christmas… Isaiah 9:2-7 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Today, we are going to be focusing on Unexpected Joy. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 1. The Definition of Joy: English: The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. Biblical joy is that, but it goes deeper than that. God is Joyful! He is the source of Joy. He rejoiced over creation declaring it good, he sings and rejoices over His people, He takes pleasure in accomplishing His plans (Making David king and rescuing him). Jesus took joy in the fear of the Lord, He was “anointed… with the oil of joy”, He found joy in accomplishing God’s will (the cross), Jesus talks about someone entering heaven as entering into the joy of our Master, “There is Joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents”. The Holy Spirit possesses and produces Joy, Roman 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”, 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit”. Christian joy is a good feeling (or emotion) in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world. - John Piper Warren Wiersbe defines joy as “that inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances.” 
 True Christian Joy is a product of the Holy Spirit: “The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23) Believers is Scripture found their ultimate source of joy and satisfaction in Yahweh (Psalm 32:11). They rejoiced in Him because of His salvation (Psalm 40:16; 64:10; 63:11; 51:12), His justice (Proverb 21:15), His protection (Psalm 63:7), His word (Psalm 119:111, Jeremiah 15:16) 2. The Promise of Joy: Isaiah prophesied through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that our mourning would be turned to Joy. Happy and happiness are found in Scripture around 30 times. Joy and rejoice appear over 300 times. There is no explicit difference in the Bible’s use of Happiness and Joy. They are interchangeable. I have heard it taught that: 1) Happiness is a feeling, but joy is not. 2) Happiness is fleeting, but joy is everlasting. 3) Happiness depends on circumstances or other people, but joy is a gift from God. 4) Happiness is worldly, but joy is divine. But we do not see that distinction made in Scripture. But, there are different types of joy and happiness. There is a joy that comes from the world, such as “the fleeting pleasures of sin” spoken of in Hebrews 11:25 “choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin”. We can find joy in the pleasures of sin… for a season! There is a temporary happiness and an eternal happiness. The question is where do we find our Joy? Do we find it in God or in the world? Spiritual Joy (Joy that proceeds from the Spirit of God) is: - Lasting Joy Psalm 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. John 16:22 (Upper Room Discourse - Jesus) So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. - Satisfying Joy Psalm 4:7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. - Joy is Commanded Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Saint Augustine prayed, “Father, command what you will and grant what you command.” 3. The Arrival of Joy: 
 Luke 1:44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Luke 2 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,  and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. In Jewish culture, significant events like childbirth or weddings are generally called sim-chah. An expression using sim-chah and sa-son, the two most used words for joy are said in all Jewish weddings. Matthew 2 tells the story of the wise men who came to worship the newborn King: 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. There are eight Greek words for joy in the New Testament. Chara means joy, calm delight, or inner gladness. It is related to chairo [khah’-ee-ro], which means to rejoice and charis [khar’-ece], which means grace. We rejoice because of grace. It is the awareness of God’s grace and favor through Jesus. It causes us to celebrate. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Charles Spurgeon said it best, “believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are, not from where they are, but from whose they are, not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord.” The Christmas child was born to save sinners. He is God with us. He lived the life we could never live… perfect obedience to God and fulfillment of the law of God. He died as a sacrifice for our sin and He rose from the dead. He offers Hope and Joy to all who believe in Him. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Application: 1. Joy is Available! 2. Joy is Commanded! 3. Joy can not be hidden!