Sermon Reflections from JOY | ALEX HARDT | December 15, 2024
Pastor Alex was preaching on his favorite subjects this week- JOY! He exuded joy as he presented his points and left us all feeling better, uplifted and encouraged that God’s Joy is answered totally in JESUS!
Pastor Alex pointed us to the prophet Zephaniah for proof of the explicable and total joy that God brings into our lives. Zephaniah 3:14-20 has so many tangible proofs that God’s joy is beyond measure.
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart, Rejoice!
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies. Enemies gone.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil. No fear! God has it handled!
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save; God Saves!
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love; He rejoices over me!
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach. No more shame.
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors. No fear! God has it handled!
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth. No more shame.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised We are His.
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes God restores!
before your eyes,” says the Lord.
As we look at this passage, we see that God eliminates fear and restores. What better source of complete joy than to have nor more tears and shame and be free from the oppression of sin. God’s joy is complete filling our hearts with love, joy and peace!
Did you notice that the restoration and joy caused the Israelites to sing and rejoice? It was their first response from the heart. David also describes such feelings in Psalm 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” and in Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Pastor Alex reminded us that true worship is an outward expression of our inward joy. Have you discovered this?
Lastly, Pastor Alex wanted us to see that joy is not content to sit on the shelves of our lives. Joy demands action! Don’t you agree? When you are really joyful about something it spills out and over and you cannot seem to keep it to yourself? The Wiseman rejoiced at finding the savior and worshipped him with joy by presenting him with kingly gifts. The woman at the well was overcome with joy upon meeting Jesus and learning about eternal life. She could not contain herself and went and told everyone in the village and they came to see Jesus too. Who can you tell this Christmas season about Jesus and the joy you have in Him?
Linda
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