Joy To The World - A Study Of Philippians- Part 5 "Joy In Givingjesus" Series

Joy to the World

A study of Philippians

Part 5

“Joy in Jesus”

Philippians 4:4

Merry Christmas

I am so glad to see each and every one of you here this morning

Over the last few weeks we have been studying joy as explained and described by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church at Philippi

We took a hard look at how to find joy in our relationships

How to find joy in our service to God and others

How to find Joy in believing

How to find joy in Giving

Today we are going to look at the source of our Joy

Jesus Christ

As we celebrate his birth

But more than that as we celebrate his life

And then

As we celebrate the “Lord’s supper “in remembrance of our King

Please open your bible to Philippians 4:4

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

Paul tells us to always be full of Joy

In spite of the circumstances

In spite of anything

Find joy

In the Lord

He says in Philippians 3:8

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

Paul shows us here in his letter to the church at Philippi

The source of his Joy

The common theme throughout this series has been Joy

And Jesus has been the key to that joy in all the areas of our lives

In order to find joy in our relationships

We must know Jesus

In order to find joy in our service

We must know Jesus

In order to find joy in our belief

We must know the right Jesus

In order to find joy in our giving

We must know Jesus

So this morning it is my prayer to show you Jesus

All of Jesus

Not Just the baby in the manger

Not Just the man on the cross

But the whole package

I believe when we see Jesus in this way

Our Joy in Jesus will grow

And I believe the joy in our lives

In all areas of our lives

Will also grow

Please open your bibles to John 1:1-5

In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]

and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.

You see Jesus’ life did not begin in the manger

His existence did not begin in Bethlehem

But his life here on earth as a human

Did

John 1:14

So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

The word

Became human

God came down to earth

----Pause-----

You are all familiar with the Christmas story

But

I believe we can never tell it enough

So

Let me read the account of Jesus

God the Son’s birth

Luke 2:1-20

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,