The Choices That Create Joy In Your Life*
Luke 1:26-38,47; Matthew 1:18-21; Nehemiah 8:10; Matthew 2:1-3, 8-11; Psalm 51:12
Westland Baptist Church
Roy Meadows, Lead Pastor
December 3, 2023
“JOY” is mentioned 8 times in the Christmas story.
JOY is: “the settled assurance that God is in control of every detail in my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.”
From CHOOSE JOY by Kay Warren (2012)
3 CHOICES THAT WILL RESTORE YOUR JOY
1st DESTROYER OF Joy: ANXIETY
WHEN MARY WAS AFRAID, SHE CHOSE TO TRUST GOD & ACCEPT HIS PLAN.
Luke 1:26-30 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:31-33 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Luke 1:34-37 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Luke 1:38 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary: “My spirit finds its JOY in God, my Savior!” Luke 1:47 (GW)
2nd DESTROYER OF Joy: RESENTMENT OVER A HURT
WHEN JOSEPH WAS HURT, HE CHOSE TO OFFER GRACE & LET IT GO.
Matthew 1:18-19 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because
Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Matthew 1:20-21 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “ …for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.”
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3RD DESTROYER OF Joy: CONFUSION
WHEN THE WISE MEN WERE CONFUSED, THEY CHOSE TO FOLLOW GOD’S LIGHT 1 STEP AT A TIME.
Matthew 2:1-3 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew 2:9-10 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the JOY of your salvation…