THE ANGELS’ CANDLE (Pink Symbolizing our Joy)
“And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ “
Luke 2:10-11 (NASB)
See also Galatians 4:3-5
The pink color of the Third Advent Candle represents JOY. In “the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4), when all had been PREPARED according to God’s perfect PLAN and in fulfillment of all His promises in the Old Testament, God brought forth His Son into the world, and sent a host of angelic messengers to proclaim the joyous news of the Savior’s birth to all mankind. After centuries of waiting for the PROMISE to become reality…there was JOY in Israel. REJOICE! The long-awaited Savior is born! May you experience God’s overflowing JOY in your own heart today as you prepare to celebrate His birth anew this Christmas!
“…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…”
1 Peter 1:8 (NASB)
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Christmas 2021
The Third Sunday of Advent 12/12/21
Theme: “The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)
I. The Old Testament Prophecy (Promise) – The birthplace of Messiah (~700 B.C.) Micah 5:2 (NASB) *A clear, direct Christmas prophecy of the birthplace of Jesus
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”
II. The New Testament fulfillment – The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem (~4 B.C.) Luke 2:1-20 (NASB) *The fulfillment in Luke is known as “The Christmas Story”
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth…3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of greatjoywhichwillbeforallthepeople;11 fortodayinthecityofDavidtherehas been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.”
III. The important distinction between Christian “joy” and emotional “happiness” Psalm 16:11 (NASB) *Our relationship with God in Christ is the foundation of “joy” “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
James 1:2-4 (NASB) *Only “joy” is associated with adversity – Deeper than an emotion “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NASB) *“happiness” often associated with prosperity or blessing “In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other….”
Philippians 4:11 (NASB) *True “joy” makes true Christian “contentment” possible “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-”
The Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)
Key Terminology – Although basically synonymous, there are important distinctions
“Joy” (noun) (“joyful,” “joyous” etc. 231x NASB / 165x OT / 66x NT )
Hebrew NASB Number 8057 (93x), simchah – joy, gladness, mirth:– delight (1), ex- ceeding joy (1), extremely* (1), festival (1), gladness (34), happiness (1), joy (38), mirth (1), pleasure (6), rejoice (1), rejoiced (1), rejoicing (6)
Greek NASB Number 5479 (59x), chara – joy, delight:– greatly (1), joy (54), joyful (1), joyfully (1), joyously (1), rejoicing (1)
English- Joy is an emotion, but it is also a state (i.e. not dependent on circumstances) – the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son’s success.
- a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated [i.e. Jesus is the “source” of our joy!]
- a state of happiness or felicity (= a state of bliss = utter joy or contentment = “the joy of heaven” [yes, for “bliss” the dictionary actually included “the joy of heaven!”]
“happiness” (noun) (15x NASB / 13x O.T./ 2x N.T.)
Hebrew NASB Number 835 (45x), esher – happiness, blessedness:–
blessed (41), happy (4)
Note: This word is most often translated “blessed” – “happiness” is basically circumstantial Greek NASB Number 3107 (50x), makarios – blessed, happy:– blessed (1), blessed
(46), fortunate (1), happier (1), happy (1)
“happy” English (adjective) [Definitions from Dictionary.com] - delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person. – characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood
- favored by fortune; fortunate
Happy describes a feeling of joy, delight, or glee. It also describes something that is related to or shows joy. Happy is used in many expressions that wish good tidings to another person. Happy describes feeling really good, as when a person in a good mood that makes them smile. Happiness refers to this positive emotion.
Note: The words “joy” and “happiness” overlap in meaning as an emotion – but “joy” also expresses something deeper, a steady state which might best be described as “contentment.”
“content” (adjective) “contentment” (noun)
Greek NASB #714 (8x), arkeô – to assist, suffice:– content (3), enough (2), satisfied (1), sufficient (2) - English
- -mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are
- the state…of being contented; satisfaction; contentment
Luke 2:10-11 “Joy or Happiness?” 12/12/21
“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95:1-3 (NASB)
Key x-References – Scriptures on “joy” “happiness” and “contentment”
Galatians 4:3-7 (NASB) *God works according to His timetable – NOT ours!
“So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Psalm 63:7 (NASB) *No matter what else may happen, God’s protection brings joy! “For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.”
Psalm 51:12 (NASB) *Like in David’s life, sin may temporarily disrupt our joy “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.”
Psalm 126:5 (NASB) *Joy-ful Christians may still experience the emotion of sadness “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.”
Proverbs 15:13 (NASB) *”If your happy and you know it…your face should…show it”
“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken .”
Proverbs 17:22 (NASB) *There is even some physical benefit to living a joy-ful live “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Isaiah 12:3 (NASB) *Our salvation is the ultimate source of true Christian joy “Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation.”
Romans 15:13 (NASB) *There is a strong faith correlation between joy, hope, and peace “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NASB) *True joy is possible even in the midst of great adversity “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Genesis 30:10-13 (NASB) *The birth of a child – even a surrogate – is a happy occasion! “Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son…13 Then Leah said, ‘Happy am I! For women will call me happy.’ So she named him Asher.”
Hebrews 13:5 (NASB) *True contentment is based on our relationship with Christ “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.” cf. Deuteronomy 31:6-8
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