December 17, 2017 "Christmas Joy"

December 17, 2017     Christmas Joy * I Thessalonians 5. 16-24 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

You have heard that song that gets us all moving:

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy [slide # 1 I’ve got the joy…]

Down in my heart, Down in my heart,

Down in my heart,

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy  [slide # 2 leaping for joy]

Down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay.

I’ve got the love of Jesus…. [slide # 3  I’ve got the love…]

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding…. [slide # 4 I’ve got the peace…]

Down in my heart. That is where it should be. Down in our hearts to stay, and it should stay there always.

Whatever journey we are on, we need the joy of the Lord because the joy of the Lord is a primary source of strength for the Christian. [slide  # joy….sheep]

Paul spent about three weeks with the church in Thessalonica. [slide # 6 Greek church] No doubt, he preached and taught. This letter shows that Paul taught the church in Thessalonica to rejoice always. The words that follow in his teaching show us just how we can rejoice always.

In verse 17 he says “pray without ceasing.” That is talk to God about everything and God will surely guide us and give us insights and comfort so we can endure anything that comes our way. It is good to pray and ask God for help when we go to the doctors, when we talk to someone that is hard to talk to, when we need ideas on how to fulfill a dream, when we need moral, physical, or spiritual strength to do good. [slide # 7 God wants to talk…]

Verse 17 says pray and we know how prayer can lead us to joy. Verse 19 says do not quench the spirit; when the fires of good are glowing in us and around us, we need not pour a bucket of water on it. It is good to be a fan of God’s good work and fan the flames and decide to be a part of whatever God has planned. God’s plan always includes some joy. God’s plan may leave room for many challenges, but as Psalm 20 says weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning. [slide # 8 joy comes.. ]

Next, Paul says in verse 20 we should not despise the words of the Prophets. Prophets are anyone who speaks God’s truth to direct us. Though it is up to each of us to decide the answer to Pilate’s question, “What is truth?”, we are still responsible for responding to God’s truth whether we care about it or not. [slide # 9 prophets speak]

If we ride through a stop sign [slide # 10 bus/stop sign] or loiter too long in a park after sundown, [slide # 11 sundown/man] we are responsible whether we care or not. We are held accountable for our trespasses against God and God’s creation. The Spirit tells us what to do and where to go in ways that take into consideration who we are. We are all unique and God deals with us individually.

There is no one who speaks to us more than the Holy Spirit speaks to us. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the scriptures, through circumstances and through persons God chooses to use whether for a moment or for a lifetime. Listening to God’s word will enable us always to find a reason to rejoice. [slide # 12 balloons]

After all of Paul’s teaching – reminding the church to rejoice always, to pray, to not quench the spirit and to not despise the prophets who speak on God’s behalf, Paul continues to offer the hope that God – the God of peace - would sanctify them, set them apart in loving arms, [slide # 13 wrapped in Jesus’ arms] for a good work that is pure and holy and special.

Furthermore, Paul suggests in verse 24 that God will do that, [slide # 14 God will do this] will sanctify those who want to be sanctified and set apart. When God calls us aside for a special job, assignment, blessing, or sacrifice, joy is always a by-product. [slide # 15 there is joy…]

Every day, we can hold on to the fact that joy is a part of the journey. We can hold on to the fact that God is with us, will never leave us, and loves us more than we can ever fathom.

You have heard the story written by Dr. Seuss, the son of German immigrants. [slide # 16 Dr. Seuss] He wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas. For whatever reason, perhaps a heart that was too sizes too small, the Grinch did not like Christmas. [slide # 17 How the Grinch/book] So, he stole all the gifts, all the toys, and all the food from the little town called Whoville. He was sure there would not be any Christmas if nobody had any stuff. Then he got a surprise on Christmas day.

Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,

Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"

"It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" [slide # 18 grinch at table]

So it is, Jesus is the reason for the Season[slide # 19 crèche]   and good Christians can rejoice always because Christmas always comes whether we care or not, whether we are ready or not, [slide # 20 are you ready…]in spite of what we have or don’t have. It is Christmas, and Christ is with us, enabling us to rejoice. Amen. [slide # 21 …love in the heart…joy in the home]