Joy to the World:

This is the season of Joy. Jesus is born. God had manifested his great strategy to defeat Satan and reconcile the world to Himself. The battle is not over with yet but the end has been determined. Praise God!

In thinking on Christmas I thought I remembered the bible saying the angels were singing “Joy to the World”. Not true. Here is what th bible says the Shepard’s said:

Mat 2:10 and seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!

Do we have “exceedingly great joy” about a sign of Jesus? A sign could be the bible, answered prayer, a personal victory over sin, provision, family, etc.  Do we have joy in our life? Do we rejoice exceedingly? What would this look like for us?

Here is what the word joy means

Joy; cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: – gladness
Total KJV occurrences: 59 times

Here is the song we sing at Christmas trying to rejoice exceedingly…

In our present environment, I don’t see much “cheerfulness, that is, calm delight” coming out of my/our world. I am so occupied with the world that I don’t prepare in my heart room for Jesus. I wonder what that would look like.

Here is some of the Bible’s commentary on how to have joy.

• Luk 15:10  Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
• Luk 10:17  And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us in thy name.
• Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
  Luk 6:23  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
• Mat 2:10  And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
• Joh 15:11  I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.
• Joh 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be fulfilled.
• James 1:2  “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials.”

How could we ever consider going through difficulties and trials a reason to feel joy? Joy is a declaration (consider) not a rush or an emotion. They will follow.

Do any of the above turn you on?

Are you declaring joy in your life? Let us declare our joy this season and the coming year.

We can’t make the world joyful but we can experience joy within ourselves and pray we infect others. Be a “joy” influence this season.

Christmas is a time of joy. But the noise level is so high it is hard for us to hear the voice of God.

Con and I wish you a merry Christmas.