Adrian
Old-Sunday Worship December 14th, 2025

      • Isaiah 65:18ESV

      • Galatians 5:22–25ESV

  • Joy to the World

      • Romans 15:4–13ESV

      • Romans 15:4–13ESV

  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
  • Doxology

      • Luke 2:10–11ESV

      • John 15:8–11ESV

  • “The Gift of Joy”

    K. Adrian Scott
    December 14, 2025
    Context & Introduction.
    It is in the Gospel of Luke where we have been provided the record of the two most important births in all of human history. First, the announcement and birth of John the Baptizer, the anointed and appointed ‘forerunner’ for Jesus’ earthly ministry and apparently a cousin of Jesus since Elizabeth and Mary are related. Then, we have the story of wonder, the choice of the girl who would be the mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
    John’s birth was unique because Elizabeth had a medical condition, she was barren - “And ⌊they did not have⌋ a child, because Elizabeth was barren” (Luke 1.7, LEB). Additionally, Zacharias admits both he and Elizabeth were advanced in years and past the age where they would even expect to naturally bare a child - “And they were both advanced ⌊in years” (1.7b). The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012). Elizabeth becomes pregnant despite the medical diagnosis, and John, the last of the Old Testament prophets was born - “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John. 14 And ⌊you will experience joy and exultation⌋, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is* still in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready.” (LEB, Lk 1:13–17).
    Then in Luke chapter two we have the details of the divine choice of the young adolescent, Mary, who would eventually give birth to the child, Jesus. What an unlikely choice she was because of her age, because she was only engaged but had no husband, and third, because she had not had a physical relationship with a man, which makes becoming pregnant pretty difficult!
    Telling the Story.
    *There is an angelic announcement to Mary -
    “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (LEB, Lk 1:26–31). Of course the confirmation of such an announcement is the realization of the prophesy announced by the angel Gabriel - “And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” LEB, Lk 2:7).
    *Then there was an angelic announcement to some shepherds who were going about their daily duties -
    “8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was 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 those with whom he is pleased!” LEB, Lk 2:8–14).
    Paul the Apostle in his writing to the saints at Philippi commands the saints in Philippians 4.4 saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
    Next, I would like to talk about the ‘what’, the ‘who’, the ‘why’, the ‘when’ and the ‘how’ of Christian joy.
    a. The ‘What’ of Christian joy.
    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5.22). In addition to being a manifestation of the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit, joy is also a virtue which is called a “particular moral excellence” (Dictionary.com). Where the fruit of ‘peace’ would seem to be passive, the result of God having done something unique in our souls, joy is also the result of the abiding Holy Spirit. The fruit of ‘joy’ might also be thought of as being an offensive weapon in the life and heart of the believer when we are admonished to “Rejoice” because we are in Christ and cannot be take out of Christ. A joyless life is a life void of the Holy Spirit.
    a. what joy is not. John is not the synonymous with happiness. Happiness can be fickle, fleeting; it can fluctuate according to our circumstances, and can be sentimental and sometimes fleeting (it doesn't stick around). Happiness by our cultural definition is emotion based, but not joy.
    b. The ‘Who’ of Christian joy or rejoicing.
    Paul makes it clear that the cause and object of our joy or rejoicing is Christ - “Rejoice in the Lord.” In regards to our spiritual life, we must not rejoice or praise ourselves or any other creature or one of God’s creation, but we are to Praise or rejoice in the Lord!
    c. The ‘Why’ of Christian Joy. )1 John 1.1-4)
    “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (ESV).
    Rejoice or have joy because Christ, the living Word of God has come! God’s intervention into the human sin problem; god’s proposed marriage to an otherwise unfit life partner, the Church. Christ has come; the personification of holiness has come to the unholy and made possible believers are justified and sanctified by the Spirit and Word of God! Be joyful church because Christ is sufficient and nothing need to be added to the gift of Christ! Rejoice because Christ satisfies God the Father’s demands for sacrifice. Expess our joy because God did for us what we could not do for ourselves!
    There is good news that the sentence once imposed upon all of guilty humanity has been lifted by none other then God Himself because of the work of God’s Son. Rejoice because we are justified by faith and not by our works. Have joy because Christ’s righteousness is your righteousness and mine! Be joyful that Christ came and eventually died and erased the sin of every repentant soul from heaven’s accounting ledger! Shout for joy because our lives were not cut off before our sin was paid for! Shout hallelujah because you and I deserved punishment for our transgressions, but the Lord extended His grace and favor upon us and instead of punishment upon us, God placed the punishment intended for me upon His Son, Jesus! Rejoice or have joy over the wonder of life, the reflection of Christ’s beauty in creation. Praise God for the joy of true friendship, for the wonder of marriage, the fellowship of the saints, the stability of Christ’s Church. Rejoice or resonate joy because of the rewards of faith, the encouragement of hope, and the love and power of the Holy Spirit!
    d. The ‘When’ of ‘Christian Joy “Rejoice in the Lord always”! (Phil. 4.4).
    This is the particularly difficult part of Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians - “Rejoice in the Lord always.” It is difficult because we don’t always readily see a reason to rejoice or praise God because we do not know God’s plans for us. We kave to rejoice in spite of our circumstances or the condition we find ourselves in. ‘No matter what’ Paul says, “Rejoice!” Because present circumstances or conditions cannot take away what we have, Christ’s salvation! The Apostle sets the proper example before those to whom he is writing this letter that abounds with joy because he is in a Roman jail as he pens this letter. But Paul knew that no jail or guard; no prison or chains; no fetters or handcuffs; no doctrine or dogma; no ecclesiastical rule or religious hierarchy can bind God’s Sovereign will for our lives.So, give thanks! No physic illness can impede the work of God’s Spirit; no loss of finances or material possessions can lessen the invaluable gift of and neither can any present or future condition or circumstance take away what we have; the salvation of God in Christ!
    e. The ‘How’ of Christian Joy - “ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15.5).
    Here John is describing our union with Christ - Christ in us and we in him. We are joined with Christ by His salvation. Just as we are branches of the vine (tree), our joy is ‘in’ Christ. Every branch that is ‘in him’ is expected to yield fruit, much fruit because the branches receive their essential strength and vitality to grow from the tree. No one will grow to exhibit Christ’s joy ‘outside’ of Christ because “He is the true vine, or the vine possessing all truth” (Ellicott’s Commentary).
    Imagine for a moment a tree with branches spreading out wide and high; there are signs of life everywhere - because both leaves and appropriate fruit from the lowest to the highest branches that stretch up to heaven. Yet, even in this tree’s vastness, “there is only one source of power and energy because it is supported by one life “ (MacLaren)! All that Christ has accomplished He has accomplished on our behalf because we are ‘in Him.’ Rejoice in prayer (1.4), praise God for Christian fellowship (2. 1-2); be joyful in sacrificing or giving (2. 17-18) and rejoice in the care of the Church (4. 10).
    The Text - Telling the Story.
    Luke 2. 11; “Born to you this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”
    First, we explicitly see that the Savior is no longer coming, but He has come. He is here!
    Secondly, the Savior is born, as opposed to being created as some erroneous doctrine insists. The Savior comes from among us, fully human yet fully divine, a Savior. Something about this conception and birth is clearly different, however. The Savior may have come from the womb of a woman but not from the seed of a man! The Savior must come from God, the only begotten of the father, and not from a man. In order to be born perfect, that is free from the stain of human sin this savior must have been conceived by One who is free from sin and that is only God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus bore the spiritual character and personality traits of His Father, by the miracle of God’s direction intervention into human affairs.
    Third, the Savior is born “to you.” He was born specifically for us! This is personal because our sin offended God and it required a Savior, our lostness demanded a Shepherd/Leader, and our bondage required a Deliverer. “Born to us” because no one else living then or now qualifies as a Savior. “Born to us” and ‘for’ us says that the One hosed Him is familiar with the tortured condition of the sinful human soul that was torn apart from God by a rebellious sinful nature; estranged from our Maker because of our desire for self-determination.
    Fourth, the one born is “a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Here is God’s big announcement from the voice of angels; Jesus, our Savior, was sent to us by God the Father! The undeniable identification of who this Savior is - “Christ the Lord.” The Savior’s arrival had been expected for generations and how He is here, “Jesus Christ.” Christ means Jesus is the One born as the ‘Anointed of God’ and by being crowned “Lord” meaning Jesus is the sovereign ruler; superior in power and authority over all other authorities. This proclamation is without controversy; Jesus is Lord of all! That means nothing happens without the Lord’s approval or consent; that is Sovereignty! A flower cannot grow, a cow cannot bare a calf; a bee cannot sting or a governor rule with this Lord’s approval. The birth of Jesus is a distinct reminder of the Sovereign God, who rules over all, desires to be reconciled to His creation, and no Roman ruler, Jewish counsel or Gentile blindness would stop God from executing such a plan. John said it, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3.16).
    How long had the world waited for this Lord to come and with His coming represent the hope of reconciliation between god and humanity? How long have we waited for the renewal of all things when all things will be reconciled to our sovereign Lord in both heaven and earth? “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”
    Joy that hope has come! Peace has come! Love has come! Reconciliation has come! Amen.

      • Luke 2:10–11ESV

      • John 15:5–11ESV

      • Luke 1:7ESV

      • Luke 1:13–17ESV

      • Luke 1:26–31ESV

      • Luke 2:7ESV

      • Luke 2:8–14ESV

      • Philippians 4:4ESV

      • Galatians 5:22ESV

      • 1 John 1:1–4ESV

      • Philippians 4:4ESV

      • John 15:5–11ESV

      • Luke 2:11ESV

      • John 3:16ESV

      • Romans 5:8ESV

      • Luke 7:48ESV

  • Go! Tell It on the Mountain

      • 2 Corinthians 13:14ESV

Adrian
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