Fullness of Joy | Sunday, December 12, 2021

I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:7–11)

In God's presence is fullness of joy—and the coming of Christ makes that joy accessible to us now.

Words Worth Focusing On

Those of you who know me know that I consume a lot of information. I listen to a lot of podcasts, lectures, talks, and sermons; I read a lot of books and constantly take in news articles, periodicals, and research studies. I'm not the only one. We live in an information age, and we are bombarded constantly by a flow of new information coming at us at an almost overwhelming pace.

As a result, we have something of a selection pressure on us to quickly triage and arbitrage the information coming at us. We categorize it, decide whether it's useful or interesting, helpful or not. A lot of what flies at us simply scrolls past and falls into the trash can of our brains. Even now, as you listen to me, much of what I say you're probably filtering through casually rather than deeply engaging with.

But as we open the Scriptures this morning, I want to ask you to really focus on the words I'm about to read. They were written nearly 3,000 years ago by King David of Israel, considered the great psalmist of Israel, in Psalm 16 beginning at verse 7.

A Question About Death and Heaven

It's clear that this passage—especially verses 10 and 11—has a focus on the Messiah and the resurrection of Jesus. But I think there's more to it than just that.

Several weeks ago a man who attends our church emailed me a question. He was reading about the second coming of Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4, where Paul says "the dead in Christ will rise first." In Paul's chronology, the rising of the dead in Christ seems to come right at the time Jesus returns. So his question was: when we die, do we immediately go to be with the Lord, or do we not rise to be with the Lord until His second coming? That's a really good and important question.

One of the verses I gave him in my answer was from this passage in Psalm 16. David says, in effect, "My heart is glad and I rejoice; my flesh is at rest and at peace in this hope I have." Those are the very topics we've been talking about during this season of Advent—peace and hope. David rejoices because, he says, "You, O God, will not leave my soul in the grave among the dead, nor will You allow me to rot in the grave. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy."

Hope That Quiets the Fear of Death

It can be distressing to think about death. A lot of people don't like to think about it, because death is near the top of the list of things people fear. The man who sent me the question was clearly distressed about the uncertainties surrounding death. But three thousand years ago, David said: I have peace and I have hope, which gives me gladness, because I'm not going to rot in the grave. I'm going to walk on the path of life and come into God's presence, where there will be fullness of joy forever.

When we join David's words with what Jesus says in John 14, our hope and peace only increase:

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

When Thomas said, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus answered with those famous words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Three thousand years ago David said, "God, I trust that You will show me the path of life." A thousand years later, the Son of David said, "I am the way." So when you think about the future, when you think about the distress of death, Jesus says: trust in Me, and do not be troubled.

What Would Fullness of Joy Be Like?

On this third Sunday in Advent, I want to ask you two questions. First: what would fullness of joy look like or be like? I've been meditating on that question this past week.

If each of us wrote down our answers, we'd come up with different things, but eventually we'd see common themes. Fullness of joy would be connected to being close to and united with people we love. It would be connected to safety and security—not having to worry about provision or protection. It would be connected to being free of guilt and shame, free of worry and anxiety.

So fullness of joy is the fullness of connectedness and relationship. It's the fullness of rest and provision. It's the completeness of forgiveness and salvation, so that we're not gripped by shame or guilt. And it's the fullness of peace and hope.

Would You Want It—and Is It Possible?

The second question is this: how many of you would want fullness of joy? You'd have to be a complete fool not to want it. But some people resist the idea because they simply don't think it's possible.

Yet I want to show you today that Christ's arrival makes fullness of joy accessible. How do I know? Because He is the way, the truth, and the life—the path into the Father's presence—and in God's presence is fullness of joy.

This is the promise we have from Isaiah:

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light... You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before You according to the joy of the harvest... For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given... And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:2–6)

The promised Son—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—is the source and bringer of great joy. Isaiah describes that joy as the joy of bringing in the harvest. Updated to 21st-century language, it's like the joy of a huge end-of-the-year bonus, or the joy of those dividing the spoil—the joy of the winner of the battle, or the winner of the Super Bowl.

Good Tidings of Great Joy

We find this joy announced in the New Testament at the nativity. The angel came to the shepherds in the field:

Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10–11)

The coming of Christ into this world is the bringing in of great joy. And in Isaiah 7:14 we read another prophetic Advent verse: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." That word, Immanuel, means God with us.

What does that mean for our access to joy? King David wrote that in God's presence is fullness of joy—because God Himself is joy, the embodiment of joy. So when Christ comes into the world, He doesn't merely make joy available; Jesus is the fullness of joy embodied. When you receive Christ into your life, you are in the presence of the fullness of joy and receiving His joy into your life.

Joy Now, Not Only Later

The ultimate promise is that Jesus is the path into the eternal presence of God—into a joy that is increasing and everlasting. Revelation 21 says that in His kingdom "there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain." If you're a Christian today, that's your hope: a sure and steadfast hope that you will be with the Lord in His presence.

But that leaves a question: what about now? Is my hope for fullness of joy something I only have to wait for in heaven? If joy were only for the next life, that would be a sad state. I don't think so. I believe we can begin to experience joy in Christ right now. By faith in Christ, we receive a joy that is increasing unto abundance for eternity.

While studying this week, I came across a pastor's website where he wrote: "One of the greatest transformations I experienced upon becoming a Christian is the realization of genuine peace and joy even when the circumstances around me swirl out of my control." That has absolutely been my experience, and my observation of others who walk with the Lord.

Where Hope, Peace, and Joy Come From

How do we lay hold of this genuine peace and joy even in difficult circumstances? First, we receive the saving grace of Christ. That grace brings peace with God, hope from God, and the ultimate joy of God in eternity. Paul ties all of this together in Romans 5:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:1–5)

All the Advent themes are here—hope, peace, and joy. Where do they come from? They come as we are justified by faith. When we trust in Christ, we immediately have peace with God; that peace gives us hope for eternity; and we have rejoicing in the midst of any circumstance, even through tribulations.

Abiding in the Vine

But how can we grow now in our experience of increasing joy? One of the best answers comes from Jesus in John 15:

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser... Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing... If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love...

Then note verse 11: "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." The fruit of fullness of joy in my life is the result of abiding in Christ. Paul lists joy among the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

How We Abide

So how do we abide in Christ? We abide in His word and allow His word to abide in us. We abide in His word by going through the teaching of the Scriptures together, as we do here every week. But then His word needs to abide in us—by reading it every day, thinking about it, meditating on it, memorizing it, studying it.

We also abide in Christ as we believe what His word says and do what His word teaches. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love." And we abide in Him as we remain in and engage with His body, the church. Jesus is the vine, and we, His church, are the branches connected to one another.

There is much more that could be said—entire books are written on abiding in Christ—but it boils down to this: the experience of increasing joy is ours as we abide in Christ, connected to Him, to His people, and to His word.

Joy Even in Tribulation

This doesn't mean you'll never have difficult times. You will go through challenging things, just as Paul said in Romans 5—we rejoice even in tribulations. But even in the midst of trying circumstances, you can lay hold of a deep inner peace and joy.

Paul wrote of being exceedingly joyful in tribulation. He told the Corinthians that the Philippians, in a great trial of affliction, experienced an abundance of joy. In Colossians, Paul linked suffering and joy. Jesus, in Hebrews 12, endured the horrors of the cross "for the joy that was set before Him." James says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials."

How is any of this possible? It's possible because joy is the result of faith and trust in God. It is the byproduct of salvation—David speaks of "the joy of Your salvation." It is the fruit of abiding in Christ. And it is available because the King has come. That's why every Christmas we sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!"

An Invitation and a Word About Pruning

Maybe you find yourself in a place where you don't have hope, you don't have peace, and you're lacking joy. I want you to know these things are found in Christ Jesus. In Him we have a hope that is sure and steadfast, an anchor for our soul. We have a peace that surpasses understanding, even when everything seems to be falling apart. And we can have a joy—an inner gladness—because of all Christ has done for us. All of it is accessible as you put your trust in Jesus Christ.

But if you're already a Christian and you're lacking this fullness of joy, remember that the fruit of fullness of joy is the result of abiding in Christ. This holiday season, plug into Jesus—connect with His word, connect with God in prayer, connect with others in the body of Christ—and see if your joy does not begin to increase.

Sometimes, too, there needs to be pruning. Jesus said every branch that does not bear fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire. There can be unfruitful branches in my life—things producing stress, anxiety, and the loss of joy, often connected to social media or the corporate news media. Sometimes I just need to cut those things off so I can plug into God and His word. If you're lacking joy right now, I encourage you to do the same.

Closing Prayer

God, I pray for anyone tuning into this broadcast, whether it's the day we launch it or weeks, months, or years from now. Lord, You know where those people are right now. I pray that You draw them by Your Spirit to draw near to You, and that in drawing near they might experience Your hope—a hope that is sure and steadfast, an anchor for the soul that makes it possible to endure whatever difficult thing we go through.

Jesus, You said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I pray for that restless person watching right now, that You draw them to You, that they would come and experience Your peace and Your rest. As they connect with You, with Your word, and with brothers and sisters in the church, may they begin to experience a joy that is increasing unto abundance forever.

Ultimately, Lord, we have the hope that we will be with You in Your presence. To be absent from the body is to be present with You, and there we will experience fullness of joy forever, pleasures forevermore. But though we're not there yet, I pray we can begin to experience Your joy right now.

And Lord, I pray for Your church—those who have already experienced Your peace, Your hope, and Your joy—that this Christmas season we would be able to share those things with others. There are many people around us who are restless, lacking hope, lacking joy. I pray we would be able to give those gifts as we share the good news of Your grace with them. For we ask this in Jesus' name, amen.