Fullness of Joy | Sunday, December 15, 2024

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 the grave, 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)

When the heaviness of this world threatens to convince us that joy will never return, Christ comes as joy embodied.

Returning to the Themes of Advent

Christmas is just ten days away, and once again it's the most wonderful time of the year. Yet as I've thought about that, I'm aware that for many in our church the last several months — or this whole year — have been a challenging time. It is hard to be happy when you're going through a difficult time. It's actually very easy to begin to believe joy will never return.

We all live in a fallen, broken world, so whether you're a Christian or not, you will encounter trials. It's in those difficult times that we need to remind ourselves of important themes from Scripture. That's one reason I enjoy returning each year to the teachings associated with Christmas.

This season in the Christian calendar is called Advent. During the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, Christians for many centuries have returned to the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. Pastor Nick taught on hope, Pastor Garrett on peace, and today we come to joy.

Why It's Good to Repeat the Same Things

It may seem redundant to talk about the same themes year after year, but it's good to return to them. When my younger daughter Evangeline turned thirteen recently, I wrote her a letter, just as I did for Ethan and Addison. The last third of the letter is always the same. I think of Paul's words:

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. (Philippians 3:1)

If you're a parent, you remember saying the same good things over and over — "don't hit your sister." Peter picks up the same idea:

For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. (2 Peter 1:12)

So it's good to come back to hope, peace, joy, and love. Advent speaks of arrival, and with Christ's first coming comes the fullness of these things.

What Robs Us of Joy

When you think about what robs us of hope, peace, joy, and love, the biggest thief is the loss of a loved one — the reality of death. Death is so heavy that we don't often want to think about it, yet there are times we can't help it. Many times it comes when we're alone with our thoughts in the darkness of a room, unable to sleep.

A passage written by King David three thousand years ago deals with this exact thing. In Psalm 16 he is alone in the "night seasons," wrestling with the uncertainty and darkness of what comes after this life — the very thing that can rob us of peace and hope and joy. And yet his heart returns to gladness, rejoicing, rest, and hope.

He says, "You will not leave my soul in the grave" — the Hebrew word is Sheol — "nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." Then comes the key, verse 11: "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

The statistics are staggering: ten out of ten people die. That gives us no hope if death is only an ending and not a beginning. But David says that's not the case. His is biblical hope — not wishful thinking where the odds are stacked against you, like hoping to win the lottery, but the absolute certainty that God's promise will come to pass. He is looking forward to something fulfilled in Christ.

Jesus Takes Up the Same Themes

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus partook of the Passover with His disciples and prepared them for His departure. The weight of His loss was on them, and they were troubled. He said:

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. (John 14:1–3)

When Thomas objected that they didn't know the way, Jesus gave one of His most famous sayings:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Those words fulfill what David prophesied a thousand years earlier. David said, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy." Jesus says, I am the path to life; I am the way to the Father; and in His presence is fullness of joy, at His right hand pleasures forevermore. The joy David and Jesus speak of is an enduring joy that lasts forever.

What Would Fullness of Joy Look Like?

Let me ask two questions. First, what would fullness of joy look like? If a hundred people described it, we'd see some differences but also striking similarities. I think fullness of joy would include being close to and united with the people you love forever; having total safety, security, and provision; being free of all guilt and shame for the past; and freedom from anxiety and worry. In short — connectedness and relationship, rest and provision, completeness of salvation and forgiveness, and fullness of peace and hope.

Second question: how many of you would like to have fullness of joy? Of course. Yet many people think it's not possible, because every happy experience we've had has been temporary. Take small children to the happiest place on earth, and by 4:00 it's not so happy anymore — and certainly not when the credit card bill arrives. Even the relationships that bring us great joy last only this lifetime and are eventually severed by death. Very few attain lasting safety and provision, and even those who do usually lose it in the end.

Christ's Arrival Makes Fullness of Joy Accessible

Here is point number one: Christ's arrival makes fullness of joy accessible. Notice I did not say certain. Jesus told His disciples:

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

I wish He had said you might have trouble and you will have peace. But Jesus speaks truth. In this world you are going to have trouble — but in Him you might have peace. Peace, hope, and joy are accessible and available in Jesus Christ.

This is what the prophets looked forward to. From Isaiah 9 — a passage that shows up on many Christmas cards:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6–7)

But the context, seven hundred years before Jesus, was Isaiah looking at a nation about to enter a dark time — exile from their land, removed from family, losing everything, not for a short time but for hundreds of years. In the midst of that, he predicts a future joy.

Joy That Comes From a Person

Isaiah tries to describe this joy because it is like no other. It is joy increasing unto abundance for eternity. He uses pictures his people would understand: joy like that of those victorious in battle, who not only survive but win and receive the spoils; or joy like bringing in the harvest. We might say it's like an unexpected, generous Christmas bonus — not the jelly-of-the-month club, but a really good one. Isaiah is saying this is maximal joy, and even greater than the spoils of war or the harvest.

And this joy comes not from a thing or a place but from a person: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." Seven hundred years later, another of Isaiah's prophecies — "a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel," God with us — was fulfilled when Christ was born in Bethlehem. The angels announced to the shepherds, "I bring you good tidings of great joy... for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

So the awesome thing about Jesus' coming is that He doesn't merely give joy, peace, and hope as gifts handed over. He comes as their embodiment. Point number two: Jesus is the fullness of joy embodied. When you receive Christ into your life, you receive into your heart the fullness of hope, peace, and joy. He is the way, the truth, the life — and "I am the resurrection and the life."

The Promise Fulfilled — and Available Now

This kingdom is ultimately fulfilled at the end of all things, when its fullness comes. John reveals what it will be like:

There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

All the things that rob us of hope, peace, and joy are done away with. This is our certain, sure, steadfast hope. But the obvious question is: what about now? Can we begin to experience this fullness of joy now? I believe we can.

Point number three: by faith in Christ Jesus we receive joy that is increasing unto abundance for eternity. Paul writes:

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)

There it is — peace, rejoicing, joy, and hope, all apprehended because of what Jesus finished on the cross. When He said, "It is finished," He made it possible for us to lay hold of these things. Who else has joy even in tribulation but the person who has apprehended hope, joy, and peace in Christ?

Abiding in the Vine

How do we grow in joy now? The answer comes in that same night when Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled." In John 15 He adds:

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 abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you... As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love... These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:5–11)

Point number four: the fruit of fullness of joy in my life is the result of abiding in Christ. As a branch, I must abide in the vine. When Jesus speaks of fruit, I'm reminded of Galatians 5: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." These increase to abundance as we abide, while the Father, the vinedresser, removes dead branches that bear no fruit. Apart from Him we can do nothing.

How to Abide

So how do we do this thing called abiding? Jesus answers. First, abide in His word and let His word abide in you — put God's word into your mind and heart continually, and God will transform you by the renewing of your mind. People say, "It can't be that simple." But have you tried it? We resist things that seem too simple.

Remember Naaman the Syrian leper, who came to Elisha (through his servant Gehazi) to be healed. When told to dunk himself seven times in the Jordan, he was angry because it seemed too simple and beneath him — until his servant said, "Maybe you should try it." So when someone has lost their joy in life's difficulties, I encourage them to do what Jesus said: abide in His word.

Second, abide in His love by keeping His commandments. First I put His word into my mind and heart; then I put it into action, doing and believing what His word says. As I abide in His love this way, He promises fruit will increase — and one of those fruits is joy.

I'd add a third: abide within the body of Christ, spending time with other believers who also walk in God's word and love. You may say, "Those people are weird." We are a bit weird — but I promise your joy will increase. And here's the awesome thing: it's not temporary. Your joy increases unto abundance for eternity as you follow Christ, the resurrection and the life, who promises that even if you die, yet shall you live.

Why Jesus Came

This may seem like an unusual Christmas message, but this is what Advent is all about. Jesus came to this world as the embodiment of hope, peace, joy, and love. He makes these things accessible — not merely because He came, but because of the reason He came. "I have come to seek and to save that which was lost." "I came to give My life a ransom for many." On the cross, which we'll celebrate in the spring, He fulfilled His purpose, making it possible for you and me to be saved and to receive His joy, peace, hope, and love increasing unto abundance for eternity.

That is why we now remember His body broken for us and His blood shed for us. On the very same night He told His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, to believe in Him, and to abide in His word and His love, He took the bread and the cup and gave them as the way by which we lay hold of these wonderful things.

Communion

On that same night, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to His disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He took the cup and said, "This is the blood of the new covenant, My blood. Do this in remembrance of Me." Let us partake together.

Lord, we find in both Old and New Testaments that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Jesus, You gave Your body to be broken and bruised for us. You were wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon You, and by Your stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, but the Father laid our iniquity upon Christ, who bore all the wrath and punishment for our sins so that we could receive Your justifying, saving grace by trusting in You.

We thank You for Your grace. As we abide in You, in Your word and in Your love, produce in our lives the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in abundance, that others would see it and be drawn to faith in You. May we share the good news of Your grace this Christmas without fear or shame, because Your arrival makes the fullness of joy, peace, love, and hope accessible. In You all the fullness dwells.

Closing Prayer

Father God, prepare our hearts as we come before Your presence. Ready our hearts to receive as we remember the wonderful things You have done for us, and the fruit of the fullness of joy, hope, peace, and love that You make available to us as we abide in You, having been rescued through Your death, burial, and resurrection. We praise You for Your goodness. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.