When something is described as great, the meaning is amplified.
Like this:
I have a wife. vs. I have a great wife.
2 of my daughters have husbands. vs. 2 of my daughters have great husbands.
Adding ‘great’ is a game changer. It gives Focus. Clarity. Value. Understanding. It changes the story.
Great defined: Greek / Megas - great, large, vast, big, high, tall; mighty, important
Reveals: great mass and weight
Makes it: large, spacious
Adds: measure and height and length
Gives: stature
Large in: number and quantity: numerous, large, abundant
Creates: intensity and increased degree: violent, mighty, strong
In scientific language - Mega: times 1 million - megaton, megawatt, megahit
Luke 2:8-12 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
The word suggests the thought of the Shechinah, or cloud of intolerable brightness, which was the token of the divine presence in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Never before had there been such a manifestation to such men as these. What had been the privilege of patriarchs and priests was now granted to shepherds, and the first proclamation of the glad tidings was to these shepherds.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”
And suddenly there was with the angel,....That brought the tidings of Christ's birth to the shepherds: a multitude of the heavenly host: who being caused to fly swiftly, were at once with him, by his side, and about him; and which was a further confirmation of thetruth of his message to them: these were angels who were called an host, or army, the militia of heaven, the ministers of God, that wait upon him, and do his pleasure; and are sent forth to minister to his people, and encamp about them, preserve, and defend them;
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
1. On this day, Great Joy Came.
Great Joy Came by, with & through Jesus.
Luke 2:10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Joy - What comes to mind?
Jesus, The word of God, The Spirit of God, the Mercy of God, the Love of God, the Grace of God, My wife, My children, My family in heaven and on earth, His church. Strength. Heaven. Family & Friends who have surrendered to the Love & Grace of God.
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
This is so true.
Joy defined: joy, gladness, cheerfulness - the joy received from you; the cause or occasion of joy - of persons who are one's joy
Joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, strength, confidence and hope in/from Him. It is something or someone that provides a source of strength, gladness & gratitude. It appears 88 times in the Old Testament in 22 books; 57 times in the New Testament in 18 books.
Matt. 2:9-11 - The Wise Men
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Mega-Joy came by, with & through Jesus. But that’s not all….
2. Great Joy still Comes.
a. When we remember again that He Came.
Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
b. When we choose to rejoice in the Lord.
Rom. 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1:8-9
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
c. In believing in Him.
Acts 8:5-8
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
d. Engaged in His ministry.
Acts 15:3 Paul & Barnabas sent to Jerusalem - 3 ‘So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.’
e. In seeing His redemptive work in people.
Mega-Joy came by, with & through Jesus. Great Joy still Comes. But that’s not all….
3. Great Joy is coming.
Heb. 12:1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
There is Joy that is set before us. He came. He comes. He is coming again.
We celebrate His first advent during this season - but there is another advent to come. Something incredibly significant is in front of us.
1 Thess. 4:13-18
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
2 Cor. 5:4-8 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
One way or another all of us who are in Christ will be present with Him.
1 Cor. 15:57-58 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
These are some of my favorite verses in the N.T. They were written in light of the resurrection that is to come.
We were made for great joy. To rejoice exceedingly. To rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.
Jesus is our Great Joy. His joy came. It comes. It’s coming.
Do you know His joy? Do you know His Name?
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
So we call on His name. We believe on His name. We need Him.
He’s ready to forgive. He’s ready to begin His work in Us. Call on His name. Believe on His Name.
Why? All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He has not sinned and He is worthy of the Glory of God. He has made our way. He is savior, He is the only Lord. He is King of all Kings.
He is the way the truth and the life. They only way. Call on His name!
No comments:
Post a Comment