Bible Study - Emotions (3) - Embracing Joy - Psalm 95:1-3; Luke 2:4-14 - December 20, 2020

 

Bible Study – Emotions (3) – Embracing Joy – December 20, 2020

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled, “When Emotions Rise.”

Our focus scripture is Psalm 95:1-3; Luke 2:4-14.

We can experience great joy because JESUS saves.

Do you know the joy of salvation? Salvation, which is freedom from the consequence of sin and eternal death is JOY! Some scholars believe David wrote Psalm 95 but who wrote it is not the point. It reveals the heart of the person who penned the words under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Recently, our pastor sang a song about the birth of JESUS and the Holy Spirit brought to mind the words from Genesis as recorded in Genesis 3:15:

¹⁵ I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.^[d]
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.

Her offspring is JESUS. GOD was speaking to Satan and HE was clear. In essence GOD told “Satan there is coming a moment in time when a physical woman will give birth to a human child who you will try to kill but HE will deliver the killing blow to you.”

I could imagine Satan laughing and thinking, “I will defeat any human that is born upon earth. I know their weakness.” At just the right moment, GOD had HIS angels to announce the birth of this human baby, JESUS, to an unlikely group; shepherds. This group was so appropriate because JESUS would be the shepherd over all who will place their faith in HIM as their Savior.

I could hear, again in my imagination, Satan chuckle and tell himself, “there is no human I cannot defeat and GOD thinks that this human being, born of a virgin, to show the world that this special person came from GOD will be the Savior of the world, NEVER! I will show GOD that I am the true King!”

We know from scripture that the Virgin Mary conceived JESUS when the Holy Spirit came upon her.  JESUS was born of the virgin Mary and was tempted in all ways that humans are tempted, yet without sin. JESUS gave the world a second opportunity to have eternal life through faith in JESUS. Everything had to be done perfectly for JESUS to be the Savior of the world. GOD had a marvelous plan to accomplish HIS will and purpose. Guess what? GOD has a purpose for you and your life. Do you believe it? Or is it hidden? Did you know that GOD hides certain things which are to be revealed at just the right time? The Apostle Paul revealed in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8:

⁶ We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

Satan must have gloated when JESUS gave up HIS physical life upon the cross. But his gloat was short lived because on the third day, GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to be eternally alive. VICTORY over sin, by the shedding of the blood of JESUS, paid in full for sin, past, present and future. The physical death of JESUS’ body reveals to the world that JESUS was human, yet GOD, by HIS resurrection. This is a guarantee that all who place their faith in the passion and resurrection of JESUS will have eternal life.

The first Adam, every human’s ancestor, sinned and lost eternal life for all humans.

JESUS’ faithfulness restored eternal life to all who will place their faith in HIM. At the second coming of JESUS, all Spirit-born Christians will receive their Glorified bodies like the Glorified body of JESUS, that HE received at HIS resurrection.

Now, that is good news! Rejoice, if you know JESUS as your Savior.

Knowing JESUS, WHO is GOD, is worthy of our praise. JESUS brings unspeakable joy into our lives. WHY? It is because HE willingly did for all who will place their faith in HIM, what they could not do for themselves. Let’s read what the Psalmist had to say about joy ----

Let’s read Psalm 95:1-3:

Worship and Warning

¹ Come, let’s shout joyfully to the Lord,
shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
² Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving;
let’s shout triumphantly to him in song.

³ For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.

The Psalmist used the word “come,” which means action or motion. Many think David wrote this psalm. The thought is that the writer was moving deeper into the temple complex. Going from the outer part of the temple and getting closer to the inner part, giving the idea of working ever closer to the Holy of Holies where GOD resides. Isn’t this what we all desire. We desire to get ever closer to GOD. The only way we can do that is by giving our lives to JESUS and make HIM the LORD of our lives.

According to the Psalmist, as you get closer to GOD, a sense of awe and joy overtakes you as you experience the presence of GOD. The person enters HIS presence with joy and thanksgiving. This is such a profound moment that as you come into GOD’S presence you are motivated to shout triumphantly. When we get so close to GOD that we know HIS presence, I can tell you, you want to shout. It is an overwhelming moment.

The psalmist wrote in verse ³ For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.

The One True GOD is just that, the one and only above all so called gods. The One True GOD is King. HE is above any thing we make to be our god. Satan is always at work to give apparent life and substance to false gods. There is ONE True GOD, WHO came to earth and gave HIS sinless life by the shedding of HIS blood to pay, in full, for the sins of all who will place their faith and trust in HIM. HIS name is JESUS. Let’s continue as the story of salvation continues from prophecy to unfold upon earth to reality.

All Old Testament scripture had to be fulfilled. Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth, where they lived, to Bethlehem to fulfill scripture which recorded where the promised Messiah would be born (Micah 5:2). This was a trip of about 90 miles. No Greyhound, train service, Uber or Lyft. It would be a hard trip to make. But Mary climbed on a donkey and went to Bethlehem to register as required for the census. There are lots of moving parts but so does life have a multitude of moving parts. GOD is the relocator and so orders our steps. I know this from experience.

As you read the scripture copied below, see all that had to come together to get Mary to where she needed to be for this awesome event -----

Let’s read Luke 2:4-7:

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire^[a] should be registered. ² This first registration took place while^[b] Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

⁴ Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, ⁵ to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him^[c] and was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger,^[d] because there was no guest room available for them.

GOD was born not in a place but in a stable and placed in a feeding trough.

News in that day was generally by word of mouth. No TV, cell phones, newspapers. So how would GOD get the word out that the Savior of the world was born? Shepherding was a noble business in the days of the patriarchs but when JESUS was born shepherding had degenerated to not so prestigious group. GOD uses the least likely to get the job done. HE uses those who will respond. So, HE called the shepherds into action. GOD knew that they would respond.

Let’s read Luke 2:8-14:

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.^[e] 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:^[f] 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host^[g] with the angel, praising God and saying:

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people he favors!^[h][i]

 

Some Bible scholars believe that these shepherds were keeping the sheep to be used for sacrifice in the temple, which was about six miles from Jerusalem. Further, when sheep were born, they would be wrapped in strips of cloth to help ensure they would not have a blemish on them so they would qualify as the lamb perfect for sacrifice.

JESUS was swaddled after HE was born and placed in a feeding trough, which was the trough where a lamb would be placed for sacrifice.

JESUS was not born in a palace but in a stable. HE was born of humble circumstances, yet Kings worshipped HIM. JESUS is for all to come to HIM for salvation.

GOD is awesome! So simple, yet so profound! Thank “YOU FATHER” for so great a salvation, such that all can accept. It is not complicated. Salvation is simple enough for a child to understand and accept.

If you have not accepted JESUS as your Savior, now is the best time for you to accept HIM as yours. If that is the desire of your heart, then tell HIM that is what you want to do. Reach out to HIM and HE will reach back to you. Then thank HIM and tell someone what you have done. Then get your Bible and read it beginning with the book of Mark.

Experience the joy of salvation. Merry Christmas to all with blessings. Blessings!!!