All is Bright: Carrying the Light of Joy

All is Bright: Carrying the Light of Joy

Pastor Brandon Berg

“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of every detail in my life. The quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” – Kay Warren, Choose Joy

1. The supernatural birth of Christ reminds us of the supernatural

Revelation 12:17

"Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea."

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."

2. The manger reminds of mission

John 10:10, NLT

"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." 

Luke 19:10, NLT

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

Luke 5:31-32, NLT

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

3. The manger reminds us joy shines in the darkest hour

Hebrews 12:2, ESV

"...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." 

Hebrews 12:2, The Passion

"We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!"

Application Questions:

1. In what ways have I become insulated and inoculated from the spiritual battle being waged around me? In what ways can Christmas remind me of this very real war?

2. In what ways should the manger remind me of Christ’s mission in my life? In my family’s life? My neighbor’s life? 

3. In the darkest hours of my 2020, do I rest in the assurance that God is in control of every detail of my life? In what ways can I be encouraged that ultimately everything will be all right?