Advent: Joy - Isaiah 61:1-4

The Bible teaches that our present age is bookended by the first coming and second coming of Christ. It invites us to take hold of our inheritance as believers, and see our lives transformed now and our hearts set on eternity. The season of Advent is all about discovering these gifts and unwrapping them. Christmas promises that God is with us and brings these gifts to our hearts. Perhaps the gift that we fail to take full advantage of and that speaks to our greatest weakness is JOY. Isaiah 61 gives us the Messiah’s long-decided mission statement and at the heart of it is bringing God’s Spirit to us and filling us a lasting joy. On the night of Jesus birth, the angels declared that God was providing a gift that would bring "Great joy to all people". All throughout Jesus' ministry He invited people to come and follow Him and be filled with an endless source of joy. This same invitation has been given to us. However, in our weak and deceived vessels, we often settle for things that may briefly make us happy but cannot truly fulfill us. All the while, it seems we are constantly being emptied of our joy. Can we overcome this discouraging cycle? Can our hearts receive a joy like that the Bible promises? What about all the things that work against us? How can we resist the compromised and counterfeit offerings of this world? In this message we consider the gift of joy that God promises in Christmas and we set our hearts on Jesus so that we might have this much-desired treasure.