Point of Grace Worship 12.12.21 Sermon Notes – “Re:turn to Advent – ‘Rejoice’ in the Waiting”

What’s the Pink candle doing in the middle of the Purple ones?

Rejoice – To noticeably express joy.

Default: I “have joy and rejoice” when I feel really good about me and my circumstances – and maybe not even then.

Jesus wants far more for us than that! Remember He is on a mission to connect us and all people with the meaningful life He intends for us! That meaningful life is filled with joy!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4

The Good News:

In Jesus, Joy and Rejoicing are freed from the suffocating constraints of our circumstances!

We get to trust Jesus for Joy and Rejoicing because;

•                     Joy is from Jesus not us or our circumstances

•                     Rejoicing is in the Lord and all He has done, is doing and will do for us …. not in our circumstances.

Galatians 5 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace …”

John 15 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing……. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

2 Corinthians 6 “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Philippians 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” “

Zephaniah 3 On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. 12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. 14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Luke 2 But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Daily Opening Prayer (including 2 minutes of silence) Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I rejoice in the in the reality and opportunity to spend these moments in Your presence. It is so good to be with you Jesus, so good. Please, restore me in You and renew me in you that I might experience all of You that is possible. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, saturate me in Your Love, saturate me in your Life and saturate me in Your JOY this day. Untangle me from my anxious thoughts, immerse me now in my true identity as a child of my heavenly Father with an irreplaceable role to play this day, in Your larger story. Jesus, help me untangle from all other claims on my attention as I engage with you in this time. I ask for more of your JOY today and an increased capacity to REJOICE in You and all You are to me. I am open to You Jesus now … I rest in You… (Spend two minutes of reflective silence with eyes closed, this time is embedded in the audio version … just rest in the presence of yourself and Jesus!)

Daily Closing Prayer Jesus, through the waiting of this Advent give me a deeper desire for you and for Your JOY in my life. I long for you and for a life of REJOICING! I long also for Your return to make all things new – when JOY and REJOICING will flow uninhibited! Jesus, I renounce any and all ways I tend to look to others and my circumstances as my source of JOY and my reason for REJOICING. I want You and all You have done, are doing and will do for me to be the foundation of my JOY - then I will be able see and not miss all the myriad people and experiences in my everyday life as invitations to REJOICE. Jesus, I admit that I am not good at JOY and REJOICING especially when my situation and circumstances are difficult and overwhelming. I trust Your grace in these moments. I trust you will meet me in those places as well. I know having your JOY does not ignore my reality but rather helps me navigate my reality with You in the center - and when You are with me then the possibilities HOPE and JOY and PEACE abound. Thank you – Thank You – Thank You! I receive You now. I am excited to see what you can do today. I know you can do amazing things, and I would love to be a part of them. I am waiting for your cue. Amen

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. We encourage you to use the “I Belong” devotional resource to assist you every day. You can sign up for this daily resource by going to the “I Belong Challenge” button on the main menu at www.pog.church. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – John 15:5-11 Tue – Zephaniah 3:14-17 Wed – Philippians 4:4-7 Thu – Nehemiah 8:2-3,8-11 Fri – Luke 1:39-49 Sat - Luke 2:8-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.