1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,689
CJ Wakefield: Wow, good morning everybody.

2
00:00:02,019 --> 00:00:03,909
It is great to be with you all.

3
00:00:03,939 --> 00:00:06,229
Um, I have, uh, do we have some slides?

4
00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:07,169
Do I do this?

5
00:00:07,189 --> 00:00:07,949
Do I do this?

6
00:00:08,179 --> 00:00:08,909
Alright, wonderful.

7
00:00:08,909 --> 00:00:09,969
There's my family.

8
00:00:10,349 --> 00:00:14,029
So, one of my sons is not here with us
today, he's on the west side, but, uh, the

9
00:00:14,079 --> 00:00:16,109
two of them are, are here with us today.

10
00:00:16,499 --> 00:00:22,824
Um, so we have, uh, Elijah is 21,
then Nathaniel is 18, and Micah is

11
00:00:22,824 --> 00:00:24,329
16, that's my wonderful wife Cherie.

12
00:00:24,719 --> 00:00:26,399
Uh, but it's good to be
here in Orange County.

13
00:00:26,399 --> 00:00:31,289
This is not my first time here, so,
um, I'm gonna show you a picture,

14
00:00:31,289 --> 00:00:33,039
but you gotta promise not to laugh.

15
00:00:33,979 --> 00:00:36,150
Okay, we've got one nod of the head.

16
00:00:36,160 --> 00:00:37,720
The rest of you, I'm not trusting you.

17
00:00:39,650 --> 00:00:41,270
So I was here.

18
00:00:41,770 --> 00:00:45,810
Um, I came to Disneyland with my
dad in about in the mid eighties.

19
00:00:46,229 --> 00:00:47,550
So here I am.

20
00:00:51,629 --> 00:00:52,920
So why?

21
00:00:55,870 --> 00:00:56,429
Thank you.

22
00:00:56,769 --> 00:00:59,519
I know they are some short shorts, right?

23
00:01:00,669 --> 00:01:02,609
I'm glad it's a blurry picture.

24
00:01:02,639 --> 00:01:04,059
So you can't see it that clear.

25
00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:09,519
But we were also let me skip on it
because that's embarrassing but we were

26
00:01:09,519 --> 00:01:14,189
also here where in about 2008 I think
there was an international leadership

27
00:01:14,209 --> 00:01:18,559
conference in Round this in Orange County,
so we've got we were blessed to come

28
00:01:18,559 --> 00:01:22,469
and be a part of that But it is such a
blessing, you know We Robert and career

29
00:01:22,469 --> 00:01:26,904
put on a spiritual learning lab with
some of the staff And, uh, my wife and

30
00:01:26,904 --> 00:01:32,124
I got to be with, uh, most of the Orange
County staff on that spiritual journey.

31
00:01:32,124 --> 00:01:35,804
So it's been a real blessing to even
to have gotten to know them and to

32
00:01:35,884 --> 00:01:37,503
work alongside them spiritually.

33
00:01:37,524 --> 00:01:40,764
So I'm very excited today to be able
to come and share the word with you.

34
00:01:40,764 --> 00:01:44,149
You know, Christmas is amazing
and, uh, I hope that you're going

35
00:01:44,149 --> 00:01:45,234
to have an amazing Christmas.

36
00:01:45,253 --> 00:01:50,904
But today's message is entitled, uh,
joy to the world and the reason why.

37
00:01:50,904 --> 00:01:52,995
So if you remember, if you
think about what happened.

38
00:01:54,408 --> 00:01:56,229
So the angels are out in the field.

39
00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,669
And, uh, also the shepherds
are out in the field.

40
00:01:58,669 --> 00:02:03,539
And an angel appears and the
shepherds are absolutely terrified.

41
00:02:04,929 --> 00:02:08,669
And yet the angel says to
them, Do not be afraid.

42
00:02:09,299 --> 00:02:14,809
I bring you good news
that will cause great joy.

43
00:02:15,434 --> 00:02:17,044
For all people.

44
00:02:17,064 --> 00:02:20,294
In other words, he's saying,
listen, what I'm about to tell

45
00:02:20,294 --> 00:02:24,414
you is joy to the entire world.

46
00:02:25,034 --> 00:02:28,874
And if you think about that,
he could have announced, which

47
00:02:28,874 --> 00:02:32,674
obviously is going to be announcing
the birth of Jesus, with anything.

48
00:02:32,674 --> 00:02:36,814
He could have said, I come and
I bring you news of salvation.

49
00:02:37,664 --> 00:02:41,045
I come and bring you news of
deliverance or redemption.

50
00:02:41,255 --> 00:02:42,704
And all of those things are amazing.

51
00:02:42,904 --> 00:02:47,304
But he says, I bring you
good news of great joy.

52
00:02:48,305 --> 00:02:50,174
Joy to the world.

53
00:02:50,265 --> 00:02:52,175
Now, why is that so significant?

54
00:02:52,454 --> 00:02:57,084
That that is the single word that he
chooses to describe the most incredible

55
00:02:57,084 --> 00:02:58,574
event the world has ever seen.

56
00:02:59,474 --> 00:03:01,214
Why did he choose that word?

57
00:03:01,684 --> 00:03:06,294
Well, what had happened was, The
Israelites, up until this point,

58
00:03:07,399 --> 00:03:13,169
And even including this point, have
been in 700 years of occupation.

59
00:03:13,949 --> 00:03:18,769
With the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the
Persians, the Greeks, and now the Romans.

60
00:03:19,269 --> 00:03:22,759
700 years of oppression and of occupation.

61
00:03:23,769 --> 00:03:26,949
And so can you imagine, they
were a little bit short of joy.

62
00:03:27,889 --> 00:03:28,299
Right?

63
00:03:29,149 --> 00:03:30,739
That is why I think he says that.

64
00:03:30,739 --> 00:03:34,214
And so if you look in the book
of Isaiah, Isaiah in English.

65
00:03:34,725 --> 00:03:36,805
I will try and say Isaiah,
but I may slip back.

66
00:03:38,385 --> 00:03:41,065
So in Isaiah chapter 9,
this is what the Bible says.

67
00:03:41,095 --> 00:03:45,375
So this is a prophecy of the very
beginning of their occupation.

68
00:03:45,375 --> 00:03:47,385
Of their being occupied by the Assyrians.

69
00:03:47,915 --> 00:03:50,045
This is what it says in chapter 9 verse 1.

70
00:03:50,435 --> 00:03:57,185
Nevertheless, there will be no more
gloom for those who are in distress.

71
00:03:58,214 --> 00:04:00,435
The people walking in darkness.

72
00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:06,190
Have seen a great light on the,
on those living in the land of the

73
00:04:06,190 --> 00:04:09,478
shadow of death, a light has dawned.

74
00:04:10,170 --> 00:04:16,110
You have enlarged the nation and
increased, literally made great its joy.

75
00:04:16,879 --> 00:04:20,630
For unto us, a child is born.

76
00:04:21,290 --> 00:04:23,430
Unto us, a son is given.

77
00:04:24,125 --> 00:04:27,765
And the government will be on his
shoulders, and he will be called

78
00:04:27,795 --> 00:04:33,855
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

79
00:04:34,365 --> 00:04:37,875
See, this is no coincidence that
the angel said, I'm giving you a

80
00:04:37,875 --> 00:04:40,485
message that will bring you great joy.

81
00:04:40,775 --> 00:04:45,565
Because this was prophesied
700 years before.

82
00:04:46,094 --> 00:04:51,183
And look how Jesus birth is
prophesied, with great joy.

83
00:04:52,145 --> 00:04:56,115
Now, the thing is This was the
very beginning of their occupation.

84
00:04:56,895 --> 00:05:03,575
So, God is saying to them, Listen, you
abandon me, you're gonna have great

85
00:05:03,594 --> 00:05:10,104
distress, you're gonna go through
very dark times, but I promise you,

86
00:05:10,784 --> 00:05:16,354
something amazing is gonna happen
that will bring you wonderful joy.

87
00:05:16,885 --> 00:05:21,255
And in fact, throughout the entire book
of Isaiah, it's like a book of joy.

88
00:05:21,255 --> 00:05:21,269
Amen.

89
00:05:22,049 --> 00:05:28,070
If you ever do a study on it, he talks
about joy 33 times in that whole book.

90
00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:32,979
More than any other book in the whole
Old Testament, apart from the book of

91
00:05:32,979 --> 00:05:35,929
Psalms, which is man talking to God.

92
00:05:36,510 --> 00:05:40,919
So God is talking to us and
saying, Listen, just hold on.

93
00:05:41,530 --> 00:05:43,050
Yes, you abandoned me.

94
00:05:43,289 --> 00:05:45,550
Yes, you're going to go
through some hard times.

95
00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:47,260
But it's going to be worth it.

96
00:05:47,810 --> 00:05:49,900
Because I'm sending you someone.

97
00:05:50,335 --> 00:05:53,755
Who is going to bring you the
most incredible joy in your life

98
00:05:54,054 --> 00:05:55,315
that you could ever imagine.

99
00:05:56,645 --> 00:06:02,114
Does that how we feel though,
as we live our lives in Christ?

100
00:06:03,014 --> 00:06:07,544
Is that how we feel though, in our
relationships with one another?

101
00:06:08,084 --> 00:06:09,685
Because that's what Jesus promised.

102
00:06:09,975 --> 00:06:12,385
That's what God promised through Jesus.

103
00:06:14,095 --> 00:06:15,815
So going back to Luke chapter 2.

104
00:06:17,195 --> 00:06:19,355
So the angel says to the shepherds.

105
00:06:20,260 --> 00:06:25,030
Today in a town of David, a
Savior has been born to you.

106
00:06:25,180 --> 00:06:26,730
He is the Messiah.

107
00:06:27,450 --> 00:06:28,589
He is the Lord.

108
00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,719
You see, their joy had been
realized in this moment.

109
00:06:33,310 --> 00:06:42,030
He says, God is saying to them, My gift to
the world, yes is my Son, but it is joy.

110
00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,539
This year I've been studying out joy.

111
00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:45,650
Thank you.

112
00:06:46,890 --> 00:06:50,980
And I've read lots of books and
just been really, it's been really

113
00:06:50,980 --> 00:06:57,100
inspired by how central joy is to
the Bible and to God's message.

114
00:06:57,620 --> 00:06:59,450
I'm a big fan of Dallas Willett.

115
00:06:59,510 --> 00:07:02,180
I love reading his material
and listening to his teachings.

116
00:07:02,450 --> 00:07:06,660
And he says that, in his book
Divine Conspiracy, he says

117
00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,430
that God is a joyous God.

118
00:07:10,420 --> 00:07:12,430
Do we think of God in that way?

119
00:07:13,534 --> 00:07:17,125
It seems hard, doesn't it, to
connect with Him on that level.

120
00:07:17,485 --> 00:07:20,515
Because He's omnipotent, He's
all knowing, He sees everything.

121
00:07:20,695 --> 00:07:25,464
We can easily see Him as like a little,
a big grumpy dad in the sky that we

122
00:07:25,464 --> 00:07:28,234
have to keep on the right side of us.

123
00:07:29,315 --> 00:07:34,054
Or any other variations of our,
perhaps sometimes skewed views of God.

124
00:07:34,234 --> 00:07:36,394
But God is a joyous God.

125
00:07:37,854 --> 00:07:44,115
Joy is essential And to
God's character as His love.

126
00:07:44,855 --> 00:07:46,565
I absolutely believe that.

127
00:07:46,865 --> 00:07:51,394
Think back to Genesis chapter
1 in the book and in creation.

128
00:07:51,935 --> 00:07:56,984
When God created all of those different
things, what does it keep on saying as

129
00:07:56,984 --> 00:07:59,354
He looked back and saw what He had made?

130
00:07:59,775 --> 00:08:00,745
What did He say?

131
00:08:01,855 --> 00:08:02,815
It is good.

132
00:08:03,675 --> 00:08:06,775
When you look at that in the
Hebrew, it means that it was

133
00:08:06,935 --> 00:08:09,515
good, but it also means pleasant.

134
00:08:09,925 --> 00:08:17,805
Beneficial, beautiful, best, better,
bountiful, godly, bringing joy.

135
00:08:18,514 --> 00:08:23,755
So God looked at all that he
had made and it brought him joy.

136
00:08:24,924 --> 00:08:26,855
God is a joyous God.

137
00:08:27,284 --> 00:08:29,365
Think about when we are out in nature.

138
00:08:29,685 --> 00:08:30,985
Doesn't it bring us joy?

139
00:08:31,555 --> 00:08:36,595
It does something to us
because we are made for joy.

140
00:08:37,794 --> 00:08:45,415
Therefore, As God ushered in creation
with joy, He also announced the birth

141
00:08:45,425 --> 00:08:49,174
of His Son with that same level of joy.

142
00:08:50,925 --> 00:08:53,855
Because we are created for joy.

143
00:08:56,984 --> 00:08:59,155
How is your life of joy?

144
00:09:01,604 --> 00:09:05,244
In a lot of the reading that I've
done, it says that our level of

145
00:09:05,254 --> 00:09:07,665
joy should be our homeostasis.

146
00:09:07,665 --> 00:09:10,814
How That should be our natural state.

147
00:09:11,664 --> 00:09:14,144
And if our joy is off, then we're off.

148
00:09:15,134 --> 00:09:16,004
Isn't that interesting?

149
00:09:16,794 --> 00:09:21,644
That should be our normal
existence, living a life of joy.

150
00:09:21,774 --> 00:09:23,734
Our brains function well.

151
00:09:23,874 --> 00:09:25,064
Our body does well.

152
00:09:25,064 --> 00:09:26,994
Our immune system is boosted.

153
00:09:27,454 --> 00:09:34,261
When we are joyful people, we
have no reason to not be the most

154
00:09:34,261 --> 00:09:37,494
joyful people on the entire planet.

155
00:09:38,255 --> 00:09:43,165
Because we're the recipients of that
great news, of that news of great joy.

156
00:09:45,055 --> 00:09:49,894
Even babies in the first two years of
their lives, the number one thing apart

157
00:09:49,894 --> 00:09:55,755
from food that they are seeking is
joyful interactions with their parents.

158
00:09:56,115 --> 00:09:57,444
That's what they look for.

159
00:09:57,915 --> 00:10:00,425
The studies on this is quite amazing.

160
00:10:02,214 --> 00:10:04,594
This is a great book if you'd
like to read anything about it.

161
00:10:04,594 --> 00:10:06,775
It's a little, small book, easy to read.

162
00:10:07,069 --> 00:10:08,329
It's called the Joy Switch.

163
00:10:09,270 --> 00:10:12,810
And what I love about it, it says,
it gives this definition of joy

164
00:10:13,099 --> 00:10:18,020
with, in relationship, is that joy
is the glad to be togetherness.

165
00:10:19,290 --> 00:10:20,349
Isn't that a nice quote?

166
00:10:20,650 --> 00:10:22,510
A nice way to think about joy?

167
00:10:22,860 --> 00:10:25,589
And this comes into our
relationship with God.

168
00:10:26,410 --> 00:10:27,780
Glad to be togetherness.

169
00:10:27,819 --> 00:10:30,020
God is always glad to be with you.

170
00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:34,719
Glad to be togetherness in our
families, in our marriages, with

171
00:10:34,719 --> 00:10:36,290
our children, with our friends.

172
00:10:37,185 --> 00:10:39,975
That is the definition, I
think, that we can hold on to.

173
00:10:40,105 --> 00:10:41,985
We can do something with that.

174
00:10:44,825 --> 00:10:49,775
The problem is that we can sometimes think
that joy just happens by being in the

175
00:10:49,775 --> 00:10:55,155
same room with each other or by sitting
next to each other or just by being with

176
00:10:55,165 --> 00:10:57,855
God and checking a box for a quiet time.

177
00:10:58,985 --> 00:11:03,275
The problem is, though, is that joy,
there's an intentionality behind joy.

178
00:11:04,075 --> 00:11:09,445
We actually have to do certain things to
be able to work on that to make it happen.

179
00:11:10,215 --> 00:11:15,695
So we have to learn to live in
the joy that God has given us.

180
00:11:16,495 --> 00:11:22,375
There is unlearning to be done and
learning, new learning to acquire, so

181
00:11:22,375 --> 00:11:26,885
that we can learn how to fully make
the most of and enjoy the most of

182
00:11:26,915 --> 00:11:28,975
this great gift that God has given us.

183
00:11:30,645 --> 00:11:34,105
In another book I've been reading called
Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You.

184
00:11:34,775 --> 00:11:40,485
They talk about joy as well and it says
that joy is number one, it is relational.

185
00:11:41,465 --> 00:11:48,784
Building joy means getting closer to God
and getting closer to grace filled people.

186
00:11:49,254 --> 00:11:51,424
That is a really important statement.

187
00:11:52,804 --> 00:11:56,824
Is it easy to feel joyful
around people who are angry?

188
00:11:56,824 --> 00:11:56,924
I agree.

189
00:11:58,745 --> 00:12:02,155
Is it easy to feel joyful around
people who are judgmental?

190
00:12:03,185 --> 00:12:03,605
No.

191
00:12:04,665 --> 00:12:10,165
You see, when we have relationships
that are grace filled, it opens

192
00:12:10,165 --> 00:12:12,785
the door for vulnerability.

193
00:12:12,785 --> 00:12:14,204
We're going to talk about
that in a little bit.

194
00:12:15,294 --> 00:12:18,185
But I think this describes
the ministry of Jesus.

195
00:12:19,395 --> 00:12:23,815
That he enjoyed his relationship
with God, his Father.

196
00:12:24,510 --> 00:12:29,620
And he absolutely spread joy in his
relationships with other people.

197
00:12:29,650 --> 00:12:33,650
Why is it that the prostitutes and
the sinners and the tax collectors

198
00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,280
felt so comfortable being around him?

199
00:12:37,580 --> 00:12:41,200
Because he was full of
grace and full of truth.

200
00:12:41,740 --> 00:12:46,090
But he was full of grace,
spreading joy, that this was

201
00:12:46,090 --> 00:12:47,630
the best place for them to be.

202
00:12:48,450 --> 00:12:51,220
That's how we should be in our
relationships with one another.

203
00:12:51,590 --> 00:12:55,700
That describes our
relationship with our Father.

204
00:12:55,860 --> 00:13:00,460
It should infuse the very fabric
of all of our relationships.

205
00:13:03,079 --> 00:13:06,900
I did a study on joy, as I said,
and I looked at all the references

206
00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:08,670
of joy in the whole Bible.

207
00:13:09,220 --> 00:13:10,600
And this is where we find them.

208
00:13:11,390 --> 00:13:16,589
In the Old Testament, pretty much all of
the references to do with joy are to, are

209
00:13:16,589 --> 00:13:19,160
connected to our relationship with God.

210
00:13:19,910 --> 00:13:20,920
Pretty much all of them.

211
00:13:22,430 --> 00:13:28,910
And it's about taking joy from being in
His presence, taking refuge in Him when

212
00:13:28,910 --> 00:13:36,639
we're feeling down or discouraged, taking,
um, remembering God's goodness, being

213
00:13:36,650 --> 00:13:39,790
mindful of how amazingly He loves us.

214
00:13:40,219 --> 00:13:41,599
That should bring us joy.

215
00:13:42,170 --> 00:13:44,149
Taking refuge in Him.

216
00:13:45,284 --> 00:13:46,654
To having our strength in Him.

217
00:13:46,874 --> 00:13:51,994
In the New Testament, again, the majority
of references to do with joy are also

218
00:13:51,994 --> 00:13:54,514
connected to our relationship with God.

219
00:13:55,754 --> 00:13:59,234
But also it's connected to God in
our, in, through the Holy Spirit that

220
00:13:59,234 --> 00:14:01,415
we have in, at work in our lives.

221
00:14:01,814 --> 00:14:03,114
He brings us joy.

222
00:14:04,314 --> 00:14:08,024
Our righteousness and our
walk with God creates joy.

223
00:14:08,660 --> 00:14:12,239
But what's interesting in the New
Testament is that we also see that

224
00:14:12,239 --> 00:14:15,899
there is joy that comes from our
relationships with one another.

225
00:14:16,389 --> 00:14:20,839
There's so many scriptures that talk
about bringing the gospel to others

226
00:14:21,050 --> 00:14:27,129
bring us joy, having healthy spiritual
relationships bring us joy, having

227
00:14:27,149 --> 00:14:32,810
true agape love, caring for one
another brings us joy, strengthening

228
00:14:32,810 --> 00:14:37,354
and teaching one another brings joy.

229
00:14:38,125 --> 00:14:45,655
I really believe that every church
of Christ, where we have people

230
00:14:45,675 --> 00:14:52,435
striving to be disciples of Jesus,
should be the centers of joy.

231
00:14:53,324 --> 00:14:55,845
That people should come in,
and I know people do, and

232
00:14:55,845 --> 00:14:57,885
like, what is going on here?

233
00:14:58,785 --> 00:14:59,955
Where's the Kool Aid?

234
00:15:01,775 --> 00:15:03,605
That, what is it that's happening?

235
00:15:04,279 --> 00:15:09,439
Because they should see a level of joy
that you cannot find anywhere else.

236
00:15:10,140 --> 00:15:12,539
There is no reason why that
shouldn't be happening.

237
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:19,239
These should be the most joy
filled communities on the planet.

238
00:15:20,249 --> 00:15:22,340
The problem is Satan knows that too.

239
00:15:23,330 --> 00:15:24,709
So what does he try and do?

240
00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:29,520
Take our joy.

241
00:15:30,350 --> 00:15:34,890
And if he can do that, we can then
start getting critical with one another.

242
00:15:35,385 --> 00:15:41,814
Judging one another, feeling distant from
God, simply because our joy has gone.

243
00:15:42,895 --> 00:15:45,165
That's how powerful this is.

244
00:15:47,535 --> 00:15:48,924
So, we're going to have a look.

245
00:15:50,644 --> 00:15:57,024
How can we enjoy God's gift of
joy this Christmas and beyond?

246
00:15:57,274 --> 00:15:59,964
So I have a couple of quick things
to be able to help us with, okay?

247
00:16:00,314 --> 00:16:03,284
So my wife and I, we're both
actually educators, we're teachers.

248
00:16:03,604 --> 00:16:07,759
So, um, So I'm going to give you
a little bit of homework to do.

249
00:16:08,289 --> 00:16:08,819
Okay.

250
00:16:09,670 --> 00:16:13,909
So you might want to take some
notes because I don't think any

251
00:16:13,909 --> 00:16:15,849
of us have a photographic memory.

252
00:16:16,629 --> 00:16:20,639
No, maybe if you don't, you've
not been blessed with that.

253
00:16:20,649 --> 00:16:22,079
I'm encouraging you to take some notes.

254
00:16:22,079 --> 00:16:22,419
Okay.

255
00:16:22,969 --> 00:16:23,359
Right.

256
00:16:25,239 --> 00:16:29,360
How do we make the most then this
holiday and moving, moving forward

257
00:16:29,610 --> 00:16:31,459
in our relationship with one another.

258
00:16:31,479 --> 00:16:32,459
So let me give you some things.

259
00:16:32,469 --> 00:16:34,489
So how do we build joy?

260
00:16:34,780 --> 00:16:37,170
Through healthy relationships.

261
00:16:38,300 --> 00:16:40,350
Tell me what you see about this image.

262
00:16:40,370 --> 00:16:43,410
What's the first thing that
stands out to you in this image?

263
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,100
Smiling.

264
00:16:46,270 --> 00:16:47,140
Pablo, thank you.

265
00:16:47,150 --> 00:16:48,150
Smiling.

266
00:16:48,870 --> 00:16:49,230
Right?

267
00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:50,150
We'll come to that.

268
00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:50,200
Coffee.

269
00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,649
We'll come to that.

270
00:16:52,649 --> 00:16:54,759
But you see them smiling.

271
00:16:57,099 --> 00:17:02,599
So, how we build joy filled
relationships with one another is

272
00:17:02,599 --> 00:17:06,040
that when we see each other We smile.

273
00:17:07,530 --> 00:17:11,619
You're giving a message to someone
that says, I'm glad to be with you.

274
00:17:12,980 --> 00:17:17,359
Teenagers, when you come into
the house and your parents smile,

275
00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:19,540
guess what you could do back?

276
00:17:20,539 --> 00:17:21,999
You can do it.

277
00:17:22,319 --> 00:17:24,500
It might break your face a little bit,

278
00:17:26,530 --> 00:17:33,110
but smile and let them know that you
are glad to be with them as well.

279
00:17:34,630 --> 00:17:37,239
It is, it's radical, it's true.

280
00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:39,370
It is so powerful.

281
00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:41,610
It is so powerful.

282
00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:47,429
So, we're going to talk through, from this
picture, how we build different things

283
00:17:47,630 --> 00:17:49,389
to help, to build healthy relationships.

284
00:17:50,290 --> 00:17:53,000
The reason why this is important,
let me go back for a second.

285
00:17:53,980 --> 00:17:59,460
The reason why this is so important
is because I think sometimes our

286
00:17:59,460 --> 00:18:01,679
relationships can be fear based.

287
00:18:01,679 --> 00:18:02,290
Yeah.

288
00:18:02,935 --> 00:18:05,324
They can be judgment based.

289
00:18:06,495 --> 00:18:09,574
God never wants that to be the case.

290
00:18:09,815 --> 00:18:14,955
So we have to undo and unlearn perhaps
some unhealthy practices that we can have.

291
00:18:15,234 --> 00:18:16,875
So here are some other
things that we can do.

292
00:18:18,274 --> 00:18:21,844
So in this book, Living from the
Heart Jesus Gave You, it gives

293
00:18:21,844 --> 00:18:25,154
a great list of ways that we can
build joy in our relationships.

294
00:18:25,154 --> 00:18:29,104
So one of the things it says is
that we can ask questions of one

295
00:18:29,105 --> 00:18:32,420
another that bring out vulnerability.

296
00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:37,230
So we can say, Hey, tell me about this,
or how are you feeling about this?

297
00:18:38,290 --> 00:18:42,159
Sometimes though, we can be triggered
and think, why are they asking?

298
00:18:44,379 --> 00:18:48,029
And then our defenses go up and then the
joy is just gone, it's just disappeared.

299
00:18:49,139 --> 00:18:53,859
But if we can allow ourselves to
ask a question with grace, we can

300
00:18:53,859 --> 00:18:59,145
hear a response with compassion,
and That very intimate conversation

301
00:18:59,155 --> 00:19:01,735
has the potential to build joy.

302
00:19:03,014 --> 00:19:05,235
It's powerful when we do that.

303
00:19:05,405 --> 00:19:08,874
I sat with one of my sons the other
day and I showed him this quote from

304
00:19:08,874 --> 00:19:11,905
the book and I said, listen, I'm
going to ask you some questions just

305
00:19:11,905 --> 00:19:15,775
about how you're doing spiritually and
it's not because I want to judge you.

306
00:19:16,315 --> 00:19:21,375
It's simply because I want to connect with
you and genuinely just see how you are.

307
00:19:21,784 --> 00:19:24,225
And he's, you know, I can
see his shoulders relaxing.

308
00:19:24,225 --> 00:19:24,289
It's amazing.

309
00:19:25,860 --> 00:19:29,710
And then the rest of the day, my wife
said, Have you noticed how joyful he is?

310
00:19:30,230 --> 00:19:32,270
I was like, I know, it works!

311
00:19:34,110 --> 00:19:39,629
So, God wants to bless us with
these powerfully deep relationships.

312
00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:43,360
But we have to unlearn,
perhaps, some unhealthy things.

313
00:19:45,350 --> 00:19:49,900
We have to learn to treat one another
with real dignity and respect.

314
00:19:50,610 --> 00:19:52,170
Not with an agenda.

315
00:19:52,830 --> 00:19:56,759
But just simply because they are
my brother or sister in Christ.

316
00:19:57,699 --> 00:20:01,980
One of the things I love, now, this
sister here said she noticed coffee.

317
00:20:03,940 --> 00:20:07,389
Another thing that we can do in
building healthy relationships is

318
00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,799
finding each other's joy language.

319
00:20:11,879 --> 00:20:15,909
So, my wife's joy language
would be this exact situation.

320
00:20:16,580 --> 00:20:21,089
Sitting down with a healthy snack,
some home roasted coffee, and just

321
00:20:21,089 --> 00:20:25,339
talking, getting deep, piercing
into my soul, trying to find out

322
00:20:25,350 --> 00:20:26,959
how I'm doing and what's going on.

323
00:20:27,449 --> 00:20:29,810
That's her joy language.

324
00:20:29,830 --> 00:20:31,199
How am I really doing?

325
00:20:31,199 --> 00:20:31,919
What's going on?

326
00:20:32,500 --> 00:20:34,859
It's good for me, because
I would rather not share.

327
00:20:35,669 --> 00:20:36,739
So it's good for me.

328
00:20:37,819 --> 00:20:39,600
But what are your joy languages?

329
00:20:39,620 --> 00:20:43,399
Perhaps it's going for a walk,
playing games with one another.

330
00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:49,969
Watching TV is fun, but if the thing
you're not watching is not producing

331
00:20:49,969 --> 00:20:53,620
joy, is it really building joy in
your relationship all the time?

332
00:20:54,179 --> 00:20:56,170
We have to have conversations.

333
00:20:56,170 --> 00:20:57,509
What brings us joy?

334
00:20:57,699 --> 00:21:01,389
The other day, my wife and I, we had
a midweek, and one of the questions

335
00:21:01,389 --> 00:21:06,820
that came up was, what actually brings
you joy, and creates joy in your life?

336
00:21:06,830 --> 00:21:08,489
We both said, music.

337
00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,185
The next day, we went out to this cafe,
where they had live music, And we were

338
00:21:13,185 --> 00:21:15,425
able to experience that joy together.

339
00:21:15,915 --> 00:21:18,255
But how will you know what
brings you joy if you don't even

340
00:21:18,255 --> 00:21:19,995
communicate it or talk about it?

341
00:21:20,755 --> 00:21:21,175
Okay?

342
00:21:21,395 --> 00:21:22,945
So, here are some things.

343
00:21:22,955 --> 00:21:25,604
You could try some of
this over the holidays.

344
00:21:26,275 --> 00:21:31,084
Have deep, vulnerable conversations
that are filled with grace,

345
00:21:31,435 --> 00:21:33,084
that are full of compassion.

346
00:21:33,884 --> 00:21:34,294
Amen?

347
00:21:34,304 --> 00:21:36,954
Do some things that create joy.

348
00:21:36,994 --> 00:21:38,644
Go on some walks with one another.

349
00:21:38,924 --> 00:21:40,474
Play some games with each other.

350
00:21:41,154 --> 00:21:42,414
Okay, finally.

351
00:21:43,844 --> 00:21:49,615
What's amazing is that all of the things
that you saw on the last slide about

352
00:21:49,625 --> 00:21:54,735
building joy relationally, we also
can do the very same things with God.

353
00:21:56,234 --> 00:22:00,664
And these spiritual disciplines
that many of us do on a daily

354
00:22:00,665 --> 00:22:06,909
basis, they are opportunities
for connections of joy with God.

355
00:22:09,139 --> 00:22:12,480
Sometimes, though, we can
see the spiritual disciplines

356
00:22:12,770 --> 00:22:15,259
as just checkbox exercises.

357
00:22:16,799 --> 00:22:18,880
I'm a disciple, therefore I should pray.

358
00:22:19,329 --> 00:22:20,710
I should read my Bible.

359
00:22:21,989 --> 00:22:22,989
That's pretty much it.

360
00:22:24,610 --> 00:22:29,610
There is so much more to our
relationship with God that He

361
00:22:29,610 --> 00:22:32,630
wants us to enjoy with Him.

362
00:22:34,060 --> 00:22:37,449
I don't have the time to go through all
of these references, but I would like

363
00:22:37,449 --> 00:22:39,279
to encourage you for your homework.

364
00:22:39,830 --> 00:22:43,599
Write down the scripture
references, because every one of

365
00:22:43,599 --> 00:22:48,239
these disciplines connects you
to joy in God in some capacity.

366
00:22:49,299 --> 00:22:50,680
The first one is prayer.

367
00:22:50,929 --> 00:22:51,739
Read about that.

368
00:22:51,749 --> 00:22:53,129
John 16, 24.

369
00:22:53,980 --> 00:22:56,360
Second one, the study of God's Word.

370
00:22:56,549 --> 00:22:57,770
Psalm 19, 8.

371
00:22:57,850 --> 00:22:58,850
Please read that.

372
00:22:59,090 --> 00:23:02,429
The one at the bottom is gratitude.

373
00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:08,540
Taking time just to think how blessed we
are to have a relationship with God and

374
00:23:08,639 --> 00:23:10,880
all the things that He does in our lives.

375
00:23:11,239 --> 00:23:12,239
Study that out.

376
00:23:12,529 --> 00:23:15,749
The middle one is
fellowship with one another.

377
00:23:16,319 --> 00:23:20,119
That God designed it in such a
way that we have those healthy

378
00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:22,049
relationships bring us joy.

379
00:23:23,049 --> 00:23:27,069
It brings us closer to one another
and then closer to God as a result.

380
00:23:27,639 --> 00:23:30,330
Last one, just simply
being out in God's nature.

381
00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,009
That's his joy language.

382
00:23:35,529 --> 00:23:37,120
Psalm 65, eight.

383
00:23:37,330 --> 00:23:40,810
So let me encourage you study
these things out over Christmas.

384
00:23:41,299 --> 00:23:47,979
Do some activities with God so that
you can just simply say, God, I'm glad

385
00:23:47,979 --> 00:23:53,750
to be with you because he's definitely
glad to be with us as we bring it into

386
00:23:53,750 --> 00:23:56,279
to, to, to close and to take communion.

387
00:23:58,049 --> 00:24:03,290
As Jesus was beginning to prepare
himself for going to the cross, this

388
00:24:03,290 --> 00:24:04,920
is what he says to his disciples.

389
00:24:04,969 --> 00:24:10,269
He says to them, listen, I'm going
soon and you're going to be left.

390
00:24:12,409 --> 00:24:13,600
I won't be around.

391
00:24:15,089 --> 00:24:19,139
So he promises them and he encourages
them and he builds their faith.

392
00:24:19,739 --> 00:24:23,310
He comforts them and reminds
them of it's going to be okay.

393
00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,169
I'm going to give you the Holy Spirit.

394
00:24:25,580 --> 00:24:27,029
You've got one another.

395
00:24:27,179 --> 00:24:29,110
I will never be far from you.

396
00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:31,520
I'm always going to be with you.

397
00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:32,719
And this is what he says to them.

398
00:24:33,170 --> 00:24:34,870
I am coming to you now.

399
00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,400
He's praying for them.

400
00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,229
He says, I'm coming to you now, Father.

401
00:24:40,149 --> 00:24:45,669
But I say these things while I am still
in the world, so that they may have

402
00:24:45,669 --> 00:24:50,459
the full measure of my joy within them.

403
00:24:50,460 --> 00:24:52,429
Amen.

404
00:24:52,809 --> 00:24:53,609
Jesus.

405
00:24:54,279 --> 00:24:55,750
was full of joy.

406
00:24:56,020 --> 00:25:01,440
And he says to them, listen, as hard
as this is going to get, I want you to

407
00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:05,650
have the full measure of my joy in you.

408
00:25:08,429 --> 00:25:09,879
What an incredible promise.

409
00:25:10,690 --> 00:25:14,250
He doesn't want us just to have a
little sprinkling of joy here and

410
00:25:14,250 --> 00:25:20,389
there, but to have the full measure,
the great measure of his joy.

411
00:25:22,380 --> 00:25:23,409
We can do that.

412
00:25:23,409 --> 00:25:23,999
Yeah.

413
00:25:24,290 --> 00:25:26,420
Through our times with Him.

414
00:25:27,580 --> 00:25:31,800
Through our opportunities of
building joy with one another.

415
00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:33,960
That's His promise to us.

416
00:25:34,750 --> 00:25:40,120
And even as Jesus went to the cross,
this is, this always blows my mind.

417
00:25:40,620 --> 00:25:42,119
Hebrews 12.

418
00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:49,740
Jesus, who for the joy set
before Him, endured the cross.

419
00:25:52,140 --> 00:25:54,450
Even facing the cross.

420
00:25:55,455 --> 00:25:58,195
He was able to do it with joy.

421
00:26:01,655 --> 00:26:07,475
So He left the world with the joy,
the same joy in which He entered.

422
00:26:08,855 --> 00:26:12,814
But this time, we were His source of joy.

423
00:26:14,124 --> 00:26:18,905
You were His source of
joy, even at the cross.

424
00:26:20,165 --> 00:26:23,335
Let Him be our source of joy.

425
00:26:24,145 --> 00:26:25,215
Every single day.

426
00:26:25,235 --> 00:26:29,505
There is no reason we have, doesn't
matter what circumstances come our way,

427
00:26:29,955 --> 00:26:31,575
none of them are worse than the cross.

428
00:26:33,105 --> 00:26:38,104
And Jesus found joy even in that
darkest moment because he was able to

429
00:26:38,105 --> 00:26:44,114
look at us and see the relationship
with God that his suffering was

430
00:26:44,114 --> 00:26:45,654
going to bring and provide for us.

431
00:26:47,234 --> 00:26:51,304
I hope I've been able to encourage
you today with the great gift of joy.

432
00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:56,670
Please enjoy it this Christmas
It's great to be with you.

433
00:26:56,670 --> 00:26:58,530
Please come up and say hi afterwards.

434
00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,080
I'm very encouraged to share
God's Word with you today.

435
00:27:01,300 --> 00:27:01,610
Amen