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Rejoice In the Spirit
(Lk2:1-14, 10:21)

God is the source of joy.
From Him flows true joy and
He gives the greatest joy to
Those who rejoice with His joy (1Pe4:13; Rev19:7) and proclaim good news of great joy (Jn15:11).
 
The more man pursues physical pleasure,
The more he realizes its futility (Ecc2:1-11) but
Faith is rejoicing in God (Ps9:2; Job22:26), over the coming of the Lord Yeshua in the flesh.
The life of this faith is always rejoicing, even in hardship, trouble, isolation etc, and
Proclaiming the good news (Is52:7; Php1:17-18).
 
While deceived by the devil, the ancestor Adam sinned (Ge3:4-6) and
All mankind became destined to fall into hell (Ge3:16-19; Mt25:41),
Abraham rejoiced seeing God return to his flesh and blood, and
Received a son at his age of 100 and laughed (Ge18:1-4, 21:6; Jn8:56).
On account of their ancestors in whom God delighted,
Abraham’s descendants Israel became God’s chosen people (Dt10:15).
They were delivered from 430 years of slavery in Egypt, and
God turned the sea into dry land and they passed through the waters on foot
So they rejoiced in Him (Ps66:6).
Before long, however, they began to resent God because
Their joy came from their conditions and circumstances.
 
For the source of their joy be in the name of God (Ps89:16)
God commanded them to build the sanctuary.
But they rather rejoiced in idols (Is44:9) and so
God no longer delighted in them (Hos9:1) or in their sacrifices (Is1:11).
 
Nevertheless, according to the prophecy, the one in whom God delights appeared (Is42:1; Ze9:9), The good news of great joy came (Lk2:10), that is, the Son of God came in the flesh.
Yeshua was conceived in a virgin (Is7:14, 9:6; Lk1:31-38),
Born in Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and laid in a manger (Mi5:2; Lk2:4-7).
 
He said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
He would give His joy to the souls in whom He delights so their joy may be complete (Jn15:11),
For when He was in the Father’s bosom, He was rejoicing always (Pr8:29-30) and
When He came as man, He pleased the Father (M12:18).
Though while in the flesh He had no condition to be joyful,
He was always full of joy through the Holy Spirit (Lk10:21; Jn8:29).
Yet before His death, He became sorrowful and troubled, a man of sorrow (Is53:3; Mt26:37-39).
 
But as He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1)    Died according to the command and pleased the Father (Jn10:17-18);
2)    Judged the devil, the narcissistic one (Is14:12-15; Eze28:12-17); and
3)    Died bearing sorrows and affliction of all mankind (Is53:4-5), and shed His redeeming blood for all souls.
 
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne and
He became God’s eternal joy, and
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Lets those who have been shown His favor (Lk2:14)
Rejoice solely over the fact that they have the blood of Yeshua (Jn16:20).
 
Therefore, the man of the Spirit
Goes to the ends of the earth (Ac1:8) and proclaims good news of great joy (Is52:7), and
He always rejoices
Even if he does not receive healing or answer to prayers, and
Even if he suffers disgrace (Ac5:20-42; 2Co6:10)
For he longs to go to heaven as the greatest joy is found there — Yeshua (1Pe4:13; Rev19:7).
 
O Lord,
Forgive me, if I had lost joy or gotten sad
Over petty things like Jonah’s leafy plant (Jnh4:6-10)…
Whether it is a leafy plant or not, it is fine with me!
Let the source of my joy not be my senses or deeds.
Rather, let it always be the blood of Yeshua in my soul!
Lord, I rejoice and rejoice over Your coming in the flesh!  Amen.