Joy Luke 2:25-38

I) Christian Joy is born of the spirit In Luke's birth narrative Simeon is the sixth person that is either filled with the Holy Spirit or marked by the Holy Spirit. - Luke 1:14,15 John the Baptist: You will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth … filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb - 1:35  Mary: The Holy Spirit will come upon you - 1:41 Elizabeth: filled with the Holy Spirit - 1:67 Zacharias: filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied 

Continuity with the Old Testament

• pointing to Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;”

Psalm 51:11 “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.” Something completely new in the New Testament -  breaking through of the Kingdom - Acts 2:1-4

Nehemiah 8:9-12  Commanded Joy “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” - stop dwelling on the pain and grief and have a party - rejoice when it is the last thing I feel like doing -  Feel no joy  - keep standing - keep believing - keep welcoming His presence

Anna: deep lost and goes to temple -  fast, worship, pray for decades - Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted

II) Christian joy aches for fulfillment

Simeon waiting and longing for the consolation of Israel - Israel oppressed and brutalized  - he is actively hoping and praying that this will happen  - joy fulfilled when Jesus is revealed Anna waiting - Anna in the temple of worshiping, fasting, praying after 7 years of marriage The already but not yet - Jesus has come but not all things are consummate - healing, victory, death etc

• Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

III) Christian Joy heralds

• Luke 2:38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
• genuine joy leads to gratitude and gladness that draws people in
• this is the day the Lord has made....
• one of the biggest draws of social media is sharing what you enjoy...etc a good meal 

Partying Kingdom style - the return of prodigal