1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,000 Howdy. Well, we're talking a little bit today about the theme of joy as our third Sunday of Advent. 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:20,000 But what I wanted to do is to help to distinguish that a bit from the idea of what happiness may feel like at any given point. 3 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:29,000 Because happiness can be something that may be fleeting, it may go up and down, but that's a bit different from what it is to find joy. 4 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:35,000 So when happiness can be fleeting, can we truly find joy in our life? 5 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:43,000 There was some years back when I was traveling down into Guatemala and a bunch of us decided we were going to go zip-lining. 6 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:49,000 So we went up this mountain range area and we saw, and this thing was just huge. 7 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:55,000 I mean, it went for quite a ways down the, I was like, I don't know how in the world they even got this up in the first place. 8 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:02,000 And everybody was taking turns going down this zip-line, you know, and people would be yelling, or they'd be upside down, 9 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,000 or off to the side, or Superman or whatever it was. 10 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,000 And I decided that of course I was going to be a little different, of course. 11 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:15,000 And I began seeing the greatest American hero theme song as I'm sliding down the zip-line. 12 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:21,000 You know, believe it or not, I'm walking on air, I never thought I could be so free. 13 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:26,000 And I'm just going along and everything and I sang the entire song. 14 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:33,000 Like almost two minutes I swear that thing was, and all the way from beginning to end, it was a really long one, I swear. 15 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:38,000 And I get to the end and I looked over and it was like, alright, alright, cool, cool, cool. 16 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000 Okay, who took the video of me sliding down the zip-line? 17 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,000 Nobody had taken a video. 18 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:54,000 Every other person they had taken a video of it and I was just like, oh, you know, it's like this thing where I was so excited, 19 00:01:54,000 --> 00:02:01,000 so happy to be on the zip-line, and then at the end what I was looking forward to is getting to show everybody how cool it was, 20 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,000 and there was nothing. 21 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:15,000 Isn't it amazing that you can be having the most fun experience, so pleasurable, and all of a sudden something can happen and just takes the fun out of it, you know? 22 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:25,000 And that's the thing about happiness is that sometimes we end up seeing it go up and down, because it's not always the same thing as true joy. 23 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:33,000 Sometimes when we just end up getting disappointed and we end up struggling with this feeling of, does happiness really last? 24 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,000 The thing is, is that finding happiness, it's not a bad thing. 25 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:46,000 Being happy is not something evil, but the question is, is finding happiness always a good thing? 26 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Is that actually the joy, is it actually the goal of joy, is to try to find a feeling of happiness? 27 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:02,000 And that's something I want us to wrestle with a little bit today, because happiness can be a little bit tricky at times, 28 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,000 but there's something deeper that we're looking to. 29 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:12,000 See, we get this question of, why is it that pleasure in life can be so hard today? 30 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:21,000 There are, this is the nerd part of the sermon, there are four chemicals that are oftentimes associated with feeling happy. 31 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:28,000 There is dopamine, which comes from eating food, achieving goals, completing tasks, or taking care of yourself. 32 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:36,000 There's oxytocin that comes from socializing with people, physical touch, petting animals, and helping other people. 33 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:46,000 There's endorphins from exercising, listening to music, watching a movie, or laughing, or serotonin, being in the sun, 34 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:53,000 being mindful of what's going on around you, being with nature, or just meditating on something calm and peaceful. 35 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:59,000 The thing is, is that each of these can end up working to create a feeling of happiness. 36 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:07,000 But what's interesting is that sometimes they end up coming at unexpected times that make things complicated. 37 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:17,000 See, it turns out that dopamine doesn't just come when you satisfy what you want, it also comes when there's anticipation. 38 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:23,000 When you are anticipating that you're going to get something that you really want. 39 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:33,000 And that's the thing about it, is that you end up getting even more dopamine leading up to something, oftentimes, and even getting it at all. 40 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:39,000 That's why you can only eat, you can't only eat one potato chip. 41 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:46,000 That craving after getting the first one keeps rising and you keep going back for more. 42 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:57,000 But the thing about this though, is that it has become even harder to deal with in today's world, especially a world where we are constantly swiping on things like social media. 43 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,000 And why is that? 44 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:05,000 Well, it turns out that it's not actually the anticipation of knowing you're going to get something you want. 45 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:12,000 It's actually the anticipation of hoping you may get something you want that's uncertain. 46 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,000 What do I mean by that? 47 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:21,000 If somebody decides they're going to post something onto Facebook and they put it on there and then they walk away. 48 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,000 I put a picture, I put a quote, I put something I think is important. 49 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 And then they're wondering, did anybody read it? 50 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,000 Did anybody look at it? 51 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,000 Did anybody hit like? 52 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,000 Oh no, did somebody hit unlike? 53 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,000 And then just their mind, well, I need to go check and find out. 54 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:41,000 They don't know if anybody has actually done anything, but it's just wondering. 55 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:46,000 If maybe somebody has said, yes, I like what you posted. 56 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:58,000 Or other times, whenever we're just trying to go through and see if someone has added something or interacted in some way, or even if they've liked us as a person. 57 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:03,000 Mostly because of the way we may look or the appearance that we may give. 58 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:10,000 This is also why it is that online dating becomes so addictive, but isn't very satisfying. 59 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:17,000 The thing with this is that we end up getting this instant desire for gratification. 60 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,000 Why? 61 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:23,000 Because you may be thinking, well, if you don't know if you're going to get what you're looking for on social media, 62 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,000 then how does that make you happy? 63 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:32,000 Because all you have to do is just swipe again and you get another chance. 64 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:37,000 And then you can always jump to another social network to see if somebody else likes you. 65 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:44,000 The thing is, is that we are in a world where there is no waiting and no wondering anymore. 66 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:49,000 We are constantly looking for some level of constant satisfaction. 67 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,000 But here's the problem with that. 68 00:06:52,000 --> 00:07:00,000 The more that we do that, the more that we try to instantly satisfy what we want, the less we enjoy it. 69 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:05,000 The less that it actually creates happiness inside of us. 70 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:11,000 This is one of the reasons for why it is that certain addictions become as powerful as they are. 71 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:20,000 Alcohol, drugs, physical intimacy, social media, many things gambling that can end up continuing to pull you in, 72 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:32,000 not because it may be all that enjoyable itself, but because the drive, the anticipation of it draws you in even further. 73 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:41,000 And that's one of the things that we end up discovering is that if all we're looking for is some interaction with our emotions, 74 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:52,000 or an experience to bolster our happiness, does that actually bring real joy or something that we would really want? 75 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:58,000 And that's one of the things that we end up having to deal with when we look at John the Baptist. 76 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:04,000 What was it that gave John joy in his life? 77 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:14,000 You see, we end up knowing that John was looking forward to Jesus coming, the anticipation of Jesus and everything that he was going to do. 78 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:22,000 And we know that Jesus had said, the Spirit of the Lord of God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. 79 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:34,000 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. 80 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:42,000 And then there was John, and he sees Jesus and he proclaims that he is the one to come, and then what ends up happening to John? 81 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,000 He gets thrown into prison. 82 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:53,000 So now, after hearing the words of Jesus, what is John especially looking to? 83 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:59,000 Liberty to the captives and opening the prison to those who are bound. 84 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,000 But what happens to John? 85 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,000 John is still in prison. 86 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:14,000 See, the thing about this is that his anticipation, was it met with satisfaction? 87 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:18,000 It was, but not the way he was expecting. 88 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:25,000 See, that's one of the things that we see in the verse, is what it is to be scandalized or offended by someone. 89 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:32,000 When we are scandalized, we are offended, we are seeing something or receiving something that we were not expecting. 90 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:38,000 We are not getting what it was that we expected, what it was that we wanted. 91 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:47,000 The thing is, is that Jesus wasn't coming to bring what it was people expected, but rather came to bring the kingdom of God. 92 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:52,000 We may be expecting one thing, but we end up receiving another. 93 00:09:52,000 --> 00:10:01,000 But here's the thing for John, was he going to reject what God was doing because it was different from what he was expecting? 94 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:07,000 What was it that we end up seeing Jesus actually doing? 95 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:12,000 The eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf are unstopped. 96 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,000 Those who cannot walk are able to leap like deer. 97 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,000 Those who cannot speak, their tongues will be shouting for joy. 98 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,000 The dead will rise and the poor will receive good news. 99 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,000 Jesus was doing all of these things. 100 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:35,000 But could John look beyond what he was going through to see what Jesus was truly doing? 101 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:44,000 Because John's goals, his purposes, his plans, what it was that he came to do, they were being fulfilled. 102 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:50,000 But was his experience keeping him from seeing what God was doing? 103 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:54,000 Isn't the same thing true for us though? 104 00:10:54,000 --> 00:11:05,000 Do we ever look beyond the moment of what we're experiencing now to see what God is actually doing around us? 105 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000 Because that's the thing about joy. 106 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:12,000 Joy goes beyond a given moment. 107 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:21,000 See, as much as I was frustrated at the end of that zipline and that all these people, nobody had taken a video, 108 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:29,000 the reality was that I was probably the most entertaining out of the people sliding along that zipline. 109 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:37,000 And all the people that were standing there on either side were having a great time laughing and pointing and enjoying the show, 110 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:41,000 so much so that they had forgotten to take the video. 111 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,000 But here's the thing. 112 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:52,000 Was it more important to make sure that there was a video clip online that somebody may or may not swipe through in five seconds? 113 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:58,000 Or to enjoy that time with the people who are right there with me? 114 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,000 And that's the thing that we end up doing. 115 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:09,000 We oftentimes end up missing the true fruit because of what we're looking for at any given moment. 116 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:14,000 The thing is that Jesus' ministry was bearing fruit more than just what was happening at that moment. 117 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:23,000 Yes, John was in a prison cell, but that didn't mean that Jesus wasn't doing what he had come to do, 118 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:29,000 to bring hope and life and salvation to the world. 119 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:37,000 But that's the thing about our own lives of faith, is that oftentimes we are spending so much trying to make sure that at this moment 120 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:44,000 we're experiencing what we want to feel and getting something that we may not get otherwise. 121 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:50,000 And that's what we oftentimes do in Advent, is that sometimes we are struggling so much to make sure 122 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:56,000 that we're having an experience at that point that we may miss what the ultimate joy actually is. 123 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:05,000 But also in our life of faith, are we actually looking to be built up, to grow, to learn, to try new things, 124 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,000 to discover more about God? 125 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Because if we are struggling with what's happening inside of ourselves, then maybe we need to be asking the question, 126 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:23,000 are we living for more than what's happening right in front of us? 127 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:30,000 Because joy goes beyond the happiness of today. 128 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:40,000 That's the thing that we end up seeing. If you'll remember, there were four different ways in which happiness happens in our brain. 129 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:48,000 And whenever we are struggling with the times of happiness at that moment of getting something satisfied that we wanted, 130 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:54,000 what if we look at other things that are blessing us by God? 131 00:13:54,000 --> 00:14:02,000 To be dedicated to things that actually matter. Are we dedicated to life and faith and purpose? 132 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:09,000 To doing what is right in this world, but especially to sharing the good news of the gospel with other people? 133 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:18,000 We end up, could we change from the uncertainty of swiping through our Facebook and our Instagram 134 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:25,000 and go to something that we know is truly certain at all times, that God has made us His children, 135 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:30,000 and that we have life eternal because of Him. 136 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:37,000 If we end up feeling that what we do in church and in faith has become stagnant and boring, 137 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,000 isn't that a time when we should try something different? 138 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:49,000 Doesn't that mean that maybe we should try a new study or a different small group or to find another opportunity to serve in the community? 139 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:56,000 Or to be able to reach out to people we've never met here in this place and discover that maybe that might be our new best friend? 140 00:14:56,000 --> 00:15:01,000 I mean, hey, there's a lot of people here. They're kind of weird, but they're nice. 141 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:10,000 And the thing with it is that with each of these opportunities, is that maybe just discovering something that you've never tried before. 142 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Maybe we get to the new year and you want to actually read through the Bible in a year. 143 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:20,000 Whenever we find that something is boring, it doesn't mean that it's lost its joy. 144 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:25,000 It just means we have a chance to try it in a new way. 145 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:31,000 But there's also times when we can look for the little pleasures, the little things that may come up. 146 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:39,000 Not the things that take away from purpose or meaning, but the things where maybe we make a friend laugh. 147 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Maybe we share a meal with somebody we haven't seen in a while. 148 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:50,000 Maybe we end up just taking some time, make things look a little bit festive, just to draw people's attention for a bit. 149 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:56,000 Not in place of what's meaningful, but to draw us closer to what is meaningful. 150 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:00,000 Because our meaning goes beyond what happens here now. 151 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:08,000 We're not just animals responding to some stimulus that tries to make us dance and move. 152 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:13,000 But rather is to be able to look and discover something new that we've never seen before. 153 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:19,000 And maybe we have to be willing to wait just a little bit longer for something. 154 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:28,000 It may turn out that whatever gratification you're looking for, the thing that maybe has driven you to the things that were unhealthy in the past. 155 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:38,000 Maybe if we slow down, whether with friends or accountability, we might be able to discover what could actually bring true joy. 156 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,000 Because true joy takes time. 157 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:46,000 True joy is something that has to be built on. 158 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:53,000 And maybe there are things that you need to work on in your life, whether it be maybe finding community to live alongside, 159 00:16:53,000 --> 00:17:00,000 or therapy, or even for some people medication, there may be any number of things that may be happening in your life. 160 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:09,000 But with each of these things is to be able to go through them over time and to be able to pursue what really matters in life. 161 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,000 Because Jesus didn't come into the world as a grown man. 162 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,000 He came into the world as a baby. 163 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:25,000 And that's the thing about coming into the world as a baby is that it takes time and that you have to wait to see what God's going to do. 164 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:36,000 So this baby who grew into the man who would bring us salvation and life everlasting, he is the one who has made us for eternity. 165 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:43,000 So whatever may be in your life right now that you are using just to try to get through the day, 166 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:49,000 my hope and prayer is that that will no longer distract you from the things that really matter. 167 00:17:49,000 --> 00:18:00,000 Let's spend more time living our lives today, not just for today, but as if we truly believe that we have life everlasting. 168 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:14,000 Thanks be to God.