Young People's Group

Rejoiced With Exceedingly Great Joy

by Mitchell Tan
December 18, 2015

THE EXAMPLE OF THE WISE MEN IN HAVING GREAT JOY

How can we find great joy during this Christmas time and beyond? Sometimes, when we come to the end of the year, it is easy for us to allow negative and depressive thoughts to fill our mind rather than good and joyful ones. When the wise men saw the star as recorded in the text of Matthew 2:10, they rejoiced with “exceedingly great joy”. The word “rejoice” and “joy” includes the idea of grace. It is the experience of grace from God that helps us find continuous joy. Furthermore, this joy is extremely “mega”. It is joy that is truly out of this world. This is a joy that can only come from God. Young people, do you want to experience this great sense of joy? It begins with the exercising of our faith.

1. BEGIN A JOURNEY OF FAITH IN SEEKING THE PERSON OF THE LORD JESUS

“Behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem”
Matthew 2:1

These wise men had some knowledge of the birth of the King. They exercised faith in seeking Him. They began a journey of faith in seeking this. Young people, have you begun a journey of seeking the Lord Jesus?

2. DRIVEN BY PURPOSE TO SEEK AND WORSHIP THE LORD AS KING

“For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2

When the wise men saw the star, they recognised that this was no ordinary one. Since then, they had been following this amazing moving star. What drove them on? It was a deep sense of purpose to see the King and to worship Him. They exercised their faith in the Lord and sought Him with perseverance. They had to brave the desert and all kinds of hazards that were associated with travelling in the ancient days. They persevered in faith despite all the hardship that they had to face to find the king.

3. HAVING A FAITH THAT IS GUIDED BY THE PROPHETIC WORD

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet”
Matthew 2:6

While seeking the Lord Jesus, the wise men went to the wrong place. Thankfully, they were guided by the prophetic word from Micah 5:2. Bethlehem was the prophesied place of the Messiah’s birth. The wise men were specially guided by the Lord’s word. Young people, are you also guided by the word of the Lord in your life and ministry?

FINDING EXCEEDING GREAT JOY WHEN WE SEE THE WORD CONFIRMED TO US

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2:10

When the wise men went to the city of Jerusalem to look for the king of the Jews, they must have lost sight of the star along the way. The star went ahead and stood over the Child Jesus. When the wise men saw the star again, they rejoiced with great joy. Things were being confirmed in their hearts. The star that had led them appeared again as they were led by Scriptures to Bethlehem. There was great joy in the heart when the Lord brought everything together for the wise men; the leading of the star, their faith in the King and the Scriptures. There was just this tremendous depth of joy. When they finally saw the Child Jesus, they worshipped Him with precious gifts. Young people, let’s truly seek to exercise greater faith in the Lord Jesus during this Christmas time and beyond. Let’s learn to worship Him with exceedingly great joy.

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