The Joy of the World
The Greatest Story Every Told • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Isaac Watts was called a heretic and a black sheep of his day. He went against the trends of the day and challenged people to think. One writer says, “He grew up in a society that consisted only of sections of scriptures and psalms being incorporated with music. Watts broke this trend, as he noticed a certain lack of emotion among those who performed it. He hated this monotonous and dull negligence that was prominent upon the faces of the performers. His father challenged him to do something about this, and eventually, he started tweaking his verses, opening a whole new frontier of possibilities.” As a response, he wrote what we know as perhaps the most familiar of the Christmas carols. In fact, it is documented as the most popular Christmas Carol of the 19th and 20th centuries. However, English Minister Isaac Watts didn’t write “Joy to the World” to be a Christmas carol. He wrote it about the Second Coming of Christ paraphrasing the second part of Psalm 98. Somewhere along the way, a choir performed the song at a Christmas function and it became one of the greatest Christmas carols of all time. So how can a song about the Second Coming of Christ be about the First coming of Christ? The nations are called to celebrate because God's faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world. Whether it is a Christmas carol or a hymn of the second coming, it still is a proclamation of joy.
“Joy to the World, the Lord has come!” There are several proclamations of joy found throughout scripture. Our text for the day comes from Isaiah 49:13.
The Proclamation of Joy
The Proclamation of Joy
13 Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
What God has done for mankind needs to be remembered and celebrated! The proclamation of joy resounds!
From the Heavens
From the Heavens
Isaiah shows us that the source of joy comes from the heavens. This is also prevalent in passages like Psalm 96:11
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
The joy from the heavens spills over and fills the earth.
Filling the Earth
Filling the Earth
The joy of the God of Israel becomes the joy of the heaven and earth. Isaiah says, “Rejoice, O Earth”
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
The whole earth rejoices in God’s love for His people! Luke 15:7
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Joy fills the heavens and the earth and as it does, it frees the people.
Freeing the People
Freeing the People
“For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.”
Comfort frees the people from the pain of affliction. What have you been afflicted with that the comfort of the Lord could free you? Our world afflicts much on us including sickness, sin, relationship issues, and crisis after crisis. But God… But God…
14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.
We should have a proclamation of great joy!
The Path of Joy
The Path of Joy
In addition to the proclamation of joy, it is important to see the path of joy.
Formed by God
Formed by God
First and foremost, this path was formed by God. His desire for us is always to experience His great joy! Job 8:21
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
God forms the path of joy because it paved with His word and smoothed out with the pavement of His promises. Psalm 89:11
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
God is good to us! He formed the path of joy and it is founded in grace.
Founded in Grace
Founded in Grace
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Oh the grace our God has given us! No wonder we shout for joy!
Fastening with Glory
Fastening with Glory
The path of joy is fastened with the glory of God! The angels proclaimed it. The shepherds experienced it. The Wise Men realized it. We too would be wise to realize it as well! Psalm 19:1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
I loved seeing the meteor shower this past week. I felt the heavens were declaring the glory of God! My mind keeps going back to the Shepherd’s Field outside of Bethlehem. I have thought many times what the shepherds must have experienced that dark night when the angels declared the announcement of Jesus birth.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
The proclamation and path of joy was preparing us for the the person of joy!
The Person of Joy
The Person of Joy
Our joy comes because of the Son of God! Do you know Him? Let me tell you about Him.
The Son of God
The Son of God
He is the Son of God. The Son is the exact radiance of His Father. Hebrews 1:3
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
The Son of God has purified us and He is true.
20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
The Son of God brings us joy.
The Savior of the World
The Savior of the World
The Son of God is the Savior of the World! 1 John 4:14
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Do you know this person of Joy?
The Sovereign King
The Sovereign King
The Son of God and the Savior of the world is also the Sovereign King.
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.
Do you know the Person of Joy? If you do, then you will experience the power of joy!
The Power of Joy
The Power of Joy
The power of joy just doesn’t come during the advent season. It is there all the time!
Overflows from the Heart
Overflows from the Heart
2 Corinthians 8:1-2
1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
If it is there, it is there! A cup overflows when the excess is poured into it! When you realize what that baby born in a manger has done for you, you will realize the overflow of your joy!
Overcomes Hard Times
Overcomes Hard Times
This verse I just shared from 2 Corinthians 8:2 also states that it overcomes hard trials. 1 John 2:13-14
13 I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
because you have known the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
There is power in joy! It outlasts hopelessness.
Outlasts Hopelessness
Outlasts Hopelessness
No matter what happens in this old crazy world, we can be assured of the hope we have in Christ. Zechariah 14:4
4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
No matter what happens, we who are in Christ STILL WIN! For that, my friend, we should have JOY!