O Come All Ye Faithful

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[1] Title

Carols

In this series, over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas, we’re going to look at four of popular Christmas carols you’ll be familiar with and explore the scripture behind them and how they’re born out of our joy that Christ has entered the world. O Holy Night, , O Come All Ye Faithful, Away In A Manger, Emmanuel
In this series, we’re looking at popular Christmas carols you’ll be familiar with and explore the scripture behind them and how they’re born out of our joy that Christ has entered the world. You’ll begin to see the truth God has placed in the very lyrics of these songs.
Last week - O Holy Night; Next week - Away In A Manger; Christmas weekend - O Come O Come Emmanuel; Today - O Come All Ye Faithful

O Holy Night

Mid-1800s Priest Placide Cappeau - French wine merchant and poet1906, Reginald Fessenden, 33 yr old university professor did the impossible. On Christmas Eve - new kind of generator - First AM Broadcast - micAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. :1Read - Played this song on his violin - First song ever broadcast on AM radio. Let’s listen in.[2] O Holy Night - Music Video [3] TitleO Holy Night - the night when Christ was born.Manger scene brings many of us believers to a place of emotion. Disservice: 9 months pregnant - traveling on a donkey (80-120 miles) - we rode to DuBois in a Hyundai. Delivering Elam (Epidural) vs Adler (Fast!) - Kinsley is my hero - It may have been a ‘Holy Night’ but I’d strongly suggest it wasn’t a quiet restful night.Now, in this song, O Holy Night, there’s a phrase I want to zero in on, and it may not be the phrase you’re expecting. My hope is that when you hear this song in the future this phrase will jump out at you as well. The song says: ‘A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices...’ and then it says ‘…For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.’If you asked for a word to accurately describe the state of our world today, I’d vote for weary. The world is overwhelmed, so much anxiety in our lives (economy, family, disease, struggle after struggle). I think many of us this Christmas are fighting to stay above water and can relate to that phrase, ‘the weary world.’ But what’s great about this song is it doesn’t just let us sit there weary and downcast because it says there’s a ‘thrill of hope.’ Imagine, in the chaos of this holy night, in this weary world, those who had waited all their lives for a Messiah, heard stories of generations past waiting all their lives for a Messiah, the thrill that comes with the birth of the Messiah. A thrill of hope fills the air and what does the weary world do? The weary world rejoices!I hope this Christmas, if your world is weary, you’ll experience the thrill of hope find faith to rejoice. Why? Because even in the chaos of this night, there is a new and glorious morn.We love to sing about that holy night, but I want to focus on what happens the next morning! Think about that new and glorious morning! The Saviour of this weary world has been born and everything is different now because Jesus Christ can change everything.

O Come All Ye Faithful

This hymn is a collaboration of several people.
It was originally written in Latin and was given the title Adesete Fideles. The writer was John Francis Wade, who was an 18th century hymnist.
It translated into English in 1841 by a guy named Frederick Oakeley, and that’s where we get the name O Come All Ye Faithful.
It’s a carol that has stood the test of time and has been sung throughout generations.
This song offers an invitation to “come, all ye faithful, . . . to Bethlehem” and places the singer both among the shepherds who rushed to see the Christ child, and in the long procession of the “faithful” that have journeyed to Bethlehem in their hearts for over 2,000 years.
Let’s do that together as we watch this video:
Originally written in Latin “Adesete Fideles” and is attributed to John Francis Wade, an 18th century hymnist, though the English “O Come All Ye Faithful” was translated by Frederick Oakeley in 1841.
This is a carol that has withstood the test of time and
[2] O Come All Ye Faithful - Music Video

LAMENTING

[3] Title
Beautiful.
I want to take you back to the Old Testament, the book of Lamentations. The context of Lamentations is the year 586 B.C. Jerusalem had fallen and the people were distraught and at a complete loss. The prophet Jeremiah, he was lamenting, he was whining, he was hurting like everyone else ‘whoa is me,’ and he pours his heart out in the form of this text. In chapter 3 we see a switch, where he moves from his mourning to a moment of faith. Here’s what he writes:[4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
Maybe you’re a little bit like me and the invitation I gave before the video was a little daunting actually. The first line can seem intimidating:
O Come All Ye FAITHFUL…JOYFUL…TRIUMPHANT
The reason this can feel daunting is because many times, especially during the Christmas season, we can feel anything but faithful, joyful and triumphant.
Instead we may feel the opposite…doubtful…depressed…defeated. And we’re thinking man, God, are you sure I’m the one who is supposed to come? I don’t always feel like it should be me among that group.
Maybe the holdup is on the faithful side: Perhaps it’s, you know what, God called me to do something, but once I got there it turned out to be far more difficult than I expected. So you start to question it and struggle through that faith issue.
Maybe the holdup is on the triumphant side: A word we don’t use a whole lot today because we often feel so defeated, don’t we? We look at the pieces of our life and expected to be further along by now. More achieved. More secure. We think, “Where’s the triumph in my life?”
When in fact many times we feel the opposite…doubtful…depressed…defeated.
Maybe the holdup is on the joyful side: I’m not sure if you’re like me or not, but joy can be sucked out of a room really quick. ‘I couldn’t wait to get here, I was having a great time, and then…she had to say THAT!’
How many of you have felt a lack of Faith? Joy? Triumph?
I’m probably a rare breed as a man, but I do enjoy trips to the mall. Happening place, people, food court,
So for me, as I begin to look at this song, I ask this question and I wonder, who is it that Jesus calls in Scripture? And the good news is, it’s not exactly the faithful, joyful and triumphant.
Let’s look into the life of Jesus and see who he calls. First.
Good news is…that isn’t who Jesus calls.

WHO DOES JESUS CALL?

So for me, as I begin to look at this song, I ask this question and I wonder, who is it that Jesus calls in Scripture? And the good news is, it’s not exactly the faithful, joyful and triumphant.
Let’s look into the life of Jesus and see who he calls. First and second. These are going to come quick, so if you’re taking notes, pens ready, if you have a photographic memory, prepare to capture the image.
Who does Jesus call?
[4]

JESUS CALLS THE WEARY AND BURDENED.

ESVMy soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
We see this in when Jesus says:
[5]
[11] Title
Matthew 11:28 CSB
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
The second thing:

A NEW DAY WITH CHRIST BRINGS

[6]

JESUS CALLS THE SINNERS.

It’s truly amazing what a new day with Christ can bring and I want to show you three truths that can bring you a thrill of hope when your weary world is in total darkness. If you’re living in darkness this Christmas, my prayer for you is that this will be the Christmas God changes everything for you - the year he pulls you out of darkness and into the light - a new day with Christ.Out of Lamentations, number one:A New Day With Christ Brings...[12]
We see this in

EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED

[7]
Now, this doesn’t say what you want. It says need. Needs and wants are very different. Everyday I need protein, fats, and carbs to stay alive. I can fill that need with beans and rice, but I want to fill it with steak and eggs and sweet potatoes.How many of you know sometimes, even if you’re not a preacher, you’ve got to preach to yourself? The most accessible preacher in your life is you. You say, I’m having a rough day and need some encouragement, alright self, it’s time to remind myself of some of God’s truth.That’s what Jeremiah is doing in v24: [13]
Matthew 9:12–13 NLT
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
It’s almost like you could rewrite this song a little bit and have it say, O Come All Ye Sinners…Ye weary and burdened, come to Bethlehem.
ESV“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
But here’s the thing, the good news is that Jesus doesn’t call weary and burdened sinners to leave us there. He may call you while you’re in a state of weary or burden or realization that, ‘Man, I’ve tried everything and it’s just not working for me, I need Jesus.’
And when you call on him, the Bible says something beautiful happens. He gives you a new heart. He makes you brand new.
[8]
What is my portion? Probably: God provided manna to the Israelites. Daily portion. Everyday God would give them exactly what they needed for that day. Hoard it - rot. It’s as if God was teaching them that they need him everyday.Jesus taught this in the NT when he taught the disciples how to pray. Give us this day our daily bread. Daily bread - because I need God every single day. “The Lord is my portion. He is exactly what I need today.” Don’t worry about tomorrow, he’ll give you exactly what you need tomorrow too. He’s already there. No matter what it brings he’s ready.What I hope you’ll understand:Marriage struggling? God is in tomorrow waiting for you and he is what your marriage needs.Weak today? God is in tomorrow and his strength is made perfect in your weakness.Down and depressed today? He is already in tomorrow and he is your joy. He’ll lift up your head.A new day with Christ brings exactly what you need, and what you need is the presence of God, his reality, his strength, his power, his goodness. The Lord is my portion.The second thing. A new day with Christ brings…the hope to keep going.[14]
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Today I want you to realize that God is wanting you to know you can become a new creation, the old is gone and the new is here. Okay?
So, Jesus helps us to become this new creation, right? Which begs the question, if he doesn’t leave us there, then what does he help us become?
Let’s talk about that a little bit.

WHAT DOES JESUS HELP US BECOME?

THE HOPE TO KEEP GOING

The first thing is:
It’s the thrill of hope in this weary world, it’s the thrill of hope and faith when all we see is darkness. It’s the belief that there is a new morning coming in the middle of the chaos of the night.Verse 25 says:[15]
[9]

JESUS HELPS US BECOME MORE FAITHFUL.

ESVThe Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
In fact, the book of Hebrews says this:
I’ve heard it said but can’t quote the source, we as humans can live 40 days or so without food, we can live 8 days or so without water, we can live 4 minutes or so without oxygen, but we can only live a few seconds without hope.There are too many people who are trying to survive with a very hope-deprived life. They’re struggling to find places to put their hope. In fact, they put it in the wrong places all the time.Some of you probably know the stock market is a risky place to put your hope, isn’t it? Some of you probably know that very personally from experience. Put your hope in a company and you may be left down.Put your hope in a person and they may not come through for you. Put your hope in some outcome and it may not be what you thought would happen. The reason is, we’re putting out hope in the wrong places. And when we put our hope in the wrong places, we start to end up hopeless and become weary world wanderers.I love this verse, I’ve shared it in the past:[16]
[10]
Hebrews 12:2 MEV
Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
ESVLet us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
I love that picture. Holding fast to something means I’ve got a grip you aren’t breaking. What I need and want is in my grip so I’m not letting go.Elam car in bug cage fist.Christian, grab hold of the hope you profess and don’t ever let go. Don’t ever let go because he is faithful who promised us salvation.The challenge for many of us today is we often let go of the hope we profess and are grabbing instead all the fear and anxiety of the darkness of the night. We let go of the truth of God and instead follow the lies of the evil one. We need the opposite! Let go of the fear, anxiety, stress, panic, doubt - and hold onto the hope of the promise this Christmas. Don’t ever lose hope.A new day with Christ brings the hope to keep going.Number three, a new day with Christ brings the help you’re seeking.[17]
So our faith comes from the one who authors it. He gives it to us and then goes about the work of perfecting it. How? Let’s see what God’s Word says:
[11]
Romans 10:17 ESV
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

THE HELP YOU’RE SEEKING

Here’s what verse 26 tells us:[18]
Hearing God’s Word builds our faith. When you hear God’s Word it builds your faith. Let me give you an example.
My first year as a pastor, I had my first experience ministering to someone passing away on hospice. Only been to church a couple times, suffered a heart attack and gave his life to Christ in the hospital. As I sat with him while he was on hospice, unsure what to say or do, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide me and I opened the word of God.
He led me to First John and I read out loud to him the entire book. Read , and at the end of the letter if you’re unfamiliar, 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
In the hospital he was able to mumble the words, “I believe.” At his house in this moment he couldn’t respond much at all. Though I’m confident God’s Spirit and God’s Word did their work of faith in his life.
I know I personally walked out of there with greater faith. Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.
The second thing Jesus helps us become is:
[12]
Isaiah 43:2–3 ESV
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
ESVIt is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
What are we waiting quietly for? The salvation of the Lord.Sometimes you need to wait quietly. Some of you need the salvation of your souls and you need to know that you need to be saved and forgiven by God.Some of you, already have been born into the family of God, and you need to be saved out of a difficult situation. It’s amazing what one day with Christ do for a person. Lazarus - Dead for 4 days. He was so dead he smelled bad. The KJV says it the best. “He stinketh.” You know you’re dead when you stinketh. Everyone had lost hope, but Jesus shows up, looks into the grave and says, “Lazarus, get up and come out here.” Lazarus walks out.Lazarus would say, ‘It’s amazing the difference one day with Christ can make.’There was a woman who for 12 years suffered with a bleeding issue. 12 years! Can you imagine the pain, embarrassment, humiliation. One day she sees Jesus, touches the hem of his garment and she’s healed. That woman would tell you that you can’t even describe the difference that one day with Christ can make.Some of you today are living in a weary world, not looking forward to the Christmas season. Maybe the holidays are your least favorite time of the year because of loss or loneliness. I’m telling you, there’s a thrill of hope that will make your weary world rejoice. There is a new and glorious morning on the way! Some of you are sick, some of you right now are in the night. You’re in a fight. Man, there’s screaming, there’s crying, there’s fear, there’s anxiety, the whole world seems to be crashing in on you. No fun.Just like on that Holy Night becomes a New Morning and they meet Jesus, when you meet with Jesus, all of a sudden, in the middle of this weary world and the darkness of the night and all the chaos, you’ll be reminded that Jesus was born so you can have hope. You can have a new day with Christ. [19] says “...the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.”Let’s pray.[20] Title

JESUS HELPS US BECOME MORE JOYFUL.

We actually see joy talked about a lot in Scripture as a fruit of the Spirit.
[13]
Galatians 5:22 ESV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
One way to understand this as a Christian is this as an apple tree: An apple tree produces apples because it’s an apple tree. It doesn’t have to strain or stress or squeeze or try really really hard to produce an apple.
It’s the same with us. Joy, as with any fruit of the spirit, comes from our right relationship with God. It’s not something we can produce on our own by more effort or creating circumstances.
It’s like that new creation piece we talked about. When we receive Christ, God puts his Spirit in us, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, and a fruit of that Spirit-living is joy.
Do understand though that joy and happiness are worlds apart.
You can say it this way:
[14]

Happiness depends on happenings, but Joy depends on Jesus!

Happiness is: What’s going on with me right now? Do I like it? Do I not like it? That will determine my level of happiness.
Joy, though, comes from Jesus. Joy comes from way down deep. It comes from something that’s not part of this world, something that’s placed inside of you by the living God. And out of that overflow, a fruit of the Spirit of love and joy comes out.
Joy is
We see this in the Christmas story. where the angels have come adn are proclaiming to the shepherds, the Bible says:
[15, 16]
Luke 2:10–11 ESV
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Jesus helps us become more joyful.
And the third thing Jesus helps us become is:
[17]

JESUS HELPS US BECOME MORE TRIUMPHANT.

Now, to feel more triumphant, sometimes we need to have another person in our life, someone else who can help us feel that way, don’t we? Because many times we feel more defeated out by ourselves
Rugby in 2nd grade at C-L. I had never played before.
I accidentally kicked the ball kicked the ball down over the embankment off of school grounds, which was a big no no.
I was nervous because I didn’t want to get in trouble for stepping off school grounds, but all the other players were looking at me like, “You kicked it, you get it” and the memory etched in my brain has all these older kids walking toward me like I just committed a mortal sin of playground life.
And then a friend from class who was faster and more athletic just ran down the hill, grabbed the ball, and play resumed.
I was triumphant thanks to that friend.
So here’s the thing. We have to realize who has our back, because it’s the living God who has our back.
We read in a prophecy written about Jesus hundreds of years before his birth.
[18, 19]
Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
That’s triumphant right there!
That scripture is prophesying about a young baby, who we see today in a manger scene. We see porcelain figures in a little pristine environment. We see Mary and Joseph as little angelic beings, and precious little Jesus. Right?
But please realize this:
[20] Title
Even as the infant babe resting in the manger he is:
Even as the infant babe resting in the manger he is:
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Alpha and Omega - The beginning and the end
The chosen one to save us from sin
The author and perfecter of our faith
Prince of Peace
Bread of Life
Light of the World
We
We come to adore him for he is…Christ the Lord!
That’s pretty triumphant right there.
He’s the one who fights with us.
My prayer is you’ll hear this truth that’s been ringing through these lyrics for generations in this Christmas carol. O Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful, Triumphant. Why? Because we are as he is, in him and through him, we are Weary and Burdened Sinners who are Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant in Jesus Christ.
So let us adore him, for he is Christ the Lord.
Pray
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