Joy To The World (2)

As we continue through the advent season, today we will be looking at the point of joy. Joy as people were looking forward to the coming of the messiah, and joy for us as we look at what the messiah’s coming still means to us and what it will mean to us in the future.

Luke 2:8-14.

What is Joy?

Closely related to happiness and gladness, however joy is more of a state of being rather than an emotion.

For joy transcends our circumstances.

In Galatians 5:22-23 we see that joy is fruit of the spirit.

That is to say an effect that is produced within a believer. The cause of the joy being the Holy Spirit working within life's.

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans Enjoyment of God Is the Only Thing that Satisfies

God is the highest good of the reasonable creature; and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.

Enjoyment in God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.

For true joy is not an emotion that comes from pleasures we might enjoy here on earth.

But from being grounded firmly on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Knowing that we are loved by God, and no circumstance is out of His sovereign hand.

As we are looking at joy today, I want you to see how joy comes as we see the work of almighty God.

Peace on Earth

v.14

The messiah had been born.

The moment that had been prophesied through the ages.

The moment that so many had wished to behold was finally at had.

When we look around, do we see peace?

Do we see harmony?

The peace that the angels are speaking of is the transcendent peace which brings an end to the conflict between men and God.

To those who hear the message of the coming of the messiah, the war is over. Peace has become incarnated in the price of peace who came to reconcile us with God. R.C. Sproul

The good news is; becasue the creator of heaven and earth came in the likeness of sinful man; We now have peace with our holy God. Something we cannot achieve by ourselves.

The only way this happens is if you know Jesus as your Lord and savior. If you don’t, you are still at war with God.

The outworking of the gospel of peace means that we should have peace with one another.

We are both servants of God, desiring to glorify him. There should be a love between us that brings peace.

But the reason the angel proclaimed news of GREAT JOY was because the messiah had come to make peace between man and God through the forgiveness of sins.

Effects of the Gospel

Not only do we rejoice in this. But we rejoice that the gospel goes out. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, the gospel is spreading. The effect of the gospel spreading is that it makes all things new.

Isaiah 35

Rejoicing is a theme

v.1-2, The desert rejoicing

v.10, The ransomed, singing and rejoicing.

We see the theme of rejoicing at the beginning and the ending of the passage.

We see a literary style called a chiasm. It’s like a sandwich. The inside explains the two book ends.

Dry wilderness

v.1-2

What we see being conveyed is new life to a dead area.

flowers blooming where there was no moisture.

Arid hillsides, becoming fertile like Lebanon.

Sinners who were dead in their sins and trespasses. With no understanding of God or the gospel. Will be brought to life as the gospel goes forth.

As God opens their eyes and they see the glory of the Lord!

Supernatural Restoration

v.5-6a

There will be miracles that show the supernatural restoration!

Showing the power of God among His people and reveal that the messiah is in their midst.

Matthew 11:4-6

This is the passage Jesus speaks of when He comforts John.

Admonishing John that not only had the messiah come, but as it states in v.4. God himself is coming.

Streams in the Desert

v.6b-7

The water being symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

For the water goes forth and becomes a pool on the thirsty ground.

It turns the wasteland that is a haunt for jackals; (which is symbolic of cursed space) into wetlands where other animals can thrive.

This imagery is to show the healing power of God over the things we in our humanity look at and say, “it’s to far gone.”

Speaking of the Holy Spirit being described like water and making all things new.

John 7:38-39

John 7:38–39 ESV

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Rivers of living water, flowing from the believer.

“As the scripture says.”

Ezekiel 47:1-9

The Holy Spirit being represented as water. Showing the growth of the gospel and the reaching effects that it has on the world around us.

The river grows as it goes.

First a trickle, then ankle-deep, then waist deep, then you couldn’t pass through.

Just like the waters of Isaiah it bring life wherever it goes.

It turns the salt water fresh and brings life with it.

This is the flowing out, and the effects of the gospel wherever it goes.

The Ransomed Shall Return

v.10

The imagery being used here in Isaiah is that of Israel coming out of Egypt.

Being ransomed out of slavery by God.

This is the same imagery being used in the New Covenant.

1 Corinthians 6:20

1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We were ransomed out of slavery to sin, by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

This should spark singing, rejoicing as we continue our journey as pilgrims through this land.

We should be rejoicing as we disciple the nations and see God changing hearts and lives.

Bringing those who were dead to life.

We should be rejoicing as we remember that we have peace with God becasue of His grace alone.

We should be rejoicing as we remember during this special season that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. To ransom us from our futile ways.

Benediction:

May the Lord Bless you and keep you. May you continue to recognize his glory around you and rejoice in the work of God.