“The Gift of Joy” (2)

The New International Version Chapter 12

In that day you will say:

“I will praise you, LORD.

Although you were angry with me,

your anger has turned away

and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation.

In that day you will say:

“Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done,

and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,

for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Introduction: As we continue this series on the Advent season, we have chosen to focus on joy. Today I want to examine an Old Testament chapter in the book of Isaiah. Chapter 12 provides for its readers a vivid and graphic description of the peoples joy when Christ comes to reign on and over the earth. The Prophet spoke of anticipated joy when the day of fulfillment would come. The angels spoke of joy when Christ was born. What better gift to receive or experience than the gift of joy. So as we celebrate the re-enactment of our Savior’s birth, there is reason for joy to dominate our celebration in the way we give and share the message of Christ. Present or gifts are not the only reason to be joyful. We can experience the joy of the Lord because of His salvation and for His creation. There are three benefits of this gift of joy that I want to share with you today to encourage us in our quest for living on earth.

God is the Source of our Salvation (Isa. 12:1-2)

Our text today marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation Period and culminates with the coming of the kingdom of Christ which is to be established on earth. In that day refers to a time of deliverance which is detailed out in chapter 11. It is a time when the Nation of Israel is regathered and Christ is reigning King over the gathered remnant of the nation. All of us are in hopes of the day when Christ will return and set things in order. We are living in critical times and the Pandemic seem to have us reeling and rocking with uncertainty and fear. Because of the Nation of Israel’s sin, they find themselves in a predicament, but God creates a sense of joy in the heart of His people by saying, “thine anger is turned away.” He will save them from their crisis. Have you ever experienced joy as a result of God delivering you from a situation that you thought was hopeless? Humanity’s sum total is describe in a New Testament passage of scripture that address this situation. “But God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 He came to save us and we ought to praise Him for His salvation. This not only gives me hope, but also the purest kind of joy because it comes from a praise for what He has given us, and that my friends is He has given us salvation!

God is our Source of Strength (Isa. 12:2-3)

The Lord Himself is the source of my strength and He is my defense or protection as I go through life. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. I don’t have any strength on my own nor am I equipped to defend myself against the perils that may come my way. But with the joy He puts inside of me it gives me strength to draw from the well of salvation. In that well are the principles for living and if I apply them with the joy of His salvation, I can draw blessings from the well. Our COGIC brothers and sisters sing a song, “He’s a well of water running in my soul, He’s a well of water in my soul. Yes, this will be and is a time of great joy for those whom the Lord loves. Aren’t you glad that you are His child, Hold on because better days are on their way.

God is our source of Song( Isa. 12:4-6)

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” This lets me know that our God will soon deliver me from the various trials that I encounter along the journey. It also encourages me to understand that even the darkness that sin casts in my life, my hope is found in His salvation because He is the source of my song. So my song is a song of thanksgiving for Him saving me and a song of praise for the fact that He is creator of all, He is exalted above all, and in that day, when He comes back again every eye will see and every tongue will confess and realize that He has come to fulfill His promise. That makes me want to shout for Joy. If joy is bubbling down inside of you because God is the source of your song, you ought to praise Him right now. Praise Him, praise Him, Jesus blessed Savior, He is worthy to be saved. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, He’s worth, He’s worthy.

Closure: Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion. Yes the church, the redeemed all over the world ought to be shouting for joy. Is there anybody here that’s been redeemed? washed in the blood of the lamb! For He is the reason why we sing. I sing because I am happy , I sing because I am free, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. Cry out for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. I got a song that bubbling with joy because God is with us, He promise never to leave us, no never alone, I shout for joy because I’m holding on and I won’t let go of my faith. Is there anybody here today that can shout with me, because God is your source of song?................