Sweet Hymns of Joy 12/24/24

Philippians 2:5-11

Welcome to this evening’s candlelight service. I’m calling it “Sweet Hymns of Joy” (of course taken from the timeless hymn O Holy Night).

It has been said that words are the language of the mind but music is the language of the soul. As music is fundamentally an expression of human emotion, when someone wants to express their innermost feelings they often turn to melody.

In OT: After Israel’s victory over Sisera Deborah sang (Jug 5). When Saul was afflicted by an evil spirit, David would play the harp for him and he would be refreshed (1 Sam 16:23). David was called “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam 23:1). Music calmed the mind of Elisha so that he could clearly hear the word of the Lord (2kg 3:15). Levites sang in the temple.

In NT: After Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi they began singing hymns of praise to God.

Music enables us to express our emotions, it also enables to give expression to our faith. One of the beauties of great hymns of the faith, they have profound doctrine that helps to express our beliefs thru music.

Music is powerful especially At Xmas, much of what we know about the events of the birth of LJC are influenced thru music (for good and bad). There is rarely a perfect hymn about Xmas, but what they all do is to continue to invite us to worship Christ in His fullness. That’s the great joy these Xmas hymns represent. Tonight, be blessed as I’m calling you all to worship and give your highest praise to the LJC.

Opening Prayer

Special Music

“Mary Did You Know” (Scott Slight)

You should recognize that the source for infallible truth is Scripture alone (not tradition, not songs). Phil 2:5-11 This is the real Xmas story, no scenery, Bethlehem’s not the location, no shepherds, wise men, oxen, angels, even Joseph and Mary are notably absent. It is perhaps the most profound statement concerning the Xmas story found in Scripture.

Philippians 2:5–11 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul Reese “the passage is oceanic for the fathoms are countless and the tides are measureless. In it we enter the depths.”

Tonight, I want us to search out the deep treasures that are found here and see how our favorite Xmas hymns support those truths helping us to express our faith in praise/worship. I’m dividing our time into 4 brief devotionals (as you can see in the program).

1) Jesus Is God

This is revealing the truth that we hold concerning the deity of JC.

“existed in the form of God” lit “who existing in the form of God” on-going possession of the essence of deity. “form” morphe which speaks of the reality of one’s essence or being. Paul is simply stating that Jesus is God—that is His true form/essence.

This statement reflects the eternal glory of Christ that is seen in several Bible passages: 2 Cor 8:9 “though He was rich, yet for your sakes…”

Jesus is rich in eternal glory b/c He is fully God.

Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

Jn 1:1 Word=Jesus

There you see the nature of the word, the logos, being eternal, co-existing with God and is God. And this bears out fully in His life and ministry:

· Divine Names applied to Jesus: The Holy and Righteous One, only begotten God, my Lord and my God, true God

· Divine Attributes: omnipresence, omniscience, immutable, life in Himself, love, holy, righteous, true

· Divine works: creator, forgives sin, gives eternal life, receives and answers prayer, builds the church

· Divine worship is accepted and demanded by Him: never refused worship, Father commands worship, host of heaven worship, all will worship

The evidence for deity of JC is overwhelming. Let’s sing a few verses of hymns affirm Christ’s deity.

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” (1-2)

“O Come All Ye Faithful” (1-2)

Special Music

“Piano” (Elsa Harrington)

“O Holy Night” (Katie Henry)

2) Jesus Is Man

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

“Not regard…grasped” to seize, hold on tightly, to cling. In other words, contrary to those who have the mind and desire to exalt themselves above others, Jesus was willing to lay aside those divine privileges. Now some have taken this to mean He gave up His deity. At no time did JC cease to be God. But He did surrender the privileges and prerogatives that were associated with His divinity—and He did it on His own accord.

“emptied Himself” –Gk kenosis. “to make empty, the divestiture of position or prestige” What did He empty Himself of? Much debate—not of His deity, not of His power, omniscience, not of His glory—veiled (transfiguration). He emptied Himself of the independent privileges of deity.

Why would He give that up? Ultimately for your good and God’s glory. He gave up the independent exercise of His will for the glory of God:

John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 17:4 "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do.

To what extent did He empty Himself? “taking the form of a bond-servant.”

This is an infinite contrast—form of God—form of a servant. Not just a man but a particular kind of man—a servant/slave.

Luke 22:27 I am among you as the one who serves.

Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

“being made in the likeness” One of the errors that developed early on was the belief that Jesus only appeared to be human. Docetism taught Jesus was truly God but that he was never man. He only appeared to be a man—phantom. Make no mistake, he was fully man—genetically like us (born of Mary).

One of the questions the church has struggled with for 2000 yrs is how can Jesus be both God and man? How is it possible to stuff 2 natures into 1 person? Is he 50/50?

This issue was taken up at the Council of Chalcedon(451). After about of month of debate they agreed with what the apostles taught and “we teach and confess our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man…2 natures joined in 1 person MCDS”

100% God 100% man.

The humanity of Jesus is celebrated by our hymns—take note of this as we sing some more:

“What Child is This?” (1-2)

“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” (1-2)

Special Music

“Away In A Manger” (Pamela & Elli)

3) Jesus Is Lord

The Sovereignty of Jesus Christ

Notice how Paul links together the humiliation of Christ and His exaltation.Vs 8

Because of His humiliation, the depths to which He willingly descended, He goes to the cross in selfless sacrifice to death. Not just any death but the most cruel, shameful death known to the world (reserved for the most wicked criminals) death on a cross. Christmas cannot be what it is until we see the depth of Christ’s humility, for it is in His death that we see the ultimate exaltation (vs 9-11). God’s reaction to the incarnation, life & death of Jesus is to exalt the Son and “give Him the name…” “every knee” is without exception.

Scripture teaches that Jesus is Lord. He is Lord Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified."

He is called Lord at least 747x (lord in judgment, lord of Sabbath, Lord over all. Kurios carries the idea of sovereignty whenever it is applied to JC. Sovereignty is an attribute of God the Father ascribed in the OT.

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all.

In this there is dominion, supremacy of power and authority, and the right to govern b/c He is God. In the NT these same qualities are presented in Jesus. This is demonstrated in the Gospels…miracles, His power and authority.

His position in heaven…the highest possible position of honor is the possession of a throne at the right hand of God the Father—on which LJC is seated (Revelation).

Lk 1:30-33 the angel’s message to Mary

Luke 1:30–33 NASB95

30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

This authority, Lordship, this kingship (King of kings, Lord of lords) is universal. And so it demands a proper response of all.

Acts 16:31 NASB95

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Romans 10:9–10 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

“Joy To the World” (1&4)

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” (1-2)

Special Music

“Noel (He Is Born)” (Ava Leopold)

4) Jesus Is Savior

The Salvation of Christ

Vv 12-13

The Christmas story is the story of salvation. Jesus is Savior. Acts 4:12 “12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.””

The message of the angel to the shepherds Luke 2:10-11 behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;

2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

That is the message of Christmas. You need a savior. You need one who will save you from your sin. Your sin deserves the wrath of a holy God and you will spend all eternity in hell bearing that wrath if you reject LJC as Savior. But with all love and grace the Father has sent His Son, born of the virgin Mary, born in a humble manger, to deliver you from your sin and the payment it requires, being death.

If you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved. That’s it! The Lord Jesus came to us, lived a perfect life in absolute righteousness, undeservingly was nailed to a cross to take upon Himself the wrath of God that was upon us b/c of our sin. God raised Him from the dead and has given all honor and authority to LJC. And so if you trust in this, the promise of God says you will be saved.

There is no more opportune time to trust Christ than right now. If God’s Spirit is speaking to your heart, and the weight of your sin is overwhelming to you, confess it to God, repent of it and receive the LJC as Savior today.

Our Xmas hymns remind us of this precious gift:

“Silent Night” (1-2)

Good Christian Men Rejoice (1&3)

Special Music

“You Do All Things Well” (Mike Poulin)

Candle Lighting

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” (1-4)