A Thrill of Hope

Good morning! Its been a great day! We have had lots of fun and enjoyed the voices of NorthPoint Church! I just want to say thank you to those who helped put this all together from the vocalist and the endless hours of practice to our team of decorators and those who make things look amazing! Thank you. Today we begin our series O Holy Night. I am not sure if you have ever heard the story of the song.

The year was 1847 in a French village, and the local priest made an unusual request of the local wine commissioner, and not-very-religious (Pla-seed Ca-po) Placide Cappeau. The priest asked this infamously worldly village man to write a poem for Christmas mass.  Cappeau was a poet so the priest may have asked him based solely on his writing credentials. Perhaps the man was a special project of the priest who wanted him to know more about God. We don’t know but whatever the circumstances, Cappeau willingly agreed.

On a bumpy carriage ride to the French capital, Cappeau, not knowing where else to start, opened to the book of Luke and put himself into the wonder of that night. He imagined all the emotions and miracles he might have seen. His poem (Kahn-teek-duh-no-el) “Cantique De Noel” was penned.

Cappeau was so pleased with its outcome, he asked a highly educated musician friend of his to write music to accompany the poem. His friend Adolphe Charles Adams, agreed with a smile. Why is this worth mentioning? Because Adams was a Jew. The song was performed at Christmas mass and the French village immediately embraced it. However, years later upon discovering the lyricist was a worldly man (and now a well-known socialist) and that the composer was a Jew, the church banned the beloved Christmas song. Parishioners continued to sing it in their own homes behind closed doors.

Fast forward several decades to America when John Sullivan Dwight discovered “Cantique De Noel”. A fiery abolitionist, Dwight fell in love with the song, especially the message of freedom. “The Redeemer has broken every bond/ The Earth is free, and Heaven is open/ He sees a brother where there was only a slave/ Love unites those that iron had chained…” 

Dwight published a rewritten version of the carol in his own magazine and it was embraced by a shattered nation—particular among the North as the Civil War began to break the country apart.

“O Holy Night” seems to have a long history of uniting those in war. During the Franco-Prussian War, legend says that during a lull in the fighting, a French soldier stood up from his muddy trench with no weapon in hand and began singing “Cantique de Noel”. Upon hearing the beautiful rendering, the German soldiers were so moved, they began singing as well. Both sides lifted their voice in song, alternating between French carols and the hymns of Martin Luther. A Christmas truce of sorts had been declared.

This song has over these years grown to one of the most beloved Christmas songs sung. It is voted the most popular Christmas time song in the UK every year and in 2010 it was voted the most popular chritmas song ahead of white christmas and the christmas song.

Historically, 'O Holy Night' was composed during a tumultuous time in France—a time of social unrest and change. The song's words emerged from a deep longing for peace and salvation. As we sing it today, we can echo that same plea in our hearts amidst the challenges of our own time. What might it mean for us to reflect that yearning for peace, not just in song, but through our actions in a fractured world?

As we were in prayer trying to seek God for the plans for this Christmas season, I could not get this song out of my heart or my spirit. As it was sung i felt the Lord begin to lead to me look closer at the lyrics. So over the next 3 weeks we are going to dive into the words of this song and begin to see how Jesus is working through them in our world and in our hearts. We are excited about O Holy Night “The Night that changed everything” Today we are looking at A Thrill of Hope.

The song begins with these words

“O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth”

We must look at that night.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

We see the night that the original artist Capo would have read about as he thumbed through Luke 2. It was the night of our dear saviors birth. You must remember that up until this point in time God had not spoke with man in 400 years. It was silent no new words of God no new prophets hearing God’s voice, yet our savior was to be born. This silence was tough. You only had the words of old to lean on. There was no new revelation of God. This was also at the height of the Roman empire. They ruled everything. There was no King higher than Ceaser. He ruled and ruled hard. His underlings were to squash any information of a new “King” The world has began to sink into darkness. you have to understand here that Ceaser Augustus was new to power within 30 years and his reign brought about the pax romana or peace of Rome, there was political unity but under the surface unrest was happening. These censuses were extremely controversial in Israel because they were seen as an attempt to tighten control and inevitably raise more taxes. The jews saw the order as a political move in the wrong direction. There would eventually be several registrations taken of Judea, some before the rule of Quirinius, who is mentioned by Luke, and some during. The Jewish historian Josephus traces the Jewish revolt and the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD, all the way back to opposition to these registrations by Augustus.The Jewish leadership, like the High Priest, were able to convince most of Jerusalem to participate, but more conservative regions like Galilee, where Jesus’ family was from, remained a hotbed for talk of revolt and opposition. We are looking at a time when Jews were trying to figure out who to serve. Some were giving into Rome, In fact the high priest was bought by Rome it was not who it should have been. A new born baby in a manger was the least talked about thing in that moment yet 2k+ years later we are still discussing it. Why because it was the night that changed everything.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining ’Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

The world was and is a place where sin and error are causing decay and and there is a longing for hope a longing for once again tot return to what we are supposed to be. It is a this time of the story of Jesus birth that we see things begin to change from a night a baby was born to the announcement of the savior.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

It was the announcements to the Shepherds that brought the birth of Jesus to full understanding. The light shone bright it was not just a light from the city this was a heavenly light a light that Jesus would bring to the earth. This was the light of the world showing up. It was a moment when uncertainty would give way to peace, it was a time when the God of heaven and earth would be bringing all things into perspective. The fear they felt was warranted it was the middle of the night there was nothing happening in the field they were tired eyed and prepping for the night, yet something was about to change for them. These shepherds were not from high society. They were not rich famous or really worth much. They were a low part of society. They were not normally the ones that would carry the message of a savior yet it is not God’s way to choose the best or the brightest. Does he use them yes but he chooses to share the message of Jesus arrival with those who were not known for their status. Jesus didn’t come to help only a specific class of people his call was to bring hope to all. It was at this point that the angels declare that This joy will be for all people. This wasn’t just meant for the Jew, this wasn’t just meant for the low class but it was meant for all. It was a calling for everyone that sin and error were no longer going to be the felt world but there was a hope that was born a purpose given The soul felt its worth. It was the proclamation that a savior was born it was good news for all. It is like you and I receiving news that would change us.

During World War II, the day the Allied forces liberated Paris is remembered as a moment of pure joy. People flooded the streets, crying, laughing, and embracing strangers, their hearts swelling with hope. This public celebration was a poignant reminder of how powerful good news can be, turning despair into joy, and transforming the course of history in an instant.

This moment that soul felt its worth is like these moments when all is right with the world. Everything is working in perfect harmony. Its like Elton Johns The lion sleeps tonight

Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings The world, for once, in perfect harmony With all its living things

Its a moment of all things together. When you allow The savior of the world into your heart you are given a place of perfect harmony everything working in the right way.

“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices”

A Thrill of hope OBJECT LESSON.

You see Darkness is what we all live in 2k years later we are still living in darkness and looking for hope or something that will give us that feeling of all things working in perfect harmony. We are dealing with sin and errors that have decayed the world but a thrill of hope a moment of light in darkness. Just as the light brings darkness to its end When we allow Jesus to bring hope to our life Jesus the light of the world brings light and life to us.

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The shepherds decided that they would go and see what the thrill of hope and the soul feeling its worth was all about. They find not a King on a throne but a baby which was the sign born in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. They leave Jesus and they went away telling everyone about what was happening. Scritpure tells us that all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. The word translated wonder literalyl means amazement or to marvel. It is a verb of reaction to what was heard or seen. This was not just people looking to the shepherds as crazy, no this was a hope building

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

This hope brings about a new and glorious morn. This song written in a time of unsetlling war torn france brought hope and peace. Today is no different. We sit around tables with family, we walk into the grocery story and we are met with unwavering issues. We are met with people who disagree on things. We are met with political unrest, we are met with fear, anxiety, depression. Our hope lost and darkness creating moments of uncertainty. There are times when we are uncertain of the hope that we carry and the hope that Jesus provides.

Let’s rewind to the early 1800s. The world’s most celebrated composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, was facing a devastating reality: he was going deaf. By his mid-40s, Beethoven could barely hear at all. And yet… he kept composing. Not just simple pieces—some of his most complex, emotionally rich, and powerful music came after he lost his hearing. His most famous work? The Ninth Symphony, known for the final movement: “Ode to Joy.” But here's the part that stirs your soul—he composed that masterpiece in total silence. He couldn’t hear a single note of it. And yet he wrote music celebrating joy, unity, and hope. At the symphony’s premiere in 1824, Beethoven stood on stage, completely unaware of the thunderous applause that erupted behind him. A soloist had to gently turn him around so he could see what he could no longer hear. What does that say about hope in the midst of uncertainty? Beethoven wrote joy he could no longer hear. He trusted that the beauty was still real, even when he himself could not perceive it. That’s what hope in God’s promises is like. You may not feel the joy yet. You may not “hear” the answer to your prayers. But the song is still true. The promise is still unfolding. Even in your silence, God is composing something beautiful.

A new and glorious morn gives us light at the end of the darkness 400 years of silence broken in a single moment a night that changed everything. Today we have hope, today we can fall on our knees and realize who we serve. Today we can bring hope to a lost world, we can help the soul find its worth, we can give joy where mourning is. Why because of what happened 2k years ago in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes a baby born who would bring hope, joy, peace and salvaiton. Those who heard were amazed just as we are today. That amazement hasnt faded. 2k+ years later we are setting up nativities in our homes celebrating the birth of the Messiah. who brings hope, joy, and makes the soul feel its worth

That’s what Jesus came to do—redeem a lost world and bind our broken, shattered hearts into wholeness once again. He scatters the darkness. Hate cannot stand in the presence of Love. Darkness cannot last in the piercing force of Light. Where sin severed a filthy humanity from their Creator, Jesus came to connect and bind them once more. He brings hope today a thrill of hope, a joy in our mourning, the soul felts its worth darkness shattered and a way was made. Today lets remember that as we focus on Him. Today you may be here and find yourself in darkness, you may find yourself feeling like your hope has gone and the mourning has been loud, the soul of your life has felt no worth. Today we can have hope, we can have joy and everything can be brought into perfect harmony. Why becasue peace happened 2k+ years ago We can have peace that passes all understanding. Today you may be here and say Pastor Zach I need that hope, you may be here and have all of those things peace hope and joy then we can be like the shepherds and spread the joy we have. Our prayer must be let the amazement of those who here be the same as those who heard 2k years ago. Lets be the voice that carries hope in a dark world and bring the thrill of hope to life in our world.

ALTAR