Sermon for 12/12/21 11 Minutes "3rd Sunday of Advent - Joy"

Isaiah 12:2-6

This morning I'll be reading Isaiah chapter 12 verses 2 through 6. And I'll be reading from the King James Version Bible. Isaiah 12:2–6 This chapter and these verses are looking forward to the joy that the Israelites will experience when the promised Messiah comes. Isaiah 12:2–6 (KJV 1900) — 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, Declare his doings among the people, Make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Today begins our 3rd week of Advent as we continue our journey towards the celebration of our Savior's birth!

The first Sunday of Advent we lit the candle of "Hope".

This "Hope" is definite,,, sure,,, without any questions,,, all because of Jesus Christ.

Last Sunday,,, beginning the 2nd week of Advent,,, we lit the candle of "Faith".

We saw that just as the Israelites that Malachi wrote to,,, and about,,, were faithfully waiting and looking forward to Jesus' birth,,, we,,, today,,, thousands of years later,,, are waiting in "Faith" for Jesus Christ to return!

We are also waiting in "Faith" as the day's get closer to celebrating our Savior's birth.

This morning,,, we lit the candle of "Joy"!

And we will look at these verses in Isaiah this morning,,, learn about “Joy”,,, and see how all of this helps us in our walk with God this week.

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This chapter is at the end of the prophesies of Isaiah about the deliverance of the Israelites and just before his judgments on the nations that God will punish.

Chapter 7 deals with the birth of Immanuel,,, then chapter’s 8:1-9:7 talks about the coming Deliverer,,, with exile for the Northern kingdom from 9:8-10:4 and then Assyria’s fall and the great kingdom’s rise beginning in 10:5-12:6,,, which covers the verses that we will look at this morning.

So we can see that there will be great joy felt by all,,, as they hear about this prophesy from Isaiah.

And as usual,,, part of this prophesy has been fulfilled,,, and part will be fulfilled when Jesus returns again.

The verses that we look at,,, chapter 12:2-6,,, will be fulfilled when Jesus returns the second time.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 2 says: 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

God is the Israelites salvation,,, strength,,, and song,,, that they will trust and not be afraid.

And just as it was for the Israelites then,,, so it should be for us today.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 3 says: 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Chapter 12 stresses that when the remnant is regathered to the land they will rejoice.

It’s also praising God for the salvation promised through the Messiah.

And,,, To draw water from the wells of salvation pictures living according to God’s principles,,, and then,,, participating with joy in the blessings He will provide.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 4 says: 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, Declare his doings among the people, Make mention that his name is exalted.

The remnant will thank the LORD and will call on each other to let the world know what God has done,,, probably meaning what He has done for Israel and Judah.

Then,,, God’s name,,, (His revealed character),,, is to be exalted,,, or,,, vindicated,,, before the world,,, so that people everywhere will realize that He fulfills His promises.

And people will sing to Him because of His glorious deeds.

Being reassured that God is among them,,, they will be joyful.

So we see that chapter 12 is a fitting climax to the contrast between the fall of the Assyrian Empire,,, which was threatening Judah in Isaiah’s day,,, and the rise of God’s glorious kingdom,,, which will certainly come.

Eventually all the world will know of God’s truth.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 5 says: 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: This is known in all the earth.

God’s blessings are worthy of our songs of praise,,, something that we don’t do enough.

It’s because of His love for us,,, unmerited love I should say because of the terrible way that we act,,, but yet,,, a faithful love,,, that is known,,, in all the earth!

Not because of anything that we have done,,, but simply because God is faithful and true!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 6 says: 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Once this prophecy is fulfilled,,, there will be shouting and praises,,, all because God has been faithful,,, again even while we have failed Him every day at times!

At that time,,, everyone will know,,, For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

And that will bring great joy to all,,, because God will bring salvation to the city!

----------------------------------------------------------- The prophets looked forward to the day of the Lord’s coming as a time of great joy.

Even Zephaniah,,, who has been called the prophet with the least amount of hope,,, kept the last word for joy,,,—joy over the Lord’s presence,,, joy over renewal and restoration,,, and joy over coming home.

While Isaiah also speaks of doom and gloom,,, he looks forward to the Lord’s coming as a time for shouting joyfully,,, when he says,,, “Surely God is my salvation.”

As we have just seen,,, Isaiah looks forward to the Lord’s coming as a day when the people would drink their fill of salvation,,, like someone drawing fresh water from a well ,,,–,,, certainly a day of great rejoicing.

And in the New Testament,,, we know that Paul was possibly under house arrest when he wrote the letter to the Philippians and yet he had joy in his heart because he was looking forward to the future,,, while at the same time,,, experiencing God’s presence there with him during that terrible time of uncertainty.

----------------------------------------------------------- So,,, Joy,,, the way that we tend to think of it,,, is usually associated with whatever we are going through at the moment,,, or what we are wanting,,, a feeling that can change,,, but really,,, true joy is not a feeling that changes,,, because God never changes.

He is the same yesterday,,, today,,, and tomorrow!

True “Joy” is given to us through our faith in Jesus Christ that allows us to have that personal relationship with God.

And it’s that relationship that gives us true “Joy”.

A joy that helps us through anything that this world can throw at us.

No matter how bad we feel,,, how bad our trial,,, or situation,,, the “Joy” that God gives us is there because of our hope and faith of Jesus Christ.

And that’s true “Joy”,,, that can only come,,, from Jesus Christ,,, our Savior,,, our reason for “Hope”,,, “Faith”,,, “Joy” and as we see next week,,, “Peace”,,, as we continue looking forward,,, each week of advent,,, to the celebration of Jesus’ birth,,, this Christmas season!

----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------