3rd Advent – Joy

2023.12.17.Sermon Notes. 3rd Advent – JOY

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: Advent 3rd week – JOY. The Advent of CHRIST brings JOY to the WORLD. Too often we get all wrapped up in the busyness of the Christmas Season and miss the whole meaning of CHRISTMAS. Take time and stop and pause, and consider the TRUE JOY we are celebrating.

SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:8-14, Psalms 98:1-9, John 1:14,

Romans 5:8, Luke 15:10, Revelation 19:11-16, Deuteronomy 10:17-18, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Genesis 3:17-19, 2 Corinthians 5:17

THE PROMISE OF “GOD WITH US”

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son,

and shall call His Name Immanuel.

THE BIRTH AS PROMISED

Matthew 1:18-25 (Luke 2:1–7)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY TO ALL PEOPLE

Luke 2:8-14

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!”

THE PROMISED “JOY TO THE WORLD”.

Psalms 98 (KJV)

1 O sing unto the LORD a new song;

for he hath done marvellous things:

his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

2 The LORD hath made known his salvation:

his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel:

all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:

make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp;

with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

6 With trumpets and sound of cornet

make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

the world, and they that dwell therein.

8 Let the floods clap their hands:

let the hills be joyful together

9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth:

with righteousness shall he judge the world,

and the people with equity.

PSALMS 98 is one of the Royal Psalms (Psalms 93-100). In it we see GOD as the KING of ALL CREATION with emphasis that our JOY is in CHRIST THE KING.

It’s from Psalms 98 that comes the song we celebrate “JOY TO THE WORLD” by Isaac Watts.

Psalms 98 is made up of 9 verses containing 3 stanzas of 3 verses.

Stanza 1 from verses 1-3 tell us to rejoice in GOD as SAVIOR of HIS people.

Stanza 2 from verses 4-6 tell us to rejoice in GOD as KING over all the earth.

Stanza 3 from verses 7-9 tell us to rejoice in GOD as JUDGE over all the nations.