JOY TO THE WORLD

Preached by Gregory W. Lee
11 December 2005

I. Introduction-- turn in Bibles to Isaiah 9

1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

-- as we know, this is the third Sunday of Advent -- the season when we prepare ourselves -- our hearts and our minds and our spirits -- for the coming of the Lord
-- it's a time when we try to separate ourselves from the ways of the world for a few weeks -- to separate ourselves from the rush and the hustle and bustle of our American secular Christmas season -- and take time to reflect:
-- time to reflect on the first advent of Christ as a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem-- to reflect on His death and resurrection at Calvary to gain for us salvation and eternal life -- and to reflect on His return to earth as King of King and Lord of Lords
-- Advent is a time on the calendar that marks for us thebeginning of the celebration of Christmas and the holiday season

-- as a Moody AFB employee, I have another way to mark the beginning of the holiday season -- I always know when the holidays are getting close because that's the time of the year when you are required to attend mandatory training on suicide prevention and intervention
-- you see, this is a poignant reminder that we are entering the holiday season -- this is a time that should be filled with happiness and joy and get-togethers with family and friends -- but, for many people, this is a time of sadness and depression
-- there are a lot of people in our midst who have been hurting and lonely for some time -- who are suffering through tragedies and separation from family and friends -- who may have lost loved ones over the past year -- and during the holiday season, when we join together as family and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ, these people may feel left-out and more alone than ever -- and it just points out to them the unhappiness in their life

-- part of this annual condition may be brought about because of our country's unhealthy obsession with happiness -- the search for happiness is a national epidemic, and it is doing more to hurt people and relationships in this country than anything else today
-- we have somehow gotten it into our heads that we are supposed to be happy all the time -- happy in our lives -- happy in our jobs -- happy in our relationships -- happy in everything -- and then, when we find ourselves in a situation that is not happy right now at this moment, we cannot be content and we think there is something dreadfully wrong
-- our Constitution gives us the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and boy, do we pursue it -- this is the reason that the entertainment industry in the United States is the largest industry in the country -- this is the reason that we have so many commercials promising happiness if we just buy their product -- this is the reason why so many people rush into relationships and marriages that aren't healthy -- it's all because we think we are owed happiness in our life, and so we rush out and try to get it any way we can -- whether that's by going to the latest movie or by owning that new car or by having the perfect spouse
-- John Maxwell once said that Americans suffer from "Destination Disease" -- they look at their lives and they feel unhappy and then they see someone else other than their spouse and they think, "If I could just be with them -- if I could just be over there -- I would be happy" -- so they end their marriage and rush off into another relationship seeking happiness -- or, they look at their lives and they feel unhappy and they see the latest and greatest new vehicle on the market and they think to themselves, "If I could just have that new car, I would be happy" -- and so they rush off and buy and buy and buy, but never find what they are looking for -- they are never satisfied and content with what they have but are always looking for more

-- the problem with living life in this way is that happiness is fleeting -- happiness is not a permanent state of mind -- happiness is dependent on things outside yourself and it comes through your perception of external events -- that's the reason why you can have everything in the world, and still not be happy -- in fact, those people that we sometimes look at and think, "Wow, they have everything in life -- they have everything they could ever want -- they have money and things and a great family" -- turn out to not be as happy as we think

-- one day, right before the turn of the 19th century, a very depressed man went to a London psychiatrist seeking help -- he was very unhappy with his life and with everything about his life -- the doctor tried everything he could think of to cheer the man up -- but nothing worked -- finally, he gave up and suggested to his patient, "Why don't you go see Grimaldi the clown?" -- Grimaldi was the greatest clown in nineteenth-century Europe -- the doctor thought that surely Grimaldi would be able to lift this man's spirit and restore happiness in his life, if only for a moment
-- the patient sighed and remained silent for a long time -- finally he answered, "I am Grimaldi the clown"

-- as Dennis Swanberg writes, "True happiness and contentment cannot come from the things of the world." -- I guess that's why the Bible never promises us happiness in our lives as Christians -- instead, the Bible promises us joy -- rather than blessing us with happiness that is here today and gone tomorrow -- God gives us something more permanent -- joy in our hearts through our Lord Jesus Christ
-- in this familiar Christmas passage from Isaiah, we see a great promise of joy given from God to the Israelites and to the entire world

II. Scripture Lesson
-- before we begin, let me give you a little context on this passage -- in the passages preceding Chapter 9, Isaiah has been prophesying to the nation of Israel that judgement was coming because of their evil deeds -- already the people had suffered because of invasions by other countries and Isaiah had prophesied that more suffering and tribulation was going to come their way -- in fact, he told them, they would be carried off into captivity in Assyria and Babylon
-- in verse 8:22, Isaiah said that in the midst of their trials and tribulations they would look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom and that they would be thrust into utter darkness -- they would be a group of people desperate for happiness but lost in the gloom of their despair with no hope in sight
-- but then we turn to Chapter 9, and Isaiah brings these people a message of hope that would bring light to the darkness -- a promise of joy and restoration in the future -- a promise that things would be better if they would only turn from their evil ways and trust in their Lord and Savior
-- look at verse 1

1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--
2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

-- these people from the land of Zebulon and Naphtali -- which we know better as the region of Galilee -- had been, and were going to, experience a time of darkness in their life -- a time of trials and tribulations -- Isaiah says that they were going to walk in darkness and live in the land of the shadow of death
-- this happens to people who go through life living for happiness -- when things don't go their way -- when life brings them tragedy and trials and tribulations -- they find themselves lost in a darkness that seems unending -- and so they try to bring light into the darkness through periods of happiness -- but, like I said, happiness is fleeting -- it's like lighting a match in the dark -- for a moment, there is light and things are bright -- but then, the match burns out and you find yourself plunged back into darkness again

-- but this passage tells us that in the midst of the darkness -- just when all hope seems lost -- something better than fleeting happiness and momentary lightness will come along -- God promises us that a great light will dawn that will bring more than happiness -- it will bring hope and life -- instead of being a match it will stand in our hearts as a lighthouse, and no matter where we go, no matter what darkness we find ourselves in, this light in our life will shine forth permanently -- this light is the joy that comes through Jesus Christ
-- in John 1:4 we read, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men" -- God is telling us that the way to remove the darkness in our life is not by looking for happiness provided by the world but to look for the joy that comes through Jesus

-- there is a vast difference between happiness and joy -- happiness is externally influenced -- in order to be happy, you have to rely on things and people and places outside of yourself -- that is why happiness is fleeting -- because none of the things of the world is permanent -- all of them will fade away and disappoint in the end
-- but joy, on the other hand -- is eternal -- joy comes from the Lord and shines brightly in your heart even in the midst of the storm -- joy is that feeling of hope and contentment that you have in the midst of trials and tribulations because you know that these are only temporary afflictions and that a better future is promised -- joy is faith-driven and is based on the promises of God given to us through Christ
-- joy tells us that yes, we may be in the midst of a storm, but that the sun is still shining on the other side of the clouds
-- in this passage, Isaiah is telling the people of Galilee to have faith -- to have hope -- and to trust in the joy of the Lord even in the midst of their suffering -- even if they are living in the land of the shadow of death and are walking in darkness -- because God is sending a great light for them that will dispel the darkness and the death and that will never, ever, go out
-- and then he goes through and gives them two reasons for the joy they should have through the Lord

-- verse 4

4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

-- here we see the first reason -- Isaiah told them that they were going to rejoice before the Lord, "for" -- because -- the yoke and the rod that had tormented them and held them in bondage would be broken and removed from them forever
-- now, to the Israelites who received this prophesy from Isaiah, this was a promise of restoration from captivity -- a promise that the time of invasion and exile would end and that the cruel yoke of slavery to the Assyrians and the Babylonians would end
-- but, this also was a promise of restoration from the spiritual bondage that held the entire world -- both Jew and Gentile -- in chains
-- in the book of Romans, we read that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that we are in bondage to sin in our lives -- when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, we were exiled into the land of the shadow of death -- we were sold into slavery -- but Isaiah promises us here that the chains of sin and death would be broken and removed from us through the power of the Lord -- as it says in Romans 6:23, "for the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
-- verse 5

5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

-- this is the second reason why we should have joy in our hearts -- following our release from sin -- following our restoration and return into the kingdom of God -- we will enter into a time of eternal peace -- peace always follows the grace of God -- and it is the joy of the Lord in our hearts that gives us this peace in our lives

-- verse 6

6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

-- and here we see the source of our joy -- the promise of the Messiah -- a prophesy of the birth and ministry of Christ -- Isaiah tells us in this passage that the baby in the manger will grow up and break the yoke of sin and death and bring peace to the world -- and that He will become the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords -- ruling the entire world with justice and righteousness forever -- something that is attainable only in and through the Messiah -- the child of Mary and Joseph -- the Son of God -- our Savior

III. Conclusion
-- Howard Hughes was one of the richest men in the early part of the 20th century -- yet his life was characterized by profound unhappiness and depression -- no matter how much money he had -- no matter how many women he married -- no matter how much he accomplished -- he never was truly happy -- he went from one emotional high to another -- trying desperately to find the formula that would bring him peace in his life
-- one day someone asked him what it would take to make him happy -- he responded, "just a little more -- just a little more"
-- that is the problem with happiness -- it is never enough -- you can never burn enough matches and make enough light to keep the darkness away -- as it says in Isaiah 8:22, "they look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom" -- this is the state of a person without the hope and joy of the Lord
-- it is only through Christ Jesus that you can have the contentment and peace that comes through hope and joy
-- the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
-- this secret of contentment is the peace that comes through the joy of the Lord -- the joy of knowing that your sins have been forgiven and that sin and death hold no power over you
-- the joy of knowing that the trials and tribulations and sufferings of this life are temporary, and will soon give way to the permanence of eternal life with God in Heaven

-- if you don't have this joy in your life, you can have it this morning -- you can have the peace and the joy and the contentment of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior this Christmas Season
-- all you have to do is confess to the Lord that you are a sinner and that you need forgiveness for your sins -- ask Him to forgive you and trust in His atoning death and resurrection and ask Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior -- and the joy of the Lord will fill your life and you will know peace and contentment as never before
-- may you all be filled with His joy this Christmas season, and may you share it with others everywhere you go
-- let us pray