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It is a struggle to find joy when you look at this cursed world. But the “great joy” of the angel’s message applies even to today. This Christmas Eve message - Pastor Tim Glende shows that the Lord Jesus still rules over this cursed Earth & proves the wonders of his love.
The episodes are the weekly sermons from 922 Ministries (St. Peter and The CORE) of Appleton, Wisconsin.
Christmas Playlist
Week 4 - St. Peter
Pastor Tim Glende
Welcome to Christmas 2022 here at 922 Ministries. We are so thankful that you are joining us for the final week of our Christmas Playlist.
For those of you who've been here, you know, that we've been focusing on four different songs, the centerpiece of our messages each and every week probably on average Christmas each playlist day. Tomorrow is Christmas and we look forward to our celebrations and we'll wrap it up with our final one, this afternoon, this evening. And for those of you I think it's something all of you can relate to whether you've been here for the past 3 weeks. This is for you've been following us online, or if you haven't, we all know the consequences.
Like today's world so many of them are put together in your car to review music on your phone or maybe you have Pandora or Spotify or something.
For those of you who are a little bit older and those of you who are a little bit younger. We also had a playlist.
First, we put them on a mixed tape, or we burned a CD. Some of you like going on mixtape. Exactly, playlist or nothing.
New place for many, many years people have put together a list of songs compiled, that compiled them in the books like hymnals and put them in ways that help.
The songs that mean a lot to them with a message has in common. If there are country music playlists, there are seasons. Boating season. Is it for those of you who live in weather like today, we can't wait for it.
To be eight months.
And yet, sometimes on those playlists Billiboards, your personal one for one that you listen to you sometimes. Stop and pause. Is it so sure how that song fits on that playlist?
There's still a great would be about which playlist category, she's playing. And if you listen to some of my life's playlist, I sometimes wonder when she's clean DJ. What's that song has to do that playlist. In today's song on our playlist, this Christmas song it. That should cause you to stop and pause, even though many of you might have to bunderstand why? If our sermon today, were going to wrap up. Actually, it will be the most produced, the most published Christmas song for Christians of all time. It's in the same goal, the playlist.
Is there no song in every Church’s Christmas service which is called Joy to the World. Now, here's the thing I need to admit today before we go any further, I'm not all that big a fan.
Before you boo me off the stage and asked another pastor to take over because it's your favorite Christmas song of all time. Hear me out.
You've probably heard that many many times you've heard different versions.
But you know what? There is not in the song Joy to the World. There's no mention of Mary.
Read, there is no.
Medical hand.
That talks about the day.
Day. So all you got out there who, just like Joy to the World, your like a free agent, can I get it?
I know there's some. Maybe the song.
And that's really my goal for you today.
To encourage those of you who wonder about this song and its inclusion in Christmas because you've wondered like we're in all the world, would Joy to the World, be the baby?
Peace on Earth.
Could I pray I can give you a different perspective on that as I have learned for myself and also pray that for those of you who love this song to cherish this song that you can find even deeper appreciation for it. And Reason why I found it.
I pray that I can give you more than that today. I pray that I can give you a little bit about the song, why it might be included the what behind the message of it? But also obviously the connection it has to Christmas. Us. And to take away that this song. Can be for you. And for me, I just miss Christmas cookies. Typically I’m looking forward to the day when Jesus will return. Now, Isaac Watts wrote this song in the 1700s, A man of the last name of Lowell wrote the melody to it. And that's when it kind of took off in the 1800's, and became a part of almost every Christmas playlist, but Isaac's Waats, when he wrote this song was actually writing, And this song that we're going to. Stand behind the song and And why it makes our playlist. If you look at the words of the song, writer that Isaac Watts captured some Beta poems that He said some writers have his shout for Joy To The Lord, all the Earth. Earth First in a jubilant song, with music like the sea.
But the Deep Rivers clap are the mountain singing for the Lord. For, he comes to judge the Earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness, in the people's with equity. You see one thing about this song and Christmas that you can say, it does identify the main character of the story. It's
See stripes.
But when almost every Theologian would tell you, and I just want every expert, hymn writer would echo. Is that this song is about Jesus coming.
Just not his first one.
Like the Psalm writer is capturing words, nearly a thousand years before.
Jesus was alive.
This song and it records for us as maybe what happened? One Big G.
Jesus said he would come to judge.
And then, the Earth would rejoice.
And yet there had not, yet had a chance to rejoice in his first coming.
And so now that, you know, a little bit of the history behind the song and it's about Jesus second coming in, at his first coming. You should be asking yourself, then why is this?
This, the Christmas playlist and every hymn now know that the Christian church has ever put together since it was recorded.
Let me tell you why.
Tell you why. Like the story of what transpired the day that Jesus came to Earth for the first time. Not in the way like the Psalm writer knew it, but in a way that went unnoticed, By almost everybody on the face of planet Earth at the time except for a few Shepherds, living out. In the fields. If you want to know why Joy to the World has everything to do with Christmas, what we can take away and apply this Christmas.
Listen, again, to the words, I read just a little bit earlier from Luke chapter 2, Knowing that God will judge the people's and righteousness of equity when he returned. There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. I just want to stop and pause for a second there because what we're going to see transpire was transformative in the lives of the Shepherds. Why do you put yourself in their shoes? It's an average day there at their job there. It's probably not. There is nothing, special, nothing extraordinary just doing In their work when think an angel of the Lord. Or darkness shown around them. but the angel said to them do not be afraid. I've
That will cause
Talk today in the town of David.
Is he is the Messiah, the Lord.
You see what the songwriter knew 1000 years. But he was born, was that Jesus would be born.
And what the somewhere knew and believed would happen. Is that God would keep his promises and would send a savior. They who would do
Do and all people from their
rom a Brokenness.
It's from the destination that sin deserves being separated from God for all eternity. The Angels message to the Shepherds was. I am good news. That will cause you great joy.
I was writing about Jesus second coming because he believed, he trusted, he had heard what God had and made happen. And would bring great joy from attached to Jesus coming was Jesus life, his death, his resurrection.
Our Salvation, former students.
And he knew in his heart that what we've got promised will be true. And one day, when Jesus did all those things, he would return to heaven. As a rule over all things, and
And I'm watching to hear that this Christmas. What does this song have to do with Christmas? I would pitch to you everything. Because if you're taking notes like those of you who do this regularly,
Jesus was joy for the world.
And Jesus was joy for the world. For the sin that Adam and Eve brought into the world. He was Joy because he came to rescue God's people from their sin.
A person like David and Abraham and everyone who has lived up to that point with the Hope in God's promise that he would come the first time.
And so, when you think about the song being on Jesus Second Coming, you can't have a second coming without a first.
And Jesus first, tell me. The angel said causes great joy. Frankie. Because all people me what Jesus came to bring Salvation,
So what did the Shepherds do with that message? We're going to following words that we haven't heard yet about the Christmas story when the Angels had left them and gone into heaven. The shepherd's said to one another. Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about. So he hurried off and found Mary Ian, who was lying in the major. Let's go. But we've heard this message that the angel Because 44. Gotta Bend. Tell about this.
Temples to celebrate.
And one of them.
During a break, early.
Need and reminders. Of that day.
Those words of the Angels, cause them,
Oh joy. Because they knew what it meant for them. That God is faithful that God has good. That God has delivered on his promise. Let's see this thing.
You don't want to miss this thing.
You know what happen after they did.
What's the shepherd?
Glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they eventually. They heard. Heard they went. Ain't they sign it. Cause them, exactly. What'll set, it would great, joy joy for the world. The savior of the world.
So maybe you understand just a little bit. Now, like when the song was written without any,
Cause people. I'm not fit in so beautifully with what?
The shepherd's. Got him. It caused them great Joy. Joy for the world is found in Jesus.
Of where we stand in history right now.
Thank you, and I live in between that first coming, which caused Great Joy for the Shepherds. And his second coming, which will cause as the Bible says, Christians to rejoice.
Voice. And I don't want to miss that. Truth of why this song that message is not just about the Shepherds and one that caused them Joy, but but I want you to know Jesus.
I trust in your unfailing love song writer said. My heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord's Praise for, he has been good to me.
Jesus, was that first Christmas? And said, joy for the The is coming Godless. Fail vacation. It was possible his coming. And allowed it to take place. Is a perfect substitute.
Suit was made available.
But it wasn't just for them, it wasn't just for that time. The song writer tells us that they enjoy something that is for you. And for me, if you're taking notes, as I thought Jesus was that first Christmas joy for the world Jesus is. Is he is right now in between that first coming. Incoming joy for because words of a songwriter remind us of why.
Psalm 13, but I trust in your unfailing love.
For God. So loved the world that he sent. Is what it'll be His son.
Joy is for you. Because, you know, Jesus came and what he did Steve. My spirit rejoices in God, my savior. The one who saves me, the song writer says, gives me reason to rejoice and Join the Shepherds.
Is it at the End of Time? Jesus is on his first coming in.
That is why the writer of Psalm 13 King David said, I will saying because we've been doing this entire I will sing the Lord's. Praise why? He has been good to me.
Joy is not just something that was for the world, joy for you and Jesus.
Because he saved you.
And one day in the future, he'll return. To make that Joy complete.
You see, when you look at the song, we'll just take a look at a few of the words. It gives us very clear reminders of around right now, right here. This Is a spin.
The words of burst one Joy to the World. The Lord is. Is litter 3.
The care of her.
Like, there's joy right now. Right here. This Christmas and every day because the one who came Is King. The prophet Isaiah predicted. He gave up his kingdom. There will be no end. He hadn't even come, his manger was his first throne. He ascended, back to his eternal Throne, that's the one that gives great joy. The one who rules and Reigns over all things for your good.
Was a king or a crown.
And went to a cross.
So that sin, death and the power of the devil could be destroyed forever. That is Joy right here, right now and For Eternity for you. The king.
Because I asked you to take note of that last verse, if Jesus is joy for you right now. Don't crowd out the space in your heart. Don't make room for every other thing in this world and leave him off to the side. Like this Christmas and when Christmas is gone, don't let all the things going on around you be the cause of Jesus to not have a place in your heart.
Because one day he will return.
My friends, he does not want you to miss out on the joy of Heaven.
And yet right now in the Here and Now, Sometimes isn't always that much joy so it feels right.
Who's, why would have you remember the difference between happiness and joy? Like happiness is circumstantial, Joy is based on facts, happiness comes and goes, joy is permanent. Happiness is based on circumstances and enjoyment is based on anything, but and in this life and in this world even over the next few days. These next two days, he's next 48 hours of opening presents and getting together with family and friends, you will have the fluctuations of moments of happiness, and some not so much when you got the present that you really wanted and you missed out on The one that everyone else got like, that's happiness. If it comes and it goes, it's fleeting but joy right here. And right now, it's permanent Hear that in know that it's way the song, the song writer and and Isaac Watts when he wrote it went back to what the here-and-now means for us, before Jesus return no more, let sins our sorrows grow nor Thorns infest, the ground comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found. Have you ever wondered why that person was included?
Because it points back to the garden points back to the garden, where sin entered the world and brokenness. I've never left the world since then.
And right here, right now, we celebrate Jesus first coming, he dealt with our sin, he dealt with our sins, so that we could have eternity. That is yours. That is mine. It can't be taken away and it can't be stolen. But right now, in the midst of this world, there is so much Brokenness that the devil would love to rob you of Jesus and steal your joy. Like we live in a world where there's hate and violence where there is racism and murder where there are relationships that fall apart, there's so much Brokenness. Jesus, the first coming did not end the Brokenness. He dealt with the Brokenness, he paid the price for sin, but there is still sin and it will rage a war This Side of Heaven, until that day, when he returns,
As you celebrate his first coming of what it means for you spiritually, that eternity is secure, look forward to his second coming and bring them together to understand the ultimate joy that will happen on that day, when there will be no more. Fear sadness, and no more Brokenness, no more sins, no more is, go earns only blessings. As far and wide, as his love is, those blessings because the curse of sin will eradicate Joy to the World. Hold on to that joy and your circumstances when they are hard. When there are tears Jesus is joy for you right now in the midst of that, broken World, until that day, when he comes back and he rules over all things with truth, and Grace and will stand Victorious, and all the nations will see it and he will prove it. The glories of his righteousness and he will give you the lasting wonders. Joy to the World. Was not written for Christmas. But everything about Joy to the World, the Jesus who will come back in the Jesus, who first came comes together. More importantly for you and for me has great significance. Because at the heart and center of Christmas at the heart and center of Christianity, is this reality that when Jesus came to do in one day, he will come back to do it and give you unending lasting. Joy that cannot be taken away.
One of his disciples knew that.
Peter probably thought of you when you wrote it.
I'm thinking of the people he was writing to when he wrote these words to the Christians who were scattered over Asia Christians who were maybe about the face persecution. He said this though, you have not seen Jesus, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious spirit. Joy for you is receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Jesus was Joy for the world. Jesus is joy for you. And one day, Jesus will return. And it all Will Rejoice every Christian for eternity will be filled with unending Joy.
And that's why maybe it's so beautiful. That one, the most famous Christmas song of all times is supposed to be on a Christmas playlist? Because you know what, I thought about when I dug into that, and I took that to heart. This. Joy, is it limited to a season?
Christians think that Joy is not just limited to these few days when we get together and long for peace on Earth. And no joy is not limited to the season. Christmas does not have a copyright on it. Joy instead is found in the savior.
For those of you who are new to the season of being a Christian. I pray, I pray that this Christmas fills you with great joy but that you hold on to it that you make room for him in your heart each and every day to grow in that City. So that one They just out on any Joy. For those of you who are in the season of life and maybe it's the End Season, hold on to that Joy. Because when everything starts to break down, when you look ahead and you consider that your days are short, remember that your eternity is because of Jesus. Joy is right now you're in a difficult season like maybe it's work-related, maybe it's School related, maybe it's relational related. Maybe it's health-related. Jesus is not seasonal, he doesn't come and go. It's not circumstantially based, it's based on the facts that he came and he died and he rose and one day he will return in all his glory.
Joy to the World. The Lord Has Come.
Joy to the World. Jesus is with us right now and every season. And it'll be great. Joy holiday returns. Bands going to lead us in the singing of a contemporary version of Joy To The World. Is they come For want to talk about one of those songs that makes the Christmas playlist All Joy to the World.
Find Three Dog Night. The last few days. Like that should never be on any Christmas playlist. Just to Jeremiah was a bullfrog, has nothing to do with Christmas, drinking wine, while that has a lot to do with some of your Christmas’. Here's the thing, I want you to think about when you sing this song and joy for the world of Joy to the World, they did get one thing right. Jesus is joy for you and me.