Joy To The World

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice. From henceforth forever the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

God packaged the gift of His Son before the foundation of the world, and the whole Old Testament is a series of hints stirring our joy for His coming.

Advent Verses and the Light That Has Come

Isaiah 9:6-7 are Christmas verses. Look through the cards you've received this season and you'll find them on more than a few. They speak of the birth of the King of Kings, prophetically looking forward to the very event we look back to and celebrate—the coming of the Lord when Jesus entered the world. While many churches focus on these verses, I want to look at the verses leading up to them.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

Isaiah lived 700 years before Jesus came, yet he speaks of the Messiah's advent in the past tense—"have seen a great light"—as if it had already come to pass. He knew it was sure and certain. These things would happen.

God Gives Hints About His Gift

God created us in His image, so many things in us mirror Him. You've probably experienced this during the holidays. At our house there have already been gifts under the tree for weeks. Last night at my parents' house, our three-year-old son was picking up presents and shaking them, anticipating something great, hoping they were all for him, wanting to know what's inside.

Sometimes, in our excitement to give a gift, we can hardly contain ourselves. We give hints: "Pick it up. What do you think it is?" We anticipate the joy the other person will feel in receiving it. I believe God is like that. Before He ever said, "Let there be light," God had planned the precious gift of His Son. Revelation 13 calls Jesus the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. The gift of redemption was planned before creation.

But across the years of history leading up to that event, it was as if the gift was wrapped, and God kept giving little hints along the way. That's what the prophetic books are about—God wanting to tell us all about it. Here Isaiah gives prophetic hints, as if stirring our joy: "Don't you want to think about it? Don't you want to take a guess?"

A Light That Increases Joy

So Isaiah says this coming will be like a great light shining in darkness. And when this light is unwrapped, it brings more than light.

You have multiplied the nation and increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden... as in the day of Midian. (Isaiah 9:3-4)

Isaiah knows the source of this gift is God: "You, God, have multiplied the nation and increased the joy." Then he illustrates what this joy is like. It's joy like the harvest coming in. We don't live in a culture dependent on harvest, so to update it: it's like the joy of getting your paycheck—but greater, like a sizable bonus check. Or like getting a letter from the IRS saying, "We're sorry, we overcharged you. Here's a check." That was a great day. That's the kind of joy.

But even that doesn't do it justice. It's also "as when men rejoice when they divide the spoil." To the victor goes the spoil. After the battle, you're alive—and now you take in the joy of the spoil. In modern terms, it's like the joy the Green Bay Packers will experience when they win the Super Bowl. I'm a Packers fan, I'm sorry. That joy in the locker room only scratches the surface of what the coming of this great light means.

The Release of Bondage

This coming also brings release from bondage. "For you have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian."

Isaiah points back to the book of Judges, when Israel was led not by kings but by judges. One was Gideon, an unwilling leader at the start, hiding from an oppressing army. Every year at harvest time—when Israel anticipated joy—the Midianites came from the east and stole the fruitfulness of the land. The Israelites labored all year plowing, planting, and tending, and right at harvest the Midianites robbed their joy.

It was in the midst of that bondage that God raised up Gideon. By God's miraculous power, Gideon with just 300 men put to flight the Midianite army of 130,000-plus. That was a joyful day, because they were released from burdensome bondage and able to bring in both the harvest and the spoil at the same time. So Isaiah says this coming means light in darkness, increased joy, and liberation from bondage.

Joy Incarnate Is Born

Then Isaiah unfolds what brings all of this:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. (Isaiah 9:6)

We now know, 2,800 years later, that this speaks of the Messiah. The source of the light, the fount from which liberation springs, is the coming and presence of a child—and more specifically, a Son. He is joy incarnate. That's why we sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come." Because of His nature, He brings joy into the world.

His birth, prophesied hundreds of years before, was announced by angels.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

This child was born a man, but He has a second nature as the Son of God. He came humbly, but His strength will govern with justice and judgment forever. He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. His coming is good news—glad tidings, gospel—because He is the great joy given unto all people.

The Evidence of Joy

Joy is one aspect of the very nature of God. We know this because the evidence of the Holy Spirit in us is joy. Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the Spirit is love, then joy. When people see joy in us, it should point to God, because ultimate, enduring joy cannot be bought or manufactured.

Pastor Josh sent me photos from the mall the other day—signs everywhere: "joy 50% off," "joy 20% off." Apparently there's lots of joy down there. Today you'll open Christmas gifts, and there's some marginal joy in those things. There are real pleasures in this world, but full and enduring joy comes only from God. When God's Spirit fills us, joy comes from us, and when people see it, it directs their attention to Him and glorifies Him.

Jesus Extends His Joy to Us

Second, Jesus came purposefully to graciously extend His joy to us. The angel said this joy "shall be to all people." In John 10, Jesus said, "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly." And in John 15:11, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

Third, we should enjoy the gracious gift of His joy. It is God's desire that we enjoy the joy He extends, because He is glorified in our enjoying it. Throughout Scripture we are exhorted to rejoice in God.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (Philippians 3:1)

Apparently this was an exhortation Paul gave often. He says, in effect, "I know I'm saying it again, but it's good for you to hear it." Just a chapter later he repeats it: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). This was a common theme: rejoice in the Lord.

Carrying Joy to a Joyless World

Fourth, we magnify God by extending His gracious gift—carrying His joy to a joyless world, incarnating His joy in every part of our lives: at work, at school, wherever we shop, hang out, or play basketball. To this end Jesus commissioned and prayed for His disciples.

In the upper room, hours before His betrayal, Jesus repeatedly spoke of joy: that His joy would remain in them (John 15:11) and that their joy would be full (John 16:24). Then He prayed:

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves... I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil... As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:13-18)

Follow Jesus's prayer: God sent Him into the world to bring joy; He spoke so their joy would be full; He didn't want them removed from the world, even though they are not of it; He wanted them sent into the world so they too would incarnate joy.

Jesus, a Treasure Above All Treasures

Jesus is the key to unlocking joy, as evidenced by Paul's reckless abandon to lay hold of Him. Paul recognized Jesus as a treasure to be treasured above all treasures.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ... yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win him. (Philippians 3:7-8)

Jesus shows us the path of life—"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)—and He is the very source of full and enduring joy. As Psalm 16:11 says, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Promoting Joy Through Gratitude

Not all Christians experience this full and enduring joy, so how do we promote it? We promote joy through gratitude, which is an emotive response we cannot simply force. We encourage it by contemplating the greatness of God and His work. The secret to gratitude is constantly beholding the glory of God as manifested through the beauty of His Son.

When gratitude fills us, it overflows in worship, which escalates our joy. Worship expands our love for God, because we love Him because He first loved us. And love for God overflows in love for others—not only tender affections but tender actions of giving and serving, because love gladly meets the needs of others.

Giving and serving, motivated by love, increase joy. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). We all know this at some level—consumer debt soars every fourth quarter because people know there's joy in giving. If there weren't, no one would fight the craziness at the mall. It took me 20 minutes to get out of the Costco parking lot the other day, all because people love to give. When we give of our time, talents, and treasures from a heart of worshipful gratitude, our joy in God increases. And God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Carriers, Not Hoarders, of Joy

This brings us to the final point: in God we find our fullest joy, which we are to carry to a joyless world so that they too would know in Him the fullness of joy. Christmas reminds us of the incarnation—God became a man and came to give us life. The incarnation reveals that God is truly passionate about our joy; that's why He came. His joy residing in us should stir us to carry that joy to other people.

We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things, for the joy of all peoples. That's why the body of Christ has not been taken out of the world—Jesus prayed not that we be removed, but that we be strengthened and sent forth.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

That is my prayer for our family and our church. Have you noticed this world is joyless, striving for joy in things that do not satisfy? As Isaiah asked, "Why do you labor for that which satisfies not?" We are to carry the joy we've received to a joyless world. And if you say, "I don't have joy"—I've shown you from Scripture over these seven weeks how to promote joy in God. Set yourself to seek your maximal joy in Him so you can carry it to others and glorify Him.

Like Rain to a Parched Land

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters... wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:1-2)

Isaiah 55 is God calling His people who have looked for joy in wells that do not satisfy. He says, "Come to me; only from me can you get what you truly need." Then He gives an illustration:

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven... so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

God's word is like rain. It waters the earth and produces fruit; His word will not return void. And what part do we play?

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)

Imagine a dry, drought-ridden land—not hard to picture in Southern California. When the rain finally pours upon parched earth, if you could hear with the ears of God, you would hear the mountains and hills cry, "Yes!" So you, filled with joy and peace, go forth like rain clouds—not carrying water, but carrying His word that does not return void—and the joyless, dark land will rejoice.

This is what God has called us to: to maximize our joy in Him, not to be hoarders of joy but carriers, fountainheads of joy in a joyless world—in Escondido, San Diego, the nation, wherever He sends us. This afternoon you'll be among family and friends who don't know the joy of the Lord, trying to find joy in Christmas as a mere festival. My prayer is that you would go forth filled with joy and peace and bring joy to the joyless. That is my prayer as we end this year and step into 2012: that we would enjoy His grace and extend His glory.

Closing Prayer

Father, I thank You for this truth that You became a man. God, You stepped down into this earth. You, joy incarnate, brought joy to a joyless world. You've brought joy to us, Lord. Teach us, as we seek You and follow You, how to maximize our joy in You so that we would be able to carry that to this joyless world around us. Stir us, Lord, with a passion for Your supremacy in all things and for the joy of all peoples, to carry it to the uttermost parts, wherever You would open doors for us to go. God, we ask this in Your name, because You prayed this for us. Would You do this in us, we ask. In Jesus' name, Amen.