Joy Series

Joy Isaiah 11:1-10

Our Joy is found in the ultimate righteous rule of Jesus. vv.1-5

Our Joy is found in the restoration of Jesus. vv.6-9

Our joy is found in the spread of His gospel Vs. 10 (on screen)

Christmas is such a time for celebration, isn’t it? And joy is resident in all celebration. Sometimes joy pops out when we celebrate a victory (video 00:00-00:23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7tFH9R1kE). Sometimes joy overwhelms you when someone you love returns home (Pic of Ben attached). There’s joy when a child comes into the world (pic of Russell attached) There is joy on Christmas morning when gifts are opened (pic of joyous children opening gifts--need). And then there is joy in singing the songs of our faith that cause joy to spring forth from our hearts. Christians have more songs that bring joy than any other religion or life perspective on the face of the earth.

Not everyone has this source of joy, as Steve Martin sang about a few years ago…

(video 00:10-03:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wogta8alHiU )

Turn with me to Isaiah 11:1-10 this morning as we continue our series on Advent. Advent is a time to turn our hearts, minds, and eyes away from the materialism and secularism that has become Christmas, to the real, genuine meaning of Christmas. Each candle reminds us what Jesus brought into the world 2000 years ago and continues to deliver in our hearts as we worship Him. In Week 1 (light) we talked about hope, that Jesus the Messiah is the hope for every heart. If you want hope, look to Jesus. In Week 2, (light) we talked about love—that through Jesus, God’s love is personal, powerful and permanent.

Now this morning we turn our attention to the joy (light) that is in Jesus. Sadly, many people at Christmas time don’t feel much joy. Circumstances have sucked the joy right out of their hearts. But that is because they are seeking joy in people and circumstances that ultimately can’t deliver. If the ultimate source of your joy is your marriage, then if it falls apart, so does your joy. If the ultimate source of your joy is your finances, then if they go bust, so does your joy. If the ultimate source of your joy is your family, then if some of them move away or God forbid, if one of them dies, then so does your joy.

Now, I’m not trying to minimize the impact of adversity on our joy…after all, we are humans that have feelings and we are not immune to the sadness, sorrow, or melancholy that can occur when painful circumstances arise.

What I AM saying is that ultimately the only joy that will stay with you and lift you up is the joy that is found in delighting in Jesus the Messiah. We delight in so many things…do we delight in Jesus above all? Isaiah the prophet spoke of this in the passage we’ll study this morning so let’s read it. Isaiah 11:1-10 (on screen)

Remember, Isaiah is writing at a time when God’s people were guilty of spiritual indifference and apathy. And God’s discipline was going to be painful and sorrowful.

But in the midst of the grief there was a promise. In the midst of the darkness, there was a glimmer of hope and a reason for joy: the coming of the Messiah. He says a shoot, a sapling will spring up from the stump of Jesse. Who was the stump, the least likely of the house of Jesse? David! And God promised David the Messiah would come through Him: He told David: “Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16

And what does it say about this shoot, this branch? V.2 “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him.” This became visible at the baptism of Jesus when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and the Father spoke from heaven: “This is my beloved Son and I am well-pleased in Him.” So 1000 years after God promised David and 700 years after Isaiah prophesied, God became flesh in Bethlehem; Immanuel, God with us. And the Spirit of God was upon Him.

Look at v.3 “His delight will be in the fear of the LORD” WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEAR THE LORD? Fear the Lord: respond to Him in awe, respect, trust, surrender, obedience, and worship”

We see this about Jesus all the way through the gospels, right? When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He said, “Go away Satan, Worship the Father and Him only.” When the Pharisees tried to corner Jesus, He said, “I have come to do the will of the Father.” In the Garden of Gethsemane as He was about to be arrested, beaten, and crucified, Jesus said what? “Not my will, Father, but yours be done.”