WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:09.519 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.419 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.520 Good morning. My name is August Fern, and today's scripture reading is several texts from the prophet Isaiah, 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.320 as printed in the liturgy. I won't read all the numbers. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.320 A reading from the prophet Isaiah. 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:46.299 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. 00:00:46.879 --> 00:00:51.420 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:55.799 The people, walking in darkness, have seen a great light. 00:00:55.799 --> 00:00:59.919 On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. 00:01:00.739 --> 00:01:08.120 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:16.179 And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:20.599 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:30.519 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. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:34.419 The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. 00:01:35.979 --> 00:01:38.840 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:41.519 From his roots a branch will bear fruit. 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:44.500 The spirit of the Lord will rest on him. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:47.560 The spirit of wisdom and of understanding. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:50.140 The spirit of counsel and of might. 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:53.320 The spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.859 And he will delight in the fear of the Lord. 00:01:57.520 --> 00:02:02.719 He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears. 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:05.900 But with righteousness he will judge the needy. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.800 With justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.319 He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. 00:02:13.640 --> 00:02:16.020 With the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 00:02:16.020 --> 00:02:21.659 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:27.920 In that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:32.300 The nations will rally to him and his resting place will be glorious. 00:02:33.420 --> 00:02:36.580 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. 00:02:37.160 --> 00:02:41.860 What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open. 00:02:41.860 --> 00:02:45.080 There the Lord will be our mighty one. 00:02:45.700 --> 00:02:47.060 For the Lord is our judge. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:48.820 The Lord is our lawgiver. 00:02:49.220 --> 00:02:50.520 The Lord is our king. 00:02:50.880 --> 00:02:52.520 It is he who will save us. 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:56.540 From the west people will fear the name of the Lord. 00:02:56.940 --> 00:03:00.240 And from rising of the sun they will revere his glory. 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:05.720 For he will come like a pent up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along. 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.120 The redeemer will come to Zion. 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:11.900 To those in Jacob who repent of their sins declares the Lord. 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.639 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:18.039 That the mountains would tremble before you. 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:20.740 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:22.740 Thanks be to God. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:24.020 Morning Christ Church. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.860 I trust that you had a happy Thanksgiving. 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:30.460 You all look very satiated and satisfied. 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:35.760 I want to begin this morning just asking this simple question. 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:38.300 How does the church keep time? 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:41.800 Or how do Christians mark time? 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:50.939 And very simply the church marks time by nothing else than the life of Jesus Christ. 00:03:51.700 --> 00:03:58.180 And so after Thanksgiving every year we make this turn to the season of Advent. 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:02.099 Advent is a Latin term that means come to. 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:09.540 And we have four Sundays in Advent where we focus our attention on two things. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:14.319 We focus our attention on the first coming of Christ as our Savior. 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:19.319 And we also focus our attention on the second coming of Christ as our Judge. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:25.579 And we are using the season of Advent to prepare our hearts for Christmas. 00:04:25.579 --> 00:04:34.339 Christmas is this wonderful, not one day celebration, but 12 day celebration that begins on December 25th. 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:40.620 Where we feast and we rejoice in the incarnation. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:46.099 God taking on flesh and coming to dwell with us and to save us. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:59.240 And that feast runs all the way from December 25th to Epiphany, which is a celebration of those Gentile kings that came and brought their gifts to Jesus as the King of Kings. 00:04:59.900 --> 00:05:02.580 So that's how we keep time in the church. 00:05:02.579 --> 00:05:08.339 And we could go on and talk about Lent and Easter and Pentecost, but I'll save that for another day. 00:05:10.039 --> 00:05:17.360 The question is, how are we going to engage this season of Advent to prepare ourselves for Christmas? 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:22.060 Now, last week, Pastor Andrew preached on worship. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:27.800 And he talked about how the Lord inhabits the hallelujahs of His people. 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:32.020 And how He's enthroned on the praises of His people. 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:37.220 And he was preaching from a text from the prophet Isaiah just before the text we read today. 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:38.800 From Isaiah 6. 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:40.580 And he preached on this great line. 00:05:40.579 --> 00:05:46.359 And it says, at the sound of their voices, the doorposts and the thresholds shook. 00:05:48.219 --> 00:05:51.539 At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and the thresholds shook. 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:58.319 And when he was talking about that, I was thinking to myself, you know, what if we sang our Christmas carols like that? 00:05:59.139 --> 00:06:02.799 Where the doorposts and the thresholds of Christ's church shook. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:08.340 And so, what we're going to do during the season of Advent is we're going to look at these songs that we know the best, 00:06:08.460 --> 00:06:10.860 but perhaps maybe understand the least. 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:12.100 These carols of Christmas. 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:17.900 And every year we celebrate the birth of Christ with these beautiful carols. 00:06:18.780 --> 00:06:23.580 But how many of us really see the depth of the gospel in the songs that we sing? 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:30.800 And what are the truths that we're singing that have made these carols timeless? 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:38.920 And so, as we explore these well-known carols of Christmas that were born from our joy that Christ entered our world, 00:06:39.020 --> 00:06:45.560 I pray that you'll allow God's truth to be revealed to you in a fresh way, 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:50.720 just as it was on that holy night in that little town of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:52.560 So, here's the plan. 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:57.900 Each Sunday, we're going to look at the biblical foundations behind a familiar Christmas carol. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:07:04.560 And then we're going to sing that carol together in a way that shakes the doorposts and the thresholds of our church. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:05.500 Do you think we can do that? 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:07.079 You excited about that? 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:07.539 Okay. 00:07:07.799 --> 00:07:12.739 So, let me just kind of give some background and context for today's Christmas carol. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:18.819 The origin of this anonymous hymnic poem is uncertain, 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:25.060 but the dominant theory is that it began as a monastic chant called the O Antiphons, 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:30.180 which were based on lines that were sung in Latin in the 8th century. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:35.480 And so, Christians have been singing these words for 1,200 years and counting. 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:39.199 And the first English translation of this carol, 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:45.740 some of you will be interested to know that it inspired some of the imagery and the names in Tolkien's saga, 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:46.939 the Lord of the Rings. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.639 But I'm sorry to tell you that there are no hobbits, actually, in this song. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:08:00.439 But you'll notice that each O in O come, O come is followed by a name or a title 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:05.639 that's linked to a prophecy about the Messiah, about the Christ, 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:08.079 in this Old Testament book of Isaiah. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:16.060 And each stanza in some ways is a guided tour of a different aspect of the person and the work of the Messiah. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:22.459 And so, this carol takes us into the mind of ancient Israel longing for her coming Messiah. 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:30.740 But it goes beyond that longing by voicing the yearning and the solemn expectancy of the church 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:33.980 for our Messiah, Jesus, to come again 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:37.519 and to consummate the history of redemption, 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:40.860 to establish the kingdom of God on the earth as it is in heaven, 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:44.779 to resurrect His people, to put the world right, 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.820 to wipe all the tears away from our eyes, 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:49.919 and to make all things new. 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:54.820 That's the Christian hope of what's going to happen when Messiah comes again. 00:08:54.820 --> 00:08:59.780 So, allow me to read today's carol so it's fresh in our minds. 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:02.960 And I'm going to start with the stanzas, 00:09:03.040 --> 00:09:05.660 and then I'll end with this repeated refrain. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:10.240 O come, O come, Emmanuel, 00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:13.600 and ransom captive Israel 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:17.220 that mourns in lonely exile here 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:20.600 until the Son of God appear. 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:24.560 O come, O come, thou Lord of might, 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:27.780 who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height 00:09:27.780 --> 00:09:31.080 in ancient times didst give the law 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.740 in cloud and majesty and awe. 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:39.100 O come, thou root of Jesse, free, 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:42.200 Thine own from Satan's tyranny. 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:45.480 From depths of hell Thy people save, 00:09:46.020 --> 00:09:48.900 and give them victory over the grave. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:52.480 O come, Thou dayspring from on high, 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:55.519 and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh. 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:58.820 Disperse the gloomy clouds of night 00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:02.480 and death's dark shadows put to flight. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:06.240 O come, O come, Thou key of David, come, 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:09.120 and open wide our heavenly home. 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:12.500 Make safe the way that leads on high, 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:15.700 and close the path to misery. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:19.039 Rejoice, rejoice, 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.100 Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel. 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:30.200 Now I want to say a few things about this carol 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:31.139 before we sing it. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:33.340 I want to talk about the names of the Messiah, 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.440 the prayers of exiles, 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:38.480 and the joy of Jesus. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:41.659 I want to talk about the names of Messiah, 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:43.259 the prayers of exiles, 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:45.120 and the joy of Jesus. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:47.180 First of all, the names of Messiah. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:50.040 I'm just going to walk you through each stanza. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.100 The first stanza says, 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:53.000 O come, O come, Emmanuel. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:56.340 And that's linked back to Isaiah chapter 7. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.700 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. 00:10:58.820 --> 00:11:01.920 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son 00:11:01.920 --> 00:11:04.180 and will call Him Emmanuel. 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:05.920 Emmanuel means God with us. 00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:10.300 And this prophecy says that through His chosen King, 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:13.000 through His anointed Messiah, 00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:15.040 that will be born of a virgin, 00:11:15.779 --> 00:11:19.700 God will come to be with His people to save us. 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:22.180 The next stanza says, 00:11:22.640 --> 00:11:24.280 O come, thou Lord of might. 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:28.080 And my bad that this wasn't printed here, 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:31.440 but if you look at Isaiah 33 verse 21, 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:31.879 it says, 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:33.980 The Lord will be our mighty one. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:36.960 The Lord will be our mighty one. 00:11:37.020 --> 00:11:37.600 And then it says, 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:39.120 For the Lord is our judge. 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.740 The Lord is our lawgiver. 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:41.980 The Lord is our king. 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:44.860 It is He who will save us. 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:47.900 One of the favorite themes of the prophet Isaiah 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:50.779 is that when the Messiah comes, 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:53.539 He'll bring about a new exodus. 00:11:54.439 --> 00:11:56.419 He'll bring about a second exodus, 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:00.840 an exodus that's even greater than the first exodus from Egypt. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.079 And this stanza is telling us that the same Lord 00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:09.159 who came in that cloud and majesty and awe at Sinai 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:10.799 to show us His power, 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.839 to give us His word, 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:14.199 to reveal His truth. 00:12:14.719 --> 00:12:18.120 He's going to send His mighty one. 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:21.539 And when the mighty one comes, 00:12:21.719 --> 00:12:23.779 the mighty one is going to be our judge 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:25.919 and our lawgiver and our king. 00:12:26.079 --> 00:12:29.439 He's going to be this all-sufficient sovereign and ruler 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:31.099 who's going to reign over us. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:33.199 And He's going to come in His reign. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.400 He's going to win a victory for us on our behalf 00:12:37.400 --> 00:12:41.379 and do something for us in our place. 00:12:42.160 --> 00:12:44.660 And that's how He's going to save us. 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:47.540 If you just go and read that text in Isaiah 33, 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.200 you'll see about the Lord of might. 00:12:51.400 --> 00:12:52.540 But then the next stanza says, 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.660 O come thou rod of Jesse. 00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:58.200 Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1 says, 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:01.300 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:05.220 From his roots a branch will bear fruit. 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:10.820 This stump refers to the long, defunct house of David 00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:13.640 and his father Jesse. 00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:16.180 And if you just go back and read the Old Testament books 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:17.460 of 1 and 2 Kings, 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:20.759 you'll learn there that the rulers of God's people, 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:22.180 the leaders of God's people, 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:25.000 were pretty much miserable failures. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:28.179 Except for a few partial exceptions. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:32.840 And so the prophet is saying that out of this dead stump 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:36.840 of the house of Jesse, the house of David, 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:40.960 will come a root, will come a branch of Jesse. 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:45.820 And he will rise up and this future king will come 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:47.919 and he'll hold the shepherd's staff. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:50.019 He'll hold the ruler's scepter 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.779 with awesome power and authority. 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:55.759 And I just want you to look back at Isaiah 11 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:59.339 that sort of describes the rule of this king, 00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.519 this rod of Jesse for us. 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:00.819 It says, 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.220 The spirit, this is 11.2, 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:05.600 The spirit of the Lord will rest on him. 00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:08.139 The spirit of wisdom and of understanding. 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:09.839 The spirit of counsel and might. 00:14:09.959 --> 00:14:12.279 The spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:14.519 And he will delight in the fear of the Lord. 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:17.980 He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.839 or decide by what he hears with his ears. 00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:22.319 He won't do anything based on mere appearances. 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:26.919 Rather, with righteousness he will judge the needy 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.799 and with justice he will give decisions 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.860 for the poor of the earth. 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.639 And here it is. 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.319 He will strike the earth with the rod. 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.360 This is the rod of Jesse. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.600 He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:43.120 And with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:45.459 Righteousness will be his belt 00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:49.179 and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:53.479 This king is going to come full of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:54.479 --> 00:14:56.759 He's going to come with a rod in his mouth. 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.779 The breath of his lips. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.659 The truth of his word. 00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:02.819 And with that he's going to bring wickedness 00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:04.620 and oppression to an end. 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.939 And with the righteousness and justice of God himself 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:10.459 he's going to lift up the needy and the poor. 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:13.759 He's going to do what no king has ever done before. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:17.000 Our next stanza says, 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.879 O come thou dayspring. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:21.240 O come thou dayspring. 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:24.019 And this is a great ancient word. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:27.419 It is expressed in Isaiah chapter 9 verse 2. 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:27.700 It says, 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:31.120 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.000 On those living in the land of deep darkness 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.740 a light has dawned. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:38.860 The dayspring is the sunrise at dawn. 00:15:40.140 --> 00:15:42.180 The dayspring is that morning light 00:15:42.180 --> 00:15:45.759 that comes and drives the darkness of night away. 00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:49.400 The father of John the Baptist, Zechariah, 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:51.440 he talks about this in Luke chapter 1. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:52.700 He says, 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:55.340 The rising sun will come to us from heaven 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:58.060 to shine on those living in darkness 00:15:58.060 --> 00:16:00.680 and in the shadow of death. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:05.180 Come thou dayspring is a longing for Messiah to come 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:07.259 and to be the light of the world 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:11.160 and to drive the dark powers of sin and death 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:13.320 out of this world for good. 00:16:14.520 --> 00:16:15.520 Last stanza, 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:18.140 O come thou key of David. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:21.000 That's from Isaiah chapter 9. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.720 Again, it's, 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.779 he says here in Isaiah 9, 6, 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.419 For to us a child is born, 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:29.659 to us a son is given, 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:33.080 and the government will be on his shoulders. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.919 And if you look down at Isaiah 22, 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.259 it says, 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.759 I will place on his shoulder 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.879 the key to the house of David 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:44.080 so that what he opens no one can shut 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:47.279 and what he shuts no one can open. 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:50.700 So what's on the shoulders of this Messiah? 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:54.419 It's the government of the kingdom of God himself. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.419 What's on the shoulders of this Messiah 00:16:57.419 --> 00:17:00.480 are the keys to the kingdom of God. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.080 And what do our keys do? 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.859 Our keys close 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:07.819 and they lock 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:09.980 open doors 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.920 that have been letting all the bad things 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.819 into our lives. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.279 Darkness, 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:14.500 death, 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:15.819 disconnection, 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:17.640 all these things that dominate our lives 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:18.620 and destroy us. 00:17:19.560 --> 00:17:21.880 But keys also can unlock and open doors 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.759 that are keeping good things 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.040 out of our lives. 00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:26.180 The light and the life 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.759 and the love of the creator God 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.960 and what he intended for us. 00:17:30.020 --> 00:17:30.340 And so, 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.920 this great prophecy 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.060 is about the turning 00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:34.880 of these keys 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.620 that only one person holds. 00:17:37.320 --> 00:17:39.140 These keys to the kingdom of God 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.640 that can give us the security 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.300 and the safety 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.099 and the peace 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:45.559 that we cannot secure 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.339 for ourselves. 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.720 And that's the O antiphons 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:51.200 that Christians have been singing about 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.639 for 1,200 years now. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.759 It's this great hymn of Advent, 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:56.119 this great carol of Christmas 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.139 that calls us 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:58.359 to rejoice 00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.899 in these biblical names 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:01.200 of the Messiah. 00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:01.919 Emmanuel, 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.700 Lord of Might, 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.119 Rod of Jesse, 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.480 Dayspring, 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.339 Key of David. 00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.799 And so, 00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:10.939 when we pray 00:18:10.939 --> 00:18:12.099 over this next month 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.279 between now and Christmas, 00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.240 I want to invite you 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:16.599 to take these names 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.299 of the Messiah 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.459 on your lips 00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:20.539 and take these scriptures 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.500 about the Messiah 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.679 into your heart 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:25.139 and let them fill you 00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:26.519 with new prayers 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.819 in this next season. 00:18:27.959 --> 00:18:28.720 Let them fill you 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.480 with a hope 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.659 in this Messiah 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:32.159 who has come 00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:33.459 and who surely will 00:18:33.459 --> 00:18:35.139 come again. 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.599 That's the names 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.099 of the Messiah. 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.419 But I want to talk about 00:18:39.419 --> 00:18:42.500 the prayers of exiles. 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:44.439 I want to talk a little bit 00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:45.879 about the prayers of exiles 00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:47.199 because each stanza 00:18:47.199 --> 00:18:49.339 calls on the name 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.219 of the Messiah 00:18:50.219 --> 00:18:51.919 with what I call 00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:53.219 the O of longing. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.819 The O of longing. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:56.699 Right? 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.719 O come, O come. 00:18:58.699 --> 00:19:00.199 Whoever's singing this song 00:19:00.199 --> 00:19:02.039 is begging, 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:04.139 is begging 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:06.779 with a sense of desperation, 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:09.819 O, won't you please, 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:10.599 please, 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.819 pretty please, 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.680 come. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.619 The O here expresses 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:18.799 a thirst of deep desire. 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.619 It's a cry of men 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.059 and women 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:24.339 who know that 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.440 they've come to the end 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.220 of their resources. 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:28.420 It's a cry of people 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.160 who are waiting 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.440 and who are looking for 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.299 and who are longing 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:31.839 for God 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.279 and saying, 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:34.079 O, come. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.339 O, please, 00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.620 come. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.680 And each stanza 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.860 then depicts 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:41.079 human needs 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.839 that the first 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.759 and second coming 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.960 of the Messiah 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.700 might remedy. 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:48.580 So, what are some 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.559 of the human needs 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:51.500 in the prophet Isaiah's day 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.940 700 years before 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.580 the coming of the Messiah? 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.799 And what are some 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.860 of the human needs 00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.920 in our day 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:00.100 2,000 years after 00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.660 the Messiah 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.880 has come? 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.100 Well, we sing about it 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:05.240 in this great line. 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:06.120 We sing our need 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:06.700 and we say, 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:09.279 come and ransom 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.940 captive Israel 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:13.000 that mourns 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.019 in lonely exile here. 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:17.039 Come and ransom 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.960 captive Israel 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.759 that mourns 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:20.819 in lonely exile here. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.579 You may know 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.720 that in Isaiah's day 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.639 the people of God 00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.519 had been carried off 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.079 to Babylon 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:28.299 as the just judgment 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.279 for their sins. 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.119 So, here they are 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:31.859 in exile 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.799 and captivity 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.879 longing for someone 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:35.559 who will come 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.359 and free them 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.099 mourning and lonely 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.859 because they're far 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.480 from home 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.180 and far from God 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.359 longing for someone 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:43.980 who would come 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.879 and wipe away 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.400 the tears 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.280 from their eyes. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.460 Longing for someone 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.580 who could return them 00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:51.100 to what they were made 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:52.180 to be 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.980 and to do. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.460 And in many ways, 00:20:55.560 --> 00:20:56.780 Israel in the exile 00:20:56.780 --> 00:20:57.500 of captivity 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.080 is a microcosm 00:20:59.080 --> 00:21:00.760 of all of us 00:21:00.760 --> 00:21:01.880 and our humanity. 00:21:03.060 --> 00:21:03.780 That we too 00:21:03.780 --> 00:21:05.240 are overpowered 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.140 by our sins. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.680 We too 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.800 have been carried off 00:21:08.800 --> 00:21:10.400 to a far away place 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.760 at a great distance 00:21:12.760 --> 00:21:13.520 from what we were 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.180 meant to be 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.619 and meant to do 00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:17.039 and here we are 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.500 in this place 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.059 where we really 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:19.960 can't help ourselves. 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.900 And the only 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.759 possible remedy 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.259 for us 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.220 is if God Himself 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.000 would come 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:26.400 in His power 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.700 and with the resources 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:29.099 that only He has 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.619 to, as the song says, 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.940 ransom us, 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:34.139 to buy us back 00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:35.740 and to bring us home. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.059 And this is what Jesus 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:40.159 says about Himself 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:41.679 in the Gospel of Mark, 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.460 chapter 10, 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.899 verse 45. 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.700 It's a great verse, 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.500 one that you should 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.599 probably memorize. 00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.299 Jesus says, 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.339 the Son of Man 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.859 did not come 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:54.240 to be served 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.759 but to serve 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:57.700 and to give His life 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.419 as a ransom 00:21:58.419 --> 00:21:59.819 for many. 00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:02.759 Emmanuel is 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.139 God with us 00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:05.840 and the reason 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.880 He came to be 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.759 with us 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.360 is to pay 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.080 this ransom 00:22:09.080 --> 00:22:10.180 that only 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.320 the God-man 00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:11.940 can pay. 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.400 And the Gospel 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:15.900 tells us 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:16.680 that on the cross 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.500 of Jesus Christ 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:19.220 that final blood 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.759 was indeed shed, 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.420 that debt 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.700 was paid 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.380 and forgiveness 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:25.060 was purchased 00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:26.180 and God's wrath 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:26.960 was removed 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.240 and our adoption 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.900 was secured 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.480 and redemption 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.800 was accomplished. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.759 However, 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.259 redemption 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.299 has been accomplished 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.659 but it's not yet 00:22:36.659 --> 00:22:38.700 been fully applied. 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.839 The end 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.879 is not yet 00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:43.240 and so in many ways 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.639 we are 00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:46.000 like Israel 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.579 and Babylon 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.779 still mourning 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.339 in the lonely exile 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.740 of our captivity 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.700 because we live 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:53.319 in a sin-sick world 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.659 that's deeply broken 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:56.019 and we are in fact 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.099 sin-sick people 00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:58.759 that are deeply broken. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:02.339 We know this 00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.839 in a really 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.640 personal 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.660 and painful way 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:07.420 that death 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.339 snatches away. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:10.039 Disease 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.960 makes us 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.519 miserable. 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.180 Calamity 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.000 strikes. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.160 Satan 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.359 prowls. 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.759 The flesh 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.799 wars against 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.420 the Spirit. 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.099 Sin 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.259 indwells us 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.799 and it tears 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.879 our families apart. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.799 It tears churches 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.180 apart. 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.680 It tears 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.599 nations 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.420 apart 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.379 and leaves us 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.080 a bloody 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:29.100 and awful 00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:29.980 mess. 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.260 We've not yet 00:23:32.260 --> 00:23:33.420 been fully released 00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.340 from this world 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:34.820 of sin 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.540 and this body 00:23:35.540 --> 00:23:36.040 of sin 00:23:36.040 --> 00:23:37.060 and so we mourn 00:23:37.060 --> 00:23:38.360 in the lonely exile 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:39.540 of our captivity 00:23:39.540 --> 00:23:40.580 to evil 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.620 and darkness 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.660 don't we? 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.740 We're not yet 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.560 fully free. 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.220 We're not yet 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.540 finally home 00:23:47.540 --> 00:23:48.180 and this is why 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.160 the Apostle Paul 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.500 writes in Romans 8 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:50.900 he says 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.780 we groan 00:23:51.780 --> 00:23:52.900 inwardly 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:54.400 as we wait 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.380 eagerly 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.420 for the redemption 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.260 of our bodies 00:23:57.260 --> 00:23:58.540 which has not yet 00:23:58.540 --> 00:23:59.120 come. 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:02.300 He says in 1 Thessalonians 1 00:24:02.300 --> 00:24:03.140 that we wait 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.980 for God's Son 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.460 from heaven 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.500 to rescue us 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.680 from God's coming 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.340 wrath 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:08.300 which has not yet 00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:09.040 happened. 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:11.720 He says in Galatians 5 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.560 that by faith 00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:13.660 we wait eagerly 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.540 through the Spirit 00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:15.340 for the righteousness 00:24:15.340 --> 00:24:16.980 for which we hope 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.460 but which we do not yet 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:20.180 fully have. 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.500 And so as exiles 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.279 we wait 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.579 in the not yetness 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.900 of the gospel. 00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:28.700 And look at 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.519 stanza 3 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.259 I love this 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.599 he says 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.680 the song says 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.359 O come thou 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.240 rod of Jesse 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:36.160 come this great king 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:37.539 with the rod of truth 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:39.980 in your mouth 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:42.180 come this great king 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:42.940 that defeated 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.940 Satan 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.200 by your word 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.960 that conquered 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.720 hell 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.880 that won a victory 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.740 over the grave 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:50.180 come thou rod of Jesse 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.220 and come apply 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.460 these things 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.840 to us. 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.400 Come and free us 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.259 from the tyranny 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.080 of the evil one 00:24:58.080 --> 00:24:58.900 and his lies 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.680 in our minds 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.860 and in our hearts. 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:03.900 Come and save us 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:04.880 from the hellishness 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.440 of sin 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.660 that makes Thanksgiving 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.720 sometimes miserable 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.420 with our family 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.880 doesn't it? 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:11.740 Come and liberate us 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.400 from the grave 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.200 in our fear 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.180 of death. 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:17.120 Come and take 00:25:17.120 --> 00:25:17.940 that redemption 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.279 that you accomplished 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.940 for us 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.899 and come apply 00:25:20.899 --> 00:25:21.660 that freedom 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.619 and that salvation 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.319 and that victory 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.579 that you won for us 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.579 to our lives 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.379 and to our church 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:28.259 here and now. 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.279 That's what we're singing 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.039 when we're praying 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.339 this great carol 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.180 of Christmas. 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.200 So I want to talk 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:37.460 finally 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.160 I've talked about 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.240 the names of the Messiah 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.079 and the prayers 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:42.000 of people who are in exile 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.599 but I want to talk 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.259 finally about 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.740 the joy of Jesus. 00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.899 I think I could do this 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.540 in a few minutes. 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:50.420 The joy of Jesus. 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.880 Now if you know 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:54.240 the tune of this carol 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.700 it's a plaintive mood 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.280 of longing. 00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.240 We're going to sing it 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.640 in a moment. 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.480 You'll realize very quickly 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.600 it's not the same 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:03.100 as the vigorous 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:04.060 and bounding 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:05.160 Hark the Herald 00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.000 angels sing 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.320 Glory to the Newborn King. 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:07.720 We're going to do 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.519 that one next week. 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.660 It's not the same 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.720 as the exuberant 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.700 Joy to the World 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.380 The Lord Has Come. 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:13.940 We're going to do that 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.980 the following week. 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.799 But the tune 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.319 and the mood 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.940 of this carol 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.980 is one of longing 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.660 one of aching 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.539 one of yearning 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.160 and waiting 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.259 and hoping. 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.360 The church needs 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.539 her vigorous 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.279 and bounding 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.019 and exuberant 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.039 songs of praise 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.200 but she also needs 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.460 to sing the blues. 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:32.660 Right? 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.360 She also needs 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.620 to sing songs 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.240 of lament 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.039 for a world 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:37.460 that's torn asunder 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:39.160 in Israel 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.740 in Gaza 00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:42.480 in Ukraine 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.319 in Darfur 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.380 in Azerbaijan 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:46.779 the persecuted church 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:48.099 in North Korea 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:49.720 and Somalia 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.640 and Iran 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.799 even today 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:53.420 are torn apart. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.559 And so we must sing 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.759 songs like this. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.900 Stanza number four 00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.819 tells us that we're 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.900 living under 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:02.299 gloomy clouds 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.860 of night. 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.460 It says that we're 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.019 living under 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.400 the dark shadows 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:06.980 of death 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.900 and so in this 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.740 miserable 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.319 terrible situation 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:10.920 that we find 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.500 ourselves in 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.759 what should the 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.920 church pray? 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.319 The church should pray 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.660 O come thou 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.420 dayspring 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:20.299 O come thou 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:20.779 dayspring 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.779 and rise up 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.839 like the sun 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:24.599 come and 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.299 disperse 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.319 our gloom 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.779 with your joy 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:29.319 come and 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.880 put the shadows 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.960 of our despair 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.700 to flight 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.880 with your light 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.759 come thou 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.079 sunshine of God 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:37.640 and illumine us 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.480 with your radiant 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.160 glory 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:41.220 come thou 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.279 light of the world 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.279 and warm us 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.740 with your presence 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.900 and your power 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.380 come 00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.759 dayspring we pray 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:49.320 and cheer us up 00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:51.180 come and cheer us 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.640 on 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.300 come 00:27:52.300 --> 00:27:53.120 dayspring 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:54.180 we need you 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:55.519 we need you 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.740 it's a prayer 00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.339 for the joy 00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:58.759 of Jesus 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.160 to come 00:27:59.160 --> 00:27:59.740 and flood 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.039 into our lives 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.480 to flood 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.259 into the church 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.859 and to flood 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:03.920 out into 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.220 the streets 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.839 of our city 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.359 and into our world 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.920 stanza five 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.400 talks about 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.279 someone who 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:13.579 could come 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.200 and we're praying 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.879 for this someone 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:15.420 to come 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.559 and quote unquote 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.920 close the path 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.839 to misery 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:20.559 wouldn't you love 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.019 for someone 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.759 to do this? 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:24.940 none of our technology 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.980 and none of our science 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.440 has fully closed 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.640 closed the path 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.420 to misery yet 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:30.920 has it? 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.839 wouldn't we love 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.299 for someone 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.019 who could come 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:37.539 and open wide 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.220 the doors 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.940 of heaven 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:40.759 someone who could 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.680 open up paradise 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.259 to us 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:42.740 so that we could 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.920 enter back into 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.599 Eden 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.460 which is our true 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.259 home for which 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.720 God created us 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.279 isn't this what 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.059 our hearts 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.160 and our world 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.379 is longing for? 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.040 what if someone 00:28:52.040 --> 00:28:52.640 could come 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.640 and do this? 00:28:53.760 --> 00:28:54.260 what if someone 00:28:54.260 --> 00:28:54.820 could come 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:56.220 and meet us 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.760 down here 00:28:56.760 --> 00:28:58.580 in this valley 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.180 of the shadow 00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.720 of death 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.940 in which we live 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:02.920 and they could 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.860 as the song says 00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.860 make safe 00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.440 the way 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.300 that leads 00:29:06.300 --> 00:29:06.860 on high 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:08.560 someone who 00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.160 could take us 00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.640 up to that 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.580 highest of heights 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:11.320 up to God 00:29:11.320 --> 00:29:12.020 himself 00:29:12.020 --> 00:29:12.800 what if someone 00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.640 could do that? 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.160 friends the breaking 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.220 news of Christianity 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:19.140 and the earth 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.860 shattering news 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:20.420 of the gospel 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.360 is that this key 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.219 of David 00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:22.599 that we're going 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.199 to sing about 00:29:23.199 --> 00:29:25.119 this key of David 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:26.159 saw us imprisoned 00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:28.519 behind an iron gate 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.179 of misery 00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:31.919 he saw us locked up 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:34.059 behind iron bars 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.119 of condemnation 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:37.939 he saw us shut out 00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:38.879 and cut off 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.539 and separated 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.379 from our home 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.659 our true home 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.199 with God 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:44.479 and so this key 00:29:44.479 --> 00:29:45.179 of David 00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:46.219 his heart 00:29:46.219 --> 00:29:47.039 went out to us 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.919 and not just his heart 00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.819 but he himself 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.559 came down 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.559 to us 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.240 to open 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.059 the door 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:52.619 of life 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:54.559 the key of David 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:56.139 came to lead us 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.059 through that door 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:58.519 to our heavenly home 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.000 with God 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.179 and to not just 00:30:00.179 --> 00:30:00.919 lead us to God 00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:01.799 but to close 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.419 that door 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.059 and to close 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:03.779 that path 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.319 of misery 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.679 not just temporarily 00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:06.819 but forever 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:09.819 friends 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.419 only Jesus 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.700 holds those keys 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:13.980 only Jesus 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:14.899 holds the keys 00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.700 of life and death 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.460 because only he 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.299 has passed through 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.679 death 00:30:17.679 --> 00:30:18.579 and gone out 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.759 the other side 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.720 and so only he 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.439 can give us 00:30:21.439 --> 00:30:22.139 the safety 00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:24.319 and the security 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:26.039 and the peace 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:27.579 and the home 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.919 that we're longing 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.259 for 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.579 and this 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.399 world 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.319 is never 00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.220 going to give 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.779 to us 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:35.500 and finally 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.160 I just want you 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.519 to notice 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.339 that each prayer 00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:38.940 each stanza 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.460 is a prayer 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.799 but each refrain 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.200 is really 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.079 an answer 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:43.460 to that prayer 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:45.000 so every time 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.819 we pray a prayer 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.980 we kind of say 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.500 what the answer 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.339 to the prayer is 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.019 when we sing 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:50.000 rejoice 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.079 rejoice 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.099 Emmanuel 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:52.879 shall come 00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:53.319 to thee 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.039 O Israel 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.539 and notice 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.019 we sing 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.619 that rejoice 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.799 not with a period 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:58.139 but with an exclamation mark 00:30:58.139 --> 00:30:59.599 and we sing 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.039 that rejoice 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.259 not just one time 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.440 but two times 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:04.980 what God's people 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.160 longed for 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.380 after century 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.140 after century 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:08.860 of waiting 00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:10.559 we now know 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.759 and we now celebrate 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.840 that Emmanuel 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.980 God with us 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:15.940 has come to us 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:18.000 and he has lived 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.980 among us 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.660 and he died 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.180 for us 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.820 and he's risen 00:31:20.820 --> 00:31:21.880 from the grave 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.039 and he's made a way 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.460 for all of us 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.160 who trust him 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:25.860 to be saved 00:31:25.860 --> 00:31:26.539 from our sin 00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.460 and reconciled 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.200 to God 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.039 so that we can be 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.779 home with him 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.519 forever 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.120 amen 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.279 amen 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:36.979 Jesus came 00:31:36.979 --> 00:31:39.599 that he might 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:42.259 make eternal joy 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.139 possible 00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:45.339 a joy that 00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.419 supersedes 00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:47.979 our temporary 00:31:47.979 --> 00:31:48.759 circumstances 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:51.039 a joy that 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.859 transcends 00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:53.500 our terrible 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.059 suffering 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:58.039 he came to give us 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.699 a joy that 00:31:58.699 --> 00:31:59.519 nothing in this world 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.399 can ever take away 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:01.000 from us 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:03.400 and so what I want 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:03.840 to tell you 00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:04.540 as we begin 00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:05.440 into this season 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:05.840 of Advent 00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:06.840 is that you can 00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:07.340 rejoice 00:32:07.340 --> 00:32:07.940 no matter what 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.560 you're going through 00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:10.340 you can rejoice 00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:11.860 because you know 00:32:11.860 --> 00:32:12.780 that Jesus came 00:32:12.780 --> 00:32:13.640 and as we sing 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.360 in just a moment 00:32:14.360 --> 00:32:15.200 he surely 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:16.600 shall come 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:18.900 he shall come 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.380 to thee 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:20.440 oh Israel 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:22.680 so even as we pray 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.860 with aching hearts 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.519 and with longing 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.500 even as we sing 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.980 the blues 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:27.539 and cry out 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.240 our laments 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.740 to God 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.799 the ground 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.559 note of our prayers 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.079 the ground 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.140 note of our songs 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.240 is always joy 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.839 because we know 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.900 how the story ends 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:39.720 Jesus is coming back 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.940 to finish what he started 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:43.400 it's why the apostle 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:45.000 says that when we grieve 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.180 we grieve 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.920 with hope 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:48.900 it's why he says 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:49.819 that we're sorrowful 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.720 yet we're always 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.839 rejoicing 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:55.379 the carol proclaims 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:56.299 the first advent 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:56.980 of the Messiah 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.259 even as it's stoking 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.139 our longing 00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:00.980 and our desire 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:02.500 for the second advent 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.099 of the Messiah 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:03.799 which is going to be 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:05.179 so much different 00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:06.500 because when he first came 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:09.299 he came silently 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:09.959 and subtly 00:33:09.959 --> 00:33:11.199 he came incognito 00:33:11.199 --> 00:33:11.679 and undercover 00:33:11.679 --> 00:33:13.099 but he's not going to come 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:14.299 like that the second time 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:16.759 the prophet says 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.720 in Isaiah 59 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.519 that the redeemer 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.579 will come to Zion 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:21.659 like a pent up flood 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:24.040 the prophet says 00:33:24.040 --> 00:33:25.140 in Isaiah 64 00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:26.400 that oh that you would 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.500 rend the heavens 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.240 that you would tear 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:29.220 the heavens apart 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.340 and come down 00:33:30.340 --> 00:33:31.279 that the mountains 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.180 would tremble 00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:33.320 at your presence 00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:34.480 that's what's going to happen 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.960 when Messiah comes 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.580 again 00:33:36.580 --> 00:33:37.080 it's going to be 00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:37.840 this mighty 00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:39.160 irresistible 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:40.400 cataclysmic 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.460 unmistakable 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:42.380 force 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:44.620 and the prophet 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.300 tells us 00:33:45.300 --> 00:33:46.680 what is going to happen 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.800 to Messiah's people 00:33:47.800 --> 00:33:48.680 when he comes 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.980 in all of his glory 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.900 in Isaiah 35 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:51.580 says 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:53.079 those the Lord 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:53.799 has rescued 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:55.460 will return 00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:57.799 they will enter Zion 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.439 with singing 00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.519 in fact the Hebrew says 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.379 they'll enter Zion 00:34:00.379 --> 00:34:01.480 with loud singing 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:03.240 they'll enter Zion 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.599 with shouts of joy 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:06.639 everlasting joy 00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.720 will crown their heads 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.860 gladness and joy 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:10.400 will overtake them 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.259 and sorrow 00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:12.059 and sighing 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:13.019 will flee 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.900 away 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:16.119 we sing 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.639 rejoice 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.059 rejoice 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.000 because when Messiah 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.420 comes 00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.139 he's going to give us 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:20.159 this unbroken 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.119 unbreakable 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:22.480 joy 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:25.319 that's our expectant hope 00:34:25.319 --> 00:34:26.819 that's the hope 00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:27.879 that we have to offer 00:34:27.879 --> 00:34:28.819 to this world 00:34:28.819 --> 00:34:29.879 that is without hope 00:34:29.879 --> 00:34:31.519 that Christ 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.420 is going to come 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.579 to judge the living 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.179 and the dead 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:36.519 that he's going to come 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:37.119 and establish 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.159 the kingdom of God 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.679 on the earth 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.559 as it is in heaven 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:41.460 that he's going to 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.659 resurrect our bodies 00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:44.299 that he's going to put 00:34:44.299 --> 00:34:45.219 this world right 00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:46.599 that he's going to 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:48.039 wipe away all the tears 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.459 from every eye 00:34:49.459 --> 00:34:50.000 and that he's going 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:51.159 to make all things 00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:52.279 new 00:34:52.279 --> 00:34:54.639 and so friends 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.359 let us enter into 00:34:55.359 --> 00:34:56.399 this season of Advent 00:34:56.399 --> 00:34:58.500 looking back 00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.279 to our Emmanuel 00:34:59.279 --> 00:35:00.259 who has come 00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:02.219 but also looking 00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:02.839 right now 00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:03.359 to Jesus 00:35:03.359 --> 00:35:04.259 who is God 00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:05.179 with us 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.039 in this moment 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.899 and also looking 00:35:07.899 --> 00:35:09.039 forward to the Messiah 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:09.919 who will come 00:35:09.919 --> 00:35:11.039 finally and fully 00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:11.919 on that future 00:35:11.919 --> 00:35:13.119 glorious day 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:13.900 to give us 00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:14.859 his eternal 00:35:14.859 --> 00:35:16.339 and everlasting 00:35:16.339 --> 00:35:17.759 joy 00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:20.859 you ready to rejoice 00:35:20.859 --> 00:35:22.639 so we're just going 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:24.059 to have a quiet moment 00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:26.079 as our musicians come 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:28.480 and prepare 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.559 to lead us in song 00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:30.400 and then we'll stand 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.880 and sing together 00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:33.599 and we just offer 00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:35.759 this carol of Christmas 00:35:35.759 --> 00:35:36.219 up 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:39.199 in the Holy Spirit 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:39.859 Amen