Joy To The World

Well Osama church and welcomed all of our campuses this morning that I this is a fantastic weekend here at the summit church because before we get into the message we get to celebrate what God has done through our multiply commitments as well as kick off a two-year journey of growth with God as he multiplies faith and commitment deeper within us as well as the ministry of the gospel water through us on that really seems to be with the Holy Spirit has been doing in this church. The last couple of months whenever I begin a sermon series always in the general direction that I think were supposed to go but it's always interesting to me the things that the Holy Spirit begins to bring up throughout the series and what it was, at least to me is is just this idea that God does not come to us and call us to generosity because he is a God who need something from us, as if he were a God that has financial needs. He does that because he wants something for us.

He ultimately he's not interested in what were going to give to him. He's interested in the heart behind will be given to him.

And so what God does is he wants us to give him our first and are best because these multiply love for him is multiplying faith in him through on this journey and so that's what it's been about. That's why we say it's not the amount that we give that matters to God is the heart that is revealed behind what we give. That is the essential part.

If you are a guest with us this weekend you picked an awesome weekend to make for your very first weekend because, you get to see us celebrate some extraordinary things that God has done in our church in the last several months as well as getting a glimpse of where we believe God is about to take us. They see two weekends ago. Many of us come committed by faith to live generously and give sacrificially for the next two years so that we can expand our mission of loving God, loving each other love in a world come by God's grace we are not, nor will we ever be a church that is content with being comfortable, or complacent.

We made a covenant with God to 14 years ago as a church and that covenant was that we were going to prioritize the mission of the gospel above our personal preferences for what we wanted a church to be and above what we thought was comfortable or preferable in a church group and prioritize the mission about that and then secondly that we were to follow the Holy Spirit where he led us. That's what we've been doing for 14 years is what we did in multiply because we want our lives on earth. The matter how we know that we got one shot. It's a short one, relatively speaking, and like Abraham, we want to see our lives multiplied to make an eternal difference in the world and that's what we've been doing and so are you ready summit church to hear some of the results of what God did in our multiply commitments right sounds to me like about half of you the other half is going to have less in the Nazirite. You might remember that our primary goal in our multiply initiative was that 100% of the people who are involved in the summit church in a meaningful way, would seek God for what he would have them do personally and that 100% of us would make a commitment to giving God by faith. Our first and are best for the next two years and that was our primary goal was that 100% of us for the people that God is is made this church, your church and would be engaged in this well. To that end, I have some exciting numbers to share with you on the first number I want to share is the number of first time givers the multiply.

Now this is an incredible number because it represents the number of people who made a commitment to God to multiply. You have never given to the summit church before many of them have never been financially involved in the kingdom of God before I'm to be the first time families that are getting engaged in this process with us, that number of families who for the first time are giving to the kingdom of God to the summit church is 881 881 families that adjoint is an awesome thing to celebrate the second number I want to share with you is the total number of multiply faith commitments. Now these are the ones just turned in by adults and and students that doesn't count the kids returned and commitments the kids are probably more significant than than ours but under not reflected in this number, but the total number of households that's committed to be a part of this multiply faith. I'm initiative 2411, which represents somewhere around 6000 people here at the summit church which is a huge start to our primary goal of having 100% offering to God, their first in their best over the next two years. Put your hands together to celebrate that as well following time. So our financial goal was $50 million in gifts and projected giving over the next two years. Are you ready to to find out how we get on that one.

But keep in mind this is just the secondary goal that some sincere about that is not the primary goal of secondary goal that number. Our goal was 50 million. That number is first make sure you understand the back story of how we got to that number.

You see, our financial consultants are nerds who know things like this told us that really our goal should be 45 million that was what they said. I put out there because I was extremely aggressive. They said it was a faith goal. It was a God size goal, consider this they they pointed out just five short years ago 2000 and 2010 our annual giving that the search was only about $8 million a year. Then we went into the all in initiative and by God's grace our annual giving grew to about 6.5 million per year, last year, which means that if we didn't do anything for the next couple years Regina coasted on where we are and we would expect to bring in about $33 million. So the goal $45 million would be almost a 33% increase third incident said that this is what you want to go for this is huge. 45. That's where you should set your sights, but honestly, all after we prayed about it.

We felt like we needed $50 million to do what God is calling us to do now. It will dictate to God we need. And sometimes God has different expectations that were not you, not a genie in a bottle, but we do said hey why don't we just always ask God this is what we think we need to do what we we thought were called to do homework and ask God for $50 million and to see what he does.

So how did we do, how do we do well you know for some churches when they celebrate things like this.

They stack up bricks on the stage to represent the buildings or to build some of the thermometer to open a church like that with the thermometer the group come we we we we would rather have people do that and so they can represent this number would you put your hands together at all campuses welcome this group here on stage. When we got here is someone from every that is represented on stage here in there and introduce themselves usually what campus there from me to give just a glimpse of how God is use the ministries of the summit church in their lives and then they are going to one by one revealed this multiplied number of gifts and projected giving of the next two years, so they will start here with you I my name is David new I go to the downtown campus I heard the name of Jesus and the gospel for the first time for members of the summit church non-part of this church and very excited.

Share his name with other people number is eight about the gospel. The first time just a quick reminder that eight is not personal commitment eight dollars over the next two years, but but that just represent for the number sequence morning and that my name is season might have been and I had to nimbly reach campus and I'm a broken woman led by Jesus. He's found great joy in being used as a glove on his hand and equipping and encouraging the next generation in the multiplication of the gospel of Christ that is spent doing life together, loving and being loved by you and my number is three you want to clap for every one of these custom the testimonies are awesome just hang onto very animal do it all white, so I know you're eager. I'm eager to just hang on.

I hey guys my name is Anthony Wilson, attended and served in the care campus now for about a year through the cemetery. Scott is really opened my eyes to his grace is radically transform my entire life and my number is zero, so I chose not to collapse under heavy anti-climatic morning. My name is Linda Lamoni. My husband David and I attend the North turn on God has used our church family in amazing ways God has healed and restored our marriage, and in doing that God revealed to David and I to David and I that everything needs to come under his authority everything every decision we make, including our finances so we are committed to that is a couple in your number is number is the one number nine number nine and nine name Diane and Damien see me and now I'm heme today. My name heard about Christ and God found her. She said two months ago Chapel Hill campus. I some of the names David Boyd my family nights in the North Raleigh campus I got is been using the summit to prepare us to take the gospel to the nations by planning our lives overseas. My number is six when it is from a churchman only thing he chose his good morning my name is Angel Chavez.

So far this sermon is by no campus. That is the last managed to do notice on most of the rest of this in English. The first time that I truly heard the gospel with you and summit. I remember we did say in God there's not that I can do and say that in Christ there is nothing I can do.

Yeah, to go to Meg. I love me more and there's nothing that I have done to make our love… And I have decided ologies as with all of my heart and my my number is seen go five now this last one Concha is represents from our Alamance County campus which is our most recent campus plan here and we asked him revealed last number because he is one of the leaders of this campus represents where were going in the future as God continues to multiply the gospel witness here in the Triangle region revealed that number now me just remind you I said $50 million was our goal.

45 million was what they told us was the faith goal that we should go for and we were to be satisfied with whatever God gave us but Concha would you were gonna last number here yes my name is content to represent Downing's campus in God is transform my life. Life we have seen God move in our desire to see God move the transform our community. So my number is five $55 million, 609,038 hey man, send your feet something to celebrate all the canvases will stand together men summit church. Can you believe can you believe that we get to be a part of this. Honestly, I mean how many of us thought that we get a chance to see the God has such clear intentions.

What he's doing in the Triangle and that he would use us and it is amazing because we know that with this comes a promise to promise. We depend on these and to build his church to us. We haven't met a need of God. This is not the midheaven is celebrating like oh my goodness, got resources to do what I need to do on this is a gift of God to us through you, but it's a gift of God to this church because he is going to with this also give us the ability to reach our neighbors to reach her children. Grace like this comes with a promise of future grace. Jesus is going to build his church. Can you believe that you and I get to be an active participant in that as a say that I realize that there some of you that are still on the sidelines and I want to tell you the greatest joy in your life you will ever find this to be a part of something that God is doing and to know that your life is having eternal significance. I want to see this occur in my family. I want to see it occur to my neighbors and so I'm invested heart and soul.

In this and I am so overwhelmed at what God has obviously intended about the future of this church are goal remains the same time we have said that we want to baptize 50,000 people in the Triangle area in our generation. 50,000. Can you imagine how different the triangle is going to look when we are baptize 50,000 new believers here at the summit church that we say we want to plan a thousand churches in our generation. But in the triangle around the world can we say that we want to see 100 community blessing organizations founded or started out of the summit church which is to minister to the homeless to work in the prison are the only mother the high school dropout the businessman to businesswoman the international student college student how we want to see these things grow out of our church and we ask God to let us send out 5000 of our people to plant churches around the world. This represents God saying yes you are asking and I will give you what you are asking just a minute just a minute I'm going to have rich from Brier Creek and Sears as they were represented in this number, but he's an elitist just in a prayer of consecration were also going to do that once you do this one should be seated. If you would all of our campuses and be seated.

I am I going to going to begin this journey this morning we were talking about our multiply first big give off first to get big give offering, which is going to do that right now you put back you should decide on that envelope size is multiply first big give on it. If you're with your spouse you guys read that hold that together we are praying that this would be the single largest offer we've ever received in one week into the summit church that will allow us to get started on these multiply commitments. These multiply initiatives that we are beginning. There's a lot of things we feel like we want to do to begin to reach the triangle and so this gives us a jumpstart if you're giving out of store resources. This would be the time that you that you do that Veronica and I my wife and I make it a very significant gift today. In fact, I went ahead and divided by five and five different checks I can get one in every service that I'm preaching and and us.

I'll be doing that as well. I know that many of you. Hopefully all of you. Unless you're a guesser with a certainty participated in that this is a regular offering you are just we don't feel compelled by us were just grateful that you're here, but this is a regular offering from this point on, everything we do for the next two years will go into this multiply initiative that were doing what you put in an envelope or give it online as I usually give her not on some less rich if you'll come out here Phil lead us in a prayer of consecration and then our ushers will come and will begin to take on more offering. Let me just to put a verse up on the screen during the offering. In second Corinthians chapter 9 verses 10 and 11 and it's good to say this God will multiply our seed for sowing what he's done and he's going to enrich us to be generous in every way you enrich us in every way, to be generous in every way which through us. This is a good part is to produce thanksgiving to God. What you heard up here this morning was eight different stories of Thanksgiving at least three that I heard you said they heard the gospel.

One of them.

The name of Jesus for the first time at the summit church. They are now giving thanks to God, and bringing their friends to give thanks to God because of the faith and generosity of this church sacrifice is given up what you love something you love even more and I'll be honest with you.

My wife and I've learned to love stories like the eight that we heard this morning more than we love. A lot of the things we can use to toys to put into our lives and so I hope that your heart will be filled with thanksgiving as we rejoice in what God is going to produce the these things we put before him rich.

You lead us in prayer, if we would gracious and merciful father got great is your faithfulness for you alone have bountiful and benevolent to us, Lord God, thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to be pierced for our transgressions than to be Christ for our iniquities so that the punishment that was laid on him, God would bring us peace. Father is because of that truth that many souls in this room today have been transformed God and we get to rejoice and celebrate in the generosity that you've produced in this in the generosity that you have shown toward us God, but also know that it is your will to redeem a people from every tribe and nation for your glory, oh Lord, and beautiful are the feet of those they carry the good news to the so got. I pray for the summit church that I pray for your people got that you would do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or even think Lord God as we preach and proclaim your gospel God as we offer ourselves up as living sacrifices enrich us in every way, to be generous in every way so that our loss neighbor so that our loss coworker so that our loss classmate are lost city in our loss may soon we come to know you Lord and worship you forever and I pray this in the name of your majestic son, and all God's people said Amen amen are coming now. Take a moment to reflect on second Corinthians 9 and just rejoice and be thankful to God for what happened. This is a regular offering will not be another offering the service. So for those of you that are going to come up to me after the service already know you're coming with offering this. Is it okay so the archers are doing at all campuses. You take a moment to rejoice in just to obey the Holy Spirit. I believe that God is given you something extraordinary minute years. Put your hands together all over campus this thing got together well is summit church. It is unofficially the Christmas season.

Some of you I know are resisting that not put up a tree yet because you are digging your heels so that you can make a point. All her stores who had their Christmas items out before Halloween, but realize that seated right beside you are others of you, who well, you're the reason that their stores do that because you put up your Christmas tree right after September right in September all of your presence are already wrapped in underneath the tree and you meld out your Christmas cards the day after Thanksgiving.

Congratulations. The rest of us hate you but you are you are hot, you know, I'm not sure if it's just me but Christmas seems to have gotten a little more contentious in the more recent years, maybe it's just the social media has made us more aware of how crazy people are around us, or maybe it made your relatives aware of how crazy you are, but every year, dozens of people get trampled on Black Friday, as in literally run over by other human beings trying to get a larger TV and thankfully you can always count on some crazy Christian group finding something to be paranoid about in the war on Christmas this year.

We Christians set our site strategically on Starbucks for not putting snowflakes on their coffee cups because you know those snowflakes really preach the gospel with such clarity to our culture and we were so dependent on Starbucks to really educate our culture on what the gospel is all about having the cup already has on it.

A mythical half naked mermaid and we were concerned about the snowflakes because that's really where it went downhill, well, in the spirit of Christmas today to start a series about Christmas Carol.

Now I don't mean the goofy Christmas songs about winter weather which always sound strange in North Carolina when it's 70° for the first month that these things plates were not going to explore anything by Wham I can assure you, or unpack any nonsensical lyrics about Christmas use, I am not going to say that grandma got run over by a reindeer is really symbolic of the defeat of Satan at the rapture of Jesus Christ and you will not catch me saying that Jesus is the truer and better. Frosty the Snowman know I when I say Christmas carols. I'm talking about songs ancient songs of most of us know at least we know that soon. Things like heart, the Herald Angels seeing her old couple coming Manuel Joy to the world come songs that you recognize the tuneup but but you may not know the meaning of one of the reasons you probably don't know the meaning of them is because they're full of weird phrases like round Yon Virgin or troll be ancient Yuletide Carol which I have a PhD in theology and I still know what that means.

I remember as a kid singing the first Noel and thinking. I don't even know what Noel is much less why were excited about the first one there are other Noel's presence on their days to tell me about this a lot of us probably have this gap between what we sing and what we understand to a series on a few this Christmas carols in the passages that are associated with them because they are incredibly rich gospel songs.

Some of the richest gospel theology is in the songs and the tragedy as many of us sing them.

Our culture seems the gospel over itself and doesn't even realize it. Humvees are as were to call them in the series sermons that you can bet you can see my hope is that doing this series will turn on what psychologists call your noetic system in your brain, which is just a fancy way of saying brings awareness noetic system is when you become aware of how prevalent something is, like they say you never knew how many people grow Honda Accords. You bought a Honda Accord and you like everybody's got on board. Well that's what will happen is you can see how much theology how much grace God is put in the songs that are all around us, as it declares God's on the inexpressible measure of God's love dies, so I hope this is an incredible experience for you.

Our worship team is put together, and an EP, which just means a four song album that has an original version of each of the songs. It is absolutely incredible.

Some of the best were they done and make that available to us with only doing this on a version of it of each of the carols were to go through some of the weeks to come for our very first Christmas Carol. I asked Pastor Rod Dale Hernandez who is our resident Cuban on staff as well as one of our directional elders giving oversight of the church and the campus pastor over summit in this manual campus. I asked him if he were coming to the first one because he is a man deeply deeply love the gospel and he is especially gifted in administering the gospel to people who are broken and in pain because of the some of the experiences of God, has led him through music gifted Hispanic community here but is a gift also come to our church and the community at large. So summit at all of our campuses would you put your hands together and welcome back to our pulpit, Pastor Rod Dale Hernandez see you as soon as the is his saying he is in he though no praise be to God. I wanted to see me go to the world is a hymn that was written nearly 300 years ago, 290 years ago, to be exact. Isaac Watts wrote to him based on the second part of some 98 and you know that George the world would become the most popular Christmas Carol of the 20th century and of course he know that he was to be translated and so so many languages, including Spanish, which is the first time that I heard it and that's actually the only language that I knew it. And that's what happened with others in the back for me in English.

So what did Isaac Watts see in Psalms 98 that inspire this powerful Carol that shouts of joy to the world he saw a beautiful and natural crescendo in Psalm 98 in Psalm 98 sees roar rivers clap their hands and heals saying, but why something in verse four. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Verse seven led the sea roar, and all that fills in the world and those who dwell in it that the rivers clap their hands led the heals saying for joint together before the Lord, for he comes together to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. Now I know that this Christmas Carol, and even perhaps see you. Psalms 98 sounds a bit naïve perhaps to you when we were kids we would sing Christmas carols filled with joy and will be all jolly about it but with grown-up heavenly and now we get to see the world for what it really is we think to ourselves is still possible to sing Joy to the world today.

How can we make a joyful noise to the Lord all the years. Why break forth into joyous song and praise is verse four of Psalm 98 and verse one of the Carol.

Why make a joyful noise before the king, the Lord verses five and six. How should this see roaring gladness and I know that fills it.

Why should the world and those who dwell in Aurora's well verse seven because Christmas is that God became man. Everything else at Christmas time is an add-on, Jesus is the DVD of God limiting humanity. He that made men became men.

Joy to the world we call that incarnation, for in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

Jesus wasn't just another baby.

The Christmas baby is God made man for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, you know, it was, it was clear it was evident that Jesus birth wasn't just another birth. He wasn't just another baby. When Christ was born. Wiseman crossed the border just to come see and worship Jesus you like that.

I said that because of what event you like that because they did at another had a greater I don't know they have Jesus, but they cross the border to Argentina is exactly what I think of Donald sure would've been the president back in this day the Bible was say and Wiseman crossed giant walls to worship Jesus as you know he wants to build a giant well I get back to preaching. I'm sorry what you do is to me. The point is that Jesus birth wasn't just another birth. When Christ was born. Real Angels came down from heaven to an ounce of his birth. Can you imagine the sound of that when Christ was born.

The biggest art in heaven, lined up his way and not only that but the Bible says that this star actually rested over the place where Jesus was born Jesus birth wasn't just another birth.

When Christ was born shepherd's and literally harried to see him after they saw them they couldn't stop repeating glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with least and the amazing thing is that all who heard the shepherds marveled at what the shepherds told them about Jesus. This wasn't just a new baby in town. This was God in the manger.

God went from God.

This spirit to God. The man from God in heaven to God with Emmanuelle.

No wonder Psalm 98 says that the earth roared scores roared earth.

Your maker is with you again.

Of course, piercings so should we.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come that Earth receive her King, let every heart prepare him room in heaven and nature sing, by the way no other religion. No other religion has God humbling himself. You always have religion a God with liturgy who's always requiring mankind to be better and do more in order for men to be accepted but in Christianity. In Christ you have God humbling and coming to us to take away our sin, so that those who believe and trust alliance to him may worship him and enjoy him forever that every heart prepare him room.

Joy to the world. What else can we see was in the minds of Isaac Watts as he read Psalms 98 instead of writing this Carol. He writes he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as far as curse is found, you see Isaac Watts new it ain't so easy to sing joy to the world in a broken world.

He was a nice he just acknowledged three times that there is a curse in the world that Israel Isaac himself was played by DC's his physical illness got to the point where he could impact her anymore. He had to quit the pastor because of his great decease. He knew okay. He was also rejected when he proposed marriage to his bride to be in nothing as embarrassing and disheartening as when you say would you marry me darling and you get a big head. No. He also faced constant opposition about his work from those both inside the church and outside the church. This is the guy that wrote the wondrous Cross.

This is the guy that wrote Joy to the world and he was often called a heretic by those in the church. He's a guy that knows where you coming from the 92 how the world he rides Joy to the world. It was the way of preaching the hope of the gospel to himself.

It was his fight for the ultimate joy that he may really fill in the flesh, the ultimate joy that incarnated God with us. His name is Jesus. I wonder if you're feeling the curse of humanity's rejection to God today. How is this world broken for you today what are you plagued with this Christmas. Maybe this past year. You've lost a child. Or maybe you're carrying the weight of a deep dark secret that is basically unconfessed sin. Or perhaps this year was the year of our relationship that didn't work out similar to what happened to Isaac Watts best of hurts really hurts you see I'm not naïve either. I'm not standing here preaching to you and singing to you.

Joy to the world because I don't know pain and I can even get into all the pain have been through my life, but I've lost not one but two children.

I've had a loved one diagnosed with cancer three going on for stage III going for cancer at Christmas time I moved 40 times in my life and 40. I know what it is to really live up or wondering what I'm I going to able to eat next.

I'm not talking about being broke with the cell phone in your pocket. I'm not talking about not having money to pay a bill and a pantry full of food. I'm talking about, not even knowing what in the world am I going to eat next and that's why you may sound silly to you but when I wake up and open up the pantry and see more than one box of cereal and I weep because of God's abundance properties, but I know pain to how can I then how can Isaac Watts. How can you sing joy to the world.

Then precisely because Christmas is the revelation that and cries of pain and sin will never have the last word in Christ pain and sin will never have the last word. And yet there is a curse. There is one savior that took it all and took it all so far. So far so far the him and the Carol says that because of him because of Jesus, you and I won't ever see that person again in eternity Joy to the world.

Listen any cries your live past the crescendo of Psalm 98, and sure yet. This body of flesh may fail and whether, but the interbeing grows each day stronger in the Lord who is making all things new in the world words of Paul. Second Corinthians 416, though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day and instead of the believers live going downhill and ending 6 feet on the ground and cries all of live goes on appeal until we embrace the Savior's arms in the paradise that we had lost, but we will get back in Jesus, Joy to the world and I don't turn that he boggles our minds, the longtime letter is forever. You think you better be good, very rare, but in Christ.

Eternity is like a great great book were each chapter is way better than the one before that you know that when this Carol was written Isaac Watts was actually thinking of the second coming of Christ, and that just of the first that's the beauty of Advent of Christmas that it doesn't just give you a Savior that came in. That said, give you a Savior. I can live the life you good and live defeated death send it, and will, Because the kingdom of heaven came down and will return again. The hope of heaven is true for you and for me, for all who believe. Can't tell you a little bit about I haven't just a little bit. I mean come on we we turn the news on nowadays it is just depressing and take a little bit about the heaven. Revelation 21 says and I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. You know that means means that heaven is beautiful.

Do you realize how long it takes a bride to make above her wedding day, but you cannot deny that there beautiful. All brides are beautiful they are. Prepare adorned.

Now imagine a place prepared by God himself will reflect this stunning beauty of our maker verse three of Revelation 21 says I heard a loud voice from the snow, saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with men.

He would go and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning or crying or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. No more racism no more hatred no more.

Strive no more jealousy no more fits of anger. No more rivalries no more dissensions no more divisions nor needs of the flesh. No more sickness no more death no more debts no more natural disasters. No more wars, no more hospitals, no more funerals, no more graveyards, no more mass shootings.

No more sickness and no more pain because Christ came to the world all because the Savior came glory to God in high Joy to the world's heaven is beautiful is perfect is also a real place.

If you read relations. 21. Later at home. The end. You can actually measure the place versus 15 and 16. Heaven is also secure play deductible walls but out of precious jewels. Now that he needs is just the symbolism that it is a secure place versus 17 to 21. Absolutely nothing to fear anymore joy to the world and even so, even so, the beauty of heaven does not compare to the God of heaven. And that's exactly what Jesus came to give your Christmas time, not something from God. But a restored relationship with God himself. Heaven is for you, so fear not, and surrender to Christ that you two even in the midst of suffering right now can also this Christmas seeing Joy to the world precisely because the Lord is come, he has taken her curse. The fact that Christ came and became men tells you he knows your pain is been there and then some disc two shall pass and cries you get a new heaven and the new earth.

He is the one who makes all things new.

Jesus became like us so that we could be like him, the son of God became like is that he would make us sons and daughters of God, that cute little baby Jesus in the manger is the glory of the invisible God hubris puts it this way. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he hath inherited is more excellent than theirs dies the birth of Jesus is more than a supernatural display of God's power becoming men. The birth had a clear purpose that Jesus would lead us to God the Carol says he comes to make his blessing flow. I was the greatest blessing in life and death got himself listen the greatest blessing is not the absence of trials this Christmas.

Your greatest thing is the presence of God with you Manuel Joy to the world. The purpose of the baby in the manger saving grace for humanity and the all satisfying glory of God, glory to God Christmas. Jesus became the human that understands your pain at the same time, the one who came to take away your biggest sorrow.

This hand that keeps you separated from joy. Joy is something someone is God. Finally, the Lord Jesus Christ came to reveal God to us and there's only two things you can do about that revelation of God in Christ one you can repent. Humble yourself and believe and trust Jesus or to you can rebel and continue to pretend you can somehow save yourself through good deeds or ministry or devotion doing great things for good Kosice.

I have three atheist friends whom I love dearly. There are three knuckleheads that I love so much and something that never ceases to strike me during this time for them all.

The Christmas carols. I get played everywhere and there, full of Jesus and the lyrics. Of course, and I called one of those. I will say his name I call one of the other day and I said man you must be living right now you was the hail is Christmas carols and people sing about Jesus and his response was actually LI Christmas carols icing on.

I was like broken, you stop to consider what you're singing. I was also not celebration this past week.

It was not a Christian celebration by any means was but a thousand people there mostly non-Christians and this was a holiday party and it struck me again that at the end of the party. Everybody is that a singing crisis Savior was born Christ as Savior was born I could help to think we see the irony there. I started praying with with all of me inside of me, Lord you please open their eyes to see that that is your only hope. Christ the Savior was born some 98 which birth the Christmas Carol, Joy to the world ends with this let the rivers clap led to hand that there rivers clap their hands, said that he will sing for joy together before the Lord. I watch now watch now, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity Christ first coming and Christ return is great news for those who believe but it's not great news for those who reject him and can I beg you this Christmas can I plead with you to at least consider that the son of God is the only way to God. I know there is some movement out there around the phrase only God can judge me and seen that phrase lately T-shirts and bumper stickers, tattoos, and it is true enough and is not true. And there's only one judge right got only one. And yes, only God can judge us, but you are forgetting one vital truth in that phrase he will he will judge us as the end of Psalm $0.98.

So don't just make room for Jesus that is the only one thing I don't like about the carousels personally just make room for Jesus. Given your whole life given over to him because of your founding hand, you have nothing to worry about.

He bore our sin, and he wore shaman, he bore the judgment due to us. On that cross Joy to the world. Do you believe it today.

Do you believe that God came and became men for you this Christmas for you and believer. Don't forget that the care also encourages us in verse three. No more.

Let sins and sorrows grow your sourcing faster ground.

He comes to make his blessing flow far as the curse is found, yes, Jesus came to take her curse. But 1 Sure Way to throw away the joy of the work of Christ is have visual non-repentance sin in our lives. When you surrender all that you are to Christ that the joy of salvation may be restore to you this Christmas and for that you me to sing this part of trials. Joy to the world and talking about Christmas carols and singing and playing instruments and all the beautiful music we hear yes it is true it is to have the greatest news in the world.

You can find them in and eight no scale.

For example, if you play the note that the scale of C backwards and you were just a pause in the first second 467. The last note you will hear they're the greatest news for you. This is what you'll get joy to this scum and that is the greatest. As for humanity and a spring father think you are becoming men for pursuing us with your amazing love, even after we rejected you make father you are making all things new. In Jesus, and you pain and sorrow will not have the last word on that. I pray that you would not just rule the earth, but that you will rule our hearts, that your joy may be restored unto us, that despite of pain in a broken world we would be able to sing this Christmas joy to the world as we dwell in your forgiveness, your pardon, you're welcome, but you gave us to you got. I pray that you will restore the joy to us is Christmas. You are the joy Joy to the world because the Lord Jesus you came.

Thank you so very much greatest things your name Jesus glory and for men