CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST: Joy To The World
December 22nd, 2024
Pastor Dustin Warford
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music, make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn shout for joy before the Lord, the King. – Psalm 98:1-6
1) Joy helps us remember
“He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” – Psalm 98:3
“Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them. The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.” – Numbers 11:1-5
“they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” – Numbers 21:5
– Even when we are unfaithful, God is always faithful to His promises.
“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:1-3
2) We have joy because of the righteousness of God
“The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” – Psalm 98:2
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:17
– Righteousness is not an act that we ourselves do, rather, this is the work of God in and through us.
“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned.” – Job 1:1
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” – Job 1:8
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” – Job 2:10
– God has already counted us as righteous because of His Son. Therefore, we still have reason to rejoice
3) We have joy because of rescue
“The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” – Psalm 98:2
“For God so loved the WHOLE world…” – John 3:16
“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.” – Romans 5:17-18