The Ultimate Playlist
Notes
Transcript
Songs of Pure Joy
Songs of Pure Joy
When was the last time something happened in your life that brought you pure joy? I’m not talking about excitement… I’m talking about something that caused your response to be a little out of your ordinary… Maybe even a little bit wild and unreserved?
Have you ever found yourself… just sort of dancing a little jig in response to some good news? Maybe you even got a little loud… and weren’t worried about how those around you might respond?
Have you ever had something happen, that caused you to just break out in song?!
That’s what we are going to look at today… Three songs of spontaneous worship in response to one event…
This is the ultimate worship playlist.
Turn with me to Luke 1.
Would you agree that…
God regularly uses ordinary people in ordinary circumstances to do extraordinary things?
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
We could all testify to that, right?
God often uses ordinary people, who struggle with their faith, who struggle with Him,… people whom it makes no sense that He would use them, who may not even be sure He can use them… Amen?
I mean… look at Moses… Aaron… Abraham… the disciples… the Samaritan woman at the well… These were not famous people… These were not popular people… These were not people who had some position that made them perfectly suited for the task God was going to give them…
No… God uses the ordinary to do extraordinary… Amen?
I mean this could be a lot of our stories today, couldn’t it?
But it’s not, it’s Zechariah’s…
You see… He and Elizabeth (his wife) were not expecting any of what was about to happen. They were simply two people who were faithful to live within God’s guidelines, and to serve where He called them to serve.
In fact, as the story opens up, we find Zechariah doing his normal duties as a priest… and “BOOM!” God shows up!
Sometimes, our least exciting, most mundane responsibilities in life provide the context for extraordinary things to happen!
8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty,
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.
10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
Zechariah’s response is what I think all of our responses would be if suddenly an angel appeared in our presence… He was terrified!
Often our first response to God’s command to do something is fear. But we don’t have to fear…
Look at Gabriel’s words to him:
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
That is awesome, Right?! How many of us wouldn’t love to here that kind of prophecy over our children?!
But, look at Zechariah’s response:
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”
(Ms. Helen — I’m gonna pick on you for just a minute, is that ok? How would you react if an Angel showed up and told you you were going to have a baby… and that you were going to name him John… and he was going to be a great preacher… change millions of hearts… and prepare people for a life with Christ?!
That’s exactly how Zechariah felt… )
You see… He knew the stories… He knew about Abraham and Sarah… about Rachel… about Sampson and Samuel… He knew that God had done this before, but… He still couldn’t believe that it could happen to him…
Even though they had been praying for this very thing… Zechariah could not believe that it would really take place.
You see… they were just ordinary people, not giants of the faith.
Have you ever been there? Let me tell you — “God can do extraordinary things with your ordinary life.”
Not only would Zechariah and Elizabeth have a son, but that son would prepare the way for the Messiah!
17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Look at verse 19
19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
And this is truly “Good News!” God is going to carry out His promise to send the Messiah… the One whom Zechariah has been teaching about… and they get to be a part of it!!!!
Yet, Zechariah still finds it difficult to understand and accept…
And, because of that… Gabriel tells him that he will not be able to speak until the child is born… Why? Was it a punishment?
NO! It was a sign for him… God still does miracles, through and for ordinary people…
What happens next is something I have always found comical....
21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary.
22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
The people want to know what’s happening, but all Zechariah can do make hand gestures.... I get the picture of Zechariah, standing before the people, playing a game of charades with them!!! (act it out)
The next time we see Zechariah, he has had months to reflect and consider what has happened…
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
The child is born, and it is time to circumcise and name him… Verses 58-62, give us the story.
Zechariah still cannot speak, and Elizabeth is being hounded by her family about his name… She keeps telling them that his name is to be John, but they won’t listen. They keep insisting that it has to follow tradition and be a family name.... Can you imagine the chaos?
Verse 63, tells us that Zechariah finally gets a writing tablet and writes "His name is John.”
The moment he writes it… His speech returns!!!
And what does Zechariah do?!? He begins to praise God!
He is overcome by Joy at what God has done… and he cannot help but erupt in praise and song!
Now, I don’t want you to think that this was simple praise and worship.... This was so spontaneous, and so filled with Joy that scripture tells us…
65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
This was praise and worship without reservation!!! Without walls! Without worry of judgment! This was worship of the Creator of the universe!!!!!
Is that how our worship is?
What started as a punishment of sorts, became a sign for Zechariah… God would no longer be silent… Now, He was doing a new thing!
And Zechariah’s son would prepare the way!!! Zechariah can’t help but praise and worship his God for the mercy and grace He is showing… And in his excitement, Zechariah begins to prophecy about Jesus!!!
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
This is the message that brought Joy to Zechariah’s heart!
Is that our first reaction when God works in our lives?!
It is OK to be overcome and unrestrained in our worship of God!
Zechariah and Elizabeth, two ordinary people, hesitated between faith and doubt… I think we can all relate, right?
God still chooses to use ordinary people for His purposes today.
What does your life song say? Does it reflect on the faithfulness of God and the promises He is working through us today?
We need to be ready… eager… and obedient in looking for God to work through our ordinary lives!
Because when we do, we will experience a Joy that we have never before felt!
Look at Mary’s story…
Mary is visited by Gabriel… I love this intro....
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
What an intro?! Do you realize that that is how the Lord greets you?!?!
You are favored… You are loved…
Gabriel goes on to tell Mary that she will bear a child, and that she will give him the name Jesus, and that He will be the savior of the world — the promised Messiah!
Just like Zechariah, she didn’t understand… it didn’t make sense to her understanding of the world… but… When Gabriel tells her about Elizabeth… Look at her response:
38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Mary was willing to accept the Word of God… the promise of blessing… even though she was just an ordinary teenaged girl… She wasn’t even married yet… She didn’t know how this could be…
But … Gabriel had told her about Elizabeth, her cousin…, and if God could do that for Elizabeth, why couldn’t He also do an extraordinary thing through her?
If God can do that for Elizabeth and Mary, why not you?
It is ALL about faith.
God can do extraordinary things through ordinary WILLING hearts.
Elizabeth’s pregnancy prepares Mary for her own…
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
This proclamation by Elizabeth brought pure Joy to Mary’s heart, and she could not help but burst into song!
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
N.T. Wright writes: “It’s the gospel before the gospel, a fierce bright shout of triumph thirty weeks before Bethlehem, thirty years before Calvary and Easter. It goes with a swing and a clap and a stomp. It’s all about God and it’s all because of Jesus!”
(Whew!!! Can you get excited!!!!)
Mary and Elizabeth shared a moment of True Celebration of what God was doing through their lives… that it was the fulfillment of God’s promises — across the generations — for His people!
As we look at Christmas this year… I have to ask… Are we slowing down and Celebrating what God is doing through us for this world?
Mary’s song reflects anticipation — the anticipation of the Joy God brings when He enters into our lives!
Elizabeth and Mary are celebrating what God is doing through them in John and Jesus… Are we?
God is the reason for the season… He is the reason to Celebrate… God sent His son to bring salvation… freedom… and hope into this broken world.
He loves us that much… and our response should continually be a song of worship, with a heart ready to celebrate, so that our lives CAN be an example to others… Amen?
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
God regularly uses ordinary people in ordinary circumstances to do extraordinary things.
Are you seeing that this year?
We have one last song to look at — the song of the Angels… the full announcement that the Savior is born!
It is filled with Joy because HE HAS COME and the world will never be the same!
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
As if that weren’t enough for these poor frightened shepherds — who just had their ordinary night interrupted… Heaven can’t contain itself for all the Joy it feels…
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
This is such an awesome and powerful part of the story!
This is the first time the Good News — the Gospel — has been given to a group of people… and these are not who you’d expect!
These are the most common, ordinary, unimportant people in the culture… they are the “outcasts”… the “undesirables”… the low, unworthy, unimportant people… I mean… they’re shepherds!!!
The angels didn’t go to the Temple… they didn’t announce their Joy to the priests… they didn’t seek out the powerful politicians of the day… They didn’t even go into Jerusalem — the city of God…
They showed up on a hillside… to a group of ordinary, common, unimportant people — who were just doing their job, their ordinary thing… and gave them the greatest news in history!
We need to understand that… These were not important figures… these weren’t people to seek out for advice… they didn’t have life wisdom according to the culture… They were “lower class”… simple, worthless dirty old shepherds… custodians… construction workers… truck drivers… bikers…
But… God knows their value because He created them… And it was His will that they receive the Joy of the Angels… amen.
That they become part of the celebration… that they are the first to visit… to see… to worship… the Messiah!
And we are a part of that celebration too!
But, there is a lesson for us to learn as well…
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
Sound familiar?
This is the third time we have heard this today. It is the same message Gabriel spoke to Mary and Zechariah, and the same message the Angel spoke to the shepherds...
Why do we need to hear this three times today?
“Do not Be Afraid.”
Our world gives us a lot to fear… amen? But… we do not need to fear.
God has overcome the world. Immanuel… God With Us… There is Hope in that name… There is Peace in that name… There is Joy in that name…
God With Us is a promise to us…
God has come, and nothing can separate us from Him!
What is God speaking into your heart… RIGHT NOW… that you need to turn toward Him? Do you need to give Him the fear of “that” and begin to trust Him more?
In both Zechariah’s and Mary’s song, we’ve seen Hope in God’s covenant and promises being fulfilled… That God would intervene and deliver His people…
It is important for us to understand — especially this year with all it’s turmoil and fear — that Christ came into a world that was not quiet… that was not peaceful… that was not serene and hope-filled…
No! It was noisy… It was full of fear… of doubt… of violence… of greed… of turmoil and uncertainty…
There was an oppressive Roman Government, heavy taxation, and a forced census.... For generations, God’s people had suffered under the rule of the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires… They longed for freedom and liberation, and anticipated and longed for the coming of Messiah.
It was into this reality that the angels came.... It was into this dark and harsh world that they broke through with the light of the “Good News”!
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
These three songs provide strength and hope for souls lost in suffering and fear.
We have been given a message — a song of Hope, the Savior has come! Love triumphs!
It is a Holy calling… a victorious song… meant for the Church to be continually singing… But we must sing it first individually before we can join the corporate song…
Is your life singing that song?
I’m going to ask you again:
What is God speaking into your heart… RIGHT NOW… that you need to turn toward Him? What do you need to let go of? Do you need to give Him the doubt and fear that is hindering you, and begin to trust Him more?
What is holding you back? What is getting in the way of you experiencing True Joy this Christmas?
What is God speaking to your heart right now?
(altar call)