{"id":1184,"date":"2019-12-15T14:04:29","date_gmt":"2019-12-15T22:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2019-12-15T14:18:10","modified_gmt":"2019-12-15T22:18:10","slug":"isaiahs-advent-gift-of-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/15\/isaiahs-advent-gift-of-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"Isaiah&#8217;s Advent Gift of&#8211; Joy!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1184-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-3-12-15-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-3-12-15-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-3-12-15-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Third Sunday in Advent <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">December 15, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah 35:1-10<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Joy!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the L<\/span>ORD, <span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">the splendor of our God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, &#8220;Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> will return.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you getting excited yet?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are just nine days left until we get to open up our Christmas presents!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The joy that we feel as we open the presents that others have purchased specifically for us, the joy that we feel as we watch the people we love open the presents that we purchased specifically for them\u2014 well, my friends, that joy truly is priceless!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">But let me ask you, have you ever had someone tell you that you had to open a particular present last because it was the most special present of all?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With each present you open you get closer and closer to opening that one special present.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With each present you open the joy and the excitement builds until finally you open that final present\u2014 the one that leaves you all but speechless!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The scenario of opening Christmas presents\u2014 with the most special present being saved for last\u2014 kept going through my mind as I was studying our sermon text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, I would like us to utilize that scenario as we study our sermon text under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 Joy!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we study this portion of God\u2019s holy Word this morning we are going to open four \u201cpresents\u201d\u2014 saving the best for last.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The first \u201cpresent\u201d that Isaiah gives to us today centers on the joy of seeing the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">, the splendor of our God.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 1-2 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once again the prophet Isaiah uses a powerful picture to help us understand a profound truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord had already revealed that His people would indeed be carried off into exile.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of their unfaithfulness to God\u2019s covenant, because of their own sin they would be forced to travel through the barren desert as prisoners of war.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, the Lord promises to do something that only He has the power to do\u2014 transform a barren wasteland into a beautiful oasis, that is, to bring His people home from exile so that they would once again have the joy of seeing <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe glory of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">, the splendor of our God\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How does this picture apply to us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How does this portion of Scripture give to us the gift of joy?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At one time, my friends, we too lived in a desolate desert.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of our sin and because of our unfaithfulness we were lost in a spiritual wasteland and there was nothing we could do about it!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Left to ourselves we would have surely died\u2014 eternally.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then the Lord our God did something that only He has the power to do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through His holy Word and through His holy Sacrament God poured out His life-giving grace on us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He transformed the desert of our heart into a beautiful oasis, an oasis that is blossoming with the beauty of His love for us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As a result of what God has done for us we now have the joy of seeing the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> and the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csplendor of our God\u201d<\/i> each and every time we gather around His holy Word and Sacraments!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s \u201cpresent\u201d number one.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The second \u201cpresent\u201d that Isaiah wants us to open this morning is the joy that comes with confidence and courage.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 3-4 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is certainly not difficult for us to understand the fear that God\u2019s people must have felt when they thought about being helplessly carried off into exile by their enemies.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why the Lord steps in to take away their fear by promising to come and save them!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s promise of salvation is what replaces fear with joy!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The transition here to our hearts and to our lives is not difficult to make, is it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Just as God\u2019s people in the days of Isaiah were afraid of their enemies and just as God\u2019s people in the days of Isaiah needed the Lord to save them from their enemies\u2014 so do we!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our spiritual enemies\u2014 sin, death and the devil\u2014 are way too powerful for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we had to face these enemies on our own we would most certainly tremble with fear from the top of our head to the tips of our toes!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But we don\u2019t have to face them alone, do we.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We have the joy of knowing that our God has not only promised to save us from our enemies, but we have the joy of knowing that He has already fulfilled that promise right there\u2014 on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill! <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the light of the cross God now says to us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe strong, do not fear.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the light of the cross God Himself has replaced our fear with the gift of joy\u2014 the joy of being able to face all of our enemies with the courage that comes with the salvation that God has secured for us on the cross!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But there is more!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The third \u201cpresent\u201d that Isaiah gives to us today is the joy of \u201crestoration.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 5-7 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we heard Jesus Himself tell us in our Gospel lesson for this morning (Matthew 11:2-11) these words are a picture of what the Lord\u2019s Messiah would accomplish when He came into this world.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Personally, I think it is rather appropriate to describe the work of the Messiah as a work of \u201crestoration.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus came into this world to \u201crestore\u201d our relationship with the one true God by completely removing all of our sins.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When we look at these verses and the picture that is given to us here there are two ways in which we can legitimately understand them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cblind,\u201d<\/i> the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201clame,\u201d<\/i> the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdeaf,\u201d<\/i> the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cmute,\u201d<\/i> the hungry and the thirsty can all be understood in a physical sense.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did Jesus grant \u201crestoration\u201d to people who were suffering from these various difficulties?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He most certainly did! Think of all the miracles that Jesus performed while He was here on this earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, my friends, think about how Scripture so clearly reveals to us that in heaven there is no more thirst or hunger or pain or crying or death because in heaven all sin and all the effects of sin are gone\u2014 forever! What joy will be ours when we reach our heavenly Home!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Even more joyful, however, is when we understand these very same things on a spiritual level.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature we were not only born spiritually blind, spiritually dead and spiritually the enemies of God, but by nature we suffered from a spiritual starvation and a spiritual thirst that goes beyond human words!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through faith in Jesus all these spiritual ailments are cured.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through faith in Jesus we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are<\/b> \u201crestored\u201d in our personal relationship with God\u2014 we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are <\/b>the dearly beloved adopted children of our heavenly Father.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through faith in Jesus our \u201crestoration\u201d will one day be brought to perfect completion\u2014 both physically as well as spiritually.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That truth brings us to the final \u201cpresent\u201d that Isaiah gives to us this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verses 8-10 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Isaiah saved the best for last, didn\u2019t he.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Christians we now have the most wondrous joy of all, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We have the joy of knowing that purely by His power and purely by His grace the good Lord has placed us on <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Way of Holiness.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>We have the joy of knowing that as we walk with our Lord on <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Way of Holiness\u201d<\/i> He will protect us from the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201clions\u201d<\/i> and the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cferocious beasts\u201d<\/i> who try to destroy and devour us with temptation and sin (See 1 Peter 5:8).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We have the joy of knowing that with God\u2019s guidance and with God\u2019s help we are able to live our life in a God-pleasing way. We have the joy of knowing that when we stumble and fall along the way the good Lord will be there to pick us up, brush us off and dry our tears by pointing us to the cross to remind us of what He has already done to redeem us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And most importantly of all, we have the joy that comes from knowing where our journey will end!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the closing sentences of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThey will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What a glorious picture of the redeemed children of God joyfully entering into heaven!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you getting excited yet?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are just nine days left until we get to open up our Christmas presents!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As joyful as it is to open up presents that were purchased especially for us, unfortunately that joy can also fade, can\u2019t it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For some of us our Christmas joy might start to fail as soon as the Christmas bills start to arrive in the mail.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For others the joy of Christmas might fade as the presents start to break or when we simply get bored with them.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That will not happen with the Advent gift of joy that Isaiah emphasizes here in our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The joy that we feel as we see the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory of the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> as He comes to us in Word and Sacrament will only increase as we experience the joy which comes from the confidence of knowing that all of our enemies have been defeated by the cross of Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That joy is then increased even more as we experience the \u201crestoration\u201d that Jesus has worked in our relationship with God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our joy then culminates, my friends, with the greatest joy of all\u2014 the joy of knowing that we are on the path which leads us directly to the perfect joy of living in our heavenly Father\u2019s Home\u2014 forever!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">May God grant that you will always treasure <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 Joy!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Advent-3-12-15-19.mp3\">Advent-3-12-15-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Third Sunday in Advent December 15, 2019 Isaiah 35:1-10 Isaiah\u2019s Advent Gift of\u2014 Joy! &nbsp; The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.&nbsp; Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.&nbsp; The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}