Baptist Church this morning if you happen to be in church this morning say
Amen all right let's take our song books and I'll go to number 192 ring the bells
of heaven number 192 ring the bells of heaven on that first ring the bells of
heaven there is joy today for also returning from the wild see the father
meets him out upon the way welcoming his we're wandering child sing it out church
glory glory how the angels sing glory glory how the Lord harps three sister
and some army like a mighty sea peeling forth the anthem let's all stand as we
sing unto the Lord this morning number 192 ring the bells of heaven as we're
waiting for people to come in on the second ring the bells of head it's joy
today for the wandering Eric and Sam yes the soul is rescued from his sinful way
and is born anew some child see it out church glory glory how the angels see
glory how the Lord harps three sister and some army like a mighty sea peeling
for on that last verse ring the bells of heaven spread the feast today angels
swell the glad triumph instead tell the joyful tidings bared far away
let's see it out church glory glory how the angels see mighty sea for the anthem
of the free brother Alex can you praise him to the service please man let's take
your psalm books and go to number 324 number 324 draw me near sing it on that
verse I am thine oh lord I have heard thy voice and it's old I love to me but
I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to see that church draw
me near said Lord to the cross where thou hast draw me near blessed Lord thy
pressure and that second stanza constant creating to thy service Lord by the power
of grace thee let my soul look up with a steadfast hope and my will be see it out
church draw me near blessed Lord to the cross where thou hast me near that part
blessed Lord I sing on that thirsty before God I commute said Lord thy
pressure so I cannot know till I cross the sun that I may not reach till I rest
said Lord to the cross I you may be see this one will have evangelist Judson Zong
come and give us some announcements come to a cold in the end of morning show
Foundation Baptist Church and raise your hand if you need a bulletin and I will
bring one to you again thank you for coming and also you know I understand
people who are not coming today due to the weather and the icy road and let's
pray for a nicer weather and safe driving condition for everyone so we can
make the church safely and let's look at the verse the week Colossians 3 16 the
Bible says let the word of Christ dwell in you richly richly in all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord and the Bible says that we can
actually teach people doctrines in Psalms and hymns and the spiritual songs
that's why you know what we sing at church matters right so let's look at
the inside page we actually streaming on Facebook rumble and X today because
YouTube is out of commission I'm on the naughty jail right now for some reason
so so service time Sunday morning at 11 Sunday afternoon service at 4 and
Wednesday my Bible study at 7 p.m. this Wednesday will be going through judges
chapter number 10 after the ring of no after the destruction of of a baby leg
and the chapter 10 is a traditional chapter before we go to talk before we
talk about the judge Jeff so please join us on Wednesday night also someone in
this afternoon at 1 30 p.m. we'll probably go indoors hopefully and then
Saturday morning someone at 10 30 a.m. and salvations and last week's attendance
is for you to see upcoming events next Sunday so just right around the corner
next Sunday morning is our Christmas service so please use the sign-up sheet
on the front desk to figure out the the food item that you are bringing for those
who cannot make it today I will post that sheet to the church group so you
can know so you can sign up for the food item again that's next Sunday okay
during the morning service there will be a Christmas themed sermon and then we'll
have a part like right after the morning service and then we'll have a regular
someone in and the afternoon service next week and Christmas Christmas Eve
service will be on Wednesday December 24th so please join us for that Sony
Marathon coming up winter wonderland is the last Sony Marathon of the year so
we'll meet here at 1 p.m. we'll go someone in for the afternoon and then
we're gonna meet at a restaurant for a dinner dinner will be provided by the
church so please join us for the winter wonderland so I guess today is a good
warm-up okay so and then stay tuned for the events in 2026 mainly we have the
second year anniversary probably at the first full weekend in February and then
we have a Chicago Detroit Gary Evansville possibly more coming so
please stay tuned we are still trying to nail down some of the dates as well as
the details because pastor Thompson is a busy man so it's hard to nail him down
we shall see and then please help us with the cleaning of the church building
right after service today let's look at this Titan offering is for you to see as
well on the back here's the birthdays coming up for the month of December we
will sing happy birthday to Haven during the afternoon service so there's that
and let's sing let's sing one more song and then we'll take up the offering and
let's turn your binder to angels we have heard on high binders as evangelist song
said angels we have heard on high let's all stand for this last song it's a
great Christmas hymn sit on the first angels on high sweetly singing for the
plains and the mountains in fly echoing their glow sing it out now glow Celsius
dee Celsius dee on that second Shepard why the wire joyous
great sprawl on glad some tiding speed which is by your head we saw glosses
else is the atlantic Christ whose birth he see come adored in the store out
church spray me a church see you see this moment have ushers come up and do
the offering for the Christian keep pray for the offering please we'll be in
first Corinthians chapter 14 this morning you need a Bible raise your hand
and I'll sure will provide one for you hopefully everyone's been enjoying the
free AC this morning first Corinthians chapter 14 while you're turning it up
again reading the chapter fall after charity and desires spiritual gifts but
rather they may prophesy for he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh
not unto men but unto God for no man understandeth him
how be it in the spirit he speaketh mysteries but he that prophesied speaketh
unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort he did speaketh in an
unknown tongue edifyeth himself but he that prophesied edifyeth the church I
would that ye all speak with tongues but rather that ye prophesied for greater
is he that prophesied than he that speaketh with tongues except he
interpret that the church may receive edifying now brethren if I come unto
you speaking with tons what shall I profit you except I shall speak to you
either by revelation or by knowledge or by prophesying or by doctrine and even
things without life giving sound whether pipe or harp except they give a
distinction in the sounds how shall it be known what is piped or harped for if
the trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the battle so
likewise ye except the utter by the ton words easy to be understood how shall it
be known what is spoken for ye shall speak into the air there are it may be
so many kinds of voices in the world and none of them is without
signification therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice I shall be unto
him that speaketh a barbarian and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto
me even so ye for as much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye
may excel to the edifying of the church wherefore let him that speaketh in an
unknown tongue pray that he may interpret for if I pray in an unknown
tongue my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful what is it
then I will pray with the spirit I will pray with the understanding also I will
sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also else when
thou shalt bless with the spirit how shall he that occupies the room of the
unlearned say amen at thy giving of thanks seeing he understandeth not what
thou sayest for thou verily give his thanks well but the other is not edified
I thank my God I speak with tons more than ye all yet and in the church I'd
rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might
teach others also than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue brethren be
not children in understanding how be it in malice be ye children but in
understanding be men in the law it is written with men of other tons and other
lips will I speak unto this people and yet for all that will they not hear me
saith the Lord wherefore tons are for a sign not to them that believe but to
them that believe not but prophesying service not for them that believe it not
but for them which believe if therefore the whole church become together into
one place and I'll speak with tons and there come in those that are unlearned
or unbelievers will they not say that you are mad but if all prophesy and
there come in one that believe it not or one unlearned and he is convinced of all
is he judged of all and thus are the secrets of this heart made manifest and
so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in
you of a truth how is it then brethren when he come together every one of you
have a song half a doctrine half a ton half a revelation half an interpretation
let all things be done unto edifying if a man speak in an unknown tongue let it
be by two or at the most by three and that by course and letting one
interpret if there be no interpreter let him keep silence in the church and let
him speak to himself and to God let the prophets speak to or three and let the
other judge if any be revealed to another that sitteth by let the first
hold his peace free may all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be
comforted and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets for
God is not the author of confusion but of the but of peace and as in all
churches of the Saints let your women keep silence in the churches for is not
permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as
also saith the law and if they will learn anything let them ask their
husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the church what came
the Word of God out from you or came it unto you only if any man think himself
to be a prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write
unto you are the commandments of the Lord but if any man be ignorant let him
be ignorant wherefore brethren covet the prophesy and forbid not to speak with
tongues let all things be done decently in order let's pray. Heavenly Father thank
God for everyone getting your safety Lord to church today it's for a guide you
feel brother Justin with the Holy Spirit Lord and that you would preach truth
Lord and that we receive the truth Lord this morning in your name Jesus Christ
in our prayer amen. Now 1st Corinthians 14 is a chapter of speaking in
tongues not speaking in tongues amen and the tongues are obviously talking about
different languages that human you know that human beings speak not gibberish
not a made-up angelic language that sounds similar depending on what
Pentecostal church that you go to and all these gibberish sounds regional
right but look at verse number 10 1st Corinthians chapter 14 verse number 10
the Bible says there are it may be so many kinds of voices in the world and
none of them is without signification the word signification means meaning
basically verse 10 is saying that there are many voices many languages in the
world and words have meaning okay look at verse number 11 therefore if I
know not the meaning of the voice see the Bible defines the in the word at the
next verse therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice I shall be unto him
that speaketh a barbarian and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me so
if I don't know the language that a speaker is saying I'm a barbarian unto
him and he's a barbarian and he is a barbarian unto me because nobody could
understand each other verse number 12 even so ye for as much as you are
zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye may excel to edifying to the edifying of
the church because the purpose of preaching is to build up the church so
it makes zero sense to speak in a language that nobody speaks right verse
number 13 and wherefore for that reason like him that speaketh in an unknown
town pray that he may that he may interpret so if you choose to speak in
a different language you must also you must although you you must also be able
to interpret that just to just to edify the church verse 14 for if I pray in an
unknown town my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful so the
I was saying that you can pray in a foreign language that nobody else speaks
at the church you can pray with your spirit and with a good intention but but
if it cannot be understood by others at a church it is unfruitful okay then then
then verse 15 says this what is it then I will pray with a spirit and I will
pray with the understanding also so it's good you have the you know both the
right intention and also cause people to understand I will sing with a spirit well
I will sing with the understanding also else when thou shalt bless with a
spirit how shall he that occupy the room of the unlearned say amen at a given
thanks seeing he understandeth not what thou sayeth so if you pray or if you
preach with a different language how can you say amen how can you you know
agree to the message if you don't speak the same language okay now the verse I
want to focus on is verse number 15 at the second half the Bible says I will
sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also now the
phrase seen with understanding is a good phrase I know the primary context is
about a foreign language but oftentimes we don't sing with we don't sing with
understanding even if we are singing English songs okay so this morning I
want to preach a sermon called examining Christmas carols examining
Christmas carols because I want you to help you to sing with understanding okay
and I want to specifically focus on the 11 out of the 15 Christmas songs in our
hymnals and the goal of the sermon like I said is to you know help you sing
those Christmas carols with the understanding and I will also
talk about some of the unbiblical things from these songs and you can
follow along in your hymnals if you like but the lyrics may be slightly
different because I copy and pasted the lyrics online and there can be you know
a different version of the same song but you know most but for the most part
these are the same thing but before I delve into the main points you know
sing is a method, sing is a mean to worship the Lord. The Bible says in
Ephesians chapter 5 verse number 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs sing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
so the purpose of singing hymns psalms spiritual songs is to worship the Lord
right the Bible says we should make melody even even in your heart not just
in your mouth in your heart to the Lord. Turn your Bible to Luke chapter number two
Luke chapter number two but singing is also a mean to teach people Bible
doctrines Colossians 3 16 says this let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in what in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord so you can teach
people about the Bible you can also you can also admonish people about the Bible
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs okay that's why the music that you are
listening to matters okay because many people know the lyrics far more than
the scripture right people tend to memorize the lyrics in songs
better than Bible verses okay now now I will likely preach a stand-alone sermon
on music at a later day but some Christmas carols they carry great Bible
doctrines and others can include some imaginations not found in the Bible but
it can still be acceptable okay you know just because some Christmas songs
include some imaginations or like hyperboles but that you know that that
does not mean we must throw out you know these songs that contain tradition
sentiment poetic imagination you know doesn't mean we should throw out these
songs but it does mean that we should sing with understanding right so the
first song I want to talk about is there is a song in the air okay that's in song
number 420 if you want to turn to your hymn now as well turn to Luke chapter
2 but also there's a song in the air is a hymn number 420 so verse 1 it says
this there's a song in the air there's a star in the sky there is a mother's
deep prayer and the baby's low cry and the star rains its fire while the
beautiful sing for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king okay so the
whole premise of this Christmas carol is you know center around there's a song in
the air okay but actually let me just ruin your Christmas spirit okay do you
know that nowhere in the Bible says the angels sand at the birth of Christ
nowhere the Bible does not say that okay let me let me show it to you Luke
chapter 2 verse number 8 Luke chapter 2 verse number 8 and there were in the
same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by
night and lo the angel of the Lord so so so there is an angel present and lo the
angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them
and they were sore afraid and the angel said unto them fear not for behold I
bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto
you is born this day into the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord
and this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes lying in a manger and suddenly there was with with with the angel
notice a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in
the highest and and on earth peace good will toward men so the Bible only says
that a multitude of heavenly hosts they were praising God not necessarily seen
now now could they be saying while praising yes but about does not say they
were singing but they were praising okay so and the heavenly hosts in the Bible
could also refer to literal stars and also the planets okay so again the Bible
could be you know figuratively speaking just the whole creation was praising God
at the birth of Christ not really the angels and the angels they were not
seen but they were praising okay but but there was a star in the sky okay so you
know at least they got this part correct famously known as the star of Bethlehem
now our last Christmas Eve I preach a whole sermon about the star of Bethlehem
giving you different theories about the star feel free to listen to that sermon
but there's also no biblical record of Mary praying at the manger nor any
prayer spoken during during this Nativity scene okay so so I believe this
song is highly poetic and not narrative okay so verse 2 there's a tumult of joy
over the wonderful birth for the Virgin sweet boy is the Lord of the earth I the
star rains its fire while the beautiful sing for the manger Bethlehem cradles a
king now I think the phrase the star rains its fire is just talking about the
brightness of the star so the idea is that the birth of Christ brings heavenly
glory to earth okay obviously the Bible does not describe how you know bright
the star is but you know but a hand just adding some you know element of poetry
that a star rains his fire nothing wrong with it just think about you know just
symbolizing the glory of Christ verse number three in the light of that star
lie the ages in pearl not what in pearl means to form something into pearl like
jobs or or to adorn something with pearls and that song from afar has
swept over the world every heart is a flame not what heart means a payment of
floor or brick you know every heart is a flame every every payment every floor
every brick is lighted by fire and and the beautiful scene in the homes of the
nations that Jesus is King so every heart is a flame just another you know
poetic way to say that Jesus Christ He is that His royalty okay you know every
just like every floor every brick you know is like a flame lighted by fire
glorious glorious appearing verse number four we rejoice in the light and we
echo the song that comes down through the night from the heavenly throne the
word throne means a multitude through a heavenly host I we shout to the lovely
evangel they bring and we greet and we greet in his cradle our Savior and King
the word evangel simply means good news or the gospel so those so verse four is
saying that they are bringing the message of the gospel okay so overall
that's a good song but again they were not actually singing but they were
praising God nothing wrong with that you know there's nothing wrong with giving
some poetic imagination to the songs so the second Christmas song I want to talk
about is the first Noel that's a song number 421 verse number one the first
Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay in
fields where they lay keeping their sheep on a cold winter's night that was
so deep okay now Noel is a Noel is French and it simply means Christmas and
when Noel came from the root word that means birthday okay nothing you know
obviously that's pretty biblical description you know because Christmas you
know obviously it will talk about the birth of Christ later but you know
Christmas is it Christmas is celebrating the birth of Christ and there were also
shepherds at the scene okay were they poor shepherds though I've no idea the
Bible did not say they were poor so I don't know why the hymns say they were
poor shepherds okay I have no idea but Luke chapter 2 look at verse number 8
again look to verse 8 the Bible says and there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night again
there were shepherds at the scene but they were not
really poor I mean at least the Bible does not say it okay but then the Bible
says that you know this was on a cold winter's night now personally I don't
believe Jesus Christ was born in winter but I also don't think it's wrong or
even pagan to celebrate Christmas as long as you are not letting the
commercialization take away the true meaning of Christmas okay there's
nothing wrong with celebrating you know any holiday just don't like the
commercialization take away you know the true meaning of it. Now I think
Jesus Christ was probably born between 8 BC to 4 BC with 6 BC being the most
likely year because if you look at the you know the timeline in the New
Testament King Harold died in 4 BC and Jesus Christ that he was about 30 years
old in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar okay. Now if you listen to
my sermon last Christmas Eve I give you a theory that you know on April 17 6 BC
we have a lunar occultation of Jupiter that happened in Eris the ram which was
understood to be a sign of the Jews again listen to my sermon okay I don't
want to go too deep into it but I thought that was a pretty interesting
theory just going through the you know the scientists and then and then just
all the you know cosmos so April 17 6 BC is a possible day but I tend to believe
that Christ was born in the spring because we have the feast days in the
Old Testament we have the spring feast that you know that prophesied the first
coming of Christ and then we have the fall feast is about a second coming of
Christ that's why I believe Jesus Christ was born in the spring feast in the
spring okay so April is a good month for that so let's look at the second verse
turn the Bible to Matthew chapter 2 Matthew chapter number 2 so verse number 2
they look up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far and to the
earth it gave great light and so it continued both day and night and the
Bible actually never mentions that the shepherds saw the star okay so again
this is an assumption verse number 3 and by the light of that same star three
wise men came from country far to seek for a king was during 10 and you follow
the star wherever it went I will talk more about the wise men when I talk
about the hymn we three kings verse number 4 this star drew night to the
northwest over Bethlehem it took its rest and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay this is biblical as well Matthew chapter
2 look at verse number 9 Matthew chapter 2 verse 9 the Bible says this when they
had heard the king they departed and lo the star which they saw in the east went
before them till it came and stood over well where the young child was so this
star of Bethlehem you know it was leading the wise man to where Jesus was
and then you know as it arrived where Jesus was it actually stood still you
know or you know at least it appeared to be standing still so I believe this so
I believe the star was it was either talking about a literal angel of the
Lord or lunar occultation of of Jupiter okay again listen to my sermon last year
for that verse number five then entered in those wise men three full revan play
upon their knee and offer there in his presence their gold and myrrh and
frankincense then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord
that made heaven and earth of knot and with his blood our life has bought again
the grid that that's a great salvation message at the last verse so I will back
to Luke chapter number two good to look check number two so I talk about there
is song in the air and then and I thought about the first Noel the third
Christmas song I want to talk about is joy to the world okay now joy to the
world is an awesome hand and there's actually a slightly twist of the true
meaning of that song if you know the history behind it so that's that's him
number 423 joy to the world joy to the world the Lord has come let earth
receive her King let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing now
this is beautiful because this makes me think of the story that you know they
could not find room in the end that's why they laid that's why they had to lay
Jesus in the manger okay and because the hymn said let let every heart prepare him
room and Luke chapter 2 look at verse number 6 Luke 2 6 says this and so it
was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in
swaddling cloth and laid him in a manger here's the reason because there was no
room for them in the yin and the hymn said let let every heart prepare him room
so the hymn is an exaltation for us to leave room for Jesus right see the hymn
so the hymn did not have room but we should have room for Jesus in our life
amen let every heart prepare him room so I believe in this Christmas season we
we need to think about Jesus in our heart we need to leave room for Jesus in
every area of our life think about what would Jesus do what would Jesus say okay
leave room for Jesus turn turn Bible to Isaiah 55
Isaiah 55 the second verse says this joy to the earth the Savior reigns our
mortal sounds employ while fields and floods rocks hills and plains repeat
a sounding joy now I believe that this is a quote from Isaiah 55 look at verse
number 11 Isaiah 55 verse number 11 the Bible says this so shall my word be that
go forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall
accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I
sent it notice verse number 12 we shall go out with joy and be led forth with
peace don't miss this the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you
into singing and and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands so even
the nature is responding to the King figuratively right figuratively so
again it's time about the whole creation symbolically singing glory to God because
God is so glorious you know even the fields floods rocks hills and plains
repeat a sounding joy so I believe this is a quote taken from Isaiah 55 that
even the mountains and hills break forth into sing and the verse number three no
more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground he comes to
make his blessings flow far as the curse is found so level to Psalm 19 Psalm 19
verse number four he rules the world with truth and grace and makes the
nation's proof the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love
now verse 4 is really cool because it highlights not only the grace of Christ
but also but also the truth and the righteousness of Christ and we should be
rejoicing in both okay because most Christians they only focus on the grace
and the love of Christ but in the verse 4 literally says he rules the world with
truth and grace right the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love so
you have a perfect balance between truth and grace righteousness and love okay
psalm 19 look at verse number 7 psalm 19 verse 7 is a famous passage about the
Word of God psalm 19 verse 7 the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul
that the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the statues of
the Lord are right don't miss this phrase rejoicing the heart because God
is righteous because God is truth we should be rejoicing in the law of the
Lord amen the commandment of the Lord is pure enlighten the eyes the fear of the
Lord is clean in doing forever that the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous all together now personally I think that's really really great that you
know that many people even like atheists they will sing those Christmas hymns and
they are praising the righteousness and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ you
know I think that's kind of hilarious in a kind of kind of sarcastic to the
atheists right so go to Psalm 98 Psalm 98 now here's a twist of this hymn many
people think joy to the world is a Christmas hymn and no rightly so okay
but this song was not written about the first coming of Christ this song was
actually written about the second coming of Christ not the first okay and it was
not written as a Christmas song because it contains no you know nativity scenes
like the manger, shepherds, wise men, Bethlehem, Mary, angels, and star actually
Isaac Woltz wrote this song as a Psalm 98 paraphrase about a
second coming of Christ okay let's read the whole Psalm Psalm 98 verse number one
Psalm 98 verse number one the Bible says you know just notice the parallels
Oh sing unto the Lord a new song for he had done marvelous things his right hand
and his holy arm had gotten him the victory. The Lord had made known his
salvation. His righteousness had he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.
He had remembered his mercy and and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the
ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the
Lord, all the earth. Make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise. Sing unto the
Lord with a harp and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of
cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord the King. Let the sea roar and the
fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their
hands. Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. For he cometh to judge
the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world and the people with
equity. So the whole psalm and the whole hymn is about when
Christ is going to come back again to rule the earth with
righteousness and grace and love and truth. Now just compare the hymn line.
Joy to the world the Lord is come. I mean that's talking about the king
arriving to reign the earth. Let earth receive her king, not a baby, but as a
ruling king. He rules the world with truth and grace, you know, spoken like
Psalm, Psalm 98. Judgment and reign not at the infancy of Christ and heaven and
nature sin. It matches this Psalms, you know, just the Psalms call for the
creation to rejoice in Psalms, in verse 7 and 8. Let the sea roar and the
fullness thereof, okay. Let the floods clap their hands, let the hills be
joyful together. No more, no more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the
ground. That's talking about the curse reversed during the millennial reign of
Christ, okay. So the whole hymn can be, you know, I think that's a great Christmas
hymn as well because this hymn talks about Christ came, you know,
as a humble child, but he will rule as a mighty king, okay. And you know, like I
said, it's really amazing to think about the people who are not even
saved seeing those Christmas carols about the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,
amen. So again, "Joy to the World" is a second coming song, but
nothing wrong with seeing that as a Christmas carol, because Christ will come
to rule as a mighty king. Yeah, that's why the hymn says, "He rules the world," okay.
So let me give you the fourth hymn, "O Come, All Ye Faithful." That's hymn number 424,
"O Come, All Ye Faithful." The first verse says this, "O come, all ye faithful, joyful,
and triumphant. O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the king of angels."
Okay. Now I actually found a verse of the song that's often omitted in the hymn notes, okay.
Let me read to you this forgotten verse. "God of God, light of light, lo, he abhors not the
virgin's womb, very God begotten, not created." Okay. That's the hidden verse I found that's
often ignored in most hymn notes. "God of God, light of light, he abhors not the virgin's womb,
very God begotten, not created." Now this song emphasizes the deity of Christ, that Jesus Christ,
that he is the God of God, he is very God begotten, not created because he has always existed.
Okay, so now to Philippians chapter two, Philippians chapter number two. But verse two,
you know, this hidden, those, you know, often ignored verse also says, "He abhors not the
virgin's womb." What, you know, what does this phrase mean, that Christ abhors not the virgin's
womb? To abhore means to reject with disgust, right? So Christ did not reject being, being human.
Jesus did not reject to be born. He did not consider being born as an infant degrading
or even unworthy, you know, because historically there were groups, you know, even now too,
you know, there were different groups that teach the thing, that, you know, teach the doctrine that
God would never take on a real human, a real human body. You know, Christ only, you know,
Christ only appeared to be human because they think flesh is evil, so God will never dwell,
dwell in it. Okay, so, so this hymn, you know, this hymn line directly pushes back that false
belief that Jesus Christ, He is, you know, Jesus Christ, He did not abhor the virgin's womb
because He did not think taking on a human flesh is unworthy, you know. For living chapter two,
look at verse number six. For living chapter two, verse number six, the Bible says who,
talking about Jesus, being the form of God that proves that He is God, being the form of God,
started not robbery to be equal with God, you know, to be equal with God the Father,
but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the
likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross. So the Bible says that Jesus willingly made Himself of
no reputation just so that He can save us. You know, what a great God that we serve, that He
abhors not the virgin's womb, right? So verse number three, "Sing choirs of angels, sing in
exaltation, sing all ye citizens of heaven above, glory to God, all glory in the highest. Ye Lord,
we greet thee, born this happy morning." Again, I don't know, you know, what time Christ was born,
you know, born this happy morning. "Jesus, to thee be all glory given. Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing." Great doctrine, right? Because Jesus, He is God in the flesh. Word of
the Father, He is also the Word of God, right? Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
That's, you know, extremely biblical. The Bible says, "And the word was made flesh,
clashing to nine. For in Him, for in Jesus dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." So Christ,
He is 100% man, He's also 100% God, okay? Again, that's a beautiful hymn. Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing. Now turn the Bible to Matthew chapter 2. Matthew chapter number 2.
Let me give you the fifth hymn. We three kings of Orient are. That's hymn 427. We three kings. Verse
number one says this. We three kings of Orient are. Bearing gifts, we traverse afar. Field and
mountain, moor and mountain. Now moor is an open land. Moor and mountain following yonder star.
Now there are a lot of things wrong with this hymn, but the Bible never says there were three
people. The Bible also never says that there were kings. Okay? Matthew chapter 2, verse number one.
Matthew 2.1 says this, "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold there came three kings." No, the Bible says there came wise men. Okay? "Wise men from
the east to Jerusalem saying, 'Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star
in the east and are come to worship him.'" Now I will put the sermon next Sunday about Christmas,
but I believe those wise men, they were likely scientists who have studied the stars, okay?
Because that's what the wise men are. They were astronomers, maybe. The Bible does not say they
were kings. The Bible does not say there were three either. Verse number two, "Born a king on
Bethlehem's plain, gold I bring to crown him again. King forever, seizing never, over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I incense owns a deity nigh. Prayer and praising voices raising,
worshiping God on high. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breatheth a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone cold tomb." So verse two, three, four is a
beautiful picture of Christ because gold pictures that he is king, right? Frankincense pictures
that he is priest and Myrrh points to the sacrifice of Christ and that's why people think there were
three, three wise men because there are three, three gifts but possibly but you know there could
be more than three, okay? Verse number five, "Glorious now behold him arise king and gold and
sacrifice. Alleluia, alleluia sound through the earth and skies." So you know overall that's a
good, that's a beautiful hymn. Turn the Bible to Luke chapter number, actually Romans chapter five,
Romans chapter five. Hymn number six, "It came upon the midnight clear." It came upon the midnight
clear. So I think there's a contradictory, you know, timeline because based on "O come all you
faithful" the Bible says "born is happy morning" but then you know but then it came upon the midnight
clear that's you know in the midnight so I guess you know even the authors need to get their timeline
straight right. "It came upon the midnight clear" that's 428 verse number one. "It came upon the
midnight clear that glorious song of old from angels bending near the earth to touch their
harps of gold peace on earth and goodwill to men from heaven all gracious king the world in solemn
stillness lay to hear the angels sing." Now we were talking about that the angels they were not
necessarily singing based on the Bible and this phrase "glory to God in the highest and on earth
peace goodwill to all men" that was taken from Luke again that phrase is biblical. Verse number
two "still through the cloven skies they came with peaceful wings unfurled and still their heavenly
music flows over all the weary world above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing
and and ever over its babel sounds the blessed angels sing." Now personally you know I have no
idea about the positions of the wings of the angels because in verse two the hymn says you
know there are wings there are peaceful wings unfurled right and again you know I have no idea
about the position of the wings that that's a poetic element added to the hymn.
Verse number three "and ye beneath life's crushing load whose forms are bending low
who toil along the climbing way with with painful steps and slope look now for glad and golden
hours come swiftly on the wing oh rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing." Verse number
four "for lo the days are hastening on by prophets in a vote when with the ever circling years shall
come the time foretold when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling and the whole
world send back the song which now the angels sing." So this hymn focused more on the peace
that Christ brings because he is the prince of peace okay. Romans chapter five look at verse
number one. Romans chapter five verse one the Bible says "therefore being justified by faith
we have peace with God throughout Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have access by faith into
this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." And people you know want to
have peace and the first thing is to have peace with God through salvation okay. You can never
have peace with God that you can not even have peace without salvation because he is our peace
okay. We have peace with God that only comes through justification by faith. Now go to Philippian
chapter number four. Philippian chapter number four. That's why the Bible says when peace shall over
all the earth because the gospel is available to all nations to all that call upon him.
Philippian chapter four verse number six. Philippians four six. The Bible says this
Philippians four six be careful for nothing. Basically the Bible says don't worry but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God. Don't miss this phrase and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Let me tell you this that that you cannot have peace
the peace of God without having peace with God right. After you have peace with God through
salvation now you can pray to God to have the peace of God because he is the prince of peace.
Okay you know people people trying to have people trying to access peace but they have but they have
no peace except you know after that peace with God but then we can you know be thankful in everything
and pray to God and not worrying about anything just cast our care upon Jesus cast your care upon
him and then we'll have the peace of God as saved Christians. Okay again that's a beautiful hymn
when peace shall over all the earth. Let me give you the seventh hymn. Go to Malachi chapter four.
Malachi chapter four. Hark the herald angels sing. That's song number 429. Hark the herald angels
sing. Who knows what the word "hark" means? I mean you guys don't sing with it. You guys don't sing
with it. Don't sing with the understanding huh? The word "hark" means listen. Pay attention. Okay
"hark." Hark the herald angels sing. "Harel" means messenger. Hark the herald angels sing. Why are you
laughing? "Hark the herald angels sing glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth and mercy mild God
and sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise join the triumph of the skies. With the angelic
host proclaim Christ as born in Bethlehem. Christ by highest heaven adored. Christ the everlasting
Lord. Late in time behold him come offspring offspring of the virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh
the God had seen. Hail the incarnate deity. Pleased with us in flesh to dwell Jesus our Emmanuel.
I mean I mean this is packed with doctrines right. I mean that's another great hymn talking about the
deity of Christ that he is the everlasting Lord. He is God veiled in the flesh and that and that
he is the incarnate deity. I mean that's perfect right. And then the Bible says pleased with us
in flesh to dwell Jesus our Emmanuel. The word Emmanuel means God with us. So again this verse
is you know over and over again telling us that Jesus Christ he is the Lord he is everlasting
and that he is God in the flesh. Perfect you know. Verse number three. Hail the heaven-born prince
of peace hail the son of righteousness light and life to all he brings risen with healing in his
wings mouth he lays his glory by born that we know born that we know more may die born to raise
us from the earth born to give us second birth. Verse three is great as well because because
because the hymn says that he is the prince of peace but he is also the son of righteousness.
Notice it's S-U-N and not S-O-N. Malachi chapter four look at verse number two. Malachi four two
says this but unto you that fear my name shall the sun S-U-N of righteousness arise with healing in
his wings and he shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. So Jesus Christ is often you
know it's sometimes compared as the sun the literal star because thinking about sunset sunrise you
know it's basically the nature telling us the gospel story right about the death burial and
the resurrection through the sunset sunrise that's why you know I believe the Bible says that he is
the son as you and of righteousness. Let me read to you 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse 19, 2nd Peter chapter
1 verse 19 the Bible says we have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your
hearts was the day star that's the son okay so again that's a beautiful story beautiful comparison
go to John chapter 3 John chapter 3 so Jesus he is the prince of peace he is the son of righteousness
but then verse 3 also you know tells us that you know born that we no more may die born to raise
us from the earth born to give us second birth because what's the purpose of Jesus he came to
give us second birth because we must be born again spiritually to enter into the kingdom of God
okay and that's a you know concept found in John chapter 3 look at verse number three John 3 says
this Jesus answered and said unto him talking about Nicodemus verily I say unto thee except
a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Nicodemus said unto him how can a man be born
when he is old can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born Jesus answered
verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water that's your physical birth and of the
spirit that's a spiritual birth he cannot enter into the kingdom of God that which is born of
the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Marvel not that I say unto thee
he must be born again he's talking about that you have to be born spiritually to become a child of
God okay and we also use that concept to prove that you can never lose your salvation because
you can never be unborn just like physically that we cannot crawl back to your mother's belly okay
you cannot be unborn because once saved always saved because he came to give us second birth
again this hymn is packed with great doctrines oh verse four is great as well think about the
first corinthians 15 first corinthians 15 overall you know this song is the most biblical packed
bible bible theology packed hymn called the hero angel's name verse four says this come desires
of nations come fixing us thy humble home rise the woman's conquering seed bruising us the serpent's
head atoms like this now your face stand thine image in its place second atom from above reinstate
us in thy love now verse four is packed with theology now first it says the woman's conquering
seed was the seed of the woman jesus right bruising us the serpent's head that's talking about
jesus will crush the serpent's head you know obviously in the prophecy the serpent the devil
will be bruising his heel that's a damage but not life-threatening right but then jesus will be
bruising satan's head jesus christ will be destroying satan okay but then but then the
hymn also says this adam's likeness now your face what does it mean when it says adam's likeness
now your face what's adam's likeness that's the sinful nature came from adam okay not the original
sin but the same nature coming from adam the what they faced means to wipe out to erase to remove
okay so so this verse is saying that jesus came not only to forgive sins but he also you know has
come to undo and to and to remove the effects of the very same nature you know that's that's
talking about the future glorification look at first corinthians 15 verse 41 first corinthians 15
verse 41 the bible says and so it is written the first adam that is adam and eve you know that is
that adam the first adam was made a living soul the last adam that is jesus was made a quickening
spirit albeit that was not first which is spiritual but that which is natural and afterward
that which is spiritual the first man adam is of the earth earthy the second man jesus is the lord
from heaven again the second man is the lord of heaven just proves that christ is god in the flesh
he is a man but he is also the lord of heaven amen verse number 48 as is the earthy such are they
also that are earthy and as is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly don't miss verse
49 and as we have born the image of the earthy we born this likeness of the first adam we shall
also don't miss this bear the image of the heavenly that's the second adam so so like this hymn is
like amazing because it says adam's likeness now your face you know stamp thine image in its place
eventually we'll have the image of the heavenly the second adam to replace you know the same
nature of the earthy the first adam now go to first john chapter three first john chapter three
so that's why we need to sing with sing with understanding i mean you know those hymns are
gorgeous and this hymn reflects not only in the atonement through salvation but also in the future
glorification first john chapter three look at verse number two first john three verse two the
bible says this first john three two beloved now are we the sons of god that's talking about
saved people and it does not yet appear what we shall be when you are saved you still have the
same flesh right you still have the image the likeness the signature of the first adam and
and it does not yet appear that we uh what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear
when christ comes again we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is so what's the bible
saying here through salvation christ forgives us about our sins he declares us righteous he makes
us new uh new new creatures and one day when he comes again he will remove the curse completely
in the future glorification adam's likeness now your face stamp thine image in his place beautiful
right now uh let me give you the eighth hymn silent night holy night not too much going on
with this but uh verse one says silent night holy night always calm always bright round young virgin
the word young means that round young virgin uh mother and child holy infant so tender tender and
mild sleep in heavenly peace sleep in heavenly peace nothing too wrong with this but we don't
really know the weather is calm and bright i mean that's about to not say it right so i mean i hope
it is silent night holy night darkness flies all his light shepherds hear the angels sing hallelujah
hail the king christ the savior is born christ the savior is born silent night holy night son of god
loves pure light radiant beams from thy holy face again i think that's poetic you know i don't think
his face literally blooming radiant x-ray i don't know with the dawn of redeeming grace jesus lord
at thy birth jesus lord at thy birth silent night holy night wondrous star land the light with the
angels let us sing hallelujah to our king christ the savior is born christ the savior is born
not too bad go to job chapter 38 job 38 song number nine angels from the realm realms of glory
that's hand number 432 angels from the realms of glory verse one angels from the realms of glory
win your flight over all the earth ye who sang creation story now proclaim messiah's birth
now the concept of the angels singing creation story is actually from job okay let me show that
to you job 38 look at verse number one job 38 verse number one the bible says then the lord
answered job out of the whirlwind and said who is this that darkness counseled by words without
knowledge birth up now thy loins like a man for i will demand for thee and and answer thou me
where was that what when i lay the foundations of the earth declare if thou has understanding
who had laid the measures thereof if thou knowest or who had stretched the line upon it
whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened or who lay the cornerstone thereof when the morning
stars stand together and all the sons of god shouted for joy okay that's where the line of
morning stars stand together came from and that's where they get the angels that were seen the
creation story at the birth of christ came from and many people think that this was a prophecy
of the coming of christ that the angels send at the birth but the context of job is about the
creation of god look at uh verse number eight or who has shut up the sea with doors when you break
forth as if it had issued out of the womb when i made a cloud the garment thereof and thick darkness
a swaddling band for it the content of job 38 is god telling job that you know i made the foundations
of the earth i made the world okay the content is about a creation story not about the first coming
not about the birth of christ okay so i believe they are taking this concept out of context but
now go to matthew chapter one matthew chapter one the second verse goes there goes shepherds in the
field abiding watching over your flocks by night god with us is now residing yonder shines the infant
light again proves the deity of christ it says god with us is now residing uh that's the name
that's the name emmanuel right matthew chapter one verse 22 says this matthew 122 now all this was
down that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the lord by the prophet saying behold a virgin
shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name emmanuel which being
interpret is god with us is another great hymn proving the deity of christ okay god with us god
with man and the verse number three sages leave your contemplation brighter visions beam afar
seek the great desire of nations ye have seen his natal star saints before the altar bending
watching long in hope and fear suddenly the lord ascending in his temple shall appear go to hebrew
chapter 4 hebrew chapter 4 let me give you the tenth hymn away in a manger away in a manger
away in a manger no crib for a bed the the little lord jesus laid down his sweet sweet head
the stars the stars in the heavens looked down where he lay the little lord jesus asleep on the
hay the cattle are lowing the baby awakes but little lord jesus no crying he makes
i love thee lord jesus look down from the sky and stay by my side until morning is nigh
be near me lord jesus i ask thee to stay close by me forever and love me i pray
bless all the dear children in thy tender care and fit us for heaven to live with thee there
so i think this is a beautiful hymn that emphasizes the humbleness and the humanity of christ
okay and really if i really if i have to nitpick this you know the only phrase i have a problem is
the bible says no crying no crying he makes you know so i think jesus christ he you know
cried as a baby you know i think he was sinless but not emotionless okay so no crying he makes
that's kind of like a poetic element to it because jesus christ he was a child and then he grew up on
this earth okay luke 240 says this and the child grew and was strong in spirit filled with wisdom
and the grace of god was upon him so he was a real man jesus was a real man he was real god in the
flesh and he grew up as a child okay hebrew chapter four verse 15 hebrew chapter four look
at verse number 15 but the bible says this for we have not and high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin
so jesus christ is you know just like us you know obviously besides the fact that he is sinless
but he was tempted he has real emotion right that has a real flesh and that you know he was a child
you know that he was born of the virgin mary you know so again a beautiful hymn that talks
about the humanity of christ uh let me give you the last hymn number uh number 11 uh hymn number
11 old little town of bethlehem old little town of bethlehem i don't know about you mica chapter
five mica chapter five old little town of bethlehem that's hymn 434 verse one goes old little town of
bethlehem how still we see thee lie above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light the hopes and fears of all the years are
met in thee tonight so bethlehem is a biblical city where with christ was born and that's taken
from mica chapter 5 look at verse number two the bible says but thou bethlehem effrita though thou
be little among the thousands of juda yet out of thee shall he come forth shall shall he come forth
unto me that is to be ruler in israel whose goings forth have been from of old from everlasting so
bethlehem was the city that christ was born verse number two for christ is born of mary and gathered
all above while mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wandering love all morning stars
together proclaim the holy birth and praises sing to god the king and peace to man on earth
i've already talked about the scripture reference for the morning star scene and you know that's
taken out of context because because in job that's what that was talking about the creation of god
verse number three how how silently how silently the wondrous gift is given so god imports to human
hearts the blessings of his heaven no ear may hear his coming but in this world of sin where meek
souls will will will receive him still the dear christ enters in oh holy child of bethlehem descend
to us we pray cast out our sin and enter in be born in us today we hear the christmas angels the
great glad tidings tell all come to us abide with us our lord immanuel so again verse four is a call
for people to be saved right cast out our sin and enter in be born in us today and you know
anyone who calls out on christ to save them their sins can be cast out the moment they trust in
jesus alone okay and you know they will be born again okay so i you know just went through 11
popular hymns you know i can talk about way more hymns and you know why christmas santa claus now
that would be ultra like unbiblical but you know these are the biblical hymns but there are still
some poetic elements to it nothing wrong with it you know make sure you are singing with understanding
and if you really pay attention to those christmas carols you're gonna find a lot of great doctrines
okay even though some hymns do contain imaginations i have no problem with that
because songs can have the elements of it songs can have elements of exaggeration as well as poetry
just like some of the psalms in the bible right you know it's packed with hyperboles poetic ways to
say things but behind those poetries you know especially in the christmas season there is a
real savior right there's a real redeemer a real king who came into a real world and to save real
sinners okay so so as we are approaching christmas let us reflect upon the holy child of bethlehem
let us sing those wonderful hymns with understanding okay let us adore him worship him
magnify him in this christmas season let's pray thank you lord for uh thank you lord for those
christmas carols and thank you for the great doctrines that are found in those hymns i pray
that we'll uh we'll grasp those we'll grasp those doctrines but i pray that we'll uh take that to
your heart that you are lord and you know you are our savior and thank you for saving us and i pray
this in jesus name amen and thank you evangelist zhong for that great sermon let's all stand and
go to number 205 i was about to say great song number 205 he keeps me seen sing it on that first
stanza there's within my heart a melody jesus whisper sweet and low fear not i am with thee
peace be still in all our lives and man flows us jesus jesus sweetest name i know keeps me singing
as i go my life was wrecked by sin and strife this could fill my heart with pain jesus swept
across the dirt the slumbling courts again sing it out now jesus jesus jesus sweetest name i know
fills my head that dirt stands uh feasting on the riches of his grace resting 'neath his shelter
tree always looking on his smiley sing it out church jesus love hearing you guys sing love
hearing you guys sing keeps me singing as uh on that fort stands uh though sometimes he leaders
the trials though sometimes the path seems rough and steep see his footprints all the ways us jesus
is my every lead on that favor he's coming back to welcome me far beyond the starry sky showing my
flight to worlds unknown i shall reign with his name i know he's singing as i go heavenly father
thank you for this day lord thank you for allowing us the opportunity lord to be in your house today
lord and i know today the circumstances are are very rough lord with the weather but thank you
god for those who were able to show up and i ask you lord to please be with those weren't able to
show up lord and i ask you lord that as evangelist song said earlier we you help us not make the
weather a convenient excuse to skip church i ask you lord did you please help us stay faithful in
this time of the cold and to bless soul winning and all the other things going on today lord in
christ name i pray amen