The Delight of Christmas

Pastor Phil Andrukaitis, December 10, 2023, 3rd Advent Sunday

Advent Theme:  Christmas, What’s It All About?

Sermon Title:  The Delight of Christmas

Sermon Text:  Psalm 40:5-8 and other Scriptural passages

Dominating Idea:  The delight of Christmas is wrapped up in the delights of God.

INTRODUCTION

When I was a young lad, I loved experiencing the month-long anticipation of Christmas Day.  Mystery and wonder centered around the gifts our parents got for us.  And the night before Christmas, my brothers and I would try to sleep but it was no use, as we tried to sneak into the “parlor” to catch a glimpse of activities we heard.

Christmas morning.  We all sat around the tree and took turns distributing the gifts.  Excitingly, we tore off the wrapping paper in seconds, wrapping that took mom and dad hours to complete.  But as the last few gifts were finally doled out, a sense of depression began to fill my heart as I carried my gifts to my room (a room that I shared with two other brothers) and stashed the gifts under my bed.  And I said to myself, is that all there is?

It reminded me of a song Peggy Lee sang in the 1960’s, Is That All There Is?  It is the saddest song I’ve ever heard.  It’s haunting tune and words really bothered me then and now.

While I was a good Catholic boy who grew up knowing his catechism, I did not know the Lord; I knew about Him but I didn’t know Him.

Several years ago, Courtney Joseph, founder of “Good Morning Girls.org,” wrote a piece entitled, Feeling Dread, Drained, Depressed or Delight at Christmas?  I think you will appreciate her insights.  She writes:[1]

“Every year we drive around looking at Christmas lights.  Before we leave the house, my children color pictures of the nativity.  On each picture, we write the note “Thank you for displaying the reason for the season.”

“As we drive around, we look and look…and look for Jesus – and when we find him, we clap and cheer and hoot and holler and daddy pulls the car over so one of the children can slip their picture into the homeowner’s paper box.”

 “Just as my kids must look hard to find Jesus amid the lights and displays, we too must train our hearts to look for Jesus.  This world has so many distractions that keep us from practicing the presence of God in our lives.  As a result, we miss God completely and do life on our own.

Consider…
The 4 D’s of Christmas

“Dread.  Some of us DREAD Christmas.  As soon as the Christmas trees go up in Walmart and   Christmas music begins to play on the radio – we get anxious about all the work, money spent and people we must be around during the holidays.

“Drained.  Some of us start out well.  We are excited about all the wonderful days ahead and we volunteer to lead things and plan to make 10 different types of cookies, do elaborate wrapping and decorate our homes to the hilt.  But come December 26th – we are exhausted and drained.

“Depressed.  Christmas is a hard time of year for so many of us who have an empty chair at the table because of the loss of a loved one or a broken relationship.  For others – there’s someone in the chair you really wish wasn’t there.  And still for others, it’s a time of loneliness or of reflecting over the past year and it can be overwhelming emotionally.

“But there’s one ‘D’ we all should pursue…

“Delight.  Psalm 119:24 says, “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”  In the midst of our dreading, draining and depression – the Lord’s Word is to be our delight.  His Word is to be our comfort and guide.  He will lead us away from the dread, drained and depressed feelings by His good wisdom…but just as my children have to look for Jesus in the midst of the Christmas lights – we must fight to see Jesus in this season.  We must look to Jesus.”

TRANSITIONAL THOUGHTS

So, let us look for Jesus in His Word this morning beginning with Psalm 40 and then move to other Scriptures to see the “delight of Christmas” in the Three Persons of the Godhead.  After all,

The delight of Christmas is wrapped up in the delights of God.

I.  The Delights of Jesus

II.  The Delights of God the Father

III.  The Delights of God the Holy Spirit

MEANING of the TEXT

I.  The Delights of Jesus

Psalm 40 is divided into two parts:  King David speaks of the past mercies he has received and for which he is most thankful (1-10) but also acknowledges that he constantly needs God’s mercies and therefore he will seek Him and rejoice in Him because God is David’s Deliverer (11-17).

A closer look at the first half of this psalm reveals that David describes himself as one who has suffered, been graciously relieved, and now responds with heart-felt praise and grateful obedience unto God.  Thus, this is his heart of worship that brings pleasure to God.  It is a heart that delights to proclaim the worthiness of God, to hear the Word of God, and to do the will of God.

Often, many of the psalms offer language that exclusively refers to Jesus.  Such is the case in verses 6-8.  While these words can be applicable to anyone [as with David], these verses also point us to the blessed example of Jesus Christ.  How?

In Hebrews 10:5-7, the unknown author [unknown to us but not to God] quotes Psalm 40:6-8 and applies this passage to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for everyone.  Therefore, let us focus on Psalm 40:5-8 and note three delights of Jesus.

A.  Jesus delighted to proclaim the worthiness of God (40:5).

“You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us, none can compare with You!
I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.”
(Psalm 40:5) ESV

While it was king David who expressed his delight to proclaim the worthiness of God, it was also Jesus’ delight to proclaim the worthiness of God the Father – to bring glory to the Father.

Throughout the gospels, the writers often employed a common refrain spoken by Jesus.  Here is one specific refrain Jesus spoke, thereby revealing His purposes for coming to earth for the first time: “For I was sent for this purpose…”  What were Jesus’ purposes for His first coming?  There are eleven stated purposes:

      • To preach the kingdom of God — Mark 1:38; Luke 4:43
      • To call sinners unto Himself — Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32
      • To seek and to save the lost — Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 12:47
      • To offer the abundant life — John 10:10
      • To discern and separate those who are saved — Luke 12:49
      • To separate a people to Himself — Matthew 10:34; Luke 12:51
      • To judge that the blind may see — John 9:39
      • To sacrifice His life — Mark 10:45; John 12:27
      • To fulfill the Scriptures — Matthew 5:17
      • To testify of the Truth — John 18:37
      • To destroy the works of the devil — 1st John 3:8

Moreover, the Lord Jesus expressed the Father’s compassion by ministering to them by healing the multitudes of their physical infirmities, feeding their souls with His Word, feeding their bodies with food, and by identifying with them – sharing in their sufferings.  Yes, Jesus delighted to proclaim and demonstrate the worthiness of God.

The delight of Christmas is wrapped up in the delights of God.

B.  Jesus delighted to hear the Word of God (40:6).

“In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted,
But You have given me an open ear.”
(Psalm 40:6) ESV

While Jesus is the Word Who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), let us remember that Jesus deliberately set aside His heavenly rights and privileges as the Son of God (Philippians 2:6-7) and learned the Word at an early age, thanks to His parents who were entrusted to raise the Son of God.  Wow!  What an awesome responsibility!  Therefore, I believe Jesus was delighted to hear the Word of God…

      • …when He was sitting among the teachers of the Word, who were gathered at the temple.  Jesus was listening to and asking questions of the teachers; and they were astonished at His understanding and responses (Luke 2:46-47).
      • …throughout His life and ministry.  As the Rabbi of all rabbis, Jesus taught with authority and clarity.  He knew the Word and submitted to the Spirit’s leading.  Moreover, Jesus recognized and responded His Father’s voice by handling the Word with the greatest of care.

Yes, Jesus delighted to hear the Word of God.  Remember…

C.  Jesus delighted to do the will of God (40:7-8).

“Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of Me:
I delight to do Your will, O My God; Your law is within My heart.’”
(Psalm 40:7-8) ESV

In eternity past, the plan of salvation was conceived among the Three Persons in the Godhead Who dwell in perfect heavenly harmony.  Therefore, Jesus delighted to do the will of God when…

      • …He humbly stepped down from His exalted position as the Son of God (Isaiah 6) to be born of a virgin to become God in the flesh.
      • …He humbly served sinners as the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b).  Quote Mark 10:45.
      • …He humbly submitted Himself “becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

The delight of Christmas is wrapped up in the delights of God.

II.  The Delights of God the Father

Christmas is a time for giving gifts.  But from God’s perspective, Christmas was a Gift that was meant to die so that sinners may live.  Hmmm, how many of us have given gifts designed to die?

At any rate, God’s Gift in the Person of Jesus was given out of love for you and me.  But why?  God does not delight in the death of the wicked.  Listen/read these words of the prophet Ezekiel who was dispatched to the potter’s house for an object lesson.  God was calling the nation of Israel to repent of her wickedness before divine judgment fell because…

      • “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live” (18:23)?
      • “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live” (18:32).
      • “Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel” (33:11).

Do you hear the plea of love from God for sinners to turn away from their wickedness?  While we are guilty of many sinful practices that do not delight God’s heart, the death of the wicked by way of divine judgment encapsulates the grief of God.

Therefore, to demonstrate His love and compassion towards sinners, here are four ways God the Father expressed His delights:

A.  …was pleased to crucify His Son instead of crucifying you and me

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him [Jesus];
He [The Father] has put Him [Jesus] to grief.
When You [The Father] make His [Jesus] soul an offering for sin…”
(Isaiah 53:10a).

Please, never think or entertain the idea that God is some type of sadistic deity.  God is just in all His ways.  Nevertheless, to satisfy the righteousness of His nature and laws, God had to satisfy divine justice.  Someone must pay the sin debt.  Since all of Adam’s descendants are guilt of sin, they are disqualified to pay their sin debt, let alone another person’s sin debt.

Therefore, God the Father laid upon His Son all our sins while Jesus hung on the cross (Romans 5:8).  It was on the cross that Jesus willingly exchanged His righteousness for our unrighteousness.  He became the guilty sinner for you and me.  And from the Father’s perspective, we were justified and declared “not guilty” because Jesus paid the price.  See 2nd Corinthians 5:21.

B.  …is delighted to prosper His Son and those who trust in Him.

“He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.”
(Isaiah 53:10b)

God’s sacrifice will not return to Him empty handed.

C.  …is delighted to bestow His mercy upon sinners

“Who is a God like You,
pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever because He delights in mercy.”
(Micah 7:18)

God is delighted to reveal His mercy.  In fact, His merciful character will never change.  Moreover, His mercies are new every morning.  Great is God’s faithfulness!  See Lamentations 3:22-23.

D.  …is delighted when we know Him

 “Thus, says the LORD:
Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
let not the mighty man boast in his might,”
nor let the rich man boast in his riches;

But let him who boasts, boast in this,
that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth,
for in these things I delight, says the LORD.”
(Jeremiah 9:23-24)

God the Father is delighted to reveal Himself.  And when sinners “come to their senses,” they are most blessed to walk with God and God is most pleased when we walk with Him.

The delight of Christmas is wrapped up in the delights of God.

III.  The Delights of God the Holy Spirit

The delight of the Holy Spirit is to bring the ministry of Jesus Christ into this world.  On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus promised His disciples that they would not be alone because He would send the Holy Spirit to them [and us] Who would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Moreover, The Holy Spirit would guide Jesus’ disciples into all truth and glorify Jesus.  In addition, the Holy Spirit would empower believers to do God’s will and comfort them in times of sorrow (John 16).

While time does not permit me to expound on the ministry of the Holy Spirit this morning, there is one idea by which believers can impact the delightful ministry of the Holy Spirit – Christians can grieve the Spirit.

In his letter to the Ephesians churches, Paul wrote: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).  Paul’s comment is nestled among several “do not’s.”

I believe the delight of the Holy Spirit is a two-way street.  He is delighted to do the will of God the Father, revealing God to sinners, regenerating sinners with divine power, and renewing our minds with the Word of God.  However, as sinners saved by the grace of God, we can grieve the Spirit by refusing to trust and obey God.

Therefore, let us seek to walk with the Lord by reading, understanding, and obeying the Scriptures thereby bringing great delight to the Spirit.

The delight of Christmas is wrapped up in the delights of God.

SIGNIFICANCE of and APPLICATIONS from the TEXT

What is your idea of a delightful Christmas?  Pause.  While everyone has an image in their mind, embrace those “things” that delight God.  David the psalmist wrote: “Delight yourself also in the LORD and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).  When our hearts are one with God’s heart, His desires become our desires.

So, if you are trying to capture the “magic of Christmas,” don’t look to the world for it.  Rather look to the “things” that bring delight to God.   Here are five ways you can experience the delight of Christmas.

    1. Delight to do God’s will.  Obedience versus disobedience; obedience brings blessings while disobedience inhibits blessings.  What is God calling you to do?  Are you dragging your feet by resisting the Spirit’s nudging or even His conviction?
    1. Delight yourself in His Word.  Read the Bible.  David the psalmist said that the blessed man is one who “delights in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night: (Psalm 1:2).  What book of the Bible are you presently reading?  What questions do you bring before God and what thoughts is He giving you?
    1. Delight to tell others about the Jesus.  You are on the frontlines of life.  There are people all around you; saved and lost.  They too may be struggling during this holiday season.  Some saints may have developed a distorted view of Christmas because of the stresses and challenging trials affecting their lives.  They need encouragement from you and the Word.

On the other hand, many of the lost are also groping about in spiritual darkness, not understanding the real delight of Christmas.  Bing Crosby’s White Christmas or Nat King Cole’s “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” or Santa’s sleigh full of toys for children, and many other cultural traditions mask the real meaning behind Christmas.  Therefore, to whom is God directing you to go and tell them about Jesus?

    1. Delight to praise God for His most precious gift – Jesus Christ.  In your private and quiet time with   the Lord, thank Him and praise Him.  And in your public worship of the Lord, invite others to come and    join you and your church family, especially for the Christmas eve.
    1. Delight yourself in the fact that you are privileged to know and walk with God.  God is delighted when we walk humbly with Him.  God is delighted when we trust and obey Him.  God is delighted when we tell others about Him.  God is delighted when we show others mercy and grace and will even go out of our way to serve others.  After all, God has given us a new heart, a heart like His.

Believe me, when it comes to knowing and walking with the Lord Jesus, you will never say, is that all there is?

May this Christmas 2023 be most special for you.  May the Spirit of God enable your heart to unwrap the delights of God so that you and others may experience the delight of Christmas.  Amen.  The gift from God the Father continues to impact lives today as sinners are given the “second birth” by receiving Christ by faith.

What about you?  Have you received God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus?  Come to Him.  Agree with God that you have sinned.  Believe that Jesus bled and died for your sins and rose from the dead.  Confess to Him that He is Lord and that you desire His forgiveness and the certainty of heaven.  May this Christmas be the most meaningful one for you because of your relationship with Jesus Christ.

[1] Courtney Joseph, Feeling Dread, Drained, Depressed or Delight at Christmas?, [doc online]; from https://womenlivingwell.org/2013/12/dread-drained-depressed-delight-at-christmas/ accessed 2023 Dec. 14.