Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
Heaven sings and He brings
All these best things to this world
And we pray, and we say
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Excellent Video with Exception Pictures
Joy to the World performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol ‘Joy to the World’ were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father’s influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Nonconformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:39-44
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The 7th Day Humbling of Mankind – December 21, 2012 – The Beginning of the End of the Age
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This is all very beautiful, however we differ here in a few areas.
As “many” people know, JESUS wasn’t born in December. However, what they do not seem to realize is that He was born at the Fall Feast of the LORD back in September. So we are doing this about 3 months too late. It was too cold in December and furthermore the shepherds were “not” out in the fields, as they had already put away their flock into the barns for the winter time. JESUS was born just prior to that, therefore the story in Luke 2 is a real story, however the timing is still off.
It was the Emperor Constantine that made this into a holiday. It was about the SUN, and thus the winter solstice…It had “nothing” at all to do with the birth of the SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST…Constantine was not a Christian at that time, he was a PAGAN/HEATHEN…
JESUS told us to “not” have anything to do with their ways, their festivals or their celebrations…
It (this holiday), had “nothing” at all to do with trees inside the house, or Santa Claus and reindeer. Nothing to do with all this shopping until the stores closed on the 24th, nothing to do with JESUS at all. They start back in October with Halloween on one aisle and Christmas on the other…and they leave it there until after the new year starts to make that last penny, before packing it all up.
He “is not” the reason for the season.
And please remember that He “never” told us to honor or celebrate His birthday. It was His death and resurrection that was more important to Him. He told His disciples, when you drink of this cup you will “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”. Not once did He tell them to remember His birth.
So, even though I do agree His birth is special to me, I “do not” celebrate it in December knowing it wasn’t when He was actually born, and secondly b/c He never really instructed us to celebrate it at all, there is NO reason to do all of these things. I would prefer to remember it in September without all this hoopla…
This holiday (just like all the rest of them that we do) are PAGAN, they are WORLDLY, and they are very COMMERCIAL. They are all about $$$$$, and shopping until we drop, and then paying for all of it the next year with interest. SO, with that being pointed out, I for one, “do not” need the stress of any of it.
I understand that most people around the world do these things, but is it what pleases GOD? Being as JESUS is not the reason for the season (winter), I wouldn’t think he’s pleased with all this at all…
We were told to be IN the world, but NOT OF the world…
Just how many people really read the Bible and try to live by it. I somewhat agree with the comment above as Christmas has got so commercial – more for the department stores than for celebrating the birth of Christ. The only good that I can see from it is people do mention the word LOVE more and that is a good thing.
For me, we need to be more subtle in our worship and be careful not to glorify ourselves. Worship is not something to be bragged about but to God in secret who sees you in secret. For me, I choose to workout my own salvation with fear and trembling as the good book says.
Generally all this LOVE talk is superficial…People tell me, Love You, but I realize they don’t really mean it, it’s just to them like saying goodbye, or have a nice day, it’s just “love you” instead.
When people know you they may love you and will show it by their actions, as actions are louder than words. But for the average person just to throw out a casual “love you”, it’s fake, and it’s just not normally real. Hope that makes sense.
We are to pry in secret as the LORD hears us then, and will reward us. Boasting and bragging are things that we shouldn’t be doing, but people will in the end of days, as scripture tells us they will.
Follow the LORD, as man will fail you, but GOD will never fail you.
Thanks for your response Wandakate – we don’t differ at all. I certainly don’t believe Jesus was born December 25. You might note that the Joy to the World has nothing related to Christmas or Jesus birth in the lyrics. The history comment addresses the composer wrote other Christmas songs and this one has turn into a Christmas favorite.
However, if you think about it, God did celebrate Jesus birth with a special star and wise men bringing gifts.
The real truth is we should celebrate the birth,the cross, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, Mediator, High Priest, and King every day … and especially the Living Hope He has given us in His return. Your Brother in Christ, Ron
AGREE we should honor the birth, resurrection etc. The 3 wise men weren’t bringing gifts to the baby JESUS b/c it was His birth, but simply because He was the new KING…He was the KING of the Jews and thus they honored Him with gifts fit for a KING.
Pilate even said to JESUS, “Are you the KING of the Jews”? JESUS replied, “It is as you say”.
I never knew ALL of this holiday truth until about 4 years ago, when it was revealed to me by the HOLY SPIRIT. I stopped in 2011 with the tree, the decorations, sending out cards, all of it, no shopping, no presents now and NO STRESS and NO EXPENSE either!
It works for me. I think when we know the truth, the truth will set us free.
Have a wonderful 2016…May you be blessed.