Carols: O Come All Ye Faithful

Week 2 of Carols looking at “O Come All Ye Faithful” It was originally written in Latin “Adeste Fideles” and is attributed to John Francis Wade, an 18th-century hymnist., though the English “O Come All Ye Faithful” translation was by Frederick Oakley in 1841. Let’s read the lyrics:

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: O come, let us adore Him,?O come, let us adore Him,?O come, let us adore Him,?Christ the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels,?Sing in exultation,?Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!?Glory to God, Glory?in the highest. O, come, let us adore him, ?O, come, let us adore him, O, come, let us adore him,?Christ the Lord.

These lyrics comes from somewhere. They tell the story of people who would come and witness the birth of our savior. You see, these words speak irony into people of faith because the faithful did not come. It was the shepherds who stood on the outside of society that came. It was the pagan kings. It was people who didn’t have anything to be faithful about that came and adored him. Every Christmas, we should feel faithful, joyful and triumphant. I mean, it is the celebration of the birth of our savior. I know the word, “Savior” means little to nothing to many of you because it’s such an over used cliché to speak of savior. However, let me tell you people who are too cool for school and don’t think you want to really believe in a personal savior to rescue you from your self that this is a time to be celebrating. When in fact many times we feel the opposite-doubtful….depressed….defeated. Especially this time of year. It’s so dark, it’s so cold. It’s so lonely. You see people kissing and families singing and you don’t understand why your life doesn’t reflect that. In fact, I bet you know some Christians that are that way, but it’s probably not you? Right? Erk! Wrong! Of course it’s you, it’s also me. It’s you and its all of us on any given day when we’re less than perfect. Hint, that’s every single day, not just Christmas time. How many people feel faithful? What about joyful… only watching a Disney movie. Who feels Triumphant … especially about their finances? The good news is that isn’t who Jesus calls. Let me tell you a story about who Jesus calls. So, if the good news is that Jesus calls people and the people he’s calling isn’t always faithful, joyful or triumphant, then who does Jesus call?

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11)

Jesus calls two types of people. Did you guys catch that while reading? There are two types of people that Jesus calls! How many of you have their Bibles today? Well, keep them open, we have a lot of Bible verses to get to and you’ll need to flip through the good book pretty quickly. Oh, first person that gets to the Bible passage gets a prize– every single time. Jesus call the weary and burdened. The word, “weary” means tired and fatigued. Peter and Andrew were tired and fatigued from their work as fishermen when Jesus called them. But equally as important is the second part– did you catch it in verse 5? The sound of Peter’s voice to Jesus? It was burdened – he was weighed down by his heart, he wasn’t happy. He was hampered by his current circumstance. Let’s look at it: 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Jesus called the weary and burdened brothers as disciples first! No where does the Bible say that they were faithful, joyful or triumphant. They were the exact opposite. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is beautiful isn’t it. If you ever felt weary or burdened, it means God is calling you to Him! The second type of person that Jesus is calling: Jesus calls the sinners. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8) On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.…For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13 I spoke about the irony in this song right– like, why is the song called “O Come all Ye Faithful, Joyful and triumphant”? The people that Jesus first called were sinners, weak and weary. They should have called the song, “O come, all ye sinners,? weak and weary!” hahaha. I know, most of you don’t get it yet. When you get older and listen to this on an antiquated machine called an ipod, you’ll be like, “oh!” But the reason this song is come ye faithful, joyful and triumphant is not because the people Jesus is calling are those things… yet. Jesus doesn’t leave you after he calls you. In fact, Jesus helps us become faithful, joyful and triumphant. That’s why the song writer is calling us, the people who Jesus is helping to become. Jesus helps us become more FAITHFUL. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… Hebrews 12:2 You see, when we look for Jesus, he perfects our faith through our act of looking for him. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 When we listen to the words of Jesus, like in a sermon or in Bible study, or by reading the Bible outloud at home, you get more faith. Then, when life happens to you, because I’m going to read a verse from Isaiah, you’ll know that you have faith, because you are looking for Jesus and listening to what he has to say to you, about your circumstance. Let’s read the verse now. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… Isaiah 43:2-3 Jesus helps us become more JOYFUL. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, …. Galatians 5:22 Joy is the fruit of a right relation with God. It is not something people can create by their own efforts. Happiness depends on HAPPENINGS, but Joy depends on JESUS! But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you… Luke 2:10-11 NIV You might not be happy when you’re feeling crappy, but you will be joyous when you sing in Jesus’ chorus. Jesus helps us become more TRIUMPHANT. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV Realize who fights with you. We come to adore him for HE IS….CHRIST OUR LORD

Jesus is these things and because he is these things, we come faithfully, joyfully and triumphantly to celebrate his birth… every single year. Let’s pray.