New Life Church of the Nazarene
December 15, 2024
  • Joy to the World

      • Zephaniah 3:14–20NASB95

  • Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You

      • Philippians 4:4–7NASB95

  • Emmanuel
  • Isaiah 12:2–6 NKJV
    2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

    Streams of Joy: Drawing From the Wells of Salvation

    Joy. It’s something we often hear this time of year, right? It’s on the cards, sung in Christmas carols, and strung across town in twinkling lights. Let’s face it: joy is not always easy to find. Life gets to us and makes us carry heavy burdens.
    You turn on the news and hear about all the brokenness in the world: wars, earthquakes, financial instability, and division. Closer to home, many of us have burdens nobody else sees. Maybe it’s the hurt of a broken relationship, the pain of carrying too much stress, or the quiet disappointment of unfulfilled dreams.
    But here we are in the season of Advent, a season that does not shy away from joy. Not because it is everything I ever hoped it would be, but because of something else, something deeper, something unshakable. Advent joy is not an external happiness whose nature is subject to circumstance. It’s a joy grounded in God’s promises, in knowing that God is working even when life seems complicated.
    Isaiah 12:2–6 beautifully portrays this joy. The joy comes from drinking deeply from wells of salvation and keeps us going in the dry, desert-like days of life. Isaiah addresses a weary nation and explains to them – and us – that God’s forgiveness promises renewal and abundance, not for the future but for right now.
    Advent places us in an interesting tension:
    We experience the world as broken. Anyone who pays attention can see that something is wrong with this world; it is broken. There’s suffering, injustice, and waiting that feels endless.
    We celebrate the joy of God’s kingdom breaking in. Jesus is here, and He will save you. His presence brings us hope and newness right now, while we are still awaiting the restoration of everything.
    It’s in this gap between now and not yet that Advent joy exists. It is not a joy that turns away from pain — it is a joy that fights against it. It’s the kind of joy that says: Yes, life is rough, but God is good, and His word is true.
    Isaiah uses an especially dramatic metaphor for this joy. He describes God’s salvation as wells of deep, renewing, and abundant living water.
    Imagine that you’re traversing a desert hot and dry. You’re thirsty, exhausted, and wondering if you’ll take the next step. And then you encounter a well with cool, clear, life-sustaining water. You drink deeply, and then suddenly, you’re refreshed and strengthened. The road ahead is still there, but you’re ready to tackle it.
    And this is what God’s salvation offers us. It’s not instant gratification or a temporary surge of joy. And it’s a well we can go back to again and again, tapping into His love, His promises, and His presence.
    Today, as we reflect on Isaiah 12, we’re going to explore three aspects of joy that Advent invites us to experience:
    The Joy of Salvation: It is a joy from God’s life-giving grace.
    The Joy of the Uncertainty: Learning to celebrate the wait despite itself, knowing God is at work and we can only glimpse it.
    The Joy of God’s Presence: Knowing that God is with us even in the most difficult times.
    Advent joy is not only ours to embrace but ours to embody. It’s a joy that strengthens us and spills over into a world desperate for hope. My prayer today is that we will celebrate joy not as temporary but as grounded in the timeless promises of God.
    So, let’s drink deeply from the wells of salvation and find the streams of joy God offers us all.

    The Joy of Salvation

    It is in this incredibly powerful picture of joy that Isaiah describes joy: Isaiah 12:3 “3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.” Picture that for a moment: not a trickle, not a drip, but a great well of life-giving waters. In desert-like Israel in ancient times, a well was the key to life. It meant life, renewal, and hope. Isaiah paints this imagery to refer to God's salvation. This source never ceases to be a gift that helps us through the most trying times.
    At its core, salvation is the fact that God has entered our sinfulness to save us. It isn't the promise of heaven one day; it's the transformation and abundance that He gives us now. Isaiah's audience knew this in very literal terms. They were a people used to being exiled, persecuted, tortured, and yet here Isaiah is telling them that they should rejoice — not because their conditions were different, but because of who God is.
    Isaiah declares: Isaiah 12:2
    Isaiah 12:2 NKJV
    2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”
    It's a joy of trust — that God is in the here and now, that He is working, that He will save us. It's the kind of joy we can't achieve through our efforts but because God already did the work of rescuing us.
    This picture of a well represents God's provision and its abundance. The water never runs out. Jesus does this in the New Testament when He tells the Samaritan woman at the well:
    John 4:14 NKJV
    14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
    Jesus connects salvation to fulfillment, a spiritual transformation only God can provide. This world gives short-lived joy that leaves us constantly craving more, but the joy of salvation fulfills us entirely and continually.
    Did you ever have to be saved from some situation? It could be a minor issue, like a flat tire on a pitch-black highway, or something more significant, such as a medical emergency. Once help came along, relief, gratitude, and, yes, joy were the feelings.
    That's what salvation is – God coming to rescue us when we couldn't. Romans 5:8 “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
    God didn't wait for us to have it all together. He came to us in our brokenness, offering salvation through Jesus. That's the well we draw from, the fact that we are loved, forgiven, and saved. And that well never runs dry.
    Isaiah's invitation is clear: "with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." Here's the thing about a well – you must draw from it. The water is there, but it requires action on our part.
    How do we draw from the wells of salvation?
    By Worship: When we open our hearts in gratitude, we remind ourselves of God and what He has done. It's like Isaiah's words in verse 5: "Sing to the Lord, for he has done excellent things." Worship becomes the bucket that carries the living water to our thirsty hearts.
    By Scripture: God's word has taught us what He has promised, and what he has done. It brings us back to the reality of His redemption even when things feel depleted.
    Prayer: Prayer is how we stay connected to the source. It's where we drop our fears, uncertainties, and exhaustion and trade them for God's joy and power.
    A traveler in the desert, tired and thirsty, finds a well. Then they draw the water and drink deeply; strength returns, and what once felt impossible now feels doable.
    It's what salvation from God promises us. It's not just one time, but a well we return to each day. When we get dry, God's redemption refreshes us. And if we cannot find joy, we are reminded that we are loved, forgiven, and adored by a God who never forsakes us.
    It isn't life circumstances that make the joy of salvation sweet; it comes from God's steadfast nature. But what about when happiness seems far away? But what of the seasons of waiting and the unknowing? Isaiah's words remind us that joy isn't just found in the destination—it's found in trusting God in the journey. Let's explore how Advent teaches us to find joy in the uncertainty.

    The Joy of Uncertainty: Rejoicing in the Waiting

    Waiting can be the hardest thing on earth. Whether it's waiting for clarity about a big decision, the resolution of a broken relationship, or release from a time of struggle, the wait can feel heavy. You want things fixed and figured out so that you can move forward. And waiting is unbearable in a fast-paced society that revels in instant gratification.
    But Advent tells us that waiting isn't a waste. The wait is where God does his most transformative work. The good of uncertainty is not about knowing when or how things will turn out; it's about believing God is with us in the in-between times.
    Isaiah 12 invites us to perceive God as our source of joy. Isaiah 12:3 “3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.”
    This is a celebration of God's promises, the reminder that there is always a wellspring of renewal available to us in a world of uncertainties. Our salvation is by God's grace and joy, making us more confident about the next step.
    Habakkuk 3:17–18 adds a second dimension to this idea. He wrote
    Habakkuk 3:17–18 NKJV
    17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
    ​
    Habakkuk doesn't shrug away the reality of his predicament – no produce, no animals, no evidence of food provision. But his joy isn't based on what he sees. Instead, it stems from his faith in God's eternal character.
    Taken together, these scriptures tell us that:
    Joy is a choice. Habakkuk's statement, "I will rejoice," is an act of faith. It is not to deny the challenge of his situation but to trust in the God who is there.
    The joy comes from God's forgiveness. Isaiah and Habakkuk center their joy on the Lord, not in situations. It's God and His promises that are the greatest joy.
    Joy lifts us in the waiting. As with water coming from a well, the joy of the Lord refreshes and fortifies us even in the uncertainty.
    Waiting feels like wasted time only when we assume that nothing is happening. But with God, waiting is holy. He is in the background, our hearts, and our circumstances.
    Think of it as planting a seed. You plant it, and nothing is noticeable for weeks. But beneath the surface, the seed is cracking, the roots are growing, and life is emerging. Likewise, God works in our lives during times of waiting, building faith, trust, character, and so on that we sometimes don't notice until afterward.
    Habakkuk and Isaiah remind us that joy in the unknown arises from reorientation. Rather than dwelling on the unknown, we ground ourselves in the familiar: God is good, His salvation sure, His love unchanging.
    How do we get that kind of joy in our lives?
    Name the Pain: Habakkuk doesn't pretend nothing is wrong. He identifies the bad things. Joy doesn't make us shun problems; it makes us submit to God in the midst of them.
    Focus on God's Faithfulness: Reflect on how God has been faithful in the past. When we remember His goodness, it strengthens our trust in His work now.
    Give thanks: Even while waiting, God is good and present. These moments are seen by gratitude and make us feel good.
    Say I'll Trust: Just as Habakkuk did with "I will rejoice," we too can speak in trust and faith, when we don't know the answers.
    There's the story of a man who took years to reconcile with his estranged brother. He prayed and tried, and nothing happened for years. During that time, he got frustrated because his prayers were not helping.
    There was a friend of his who said one day that shifted his thinking: "Your brother might not be ready, but God is working — in him and you." The word helped him stop looking at what was happening and see what God was doing.
    The reconciliation arrived at last, and it was beautiful. But when he looked back, he didn't feel that the wait had been pointless. God had been reworking his heart, strengthening his patience, and preparing him to respond to his brother with humility and love. The delight he felt was not the reconciliation but the knowledge that God had always been good.
    The good of the unknown beckons us to believe in God in the interim. It's a joy that says, "I don't know what lies ahead, but I believe the One who does."
    Joy doesn't come from what God did or will do — it comes from the way He is right here, giving strength and hope for today. Let's see how the gift of the presence of God makes us different.

    The Joy of God’s Presence

    Advent teaches us that joy is not something we look to in the future or back into the past – it's something we can do now. We rejoice that God is not far away, that He is with us, in the moment, right where we are.
    Here is a picture we can get from Isaiah 12:4–6 of joy that comes from God's nearness:
    Isaiah 12:4–6 NKJV
    4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
    And Isaiah tells us to rejoice, for God is not in some far-off place; he is near. He is "among you" at work in His people. This truth changes our wait and struggle into opportunities to have His peace and strength now.
    We sometimes want God to arrive on stage: a sudden healing, a breakthrough, a vision of spiritual clarity. And God does do things like that, but God is also there in the quieter, more daily lives.
    He is there in the quiet of morning prayer.
    He's there in the kindness of a friend who listens at the time of our need.
    He is here in the laughter that lifts a heavy heart.
    As we learn to embrace His nearness, we can begin to see how joy isn't confined to moments in time but becomes part of daily life.
    And what's so amazing about God is that He doesn't wait for us to figure it all out. And He is there when we need him, in our distress, to give us His peace.
    When we are weak, He is our strength.
    When we're overwhelmed, He's our refuge.
    When we are lost, He is our guide.
    Joy in the presence of God is not about being disengaged from what is difficult; it's about knowing that we aren't alone in it. Isaiah wants us to "shout and sing for joy," not because life is good but because the One who loves us is living among us and supporting us in every season of life.
    Isaiah's prophecy is even more incredible when it is realized in Jesus. By being born, living, dying, and rising again, Jesus made God's presence real and visible. He is Emmanuel—God with us.
    The joy of a present God is complete in the person of Jesus, who said in Matthew 28:20 “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” He's never out of reach or out of sight when someone trusts Him.
    How are we to know the joy of God's presence in us?
    Practice Awareness: Focus on noticing how God works in your life. Find His fingerprints in the works of creation, the generosity of others, and the moments of stillness.
    Worship: Isaiah wants us to rejoice and sing. Worship helps us focus on God's awesomeness and his proximity.
    Rely On His Power: Don't try to navigate life's journey alone. Instead, invite God into the valleys with you. His presence brings joy because He strengthens and walks beside us through every situation.
    One woman recounts a period of intense mourning after her husband's death. She talked about feeling like she was in a raging storm and barely surviving.
    One day, sitting silently in prayer, she experienced God. She didn't hear an audible voice or get a magic solution to her suffering, but she experienced an unquantifiable peace. She later wrote: 'I knew that God was in the boat even though the storm didn't pass. And that boosted me to keep going."
    Through her story, we can remember that the joy does not come from the absence of storms, but the presence of God in them.
    The joy of a present God keeps us balanced through all seasons. It's the guarantee that we're never alone, the courage to take on whatever comes our way, and the promise to taste His love right here and now.
    Let's consider how this joy is from God's transforming work, inviting us to be part of His kingdom appearing in the world. Joy isn't merely something we get; it's something we give, bringing His presence and love to a desperate world.

    Streams of Joy: Drawing From the Wells of Salvation

    Advent is a time to remember that joy isn't a momentary emotion or a temporary escape — it's an unchangeable fact of God's existence and work in the world. Isaiah 12 invites us to drink from the wells of salvation, to celebrate through periods of struggle, and to celebrate God's active involvement in our lives.
    Advent holds us in the "already" and the "not yet."
    We rejoice because of what God has already done. He sent Jesus to save us, delivered His unfailing promises, and revealed himself.
    And we also anticipate the consummation of what is yet to come, the restoration of everything, the final victory over sin and death, and the day when all tears will be wiped away.
    In this tension, joy serves as our lifeline. It isn't our circumstances but the person of God who is good, real, and working to save the world.
    The joy of God's saving grace is not meant to stay within us—it should flow into the world. Isaiah tells us to exalt God's name, proclaim His works to the nations, and shout and sing with joy. Joy in the Lord is not only a private moment; it's also a public act.
    Share the Wells of Salvation: Invite others to do the same as you draw deeply from God's salvation. So live with that joy, hope, and peace that only He can give.
    Rejoice in the Waiting: In a fast-moving world, your ability to find joy in uncertainty is a testimony to God's faithfulness. Your faith and Shine Joy in His Presence: Live with the confidence that God is with you in every moment. Let His joy radiate through your actions, words, and worship, offering light to those around you.
    Think of the desert, arid and uninhabited, and then imagine you stumble on a well. The water is cool, abundant, and life-giving. No matter how often you draw from it, the well never runs dry. This is the joy of knowing God—a source that refreshes, sustains, and overflows into the lives of others.
    Let's keep that picture in mind as we walk away from here. Drink in God's joy and make it seep into you and the world. Tell everyone about Him and be good, make him known, and tell people to have a taste of a Savior who is here, now, and changing everything.

      • Isaiah 12:2–6NASB95

      • Isaiah 12:2NASB95

      • John 4:14NASB95

      • Habakkuk 3:17–18NASB95

      • Isaiah 12:4–6NASB95

New Life Church of the Nazarene
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