Below are notes to a
sermon preached Sunday morning, August 31, 2003, at Gospel Light
Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped
file of all of my 1999, 2000, and 2001 sermon outlines, click on the
link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:
JESUS, THE LAST LAUGHBy Michael D.
O'Neal
Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist
Church
Albany, Georgia
Scripture
Reading: Genesis 17:15-17; 18:1-15; 21:1-6Text: Genesis 21:6 Genesis 21:6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. Introduction: I have told you that Isaac is one of the best pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.
According to Easton and Hitchcock Bible dictionaries, the name Isaac means "laughter." The first occurrence of laughter in the Bible is: Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? The second is: Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? Because of their old age, both Abraham and Sarah had doubts at first that God would give them a child. However, according to the Bible, at some point they turned from doubt to faith: Romans 4:19-21 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. They first laughed in DOUBT. When they believed God, the Lord gave them the laughter of DELIGHT. He who laughs LAST, laughs BEST. By the way, don't ever forget that GOD will ALWAYS have the last laugh! (Psalms 2:4) Isaac, whose name means laughter, brought laughter into Abraham's home, the laughter of delight. This reminds me of Jesus! He said: John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. and again in that chapter: John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. I remind you that after His resurrection Jesus took two of His disciples, Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. I want to show you that even as God brought laughter to that couple who founded the Hebrew nation, God brings laughter to people today who trust His Son! People love to laugh. Laughter makes you feel better: Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. However, the laughter of this world is inferior and temporary. The jokes that worldly comedians tell are nearly always based on criticism and carnality. The laughter I'm talking about is from the JOY OF JESUS! Isaac brought the first laughter, as far as the Bible record is concerned. Jesus, the second and better "Isaac," brings BETTER laughter! It's better to have joy without laughter than to have laughter without joy! The first laugh of Abraham and Sara came from sorrowful, doubting hearts. Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. The second laughter of Abraham and Sarah came from submissive, dependent hearts! Jesus brings JOY: John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. JOY is the second fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The so-called "laughing revival" is a satanic counterfeit of the joy that should characterize the people of God, especially in God's house: Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Psalms 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. JESUS, our JOY brings: I. THE LAUGHTER OF REGENERATIONIsaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Acts 3:8-10 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. A. Because of the penalty avoided B. Because of the power available C. Because of the prospects ahead II. THE LAUGHTER OF RESTING IN JESUS1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:We rejoice without seeing Him, but trusting in Him: A. For supply B. For strength C. For security III. THE LAUGHTER OF REUNIONS WITH THE SAINTS2 John 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. We enjoy church and the brotherhood because with God's people we have: A. True family B. True friends C. True fellowship IV. THE LAUGHTER OF
READING AND
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I
did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine
heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. |