Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, August 31, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. 

JESUS, THE LAST LAUGH

Scripture Reading: Genesis 17:15-17; 18:1-15; 21:1-6

Text: 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 REGENERATION

Isaiah 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 JESUS

1 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 SAINTS

2 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
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

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.

Nehemiah 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

We rejoice as we understand and appreciate

A. The Author of the Bible

B. The accuracy of the Bible

C. The applications of the Bible

V. THE LAUGHTER OF REACHING THE LOST

Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

What a JOY it is to win souls:

A. It helps people like nothing else

B. It honors the Father like nothing else – John 15:8

VI. THE LAUGHTER OF REPENTANCE

Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

Luke 15:20-24 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

A. There is the joy of the return

B. There is the joy of the restoration

VII. THE LAUGHTER OF THE RETURN OF CHRIST

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

It’s a BLESSED hope because of

A. The things that will STOP when He returns

B. The things that will START when He returns

Maybe you’re having a hard time laughing now because of your troubles in this world. Be of good cheer; our Lord said:

Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.