1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,040 Hey everybody, this is Pastor John Ewart from Inglewood 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,080 Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC Thank you so much for tuning 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,360 into our podcast. You're going to hear from God. 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:11,320 Today, as we share from His word. 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,080 About important issues facing your life that can guide you 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:23,440 according to the Bible. Well, Merry Christmas, 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,960 Inglewood. I just want you to know Paul. 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:34,040 Yes, Sir, I appreciate your spirit of humility and didn't 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,480 want to be too bright. No, I figured you, you're, 10 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:38,600 you're being humble and not as bright today. 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,680 So I appreciate that brother. God bless. 12 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,280 Love you, brother. Thank you. 13 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,640 If you hadn't been here last few weeks, that made no sense. 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,600 But listen, pray for Pastor Skyler. 15 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,520 He actually grew I'll this morning and I appreciate so much 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,640 our worship team just stepping up and leading us this morning. 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,040 Don't you appreciate them? Yeah, seriously, pray for 18 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:05,840 Skyler. A lot of folks out with there's 19 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,960 a stomach thing going around and a respiratory thing going 20 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:11,880 around. And so y'all come and give me 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:16,920 all big hugs and no, I hope that you're doing well. 22 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,600 Before we dive in, you can turn to Luke One. 23 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,080 Let me share just a couple of updates and a couple of prayer 24 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,160 requests. And I want to lead us in prayer. 25 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:29,360 Just remember so much when we see these baptisms, I just pray 26 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,880 we never grow weary of them. Amen. 27 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,880 It's such a wonderful thing to hear testimonies and seeing how 28 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,960 God's working in life. I know we're going to baptize 29 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:41,800 again next week as well and just so thankful for what God has 30 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,760 done. Remember, after this worship 31 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,560 time for church members, we're going to have our annual 32 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:52,440 business session that we have. And so I'll come back at the end 33 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,000 of the service and calls to order for you. 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,680 If you're our guest, you're more than welcome to go on and thank 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,320 you so much for being here. But our members, others will be 36 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,920 other members will be coming back in for that special 37 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:03,720 business session. It shouldn't last long, but it's 38 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,920 important as we vote on budget and deacons and, and some teams 39 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,199 and boards, etcetera, and also share some updates on some 40 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:13,280 things that God is doing. So it's wonderful and then just 41 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,880 appreciate that. Also, don't forget the happy 42 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:17,880 birthday Jesus offering. It's so exciting. 43 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,600 It's just flying away. But that offering, the offering 44 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,440 envelopes like that one all around the church building, I 45 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,240 pray that you'll give to that Time's running out. 46 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,120 So that goes to support some key mission projects as well as some 47 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,360 new partnerships for next year. So I pray that if you're, you 48 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,040 normally give to that, I pray that you will. 49 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,280 And if you haven't ever given before, I pray that you'll do 50 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:39,800 that this year before the end of the year. 51 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,520 So think about that offering. You can read about it in your 52 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,640 worship guide. Next Sunday, I'm going to be 53 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:48,240 preaching a special sermon. I don't know that I believe in a 54 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,800 life verse or not. I'm not opposed to the idea, but 55 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,880 all of Scripture gives life, right? 56 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,560 There's a few verses along the way that God has used in 57 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,560 dramatic and powerful ways in my life. 58 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,240 And there's a passage that God used in both my and Teresa's 59 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:03,800 life. And we'll be preaching out of 60 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,600 that next week. And I'm going to be sharing some 61 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,480 of my personal testimony. I've been asked to do that from 62 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,000 some of you. You've heard bits and pieces and 63 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,800 so I'm going to share a little bit more about that next Sunday. 64 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,520 So look forward to seeing you there as well. 65 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,440 So I wanted to give you an update on our friends overseas. 66 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,720 So at one point, our friends overseas had a February date to 67 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,600 go back to court. That's been moved now to January 68 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,800 9th. So pray for January 9th that our 69 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,600 friends will be able to go in front of the High Court and that 70 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:38,320 that ruling will be in their favor and that they can return 71 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,640 to some normalcy. In the meantime, training has 72 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,800 been happening. Leaders are being trained, God's 73 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,000 work still happening, the gospel still being shared. 74 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,280 Also, just pray with them. I can't share any details with 75 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,880 you, but the company that they are affiliated with is also 76 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,400 asking them to make some big decisions about some things. 77 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,960 And so just pray for their wisdom as they make decisions 78 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,920 about next steps. So if you'll join me now, let's 79 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,320 pray for them. Pray for this time together that 80 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,920 God would be glorified. Father, we're so thankful for 81 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,560 the way that you change lives. Thank you for the testimonies of 82 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,360 baptism. Thank you, Father, for the 83 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,600 opportunity to give to you this season to support work all 84 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,040 around the world. We thank you for our friends. 85 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:19,680 We just pray, father, that you'll continue to bless them, 86 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,040 strengthen them, protect them. Father, I pray that you'll guide 87 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,960 the the courts and give them great wisdom that father, this 88 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,160 any decision made would be would bring you great glory. 89 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,680 Help us to be the rope holders to continue to lift them up as 90 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,480 father, they continue to to wander and, and and wait. 91 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,640 In the meantime, we're thankful that your word is still being 92 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,440 shared and people are still being saved. 93 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,000 So Father, thank you for that. Now bless us, Phyllis Father, 94 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,320 with the opportunity to hear from your Word. 95 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,200 Lord, I pray your Spirit would work in our hearts and minds. 96 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,080 Help us to focus for just a few moments on who you are and what 97 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:55,800 you've given us already this Christmas. 98 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:59,240 We appreciate you and thank you. Bring your glory in Christ's 99 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,800 name, Amen. Well, I hope you're ready for 100 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,040 Christmas. I that means a lot to a lot of 101 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,320 different people. For some people, Christmas can 102 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,680 be more worried than worship. I know along the way there was a 103 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,480 lady one time and the rush of kind of last minute Christmas 104 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,760 shopping went out box bought a box of these 50 generic, you 105 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:20,720 know, kind of all the same Christmas cards. 106 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:23,360 And without really looking at what the Christmas card even 107 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:25,520 said, she was addressing them and signing them and just 108 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,640 mailing them out, all except one of them. 109 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,600 And she had one left. And a few days later she looked 110 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,320 at that one card that she had left and she looked at the 111 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,920 inside, at the message on the inside and it read this to her 112 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,280 horror, she said this card is just to say a lovely gift is on 113 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:45,280 its way. So be careful this Christmas, 114 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:48,640 you know, think about it when we say Merry Christmas. 115 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,880 You know what? What does that really mean to 116 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,440 us? Because upon Christmas rests all 117 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,600 of our faith. Frankly, upon Christmas or 118 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,600 without the Christmas, without the Christmas, we have no one to 119 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,240 worship. We have no hope for eternity. 120 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,920 We have nowhere to turn. But fortunately for us, in the 121 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,880 fullness of time, God sent his Son. 122 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,640 And so I want to talk this morning about what really 123 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,240 happened at his birth. I want us to talk about the real 124 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,000 nativity. What did it look like? 125 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,400 What was it like? And the first thing I want to 126 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,720 talk about is I want us to just remember and remind ourselves 127 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,920 from from an additional perspective. 128 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,560 I talked about this a couple of weeks ago, but let's talk about 129 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,200 this supernatural plan of Christmas. 130 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,680 I've previously shared how God was orchestrating the universe 131 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,280 to to prepare it for the coming of his son. 132 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:40,600 And if you didn't hear that a couple of weeks ago from 133 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,640 Galatians 4, go back and listen. But it would be appropriate for 134 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,800 us to see this from one other angle, one other perspective as 135 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,360 we look in Luke chapter 1, because all of history had been 136 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,800 leading to these moments. The grand narrative, the entire 137 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,520 story of the entire Bible leads to this, points to this. 138 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,480 And so for a few minutes, I just want to read from the word of 139 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,880 God, if that's OK. I just want to read from Luke 140 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,640 chapter 1, several passages. I may hop around a little. 141 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,560 I'll let you know. It's also be on the screen. 142 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,880 Let's start in Luke chapter one, verse 5. 143 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,080 In the days of Herod, king of Judah, there was a priest named 144 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,520 Zechariah of the division of Abatja, and he had a wife from 145 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,760 the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. 146 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,200 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly 147 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,080 and all the commandments and statutes of the Lord, but they 148 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,760 had no child because Elizabeth was barren and both were 149 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,800 advanced in years. Now look at verse 11. 150 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,040 And there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord standing on 151 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:38,720 the right side of the altar of incense. 152 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,120 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon 153 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,120 him. But the Angel said to him, Do 154 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,040 not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. 155 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,360 And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall 156 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,160 call his name John. It's a great name, by the way, 157 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,480 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice 158 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,160 at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord, and he 159 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,160 must not drink wine or strong drink. 160 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,280 And he would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his 161 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,520 mother's womb. And he will turn many of the 162 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,600 children of Israel to the Lord their God. 163 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,320 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to 164 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,760 turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the 165 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,600 disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready for the Lord 166 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,680 a people prepared. And Zechariah said to the Angel, 167 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,520 how shall I know this? For I'm an old man and my wife 168 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,880 has advanced in years. And the Angel answered him, I am 169 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:34,159 Gabriel, probably more likely Gabriel, and I stand in the 170 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:39,120 presence of God, and I will, and I was sent to speak to you and 171 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,400 to bring you this good news. Now go all the way to verse 57. 172 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:50,440 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a 173 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,160 son. Now go to verse 67. 174 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,880 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and 175 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,280 prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he 176 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,920 has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn 177 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:07,480 of salvation for us in the House of His servant David. 178 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,800 Now look at verse 76. And you child, will be called 179 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,960 the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord 180 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,160 to prepare his ways to give knowledge of salvation to his 181 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,960 people in the forgiveness of their sins. 182 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:29,760 So God sends forth John in this supernatural, miraculous way in 183 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,360 order to prepare the way for Jesus. 184 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,160 The story's a whole lot like Abraham and Sarah and Isaac, 185 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:36,440 isn't it? Reminds you of that. 186 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,960 It's a story of a sovereign God who's who's working and sending 187 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,720 his powerful messenger to prepare the way to fulfil his 188 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,640 perfect plan. It's important to recognize that 189 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:52,480 about 400 years have passed since the last recognized 190 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:59,760 prophet for the people of God. 400 years have passed and here 191 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,400 comes John fulfilling prophecy like so many other parts of the 192 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,720 Christmas story. Fulfilling prophecy about 1 193 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:07,320 coming in the likeness of Elijah. 194 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,680 And he bridges the Old Testament. 195 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:13,240 And the New Testament is a very unique character in the Bible as 196 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,880 he creates this bridge of the old and the new to prepare the 197 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:24,520 way for the coming Messiah. We too today, we're now 4 198 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,520 runners of the coming of Christ. That's part of our job now. 199 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,360 That's part of the reason you're saved and left here. 200 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:33,360 You're not just saved and taken away. 201 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,760 You're saved and left here. One of the reasons you're due to 202 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,160 do that is that we're 4 runners of the second coming of Christ. 203 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:44,080 We need to prepare the way for His next coming, and I pray that 204 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,480 we do so with passion. I pray that we're all ready. 205 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,560 I pray everybody here is ready for Jesus to return because my 206 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:52,960 friends, He is going to return. He can return today. 207 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,080 Not yet. That means we have work to do. 208 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,000 That means that we got to tell others. 209 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,800 So we've got to seek to tell everyone that He's going to do 210 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,440 that. But in this story, God still had 211 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,280 a few other preparations. Let's go back to verse 26. 212 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,320 In the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a 213 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,200 city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man 214 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,400 whose name was Joseph of the House of David. 215 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,960 And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 216 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,400 Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you. 217 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,400 But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern 218 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:33,880 what sort of greeting this might be. 219 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:36,960 And the Angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you 220 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,080 found favor with God, and behold, you will conceive in 221 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,440 your womb and bear a son, and you'll call his name Jesus. 222 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,600 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. 223 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,600 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father 224 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,040 David, and it will reign over the House of Jacob Forever, and 225 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:54,880 of his Kingdom there will be no end. 226 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,160 And Mary said to the Angel, How will this be, since I'm a 227 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,320 virgin? And the Angel said to her, The 228 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,320 Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High 229 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,640 will over shadow you. Therefore the child to be born 230 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,040 will be called holy, the Son of God. 231 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:19,400 So here she is, this young teenage Galilean girl, no more 232 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:23,440 than 15, probably much closer to 13, which has been most likely 233 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,920 the normal age for betrothal. So a young teenager. 234 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:30,880 What a shock. I mean, what a shock it must 235 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,320 have been when when Gabriel appeared to hear appeared to 236 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:35,400 her. I mean, one of the themes you 237 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,920 see throughout the Bible, anytime an Angel seems to appear 238 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,080 to somebody, the first words out of the angel's mouth are, fear 239 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:46,920 not, I don't know the last time an Angel appeared to you, but it 240 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:52,160 would be a little disturbing. What a shock to hear this, the 241 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,720 impossibility of what he was saying to her. 242 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,000 But you see in the story, one of the things you got to understand 243 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,800 about Christmas is the miraculous requires great faith. 244 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,040 It did then and it does now. It does for us too. 245 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,840 We have to believe. We have to believe that God is 246 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,000 going to do something so powerful, so miraculous He can 247 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:17,200 actually change lives around us. We have to believe that. 248 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,120 And the importance of this is so important, the importance, and 249 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:21,960 we just don't, we probably don't spend enough time on it. 250 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,600 I probably need to do a whole lot more teaching about it. 251 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,520 The importance of the miracle of the virgin birth cannot be 252 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,560 overstated. This doctrine is huge. 253 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,280 A proper view of the Incarnation hinges on this truth. 254 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:39,440 See, it would be more accurate to call it the virgin conception 255 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:43,200 instead of the virgin birth, obviously, because the Holy 256 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,120 Spirit created a baby and Mary's womb through supernatural means. 257 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,360 But, but, but what challenge is that? 258 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,360 I mean, how big a deal, how hard would that be to the creator of 259 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,040 the universe? See, it's part of the faith 260 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:56,840 story. We have to believe this is who 261 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,840 this is, that God is who He is. So the nature of Christ's 262 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:05,120 conception testifies to his deity, but it's also a testimony 263 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,480 to his sinlessness because he was born differently. 264 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,160 He's born without a sin nature. He's fully God and fully man, 265 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,440 yet sinless. And that makes all the 266 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,400 difference. It means he's the only one 267 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:23,080 worthy, the only one who can, the only one who will die for 268 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:28,080 us, Gabriel continued. Look at verse 36 and behold, 269 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,280 which had a good Angel voice. And behold, your relative 270 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,600 Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this 271 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,040 is the 6th month with her who was called barren. 272 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,960 For nothing will be impossible with God. 273 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,440 And Mary said, Behold, I am the servant of the Lord, let it be 274 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,760 to me according to your word. And the Angel departed from her. 275 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,120 Don't miss that Mary's favored by God and reacts in deep 276 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:56,720 humility, reacts in obedience. Listen to that phrase. 277 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:01,280 Let it be to me according to your word. 278 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:05,520 What a moment you got to stop and just think about it. 279 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,680 For what a moment of miraculous faith this is on her part, to 280 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,840 believe and to obey in the moment of the seemingly 281 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,440 impossible and everything's on the line for her. 282 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,120 Her life, her reputation, her betrothal, everything's on the 283 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:22,800 line. This was life changing. 284 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,320 This is path altering. This is impossible yet 285 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:30,720 commanded. It just makes me always ask, can 286 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:34,320 we? Will we? 287 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:42,680 Do we proclaim the same and live the same commitment in our 288 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:47,160 lives? Do we actually say let it be to 289 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:55,040 me according to your word? So may this Christmas also 290 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,640 include a committed declaration from our hearts. 291 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,480 God, whatever you want, no matter how impossible it might 292 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,720 seem, no matter how miraculous it's going to have to be. 293 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,400 Father, whatever you want, according to your word, may our 294 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:12,120 gift to Jesus this Christmas, this birthday, this time, this 295 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:16,080 year, be to obey Him according to His Word. 296 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,760 Look at verse 39. In those days Mary arose and 297 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,920 went with haste into the Hill Country to a town in Judah, and 298 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,400 she entered the House of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 299 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,600 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby 300 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,840 leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the 301 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,040 Holy Spirit. She exclaimed with a loud voice, 302 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,000 a loud cry. Blessed are you among women, and 303 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:39,680 blessed is the fruit of your womb. 304 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,680 And why is this granted to me, that the mother, the mother of 305 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,840 my Lord, should come to me? For behold, when the sound of 306 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,680 your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for 307 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,360 joy. And blessed is she who believed 308 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,120 that there that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken 309 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:58,920 to her from the Lord. And Mary said, my soul magnifies 310 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:04,280 the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has 311 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,400 looked on the humble estate of his servant. 312 00:17:06,839 --> 00:17:09,400 For behold, from now on all generations will call me 313 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,720 blessed. For He who is mighty has done 314 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,040 great things for me, and holy is His name, and His mercy is for 315 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,800 those who fear Him. From generation to generation. 316 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,240 He has shown strength with His arm. 317 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,760 He has scattered the proud and the thoughts of their hearts. 318 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,560 He has brought down the mighty from their Thrones and exalted 319 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,480 those of humble estate. He has filled the hungry with 320 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,080 good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. 321 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:35,400 He has helped his serving Israel and remembrance of His mercy as 322 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,640 He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his offspring 323 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,240 forever. It's an amazing story. 324 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,520 Elizabeth knew. What's even more amazing is the 325 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,720 unborn. John the Baptist knew. 326 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:55,880 Even the unborn baby recognize the presence of the unborn 327 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,240 Messiah. Don't, don't slide over that too 328 00:17:58,240 --> 00:17:59,640 quickly. It's a testimony. 329 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,840 It's a testimony that life exists before birth. 330 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,160 It's a testimony that there's awareness and recognition even 331 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,760 in this miraculous moment. So, so Mary's humble faith was 332 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:16,720 seen not, not just in her obedience to the Word, but even 333 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:18,480 in these praises that she offered. 334 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,080 She knew who was doing this. Mary recognized that God was the 335 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,280 one doing this. And in what's called the 336 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,280 Magnificat, she showed her heart. 337 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:29,080 She showed her mind. We're saturated with the glory 338 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:33,840 in the Word of God. But also note this, even though 339 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:39,040 she's blessed, even though she's favored, Note also that Mary 340 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:44,160 says and calls him her Savior. This is important because 341 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,600 doctrinally there are teachings about Mary out there that that 342 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,040 are not really according to the Word. 343 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,280 And, and, and this and notice that he she calls him her 344 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,600 Savior. She recognized her need. 345 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,720 She too was a Sinner, and she too would need salvation, and 346 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,240 she recognizes that she was not Immaculate, which means free 347 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:10,200 from sin. Mary would need to be saved, and 348 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,560 there was also no perpetual virginity, which is also a 349 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,120 doctrine that gets taught as she and Joseph would have other 350 00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:17,920 children later. This was God at work. 351 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,720 God's the one who needs the attention. 352 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,680 And God was still moving people, God's still moving nations to 353 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,680 fulfill this perfect plan that he'd been orchestrating since 354 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:32,360 before time began. Well, we're almost there. 355 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,520 It's almost Christmas. I know you're excited. 356 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:45,440 So turn to Luke, chapter 2, verse one, a familiar passage. 357 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,000 I hope you'll read it around your family. 358 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,760 You'll hear it on Christmas Eve here with the children. 359 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:53,680 The children are going to play a big part in Christmas Eve. 360 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:55,080 Bring the kids. We need kids here. 361 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:57,800 We need, we need them here. Christmas Eve. 362 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:02,360 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all 363 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:05,560 the world should be registered. This was the first registration 364 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:07,440 when Quirenius was governor of Syria. 365 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,960 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 366 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,760 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of 367 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,000 Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called 368 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:20,000 Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. 369 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:26,760 So Caesar Augustus Caius Octavius, the grand nephew. 370 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:33,600 The adopted son and the primary heir to Julius Caesar, he's 371 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,280 recognized by the Senate who declares him emperor. 372 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:41,200 They also they also declare him Augustus, which means Exalted 1. 373 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,520 And that actually carried religious implications. 374 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:49,040 There were Caesar cults that worship Caesar like God, much 375 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,880 like the Egyptians worshiped Pharaoh as a God. 376 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,280 And so he orders all the Roman Empire to be registered. 377 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,800 Surveys like this began every 14 years for taxation. 378 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,920 They're actually ancient records in Egypt that show similar 379 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,760 censuses that require everybody to go home so they could be 380 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:11,000 counted. But God's at work, all was in 381 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:18,760 place, the time was full, it's final, it's perfect, it's ready, 382 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:21,080 Prophecies going to be fulfilled. 383 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:26,600 So first, let's see. Secondly, the physical place of 384 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,160 Christmas. Let's let's talk about what does 385 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:30,360 that nativity set literally need to look like. 386 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,680 Look at Luke 2 verse four. And Joseph also went up from 387 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,360 Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea to the city of 388 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:40,880 David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was at the 389 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,640 house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his 390 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,880 betrothed, who is with child. The name Bethlehem, as many of 391 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,760 you know, means House of bread, the fitting place for the bread 392 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,640 of life to be born, the hometown of David. 393 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:55,480 So it's a fitting place for the king to be born. 394 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:57,400 It's also a fulfillment of prophecy. 395 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,640 From Nazareth to Bethlehem is between 80 and 90 miles. 396 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:06,000 That'd be pretty tough haul for a young, expecting teenage 397 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:10,680 mother, but they made it. They made that hard journey. 398 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,720 Joseph as the loving protector. And although women were not even 399 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:18,920 required to go to their hometown by the edict, he wanted her to 400 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,560 go to protect her, didn't want to leave her, didn't want to 401 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,280 open her to ridicule. And he also knew what Gabriel 402 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:25,960 had told him. He knew what was coming. 403 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:32,120 They needed to be together. Luke chapter 2, then verse 6. 404 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,800 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 405 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,760 And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in 406 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:42,840 swaddling clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no 407 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:47,960 room for them in the end. Well, let's talk about that in 408 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,080 for a minute. A lot of speculation, 3 or 4 409 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,280 different theories about what it was or could have been. 410 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,200 The word is kata Lima and it's not used often at all. 411 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:00,880 The word actually means to unloose or UN yoke. 412 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,640 So it carries the idea. Think of a a pack mule and 413 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,320 you're unloading the load off the back of a mule. 414 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,600 That that's the imagery, that's the word that's used here. 415 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,160 So it gives you the idea of a place where where you unload. 416 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:16,520 It's kind of a place to stop, a place to rest. 417 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,280 In the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke, it actually 418 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:22,600 refers to the guest chamber where Jesus and the disciples 419 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,400 had the Last Supper. The only other time it's used in 420 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,000 the New Testament, it's right here. 421 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,640 And so for some is this, is this a, it was the end actually a 422 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:36,480 guest room in a private home? Was it some kind of public place 423 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,160 for travellers? Now, tradition as early as the 424 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:41,000 2nd century will tell you it was a cave. 425 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,760 That and in fact, they'll take you to a couple of different 426 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,720 spots if you go to Israel. One is the Church of the 427 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,320 Nativity in Bethlehem. The other was the Shepherd's 428 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,640 cave. That'll show you kind of like 429 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,520 the way they use caves for stables. 430 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,680 Sometimes there are even caves underneath these homes. 431 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,880 And so with the spirit of hospitality, what if they have 432 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:03,040 tried to keep them in the house? Not enough room in the house. 433 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,560 So go to the basement, stay in The Cave. 434 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:11,000 There's one other option, if it were really a public place for 435 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,280 travelers, a public inn, which is often how it's projected. 436 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:20,480 I want you to hear just how humble this could have been. 437 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,440 Because an end in that day was actually a series of open stalls 438 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:30,720 in the shape of AU, often two stories, where travellers 439 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:32,440 brought their own food and bedding. 440 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,840 And they would rent one of these open stalls, and then the inn 441 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,400 would provide food and bedding, so to speak, and fire out in the 442 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,840 middle for the animals to stay protected inside EU. 443 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,080 So if there was no room in the end, that means there was no 444 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,920 stalls left. And so you had to stay out in 445 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,960 the middle of the courtyard with the animals and the fire. 446 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,000 So Mary and Joseph could have had their baby out in the middle 447 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:03,440 of an open courtyard with balconies overlooking them, if 448 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:07,520 you can imagine such a scene. We don't know for sure. 449 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,640 Maybe they were alone in a cave. Maybe they were alone in a home. 450 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,680 We know what tradition says. We do know that the word Manger, 451 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,440 the word fat name means can either be a feeding through or 452 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,480 the stable itself. And, and, and it was likely that 453 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,200 it was the feeding through made out of stone or clay. 454 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,680 They wouldn't have used wood. They wouldn't have wasted wood 455 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,160 on a feeding through. Their trees were too far in 456 00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:33,600 between and too valuable. And so the idea of that wooden 457 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,280 Manger that you see with the little cross on the end that you 458 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,760 see in a church or nativity scene or woven basket kind of 459 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:42,720 thing that was created by The Crusaders who went to the Holy 460 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,800 Land. And they saw these stone, these 461 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,720 stone fotnies, these wooden are these stone and clay feeding 462 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:50,440 troughs. And, and that that was hard to 463 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,040 tie to this out of a horse. And so they, they, they created 464 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,760 wooden replicas that they could take home to Europe and show 465 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,600 everybody. And they made their way to us 466 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:07,840 here in the West. So odds are he's laid in a stone 467 00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:12,360 feeding through. Think about the humble arrival 468 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:18,680 for the Creator, God Incarnate, the Lord of Lords and King of 469 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,920 kings. But even here he's teaching us. 470 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,960 Even here the Triune God is teaching us. 471 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:27,400 He's teaching us that He came for us all. 472 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:31,520 He came no matter how poor, no matter how broken we are. 473 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,240 He came for the regular person in the regular place. 474 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,360 He came for you and He came for me. 475 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,840 So let's talk about why. So Jesus is really born. 476 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,920 So what? Well, let's talk then about the 477 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:46,800 ultimate purpose of Christmas. Before we go, look at verse 8. 478 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,800 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field 479 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:53,760 keeping watch over their flock by night, And an Angel of the 480 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,360 Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shown all 481 00:26:56,360 --> 00:26:59,680 around them, and they were filled with great fear. 482 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:05,120 And the Angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you 483 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:07,840 good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 484 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,640 Where unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior 485 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,640 who's Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. 486 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,520 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a 487 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,920 Manger. And suddenly there was with the 488 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,320 Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and 489 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,960 saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace 490 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,520 among those with whom he is pleased. 491 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:32,880 An Angel appeared. You're out in the middle of the 492 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:37,760 dark, taking care of the flocks. Suddenly an Angel appears right 493 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,440 in the middle of you. Don't fear. 494 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:47,680 Uh huh. And literally, he says. 495 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:52,520 I evangelize to you. I evangelize to you. 496 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:57,120 A great joy for all. That's the wording. 497 00:27:57,120 --> 00:27:59,080 The word evangelism is straight from the Greek. 498 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,360 I evangelize to you. A great, great joy for you all, 499 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:05,160 for all the people. That means for you, that means 500 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,000 for me, that means for all of us. 501 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:12,360 He came for all of us and unto us, all of us. 502 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:17,880 A Savior is born for you, for me, for all who believe a Savior 503 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:19,680 is born. That's the Christmas present. 504 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,520 That that's the present. That's the gift from God that 505 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,880 you have the opportunity to receive even today, if you 506 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,880 haven't before. You've heard others testify 507 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,960 about it. Maybe your testimony is next 508 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,360 because and then he says, here's the here's your sign. 509 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,160 There might be more than one baby in Bethlehem. 510 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,320 There might be more than one baby in Bethlehem and swaddling 511 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,880 clothes. But I tell you, there won't be 512 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,400 more than one baby in Bethlehem and swaddling clothes lying in a 513 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:51,960 Manger and then suddenly a whole arm. 514 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:55,560 It's a military word. A whole army of angels appear. 515 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,520 I can't even imagine. I mean, think about how 516 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:02,080 overwhelming that would have been to these shepherds, A 517 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:04,120 multitude. It's a military term for a whole 518 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:07,760 band of soldiers. And here this army pronounces 519 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:12,280 peace, glory and peace. These are messages of Christmas. 520 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,840 Look at verse 15, When the angels went away from them into 521 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,600 heaven, the shepherd said to them, said to one another, Let 522 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,360 us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, 523 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,240 which the Lord has made known to us. 524 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,240 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the 525 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:29,960 baby lying in a Manger. And when they saw it, they made 526 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,440 known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 527 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:36,600 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherd's told them, 528 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,920 that Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her 529 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:42,240 heart. And the shepherds returned, 530 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,880 glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as 531 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,360 it had been told them. You know, shepherds had a bad 532 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,960 reputation. Their job kept them from 533 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:54,960 observing much of the ceremonial law. 534 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:56,760 So they were often considered unclean. 535 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,600 They were considered unreliable. A shepherd couldn't even testify 536 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,640 in court. And so it's amazing that these 537 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:06,680 lowly shepherds become the eyewitnesses, the testifiers. 538 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,440 And so these shepherds, too, they might have been special in 539 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,400 the sense of, and I mentioned this last week, but the temple 540 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:19,560 authorities kept their private flocks in the in the best 541 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,480 grazing fields right around Bethlehem. 542 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:27,080 So maybe these shepherds were actually watching the lambs and 543 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,920 the sheep that were intended for temple sacrifice. 544 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,680 Now what an amazing thing. We don't know that for sure. 545 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,520 But what an amazing thing to think about if the most 546 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:39,320 remarkable birth of the one who would sacrifice for us all was 547 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:44,120 first revealed to the very ones who tended the sacrificial 548 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:49,560 temple lambs. Here comes the ultimate perfect 549 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,520 lamb of sacrifice to pay for our sins. 550 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:57,800 To pay for even your sins, you lowly, unreliable, unclean 551 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:02,880 shepherds, even for you, especially for you. 552 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,760 Think about it. They witnessed this, become the 553 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:08,600 first evangelist. They made it known all over the 554 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:09,760 place. That's another lesson for 555 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:12,040 Christmas. We need to tell everybody just 556 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:13,720 like they did. I mean, think about it. 557 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,400 No Angel was sent to Herod. No Angel was sent to the high 558 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,960 priests. No, no Angel was sent to the 559 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:23,560 Pharisees or the Sadducees. It was sent to these lowly 560 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,280 shepherds because the gospel is for all people, not just for the 561 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:30,080 rich, not just for ritualistic religious people. 562 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,680 In fact, we see Jesus later ministering to the outcast, 563 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:37,760 ministering to the hurting. He was right at home where some 564 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:40,400 people even today, don't think God fits in. 565 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,360 In the midst of the hurt, in the midst of the stain of everyday 566 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:46,680 life, that's where God often fits in. 567 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:49,680 He wants to be right in the middle of your messiness. 568 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,160 You turn your messiness over to Him today. 569 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:58,360 He wants to save you this Christmas. 570 00:31:58,480 --> 00:31:59,760 I wonder what happened to these shepherds. 571 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:01,560 I always think about this story. What happened to these guys? 572 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:07,200 You know, who all heard because of them, they returned 573 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,320 glorifying and praising and worshiping. 574 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:11,400 I mean, that's another important lesson of Christmas. 575 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,360 What should our response be? What does Merry Christmas 576 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:18,160 actually mean to us? It ought to result in our 577 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:23,600 worship, our praise. Verse 32 again says he will be 578 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,360 great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 579 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:29,240 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father 580 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:32,640 David, and he will reign over the House of Jacob Forever. 581 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:37,920 And of his Kingdom there will be no end, no end. 582 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:42,560 That's forever, that's eternal, forever. 583 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:47,440 So the creator God of the entire universe, the king of all kings, 584 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:51,440 came to Earth surrounded by hay, surrounded by animals, 585 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:54,160 surrounded by the stench of a well used stable. 586 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,280 He chose the humblest beginning for his entry. 587 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:10,600 But one day, someday, maybe today, he's going to come back 588 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:16,280 with majesty and power and sovereignty. 589 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:22,840 So as you gather together this week, thank him for Christmas, 590 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:25,600 use that family worship guide and thank him for Christmas. 591 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:27,920 Thank him for what it really means. 592 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,480 And it's not too late to believe in him, to trust in him. 593 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:33,720 And you get ready for that because your minute to do that 594 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:37,400 is going to come up right now. I thought it was interesting 595 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:40,080 that our people group from the Congo, by the way, we're taking 596 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,720 a trip very quickly to the edge of the Congo on the Ugandan 597 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:47,520 side, to minister to some of the refugees from the Congo, as well 598 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:51,040 as to some homeless people, as well as to children who need 599 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:54,280 adoption, as well as to teach children to teach in a school 600 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:56,360 there, teaching a Bible college there. 601 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:59,840 It's going to be quite a trip. You can still go if you want to. 602 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,280 One day a young African boy was listening carefully to his 603 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:08,480 missionary teacher who was explaining to him why we give 604 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,199 Christmas presents to each other. 605 00:34:11,159 --> 00:34:14,040 And she said the gifts are an expression of our joy over the 606 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,679 birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other. 607 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:20,480 So when Christmas actually came, the boy showed up and, and gave 608 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,719 his T-shirt this beautiful seashell. 609 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,560 And I mean, and, and the teacher asked, where did you find such a 610 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:30,719 beautiful shell? And because she knew it didn't 611 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:32,880 come from around where they were, there was no way that 612 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:35,679 would be found where they were. And he told her that the only 613 00:34:35,679 --> 00:34:38,639 way, the only place to find him was a very specific Bay that was 614 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:42,320 many, many miles away. And she said to him, she was 615 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:45,679 speechless, but she said, why? It's gorgeous, it's wonderful, 616 00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:49,080 but but you shouldn't have gone all that way to get a gift for 617 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:52,199 me. And the boy's eyes brighten and 618 00:34:52,199 --> 00:34:54,280 get real big smiles. Real big, he says. 619 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,960 But the long walk was part of the gift. 620 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:05,000 Many of you are going to open gifts later this week, but 621 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:09,680 please take time together to remember to celebrate the 622 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:14,200 greatest gift God has already sent and just how far the 623 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,200 journey was for Him to deliver it to you. 624 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:24,040 The gift of grace and the possibility of eternal life has 625 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,040 been given. I mean you got to think about 626 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,240 it. The Creator, eternal, sovereign 627 00:35:29,240 --> 00:35:34,680 God left glory to become a single cell in the womb of a 628 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:38,120 teenage girl. I mean, that's about as non 629 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:42,840 existent as you can possibly be. And yet he did it. 630 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:46,760 This miraculous, gracious sacrificial trip. 631 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:53,080 He did that because he knows you and loves you and wants you to 632 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:57,360 know him. You know, that didn't wasn't 633 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:01,800 just anybody in the Manger. That wasn't just anybody on that 634 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:07,080 cross. That was God Incarnate because 635 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,240 He's the only one who could pay the price for our sin. 636 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,920 And He wants you to know Him. He wants you to glorify Him 637 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:18,800 right now. For some of you, this time of 638 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,320 year might be hard. In fact, it might be downright 639 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:25,840 miserable. You might miss the whole point 640 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:31,120 in the hurry and the worry and the pressure. 641 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:34,160 Maybe. Or maybe because of loss in the 642 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:38,120 past. My friends, if if you feel 643 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:41,000 unhappy or you feel miserable, I want you to rush down here in a 644 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:42,920 minute and talk to me, because I don't. 645 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,960 If any of you lack peace, I want you to rush down here and talk 646 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:50,080 to me in a minute because I have complete peace. 647 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,720 If any of you lack hope, I want you to rush down here and talk 648 00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:56,200 to me because I know exactly where you can find it and have 649 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:58,600 it. If any of you are not sure if 650 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,360 you're of your purpose of why you live or why you exist or why 651 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:04,440 you were born, I want you to rush down here in a minute and 652 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,920 talk to me because I know exactly why I breathe today and 653 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:12,680 I'm alive. If you lack assurance, if you 654 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,520 lack joy, I want you to rush down here and talk to me because 655 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:18,720 I know exactly where you can find it and it's not in me at 656 00:37:18,720 --> 00:37:22,400 all. It's because I know Him. 657 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:30,040 He saved me and changed me, and he wants to do the same thing 658 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:34,080 for you. Father, thank you for the gift 659 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:37,320 of Christmas. Thank you for the testimonies of 660 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:40,080 transformation we've heard from these young people already 661 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:43,680 today. Thank you, Father, that you've 662 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:47,200 given us the possibility of life. 663 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:52,440 With you now, Father, I pray we don't waste that chance right 664 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:56,280 now. Father, I pray for anyone here 665 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:00,240 who has never trusted in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, 666 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:03,200 the Father. They'd pray a prayer something 667 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:07,480 like this. Father, thank you for creating 668 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:11,640 me. I know that I have failed you. 669 00:38:13,480 --> 00:38:17,280 I'm a Sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. 670 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:24,440 I want to turn from my sin, so I accept Jesus as my Lord and 671 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:27,720 Saviour. I believe he's the only one who 672 00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:31,640 can forgive me and save me. Thank you for saving me. 673 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:38,080 I trust him as my Saviour. I trust him as my Lord and I 674 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:43,600 want to live according to your word, my Father. 675 00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:46,600 I pray that if anyone's here and they need to pray that prayer or 676 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:49,960 that they just did or they have, then they need to come and talk 677 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:53,520 to a pastor about what it means to be a believer, to be a 678 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:57,160 Christian, to be saved, to be born again. 679 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:02,360 For others, this may be a recommitment, a time to live 680 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,600 according to His word and not my own way. 681 00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:07,200 I pray, Father, that people will do that. 682 00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:10,960 Others have seen baptism. They say I need to be baptized. 683 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:13,040 I, I need to make that public statement. 684 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:18,440 So whatever it is, Father, as we sing, I pray people will come 685 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:20,160 talk to pastors. I pray they'll come kneel it 686 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:22,480 these steps as an altar. I pray they'll go to our next 687 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:24,840 steps room, talk to our counselors who just love to 688 00:39:24,840 --> 00:39:26,680 visit with them. Father, guide people, draw 689 00:39:26,720 --> 00:39:33,920 people, bless us now, help us to respond in Christ's name, Amen. 690 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:37,200 Well, as we stand together, some of us will be here. 691 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:40,800 You don't have to come see us. You can go straight over there 692 00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:43,800 to that room and have a private, discreet conversation with 693 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:47,320 people who love you, would love to pray with you and share with 694 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:49,520 you. There also is a table in the 695 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:52,360 back in the lobby of people who will do the same thing. 696 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:57,680 Just respond. Give him the best gift this 697 00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:00,360 Christmas. As we worship Him, as we sing, 698 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:06,160 you come. Thank you so much for listening 699 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:07,840 today, and I also hope that you'll go to 700 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:11,640 ourwebsite@englewoodbaptist.com as well as our app and find many 701 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:14,000 other resources that will bless you and your families. 702 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:15,240 Thank you once again.