1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,200 if you were here last night, you know that, we briefly spoke 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:13,600 about The obvious theme of this weekend, the birth of Christ but 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,200 we looked at a certain vantage point about how the Holy Spirit 4 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:23,200 did not necessarily give us the precise date of the birth of the 5 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:27,600 Savior but he did in his wisdom provide us numerous detailed 6 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,200 accounts surrounding and leading up to that event and We examined 7 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,500 for just a few moments of one of those accounts, one of those 8 00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,400 reports and it was the interruption. 9 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,100 If I can use that word of An angel and a Heavenly Host, who 10 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:48,300 appeared to a quiet group of men who are supervising their their 11 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:51,200 sheep. And they received an honor that 12 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,400 no caesar, no Pharisee, no priest would experience. 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,300 And that was the announcement of the, the Son of God, entering 14 00:00:58,300 --> 00:01:02,200 into the world, and even the direction of how to witness it 15 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,300 with their own eyes. But this afternoon, I want us to 16 00:01:05,300 --> 00:01:07,100 now look at a different angle from this. 17 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:09,300 I want us to look at a different group of men. 18 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:13,100 I want us to see what the The spirit has given us in terms of 19 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:18,000 instruction on a vast subject about what we can learn from 20 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,600 this event and it's not going to be on the specific night that 21 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,300 the Savior was born. We're going to, we're going to 22 00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:26,400 fast forward a few months, we're going to fast-forward perhaps 23 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,200 even a couple of years when this baby was now an infant, and he's 24 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,600 no longer in a Manger. He is tucked safely in a home 25 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,400 with Earthly parents, who have been given the responsibility 26 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,000 to. Can you imagine it? 27 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:44,700 To raise up God himself. And so what I want to do now in 28 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:48,700 this in the segment is take you to the Book of Matthew and 29 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:52,500 chapter to read a few verses and then impact these verses for you 30 00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:55,200 with the same intention that we had last night, that your heart 31 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,500 would come alive and that you would have fresh desired to 32 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:02,700 adore him. Love him, cherish him. 33 00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:06,000 In light of the wisdom of his word. 34 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:15,400 Matthew chapter 2. beginning in verse 1, we read now, after 35 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,100 Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the 36 00:02:19,100 --> 00:02:26,000 king, Behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, 37 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,300 where is he who has been born King of the Jews for? 38 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:33,700 We saw his star when it Rose and have come to worship him? 39 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:38,300 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all 40 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:41,900 Jerusalem with him and assembling all the chief priests 41 00:02:41,900 --> 00:02:44,600 and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the 42 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,600 Christ was to be born, they told them in Bethlehem of Judea for, 43 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,500 so it is written. By the prophet and you o 44 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:57,200 Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the 45 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,500 rulers of Judah for from you shall come a ruler. 46 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,400 Who will Shepherd My People Israel. 47 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:14,000 No date, no date of when the Savior was born, but plenty of 48 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,000 details to tell us of the period in which he was born. 49 00:03:17,900 --> 00:03:21,500 And in the first couple of verses, we have an understanding 50 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:27,100 of how problematic it was for Jesus to be born in these days 51 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:30,200 and that is highlighted by Matthew inspired by the Holy 52 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,600 Spirit. When he underscores in verse 1 53 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,900 of Matthew to that, Jesus was born. 54 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:37,300 Yes. And Bethlehem of Judea, Also in 55 00:03:37,300 --> 00:03:42,700 the days of Herod, the King Herod the king now that is 56 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:45,400 reduced to just the mere historical fact, unless you, and 57 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,000 I have some kind of understanding of who Herod was 58 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:53,300 Herod, was a politician. He was someone who was raised up 59 00:03:53,300 --> 00:03:57,300 by Rome who is oppressing the nation of Israel at this time to 60 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:01,700 be some form of a king, who would bring order and peace to 61 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,100 the inhabitants in the citizens of Israel. 62 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,300 He was not independent from the Louis of Rome, Rome designed 63 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:13,600 this man to fulfill their wishes and so he followed their orders 64 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,000 and he implemented what they desired. 65 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,300 And the people were subdued to a certain extent and this Herod 66 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:25,200 who was one of many succeeding herod's is identified as Herod, 67 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,300 the Great Herod the Great perhaps because of his great 68 00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:35,000 achievements as a politician And he was known for many things, 69 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,600 but this man was a master architect. 70 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,800 He was able to create and Implement and establish many 71 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:48,000 things that was part of the flourishing of the Society of 72 00:04:48,008 --> 00:04:50,400 the time. And one of those things was a 73 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,000 revamping of the temple for the Jews. 74 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:58,400 It was a renovation project like they have never known and he was 75 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,200 responsible for it. And according to John 2:20, it 76 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:07,000 took more than 40 years to accomplish and it was glorious, 77 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:12,000 it had passerbys just absolutely stunned by the beauty that this 78 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,700 man was able to generate with his power and his creativity. 79 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,700 But Herod, although he was great in that sense what's important 80 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:24,000 for us to know in this context was that he was not great 81 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,600 morally. This man was like many of the 82 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:34,400 rulers of his day constantly suspicious paranoid fearful that 83 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,100 someone would usurp his authority. 84 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:39,700 And because of this, he was responsible for many deaths, 85 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:42,800 even the death of his own wife and some of his sons. 86 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:47,000 When he felt, as though, they might conspire against him, this 87 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:51,300 Herod was unpredictable, he was cruel, and by the snap of a 88 00:05:51,308 --> 00:05:54,800 finger, he can cause atrocities, not just great architectural 89 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,600 projects, X. And we get a hint of this man's 90 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,900 dark side in the very same chapter that you and I are in 91 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:04,200 today because when he discovers that, the king of the Jews would 92 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:09,300 be born and did not have the ability to find him out of Rage. 93 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:14,200 He calls for a charge to slaughter the children, all the 94 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,700 male Hebrew boys who were under the age of two. 95 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:24,500 A massacre. A gross despicable thing. 96 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:31,000 This is the kind of Herod that we are speaking about, and it 97 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:35,000 seems like a silly thought but let me present to you a thing to 98 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,200 meditate on for a moment, perhaps. 99 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,000 You might look at that and realize that I think to 100 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,100 yourself, how can it be that God would actually allow Jesus to be 101 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:46,500 born at this time. And just imagine for a moment 102 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:49,600 that you would be in his Divine Council was speaking about God's 103 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,900 Divine, Council of pertaining to the birth of the long-awaited 104 00:06:52,900 --> 00:06:53,900 Messiah. What would be your 105 00:06:53,900 --> 00:06:57,300 recommendation for when the Savior should be born? 106 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:00,600 When would you decide would it be a time of peace? 107 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:04,900 What would you clean things up? First before you would usher in 108 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,100 the one that would save his people from their sins? 109 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,500 What does seem reasonable to you that God In His Infinite? 110 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:16,300 Wisdom would choose for the Savior to be born and to become 111 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:20,400 a helpless baby under the rule of this wicked man. 112 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:27,200 This man who had no hesitation to liquidate the innocent to in 113 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,200 a moment. Even remove these helpless 114 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,500 babies from their mother's lap and to slaughter them. 115 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,600 Do they propose no threat at least in the time? 116 00:07:36,900 --> 00:07:39,700 Was it a slip through the cracks of the Messiah was born Here and 117 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:44,000 Now Let it be known today. Let it be known this afternoon 118 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,200 with great confidence that the birth and the timing of the 119 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,300 birth of the Christ was not accidental. 120 00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:52,500 It was totally planned perfectly planned. 121 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,400 It was a procedure that even the timing would make a declaration 122 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:05,700 of the mightiness of God of the strength of God, of the Majesty 123 00:08:05,700 --> 00:08:09,300 of God. And it is this that he has never 124 00:08:09,300 --> 00:08:14,100 been nor will he ever be intimidated by the resistance of 125 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:17,400 this world? There is no earthly system. 126 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:22,700 There is no diabolical force that ever presents, even a inch 127 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:26,000 of an ounce. Threat to the purposes of God 128 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,200 and every age. When you look at this book from 129 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,900 cover to cover and you study who God is and you realize what he 130 00:08:33,900 --> 00:08:37,400 has done, you will come to this conclusion that he'd the lights 131 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:43,299 to Showcase his sovereignty by strategizing his advancements 132 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,600 purposefully and doing what finding a way to do. 133 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:52,200 So in the most unfavorable and perilous of circumstances, God 134 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,100 loves to Showcase his sovereignty when the opposition 135 00:08:55,100 --> 00:08:59,100 is the strongest under so many examples of this. 136 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:02,100 What came to mind? This morning was how Hebrews 137 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:07,400 tells us that Abraham when he was as good as dead. 138 00:09:07,500 --> 00:09:11,500 What a description for a man, when he was as good as dead, 139 00:09:11,500 --> 00:09:14,500 that is when God chose to give him a son. 140 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,900 I think about God's Exodus from Pharaoh when he pulled out his 141 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:26,300 people and he purposely leads him to a dead end while pharaoh 142 00:09:26,300 --> 00:09:29,600 and his army are chasing. The people only for that water 143 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,800 to split open and to create a walkway for them. 144 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,700 I think about so many of the Miracles that we see where there 145 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:38,400 seems to be a delay in timing, even during the ministry of 146 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,200 Jesus. But in that delay, God wanted to 147 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:46,500 display greater power and greater glory unto himself. 148 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,100 And so we see in this book that through obvious examples and 149 00:09:51,100 --> 00:09:55,800 even through subtle nudges that God loves to display his power. 150 00:09:55,800 --> 00:10:00,400 And to show that there is no strength, there is no hand that 151 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,600 can stay him and say, what have you done or what do you think 152 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:08,200 you're doing? One of my favorite examples is 153 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,600 actually found in a book that perhaps would not be very 154 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:15,600 fitting for Christmas but it's okay in Revelation. 155 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,000 Chapter 2 can I show this to you? 156 00:10:18,700 --> 00:10:21,700 Go to Revelation Chapter 2, aren't you glad you came to 157 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:22,600 church? You're going to hear from The 158 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,300 Book of Revelation on Christmas Sunday. 159 00:10:26,300 --> 00:10:28,700 But it's for good reason. Revelation Chapter 2, I want you 160 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:31,300 to look here in verse 12 when Jesus writes a letter to a 161 00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:35,300 church, And he writes to the church in pergamum. 162 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:39,800 And it says, here in Revelation 2:12. 163 00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:46,600 And to the angel of the church, in pergamum, write the words of 164 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,500 him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 165 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:52,700 Imagine introducing yourself like that to the church. 166 00:10:54,300 --> 00:10:58,200 Look at verse 13. I know where you dwell, where 167 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:02,600 Satan's Throne. Is you hold fast my name and you 168 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,300 did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas was my 169 00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:09,500 faithful witness who was killed among you where Satan dwells. 170 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,800 You and I just heard how Jesus was born when Herod was on the 171 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:18,800 throne and that was a dangerous, a dangerous thing. 172 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,300 But now we come to the end of the book. 173 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:23,700 And you know what, we read we read that this Jesus is speaking 174 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:28,400 to a church, a local church that was planted where Satan's Throne 175 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:33,500 was. Satan's Throne, get the cartoon 176 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:35,200 idea of hell. Out of your mind, Satan's, 177 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,700 Throne is not in Hell. Satan's headquarters is not in 178 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:41,100 hell. Hell is Satan's punishment. 179 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,200 We're told here that at one time in history, Satan's Command 180 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,900 Center was in a place called pergamum. 181 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,400 I find that fascinating, I found that exhilarating for many 182 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,400 reasons and let me tell you one of them in a moment we're not 183 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:01,900 given any explanation to why Satan dwelt here. 184 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:05,000 Can I translate that? That's where home was. 185 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,600 That's where you sent mail to his address. 186 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:13,200 That's where he was And this is where a church was and we're not 187 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,900 told why Satan felt so comfortable to be in pergamum 188 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,900 but if you know enough of his vile character, that it makes 189 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:23,600 sense that there was something about that atmosphere that made 190 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,500 him comfortable. That made him comfortable to 191 00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:29,600 park there at least for the time being and to have his main 192 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:34,500 operations come out of pergamum. And so I know one thing based on 193 00:12:34,500 --> 00:12:38,200 this, that pergamum must have been a place of severe blasphemy 194 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,400 and gross immorality. It must have been scandalous. 195 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:46,000 It must have been a place of heightened, evil, and heightened 196 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,200 persecution. Even as read that there was a 197 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,500 Christian who was murdered in those streets, And this is where 198 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:55,600 Satan chose to be, and I believe it's because he had special 199 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,600 influence there, he was able to maneuver things, he was able to 200 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:04,000 bring this city into an unusual level of iniquity. 201 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:07,800 But that's not the point. The point is yes, his throne is 202 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,200 there. Yes, Satan dwells there. 203 00:13:10,900 --> 00:13:14,100 It's a very dark description for a city but it holds glorious 204 00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:16,000 Revelation. Here's the Glorious Revelation. 205 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:21,600 Jesus said to a church, I know where you dwell, I know where 206 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,600 you dwell, you dwell where Satan dwells. 207 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:28,400 Same brother. What are you trying to get at? 208 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,800 Here's what I'm trying to get at even in the boundaries of 209 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,300 Satan's headquarters, Souls were being saved. 210 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:41,400 The Bible was being preached disciples were being made 211 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,700 prayer, meetings were happening. And even martyrs. 212 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:50,300 Were being produced. That's a that's a statement of 213 00:13:50,300 --> 00:13:53,400 the power of the gospel and I hold that truth. 214 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:58,100 Very dear to my heart because it shows me that God can raise up a 215 00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:01,000 Remnant, even in the midst of the most hostile and vicious 216 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,100 grounds. You live in Chicago. 217 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:10,000 Don't you have you lost hope? Have you lost hope for the city? 218 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,200 Are you tempted to leave? Because of the evil? 219 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,700 That is bleeding into the safety of even the suburbs. 220 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,200 Take this truth and hold it dear to your bosom Christ can still 221 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:25,700 make a Mark here. Even with the reputation that it 222 00:14:25,700 --> 00:14:29,900 has for its violence and forts unbelief and for its immorality, 223 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:33,200 and Corruption Christ can make a Mark here. 224 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:36,900 He can raise up a faithful church and not just local 225 00:14:36,900 --> 00:14:39,100 churches. He can raise up, the quality of 226 00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:42,800 Christians, like this man Antipas, who is willing to have 227 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:47,600 his blood shed, In a place where there was little to no 228 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:53,800 allegiance to Jesus Christ. And the birth of Christ is often 229 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:55,800 associated with humility and lowliness. 230 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,600 And that is right. That is not a wrong assessment, 231 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:02,000 but let us also Rejoice with it. The mightiness of God, he was 232 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,700 born in the days of Herod when there was so much danger looming 233 00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:11,600 and threats Christ came in, in the most vulnerable condition, 234 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:16,200 you can be in this life and still triumphed, because God was 235 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,100 the one who orchestrated such a plan. 236 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,600 And I find it humorous beyond that listen to this. 237 00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:25,700 So you Herod, who is willing to kill babies and God chooses to 238 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:27,700 usher in the Messiah at that time. 239 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,700 And more than that, when you have the wise men coming into 240 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:34,800 Jerusalem, God in his Providence allows heretic, give them the 241 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,500 directions to find them. You realize that? 242 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:42,800 So you go to Luke to or Matthew to rather verse 8, and we didn't 243 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,700 read that verse. But we read that Herod. 244 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:48,100 He finds out as you heard where the Messiah was to be born. 245 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:52,000 He brings in the Magi and it says, in Matthew 28, and he sent 246 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,300 them to Bethlehem. Why is that significant? 247 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:58,800 Because they made it to Jerusalem but they got lost his 248 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:00,500 so knocking on doors and asking around. 249 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:01,900 Hey where's the king of the Jews? 250 00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:06,000 And what a, what a, what a sad spiritual commentary on the 251 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:07,500 condition of the Jews of that day? 252 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,700 They didn't even know about the king of the Jews here, you have 253 00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:14,700 guys who are Gentiles that are not even in close proximity to 254 00:16:14,700 --> 00:16:18,900 sufficient prophecy. And they come to this place. 255 00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:23,100 Asking the people of God for directions to where the king of 256 00:16:23,108 --> 00:16:25,200 the Jews was born and they didn't know. 257 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:29,500 And in God's Providence, you have Herod, who hears, the news 258 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,200 brings them in says, you guys want to know where yet he's in 259 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,300 Bethlehem and when you go there tell him and tell me about 260 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:37,400 rather so that I can come and worship him as well. 261 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,200 So he's not curious. He wants to assassinate the 262 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,200 child. And here's the thing with his 263 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:44,300 desire and thinking that these are the first steps to 264 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,000 accomplish that God actually through Herod. 265 00:16:47,300 --> 00:16:52,400 James gives the Magi a map. I mean it just the sovereignty 266 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,200 of God is all over this and it reminds me of a Psalm in Psalm 267 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:00,500 7610. Surely the wrath of man shall 268 00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:04,500 praise you. Have you ever wondered what that 269 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:06,000 meant? Here's a clear example. 270 00:17:06,099 --> 00:17:09,599 Surely the wrath of man shall Praise You. 271 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,700 In other words, even those who want to fight against the will 272 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:15,599 of God to try to destroy the message of the Gospel. 273 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:21,000 In the end, it will come to the praise and glory of God and 274 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,500 that's why the second part of the same verse. 275 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:26,900 It says the remnant of Wrath you will put on like a belt. 276 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,700 In other words, I'm going to use your wrath against my purposes. 277 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:36,400 As a tool, you can never escape the sovereignty of God you are 278 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,600 in subject to it whether you want to be or not. 279 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:43,400 So here's, here's the Messiah now, and we're told that he is 280 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,400 born in the days of Herod. And now the Holy Spirit turns 281 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,100 our attention to this group of men, the Wiseman that you just 282 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:51,100 heard me referred to in Matthew 22. 283 00:17:52,100 --> 00:17:57,000 They come to Jerusalem, eager hungry longing. 284 00:17:58,100 --> 00:18:01,800 And it says, in verse 2 of Matthew to saying, where is he 285 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,100 who has been born King of the Jews for? 286 00:18:04,100 --> 00:18:09,000 We saw his star when it Rose and have come to worship Him. 287 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,400 Who are these wise men in the Greek? 288 00:18:13,500 --> 00:18:16,900 There known as the Magi. And like many things, the holy 289 00:18:16,900 --> 00:18:19,800 spirit in his wisdom discloses details about them, but it is 290 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:24,500 believed that they have come from most likely Persia and the 291 00:18:24,508 --> 00:18:27,400 Book of Daniel helps us to know about some of their activity in 292 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:31,900 their Origins, these Magi who came from the East served as an 293 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:35,300 Advisory Board to the reigning king of their land. 294 00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:37,700 They were experts in science and math. 295 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:42,500 They were experts in things like history and even the occult and 296 00:18:42,500 --> 00:18:47,800 they would be referred to from T to either interpret things such 297 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,600 as dreams. We see that and Daniel or even 298 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,300 to predict the future they were they were guides for the 299 00:18:53,300 --> 00:18:58,100 monarchy of their time. Here's the question, why are 300 00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:00,700 they in Jerusalem? Therefore, in their Gentiles, 301 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:03,300 they serve their own Gods. They have their own plans to 302 00:19:03,308 --> 00:19:05,600 have their own ideas. They have their own things to 303 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,900 deal with. And again, when you go to the 304 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:10,300 Book of Daniel and makes all the sense, right? 305 00:19:10,300 --> 00:19:15,000 Because for these men that we know come from the East, surely 306 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,500 must have been influenced by Daniel. 307 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:22,100 In other words, Daniel, who is a high chief official exiled into 308 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:25,600 Babylon and after different kingdoms came and ruled Daniel 309 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,800 was in position for so long. And it could be that through the 310 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,700 prophecies. He received the same prophecies 311 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:34,500 that you read in the Book of Daniel were disclosed to these 312 00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:36,800 Magi. And these men who are eager to 313 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,700 learn sat at the feet of this prophet and he revealed to them 314 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:44,500 of a coming Messiah, a Jewish King, who would save, who would 315 00:19:44,500 --> 00:19:47,400 redeem, who would restore, who would rule the world. 316 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,700 And it's very likely, it's very possible that generation after 317 00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:55,600 generation these Magi, these learned men pass down these 318 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,300 teachings that came from Daniel and it came to a point where 319 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:02,700 there is this, this boiling anticipation for the Messiah 320 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:05,700 even among Gentiles. There was this hunger we want to 321 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:09,600 know this God we want to know this Messiah and the time has 322 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:14,000 come, the time has come when God Reveals His Supernatural sign to 323 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,900 indicate to this generation of Magi. 324 00:20:15,900 --> 00:20:19,800 He's here. He's here make your way and they 325 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:23,500 do and these men are intriguing but we don't know much about 326 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:25,100 them. We don't know their names. 327 00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:27,700 Contrary to the nativity scene that is popular. 328 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,000 There could have been more than three of them. 329 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:33,400 We don't know the exact origins of where they came from. 330 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:36,000 But here's what we do know, according to Matthew, if there 331 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,100 is anything that the Holy Spirit wants to highlight, you ready 332 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:40,600 for this, it's their diligence to worship. 333 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:48,300 Their diligence to worship. Have you considered it? 334 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:53,700 The distance that they traveled. If they did come from Persia 335 00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:56,700 they did come from that Babylonian region, we're talking 336 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:59,700 about Modern Day, Iran, modern day, Iraq. 337 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,800 Hundreds of miles to get to Jerusalem and guess what? 338 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,000 They didn't get on a flight to get there. 339 00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:11,300 You have to understand that this journey included, undeniably 340 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:16,000 extreme weather conditions. The patients to travel on and 341 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,600 with animals. The danger of Bandits and 342 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,800 robbers on the sides of the road, ready to ransack, and take 343 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,400 their own possessions and even their lives. 344 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,500 If they had to, this was a dangerous track. 345 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,000 This is not easy. This is not convenient. 346 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:36,900 And yet they come, they come and they make their way to find this 347 00:21:36,900 --> 00:21:39,900 child and to worship Him and add to that the threat of the 348 00:21:39,900 --> 00:21:44,400 destination itself. Because once they do behold this 349 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,900 Divine baby, they are told by God. 350 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:49,700 God in a dream not to go back to Herod. 351 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:52,700 So they find a different way to head back home. 352 00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:56,800 Why all the effort? Why leave the comfort of your 353 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,100 home? Why put yourself in danger? 354 00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:04,900 Why make your way to this point? The holy spirit, gives one 355 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:09,400 reason and one reason alone to worship to worship Him. 356 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,900 I said this last night and it's been in my heart all week, so 357 00:22:13,900 --> 00:22:18,600 I'll say it again, I do not mind repeating myself true worship. 358 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:23,100 Cost something. True worship. 359 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:29,700 Includes sacrifice. And if there was anybody who had 360 00:22:29,700 --> 00:22:32,700 an excuse not to make time to worship the living Christ, it 361 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:34,900 was these men with all their practical hurdles. 362 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:39,800 But they worshipped because that's where their heart was at. 363 00:22:40,500 --> 00:22:44,900 And strangely if you take your eyes, Off of this verse and you 364 00:22:44,900 --> 00:22:49,100 look out into Christendom today. It breaks my heart to say that 365 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:53,300 generally costly worship has been replaced with convenient 366 00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:56,600 worship. Convenient worship. 367 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:03,200 So worship looks nice, like giving God what you are able to 368 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:08,900 give him as long as it doesn't affect your personal pampering 369 00:23:09,900 --> 00:23:16,100 or your temporal distractions. That was, that was not the case 370 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:19,100 for these men. Worship was a priority and 371 00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:22,900 everything followed that. and even in a world today, where we 372 00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:25,800 have so much religious freedom, so much comfortable 373 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:31,300 Transportation so much of a sheltered building and The 374 00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:34,100 warmth of people and the warmth of even a government that allows 375 00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:36,700 us to do, what we want to do, the diligence of worship. 376 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:38,800 The living Christ has been challenged and is being 377 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:45,300 challenged more than ever More than ever not by Harrods, not by 378 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:50,000 Bandits, not by dangerous Journeys, to get to a place 379 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,000 where you can worship and hear the word of God. 380 00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:57,900 No by convenience. By convenience. 381 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:07,000 I can say more, but I'll stop. These men with their diligence 382 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,000 had dedication. They had dedication and they had 383 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,300 an eagerness verse 2, says one word in the beginning saying 384 00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:20,500 saying, you know what that implies they kept inquiring they 385 00:24:20,500 --> 00:24:26,000 did not give up, they were on a quest to discover. 386 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:31,400 Where is this King? What a tragedy would have been 387 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:35,400 if after a few I don't know, is they packed their bags and went 388 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,400 home? But that was not the case with 389 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,600 them. Because their diligence, their 390 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,200 persistence was anchored in something you want to know why, 391 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,900 it was that they were able to stay and remain and fight until 392 00:24:47,900 --> 00:24:51,300 they realize the spiritual treasure one. 393 00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:54,800 Simple thing, it's not a mystery, they had absolute trust 394 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,600 in the revealed word of God to them, Did you notice the 395 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:01,200 question when they came and asked? 396 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:06,800 Where is he didn't say? Is it is it actually true that 397 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:09,700 the king of the Jews is born here? 398 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,500 Is it a thing as we don't know? We're just, we're just curious 399 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,400 nothing of the sort they asked. Where is he? 400 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,600 Who has been born? It was a done reality. 401 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,700 It was, it was a fact to them. They believe that they absorb 402 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:26,600 that, they heard it and they concrete trusted in it. 403 00:25:26,900 --> 00:25:29,300 And so they said, where is he? We know is here. 404 00:25:29,500 --> 00:25:30,800 And here's the thing, they didn't see. 405 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,900 It didn't realize it, but they believed it. 406 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:38,500 And if you want to know the fuel to diligence, if you want to 407 00:25:38,500 --> 00:25:41,000 know something of great spiritual success, if you want 408 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,400 to know how to be steadfast in your walk with the cry, it with 409 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:47,900 the Christ, then you need a complete trust in this world. 410 00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:52,100 That's all you need belief in this word and active, obedience 411 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:54,600 to this word because you look at these Magi and I see something 412 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:55,700 else. I see it, tenacious 413 00:25:55,700 --> 00:25:59,700 determination, which is a reminder of how steadfastness is 414 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:01,900 necessary in order to know spiritual success. 415 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:03,700 They would have failed that they've given up. 416 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:08,400 They would have failed. They would have missed out. 417 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,700 There's only one way to know great things in God. 418 00:26:12,700 --> 00:26:14,800 There's only one way to graduate in godliness. 419 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,200 There's only one way to know from testimony to testimony. 420 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:22,200 That is this, you can't give up. You can't give up whether or not 421 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,800 you see the results now or tomorrow, you cannot afford to 422 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,200 give up. And the thing that will keep you 423 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,700 going is seeing this word and believing the god behind this 424 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:36,000 word that he does not lie, and he is faithful, and he is true 425 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,300 and he can be counted on. My heart. 426 00:26:39,300 --> 00:26:42,500 My heart, this afternoon bleeds a little bit. 427 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:47,900 It bleeds a little bit because I I look out and I see little 428 00:26:47,900 --> 00:26:51,700 honor for Christ. Thank God in this church. 429 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:55,000 There's so much of it but I'm talking about honor, just 430 00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:00,500 serving the lord because he is Lord worshiping him just because 431 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:05,000 he is worthy to be worshiped being a devoted follower of 432 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,500 Christ. No matter the cost and 433 00:27:06,500 --> 00:27:09,500 prioritizing Your Existence around that truth. 434 00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:13,500 Oh, I long to see greater honor for Jesus Christ. 435 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,100 Oh, that we would see it. Oh, that we would be like these 436 00:27:17,100 --> 00:27:22,800 men who came for what purpose to just Our ship him just to love 437 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:24,700 him. Just to give him. 438 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:28,000 What is due unto him? No hidden motives. 439 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:29,300 No hidden. Agendas. 440 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:32,600 Not trying to impress anybody. Not trying to get brownie points 441 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,900 with god. Oh just to worship Him. 442 00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:43,500 I pray, you young men. Who will be fathers, who will be 443 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:48,000 husband's that you would be leaders in this one Pursuit? 444 00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:57,300 I will live to honor Christ and my family will follow my lead to 445 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:01,300 honor Christ and to honor Christ Alone. 446 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:09,200 These men convicted me. And the joy and excitement of 447 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,200 the Magi is not the only instructive illustration before 448 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:14,900 us today. Look at what is said of Herod in 449 00:28:14,900 --> 00:28:19,600 verse 3 in contrast to their attitude and verse 3 of Matthew 450 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,600 2. We read when Herod the king 451 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:28,500 heard this, he was troubled. He was troubled and all 452 00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:34,300 Jerusalem with him. What an odd reaction, we 453 00:28:34,300 --> 00:28:36,300 celebrate this truth. And here's his men, who is 454 00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:41,100 agitated by this truth, why was Herod so alarmed? 455 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:45,200 Why was he so Disturbed? What was that? 456 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,500 His intelligence agency revealed to him that caused him to be 457 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:51,300 this way is very simple. It's not a mystery. 458 00:28:51,300 --> 00:28:54,600 It's not hard to understand. If it is true that there was a 459 00:28:54,608 --> 00:28:59,200 king who has been born. Then there was also born a rival 460 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:04,600 to the throne. And this man does not like this 461 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:09,200 news. He was Disturbed not because 462 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:14,700 there is a group of people who had this simple belief and 463 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:18,100 prophecy. This man was disturbed because 464 00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:21,100 of the implications of this news on his own life. 465 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:27,000 It's no different today. It's no different today that 466 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,800 when people hear about the biblical Jesus Christ that it 467 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:34,800 troubles, many of them. And the reason why I troubles 468 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,200 them is for the same reason that a troubled Herod. 469 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,900 You have many people who hide behind science, Who hide behind 470 00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:46,100 pseudo, philosophy Who hide behind all these strange 471 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:51,400 arguments. For their spirituality without 472 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:55,200 lordship. Or even just this cancellation 473 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,300 of the existence of God all together and they're very 474 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:01,000 passionate about it, the very passion and even angry about 475 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:03,700 their stance. And it's not because their 476 00:30:03,700 --> 00:30:07,500 worldview is based on evidence. Or because what they have to say 477 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:11,900 or believe can contribute to human flourishing, the reason 478 00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:15,600 why you have so many who don't have Christ but have a different 479 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:20,300 God or this disbelief in God, all together is because they 480 00:30:20,300 --> 00:30:22,700 want to remain on the throne of Their Own. 481 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,700 Own lives. And their worldview, protects 482 00:30:26,700 --> 00:30:29,400 that. That's what it is. 483 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,500 It's a simple as that. Yes, you have some who might 484 00:30:32,500 --> 00:30:36,000 struggle with doubt and I'm not talking about those people. 485 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,700 I'm talking about the majority whose know of the truth who have 486 00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:43,900 been exposed to the Divine Design, all around them and yet, 487 00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:46,300 suppress it, why do they suppress it? 488 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:51,000 Is it because of their smart. Is it because they're persuaded 489 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,100 by something that is more convincing. 490 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:59,000 For a majority of them it's because like Herod they know 491 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,000 that if this biblical Jesus comes in, they have to get off 492 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,100 the Throne of their will and surrender it to him. 493 00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:13,300 Yes, to accept this more. Jesus is to is to accept the 494 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:16,900 surrender, a surrender to self-righteousness a surrender 495 00:31:16,900 --> 00:31:22,100 to sin surrender to subjective reasoning and ultimately a 496 00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:26,700 surrender of your soul and you lay it at his feet. 497 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,400 Listen, the entrance of Christ into this world. 498 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,700 Wasn't a meaningless, stunt in history. 499 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,600 The entrance of Christ into this world was in preparation to 500 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:40,600 enter into the hearts of men. The hearts of men who are 501 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:44,100 willing to open their hearts and say I have room unlike that in 502 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:46,300 that had no room, my heart has room. 503 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:51,600 In fact, here's the title deed of my heart, take all of it. 504 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:56,800 This is what Christ came to do. And when that gospel is preached 505 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,400 as it is being preached, this afternoon that will either 506 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:05,700 excite people like these Magi or able trouble Souls like Herod. 507 00:32:08,100 --> 00:32:12,500 So what does Hera do? With this news, about a King 1 508 00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:15,900 verse 4, he gathers the religious leaders, he gathers 509 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:18,300 the scribes and he gathers, the experts of the law. 510 00:32:18,300 --> 00:32:21,200 And he inquires about the exact location of the birth of the 511 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,600 Messiah. Where is this King supposed to 512 00:32:23,608 --> 00:32:27,800 be born? And it seems Noble but it's the 513 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:29,500 beginning of an assassination plot. 514 00:32:30,100 --> 00:32:33,600 He wants to hunt down the promised one and to cancel the 515 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,900 promise. And again, I can't help. 516 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:41,100 I can't help but compare Herod and compare, the wise men, here 517 00:32:41,100 --> 00:32:44,200 you have these men who are willing to go to, Great Lengths 518 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,500 to worship. And here you have this other men 519 00:32:46,700 --> 00:32:51,700 who is doing so much to prepare to go to war with him. 520 00:32:53,100 --> 00:32:55,500 It may sound extreme but it's biblical. 521 00:32:56,700 --> 00:32:59,900 What you see with Herod and what you see with the Magi are really 522 00:32:59,900 --> 00:33:04,200 the two only options that every person has when it comes to the 523 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:08,200 response to the reality of Christ, only those two. 524 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:13,100 I know, I know people try to convince themselves of a neutral 525 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:17,000 Place with Jesus, but that doesn't exist in the economy of 526 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,700 God. There is only two responses and 527 00:33:19,700 --> 00:33:22,700 their Illustrated beautifully through the Magi and through 528 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:26,300 Herod, you will either live to worship him or you will live. 529 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,400 To resist them and in that declaring war. 530 00:33:30,500 --> 00:33:33,800 Against God. I know you're a blue-collar guy. 531 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:36,200 I know you just, you just pay your bills and you have a nice 532 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,500 family and you just trying to get along in life, but I want 533 00:33:39,500 --> 00:33:43,100 you to see life through God's lens. 534 00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:47,500 And what God sees, when he looks down on Humanity. 535 00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:52,700 He sees only two categories to class of people, those who are 536 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:56,700 with me and those who are against me now, surely, there's 537 00:33:56,700 --> 00:33:58,900 something in between, I'm sorry to break it to you. 538 00:33:58,900 --> 00:34:04,100 There is nothing in between that is the spectrum that is the only 539 00:34:04,100 --> 00:34:07,600 options. And you're saying, can you prove 540 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,400 it to me? Yes, I can prove it to you when 541 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,199 this baby became a man. He said something in Matthew 12, 542 00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:17,800 30, he said, whoever is not with me is against me, he said it, I 543 00:34:17,808 --> 00:34:21,000 didn't say it. I'm just the Mailman. 544 00:34:22,300 --> 00:34:25,699 Take take it. Whoever is not with me is 545 00:34:25,699 --> 00:34:30,000 against me and whoever does not gather with me, scatters. 546 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:34,100 What does that mean? When he says, whoever does not 547 00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:37,900 gather with me scatters it, it means if you don't work for him, 548 00:34:37,900 --> 00:34:42,400 you're working against him. But I'm not it's just it just 549 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:44,600 nothing, you know my thinking it's not even in my mind, 550 00:34:44,699 --> 00:34:47,400 religion is not my thing. Let people do what they want, 551 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:52,600 you are against him. Because he is The Sovereign 552 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,400 creator of all things and he has the right to demand from his 553 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,900 creatures. What he wills and what he wants 554 00:34:59,900 --> 00:35:06,300 from you is you What do you want from you out of love brimming. 555 00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:09,500 Love is for you to realize his love and to surrender your 556 00:35:09,500 --> 00:35:13,000 affections to him. And if you don't do that, then 557 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:19,300 in God's mind your against him. And if you are in that category 558 00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:23,900 of people, if you're not with him, if you're not gathering for 559 00:35:23,900 --> 00:35:29,200 him, if you are in that category where you don't want him and you 560 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,400 are fighting against them, whether, you know, it or not, 561 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,600 whether it's intentional or not, whether it's aggressive or 562 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:36,900 passive. Regardless, if you are may, I 563 00:35:36,900 --> 00:35:39,700 may I suggest to you on this opportunity that I really have 564 00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:45,200 only one time out of the year. That people come into these kind 565 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:51,000 of doors just to satisfy the Christmas and Easter conditions 566 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,800 to the religiosity. Do you realize what you're 567 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:57,800 standing up against? I want you to at least see what 568 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:01,100 you're standing up against. And what I mean by that is this 569 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:03,200 is real. This is really real. 570 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:05,800 This is profoundly real. This this book that I am 571 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:08,600 declaring to you is Supernatural it. 572 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:12,700 Vibrates with life and it holds so much power. 573 00:36:12,900 --> 00:36:16,600 Not just in subjective experience button, historical 574 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:21,400 evidence and even prophetic fulfillment that I want you to 575 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:24,500 reconsider. Being against him. 576 00:36:26,500 --> 00:36:32,200 So when Herod inquires of where the Messiah is to be born, they 577 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,500 pull out the ancient Scrolls that are actually tucked in 578 00:36:35,500 --> 00:36:41,000 these pages that have been preserved by God and he reads 579 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,000 from the prophet. Micah, that's a book in the 580 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,400 Bible because the Bible is not just one book, it's a library of 581 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:49,100 books. And one of those books is the 582 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:53,400 Book of Micah, and this is what they read to Herod. 583 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:58,700 To give him the exact location of where the Messiah was to be 584 00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:00,300 born. Well, when was this rinse 585 00:37:00,300 --> 00:37:02,400 several hundred years before it happened? 586 00:37:03,300 --> 00:37:07,700 So in verse 5 and 6 of Matthew 2, we read so they told them in 587 00:37:07,700 --> 00:37:11,800 Bethlehem of Judea for. So it is written by the prophet 588 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:16,500 and you o Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least 589 00:37:16,500 --> 00:37:20,100 among the rulers of Judah for from you shall come a ruler. 590 00:37:20,100 --> 00:37:21,700 Who will Shepherd My People Israel? 591 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,000 I want you to fathom. Yeah. 592 00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:34,200 Somebody today today, predicting at some point that a ruler would 593 00:37:34,500 --> 00:37:39,400 come into existence. Think about that, that a ruler 594 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:44,100 of a specific Nation would come and rule in a specific way. 595 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,300 That's audacious, that's that's crazy. 596 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:50,300 And yet, this is what this man does. 597 00:37:50,300 --> 00:37:54,300 This is what Mike could does. She predicts with his veiled 598 00:37:54,300 --> 00:37:57,900 understanding? It has been given a precise 599 00:37:57,900 --> 00:38:00,300 amount of information of where it is. 600 00:38:00,300 --> 00:38:04,500 Exactly this king is going to be born. 601 00:38:05,100 --> 00:38:07,100 Now here's what's fascinating about that. 602 00:38:07,100 --> 00:38:11,000 You have a lot of people today who claim to hear from God, and 603 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:13,300 I was just talking about within Christian talking about and all 604 00:38:13,300 --> 00:38:16,700 different, spheres of life, you have people who pretend to to 605 00:38:16,700 --> 00:38:20,100 tap into to this. Kind of spiritual Channel and to 606 00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:21,800 predict the future and all these things. 607 00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:25,500 Now, you have some crazy people who will set dates and times for 608 00:38:25,500 --> 00:38:27,400 something to be, to be to be done. 609 00:38:27,900 --> 00:38:29,800 And all you have to do is wait for it to come to pass and 610 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,600 realize that it's false, right? But you have other who are 611 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:35,100 smarter than that and here's what they do. 612 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:38,000 They make predictions. They'll read your hand or 613 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:40,400 they'll send you something that you send them some money about 614 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,500 your future, and they're very vague. 615 00:38:43,500 --> 00:38:45,900 And they're very ambiguous and they're very general. 616 00:38:45,900 --> 00:38:49,100 And that's strategic because what they want to do is in case 617 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:51,800 it doesn't come to pass, they have just a plenty of 618 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:55,000 explanations to give you of. That's not what they meant. 619 00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:00,700 Or they miss, they misheard you. And so there's a lot of people 620 00:39:00,700 --> 00:39:04,600 out there who are playing that kind of a game who just give you 621 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:09,400 enough to satisfy your curiosity or to impress you, but not 622 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:12,300 enough that it can be proven wrong. 623 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:15,400 The Bible doesn't play that game. 624 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:20,500 It doesn't. The Bible is bold, very bold. 625 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:25,300 So bold is the word of God that he will give you details. 626 00:39:26,500 --> 00:39:30,100 Details about events to come and God in Isaiah. 627 00:39:30,100 --> 00:39:33,900 Does that on purpose? So that for the generations that 628 00:39:33,900 --> 00:39:36,800 will come to read this book. Will say there is no God like 629 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:38,800 this God you just got to take the time to study it. 630 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,300 So so don't go online and look for top-10 atheists. 631 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:45,600 Arguments against Christian. You're going to come up with 632 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:50,500 silliness when you with a heart of true desire want to discover 633 00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:56,200 if this book is true Endeavor and set yourself in the place of 634 00:39:56,200 --> 00:39:59,600 humility to understand what it is that this book has to say and 635 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,600 you will be blown away and I'll prove it to you. 636 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,400 Look how specific Micah is. This is just one example. 637 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:06,800 One of hundreds of prophecies that one man. 638 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:10,700 Fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we have to read slowly. 46 and you 639 00:40:10,700 --> 00:40:13,400 o Bethlehem in the land of Judah. 640 00:40:14,700 --> 00:40:18,300 Why did he say that? Why did Micah by the Holy 641 00:40:18,300 --> 00:40:22,500 Spirit, say o Bethlehem in the land of Judah, can I tell you 642 00:40:22,500 --> 00:40:25,800 why? Because in Joshua 1915 and a 643 00:40:25,808 --> 00:40:29,400 list of names of cities. When the original group of 644 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,200 Israelites came into the promised land to have Conquest 645 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:34,500 over the land. And then there was a lot means, 646 00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:38,700 given two different tribes, there is a Bethlehem not in 647 00:40:38,700 --> 00:40:42,600 Judah. There's a Bethlehem in the 648 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:47,100 region of zebulun. So you have two different 649 00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:51,500 bethlehem's. At least it's like the, the 650 00:40:51,500 --> 00:40:55,000 named Springfield of different areas you have, you have two 651 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,500 different bethlehem's and yet when Micah is inspired by the 652 00:40:58,500 --> 00:41:02,900 Holy Spirit, pending this Prophecy with laser Precision. 653 00:41:02,900 --> 00:41:08,500 We are told Bethlehem, but not just Bethlehem Bethlehem in the 654 00:41:08,500 --> 00:41:13,400 region of Judah. So the holy spirit makes an 655 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:17,700 effort to cancel any kind of contention or possible 656 00:41:17,700 --> 00:41:21,400 argumentation against the how specific this is. 657 00:41:21,700 --> 00:41:25,100 And this is just one of many, of the things that when you see all 658 00:41:25,100 --> 00:41:28,300 the Prophecies of different men from different eras, different 659 00:41:28,300 --> 00:41:31,300 times in history. All speaking about in concert 660 00:41:31,300 --> 00:41:35,500 the same person. You cannot deny it. 661 00:41:36,700 --> 00:41:41,300 You can't deny the supernatural source of these words. 662 00:41:42,700 --> 00:41:46,700 You know, who couldn't deny it even a man who hated the idea of 663 00:41:46,707 --> 00:41:52,200 a king of the Jews Herod. Harry, had this weird kind of 664 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:55,400 Faith. He believed in the Bible enough 665 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:59,000 to discover the whereabouts of the Messiah, but he did not love 666 00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:01,500 the truth and that he submitted to it, he wanted to fight it 667 00:42:01,500 --> 00:42:08,400 still Herod realized that there is a king of the Jew to come and 668 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:10,900 he wants to find where he is through prophecy. 669 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:15,800 And here's the sad state of even, even being confronted with 670 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:19,600 so much evidence like Herod, people will still not worship 671 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:25,900 Him. they still resistant, they still will take up arms and say 672 00:42:25,900 --> 00:42:30,900 I will not I will not surrender my life to you. 673 00:42:32,700 --> 00:42:34,500 I pray that would not be you this afternoon. 674 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:40,100 I pray that in this place today that through a weak attempt that 675 00:42:40,100 --> 00:42:42,200 would be something of a softening of your heart to 676 00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:46,300 realize. This is this is this is just 677 00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:50,300 more than just history, this is more than just morals being 678 00:42:50,300 --> 00:42:54,300 presented in a creative way. This is true. 679 00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:58,300 I may not know the extent of it, I may not know all the details 680 00:42:58,300 --> 00:43:01,500 about. I may not be familiar with every 681 00:43:01,900 --> 00:43:06,000 Stitch of it. But something's happening to my 682 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:09,900 heart. And I'm not here trying to pull 683 00:43:09,900 --> 00:43:11,700 on your emotions. I'm here trying to point you to 684 00:43:11,700 --> 00:43:15,100 a book. A book that is accurate a book 685 00:43:15,100 --> 00:43:18,100 that comes from God, a book that was authored by God. 686 00:43:18,900 --> 00:43:23,200 And so today, my friends, as you prepare to go back home and 687 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:27,600 change into your pajamas and be with your loved ones. 688 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:36,000 Have you come to worship Him? Or are you a war with him? 689 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:42,300 with how this evidence has been provided to you and there's so 690 00:43:42,300 --> 00:43:46,500 much more still Will it cause you to worship Him? 691 00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:51,500 Or will you harden your heart and say I still won't give 692 00:43:51,500 --> 00:43:56,600 myself? Damn, And here's the thing, I am 693 00:43:56,600 --> 00:44:03,800 not convincing you of a tyrant. I am not convincing you to bend 694 00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:09,600 the knee to a bully. This God loves. 695 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:15,700 And his love is so strong that he warns in his love. 696 00:44:16,900 --> 00:44:21,300 And his love is so powerful that he has to get your attention and 697 00:44:21,300 --> 00:44:24,700 many different ways and sometimes those ways are strong 698 00:44:24,700 --> 00:44:27,700 and they cut but it's all from the place of love. 699 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:34,400 This Jesus came, not just to prove something of Prophecy 700 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:37,900 being fulfilled that God can predict the future. 701 00:44:37,900 --> 00:44:42,700 It's more important than that. He came as you heard earlier to 702 00:44:42,700 --> 00:44:46,100 save from sin so that he can save you for himself. 703 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:48,900 He wants you. Can you imagine that? 704 00:44:50,100 --> 00:44:56,900 This future predicting. All powerful being who can stop 705 00:44:56,900 --> 00:45:01,000 the plans of kings and armies. He wants you. 706 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,900 The only thing standing in the way is your sin, but he made a 707 00:45:05,900 --> 00:45:09,800 way to get rid of that, too. He wants to wash you, cleanse, 708 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:14,000 you fill you with the Holy Spirit and guarantee and seal 709 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:16,800 you for eternal life. What must I do? 710 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:19,000 Then here's the gift of eternal life. 711 00:45:19,100 --> 00:45:23,200 Repent, and believe turn from your sin. 712 00:45:23,500 --> 00:45:26,700 What good is it anyway? It's only hurt you and harmed, 713 00:45:26,700 --> 00:45:28,900 you. It's only kept you in bondage 714 00:45:28,900 --> 00:45:32,300 and defeat. Get rid of it. 715 00:45:33,100 --> 00:45:35,100 And come to the one who created you. 716 00:45:35,700 --> 00:45:37,300 Come to the one who died for you. 717 00:45:37,300 --> 00:45:40,200 Come to the one who will fill you and give you life. 718 00:45:40,200 --> 00:45:44,500 Abundantly come to him. This is the Christmas message. 719 00:45:44,500 --> 00:45:47,600 Christ has come not just into this world but he longs to come 720 00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:51,500 into your life. As he knocks and perhaps he's 721 00:45:51,500 --> 00:45:53,700 knocking. Now, don't ignore it. 722 00:45:53,700 --> 00:45:57,800 Don't turn your back to it, open it swing wide those doors. 723 00:45:58,300 --> 00:46:02,200 Fall on Your Knees and say yes to the lordship and the saving 724 00:46:02,200 --> 00:46:04,100 work of Jesus. Let's pray. 725 00:46:15,800 --> 00:46:20,100 Well, we ask that in this moment as we have been refreshed by the 726 00:46:20,100 --> 00:46:26,800 word. We pray that. 727 00:46:30,100 --> 00:46:35,200 Every soul in this house. Will be set on worshipping you. 728 00:46:36,500 --> 00:46:40,600 Worshipping you. Not necessarily to get anything 729 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:44,100 from you just because you are worthy of worship, you have done 730 00:46:44,100 --> 00:46:47,200 everything, you can in Jesus Christ and yet as a good father, 731 00:46:47,200 --> 00:46:54,800 you still give good gifts. and so Lord, as we sit here, and as 732 00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:59,300 we are ready to stand, we pray that we would not leave here. 733 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:03,400 With empty cups. That Lord your word in your 734 00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:07,000 spirit would fill us. So that we would be those who 735 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:09,100 determined to honor you with our lives. 736 00:47:10,900 --> 00:47:14,700 And Lord for the soul. That is troubled, troubled. 737 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:20,000 By the news. Of who Jesus is and what he 738 00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:22,400 asked of us. Well, we just pray that you 739 00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:24,400 would eliminate Every Lie from the evil one. 740 00:47:25,400 --> 00:47:29,300 Every deception, every misjudgement misunderstanding of 741 00:47:29,300 --> 00:47:33,200 what it means to follow Christ. And we pray that perhaps this 742 00:47:33,200 --> 00:47:37,700 would be the beginning of a Pursuit Of Truth that will set 743 00:47:37,700 --> 00:47:39,900 free. And so Lord. 744 00:47:39,900 --> 00:47:41,100 Today. We thank you. 745 00:47:41,700 --> 00:47:44,000 We thank you for the admonition. We thank you for the word. 746 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:49,600 We thank you for the power of the scriptures before us this 747 00:47:49,600 --> 00:47:53,400 afternoon. May it really change Us by your 748 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:58,100 grace and we worship you now and Thanksgiving for it in Jesus 749 00:47:58,100 --> 00:47:59,200 name. Amen. 750 00:47:59,700 --> 00:48:00,900 Let's stand and Worship the Lord.