1 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,700 Can we bow our heads, one more time, as we open up God's word 2 00:00:16,900 --> 00:00:21,700 and ask him to help us as we seek to discover the mystery of 3 00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:25,900 the Incarnation together. Lori. 4 00:00:25,900 --> 00:00:30,100 Thank you with all of our hearts for the inexpressible gift in 5 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:33,900 Jesus Christ and Lord. In this moment, we ask that you 6 00:00:33,908 --> 00:00:38,700 would arrest our attention and that you would win our affection 7 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:44,400 as we recognize again and realize the beauty of the 8 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,600 humility in Jesus, the mission that was ordained before the 9 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:53,600 world was even created for Christ to come and save Sinners 10 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,100 Lord. Pray that the objective of this 11 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:00,400 message would win our obedience and our worship. 12 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,200 And so Lord, we just ask that by the power of the Holy Spirit, as 13 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,300 we Endeavor to exalt Jesus Christ, you would Empower us to 14 00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:10,800 do. So Empower us to communicate it 15 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,800 and power us to understand it and Empower us to apply it to 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,100 our lives. Lord, we trust in you, in this 17 00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:23,200 moment as we long to know our savior that much more in Jesus 18 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,500 name. We ask these things. 19 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:26,000 Amen. And amen. 20 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,700 Well, we're beginning this week when traditionally Believers in 21 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:35,800 the western world are giving their attention to reflect to 22 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:41,200 rehearse and to even rent be reminded of the Incarnation of 23 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,900 the Lord Jesus Christ. And though it is true that the 24 00:01:44,900 --> 00:01:50,500 Christmas season calls for believers to be fixated on that 25 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:57,200 specific moment when God became a At the same time, there are so 26 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,300 many surrounding events in details, around that event that 27 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:06,000 are worthy for our recognition and so that's what we're going 28 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,600 to do today. We're going to explore, just one 29 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:14,000 of the facets, one of the details of Jesus Christ becoming 30 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,800 a man And this Friday and this Sunday by God's grace, we will 31 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,000 also consider other things. And so the purpose, the purpose 32 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,800 of today is to just look at one element. 33 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,700 And by looking at one of these elements that connects to the 34 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:34,500 birth of Christ, we would by God's grace add to our wonder 35 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:38,000 and our aw concerning the goodness, in the wisdom of God. 36 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,700 Two thousand years ago. God became a man. 37 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,800 Two thousand years ago, God entered into this world not to 38 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,200 just visit as a theophany not just appear as a person with to 39 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,400 actually take on flesh and it is this time of the year that 40 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,800 ministers and Ministries make great efforts to offer their 41 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,500 insights from the scriptures to answer that thematic question. 42 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:06,100 Why is it that God became man? Why is it that he entered into 43 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:10,900 this world in such a way? And as Believers, hopefully, in 44 00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:13,200 that truth, we are gathered this morning. 45 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:18,200 Not just to explore that but to look at another layer to the 46 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,800 question. To look at another facet of it. 47 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:27,200 Yes, God became man, but we're going to aim this afternoon to 48 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,400 look at this question. Yes, he became, man. 49 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,700 But why did this man become a Jewish, man? 50 00:03:36,900 --> 00:03:42,700 Why was this man? Link to the nation of Israel. 51 00:03:43,700 --> 00:03:46,900 Why was it that from all the people groups, all the tribes, 52 00:03:46,900 --> 00:03:52,800 all the tongues God chose to be born from this specific race 53 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,100 Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't come as a Roman? 54 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,700 Have you ever wondered why Jesus did not come as an Ethiopian? 55 00:04:02,900 --> 00:04:05,900 Have you ever wondered why God did not become a Man From The 56 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:12,200 Far East and some Asian country? It seems like an insignificant 57 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,000 thought it seems like this this is just a detail that doesn't 58 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,600 matter but you would be amazed to recognize that the Holy 59 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,200 Spirit doesn't just give us the answers to why God became man. 60 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,300 The Holy Spirit finds it necessary to tell us why he 61 00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:31,600 became an Israelite. Why it is that God from eternity 62 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,400 past chose to come through this people. 63 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:42,100 Why did God become a Jewish man? And perhaps to our surprise. 64 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:46,800 When we understand that truth, we would also be expanded in our 65 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,900 understanding that this was given to us by the Holy Spirit 66 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:53,500 to actually frame a certain conviction that would cause us 67 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:56,500 to view and treat others in a specific way. 68 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,000 You know, when realizing that and when studying that, I 69 00:05:00,008 --> 00:05:03,600 couldn't believe that even understanding Jesus as a Jewish 70 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:08,600 man practically impacts my life, it actually calls me to a 71 00:05:08,608 --> 00:05:13,700 certain action to perceive the world in a different way again. 72 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:18,000 Not just that, God became a man but let me reiterate God became 73 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,500 a Jewish man. That's a turn with your Bibles 74 00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:26,700 to me and that wonderful epistle to the Romans in chapter 15. 75 00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:46,200 Romans 15. beginning in verse 8, This morning or this afternoon 76 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,600 rather we have three answers to that question among many. 77 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,000 That will help us reach a level of understanding concerning the 78 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,000 depths and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. 79 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:00,500 The Bible reads in Romans 15, 84. 80 00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:07,800 I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to 81 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:13,200 show God's truthfulness. In order to confirm the promises 82 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,700 given to the Patriarchs and in order that the Gentiles might 83 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:23,100 glorify God for his Mercy as it is written, therefore, I will 84 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:26,700 praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name. 85 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:33,000 In This Very straightforward passage, we read Paul and 86 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:40,800 forming Gentile, Christians that Jesus, Jesus the Savior Jesus, 87 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,200 the Lord, Jesus the crucified one, Jesus. 88 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:49,800 The resurrected one came to be a servant to the circumcised and 89 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,400 that expression the circumcised, there is no debate about it. 90 00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:59,000 It speaks of the ethnic people of Israel speaks Specific people 91 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,500 group, it speaks of one nation that God has chosen to fulfill a 92 00:07:03,500 --> 00:07:06,500 specific purpose. And he's given the command of 93 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:10,500 circumcision to this people group as a symbol, that would 94 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:13,700 represent their Covenant relationship with the true. 95 00:07:13,700 --> 00:07:18,500 God, we're told here that Jesus became a servant to this people, 96 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:23,300 but this is not the first time that Paul speaks about Jesus 97 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:27,800 Christ and his relationship with this physical Israel. 98 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:31,100 It's not the first time in this letter that he brings us subject 99 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:33,900 up. In fact earlier he spends three 100 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:37,400 chapters explaining so eloquently. 101 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:42,700 Why and how and who and when all the details surrounding how does 102 00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:45,900 God relate to this people? And how does this people relate 103 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:47,700 to God? Why is that important for us to 104 00:07:47,700 --> 00:07:51,200 understand again? Jesus Christ didn't come into 105 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,200 this world as a child as a neutral person. 106 00:07:55,100 --> 00:07:58,200 He didn't disconnect himself from culture, he didn't 107 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,500 disconnect himself from of people. 108 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:05,400 He came specifically through this line through this race. 109 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:11,000 Through this nation. Romans 9, 10 11, is all about 110 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,900 that. And in Romans 9, verse 4, we 111 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:19,300 read about the privileged position that Israel enjoyed 112 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:24,400 since their election back in Genesis with a man named Abraham 113 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,700 in Romans 9 for you. And I read something that we are 114 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:32,200 familiar with their Israelites and to them belong. 115 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,600 The adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the 116 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,600 law, the worship. And the promises You see it to 117 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,700 them belong. The adoption. 118 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:45,500 And the adoption that is Spoken Here. 119 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:48,300 Concerning this nation. Is not the adoption that you 120 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:51,300 read of. And Romans 8, the spirit of 121 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:53,500 adoption is a completely different thing. 122 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:57,800 Paul tells us in that chapter that the spirit of adoption that 123 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,200 gives us the right to cause we sang. 124 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,900 God Abba, Father is an inheritance that you and I 125 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:09,400 receive upon salvation upon receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. 126 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,200 We are now adopted. We have now been marked with 127 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:17,100 son, Ship concerning our relationship with God, but this 128 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:20,800 adoption here is not speaking about that. 129 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,500 This adoption that the Holy Spirit brings up concerning this 130 00:09:24,500 --> 00:09:29,400 people group deals with a special place, a position, A 131 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:35,100 peculiar purpose that Israel has amongst all the other nations 132 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,900 and I'm sure you are aware that the Bible is so absolutely clear 133 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:43,200 that this one nation has been lavished with. 134 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:46,000 Pacific. Wonderful realities. 135 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,800 One of them is what you read in verse 5, right after verse 42 136 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:53,400 them belong to Patriarchs and from their race. 137 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,700 According to the flesh is the Christ. 138 00:09:56,700 --> 00:09:59,900 Who is God over all blessed forever. 139 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,900 Amen. You want a verse that says Jesus 140 00:10:02,900 --> 00:10:05,300 Christ is God. You can't find it any plainer 141 00:10:05,300 --> 00:10:10,200 than that. Who is God over all blessed 142 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:11,400 forever? I men. 143 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:15,500 There it is again. Christ came from this people 144 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:20,600 Christ, according to the flesh, came from Israel and it still 145 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,000 begs the question. Why? 146 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:25,800 And why is it important? Why are we taking a whole Sunday 147 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,600 morning? Just to talk about that? 148 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:30,300 Because I'm sure perhaps there's a couple in here. 149 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:32,900 Thinking, how does this actually help me? 150 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,700 How does this actually help my walk with the Lord? 151 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,400 What is this have to do with me knowing him in a deeper way? 152 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:45,400 We'll stick around. And the first reason why God 153 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,900 chose this people. Why God chose from eternity past 154 00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:53,800 to work with the partner with this nation, is because he 155 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,600 wanted to display his undeserving love. 156 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:02,700 He wanted to display his unmerited compassion. 157 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:05,600 The answer to why God selected this. 158 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,500 People group from all the others that populated the world, at 159 00:11:09,500 --> 00:11:12,600 that time to serve this peculiar Mission. 160 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:20,300 Even till this day, It's found in Deuteronomy. 7 verse 7. when 161 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:23,900 preparing to lead, the people of Israel, into the promised land, 162 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:28,100 the Lord spoke through Moses, and he tells them exactly why he 163 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:30,400 delivered them from Egypt, and he's bringing him to the 164 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:35,300 promised land, and why he has given them, this special calling 165 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:40,800 to be a light to the world, Deuteronomy 77 It was not 166 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,400 because you were more in number than any other people that the 167 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:48,000 Lord set his love on you and chose you for you were the 168 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:53,200 fewest of all peoples, but it is because the lord loves you. 169 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,800 And is keeping the oath that he swore to your father's that the 170 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,400 Lord has brought you out of with a mighty hand and redeemed. 171 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,900 You from the house of slavery, from the hand of pharaoh king of 172 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:10,000 Egypt. Israel. 173 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:16,800 I want to tell you why God is giving you this opportunity to 174 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,600 step across this River and go into a land flowing with milk 175 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,700 and honey. And here it is, because I want 176 00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:25,600 you to understand, I want you to be clear. 177 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:29,200 I want you to know for certain that there is nothing impressive 178 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:33,900 on your part know where there's anything compelling about you 179 00:12:33,900 --> 00:12:38,300 that would cause the Eternal God to sanctify you In such a way. 180 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:43,600 It's because he loves you. It's because he chose you. 181 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,700 In other words, the Lord wanted to communicate to this people 182 00:12:48,700 --> 00:12:53,100 group that they had no part to play and their adoption. 183 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:59,500 You didn't contribute anything. You didn't attract me. 184 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,300 There was just something about you that made me say. 185 00:13:02,300 --> 00:13:04,900 This is who I want my name to be associated with. 186 00:13:06,500 --> 00:13:09,700 And that's why he says, in case you thought, you were something 187 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:12,100 special, you were the fewest of all the peoples. 188 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,600 There are many kingdoms. At that time, there are many 189 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,500 nations at the time, that had great power, great status, great 190 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:23,500 success, great Prosperity, but it is not because of these 191 00:13:23,500 --> 00:13:26,300 things I've chosen to come at the say, this is who I'm going 192 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:30,700 to make a covenant with this is who I'm going to link myself to, 193 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,500 but I will tell you why. If you really want to know, I 194 00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:37,200 will inform you, why? It is that, I've done all these 195 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,000 wonderful things. It's because the lord loves you. 196 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:49,100 That's the motive. No other explanation for God's 197 00:13:49,100 --> 00:13:52,800 promotion other than the fact that he has a deep affection set 198 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,100 on them. Essentially what God is saying 199 00:13:56,100 --> 00:14:01,000 is that he blessed this people because he freely chose to bless 200 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,000 this people. It's a sovereign will, it's 201 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,600 something that he chose to do that is his prerogative that is 202 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,100 his right and no man can change his right to choose whom you 203 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,500 serve what purpose on his behalf. 204 00:14:15,500 --> 00:14:18,500 But more than that, this choice would teach Israel. 205 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:21,700 Something about the quality of the love of God. 206 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:27,200 He says you were chosen because I love you, but he doesn't 207 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:31,100 explain why he loves them. I love you, why? 208 00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:32,900 Because I love you. But why? 209 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:35,000 Because I love you why because I love you. 210 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,700 It's not merited. It's not conditioned by 211 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:46,200 something, it's not provoked by what they could offer him. 212 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:53,100 And that's God's love, isn't it? It meets us when we least expect 213 00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:55,700 it. It changes us. 214 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:59,200 When we are least deserving of it, it's an astounding love 215 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,900 because it comes from a God who is so holy that it doesn't make 216 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:06,000 sense. A God who doesn't need anything 217 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,400 chooses to love chooses to partner with people chooses to 218 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,200 save them and redeem them, and use them? 219 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:15,800 How can that be? So all they heard with little 220 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,600 explanation, is God, chose you? Because he's God and he can do 221 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,000 that. And God loves you, not because 222 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:25,200 you're anything special, but because he is He is love and he 223 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,600 wants to display his love to you and so he lavished upon them 224 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:36,500 promises Patriarchs. Covenants, worship the law to 225 00:15:36,500 --> 00:15:38,300 which someone might object and say well. 226 00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:43,800 Isn't this show that God loved Israel more than other nations? 227 00:15:45,100 --> 00:15:48,200 Doesn't this prove that he had some special kind of love to 228 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,600 them to which I may surprise you and answering no. 229 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,200 No God. Choosing Israel to carry the 230 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:03,100 blessings is no indication. That he has reserved more 231 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:06,400 compassion, more, grace, and more Mercy for them and 232 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:11,900 comparison to everybody else. Any more than us knowing that 233 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:16,300 when God chooses to bestow certain gifts, upon one child of 234 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:19,800 God, over the other is no indication that he loves that 235 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:26,200 child, more than the other. We trust that God adorns and 236 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:31,500 that he provides certain things to one person not in the same 237 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:37,300 way as another because God has the freedom to call, whoever he 238 00:16:37,300 --> 00:16:41,200 calls and to use whoever uses in a way that he thinks is 239 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,100 necessary for him to be glorified. 240 00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:46,500 If you believe that because somebody has a public Ministry 241 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:50,000 or somebody has a specific purpose that that seems more 242 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,500 effective than you is an indication of God's love. 243 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:54,500 Have to go back to the basics of the Gospel. 244 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,900 And it is something that we fight continually, but the point 245 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:02,100 that I'm trying to make is that the scriptures simply read 246 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:06,500 concerning Israel, that in choosing them, it was an 247 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:11,900 expression of his love. And it would cause onlookers to 248 00:17:11,900 --> 00:17:15,200 say, surely the Lord is good, and surely. 249 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:20,400 He is wise, and surely is merciful for inviting Abraham. 250 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,200 And his descendants though, unlikely to be used of all 251 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,099 people, to hold such an honorable position on the Earth. 252 00:17:29,900 --> 00:17:34,500 In fact, would you be surprised to know that God often had to 253 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:38,200 Humble this people? Because they were very quick to 254 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,000 be puffed up and to look down upon foreigners and even to be 255 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,000 so falsely secured in their Covenant that they can live how 256 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:52,900 they want, because God chose us. God chose us so surely he's not 257 00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:55,500 going to break his promise with Abraham and surely he's not 258 00:17:55,500 --> 00:17:58,700 going to destroy the temple and surely he's not going to pull us 259 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:03,500 out of the land and you read that false confidence throughout 260 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:05,500 the Old Testament. And it's a picture of the false 261 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:09,100 confidence that many Believers have in that wonderful truth of 262 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:15,000 your salvation being secure. Go to Amos, chapter 9 verse 7. 263 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,400 I want to see with you hear how God humbles his people. 264 00:18:19,500 --> 00:18:24,000 A name is 9:7, God speaks to an idolatrous Israel. 265 00:18:24,300 --> 00:18:28,200 So steeped and false worship that he sends this Prophet to 266 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:32,000 rebuke them and not just rebuke them to Humble them. 267 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,200 And look what he says to this. Chosen people to this elect 268 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:40,500 people to the selected people. He says, in chapter 9 verse 7, 269 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:43,400 are you not like the kushites to me? 270 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,700 Oh, people of Israel. Declares the Lord. 271 00:18:51,900 --> 00:18:55,000 Did I bring up Israel from the land of Egypt and the 272 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,400 Philistines from calf door and the syrians from Cur? 273 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:05,400 See what God is saying, first? What he's saying is, as I Look 274 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,800 To You Right Now, Israel in the current condition that you're 275 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,700 in, you are no different to me than the cushion seats. 276 00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:15,700 In other words, my Covenant with you though it makes you unique. 277 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,800 It's not this agreement that separates you. 278 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,800 It's the conduct that this Covenant inspires you to that 279 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:24,700 actually separates you from the world. 280 00:19:24,700 --> 00:19:28,600 But right now, as I'm looking to you, as I'm looking at you, I 281 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,300 see no difference between you. And the Pagan worshipers around 282 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:37,100 you, what a terrifying thing for God to say, imagine the god 283 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:40,300 looked God looking at the church today and saying the same thing. 284 00:19:40,300 --> 00:19:43,000 There is no difference between you and those who don't know me, 285 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,700 that's exactly what he's saying here. 286 00:19:45,900 --> 00:19:49,300 But that's not the main point. The main point that God brings 287 00:19:49,300 --> 00:19:52,000 in this verse as much more profound than that. 288 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,400 Notice what he says. Did I not bring up Israel from 289 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,200 the land of Egypt? Yes, you did. 290 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,200 But there's no period. There, he continues. 291 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:07,000 And the Philistines from catheter and the syrians from 292 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:14,800 Kur. Though, Israel enjoyed a special 293 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:20,800 stance with God. And experienced the Creator and 294 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,200 sustainer of the universe intervening on their behalf. 295 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,100 With blessed guidance. God is reminding them. 296 00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:34,300 You're not the only nation that is experience my mercies because 297 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:37,000 they are also under my sovereign Authority. 298 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:41,200 Think about it. He is reminding this people, 299 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:46,400 this privileged people that there are other nations who are 300 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,500 recipients of his mercy. So Israel, who prided herself 301 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:53,200 that that God has provided Divine Guidance. 302 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:57,400 Just learned, you're not the only one who experienced my 303 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,600 providential power. I actually deliver the 304 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,300 Philistines and brought him out of a place. 305 00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:07,200 Actually delivered, the syrians from another place. 306 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:13,700 So you're not so unique in the world that my compassion and 307 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:18,300 love is exclusive just to you. Now, it's much broader than 308 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:22,900 that, and you can imagine how this must have wounded their 309 00:21:22,900 --> 00:21:26,200 pride. And I bring this up to say to 310 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,400 you, that let this verse serve as evidence that although God 311 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,400 selected Israel to perform certain duties, it was not to 312 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:36,500 the extent that his love was compressed and reserved just for 313 00:21:36,500 --> 00:21:40,100 them where nobody else could experience his love. 314 00:21:40,100 --> 00:21:45,200 His choosing of this people was an expression of his love among 315 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,800 many other manifestations of his love, it's because I love you 316 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:54,400 that I chose you. And so you're wondering well, 317 00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:58,900 why? Because he's sovereign Okay. 318 00:21:58,900 --> 00:22:00,900 But why? Because he loved them. 319 00:22:02,500 --> 00:22:06,700 But why? Because he loved them, but why? 320 00:22:07,900 --> 00:22:11,700 You know, the answer to that. He chose. 321 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:17,200 He chose them to work with them. And as he did, as you do, 322 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,800 reading your Bible, you realize this people are now worthy. 323 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:27,300 Exactly this people, the fewest of the people there was Empires. 324 00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:29,300 There were so many others that God could have chosen. 325 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,000 Why? That, because God was 326 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,800 illustrating, he was displaying, that's the quality of my love. 327 00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:37,200 I give it to those who don't deserve it. 328 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,300 I work with those who don't deserve it. 329 00:22:39,300 --> 00:22:42,400 I redeem those who don't deserve it and exam. 330 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:46,400 A Israel. Look at them. 331 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,800 Get a taste of my love, as I deal with them as I've chosen 332 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,700 them. But we come back to our main tax 333 00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:58,500 to continue the thought as we come to our second point of why 334 00:22:58,500 --> 00:23:03,800 Christ came as a Jew, why Christ came through this people group? 335 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:09,500 And we read In Romans 15. Verse 8, for I tell you that 336 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:14,200 Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's 337 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,500 truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to 338 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:23,700 the Patriarchs. so Point number two, God chose to work with his 339 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:28,200 people, not just to display his undeserving love, but to also to 340 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,600 demonstrate his faithfulness, Christ came. 341 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,900 In order to show that God is a truthful. 342 00:23:34,900 --> 00:23:39,400 God, Every prophecy that Jesus Christ. 343 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:44,100 Fulfilled concerning his birth, everything from the location of 344 00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:47,400 it, everything from the lineage that he would be associated with 345 00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:52,500 was and still is a testimony, a memorial that When God Says 346 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:57,300 something, he keeps it. We got vows he's not going to 347 00:23:57,308 --> 00:24:01,600 break it when he promises, it's going to come to pass and Paul 348 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,100 saying, I want you to realize that when Jesus Christ came to 349 00:24:05,100 --> 00:24:10,200 this people he fulfilled what God communicated to the profits, 350 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:13,900 rather the Patriarchs Abraham. Isaac and Jacob, who heard that 351 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:16,600 there was going to be this one seed that's going to come 352 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,700 through them. That's going to redeem the 353 00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:21,000 world. They heard it and Christ is the 354 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,400 Fulfillment of it. This is crucial. 355 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:29,000 This is crucial to understand why, because it doesn't just 356 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,500 speak of the Salvation of God. You and I, when we think about 357 00:24:33,500 --> 00:24:38,000 the baby Jesus, what we see is what Simeon saw in that Temple 358 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:41,500 behold the salvation of God, right? 359 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,200 Yes, but it's more than that, it's much more than that. as you 360 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,600 see Christ in that manger as you see him being cradled by that 361 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:56,800 young virgin girl, as you try to imagine these wise men traveling 362 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,400 from so far to worship a two-year-old. 363 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,500 You and I must say to our souls. God keeps his word. 364 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:11,100 God, fulfills his promises. God gave a promise to his friend 365 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:15,300 Abraham that there would be one coming from his seed that would 366 00:25:15,300 --> 00:25:18,000 cause all the families in the earth to be blessed. 367 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:21,700 And when Jesus showed up, that's the Fulfillment of the promise 368 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:27,100 among many other promises and between that declaration where 369 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:31,000 God spoke to the Patriarchs and the Fulfillment of it in Jesus 370 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:35,500 Christ, all you have to do is come to Friday night, bible 371 00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:42,600 study for a few years to realize Just how Unfaithful Abraham's 372 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,800 descendants were to This Promise keeping God and yet the Lord did 373 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:51,500 not waver with his word and yet God didn't take back his word. 374 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:57,600 He chose to be determined. To stick with what he said. 375 00:25:57,600 --> 00:25:59,400 Why? Because Israel was worthy. 376 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,100 No, because he is committed to his glory. 377 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:08,400 God has committed to his glory and his Integrity demands him to 378 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,800 keep his word when he says something. 379 00:26:12,900 --> 00:26:15,600 This puts a new dimension on understanding of the Incarnation 380 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,200 of Christ. Yes, you see the salvation of 381 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:23,700 God in that bay, but you also see the faithfulness of God, it 382 00:26:23,700 --> 00:26:25,400 happened. It came to pass. 383 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,700 It was fulfilled things that were said, thousands of years 384 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:34,900 ago are now manifest and as you. And I reflect on that truth, we 385 00:26:34,900 --> 00:26:38,700 realized that if God was so faithful with the details of the 386 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:41,400 first coming, do you think he's going to mess up with the second 387 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,800 one? In fact, I challenge you today 388 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,000 to realize the faithfulness of your God is so powerful, so 389 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,000 profound that God is willing to move, Heaven and Earth to make 390 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,300 sure that every detail of what he has said, would come to pass, 391 00:26:58,300 --> 00:27:00,900 it would not be ignored. It would not be neglected. 392 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:06,600 Every single detail of Christ's first coming came to pass. 393 00:27:06,700 --> 00:27:10,700 I want to show you just one example of how God is willing to 394 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:13,700 shake the world to actually show. 395 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:21,800 Take the world in order for every Insight, every inch of 396 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,900 what he had said concerning his son would come to pass. 397 00:27:24,900 --> 00:27:29,600 Go to Luke Chapter 2, beginning in verse 1, this is just one 398 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:42,700 example. And Luke 2 verse 1, we read in 399 00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:46,600 those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus. 400 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:51,900 And all the world that all the world should be registered. 401 00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:56,100 This was the first registration when quirinius was governor of 402 00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:00,500 Syria and all went to be registered each to his own town. 403 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,900 And Joseph also went up From Galilee from the town of 404 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:08,400 Nazareth to Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem 405 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:13,800 because he was of the House of the lineage of David, be honest, 406 00:28:14,100 --> 00:28:16,300 you've read that. How many of us have just skipped 407 00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:21,000 over the details? Best. 408 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,300 Some would argue that what these verses provide is? 409 00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:26,900 Some kind of evidence that the scriptures are consistent with 410 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:29,200 historical events and historical people. 411 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:33,000 And that's that's wonderful. We can use it for that but if 412 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,800 you want to get Revelation from the Bible, you read a verse you 413 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,800 read, scripture. You read a portion of the text 414 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,200 and you ask. What is this reveal about? 415 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:45,700 My God, what does it say about the concrete character of my 416 00:28:45,700 --> 00:28:51,500 Lord? What town did Micah the prophet 417 00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:56,100 say that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. 418 00:28:57,500 --> 00:29:01,100 That obscure town that little that little village that was the 419 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:03,800 place where Jesus Christ had to be born. 420 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:08,900 Here's the problem, you have Joseph and Mary and Mary is very 421 00:29:08,900 --> 00:29:12,100 pregnant. She is ready to give birth at 422 00:29:12,100 --> 00:29:14,700 any moment. And the issue here is that she 423 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:19,100 is not in Bethlehem. She's in Galilee. 424 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:26,000 She's at Nazareth. And so we see that they are not 425 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,300 where they're supposed to be. So what does God do? 426 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,800 God reaches Into the Heart of the most influential person of 427 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,200 that day. The most feared and revered, 428 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:39,700 man, Caesar, Augustus. And he stirs his heart to make a 429 00:29:39,708 --> 00:29:44,700 decree and this decree would cause all the families in the 430 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:47,300 known world. At the time to get up and move 431 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:50,900 locations. And God even gave Caesar the 432 00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:54,900 authority to make such a mandate that had demanded The Obedience 433 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,800 of every person living under his Rule and reign. 434 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,100 As Jesus told pilot No Authority that you have has not been given 435 00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:03,900 apart from Heaven Earth or Rising it. 436 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,900 Same with Caesar Augustus. So consider this that God has 437 00:30:07,900 --> 00:30:11,000 ordained that Caesar, Augustus would have such a Authority. 438 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:13,700 And he stirred his heart to make this decree. 439 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:19,700 And by making this decree, it would cause a holy havoc. 440 00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:24,300 Yet people planning families, packing, the roads are unusually 441 00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:27,800 busy, the markets are knowing sales, like they wouldn't know 442 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,900 unless it's a feast time. Hotels are booked. 443 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:38,600 And now you zoom in and to this couple this young couple with a 444 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:42,900 mysterious pregnancy who are probably reluctant to get up and 445 00:30:42,900 --> 00:30:46,100 move and spend energy and endanger themselves by traveling 446 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:51,000 because you have a woman ready to give birth at any moment and 447 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:58,100 yet because of this decree Joseph and Mary get up and they 448 00:30:58,100 --> 00:31:00,100 get going. Why? 449 00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:03,800 In the human understanding. It's because they are obeying 450 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:09,500 the Commandment of a politician. But in the Divine understanding 451 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:18,500 God, Through this providential leading is causing them to walk 452 00:31:18,500 --> 00:31:21,600 in the direction where they will fulfill an ancient prophecy. 453 00:31:22,900 --> 00:31:25,400 See what God was willing to do to make sure that Jesus was born 454 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:29,400 in Bethlehem. He cause Caesar Augustus, and he 455 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:33,700 caused all the families of the earth to get up and move. 456 00:31:34,300 --> 00:31:36,500 I'm sure many things were accomplished in that, but the 457 00:31:36,500 --> 00:31:39,800 main thing was the main thing, my son has to be born in 458 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:46,500 Bethlehem. behold how God ensures that what he declared 459 00:31:46,700 --> 00:31:50,200 through his servants would come to pass even if he has to shake 460 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:54,700 the world to make it happen, should not cause our hearts to 461 00:31:54,708 --> 00:31:58,600 worship. Should not cause your heart to 462 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,200 be in such awe of the sovereignty of God. 463 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,800 That even the most powerful man in the world. 464 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:10,100 At the time was subject to the control of God that no matter 465 00:32:10,100 --> 00:32:12,500 what kind of authority. He boasted in no matter what 466 00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:17,300 kind of power he thought he had He's she's thinking he's gonna 467 00:32:17,700 --> 00:32:21,200 prove his administrative wisdom. When in reality God is 468 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:26,400 fulfilling prophecy. And shouldn't it caused us to be 469 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:32,000 comforted to know that though. Joseph and Mary were in 470 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:36,500 conveniently, let out of their home through disruption through 471 00:32:36,500 --> 00:32:41,300 difficulty, where let out of their comfort to travel. 472 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:47,000 Not in the way that you and I understand travel. but through 473 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:50,400 all those circumstances in reality, God was accomplishing, 474 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:57,800 his will This is all to say that Christ came in a manner that he 475 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:02,300 came to set up an eternal memorial for all generations. 476 00:33:02,300 --> 00:33:05,000 That God is faithful with his word. 477 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:07,900 When he says it, it will come to pass. 478 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:13,000 And he's so accurate. He is so accurate. 479 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,700 And as I said earlier, if he's accurate with the first Advent, 480 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:20,900 you think politicians are going to stop his return. 481 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,500 Eating the world being shaken up right now is outside of God's 482 00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:30,200 control. Or could it be? 483 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,100 I'm not, don't stop me now because I'm not a prophet. 484 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:38,400 Nor I claimed to be a prophet, could it be that the same way 485 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:40,800 God shook the world through Caesar Augustus? 486 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,100 To advance his prophetic calendar. 487 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,400 That what we are seeing today, though you may not see a, you 488 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:51,300 don't, you don't see how good and you don't see how this, how 489 00:33:51,300 --> 00:33:56,700 that plays into this just like, I'm sure Mary and Joseph didn't 490 00:33:56,700 --> 00:34:00,900 understand how this senses had to do with prophecy at the time. 491 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,900 Could it be that? What is happening in the world? 492 00:34:03,900 --> 00:34:06,700 Right now is just one step closer to the return of Our 493 00:34:06,700 --> 00:34:09,300 Lord? Think about it. 494 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:12,199 Think about it and let it cause you to worship at the 495 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:18,199 sovereignty of your God. God chose to work with this 496 00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:21,800 people because he wanted to display his undeserving love. 497 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:28,000 Secondly God in Christ coming to this people group is a 498 00:34:28,007 --> 00:34:31,100 fulfillment of many promises saying something of his 499 00:34:31,100 --> 00:34:33,400 character. God wanted to show the 500 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:35,699 generations. Do you want to see how faithful 501 00:34:35,699 --> 00:34:38,699 I am to my word? You want to see how committed I 502 00:34:38,699 --> 00:34:41,900 am to my glory? Let me choose this people and 503 00:34:41,900 --> 00:34:45,800 watch how inconsistent and rebellious they are and watch 504 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,100 how I'm going to I promise is nonetheless. 505 00:34:50,699 --> 00:34:53,500 But as we come back to the text, we come to our final point. 506 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:00,100 God in Christ, chose this nation to work with this nation. 507 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,500 To link himself to this race to show Mercy to everyone else. 508 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:13,100 We read in verse 9 in Romans 15 and here's a second reason or 509 00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:18,300 third rather and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God 510 00:35:18,300 --> 00:35:22,900 for his Mercy. Pause concluding his thoughts 511 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:27,200 here and he's saying as much as God worked with this people 512 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:31,300 group. God had every nation in mind. 513 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,600 I had a Muslim, come up to me once and asked me sincere 514 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,900 questions about the faith. And one of the top questions 515 00:35:38,900 --> 00:35:41,400 that she had was, can you please explain to me? 516 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:44,200 Why? The god of the Bible seems to 517 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,100 show special attention to the Jews. 518 00:35:46,100 --> 00:35:47,700 I mean, what about the rest of us? 519 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:53,400 And my answer to that question was along the lines of? 520 00:35:53,900 --> 00:35:57,100 Well, you see when God did choose to bless Abraham and his 521 00:35:57,100 --> 00:36:01,300 descendants. He had in his mind to bless 522 00:36:01,300 --> 00:36:05,000 Every Other Nation at the same time, isn't that what he told 523 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,100 Abraham? And I will make you a great 524 00:36:08,100 --> 00:36:12,500 nation and I will bless you and make your name great, so that 525 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:17,100 you will be a blessing. So that you will be a blessing. 526 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,600 That really brings Clarity. Doesn't it too? 527 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:24,000 Many misunderstandings? Why did God work with this 528 00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,500 people group? We already determined that. 529 00:36:26,500 --> 00:36:29,400 It's not because he showed favoritism no, no, it's even 530 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:30,500 more. Simple than that. 531 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:34,300 God chose to work with this people simply to make them a 532 00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:37,600 vessel that would pour out the blessings on everybody else that 533 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:42,300 was first poured into her. God Sanctified, this people to 534 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:45,200 be a servant to the nation's a channel. 535 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:49,400 That would touch every tribe and tongue and culture and Country 536 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:54,100 nothing more than that. And this is a great place to 537 00:36:54,100 --> 00:36:57,800 consider a principle that's not necessarily related but it's 538 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,900 helpful to understand. When God told Abraham, I will 539 00:37:00,900 --> 00:37:03,700 make your name great when he said you will be blessed. 540 00:37:03,700 --> 00:37:08,100 So that what you will be a blessing, he set a principle 541 00:37:08,100 --> 00:37:12,100 that is unchanging that however you and I are blessed by God. 542 00:37:12,100 --> 00:37:15,300 God always has the intent that through that blessing others 543 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:18,900 would be blessed, always Doesn't matter what you have been 544 00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:21,900 blessed with, it could be a great mind, it could be certain 545 00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:23,100 abilities that you are wired with. 546 00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:26,500 It could be resources that are unusual but I want you to be 547 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:32,000 reminded today that whatever God has enriched you with God, had 548 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:36,600 every intent that you would build others up that you would 549 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:40,100 serve others. As Abraham's name would be 550 00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:43,700 promoted. It was not for Abraham shake, it 551 00:37:43,700 --> 00:37:45,500 was so that others could be blessed. 552 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:50,900 Scripture tells us that Paul tells the Corinthians you will 553 00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:56,000 be enriched in every way. That's a second Corinthians 9 by 554 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:58,700 the way and he's talking about something that Christians get 555 00:37:58,700 --> 00:38:00,700 uncomfortable with, he's actually talking about money. 556 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:07,000 And he says, in verse 11, you will be enriched in every way to 557 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:12,100 be generous in every way. Which through us will produce 558 00:38:12,100 --> 00:38:15,900 Thanksgiving to God, that's not just limited to giving that's 559 00:38:15,900 --> 00:38:18,800 giving and every aspect your spiritual gifts your time, your 560 00:38:18,800 --> 00:38:22,500 energy. You have been enriched in every 561 00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:25,300 way for what purpose, so that you can, you can be comfortable 562 00:38:25,300 --> 00:38:29,200 no to be generous in every way. Abraham you're going to be 563 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:30,800 blessed. You're going to have the 564 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:34,500 sentence, like, the stars and that black Sky, why? 565 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:39,400 So that others would be blessed the election of Israel Christ. 566 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,300 Working with this people was not isolated because he has some 567 00:38:42,300 --> 00:38:45,900 favoritism with this people. They were the chosen vessel, 568 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:51,400 that would touch the world. But this truth about God working 569 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,200 with this people is important to realize, you know, why? 570 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:56,000 Because you have many Christians who are under the 571 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,800 misunderstanding that. Because if you're not doing 572 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:01,400 here, by the way by Blood, you're a gentile. 573 00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:06,000 And you have many Christians who believe that our inclusion into 574 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,500 the promises of God was God's plan B. 575 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:14,600 In other words, God, he really wanted to just work with the 576 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,700 Israel prize Israel primarily and because they rejected Jesus 577 00:39:17,700 --> 00:39:19,400 at the first coming, God's like, well, I have to work with 578 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:20,900 somebody. So let's just open the doors for 579 00:39:20,900 --> 00:39:22,400 the Gentiles. That is not true. 580 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:28,300 God had every single one of us in mind from the beginning. 581 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:33,100 And if there's any doubt about that, may I reach you a prophecy 582 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:38,300 700 years before the Incarnation of Christ that really deals with 583 00:39:38,300 --> 00:39:42,300 this, with certainty and Isaiah 49:6. 584 00:39:42,300 --> 00:39:46,800 We read, he says it is too light. 585 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:51,100 A thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes 586 00:39:51,100 --> 00:39:55,100 of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel. 587 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:59,400 He's talking about the Messiah. He's saying, you know, it's too 588 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,700 light for you. My servant the Lord Jesus Christ 589 00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:06,500 to only revive and bring back to me one nation. 590 00:40:07,100 --> 00:40:13,000 That's too easy for you. I will make you a light for the 591 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:17,100 Nations. That my salvation May reach to 592 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:22,600 the end of the Earth. Can you imagine how standing 593 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:25,500 that is God? The Father speaks of his son. 594 00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:31,100 He says it's too light for you. To win the hearts of a 595 00:40:31,107 --> 00:40:36,900 rebellious people in Israel. Your glory is too great, your 596 00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:43,600 light is to radiating and so when you do come your ministry, 597 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:49,100 your sacrifice will touch the four corners of the earth, and I 598 00:40:49,100 --> 00:40:54,800 have every intention for that to be so, You know, when I read 599 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:58,800 this, I thought to myself if that is a light thing for Jesus, 600 00:40:59,500 --> 00:41:03,700 then why do I worry consider that you have troubles this 601 00:41:03,700 --> 00:41:06,100 morning? Are you burdened by difficulty? 602 00:41:06,700 --> 00:41:10,100 Are you before a wall that you do not know how God will help 603 00:41:10,100 --> 00:41:12,900 you climb. Remember this verse. 604 00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:17,300 It's a light thing. For the Son of God to win an 605 00:41:17,300 --> 00:41:21,200 entire nation to him. And if that's a light thing, 606 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:27,000 then what's your problem? Is it too complicated for God to 607 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,600 conquer? Is it too difficult for God to 608 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:34,900 solve? We have difficulty seeing one 609 00:41:34,900 --> 00:41:37,700 person saved in our lifetime and we are told here of the servant 610 00:41:37,700 --> 00:41:40,000 that he will one day and that is a future thing. 611 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:45,000 He will one day have the nation of Israel, bow their knee and 612 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:48,500 declare that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah and that's a light 613 00:41:48,500 --> 00:41:53,800 thing by the way. When I read this, I thought to 614 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:58,100 myself. This was partially fulfilled. 615 00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:02,900 This is partially fulfilled. In fact, look how the Holy 616 00:42:02,900 --> 00:42:07,900 Spirit quotes Isaiah 49:6 in the book of Acts chapter 13, you're 617 00:42:07,900 --> 00:42:13,000 going to be touched by this. I hope and acts 13:47 Paul, just 618 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:16,200 finished with Barnett is preaching to Jews and guess 619 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:21,000 what? They resisted, they rejected. 620 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:28,000 And so he rebukes them. And he tells them, you know 621 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:32,100 what? Enough is enough. 622 00:42:32,100 --> 00:42:36,700 We're going to the Gentiles. We're going to preach to the the 623 00:42:36,700 --> 00:42:38,500 other nations. It was right that you would 624 00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:42,300 receive the Gospel first, but now is the time for other 625 00:42:42,300 --> 00:42:45,400 nations to receive the Soul, Saving truth. 626 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:50,600 And look what he quotes and verse 47 of chapter 13 for soul. 627 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:54,000 The Lord has commanded us saying, I've made you a light 628 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:57,200 for the Gentiles that you may bring Salvation to the ends of 629 00:42:57,200 --> 00:42:59,900 the Earth. He quotes Isaiah 49:6. 630 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:01,900 Did you see that little phrase though? 631 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:05,900 You go to Isaiah 49:6 and it's clear. 632 00:43:05,900 --> 00:43:09,500 It's talking about the Messiah, the person of Jesus Christ, 633 00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:13,100 being the light to the nation's and being the one that would 634 00:43:13,100 --> 00:43:17,200 bring Salvation to the ends of the Earth, and look at how Paul 635 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:21,600 by the spirit quotes that application he says for. 636 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:28,000 So, the Lord has commanded who us How can you say that? 637 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,700 How can you say us when that prophecy is? 638 00:43:30,707 --> 00:43:35,400 So, clearly about Jesus, Paul? You're treading on Dangerous 639 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:38,100 Ground here. But no, pause not a heretic. 640 00:43:38,100 --> 00:43:41,200 He's being moved by the spirit to say that he understood that. 641 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:45,600 There's a partial fulfillment here for who the church. 642 00:43:47,100 --> 00:43:50,700 In other words, do you want to know how Christ will reach the 643 00:43:50,700 --> 00:43:52,900 ends of the world with this salvation? 644 00:43:52,900 --> 00:43:57,700 That would include all peoples? Through his mystical body. 645 00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:05,400 Through his current mystical body on the earth, this will be 646 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,800 partially accomplished as the Great Commission is honored and 647 00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:12,300 fulfilled by my people. That's why Paul could say the 648 00:44:12,300 --> 00:44:16,800 Lord commanded us to bring this light to the ends of the Earth. 649 00:44:18,500 --> 00:44:21,400 Does that not make you feel privileged to be a part of the 650 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:26,300 Church of Jesus Christ? That you and I have a 651 00:44:26,300 --> 00:44:30,100 international mission on the earth that we have a global 652 00:44:30,100 --> 00:44:32,600 mandate on the earth that Christ. 653 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:36,300 So chooses to work with us. That even a prophecy that deals 654 00:44:36,300 --> 00:44:40,400 with him is partially fulfilled in 2021. 655 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:46,300 Buy a Tesla filled Apple plague generation. 656 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:51,600 This mission is still happening and you're a part of it and I'm 657 00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:57,200 a part of it. And look at the reaction of 658 00:44:57,200 --> 00:45:00,700 verse 48. And when the Gentiles heard 659 00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:04,600 this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. 660 00:45:04,700 --> 00:45:09,200 And as many as were appointed to eternal life believed they 661 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:13,100 rejoiced, I can just I can just imagine that scene as as Paul's 662 00:45:13,100 --> 00:45:16,600 confronting these Jews. There are Gentiles watching this 663 00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:20,800 confrontation and then Paul quotes, Isaiah 49:6, and as a 664 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:24,100 result, you had Gentiles high-fiving each other. 665 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:30,200 We're in. We we get to be saved, we get to 666 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:33,100 know the promises. We get to be known as a chosen, 667 00:45:33,100 --> 00:45:35,800 people of God as well. We're part of this. 668 00:45:36,700 --> 00:45:41,100 And they began to rejoice and glorify the word of the Lord. 669 00:45:41,500 --> 00:45:43,800 This is what the Christmas season is about. 670 00:45:45,500 --> 00:45:49,200 That as we are reminded of the gospel and as people come in to 671 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:52,500 hear the gospel because they don't show up any other time of 672 00:45:52,500 --> 00:45:57,800 the year, they would rejoice and glorify God, as the truth is 673 00:45:57,800 --> 00:46:05,000 declared that all men can be saved. but yeah, God came as a 674 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:10,500 Jewish man but in in that plan he was just a vessel to serve 675 00:46:10,500 --> 00:46:15,000 the world. And to bring them in to know the 676 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:21,300 mercy of God. Because God wanted to 677 00:46:21,308 --> 00:46:26,200 demonstrate his unmerited. Love, Jesus became a Jew because 678 00:46:26,200 --> 00:46:30,100 God chose Israel has that vessel that would Usher in the Messiah 679 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:33,200 to illustrate, to the world. The faithfulness of God, he made 680 00:46:33,200 --> 00:46:37,300 promises to ancient people and thousands of years later. 681 00:46:37,700 --> 00:46:42,600 When, when Christ appears on the scene now only do we see the 682 00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:45,200 salvation of God, we see the faithfulness of God. 683 00:46:46,300 --> 00:46:52,200 And lastly to stir the nation's, through the relationship. 684 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:57,600 With Israel, they too would be able to say, I want to share in 685 00:46:57,600 --> 00:46:59,400 the blessings that this nation has known. 686 00:46:59,700 --> 00:47:06,400 And Christ says, come all who thirst come all who are weary 687 00:47:07,100 --> 00:47:10,900 doesn't matter where you're from the invitation belongs to you. 688 00:47:13,100 --> 00:47:16,700 But why is Paul in conclusion talking about all of this at 689 00:47:16,700 --> 00:47:18,100 this point in the Book of Romans? 690 00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:22,600 This is what we're Landing here. Why is he bringing this up? 691 00:47:22,700 --> 00:47:28,500 Is he trying to satisfy some Complicated theological topic. 692 00:47:29,700 --> 00:47:32,700 Is he just giving information for the sake of giving 693 00:47:32,700 --> 00:47:36,300 information? No, and this is what we believe 694 00:47:36,300 --> 00:47:39,100 as a church. The reason why he goes really 695 00:47:39,100 --> 00:47:40,700 deep. The really, the reason why goes 696 00:47:40,700 --> 00:47:44,500 to this nuanced thing is because he has an application in mind, 697 00:47:44,500 --> 00:47:47,500 in fact, all that you just heard this afternoon. 698 00:47:47,600 --> 00:47:50,700 Everything about why Jesus became a Jew, why God chose 699 00:47:50,700 --> 00:47:54,600 Israel and why, that was the seed that he worked with all of. 700 00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:59,600 That was the motivation for the church to behave in a certain In 701 00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:04,300 way. Which proves to us that no 702 00:48:04,300 --> 00:48:08,600 matter how much theology, we discover and preach and learn 703 00:48:08,600 --> 00:48:12,300 and read. Its end is always application, 704 00:48:13,300 --> 00:48:18,700 always, it's not just data dump, it's not just like the Athenians 705 00:48:18,700 --> 00:48:24,600 who want to hear something new. It caused us, it commands us in 706 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:27,900 a specific area of life to reflect what? 707 00:48:27,900 --> 00:48:31,400 We just learned, go back to Romans 15 and I want you to see 708 00:48:31,400 --> 00:48:36,700 why Paul brought this up. In verse 7. 709 00:48:40,500 --> 00:48:46,800 He's telling this church. That's mixed that has people who 710 00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:51,500 believe that there are some days that are holding some foods that 711 00:48:51,500 --> 00:48:53,200 you can eat. And there are some who say all 712 00:48:53,200 --> 00:48:55,400 days are alike and it doesn't matter what you eat got 713 00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:58,600 Sanctified at all. And he says, in verse 7, 714 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:03,200 therefore, welcome one. Another as Christ has welcomed 715 00:49:03,200 --> 00:49:07,800 you for the glory of God. And then he goes on to say, for 716 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:11,300 I tell you, in verse 8, it's a continuation of thought. 717 00:49:13,600 --> 00:49:19,000 Listen to how astounding this is all that we just heard was Paul 718 00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:22,100 by the spirit trying to illustrate to the Christians. 719 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:26,900 Of how they can be more accepting toward one another. 720 00:49:30,200 --> 00:49:34,000 Church you and I should welcome one another. 721 00:49:35,100 --> 00:49:39,000 You and I should accept one another, you and I should be 722 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:43,000 hospitable reconcilable toward one another. 723 00:49:44,500 --> 00:49:47,600 In other words, if there's somebody that comes in here and 724 00:49:47,600 --> 00:49:49,400 they might not share your culture. 725 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:53,500 And so there's a disconnect, you don't fail to greet them because 726 00:49:53,500 --> 00:49:57,200 of that, you don't fail to serve them because of that. 727 00:49:59,100 --> 00:50:01,500 Just because there's so many that comes in or was part of 728 00:50:01,500 --> 00:50:04,300 this ministry and they don't have the same taste or the 729 00:50:04,300 --> 00:50:06,900 hobbies that you enjoy. It doesn't mean that you 730 00:50:06,900 --> 00:50:10,200 disassociate yourself with them, it doesn't mean that you failed 731 00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:14,200 to embrace them doesn't mean that you don't serve them. 732 00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:16,400 You welcome them. You walk up one another, you 733 00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:21,900 accept broaden your arms. If you think this is an issue, 734 00:50:21,900 --> 00:50:23,700 right? It is an issue. 735 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:28,400 It's an issue in many churches. Broaden your arms. 736 00:50:29,800 --> 00:50:33,500 Why you want motivation? That's what Jesus did. 737 00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:40,200 That's what Christ did. He came. 738 00:50:42,800 --> 00:50:47,000 Into this world as a Jew, but he opened his arms to gentiles. 739 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:52,300 He came with a specific. Mission. 740 00:50:53,900 --> 00:50:56,600 And I'm mission was not just to deal with one people, but to 741 00:50:57,100 --> 00:50:58,700 touch as many people as possible. 742 00:51:03,400 --> 00:51:05,800 Christ isn't reserved his Mercy. He didn't Reserve his love. 743 00:51:05,800 --> 00:51:06,900 He didn't Reserve his forgiveness. 744 00:51:06,900 --> 00:51:09,900 He didn't Reserve his attention, his energy, his time. 745 00:51:11,200 --> 00:51:15,500 He even died to welcome, anybody who's willing to accept that, 746 00:51:15,500 --> 00:51:24,200 welcome. and so as you and I read something, As what it may 747 00:51:24,200 --> 00:51:28,200 seem irrelevant to my life. What is Jesus Christ? 748 00:51:28,200 --> 00:51:30,400 Becoming a Jew. Have to do with me practical. 749 00:51:30,400 --> 00:51:33,300 You just heard it. Look at his example. 750 00:51:34,600 --> 00:51:39,200 Now imitate him. Now imitate him. and so you and 751 00:51:39,200 --> 00:51:43,600 I today, And this week we are not just celebrating God who 752 00:51:43,600 --> 00:51:45,900 became man Hugh and I are celebrating God who became a 753 00:51:45,900 --> 00:51:49,900 Jewish man. And I hope that you have that 754 00:51:49,900 --> 00:51:52,800 much more clarity to see something about the wisdom of 755 00:51:52,800 --> 00:51:57,500 God, the goodness of God. And that it would cause you to 756 00:51:57,500 --> 00:52:01,100 fall more in love with him and I just fall in love with him, but 757 00:52:01,100 --> 00:52:04,200 to imitate him. So let's prepare our hearts to 758 00:52:04,200 --> 00:52:34,100 give thanks for these truths. Louis. 759 00:52:34,100 --> 00:52:40,600 Thank you, this afternoon, we get to reflect on something that 760 00:52:40,600 --> 00:52:45,400 perhaps we've never asked or bothered to inquire about Below, 761 00:52:45,400 --> 00:52:49,100 we see that Christ became a servant to the circumcised. 762 00:52:50,400 --> 00:52:55,100 Because he wants to display. A love that is undeserving. 763 00:52:56,700 --> 00:53:01,000 because he wanted to show he wanted to make a statement about 764 00:53:01,000 --> 00:53:03,700 his faithfulness, and so he recruits a people and through 765 00:53:03,700 --> 00:53:10,000 that people, he shows his unwavering Covenant of Love And 766 00:53:10,000 --> 00:53:14,200 the glory that he longs to show through his own commitment to 767 00:53:14,200 --> 00:53:18,500 his word. And Lord we think about how 768 00:53:18,500 --> 00:53:21,600 through the relationship that you shared with Israel. 769 00:53:21,600 --> 00:53:24,400 It would cause a nation's to say, this is what I want. 770 00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:29,700 I want the true Living God. Now, you do not tease the world, 771 00:53:29,700 --> 00:53:32,100 you did not withhold yourself from the world, but you open 772 00:53:32,100 --> 00:53:36,200 your arms to the world. And so Lord, we bask in your 773 00:53:36,200 --> 00:53:39,300 wisdom this afternoon and we want to worship you. 774 00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:42,400 Because there's no detail in this book. 775 00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:47,100 There's no detail about who you are that fails to touch our 776 00:53:47,100 --> 00:53:51,200 hearts. And so receive our adoration as 777 00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:57,300 we give, thanks. As we reflect upon you becoming, 778 00:53:57,300 --> 00:53:59,900 not just a man, but A man among the Jews. 779 00:54:01,200 --> 00:54:06,300 We bless you now as a church who strives to welcome one another 780 00:54:06,300 --> 00:54:09,800 as Christ welcomed Us. In Jesus name we pray. 781 00:54:10,400 --> 00:54:12,400 Amen. Can we stand as We Worship the 782 00:54:12,400 --> 00:54:13,100 Lord together?