1 00:00:01,900 --> 00:00:05,500 We're bundle together tonight. We're here because of one 2 00:00:05,500 --> 00:00:08,300 reason, and that is to Worship the Lord on this Saturday 3 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:10,500 evening. I'm so glad that we can do that, 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,400 and it seems appropriate even when the dimness of this room 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,400 and the Blackness outside of these windows to turn our 6 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,700 attention to the very night where Christ, and when Christ 7 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,300 was born and the Holy Spirit, does not give us the precise 8 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:30,300 date of when the Messiah entered into our World. 9 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:34,400 But in God's wisdom, he has provided detailed accounts 10 00:00:34,900 --> 00:00:39,700 surrounding that glorious event and in God's mind it's suffice 11 00:00:39,700 --> 00:00:44,000 is for us to know just that so that we can worship Him and Obey 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,800 him accordingly. And one of those accounts that 13 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:51,000 have been given by the Lord pertaining to the birth of our 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:57,200 savior deals with the Angelic announcement of Christ being 15 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,900 born on the very night that he did arrive. 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,700 I've and I want us to see what happened here because the 17 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:08,600 essence of the Angels message to an unsuspecting group of 18 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:14,200 shepherds can be beautifully. Summarized in one verse and 19 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:22,300 that's in Luke 2, verse 11. For unto you is Born This Day in 20 00:01:22,300 --> 00:01:27,600 the city of David, a savior who is Christ. 21 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:33,800 The Lord For unto you is Born This Day in the city of David, a 22 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:43,200 savior who is Christ. The lord a savior is born not a, 23 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:48,400 not a social reformer. Not a philosopher who had 24 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:54,500 proposed some ethical framework to provide Humanity. 25 00:01:55,400 --> 00:02:00,200 Some guidance in life, not a charity worker. 26 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,800 Who would give us some examples of how to treat the 27 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,900 marginalized? Not even a prophet. 28 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:09,800 Who would merely perform some Miracles? 29 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:13,200 What the angel said is loud. And clear. 30 00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:17,700 A savior is born. And what a title. 31 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,900 What is significant purpose given to a child? 32 00:02:23,700 --> 00:02:29,900 And the fact that this child would be a savior implies that 33 00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:34,600 there is someone or there is something that needs to be 34 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:39,400 rescued. Meditating on this verse should 35 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,100 cause us to ask a very simple question. 36 00:02:42,900 --> 00:02:47,400 Who is it that the Savior will seek to deliver? 37 00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:52,500 And what is it that he will save from exactly. 38 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:57,500 And all we need to do is have a simple surface level survey of 39 00:02:57,500 --> 00:03:02,600 the Bible to get a clear idea. Of what it is. 40 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,900 Exactly that the Savior came to do. 41 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,100 You know the Bible doesn't blush about its truths, it doesn't 42 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:15,100 shrink it isn't Veil, anything it is clear and the Bible and 43 00:03:15,100 --> 00:03:19,900 frantically declares that the very object of the savior's 44 00:03:19,900 --> 00:03:27,200 saving is Humanity itself. Humanity is in need of saving. 45 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:31,400 And what do they need to be saved from? 46 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,800 Exactly what do we need to be saved from? 47 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:42,100 God himself. We need to be saved from God and 48 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:48,100 God would save us from God. I know that seems strange, but 49 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:50,400 it makes sense. When you understand that. 50 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:55,100 The problem Humanity faces now and faced, ever since the 51 00:03:55,100 --> 00:04:00,900 beginning is that God is Holy God is good. 52 00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:08,600 God is just he is perfect. There is no one like him. 53 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:14,200 We try to make him like us to comfort our conscience, but you 54 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,100 will never be able to challenge the heights. 55 00:04:17,100 --> 00:04:22,200 That the scriptures places this God in, he is so above and 56 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:27,000 beyond what we can even create in our imagination or with these 57 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,500 hands or with our own words with our own ideas. 58 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,500 He is Holy and this God created us. 59 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:40,500 And when he created us he created us with the intention of 60 00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:45,000 glorifying himself and also fellowshipping with his 61 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,700 creation, not because he was lonely, not because he was in 62 00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:51,700 need of anything. But out of pure delight, being 63 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:56,500 the creator of all things, he created us in His image and he 64 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:00,500 gave us one simple instruction. Just don't eat of One Tree. 65 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:06,100 I'm gonna plant you in a garden and you can Feast on an array of 66 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:08,600 vegetation and you can enjoy Paradise. 67 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,000 But there's just one thing that I'm asking you not to do. 68 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,800 And some would say, why would God even give the option and I 69 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,200 say, because God is love. And because God is love, he 70 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,700 gives you a choice to love him in return. 71 00:05:25,900 --> 00:05:31,400 And our first parents Adam and Eve who are our Representatives, 72 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:36,300 the federal head of mankind failed and they made their 73 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:40,500 choice to not love God. But to love their own desire, 74 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:45,100 their own wishes, their own plans and to satisfy their own 75 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:48,400 desires and ever since that happened. 76 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:55,100 The world has been fractured. Humanity has been broken and 77 00:05:55,100 --> 00:05:58,100 only the Bible listen to me. If you're skeptic in this place 78 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,500 I welcome you and I hope you leave here with answers and more 79 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:06,200 importantly, I hope you leave here with the savior in your 80 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,400 heart. I've been meditating these past 81 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:15,800 two weeks. About how no other book, no 82 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,200 other text, no other historical document. 83 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:23,000 Gives us many answers as the Bible does when we think about 84 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:28,500 the universal Universal element of death and the universal 85 00:06:28,500 --> 00:06:33,100 element of sin there is not one part of the world that it can 86 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:36,400 escape it. There's not one portion of 87 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,900 history that has evaded it, no matter where you go, no matter 88 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:43,100 what corner of the globe, you tuck yourself in sin, has 89 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:46,500 contaminated it, no matter what you do to yourself, and no 90 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:49,600 matter how much we advance in our technology and our science. 91 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:55,800 We We still die. Why how do we explain this? 92 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,700 Where do we find answers for this mystery? 93 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:01,800 And it's right here in this book that I am preaching from no 94 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,300 other person, no other belief system, gives the detailed 95 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:09,500 answers and the clarity that God's word does. 96 00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:15,200 Ever since our first parents sinned against God, judgment has 97 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:20,700 been hanging over the human race. and it it has been ready 98 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:27,400 and it will soon be poured out on Adams descendants Because we 99 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:33,800 have all like, Adam like Eve turned, our backs to God and 100 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:38,200 I've made a willful decision to satisfy our wishes at the 101 00:07:38,207 --> 00:07:44,500 expense of disobeying God. And here's here's the thing. 102 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:51,400 God is not a cosmic, teddy bear. He's a moral lawgiver. 103 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:59,100 And when law is broken as a just judge, he must penalize and he 104 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:03,800 must summon the subjects who have broken his law into 105 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:09,000 account, and that is all of us. And you might hear that this 106 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,000 evening and think, to yourself. Well, if we are all in trouble, 107 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,100 if we have all fallen short of the standard of God's holy law, 108 00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:19,100 because in giving this law, he expect he expects his creation 109 00:08:19,100 --> 00:08:22,600 to abide by that law and to imitate and reflect his 110 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,000 character by upholding that law. If we have all fallen short, 111 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,600 then surely we must do something to save. 112 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:31,300 Ourselves. Surely there must be something 113 00:08:31,300 --> 00:08:34,900 that we can do to appease this, God to satisfy this God. 114 00:08:35,100 --> 00:08:41,299 But again, as I said earlier this, God is just We can't do 115 00:08:41,299 --> 00:08:44,300 anything to save ourselves, just like a criminal who has created 116 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:48,500 a great crime cannot stand before a judge and try to 117 00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:54,300 convince him that he can do enough Community work to escape 118 00:08:54,300 --> 00:09:00,000 any price that has been laid on him for his crime. 119 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:06,200 God does not just brush our sins beneath this Universal rug. 120 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,700 Somebody has to pay. We have to pay. 121 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,300 And there's nothing that we can do, there's no arm to twist. 122 00:09:15,300 --> 00:09:19,200 There is no good deeds that you can Heap up that will ever 123 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:25,700 satisfy the Perfection that God demands from us because he 124 00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:29,500 himself is perfect. So what does God do? 125 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:33,400 Well, if the story ends there, then we're all doomed. 126 00:09:34,500 --> 00:09:39,200 And we might as well eat and drink and be merry for tomorrow. 127 00:09:39,300 --> 00:09:44,500 We die. But God is love. 128 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,800 And his love is so great that he comes up with a plan even before 129 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:51,900 all things happen. Because he knew what would 130 00:09:51,900 --> 00:09:57,500 happen and he threw the Eternal son willingly entered into our 131 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:00,500 world. So that through his life, death 132 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:07,400 and Resurrection Would provide an atonement that would satisfy 133 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:14,300 the justice of God and would cancel the record of our heaping 134 00:10:14,300 --> 00:10:18,600 rebellious record of sin forever. 135 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:26,700 He comes to save. And the effect of his saving 136 00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:31,200 work by taking on flesh. Yes. 137 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,700 We look at Jesus as a baby and we sing about it, but he didn't 138 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:38,000 stay as a baby. He entered in as a baby so that 139 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:43,500 he can become a man. And as a man, he took on a whole 140 00:10:43,500 --> 00:10:48,900 life of obeying, the law of God perfectly on our behalf and then 141 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:55,600 to Die, the death that we all deserved and the effect of that, 142 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,800 the effect of that is not merely eternal. 143 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,100 There are byproducts of that wonderful Act of Grace that you 144 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:08,600 and I can enjoy today and that is seen in verse 10. 145 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,300 I read to you verse 11 but the angel began with something else. 146 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,200 He said in verse 10 and the angel said to them fear, not for 147 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,900 behold I bring you good news of great joy. 148 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:27,200 Fear not for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will 149 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,400 be for all the people. That will be for all the people. 150 00:11:32,900 --> 00:11:36,000 So remember this Angel appears to this group of Shepherds? 151 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:41,500 And they are supervising their flock in the night. and by 152 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:45,000 surprise, here comes the celestial messenger, who breaks 153 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:50,000 open the black midnight sky, and appears out of nowhere before 154 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:56,100 these ordinary men Blue Collar Folk, And as this Angel comes, 155 00:11:56,500 --> 00:11:59,800 the first thing he says to them is fear not. 156 00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:03,800 And I'm telling you the reason why he tries to comfort them is 157 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,900 far beyond the element of surprise. 158 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,700 When you read verse nine, we not only see that the angel appears 159 00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:15,200 out of nowhere, kind of like that. 160 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,500 The angel, not only appears out of nowhere, but we're told that 161 00:12:21,500 --> 00:12:25,100 the glory of the Lord Shone around them. 162 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:30,800 And so, there is something of This brilliant Supernatural 163 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,700 light. These Shepherds have seen like 164 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,200 they've seen sunlight. They've seen Moonlight, they've 165 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:40,100 seen Starlight, they've seen man-made light, but this kind of 166 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:46,700 a light, it was Indescribable and it caused them to be in 167 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:51,600 great fear. And I wonder if these Shepherds 168 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:55,200 with a basic understanding of the word of God, we're able to 169 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,800 put the pieces together. Together of what was taking 170 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:02,800 place in those few seconds here, is this heavenly messenger? 171 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,900 Who is coming with This? Brilliant light. 172 00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:10,700 Surely this is the glory of God appearing before us. 173 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,400 And if you just had a basic understanding of the Old 174 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,100 Testament, which is the Hebrew scriptures, then any Jew would 175 00:13:20,100 --> 00:13:25,200 have understood that for God, to appear in his glory is a death 176 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:33,100 sentence, you're doomed. by virtue of his nature being so 177 00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:39,000 pure and so perfect that like the sun will consume anything 178 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:44,200 in, close proximity, simply because of the Brilliance of his 179 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:51,600 Holiness and the sinfulness that we are all corrupted with And so 180 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,000 in the Old Testament, even when God's glory had appeared at 181 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,600 different portions of Redemptive history, there was great caution 182 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,600 given and there is Specific Instructions. 183 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:07,800 Given if anybody would even come a step toward the glory of God, 184 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,700 And here are these men who are given no notice. 185 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:18,000 No heads up no preparation. Like the Israelites at Mount 186 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,500 Sinai who were told to cleanse themselves days before the glory 187 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:25,100 of God would show up on the top of that mountain, just suddenly 188 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:32,900 This light comes and consumes the scene and underneath them, 189 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:36,000 and behind them, and around them, is this light. 190 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,800 And perhaps, with that light before them flash to their own 191 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:41,900 lives. Here we go. 192 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:48,600 God has come to kill us. God has come to consume us. 193 00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:53,600 And the angel instead reassures them. 194 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,800 Fear not. Fear not. 195 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,900 This is good news. Yeah. 196 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:04,800 What you are seeing is the glory of the Lord. 197 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,400 But God is not come to destroy you, he's come to save you. 198 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,500 And just like the shepherd's we too. 199 00:15:13,500 --> 00:15:17,900 Can be delivered from Fear because of this good news. 200 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,100 You and I do not have to stand and Terror before this, God, not 201 00:15:24,100 --> 00:15:28,400 now and not when you will stand before him at the end of your 202 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:33,400 life. The gospel that we preach. 203 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:38,900 When it is believed on when it is responded to with faith. 204 00:15:40,300 --> 00:15:43,400 Eradicates fear, all kinds of fear. 205 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:48,300 But let me tell you the fear that we need to be most Fearful 206 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:53,900 of, if I can say. The fear of God. not because 207 00:15:53,900 --> 00:15:59,100 he's a tyrant not because he is this bully in the sky, who takes 208 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:03,100 the light in our punishment, who is sadistic because she's 209 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:08,700 holding, we're not It's a good kind of fear. and it's a fear 210 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:10,800 that I won't everyone should have if they are uncertain of 211 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:16,200 where they stand with God, But the angel says fear. 212 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:20,900 Not you can, it's almost like a foreshadowing. 213 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,000 You can stand in the glory of God. 214 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,000 Now you can be face-to-face with this. 215 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:30,600 Yes, even in God's moral majesty, and all of his 216 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,000 goodness. You don't have to fear. 217 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:38,900 Matthew tells us that he has come to save us from our sins 218 00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:42,800 and later on, we are told that he has come to save us that we 219 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:47,200 might serve him without fear without fear. 220 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,800 So, what Jesus does because he, he lives on our behalf and he 221 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,400 dies in our behalf and he takes his righteousness, and he 222 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,600 imputes it into your account, what that does is it evaporates 223 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:03,600 any concern that God will change his mind about your verdict. 224 00:17:05,500 --> 00:17:07,900 And there never has to be a sleepless night. 225 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,400 And there, never has to be a thought that runs through your 226 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:18,000 conscience that says, am I safe. Before this holy God. 227 00:17:19,500 --> 00:17:21,500 Willie abandoned me in this life. 228 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,800 Will he will? He destroy me? 229 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:26,800 Will he punish me? Will he disowned me? 230 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,400 Will he will? He remove my name from that 231 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,800 record? That guarantees that I am a 232 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:37,500 citizen of Heaven, all of that disappears on the Merit of what 233 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:42,200 Jesus has done. Fear is gone, when you're truly 234 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:43,100 born again. Yes. 235 00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:45,800 You can be tempted with fear, but let me tell you what, one of 236 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,200 the joys of of knowing Jesus is your free. 237 00:17:50,300 --> 00:17:53,500 You are free. What do I mean by free? 238 00:17:53,500 --> 00:18:01,200 At free from sin but you're free from Fear. you know, last night, 239 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:05,600 our family received unfortunate news, our grandfather passed 240 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,600 away unsuspectedly We knew he was sick. 241 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,300 We knew that time would come, but it happened very quickly. 242 00:18:13,300 --> 00:18:17,800 And so, my father FaceTime me last night, as I was meditating 243 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,700 on these truths to prepare to speak to you tonight. 244 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:25,200 And he was in the room with the rest of my family who were able 245 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,800 to make it my mother. Her siblings, some of the 246 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,000 cousins. There was my grandfather laying 247 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,000 there. And I can tell he was on the 248 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:41,200 threshold of Eternity. And many things ran through my 249 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,900 mind, looking at that and praying at the same time. 250 00:18:45,900 --> 00:18:49,200 Thinking about him. Thinking about his wife, my 251 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:54,300 grandmother thinking about my mom, his daughter, her siblings. 252 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,200 And then finally, throughout the night. 253 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,500 And even today, Pulling back and thinking about. 254 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:09,000 The whole experience. What I saw in a scripture says 255 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,000 better to go to the house of mourning than the house of 256 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,100 feasting. There is wisdom to be learn when 257 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:16,900 you're faced with the death of another. 258 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:25,900 And I looked at that and his face from that blurry FaceTime. 259 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,900 Episode. Stirred, my heart. 260 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,500 To think this is it. This is this is the fate of all 261 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:38,000 of us. For all of you. 262 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:45,300 For me. And in one FaceTime call that 263 00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:48,900 ended within a few minutes of text came he passed on. 264 00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:52,300 In just a few moments in one breath. 265 00:19:53,700 --> 00:19:58,100 You're there surrounded by your loved ones who are holding onto 266 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:03,300 you crying over you. From there, surrounded by the 267 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:09,300 warmth of love and support. You're in the presence of the 268 00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:14,600 glory of God. One breath. 269 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,500 One text message. With the news that somebody has 270 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:25,300 crossed through the veil of this universe into a world. 271 00:20:26,300 --> 00:20:33,300 That is more real than this one. And you don't want to ask 272 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:36,700 myself. Are you ready? 273 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:42,600 Are you ready to stand in the glory of God? 274 00:20:45,900 --> 00:20:49,800 For some, that is a dreadful thought for thought for some, 275 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,900 that is a fearful fearful thing to even, meditate on for a 276 00:20:53,900 --> 00:20:58,100 moment. But for the Christian Dare I say 277 00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:04,200 it can be exciting. You can think about such a thing 278 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,600 and actually know a blanket of comfort over your soul. 279 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:17,200 Because what Jesus Christ does is enable you to know a peace 280 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,400 with God. So that when you meet with God 281 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:24,200 there there doesn't need to be an ounce of concern that he will 282 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:29,600 expel you from his presence or consume you in his presence. 283 00:21:30,300 --> 00:21:35,000 You know what happens because of Jesus his glory becomes your 284 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,700 home. That's what happens. 285 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,700 And the very light that cause these Shepherds to fear and 286 00:21:44,700 --> 00:21:49,600 rightfully fear for the moment. Is a light that you and I will 287 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:54,600 enjoy for all of eternity. Because of Christ. 288 00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:02,300 You may have a lot of answers or you think you do about this 289 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:06,200 life. Where are your answers for the 290 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,800 next one? come tomorrow and you'll get 291 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,600 some There is no dread in Christ. 292 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:19,700 There is no fear. What we see here in verse 10 is 293 00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:23,200 more than just fear. Not look at this for behold. 294 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:28,200 I bring you good news of great joy so here's what happens. 295 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:32,700 The good news is not just erasing fear, all kinds of fear 296 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:35,400 in the most important fear, whether whether or not you're in 297 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,800 right standing with God. Now we actually know great joy. 298 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:44,000 The angel was so specific he could have said Joy, But he said 299 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,800 great joy. You know what the Greek word for 300 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:53,000 great is you know, it Mega I love it because I look at it 301 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:55,100 this way, I bring you good news of great. 302 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:57,900 Joy I bring you good news of Mega. 303 00:22:57,900 --> 00:23:05,600 Joy mountain is Joy. Overwhelming joy, all-consuming? 304 00:23:05,700 --> 00:23:10,300 Joy. A joy that surpasses all 305 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:14,000 happiness. All the little things that you 306 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,200 try to thread all the little things that you try to create, 307 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,200 try to bring some kind of purpose and gratification. 308 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,700 No, this is Mega joy and mega Joy can only come from Christ. 309 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,600 Joy. Joy is so profound that, those 310 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,400 who trust in this, good news and open their lives up to the 311 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,300 reality of, it will be able to testify. 312 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:43,600 There is nothing else that compares, there is nothing else 313 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,900 that can come close to what I feel in here. 314 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,200 How can it be? That I can be so full with 315 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:58,300 something that I can't see. How can it be that I can be so 316 00:23:58,300 --> 00:24:03,700 secure and satisfied with something that I can't tangibly 317 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:10,000 perceive. You see this message is so real 318 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:15,000 and its implications are so obvious that it makes this 319 00:24:15,100 --> 00:24:19,600 impact on you in a way that moves you. 320 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,800 And this is why a weekend like this is so significant. 321 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,400 This is why on a Saturday night you're choosing to be here. 322 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:31,900 And to listen to what I'm saying is because this message revives 323 00:24:31,900 --> 00:24:36,100 our joy when we lose fuel in it, You know, you have a lot of 324 00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:40,800 Christians, that that, that make it their mission to look at 325 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,600 things like Christmas and Easter and the timing of it, a matter 326 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:48,600 of great controversy and they become apologists for the Faith 327 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,400 by, you know, just being controversial. 328 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,500 I personally have no issue with celebrating Christmas. 329 00:24:57,300 --> 00:24:59,200 As long as those who celebrate it. 330 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,300 Celebrated the way, the Bible would tell you to celebrate, 331 00:25:01,300 --> 00:25:05,400 there's no day that there is, no, there's no call to remember 332 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,300 the birth of Christ per se were called to remember the death of 333 00:25:08,300 --> 00:25:12,400 Christ. But I have no issue to take 334 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:16,600 advantage of what's Happening year after year to allow the 335 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,000 message of the Gospel to revive us again. 336 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,000 You know why a weekend like this is important. 337 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,100 We can take advantage of it because even the most faithful 338 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:33,100 followers of Jesus Christ can lose perspective on the joy that 339 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:38,700 is reserved within this good news alone you and I can lose 340 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:42,400 sight of it so quickly and you and I can get involved in little 341 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:46,000 things, not that little things and little projects and things 342 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,200 in this life and events should not be enjoyed by then we try to 343 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,800 make it the substance of what. We are. 344 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,600 And I'm telling you, the closest followers of Jesus can fall into 345 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,200 that trap, and I'll prove it to you. 346 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,600 After this baby becomes a man and he starts his ministry and 347 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,700 he has disciples. He sends out many of them on a 348 00:26:06,700 --> 00:26:09,300 preaching Crusade and he gives them Authority. 349 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,800 And this Authority was not just to preach with conviction and 350 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:18,200 power, but to heal the sick and to cast out devils, And after 351 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,900 the little campaign, they come back and they have a debrief 352 00:26:20,900 --> 00:26:23,300 with their lord and they are related. 353 00:26:23,300 --> 00:26:27,200 They are overwhelmed by the authority of the name of Jesus 354 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:32,400 and they tell Jesus, even demons are subject to us in your name. 355 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:37,800 The Lord hears them and he understands where they're coming 356 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,100 from. But then he issues some 357 00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:43,900 instruction and light of their happiness of their service, to 358 00:26:43,900 --> 00:26:47,300 God and Luke 10 20, you don't have to turn there but listen to 359 00:26:47,300 --> 00:26:52,500 what the Lord says nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the 360 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:55,700 spirits are subject to you, but Rejoice, that your names are 361 00:26:55,700 --> 00:27:01,500 written in heaven. He says listen he's not trying 362 00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:06,200 to deflate their excitement of seeing the miraculous or seeing 363 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,700 the joys that come with serving God he's not trying to erase 364 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:11,100 that from them. He's not trying to take that 365 00:27:11,100 --> 00:27:13,500 from them but he wants to teach them a valuable lesson. 366 00:27:14,900 --> 00:27:18,400 Don't have more excitement about what you do for God, you better 367 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:20,900 Anchor, your join what God has done for you. 368 00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:28,700 Learn that stay there. Relish in that truth over and 369 00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:34,100 over, let that be the heartbeat of your joy of your Glee of your 370 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:40,200 pleasure. When I thought about it, how 371 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,800 does a future event not even future. 372 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,600 How does something after I die? Benefit me now how does that 373 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,500 translate to me? Experiencing a joy? 374 00:27:50,700 --> 00:27:53,400 That should be greater than any other thing that I can rejoice 375 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,800 in? And it's very simple if you 376 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,300 think about it, it's clear whatever you gain in this life. 377 00:27:59,300 --> 00:28:02,200 No matter what you accomplish, it will never ever come close to 378 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,900 the privilege that you have and having a citizenship in heaven 379 00:28:06,300 --> 00:28:09,100 and listen what Never you lose in this life and you will lose 380 00:28:09,100 --> 00:28:12,600 much in this life, whatever slips through your hands. 381 00:28:13,100 --> 00:28:15,700 No matter who is taken from you, no matter what heartbreak, no 382 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:18,600 matter what failures you experience, even the failures 383 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:23,500 outside of your control, know that, in light of this 384 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:28,400 imperishable and guarded assurance, you have no reason to 385 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,600 frown. You have no reason to be 386 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:35,600 overwhelmed. And for Christians, the reason 387 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:41,100 why we sing the reason why you're happy the reason why. 388 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,300 You navigate through this life, much differently than others is 389 00:28:45,300 --> 00:28:47,800 not because of what you do for him. 390 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:49,900 It's because what he's already accomplished. 391 00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:55,200 And you rest there. And you allow that to shower 392 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,900 over you. You know, you think about the 393 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:01,500 Apostle Paul in the book of Acts, how he was able to utilize 394 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:04,700 his, Roman citizenship to avoid many problems, right? 395 00:29:06,700 --> 00:29:12,700 you have this citizenship in glory, I mean, this world is the 396 00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:15,800 closest thing to hell. You will experience Christian 397 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,700 and for the person who is not in Christ, this world is the 398 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,800 closest thing to Heaven. They will ever know and I find 399 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:30,000 that pretty pathetic. This Joy was so real. 400 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,600 That the Angels themselves could not help. 401 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:39,900 Could not help but join in, on the song, there are many 402 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:42,800 instances and I'm closing here where an angel appears on the 403 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:45,000 scene in this world to deliver something. 404 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,000 From the throne room of God, many instances, sometimes of 405 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,500 judgment and sometimes of glad tidings. 406 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:55,800 But what this Angel does, and what happens with this Angel is 407 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,800 unprecedented. You don't find it in any other 408 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,400 place. When he arrives to deliver this 409 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,600 message, he is accompanied with a Heavenly Choir. 410 00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:08,100 And Luke. You see it in the same chapter 411 00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:12,400 verse 13 of chapter chapter 2 and suddenly there was with the 412 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:17,200 angel, a multitude of the Heavenly Host, praising God, 413 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:23,200 praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on 414 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:28,100 Earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. 415 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:33,200 You can't find one other place in all of the Bible where you 416 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,900 have this heavenly host appearing in. 417 00:30:36,100 --> 00:30:40,000 In this world in this way, you can see Angels praising God in 418 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,900 heaven. You see that throughout the Book 419 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:46,400 of Revelation, but I'm talking about a choir from Heaven, 420 00:30:46,500 --> 00:30:50,600 invading into this world and celebrating an event that is 421 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,900 taking place right there and then you can't find it. 422 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,300 And do you know why you can't find it very simple because 423 00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:01,000 there is no greater message in this world that can demand such 424 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:06,700 a response. There is nothing in this world, 425 00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:09,400 there's nothing that this world has ever produced. 426 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:14,100 That would ever demand such a response from heaven. 427 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:20,900 The Eternal Son of God. when these angels stood in the 428 00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:25,100 presence of And these angels sang, too. 429 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:31,700 From these angels, new far beyond you and I can imagine. 430 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,500 Are now seeing him become a baby? 431 00:31:40,100 --> 00:31:44,600 That's glorious. They gloried in his humiliation, 432 00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:49,800 they rejoiced in his love. They could not help. 433 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:57,600 But break out in song as they realized they deserve Wrath. 434 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:09,500 They are wicked. They have rebelled against the 435 00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:16,200 Holy One. and you would perhaps disagree with me on this, but if 436 00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:21,200 God had chosen to judge the world, Instead of saving it. 437 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:23,900 I'm sure the Angels would have sang. 438 00:32:23,900 --> 00:32:29,600 The Praises of God, nonetheless, because he is Holy but instead, 439 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,300 they They had a new song to sing. 440 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,800 One, that would be unexpected. Perhaps. 441 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:43,800 And that is this. God has now come. 442 00:32:45,500 --> 00:32:48,500 To abide in the womb of a virgin, girl. 443 00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:57,100 To become so vulnerable. So helpless, so exposed. 444 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:00,700 The one in whom we could not even be hold with. 445 00:33:00,700 --> 00:33:05,200 Our eyes is now hanging from A woman's breast. 446 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:13,100 And he will learn how to walk. And he will have a first word. 447 00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:18,400 And he will know the tensions and The Temptations of this 448 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:23,000 life. For one purpose. 449 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,500 So that he can develop hands, that would be nailed. 450 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:33,800 Feet, that would be pierced. Aside to be penetrated. 451 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,500 A beautiful head to be crushed with thorns. 452 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:47,800 A beard to be pulled. Eyes and a nose and lips to be 453 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:52,100 spat upon. To save. 454 00:33:54,500 --> 00:34:01,100 A savior has been born. And this savior who was born. 455 00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:09,600 He still saving today? Are you saved? 456 00:34:13,100 --> 00:34:17,199 I'm offering you a gift. It's free. 457 00:34:19,199 --> 00:34:21,600 You probably have things wrapped underneath the tree. 458 00:34:22,500 --> 00:34:27,000 Maybe you're excited to discover what it is that your wife got 459 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:28,300 you? Your husband got you, your kids 460 00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:32,800 got you. It's going to turn to rust. 461 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:37,000 God forbid, a thief. Might steal it. 462 00:34:39,199 --> 00:34:43,900 One thing's for certain. Huh, get as tight as you want. 463 00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:48,199 On your breasts on your dying moment. 464 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:54,600 Somebody's going to take away that thing Stitch you up, put 465 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:57,400 some makeup on you stuff you in a casket. 466 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:04,900 And bury you. While you yeah, you the real you 467 00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:08,200 that you that's not just this flesh will be standing in the 468 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:12,100 glory of God. That could be an exciting thing. 469 00:35:13,500 --> 00:35:16,800 I could be a terrifying thing. I want it to be an exciting 470 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:23,400 thing and how you translate from Terror to treasure is you 471 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:25,700 acknowledging, you need to be saved. 472 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:31,200 God is Not demanding for a righteous performance between 473 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,500 now and that final breath. He's demanding for you to humble 474 00:35:35,500 --> 00:35:38,500 yourself and the presence of God. 475 00:35:38,500 --> 00:35:41,600 Even now to say, I don't know why I'm here. 476 00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:46,800 Maybe you saw pamphlet on your doorknob this past week, maybe 477 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:49,500 you're invited by a friend or family, but I'm here. 478 00:35:50,700 --> 00:35:53,100 And I'm here and I heard a message. 479 00:35:54,500 --> 00:36:01,400 That demands a choice. God, I ask that you forgive me. 480 00:36:03,500 --> 00:36:07,300 I see what my son has done. I know that if I were to die 481 00:36:07,300 --> 00:36:13,700 today, I would not be standing and right. 482 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:20,700 Would you wash me clean? If you did come to save, save 483 00:36:20,700 --> 00:36:25,700 me, rescue me, and let my name be written among the righteous 484 00:36:25,700 --> 00:36:31,300 so that I would have no more fear and I want that great joy 485 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:36,400 that Mega joy that that preacher talked about Would you do it in 486 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,800 my heart? I want to tell you that savior, 487 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,000 the Savior that I preached, the Savior that I am not ashamed of 488 00:36:44,900 --> 00:36:49,000 By the authority of God's word, he will save you and you'll know 489 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:54,400 it how will I know you'll know it how the same way if you had 490 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:58,800 100 pounds riding on your back and all for a sudden somebody 491 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:02,100 just cut the rope for it to be loose and you feel this 492 00:37:02,100 --> 00:37:04,000 lightness? And you feel this burden? 493 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:07,200 Just disappear. That's how you'll know you 494 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,000 Christians know what I'm talking about. 495 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:14,100 And so as we sing in closing, you have every right to speak to 496 00:37:14,100 --> 00:37:17,400 this God who is alive? And well, and it was ordained 497 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:20,200 this moment for you to hear this message so that you would be 498 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:22,900 saved. And although I pray that you 499 00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:25,800 would be saved a savior has been born. 500 00:37:26,100 --> 00:37:45,800 Let's Stand Together. Would you pray with me? 501 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:54,200 My prayer is going to be geared towards a person and this place 502 00:37:54,200 --> 00:38:01,100 who might not be saved. And also a prayer for the save 503 00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:03,900 to have their Joy revived in the fact that their names have been 504 00:38:03,900 --> 00:38:07,500 written in heaven. Lord, in this place as we are 505 00:38:07,508 --> 00:38:13,100 ready to go back to our homes, We ask Lord if there is even one 506 00:38:13,100 --> 00:38:19,500 in here, who does not truly know you. that their hearts would, 507 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:26,500 would not shake off conviction or the tug of the holy spirit 508 00:38:26,500 --> 00:38:29,000 that they might be experiencing at this very moment. 509 00:38:30,900 --> 00:38:34,300 Oh Lord, we pray on behalf of those who might not know you. 510 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:39,500 And that Lord, you would manifest your great glory to 511 00:38:39,500 --> 00:38:43,700 them in the gospel in the cross, so that they could see clearly 512 00:38:43,900 --> 00:38:47,600 your great love for them and Lord for us who know you. 513 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:51,800 Over time have become very familiar with this message. 514 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:59,800 We pray for a fresh touch to realize the reality of Eternity. 515 00:39:02,100 --> 00:39:06,100 And that everything because of Jesus has been taken care of, we 516 00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:11,600 are going home. And there is no one who can 517 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:16,800 condemn us because it is God, who justifies, Lord, we worship 518 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:18,400 you. And we ask that you would be 519 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:21,500 blessed by our praise in light of what we heard. 520 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,500 We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 521 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:26,500 In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.