1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:10,840 Merry Christmas. Wow, you know, how many years 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:15,240 have you sat in services like this somewhere on the planet and 3 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,680 heard those old songs? And they never lose their 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,520 impact, do they? Their their history written in 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,280 lyrics and music that we can sing and reminisce and think 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,120 about it from the time we were probably smallest and youngest 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,520 to the time that we are at right now in our age process. 8 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:40,960 And it's interesting how you have different emotions at 9 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:46,120 Christmas time based on how long you've been around and what 10 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,200 you've been through in this life thus far. 11 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:55,000 If you're a little kid, everything is super exciting and 12 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,640 positive and wonderful and magical, and it should be that 13 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,840 way. I'd love to be able to go back 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,800 to those days again, just for a little while. 15 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,640 But I love watching children and grandchildren and you guys, your 16 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:14,640 kids, everybody experience Christmas to the the fullest way 17 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,240 that they possibly can. And then we have people that are 18 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:24,840 in times of trials and difficulty transition, whether 19 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,520 it's issues of losing a loved one, We have some of our 20 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:32,560 families in our church this year who lost precious loved ones 21 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,880 that are with Jesus now. And that's hard to have your 22 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,920 first Christmas, isn't it without your your mom or your 23 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,440 dad or your grandparents or your kids or whatever people who have 24 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:45,480 passed on. It's, it's just not quite the 25 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,040 same. People have health issues. 26 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,320 Many people have health issues, people have marital issues, they 27 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:57,120 have kids issues, they have financial issues, they have all 28 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,440 kind of issues, right? If you have a chance to talk to 29 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:05,320 people with with an open heart and they know you're open and 30 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,240 you're interested in their lives and what they maybe you're 31 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,880 dealing with, they'll usually tell you a little bit about what 32 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,400 they're dealing with. And Cindy, this week, my wife, 33 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,720 she's dealing with a lot of health issues at one time. 34 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,960 It's like, it's almost like a domino thing in our home right 35 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,880 now. But the Lord is with us. 36 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,760 Help us get through with it. The visiting nurse was there 37 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,640 this week and she was talking to Cindy and Cindy could tell that 38 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:32,240 she was really burdened about something, but she wasn't going 39 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,880 to, you know, violate her privacy sense of privacy. 40 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,240 But the Holy Spirit was put on Cindy to ask her, you know, what 41 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,280 she was dealing with And she said she was going through a 42 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,960 terrible divorce, very, very painful woman, about 28 years 43 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:52,240 old, eight-year old child son didn't know how to process that 44 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,960 with him at this time of year. And so Cindy listened to her 45 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,240 and, and, and meanwhile, Cindy is like an agony. 46 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,000 I, I could tell you more about that, but I'm not going to bore 47 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:02,920 you with the details. This pray for her. 48 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,200 But Cindy had the heart to say, well, could I say a prayer for 49 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,200 you? And so she did. 50 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:10,720 And that's really what Christmas is about. 51 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,920 It's about us somehow becoming a little bit more like Jesus, 52 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,320 where we care about others more than we think about ourselves. 53 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:31,840 Jesus, when we study his life, he was 100% focused on you, 54 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,480 never himself. And even as Christians, on our 55 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:42,280 best day, it's really hard to be 100% focus on someone else, 56 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:43,480 isn't it? When you have your own 57 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,280 challenges, your own issues. But when the Holy Spirit comes 58 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,360 into our life, when we become believers and we trust in Jesus 59 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,560 as our Lord and Savior, which I trust all of you have done. 60 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,600 And if you haven't, the greatest Christmas present you could ever 61 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,520 experience is to have Christ come into your heart and reveal 62 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:07,040 His love for you and His forgiveness to you and give you 63 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,320 the promise of everlasting life. That's the best. 64 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:11,600 Doesn't get any better than that. 65 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,480 Jesus is the reason of the season, isn't it? 66 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,399 Isn't he? And everything else is some 67 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,519 somewhat superficial to some extent. 68 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,000 So I want to read some history here tonight. 69 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:26,680 Some of you are familiar with this, maybe some of you have 70 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,960 never heard these verses from the book of Luke, but it talks 71 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,720 about the virgin birth, Christ being born through a Virgin Mary 72 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:41,120 and no sex, no man involved, just a miraculous birth God 73 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,920 becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ, fully God and 74 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,200 fully man. And one of the things I was 75 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,280 thinking about is I was reading this and maybe you thought about 76 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:54,920 it. When Jesus is a baby, he's, he's 77 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,120 fully God, right? Was he aware? 78 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,600 OK, temporarily, I'm a baby right now. 79 00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:03,120 When I'm 33 years from now, I'm going to be a full man and I'm 80 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:07,120 going to die on the cross. This is why I've come to save my 81 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,320 people from their sin. Be fascinating to to know all 82 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:12,520 those details. Someday. 83 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,520 I think we will when we're with him in heaven. 84 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,440 But he never left his Godhead, even when he was an infant, when 85 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,560 he was a baby. And we know he was age 12 in the 86 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,920 synagogue and he was doing deep conversations theologically with 87 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,720 the the religious leaders at the time. 88 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,680 And his mom and dad were freaking out because they 89 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,280 wondered where he was at. And he said, don't you know him 90 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:36,640 about my father's business? So we know even at age 12, he 91 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,320 was fully aware of the purpose for why he came. 92 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,280 But it says in verse 26 of Luke chapter 1. 93 00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:47,560 Now in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to 94 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,480 a city Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man 95 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,440 whose name was Joseph of the House of David. 96 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,560 The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the Angel 97 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,320 said to her, Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with 98 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,560 you, Blessed are you among women. 99 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,880 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and 100 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:11,600 considered what manner of greeting this was. 101 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,600 Then the Angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you 102 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,760 have found favor with God, and behold, you will conceive in 103 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,400 your womb, and bring forth the Son, and shall call his name 104 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,040 Jesus. He will be great, and he will be 105 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,480 called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give him 106 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:34,320 the throne of his Father David, and he will reign over the House 107 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:39,080 of Jacob Forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end. 108 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:44,200 Then Mary said to the Angel, How can this be, since I do not know 109 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,760 a man? And the Angel answered and said 110 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,160 to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of 111 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:51,920 the Highest will over shadow you. 112 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:56,840 Therefore also that holy One who is He be born will be called the 113 00:06:56,840 --> 00:07:01,720 Son of God. And so a miracle, obviously. 114 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,320 And then it goes on to tell us in chapter 2 of Luke. 115 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,440 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from 116 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,240 Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 117 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,400 This census first took place while Carinius was governing 118 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,280 Syria. So all went to be registered, 119 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,560 everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee 120 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,200 out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, 121 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,200 which is called Bethlehem because he was the of the house 122 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,680 and lineage of David to be registered with Mary and be his 123 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,000 betrothed wife who was with child. 124 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,200 So it was that while they were there, the days were completed 125 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,840 for her to be delivered and she brought forth his, her first 126 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,040 born son and wrapped him in Swahili clothes and laid him in 127 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:55,400 a Manger because there was no room for them in the inn. 128 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:00,880 And now in the Christmas letter we sent out to everybody, we had 129 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:05,800 a insight in the fact that Jesus first experienced when he was 130 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:11,080 born was his vision being focused on pretty much his 131 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,200 mother's face, I'm sure. But also all he saw was 132 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,640 blackness, The Cave, the darkness of The Cave. 133 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,640 It wasn't any fancy hotel or residence or anything. 134 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:25,000 It was, it was a pretty tough place where animals hung out and 135 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,640 he would smell for the first time and he wouldn't smell 136 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,919 cookies baking in the oven or wonderful sense of dinner being 137 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:35,880 made or whatever. He was smelling the animal, 138 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,799 animal dung, which I'm sure was really gross, but nonetheless, 139 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:43,000 that's what he experienced. And he was not laying in a 140 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,520 comfortable bed or a crib or a bassinet. 141 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:50,280 He was laid in a bed of hay, which was prickly and I'm sure 142 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,080 jagging him and all that kind of stuff. 143 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,640 It wasn't like, like what we experience when we go to bed at 144 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,160 night, right? And so when you think about 145 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:03,000 everything like the trees, it's so fun and festive and the 146 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:07,680 presents are fun and the dinner and the party and the family and 147 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:10,400 all these things are awesome to experience, right? 148 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:14,080 But think about it. When Jesus was born, there was 149 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,200 nothing like this, nothing at all. 150 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:22,160 And we study the Bible and we don't see any evidence of any 151 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:27,160 kind of major celebration in December or any month in regard 152 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,000 to his birth. The focus was on his 153 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,880 resurrection and and Easter Pasca. 154 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:39,320 Whenever Christ after he died on the cross for your sins, he was 155 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,720 buried on the third day he rose again from the dead. 156 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,800 That is what we really celebrate. 157 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,880 Christ's birth is awesome because if he wasn't born then 158 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,880 there would be no death, burial, and resurrection. 159 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,640 But his focus was not on his birthday. 160 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:57,080 His focus was on his resurrection day. 161 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,320 And that's what makes our faith and our Christian heritage 162 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:04,040 different than every other religion in the world. 163 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:08,800 We worship King Jesus, a risen savior. 164 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:14,120 We worship not a man, but a God. Man fully, man fully, God 165 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:19,120 perfect, never sin, Jesus Christ our Lord. 166 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,960 And so the glory of what happened that night was after 167 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,680 this occurred, and this birth occurred in the Manger. 168 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,560 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in 169 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:35,000 the fields, keeping watch over the flock by night. 170 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,800 Now to be a shepherd was a lowly occupation. 171 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,360 There was nothing glamorous about it. 172 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:44,720 It was cold, it was desolate. You were responsible for 173 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,240 protecting these animals. Many of them would be used as 174 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,960 sacrifices in the temple on behalf of the people's sins that 175 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,240 didn't realize that Jesus was the only one that could take 176 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,920 away sin. Animal sacrifices were still 177 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,640 occurring, but these guys are out there at night, I'm sure, 178 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,680 looking at the stars and doing whatever they do. 179 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,840 And all of a sudden they had this encounter, this miraculous 180 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,840 experience. At night as they were watching 181 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:14,240 the sheep, a behold, an Angel of the Lord stood before them, and 182 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,600 the glory of the Lord shone around them. 183 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,120 And they were greatly afraid, I should say, so I'd be afraid 184 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,800 too, wouldn't you? Then the Angel said to them, do 185 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,960 not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great 186 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,600 joy, which will be to all people. 187 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:34,520 Now this is the good news. You and I have good news to tell 188 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,840 people about what Jesus Christ did for us and what He can do 189 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:44,280 for them if they humble themselves and repent and admit 190 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,960 they're sinners and that they need a Savior. 191 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,040 It's that simple. It's good news. 192 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,480 Not any is a good news for the fact that He is a risen Savior, 193 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,760 but it's good news because He takes away all your sin, His 194 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,800 blood cleanses it, and He gives you a brand new life and a 195 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,880 future that will be with him for all eternity in heaven one day. 196 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:12,040 This is something we want to tell everybody, everybody we 197 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,960 know, everybody we love, everybody we come in contact 198 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,320 with. We want to know if they have 199 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:21,040 ever heard any good news. There's so much bad news now, 200 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,920 isn't there? I mean, people get paid millions 201 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,000 of dollars to give you and me bad news on the major news 202 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,440 networks, right? I mean, it's, it's madding, 203 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,680 people being killed, shot, terrible things happening. 204 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:36,080 I mean, we don't need any of that stuff, right? 205 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,560 We need good news, right? And that's why it tells us some 206 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:43,680 Philippians sync on these things, not negative things, 207 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:49,760 sync on things that are pure, lovely, just and a good report. 208 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,080 You have a good report, don't you? 209 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:57,000 Jesus Christ is your Lord and your Savior and he forgave you 210 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,120 of your sin. Tell everybody you have a chance 211 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,720 what he's done for you. And so he's telling them, I'm 212 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,640 giving you good news here. For there is born to you this 213 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:12,560 day in the city of David a savior, not a baby. 214 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:17,360 He said a savior. I'm sure they thought like, what 215 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,800 does that mean? Who is Christ the Lord? 216 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,520 He named him. The Angel named him, 217 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:30,320 specifically Christ the Lord. And this will be assigned to 218 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,800 you. Go and you'll find a babe 219 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,960 wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger. 220 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,920 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the 221 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,440 heavenly host, praising God, saying, Glory to God in the 222 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,720 highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. 223 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,440 So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, 224 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,360 that the shepherd said to one another, Let us now go to 225 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,520 Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the 226 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,280 Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste, they 227 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,680 ran, they went as fast as they could to get there, and they 228 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:09,000 found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a Manger. 229 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:14,240 Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying 230 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,400 which was told them concerning this child. 231 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:21,280 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which 232 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:25,520 were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things 233 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:30,160 and pondered them in her heart. And then the shepherds returned, 234 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,720 glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had 235 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,760 heard and seen and was told to them. 236 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:45,520 Now I wonder about me and you. Tonight we've heard the story 237 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,440 every year of our life. If we've been Christians and 238 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:54,240 attending a Bible church, we know the Bible ourselves because 239 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:55,960 we've read it and we've studied it. 240 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:05,120 Are we making widely known that which was told them concerning 241 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:09,720 this child? Not a guilt trip, but an 242 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,960 opportunity maybe for all of us today and tonight, whoever we're 243 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:20,360 with, to tell people that don't know Jesus yet what he who he is 244 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:24,240 and what he's done for us and making it widely known. 245 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,800 I love the parable, the sewer or the picture of the artwork. 246 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:34,240 One of my favorite paintings, I have it by my bed and it's a 247 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,320 picture of Jesus with a smile on his face with a satchel over his 248 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,320 shoulder taking seed, which is representing the word of God. 249 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,360 And he doesn't take well. Like I think I'll put one seed 250 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,160 here in Greensburg. I'll put 3IN Latrobe, I'll put 251 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,640 five in there. Like he just took it and like 252 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,320 blitzed the ground with it. I mean, the ground was totally 253 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,920 covered with that seed. So much seed that Jesus threw 254 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:04,800 out to teach us that you don't throw it out in a sparse way. 255 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:11,400 You throw it out as aggressively as you can, wherever you can 256 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:16,440 throw it so that people have a chance to hear what Jesus has 257 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:20,240 done for you. Our country, our world is 258 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,800 fractured because there's a lack of seed being sown. 259 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,520 People don't have hope. They don't know what to believe 260 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,640 in. They don't know where to go 261 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,240 anymore. They're hopeless. 262 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:37,120 He's the God of all hope and the God of all comfort. 263 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,840 And so it's exciting for me, and I'm sure to you tonight as you 264 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:43,520 hear His word and you think about it. 265 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:46,120 Lord, I want my kids to know you. 266 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,640 I want my grandkids in there. I want my neighbors to know you. 267 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,520 I want the people I work with to know You. 268 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,320 Show me how to share the Word. Show me how to sow the seed. 269 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:59,680 Show me how to love people enough that I really, really 270 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:01,840 want to tell them what it's all about. 271 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:07,200 Don't let me be insecure or intimidated. 272 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:13,680 We're embarrassed. Help me care about people the 273 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:18,280 way you do. Everywhere Jesus went, He told 274 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:22,280 people who he was and the people that followed him the closest. 275 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:29,040 Learn how to do the same thing. Tell everyone what the Lord has 276 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:35,480 done for you because I think of the times that we're living in 277 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:39,120 right now. If everybody had a chance to 278 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:43,400 have open mic tonight, not karaoke, but open mic where we 279 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,160 could just tell everybody like, what are you dealing with? 280 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:49,560 What have you been through? What is it you need help with? 281 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,640 And what's your greatest prayer right now? 282 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:53,920 We would be here probably till tomorrow morning. 283 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,160 I'm sure there'll be that much information come on forth. 284 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:02,520 But when you think about your life and Cindy and I, we try to 285 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,160 pray in the morning as often as we can. 286 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,560 And usually the prayer in the morning is repentance. 287 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,800 Starting with repentance. Honey, I'm sorry how I treated 288 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,920 you. I'm sorry, Sorry how I didn't 289 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:21,040 have patience with you. I'm sorry how I criticize you. 290 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,240 I I'm, I'm sorry. You know, this is always Cindy 291 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,240 repenting, not me. I don't have to No, I'm just 292 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:29,440 kidding. It goes both ways. 293 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,920 But anyway, we, we start with that, right, So that our, our 294 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,800 hearts are pure and there's nothing against each other, 295 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,080 right. And then we reflect on the 296 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:41,800 goodness of God and how merciful and how patient he's been with 297 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,480 us and how the, the privilege we have to serve you guys at 298 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,080 Calvary Chapel and teach the word of God. 299 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,800 There's there's no greater calling as far as I'm concerned 300 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,480 as a man to have the chance to teach people the word of God. 301 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:57,320 And we have many men and women in this church and teach others 302 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,760 the word of God. And then we have intercession 303 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,360 and we pray for you guys as I know you pray for us and we can 304 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,680 see your faces and we know the story. 305 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:11,200 And Pastor Lewis and myself and George and John, we, we know the 306 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,480 heartache in the church. We know the people what they're 307 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,840 going through. And you guys are on our hearts 308 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,440 all the time because you're on Jesus heart all the time. 309 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:23,400 And we represent him and we carry you in our hearts and lift 310 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,200 you up to the Lord. And then we have a time of 311 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,680 gratitude, thanking God so much for all that he's done, more 312 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,720 than we deserve. And one of our biggest prayers 313 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:39,760 right now, we're asking Jesus to make us more like Jesus, just 314 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,240 not have knowledge in our head or information. 315 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:47,200 But how can we shine Jesus to other people? 316 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:54,480 As I said, there's heartache in the world, there's illness, 317 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:59,000 there's conflicts, family issues, children issues, aging 318 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,120 issues, loss of loved ones, marriage, finances, sin, 319 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,240 culture, the nation's everything. 320 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,880 We are in these last days and we're to look up for. 321 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:15,040 Our redemption draws nigh. I was a Giant Eagle this 322 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,280 afternoon for the fifth time in two days, I think. 323 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:22,240 I get there and I text Cindy, is there any you need? 324 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,520 No, we're good. You know, I'm thinking on I 325 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,760 don't believe it, but I come home, I'm out again today. 326 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:31,760 She's oh, we need baked beans. I got to get the baked beans 327 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,000 right? And these lines are like huge, 328 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,640 right? And I'm thinking like, come on, 329 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,400 why am I here? And I was tempted to cut in the 330 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,200 line and think of myself right, but I waited. 331 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,520 So I'm in line. This nice young fella is behind 332 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,760 me and we just started striking up a conversation. 333 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,720 He had quesadillas. His mom was making quesadillas 334 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,120 for, for a Christmas dinner. I thought the point. 335 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:52,440 That's interesting. That's a change. 336 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,920 So we were talking and, and then he began to tell me he had gone 337 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,200 to Hemfield for a while. And then he went to prep school 338 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:04,200 and he he went to prestigious education school. 339 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,040 He's studying economics. And I asked him what he wanted 340 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,640 to do and he said he wanted to get into real estate development 341 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:11,760 and all that. And I said, yeah, he says, what 342 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,080 industry are you in? I said, well, I I sell 343 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:18,240 eyeglasses to people from Spain. And I said, I'm also a pastor. 344 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,080 I always like to get that in there because that's what I 345 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,800 really want to talk about. He says, where are you a pastor 346 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,120 at? And I told him, he says, yeah, 347 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,080 we go to church. My parents are very spiritual 348 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,120 and we go to a very, very small church. 349 00:21:29,120 --> 00:21:32,160 Not a whole lot of people there. I said, well, it's not a matter 350 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,240 of how many people that go to the church, it's whether they're 351 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,280 going to the church for the right reason, right. 352 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,880 And I said, it sounds like you have a very, very nice church. 353 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,600 And then he said, you know, he said, I've been thinking maybe 354 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,400 I'd like to be a pastor. And I said, boy, that's a 355 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,920 wonderful idea if that's what you sense God calling you do to 356 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:55,840 do. And I encourage him to pursue 357 00:21:55,840 --> 00:22:00,840 that, right, because I said it will far fulfill you so much 358 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,640 more than any worldly success you'll get. 359 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:05,520 It's, it's good to have a career, It's good to be 360 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:06,880 successful, all that kind of stuff. 361 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:09,840 But it's it, it, it has a, a bottom there, there. 362 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,720 It's not limitless where you serve Jesus and you live for 363 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:18,200 him. There's no limit to the blessing 364 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:22,080 and the benefits you have when you have a chance to, to serve 365 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,520 and represent him. So we, we wish each other a 366 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,560 Merry Christmas. He, he went on his way and I 367 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,880 think as I, as I saw him there and had the chance to have that 368 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:39,320 providential meeting with him in regard to ministry calling, I 369 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,240 think like every second of our life, if we're tuned into the 370 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,280 Spirit of God, there's a reason and there's a purpose for 371 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,880 whatever you're going through and whatever you're 372 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:50,920 experiencing. There's no mistakes. 373 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:57,040 Everything that happens, good, bad, ugly, God's using it to, as 374 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,600 George said to me earlier tonight, to grind us down. 375 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:05,080 So we have no confidence in anything or anybody but Jesus 376 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:13,840 that we're nothing but a a pile of dust and there's not a lot 377 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:18,800 that holds us up or stabilizes us except for him. 378 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:25,040 Jesus, you may be here tonight and you've come to the service 379 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:27,680 because someone's dragged you here relative or something. 380 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,480 You might be here tonight because it's traditional. 381 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,760 You might be here tonight. That's because you love Jesus. 382 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,720 And that's, but I pray the real reason you're here tonight. 383 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,240 But you might feel overwhelmed tonight. 384 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,640 You might be stressed out. You might be fearing some things 385 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,720 in your life. You might have some anxieties 386 00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:52,440 and you might be hopeless. Well, our prayer tonight for 387 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,920 those who are listening on Grace FM and those who are watching on 388 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,560 YouTube. And I'll see this later perhaps, 389 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:03,160 and maybe now that as you sit here and as we prepare to take 390 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:06,960 the Lord's Supper together, and we do that every time we gather 391 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,680 to remember really what it's all about. 392 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:20,040 And that's the Lord Jesus, knowing him, living for him, 393 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:28,960 following him, and letting him be your passion in this life. 394 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,760 There's an answer to life for the problems we all have. 395 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,800 Cindy and I were talking about that this morning. 396 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:43,440 Jesus tells us in Matthew that he says come unto me, all you 397 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,560 that labor and are heavy laden. That means like just a ton of 398 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:48,240 stuff on you. You're overwhelmed. 399 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:49,920 You just can't take it another day. 400 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:55,920 You're just like done right. And Jesus says, come unto me and 401 00:24:55,920 --> 00:25:01,120 take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is 402 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:05,120 light. He says right, and you're maybe 403 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:07,360 carrying a burden tonight and you're thinking there's no way 404 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:12,160 this is light and there's no way it is easy and He knows that. 405 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:17,240 But if you take whatever it is that's weighing you down and do 406 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:24,760 what He says, learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart, and 407 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,720 you will find rest for your soul. 408 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,760 It's all in Jesus, telling Him what it is you're struggling 409 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:36,280 with, telling Him what it is you can't handle, and telling Him 410 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:43,240 and asking Him to help you learn his life and how to trust Him 411 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:48,240 and how to follow Him. Once you tap into that, you'll 412 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,360 never need another self help book. 413 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,680 You'll never need another psychiatrist. 414 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:56,880 You'll never need another counselor. 415 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:03,480 Because He is the mighty counselor, He's the answer to 416 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:10,280 life and Jesus gift to you. This Christmas ISM is himself 417 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:13,480 and I think for a moment, God bless you. 418 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,760 What if he hadn't come? Where would we be tonight? 419 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:23,200 Maybe many of us would be dead in prison, sitting at an end of 420 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:28,080 a bar stool with the 30th drink, trying to get rid of our sorrows 421 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:33,240 and our worries, right? But we're here to commune with 422 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:37,560 him and the fellowship with one another. 423 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:44,120 So if you have your communion elements available there, I'm 424 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:46,960 going to read something before we take the communion because 425 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:50,760 this highlights really everything about the communion 426 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:53,880 from the book of Colossians chapter one. 427 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,440 It says that you may work, walk worthy of the Lord, fully 428 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:04,000 pleasing Him, being fruitful and every good work and increasing 429 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,200 in the knowledge of God. That's where you want to put 430 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:10,920 your focus. Strengthen with all might 431 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:15,400 according to His glorious power, not your power, but His power 432 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:19,880 for all patience and long-suffering with joy. 433 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,040 In spite of what Jesus went through, He always had joy, 434 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,840 right? And we need to experience that 435 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:32,000 joy and express that joy in the midst of all the challenges that 436 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:36,000 we all go through. Giving thanks to the Father who 437 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:40,840 has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints 438 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:45,840 in the light. He has delivered us from the 439 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,080 power of darkness. That's what the cross did. 440 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:52,640 When He died on the cross, He turned the light on full blast 441 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:57,960 and spoiled the powers and energy and abilities of the 442 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:01,360 devil and all the hell forces of darkness. 443 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:06,560 He delivered us from that power of darkness and conveyed us into 444 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:11,400 the Kingdom of His Son, the Son of His love, in whom we have 445 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:17,200 redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 446 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,800 He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all 447 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,800 creation. For by Him all things were 448 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,920 created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and 449 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:32,560 invisible, whether they're Thrones or dominions or 450 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,040 principalities or powers or UFOs. 451 00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:37,000 It's not in there, but they're out there, right? 452 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:42,880 All things were created through Him and for Him, and He is 453 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:46,440 before all things, and in Him all things consist. 454 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,560 And He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the 455 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:55,320 beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He 456 00:28:55,320 --> 00:29:00,400 may have the preeminence for it please the Father, that in Him 457 00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:06,120 all the fullness should dwell. So if you're empty and you want 458 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:10,880 to be full, it's only going to happen if you're full of Jesus, 459 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:18,160 because He is the fullness. And by Him, to reconcile all 460 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,760 things to himself, by him, whether things on earth or 461 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:25,200 things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his 462 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:29,040 cross. And you who were once alienated 463 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:30,800 in enemies, and that's every one of us. 464 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:36,160 At one time we hated Jesus. We lived in a way that surely 465 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,120 didn't show that we could care less about His cross and what He 466 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,520 did. I was there at one time, you 467 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,920 were too. And yet in the midst of us being 468 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:50,160 enemies in our mind, and by wicked works, yet He's now 469 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:54,800 reconciled, means He's made peace with us, and with Him and 470 00:29:54,800 --> 00:30:00,000 the body of His flesh through His death, to present you wholly 471 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,120 and blameless and above reproach in His sight. 472 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:10,520 So He did it all for you and me. And it doesn't get any better 473 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:14,640 than that, does it? I could go on for an hour and 474 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,840 put you all to sleep. I think you probably get it by 475 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,000 now. And if you don't get it, Lord 476 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,440 have mercy on you. Listen to it later and listen to 477 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,200 it again and again and again until it drills into your head 478 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,160 and you finally say, I get it now. 479 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,720 This is the best thing I've ever heard of in my life. 480 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:37,400 And I want to follow Jesus and live for him and tell other 481 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,960 people what he's done for me and what he can do for them too, 482 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:42,400 right? Amen. 483 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,400 God bless you guys. The worship team can come 484 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:46,920 forward now. They're going to have one last 485 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:53,840 song before we take off. And we wish everyone a wonderful 486 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:56,840 Merry Christmas. My brother Paul here. 487 00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:57,920 Come here, brother. Give me a hug. 488 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:04,160 He just lost his mom here a couple weeks ago, and here he is 489 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:05,800 serving the Lord. He's not sitting home 490 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,440 complaining. He's a testimony. 491 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:11,800 My mother's here today, 92 years old. 492 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,720 It's a miracle she's here. We're having to throwback 493 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:17,560 Christmas down on our one. All the grandkids and the 494 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:20,760 relatives and everybody's going to be at her house to 495 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,000 celebrating her life and celebrate each other's life. 496 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,200 Be thankful for who's in your life. 497 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,880 Your children, your grandchildren, your wives, your 498 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:35,560 husband, your grandparents, your relatives, especially the one 499 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,440 that you don't want to sit beside at dinner. 500 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,120 Maybe you intensely sit beside them this year. 501 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,480 You know, I've sort of had an attitude against you. 502 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:45,680 Please forgive me. I want to tell you about Jesus. 503 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:47,920 I don't want to hear about that. That's all you want to talk 504 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:49,240 about. Well, I'm going to tell you 505 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:50,680 anyway. Jesus loves you, right? 506 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,800 Let's prepare our hearts for the supper. 507 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,320 Oh, Lord, our hearts are full tonight because of you being in 508 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:07,880 them. You are the King of kings and 509 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:12,000 the Lord of Lords. Lord Jesus, we're so thankful 510 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:17,040 that you came and you went through the human experience. 511 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:21,280 Never sin, never was hopeless, never gave up. 512 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,440 You kept doing what you did for us, every one of us that would 513 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:29,600 believe and trust in you that our worst places. 514 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:36,160 Lord, you came to us and told us the good news through someone, 515 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:40,920 through the word, through the radio TVA person that cared 516 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:43,080 enough about us that share the good news. 517 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:49,240 And when that happened that day that we heard it and understood 518 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:53,160 it and believed our life has never been the same again and 519 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,440 never will be. Thanks to you Lord. 520 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,680 Thank you for everyone you brought here tonight, every 521 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:03,960 family that's represented. Lord bless them and their 522 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:08,360 families abundantly, Those who are listening as well. 523 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:15,080 May this be a different kind of Christmas for all of us as we 524 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:20,520 sit around and watch one another, see the joy and the 525 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:23,520 happiness. May we enter into that 526 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,480 celebration of life, thanking you for what it is you've given 527 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,760 to each of us again for another day. 528 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:34,480 Thank you for the example that all these people are to us that 529 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:39,360 serve you here, their passion, their love, and their desire to 530 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:44,200 go deeper in you, Lord, no matter what, I pray, Lord, you 531 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:51,400 would give us strength in these days and increase our faith and 532 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:53,840 make us like you, Jesus. That's what you said you wanted 533 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,960 to do, to conform us to your image and likeness. 534 00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:00,920 We're up for that Lord. We're into that Lord 100%. 535 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,480 Do what it is you want to do in us to make us like you. 536 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:07,120 We don't want to stay the way we are. 537 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:11,520 We want to be more and more like you Lord, so we can bless and 538 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:17,159 help people in this life. And the night that Jesus is 539 00:34:17,159 --> 00:34:21,639 betrayed, he took the bread in his hands and he broke it and he 540 00:34:21,639 --> 00:34:23,719 gave thanks and he said, take, eat. 541 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,280 This is My body which was given for you. 542 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:38,699 Eat this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner that evening 543 00:34:38,699 --> 00:34:44,020 He took the cup, and he said, This cup is a new covenant in My 544 00:34:44,020 --> 00:34:48,540 blood, which was shed for the forgiveness of sins of many. 545 00:34:49,620 --> 00:34:56,780 Drink this in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this 546 00:34:56,780 --> 00:35:01,780 bread and you drink this cup, you show forth the Lord's death 547 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:06,440 until he comes again. If anybody needs any special 548 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:10,240 prayer tonight as you're leaving, especially those of you 549 00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:12,760 who have been through the loss of loved ones just recently, 550 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,840 grab one of the leaders here. We'll pray with you and be there 551 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:19,600 no matter how long you want to be here with us. 552 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:23,120 We're not in any hurry to leave. So thanks for coming out 553 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:24,720 tonight. Love you guys. 554 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:30,080 Have a wonderful Christmas. Merry Christmas.