Let's stand for the reading of God's holy word.
We're going to be in the Book of Revelation as we have been
preaching through the on2 Fonz, these seven prayers that make up
the Christmas Anthem. O, Come Emmanuel, we've come to
the one where we even early in our service saying O Come Thou
Dayspring from on high and cheer Us by thy drawing nigh.
Disperse, the gloomy clouds of night and deaths, Dark Shadows
put to flight. Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall
come to thee. O Israel.
This is the sixth in the series. Next Sunday, will be the final
as we look at these Atlanta Fonz and to understand where it comes
from work. Begin going to begin in the Book
of Revelation. Invite you to turn there in your
bulletin, but also use the blue Pew Bible.
If you did not bring your own, because we're going to move
through a few It's of the scriptures today.
I'll begin at revelation 22. These are the last verses of the
Bible recorded in the Book of Revelation.
Jesus speaks, I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you about
these things. For the churches, I am the root
and the descendant of David, the Bright Morning, Star, the
spirit, and the bride, say come, and let the one who hears say
come and let the one who Who is thirsty, come let the one who
desires, take the Water of Life without price.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book. If anyone adds to them, God will
add to him. The plagues described in this
book. And if anyone takes away from
the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his
share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are
described in this book. He Who testifies to these things
says, surely I I am coming soon. Amen.
Come Lord, Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus, be
with all, amen. This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks. Be to God, please be seated.
How many of you slept more than 8 hours last night?
Raise your hands. How many of you less than 4?
Raise your hands. Somewhere in between most the
longest day of the year for most children.
It's Christmas Eve. The longest day from my parents
was Christmas Day because I never slept on Christmas Eve.
I've told you that before, I couldn't miss soon as the light
went out from underneath the door.
I waited a little longer, one of five children the middle child,
I then moved to the tree and I began playing with all that was
there. Until my dad would come and
discipline me and send me back to my bed and I still wouldn't
sleep. I waited and waited and waited.
Waited. Now I'm a parent, five children,
two son-in-law's a granddaughter, the two married
ladies are not with us this Christmas for the first time.
That's a New Journey, a new experience there with their
extended families. So it's just the three of our
youngest children. We woke them up this morning.
So those who are weary and tired, it will come.
There'll be a time that will come.
It's good to be with you today. Children, I know for many of
you, you are thinking Church on Christmas.
This one happened, very many times in your life and it's a
sweet gift that you're here. Church worship on Christmas, not
an interruption. But a privilege to be together
as the body of Christ to do. The very thing that we have been
created to do. It is a gift, a gift, the gift
that continues to give as we think and meditate upon the
Indescribable gift of Jesus, our son.
I know that already most of you have torn into packages.
You've received things and you're grateful for what your
friends and family have provided for you.
I know when I think back on my own Christmas is I love those
morning's where we Would unwrap the things that our parents had
purchased for us, then or made for us that the joy of what have
been brought and put under the tree.
Some of the things. I also remember that I purchased
for others and I didn't do a lot of that when I was little, I
would buy something for each of my siblings and my mom and dad.
And I remember some of those in my favorite thing I ever got, my
father was a snake for Christmas.
Sometimes you give gifts that you know are going to benefit
you as well as the one who would receive it.
And in 1995, I gave my dad a snake.
Now, it's not the kind of snake, you're thinking of the one that
would freak everybody out on Christmas morning.
It was a new invention by Black & Decker, which would be calm
their greatest seller for a long season.
It was called the snake light. It was a flashlight that would
wrap around some apparatus and then shine light on the
carburetor or on a broken part of the refrigerator or the AC
unit. And the reason it was a great
gift is because if the snake wasn't in my father's hands, I
was the snake. I was the one like many of you
who had a father, who said here, hold the flashlight and you had
no idea. Whether that was going to take
five minutes or five hours, you had no idea how long you would
to hold the light. So your diet could do the work,
that's the gift. I gave my dad a 1995 He loved
it. We all loved it.
If you've never had that experience in because time has
passed the bed, but it was a great gift, a snake.
It Christmas. I want to talk about the other
snake at Christmas for a bit. You may be thinking, why would
you bring up Satan on Christmas day?
Well, how can you really understand this Indescribable
gift if you don't really understand the story?
Not just the back story, but the story that's happening.
Now that even now, this powerful Enemy Satan were told in the
word of God, the Revelation that he roams around looking for
someone to devour, he and he's crafty.
One of the ways he seeks to devour people is by making
Christmas. Nothing more than sentiment.
Nothing more than just this one, wonderful warm feeling.
But it's not listen to what you lifted your voice just a few
minutes ago and said in song go to page 4 in your bulletin
listen to verse 1 of God Rest. Ye Merry Gentlemen, God Rest.
Rest, Ye Merry Gentlemen. Let nothing you dismay remember
Christ. Our Savior was born on Christmas
day. Now imagine the songwriter
thinking of the words that he would put two pin to paper next
born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan's power, all of
this. Exist because of the evil that
he brought into this world. All of this exists because the
war was waged and it's not dualism, it's not Star Wars,
it's not, maybe the dark will win.
Maybe the light will win, but the dark is real.
And Christ came as the light to conquer the darkness.
We sang to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone
astray. All of us, the word of God tells
us like sheep. Have gone astray.
In each of us, has turned to his own way and the lord has laid on
him. That's Jesus.
The iniquity of us. All later, in verse 3.
It says fear, not then said the angel, let nothing you.
Affright this day is born, a savior of a pure virgin, bright
to free, all those who trust in him from Satan's power and might
If you're new to our church, we believe every word of this
Revelation and it speaks of this enemy who roams around like a
roaring lion. It tells us how we are to engage
and resist him but the story from the beginning of the Bible
to the end is about to this child promised name Jesus.
Who is Victorious over him? But this side of Heaven, it's
not nights filled with anticipation that often keep us
up children your parents. And as you get older you'll see.
There's something we heard earlier called gloomy nights
nights. Were we stay awake?
Not because we're anticipating something so joyful, and
beautiful and exciting but we're anticipating things that are
hard and dark. Doctors reports relationships
that are broken. We feel the effect of this dying
and dark world and that's where we come.
And why we come to find hope? Now, the reason I'm starting
here is because in the Book of Revelation Jesus is describing
himself as the Bright Morning Star.
Go back with me now to Revelation 22:16 verse 16.
It says, I Jesus. And so Jesus, this is being
recorded by John the Apostle. I Jesus have sent my angel to
testify to you about these things for the churches.
I am the root and descendant of David.
That's also one of the ont fauns and that was preached a couple
of weeks ago, then he says I am the root and the descendant of
David, the Bright Morning Star. So the very last book in the
Bible speaks of Jesus being the Bright Morning Star.
It fulfills. What was said about him in
John's gospel, which we rehearsed earlier, he is the
light, the light of the world, the darkness has not overcome
it, but this phrase is very interesting, the Bright Morning
Star. It's the idea of like Venus that
star, that comes up still seen in the dark before the sun
itself Rises. But this isn't the only place
that occurs it actually occurs in the oldest book in the Bible.
So glad grab the blue. Bloop you Bible in front of you
and turn to the Book of Job. Go to chapter 38.
Jobs horrific account. Near the end has him in an
encounter with God, where the Lord is speaking to job.
If you ever struggle with anxiety, and I'm sure like me,
you do, when you can have your mind reminded of how great God
is of how in control God is, it can bring Great Piece to you.
And this is an interesting part of the Bible that can actually
do that when you. And I remember who he is, I'm
going to begin, reading at verse one in Job 38.
Eight and I'm going to show you where this idea of this bright
star comes. So Job. 38 verse 1, then the
Lord answered job out of the world went and said, so now this
is what job heard as God spoke. Who is this that darkens counsel
by words without knowledge? That's pretty strong dress for
Action. God says to job dress for
Action. Like a man.
I will question you and you make it known to me.
Now, listen to God's questions to job.
Where were you, when I laid the foundation of the Earth, tell me
if you have understanding who determined its measurements,
surely, you know, or who stretched the line upon it on
what words, basis sunk our, who laid its Cornerstone.
When the, you see it? When the morning Stars sang
together and all the sons of God shouted for Joy, the morning,
Stars are the angels angels from the realm of Glory.
We were singing about it just a minute ago.
That's what's so great about these Christmas carols.
So often we just sing them and move on.
They are taking us into layer after layer of the gospel, and
all these rich rich lyrics. So, the Angels were the morning
Stars. They sang together and all the
sons of God shouted for Joy. This is amazing.
One of those mornings Stars was Satan.
In fact, Satan was one of the brightest of the morning Stars.
A high ranking Angel before his fall.
His primary job was to take the praise that was coming and the
center ascended up to God. The father in his fall, he
wanted that which he did not deserve that which was only for
god. Father son, Holy Spirit, the
Trinity only for them M, how do we know go with me to the book
of Isaiah where we get so many of the prophecies that come
about? Jesus and listen to what has
spoken of the fall of one? Who is evil.
Isaiah, 14 verse 12. I hope you're there with me,
it's pretty amazing. The word of God says this how
you were fallen from Heaven, o Day star, son of dawn.
The same name. The same name given to Satan,
that's given to the son. But the difference is the son.
Our Savior constantly send by this one who had the same name
constantly tempted by him, not just in the wilderness, but
throughout his life suffering in those Temptations, Hebrews 2
says because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able
to help those who are being tempted.
So, whatever you were tempted with self-righteousness, pride
lust, greed, anger, Gluttony you name it, he was tempted in the
same ways, sexual sin. Lying all of it.
Christ was tempted but he never fell.
This Angel, the Daystar, the son of dawn.
Isaiah goes on how you are cut down to the ground, you who laid
the nation's low, you said, in your heart, I will Ascend to
Heaven above the stars of God and I will set my Throne on
high. I will sit on the Mount of
assembly in the far, reaches of the north, I will Ascend above
the heights of the clouds. I will make myself like the most
high, but you are brought down to sheol to the far reaches of
the pit. What we seeing at Christmas and
all throughout the year. Really matters these layers of
the Gospel from the beginning of Genesis to the end.
Let me show you another way. When G's go back to revelation,
22, when Jesus is speaking in verse 16 it says I Jesus have
sent my angel to testify to you about these things.
For the churches, I am the root and the descendant of David, the
Bright Morning Star. We have in here recorded the
last words recorded in scripture of Jesus.
It's not necessarily the last things Jesus spoke, but it is
the last Worded words we have. What is it?
That Jesus said, Look with me at verse 20.
He who testifies to these things says surely I am coming soon.
Amen. How does this give us hope?
God's time and God's economy is not the same as ours.
What seems like soon to us clearly is not soon to him.
God knows the father knows when he is going to send his son
again to this earth and he's going to what gives us hope is
his return. What gives us hope is that he
has promised to return. He is going to come for his
bride, he is the bridegroom. What gives us hope is these
words that he spoke recorded in the last book of the Bible?
He who testifies to these things.
It says surely I am coming soon. Amen, and he is well in the
service singing Joy to the World.
It's actually a second Advent him.
It's really pointed to. The second coming of Christ.
He's going to come for us. He promises. but when the gloomy
night is more than tonight, when the gloomy night, moves into his
season, and that season stays with you, when your soul fills
the darkness, when you find yourself and despair, when you
find yourself living in dread, when your soul was in
depression, when your body is aching when relationships are
not going well, where you seem to find yourself in conflict
with almost everyone, When your body, or the body of a, loved
one is giving out these. Create the gloomy nights.
And what gives us hope is this promise of his return.
But there's another thing that gives us hope in that is his
Revelation. And when I say his Revelation, I
simply mean this from beginning to end, he has spoken to us in
his word. This revelation we have seen
what John recorded as his last words.
Surely, I am coming soon. Well, what were his last
commands? Look with me at Verse 18.
Jesus speaks these words, I warned everyone who hears these
words of the prophecy of this book.
If anyone adds to them, God will add to him.
The plagues described in this book.
And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life.
And in this the holy city which are described in this book.
What is Jesus Christ? Final recorded words in the
final book of the Bible. Surely.
I am coming soon. Secondly, do not add to this
book and do not take anything from this book.
And we are tempted to do it all the time.
Why? Because the serpent in the very
first book of the Bible, asking the very first question in the
Bible comes attacking the revealed word of God.
The serpent says to Eve, did God really say?
And he does the same thing to this day.
Did God really say not to add anything to this book friends,
we add things all the time, we add our own self-righteousness,
we create rules like the Pharisees did that cause us to
think of ourselves better than we should.
I could be wrong, but I would imagine there's some even this
morning who sinfully, of thought me my family were better than
others. Or our church is better than
other churches. Because we had church on Sunday,
the day after Christmas Eve. When we were just here, if
that's in your mind and self-righteous, if it's in your
mind, you're adding two things that you think would cause God
to see you better because of your own actions.
Yes, he is pleased that we are together but just because you're
here doesn't mean he suddenly sees you better and says now I I
will accept you. That's called
self-righteousness, that's pharisaism.
And the Pharisees were the ones who added to the scriptures all
the time. Do not add to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Do not add to the scriptures.
Do not add to the good news of the Gospel, with anything that
you yourself are bringing as if it makes a difference in how God
sees you, we are seen as Justified because of what Christ
did. We are seen as Justified because
of what Christ is doing, even now in our lives, don't add to
it, don't add to it. But also don't take from it.
Did God really say? This is the way.
That pleases me. In all aspects of life that God
spoke to he's given us this truth.
And whatever he says in regards to the way he Wills for things
to be, we are to tear no Pages out when we read the book of
Romans chapter 1, and we see the way in which the world has
fallen certainly even before now, Some think it's too harsh.
Some think it's too judgmental, something, it's not right to
stand up for things that create such societal.
Evil. Don't judge another person.
God's word. Is not to be deleted.
And the cost of not deleting it. Is great.
It will be great. But we can't take pages and tear
them out because it doesn't fit in the world that we live.
Paul says, do not conform any longer to the pattern of the
world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
That's this and his Spirit then you will be able to test and
approve. What God's will is his good
pleasing and perfect will What's the last verse in the Bible?
It really summarizes why we can't add to or take away from
the word of God. The Revelation Jesus says surely
I'm coming soon, his return gives us hope he gives us his
Revelation, we're not to delete it or add to it.
And then he says this the grace of the Lord Jesus, be with all,
let me unpack this as I close. earlier in the service, Paul
gave us the words of comfort and Assurance from Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2 describes the war were in with Satan.
This is what it says. I just want you to listen.
Don't turn there, just listen. This is about all people and you
were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you.
Once walked following the course of this world, following the
prince of the power of the air that is now at work among the
sons of Disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the
passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and
the mind. And we're by Nature children of
Wrath, like the rest of mankind, all of us.
Long to Satan. All of us were flooded by this
one. Who's the prince of the power of
the air? Now, listen to the Revelation
but God, but God being rich in Mercy because of the great love
which he had for us, made us alive together in Christ.
And this is not from yourself. It's Christmas Day.
Listen, this is not from yourself.
It is the gift of God not by works.
Don't add to it. It is the gift of God.
The gift of God, the grace of God is the gift of God so that
no man can boast. I gave my dad a snake.
For Christmas. About six years later.
He had an infection that 808, the ate away, the mitral valve
of his heart. I had no idea where my father
stood with the Lord, they couldn't figure out what the
infection was. He was in the hospital.
I think right under not right under 40 days around 38 days,
they finally found the infection.
They killed the infection and then they did the surgery on his
heart and he survived and lived many number of years longer.
But why was in the hospital not knowing if he would survive God,
used me his son with his Revelation, his light.
And I took this light and the power of the spirit.
And I didn't take one thing out of it.
And I didn't take one thing and add to it.
My dad had grown up in a religious tradition where they
added many things to the scriptures.
He rebelled against that in such a way, where he was now,
deleting things from the scriptures, saying things like,
it doesn't really matter as long as you just believe in
something. That's deleting things from
scriptures at other times, he would say, well, I haven't been
good enough. You're right Dad, you haven't
and you never will. Be nobody will be only one, ever
was its Christ in that moment in that hospital room.
My father prayed to receive Christ.
This was a great day, a great day down the hall from my
father, was my uncle. I've told you about my uncle
Carol, especially at Thanksgiving.
Uncle Carol was in the hospital for a heart condition.
It was not his heart being destroyed by a bacteria, but by
bad living really bad. Living alcohol.
Lots of unhealthy food just destruction to his body, the
very same day. I walked out of my dad's
hospital room having trade with him, the sinner's prayer, I
turned and saw my uncle standing in the hallway.
He said, Mark, come here I want to talk to you.
I went in to talk to him. It was Good Friday, by the way.
He said, on his bed and said they say they can't help me.
My heart's too far gone, would you pray with me?
Cuz I don't know what will happen.
If I die. Uncle Carol.
Do you want to know what it would mean to live forever with
Christ? Yes.
I know you're the preacher in the family.
I was still in college. By the way.
Tell me. And I did I held up the same
light. The same Revelation talked about
the same Christ who had come the same Christ who promised to
return the same Christ that we would live with forever.
If we simply received him and there in that hospital room just
Doors Down from my father. He to prayed the sinner's
prayer, it was Good Friday. He went home on Saturday, they
found him dead on Easter morning.
Hallelujah. He's in the presence.
Of the man. Who is God, Jesus?
For most of his life that enemy saw it to keep him from ever
receiving the truth. God has you here today?
You have heard the truth, some of you have already received it.
Some of you may think you've received some of, you know, you
haven't, I don't know where you are.
But I know that you're here and the Julie for which we who are
in Christ, seen is a joy that comes from the constant reminder
that like you we didn't deserve it like you, we can't earn it.
Mike you if you open this gift and receive it, we have not
adding to it, not deleting from it.
And so we have a joy and a hope that is in this day spring, this
Bright Morning Star, which This Side of Heaven, we need him
constantly to remind us of his promise return and remind us.
Of his Revelation and he does. He does, he gives us everything
we need. Merry Christmas friends, Merry
Christmas, Merry Christmas, Jesus before we stand and lift
our voices and song. If there are any who are here, I
pray. This would be the moment for
them. Like my uncle Carol, like my
father and Lord, we hold up and have held up the light to them
that they may see that you have overcome the darkness that they
would receive you. Even now friend, if that is, you
simply pray for Christ to forgive, you, ask him.
To be your lord receive his salvation right now.
And father for those who know you are ready?
I pray that they would not have missed the point.
Where they have thought this message was just for those who
are lost. For if that's our attitude,
Lord, that's a sign that we are living disconnected from the
reality of who you are even now. So whatever.
Gloomy night we have been in will be in or in right now
whether that is a night or a season.
I pray that you would overwhelm all of us with the good news of
Christ. His promise return.
His Revelation given even this day in his word.
Father, we need you. Thank you for giving us your son
and thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who is in us.
Even now we pray in Jesus name, amen.