1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,120 In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:04,440 Spirit forever. Amen. 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,200 Glory be to the everlasting mercies which sent you to us, O 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,880 Christ, the light of the world and the life of all. 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,040 Give us wisdom. By your law and enlighten our 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,280 impulses. By your knowledge, sanctify our 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,400 souls by your truth, and grant that we may be obedient to your 8 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,800 words and may fulfil your commandments at every hour. 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,920 O you. Who enlightens the rationale 10 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:29,960 with the knowledge of your greatness? 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:32,880 Do enlight O my. Lord our thoughts. 12 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,480 That we may meditate upon your holy and divine scriptures at 13 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:38,120 all times, O Lord. Of all. 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,240 Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Forever. 15 00:00:42,160 --> 00:01:09,360 Amen. It's translates in English 16 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,920 saying Hallelujah at the birth of Christ the King, which we 17 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,760 were chanting during the services continuously. 18 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,240 A very Merry Christmas to your beloved brothers and sisters in 19 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,000 Christ and friends. May the blessings of this holy 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,400 feast of the birth of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ be 21 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,280 bestowed upon you and your families at all times while we 22 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,800 celebrate in moderation, eating, drinking, visiting family and 23 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,600 friends, exchanging gifts, etcetera. 24 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:47,320 Please, please, please keep in mind to truly feel the Christmas 25 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:52,360 spirit. My brother Steven made a comment 26 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,200 and said it doesn't really feel like Christmas. 27 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,040 You know, I wonder how many people out there feel that way. 28 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:05,480 You know, as years go by, these holy feasts that are a a special 29 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,919 service during the services, the chanting, the anthems, and in 30 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,440 particular the feast of the Resurrection. 31 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,960 You know, back home or even even in the diaspora, you know, many 32 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,080 years or not, many years ago, a few years back, you would really 33 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:20,920 feel it. But, you know, many people make 34 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,000 that comment and say it doesn't really feel like Christmas. 35 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:25,320 And you know what? I think? 36 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:32,120 Because we really have not so much misunderstood, but we've 37 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,120 we're overlooking the true meaning of of Christmas. 38 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:42,760 So as I said, while we celebrate by eating, drinking, drinking in 39 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:47,080 festivity, please remind that remember that Christmas is more 40 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,720 than a mere season caused by Jesus Christ. 41 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,800 You know, Jesus is the reason for the season. 42 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,680 Well, yes, I mean to that. It's, it's nice, you know, it's 43 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:02,360 catchy, It's cliche. But no, no, no. 44 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,080 Jesus praise His name is the creator of all things visible 45 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:13,040 and invisible. He is not just a reason for a 46 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,920 season. He is the reason and the creator 47 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:26,520 of all times, days, weeks, months, seasons and years. 48 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,160 John chapter one, verse three we read. 49 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:34,440 Everything was in his hand and without him not even one thing 50 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,320 existed of the things that existed. 51 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,280 So a lot more than just a reason for the season. 52 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,720 No. He is the Creator of the heavens 53 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:50,640 and of the earth, and this is the the concluding chant, We 54 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,160 pray on the feet. The You know, the the days of 55 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:59,480 the feast, O creator of the heavens and of the earth. 56 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:07,600 Everything was in His hand. In whose hand See everything was 57 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:14,600 in His hand prior to Him taking on flesh and coming on earth, in 58 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:21,399 whose hands beloved the One, the Word that had been existing with 59 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:26,000 God and was himself God, according to John chapter one, 60 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:32,960 who is the Word, the one that became flesh and dwelt amongst 61 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:37,200 us, according to John chapter one, verse 14, And who became 62 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,600 flesh? God of the Word, Jesus Christ 63 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:47,400 the Creator. Jesus is more than a season, a 64 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,240 time to be giving. You know Christmas is a time of 65 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:54,000 giving and sharing. Why is only Christmas a time of 66 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,440 giving and sharing? We need to be giving at all 67 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,200 times. Mark chapter 14, verse 7. 68 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:06,400 Jesus commands for the poor are always with you, not once a 69 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,200 year, not at the celebration of my birth. 70 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:14,520 For the poor are always with you, and whenever you wish you 71 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,080 can do good for them. But I am not always with you. 72 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,640 In the flesh, obviously, you know. 73 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:27,880 Do we mean to say that it is at one specific season and during 74 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,640 Christmas or the holidays we're going to talk about that? 75 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,040 We need to give to the poor and needy, Jada, the poor and the 76 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,600 needy. If they have to wait for that 77 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:43,200 one specific season or reason or time, then they're in big 78 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,240 trouble. But it's always time to help. 79 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,360 And at all times we must be giving and caring and sharing. 80 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:55,200 Christmas is more than a holiday or a vacation. 81 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,080 Beloved. Happy holidays. 82 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,680 No, no, it's more than a holiday and a vacation. 83 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:06,480 If Christmas and I oppose this question, If Christmas is a mere 84 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:12,240 holiday and vacation, then what do you classify Easter? 85 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:16,560 Or better still, the holy feast of the Resurrection of our Lord 86 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,560 and our Saviour, Jesus Christ? In actual fact, if you think 87 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:26,280 about it, the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Easter 88 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,080 is the period of rest and holiday. 89 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,800 Let's let's call it, for argument's sake, a time of 90 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:34,800 holiday. Why? 91 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,240 Because it was on the day of the resurrection that marvelous 92 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,720 Sunday, the first day of the week where Jesus was 93 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,320 resurrected, is when everything was concluded. 94 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:51,200 Hence on the on the 7th day, God rested Not that God sat down and 95 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,440 had a a a sigh relief like I'm so tired. 96 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,560 No, God completed the word work of His creation. 97 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:04,400 So too on the first day of the week after the Sabbath, the 98 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:11,920 salvific plan of God. In the second stage, the first 99 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:18,280 stage, The first scene was from after the fall till the birth of 100 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,160 Jesus Christ. We are now in the second scene, 101 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:27,120 the second stage of the salvific plan of God. 102 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,240 And we are waiting for the third and final stages, when Jesus 103 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,520 will come on the day of salvation and deliver us 104 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:41,640 eternally from death and sin and Satan and destruction and 105 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:46,080 headaches and pain and misery and and laws. 106 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,680 And, you know, I always want to mention them legislations and 107 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:53,880 toil to continue to eternally save us, beloved. 108 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:59,000 So if we want to play on words and and, you know, and and try 109 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:06,120 to somehow find ourselves, you know, new titles to do away from 110 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,720 the real meaning of Christmas or the resurrection, why would what 111 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:14,000 would you call Easter or the feast of the Resurrection? 112 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,280 That's more of a hollow. That's more of a rest. 113 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,040 So you know what? Get it right. 114 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:24,040 Christmas is a lot more than just period of holiday and 115 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,120 vacation. We we chant in the anthem of 116 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,240 chancel for the feast of the resurrection. 117 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:35,080 This is what we say. Exalt and cry Allo, I'm sorry. 118 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,640 Exalt and cry aloud O mortals, for the dominion of death has 119 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:44,039 been destroyed. So rest, be at peace. 120 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,720 If we want to call one of these feasts a holiday, well, the 121 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,920 resurrection. Easter is more of a holiday of 122 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,480 rest. Exalt and cry aloud, O mortals, 123 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,400 for the dominion of death has been destroyed. 124 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,640 Christ by his suffering has conquered death and has promised 125 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:05,200 life by his resurrections. Be at ease, be in peace. 126 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,840 Christ has overcome. For the third Sunday of great 127 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,200 land. We chant May the cross, which 128 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,080 became for us a source of good things and by which our mortal 129 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:20,440 race was set free, be for us, O my Lord, a mighty bulwark, and 130 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,400 by it may we defeat the evil one and all his vials. 131 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:29,720 We have the weapon, we have the armour, we have the victory. 132 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:38,880 So call Easter a period of rest. I can understand, but the birth 133 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,040 of Jesus Christ is not just a holiday. 134 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:46,560 As I said, it's more than just a mirror of Christ being a reason 135 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:52,280 or a vacation or a time to be giving and to be sharing and 136 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:56,200 family. Why is it only Christmas time, a 137 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:02,560 time for family? The family unit is a daily 138 00:10:02,560 --> 00:10:08,720 blessing from God, and it wasn't established or it wasn't blessed 139 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,560 upon us. Just to remember, once a year 140 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,680 it's a continuous blessing. Saint Paul instructs in 141 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:22,240 Philippians chapter 4, verse 8 to 9, not merely at one season 142 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:27,360 or time, but rather continuously, that we meditate 143 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:33,120 on those things that are true. Here we go, This is Christmas, 144 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,600 beloved. Meditate on those things that 145 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,840 are true, those that are honorable, those that are 146 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:45,880 righteous, those things that are pure, those things that are 147 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:51,840 precious, those things that are praiseworthy deeds of glory and 148 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,600 of praise. The things that you have learned 149 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,480 and received and heard and seen by me. 150 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:02,960 Do these things, and the God of peace shall be with you. 151 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,480 He surely didn't only practice these once a year, did he? 152 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,920 It's a continuous practice of these deeds. 153 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:14,280 So what is Christmas? As we celebrate and today being 154 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:19,360 Christmas Day, and if you're listening on this episode, to 155 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,680 this episode on Christmas Day, what is today? 156 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:24,960 What are we celebrating? Well, let's examine what the 157 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:27,440 angels proclaimed to the shepherds. 158 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,400 Glory to God in the Highest Beloved. 159 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:35,440 During this time, let us not begin. 160 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,080 We should be practicing, but let us intensify. 161 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:47,040 Let us multiply our praise and ascriptions of glory to God for 162 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:52,760 His love for us. Christmas time is an 163 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:59,360 enhancement, intensifying reminder that God's love has 164 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:04,000 been revealed. John 316 For God loved the world 165 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:08,560 in this way so much that He would give up his Son, the only 166 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:13,040 one, so that everyone who trusts in Him shall be, shall not be 167 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:17,000 lost, but he shall have eternal life. 168 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:23,920 It's a time to continue in steadfast, beloved, and renew 169 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:28,440 our sincere Thanksgiving to God for the commencement, as I said, 170 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:33,760 for the chapter of His salvific plan and desire for mankind. 171 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:39,040 For his second scene, the second chapter of his salvific plan. 172 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,640 Not to just remember during this time, but to intensify, to 173 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:50,000 encourage us even more, to to bring us even more joy and 174 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:56,720 assurance that we are living in that period of God's plan for 175 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:04,080 the salvation of souls. The angels sang, and on earth 176 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,040 peace. Glory to God in the heist, and 177 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:13,760 on earth, peace. This is the peace that the world 178 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:18,560 is so lacking, so lacking. Beloved. 179 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:25,120 This is the peace that the world are not chanting for today. 180 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:32,520 This is the peace that the world has so neglected, and that the 181 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:37,240 world has so created a new understanding of peace for 182 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,640 itself. Hence we are where we are at 183 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:45,360 today. Atrocities, genocides, murder, 184 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:52,320 whatever you want to call it. This is a time, beloved, to draw 185 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:57,200 even more near to the peace of God through His Son, our Lord 186 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,680 Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit, The power. 187 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:08,520 This is the time to stop and examine yourself and see that if 188 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:16,080 we are truly living in the peace of the Lord, January 1st, 2023. 189 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:23,080 Oh no, let me let me go back. December 25th, 2022 and today 190 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:29,720 being December 25th, 2023, have we lived in this peace? 191 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:35,480 Have we fathom the peace that Jesus brought to you and I and 192 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:39,680 for you and I? Do we truly Have we been sharing 193 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,680 this peace? If we have praise God, let us 194 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:47,800 glorify, intensify our glory to God for His peace. 195 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:53,360 John chapter 14, verse 27. This is the peace we should be 196 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:57,600 demonstrating for beloved. This is the peace we should be 197 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,520 searching and seeking and running, seeking and running. 198 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:05,760 After Jesus says peace, I leave with you. 199 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,880 Jesus has left his peace in the entire world. 200 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:17,400 My peace I give to you, the peace that he brought, the 201 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,160 reconciliation between man and God. 202 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:25,800 It is not as the world gives that I give to you. 203 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:31,160 It's got nothing to do with treaties and signing, you know, 204 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:35,120 treaties and peace talks, and they're all false because the 205 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,480 true peace of God is not indicated on that document 206 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:43,520 that's being signed. Do not let your heart be 207 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,600 troubled, and do not let it be afraid. 208 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:52,840 We truly draw near to this peace that God brought through His 209 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:58,400 Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Paul reiterates in his 210 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,800 second Epistles of the Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 211 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,440 18, and everything has become new from God. 212 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:08,720 This is the period. This is the time, Beloved, that 213 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:15,280 we must really understand and fathom and grow closer and and 214 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:20,080 seek that that newness, that God has brought to us a new life. 215 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:26,520 He who reconciled us to Himself in the Messiah, in Christ as He 216 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:31,920 has given us, that is the Church through her priesthood, the 217 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,480 ministry of the reconciliation. This Christmas, Beloved, stop 218 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,400 for a second. Put down the glass. 219 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,280 Put down the can. Put down the bottle. 220 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:50,240 Stop for a second and truly examine Where do you stand with 221 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,960 the glory that we are to ascribe God? 222 00:16:53,960 --> 00:17:00,440 Not just during the Church. Now those who hadn't been to 223 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:05,640 church for the past six months and last night or today attend 224 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,079 the church. When we say, may your oblation 225 00:17:09,079 --> 00:17:14,800 be blessed upon you, but is it just that one time or two times 226 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,480 or maybe 3 * a year? What do we say, CEOs? 227 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:25,720 It's now a new acronym, Chris. Christmas, Easter and Oceana 228 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,400 Palm Sunday. That is the only time that we 229 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,400 ascribe, glory to God. We give three days or three 230 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,880 times or three periods a year, and if we count them, probably 231 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:43,200 about one hour, 1 hour or two hours in the 365 days of the 232 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,120 year. And then we're proud that we're 233 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:48,280 celebrating Christmas. No, we're not. 234 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,720 We're not celebrating Christmas. We're only joining a festivity. 235 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,640 We're only joining a season and it's time to just reflect on 236 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,600 loving the family and caring and sharing. 237 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,320 I'm sorry to say, and sometimes not even not even about Jesus 238 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,960 Christ this Christmas. Stop and think. 239 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:11,680 Where are you in the glory of God? 240 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,200 How are you glorifying God in your heart? 241 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,560 How are you blessing God in your heart? 242 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,440 In your mind, in your soul, in your spirit? 243 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,640 How? And maybe some are attending 244 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,360 Christmas celebrations. You know Christmas parties, 245 00:18:28,360 --> 00:18:30,440 right? Is it? 246 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,880 Do we just, you know, we we become ambience and we become 247 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,520 spiritual and humble. Only that one or two hours 248 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,600 during church service and you know, let's call a spade a 249 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,960 spade. You know, the youth go to church 250 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,480 and they hang around the church grounds, right? 251 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,960 Yeah. And some are smoking their pot 252 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:52,720 doing their dope. Some are in cars, engaged in 253 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:57,280 some immorality. I know, I know, I know very, 254 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,840 very well. I've been told. 255 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,840 I've been confessed to by those who used to be engaged in these 256 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,680 immoralities. Meeting up at Christmas to meet 257 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,840 up to make out in in the cars and then approach the holy 258 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:16,600 mysteries. Is this Christmas or you or you? 259 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,480 You you know you time your attendance at church. 10:00 260 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:24,960 service begins. 10/20 it ends. There's a few announcements. 261 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,760 So I'm going to make sure I'm I'm there at 10:10 so I can go 262 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,960 there take the holy Christ and walk out and do my thing. 263 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:37,760 This is Christmas actually. This is an abomination, beloved. 264 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:45,360 It's an abomination for you to be high, for you to have engaged 265 00:19:45,360 --> 00:19:49,760 in immorality and to approach the mysteries because it's the 266 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,160 birth of Jesus Christ. I suggest you don't do that. 267 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:59,400 I suggest you repent. I suggest you seek pastoral 268 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:07,960 counsel to be given absolution in Jesus name this Christmas. 269 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:12,600 As we exchanged our gifts, what have you given to God? 270 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,800 What have you given to Jesus Christ? 271 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:19,440 Think about it. What did you give present to 272 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,440 Christ today? It's Christmas Day. 273 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,320 We're celebrating the birth of the Son of God. 274 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,120 What have you gifted him? Nothing. 275 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,560 Well, you know Christ doesn't expect anything from us. 276 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:37,680 The only thing that he is appeased with is our obedience 277 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:43,960 and our relationship with Him. So this Christmas, stop for a 278 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,880 moment and recap your relationship with Jesus Christ. 279 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:54,600 How are you expressing your joy, your appreciation, your 280 00:20:54,600 --> 00:21:00,280 gratitude, your Thanksgiving to God who gave His only begotten 281 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,040 Son? He was born to die. 282 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:08,280 Remember, beloved, from the womb to the tomb, how are you 283 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,800 expressing your gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ? 284 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,880 Well, if you want to begin, it's simple. 285 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:21,880 Tonight when you before you lay your head on the pillow, get on 286 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:28,360 your knees and thank God for his amazing gift of grace and mercy 287 00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:34,560 and compassion and love, and ask him to grant you the strength to 288 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,120 follow Jesus and appease Him at all times. 289 00:21:38,120 --> 00:21:41,160 Praise and glory be to His name, now and at all times and 290 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:42,120 forever. Amen. 291 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,680 Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year to you all. 292 00:21:46,680 --> 00:22:08,160 God bless. We hope you enjoyed this week's 293 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,480 message. Please don't forget to rate and 294 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,240 review this podcast and share with your friends and family. 295 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,920 For any future topics, suggestions, or to give us 296 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:19,520 detailed feedback, please visit our link in the show notes 297 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:24,200 linktr dot EE forward slash double edged sword. 298 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,400 Until next time, God bless you all.