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A Crossing family. 
I missed you. 

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I love you. 
This church loves you. 

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God loves you. 
I'm so glad you're here. 

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I don't know what kind of weak 
you have, but you couldn't have 

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picked a better place to spend a
little bit of time this weekend.

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I want to welcome those of you 
joining from all across this 

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region at our different 
campuses. 

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Those of you watching online and
inside, before I jump into the 

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sermon, I want to be able to 
share a special moment with you 

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guys. 
I'm going to go ahead and have 

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Craig. 
And Christy Phillips, come up on

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stage. 
If you'd give them a big round 

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of applause, I would greatly 
appreciate it. 

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There they are. 
Yeah, they're coming together. 

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Coming up here. 
They've been serving. 

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All right, come on in here. 
This is Craig. 

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And Christy Phillips. 
And they have two kids, Kai and 

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Alex. 
And in our world today there are

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over 7,000 languages but only 
about 10% of those languages 

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have a complete Bible so that 
thing that you have that, 

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sometimes you don't read as 
often as you should. 

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There is an awful lot of people 
who don't even have the ability 

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to ignore because they don't 
have one. 

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There are over 2,000 languages 
that presently don't have a 

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single verse of scripture and 
the burden on the Philips heart.

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For the last 20 years, is to do 
something about it. 

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This has led them to do some 
incredible work in Crimea. 

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Ukraine, it is led to them 
devoting themselves to extensive

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educational Pursuits. 
For Christy, it was Applied 

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Linguistics and biblical 
exegesis to prepare for a career

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and a job. 
And a calling with Pioneer, 

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Bible translators and then 
becoming an administrator for 

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adult education. 
Action and literacy programs. 

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For Craig gets been focusing on 
perfecting a teaching English 

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recently they believed or 
believe that God is calling them

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to pursue on the mission field. 
A deeper level the translation 

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of the Bible into different 
languages and specifically they 

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feel called to the Caucasus 
region of Eurasia. 

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There are 21 languages in this 
mountain region with no access 

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to Scripture. 
And they hope that by August of 

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next year to be firmly planted 
as an entire family overseas, 

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which is incredible. 
During their time here at the 

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Crossing they have been deeply 
involved in Ministry. 

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For those of you here at 48th 
Street, Craig is regularly on 

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stage helping with the leading 
of worship. 

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Christie has done an awful lot 
for those of you watching online

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behind the scenes with online 
and then I don't even want to 

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know how many thousands of cups 
of coffee. 

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She has served through one 
Mission Cafe, you probably know 

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this, but if you don't, let me 
just remind you at all of our 

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locations that one miss Ian Cafe
that dollar you put in for, you 

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know, a cheapo coffee or 
whatever you pay for your super 

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cool, special, whatever it is, 
all that money goes to actually 

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support. 
In addition to our missionaries,

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what we get put in our budget. 
It's a way for to just for us to

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keep an extra blessing on all of
our missionaries and she has 

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been serving those cups of 
coffee so that way we could 

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bless our other missionaries. 
But now it is our opportunity 

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and privilege as a church to 
serve you guys and to bless you 

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this. 
Our elders, along with our 

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mission board, made a commitment
that when people from inside of 

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our ranks decide to pursue the 
call of God overseas. 

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And they meet our qualifications
that we want to be the very 

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first people in their corner and
that we want to make a 

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commitment to them for up to 
five years right out of the gate

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and there's lots of ways you can
measure a church, you can 

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measure it by its attendance by 
its baptisms, by the number of 

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people serving number of people 
in life groups. 

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The number of people giving 
there's All kinds of ways, but 

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one of the most special ways is 
to measure. 

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You can measure churches by the 
people. 

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It's raises up and sends out to 
advance the kingdom of God. 

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And so Phillips family, I need 
you to know this. 

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This church loves you. 
We are incredibly thankful for 

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you and we are proud of you, and
we are going to be rooting for 

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you as you get ready to start 
this journey. 

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I know I got in this pocket. 
Make sure I don't mess this up. 

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In addition to what we've 
already given you this year, in 

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addition to the five years of 
support. 

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We wanted to give you this 
check, which we've given you a 

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check every service your yes, 
good to be a missionary this 

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weekend. 
Yes. 

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So yeah, you guys. 
That's awesome. 

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We're this brings our total 
commitment to you guys to forty 

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two thousand five hundred 
dollars. 

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We could not be more excited for
you. 

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What you guys pray for them. 
Yeah, awesome. 

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You guys are clapping scrape. 
Look at that. 

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Standing ovation. 
Why do you have to preach now? 

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Yeah we just in his single 
worship song to go home. 

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I would you extend your hands 
towards them. 

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Heavenly father, thank you so 
much for the Phillips. 

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Thank you so much for the burden
that you've placed on their 

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heart and their willingness to 
respond to it. 

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God, I want to pray specifically
for them as they get ready to go

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overseas. 
I pray that the adjustment for 

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their kids will be smooth. 
I know the stress of kids 

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changing schools, just here in 
the states. 

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I know the Sir parents can feel 
when they're just moving from 

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one town to another God, I can't
imagine moving from one country 

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to another, and I just pray that
you would just make the entire 

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process smooth for their kids. 
I pray for Greg and Kristy that 

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they would have deep and 
meaningful relationships. 

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That will be formed quick. 
When they move over that, they 

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have great life-giving 
Community. 

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Gotta pray that they would have 
eyes to see ears to hear and a 

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brain to process all of the 
ministry opportunities and is 

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They get to be a part of some of
the language projects. 

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I pray that you bring Clarity to
the message and God that they 

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would be able to see how their 
work is making a difference. 

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We love you so much God in your 
name. 

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I pray. 
Amen. 

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Love you guys were rooting for 
you. 

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Well, this week, we're starting 
a brand new sermon series called

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the gift I need. 
And we set up some question it 

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questions among you and you 
answer them. 

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And I got to be honest with you,
while I said, I love you. 

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I'm not proud of you. 
I'm a little worried to be 

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honest, as you'll see because 
there are some Savages in our 

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midst. 
One of the questions we asked is

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Christmas tree up before or 
after Thanksgiving. 

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Yeah, you think that but I'm 
ashamed to say that. 39 percent 

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of you put the tree up before 
you've tasted the turkey. 

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And that is wrong. 
That is wrong. 

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One holiday at a time. 
Sheesh second one gets worse. 

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How many of you have re-gifted a
present? 

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Seventy-seven percent of you 
said, yes, your Killers. 

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I'm not buying you anything. 
Good grief. 

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At least just take the gift. 
You don't like and then donate 

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it to the thrift store. 
But I mean don't take a gift. 

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You don't like him but yeah, I 
didn't want it. 

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You can have it too. 
That ain't, if you are. 

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All right, here's another one. 
When I Here's one of the 

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questions be honest. 
Is it really the thought that 

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counts? 
Twenty percent of you said no. 

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Like, I don't know if it ain't 
good. 

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It ain't right. 
Okay. 

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You just like I don't care how 
much time you put into this and 

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I don't care. 
The thought your gift stinks. 

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I've got so much more, but I can
only deal with so much sin in 

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one sermon. 
Here's a real question right 

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now. 
If you came with a spouse or a 

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boyfriend or whatever, you, 
whatever you brought with you, 

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Look at them. 
Pick who's the best Gift Giver 

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in your house and let the best 
Gift Giver. 

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Raise their hand. 
Okay. 

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That's fine. 
There's nothing wrong. 

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God, put you together that way 
for a reason. 

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I'm a lot. 
Like my dad. 

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I don't know what 75% of the 
gifts are going to be right. 

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Like I'm as excited as they are.
My goodness. 

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We got you that too. 
That's awesome bud. 

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But I do know which gift they're
going to remember. 

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Because that'll be the gift that
I picked out, right? 

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How many of you your budget 
people? 

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You've got a budget for 
Christmas. 

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We better stick to it. 
Okay. 

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So I actually think the problem 
with America's nobody knows how 

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to budget because for three 
services have been like, you 

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know, 10 people like yeah, we 
gotta pay tens the rest of your 

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like let's just see what 
happens. 

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Let's just see if smoke comes 
off this credit card or not. 

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Anyhow, I'm a pretty strict 
budget guy for Christmas until I

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catch a vision for something 
spectacular. 

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And then I'm like, all right, 
we'll figure it out. 

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We just got to make this thing 
happen. 

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You guys have been there too. 
Did you know that? 

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Good Gift Giver now, I can like 
a theoretical sense but the 

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Bible goes out of its way to 
talk about his ability to give a

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good gift. 
Matthew 7:11. 

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It starts out rough. 
If you then though, you are 

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evil. 
He's talking about. 

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You guys remember Christmas tree
up before Thanksgiving 

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re-gifting evil people know how 
to give good gifts to your 

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children. 
So even though we're jacked up, 

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people we still know how to put 
together a good gift. 

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How much more will your father 
in heaven? 

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Give good gifts to those who ask
him and one of the signs of a 

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good Gift Giver is their ability
to give you what you really need

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more than their ability to give 
you what you want. 

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One time, my dad gave me a gift 
for Christmas. 

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He got me an Iowa, Hawkeye 
sweatshirt and a pair of work 

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gloves. 
He's a pretty good gift giver 

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and turns out that was exactly 
the gift I needed. 

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Because as soon as the wrapping 
paper was all put away, we went 

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outside to work outside and I 
was super thankful for these 

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gloves that I didn't like it at 
first because when the wind kept

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blowing and the snow kept 
falling that gift, that my dad 

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had given me in my past. 
Became incredibly valuable in my

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present. 
Well, the prophet Isaiah 800 

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years before the Christmas 
narrative. 

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Takes pen to parchment and he 
begins to write about this gift 

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that God is giving you to the 
world. 

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Just like parents as they browse
through pages on Amazon or 

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walking through the aisles at a 
store examining each present. 

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Carefully examining the 
potential gifts picturing the 

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Elation and Joy on their child's
faces. 

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They peel back the wrapping 
paper and take in the present as

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it's finally revealed he is 
writing to us going, check this 

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out. 
And see as we're reading through

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it, if you can see the joy and 
the Elation that he in the 

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anticipation, Isaiah chapter 9. 
Nevertheless, there will be no 

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more Gloom for those who are in 
distress in the past, he humbled

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the land of zebulun and the land
of naphtali lime. 

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But in the future, he will honor
Galilee of the nation's by way 

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of the sea beyond the Jordan. 
The people walking in darkness 

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have seen a great light on those
living. 

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In the land of deep Darkness, a 
light has dawned you have 

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enlarged, the nation and 
increase their Boy, they 

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rejoiced before you as people 
Rejoice at the Harvest as 

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Warriors rejoice, when dividing 
the plunder for as, in the Day 

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of midians Defeat, you have 
shattered the Yoke that burdens 

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them, the bar across their 
shoulders, the rod of their 

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oppressor every Warriors boot 
used in battle and every garment

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rolled in blood will be destined
for burning will be fuel for the

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fire for to us. 
A child, is born to us. 

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A son is given and the 
government will be on his 

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shoulders and he will be called 
And wonderful counselor, Mighty 

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God. 
Everlasting father Prince of 

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Peace of the greatness of his 
government and peace. 

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There will be no end. 
He will reign on David's throne 

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and over his kingdom 
establishing and upholding it 

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with Justice and righteousness 
from that time on and forever 

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judging by the lack of Standing,
Ovation and Applause and shouts 

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of Joy. 
Perhaps something has been lost 

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in the 2800 years since this was
written. 

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So, Can I do something instead 
of like preaching this thing 

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00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,000
hard for the next 20 minutes? 
Would you just allow me to walk 

229
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,700
you through the text a little 
bit, teach you a little bit and 

230
00:12:34,700 --> 00:12:39,300
see if something doesn't change 
in your heart, just a little bit

231
00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:41,800
because I think there's an awful
lot. 

232
00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,600
We're missing when we read it. 
Let's examine these qualities. 

233
00:12:45,700 --> 00:12:47,900
About this gift, a little bit 
more carefully. 

234
00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:52,100
Isaiah chapter 9, verse 1. 
Nevertheless, there will be no 

235
00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:54,700
more Gloom for those who are in 
distress. 

236
00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:58,300
Us and the past, he humbled the 
land of zebulun and the land of 

237
00:12:58,300 --> 00:13:00,700
naphtali. 
But in the future, he will honor

238
00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:04,500
Galilee of the nation's, by the 
way, of the sea beyond the 

239
00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:08,200
Jordan, you know, how it is in 
some of our surrounding towns. 

240
00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,300
Small ones as you're pulling in,
will be a green sign that says, 

241
00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:16,200
home of For those of us living 
in Illinois, where the Land of 

242
00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,900
Lincoln? 
Yeah, this jacked up, plot of 

243
00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:22,500
land, gets a little bit of favor
because, you know, Lincoln's 

244
00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:24,300
from here. 
This is what he's saying is 

245
00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:28,300
going to happen for the area of 
Galilee that someone of such 

246
00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:31,500
prominence is going to come out 
of their midst. 

247
00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:36,500
That nobody will, nobody will 
ever be able to mention this 

248
00:13:36,700 --> 00:13:41,300
chunk of land without thinking 
about this gift. 

249
00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,400
Keep going in the text, the 
people walking in darkness have 

250
00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,700
seen a great light on those 
living. 

251
00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:53,600
In the land of deep Darkness, a 
light has dawned you have 

252
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,300
enlarged, the nation and 
increase their Joy. 

253
00:13:56,500 --> 00:14:00,200
They Rejoice before you as 
people Rejoice at the Harvest as

254
00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,200
Warriors rejoice, when the 
dividing the plunder. 

255
00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:08,600
Here's what he's saying, imagine
a life plagued by stumbling and 

256
00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:14,300
suffering in darkness. 
Think about all the things we 

257
00:14:14,300 --> 00:14:17,200
take for granted because of our 
ability to see he's saying think

258
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:21,700
about all the Doom and Gloom and
despair but when this gift shows

259
00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:27,000
up Despair and Gloom will be 
removed, Darkness will cease 

260
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,300
because those living in darkness
have seen a great light. 

261
00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:37,000
A light has dawned in it 
traverses its way and all of a 

262
00:14:37,008 --> 00:14:40,200
sudden, the light and the 
warmth, envelop, you and think 

263
00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:41,700
about all the things that would 
change. 

264
00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:46,600
And then he goes, pay attention 
to the joy of people at Harvest.

265
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,100
Now, this gets a little lost on 
us because we're not as agrarian

266
00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:55,100
as his audience, but imagine 
being an entire Community, 

267
00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:58,000
completely dependent on the 
farmers. 

268
00:14:59,300 --> 00:15:06,100
And you. go out and you sow your
seed and you till up the soil 

269
00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:10,800
and you weed it and then you 
pray for rain and you pray for a

270
00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,100
harvest and all the while you're
waiting for the Harvest, you 

271
00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:18,500
have what was left over from 
last year's Harvest. 

272
00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:24,700
And it's dwindling. 
It's getting smaller and smaller

273
00:15:24,700 --> 00:15:28,000
as everybody eats and you're 
starting to wonder. 

274
00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:34,800
Will the new Harvest come before
the old Harvest Runs Out? 

275
00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,100
Will the new Harvest? 
Give me everything I need to 

276
00:15:38,100 --> 00:15:42,300
take care of my friends and my 
family and have enough set aside

277
00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:46,500
to so for the next Harvest. 
Will there be enough there? 

278
00:15:46,500 --> 00:15:50,000
That we don't go hungry between 
when the following Harvest will 

279
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,600
arrive. 
And every day, it doesn't rain. 

280
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,900
And every day, it's not as sunny
as you would like. 

281
00:15:56,900 --> 00:15:59,100
And you see what you've stored 
up? 

282
00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:02,900
Shrinking wondering if what is 
to come will be enough. 

283
00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:08,100
Imagine the joy of when you go 
outside and the Harvest is 

284
00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:12,000
finally ready, then they start 
to bring in the sheaves and it's

285
00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:14,200
more than enough. 
It's more than enough for your 

286
00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,400
family and your loved ones and 
your friends. 

287
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,500
And it's more than enough to set
aside to. 

288
00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:21,700
So for next year's crop and it's
more than enough for you to put 

289
00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:24,700
aside to make sure that 
everybody is well fed, your 

290
00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:29,500
family will be okay, / vision is
here, Isaiah is saying this gift

291
00:16:29,500 --> 00:16:32,300
that's coming is going to give 
you that kind of Joy. 

292
00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:37,300
The joy of Provision. 
And then he says of the joy of 

293
00:16:37,300 --> 00:16:41,800
Warriors rejoicing over the 
plunder to understand this one. 

294
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,700
You have to kind of go back in 
time. 

295
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:50,400
Let's go back a couple months. 
When a man looks at his wife and

296
00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:54,500
he kisses her goodbye and he 
grabs his daughter, his face in 

297
00:16:54,500 --> 00:16:57,300
his hands and he says, I want 
you to know how you're beautiful

298
00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,500
and I love you, listen to your 
mother. 

299
00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:04,599
And then he goes to his son and 
says, while I'm gone, you're the

300
00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:06,700
man of the house, you keep them 
safe. 

301
00:17:07,099 --> 00:17:10,700
You treat your mother, and you 
treat your sister with respect. 

302
00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,099
And then you join your other 
neighbors as you head off to 

303
00:17:16,099 --> 00:17:20,700
March to the battlefield. 
Neighbors, who used to just 

304
00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:25,000
spend time laughing or now 
becoming a Band of Brothers in 

305
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,900
battle? 
As you're walking one day, you 

306
00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:33,000
start to see the smoke from the 
enemy's Camp fires rising to the

307
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,800
sky. 
It feels like it is blocking the

308
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:40,100
Sun and so you find yourself 
Marching In the Shadows. 

309
00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,900
You finally get close enough to 
the enemy that, you know, that 

310
00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:48,100
this is your last night before 
the battle. 

311
00:17:49,900 --> 00:17:55,600
You're looking across it. 
Your fellow comrades wondering, 

312
00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:00,800
who will survive? 
You're wondering, will you see 

313
00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,500
your wife again? 
Will you see your son? 

314
00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:05,600
Again, will you be able to walk 
your daughter down the aisle? 

315
00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,500
You're you're sitting there 
knowing that you need to go to 

316
00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:11,300
sleep so that way you're rested 
for the battle but you can't 

317
00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:13,400
keep ask. 
You can't keep wondering you 

318
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,400
can't your mind keeps asking 
question after question. 

319
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,200
All you want to go to sleep. 
So you're rested. 

320
00:18:19,500 --> 00:18:21,700
But you can't fall asleep 
because you're scared. 

321
00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:29,400
The sun rises and you go and 
stand next to your fellow 

322
00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,500
comrades. 
And you know that in the next 

323
00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:36,600
couple of hours, all of those 
questions will be answered. 

324
00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:44,100
Will you live or will you die? 
Will you win or will you lose? 

325
00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:47,900
Will you be injured? 
Will you be taking captive? 

326
00:18:51,100 --> 00:18:56,600
And Isaiah says, like Warriors 
rejoicing over the plunder. 

327
00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,900
Now, you find yourself on the 
other side of the battle? 

328
00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:04,500
Not only are you alive, but you 
won and not only, did you win? 

329
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,000
You're not going home 
empty-handed. 

330
00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,100
You're going back to your wife, 
back to your daughter, back to 

331
00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:12,700
your son and you're not going 
back empty-handed. 

332
00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,600
You have gone from the precipice
of death to Victorious and 

333
00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:21,000
blessed Isaiah saying, when this
gift shows up, that's how how 

334
00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,800
it'll be not only will you be 
provided for but you will be 

335
00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,900
Victorious and blessed. 
This is what Isaiah is trying to

336
00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:34,500
get across Verses 4 through 54. 
As in the day of minions defeat 

337
00:19:35,100 --> 00:19:37,700
you have shattered, the Yoke 
that burdens them, the bar 

338
00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:42,200
across the shoulders, the rod of
their oppressor every Warriors 

339
00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,300
boot used in battle and every 
garment rolled in blood will be 

340
00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:48,100
destined for burning will be 
fuel for the fire. 

341
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,700
I'm gonna hit verse 5 next week,
but let's go back to verse 4. 

342
00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:55,200
You've heard me say this before,
when you read the Old Testament,

343
00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:00,500
you are reading world history 
through Israelite eyes. 

344
00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,500
It is similar to you and I 
reading stories about the 

345
00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:10,200
battles that have been fought 
here and for America their fight

346
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,000
against the, many nights would 
be similar to our Revolutionary 

347
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:17,700
War and the Bible goes out of 
its way to set up an interesting

348
00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:20,300
contrast with the story of the 
midianites. 

349
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:25,000
You see, it's these many nights 
Through the Bible says our their

350
00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:30,200
army is too numerous to count. 
I'm not a math person but that's

351
00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,700
a lot and God goes to Gideon. 
Hey, I want you to lead an Army 

352
00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:38,000
against these this Army. 
That's too many to count. 

353
00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:44,900
And so they send out a call and 
32,000 men show up to fight an 

354
00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:46,500
army. 
That is again, too. 

355
00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:50,300
Numerous to count. 
And then God looks at getting 

356
00:20:50,300 --> 00:20:51,800
ghost. 
There's too many guys and 

357
00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,200
getting goes. 
Say what? 

358
00:20:54,500 --> 00:20:57,200
I don't know if you do math but 
there's only 32 thousand of us 

359
00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,400
in your word, says, your words 
not mine. 

360
00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:03,400
The Army were facing, it's too 
numerous to countin guys. 

361
00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,200
Like, listen man, send all the 
Cubs fans home. 

362
00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:09,900
That's actually sorry, that's 
not what it says. 

363
00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,500
It just says, it says, send all 
of those who are afraid home. 

364
00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:15,200
They just happen to be Cubs 
fans. 

365
00:21:16,300 --> 00:21:21,300
And listen 22,000 people dudes 
were like, yeah, I'm actually, 

366
00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:23,900
we're going to be honest, this 
is a time of sharing. 

367
00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:27,800
I am afraid and so you have 
10,000 people versus an army 

368
00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:32,000
that is too numerous to count. 
And then God goes, guys, this is

369
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:37,400
way too many people and getting 
it's like really okay. 

370
00:21:38,100 --> 00:21:39,900
And God says, take them down to 
the water. 

371
00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,700
And for the guys, that just 
reach down and grab some with 

372
00:21:42,700 --> 00:21:44,600
their hand and pull it up to 
their mouth and laugh, like a 

373
00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,500
dog. 
Those are the separate. 

374
00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:49,600
Those guys, from the guys who 
get down on all fours. 

375
00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,900
And so, they get over there and 
300 dudes, reach down with their

376
00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:57,300
hand and pull it up to their 
mouth and 9700 of them get down 

377
00:21:57,300 --> 00:21:59,900
on all fours and gettings, like,
alright, this is going to be 

378
00:21:59,900 --> 00:22:04,900
okay, I'm only losing 300. 
It'll be 9700 against an army, 

379
00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:05,900
too. 
Numerous to count. 

380
00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:09,300
And guy goes actually, I've been
thinking it through and I think 

381
00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:14,100
we're going to go with the 300 
and getting those, you're okay. 

382
00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:17,500
All right, so it's 300 vs. 
Too numerous to count. 

383
00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:18,700
He's like, yeah, that'll be 
great. 

384
00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,700
And then, so getting in now. 
His army of 300. 

385
00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:24,000
And then God's. 
Like, all right, now, here's 

386
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,200
what you're going to need for 
the battle. 

387
00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,700
Now, tell me if this makes sense
to you, he goes you're going to 

388
00:22:28,708 --> 00:22:32,500
want some trumpets. 
Some pottery. 

389
00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,000
I'm going to let some of you 
guys have torches. 

390
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,200
Now, if you were there you're 
one of the 300 like guys time to

391
00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,400
get your weapons standing in 
line you and Frank and Todd just

392
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:56,400
you get up, excuse me, I got a, 
I got a pot. if I feel like I'm 

393
00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:01,900
in the wrong Line, This is the 
cafeteria Oh no, you do and a 

394
00:23:01,908 --> 00:23:06,800
trumpet. 
I don't play the trumpet and How

395
00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,600
hard do you hit someone with the
trumpet? 

396
00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:12,700
Hey, do we have any swords? 
Excuse me. 

397
00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:17,100
Jesus, can I have a shield? 
God. 

398
00:23:17,100 --> 00:23:19,300
I don't know if you know about 
this, but they've made Spears. 

399
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,200
They're awesome. 
And God goes none of them know. 

400
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,500
I wanted to look like you guys 
beat up a marching band and then

401
00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:30,200
showed up for battle. 
Because I'll tell you what a 

402
00:23:30,208 --> 00:23:32,400
group of people that beat up a 
marching band. 

403
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,900
People are afraid of them, 
right. 

404
00:23:35,300 --> 00:23:37,800
So here you are getting ready 
for battle. 

405
00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:44,500
You got your picture? 
Your trumpet and your 

406
00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:48,200
flashlight, right, let's go give
these guys what they got coming.

407
00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:53,000
We'll look and check this out 
with a 300 people. 

408
00:23:54,100 --> 00:24:00,800
Armed with lanterns and trumpets
and pottery, defeat an army that

409
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:07,200
is too numerous to count. 
What Isaiah is saying, is the 

410
00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,100
oppression that you have been 
feeling will be broken in an 

411
00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:14,400
unexplainable and majestical 
way. 

412
00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,100
Well, who can do something like 
that? 

413
00:24:18,300 --> 00:24:19,900
Who can make that kind of stuff 
happen. 

414
00:24:19,900 --> 00:24:23,500
Well, it keeps going for 69. 
For unto us. 

415
00:24:23,500 --> 00:24:28,600
A child is born to us. 
A son is given and the 

416
00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,100
government will be on his 
shoulders. 

417
00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,600
And he will be called, 
wonderful, counselor, Mighty 

418
00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,600
God. 
Everlasting father, Prince of 

419
00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,600
Peace of the greatness of his 
government and peace. 

420
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,500
There will be no end. 
He will reign on David's throne 

421
00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:43,000
and over his kingdom 
establishing and upholding it 

422
00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:47,000
with Justice and righteousness 
from that time on and forever. 

423
00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:52,300
How is this possible? 
How will there be so much light?

424
00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,500
So, It's victory so much 
freedom. 

425
00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:03,300
Well, to us a child is born. 
To us a son is given, what kind 

426
00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:07,000
of baby is this? 
What's the kind of baby? 

427
00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,100
That has a government on his 
shoulders? 

428
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,200
Hold on a second here. 
Let that sink in. 

429
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:17,200
The entire government is going 
to rest on. 

430
00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:25,700
His shoulders. 
Now the American government is 

431
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,900
broken into three branches but 
it's just mostly broken, right? 

432
00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,400
You have the three branches? 
For those of you who slept 

433
00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,000
through, whatever class taught 
you that I don't want you to 

434
00:25:36,008 --> 00:25:37,500
think I'm smart. 
I just Googled it. 

435
00:25:38,100 --> 00:25:40,800
We have the legislative branch, 
the executive branch, and the 

436
00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,200
judicial branch. 
Yeah, I could have done that 

437
00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:46,400
part from memory, the 
legislative branch, they make 

438
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:51,200
the laws, Okay, this is where 
you have the upper and lower 

439
00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:55,000
house, you have the House of 
Representatives and you have the

440
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,700
Senate. 
The problem is for some of us 

441
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,100
I'm not saying me or you but for
some people the problem with the

442
00:26:01,100 --> 00:26:04,400
House of Representatives is that
they're only an office for two 

443
00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,400
years, so they never stop 
running and they never really 

444
00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,400
get around to governing. 
And potentially some of you may 

445
00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,600
be frustrated with the Senate 
because you have the exact 

446
00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,000
opposite problem when you feel 
like you can't ever get those 

447
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,900
guys out of the office. 
And then you have the 

448
00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:21,200
legislative branch where you 
have the legislative branch and 

449
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,600
then you have the executive 
branch there in charge of 

450
00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,400
executing the laws. 
Making sure that it happens. 

451
00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,600
It is here that the Office of 
the President resides and 

452
00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,500
depending on where you are on 
the political Spectrum, some 

453
00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:36,500
presidents for years is way too 
long. 

454
00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:41,400
And for others. 
Eight years is not enough, 

455
00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:43,900
right? 
Depending on where you are. 

456
00:26:44,500 --> 00:26:50,100
And then then, Give the judicial
branch. 

457
00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:54,800
This is where the laws are 
evaluated and at the Pinnacle of

458
00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:58,600
this group, you have the Supreme
Court, Justices and based on how

459
00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:01,800
we interpret the words, good 
behavior, they basically get 

460
00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,900
lifetime appointments. 
Which means if you get a bad 

461
00:27:05,900 --> 00:27:08,700
one. 
The good news is you have them 

462
00:27:08,700 --> 00:27:12,500
for life. 
And as they get older and their 

463
00:27:12,500 --> 00:27:15,900
mental abilities fade, they 
still get to weigh in. 

464
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,600
Now, I think this is one of the 
best systems on planet Earth, 

465
00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:23,300
but it's a little broken. 
And think about what happens 

466
00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:28,800
every two to four years. 
The Uproar, the Panic, the fear,

467
00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:33,500
the frustration families, 
divided, friendships lost, 

468
00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:36,700
ideologies. 
Mocked Common Sense. 

469
00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:44,100
Reduced hurtful rhetoric spewed.
But this boy is the government. 

470
00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,300
It is here. 
Where it rests on his shoulders?

471
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:50,900
No election, no end to his 
Reign. 

472
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,700
No skeletons in his closet. 
No reduction in his power or 

473
00:27:54,700 --> 00:27:56,400
abilities. 
The full weight of the 

474
00:27:56,408 --> 00:28:00,500
government will be majestically 
and purely carried out. 

475
00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:04,100
Well what kind of ruler will 
this baby be? 

476
00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,500
Well this is where we get to my 
sermon. 

477
00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,000
There's a bunch of qualities. 
They use, I'm only going to 

478
00:28:10,008 --> 00:28:13,300
mention two of them. 
The first one is that he will be

479
00:28:13,300 --> 00:28:17,000
a wonderful counselor. 
The second one is he will be a 

480
00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,000
mighty God. 
Now something interesting here. 

481
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,500
For those of you are big in the 
English language. 

482
00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:26,200
The word wonderful here is not 
an adjective, it's not an 

483
00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:30,300
adverb. 
It is this abstract explanation.

484
00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:34,200
He's what Isaiah is trying to 
say is this is too magnificent 

485
00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,400
for you and I to understand we'd
have a better chance. 

486
00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:41,900
A chance of taking a communion 
cup and filling the entire 

487
00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:44,500
draining the entire Mississippi 
into it. 

488
00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:53,100
He's trying to get you to go. 
The only possible explanation is

489
00:28:53,100 --> 00:28:56,800
that God was in it. 
Here's what I mean by wonderful,

490
00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,400
when God pulled water out of a 
rock. 

491
00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:06,000
And it took care and quench The 
Thirst of all the Israelites and

492
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,500
all of their animals. 
How do you describe that? 

493
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,600
Oh, that's a Wonder. 
And the only way that makes 

494
00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:19,600
sense is if God's in it. 
How do you make sense of a small

495
00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:24,100
boy going up against a giant 
with only five, smooth stones, 

496
00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:27,300
and a sling, and bringing a 
giant to his knees. 

497
00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:32,100
Well, that's a Wonder of it. 
The only way that that makes 

498
00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:35,700
sense is God. 
See when we read, wonderful, you

499
00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:38,600
think Thanksgiving? 
Oh, Becky came by, and we just 

500
00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:43,400
had a wonderful conversation. 
This is the exact opposite. 

501
00:29:43,900 --> 00:29:47,600
This is something just took 
place, that's unexplainable. 

502
00:29:48,300 --> 00:29:51,600
The only way you could even 
begin to make sense of what you 

503
00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:57,000
saw is that God made it make 
sense to Israelites. 

504
00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:00,100
Walking through the Red Sea with
a wall of water, on the right 

505
00:30:00,100 --> 00:30:01,700
and a wall of water on your 
left. 

506
00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:04,900
How do you explain that all? 
That is a Wonder. 

507
00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:09,700
That only makes sense. 
If God's in the picture, he's 

508
00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:14,100
going to be that. 
And a counselor. 

509
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:20,400
Let me know what counselors do. 
They deal with us. 

510
00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,700
They diagnose us, they deliver 
us. 

511
00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,800
Some of you, you've been through
the pain of going to multiple 

512
00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,600
counselors because the counselor
you got wasn't good, some of you

513
00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:33,700
had to deal with different 
medications because the 

514
00:30:33,700 --> 00:30:38,800
prescription you got was bad. 
But when you show up to this 

515
00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:43,200
God, with whatever problem you 
face, whatever challenge you're 

516
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,900
in whatever Darkness you're 
navigating. 

517
00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,600
When you show up to this 
counselor, you get three 

518
00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:53,800
guarantees this how Alistair beg
says, it one, he will deal with 

519
00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:59,000
you personally. 
This gift. 

520
00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:07,600
This child, this son. 
This Wonder counselor is going 

521
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,600
to deal with you. 
Personally, he knows you better 

522
00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:15,100
than anybody knows you. 
Even you, he will deal with you 

523
00:31:15,100 --> 00:31:18,200
personally, you're not just he's
just going to keep running 

524
00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:21,000
through the people. 
He's got a 9:00 and 9:30 and 

525
00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:23,200
10:00. 
And he's only got 25 minutes to 

526
00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,000
figure it out and he's gonna run
the some same play on you that 

527
00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,600
he's ran on five other people. 
No, he's going to deal with you 

528
00:31:29,700 --> 00:31:33,600
personally. 
He's going to diagnose you 

529
00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,400
properly because he has access 
to Infinite Wisdom in since he 

530
00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,800
knows you better than anybody 
else does, he can diagnose you 

531
00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,600
properly which means he can 
deliver you powerfully. 

532
00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:47,400
But he's not just a wonderful 
counselor. 

533
00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:51,900
He's a mighty God. 
What this Baby's God. 

534
00:31:52,100 --> 00:31:56,200
Yeah, look at how John describes
him in the beginning was the 

535
00:31:56,200 --> 00:32:00,600
word and the Word was with God. 
And the Word was God, he was 

536
00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,800
with God in the beginning 
through him. 

537
00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:04,400
All things were made without 
him. 

538
00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:08,000
Nothing was made that has been 
made in him was life and that 

539
00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:09,900
life was the light of all 
mankind. 

540
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:11,900
So if you as you're studying, 
having a hard time, reading your

541
00:32:11,900 --> 00:32:14,400
Bible from time to time, when 
you get into a text like this, 

542
00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,400
just start asking, Asking a 
bunch of question. 

543
00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:20,500
Who's the word? 
Well, if you keep reading, we 

544
00:32:20,500 --> 00:32:24,800
know that the word is a dude. 
It's a guy. 

545
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,700
Well who's a pretty famous guy 
in the Bible? 

546
00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:30,800
Who all things were made through
him. 

547
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:33,900
Look at your neighbor regardless
of how ugly they are. 

548
00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,500
Guess who made them. 
God didn't. 

549
00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:44,100
But so did this baby? 
Jesus was apart of your 

550
00:32:44,100 --> 00:32:47,400
creation. 
He was a part of bringing you 

551
00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:51,200
into existence when you and I 
look at people we are looking at

552
00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:55,700
somebody. 
Who's got the thumbprint Of a 

553
00:32:55,708 --> 00:32:59,000
master Potter. 
That's who this baby is. 

554
00:32:59,100 --> 00:33:02,200
He is mighty God. 
If he can make everything that 

555
00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:05,500
you, and I have ever seen, how 
much Mike does he have? 

556
00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,100
How Mighty is this baby? 
Well, he's Mighty enough, that 

557
00:33:09,100 --> 00:33:12,400
he delivered the Israelites out 
of the hand of the Egyptians. 

558
00:33:12,700 --> 00:33:16,300
That's how Mighty he is. 
He's Mighty enough that when he 

559
00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:20,500
hits a rock, water comes out and
feeds them in all our, it takes 

560
00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:23,100
care of gives quenches The 
Thirst of them and all their 

561
00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:25,400
animals Mighty enough that when 
they're walking through the The 

562
00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:27,700
Red Sea and there's a wall of 
water on the right and a wall of

563
00:33:27,700 --> 00:33:29,600
water on the left. 
And the only way you could 

564
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,900
describe it as God, did that? 
That's how Mighty he is. 

565
00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,600
He's the kind of Mighty God that
gives them a pillar of Fire by 

566
00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,400
day and a pillar of our, a 
pillar of Fire by night in a 

567
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,900
pillar of cloud by day. 
That's how Mighty he is, how 

568
00:33:42,900 --> 00:33:47,000
Mighty you asked? 
Marty enough that he let them 

569
00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,900
bring down Jericho with just a 
shout Mighty enough that when he

570
00:33:51,900 --> 00:33:54,300
touched the leper they were 
immediately healed. 

571
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,800
Grab the hand of a crippled 
person in their hand was made 

572
00:33:56,900 --> 00:34:01,100
right spoke and the lame could 
walk how Mighty you, ask my teen

573
00:34:01,100 --> 00:34:02,700
up that. 
He just so happened to mention 

574
00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:06,500
the name Lazarus and Lazarus 
came back from the dead. 

575
00:34:06,500 --> 00:34:10,600
How Mighty you ask Mighty enough
that when he spoke to Demons 

576
00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:14,100
people were delivered how Mighty
you asked he was in. 

577
00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,600
He was laying down asleep in a 
boat with his head on a pillow 

578
00:34:18,699 --> 00:34:24,199
and a storm came up and all of 
his disciples were terrified and

579
00:34:24,199 --> 00:34:27,800
they went to Jesus and they 
said, Jesus, wake up, don't you 

580
00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:35,000
care if we all drown? 
And Jesus woke up like this live

581
00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:40,300
off his beard. 
Peace. 

582
00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:49,500
Be still and the waves stopped 
waving and the wind stopped 

583
00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:52,199
blowing. 
You can go home and check this 

584
00:34:52,199 --> 00:34:53,800
out, Mark chapter 4, see if I'm 
lying. 

585
00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:59,000
Look what happens after that. 
The disciples say who is this? 

586
00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,600
That's Wonder. 
What just happened? 

587
00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:10,400
Only makes sense if God's in the
picture. even the wind and waves

588
00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:15,400
obey him, that's might Who is 
this? 

589
00:35:15,900 --> 00:35:19,100
That even the wind and the waves
obey him inside of here? 

590
00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:24,400
You see Wonder And you see my 
night, he is a wonderful 

591
00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:29,600
counselor because he devised a 
plan to make you and I not just 

592
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,100
right with God. 
But right with one another and 

593
00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:36,000
right with ourselves, and he is 
mighty enough to carry it out. 

594
00:35:36,100 --> 00:35:39,300
In fact, he is mighty enough to 
save all who will place their 

595
00:35:39,300 --> 00:35:42,400
trust in him. 
This is what Isaiah was trying 

596
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:45,100
to put into your heart and in my
heart, when he wrote it. 

597
00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:47,500
So, can I read it to you one 
more time now that you know 

598
00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:48,500
what? 
He's trying to say, 

599
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:53,800
Nevertheless, there will be no 
more Gloom for those who are in 

600
00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,400
distress. 
In the past, he humbled the land

601
00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:58,400
of zebulun and the land of 
naphtali. 

602
00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,400
But in the future, he will honor
Galilee of the nation's by way 

603
00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:06,800
of the sea beyond the Jordan. 
The people walking in darkness 

604
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,200
have seen a great light on those
living. 

605
00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,900
In the land of deep Darkness, a 
light has dawned. 

606
00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:16,500
You have enlarged, the nation 
and increased their Joy. 

607
00:36:16,700 --> 00:36:20,800
They Rejoice before you as 
people Rejoice at the Harvest as

608
00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:25,100
Warriors rejoice, when dividing 
the plunder for as in the day of

609
00:36:25,100 --> 00:36:28,400
millions defeat, you have 
shattered, the Yoke that burdens

610
00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:32,000
them, the bar across the 
shoulders, the rod of their 

611
00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,200
oppressor. 
Every Warriors boot used in 

612
00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:39,100
battle and every garment rolled 
and blood will be destined for 

613
00:36:39,100 --> 00:36:43,100
burning will be fuel for the 
fire for to us. 

614
00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:48,100
A child, is born to us. 
A son is given and the 

615
00:36:48,100 --> 00:36:49,500
government will be on his 
shoulders. 

616
00:36:49,700 --> 00:36:51,100
Shoulders. 
And he will be called, 

617
00:36:51,100 --> 00:36:53,100
wonderful, counselor, Mighty 
God. 

618
00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:57,400
Everlasting father, Prince of 
Peace of the greatness of his 

619
00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,300
government and peace. 
There will be no end. 

620
00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:03,600
He will reign on David's throne 
and over his kingdom 

621
00:37:03,700 --> 00:37:08,100
establishing and upholding it 
with Justice and righteousness 

622
00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:13,900
from that time on and forever. 
And I think you will discover 

623
00:37:14,300 --> 00:37:19,400
that this is the gift. 
We desperately need And I'm 

624
00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,100
willing to wager that deep down 
inside. 

625
00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:26,500
It's the gift. 
Your soul has always wanted on 

626
00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:30,800
to us. 
A child is born to us. 

627
00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:37,400
A son is given and he will be 
wonderful, counselor, Mighty God

628
00:37:37,500 --> 00:37:46,900
removed the time of decision. 
The incredible news is that this

629
00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:51,600
gift is for everyone. 
No matter who you are, no matter

630
00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:53,700
what you've done, no matter what
you're in the middle of right 

631
00:37:53,700 --> 00:37:57,100
now. 
This gift is available to you. 

632
00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:06,800
But I got to be honest with you.
This life with Jesus isn't easy.

633
00:38:09,900 --> 00:38:12,700
Oh, it's good. 
It's better. 

634
00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,400
But I don't know, I mean, I know
there's a lot of stuff on Tick, 

635
00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:19,000
Tock, and Instagram, and 
YouTube. 

636
00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:22,600
That's telling you that, like, 
you know, life with Jesus is 

637
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:26,200
just up and to the right all the
time, I just need you to hear 

638
00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:31,300
from me not true. 
Life with Jesus is hard. 

639
00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:36,900
Loving your neighbors. 
That's hard. 

640
00:38:37,500 --> 00:38:40,400
Not being greedy, that's hard, 
not being selfish. 

641
00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:44,400
That's hard, not being a gossip 
that's hard, not being lustful. 

642
00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:48,000
That's hard. 
Jesus calls you to incredibly 

643
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:51,000
hard things. 
Now, I'll tell you, it's the 

644
00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:55,100
best life, it's a good life, but
it's a hard one. 

645
00:38:55,100 --> 00:38:58,500
Jesus says, when he's describing
the Christian Life, he says, 

646
00:38:58,500 --> 00:39:02,000
pick up your cross and follow me
that I don't know where you're 

647
00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,100
from, but that doesn't sound 
See, that sounds hard. 

648
00:39:05,300 --> 00:39:07,800
In fact the Christian life is so
hard that you have to have the 

649
00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:11,300
power of the holy spirit inside 
of you to actually live it out. 

650
00:39:11,700 --> 00:39:13,300
The good news, is he gives that 
to you. 

651
00:39:13,500 --> 00:39:15,700
He gives you the gift and he 
gives you the power to live it 

652
00:39:15,700 --> 00:39:20,600
out. 
Now listen things that are good 

653
00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:26,500
and are hard aren't new to you. 
How many of you are? 

654
00:39:26,900 --> 00:39:27,700
Just? 
Just look at me. 

655
00:39:27,700 --> 00:39:29,400
Don't raise your hand. 
I want you to get in trouble. 

656
00:39:30,700 --> 00:39:32,200
I'll just get in trouble for all
of us. 

657
00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:37,700
You're married. 
Is it ever hard just blink if 

658
00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:40,700
it's hard? 
Okay. 

659
00:39:41,900 --> 00:39:45,000
Yeah, this is some of you. 
You've been there. 

660
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:48,200
Is it good? 
Yeah. 

661
00:39:48,900 --> 00:39:50,500
Is a heart. 
Yeah, it's yeah. 

662
00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:52,200
It's really stinking hard. 
Jesus. 

663
00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:55,500
Okay, she's so perfect. 
And I'm so flawed. 

664
00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:01,800
So she tells me right? 
It is it is it is it good? 

665
00:40:01,900 --> 00:40:03,300
Yeah. 
Is it hard? 

666
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:10,600
Yeah. 
Parents raising a kid is a good 

667
00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:12,600
having kids all. 
Oh yeah. 

668
00:40:13,900 --> 00:40:20,500
Is it hard? 
Some of you suckers you're in 

669
00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:22,900
here with your first kid, you 
still got it in the cute little 

670
00:40:23,500 --> 00:40:26,800
basket and every time someone 
asks you like, how are you 

671
00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:28,800
doing? 
I'm just so tired. 

672
00:40:33,100 --> 00:40:39,000
It's just a big adjustment, it's
a lot, it's a lot Clayton, just 

673
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:42,100
having this precious life and 
all the things that come with 

674
00:40:42,100 --> 00:40:43,800
it. 
I just needed you to hear it 

675
00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:45,700
here first. 
What you're experiencing right 

676
00:40:45,700 --> 00:40:51,900
now is as good as it gets, okay?
You will beg to be tired the 

677
00:40:51,900 --> 00:40:55,600
okay because right now you're 
just physically tired. 

678
00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:57,800
But those of us who've been 
parents for a while, we're 

679
00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:00,800
emotionally tired. 
We're spiritually tired for 

680
00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,500
fragile. 
Someone It died today. 

681
00:41:03,500 --> 00:41:07,800
Okay, you're rude because right 
now you know what that kid does 

682
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:11,400
it sleeps all the stinking time 
it wakes up and cries for a 

683
00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:13,500
little bit, you eat it. 
You burp, it, you change it and 

684
00:41:13,500 --> 00:41:15,600
you put it back to bed. 
That's it. 

685
00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:17,700
It doesn't go anywhere. 
You don't want it to go. 

686
00:41:17,900 --> 00:41:20,200
It doesn't have any friends that
you don't want it to have. 

687
00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:23,500
It has no crushes. 
It has no attitude and never 

688
00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:24,700
dirties. 
It's room. 

689
00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,800
It doesn't try on five outfits 
and leave them on the floor. 

690
00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:29,900
It just burps and pees and 
poops. 

691
00:41:30,100 --> 00:41:33,400
And those of us who've had 
teenagers are going Take that 

692
00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,300
all day every day. 
That's why your parents like 

693
00:41:36,300 --> 00:41:42,700
your grandbabies. 
So when you come up to us like 

694
00:41:42,700 --> 00:41:45,700
yeah, it's just been tough. 
We're like yeah. 

695
00:41:46,300 --> 00:41:47,800
Just you wait. 
Okay. 

696
00:41:49,700 --> 00:41:54,100
Parents parents, come here, 
parents, come here, I'm your 

697
00:41:54,100 --> 00:41:59,500
pastor, it's parenting good, is 
it hard? 

698
00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:02,900
I'm just telling you some of the
very best things in my life. 

699
00:42:02,900 --> 00:42:06,300
Are both good and hard. 
And what I'm telling you is 

700
00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:11,200
following Jesus is good, it's 
good, but it's hard. 

701
00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,800
But you will not regret it. 
And if you've never started an 

702
00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:19,800
intimate personal relationship 
with Jesus Christ, Don't put 

703
00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:21,700
that off. 
Just a few moments as me 

704
00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:24,000
somebody over by the bastard who
love an opportunity to talk with

705
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,400
you and pray with, you about it 
to the rest of you in the room. 

706
00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:29,900
My fear is that, if you've been 
a Christian, a long time, 

707
00:42:29,900 --> 00:42:34,100
sometimes sometimes and maybe 
it's not you, but our eyes can 

708
00:42:34,100 --> 00:42:36,600
get some scales on in our hearts
can become hardened. 

709
00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:40,400
And we are no longer rejoicing 
over what we have in him. 

710
00:42:41,100 --> 00:42:43,900
And I pray that just one part of
this sermon, was able to stir 

711
00:42:43,900 --> 00:42:47,900
your affections for Jesus, so 
that we would live for him and 

712
00:42:47,900 --> 00:42:51,200
be a light for him. 
To a lost and dying world. 

713
00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:53,600
And if maybe you're in a spot 
where you just need to kind of 

714
00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:56,700
repent of where you've been or 
try and get some things right, 

715
00:42:56,700 --> 00:43:00,000
and maybe beg God to start a new
fire in your heart. 

716
00:43:00,100 --> 00:43:01,600
The steps are going to be open 
for you to do that. 

717
00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:05,800
Would you stand with me? 
God, do a mighty work, a work. 

718
00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:09,100
That only you can do, you know 
exactly what every person in 

719
00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:12,700
this room and every person 
online needs. and so God, I'm 

720
00:43:12,700 --> 00:43:19,600
asking for you to show up and 
deliver that Dual work that only

721
00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:23,900
you can do. 
God, bring a unique gift to 

722
00:43:23,900 --> 00:43:26,800
every person. 
And your name. 

723
00:43:26,800 --> 00:43:28,300
I pray. 
Amen. 

724
00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:27,400
And your name. 
I pray. 

725
00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:28,300
Amen.