1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,600 Good morning. Good morning. 2 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:14,200 And see morning been good to see you gentlemen. 3 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,700 To see you ladies. Everybody's looking Bright and 4 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:21,100 married today. So welcome. 5 00:00:23,500 --> 00:00:26,800 Just look around your and see everyone here. 6 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,900 And then ask yourself who says people won't go to church on 7 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:31,000 Christmas morning. Amen. 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,400 Praise God for your attendance here today. 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,700 I'm glad that you're here. Happy to worship with you this 10 00:00:37,700 --> 00:00:39,100 morning. If you have your Bible, you can 11 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,200 turn to Luke Chapter 2, Luke Chapter 2. 12 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,300 We're going to continue the theme that Alan and Patricia 13 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:48,700 have started for us. We're going to look at Christ, 14 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:51,000 who is glory in the highest? Amen. 15 00:00:51,500 --> 00:00:57,800 And that will be good for us. Let me pray for us and then and 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,900 then we'll get into it today. Heavenly Father, we praise you. 17 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:11,200 We are eternally grateful, even if we don't recognize it yet for 18 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:18,300 the birth of your son and we are grateful Lord to be in one of 19 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:21,500 your houses on the Lord's Day worshipping Christ. 20 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,300 And so father, we pray now that as we've gathered that you would 21 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:27,700 be near to us that you would be close to us. 22 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,700 Today is, is a beautiful day. It's a day, that's filled with 23 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,900 joy. And in many ways, it's a day 24 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:39,700 that's filled with sorrow for so many. 25 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:44,100 And so, Lord, we ask for your help today, we ask Lord that you 26 00:01:44,107 --> 00:01:48,400 be near to us that you be close that you strengthen our hearts 27 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:53,100 and Minds today and help us Lord to stand on the hope of Christ 28 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,900 and every moment of our lives. And so Lord, I pray that this 29 00:01:56,900 --> 00:02:00,700 sermon contributes to that. It's in the hearts of these men 30 00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:05,200 and women and these boys and girls what I pray that they walk 31 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:12,500 away today, glorying and Christ, the Savior who was born a savior 32 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:17,800 who came to died, our death and the Savior who gives to us his 33 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,600 own eternal life. And so we thank you for him. 34 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:23,200 It's in his name. We pray today, amen. 35 00:02:23,900 --> 00:02:26,300 Amen. Well, it's been a, it's been a 36 00:02:26,308 --> 00:02:28,300 really good few days. I think. 37 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,000 And I think probably for most of you as well. 38 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:35,300 This, you know, I mentioned at candlelight, the other night 39 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:39,700 that it's really part of the best 72 hours of the year, and 40 00:02:39,700 --> 00:02:41,800 so many ways. And so candlelight service, kind 41 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,500 of kicks that off in my heart, and in my mind and kind of gets 42 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:49,200 the joy jump started. And then there's Christmas Eve. 43 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,400 And all of those Christmas festivities. 44 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:54,200 I will say, I don't know if there's any stories from the 45 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,700 dually Gathering last night that I can share in church, but just 46 00:02:57,700 --> 00:02:59,700 know that we had a Good time. All right. 47 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,600 It was it was it was a good time now. 48 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,700 It's a it's a beautiful family and the Lord has blessed me 49 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:08,400 tremendously with them. And so I give thanks to him for 50 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,500 that. There are Traditions around this 51 00:03:11,500 --> 00:03:15,000 time that come, right? It's just, it's the rhythms of 52 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:20,500 life that you enjoy traditions in your home, maybe, as you 53 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:23,600 start a home, I remember when Patricia and I were starting our 54 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:29,200 home, we we to sit down and read Twas the night before. - and 55 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,200 Luke to. It's something that my dad had 56 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,600 been doing for as long as I can remember, and it was a tradition 57 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,800 that I was set on continuing in my home on Christmas Eve. 58 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,000 And so, before we had children, it was something we committed 59 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000 ourselves to and, and then with children, it's a real beautiful 60 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,100 moment and then there's today, right? 61 00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:52,700 There's the giving and receiving of gifts, there's joy that fills 62 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:56,600 your home, big smiles, big laughs, all of the above. 63 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,800 There's so much good. Thing so many good things 64 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,900 happening over the last 72 hours and even today still yet remain, 65 00:04:03,900 --> 00:04:05,700 right? And in the coming days as you go 66 00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:08,400 and do Christmases with other folks. 67 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:12,000 Probably, and yet really, for all the joy that Christmas 68 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,200 brings. It's a difficult time as well as 69 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,600 it reminds us of loved ones who have passed. 70 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,200 And we remember them on this day, we remember Traditions that 71 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,400 included them, that no longer include them. 72 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,300 And we remember things the way they used to. 73 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,100 B and wish for those days at times. 74 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,500 Things that there are things that we don't yet have, right? 75 00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:42,400 That we don't yet possess that we wish for as well. 76 00:04:42,900 --> 00:04:48,400 We hope for like heaven and the joy that will never end and the 77 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,800 sorrow that will not be present any longer and there's so much 78 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,000 more. So Christmas is really full of 79 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,700 emotion. Christmas is full of highs and 80 00:04:57,700 --> 00:05:00,500 lows and we've been I've been trying to highlight this through 81 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:05,200 the series that in Advent. What you have is the dawn of 82 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:09,100 inexplicable lights, among inexplicable inexplicable 83 00:05:09,100 --> 00:05:12,500 Darkness, there was light of Hope and Promises. 84 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:14,900 Hope of those promises being fulfilled. 85 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:18,400 There was light of covenants and the prophecies, the Reliance of 86 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,600 foreshadowings and and things like that in the Old Testament 87 00:05:22,300 --> 00:05:24,800 Old Testament. Believers looked forward to the 88 00:05:24,808 --> 00:05:28,900 coming of Christ, but when Christ was born, things changed 89 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:31,700 forever. Things are never the same. 90 00:05:31,700 --> 00:05:39,200 Again, it was the dawning of true lights, final lights, a 91 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,500 light that gives light to all Darkness. 92 00:05:41,900 --> 00:05:44,800 I like that. The very darkest of Hearts can 93 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:49,000 run into and find light as well. Amen. 94 00:05:49,500 --> 00:05:52,100 And so we're grateful to celebrate the Light of Christ 95 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:55,000 today. The dawning of light light has 96 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,900 Shone in the darkness and the Darkness has not will not ever 97 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:00,900 overcome it. Amen. 98 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,600 And that there's this this piece of Christmas that we can't 99 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,400 forget and all the traditions and in all the things, as we 100 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:13,500 look at the Light of Christ and it's easy to go through all 101 00:06:13,500 --> 00:06:15,800 those Traditions. It's easy to walk through 102 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,500 candlelight service and even a Christmas morning service and 103 00:06:18,700 --> 00:06:22,200 all of those things and detach ourselves from what we're 104 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,700 actually up to in those moments. And in these moments, what we 105 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:31,300 were actually up to is, we are Set my timer here. 106 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:33,000 So we get out of here at a certain time. 107 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:34,800 All right? No promises. 108 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:36,900 I won't tell you the time because I don't want to 109 00:06:36,900 --> 00:06:40,100 disappoint you. Mama didn't raise. 110 00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:44,300 No fool, amen. So, but just know it's there, 111 00:06:44,300 --> 00:06:46,800 even if I fly right past it, it's still there. 112 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:52,900 All right, so there's this other piece that you can't forget, and 113 00:06:52,900 --> 00:06:57,900 that is That these things are not just another part of your 114 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:01,500 life. They're not just some, there's a 115 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:06,100 purpose to it, there's meaning to it and what you're looking at 116 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:09,200 in the Christmas season, what you're looking at, in the, in 117 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,300 the Christmas lights, if you will, and then the trees and 118 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:15,400 then the eating in the being Merry, and the good cheer, and 119 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,300 all of those things, what you're looking at is the hope of 120 00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:21,500 Heaven. It's what your heart is longing 121 00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:24,200 for its. Why it finds so much joy in 122 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,900 these moments. There's nothing wrong with 123 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:31,000 finding joy in these things. But your joy will fall short of 124 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,800 anything lasting. If you don't roll that Joy up to 125 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,100 Christ. Amen. 126 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,500 Let him be the founder of your joy. 127 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,700 Let him be the beginning and the end of your joy. 128 00:07:43,100 --> 00:07:45,200 And the truth is, if we don't intentionally start looking 129 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,700 beyond the traditions, we don't look Beyond the Lights. 130 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:51,700 Look beyond the gifts. Look Beyond those things, those 131 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:56,400 good things. And see The Giver of the good 132 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,500 things. Then we're going to sorely miss 133 00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:02,400 the joy. We're going to sorely miss the 134 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:08,400 piece that this season, both brings to us and reminds us of. 135 00:08:09,300 --> 00:08:13,500 And that is the joy and the peace that has come with Christ. 136 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:15,400 Our Savior has been born. Amen. 137 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,400 And so I imagine the same is true for you. 138 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,900 You must be intentional. I must be intentional. 139 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:23,500 We must be intentional. Look Beyond. 140 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,600 Those things. On that line of thinking, 141 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,100 Charles Spurgeon, offered this advice. 142 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:35,900 He said, when you hear the bells ringing out at Christmas, think 143 00:08:35,900 --> 00:08:39,100 of the reason why Jesus was born dream. 144 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:44,200 Not that he came to load your tables and fill your cups, but 145 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:49,500 in your mirth look higher than all earth-born things. 146 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,900 Amen. And to that, I say we're getting 147 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:57,400 closer to the point getting closer to understanding, you 148 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,700 might not walk through streets that are filled with the sound 149 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:04,200 of ringing Christmas bells, although that looks amazing. 150 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,200 Every time I watch A Christmas Carol, right? 151 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,300 You might not refer to your cheerfulness as mirth, right? 152 00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:12,900 You might just say I'm happy today. 153 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:18,700 But we are constantly surrounded during this season, by the 154 00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:22,700 sights, and the sounds, the smells and the fields and the 155 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:27,400 taste of Christmas. It's why we love it so much. 156 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,700 It's why we love the holiday as much as we love the holiday, but 157 00:09:32,700 --> 00:09:35,300 if we're not careful, then our cheer and our joy and our peace 158 00:09:35,300 --> 00:09:38,700 will rest on. Those temporary happiness has 159 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:46,500 And I want you to have. A deep amount of great joy, an 160 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:50,200 unending amount of great joy. Want you to know the joy of 161 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:55,800 Christ today and I fully believe that all those things, The Good 162 00:09:55,900 --> 00:09:59,000 the right sights and sounds and smells and feels and tastes of 163 00:09:59,008 --> 00:10:00,400 Christmas. They're good and right? 164 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,100 They are sent from God for us to look to Christ. 165 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,700 But not only at Christmas and all of life. 166 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,300 There's so much to be grateful for right. 167 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:16,100 You crank, your car in the morning and go to work and be 168 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:18,600 grateful that the Lord has provided a vehicle for you to 169 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:23,600 get to work. When you eat a donut or drink a 170 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,700 cup of coffee that cost eight dollars, you can be grateful 171 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,700 that the Lord has provided you with the means to buy such a 172 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:33,500 silly amounts for a cup of coffee. 173 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:40,000 And then I've been there. but when you smell the coffee maker 174 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,200 in your own home in the morning, when you open the pages of your 175 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:48,700 Bible and you see the printed words of God before you What 176 00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:52,600 Timothy, what Paul tells Timothy is the breathe out word of God. 177 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,300 You see that laying before you you have reason to be full of 178 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:59,900 joy. You have reason to exalt in 179 00:10:59,900 --> 00:11:03,600 Christ that day. I don't care what else is going 180 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,400 on in your life. You can be joyous. 181 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,200 And so it's not just at Christmas. 182 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,600 It's in every moment of our life. 183 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:15,000 There are moments that if we'll look before, wake up and get 184 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:20,500 outside of our own navel gazing and look clearly you'll see that 185 00:11:20,500 --> 00:11:27,200 the Lord has been oh so good to you. maybe you think well, it's 186 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,800 not in the way that I'd hoped I understand. 187 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:39,000 It's not the way I would have planned it. again, I and so many 188 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,000 here can tell you, we understand It's not what. 189 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,800 I thought it would have looked like, Amen, brother. 190 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:46,600 Amen. Sister. 191 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:49,200 What? The Lord has been good. 192 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,000 Amen. And so today on Christmas and 193 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,800 tomorrow on the day after Christmas, and next week in the 194 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:02,700 new year, Give yourself to being joyous in Christ alone. 195 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:06,600 Remember fully believe that. All of those things are good. 196 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:09,800 As I've said, God's gracious gift of his own son, the 197 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,200 promised Messiah born of a virgin in Bethlehem both fully, 198 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:19,000 God and fully man is a good gift and it changes the way, we look 199 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,100 at everything George Whitefield observes. 200 00:12:23,100 --> 00:12:29,800 He says, Jesus was God, and man in one person that God and man 201 00:12:30,100 --> 00:12:33,500 might be happy together again. Amen. 202 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:40,400 Simply worded. But also powerful, And this 203 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,200 might your church family and guests is the reason we 204 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,700 celebrate Christ today. It's the reason we show up on 205 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:51,200 the Lord's day on Christmas morning and we say thanks be to 206 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:56,200 God. And we glory in the highest with 207 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,100 Allen and Patricia. Anybody else get a little bit 208 00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:01,000 nervous when Patricia says sing this with me. 209 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,300 I'm like girl I don't know about that, I'll do my best. 210 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:19,300 I think I know what she means. The point of this is that Christ 211 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:23,300 is the Fulfillment of God's promise is the Fulfillment of 212 00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:27,300 the promise to Adam. He is the Fulfillment of the 213 00:13:27,300 --> 00:13:30,800 promise to all Humanity that a man would be born one day. 214 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,900 Who would crush the Serpent's? There's another man who said 215 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:39,700 this, he said all of our hopes. All of our optimism are wrapped 216 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:43,500 up in the promise of a serpent. Crushing child bringing us back 217 00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:45,900 to God. Amen. 218 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,900 So I'm going to read to you now. Luke 21 through 20, it's a bit 219 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:52,900 lengthy. I want to read it all for us 220 00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:56,500 this morning. So we get the picture of all 221 00:13:56,500 --> 00:14:01,400 that's going on. You can remain seated for this 222 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:04,600 for this one. But when I finish, This is the 223 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,700 word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 224 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,000 Amen. In those days, a decree went out 225 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,000 from Caesar Augustus. That all the world should be 226 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,400 registered. This was the first registration 227 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,500 when quirinius was governor of Syria and all went to be 228 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:26,900 registered each to his own town. And Joseph also went up From 229 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:30,400 Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea to the city of 230 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,600 David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and 231 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:38,300 lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his 232 00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:42,500 betrothed who was with child and while they were there, the time 233 00:14:42,500 --> 00:14:45,500 came for her to give birth and she gave birth to her. 234 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,700 Firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid 235 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:51,600 him in a Manger because there was no place for them. 236 00:14:51,700 --> 00:14:55,400 In the end verse 8, and in the same region, there were 237 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,000 shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock 238 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,000 by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the 239 00:15:01,008 --> 00:15:04,600 glory of the Lord Shone around them, and they were filled with 240 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:09,900 great fear. And the angel said unto them 241 00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:13,200 fear. Not for behold, I bring you good 242 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:18,100 news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto. 243 00:15:18,100 --> 00:15:22,600 You is Born This Day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ 244 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:25,800 the lord and this will be a sign for you. 245 00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:28,900 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a 246 00:15:28,908 --> 00:15:31,900 Manger. And suddenly there was with the 247 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:35,200 angel, a multitude of the Heavenly Host, praising God, and 248 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:40,000 saying, glory to God in the highest and on Earth, peace 249 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,200 among those with whom he is pleased. 250 00:15:44,500 --> 00:15:47,100 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherd's 251 00:15:47,100 --> 00:15:50,500 said, to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this 252 00:15:50,500 --> 00:15:53,900 thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us 253 00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:58,600 and they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the 254 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:02,600 baby lying in a manger and when they saw it, they made known the 255 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,800 saying that had been told them concerning the child and all who 256 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,800 heard it wondered at what the shepherd's told them. 257 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:14,100 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her. 258 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:18,800 Hearts and the shepherd's returned glorifying and praising 259 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,000 God. For all they had heard and seen 260 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,500 as it had been told them. This is the word of the Lord. 261 00:16:27,100 --> 00:16:32,000 Thanks be to God. A couple of things I want to 262 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,100 tell you about the birth of Christ. 263 00:16:34,100 --> 00:16:41,000 First, the birth of Christ is for God's glory birth of Christ, 264 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,300 is for nothing. Less than the glory of God. 265 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,700 And so we see glimpses of this In this passage. 266 00:16:50,700 --> 00:16:54,100 When the shepherd's saw, the angel of the Lord, they were 267 00:16:54,100 --> 00:16:58,300 what afraid Filled with great fear. 268 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:04,800 This happens when man beholds, the glory of the Lord in any 269 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:08,800 capacity, even if it's an Angelic, servant, delivering a 270 00:17:08,808 --> 00:17:12,400 message. This is what takes place you can 271 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:17,800 think back to Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah gets a vision of the 272 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,000 throne room of heaven and he see Angels around the throne and 273 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,200 what does he say? He says woe is me. 274 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:29,300 I was undone he says I'm a man of unclean lips. 275 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:35,700 He's fearful, he's undone. He's brought to nothing. 276 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,000 And this is what happens when you observe the glory of the 277 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:43,400 Lord. In the gospels, we have the 278 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,100 accounts of the disciples in the boat with Christ. 279 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:50,100 Christ is sleeping. There's a storm raging on the 280 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:54,300 waters that they're traveling and they are terrified. 281 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,400 And they go and wake him up. What are you doing? 282 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,800 Sleeping. Come help us. 283 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,300 We're about to die. And so Jesus comes to the top of 284 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:08,900 the boat or to the deck wherever he was. 285 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:16,000 And he speaks to the storm. Peace be still. 286 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:25,400 And it was still. Once a raging Storm, terrified 287 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:30,000 disciples in the boat shaking Christ, awake Christ wakes up. 288 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,800 Peace be still and the storm ceases. 289 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:39,500 And then he chastises them a bit for their little faith. 290 00:18:39,700 --> 00:18:46,700 Where is your faith or oh you of little faith and the disciples 291 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:48,100 respond? Maybe you remember. 292 00:18:48,500 --> 00:18:57,000 I say what manner of man is this Well Brothers, is the god man. 293 00:18:57,100 --> 00:19:01,700 Amen, you have seen the glory of the Lord in this moment and you 294 00:19:01,700 --> 00:19:06,200 two are undone as Isaiah was This is what the shepherds are 295 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,900 experiencing in. This moment in the field, 296 00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:10,700 watching their flocks by night, angel of the Lord appears, and 297 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:14,600 they are terrified. They're afraid. 298 00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:18,700 Bright shining glory. And once he makes his 299 00:19:18,700 --> 00:19:24,100 announcement fear, not guess what, more Angelic, host show up 300 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:29,200 and they begin to testify to the glory of the Lord as well. 301 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,900 So when the angel of the Lord announces to them, fear, not for 302 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:39,000 behold, I bring you what good news of great joy. 303 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:43,900 Good news of great joy, the word they're good news is the same 304 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:48,300 word we use for evangelism. It's Evangelical. 305 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,300 It's it's good news, it's the gospel pronunciation. 306 00:19:53,100 --> 00:19:55,400 It's telling people of the gospel of Christ and this is 307 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,000 what is happening. This is the promise. 308 00:19:58,100 --> 00:20:02,700 You know, we call I've mentioned to you that the promise that God 309 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:06,300 makes to Adam and Eve in the garden in Genesis 3:15 is the 310 00:20:06,300 --> 00:20:09,900 Proto even jelly. Mm that is it's the very first 311 00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:12,000 announcement of the Gospel that there will come one who's going 312 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:17,500 to crush the Serpent's this here I bring you Good news. 313 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,900 Evangelion, I bring you good news of great joy. 314 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,100 And he says, For unto you. Well first of all he says this 315 00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:34,200 is great, good news of great joy that will be for just a few of 316 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:41,800 you. Be just for the Jews know before 317 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:47,000 all the people he says For unto you is Born This Day in the city 318 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,500 of David, a savior who is Christ, the lord, The Promised 319 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,600 Messiah Savior. And so what he means when the 320 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,800 angel announces his, what he means is that it is good news of 321 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,500 great, joy for the whole world that a savior has been born in 322 00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:05,500 Bethlehem and his name is Christ, Jesus. 323 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,200 Christ. And he is the savior. 324 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:09,900 Our Lord. Amen. 325 00:21:11,700 --> 00:21:14,400 And then just a few verses later the hosts of angels, again, they 326 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:19,100 appear and they announced what glory to God in the highest. 327 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,500 So again, we must make no mistake the birth of Christ. 328 00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:29,000 The coming of the Lord is meant for first and foremost, the 329 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:35,700 glory of God, it's meant for us to look at God and praise him. 330 00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:42,800 And they're declaring ultimate. Praise to God, glory to God in 331 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,900 the highest. Both where he resides in the 332 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:49,600 highest but glory to the highest amount. 333 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:52,500 Amen. All glory to God. 334 00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:58,400 They're saying glory to God who in kindness and love plan, the 335 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,100 birth of the sun who would become the promised headcrusher 336 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:06,000 of the serpent. The saying glory to God for his 337 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:10,100 Plan of Redemption, I bring you good news of great. 338 00:22:10,100 --> 00:22:16,800 Joy for all the people peace, Among men with whom God is 339 00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:23,900 pleased. Well, if you've ever wondered 340 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,600 how do I please God? What does it take for me to live 341 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,200 a life? That's pleasing to the Lord. 342 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,100 John answers this for us and his gospel. 343 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,700 He says that the will of the of God for the people is that they 344 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:42,900 believe in Christ the son. That's it. 345 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,300 Because the believing in Christ, the son transforms your entire 346 00:22:48,300 --> 00:22:51,900 life. But you don't have to focus on 347 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:56,900 all the extra curriculars of the transformation, you are simply 348 00:22:56,900 --> 00:23:00,900 called to Believe In Christ. To place your faith in him to 349 00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:03,300 trust him. I'll get some more of that in a 350 00:23:03,300 --> 00:23:07,000 moment. As people who have been saved by 351 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,600 faith in Jesus work, we must never try to steal his glory. 352 00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:17,800 We live for his glory. I love the way there's man old 353 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:23,100 Baptist guy Benjamin Keach wrote a catechism questions and 354 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:25,800 answers used to help you learn the faith. 355 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,800 Whether you're a new believer, old believer, young child, 356 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,300 they're helpful. But in question and answer 357 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:36,400 number two on there. He says, what is essentially, 358 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:43,000 what is the purpose of, man? And he says that man exists to 359 00:23:43,008 --> 00:23:46,000 glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 360 00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:52,700 Amen. Glorify God and enjoy him 361 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:54,600 forever. That's your purpose. 362 00:23:56,100 --> 00:24:00,500 You do that by submitting to him and belief and let him work out 363 00:24:00,500 --> 00:24:04,500 all the details to God, be the glory, and honor and power for 364 00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:08,400 ever and ever, amen. When we ascribe all glory to 365 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,700 God, and our Salvation that we are filled with great joy, he 366 00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:15,500 does the filling with the joy. You don't have to work up Joy. 367 00:24:18,100 --> 00:24:23,800 Listen, it it's it would have been impossible impossible over 368 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,900 the last few months to work up Joy on my own in my life 369 00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:34,000 impossible. And in the shadow of the death 370 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:41,000 of my daughter, there's no joy there. apart from those who have 371 00:24:41,300 --> 00:24:47,700 apart from hiding yourself in Christ, that is But you believe 372 00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:51,400 and you trust and you hope and what happens. 373 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:56,600 Well, one of the fruits of the spirit is joy. in Christ Fields, 374 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:01,600 you Feels you by his Spirit. Another is peace and Christ 375 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,600 fills you. He feels you by his spirit and 376 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,900 then you know these things we still have to work out the 377 00:25:06,908 --> 00:25:10,600 details. You just trust God you go to 378 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,400 him, you lean on him, you beg, you plead, you ask and know that 379 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:20,200 he'll answer anything you ask according to his will But you 380 00:25:20,208 --> 00:25:25,300 must pray according to his will salvation is for God's glory and 381 00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:29,000 it's for your good and it's for your ultimate Joy. 382 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,500 It's what Jesus says in John chapter 15 is, he's telling his 383 00:25:33,700 --> 00:25:37,800 disciples to obey his commands. As he has obeyed the father, and 384 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:41,400 he says that if you will obey my commands, my joy will be in you 385 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:47,400 and your joy will be complete. I don't know about you, but sign 386 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,300 me up for the joy of Christ. Amen. 387 00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:54,900 I want that Joy. The second thing that the birth 388 00:25:54,900 --> 00:26:00,000 of Christ shows us one is that it's meant for the glory of God. 389 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,200 But secondly, it's meant for our peace. 390 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,200 It's meant to bring peace. I've touched on it already but 391 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,100 let's get more explicit in what we're saying. 392 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,300 When the Angels say and on Earth peace among those with whom he 393 00:26:10,300 --> 00:26:14,200 is pleased, they are speaking about nothing less than nothing 394 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:20,300 more than peace with God. But there can be peace between 395 00:26:20,300 --> 00:26:23,900 God and man man who rebelled man who has gone his own way. 396 00:26:23,900 --> 00:26:27,800 A man whose heart is defiled and desperately wicked as Jeremiah 397 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:32,200 17:9 says he can't even know the depths of the wickedness in his 398 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:36,700 own heart. That man you and me separated 399 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:41,100 from God, both by our birth and our action. 400 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,200 And so to you I say Merry Christmas. 401 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:55,600 You filthy animal. Because we are, but it is a very 402 00:26:56,100 --> 00:26:59,100 Merry Christmas to celebrate the dawn of light. 403 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:03,400 The birth of a savior, amen. It's good news for filthy 404 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:09,400 animals, of which you, and I most assuredly represents When 405 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,200 we speak about being saved by faith in Jesus what were 406 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:16,500 ultimately talking about is the fact that in Christ we have 407 00:27:16,500 --> 00:27:19,000 attained peace with God. Romans 5, Paul gets very 408 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:21,000 explicit. Therefore since we have been 409 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,600 justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, 410 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,900 Jesus Christ through him. We have also obtained access by 411 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:33,600 faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in Hope 412 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:38,200 of the glory of God. Amazing. 413 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,300 By faith, we have peace with God through Christ. 414 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,400 Through Christ. We have also obtained access by 415 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,500 faith into this grace in which we now stand. 416 00:27:50,500 --> 00:27:55,600 And so, we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 417 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:00,100 It's beautiful. And so through Christ, we have 418 00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:05,900 been justified by faith. We've received, peace, meaning 419 00:28:05,900 --> 00:28:12,700 that are filthy unrighteousness. Has been covered by Jesus. 420 00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:16,800 Perfect righteousness. No longer a filthy animal. 421 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:20,500 Now. A spotless bride. 422 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:24,200 Amen! And that is the only way to be 423 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,400 at peace with God. It's the only way to be at peace 424 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:30,200 with God is to receive Christ by faith. 425 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:35,500 Through him, you're given access to Grace and in that Grace you 426 00:28:35,500 --> 00:28:38,800 stand, even. Now it's Grace, that saves its 427 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,100 Grace that sanctifies. You meaning it's Grace that 428 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:44,100 helps you grow into the image of Christ and it's Grace that is 429 00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:47,100 going to glorify you meaning it's Grace. 430 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:53,400 That will be responsible for you stepping through the Pearly 431 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:58,500 Gates, if you will, it's all Grace from beginning to end. 432 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:01,800 It's the grace of God, and it's seen in the birth of Christ. 433 00:29:02,300 --> 00:29:06,000 So, what John says, in chapter one in Christ, we have seen the 434 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,100 glory of God. Yes. 435 00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:12,900 But in him, we have received, he says Grace upon Grace. 436 00:29:13,700 --> 00:29:16,800 That's the early writers. Way of saying unending Grace. 437 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,800 It's Grace upon Grace, upon Grace, upon Grace, stack from 438 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:27,000 here to heaven. And and it's yours in Christ. 439 00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:30,000 That's good. News of great joy. 440 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:35,100 Amen. So you've been saved by grace 441 00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:37,800 you stand in his grace, the birth of Christ marks the coming 442 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,700 of a savior, the death and resurrection of Christ marks, 443 00:29:40,700 --> 00:29:44,500 the finished work of our savior. And so you, take part in the 444 00:29:44,500 --> 00:29:48,500 send, conquering work of Christ when you place your faith in 445 00:29:48,508 --> 00:29:52,800 him, when you receive Christ by faith, you receive all the 446 00:29:52,808 --> 00:29:58,300 benefits of an air of Heaven, You're made a brother or sister 447 00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:02,700 in the Lord. And you receive it by Faith by 448 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:05,000 faith. You go from an enemy of God, to 449 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,200 a friend of God by faith. You are transformed from one who 450 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,800 is spiritually, dead, and 21 who is spiritually alive. 451 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,100 As Ephesians. 2 tells us by faith, you are united to Jesus. 452 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:21,800 It Is by faith that you are hidden in Christ. 453 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:26,400 He is your Refuge and you now have peace with God. 454 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,800 This is the good news that the angel announces to these lowly 455 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,400 shepherds in the field terrified. 456 00:30:39,500 --> 00:30:42,400 So when you hear such an announcement, there's only two 457 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:48,300 responses. You can either Believe it or 458 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:53,100 choose to disbelieve it. You can go on in the hardness of 459 00:30:53,100 --> 00:30:56,600 your own heart pursuing, your own desires and your own way or 460 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:58,500 you can surrender your life to Christ. 461 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:04,900 You can receive him by faith. And so Scott's saving work and 462 00:31:04,900 --> 00:31:06,800 books two responses. The first I want to talk to you 463 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:11,100 is about as faith and I'm going to urge you to receive Christ 464 00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:13,300 today by faith. Whether you're already a 465 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:18,400 Believer or not a Believer receiving today Hebrews 11:6, 466 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,600 and without faith. It is impossible to please God. 467 00:31:22,300 --> 00:31:25,700 For whoever would draw near to, God must believe that he exists 468 00:31:25,700 --> 00:31:32,300 and that he rewards, those who seek him, Without faith. 469 00:31:32,300 --> 00:31:36,500 It's impossible to please him. You must draw near to God, and 470 00:31:36,500 --> 00:31:39,200 you must believe that he exists, you must believe that he 471 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:44,100 rewards, those who seek him, come to Christ and then throw 472 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:45,700 yourself on him. That's it. 473 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:51,100 It's the call of the Gospel is that you receive salvation in 474 00:31:51,100 --> 00:31:56,500 Jesus by faith and what God has done, you throw the weight of 475 00:31:56,500 --> 00:31:59,000 your life on Jesus every single day. 476 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:04,700 All of you showed extreme faith. Today I saw you, I watched most 477 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:07,800 of you as you came in and you went to your chair and there was 478 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:12,600 Faith, man, you talking about? Well, when you set down in that 479 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:14,900 chair, none of you looked under it to check the screws. 480 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,100 None of you check the backing to make sure it wasn't loose. 481 00:32:19,100 --> 00:32:22,900 None of you, check to make sure it wasn't a cruel joke. 482 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,900 Your booty, trusted that seat and then you sat down. 483 00:32:34,300 --> 00:32:38,900 And you're still sitting. That's a small. 484 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:48,300 Look at what faith is. Faith is It's planting your life 485 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:55,000 on Christ. It's sitting down on the 486 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:59,000 cornerstone, which is Christ and saying I'm building my home 487 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:03,400 here. Nothing else right here. 488 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:13,400 The world, I can have the world. I can have whatever their hearts 489 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:17,600 desire, but my heart desires Christ, and I'm building my home 490 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,000 right here on him. Amen. 491 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:25,300 You place the full weight of your life on whom you trust him. 492 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,000 He stopped trusting yourself. You're trusting Christ. 493 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:33,100 That's the free gift given to us by God and we receive it by 494 00:33:33,100 --> 00:33:37,300 faith in the Lord. God does not accept expecting 495 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:42,900 you to clean up your life first. So this is a bit of a misnomer 496 00:33:42,900 --> 00:33:45,300 in. I don't even really know where 497 00:33:45,300 --> 00:33:47,200 this get started. I guess it's just legalism the 498 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:51,100 presence of legalism in churches but God is not expecting you to 499 00:33:51,100 --> 00:33:53,500 get yourself. Cleaned up first to put on your 500 00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:59,000 best robes, your best whatever. And then to come to Christ. 501 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,600 As one Theologian, put it. The only thing that you have to 502 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,800 bring to Christ worthy of his acceptance. 503 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:13,000 Is your sin. It's it, you bring to Christ 504 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:15,900 your sin, he brings to you a white robe. 505 00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:22,500 His own blood. he washes, you Amen. 506 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:25,600 Again, you trust him you receive him. 507 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:27,699 You let him take care of the details. 508 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:31,800 You walk in obedience, but let him take care of the details. 509 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:33,800 He's not expecting you to clean himself up. 510 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:37,000 Jesus came from a line of people who were outcasts and 511 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:39,400 prostitutes and murderers and adulterers. 512 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,900 They were downright rotten centers. 513 00:34:41,900 --> 00:34:44,600 When I say he came, I mean, he descended through Mary was born 514 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:46,100 of a virgin birth. Yes. 515 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:49,500 But through Mary and Joseph, as his adopted father, the family 516 00:34:49,500 --> 00:34:54,800 line is Tainted. Just as yours is just as it will 517 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:58,400 be after you yes what you buy your faith in Christ are not 518 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,600 creating a perfect family line Beyond you either. 519 00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:03,900 But hopefully what you're creating our faithful boys and 520 00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:06,800 girls and grandchildren and great grandchildren who will 521 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,200 love the Lord with all their hearts and submit themselves to 522 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:10,800 it. Amen. 523 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:14,600 That's what you're building fathers and mothers. 524 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:21,400 And so do that. These people though as you see 525 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,600 across the Old Testament as it lays out his line for us and 526 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:29,700 Matthew on and in Luke You see that these people trusted in the 527 00:35:29,700 --> 00:35:33,800 promised Messiah, the trusted God for their salvation. 528 00:35:34,900 --> 00:35:36,600 And so, I said it the other night, I'll say it again, the 529 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:39,800 family that Jesus comes from anticipates, the family he came 530 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:44,500 for, he's coming for Sinners. He came to save, Sinners. 531 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:49,800 Everyone is welcomed into gods family by faith, not by their 532 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:52,000 good works. Not by their family line. 533 00:35:52,100 --> 00:35:54,100 Not by any other Merit that they may muster. 534 00:35:54,100 --> 00:35:56,900 John again, makes us abundantly clear for us in chapter 1, verse 535 00:35:56,900 --> 00:36:01,700 12 and 13, it says to all who did receive Christ, who believed 536 00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:06,200 in his name, he gave them the right to Become children of God, 537 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:11,700 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of Flesh, nor of the 538 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:15,700 will of, man. But of god, let's not bother 539 00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:19,400 lineage some other Heritage. It's not by their own works. 540 00:36:19,900 --> 00:36:23,500 It's of God. It's by grace alone, through 541 00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:25,700 faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the scriptures 542 00:36:25,700 --> 00:36:29,200 alone for the glory of God Alone, that you are saved. 543 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,700 Amen. His work through and through, 544 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,700 and folks, if you haven't received the Son of God, if you 545 00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:39,400 haven't received Christ by faith yet, and I beg you to do that 546 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:44,100 this morning, if you've wondered away from the Lord, if you've 547 00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:48,700 messed up your life, you've committed Grievous sins. 548 00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:57,800 But I'm asking you today to come back to Christ to trust him with 549 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:01,000 your life, to repent of your sins and believe in the Lord. 550 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:07,700 Today he saves to the uttermost all who draw near to to the 551 00:37:07,700 --> 00:37:11,200 father, through him. Uttermost you don't have to have 552 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:13,600 any doubts. You don't have to wonder, you 553 00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:15,100 can trust him. He's good. 554 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:22,600 Last thing that we see here is that the other response that 555 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:26,300 this invokes is if you'll receive Christ by faith and 556 00:37:26,300 --> 00:37:30,200 there's another part to this, you must Proclaim him to all. 557 00:37:31,700 --> 00:37:34,300 I won't spend as much time here. But our text says this about the 558 00:37:34,300 --> 00:37:36,700 shepherd's after their encounter, with the angels and 559 00:37:36,700 --> 00:37:40,000 Jesus says, and when they saw it, they made known the saying 560 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:41,800 that had been told them concerning the child. 561 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:44,500 So the Angels, make a pronouncement, the shepherd's, 562 00:37:44,500 --> 00:37:48,500 then leave and go tell others. And it says in all who heard it 563 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:50,400 wondered at what the shepherd's told them. 564 00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:57,800 The story of Christ. Invokes us to respond in faith, 565 00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:01,300 either faith in Jesus or faith in yourself, but you're going to 566 00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:04,800 have faith in something. I'm asking you to have faith in 567 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:06,800 Christ. But when you do have faith in 568 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:10,900 Christ, you are now since to proclaim the gospel, the 569 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:14,400 shepherd's became messengers of reconciliation between God and 570 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,400 man. Paul and second Corinthians 5. 571 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:20,500 Verses 17 through 21 is laying the South that you're a new 572 00:38:20,500 --> 00:38:23,300 creation in Christ. And now you are a minister of 573 00:38:23,300 --> 00:38:26,900 reconciliation because you have been Reconciled to God by the 574 00:38:26,900 --> 00:38:29,800 father through Christ. And so now, you are to make 575 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,800 known that this reconciliation is available to all mankind. 576 00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:39,700 It's amazed. It's amazing. 577 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:42,600 And in verse 21, he gives you the message that you preach. 578 00:38:43,900 --> 00:38:47,900 It says to him, who knew no sin or in him, who knew no sin 579 00:38:47,900 --> 00:38:52,400 became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. 580 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:55,100 That's the message of reconciliation Christ. 581 00:38:55,100 --> 00:39:00,800 Knew no sin and yet became sin for me so that I might bear the 582 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:06,200 righteousness of Christ on me and not know sin, any longer, 583 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:10,700 amen. So what you tell others That's 584 00:39:10,700 --> 00:39:12,200 what the blind man in the gospels. 585 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,100 As saying when these being repeatedly asked who healed you, 586 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:16,700 how did he do it? Where is he from? 587 00:39:16,700 --> 00:39:19,200 He's like, listen, I don't know all the answers to your 588 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:22,800 questions, but what I do know is that I was once blind and now I 589 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:28,700 see That's apologetics that's evangelism, right? 590 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,300 It's telling others of the Christ who saved you. 591 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:33,400 You don't have to work out all the particulars yet. 592 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:35,900 There's going to be questions, you're going to have fear, 593 00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:38,600 you're going to Trimble, but tell others about the Lord, who 594 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:41,700 saved you until it boldly proudly. 595 00:39:42,700 --> 00:39:45,200 Who knows you might lead. One of your family members this 596 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:48,300 week. May lead one of your friends 597 00:39:48,300 --> 00:39:52,500 this week to Christ a stranger this week to Christ just by 598 00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:55,300 simply telling What the Lord Has Done in your own life. 599 00:39:56,300 --> 00:39:59,000 Christmas season is full of ways to tell others about Jesus, 600 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:03,600 literally everything with cheer doing in these this season. 601 00:40:05,300 --> 00:40:10,900 Is a shadow of Christ. We give gifts in the remind us 602 00:40:10,900 --> 00:40:14,500 of the greatest gift. We sing songs which are already 603 00:40:14,500 --> 00:40:19,600 mostly explicitly about Christ already unless it's that awful 604 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:21,800 Mariah Carey song. Huh. 605 00:40:23,900 --> 00:40:29,800 But even even in that the idea of joy, and the idea of singing 606 00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:33,300 comes from the Lord, they were his first, the world's just 607 00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:37,900 using them will eat. Well, drink will be married with 608 00:40:37,900 --> 00:40:41,500 family and friends and what does that point to the points to 609 00:40:41,500 --> 00:40:44,800 Great Fellowship? But it points to a greater 610 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:48,600 fellowship with God, and it foreshadows a final banquet in 611 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:49,800 heaven. Still to come. 612 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:53,600 Where were you? And I will rest with the king in 613 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:55,900 eternity and dwell with our brothers and sisters, in the 614 00:40:55,900 --> 00:41:00,900 Lord and feast together. And so we can use these things, 615 00:41:00,900 --> 00:41:03,100 we can use all sorts of things. Many other ways to have 616 00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:09,300 conversations about Christ. We have reminded ourselves 617 00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:15,300 through this advents series. That Christ is the light light 618 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:19,600 has Shone in the darkness. The darkness has not overcome 619 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:23,700 it. In John 8:12, Jesus says 620 00:41:23,700 --> 00:41:26,500 explicitly. I am the light of the world. 621 00:41:27,700 --> 00:41:31,400 Whoever comes to me, sorry, whoever follows me will not walk 622 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:35,200 in darkness, but will have the light of Life. 623 00:41:36,100 --> 00:41:37,900 Christ is saying, I am the light of the world. 624 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,600 This is our savior brothers and sisters. 625 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,200 Unbelievers. This is the one who stands ready 626 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:49,500 to save you from your sins to draw you out of great darkness 627 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:51,100 and bring you into Marvelous Light. 628 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,600 The promise, a lot of life for people dead in their sins and 629 00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:57,700 his birth is worth celebrating today. 630 00:41:59,100 --> 00:42:01,400 His kingship is worth our submission. 631 00:42:03,500 --> 00:42:05,500 His commands are worth our obedience. 632 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,200 But I pray that this Christmas you don't leave Christ in the 633 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:15,000 manger. The manger was the beginning of 634 00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:20,400 his journey to the cross. And so we must see it as such 635 00:42:21,100 --> 00:42:25,000 Christ was born to die for you and me was born to die for all 636 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:28,000 who would call on his name. That he might save them from 637 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:30,800 their sins as well. And so when we sing in a moment, 638 00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,200 we don't sing to a babe in a Manger. 639 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:38,700 We seem to the foreground King of Kings, we sing to the Lord of 640 00:42:38,700 --> 00:42:42,300 lords. We sing to the one who exercises 641 00:42:42,300 --> 00:42:45,700 dominion and all the Earth, who rules and Reigns. 642 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:52,000 Who's government. There will be no end in peace. 643 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:57,800 Now Reigns on Earth in Christ. He's the one who's brought life? 644 00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:01,400 To all who call on his name? We sing to the one who is able 645 00:43:01,900 --> 00:43:06,700 to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before 646 00:43:06,700 --> 00:43:11,400 the presence of his own Glory with great joy, Jude 24 says, 647 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:17,500 And so, therefore we ascribe to him today and him alone, all 648 00:43:17,500 --> 00:43:21,800 glory and majesty and dominion and authority. 649 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:25,800 And we ascribe it before all time, and we ascribe it now and 650 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:28,700 we ascribe it forever. Amen. 651 00:43:29,900 --> 00:43:34,600 He is ours. We are his want to read to you 652 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:37,900 prayer. About joy. 653 00:43:37,900 --> 00:43:42,200 And then I'll I will pray. And the worship team will come 654 00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:50,000 after that. It's tempting to start zipping 655 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:52,600 Bibles and that starts this like unending. 656 00:43:53,300 --> 00:43:56,400 It's just it invokes a process that can't be stopped. 657 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:59,900 I'm going to ask you listen to the words of this prayer right 658 00:43:59,900 --> 00:44:04,900 now. Oh Christ, all thy ways, of 659 00:44:04,900 --> 00:44:10,300 Mercy, tend to and tend to and end in my Delights. 660 00:44:11,400 --> 00:44:16,600 Now, did sweet sorrow suffer that I might rejoice. 661 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:23,700 For my joy, thou has sent the comforter X promises shown me. 662 00:44:23,700 --> 00:44:27,700 My future happiness given me a living fountain. 663 00:44:28,700 --> 00:44:32,000 Thou are preparing joy for me and me for Joy. 664 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:37,300 I pray for Joy. Wait, for Joy long for Joy. 665 00:44:37,900 --> 00:44:42,600 Give me more than I can. Hold desire or think of measure 666 00:44:42,600 --> 00:44:47,400 out to me my times and degrees of Joy at my work, my business 667 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:53,100 and in my duties If I weep at night, give me joy in the 668 00:44:53,100 --> 00:45:00,200 morning. Sorry, that line always gets me. 669 00:45:03,300 --> 00:45:06,100 Let me rest in the thought of thy love. 670 00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:11,900 Let me rest in the thought of thy pardon for sin. 671 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:16,800 Let me rest in the thought of my title to Heaven, my future, 672 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:20,800 unspotted State. I am an unworthy recipient of 673 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:24,600 thy Grace. I often disesteem, thy blood and 674 00:45:24,600 --> 00:45:29,100 slight vial of but Cannon. Repentance draw water from the 675 00:45:29,107 --> 00:45:31,200 wells of thy Joy has forgiveness. 676 00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:35,600 Let my heart leap towards the Eternal Sabbath where the work 677 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:39,000 of redemption and sanctification and preservation. 678 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:44,700 And glorification is finished and perfected forever, where 679 00:45:44,700 --> 00:45:48,000 thou Will Rejoice over me with joy. 680 00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:53,200 There's no joy like the joy of Heaven for in that state are no 681 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:57,200 sad divisions, unchristian corals contentions, evil 682 00:45:57,200 --> 00:46:01,400 designs. Weariness hunger, cold sadness 683 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:06,100 in suffering, persecutions. Toils from work. 684 00:46:07,900 --> 00:46:10,800 Oh, healthful place where none are sick. 685 00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:15,200 Oh, Happy Land. Where all our Kings O. 686 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:18,700 Holy assembly were all our priest. 687 00:46:19,600 --> 00:46:23,300 How free estate were none are servants. 688 00:46:23,300 --> 00:46:28,800 Except to be, bring me speedily to the land of joy. 689 00:46:29,600 --> 00:46:33,200 We pray for you, Heavenly Father, we thank you. 690 00:46:34,600 --> 00:46:41,800 For good news of great joy peace on Earth to men and whom you are 691 00:46:41,800 --> 00:46:47,300 pleased. Father, help us make us. 692 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:51,900 Men and women and boys and girls with whom, you were pleased 693 00:46:51,900 --> 00:46:58,200 Grant to us belief in Christ and Lord, where we struggle to 694 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:01,200 believe. Would you help our unbelief? 695 00:47:03,300 --> 00:47:05,500 Would you help us to be quick to repent? 696 00:47:07,300 --> 00:47:12,600 Quick to seek your forgiveness quick to run to you. 697 00:47:13,900 --> 00:47:16,000 Lord help us Escape our own Pride. 698 00:47:17,100 --> 00:47:19,500 Help us. Lord, today, as we look into 699 00:47:19,500 --> 00:47:23,200 such a wonderful passage to see the glory that lies in it. 700 00:47:25,900 --> 00:47:29,600 It's tempting, Lord for us to be envious of shepherds watching 701 00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:35,500 their flock by night, who gets to see angels Make an 702 00:47:35,500 --> 00:47:39,700 announcement, the gospel. And then a host of angels. 703 00:47:39,700 --> 00:47:44,300 Who praise your glorious name? It's tempting to be envious 704 00:47:44,300 --> 00:47:45,600 Lord. And to think, man, if I could 705 00:47:45,600 --> 00:47:51,200 just see that, I know that my faith would be so real. 706 00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:56,100 But Lord, you have told us in your word. 707 00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:00,500 Blessed are those who believe in you without having seen. 708 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:05,400 And so Lord, we want to trust your word today. 709 00:48:06,100 --> 00:48:09,900 We want your word to be good news of great joy for us and so 710 00:48:09,900 --> 00:48:12,300 would you transform our hearts and Minds? 711 00:48:12,300 --> 00:48:15,200 Would you Enlighten Us by the power of your spirit? 712 00:48:16,300 --> 00:48:20,800 To see Christ and Lord, once we've seen him, help us to take 713 00:48:20,800 --> 00:48:25,600 hold of him. From now, until our final 714 00:48:25,600 --> 00:48:29,500 breath. What? 715 00:48:29,500 --> 00:48:32,800 I pray that you bid centers to come to you today and that they 716 00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:38,500 hear your voice and they come. Transform Lord, where we are in 717 00:48:38,500 --> 00:48:41,800 need of repentance. Help us to repentance lead us, 718 00:48:41,800 --> 00:48:46,700 by your spirit, Now to respond in obedience to you wherever 719 00:48:46,700 --> 00:48:51,600 that may be, whatever it might look like, Lord, we trust you. 720 00:48:52,300 --> 00:48:57,400 We hide ourselves in Christ today and we worship you now 721 00:48:57,400 --> 00:49:01,700 with hearts full of joy. We love you. 722 00:49:02,100 --> 00:49:03,600 It's in the Name of Christ. I pray. 723 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:04,600 Amen.