1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,680 It's our holly jolly Christmas episode on this week's edition 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:15,080 of Liberty at Home. Merry Christmas, and welcome to 3 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,320 a very special edition of Liberty at Home. 4 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,320 I'm Adam Rivero, the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, which 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,440 meets right here in Easton. Today, as always, we're 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,040 broadcasting from the studios of Easton Community Access 7 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,120 Television, where our interns are carefully carving the Rose 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,320 Beast and opening cans of Who Hash in the break room. 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,680 Today I want to take a few minutes is to consider how truly 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,080 hectic this Christmas season can be. 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,920 And that's ironic because December is the month we try to 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,680 clear our schedules in an effort to enjoy the Christmas season. 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:49,040 But for many, December is a month where peace is highly 14 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,280 sought after, Get off and elusive. 15 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,600 The promise of peace seems to be around each and every corner, 16 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,440 yet with every turn it seems to be tantalizingly out of reach. 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,240 Some search for peace at Christmas by spending time with 18 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,599 family and friends, yet too often planning parties and 19 00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:07,320 family get togethers brings more stress than solace. 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,600 Broken promises, unmet expectations and the re 21 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,880 emergence of old wounds from the past can make family time 22 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,520 something to be endured. Rather than enjoy, others now 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,560 hunt for peace and the traditions of the season. 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,520 No doubt there's some level of comfort to be found with many of 25 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,480 our Christmas traditions, but even the best of plans can turn 26 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,720 to disappointments. I remember the year our family 27 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,960 picked out what seemed to be the perfect Christmas tree. 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,560 After hours of searching, we watered it, cared for it just 29 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,000 like we always did. But after a week, the tree 30 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,680 dropped all of its needle needles and seemed like a few 31 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,600 hours. It was like the Charlie Brown 32 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,560 Christmas Special had come to life. 33 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,520 Still other people attempt to find peace in the traditional 34 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,360 food and drink we enjoy this time of year. 35 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:52,760 Now trust me, I get this pile of Turkey, green bean casserole, 36 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,080 and eggnog. Non alcoholic of course, as much 37 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,480 as anybody, but as wonderful as those flavors can be to the 38 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,360 palate, they're not as comfortable to the waistline in 39 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,880 the new year. Now, with all of that 40 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,000 discouragement, you must think me to be something of a Grinch. 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,440 You must imagine me angrily muttering Bah Humbug under my 42 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,960 breath as I furiously tap the keys of my laptop writing the 43 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,200 script. But my goal is not to suggest 44 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,520 there's anything wrong with enjoying family or traditions or 45 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,440 food at this time of the year. However, I do want us to place 46 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:25,840 them all in the proper perspective. 47 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,880 If you're looking for true, lasting peace that will never 48 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,760 disappoint, you'll only be able to find it in Jesus Christ. 49 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,600 This Christmas your search for peace should begin and end with 50 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,480 the Prince of Peace. Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6 51 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,000 foretold of this Prince when the prophet said, For unto us a 52 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,640 child is born, unto us the Son is given, and the government 53 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:49,600 shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called. 54 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:54,680 Wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the 55 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,440 Prince of Peace. The birth of the Christ child 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,920 that we celebrate this December is the fulfillment of this 57 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:03,160 promised Savior, the Prince of Peace. 58 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,760 Jesus confirmed this when He said in John 1427, just hours 59 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,600 before He went to the cross. Mind you, peace I leave with 60 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:14,760 you, My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I 61 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,920 unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, 62 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,320 neither let it be afraid. This Christmas, I hope you enjoy 63 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,000 a slice of pie or three and a joyous time with those you love. 64 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,080 But if you're looking for peace that will never leave you and 65 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,400 never fail you, repent of your sin and turn to Jesus Christ 66 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,400 today. I promise you that the free gift 67 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,800 of salvation is better than anything you'll ever find under 68 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,560 your tree. Well, as we close this episode 69 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,080 of Liberty at Home, I like to wish you the merriest of 70 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,000 Christmases. I'm looking forward to being 71 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,520 back with you next week for the final edition of Liberty at Home 72 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,160 for 2025. But in the meantime, I hope you 73 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,800 join us at Liberty, maybe even for our candlelight Christmas 74 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,600 Eve service at 5:00 PM. We meet at 800 and Washington 75 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,120 Street, and you can find more information about us at 76 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,080 mylibertybaptist.org. Well, this is Adam Rivero 77 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,840 signing off from Liberty at Home with a reminder that where the 78 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,280 Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. 79 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,840 Merry Christmas from all of us here at Liberty at Home.