1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,960 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist Sermon Archives. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty Baptist 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,040 Church in Easton, MA. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,280 or contact us at my libertybaptist.org or just look 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,760 us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,040 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,680 We'll turn your Bibles, please. A Micah chapter #5 You say, 8 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,080 pastor, it's not Peter this morning. 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,440 And the answer is no, it's not. We finished our series on 1st 10 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,480 and second Peter as well as looking at the life of Peter in 11 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,400 the book of Acts. And now we turn our attention to 12 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,320 the birth of Christ here over the next several weeks as we 13 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,000 kind of just try to take the time that the world is stealing 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,680 from us and thinking of Christ during this time of year and try 15 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:54,240 to refocus our attention on who Jesus Christ is and why his 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,640 birth matters. Back in 1914, it was the 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,600 beginning of World War 2 which commenced just a few weeks 18 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,520 before December 25th. But on December 25th, 1914, 19 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,920 something very unusual happened and that was the front lines of 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:16,200 the battle seemed to be quiet that whether it was the English 21 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,080 or the French or the Germans or whoever they were on the front 22 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,400 line. The artillery stopped firing, 23 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:26,160 the guns stopped blazing, and just for a few brief moments 24 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:30,320 there was an unexpected and unofficial truce that took place 25 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,280 on the front lines. It was said that over 100,000 26 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,480 soldiers, possibly more, stopped what they were doing, stopped 27 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,120 the fighting, got out of the trenches and even started to 28 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,880 exchange gifts with those who were on the opposite side. 29 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,960 One man named Bruce Baines father who fought throughout the 30 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,440 war, an English man, said I wouldn't have missed that unique 31 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,360 and weird Christmas Day for anything. 32 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,320 I spotted a German officer, some sort of Lieutenant I should 33 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,360 think, and being a bit of a collector, I asked him if that 34 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,600 or I told him that I'd taken a fancy to some of his buttons. 35 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,400 I brought out my wire Clippers and with a few deft snips 36 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,360 removed a couple of his buttons and put them in my pocket. 37 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,520 I then gave him two of mine in exchange and there were 38 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,240 countless different letters and communications that have been 39 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,880 preserved over the years of this truce that took place. 40 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,720 Why would have taken place just for a few small hours? 41 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,920 It was all because of Jesus Christ, just because of the 42 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:34,920 thought of Jesus Christ, that people willingly lay down their 43 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:39,920 arms for just those very few moments because of a shadow of 44 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:44,080 that which was Jesus Christ. And this is the shadow of the 45 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,760 power of the peacemaker, Jesus Christ. 46 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:51,160 Listen, He brings peace to the sinful, to the sorrowful, and 47 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,040 ultimately can bring peace to the entire world. 48 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,280 All of this is despite the suffering that Satan tries to 49 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,560 inflict and certainly doesn't inflict upon mankind. 50 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,040 Now this morning, I want to send Micah chapter #5 to look at one 51 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,080 of the many prophecies of the birth of Jesus Christ, which was 52 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,160 made in very dark days for Israel and for Jerusalem in 53 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,440 particular. And what I want us to, excuse 54 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,560 me, realize today. That is in a season of chaos 55 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,960 wrapped inside of a world of chaos. 56 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,960 Only Christ can bring peace. In a season of chaos wrapped in 57 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:31,840 the midst of a world of chaos, only Jesus Christ can bring true 58 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:33,160 peace. Would you stand please for the 59 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,160 reading God's Word? Micah chapter #5 will read in 60 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:40,520 verse #1 and it says, Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of 61 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,200 troops, He hath laid siege against us. 62 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,520 They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the 63 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,520 cheek. But thou Bethlehem, Bethlehem, 64 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,360 Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, 65 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,880 yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in 66 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:02,680 Israel, whose goings forth have been of old from everlasting. 67 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:07,520 Therefore will He give them up until the time that she which 68 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,680 Travaileth have brought forth. Then the remnant of his brethren 69 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,440 shall return unto the children of Israel, and he shall stand 70 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,399 and feed in the strength of the Lord, and the majesty of the 71 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:22,600 name of the Lord his God, and they shall abide, for now shall 72 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:24,960 he be great unto the ends of the earth. 73 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,200 And now just read with me to yourself, as I read out loud 74 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,200 just the first few verses of verse 5. 75 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:36,000 And this man shall be the peace in the midst of a chaotic world 76 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,680 and a chaotic season. Only Jesus Christ truly brings 77 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:41,840 peace. We'd be seated as we pray 78 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:48,640 together this morning. Heavenly Father, thank you for 79 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,720 this day and thank you for all that we've received. 80 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,520 Just so good to be able to be here amongst the brothers and 81 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,320 sisters in Christ. I thank you for them. 82 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,600 I thank you for the guests and visitors that we have today, 83 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,480 those who've returned. Thank you for them all. 84 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:03,880 And I do pray that you would just be with this message, Lord, 85 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,200 may it be biblical. May it bring forth Christ in a 86 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,840 way that's honoring. And most importantly, may the 87 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:13,720 Gospel be clear so that all who are here or either rejoicing in 88 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,840 their salvation or find that they need to be saved and make 89 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:19,920 that decision here before they leave this building. 90 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,000 And we ask it all in Jesus name, Amen. 91 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,320 If you were to go all the way back to Micah chapter #1 and 92 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,200 don't worry, we're not going back all the way to Micah 93 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,680 chapter #1 this morning, But if we go to the beginning of the 94 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,480 book here today, we would see that these are prophecies of 95 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:36,480 Micah. Yet they are the Word, the Lord, 96 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,640 the word of the Lord given unto Micah. 97 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,960 Micah is speaking, but it's truly the Lord who is speaking 98 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,280 here. And his prophecies took place 99 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,760 during the reign of three different kings, Jotham, Ahaz, 100 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,360 and Hezekiah. Now Jotham and Hezekiah were 101 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,800 good kings, and Ahaz was not a good king. 102 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:59,920 And here Micah is preaching not just to the people of Judah, not 103 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:03,720 just preaching to the people of Jerusalem specifically, but I 104 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,840 would say he's also preaching to Israel as well. 105 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:08,400 You'll remember in your Bible history, this is a place where 106 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,200 the Kingdom has been divided. It's been divided for some time 107 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,240 by now. And usually the prophets would 108 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,720 focus into one region or the other, the South being Judah, 109 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,640 the north being Israel, most of the tribes being in the north. 110 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:21,600 Remember, there were no good kings in Israel. 111 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,120 They were all wicked kings. And those 10 tribes of the 112 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,520 north, the 2 tribes of the South were both good and bad kings. 113 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,200 And even if one was to focus in one area, certainly there would 114 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,560 heard rather would have spread into both regions. 115 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,680 But very quickly in chapter #1 God is telling both kingdoms, 116 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:41,560 Israel and Judah. Listen, your days are numbered 117 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:44,240 your your time is short. Now why was that? 118 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,000 Is that because God was impatient with Israel? 119 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,000 Was it because God was impatient with Judah? 120 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,640 No, it was quite the opposite. God had put up. 121 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,360 Can I put it this way with their foolishness for hundreds of 122 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,800 years, and in his benevolence, in His love, in his 123 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,000 graciousness, he continued to send prophet after prophet after 124 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,120 prophet, who said, Thus sayeth the Lord, turn from your 125 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,440 wickedness, come and follow the living God. 126 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,680 And the more they preached, it seemed like the more they stiff 127 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,720 arm the Lord. And so the Lord over some time 128 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,040 has been trying to call them back to Him, to woo them back to 129 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:17,840 him. But there comes a time, could I 130 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,640 put it this way, that the rent comes due. 131 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,120 There comes a time when judgment is coming, and that is what's 132 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,880 coming for Israel. And even in God's love, he's 133 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,560 warning them that the judgment is coming. 134 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,880 He's trying to tell them, listen, turn in your ways. 135 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,080 This is what's going to happen. But yet by the time we get to 136 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,400 chapter #5 and this has been expressed in the four previous 137 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,920 chapters by chapter #5 this thought is going to continue as 138 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,160 God says in verse number one, that there is going to be a 139 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,520 siege that is going to be laid there in the Israel. 140 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,880 Look at what it says. Now gather thyself and troops, 141 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,240 daughter of troops, He hath laid siege against us. 142 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,000 They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon his 143 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:58,760 cheek. Now there are several different 144 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:03,400 times that there were conquerors that came into both Israel and 145 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,000 Judah. There are several different 146 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,480 places that maybe we could point to that this is looking at. 147 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,240 But again, I remind you that these prophecies were made 148 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,640 during the times of Jotham and Ahaz and Hezekiah. 149 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,680 So I would believe that it would be very likely that it's 150 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaking of what would take place in Second Kings chapter 151 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:24,320 20, 5 verse 7 where it says and they slew the sons of Zedekiah 152 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:28,480 before his eyes and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him 153 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,400 with fetters of brass and carried him to Babylon. 154 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,080 Basically, this is a prophecy of the complete humiliation of 155 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:36,840 Israel. This was never supposed to 156 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,360 happen to Israel. Think of the time of David. 157 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,320 Think of the glories of Solomon. This was what God's Kingdom was 158 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,280 to be not that David was perfect. 159 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,360 Listen, we're going through second Samuel right now. 160 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,000 He was not perfect. Not that Solomon was perfect. 161 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,000 He, he started so well. He didn't end very well, did he? 162 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,320 Not that they were perfect, but these were the glory days of 163 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,280 Israel when they were really truly most of what God had 164 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,520 called them to be. But they fell so far away and 165 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,480 now the time is going to come and they are going to be LED 166 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,680 away into captivity. The north into Assyria, the 167 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:11,880 South into Babylon. Be sure of this. 168 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,560 If you don't understand anything that I'm saying right now about 169 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:17,960 who these kings are or where these locations are or any of 170 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,080 these matters, understand this morning that judgment was coming 171 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:22,600 to the people of Israel. Why? 172 00:09:22,680 --> 00:09:26,080 Because they'd stiff armed the Lord over and over and over 173 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,960 again. And listen, you can't do that 174 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:29,520 without judgment eventually coming. 175 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,560 By the way, that was true in these times, That's true today. 176 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,000 Yeah, you can stiff arm God your whole life. 177 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,640 You could say that you want no part of God or anything to do 178 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,000 with him. But be sure this the Bible says 179 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,160 be sure your sins will find you out. 180 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,400 Be sure the Bible says that it's been appointed on demand once to 181 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,400 die. And after this, the judgement, 182 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,600 Listen, you won't make a mock of God, You won't make a fool of 183 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,320 God. The time will come when the 184 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,760 righteous judge Jesus Christ, who sits upon his throne, will 185 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,760 be the one who will say you are guilty if you have not accepted 186 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,920 the gospel message. It's bleak for Israel. 187 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:11,200 Verse #1 is bleak. But again, God in his love, in 188 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,720 his great love, gives us verse number 21 of the greatest 189 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:20,520 prophecies of Jesus Christ. But thou, Bethlehem, Ephrata, 190 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,440 though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, you say, how 191 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,640 little was it? Well, it was just a village. 192 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:31,240 Its greatest feat was having David come from it. 193 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,120 There really wasn't much from Bethlehem that people would say 194 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:40,560 was noteworthy or special as the years had gone on, but it was 195 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:44,000 the House of David. Yet out of thee shall come forth 196 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,280 unto me, that is to be the ruler in Israel. 197 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,520 How could someone that would be so great come from Bethlehem? 198 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,600 Sure, David had come before, but what has come from Bethlehem 199 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,560 since? And truly since David? 200 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:59,280 There had been nothing of note that had come from Bethlehem, 201 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,960 but yet there was to be 1 Who was it? 202 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:05,800 1 Whose goings forth? You could even put it this way. 203 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:10,360 His activities have been for from OK. 204 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:15,200 Whose goings forth have been from of old. 205 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,360 There it is. Thank you. 206 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:18,280 All right. That's I know. 207 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:19,600 Ralph, pray for me. All right. 208 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:23,480 Been from old. He's ancient. 209 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:30,520 But how ancient is he? Well, he's not just very old. 210 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,360 He's from everlasting. That means this. 211 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,440 He is the Ancient of Days. That means this. 212 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,640 He is the everlasting one. That means this. 213 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:47,360 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and 214 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,080 the Word was God. The same was in the beginning 215 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,320 with God. That this who is being spoken of 216 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,960 here is none other than Jesus Christ. 217 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,240 It's amazing to me that Bethlehem, that the name 218 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,120 Bethlehem means this, the House of bread. 219 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,080 Bethlehem was a very fertile place. 220 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:06,440 You can go to the book of Ruth and my wife and I in our Bible 221 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:08,880 read just gone through the book of Ruth and you find that it was 222 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:11,240 such a fertile place. Remember, that's where Boaz had 223 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,160 his fields and they were in the middle of barley harvest and it 224 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,840 was a place where bread could be produced in great quantities 225 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,400 because of the, of the, the, the ability to farm there, because 226 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,520 of the way the soil was. It was literally the House of 227 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,640 bread. But you realize that from the 228 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:32,080 House of bread came the bread of life, the one who you could eat 229 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,360 of the bread of Bethlehem and you would be hungry again. 230 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,360 But if you eat of the bread of life, you will never hunger 231 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,600 again. That's this Jesus Christ, that's 232 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,640 who's being spoken of here in verse #2 And listen, this is 233 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,960 great on its own, but then it continues the text. 234 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,520 It says, therefore will He give them up until the time that 235 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,240 which that she which Travaileth have brought forth. 236 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,440 Then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children 237 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,000 of Israel. Now verse #3 has two different 238 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,360 fulfillments, It says, therefore will He give them up until the 239 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,480 time that she which Travaileth hath brought forth. 240 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,760 Now, I don't know a lot about pregnancy Here. 241 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:12,560 You say, Pastor, where is this going? 242 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:15,040 Actually, my wife is wondering, where is this going? 243 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,560 I've watched my wife in pregnancy four times. 244 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,320 But I do know this, there's not a lot going on. 245 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,600 And listen, I know there's a lot going on, but follow along. 246 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,080 There's not a lot going on until it's time. 247 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,840 And when it's time, boy howdy is it time. 248 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,520 Remember being in the hospital multiple times and when it was 249 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,920 time, all of a sudden that room that just looks so calm and 250 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:40,640 quiet today, they're pulling drawers out. 251 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,440 There's knives and instruments and all kinds of where was all 252 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:44,520 this stuff I don't even know is here. 253 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,800 It's time. People are coming in the room. 254 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:47,880 You don't even know who they are. 255 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:49,600 They're just gathering. I think some are on coffee 256 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:50,760 break. They're just going, hey, let's 257 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,440 see what's going on in here. Because when it's time, man, 258 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:54,880 it's time. It's travail. 259 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:56,520 It's time for this baby to be born. 260 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:58,920 So there's a time where there's not as much going on. 261 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:02,160 And when it's time, it's time. This is what's being said here, 262 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,400 that from this prophecy, there's going to be a time where there 263 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,320 may not seem like there's much going on, but when it's time, 264 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,560 it's time. Now, in the short term, what is 265 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:12,640 that Speaking of? Well, by the time you get to the 266 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,480 end of the Book of Malachi, there's going to be about 400 267 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,000 years until the Lord speaks again. 268 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,520 He will be silent in a biblical sense. 269 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,480 He will be silent for 400 years until John the Baptist breaks 270 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,320 out on the scene and starts speaking. 271 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,240 Thus saith the Lord again. There will be no more prophets 272 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,560 like we see in this way here. And when it comes, the time of 273 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,920 travail will be upon. And what will we see? 274 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,360 Jesus Christ will be born. We see that things will change, 275 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:41,720 but we can also look at this in a different way, as a as a 276 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:43,680 second fulfillment. And there's often many 277 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:47,400 prophecies of Jesus Christ that have a near fulfillment and a 278 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,240 further fulfillment. Just like if you were to look at 279 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,320 a mountain and be at the base of the mountain, there could be a 280 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,520 mountain behind the mountain. You could be in front of a 281 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,160 smaller mountain, and there could be a bigger one behind it. 282 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,760 You couldn't see it until you scaled the first mountain. 283 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,320 And in this case, we see that when maybe for them, they 284 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,200 wouldn't have understood that there would be another 285 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,160 fulfillment of this prophecy. But by the time you see Jesus 286 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:12,840 Christ, what was he saying? I will come again, I will come 287 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,600 again, I will come again. They said, will you set up the 288 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,320 Kingdom? I will not set up the Kingdom 289 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:18,840 now. It is not for me to set up the 290 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,480 Kingdom now. And what's happened? 291 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,800 Well, the destruction of Jerusalem at 70 AD, there's been 292 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,880 silence again. But there will be a time when he 293 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:32,280 does re establish his Kingdom and it will be a Kingdom that 294 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:37,520 has no end from the millennial Kingdom into eternity, forever. 295 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:42,840 There will be another time. There may be some silence, but 296 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,720 you could be sure the king is coming. 400 years of silence. 297 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:52,000 The king was coming. It may be almost 2000 years of 298 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,680 silence. It seems you be sure the king is 299 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,440 coming. And it continues in verse #3 and 300 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,200 it says then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the 301 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:03,920 children of Israel. It says there there will be a 302 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,520 restoration. And we can look at it in the 303 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,200 near fulfillment as the restoration of the Jews and the 304 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,080 Gentiles coming together, both receiving salvation. 305 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,800 Romans 116. I am not ashamed of the gospel 306 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,840 of Christ as the power of God and the salvation to everyone 307 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,200 who believes, to the Jew first, the also to the Greek. 308 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,160 No, we're not saying that the people of God have replaced 309 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:23,680 Israel. There's a line of theology with 310 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,160 that that we're not Speaking of here this morning, not in 311 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:30,280 anyone, but we are saying this, that the Jews and the Gentiles, 312 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,800 we've been looking at this in the book of Acts all or of the 313 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,320 household of faith. But we also see that there will 314 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,760 be a time at the end of the seven-year tribulation that 315 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,760 those Jews who have survived will realize what that they as a 316 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,240 nation will come to Jesus Christ again. 317 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,000 That day is coming. That day is coming. 318 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,520 That's why we've not replaced Israel, because they must 319 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,560 spiritually still be here. They must physically still be 320 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,040 here to be able to come to Jesus Christ. 321 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,520 Those prophecies and those promises that were made in the 322 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,080 Old Testament, listen, are still active today. 323 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,640 By the way, it's important that we still bless Israel today. 324 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,400 It's important that we still understand that he who blesses 325 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,400 Israel be blessed and who curses Israel will be cursed. 326 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,359 Say, Pastor, why are you preaching on politics this 327 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:13,880 morning? Who's preaching on politics? 328 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,240 Preaching what the Bible said. We'll leave politics out of it 329 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,319 and try to just preach what the Bible says. 330 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:21,680 But yes, no. What does it say that that time 331 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:26,160 will come then verse #4 who is this king? 332 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:30,120 Who is he? Well, it tells us the wonders of 333 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:33,280 the Christ child. He shall stand and feed in the 334 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:35,920 strength of the Lord. You know, that's talking of his 335 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,040 shepherd. Does it say shepherdness? 336 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:40,520 I don't think that's the term I want to use. 337 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:45,160 The fact that He is our shepherd in the majesty of the name of 338 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,640 the Lord his God. His name is majestic. 339 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:53,400 He is majestic. They shall abide, for now shall 340 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,560 He be great unto the ends of the earth. 341 00:17:56,360 --> 00:17:57,920 He will feed. He's our Shepherd. 342 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:03,120 He has the strength of the Lord. He is majestic, He is great, He 343 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:05,880 is all of these things. And, and what does that lead us 344 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,240 to? What does that, what conclusion 345 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,120 does that draw us to? Well, it draws us to verse #5 346 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,360 when it says this. And, and I don't usually just 347 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:16,560 take a part of a verse and leave the rest out of context, but I 348 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,600 think we understand in context what is being said here this 349 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,880 morning. And this man, which man? 350 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:30,240 Jesus Christ, this man shall be the peace, who is Jesus Christ? 351 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:35,240 He's the peace. He is the one that brings peace 352 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:41,760 to a world that's on fire. He is the one that can bring 353 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,320 peace to a nation that has resisted him. 354 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,360 Now, maybe you'd say this moral pastor, I see what you're saying 355 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:53,080 here from Micah chapter 5. But I mean, listen, couldn't 356 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,080 have been a coincidence. Aren't you just reading a lot 357 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:59,760 into Micah chapter #5 who is saying this has to be Jesus? 358 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,840 Couldn't this be someone else? Couldn't this be something else? 359 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,720 And by the way, the Jews today who read the Torah will still 360 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,160 take Micah chapter #5 and try to twist it into something else 361 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:14,120 because they have to find some mental gymnastic to try to make 362 00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:16,640 sure that they do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is 363 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:19,280 who the Bible says. But maybe you would make the 364 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:20,960 argument as well. Maybe that's not Jesus. 365 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:24,680 Well, let's just see what the book of Matthew says about that. 366 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,400 So why don't you turn to Matthew chapter #2 You can, you can 367 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:37,010 leave your space there in Micah. But Matthew chapter #2 we'll 368 00:19:37,010 --> 00:19:46,370 begin in verse #1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 369 00:19:46,650 --> 00:19:50,090 in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from 370 00:19:50,090 --> 00:19:53,810 the east to Jerusalem saying, where is he that is born king of 371 00:19:53,810 --> 00:19:55,800 the Jews? For we've seen a star in the 372 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,160 east and are come to worship him. 373 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,280 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled 374 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,760 and all Jerusalem with him. Well, why is Herod the King 375 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:04,040 troubled? Well, because he heard there's 376 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,480 another king. The status quo was about to be 377 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:09,560 broken. And Herod said, I thought I was 378 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:11,320 the king. Who's this guy? 379 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:16,200 And so he has some difficulty wrapping his head around that. 380 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,000 And so it says in all Jerusalem was also troubled as well in 381 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,320 verse 4. And when the scribes? 382 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,120 And when he gathered together all the chief priests and 383 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:29,680 scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ 384 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,440 should be born. And they said unto him in 385 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:36,240 Bethlehem of Judea. For thus it is written by the 386 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,440 prophet. And thou, Bethlehem in the land 387 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,560 of Judah, are not the least among the Princess of Judah. 388 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,640 For out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule any 389 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:48,840 people, or that rule my people Israel. 390 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,760 So who was the prophet? Verse #5, Micah. 391 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,760 What's verse #6 It is Micah chapter 5, verse 2. 392 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,840 This isn't Pastor just twisting something out of context. 393 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,040 Let's take something that has the word Bethlehem in it in the 394 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,720 Old Testament. Let's make it about Jesus. 395 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,160 No, the Bible says it's about Jesus. 396 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,360 This is not my surmising. This is not me just trying to 397 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,880 make something from nothing. You know, this is the Lord 398 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:16,560 telling us in his inspired word that even the Jews understood, 399 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:17,920 yeah, He's going to come from Bethlehem. 400 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:24,160 And even today they look to Bethlehem to find someone who 401 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:28,560 has already come and departed and is very much alive. 402 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:34,000 And it's coming again. And they have missed who Jesus 403 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,880 is. Christ is peace. 404 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,200 He's peace. He's the Prince of peace. 405 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,960 Aren't you glad, even for what we read this morning, to find 406 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:48,440 that Jesus is peace? Because the world is chaos. 407 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:56,760 Every Rd. is chaos, every street is chaos, every parking lot is 408 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,440 chaos. This time of year just being on 409 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,640 the road feels like you're hazarding your life. 410 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,000 On the phone with brother Vince earlier this week and I was 411 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,840 complaining about something. I don't remember what it was. 412 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,440 Oh I do remember what it was. Anyway, I was complaining about 413 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:15,280 something and not about any of you, or just to be clear, all 414 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:16,360 right, it wasn't you. It was all right. 415 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,400 But he's like, does he want to say because they're here? 416 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,040 No, no, it was because of a BJS membership that we had trouble 417 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:24,400 with. Anyway, I'm complaining about 418 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,560 that. And as I'm complaining about 419 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,520 that, and I can feel my blood pressure going up, someone 420 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:33,440 decides to cross both lanes of traffic from one lane to the 421 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,480 other while it's raining. I think it was Wednesday while 422 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,200 it was raining or Tuesday while it was raining and tried to play 423 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:41,160 a game of Frogger. Some of you remember Frogger and 424 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,200 like I can make it through, hit the brakes and I skidded. 425 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,480 I couldn't stop because it was so and I missed by missed it by 426 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,240 that much. Some of you know what I'm 427 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,000 talking about, all right. And I and I went from being 428 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,560 frustrated to being hitting the roof to thinking I'm on the 429 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,840 phone with a church member. And so I said let. 430 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:04,040 Us pray. No, I didn't say it. 431 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,920 But listen, there's. No peace out there. 432 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:15,000 People are fighting over toys at the store over Black Friday 433 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,960 Deals. People. 434 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:22,520 Are arguing about the craziest things and it's something about 435 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,200 this time of year because of the pressure of the expectations of 436 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,440 this time of year, because everybody thinks that they have 437 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,800 to have a Christmas like Currier and Ives. 438 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,240 That when it's not perfect. They lose their minds. 439 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,360 And it's amazing to me. How, at a time of year that's 440 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:41,920 supposed to be about the Prince of Peace, there's no peace. 441 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:48,600 But I remind you. That just as Jesus was said of 442 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,680 the people of Israel in Micah chapter 5, that he would be 443 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,200 their shepherd. He could be your shepherd today. 444 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,960 I seem to remember somewhere where it says the Lord is my 445 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,800 shepherd. I shall not want just as he 446 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,840 told. Israel, I will be your strength. 447 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,680 He can be your strength today. Just as He was majestic to the 448 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:10,760 Israelites, He's majestic for us. 449 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,920 Just as He's great. How great is God? 450 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,400 Listen, He is great for us today. 451 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:19,320 The peace that He brought to them He can bring to you today. 452 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,560 In a season of chaos wrapped inside a world of chaos. 453 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,280 Only Christ can bring peace. But I will say that this isn't 454 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,000 just true for the world. This is true for you. 455 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,840 Today as well. Listen, we're not going. 456 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,800 To change the world, at least not today. 457 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,520 Tomorrow maybe. No, we're not going to change 458 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:43,080 the world. The world will be the world. 459 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:48,520 But we can save, see people saved in the world and help them 460 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:49,880 to understand what peace is all about. 461 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,560 I remember the very first year that we were here, there was a 462 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,160 man who got saved. He was here about a year or so 463 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,320 ago too. He came for a little while as 464 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:01,120 well as his name was Peter. Peter sat right there. 465 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:04,720 Right next to where Marsha is and you could tell he was new at 466 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:08,920 church because people don't usually sit right there, in 467 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:09,760 fact. They come for a few. 468 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:11,640 Services and I do this a little bit and they're like, kind of, 469 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:13,600 hey, can I move back? And kind of how Marsha feels 470 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,600 right now, She's like, usually I got a buffer zone of a few, a 471 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:22,120 few seats, but he sat there and, and he, he was, he was into it. 472 00:25:22,120 --> 00:25:25,120 I remember how excited he was. But then we got around to 473 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:28,040 Christmas time and he said something to me that I will 474 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:29,800 never forget because he was new in Christ. 475 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,240 He was in his mid to late 50s. They said something like this to 476 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:34,840 me. This is the first time in my 477 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,400 life that I've really actually understood what Christmas was. 478 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:41,960 And it's the first time in my. Life, I've actually really, 479 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,520 truly had joy at this time of year. 480 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:50,320 I thought, well, that's what Jesus Christ will do to a life. 481 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,200 This is why you must come to trust Jesus Christ your Savior. 482 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:56,520 Just a few days ago, December 2nd. 483 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,480 Listen to me, it's probably some of you remember this more than I 484 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,320 do because I say it so often in my sermons. 485 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:06,080 December 2nd, 1998 I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior. 486 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,000 Listen, my life's never been the same. 487 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,560 I thank the Lord for how He changed me, how He took someone 488 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,880 who was on the road to hell. You say, well you were 16 years 489 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:15,720 old, how on earth were you on the road to hell? 490 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:20,200 Because I wasn't saved because I was still living within my sins. 491 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,680 But even as a 16 year old, I had no peace. 492 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,640 I, I, I didn't know what I mean. I was trying to go from this 493 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:27,480 thing to that thing. I was trying to figure out where 494 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:28,880 I fit in. You say some of that was being a 495 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,120 teenager, maybe some of that would be a teenager. 496 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,000 Some of it was this being lost. Because I can tell you this, if 497 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,840 I hadn't gotten saved when I was 16 on the road that I was going 498 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:41,200 on to 17 to 18 and 19, I was willing to find the trouble 499 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,480 wherever it was. You say a sweet Christian. 500 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:47,080 Boy like you. Not if you. 501 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,280 Met me when you're 16. If you had met me when I was 16, 502 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,040 you'd say, hey, someday will you be my pastor? 503 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:55,320 I'd say what? And I may not have used. 504 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,760 Some nice words and talking to you about it 'cause life was 505 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:00,840 different. Well, what changed pastor? 506 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,920 You reformed yourself, you know, you kind of realize you were on 507 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:05,600 a wrong Rd. So you just, you went on a 508 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,360 journey of, of self discovery and you kind of, you went on a 509 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:09,760 vision quest. That's what it was. 510 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:12,040 You, you checked in with your spirit animal, you, you, you 511 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:15,000 found your chi you know, that's what it was, that's what it was, 512 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:16,520 right? No, no, I, I found the only 513 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,320 thing that I could find that would change my life and that 514 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,960 was Jesus Christ. And by the way, I grew up in 515 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,680 religion, I thought I knew Jesus Christ, but I didn't know that 516 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:27,600 Jesus Christ, the Bible, who could save me and save me alone 517 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,760 without the doctrines of any other denomination, just the 518 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:32,880 word of God. Well, pastor, you, you, you just 519 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,600 think. And I know I say this often 520 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,680 because I want to remind you that this isn't even about being 521 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:38,880 a Baptist, although I'm glad about being a Baptist, I'm 522 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:40,720 thankful I'm a Baptist. I'm not angry about being a 523 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,240 Baptist. But I will say this, really, it 524 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:45,960 wasn't being a Baptist that got me saved. 525 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:51,480 It was the word of God and the gospel that helped me understand 526 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:53,640 what salvation was. Now I'm a Baptist now because I 527 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,800 see that as Baptists, well, we believe the word of God for what 528 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,200 it is and we want to preach the word of God for what it is, not 529 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:00,680 any other book, not any other doctrine. 530 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,240 And I thank the Lord for that. But I'll tell you this, I don't 531 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:04,760 go around telling people I'm a Baptist. 532 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,920 First thing I go around telling people is I'm a born again 533 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:08,680 believer. Why? 534 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,280 Because that's what will change your life. 535 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,440 Do you know Jesus Christ your Savior today? 536 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,480 Are Are you sure that you can go to heaven today? 537 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:18,760 Yes, 1. Of the saddest things I. 538 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,760 See is that there are funerals where people will pray for 539 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:24,520 someone who has already departed. 540 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,120 I've been asked in funerals. What I've done, will you pray 541 00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:31,400 for someone who has departed? I can't pray for someone that's 542 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:33,000 departed. Why? 543 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:36,560 Because their decisions already been made and it's everlastingly 544 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,840 too late if they've rejected Christ. 545 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,400 I did a funeral several years ago where someone said, will 546 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:42,960 you, will you pray for my brother? 547 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:45,440 And they named the brother and I said, well, I'll be glad to to 548 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,800 pray for him. The funeral was done and and I 549 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,640 thought maybe he was ill or maybe he was, you know, 550 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,000 something like that. And, and all of a sudden we're 551 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,120 at a grave side and we start walking through the graves. 552 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:57,320 And I thought, what are we doing here? 553 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,240 I thought it was about time to go. 554 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:01,600 I don't know what's going on. And we're walking around and she 555 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,560 led me to his grave. And says he's. 556 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:06,960 Right here. Will you pray for him? 557 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:09,120 I. Had to to. 558 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:15,000 Sorrowfully tell her I can't pray for him because his life is 559 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,200 through, at least his life on this earth. 560 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:23,200 I said, but I'll be. Glad to pray for you that God 561 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,880 will give you comfort, God will give you peace, and that you 562 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:29,320 will come to trust in Jesus Christ yourself. 563 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,160 And I walked away from that experience. 564 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:33,680 I could tell that they just weren't sure why I would be so 565 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,800 hesitant to not pray for him. They were confused. 566 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:42,200 I couldn't because the Bible makes it clear it's been 567 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:46,120 appointed unto man wants to die and after this the judgment. 568 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,160 If you don't know Jesus Christ, you're Savior, you can't wait 569 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:51,000 you. Don't know. 570 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:53,200 You don't know how long you have. 571 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:55,920 You don't know if you'll be in an accident tomorrow. 572 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:57,720 You say? Well, well, I mean, what? 573 00:29:57,720 --> 00:29:59,200 What? What kind of I thought this was 574 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,480 supposed to be encouraging. Well, I'm not wishing you go 575 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:03,720 into that, get an accident tomorrow. 576 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:06,680 I'm just telling you, can you guarantee me that you won't? 577 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:09,440 Can you guarantee me that you won't have a heart attack 578 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:11,600 tomorrow? Can you guarantee me that great 579 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:13,040 calamity won't befall you tomorrow? 580 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,360 And you listen, the Bible says this, that no man can boast of 581 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:19,440 the Morrow. No man can. 582 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,680 The Bible says this in the book of James chapter before their 583 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:25,640 life is but a vapor. It's here. 1 moment of God in 584 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:27,000 the next. If I were to spray a spray 585 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,280 bottle in front of you, just spray it in the air, you would 586 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:30,920 see it for a moment, it would vanish. 587 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,000 And that's our lives. So don't risk your eternity 588 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:37,320 because you're going to wait for the here and now. 589 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,720 Listen, not only can you trust Jesus Christ your Savior and 590 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:46,080 have eternity, but listen, you can have a better here and now 591 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:48,720 as well. He'll help you in this. 592 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:50,920 Life and that's. Why I want to talk? 593 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,360 To you believers here for just a moment, because I think a great 594 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:55,040 amount of people here this morning are believers. 595 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:56,920 Amen. That's. 596 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:57,560 Good. I wasn't sure how. 597 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:58,840 That was going to go. So thank you for that. 598 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,960 It's, it's, you know, it's a blessing to be able to know 599 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:09,120 Jesus Christ and wouldn't it? Wouldn't it be? 600 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,160 Great that once you got saved by the Prince of Peace, you live 601 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:13,400 with peace the rest of your life. 602 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,520 But let's. Let's get down to brass tacks 603 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,320 here for just a second. Some of you. 604 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:24,000 Know Jesus Christ your Savior, you've been saved by the Prince 605 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:27,000 of Peace, and you don't have a lot of peace right now. 606 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:32,080 Listen. And I say this humbly, but I say 607 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,440 with all authority. That's not on the Prince of 608 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:39,360 Peace. That's on you and that's on me. 609 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,520 Because whatever I'm saying to you right now, I deal with 610 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:47,560 myself quite a bit. Is that we're saved. 611 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:53,160 We have peace for eternity. Revelation 20. 14 God shall wipe 612 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,600 away all tears from their eyes. There should be no more death, 613 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:58,200 no more sorrow nor crying. Neither shall there be any more 614 00:31:58,200 --> 00:31:59,920 pain, for the former things are passed away. 615 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:04,520 We'll have peace for eternity. The day you got saved, you were 616 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,520 at peace with God. Romans 51 Therefore, being 617 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:11,000 justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 618 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,680 Jesus Christ. But understand this, when you 619 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:17,360 are saved, you can have peace. You should be living in peace 620 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:22,080 here and now. Second Thessalonians 316 Now the 621 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:28,360 Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. 622 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,160 I don't have to be a Greek scholar to know this. 623 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:36,280 Always by all means means this. Always and by all means you 624 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:40,160 could have that kind. Of peace Galatians 522 But the 625 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:44,600 fruit of the spirit is Lovejoy, long-suffering. 626 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,400 Oh, I forgot one. Peace. 627 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:53,920 That's fruit of the Spirit. John 1427 Jesus said this to 628 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:59,160 some disciples that were about to see Jesus no more in the way 629 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:01,280 that they were walking with him for those three years. 630 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:06,160 He said, This peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you 631 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,680 not as the world giveth, give I unto you. 632 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:15,160 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid so. 633 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,760 Pastor, I got a lot. Of stuff going on right now, I 634 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:20,360 got to buy, I got to buy presents for the family and 635 00:33:20,360 --> 00:33:21,480 where's this money going to come from? 636 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,760 I got to meet family. In a few weeks and I am counting 637 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,960 down the days to meet them. Not because I'm excited, because 638 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:33,200 I'm dreading it. Pastor I I'm. 639 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,800 In a work situation that right now at the end of the year, I 640 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:37,480 don't know if there's going to be work for me at the beginning 641 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,960 of the year. I've got some health things. 642 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:42,360 That I'm concerned about right now. 643 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:45,560 I, I just don't know which way it's going to go, you say. 644 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,000 How on earth am I? Supposed to have peace in the 645 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,400 midst of all that. Listen, understand that Jesus 646 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,320 Christ doesn't bring peace by removing all obstacles and 647 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:59,240 difficulties from our lives, but He brings peace by giving you 648 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:03,120 peace in the midst of those obstacles and trials of life. 649 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:07,560 This is what he does. Sometimes he calms the storm and 650 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:10,719 sometimes he calms the child in the midst of the storm, but he 651 00:34:10,719 --> 00:34:13,040 always brings peace. Why? 652 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:16,320 Because that's who he is. We're the ones who are agitated. 653 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,800 You know what? The greatest book of peace in 654 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:21,320 the Bible could be in contentment. 655 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:24,520 The book of Philippians say well. 656 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:25,719 What makes that so? Special. 657 00:34:26,199 --> 00:34:29,520 Well, what makes it so special is that Paul wrote it from 658 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:32,920 prison. No personal experience. 659 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:36,120 Myself. But I would know this, that if I 660 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:39,560 was in prison I wouldn't have a lot of peace, especially for a 661 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,520 crime I didn't commit. And his crime was what? 662 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,719 Preaching the gospel? So he committed it, but it 663 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,960 wasn't really a crime. He was falsely. 664 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:54,600 Accused, if you will, but he showed us the path to peace in 665 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:57,040 the midst of something that was so harrowing. 666 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:00,200 And by the way, the prison that Paul would have been in would 667 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:03,160 have made the prisons of the United States of America look 668 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:07,560 like Club Med. They put you in prison. 669 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,880 Just hoping you would die there and you could just get it over 670 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:13,800 with. They, they weren't oftentimes 671 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:15,600 didn't even provide meals. Other people would have to bring 672 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:17,000 the meals for you. Listen, they're going to bring 673 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,000 you 3 squares a day. I don't think so. 674 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,760 If you died, you died. That's on you. 675 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:28,440 And in the midst of all of that, in a dark, dank, dirty prison, 676 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:31,720 Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote a book of 677 00:35:31,720 --> 00:35:37,240 peace that speaks to us today. Believer, if you don't have 678 00:35:37,240 --> 00:35:41,240 peace in the midst of this season, that is our life. 679 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,200 Jesus Christ says. I can help you with that, but 680 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:47,560 you need to confess that unto me. 681 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:50,720 You confess it unto me, and he'll bring peace. 682 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:54,520 Long ago, a man sought the perfect picture of peace. 683 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:56,960 Not finding one that's satisfied, he announced a 684 00:35:56,960 --> 00:35:58,680 contest to produce the masterpiece. 685 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:00,880 The challenge stirred the imagination of artists 686 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,080 everywhere and paintings arrived from far and wide. 687 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:06,160 Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. 688 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:09,160 The judges uncovered 1 peaceful scene after another. 689 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,120 While the viewers clapped and cheered, the tensions grew. 690 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:14,360 Only two pictures remained veiled. 691 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,440 As a judge pulled the cloth from 1A. 692 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:22,480 Hush fell over the crowd. A mirror smooth lake reflected 693 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:26,360 Lacy green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. 694 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:30,320 Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. 695 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:35,040 Surely this must be the winner. The man. 696 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:40,520 The man who started the contest uncovered the last painting 697 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:43,480 himself, and the crowd gasped at surprise. 698 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:48,200 Could this possibly be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded 699 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,080 down a rocky precipice. The crowd could almost feel its 700 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:54,480 cold, penetrating spray. Stormy Gray clouds threatened to 701 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,360 explode with lightning, wind, and rain. 702 00:36:57,040 --> 00:37:00,320 In the midst of the thundering noises and the bitter chill, a 703 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:03,680 spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. 704 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,640 One of his branches reached out in front of the torrential 705 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:10,280 waters, as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. 706 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:14,360 But a little bird. Had built a nest in the elbow of 707 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,280 that branch. Content and undisturbed in her 708 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:21,520 stormy surroundings. She rested on her eggs with her 709 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:24,520 eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones. 710 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:29,480 She manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil. 711 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:33,960 If you're looking for an. Idyllic scene of peace in your 712 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,680 life. Good luck because. 713 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:39,360 We're not going. To get that very likely until we 714 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,200 get to glory. But if you're looking for the 715 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:46,840 peace in the midst of the storm and I introduce you to Jesus 716 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,920 Christ. When I think of that, I think of 717 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:53,840 Matthew chapter 23 verse 27, where Jesus looking over 718 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:59,160 Jerusalem much like that bird, said, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 719 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,640 thou that kill us the prophets, and stonest them which are sent 720 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:06,040 unto thee, How often would I have gathered thy children 721 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:09,840 together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her 722 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:13,880 wings, and listen, and ye would not. 723 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:16,440 If you don't have eternal. Life. 724 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:20,080 It's not because he would not, it's because you would not. 725 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:22,840 And if you're saved and you don't have peace in your life, 726 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:25,120 listen. It's not that he would not. 727 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:29,680 We would give it to him, confess it and allow him to give you the 728 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,480 peace that passes all understanding. 729 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:36,000 Thank you for listening. To the sermon from the pulpit of 730 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,960 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 731 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:42,400 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 732 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:47,000 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 733 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:51,840 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 734 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:54,640 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 735 00:38:54,640 --> 00:38:55,840 grow in His Word.