1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,920 Good evening to you all. Let me add my warm welcome to 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,440 you this evening, especially if you're new. 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,080 My name is Dan. I'm one of the. 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,840 Clergy here at Church of the. Resurrection and I want to speak 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,040 to you. Briefly about what we've just. 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:16,920 Heard from Luke. Chapter 2. 7 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:19,840 You can find it in the. Black church Bible. 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:25,920 On page. 805, page 805. Luke chapter 2. 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,200 And as we begin, let me. Say a word of prayer. 10 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,320 We thank you almighty. God, that you speak to us 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:34,960 through your Word. We thank you for the. 12 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:39,840 Gift that it is to us. And through your word, we 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,560 encounter this gift. Of Jesus. 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,640 At Christmas. We praise you. 15 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,480 For him we. Pray that you would be. 16 00:00:47,480 --> 00:00:50,800 At work in every heart this evening. 17 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,480 That we would. Open. 18 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:58,000 Ourselves before you to receive all that you are offering. 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,560 To us this evening we thank you for. 20 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,880 Christmas and we. Pray in Jesus name, Amen. 21 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,600 So we've just heard about these. Shepherds and imagine if. 22 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,000 You will the the sheer. Terror they must have. 23 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,800 Felt. One moment, it's the same old, 24 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,760 same old. It's the same damp. 25 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,400 Grass. It's the cool. 26 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,320 Night air, the bleeding of sheep, and then the next moment 27 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,200 everything changes. And they are. 28 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:33,720 Terrified because here is a. Warrior from God's army standing 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,560 before them. They're trembling with primal 30 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,280 fear. But this wasn't the Angel of 31 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,000 death before them. This is a messenger. 32 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,800 A messenger with a royal message. 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,040 He's a herald of royal good. News. 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,800 And he says, fear not. For behold I. 35 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,160 Bring you good. News of great joy that will be 36 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,520 for all the people. For under you is born this day 37 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:03,480 in the city of David. A Savior who is Christ the Lord. 38 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,600 And this will be a sign for you that you will find a baby 39 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,440 wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a Manger. 40 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,680 This was good news for them then. 41 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,120 It is still good news today. And let's. 42 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,000 Take a closer. Look and let's. 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,000 See why it's? Still good news. 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,520 Today, the first part of it. That's good news. 45 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:27,480 Is that Jesus? Is a new king now the Bible? 46 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,560 Tells the epic story of the whole world. 47 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,640 It begins with creation and humanity's fall into sin, and 48 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:36,960 then the story. Builds throughout the old. 49 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,400 Testament to a great turning point. 50 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,320 The great turning point of history on Christmas. 51 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,560 Jesus is. Born into our world and the New 52 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,600 Testament contains several eyewitnesses several eyewitness 53 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,920 accounts of. Jesus. 54 00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:54,760 'S birth and. Jesus's life. 55 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,320 And they all present. Jesus as the. 56 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:02,280 Long-awaited. Christ, that's the word that. 57 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,960 Is used in what the Angel announces. 58 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,320 That he is Christ the Lord. And all of the eyewitnesses 59 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,520 describe him as the Christ. Now, people oftentimes make the 60 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,640 mistake of saying that or thinking that. 61 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:17,520 Christ is Jesus. 'S surname. 62 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:23,520 Jesus Christ like. Maybe we and, and maybe this 63 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,120 might be interchangeable names like Napoleon and Bonaparte. 64 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:28,920 You can call him either one, right? 65 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:30,600 You can call him Jesus, or you can call. 66 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,160 Him Christ, but. Christ is not Jesus's surname. 67 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:38,440 It is his role. Specifically, it means. 68 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:43,600 That he is. The King centuries before Jesus 69 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,280 came. The first great. 70 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:52,200 King of Israel, King David was. Also the Christ, that is to say. 71 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:57,560 He was the king, he was anointed to be king, and then after King 72 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,200 David came King Solomon and he. Also was the Christ because he 73 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,520 also. Was anointed to be king and so 74 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,200 many centuries. Later. 75 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:10,600 When Jesus comes along, and he is born in the city of David, he 76 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,480 is born also to. Be the Christ. 77 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:18,160 To be the king But unlike King David or King Solomon, Jesus 78 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,240 came at a very different time. David reigned during the house 79 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,200 in. Days of Israel. 80 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,720 'S undivided Kingdom. But Jesus. 81 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,080 Was born into. Occupied Israel. 82 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:34,800 Now. Part of the. 83 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,440 Roman Empire. Caesar Augustus. 84 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,600 Was the Emperor? We heard the. 85 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Governor also his name was Carinius and he was the governor 86 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:53,320 over Syria and these were Gentile rulers ruling. 87 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:58,520 Over the people. Living in Israel, Joseph and 88 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Mary weren't even citizens. They were conquered. 89 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,200 Subjects. Driven like cattle from Galilee 90 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:08,600 down to Judea to be numbered in the census. 91 00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:12,160 Meanwhile, in the. Fields outside of. 92 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,040 Bethlehem as we. Heard a soldier appeared to the. 93 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,040 Shepherds keeping their flocks by night. 94 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:23,760 But he wasn't a Roman soldier in Roman. 95 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:28,720 Occupied Israel. A member of God's heavenly army 96 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,000 came bringing good news. Of great joy, which is just 97 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,560 exactly. The phrase that Roman heralds 98 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,320 would shout when a new emperor was placed on the throne. 99 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:45,840 But this wasn't a Roman soldier. This was God's messenger, and he 100 00:05:45,840 --> 00:05:51,640 was accompanied in verse 13. By a great multitude of the. 101 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:56,360 Heavenly Host. That's Bible language for a huge 102 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:01,800 invasion force, a huge army that had come into Roman. 103 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,840 Occupied Israel. God did not sing a send a. 104 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:10,640 Choir to. Sing lullabies that night, he 105 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,320 sent a battalion to proclaim. That the rightful. 106 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,240 King had landed in enemy. Occupied territory. 107 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,160 And this was good news. Of great joy. 108 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,480 Not just for the. Jews, but for all people verse. 109 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,240 10, it says. All people not. 110 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,320 Just the people. Of Israel, but also the. 111 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:39,120 Gentiles, including Roman subjects, Roman citizens, and 112 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:44,840 even Roman emperors someday. But the first announcement, it 113 00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:46,560 didn't come to any of them. It came. 114 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,000 To the shepherds. Working the night shift. 115 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:53,560 Who were just the sort of. People most in need of a new 116 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,920 king, and they were most unlikely. 117 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,560 To be. To have any say in who would be 118 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:09,560 their king, and most unlikely to meet the new king for them and 119 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,640 for. All the people though both. 120 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:15,640 Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor, slave and 121 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,480 free. Jesus came to be the new King, 122 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,160 so the angelic messenger and the heavenly host. 123 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,280 Brought very good. News. 124 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,680 The tide was. Turning a new and better 125 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,360 government was coming, not just for the. 126 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:37,360 Jews, but for. Everyone, because Jesus was born 127 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,840 to be the Christ the King. For all people. 128 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,200 Including the shepherds. But that wasn't all that the 129 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,560 Angel promised. The Angel also said not only was 130 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,000 Jesus to be born the king. He was also. 131 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,480 Born this day in the city. Of David, a savior. 132 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,200 Who is the king? Who is? 133 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,840 Christ the. Lord a Savior. 134 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:03,920 Now what does that mean? That Jesus came. 135 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,880 Also as savior. Who needed saving and from what? 136 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,560 Well, if we had read from the very beginning of Luke. 137 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,080 'S Gospel chapter. One we. 138 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,680 Would have heard all of these. Songs that are sung at the 139 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:18,120 beginning of Luke. 'S Gospel it. 140 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,200 Starts off very much like a musical or like an opera. 141 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:23,120 With a lot. Of music. 142 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,000 That tells us what the whole story is about. 143 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,200 And starting in chapter 1, we would have. 144 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:34,000 First heard Jesus. 'S Mother Mary singing My soul 145 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:39,039 magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my 146 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,159 Savior. Rejoicing in God my Savior. 147 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:48,640 Mary knew that her Son was coming to rescue, to redeem, to 148 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:55,120 save everyone who is suffering and broken in our world. 149 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,960 And after Mary finished her song, then. 150 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,920 Zechariah the Father. Of John the. 151 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,320 Baptist also. Burst into song. 152 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:07,720 Zechariah praised God for. Raising up a horn of salvation 153 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:13,280 in Jesus the Messiah King. And like Mary, Zechariah also 154 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:14,800 knew that Jesus would. Fix. 155 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,400 Everything that's broken, he sang of how. 156 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:21,440 Jesus would. Save us from our enemies and He. 157 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,640 Would save us. Through the forgiveness of our 158 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,880 sins too. So these two songs are like. 159 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,520 Overtures at the. Beginning. 160 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,760 Of of a. Great musical, they introduce 161 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,360 themes that will dominate. The story. 162 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,360 From this point forward, all. The way. 163 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:40,640 Through to the end, they give us a. 164 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,280 Foretaste of what? Is yet to come when? 165 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,800 Jesus will save. Everyone who turns to him, he 166 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,080 will save us from our enemies and from. 167 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,960 Ourselves by. Rescuing us from sin and death. 168 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,440 Jesus will save. US comprehensively. 169 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:00,040 He will save. Us completely. 170 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:06,360 Here's a challenge to you all sometime over the next week when 171 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,240 you're back at home. Pick up the gospel. 172 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,360 Pick up Luke. This is what we've been reading 173 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,120 SO. Far we've heard a little. 174 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,200 Bit from chapters 1:00 and 2:00. Go ahead and read it all the way 175 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:18,920 to the end. You can read it aloud. 176 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,520 With with others. Or you can read. 177 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,480 It by yourself, it'll take you about two hours. 178 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:27,240 Read it all. The way to the end and what you 179 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,640 will find is that. Jesus saves. 180 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:37,000 Over and over and over again, Jesus keeps saving. 181 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,440 Jesus. Does it early on as he saves 182 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,320 people from diseases and from demons. 183 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,720 He drives them out and he raises people from the dead. 184 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,080 He also fights. For justice, saving people from 185 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:56,080 all kinds of tyranny, from abuse, from mistreatment by 186 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,600 their neighbors. And then ultimately, Jesus comes 187 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,400 to the. Rescue through his. 188 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:06,680 Suffering and death on a Roman. Cross there Jesus gives his life 189 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,880 to save Jews. And Gentiles, rich and poor, men 190 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,680 and women, boys and girls. All who swear. 191 00:11:13,680 --> 00:11:18,880 Allegiance to him as their king. Jesus's crucifixion is the 192 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,480 hardest, and yet the. Most beautiful part of the 193 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:23,680 whole. Story in Luke's. 194 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:27,440 Gospel. See, the Jerusalem elite did 195 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,200 not. Appreciate Jesus. 196 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,800 Condemning them for their hypocrisy and their greed and 197 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,120 their. Abuse of power. 198 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,440 So they had him arrested and they brought him to the Roman 199 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,520 authorities and they said this man. 200 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,000 What was the? Accusation, they said this man 201 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,800 claims to. Be the Christ. 202 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,080 He claims to be king. Which is the. 203 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,440 Very thing that the Angel. Told the shepherds that Jesus 204 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:53,640 was. Born to do. 205 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,400 So. There was an accurate charge, 206 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:58,840 Pontius. Pilate the. 207 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,480 Roman governor knew. That Jesus. 208 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,280 Hadn't done anything wrong, though. 209 00:12:04,680 --> 00:12:08,040 But Pontius Pilate was more concerned about his standing 210 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,280 with the Jerusalem elites than he. 211 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:11,840 Was about justice. And so he. 212 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,520 Had Jesus stripped? And beaten and nailed to a 213 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,400 cross. And then the crowds mocked him, 214 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:23,400 saying if. You're the Christ save yourself. 215 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,960 If you're the Christ, save yourself. 216 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,520 These two things that Jesus was born to do. 217 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,240 To be the. Christ the King and to. 218 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,800 Be the savior. And he's being mocked on the. 219 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,200 Cross for these. Very things. 220 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:45,680 Why didn't Jesus save himself? He certainly could have. 221 00:12:45,680 --> 00:12:47,760 He certainly could have come down from the cross. 222 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,320 He could have. Commanded the heavenly armies to 223 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,320 come to his rescue. After all, he. 224 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,880 Had driven out demons. He had healed the sick. 225 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,240 He had raised the dead. He could have snapped his 226 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,040 fingers and all the heavenly hosts would. 227 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,720 Have wiped out. Pilot the Jerusalem elites the 228 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:10,680 Roman Empire entirely, but King Jesus did not give the. 229 00:13:10,680 --> 00:13:12,280 Order to. Save himself? 230 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:17,560 Why not? Because Jesus came not to save 231 00:13:17,560 --> 00:13:22,600 himself. But us just. 232 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,400 As the Angel said to the. Shepherds I. 233 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:29,680 Bring you good news. Of great joy that will be for 234 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:33,200 all people. For unto you is born this day in 235 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,720 the city. Of David, a Savior, who is 236 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:41,080 Christ the Lord. The Angels message was good 237 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:42,320 news. For the shepherds. 238 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,360 Back then. It's still. 239 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,640 Good news today because Jesus came. 240 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:55,560 To us as Savior. And as King and the good news of 241 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:59,000 Christmas. Especially is this that. 242 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,960 We too can go and see him. We too. 243 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,520 Can go just. As the shepherds. 244 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,560 Did remember what the Angel? Said this will. 245 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:11,640 Be a sign for you. You'll find a baby wrapped in 246 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,840 swaddling clothes and lying in a Manger. 247 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,440 A Manger is a feeding through. It's the last. 248 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,080 Place anyone would look for a king. 249 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,800 But this wasn't an accident. It was a sign given by. 250 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,280 God to show. His great condescension not only 251 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,040 did God take the initiative. To fix. 252 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:35,280 What was broken in our world? Not only did he give his own 253 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,160 son, but he also made. Jesus accessible to. 254 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:45,040 Everyone, even poor shepherds working the night shift. 255 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,080 They couldn't have gotten into a palace. 256 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:52,560 But they sure. Could find a Manger and yet the 257 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,440 shepherds still had to do something right they they to 258 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,920 find the savior and king they had to admit that they needed a 259 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,120 savior and king and then they had to go and see him and 260 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,240 that's. Exactly what they did, they 261 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:05,280 dropped. Everything. 262 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,520 And they went to find Jesus. And Luke tells us at the end of 263 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,560 this passage in verse 20 that they returned, glorifying and 264 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,360 praising. God for what? 265 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,360 They had seen just as the Angel. Had said. 266 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,880 They had met. Their savior. 267 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:24,240 And their king. How about you today? 268 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,440 Many. Still give their. 269 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:32,840 Allegiance to other tyrants. Petty tyrants often times. 270 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:37,920 To those who would give us wealth or popularity. 271 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,720 Or comfort. But none of those kinds of 272 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,440 things can save. You. 273 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:51,520 They can only keep you enslaved. Jesus is the King who came to 274 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,760 save. And by God's grace, we don't 275 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:57,320 need any sort of VIP. Passes to go. 276 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,880 And see him, for he's right here among us. 277 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,600 He is here. In the humility. 278 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:09,240 Of this church he is accessible to all right here. 279 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,960 Not the church building, but rather in the Saints. 280 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,280 Who are gathered? Here tonight, who've sworn 281 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,160 allegiance to him as King and his savior. 282 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,160 Swearing allegiance to. Jesus above every power or. 283 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,080 Principality. Every president, every 284 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,880 governing. Official Jesus is the highest. 285 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,320 And most. Worthy of our. 286 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,400 Allegiance and. Our praise. 287 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:37,120 And that's. What we have? 288 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,160 Chosen to do. For those of you who. 289 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:43,080 Are new to this community or new to Christianity? 290 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:47,480 I encourage you to make that same commitment and give your 291 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:51,280 allegiance to Jesus as King sooner or later. 292 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,480 We all will bow before him because he has. 293 00:16:55,480 --> 00:17:00,760 Come to reign. Over all things Bow. 294 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,320 Before him now. Give your life to him now, 295 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,560 because he came not only to be king. 296 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:11,359 But also to save, also to save. Remember to find him you. 297 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,240 Will have to. Do what everyone else. 298 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,760 Has had to do all the way back to the shepherds you have. 299 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,200 To admit your need. For a Savior who is Christ the 300 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,640 Lord. And turn to him. 301 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:26,040 So I encourage you. Follow the shepherds to Jesus. 302 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:32,600 Go with them to see this thing that has happened in Bethlehem. 303 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:38,400 Admit your need for Him as both Savior and King, and then come 304 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:38,880 with. Us. 305 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,800 Let us. Adore him together, He's what 306 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,160 we've been looking for all along. 307 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:50,760 Will you pray with me? We thank you Almighty God for. 308 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,200 This the greatest. Gift that you could have given 309 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,280 at Christmas the most. Costly gift. 310 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,000 Of your son, thank you for. Life. 311 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,520 In his name, thank you. For hope. 312 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:01,560 In him. Thank you. 313 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,120 For the hope that you are. Setting everything that is 314 00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:07,040 broken in our. World to rights. 315 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:11,920 Through Him and thank you that you can set our broken hearts 316 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,960 and lives in order. Lord we. 317 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,480 Turn to you with our sin and with. 318 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:25,120 All of the hurts. That we experienced all the 319 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:26,640 injustice. That we see. 320 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:31,040 We also turn to you. With the hope that we have for a 321 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,840 good life. And to live. 322 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:41,240 Forever with you. And we say, welcome, Jesus King 323 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:50,520 and Savior, may you reign over every person here and save us, 324 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,720 for we pray in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy. 325 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,240 Spirit. Amen.