Waiting For Christmas
December 20, 2020
27:29
Pastor and Evangelist Greg Laurie teaches the simple yet life changing message of the Gospel.,#=#,Greg Laurie,Virgin Birth;Messiah;Prophecy;Christmas;Nativity;Angels;Savior;Promises of God;Trust God,Micah 5:2;Luke 2:9-15;Hebrews 13:5;Romans 8:28,Religion;Series,HD-GLH2052,1237229
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Waiting For Christmas
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- ♪ This is the day whenthe lost are found ♪
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- ♪ Can you hear all theangels are singin' ♪
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- ♪ This is the day, theday when life begins ♪
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- - Well I want to look at twopeople in the Christmas story
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- that are often overlooked.
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- And they were effectivelywaiting for Christmas.
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- The first Christmas orthe birth of Christ.
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- They were lookingforward to that moment.
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- And you know, there's somuch buildup to Christmas.
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- And I actually dolove Christmas.
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- But I don't think itcan live up to its hype.
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- And I think the realityis deep down inside,
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- we're not longing for Christmas.
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- We're actuallylonging for Christ.
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- It's not merrimentwe really want.
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- It's really the Messiah.
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- It's not just goodwill.
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- It's actually God.
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- It's not presents under a tree.
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- It's his presence in our life.
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- And isn't that thepromise of Christmas?
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- You will call his name Immanuel
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- which means God is with us.
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- Now some of you maybe visiting tonight
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- and this is yourfirst time at church,
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- or at this church or any church.
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- And to you I say welcome
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- and I hope that you willmake this your church home
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- and join the family of God.
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- Some of you, wellyou do go to church,
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- just haven't been for a while.
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- And my statement to you islike, what's up with that?
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- No, it's like hey, welcome back.
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- And we'd like to see a lotmore of you in the days ahead.
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- So let's talk aboutthese two people.
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- And it's not Mary and Joseph.
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- These are two peoplethat are often
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- forgotten about or ignored.
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- And their names areFrosty the Snowman
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- and Rudolph theRed-Nosed Reindeer.
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- No I'm joking, it's not them.
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- It's Simeon and Anna.
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- I bet there's someone herethat's never even heard
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- of Simeon and Anna.
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- They don't appear inany nativity scenes
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- or on any Christmas cardsthat I've ever seen.
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- But they were there and theywere waiting for Christmas.
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- And in fact, theypreceded the wise men
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- who came later tothe home of Jesus.
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- So in some ways they're morea part of the nativity scene
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- than even the wise men,
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- who as I pointed out probablycame one to two years later
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- to the house where Jesuswas, not to the manger.
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- So let's kinda get the timeline
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- and we'll figure out whereSimeon and Anna fit in.
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- So of course the angel Gabrielcomes to the city of Nazareth
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- to the young girl Mary.
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- And he tells her that sheis gonna be a fulfillment
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- of Bible prophecy.
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- Mary was a nobodyliving in a nowhere town
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- in the middle of nowhere.
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- She also was a godly girl living
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- in a very ungodlyplace, Nazareth.
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- A place which renowned forits wickedness and immorality.
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- Yet this girl lived apure life before the Lord.
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- So the Lord chose her.
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- And the angel Gabrielsaid, you're gonna be
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- the fulfillment of the prophecy.
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- You're gonna be thevirgin that will conceive.
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- Mary understandably says,considering I'm a virgin,
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- and she's a teenagerso she might have said,
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- like, consideringI'm like a virgin.
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- Like I'm all like he's all like.
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- I don't know, whatever.
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- How's this gonna work out?
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- And Gabriel says the HolySpirit will come upon you.
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- The power of the mosthigh will overshadow you.
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- So the baby to beborn will be holy
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- and he will be calledthe Son of God.
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- Then there's Joseph, the unsunghero of the Christmas story.
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- He could have walked away.
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- 'Cause here's his bride to be,
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- they're not marriedyet, who's pregnant.
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- And she was not the firstgirl to get pregnant
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- in Nazareth outside of wedlock.
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- And he thought the worstbut because he loved Mary,
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- he was willing toput her away quietly.
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- But he wasn't buying her story.
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- But she said, oh yes,
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- I'm gonna be the virginwho will conceive.
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- He's like, yeah right, sure.
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- But he wasbrokenhearted over it.
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- But as he went tosleep that night,
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- an angel of the Lord came to him
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- and revealed that indeed she was
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- the fulfillment of prophecy.
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- And he decided to stand by her.
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- Listen to this, Mary and Josephcould have said no to this.
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- Mary could have said,I don't want this.
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- This is gonna be hard.
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- And Joseph could have said,
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- no guy down at the work siteis ever gonna believe my story.
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- But he stood by her.
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- That's why I callhim the unsung hero
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- of the Christmas story.
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- So now they're headedto Bethlehem, why?
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- Because there was a Caesarin charge, Caesar Augustus,
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- who gave the decree that allthe world should be taxed.
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- You know, historianssay that this Caesar
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- was probably around fivefeet seven inches tall.
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- It's funny, I was tellingthis story to my grandkids.
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- And when I mentioned Caesar,
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- my granddaughter Lucysaid, Little Caesar?
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- (congregation laughing)
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- And I responded, pizzapizza, right okay so.
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- Actually he was little Caesar.
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- But he thought he was a big man.
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- Even worse, hethought he was a god.
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- See, the term Augustusmeans of the gods.
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- He was the first Caesar toactually require worship.
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- He wanted to beworshiped as a deity.
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- So this man who thought hewas a god gives a decree.
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- When in reality, he wasmerely a tool in the hand
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- of the true God to accomplishthe Lord's purposes.
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- You know, sometimesGod can use people
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- who are in positionsof influence and power
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- to get things thathe wants done.
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- They may not be themost moral people.
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- They may not be themost ethical people.
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- They may not evenbe believing people.
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- But God's in control.
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- And the Bible saysthat the king's heart
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- is in the hand of the Lord
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- and he'll move it whereverhe wants it to go.
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- So the Lord moved thehand of Augustus Caesar
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- to make this decree.
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- So Mary and Joseph wouldget back to Bethlehem
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- because the prophecysaid Messiah
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- would be born inBethlehem, Micah 5:2.
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- Thou Bethlehem,though you be little
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- among the thousands of Judah,
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- yet out of youshall come forth one
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- whose origins havebeen from everlasting
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- or literally thevanishing point.
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- I don't even thinkthey understood
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- the full implicationsof what was happening.
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- And they went to Bethlehem.
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- And there of course therewas no room in the inn.
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- So they were sent toa stable or a barn.
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- And there theSavior of the world,
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- the creator of the universe,
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- came to us as a helpless infant.
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- And now the messageis gonna be announced.
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- Now when you have a baby,
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- generally you want totell first your family,
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- then your close friends.
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- You'll tell them how muchthe baby weighed at birth,
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- how long the baby is,
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- what the name of the baby is.
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- And so now here's the greatestannouncement of all time
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- of the birth of the baby.
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- And who is thenews delivered to?
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- Not to the courtof little Caesar.
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- Not to the religious leaders.
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- But actually toshepherds keeping watch
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- over their flocks by night.
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- These guys were on the lowestrung of the social ladder.
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- Yet the Lord gives to themthis great message in Luke 2:9.
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- Suddenly an angel of theLord appeared among them.
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- And the radiance of theLord's glory surrounded them
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- and they were terrified.
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- And the angel reassured themsaying, don't be afraid.
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- For I bring you good news
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- that will bring greatjoy to all people.
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- The Savior, yes the Messiah,
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- the Lord has been borntoday in Bethlehem,
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- in the city of David.
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- And you'll recognizehim by this sign.
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- You'll find the babe wrappedsnugly in strips of cloth
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- lying in a manger.
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- And then it continueson and says, suddenly,
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- the angel was joined bya vast host of others,
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- the armies of heavenpraising God and saying,
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- glory to God inthe highest heaven
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- and peace on earth to thosewith whom God is pleased.
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- When the angelsreturned to heaven,
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- the shepherds saidto each other,
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- let's go to Bethlehem.
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- Let's see this thingthat has happened
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- which the Lordhas told us about.
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- So the shepherds make thejourney to the manger.
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- And there's Joseph,and there's Mary,
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- and there's the baby Jesus.
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- What happened next?
- 00:08:28.497 --> 00:08:30.032
- Well the wise men showed upwith the three gifts, right?
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- No, as I told you,they came much later.
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- They're not even apart of this story.
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- I'll tell you whathappened next.
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- Eight days later,
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- Mary and Josephwent to the temple
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- to have Jesus circumcised.
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- And that's where Simeonand Anna enter our story.
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- Simeon was a godly man eagerlywaiting for the Messiah.
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- That was no small feat atthis time historically.
- 00:08:58.694 --> 00:09:01.097
- Israel by and large hadturned their back on God.
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- They had not heard fromGod for 400 long years.
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- Not a single angelic appearance.
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- Not one miracle.
- 00:09:10.640 --> 00:09:12.308
- No prophet stood upand spoke for the Lord
- 00:09:12.308 --> 00:09:14.910
- during this 400 yearperiod of silence.
- 00:09:14.910 --> 00:09:19.649
- Nothing was really happening.
- 00:09:19.649 --> 00:09:21.484
- But God was settingthings into place
- 00:09:21.484 --> 00:09:24.954
- for the perfect timing ofthe arrival of the Messiah.
- 00:09:24.954 --> 00:09:28.357
- As it turns out historically,
- 00:09:28.357 --> 00:09:30.226
- Rome controlledmuch of the world.
- 00:09:30.226 --> 00:09:33.162
- They established whatwas called Pax Romana,
- 00:09:33.162 --> 00:09:36.298
- which means forced peace.
- 00:09:36.298 --> 00:09:38.367
- They established a road systemthat had never existed before
- 00:09:38.367 --> 00:09:42.171
- that led to most ofthe civilized world.
- 00:09:42.171 --> 00:09:44.540
- Plus a common language, Greek,
- 00:09:44.540 --> 00:09:47.243
- that people could now speak in,
- 00:09:47.243 --> 00:09:48.711
- instead of many, many languages.
- 00:09:48.711 --> 00:09:51.180
- And finally they establisheda sophisticated postal system.
- 00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:54.817
- So this was very high techfor the day if you will.
- 00:09:54.817 --> 00:09:58.954
- And so the scene was set forthe arrival of the Messiah
- 00:09:58.954 --> 00:10:02.558
- and ultimately for thedelivery of the gospel message
- 00:10:02.558 --> 00:10:06.195
- around the planetbecause the apostles
- 00:10:06.195 --> 00:10:08.864
- walked those Roman roads.
- 00:10:08.864 --> 00:10:10.966
- And they wrote scripturein that Greek language.
- 00:10:10.966 --> 00:10:14.270
- And they brought the messageto a very needy world.
- 00:10:14.270 --> 00:10:17.773
- Meanwhile there's old Simeonhangin' around the temple.
- 00:10:17.773 --> 00:10:20.576
- And the Lord revealed tohim that he would not die
- 00:10:22.044 --> 00:10:23.846
- till he saw the Messiah.
- 00:10:23.846 --> 00:10:26.482
- Sometimes you get boxesahead of Christmas that say,
- 00:10:26.482 --> 00:10:29.251
- do not open until Christmas.
- 00:10:29.251 --> 00:10:31.554
- God had shown Simeonhe would not die
- 00:10:31.554 --> 00:10:34.123
- until the first Christmas.
- 00:10:34.123 --> 00:10:36.492
- He was holding on to thepromises of God for a long time.
- 00:10:36.492 --> 00:10:41.497
- And the promises arethere for us as well.
- 00:10:42.665 --> 00:10:45.034
- He held onto the promise.
- 00:10:45.034 --> 00:10:46.535
- In the book of Malachi,
- 00:10:46.535 --> 00:10:47.970
- the last book of the OldTestament where the Lord said,
- 00:10:47.970 --> 00:10:50.973
- the son ofrighteousness will rise
- 00:10:50.973 --> 00:10:52.908
- with healing in his wings.
- 00:10:52.908 --> 00:10:55.311
- So he was waiting for that sonof righteousness to appear.
- 00:10:55.311 --> 00:10:59.148
- And I tell you what,
- 00:10:59.148 --> 00:11:00.082
- God has given a lot of promises
- 00:11:00.082 --> 00:11:01.851
- to us as Christiansin the Bible.
- 00:11:01.851 --> 00:11:04.653
- The Bible calls themexceedingly great
- 00:11:04.653 --> 00:11:06.956
- and precious promises,thousands of them.
- 00:11:06.956 --> 00:11:10.593
- For instance theLord has promised
- 00:11:10.593 --> 00:11:12.194
- that you will never be alone.
- 00:11:12.194 --> 00:11:14.096
- Because Jesus said I willnever leave you or forsake you.
- 00:11:14.096 --> 00:11:18.033
- Or a bettertranslation would be,
- 00:11:18.033 --> 00:11:19.802
- I will never, no never, noever leave you or forsake you.
- 00:11:19.802 --> 00:11:24.573
- He's promised that he willprovide all of your needs
- 00:11:24.573 --> 00:11:27.943
- according to his richesand glory in Christ Jesus.
- 00:11:27.943 --> 00:11:31.580
- He's promised in Romans 8:28
- 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:33.482
- to cause all things towork together for good
- 00:11:33.482 --> 00:11:35.885
- to those that love God.
- 00:11:35.885 --> 00:11:38.387
- And he's also promisedto answer your prayers.
- 00:11:38.387 --> 00:11:42.691
- Because in Jeremiah33:3, the Lord says,
- 00:11:42.691 --> 00:11:45.661
- call to me and Iwill answer you.
- 00:11:45.661 --> 00:11:47.429
- So Simeon was waiting forhis prayer to be answered.
- 00:11:47.429 --> 00:11:50.499
- To me these promises of Godare a lot like gift cards.
- 00:11:50.499 --> 00:11:54.603
- Do some of you give outgift cards at Christmas?
- 00:11:54.603 --> 00:11:57.973
- Do any of you everreceive gift cards?
- 00:11:57.973 --> 00:12:00.509
- I have to admit,
- 00:12:00.509 --> 00:12:01.744
- I have quite a few thathave been left unused.
- 00:12:01.744 --> 00:12:03.379
- I read recently thatthere are, listen to this,
- 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:05.781
- you won't believe whatI'm gonna tell you.
- 00:12:05.781 --> 00:12:07.516
- There are $45 billionworth of gift cards
- 00:12:07.516 --> 00:12:11.320
- that are left unclaimed.
- 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:13.422
- So just sitting outthere, all those cards.
- 00:12:13.422 --> 00:12:16.192
- But he was waiting,Simeon, in the temple.
- 00:12:16.192 --> 00:12:20.696
- Waiting for thearrival of the Messiah.
- 00:12:20.696 --> 00:12:23.499
- And in walked Mary,Joseph, and the baby Jesus.
- 00:12:23.499 --> 00:12:28.504
- How did he know it was them?
- 00:12:30.072 --> 00:12:31.540
- Well they glowed, ofcourse, that's how.
- 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:34.043
- Or they had halos right?
- 00:12:34.877 --> 00:12:37.346
- Jesus had sort of a little babyhalo, little smaller right.
- 00:12:37.346 --> 00:12:40.616
- No, not right at all.
- 00:12:40.616 --> 00:12:42.585
- I think they looked likeany other poor family.
- 00:12:42.585 --> 00:12:45.254
- But the reason heknew who they were
- 00:12:45.254 --> 00:12:47.990
- was he was a manwho sought the Lord
- 00:12:47.990 --> 00:12:50.559
- and prayed a lotand was waiting.
- 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.796
- And when you seek the Lord,
- 00:12:53.796 --> 00:12:55.030
- he will reveal things to you
- 00:12:55.030 --> 00:12:56.565
- that will not be revealed to aperson who does not know him.
- 00:12:56.565 --> 00:13:00.035
- So they walked in, he said,
- 00:13:00.035 --> 00:13:01.470
- there he is, there he is.
- 00:13:01.470 --> 00:13:03.572
- And he walked over andin Luke 2:32 he says,
- 00:13:03.572 --> 00:13:08.577
- he is a light,speaking of Jesus,
- 00:13:09.712 --> 00:13:11.347
- to reveal God to the nations.
- 00:13:11.347 --> 00:13:13.182
- He is the glory ofyour people, Israel.
- 00:13:13.182 --> 00:13:15.985
- Mary and Joseph, the Bible says,
- 00:13:15.985 --> 00:13:17.953
- were amazed at what wasbeing said about him.
- 00:13:17.953 --> 00:13:21.257
- Then Simeon blessed him andsaid to Mary the baby's mother,
- 00:13:21.257 --> 00:13:24.293
- this child is destined tocause many in Israel to fall
- 00:13:24.293 --> 00:13:27.363
- and many others to rise.
- 00:13:27.363 --> 00:13:28.964
- He's been sent as a sign fromGod and many will oppose him.
- 00:13:28.964 --> 00:13:32.735
- Very true, they'restill opposing him.
- 00:13:32.735 --> 00:13:34.904
- As a result, the deepestthoughts of many hearts
- 00:13:36.105 --> 00:13:38.073
- will be revealed and asword will pierce your soul,
- 00:13:38.073 --> 00:13:43.078
- he said to Mary.
- 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:44.880
- It was true.
- 00:13:44.880 --> 00:13:46.382
- Mary made a great sacrificeto be the mother of Jesus.
- 00:13:46.382 --> 00:13:49.184
- It was the greatest privilege,
- 00:13:49.184 --> 00:13:50.653
- but a great sacrifice.
- 00:13:50.653 --> 00:13:51.987
- Because Mary went through life
- 00:13:51.987 --> 00:13:54.223
- being regarded by manyas an immoral woman.
- 00:13:54.223 --> 00:13:58.260
- They didn't believe she wasthe virgin spoken of in Isaiah,
- 00:13:58.260 --> 00:14:02.364
- just thought there wasa girl that got pregnant
- 00:14:02.364 --> 00:14:05.200
- outside of wedlock andmade up some story.
- 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:08.070
- In fact, the Pharisees saidto Jesus on one occasion,
- 00:14:08.070 --> 00:14:10.973
- hey, well at least weweren't born of fornication.
- 00:14:10.973 --> 00:14:14.476
- Which is another way of saying,
- 00:14:14.476 --> 00:14:15.878
- hey, at least we're notillegitimate children like you.
- 00:14:15.878 --> 00:14:19.148
- Hey, those are fightin'words by the way.
- 00:14:19.148 --> 00:14:21.583
- But Mary put up with that,
- 00:14:21.583 --> 00:14:23.118
- effectively walking throughlife with a scarlet letter A
- 00:14:23.118 --> 00:14:27.222
- written on her robe, adulteress.
- 00:14:27.222 --> 00:14:29.792
- Very furthest thingfrom the truth.
- 00:14:29.792 --> 00:14:31.927
- But she had to livewith that reputation.
- 00:14:31.927 --> 00:14:34.029
- And then secondly, when shestood at the foot of the cross
- 00:14:34.029 --> 00:14:38.167
- and saw her belovedson hanging there,
- 00:14:38.167 --> 00:14:41.804
- those once tiny hands nownailed to a cross of wood.
- 00:14:41.804 --> 00:14:45.541
- Those little feetthat she would guide
- 00:14:45.541 --> 00:14:47.643
- also nailed to that cross.
- 00:14:47.643 --> 00:14:49.945
- The sword pierced her soul.
- 00:14:49.945 --> 00:14:53.349
- That must have been a very,very difficult moment.
- 00:14:53.349 --> 00:14:57.052
- But she stood there by him
- 00:14:57.052 --> 00:14:58.954
- and she fulfilledprophecy and did what God
- 00:14:58.954 --> 00:15:01.590
- called her to do.
- 00:15:01.590 --> 00:15:03.292
- So now as we come to Christmas,
- 00:15:03.292 --> 00:15:05.194
- we want to be likeSimeon and Anna.
- 00:15:05.194 --> 00:15:08.230
- Who was Anna?
- 00:15:08.230 --> 00:15:09.465
- She was a woman whowas 84 years old.
- 00:15:09.465 --> 00:15:12.234
- She hung around in the temple.
- 00:15:12.234 --> 00:15:13.736
- In fact, the Bible saysshe never left the temple.
- 00:15:13.736 --> 00:15:16.872
- Probably because she was afraid,
- 00:15:16.872 --> 00:15:18.107
- if I leave right nowand go to McDavids
- 00:15:18.107 --> 00:15:20.909
- and get a burger or a falafelI'm gonna miss Messiah.
- 00:15:20.909 --> 00:15:24.880
- So she just waited,and waited, and waited.
- 00:15:24.880 --> 00:15:29.184
- And then she sees Simeontalking to Mary and Joseph.
- 00:15:29.184 --> 00:15:32.154
- She sees the baby Jesus,
- 00:15:32.154 --> 00:15:33.956
- realizes the prophecyhas been fulfilled,
- 00:15:33.956 --> 00:15:36.525
- and the Bible says shewent out and told everyone
- 00:15:36.525 --> 00:15:39.728
- about the child.
- 00:15:39.728 --> 00:15:41.397
- See, she was lookingforward to the day
- 00:15:41.397 --> 00:15:44.333
- when Jesus would come.
- 00:15:44.333 --> 00:15:46.268
- And we should be lookingforward to the day
- 00:15:46.268 --> 00:15:49.104
- when Jesus will come again.
- 00:15:49.104 --> 00:15:51.874
- Just as surely as Jesus camein fulfillment of prophecy
- 00:15:51.874 --> 00:15:55.611
- and was born in that manger,
- 00:15:55.611 --> 00:15:57.546
- Jesus Christ will comeagain to this earth.
- 00:15:57.546 --> 00:16:00.682
- In fact, Hebrews 9:28says he'll come again
- 00:16:00.682 --> 00:16:03.452
- to all those whoeagerly await him.
- 00:16:03.452 --> 00:16:06.355
- Let me ask you a questionthis Christmas Eve of 2019.
- 00:16:07.790 --> 00:16:12.261
- Do you eagerly look forwardto the return of Jesus?
- 00:16:13.662 --> 00:16:16.999
- I think it's really an indicator
- 00:16:16.999 --> 00:16:18.567
- of where you're at spiritually.
- 00:16:18.567 --> 00:16:20.936
- I think if you'reright with God,
- 00:16:20.936 --> 00:16:22.171
- you will long for,you will desire,
- 00:16:22.171 --> 00:16:24.606
- you will want Christ to return.
- 00:16:24.606 --> 00:16:27.142
- I think if you're maybe not
- 00:16:27.142 --> 00:16:28.477
- where you want tobe spiritually,
- 00:16:28.477 --> 00:16:30.846
- you'll sort of dread theidea of Christ coming back.
- 00:16:30.846 --> 00:16:34.116
- He'll come to this earth again.
- 00:16:34.116 --> 00:16:36.452
- In his first coming he waswrapped in swaddling clothes.
- 00:16:36.452 --> 00:16:40.055
- In his second coming,
- 00:16:40.055 --> 00:16:41.557
- he'll be clothed royallyin a robe dipped in blood.
- 00:16:41.557 --> 00:16:44.326
- In his first coming,
- 00:16:44.326 --> 00:16:45.561
- he was surrounded byanimals and shepherds.
- 00:16:45.561 --> 00:16:47.930
- In the second coming,
- 00:16:47.930 --> 00:16:49.164
- he'll be surroundedby saints and angels.
- 00:16:49.164 --> 00:16:52.201
- In his first coming,
- 00:16:52.201 --> 00:16:53.435
- there was no roomfor him in the inn.
- 00:16:53.435 --> 00:16:55.270
- In his second coming,
- 00:16:55.270 --> 00:16:56.538
- the door of the heavenswill be open to him.
- 00:16:56.538 --> 00:16:59.675
- In his first coming,
- 00:16:59.675 --> 00:17:00.709
- he would be the Lamb of God
- 00:17:00.709 --> 00:17:02.177
- who would die forthe sin of the world.
- 00:17:02.177 --> 00:17:05.047
- In the second coming,
- 00:17:05.047 --> 00:17:06.081
- he'll be the ferocious lion
- 00:17:06.081 --> 00:17:08.083
- of the tribe of Judahbringing judgment.
- 00:17:08.083 --> 00:17:11.186
- And we like Simeon and Anna
- 00:17:11.186 --> 00:17:13.422
- should be lookingforward to his return.
- 00:17:13.422 --> 00:17:17.426
- This may surprise youbut death and Christmas
- 00:17:17.426 --> 00:17:20.829
- are inseparably connected.
- 00:17:20.829 --> 00:17:23.432
- I know that's not a cheeryimage for this time of year.
- 00:17:23.432 --> 00:17:26.869
- But actually it's true.
- 00:17:26.869 --> 00:17:28.871
- Because this child was coming
- 00:17:28.871 --> 00:17:31.206
- to die for the sin of the world.
- 00:17:31.206 --> 00:17:33.976
- The wise men got it.
- 00:17:33.976 --> 00:17:36.078
- One brought a gift of gold.
- 00:17:36.078 --> 00:17:37.546
- Another brought agift of frankincense,
- 00:17:37.546 --> 00:17:39.781
- and the third broughta gift of myrrh.
- 00:17:39.781 --> 00:17:41.884
- Gold because he was a king,
- 00:17:41.884 --> 00:17:44.019
- frankincense or incensebecause he would be
- 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.421
- our high priestrepresenting us to God.
- 00:17:46.421 --> 00:17:50.626
- And lastly myrrh whichwas an embalming element
- 00:17:50.626 --> 00:17:53.395
- because this childwould become a man
- 00:17:53.395 --> 00:17:55.764
- and die on the cross forthe sin of the world.
- 00:17:55.764 --> 00:17:59.134
- So why did Jesus come?
- 00:17:59.134 --> 00:18:01.270
- So we could shop till we drop?
- 00:18:01.270 --> 00:18:03.939
- No, he came so hewould die for our sins.
- 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:07.276
- He said himself in Mark 10:45.
- 00:18:07.276 --> 00:18:09.811
- I've come to give my lifeas a ransom for many.
- 00:18:09.811 --> 00:18:13.615
- It's a gift.
- 00:18:14.583 --> 00:18:15.851
- It's the ultimate giftthat God offers to us,
- 00:18:15.851 --> 00:18:18.487
- the gift of eternal life.
- 00:18:18.487 --> 00:18:20.722
- You know, I've noticedthat a lot of people
- 00:18:20.722 --> 00:18:22.758
- are having packagesstolen off of their porch.
- 00:18:22.758 --> 00:18:25.961
- It's a thing that's reallygetting out of control.
- 00:18:25.961 --> 00:18:28.430
- Because so many peopleare shopping online now.
- 00:18:28.430 --> 00:18:31.033
- It's crazy, thehighest numbers ever.
- 00:18:31.033 --> 00:18:34.269
- And so these guys or girls,
- 00:18:34.269 --> 00:18:36.905
- whoever they are that comeand steal these packages
- 00:18:36.905 --> 00:18:39.441
- are called porch pirates.
- 00:18:39.441 --> 00:18:41.376
- Heard about that?
- 00:18:41.376 --> 00:18:42.844
- So I heard about one ladywho was quite clever.
- 00:18:42.844 --> 00:18:45.480
- She took the boxes that shegot from Amazon and others
- 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:48.517
- and took what shewanted out of them
- 00:18:48.517 --> 00:18:50.452
- and then filled them withtrash and put 'em on the porch
- 00:18:50.452 --> 00:18:52.788
- so the porch piratesstole her trash.
- 00:18:52.788 --> 00:18:56.058
- And in one box sheput used kitty litter.
- 00:18:56.058 --> 00:18:59.728
- That must have been quitea surprise for them.
- 00:18:59.728 --> 00:19:02.364
- But here's the thing thatyou need to understand.
- 00:19:02.364 --> 00:19:04.700
- God's gift to youcannot be stolen.
- 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:07.736
- It's a good gift.
- 00:19:07.736 --> 00:19:09.638
- And the key is you must open it
- 00:19:09.638 --> 00:19:12.174
- like those unclaimed gift cards.
- 00:19:12.174 --> 00:19:15.277
- Jesus was born so youcould be born again.
- 00:19:15.277 --> 00:19:18.313
- Jesus left heaven soyou can go to heaven.
- 00:19:18.313 --> 00:19:22.251
- C.S. Lewis said theSon of God became a man
- 00:19:22.251 --> 00:19:25.220
- that men mightbecome sons of God.
- 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:28.423
- Sometimes it's said,
- 00:19:28.423 --> 00:19:29.658
- you know, we're allchildren of God.
- 00:19:29.658 --> 00:19:31.426
- That sounds nice.
- 00:19:31.426 --> 00:19:33.362
- But it's actually not true.
- 00:19:33.362 --> 00:19:35.230
- It's certainly nottheologically true.
- 00:19:35.230 --> 00:19:38.200
- You're all createdin the image of God.
- 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:41.003
- We're all loved by God.
- 00:19:41.003 --> 00:19:43.372
- But we're not allthe children of God.
- 00:19:43.372 --> 00:19:45.874
- You only become a child of God
- 00:19:45.874 --> 00:19:48.110
- by receiving Christinto your life.
- 00:19:48.110 --> 00:19:50.879
- For the Bible says, foras many as received him,
- 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:53.248
- he gave them the powerto become sons of God.
- 00:19:53.248 --> 00:19:56.351
- It's a gift of eternallife which I'm telling you
- 00:19:56.351 --> 00:19:59.221
- gets more valuableas you get older.
- 00:19:59.221 --> 00:20:03.358
- It gets more valuableas you get older.
- 00:20:03.358 --> 00:20:07.396
- Tomorrow, when youopen up your presents,
- 00:20:07.396 --> 00:20:10.332
- some of you will getthe latest gadget.
- 00:20:10.332 --> 00:20:13.402
- The new thing, what is it now,
- 00:20:13.402 --> 00:20:14.836
- combination phone, drone,
- 00:20:14.836 --> 00:20:18.740
- toaster and vacuum cleaner.
- 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:21.843
- (congregation laughing)
- 00:20:21.843 --> 00:20:23.111
- Nobody else has ityet, you'll have it.
- 00:20:23.111 --> 00:20:25.881
- But three months laterthey're gonna come up with
- 00:20:25.881 --> 00:20:27.549
- a newer version withlonger battery life,
- 00:20:27.549 --> 00:20:29.618
- or it'll do something elsethat the earlier one didn't do.
- 00:20:29.618 --> 00:20:32.587
- Or you'll get an outfit.
- 00:20:32.587 --> 00:20:34.323
- But in time, that outfitwill go out of style.
- 00:20:34.323 --> 00:20:37.826
- And then there are somegifts that may not seem
- 00:20:37.826 --> 00:20:39.728
- as valuable to you today.
- 00:20:39.728 --> 00:20:42.964
- But they'll grow invalue as you get older,
- 00:20:42.964 --> 00:20:45.634
- like that sweet little notethat your child wrote you,
- 00:20:45.634 --> 00:20:48.904
- or that card that yourgrandchild made you.
- 00:20:48.904 --> 00:20:51.973
- Or if your house were on fire,
- 00:20:51.973 --> 00:20:53.241
- you'd grab thatbefore anything else.
- 00:20:53.241 --> 00:20:57.179
- Or some of you maybehad grandparents
- 00:20:57.179 --> 00:20:59.981
- that didn't give yougifts at Christmas.
- 00:20:59.981 --> 00:21:01.950
- They put money inan account for you.
- 00:21:01.950 --> 00:21:05.020
- And so it's Christmas morning.
- 00:21:05.020 --> 00:21:06.488
- You're all excitedand grandma says,
- 00:21:06.488 --> 00:21:08.223
- we put some more moneyinto your account.
- 00:21:08.223 --> 00:21:11.860
- And you're thinking,grandma, it's so lame.
- 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:14.096
- Now 20 years have passed andyou just checked your balance
- 00:21:15.530 --> 00:21:17.999
- and you're saying,grandma, it's awesome.
- 00:21:17.999 --> 00:21:20.369
- Because all thosegifts are gone,
- 00:21:21.570 --> 00:21:23.939
- but the money'sgrown with interest.
- 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:26.575
- So you see, somegifts get greater,
- 00:21:26.575 --> 00:21:29.511
- or you understand howvaluable they are more
- 00:21:29.511 --> 00:21:32.314
- with the passing of time.
- 00:21:32.314 --> 00:21:33.682
- And that's true of thegift of eternal life.
- 00:21:33.682 --> 00:21:36.952
- See, I became a Christianwhen I was a 17 years old.
- 00:21:36.952 --> 00:21:39.321
- I was just a kid.
- 00:21:39.321 --> 00:21:40.188
- And you know what myprimary interest was
- 00:21:41.423 --> 00:21:42.924
- in becoming a Christian?
- 00:21:42.924 --> 00:21:44.159
- I wanted to findthe meaning of life.
- 00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:47.162
- Because I had tried tofill a hole in my heart
- 00:21:47.162 --> 00:21:49.898
- with drugs, and drinking,
- 00:21:49.898 --> 00:21:51.199
- and partying and other things.
- 00:21:51.199 --> 00:21:52.801
- And I was empty and Iwanted to have a life
- 00:21:52.801 --> 00:21:55.570
- with purpose and meaning.
- 00:21:55.570 --> 00:21:56.838
- Oh the afterlifestuff was great but
- 00:21:56.838 --> 00:21:59.274
- that seemed so far off.
- 00:21:59.274 --> 00:22:01.176
- But as you get older,that afterlife stuff,
- 00:22:01.176 --> 00:22:04.846
- that becomes moreimportant to you
- 00:22:04.846 --> 00:22:07.115
- because you realizeyou're closer to it.
- 00:22:07.115 --> 00:22:09.050
- But don't think I'm justpreaching to older people here.
- 00:22:09.050 --> 00:22:11.787
- I'm talkin' to everybodybecause you don't know
- 00:22:11.787 --> 00:22:15.624
- when you're gonna haveyour last Christmas.
- 00:22:15.624 --> 00:22:18.293
- And the reason I say that
- 00:22:18.293 --> 00:22:19.528
- is because lastChristmas, last year,
- 00:22:19.528 --> 00:22:22.831
- you may have been with someone
- 00:22:22.831 --> 00:22:24.099
- that is not with you this year.
- 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:26.735
- See, Christmas is amarker of time isn't it?
- 00:22:26.735 --> 00:22:30.138
- It's a reminder we'regetting older not younger.
- 00:22:30.138 --> 00:22:33.141
- And it's a reminder that we'regetting closer to eternity.
- 00:22:33.141 --> 00:22:36.645
- But here's the great thing.
- 00:22:36.645 --> 00:22:37.846
- When you have thegift of eternal life,
- 00:22:37.846 --> 00:22:39.815
- you don't have to fear deathbecause when that day comes,
- 00:22:39.815 --> 00:22:42.818
- when you close your eyeson earth for the last time,
- 00:22:42.818 --> 00:22:45.353
- they'll be opened in heaven.
- 00:22:45.353 --> 00:22:48.056
- And you'll realize it wasall true, every word of it.
- 00:22:48.056 --> 00:22:51.860
- (congregation clapping)
- 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:55.464
- And you'll realizethat any sacrifice
- 00:22:55.464 --> 00:22:57.799
- you made to follow Christ,
- 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.334
- any mockery you received,
- 00:22:59.334 --> 00:23:01.169
- any hardship you enduredto be a Christian
- 00:23:01.169 --> 00:23:03.805
- was more than worth it
- 00:23:03.805 --> 00:23:05.407
- because of this gift thatGod has given to you,
- 00:23:05.407 --> 00:23:08.310
- this unspeakable giftas the Bible calls it,
- 00:23:08.310 --> 00:23:11.112
- this indescribable gift,
- 00:23:11.112 --> 00:23:13.181
- the gift of eternal life.
- 00:23:13.181 --> 00:23:15.884
- And it's still being offered.
- 00:23:15.884 --> 00:23:17.686
- Now let's say I wantedto give you this Bible.
- 00:23:17.686 --> 00:23:19.588
- This is a pretty niceBible by the way.
- 00:23:19.588 --> 00:23:22.123
- And let's say thatI said, you know,
- 00:23:22.123 --> 00:23:23.658
- I've got this Biblefor you, I love it,
- 00:23:23.658 --> 00:23:26.394
- but I want you to have it.
- 00:23:26.394 --> 00:23:27.629
- And I even had yourname inscribed on it.
- 00:23:27.629 --> 00:23:29.798
- So there you go,merry Christmas.
- 00:23:29.798 --> 00:23:32.200
- You went oh, it's evengreen like Christmas.
- 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:36.037
- Thank you Greg andyou took my Bible.
- 00:23:36.037 --> 00:23:38.540
- I just say enjoy it, use it.
- 00:23:38.540 --> 00:23:41.042
- No, you can't do it.
- 00:23:41.042 --> 00:23:42.010
- No, I want to do it, take it.
- 00:23:42.010 --> 00:23:44.779
- But if I were tooffer you this Bible
- 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:46.748
- and you said, oh that'sreally nice of you,
- 00:23:46.748 --> 00:23:47.816
- but I don't really want it.
- 00:23:47.816 --> 00:23:49.885
- I say, well actually I putyour name on it though,
- 00:23:49.885 --> 00:23:51.553
- so go ahead.
- 00:23:51.553 --> 00:23:52.854
- No, I don't want it.
- 00:23:52.854 --> 00:23:53.955
- I appreciate the thought.
- 00:23:53.955 --> 00:23:55.824
- No really, take it.
- 00:23:55.824 --> 00:23:57.325
- No, I don't want it.
- 00:23:57.325 --> 00:23:58.260
- Hey, that's a rejection, right.
- 00:23:58.260 --> 00:24:00.929
- So God has given you themost important gift of all,
- 00:24:00.929 --> 00:24:04.432
- bought with theblood of his own Son.
- 00:24:04.432 --> 00:24:06.167
- And he offers it to youand you say, I don't know,
- 00:24:06.167 --> 00:24:09.971
- thanks but no thanks.
- 00:24:09.971 --> 00:24:12.440
- Don't you realizethat's a rejection?
- 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:14.910
- To not accept thisgift of eternal life
- 00:24:14.910 --> 00:24:17.445
- is in effect to reject it.
- 00:24:17.445 --> 00:24:19.314
- And this gift is on thetable right now for you.
- 00:24:19.314 --> 00:24:22.551
- And I wonder, haveyou all received it?
- 00:24:22.551 --> 00:24:24.686
- Are you sure right now
- 00:24:26.288 --> 00:24:27.856
- that if this wereyour last Christmas,
- 00:24:27.856 --> 00:24:30.692
- if this were yourlast day on earth,
- 00:24:30.692 --> 00:24:33.261
- that you would go toheaven when you die?
- 00:24:33.261 --> 00:24:35.096
- If you're not sure of this,
- 00:24:35.096 --> 00:24:37.232
- let's get this resolvedright here, right now,
- 00:24:37.232 --> 00:24:40.135
- so you can receive this amazinggift that God offers you.
- 00:24:40.135 --> 00:24:44.372
- Say, what do I have to do?
- 00:24:44.372 --> 00:24:45.607
- You have to admityou're a sinner.
- 00:24:45.607 --> 00:24:48.076
- You have to be willingto turn from your sin
- 00:24:48.076 --> 00:24:50.579
- and you must ask JesusChrist to come into your life
- 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:53.949
- to be your friend, yourSavior, and your Lord.
- 00:24:53.949 --> 00:24:56.718
- And in a moment we're gonna pray
- 00:24:56.718 --> 00:24:58.420
- and I'm gonna extendan invitation for you
- 00:24:58.420 --> 00:25:01.590
- to believe in Jesusand be forgiven
- 00:25:01.590 --> 00:25:04.459
- of all of your sin.
- 00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:06.895
- I couldn't offer youanything greater than this.
- 00:25:06.895 --> 00:25:10.131
- And it's really notwhat I'm offering.
- 00:25:10.131 --> 00:25:12.467
- It's what God is offering.
- 00:25:12.467 --> 00:25:14.002
- I'm just telling you about it.
- 00:25:14.002 --> 00:25:16.004
- I'm just sharing the good news
- 00:25:16.004 --> 00:25:18.573
- that you can beforgiven of your sin
- 00:25:18.573 --> 00:25:20.308
- and start a relationshipwith the Lord.
- 00:25:20.308 --> 00:25:22.844
- Hey thanks for watchin'our TV program.
- 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:27.582
- And I wonder if you yourselfhave accepted Jesus Christ.
- 00:25:27.582 --> 00:25:31.820
- You know, a lot of times peopletune into programs like this
- 00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:34.222
- who aren't believers andthey're kinda checkin' it out.
- 00:25:34.222 --> 00:25:36.891
- Maybe you're laughingat it at first.
- 00:25:36.891 --> 00:25:39.194
- Maybe you think it's not real.
- 00:25:39.194 --> 00:25:41.463
- But something hashappened and maybe
- 00:25:41.463 --> 00:25:43.531
- something that's been said,
- 00:25:43.531 --> 00:25:45.333
- you've suddenly discoveredyou need Jesus Christ.
- 00:25:45.333 --> 00:25:48.136
- You know, the day I acceptedJesus, let me tell you,
- 00:25:48.136 --> 00:25:51.039
- it was the last thingI planned on doing.
- 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:53.742
- I didn't plan on becominga Christian that day.
- 00:25:53.742 --> 00:25:56.277
- But that was the day thatwas appointed in eternity
- 00:25:56.277 --> 00:26:00.115
- for me to believe in Jesus.
- 00:26:00.115 --> 00:26:01.783
- I wonder if this isnot that day for you.
- 00:26:01.783 --> 00:26:05.220
- You've been eavesdropping.
- 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.221
- You've been checking it out.
- 00:26:06.221 --> 00:26:07.555
- But now God's speakingright to your heart
- 00:26:07.555 --> 00:26:09.391
- and you realize youneed Jesus Christ.
- 00:26:09.391 --> 00:26:11.660
- Would you like to haveyour sin forgiven?
- 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:14.496
- Wold you like asecond chance in life?
- 00:26:14.496 --> 00:26:16.498
- Would you like to goto heaven when you die?
- 00:26:16.498 --> 00:26:19.067
- Would you likeyour guilt removed?
- 00:26:19.067 --> 00:26:21.169
- Listen, it can all happenbecause Jesus Christ
- 00:26:21.169 --> 00:26:24.205
- went to a cross anddied for your sin
- 00:26:24.205 --> 00:26:26.941
- and then rose againthree days later.
- 00:26:26.941 --> 00:26:29.010
- And he'll come intoyour life right now
- 00:26:29.010 --> 00:26:30.745
- and be your Saviorand your Lord,
- 00:26:30.745 --> 00:26:32.714
- and the best friendyou've ever had.
- 00:26:32.714 --> 00:26:34.916
- Let's pray together.
- 00:26:34.916 --> 00:26:36.251
- Pray this after me.
- 00:26:36.251 --> 00:26:37.919
- Lord Jesus, I knowthat I'm a sinner.
- 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:41.923
- But I believe you diedon the cross for my sin
- 00:26:41.923 --> 00:26:44.759
- and I'm sorry for that sin.
- 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:46.828
- And I turn from it now
- 00:26:46.828 --> 00:26:48.730
- and I ask you to come intomy life and be my Savior
- 00:26:48.730 --> 00:26:52.200
- and be my Lord, and be my God,
- 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:54.636
- and be my friend.
- 00:26:54.636 --> 00:26:56.738
- I choose to follow youfrom this moment forward
- 00:26:56.738 --> 00:27:00.408
- in Jesus' name I pray amen.
- 00:27:00.408 --> 00:27:03.478
- If you just prayed that prayer,
- 00:27:03.478 --> 00:27:04.979
- I want you to know in theauthority of God's word
- 00:27:04.979 --> 00:27:07.082
- that Christ himself hascome to live inside of you.
- 00:27:07.082 --> 00:27:10.385
- The Bible says thesethings we write to you
- 00:27:10.385 --> 00:27:12.287
- that believe on thename of the Son of God
- 00:27:12.287 --> 00:27:14.656
- that you may know thatyou have eternal life.
- 00:27:14.656 --> 00:27:17.826
- But let me say God bless you
- 00:27:17.826 --> 00:27:20.161
- and welcome to God's family.
- 00:27:20.161 --> 00:27:22.197
- ♪ This is the day, theday when life begins ♪
- 00:27:22.197 --> 00:27:27.202