[0:00] It was estimated that 16 million people in Britain went shopping. And it was also estimated that 2 million pounds were spent every minute.
[0:22] It seems that today, the weekend before Christmas, is panic stations.
[0:34] As people up and down the country pull out all the stops to buy everything they want before the big day. You'll notice I didn't say everything they need, I said everything they want.
[0:47] And after this week, many of those 16 million people will find themselves in debt. Which will probably mean sleepless nights and worry.
[1:01] Because for some it will be debt that they can't pay back. So when I hear some Christians saying that Christians shouldn't celebrate Christmas.
[1:14] Part of me says maybe they're right. If celebrating Christmas means a frenzy of spending in order to make it a good Christmas.
[1:26] Then something is very different. And tragically different from the night that the Son of God was born into this world.
[1:36] Well I hope that tonight, by recognizing this time of year, that we can steer our hearts away from ourselves.
[1:50] And our own self-indulgence. And I'm sure that none of us are guilty of that. But just in case we are, let me take this opportunity of encouraging us to think back to what happened when the Son of God became man.
[2:11] Because it is an opportunity to bring to the nation the message of the gospel. And if ever this world and this nation needed to hear the message of the gospel, it is tonight.
[2:25] And if ever the church needed to take every opportunity it can. To open doors of conversation and asking questions and answering questions.
[2:35] And occasions even like this with all the flaws. And with all the deficiencies that there are. Let's take that opportunity. And let's magnify Jesus.
[2:50] And let's remember what happened when he came. Tonight I'm going to take that opportunity. Because the Bible has a lot to say about the events that surround the birth of Jesus.
[3:03] Not just in the narratives that we find in Matthew and in Luke and in John. But in the days before and indeed the centuries before the Lord Jesus came into this world.
[3:17] The Old Testament is the Old Testament of promise. All the way through the Old Testament is the fulfillment. Or rather the pointer.
[3:29] That arose out of that promise that was made at the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. When God said to Eve that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent.
[3:44] And the story that unfolds in the Old Testament is just that. How God brought all that to pass. And how one day he was going to come into the world as the seed of the woman.
[3:56] And one day that seed of the woman. That man. The Messiah. The Son of God. The promised Prince. Would bruise the head of the serpent.
[4:07] Not with a sword and a shield and a spear. But when he gave himself on the cross. That was the moment. That the Prince of Darkness. Was fatally wounded.
[4:19] Once and for all. His destruction was sealed. In the Old Testament. The people of God. Were continuously given glimpses.
[4:31] As to when this time. Was to take place. And it's one of these glimpses. That I would like us to look at this evening. Isaiah chapter 9. Look at it with me.
[4:41] Because in this glimpse. You'll find it in verse 6. Where God says through Isaiah. For to us. A child is born.
[4:53] To us. A son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called.
[5:05] Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince. Of peace. These are one of the.
[5:16] This is one of the glimpses. One of the pictures that was painted. In Israel. At the time of Isaiah. And there are many. Many of them. That looked forward.
[5:28] To the coming. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was in a day. Of gloom. A day of darkness. A day. When God was judging. His people. And promising them. That.
[5:38] That God. He was going to punish them. For their iniquity. But. Weaved. Into that. Promise of judgment. Was a promise of hope. Even although the people of Israel.
[5:49] Were going to suffer. Because of their waywardness. And their backsliding. And their idolatry. God was going to bring. His own purpose to pass. And one day.
[6:00] Even out of that. The Messiah was going. To be born. And so. God's people were given. Encouragement. And they were given. Every reason. To lean upon him.
[6:11] And trust in him. And to continue. Faithfully. Worshipping him. And that's a great lesson. For us. A great encouragement. For us today. Because even when. The church.
[6:22] Is dying. And we very often. Use that expression. The church is dying. That's no reason. To give up. Even when we live. In a day. Of small things. That's no reason.
[6:33] To give up. Because God. Is the God. Of promise. There is a guaranteed. Future. In the gospel. Whatever happens. The truth is.
[6:44] That the church. Will never die. The gospel. Will never die. Heaven and earth. Will pass away. Said Jesus. But my words. Will not pass away. There's no guarantee.
[6:54] As to where. The church. Will exist. There's no guarantee. That the church. Will continue to exist. In Lewis. Or in Stornoway. Despite what's happened. In the past. But there is a guarantee.
[7:07] That God. Will continue. And he will bring in. All his people. And he will build his church. And one day. His church. Will all be together. In perfection. Seeing and beholding.
[7:19] The face. Of the Lord. Jesus Christ. In perfection. So the Christian faith. Is always positive. I say that. For good reason. Because whatever.
[7:31] God is going to do. In the days. And the years. That lie ahead. We are to be optimistic. And we are to make the most. Of every opportunity. Even when it comes down.
[7:42] To a thread. There were times. In the Old Testament. Where God's people. Were reduced to. A small number of people. And God gave them. The encouragement.
[7:53] To carry on. And to be faithful. To him. Knowing that better days. Were going to come. And so that's why. It's important. To go back. Into the Old Testament. And so that we.
[8:04] Can be reassured. That God's word. Is a word. Of promise. And so let's not dwell. On how bad. The world is. The world has always. Been bad.
[8:15] That's why Jesus. Came into the world. Because it was so bad. If it hadn't been. A world full of darkness. Then there would have been. No reason for Jesus. To come into the world. The fact is.
[8:27] That it's because. The world was in darkness. Full of people. Who were dead. And trespasses. And sins. Full of thieves. And robbers. And cheats. And liars.
[8:37] And murderers. People like ourselves. Who are we. Who do we think we are. That we think. We'd be any different. If it wasn't for the grace. Of God. In us.
[8:48] And it's because of that. Tonight. That we ought to. Take hold upon the gospel. And believe. That it's the power. Of God. To salvation.
[9:00] And so. I want us to look at this. This verse. Verse six. To us. A child is born. A verse. That was full of promise. And full of hope.
[9:10] And the promise of God. Lay. In the birth. Of a child. It came down to that. The birth. Of a child. The Israelites. Were well.
[9:21] They were well. Accustomed. To God's promise. Being fulfilled. In the birth of a child. They could look back. To Moses. When the people of Israel. When they cried out. To God. In Egypt. Because they were slaves.
[9:33] And God answered them. By sending. A son. Moses. Was born. To the family. Oh you remember. Of course. The famous story. Of how he was protected. In the bulrushes.
[9:44] And by Pharaoh. And so on. And so forth. You remember Samuel. As well. Hannah's prayer. In the temple. And how at a time. Of great darkness. In Israel. God answered.
[9:55] The prayer of his people. By sending a son. By giving. A family. A son. His name was Samuel. And he too. Was going to. Lead the people. In righteousness. Well once again.
[10:05] God was going to answer. God was going to move. And work. By bringing a son. Into the world. But this son. Was going to be different. Because. Although the son.
[10:15] Would be born. Into an ordinary. Family. In Galilee. In. In. Nazareth. In Bethlehem.
[10:27] I should say. Grow up in Nazareth. Yet this child. Was to be no ordinary child. This child. For once.
[10:38] God did something. That he had never done before. And that he would never do again. God himself. Came. Into the world.
[10:50] And God himself. Became. A baby. God. Became. Incarnate. He took. Our nature. To himself.
[11:00] And was conceived. In the womb. Of. This wonderful person. Mary. She was a sinner. Like everyone else.
[11:12] But nevertheless. She was. An obedient person. A person. Of faith. And a person. In whom. Who God chose. To do a unique work. Work that he never.
[11:23] He never asked anyone else. To do. To give birth. To God. Himself. In. The flesh. I want us to look. This evening. In the. 20 minutes.
[11:33] Or so. At the titles. That Isaiah. Gives. Or that God. Gives. To this. Son. Unto us. A child is born. Unto us. A son is given. The government.
[11:44] Shall be. Upon his shoulder. Then the. The next. Part of the verse. It gives. Four titles. Of what this. Son. Is going to be. Bear in mind. We know.
[11:55] Of course. Already. Who the son. Bear in mind. That the. The people. In those days. Didn't know. Who it was. Going to be. For them. There was a mystery. In this promise. For us. The mystery. Has been solved.
[12:05] We know. That this was. Jesus. Being born. In Bethlehem. And it's impossible. To put ourselves. Back. In the footsteps. In the foot. In the. In the shoes. Of those. Who listened.
[12:15] To Isaiah. At that time. But nevertheless. We're still. Going to try. And get to grips. With the titles. That God gives. To the son. That was going. To be born.
[12:26] Because these titles. Help us. To understand. As they were fulfilled. In the person. Of Jesus Christ. Who he was. And what he came. To do.
[12:36] Four titles. Each one of these titles. Is a noun. A title itself. And there is. An adjective. That describes it. So the first one. Is. That he was.
[12:47] A counselor. But he is. A wonderful counselor. Okay. So that's the first one. He's a counselor. Counselor. But he is. A wonderful counselor. And we'll see.
[12:58] What that word. Wonderful means. In a few moments. Time. The second title. Is that he is. A hero. He is. A mighty God. That word. Mighty. It's.
[13:09] The word. Means a hero. Gibor. And. He's not just. A hero. But. He's a divine hero.
[13:20] Because as well. As being. A hero. He is a hero God. He is God. As much as being. A hero. We'll see. What that means. In a few moments. Time. The third title.
[13:32] Is that he is. A father. But the adjective. That describes the father. Is that he is. A father forever. He's an everlasting father. A father.
[13:43] That will never die. But a father. That will continue. To be a father. To his people. Forever. But then. The fourth title. Is. That he is a prince.
[13:55] But he's a peace prince. He's a prince. That reigns. In a kingdom. Of peace. Having brought. Peace. Into. This world. Through fulfilling.
[14:06] The work. That he had to do. So there's four titles. He's a counselor. He's a hero. He's a father. And he's a prince. So if you remember. Nothing else. This evening. Please remember.
[14:17] Those four titles. He's a counselor. He's a hero. He's a father. And he is. A prince. What do we mean.
[14:28] By a counselor. Well. I don't think. We need to. To start looking up. Any textbooks. Or. Or any dictionaries. We know. What a counselor. Is. Suppose. It depends on.
[14:39] Where you are. And what context. You're in. I suppose. If you're in. A government context. A counselor. Is someone. Who gives advice. To you. Financial advice. Or political advice. But a counselor.
[14:49] No matter. What context. They're in. Is someone. Who gives advice. Somebody. You go to. And even. Although. You've maybe. Never used. A counselor. In the past. In a professional sense.
[15:01] Some people. Use. Professional counselors. To help them. Out of. Various. Difficulties. Nevertheless. Every single. One of us. Has. Had. A counselor.
[15:13] Could be. A friend. Could be. A friend. Who we've. Gone to. And we've. Shared. Some personal. Issue. With. With them. And that friend. Has listened to us.
[15:23] And they've. And you've. Confided in them. And they've given you. Whatever helpful advice. That they possibly can. Someone who you can. Get alongside. Someone who you're. Happy.
[15:34] Because that person. Is going to. Focus their attention. On your life. And on your needs. Someone who you. Trust. With your whole heart. And someone you can.
[15:44] Open up your heart to. That's what a counselor. Is. A friend. In the truest. Sense. Of the word. A friend.
[15:58] That you can. Be yourself. With. You don't. Have to. Pretend. In many ways. If you go to someone. On a counseling. Basis. And you try to. Pretend to that person. Then it's no use. They can't help you.
[16:09] Because you're trying. To hide something. From them. You're trying to be. Something. That you're not. You're trying to put. A brave face. On yourself. And on the issues. That really.
[16:20] That really. Are. Getting you down. A real friend. Someone that you can. Come to. Is someone that you can. Be yourself with. And that knows you.
[16:31] As you really are. And that's what Jesus. Came to do. That's what he came to be. That's what people. Found in him. They found wisdom.
[16:42] In him. They found. They found. Understanding. And empathy. And sympathy. In him. They found. Humanity. At its most. Genuine. Someone they have never.
[16:52] Met before. Someone that they wanted. To be with. Continuously. They wanted to listen to him. That's why. That's why they were prepared. To. To listen to him. On the shores. Of the lake of Galilee.
[17:03] For hour. Upon hour. Upon hour. They said. We never heard. Anything like this. This man. He's wiser. Than any of our teachers. Ever were. And he's someone.
[17:15] That truly cares. And truly. We can come to him. And many people. Did come to him. And it was.
[17:25] As they listened to him. And as they talked to him. And as they reasoned with him. And as they. As they discovered. That they discovered. That this was the mind of God. God having come down.
[17:36] To walk alongside us. To share. Our world. With us. And all. Our heartaches. And all. Our confusion. Like.
[17:46] People like Jairus. Who came to Jesus. In desperation. And he said. My daughter is on the point. Of dying. What did Jesus do? He walked with him. Wasn't enough for Jesus.
[17:57] To just. Say the word. And the girl would be healed. But he walked with him. Shoulder to shoulder. Carrying. His heartache. And when Jairus.
[18:08] When the person. Came out of Jairus house. To say to him. Don't trouble the master anymore. The daughter is dead. Jairus was utterly devastated. He was too late. Just a few moments. Too late. And Jesus said to him.
[18:20] Don't be afraid. Only believe. That's what a counselor is. But it's not just a counselor. It's a wonderful counselor. Wonderful is the kind of word.
[18:31] We use all the time. Isn't it? To describe something. That really means something to us. Doesn't matter. It could be a person. Could be a thing. Could be a meal. Could be a place.
[18:42] We describe it as wonderful. But actually. In the Bible. Something that was wonderful. Is actually something. That belongs to God. That's why we sang that psalm. Because it describes.
[18:54] How God took the people. Out of Egypt. In verse 12. It says. Things marvelous. He brought to pass. Or another word is. Things wonderful. He brought to pass. What were they?
[19:04] They were things that he brought about. By his own unique. Miraculous power. The ten plagues. The dividing of the Red Sea. That was the wonder of God. And this man will be wonder as well.
[19:16] Because this child. Is God in the flesh. And that's why he has. Power at his fingertips. To be able to change. Water into wine. And to walk on the water.
[19:27] And to heal the sick. And to raise the dead. So he is. He possesses the power of God. Because he is God. But he's alongside us.
[19:40] He's looking at you face to face. He's seeing into your heart. He's knowing your thoughts. And he's reaching into your heart. And he's reaching because he wants to save you. And he wants to bring you out of your sin.
[19:52] And your darkness. And into the marvelous light. Of what he came to do. Which is to save. And to bring you forgiveness. And everlasting life. He is wonder counselor.
[20:05] That's what it means. A wonder counselor. Sometimes I wonder. Why people. Have not. Haven't come to faith in Jesus.
[20:18] Sometimes I suspect that. A lot of it is to do with. Our own pride. The kind of pride that says. I don't need anybody to help me. I can sort out my own problems. I can make my own way.
[20:30] Through life. That's the attitude that many people have. Isn't it? And when you even suggest. That they need help with something. Their instant reaction.
[20:41] Their. Especially men by the way. I sometimes wonder. Why there are more Christian women. Than Christian men. And I suspect. That it's part of this. Innate. Manly refusal.
[20:52] To admit defeat. But if you're going to become a Christian. You have to admit defeat. Because you are defeated. You have to admit your failure.
[21:05] Because you are a failure. I am a failure. That's why Jesus came into the world. Because we failed. We failed to live. As God expects us. And commands us to.
[21:16] That's why he came into the world. To rescue us. From that failure. The biggest mistake. You could ever make tonight. Is to refuse to admit. Your failure. And to think.
[21:28] That somehow. You can make your own way. Through life. Even if you do. The day will come. When you have to stand before God. And give an account. For your life. In the world. And then it will be too late.
[21:44] He came into the world. As a man. And as a man. He calls you. To come to him. And to put your faith in him.
[21:55] Once and for all. Well the second title. Is. It goes on. It's not just. He's not just a counselor. Who's wonder. Who's a wonder. Who's God. He's. He's a hero. He's a hero.
[22:09] We all know what a hero is. You don't have to look up the dictionaries. We've all read about heroes. Real life heroes. Because a hero always suggests danger. In a war situation.
[22:22] That's why soldiers are given medals. Because they have put their life on the line. For the sake of their fellow soldiers. Or they've done something that. Of extraordinary bravery.
[22:32] They've risked their lives. In order to do something. In the cause of their country. That's what a hero is. Someone who risks their life. Doesn't have to be a war situation. It could be a danger situation.
[22:43] Like a building. That's burning. And somebody. Who says there are people up there. There are children up there. I'm going to go up there. I'm going to. I'm going to take my. My life in my hands. And I know that. But it's worth it.
[22:54] I'm going to take the risk. Because I can't stand here. And just watch all those people die. So he goes up. And he does what he can. In order to open doors. Or to create bridges. Or whatever he can do.
[23:05] To. We've all read about them. Real life heroes. Some of them lose their lives. In the process. That's what a hero is. There are heroes in the Bible. Like David and Goliath. When he. He went out.
[23:16] In front of the army. In front of Goliath. And he took his life in his hands. And he won the battle. Hero stories.
[23:28] Whether they're true or not. They will very often. End up with one hero. The hero and the villain. And in hand to hand combat. And the hero wins. That's the picture that emerges in our minds.
[23:42] When we think of a hero. A mighty God. That word mighty means a hero. And that's exactly what happened. On the cross. Where Jesus not only risked his life.
[23:57] But he came in order to give his life. Because it had to be through death. The only way. That the battle could be won.
[24:10] The only way that the enemy could be destroyed. And that's the way the New Testament puts it. Sometimes like the chapter I read. In Hebrews. In chapter 2. This is the way it puts.
[24:20] How Jesus. Therefore he says. Since the children share in flesh and blood. He himself.
[24:31] That's Jesus. He likewise partook of the same things. Flesh and blood. That through death. He might destroy the one. Who has the power of death. That is the devil. And deliver all those.
[24:42] Who through fear of death. Were subject to lifelong slavery. That's what he came to do. And there was only one way. In which it was possible. Because death is the wages of sin.
[24:53] Your sin. My sin. The only way. That we could escape. That death. Was for someone else. To die for us. And that someone else.
[25:04] Had to be Jesus. Because it had to be a sinless person. Had to be God. Himself. And he was born. This hero God.
[25:16] Mighty God. Unto us. A child. Is born. And then thirdly. He's a father.
[25:30] He's a father. He's a wonderful counselor. He's a mighty God. He's an everlasting father. The word father here.
[25:41] Is a relational term. This mysterious person. That people. Didn't know what his name. Was going to be. Emmanuel. Emmanuel. Was all that they knew.
[25:51] Chapter 7. It tells us. Unto us a child. It tells us. That the virgin shall conceive. And he shall. His name will be Emmanuel. You remember what God. What Emmanuel. Meant. It was a word that meant.
[26:02] God with us. And this man. God with us. This man. Jesus. His name was to be called Jesus. Was to be a father. Now we're not to confuse this with God.
[26:14] The father. Remember that the Israelites. Didn't know about the Trinity. The same way as we know about the Trinity. They didn't think of God. In terms of father. Son.
[26:24] And Holy Spirit. The way that we do. All of that has become clear. In the New Testament. But this Messiah. This promised son.
[26:34] This one that was going to be born. He would be a father. An everlasting father. Not a father. Father in the sense of the physical sense. The procreational sense.
[26:48] That's easy. It's easy to become a father. It's another thing altogether.
[27:00] To be. A father. To be a father. Is a relationship. It's a relationship.
[27:13] With your children. In which. There is. A fatherly love. A fatherly commitment. That unique commitment.
[27:26] That unique focus. Upon your children. That costly. Commitment. To your children. And of course. The same is true. For a mother. I'm only using this. Because this is the word. That is used.
[27:37] In. In. In. In. In. In. In. The same is true. For both parents. And yet. The father. As the. The leader. Of the home. It's his responsibility. To protect his family.
[27:49] And to make sure. That his children. Have just. The very best. Not just of. What they need materially. But. That they have him. As well. And this is where many of us. Have failed as fathers.
[28:00] Isn't it? Some of you. There may just be some of you tonight. And the very mention of the word father.
[28:12] It just. It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand. You're horrified. By it. Because your experience. Of. A father.
[28:23] Wasn't a good one. There are many of people in the world today. And as soon as you mention the word father to them. It's a turn off. They don't want to hear anymore. It's actually really difficult. To explain the fatherhood of God.
[28:34] The love. The commitment. The covenant commitment of God. To a person who's been bruised. And who's been battered. Sometimes physically. By an unloving father.
[28:50] For most of us. I suppose we've tried. And we've failed in some respects. And we've had success in some respects. And I suppose. Hopefully on average.
[29:02] That we can look back. With thankfulness. That's why of course. For some of us. Who have grandchildren. The reason that we're so soft.
[29:13] On our grandchildren. Is because. We're reliving. And we're redoing. What we fail to do. As fathers. That's why my kids tell me. That I'm very soft.
[29:24] I'm far too soft. On their children. And far softer. Than I ever was on them. And it's true. And I confess to you. That that's me.
[29:35] Going all the way back. And trying to redo. The whole thing. And trying to iron out. All my failures. In the past. But with God. There are no failures. With God.
[29:46] His relationship to us. With Jesus. His relationship to us. Is a perfect one. There are no bad moods. With the Lord. There are no mistakes.
[29:57] With Jesus. There are no temper tantrums. With Jesus. There is no abuse.
[30:08] With Jesus. There is only a perfect love. And a perfect trust. In which we can come to him.
[30:21] And know. That whatever he gives us. Is only the best. At all times.
[30:33] And he'll never die. Our fathers in this world. Will one day die. With the best will in the world. But this father.
[30:47] Will be everlasting. Always there. The Lord Jesus Christ. Is our perfect father.
[31:00] And lastly. He's our prince of peace. A prince. Is royalty. Again. We don't need to go to the books. We don't need to go to the dictionaries.
[31:12] We know what a prince is. We have a prince. We have several princes. In the United Kingdom. We've got Prince Charles. We've got Prince William. We've got Prince Harry.
[31:24] Royalty. Is what a prince is. When you think of a prince. You think about the future. Don't you? You look at the face of a prince. And you say. This man will be the future king.
[31:35] That's what we should be thinking. When we think of Prince Charles. As far as we can see. That's what probably will happen. One day. We don't know. But that's the way things are. The prince looks towards the future.
[31:47] As the future king. And this prince. Is a future prince as well. With Jesus. Does everything. Is the future. Lies in his hands.
[31:57] The future is secured. Because he is the future. He has secured and guaranteed. Our future. A kingdom that will never be destroyed. Over which he will reign in righteousness.
[32:09] And in love. And in perfection. That's what we have awaiting us. If we belong to that kingdom. And the time to belong to that kingdom. Is now.
[32:20] The kingdom exists now. The kingdom of God. Is a kingdom that starts here. In this world. And it consists of people. Who have sworn their allegiance.
[32:32] Who have turned. To surrender. And to submit. To Jesus Christ. That's what faith is. Faith is not earning our way. Into the kingdom.
[32:46] Faith is simply turning to. The Lord Jesus Christ. Turning to him. But it is. A kingdom. That's characterized.
[32:56] By peace. He is the prince. Of peace. And of course. That reminds us. Of a word that. That arises. All the way through the Bible.
[33:07] Particularly in the. The story of the narrative. The narrative of the birth of Jesus. What was it that the. The angel said to the shepherds. When they announced. The birth of Jesus. And the night that he was born.
[33:18] On earth. Glory to God in the highest. On earth. Peace. On whom his favor rests. This was the baby. Who was going to bring peace. As no one else.
[33:29] Had done. That doesn't mean. That war has disappeared. 2000 years later. 2014. Tension is building up. There are still tensions.
[33:40] In places in the world. There is still death. And destruction. And hatred. And barbarism. And cruelty. In Syria. And Iraq. And in North Korea.
[33:51] To name just a few. This world will always. Have its wars. And by war. I don't just. By tension. I don't just mean. The ones that we hear about.
[34:02] On the news. And places where. There is death. And destruction. I mean. The kind of tension also. That occurs in communities. And in homes.
[34:12] And in families. The kind of turmoil. That you don't see. Because it goes on beyond. Behind closed doors. Where there is mistrust.
[34:24] And betrayal. Where there is violence. And abuse. Where there are lies. And where there is deceit. All over the world. And what do we do at this time of year?
[34:34] We try and mask it. By partying as hard as we can. In order to. Try and anesthetize. Everyone. So that it doesn't feel so bad.
[34:47] And it works. For about 12 hours. It will work. It's nothing like a good festivity. To make us forget our troubles. For a while.
[35:02] But then it all comes back again. Because that's reality. The kind of peace. That Jesus brought in. Is a peace. In which.
[35:13] The root. Of the problem. Has been. Dealt with. What is the root of the problem? The root of the problem. Is our sin. The sin.
[35:24] That separates us. From God. The sin. In which the world. Has become. A broken place. And a. Detached. From God. God. Your sins.
[35:35] And your iniquities. Says the prophet. Says the prophet. Have separated you. From God. And that's. Where we're at. This evening. That's why the world. Is so full.
[35:45] Of darkness. But it's a darkness. You don't need to go to Syria. To find sin. You find it. In your own heart. And if that sin. Hasn't been dealt with. Then. Tonight.
[35:56] Your heart. Is in chaos. You can tell yourself. Otherwise. But that's the root. Of the problem. Because the Bible. Tells us. That what you need. More than anything else.
[36:06] Tonight. Is the gift. That all the money. In the world. Will never buy you. Which is God's forgiveness. Now you know. That you need that. You know.
[36:17] That over above. Everything else. That you're not right. With God. And only God. Can forgive you. And so this message.
[36:28] Is as relevant. Tonight. As it was. 700 years. BC. And the message. Hasn't changed. It's a message.
[36:39] That focuses on. The child. That is born. The Jesus. Who came. Into the world. And the reason. Why he came. Into the world.
[36:50] Was because. There was a break. Between the world. And God. Because the world. Is guilty. You're guilty. And I would be guilty too.
[37:00] If I didn't have Christ. In me. The only reason. That I can stand. Confidently. And that you can stand. If you're a Christian tonight. Is if your sin. Has been forgiven.
[37:11] And you have been set free. From its guilt. And from its power. Somebody said once. That in order. To bring about peace. You don't talk to your friends.
[37:22] You talk to your enemies. I think it was a famous bishop. He said once. If you're going to bring about peace. You don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies. That is exactly.
[37:34] What God did. He talked to his enemies. Who were his enemies? We were. The human race. And what he said to the human race. Was come. Let us reason together.
[37:46] Says God. Though your sins. Are as red as scarlet. I will make them. Whiter. Than wool. But he didn't do that.
[37:57] By talking. He did that. By coming. Into the world. And dying. Because it was. Only by death. That our forgiveness.
[38:11] Could be secured. I would love. To think tonight. That this Christmas. Will come alive.
[38:22] For you. Right now. Not because. Of the festivities. I would love. For you. Right now. To lose.
[38:32] All your anticipation. For. Whatever. However. You're going to celebrate. Thursday. Or the days. That lie ahead. I would love. That right now. All of these.
[38:42] Will pale. To nothing. Because you found. The real Jesus. When you do. Find the real Jesus.
[38:55] Everything else. Changes. Everything. You've been living. For so far. It kind of. Just. Melts away. Becomes. Insignificant.
[39:05] Because you found. The one thing. That you really. Truly need. Jesus Christ. Is that one thing.
[39:17] Let's bow our heads. In prayer. Our father in heaven. We ask now. That you will. You will bring your word. To us. Bring your truth.
[39:27] To us. Oh Lord. Give us. Not to ignore it. Because this is reality. This is where we're. We are. This evening. Find us. Where we are. Oh Lord. Search us. Where we are.
[39:38] Open the door. Of our hearts. Give us. To see. Once and for all. That this. Is the truth. Our father in heaven. We thank you. For coming into the world.
[39:49] We thank you. For the love. That took Jesus. Into the world. And for. The commitment. That he had. To finish the work. That the father. Gave him to do. Which was to die.
[40:00] On the cross. And rise again. And we thank you. Tonight. That we can pray. To a risen Jesus. The one who did die. Who came all the way.
[40:10] And went all the way. Into the grave. So that our sin. Could be forgiven. Lord. We pray. That every one of us. Will know. What that freedom.
[40:20] And that liberty is. In knowing. That our sin. And our guilt. And our shame. All the shame. In the past. Is washed away. The confusion.
[40:31] And the turmoil. Is taken away. And that there is. Peace. Lord God. Bring us that peace. We pray. Through the cross. Through Jesus. For we ask in his name.
[40:42] Amen. Let's sing together. In Psalm 57. It's the Sing Psalms version. It's on page 75.
[40:54] 75. Page number 75. It's Psalm 57. And we're going to sing.
[41:08] The last four verses. From verse 7. To the end. It's in a Selma. My heart is steadfast Lord. With music I will sing. Awake my soul. Wake harp and lyre.
[41:20] My song. The dawn will bring. Among the nations Lord. To you I will give praise. Among the peoples of the earth. My songs of you. I'll raise. And we sing about the steadfast love of God.
[41:32] In which Jesus came into the world. To seek and to save. Those who were lost. So let's sing these verses. Verse 7. To the end of the psalm. And we're going to stand to sing.
[41:43] My heart is steadfast Lord. With music I will sing.
[41:59] Awake my soul. Wake harp and lyre. My song that dawn will ring.
[42:14] Among the nations Lord. To you I will give praise.
[42:28] Among the peoples of the earth. My songs of you.
[42:41] My songs of you. I'll raise. Great is your steadfast love.
[42:51] Which reaches to the sky. Your constant faithfulness.
[43:05] O Lord. Extends to heaven high. Above the highest hell.
[43:22] O God. O God. Exalted be. And over all the earth below.
[43:37] Display your majesty. And now may the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
[43:48] The love of God the Father. And the communion fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Rest on and abide with each one of us. Both now and always. Amen. Amen. Amen. For more.
[44:01] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[44:11] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[44:21] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.