WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:20.920 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of 2 Samuel. We're in 2 Samuel chapter 7 this morning verses 8 through 17 and then once you have a finger there if you would flip over to the gospel according to Luke and we'll be in chapter 1 verses 26 through 33. 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:38.280 If you don't have a Bible with you that's okay. We have Bibles in the seat back. Should be nearby around there somewhere. You can find a Bible. If you don't have a Bible at all please don't leave here without one. We would love for you to take one of these pew Bibles home with you as our gift to you. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:46.700 We think that there's nothing more important that you could own and have in your possession than a copy of God's Word and we'd love to help you read it and understand it. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:53.780 So if you do take a Bible with you please let me know. We'd love to connect you with different ways that you can read and understand God's Word. 00:00:54.400 --> 00:01:04.260 We are continuing our Advent series walking through covering the promises of God this morning and we have come this morning to this promise of a coming King. 00:01:04.260 --> 00:01:10.780 And so if you would if you found 2 Samuel chapter 7 let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:01:20.380 --> 00:01:31.880 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David thus says the Lord of hosts I took you from the pasture from following the sheep that you should be prince over my people Israel. 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:41.939 And I have been with you wherever you went and I have cut off all your enemies from before you and I will make for you a great name like the name of the great ones of the earth. 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:50.340 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:57.299 And violent men shall afflict them no more as formerly from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:00.239 And I will give you rest from all your enemies. 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.979 Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:16.680 When your days are fulfilled and you shall lie down with your fathers I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:22.019 He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:26.120 I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son. 00:02:26.820 --> 00:02:32.740 When he commits iniquity I will discipline him with the rod of men with the stripes of the sons of men. 00:02:33.379 --> 00:02:39.520 But my steadfast love will not depart from him as I took it from Saul whom I put away from before you. 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:45.060 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. 00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:48.460 Your throne shall be established forever. 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:54.960 In accordance with all these words and in accordance with all this vision Nathan spoke to David. 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:59.480 Flip ahead to Luke chapter 1 verses 26 through 33. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:08.560 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth. 00:03:09.040 --> 00:03:13.920 To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:16.120 And the virgin's name was Mary. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:21.300 And he came to her and said greetings oh favored one the Lord is with you. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:26.560 But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:31.879 And the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God. 00:03:32.620 --> 00:03:38.379 And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:42.819 He will be great and will be called the son of the most high. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:47.659 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 00:03:48.299 --> 00:03:50.840 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:55.379 And of his kingdom there will be no end. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:01.340 The grass withers and the flower fades but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:01.979 Let's pray. 00:04:01.979 --> 00:04:07.259 Father God we confess that we need a king. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:10.479 We need a ruler. 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:12.099 We need a defender. 00:04:12.359 --> 00:04:13.099 We need a leader. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.279 And so we praise you God for these promises made. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:20.800 And these promises kept ultimately in Christ our king. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:23.579 May we all bow the knee to him now. 00:04:23.699 --> 00:04:24.659 We pray in Jesus name. 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:25.759 Amen. 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:27.420 You may be seated. 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:27.500 Amen. 00:04:31.340 --> 00:04:43.840 In 1887 the Englishman Lord Acton wrote a letter to Bishop Mandel Creighton warning about the potential dangers of absolute authority. 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:47.620 And in it he wrote what now is a well-known popular quote. 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:55.280 He said power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:02.379 The Lord Acton believed in and advocated for personal individual liberty. 00:05:02.619 --> 00:05:08.319 And so he rejected, he fought hard against any sort of overarching authority. 00:05:08.559 --> 00:05:13.639 He did not want anyone having absolute authority over him. 00:05:13.799 --> 00:05:19.299 So this morning I want you to imagine with me Lord Acton's worst nightmare. 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:22.519 Maybe your nightmare too. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:28.579 Imagine with me that you are not in control. 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:36.279 In fact there is somebody else who has absolute, complete, and total control over you. 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:40.500 He has unchecked, unlimited authority. 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:44.779 This individual can never be voted out of office. 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:48.899 His decisions can never be overruled. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:54.939 His power and his reign, his rule that he has cannot be overstated. 00:05:55.179 --> 00:05:58.500 His reign and his rule, his sovereignty is absolute. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:08.019 He has full, complete, total authority over you, over me, over everyone, everywhere. 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:11.539 That sounds like an absolute nightmare scenario, doesn't it? 00:06:11.540 --> 00:06:12.140 That's true. 00:06:12.140 --> 00:06:12.540 That's true. 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:13.140 That's true. 00:06:13.140 --> 00:06:17.240 We do not want someone else having absolute authority over us. 00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:17.700 Why? 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:22.379 It's because we have experienced Lord Acton's quote in action. 00:06:22.520 --> 00:06:28.320 In many cases, authority is either abused or misused. 00:06:28.820 --> 00:06:35.640 And when that happens, authority becomes a curse and not a blessing to all those who are up under the authority. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:43.599 But it's also true, on the other hand, although it may be much harder to find, 00:06:44.479 --> 00:06:54.860 that good authority, authority used well, is a blessing to those who come up under that authority. 00:06:54.860 --> 00:07:04.220 A corrupt leader with absolute authority is a nightmare, but the type of leader that we need is a righteous leader. 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:09.000 A righteous ruler with absolute authority. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.319 A truly good leader. 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:16.639 A leader with unlimited wisdom to protect the weak and the needy. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:22.980 A leader with unlimited power to reign in and destroy the forces of evil once and for all. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:31.420 A godly leader who will lead his people in the ways of the Lord and do everything in his power to bless the people and not to harm his people. 00:07:31.640 --> 00:07:33.860 That type of leadership is a blessing. 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:45.500 The sad truth is, for many of us, it's a lot harder to imagine that type of authority than it is to imagine the corrupt leadership, isn't it? 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:51.839 But the good news of our passage this morning, and the hope of Christmas, 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:59.639 is that God has promised godly authority to the world in Jesus Christ. 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:02.860 That's the main message of our passages this morning. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:13.079 It's all the blessings of good and godly authority are ultimately found, only found, in Jesus Christ, our King. 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:17.120 Now, I want to trace that promise in three steps this morning. 00:08:17.219 --> 00:08:18.300 We're going to see the need. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:20.639 We're going to see the promise. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:24.919 And then, third, the provision of this King. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:28.159 First, I want us to understand the need here. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:31.079 So, first, we see the need for a King. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.319 We need a King. 00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:37.139 And I understand for a group of Americans in a room, those are fighting words, right? 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:40.480 You know, we settled that in 1776, I thought. 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:44.360 Yeah, I need to back up here and give us a little bit of context here, 00:08:44.460 --> 00:08:46.299 because we have some catching up to do. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:51.480 Last week, we were in this covenant with Moses, all the way back in the book of Exodus, 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:54.860 this covenant of law, the Mosaic covenant. 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:57.439 God gave this covenant of law. 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:02.480 It presented God's righteousness to us, but it could not fulfill, 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:05.299 it could not produce God's righteousness in us. 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:10.199 It showed us what holiness looked like, but it can't work that in our hearts. 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:11.579 We needed something else. 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:16.879 Well, now we zoom ahead, and what we see in the pages in between this covenant of law 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:22.179 and this promise to David is that Israel does, in fact, come into the promised land. 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:23.179 That's the book of Joshua. 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:27.899 God fulfills his promise to Abraham to bring his people in. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:33.839 But despite their proclamation last week that they would, in fact, obey all the words of the law, 00:09:33.839 --> 00:09:34.639 guess what happened? 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:37.919 They fail to obey. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.339 And that disobedience is seen so clearly in the book of Judges. 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:46.199 And there's this phrase that keeps getting repeated over and over and over again in the book of Judges. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.099 Anybody know what it is? 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:52.259 In those days, there was no king in Israel. 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:57.539 Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. 00:09:57.539 --> 00:10:03.259 It's clear that what Israel needs is a true and a godly leader. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:09.459 Like us, they need a leader who's going to keep the law and so lead the people to keep the law. 00:10:10.339 --> 00:10:15.939 They need a leader who's going to honor the Lord and so lead the people to honor the Lord. 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:20.140 The fact is, as goes the leader, so go the people. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:23.680 The people need a leader who's going to bring blessing and not curse. 00:10:23.800 --> 00:10:27.860 What they failed to realize is that they already had that. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:32.680 You remember what was supposed to be so special about this people Israel? 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:36.159 And what was supposed to be so distinct about them? 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.399 It was that God was supposed to be their king. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:44.600 God was supposed to be their lawgiver. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.679 God himself was supposed to be their deliverer. 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:52.439 God himself was to be their leader and their judge and their defender. 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:53.899 This is the whole point. 00:10:54.079 --> 00:10:59.120 Israel is meant to be a theocracy with God up at the top, not a monarchy. 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:00.860 They belong to him. 00:11:00.959 --> 00:11:03.519 They're supposed to come up under his authority. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:13.699 But 1 Samuel chapter 8, the people got fed up and they asked for a king like all the other nations. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:18.579 I had a birthday this week and Amanda made me a cake. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:21.100 It was chocolate cake with chocolate icing. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:27.399 And if you've never had one of Amanda's cakes, I'm telling you, you will not find a better piece of cake anywhere else. 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.139 I saw Amanda in the kitchen whipping it all together. 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:33.960 She had the ingredients and everything that she needed. 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:37.199 She was spending the time making that cake for me. 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:40.659 It was going to be there right after dinner for me to enjoy. 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:47.639 What would have happened if on the way home that day I stopped at the gas station and I filled up on Little Debbie's instead? 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:52.039 You just imagine what would have happened, right? 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:57.879 It would basically be me saying, no, I don't want your cake. 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:01.019 I want to go fill up on my own cake. 00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:03.220 And what a poor decision that would have been. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:10.960 What we need to understand here is that Israel, by asking for a king like all the other nations, what they're really doing, 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.299 Israel is rejecting God as their king. 00:12:15.199 --> 00:12:18.819 They're saying to God, we don't want your kingship. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.939 So we're going to go turn, we're going to go get somebody else. 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.799 You aren't leading us well. 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.740 We need a better leader. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:28.840 You aren't judging us well. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:31.180 We need a better judge. 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:33.120 You aren't ruling us well. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.720 We need a better ruler. 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:38.379 It's an incredible display of sinful foolishness, isn't it? 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:45.939 But the truth is, friend, we have all done this exact same thing. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:55.320 We have all, every one of us, rejected God as king over us. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.660 That's what sin is. 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:02.340 Sin is a rebellion against God as our king. 00:13:02.520 --> 00:13:05.600 In our sin, we don't like his authority over us. 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:09.520 We don't want him telling us what to do or how to act. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:15.519 And so, in our sin, what we do is we seek to overthrow him as ruler of our lives. 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:20.019 And what's so shocking here is that God allows this. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:25.399 God allows Israel to select for themselves a king. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.980 He says to Samuel, listen to their request. 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:30.600 If they want to go and fill up on little debbies, just let them do it. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:32.519 Don't feel bad. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:33.600 They haven't rejected you. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:35.039 They've rejected me. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.720 Let them pick out a king. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:40.740 But, he says, I want you to warn them what that king is going to be like. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.740 Listen to how Samuel describes the king. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:49.899 He says, these will be the ways of the king who will reign over you. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:58.779 He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and run before his chariots. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:03.960 He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties. 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:10.680 Some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:15.100 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 00:14:15.400 --> 00:14:20.900 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:27.259 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:35.019 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys and put them to his work. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:39.679 He will take the tenth of your flocks and you shall be his slaves. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:44.860 And in that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves. 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:48.700 But the Lord will not answer you in that day. 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.819 You hear that? 00:14:50.820 --> 00:15:00.500 When you reject the Lord as king, you can pick whatever authority you want. 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.160 That's up to you. 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:01.740 That's fine. 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:04.780 But God says, here's what it's going to be like. 00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:11.800 That king, that authority over you, he will take and take and take and take and take. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.280 He will take for himself. 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.860 He won't be for you. 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:16.960 He will be for him. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:20.620 He will not be a blessing to you like you think he's going to be. 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:22.800 He will be a curse to you. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:29.540 And it's terribly sad that this is the type of authority that many of us are used to. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:35.300 As I read those verses, maybe there's ringing in the back of your mind. 00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:42.080 We have had bosses like this that take and take and take and take. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:49.620 We've had, some of us, fathers and mothers that take and take and take. 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:54.120 Some of us have had husbands that take and take and take. 00:15:54.180 --> 00:15:57.780 We've seen politicians that take and take. 00:15:57.820 --> 00:16:01.139 Even pastors that take and take. 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:04.400 That's not to say that all human authority is bad. 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.040 Of course not. 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.560 It's not. 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:07.759 We've also seen good examples of this. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:12.060 Good teachers, good leaders, good mothers, good fathers, good husbands, good pastors. 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.839 Good politicians. 00:16:13.119 --> 00:16:14.079 But here's the point. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:24.419 These human authorities are only a blessing insofar as they reflect and represent the rule and reign of God. 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:32.859 Good authority is ultimately an extension of God's authority. 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:38.539 The authority and the blessing that we need ultimately is God's authority. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.919 It's God's blessing. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.039 It's God's reign over us. 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:44.240 I mean, you think of the last words of King David. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:45.740 He says, 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:53.299 When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:57.440 Like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning. 00:16:58.019 --> 00:17:02.279 Like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.539 Friend, that's the type of authority that we need. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:12.359 We need authority over us that will bless us by leading us in the ways of the Lord. 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:14.559 We need that type of leadership. 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:17.219 Israel needed that type of leadership. 00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:22.740 But sadly, what we see is here, God's people don't want that. 00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:25.859 They want a king like all the other nations. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:27.000 And so they look around. 00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:29.639 They pick the most obvious choice around them. 00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:34.359 This guy named Saul, he's the most obvious choice from all external appearances. 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:37.519 He's visibly everything you would want in a leader. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:40.700 And he had some highlights in his reign, yes. 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:45.160 But clearly, Saul was not ultimately the king that they needed. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:49.440 By and large, he was proud and disobedient. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.519 And ultimately, he did not follow the ways of the Lord. 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:58.519 And so the Lord takes the kingdom from Saul and gives it to a man after his own heart. 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:01.559 He gives the kingdom to David. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:04.119 But keep reading. 00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:10.019 And if it becomes clear, you'll see David also is not the king that we need. 00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:12.659 And so now let's come to 2 Samuel. 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:15.039 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:19.099 And here we see 2nd, the promise of a king. 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:22.200 The promise of a king. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.279 Look there with me, 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:32.079 And here in chapter 7, David has come to this point in his reign where he thinks he's going to do something good for God. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.899 He's going to build him a house. 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:38.000 God's been wandering around with him in this little tent, the tabernacle. 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:41.680 And David looks over there and he says, I want God to have something nice. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.960 I'm going to build him a house. 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:49.500 Well, God responds through Nathan and sends David a message here starting in verse 8. 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:49.859 Look there. 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:55.779 First of all, what he does is he reminds King David of the hierarchy here. 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:58.079 He reminds him who's actually king. 00:18:59.179 --> 00:19:02.639 He reminds him of his faithfulness and his loyalty to his promises. 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:04.359 Thus says the Lord of hosts, verse 8. 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:12.539 I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:16.319 In other words, David, remember who you are and where you came from, buddy. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:24.419 Like, I made you king and I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.599 All those battles that you won, I won those battles for you. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:33.559 And I will make for you a great name like the name of the great ones of the earth. 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:41.279 I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:47.899 And violent men shall afflict them no more as formerly from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:51.559 And I will give you rest from all your enemies. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.440 You remember the promises God made to Abraham? 00:19:55.139 --> 00:20:00.500 Those same promises that were then governed and regulated by law with Moses. 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.700 Remember what they were? 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:08.279 Promises of prosperity and place and posterity. 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:11.220 Posterity, Vaughn Roberts puts it like this. 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:15.839 God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing. 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.420 You remember that? 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:19.399 You see all of it here again, don't you? 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:26.019 And again, all of it, all these promises, it all centers on this promise of posterity. 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:28.559 This coming child. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:35.119 Moreover, the Lord says, the Lord will make you a house. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.399 You're not going to build God a house, David. 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.540 I'm going to build you a house. 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:41.000 It's a play on words here. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.660 The house of David is not just the dwelling that he lives in. 00:20:44.820 --> 00:20:46.040 It's his lineage. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.680 It's his line. 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:52.360 God is promising a child to come from the line of David. 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:58.160 It's the same snake crushing child from Genesis 3. 00:20:58.320 --> 00:21:01.360 The same blessing to the world from Genesis 12. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:05.140 It's a promise of a coming child. 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:07.640 We learn a little bit more about him here. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.960 Look there, starting in verse 12. 00:21:10.020 --> 00:21:14.060 We can learn at least seven truths here about this child. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:21.340 For one, this child will be the one who will bring about all of these promises. 00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:29.759 Every promise God has made to Abraham and to David through Moses and the law, 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:38.539 he will be the one who will truly and finally establish God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing. 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:42.699 This child will be the one to prosper God's people. 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:45.379 He will be the one who's a blessing to the world. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:51.180 Not only this, second, we see now the child will come from David's line. 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:55.260 This child must be a son of David. 00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:56.740 If he's not, then he's not eligible. 00:21:57.740 --> 00:22:02.720 And so when we break out the family tree, like Matthew does in Matthew chapter 1, 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:08.279 we need to be able to connect the dots and trace the line back to David. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:16.700 Third, it says God himself will raise up this child and God himself will establish his kingdom. 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.700 Now this is crucial. 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:21.940 You know why Saul's kingdom was doomed from the start? 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:25.480 It was the plan of man. 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:31.960 But this kingdom and this king is God's own doing. 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:37.079 He won't be a king like Saul, chosen by the people, contrary to the desires of God. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:41.960 God himself will raise up this king and establish this king. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.200 He will establish this kingdom. 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:46.380 His kingdom is not of this world. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.799 It is of God. 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.240 Fourth, verse 13. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.599 He will be the house-building king. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:55.299 A temple-building king. 00:22:55.480 --> 00:23:01.799 David won't build this house for the Lord, but this coming king will build the house for the Lord. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:05.940 Number five, he will be a forever king. 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.940 A forever king. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.279 He tells us this three times. 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:14.940 Verse 13, I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:20.880 Verse 16, your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:23.720 Your throne shall be established forever. 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:27.039 What a nightmare that would be if it was just any human king, right? 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.839 Because Lord Acton is right. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:32.279 Absolute power corrupts absolutely. 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:41.779 Only, number six, this king, verse 14, will be a godly king. 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:46.440 He will be like a son to God. 00:23:47.220 --> 00:24:00.339 He will lead and rule up under the leadership and the rulership of God almost as a direct extension of the power and authority of God himself. 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:07.059 And number seven, he will be disciplined for his sin. 00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:10.079 But God will be faithful. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:18.679 Verse 14 says, when he commits iniquity, God will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:20.840 He will be disciplined for his sin. 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:25.759 And yet, verse 15 says, the steadfast love of the Lord will not depart from him. 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:29.799 And the throne of David will be established forever. 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:32.680 Who is this king? 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.600 Because I saw you all. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:37.259 One through six, you thought you had it down, right? 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:40.759 I think we're talking about Jesus, aren't we? 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.240 Right? 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.860 He checks one through six, all those boxes. 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.459 He checks them up. 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:45.139 But you get to step. 00:24:45.219 --> 00:24:47.000 Jesus didn't sin, right? 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.919 You get to number seven. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.459 Who are we talking about here? 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:58.619 Here's where I think we need to step back and learn a little bit about biblical prophecy, how this works. 00:24:58.619 --> 00:25:09.979 Because what the prophets often do is they stack multiple layers of fulfillment right on top of each other. 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:15.599 It's like when you make a sandwich, okay, and you got one piece of bread here, that's where the peanut butter goes. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:18.599 Got another piece of bread here, that's where the jelly goes. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:20.360 If you do it any other way, you're wrong, okay? 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:26.920 Two pieces of bread, keep them separated until it's time to smush them together, right? 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:30.980 When the bread is separated, you see those two layers very clearly, very distinctly. 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:33.059 These are two different things. 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:37.319 But when you smush them up together, they mix. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:39.180 It's peanut butter and jelly now, right? 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.819 That's what the prophets do. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:47.839 They take these two layers of fulfillment, sometimes separated by thousands of years, 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:53.400 but they just smush them up together in just a few verses space in your Bible. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.759 The first layer clearly is Solomon. 00:25:57.900 --> 00:26:00.240 Solomon is the son of David. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:02.759 Solomon is the heir to his throne. 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:06.099 In fact, Solomon, he's the one that gets to build the temple. 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:09.460 It's the climax of the kingdom in the Old Testament. 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:14.839 Solomon gets the honor of building this house of the Lord, but what happens? 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:17.180 Solomon commits iniquity. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.640 Solomon is disciplined for it. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:27.519 God tears the kingdom away from Solomon, but God remains faithful to his promise to David. 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.099 Solomon is the first layer. 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:59.099 Baldwin gives up his Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth 00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:01.719 the vision gets more and more clear as you go. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:06.719 Our family checked out a telescope from the library. 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:08.179 I had no clue that you could do that. 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:10.419 You can check out a telescope from the library. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.919 And we put it out here on a table, 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:15.719 and we were able to look up and look at the stars. 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:18.319 And at first, it was like I couldn't see anything. 00:27:18.439 --> 00:27:19.539 It was just totally black. 00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:21.919 And then I took the lens off, the cover, 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:25.819 and I looked again, and it was still blurry. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.980 The image was blurry. 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.599 I couldn't really tell what I was looking at. 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.419 But you turn the dial. 00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:33.059 You make an adjustment here, an adjustment there. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:36.319 And finally, it's like I can actually see the stars. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:40.500 The prophets, as you read through the Old Testament, 00:27:40.719 --> 00:27:44.000 every prophecy that's made about this coming king 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:47.579 is like a turn of the dial that brings the fulfillment 00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:50.159 clearer and clearer and clearer 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:54.219 so that we can focus on who this child is that we're looking for. 00:27:54.219 --> 00:27:55.879 Who is this child? 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.159 Daniel. 00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:59.519 Tells us, 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:02.399 look for a king who's like a son of man, 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:07.359 who is given dominion and glory and a kingdom 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:11.819 that all peoples, all nations and languages should serve him. 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:15.179 His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.799 which shall not pass away. 00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:20.000 His kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.920 Okay, Daniel. 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.039 Daniel. 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:29.000 So we're looking for a universal, global, worldwide, forever king. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.119 Zechariah. 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.160 Zechariah. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:35.380 He tells us, look for a king who's righteous and having salvation. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:38.460 He's humble and, oh, by the way, he's mounted on a donkey. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.460 Is that specific enough? 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:46.880 Jeremiah tells us, look for one who is a righteous branch. 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:54.559 One who shall reign as king and deal wisely and execute justice and righteousness in the land. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:59.399 That just and a righteous, wise king who will bring peace and safety to his people. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:03.480 His name shall be called the Lord is our righteousness. 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:12.819 Isaiah tells us, look for a child to be born to a virgin, a son to be given, 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:16.059 and the government shall be upon his shoulder. 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:26.500 His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:34.420 Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:41.700 to establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:46.160 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:49.519 Church, this is the authority that we need. 00:29:49.519 --> 00:30:02.940 A king who rules with righteousness and wisdom and just is a perfect king who leads his people in peace and safety and security, 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:07.940 who rules not only over one piece of the earth, but over all the earth. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:10.920 Not only over one people, but all peoples. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:14.000 A king whose reign has no end. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.940 Who can this be but God himself? 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:25.539 The authority we so desperately need is the authority that we have all rejected. 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:39.440 But Christmas is the message that this is the authority God has so graciously sent down to us. 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:42.120 Who is this king? 00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:45.700 Third, Jesus is the king. 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.460 We need. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:52.059 Third, we see the provision of the king we need. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:55.600 Once again, this is the message of Christmas. 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:58.660 I want you to look now to Luke chapter 1. 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:03.460 We zip forward here to the New Testament. 00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:13.700 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin right away. 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:15.259 Our ears ought to perk up. 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.880 What did he say? 00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.400 A virgin? 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:20.120 Isaiah told us to be looking for a virgin. 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:25.740 Here she is, betrothed to Joseph, who, oh, by the way, of the house and lineage of David. 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:27.059 There's potential here. 00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:32.720 He came to her and said, greetings, oh favored one, the Lord is with you. 00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:37.279 She was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:42.679 And the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:46.180 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.880 You shall call his name Jesus. 00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:53.580 He will be great and will be called the son of the most high. 00:31:53.860 --> 00:31:59.340 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:03.600 And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:07.580 And of his kingdom there will be no end. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.660 It is abundantly clear, isn't it? 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:14.200 Jesus is the king we've been promised. 00:32:16.360 --> 00:32:24.340 The story of Christmas is the story of God giving us the authority that we so desperately need. 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.920 It's a gift of God's grace. 00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:33.840 God himself has come down to us in human flesh to be our king. 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:38.259 Christ Jesus is not just an extension of God's authority. 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:41.119 He is God with us. 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:51.359 And as he began his public ministry, Jesus stood up and said, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:54.879 Meaning, the kingdom of God is here. 00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:59.319 The king has arrived and with him the kingdom. 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:05.000 You see his authority as he teaches like no one has ever taught before. 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:10.480 You see his power as he heals the sick and casts out demons. 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:13.720 You see his righteousness as he resists every temptation. 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:19.799 Ultimately, you see his victory, our victory, as he dies and rises again. 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:22.660 Crushing the powers of sin and death. 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:27.360 Friend, our king has come. 00:33:27.360 --> 00:33:36.840 Jesus Christ is the true son of David who left the throne of heaven to purchase for himself a kingdom people. 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:41.800 To build us up into a holy temple of the living God. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.500 Don't you see? 00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:44.740 He is the king we've been promised. 00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:52.319 And yet, many in his day still rejected him. 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:59.259 Many still refused to have him as their king. 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:05.500 And many in our day still reject him. 00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:11.920 And many in our day still refuse to have him as their king. 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:14.380 They turn instead to anybody else. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:17.079 Anything else. 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:19.239 Self, you can be king. 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:22.239 You can rule over me. 00:34:22.439 --> 00:34:24.139 Flesh, you can be king. 00:34:25.839 --> 00:34:34.119 Pride, works, accomplishments, trophies on the shelf, diplomas on the wall. 00:34:34.479 --> 00:34:35.839 You can be my standard. 00:34:35.979 --> 00:34:36.939 You can be my ruler. 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:44.639 Sex, money, success, alcohol. 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:48.700 What my friends think of me, the praise of others. 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.659 You will rule over me. 00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:51.940 I'll do whatever you say. 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:56.340 Anything or anyone other than King Jesus. 00:34:56.340 --> 00:35:01.579 I hope you see how foolish this is. 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:10.539 At Christmas we celebrate the good news that the promised king has come. 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:13.500 The king that we need has come. 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:17.259 He comes to reign and to rule over us. 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.840 His reign is not a curse. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:20.139 It is a blessing. 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:21.480 And he bids you come. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:23.059 Bow the knee to me. 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:30.480 We celebrate at Christmas the coming of the king. 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:34.340 But you know, we've talked a lot about how Advent, it has us looking in two directions. 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:38.799 And at Christmas we look backwards to the birth of Christ. 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:40.299 The birth of this king. 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:42.500 When he came the first time. 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:47.500 But we also look forwards to the time when this king will come again. 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:56.039 He came the first time to live and to die and to rise to inaugurate the kingdom. 00:35:56.500 --> 00:36:00.179 But he comes again to reign and to rule forevermore. 00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:05.059 Think about it with me again. 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:13.259 Imagine a totally righteous ruler with absolute authority. 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:15.420 A truly good ruler. 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.639 One who will never be removed from office. 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:22.059 One whose policies are never voted down. 00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:28.539 A leader with unlimited power and wisdom to protect the weak and the needy. 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:33.799 A leader with unlimited strength to destroy the forces of evil once and for all. 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:41.360 A godly leader who will do everything in his power to bless his people now and forevermore. 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:43.560 In a kingdom that will never end. 00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:46.519 A remade world where there is no sin. 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.800 There is no death. 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:51.120 There are no tears. 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.660 There is no pain. 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:55.700 Where every knee will bow in heaven and on earth. 00:36:55.700 --> 00:36:59.300 And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:01.000 To the glory of God the Father. 00:37:01.100 --> 00:37:01.920 Are you imagining it? 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:10.360 The time is coming soon and very soon when we will not have to imagine. 00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:15.039 It will be very, very real. 00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:19.019 The king and his kingdom are coming soon. 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:24.780 But the good news for us this Christmas, friend. 00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:31.460 We don't have to wait till then to experience this good authority in our lives. 00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:40.539 The king of heaven and the king of earth commands you now to bow the knee right now. 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:43.139 The time is fulfilled. 00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:45.940 The kingdom of God is at hand. 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:49.740 And repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:37:51.220 --> 00:37:55.440 If you want an authority that will not ever fail you, friend. 00:37:55.539 --> 00:37:56.559 Look to Jesus. 00:37:58.119 --> 00:38:03.900 If you want a leader who will not take from you but will give himself to you. 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.300 Look to Jesus. 00:38:05.300 --> 00:38:13.780 If you want a leader who will bless you and protect you and lead you in the ways of righteousness, friend. 00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:15.560 Look to Jesus. 00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:20.340 If you want a leader who will defend you and redeem you. 00:38:20.660 --> 00:38:21.760 Look to Jesus. 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:23.940 And if you don't want that type of leader at all. 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:25.320 You just want to rule yourself. 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:25.860 Friend. 00:38:26.180 --> 00:38:27.620 Look to Jesus. 00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:40.380 And as you come to him now, you will know the blessing of a king who is holy and just and patient and kind and merciful and sovereign. 00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:45.659 Who leads us and blesses us according to the word of God. 00:38:45.799 --> 00:38:47.319 This is the message of Christmas. 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:50.819 The king has come. 00:38:50.820 --> 00:38:54.220 And he will come again. 00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:58.780 So we sing here at Christmas. 00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:00.539 Joy to the world. 00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:02.200 The Lord is come. 00:39:02.340 --> 00:39:05.140 Let earth receive her king. 00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:08.380 Let every heart prepare him room. 00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:11.300 And heaven and nature sing. 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.519 Joy to the earth. 00:39:12.620 --> 00:39:14.500 The Savior reigns. 00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:16.440 Let men their songs employ. 00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:23.500 While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy. 00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:26.940 He rules the world with truth and grace. 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:32.840 And makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness. 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:36.460 And the wonders of his love. 00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:44.139 Friend, the absolute power of King Jesus blesses absolutely for all who know him by faith. 00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.099 Let's pray. 00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:56.639 Father, we praise you, God, that you have provided the authority, the king, the leadership that we so desperately need. 00:39:56.739 --> 00:40:00.480 We confess that all of us have rejected your rule over us. 00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:05.119 There's not a single one of us in the room this morning that is innocent before you. 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:08.380 Lord, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:13.559 But Father, we praise you for the good news of the gospel that we celebrate this Christmas season. 00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:19.400 That you have graciously sent Christ down to us simply to be received by faith. 00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:22.360 Lord, we love you. 00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:27.519 We look forward to the return of Christ and the final establishment of his kingdom to come. 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:29.019 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:40:30.019 --> 00:40:30.279 Amen. 00:40:30.279 --> 00:40:30.400 Amen. 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:31.619 Amen. 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:31.619 00:40:31.619 --> 00:41:01.599 Thank you.