WEBVTT

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 Just before Christmas three years ago, I had a completely un-Christmassy experience.

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! I was walking home from my office, which was in the middle of Richmond.

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 I walked out to the A316, which is the big dual carriageway, which, if you go down far enough, turns into the M3.

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 I just crossed over at St Margaret's with the traffic lights.

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 About five, maybe ten seconds after I crossed over the road,

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 all the lights went out. All the street lights, all the traffic lights,

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 and the person who walked in light was plunged into darkness,

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 which is, of course, the opposite of what Christmas is.

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 Now, at that point, I have to say, my first thought was,

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 I'm really glad I got across the road before the lights failed,

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 because if there had been no lights, I would have had no hope of getting across.

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 And sure enough, as soon as the traffic lights went out, I could hear the horns sounding,

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 I turned around and saw some cars, depending on the personality of the driver,

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 approaching the roundabout at high speed, kind of forcing their ways on,

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 others approaching very gingerly.

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 And it was just carnage and chaos.

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 Horns beeping, no doubt.

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 Angry voices in the cars.

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 You see, without light, there's chaos and confusion.

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 Without light, we cannot see reality.

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 We cannot see what is really there.

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 Without light, there is no hope.

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 I would have had no hope of crossing that road

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 if the lights had not still been on while I came to that point.

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 So we need light, don't we?

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 And that's what Christmas is about.

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 That's what this great promise that God made through the prophet Isaiah

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 over 700 years earlier was about.

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 Verse 2,

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 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

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 Light that reveals reality.

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 Light that gives hope in the midst of darkness and confusion.

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 Light that provides peace and security

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 instead of cars driving into each other

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 and honking at each other and getting angry.

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 We often use light as a very powerful metaphor, don't we, for hope.

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 When Nelson Mandela died just over a year ago,

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 David Cameron's comment was,

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 A great light has gone out in this world.

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 Why?

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 Because to many people,

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 Mandela's life was an example of hope,

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 a beacon of hope.

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 Well, in Isaiah's day,

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 the people needed hope.

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 They needed light.

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 And if we understand the context

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 into which this promise was given,

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 then we'll start to understand its relevance

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 for Christmas,

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 its relevance for us today.

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 So the situation was this,

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 and if you were here last week,

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 you'll know some of this.

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 It was about 732 AD.

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 Jerusalem, the capital of Judah,

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 was full of fear,

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 full of anxiety.

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 After years of stability

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 and economic progress,

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 a new king had come to the throne,

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 King Ahaz.

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 And he faced a serious threat.

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 The Syrian army in the north

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 and the Israelite army to the north

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 had ganged up on him,

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 were encamped around Jerusalem.

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 And he was looking for any hope,

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 any sense of security

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 in the midst of that darkness.

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 There was uncertainty about the future.

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 It was fear.

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 The situation seemed bleak and dark.

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 And in the bleakness and the darkness,

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 where did people look?

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 Well, if you look up to the top of the page,

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 the very first line on 6-9-2,

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 the end of verse 19,

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 some were inquiring of the mediums

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 and the necromancers

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 who chirp and mutter.

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 People were going to superstition

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 and to the occult

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 and to any kind of thing they could get

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 to try and get some sort of hope.

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 Meanwhile, the experts

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 had their opinion as well.

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 So if you turn back over the page,

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 under the title where it says,

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 Fear God, wait for the Lord,

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 verse 12,

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 some people were talking about conspiracy.

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 The Lord says to Isaiah,

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 do not call conspiracy

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 all that these people call conspiracy.

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 Do not fear what they fear

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 or be in dread.

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 It's a sort of picture

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 of the experts of the day

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 sitting there going,

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 oh, it's all a conspiracy theory.

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 What do we have today

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 as we look in our newspapers

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 and look on the websites?

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 There are lots of conspiracy theories

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 out there, aren't there?

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 Maybe no one ever went to the moon,

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 but there are always conspiracies

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 about what's going on

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 in the Middle East.

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 So many people resorting

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 to horoscopes

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 to find some hope for the future.

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 Superstition, conspiracy,

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 it's all still rife in our days.

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 People look for light

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 in the midst of darkness,

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 isn't it?

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 Do you know what the real darkness

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 was in Isaiah's day?

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 The real darkness was

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 that people were turning

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 to the occult,

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 turning to human schemes

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 like Ahaz,

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 who had ignored God's promises

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 and trusted that he could form

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 a political alliance

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 that would get him through

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 the oncoming conflict.

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 People had turned away from God

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 and they turned away from light

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 and ended up in darkness.

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 Their refusal to trust God's promises

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 instead relying on their own efforts

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 is what the real darkness was.

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 It wasn't just the darkness of invasion.

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 It was the darkness

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 of turning away from God

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 and trusting in themselves.

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 That's not so very different

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 from today, is it?

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 People long for hope

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 and peace in the world,

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 don't they?

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 In the world out there,

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 we look for peace and security

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 in our own lives,

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 and yet so often

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 we rely on human things

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 and not on God's promises.

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 That's really the key issue here.

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 What will you trust?

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 Do you trust in God

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 and what he's doing?

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 Or in human plans

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 and human wisdom

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 and human endeavour?

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 This year is a very poignant year,

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 isn't it?

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 2014.

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 It's a hundred years

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 since the end of World War I.

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 And I'm sure you know

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 what they used to call World War I.

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 It was the war to end all wars.

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 It hasn't quite worked out like that,

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 has it?

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 But why do people think

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 that would be the war

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 that would end all wars?

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 Because at the turn of that century,

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 to the 19th and to the 20th century,

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 in a time of great optimism,

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 there's been so much progress

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 in human understanding

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 and advancement

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 over the previous century.

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 So much that was new.

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 That people believed

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 that actually human beings

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 would solve all the world's problems.

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 We could live at peace

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 with one another.

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 Human rationality,

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 human advancement

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 would lead to all the progress

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 we needed.

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 So the world was deeply influenced

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 by the so-called enlightenment

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 of the 18th century,

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 which put great faith

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 in human reasons.

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 Yet what happened

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 in World War I?

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 The great advanced powers

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 of the day

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 entered into a futile battle

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 where it got no one nowhere

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 and destroyed millions.

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 It showed that no matter

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 how advanced or clever

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 we thought we were,

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 we could not provide peace

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 for ourselves.

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 Human institutions

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 and philosophies

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 could not provide peace.

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 Well, fast forward

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 from 1914

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 towards the end

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 of the 20th century,

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 1989, 1990,

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 as the Berlin Wall

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 came tumbling down,

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 Francis Fukuyama,

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 political scientist

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 in America,

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 declared it was

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 the end of history

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 as communism tumbled.

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 Why did he say that?

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 Because really,

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 over the previous 200 years,

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 there have been

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 two human philosophies

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 that sought to bring

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 prosperity and peace

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 to the world.

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 There was capitalism

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 on one hand

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 and communism

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 on the other.

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 So as communism fell,

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 Fukuyama,

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 a learned American

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 political scientist,

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 declared this is

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 the end of history.

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 Capitalism has won.

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 From now on,

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 there will be peace.

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 Well, has it worked

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 out like that

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 in the last 25 years?

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 Of course not.

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 Neither communism

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!

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 Neither communism

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 nor capitalism

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 has brought peace

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 on the earth.

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 These are human philosophies,

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 human ideas.

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 They cannot solve

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 the deep problems

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 in the human heart.

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 Even over the last few years,

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 I was fascinated to read

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 about two or three years ago

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 in the midst of

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 the Eurozone crisis

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 when politicians

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 across the Eurozone

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 were scrabbling

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 to find a solution

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 to all the debt problems

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 and Greece particularly.

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 What would happen

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 would the Eurozone

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 fall apart?

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 British political scientist

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 John Gray

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 wrote this.

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 European institutions

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 have preserved the peace

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 for more than a generation.

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 That's true.

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 It's been a long time

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 since the end

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 of World War II.

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 These institutions

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 have provided

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 a steady growth

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 and prosperity.

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 And so now

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 the very idea

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 that they could break up

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 challenges the prevailing belief

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 in steady improvement

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 which is

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 get this

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 the faith

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 of practical men

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 and women

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 who imagine

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 they have no religion.

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 The faith

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 of practical men

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 and women

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 who imagine

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 they have no religion

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 but actually look

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 to human institutions

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 and human philosophies

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 for peace

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 and security

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 and growth

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 in this world.

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 That doesn't just happen

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 out there

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 on the global scene

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 does it?

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 It happens in here

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 in our own hearts

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 and lives.

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 We want hope.

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 We want life.

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 We long for hope

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 and security

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 in the midst

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 of personal darkness

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 be that

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 insecurity

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 in our work situations

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 problems

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 in our families.

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 And every human being

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 longs for

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 some hope.

00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:04.320
 We cannot live

00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:04.900
 without hope

00:09:04.900 --> 00:09:05.280
 do we?

00:09:06.059 --> 00:09:06.620
 So some of us

00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:07.360
 place that hope

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.299
 in achievement

00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:09.179
 if I work hard

00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:10.079
 and if I get

00:09:10.079 --> 00:09:10.939
 the next promotion

00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:13.159
 then I'll be happy

00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:14.439
 then I'll be secure.

00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:16.079
 Yet the promotion

00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:16.699
 comes

00:09:16.699 --> 00:09:17.919
 and just extra

00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:18.879
 insecurities are added.

00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:20.179
 We think

00:09:20.179 --> 00:09:21.299
 our children

00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:22.419
 if they're safe

00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:23.299
 if they're secure

00:09:23.299 --> 00:09:24.539
 if I get them

00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:25.500
 safely out of the house

00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.220
 off to university

00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:27.220
 as reasonably

00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:28.299
 responsible people

00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:29.299
 I'll be happy

00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:30.100
 and secure then.

00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:31.199
 And yet even that

00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:31.720
 doesn't happen

00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:32.120
 does it?

00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:33.360
 Because then just

00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:33.919
 bigger worries

00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:34.519
 take hold.

00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:35.980
 And of course

00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:36.620
 people look for

00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:37.519
 inner peace

00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.679
 in all sorts of places.

00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:40.379
 A great trend

00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:41.279
 over the last five years

00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:42.519
 has been mindfulness.

00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:43.079
 I don't know if you've

00:09:43.079 --> 00:09:43.620
 seen the stuff

00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.240
 on mindfulness

00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:45.639
 that you need to

00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:46.220
 kind of cut out

00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.179
 the world's distractions

00:09:47.179 --> 00:09:48.319
 and just focus

00:09:48.319 --> 00:09:49.159
 on things

00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:49.759
 and that will

00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:50.500
 bring you peace.

00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:51.720
 Of course

00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:52.480
 there is some truth

00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.139
 that if you block

00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:53.860
 out the rest of the world

00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:54.339
 you can find

00:09:54.339 --> 00:09:55.059
 some sort of

00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:56.039
 short-lived peace.

00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:57.720
 But these are all

00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:58.860
 human ideas

00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.199
 human achievements

00:10:00.199 --> 00:10:01.639
 human aspirations

00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.299
 and none of them

00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:04.360
 brings lasting light.

00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.799
 Because all of us

00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:07.240
 all of them

00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:07.860
 at the end of the day

00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:08.819
 are turning away

00:10:08.819 --> 00:10:09.579
 from a God

00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:11.000
 who loves us

00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:11.639
 and is in control

00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:12.319
 of everything

00:10:12.319 --> 00:10:14.000
 instead seeking

00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.519
 a solution

00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:15.319
 seeking peace

00:10:15.319 --> 00:10:16.059
 seeking life

00:10:16.059 --> 00:10:17.799
 in our own efforts

00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:18.519
 to build up

00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:19.120
 our security.

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:21.959
 We are people

00:10:21.959 --> 00:10:22.879
 who walk in darkness

00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:24.240
 we need

00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.079
 a great light.

00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:26.659
 So what is this light

00:10:26.659 --> 00:10:27.439
 that God promises

00:10:27.439 --> 00:10:27.959
 to rise to?

00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:28.779
 Let's have a look at it

00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:29.220
 I want you to see

00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:29.740
 first of all

00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:30.959
 the change that comes

00:10:30.959 --> 00:10:31.799
 about as this light

00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:32.179
 dawns

00:10:32.179 --> 00:10:33.139
 verses 2 and 3

00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:34.799
 the people

00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:35.580
 who walked in

00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:36.000
 darkness

00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:36.519
 have seen

00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:37.519
 a great light

00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:39.559
 those who dwelt

00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:40.100
 in a land

00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.899
 of deep darkness

00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:41.480
 on them

00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:43.159
 has light shone.

00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:44.399
 Do you notice

00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.360
 this is not a light

00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.019
 that the people

00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:47.019
 light up for themselves

00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:48.199
 it's not a light

00:10:48.199 --> 00:10:49.100
 people have generated

00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:49.759
 for themselves

00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.679
 it's a light

00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:51.159
 that suddenly

00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:52.179
 shines on them

00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:53.159
 a bit like

00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:53.759
 the street lights

00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:54.199
 when they came

00:10:54.199 --> 00:10:54.679
 back on

00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:56.379
 just shone

00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.500
 so we could see

00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:59.240
 what does this

00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.080
 light lead to?

00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:00.700
 Verse 3

00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.700
 what does it mean?

00:11:02.780 --> 00:11:03.480
 You've multiplied

00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:04.120
 the nation

00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.400
 you've increased

00:11:05.400 --> 00:11:05.980
 its joy

00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:06.540
 they rejoice

00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:07.280
 before you

00:11:07.280 --> 00:11:08.220
 as with joy

00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:08.920
 at the harvest

00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:10.160
 as they're glad

00:11:10.160 --> 00:11:10.740
 when they divide

00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.280
 the spoil

00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:12.140
 it's a picture

00:11:12.140 --> 00:11:12.879
 of partying

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.700
 it's a picture

00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:14.420
 of happiness

00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:15.520
 suddenly

00:11:15.520 --> 00:11:16.340
 the nation

00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:16.860
 that looks like

00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:17.700
 it was decreasing

00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:18.800
 and going to be

00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:19.820
 destroyed

00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:21.180
 is growing again

00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:22.320
 it's like the

00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:23.379
 happiness

00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:23.960
 that people

00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:24.379
 in the city

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:24.700
 feel

00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:25.040
 when they get

00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:25.600
 their bonuses

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.740
 that's the

00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.900
 harvest there

00:11:27.900 --> 00:11:28.600
 the joy

00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:29.920
 when the spoil

00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:30.480
 is divided

00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:32.340
 and what's

00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:32.779
 the reason

00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:33.279
 for this?

00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:34.440
 why is there

00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:34.940
 now hope?

00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:36.899
 well the immediate

00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:37.620
 reason is in

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:39.220
 verse 4 and 5

00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:40.700
 for the yoke

00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:41.480
 of his burden

00:11:41.480 --> 00:11:42.159
 and the staff

00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:42.800
 of his shoulder

00:11:42.800 --> 00:11:43.580
 the rod of his

00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.120
 oppressor

00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:45.180
 you have broken

00:11:45.180 --> 00:11:46.320
 as on the day

00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:46.840
 of Midian

00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.240
 so at the time

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.480
 Isaiah was speaking

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.100
 about Israel

00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:50.519
 being

00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.820
 or Judah rather

00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:53.100
 being ruled over

00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:54.060
 by the Assyrians

00:11:54.060 --> 00:11:55.279
 being forced

00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:55.820
 into working

00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:56.300
 for them

00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:57.120
 the rod of the

00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:57.680
 oppressor

00:11:57.680 --> 00:11:58.940
 but now that's

00:11:58.940 --> 00:11:59.460
 been lifted

00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.560
 the oppression

00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:02.500
 they would deal

00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:03.740
 with has gone

00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:04.740
 the army that

00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:05.220
 was marching

00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:05.680
 in would be

00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:06.100
 destroyed

00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:06.560
 look at this

00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:07.180
 verse 5

00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:08.460
 for every boot

00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:09.100
 of a tramping

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.500
 warrior

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.220
 in battle

00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:10.720
 tumours

00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.900
 and every garment

00:12:11.900 --> 00:12:12.560
 rolled in blood

00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.200
 will be burned

00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.379
 as fuel for fire

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:16.000
 it's not just the

00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:16.740
 weapons of war

00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:17.220
 that have gone

00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.240
 it's the very

00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:18.840
 uniform

00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:20.759
 the very shoes

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:21.259
 that soldiers

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:21.680
 would wear

00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:22.320
 that's all being

00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:22.900
 chucked out

00:12:22.900 --> 00:12:23.580
 it's no longer

00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:23.879
 needed

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.840
 peace has come

00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:26.340
 as this light

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:26.940
 dawns

00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:27.840
 so what's

00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:28.400
 causing the

00:12:28.400 --> 00:12:28.840
 end of

00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.240
 oppression

00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:29.820
 what's causing

00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:30.260
 the end of

00:12:30.260 --> 00:12:30.940
 all conflict

00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:32.420
 is it a mighty

00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:32.760
 army

00:12:32.760 --> 00:12:35.160
 what's doing

00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:35.780
 what world war

00:12:35.780 --> 00:12:36.480
 one didn't do

00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.860
 what's going to

00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:38.380
 do what the

00:12:38.380 --> 00:12:39.040
 UN has never

00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:39.640
 managed to do

00:12:39.640 --> 00:12:40.420
 and bring peace

00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:41.200
 and the end of

00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:41.620
 oppression

00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.260
 well look at

00:12:43.260 --> 00:12:43.880
 verse 6

00:12:43.880 --> 00:12:45.420
 the ultimate

00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:46.260
 reason for this

00:12:46.260 --> 00:12:47.720
 for to us

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.760
 a child

00:12:48.760 --> 00:12:49.500
 is born

00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.900
 to us

00:12:50.900 --> 00:12:51.680
 a son

00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.440
 is given

00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:56.780
 the solution

00:12:56.780 --> 00:12:57.580
 to a world

00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.320
 without peace

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.420
 solution to

00:12:59.420 --> 00:13:00.140
 insecurity

00:13:00.140 --> 00:13:01.200
 solution to

00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:01.680
 the darkness

00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:02.180
 of not being

00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:02.580
 able to see

00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.060
 reality

00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:04.520
 is a child

00:13:04.520 --> 00:13:05.160
 coming into

00:13:05.160 --> 00:13:05.560
 the world

00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:06.340
 a child being

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.000
 given to us

00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.800
 coming from

00:13:07.800 --> 00:13:08.420
 outside

00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:09.680
 and look at

00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:10.240
 who this child

00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:10.640
 is

00:13:10.640 --> 00:13:11.580
 it's an amazing

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.480
 series of titles

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:12.980
 isn't it

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.260
 verse 5

00:13:14.260 --> 00:13:14.940
 as it goes on

00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:15.820
 the government

00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:16.400
 shall be upon

00:13:16.400 --> 00:13:16.960
 his shoulder

00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.220
 and his name

00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:18.860
 shall be called

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.400
 wonderful

00:13:19.400 --> 00:13:20.160
 counsellor

00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:21.480
 mighty God

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.659
 everlasting

00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:23.320
 father

00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:24.399
 prince of

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.879
 peace

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:28.920
 here he is

00:13:28.920 --> 00:13:29.720
 this child

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:30.080
 he born

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:30.379
 is going to

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:30.600
 grow up

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.539
 as literally

00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.300
 a wonder

00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.920
 of a counsellor

00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:34.580
 a wonder

00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.180
 of a counsellor

00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:35.680
 someone who's

00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:36.420
 got divine

00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:36.879
 wisdom

00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.820
 to lead

00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:39.100
 human wisdom

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.019
 fails doesn't

00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:40.120
 it

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:41.159
 I'm so glad

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:41.500
 I'm not a

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:41.980
 prime minister

00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.580
 or a president

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.019
 I can't

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.639
 understand all

00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:43.940
 the things

00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:44.300
 that are going

00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:44.620
 on in the

00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:44.899
 world

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.920
 who can

00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:47.820
 that this

00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.600
 child he born

00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:48.899
 would have

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.840
 divine wisdom

00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.039
 a wonder

00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.419
 of a counsellor

00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.439
 not only that

00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.419
 he is mighty

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.059
 God

00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:56.480
 born as a

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:56.799
 baby

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:58.139
 yet fully

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:58.480
 God

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:58.860
 as well as

00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.579
 fully human

00:13:59.579 --> 00:14:00.879
 I don't know

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.219
 if you've ever

00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:01.839
 had Jehovah's

00:14:01.839 --> 00:14:02.379
 witnesses come

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:02.759
 and tell you

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.159
 that Jesus

00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.379
 was not really

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.539
 God

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:07.199
 it's a great

00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:07.860
 verse to confuse

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.299
 them with

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.419
 right here in the

00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:10.039
 Old Testament

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:12.120
 God promises

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.139
 that

00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:15.199
 the eternal

00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:15.980
 son of God

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.620
 will be born

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.480
 as a child

00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:18.379
 as a gift

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.039
 to his people

00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:19.899
 as a true

00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:20.219
 king

00:14:20.219 --> 00:14:20.620
 to rule

00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.099
 over them

00:14:21.099 --> 00:14:21.759
 and bring

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.179
 the liberty

00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:22.639
 and peace

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.120
 they needed

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.879
 so he's a

00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.339
 wonder of a

00:14:25.339 --> 00:14:25.799
 counsellor

00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.360
 he's a mighty

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:26.719
 God

00:14:26.719 --> 00:14:27.319
 he's the

00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:27.860
 everlasting

00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:28.419
 father

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.679
 a father

00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:30.620
 should care

00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:31.480
 for and provide

00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.039
 for his

00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:32.399
 children

00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.179
 the father

00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:33.819
 of a nation

00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.000
 cares for

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.459
 and provides

00:14:35.459 --> 00:14:35.939
 for a nation

00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.419
 doesn't he

00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:38.000
 Nelson Mandela

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.279
 again

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.419
 when he died

00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.539
 many South

00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:41.099
 Africans had

00:14:41.099 --> 00:14:41.500
 called him

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:41.959
 the father

00:14:41.959 --> 00:14:42.579
 of the nation

00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:43.819
 in a sense

00:14:43.819 --> 00:14:44.240
 as though he

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:44.480
 was

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:44.779
 it was

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.879
 under his

00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:46.219
 rule

00:14:46.219 --> 00:14:46.879
 that white

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.480
 only rule

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.719
 was ended

00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.460
 in South

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:49.860
 Africa

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.540
 but here

00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:51.879
 is an

00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.480
 everlasting

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:52.980
 father

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.440
 he will

00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:54.060
 not die

00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:55.440
 he will

00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:55.800
 not like

00:14:55.800 --> 00:14:56.379
 some human

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:56.759
 fathers

00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.460
 lose interest

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:57.860
 and walk

00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.240
 away

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.500
 he is a

00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.040
 father to

00:15:00.040 --> 00:15:00.540
 his people

00:15:00.540 --> 00:15:00.860
 who will

00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.620
 always care

00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.500
 always provide

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.519
 always be

00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:03.860
 there

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.500
 and what

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.019
 else is he

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:07.259
 prince of

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.740
 peace

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.899
 in other

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:09.220
 words he's

00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:10.180
 the prince

00:15:10.180 --> 00:15:10.740
 the ruler

00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.759
 whose reign

00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:12.420
 is characterized

00:15:12.420 --> 00:15:13.360
 by peace

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.920
 whose reign

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.560
 is characterized

00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:17.379
 by peace

00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.519
 so what are

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:19.139
 the prospects

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.759
 when this

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.340
 child grows

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.620
 up and

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:20.820
 rules

00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:21.220
 what are

00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:21.700
 the prospects

00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.100
 what's going

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:22.439
 to happen

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.580
 well

00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.600
 let's look at

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.799
 verse 7

00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:27.939
 of the increase

00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.639
 of his government

00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.519
 and of peace

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.399
 there will be

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.100
 no end

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:34.259
 isn't that what

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:34.899
 we'd all love

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:36.419
 isn't that what

00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.100
 people hoped

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.980
 the end of

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.519
 world war one

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.019
 would bring

00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:40.539
 but it didn't

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.740
 or the end of

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.379
 communism would

00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:42.679
 bring

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.120
 but it didn't

00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:45.120
 peace

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.740
 now what do

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.139
 you think of

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.460
 when you hear

00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:46.820
 that word

00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.259
 peace

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:49.259
 I guess many

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:49.720
 of us probably

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.240
 think of the

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.179
 absence of

00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:51.659
 conflict

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.200
 don't we

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.340
 but in the

00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.080
 original language

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.679
 this is a much

00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.460
 bigger word

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:55.759
 than that

00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.159
 it's not just

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.100
 the absence

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.759
 of conflict

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.539
 it's the presence

00:15:58.539 --> 00:15:59.320
 of wholeness

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.460
 shalom in the

00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:00.779
 original

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:03.220
 it's every hunger

00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:03.799
 satisfied

00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:04.940
 every relationship

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.560
 mended

00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.759
 every joy

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.600
 made complete

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.460
 the world

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.060
 restored

00:16:09.060 --> 00:16:10.340
 to the wholeness

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:10.779
 that we all

00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.279
 long for

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.680
 and believe

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.519
 we should have

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:14.159
 so how does

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.939
 Jesus' birth

00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:15.799
 bring that light

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.419
 to people

00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:16.899
 walking in

00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.199
 darkness

00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:17.699
 how does it

00:16:17.699 --> 00:16:18.199
 bring light

00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:18.539
 to people

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.199
 like us

00:16:19.199 --> 00:16:20.980
 well of course

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.439
 to understand

00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:22.000
 that we really

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.399
 need to look

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.939
 at the whole

00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:23.620
 of Jesus' life

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:23.899
 and we don't

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:24.340
 have time to

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:24.639
 do that

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.259
 in five minutes

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.559
 now

00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.679
 but let me

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:27.240
 just say this

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.340
 a little bit

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.419
 like the street

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:29.779
 lights

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.840
 or light

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.240
 generally

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.340
 helps us to

00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:32.899
 see what is

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.460
 really there

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.819
 so Jesus

00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:35.519
 in his life

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.100
 and teaching

00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.240
 reveals reality

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:37.840
 to us

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.960
 he shows us

00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:39.419
 what we are

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.019
 really like

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.019
 and what God

00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:41.720
 is really like

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.620
 and just as

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.240
 the lights

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.139
 provided security

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.580
 for me

00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.460
 crossing the road

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.480
 not after your

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:47.920
 fear of being

00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:48.320
 run over

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:48.960
 by the traffic

00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:49.879
 so this

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.620
 this baby

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.360
 as he grows up

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:51.680
 Jesus

00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:52.300
 the king

00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:53.060
 will provide

00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.639
 security

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.820
 through his reign

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.899
 see that in the rest

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.560
 of verse 7

00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:57.720
 on the throne

00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.399
 of David

00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.160
 David the great

00:16:59.160 --> 00:16:59.759
 king over

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.259
 Israel

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.379
 to whom God

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:02.879
 had promised

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.759
 a throne

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.240
 forever

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.259
 on the throne

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:05.700
 of David

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.240
 and over his

00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:06.539
 kingdom

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.400
 to establish it

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:08.360
 and to uphold it

00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:09.339
 with justice

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.220
 and with righteousness

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.640
 from this time

00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.039
 forth

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.480
 and forever

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:12.900
 more

00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:14.299
 see he will

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.360
 he will rule

00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:15.799
 forever

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.279
 and so he will

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.120
 bring justice

00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.759
 and righteousness

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:19.819
 we see the disaster

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:20.779
 that happens in the world

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.039
 when there is no

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.600
 just rule

00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:23.539
 we see that in Syria

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:25.500
 we heard the news

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:25.819
 yesterday

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.360
 about trial

00:17:26.360 --> 00:17:26.920
 falling apart

00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.660
 in South Africa

00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.720
 and the

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:30.160
 heartache

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.579
 obviously I don't

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.079
 know the rights

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.440
 and wrongs

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.220
 went on there

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:33.920
 but the heartache

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:35.380
 of the family

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:35.900
 of the murdered

00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.299
 woman

00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.640
 that they

00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.940
 feel they haven't

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.500
 got justice

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.000
 they'll never

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.680
 understand what

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.600
 happened to their

00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:41.940
 daughter

00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.900
 it's a terrible

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.740
 thing isn't it

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.779
 and yet here is

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.519
 the one who will

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.440
 rule and bring

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.559
 absolute justice

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.200
 and righteousness

00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.580
 and that means

00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:52.860
 he will judge

00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:53.400
 justly

00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.720
 he will destroy

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.120
 all who oppose

00:17:56.120 --> 00:17:56.700
 his reign

00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.559
 all who bring

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.900
 grief and strife

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.720
 on this world

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.440
 so he reveals

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:01.960
 reality

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.460
 he provides

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:02.940
 security

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.160
 he brings hope

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.519
 of the increase

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.320
 of his government

00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:06.860
 and of peace

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.720
 there will be no end

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:09.579
 and as you read

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.000
 on through the

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.539
 story of Jesus

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.579
 life you'll see

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.200
 that hope

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.740
 that he died

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.640
 but then rose

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.079
 again

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:16.519
 and his resurrection

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.220
 the fact that he's

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.220
 alive is confirmation

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.240
 that he really is the

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.519
 king

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.579
 that he really is

00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.299
 the one reigning

00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:23.200
 yes he has not yet

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:25.700
 destroyed all evil

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.740
 he has not yet

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.440
 brought in his

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.420
 perfect eternal

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.160
 kingdom in its

00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:29.539
 fullness

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:31.779
 the peace and

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.500
 security we all

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.000
 long for

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.100
 but the day will

00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:34.460
 come

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:35.559
 his resurrection

00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:36.160
 proves that

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.740
 one of the reasons

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.740
 I'm a Christian

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.700
 is I'm convinced

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:41.079
 that Jesus Christ

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.900
 really rose from

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.240
 the dead

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:45.299
 so how can this

00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.079
 child do all this

00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:46.620
 how can he

00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.660
 reveal reality

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.579
 provide security

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.319
 and bring hope

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:51.599
 well he does it

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.059
 ultimately

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.460
 through the

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.220
 culmination of

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.039
 his life on earth

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.200
 when he died

00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:56.880
 on the cross

00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:58.200
 to pay for

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.180
 all the wickedness

00:18:59.180 --> 00:18:59.900
 all the

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.859
 unrighteousness

00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:02.160
 all the injustice

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.640
 so that all

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.539
 who trust in him

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.720
 can be forgiven

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.680
 all who will

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:08.019
 turn and bow

00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.700
 down to him

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.319
 as the rightful

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.680
 king

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.180
 can be forgiven

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:13.559
 so that's how he

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.380
 provides everlasting

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.039
 security

00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.480
 for those who

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.319
 accept that offer

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.339
 of forgiveness

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:20.700
 who accept the

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.380
 offer that Jesus

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.259
 death can pay for

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.799
 our punishment

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:25.220
 we can have

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.319
 everlasting security

00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:26.940
 as part of his

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.319
 kingdom

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:30.259
 so really there are

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.940
 two ways to live

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.860
 just as the people

00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:32.559
 of Isaiah's day

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:32.860
 found

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.219
 we can either

00:19:33.219 --> 00:19:34.659
 trust in God's

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.000
 promises

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.959
 trust what God

00:19:35.959 --> 00:19:36.399
 does

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:38.159
 including sending

00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:38.779
 his son

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:41.019
 to be the king

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.500
 who will bring

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:41.959
 peace

00:19:41.959 --> 00:19:42.819
 for those who

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.559
 submit to him

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:45.000
 or we can look

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.259
 to human solutions

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.240
 human ways

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.459
 to find our own

00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:48.779
 hope

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:51.119
 see Jesus is the

00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.379
 one

00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.519
 this baby born at

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:52.839
 Christmas

00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.639
 the child given

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.159
 to us

00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:55.219
 is the one who

00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:56.039
 brings real hope

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.779
 he is the light

00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:57.419
 who comes into

00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:57.899
 the world

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.139
 who reveals the

00:19:59.139 --> 00:19:59.839
 reality about

00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.979
 God and his

00:20:00.979 --> 00:20:01.399
 love

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.460
 about us

00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.340
 human beings

00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:03.900
 and our

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.900
 desperate need

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:05.440
 our desperate

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.220
 rebellion in

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.900
 our hearts

00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:08.120
 that causes the

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:08.660
 troubles in the

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:08.980
 world

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:11.060
 he is the one

00:20:11.060 --> 00:20:11.640
 who provides a

00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:12.540
 way for us

00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:13.519
 to be right

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.300
 with God again

00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:15.460
 to have hope

00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.980
 to have life

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.759
 and light

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:22.600
 so really quite

00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.240
 two questions

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.780
 for us as we

00:20:23.780 --> 00:20:24.240
 close

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.160
 firstly how do we

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.920
 respond to this

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.680
 gift of a child

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.440
 at Christmas time

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:30.000
 you know what it's

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.540
 like at Christmas

00:20:30.540 --> 00:20:30.980
 don't you

00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:31.500
 perhaps remember

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.000
 this from being

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.360
 a kid

00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.360
 we got gifts

00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:34.079
 under a Christmas

00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.440
 tree

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.180
 and I'm sure

00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.579
 as children

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.059
 none of us

00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:37.539
 left the gifts

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.120
 there did we

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.500
 in fact the

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.079
 trouble was trying

00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.380
 to get them

00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.900
 before Christmas

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.480
 morning if we're

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:41.779
 honest

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.140
 we'd always take

00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:43.559
 them and open

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.019
 them up and see

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.539
 what they were

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.799
 well here's a

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.940
 gift that would

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.880
 be foolish to

00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:48.480
 leave behind

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:48.980
 wouldn't we

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.620
 so what will we

00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.720
 do with this

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.259
 child that's been

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:52.660
 given to us

00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.019
 will we just

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.099
 leave him there

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.220
 unopened

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:56.519
 be rude to do

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.099
 that wouldn't it

00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.720
 let me ask

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.339
 another question

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.660
 where do you

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.340
 really look for

00:21:01.340 --> 00:21:02.320
 light in your

00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:02.920
 life where do

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.340
 you look for

00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:04.360
 hope and

00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.080
 security where

00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:05.759
 do our friends

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.000
 look for light

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.279
 and hope in

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.660
 the midst of

00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.140
 darkness

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:12.420
 human philosophies

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.180
 man made

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.779
 ideas they

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.620
 fail they leave

00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.140
 us stumbling

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.800
 around as I

00:21:17.800 --> 00:21:18.340
 was stumbling

00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:18.940
 around when those

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.680
 lights went out

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.420
 we need the

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.279
 light that God

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.080
 gives the people

00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:23.880
 who walked in

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.960
 darkness have

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:25.880
 seen a great

00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.279
 light

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:28.339
 let's pray

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.279
 you