WEBVTT

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 I'm not sure that it makes a lot of difference, but I'm trying to get my watch where I can see it.

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! Let's begin with prayer.

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 Our Father God, this morning as we open Your Word, we're mindful that it is settled in the heavens, that it is truth.

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 It is that which is profitable that the man of God may be completely furnished for all good work.

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 It is the word of life.

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 It is the means whereby we are, first of all, convicted of our sin

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 and drawn to recognize that there is no remedy in ourselves or in our efforts

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 and drawn by Your grace to the cross and understanding that apart from You, we have no good.

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 We're thankful that we have the Word in hand and that it is the focal point of our attention this morning,

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 both in our singing, that woven through all the songs that we have sung is the beauty of the Scriptures,

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 that as we listen to our pastor pray that we can hear the Word of God resonate in the truth of the prayer.

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 And then as we take this Word in hand, we're reminded of the fact that it will last forever.

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 We come with frailty, with ambitions and affections that are so easily distracted,

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 and yet with confidence in the enabling of the Spirit of God that this morning we who are Your children

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 would enjoy the privilege of Your work in our lives,

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 that we would have You open the Word, that we would see wonderful truths there,

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 and that, frankly, we would grow to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and that our ambitions and affections would be focused on eternity rather than here.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to Luke chapter 2.

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 Luke chapter 2.

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 And as you are going there,

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 I would venture that there are a number of you that,

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 as we look at this passage this morning,

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 would say,

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 Oh, I've heard that before.

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 I remember that was one of the passages

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 that we read on an annual basis

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 on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning

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 when our family would get together.

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 And it's a passage that's very familiar to you.

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 I have to tell you that when something is very familiar,

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 there is a natural inclination to kind of,

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 I've heard that before, ain't no big deal,

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 and let it set aside.

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 And I would appeal to you that you don't go there.

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 That's not right.

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 When the Word of God is opened,

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 the children of God

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 should be actively engaged in appealing to the Spirit

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 who indwells the believer to say this,

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 Lord, open your Word

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 that it might have an effect on me

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 and that my heart might be warmed

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 by the beauty of who you are

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 and what you've done for me.

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 And that as a result of my attention

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 to the Word of God,

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 that I would grow in my love for the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and my understanding of the mission

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 that you've called me here for.

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 And I would appeal to you

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 that you who know Christ

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 consciously and deliberately do that.

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 I think we can multitask,

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 so let me read

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 and you pray with your eyes open.

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 Now that's complicated,

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 but let's give it a shot, okay?

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 Luke chapter 2, beginning there in verse 1.

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 In those days a decree went out

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 from Caesar Augustus

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 that all the world should be registered.

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 This was the first registration

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 when Quirinius was governor of Syria

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 and all went to be registered,

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 each to his own town.

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 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,

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 from the town of Nazareth,

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 to Judea, to the city of David,

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 which is called Bethlehem,

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 because he was of the house and lineage of David,

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 to be registered with Mary,

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 his betrothed, who was with child.

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 And while they were there,

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 the time came for her to give birth.

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 And she gave birth to her firstborn son

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 and wrapped him in swaddling clothes

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 and laid him in the manger,

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 because there was no place for them in the inn.

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 And in the same region,

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 there were shepherds out in the field

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 keeping watch over their flocks by night.

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 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,

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 and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

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 and they were filled with fear.

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 And the angel said to them,

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 Fear not,

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 for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

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 that will be for all the people.

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 For unto you is born this day in the city of David

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 a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

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 And this will be a sign for you.

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 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes

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 and lying in a manger.

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 I want us to look at this passage,

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 and as we start into the text,

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 the first thing that I ask that you pay attention to

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 is the setting,

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 because setting is important.

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 And I want you to recognize

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 that in the early verses that we've looked at,

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 particularly 1 through 7,

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 that the Scripture gives us

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 quite a bit of practical historical detail.

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 We know who ordered the registration.

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 We know who the governor of Syria was.

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 We know why Joseph and Mary went from

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 the place that they were living at that time

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 to Bethlehem,

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 and we know where Jesus was born.

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 Not the exact location,

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 but we know that he was born in a manger.

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 There's a little one over there, right there.

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 So we know the details.

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 And so I want you to think with me

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 just for a moment

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 about how carefully the Lord sees to it

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 that we are given all the information we need

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 to understand the particulars of this moment.

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 The Bible is actually quite generous

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 with factual and historical information

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 that is easily double-checked.

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 How many of you as parents have learned

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 that when your children come up from the basement

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 and there's been a little bit of tussle down there

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 and you ask them what happened,

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 the first giveaway that you need to drill down

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 pretty seriously is when they say,

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 nothing.

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 or not much.

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 The fact of the matter is

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 is that generally when there is a conscious

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 and deliberate focus on not giving information,

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 it's because the information that might be forthcoming

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 ends up being indicting.

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 And so one of the things that I want you

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 to appreciate about the Scripture

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 is that the Scripture is profoundly careful

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 to give you an abundance of information

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 information that you can actually check.

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 I remember at one point in my earlier days

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 having a person giving me the Pearl of Great Price.

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 Pearl of Great Price.

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 Does anybody know what that book is?

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 It is one of the trilogy of Mormon Scriptures

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 and I remember reading about the Lemonites

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 and the whatever else

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 and how there was this wonderful,

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 fantastical community developed out in the Southwest.

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 And the only difficulty with the entire story

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 is that there is no evidence whatever of its existence.

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 That's not the way it is with the Bible.

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 When the Bible says something, it can be checked.

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 Now at one point when archaeology

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 was kind of developing as a discipline

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 and an academic skill,

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 there was a time when people would say,

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 well, we don't have any record of, you know,

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 and they would generally speak in their ignorance

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 and their lack of understanding

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 and then slowly, sure enough,

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 someone would find evidence of,

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 well, there was a Caesar Augustus.

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 Lo and behold, just because we didn't know about him

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 here in the Midwest doesn't mean he didn't exist.

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 And there was an order

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 that taxation should take place

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 and everybody should be registered.

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 You can understand why they would do that.

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 They want to know how many people

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 to expect some money from.

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 And we also know who the governor of Syria was

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 and all these little details.

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 And so here, while we have over the years

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 many individuals who have tried to undermine

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 the authority of Scripture

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 by undermining the reality of its accuracy,

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 God has never backed away

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 from telling us what we need to know.

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 In fact, this is one of the things

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 that I really do like about our God.

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 He doesn't hide what we need to know

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 or what is helpful to us.

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 And I want you to recognize this morning

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 as you sit here under the teaching

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 of the Word of God,

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 no one will ever be able to say

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 in eternity,

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 I didn't know better.

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 The fact of the matter is,

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 is I was to my,

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 let me see how I say this right.

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 My wife says I say it wrong.

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 Endocrinology, am I right?

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 Kendra, where are you?

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 Wave at me so I get it right.

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 I went to my doctor.

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 How's that?

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 And my doctor was explaining,

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 just a wealth of medical information

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 and she was advising me on something

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 to do with my disease.

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 And I thought, I didn't know that before.

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 And if I had known that,

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 probably would have changed some things

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 earlier on in life

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 and probably lived to be a little,

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 maybe another six months.

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 Who knows?

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 You know, so the Bible can't be accused

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 of not giving us all the information we need.

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 And if you're sitting there

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 wondering about,

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 how does the story end?

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 What should I be doing today?

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 We find here just an illustration

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 of the fact that the Bible

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 goes out of its way

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 to tell us all that we need.

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 And so in addition to the historical facts,

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 I want you to recognize

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 that what we're dealing with here

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 is that we find that God chose

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 to bring this announcement

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 of the coming of His Savior,

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 our Savior, His Son, the Messiah.

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 He made the announcement to shepherds.

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 Now we have kind of idealized shepherds.

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 We think shepherds are the sweetest

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 and nicest thing ever going

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 and you're going to see shepherds tonight

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 that are going to be scared to death

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 when three lovely angels,

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 I think, is it three or four?

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 I don't know.

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 But anyway, they're going to come out

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 and they're, behold,

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 I'll give you a good tiding.

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 The shepherds are going to fall down.

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 It's well dramatized.

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 But I got to tell you,

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 in real life,

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 shepherds were not the kind of individuals

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 that you would have called on

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 if you wanted to make

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 an important announcement.

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 And the reason for that is this,

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 is that shepherds

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 were generally very unreliable,

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 irresponsible,

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 and disrespected bunch.

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 So much so that in Israel at the time

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 in which this announcement was made,

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 as a general rule,

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 shepherds were not allowed

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 to be witnesses in court.

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 Now that tells you something, doesn't it?

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 Generally, you know that

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 when you want someone to witness in court,

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 what you're looking for

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 is someone who has an adequate reputation

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 that their words should be believed.

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 Shepherds had such a lousy reputation

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 that it was generally,

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 hey, we're not just a shepherd

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 to tell us anything.

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 Let it go.

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 And so here, God comes,

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 and He gives the announcement

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 of sending His Son, the Messiah,

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 to shepherds.

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 Ask yourself the question,

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 why would God do that?

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 Is that a fair question?

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 Why would God send the message

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 of the coming of His Son

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 to shepherds in principle?

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 Why didn't He choose

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 the religious leaders of the day?

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 Why didn't He emblazon it

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 in the sky,

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 right over the horizon

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 of Jerusalem in particular?

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 Hello out there,

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 my Savior, my Son has come.

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 He is the Savior.

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 You better listen to Him.

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 Now by the way,

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 how many of you know

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 that the second time He comes

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 is going to be much more

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 undeniably clear, right?

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 The first time,

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 without fanfare,

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 sews up to the shepherds,

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 and you have to ask yourself

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 the question,

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 why would God do it this way?

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 Well, let me give you

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 a little hint

00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:24.819
 as to His purposes.

00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:26.480
 Turn over in your Bible,

00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:26.980
 if you will,

00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:28.519
 to 1 Corinthians 1.

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:35.360
 1 Corinthians 1,

00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.419
 verse 27 through 31.

00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:43.180
 Here is the apostle

00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:48.120
 teaching the believers in Corinth

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:51.120
 some of the basic principles

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:54.539
 about God in His dealing with us.

00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:56.860
 There in verse 27,

00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:57.159
 he says,

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.560
 but God chose what is foolish

00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:00.779
 in the world to shame the wise.

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:04.980
 He chose what is weak in the world

00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:06.059
 to shame the strong.

00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:08.120
 God chose what is low

00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.279
 and despised in the world,

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.639
 even things that are not,

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:13.240
 to bring to nothing things that are,

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:15.279
 so that no human being

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:17.399
 may boast in the presence of God.

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.319
 And because of Him,

00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.699
 you are in Christ Jesus,

00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:23.559
 who became to us wisdom from God,

00:14:23.699 --> 00:14:25.079
 righteousness and sanctification

00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:25.740
 and redemption,

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.959
 so that as it is written,

00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:30.320
 let the one who boasts

00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.139
 boast in God.

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.360
 I want you to think with me

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.019
 just for a moment

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:37.740
 why God chose to use the shepherds

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:40.480
 is because He wanted carefully

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.700
 for no other focus

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:44.680
 to be attached to the information

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:46.519
 other than on the news

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:48.519
 of Christ's coming Himself,

00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.340
 and that was it.

00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.940
 He didn't want people arriving

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:52.300
 and saying,

00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:53.940
 aren't you glad I have come

00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:55.860
 to give you this wonderful news,

00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.080
 and I am expected and appreciated,

00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:59.560
 and here I am.

00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:00.159
 You know, it's like,

00:15:00.300 --> 00:15:02.680
 no, shepherds were the ones

00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:03.539
 who were told.

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.860
 Another interesting detail

00:15:07.560 --> 00:15:08.399
 of God's work

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.700
 in announcing Christ's birth

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.600
 is that the event,

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:13.139
 ultimately, got lost.

00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:14.399
 And what I mean by that

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:16.580
 is that it had some momentary traction

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.680
 in the history of Israel,

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:20.039
 but it soon faded off the page.

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.159
 Turn, if you will,

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.560
 you're there in 1 Corinthians,

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.420
 go back to Matthew for a moment,

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.500
 I want you to look

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.759
 at Matthew chapter 2.

00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.559
 Let me read the passage to you

00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:31.179
 so you can follow with me here.

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.120
 Now, after Jesus was born

00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.279
 in Bethlehem in Judea

00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.360
 in the days of Herod,

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.360
 the king, behold,

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.759
 wise men from the east

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.699
 came to Jerusalem.

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:41.879
 Now, what happened first?

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:44.360
 Shepherds, wise men.

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.219
 Shepherds.

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.860
 And the announcement

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.759
 of the shepherds

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.620
 got kind of what?

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.860
 Oh yeah, so what?

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.919
 No big deal.

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.620
 Shepherds.

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:57.799
 They said,

00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.620
 here come the wise men,

00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:00.839
 saying,

00:16:00.979 --> 00:16:02.620
 where is he who has been born

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.419
 king of the Jews?

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.479
 For we saw his star

00:16:04.479 --> 00:16:05.059
 when it rose

00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:06.120
 and have come to worship him.

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.379
 When Herod the king heard this,

00:16:08.699 --> 00:16:09.439
 he was troubled.

00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:10.939
 And by the way,

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.500
 when Herod was troubled,

00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.279
 guess what happened

00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.639
 to everybody who was near him?

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.240
 They got troubled.

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.399
 Understandably.

00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:20.159
 It's a little bit like

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.919
 the despot

00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:22.799
 over there in North Korea.

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:24.219
 When he has a cold,

00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:25.079
 there are lots of people

00:16:25.079 --> 00:16:26.419
 that die as a result of it.

00:16:26.599 --> 00:16:27.719
 He is not a happy man

00:16:27.719 --> 00:16:28.259
 to be around.

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.339
 Herod was like that.

00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.740
 And so here we find

00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.519
 that Herod was troubled

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.539
 and all of Jerusalem

00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.059
 with him.

00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:34.519
 And as a result

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:36.919
 of his concern

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:38.019
 or his fear

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:38.979
 of someone else

00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:40.199
 taking his place,

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.979
 he had just a whole,

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.579
 two years and under,

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.159
 slaughtered.

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:44.519
 The children,

00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:44.959
 the men,

00:16:45.079 --> 00:16:45.459
 the boys.

00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:48.100
 And so the thing

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.080
 that I want you to recognize

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.720
 as you're thinking

00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.180
 about the story

00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:51.780
 of Christmas

00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:52.940
 is here is

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.680
 the Lord Jesus arriving,

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.879
 born of a virgin,

00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:58.180
 born in a manger.

00:16:58.900 --> 00:17:00.139
 And the fact of the matter

00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:00.900
 is is that

00:17:00.900 --> 00:17:02.220
 most everything

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.960
 that happened

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.620
 was just kind of

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.200
 looked over

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.000
 and passed over

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.299
 and people did not

00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.740
 pay much attention to it.

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.640
 It reminds me

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.200
 of what we read

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.900
 over in John chapter 1.

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.420
 Let's go there

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.100
 just for a moment

00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:13.380
 to frame that thought

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:13.980
 in our minds.

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.220
 John chapter 1

00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.500
 verse 10.

00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.480
 He was in the world

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.799
 and the world

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.680
 was made through him

00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:25.980
 yet the world

00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:27.200
 did not know him.

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.740
 He was in the world.

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.860
 The world was made

00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:31.380
 through him

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.039
 and yet

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.460
 the fact of the matter is

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.019
 the world

00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.900
 did not know him.

00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.740
 Even though the announcement

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.279
 was made,

00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:38.539
 even though the wise men came,

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.900
 at the end of the day

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.460
 the coming of our Lord Jesus

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.019
 was something

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.940
 that was largely overlooked

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:45.340
 by almost everyone

00:17:45.340 --> 00:17:46.539
 that heard the news.

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.880
 Without his background

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:50.140
 I want to dive into the text

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.740
 and think about it

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.400
 a little more carefully

00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.559
 because the news

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.320
 that is given there

00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:54.759
 is truly spectacular

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:56.360
 and has application

00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:57.420
 to each of us

00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.160
 here this morning.

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.000
 Go back, if you will,

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.980
 to Luke chapter 2

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:05.160
 and pick up with me there

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:07.700
 what we read in verse 9.

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.539
 And the angel

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.259
 and an angel

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:09.819
 of the Lord

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.480
 appeared to them

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.700
 and the glory of the Lord

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.519
 shone around them

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.740
 and they were filled

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.519
 with fear.

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.880
 A little sidebar.

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.759
 And I don't know about you

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.059
 but I recognize

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.019
 certain patterns.

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.700
 I'm old enough

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.440
 to see it happen

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.340
 periodically.

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:29.059
 Every five to ten years

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.700
 someone decides

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.160
 that it's appropriate

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:32.740
 to write a book

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.980
 about having been in heaven

00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.480
 or having seen God directly.

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:37.059
 And very popular

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.920
 and people make a lot

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.720
 of money doing it.

00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:41.079
 90 minutes in heaven

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.599
 da da da

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.039
 you know

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.980
 the little boy etc.

00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:43.940
 By the way

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.839
 he recanted that

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:45.799
 in case you didn't know.

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:48.460
 But the idea

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.640
 is that you see God

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.140
 and you know

00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:50.900
 kind of get all

00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.740
 caught up in this

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:54.059
 and we don't find

00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:55.099
 that illustration

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.599
 in scripture.

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.339
 Any individual

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.460
 who has come face to face

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:59.140
 with angelic announcement

00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:00.240
 generally pretty terrified

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:00.799
 by it.

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:02.039
 And here are the angels

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:03.640
 the glory of the Lord

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.279
 shone around them

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.819
 and they were filled

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.299
 with fear.

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.120
 And the angel said

00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:06.360
 to them

00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.019
 fear not

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.640
 for behold

00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.599
 I bring you

00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.460
 good news

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.519
 of great joy

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.400
 that will be

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.200
 for all the people.

00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:13.900
 I want you to listen

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:15.120
 to this encouragement

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.440
 that the angel brings

00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.460
 to the shepherds

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.180
 there in the field.

00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.819
 You can understand

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.539
 the terrifying

00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:23.680
 experience that they have

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.860
 but listen to what

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:25.539
 he says.

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:25.900
 He says

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.860
 I bring you

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.680
 good news

00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.000
 of great joy

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.980
 that will be

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.860
 for all the people.

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.160
 I want you to think

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.420
 about the exceptional news

00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.460
 that good news.

00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:37.400
 I'm not here to give you

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.500
 a great deal

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.160
 of Greek

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.900
 but the word

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:41.799
 that is used there

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.360
 is the word

00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:42.960
 from which we get

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.720
 the word gospel.

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.620
 Euangelion

00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.700
 Euangelion

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:45.940
 Euangelion

00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.240
 Euangelion

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.120
 Euangelion

00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:49.819
 and it was a word

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:51.859
 that was often used

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.759
 I shouldn't say often

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.779
 but it was generally

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.839
 used to give

00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.719
 political

00:19:55.719 --> 00:19:57.379
 and exceptional

00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.039
 announcements

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.599
 unbelievably exceptional

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.119
 announcements.

00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:00.819
 Case in point

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:03.179
 when the empire

00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:05.979
 saving battle

00:20:05.979 --> 00:20:07.279
 had been won

00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.099
 by one of the

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:08.899
 Roman generals

00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:10.899
 that was called

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.619
 good news.

00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.819
 It had political

00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.539
 ramifications

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.079
 and it was

00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.639
 something that

00:20:14.639 --> 00:20:15.420
 kind of

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.899
 changed the dynamics.

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.680
 You could imagine

00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:19.039
 that if we

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.839
 heard

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.579
 on April

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.420
 15th

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.819
 that all

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.639
 of our taxes

00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.339
 had been

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.299
 forgiven

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.859
 for the year

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.839
 how many of you

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.359
 would say

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.960
 good news?

00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.500
 Would you say that?

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.079
 Huh?

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.519
 I'm not just

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.119
 talking about

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:37.000
 your federal taxes

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.539
 I'm talking about

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.319
 your city taxes

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.819
 and blah blah blah

00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.159
 all the way

00:20:39.159 --> 00:20:39.339
 down

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:39.799
 it's like

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.379
 yes!

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.059
 Well

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:43.200
 the word

00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.919
 was used

00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:44.439
 to refer

00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.700
 to exceptional

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.460
 moments

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.759
 in history

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.519
 when something

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.960
 of tremendous

00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.539
 value

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.119
 and import

00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:51.899
 had happened

00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.399
 and so here's

00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:52.799
 the angel

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.240
 says

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.279
 I have got

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.960
 good news

00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.439
 for you.

00:20:56.419 --> 00:20:57.220
 It's interesting

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.619
 actually

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.159
 that there was

00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:58.960
 a stone carving

00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.599
 found somewhere

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.119
 in Turkey

00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:01.700
 in which

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.480
 the following

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.059
 was written

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:04.019
 about Caesar

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.939
 Augustus.

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:05.659
 Now who's

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.439
 Caesar Augustus?

00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.759
 Hello?

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.759
 in the text

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.419
 here we go

00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:10.939
 okay

00:21:10.939 --> 00:21:14.000
 and so

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.539
 here's what we read

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.879
 since providence

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.559
 this is what was

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.419
 on the stone carving

00:21:18.419 --> 00:21:19.399
 since providence

00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.359
 which has ordered

00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:21.200
 all things

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.379
 and is deeply

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.859
 interested in our life

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.359
 has set

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.439
 in most perfect

00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:27.480
 order by giving

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.859
 us Augustus

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.899
 whom she filled

00:21:30.899 --> 00:21:31.439
 with virtue

00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.099
 that he might

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.859
 benefit mankind

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.720
 sending him

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.279
 as a savior

00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:37.059
 both for us

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.480
 and for our

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:37.980
 descendants

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.759
 that he might

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.440
 end war

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.259
 isn't that a nice

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.519
 thought

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.279
 he might end

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:41.539
 war

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.220
 and arrange

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.879
 all things

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:44.200
 and since

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.559
 he

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.140
 Caesar

00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:46.539
 by his

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.119
 appearance

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.460
 surpassing

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.779
 all previous

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.879
 benefactors

00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:52.400
 and not even

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.279
 leaving to

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.079
 posterity

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:55.379
 any hope

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.519
 of surpassing

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.440
 what he's done

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.920
 now how is that

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.579
 for kind of

00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.920
 waxing eloquent

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.339
 right

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:03.460
 and not even

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.119
 leaving to

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.759
 posterity

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.160
 there will

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.180
 there will

00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:05.960
 never be

00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.460
 someone

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:06.940
 even

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.480
 anywhere

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.059
 close

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.539
 to being

00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.160
 as good

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.539
 as him

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:09.779
 right

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.220
 okay

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:12.299
 and since

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.839
 the birthday

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.900
 of the god

00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:15.440
 Augustus

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.539
 was the beginning

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:17.879
 of the good

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.900
 tidings

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.700
 that's the word

00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.559
 euangelio

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.319
 okay

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.299
 since

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.640
 the birthday

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.940
 of the god

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.039
 Augustus

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.319
 was the beginning

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.079
 of good

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.759
 tidings

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.579
 for the world

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.519
 that came

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.379
 by reason

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.160
 of him

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.700
 now who's

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.059
 this talking

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.319
 about

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.019
 a guy

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.539
 who's

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.420
 dust

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.119
 today

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:39.740
 who did

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.799
 very little

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.619
 to make

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.220
 any difference

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.980
 in anybody's

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.420
 life

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:45.259
 and here

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:47.319
 boy that's

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.440
 whoever the

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:48.960
 speech writer

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.839
 or poet

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.559
 was that did

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.299
 this did a good

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.639
 job

00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:52.279
 you know it's

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.059
 like oh man

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.200
 exceptional news

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.379
 you read that

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.720
 and you think

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.099
 who are they

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.660
 talking about

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.139
 they're talking

00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.980
 about a man

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:59.299
 the angel

00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.740
 says

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.500
 I've got

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.059
 really good

00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:01.539
 news

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:03.059
 good news

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:05.099
 now the second

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.559
 thing that the

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.079
 angel said

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.319
 he says

00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:06.740
 first it's

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.120
 good news

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.480
 but he said

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.900
 and you mark

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.460
 what it says

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:09.880
 there

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.680
 it says

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.599
 that is of

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.700
 great joy

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:14.140
 great joy

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:18.079
 the word

00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.460
 is talking

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.079
 about something

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.579
 that is

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:22.120
 very emotionally

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:23.000
 charged

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:25.500
 the idea

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.099
 is that

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.620
 the news

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.059
 was of

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.180
 such a nature

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.180
 that just

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.900
 hearing it

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.580
 brought on

00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:31.420
 an emotional

00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.320
 surge

00:23:32.320 --> 00:23:36.759
 I saw

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.100
 a picture

00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:37.799
 last week

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:39.700
 of a group

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.180
 of workers

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.680
 somewhere in

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.279
 North Carolina

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:42.900
 that over

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.400
 the years

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.140
 had pooled

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.700
 their money

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:47.200
 for lottery

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.680
 tickets

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.120
 don't

00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.480
 don't do

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:49.820
 that

00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:51.100
 okay

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.820
 but the

00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:53.759
 the picture

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.980
 was of

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.440
 all these

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.039
 people hugging

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.500
 each other

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:56.779
 and just

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.240
 crying

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:59.460
 they were

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.440
 overwhelmed

00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.200
 with the

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.599
 prospect

00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:01.880
 I think

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.220
 they won

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.960
 18 or

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.599
 whatever

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.460
 million dollars

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.259
 and here

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.660
 they were

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.119
 we're so

00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:07.599
 happy

00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.660
 you know

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:08.980
 and they

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.279
 were just

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.700
 beside

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.140
 themselves

00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:10.460
 with the

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.900
 enthusiasm

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.400
 for the

00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:11.859
 good news

00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:13.400
 the emotion

00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:15.880
 here's the

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.180
 angel

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.619
 the angel

00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:16.880
 says

00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.500
 I am

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:17.980
 bringing you

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.599
 good news

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:18.960
 that is

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.519
 of great

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.019
 joy

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:21.900
 let me ask

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.079
 you a

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.400
 question

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.859
 how many

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.000
 of you

00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.319
 remember

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:25.799
 what you

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.480
 felt like

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:29.839
 after you

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.400
 prayed and

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.940
 asked Christ

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.339
 to be your

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.920
 savior and

00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.639
 you sensed

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.500
 the freedom

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.879
 and the

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.279
 forgiveness

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:34.759
 of having

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.359
 all of your

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:35.879
 sins taken

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.119
 away

00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.339
 do you

00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:36.480
 remember

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.700
 that

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.379
 I was a

00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:38.859
 little boy

00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:40.400
 and I can

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.240
 still remember

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.359
 what it was

00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:43.059
 to listen to

00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:43.680
 my dad

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.660
 having devotions

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.019
 in our

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.619
 family over

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:45.940
 there in

00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.200
 India

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.539
 and I

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.000
 had been

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.759
 in growing

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.339
 conviction

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:49.859
 for the

00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:50.859
 blackness

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.379
 and darkness

00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.779
 of my

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:52.079
 heart

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.639
 and I

00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:53.059
 reached the

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.439
 point where

00:24:53.439 --> 00:24:53.720
 I was

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.220
 absolutely

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.179
 despairing

00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:55.759
 of my

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.379
 heart's

00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:56.799
 condition

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.439
 and I

00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:57.779
 remember

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.359
 breaking

00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:58.899
 down and

00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.399
 crying

00:24:59.399 --> 00:25:00.480
 in devotions

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.220
 and my

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.599
 dad said

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:01.899
 what's

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.299
 wrong

00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.579
 and I

00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:05.179
 shared the

00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:05.759
 burden of

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.339
 my soul

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.559
 and he

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:07.939
 asked my

00:25:07.939 --> 00:25:08.279
 mom to

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.599
 take me

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:08.919
 into the

00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:09.119
 room

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.019
 and she

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.419
 explained

00:25:10.419 --> 00:25:10.859
 the gospel

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.439
 further to

00:25:11.439 --> 00:25:11.539
 me

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:11.759
 and I

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.199
 can remember

00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:12.579
 praying

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:12.980
 and asking

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.559
 Christ to

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:13.980
 save me

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.699
 and I

00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:15.240
 can remember

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.319
 the incredible

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.039
 sense of

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.579
 having my

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.240
 sins forgiven

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:20.099
 that's

00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.779
 great news

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.940
 and great

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.559
 news of

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.720
 unbelievable

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.620
 joy

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:27.700
 and so

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.120
 here's the

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.620
 angel who

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:28.880
 brings

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.460
 exceptional

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:29.980
 news

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.519
 the angel

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.120
 who brings

00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:33.180
 this emotional

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.120
 news but also

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:35.180
 the angel that

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.740
 brings this

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.559
 news about the

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.460
 fact that this

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.380
 is valuable for

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:39.120
 the whole world

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.799
 listen to what it

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.700
 says in the

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.420
 passage it

00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:41.859
 says here

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:43.619
 today is born

00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:45.500
 I bring you

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.079
 good news of

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.679
 great joy that

00:25:46.679 --> 00:25:47.279
 will be for

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.299
 all the

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.719
 people

00:25:48.719 --> 00:25:49.799
 all the

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.139
 people

00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:52.139
 not just for

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.099
 the people there

00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.859
 in Bethlehem

00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.939
 not just for the

00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:55.639
 people there in

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.059
 Jerusalem

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.259
 not just for the

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.139
 people in the

00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:59.319
 nation of

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.119
 Israel but

00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.799
 good news for

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.759
 all of the

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.839
 people all

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.439
 across the

00:26:04.439 --> 00:26:04.919
 world

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:06.319
 will you turn

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.799
 with me just

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.259
 for a moment

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.740
 back to a

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.279
 passage in

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.939
 Genesis chapter

00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:09.399
 12

00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.340
 go back

00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:10.720
 there if you

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:10.860
 will

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.680
 Genesis chapter

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.000
 12

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.600
 take a look

00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:12.840
 at that

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.240
 text

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:16.259
 in Genesis

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.019
 chapter 12

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.620
 we find

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:19.460
 God giving

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.920
 the Abrahamic

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.519
 covenant to

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.740
 Abraham and

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.280
 listen to what

00:26:23.280 --> 00:26:23.740
 he has to

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.040
 say

00:26:24.040 --> 00:26:36.019
 verse 3

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.700
 I will bless

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.259
 those who

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.860
 bless you

00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.540
 and him who

00:26:38.540 --> 00:26:39.320
 dishonors you

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.200
 I will curse

00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.000
 and in you

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.019
 all the

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.019
 families of

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.559
 the earth

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.179
 shall be

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:44.599
 blessed

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:46.460
 how is that

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:48.480
 because through

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.220
 Abraham's seed

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.159
 would come

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.099
 the savior

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:53.220
 of the world

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.859
 the one who

00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.519
 God would

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.759
 send to be

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.579
 our savior

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.619
 and the one

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.159
 who God

00:26:59.159 --> 00:26:59.859
 would send

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.839
 to die for

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.279
 us and to

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:01.779
 pay the penalty

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.480
 for our sins

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.439
 that we might

00:27:03.439 --> 00:27:04.259
 have salvation

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.339
 through his

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.439
 finished work

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:09.700
 and that was

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.299
 the good news

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.940
 that the angel

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.039
 brought valuable

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.700
 not only to

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.240
 shepherds but

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:14.340
 valuable to the

00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:15.240
 entire world

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.400
 that's one of the

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.180
 reasons why we

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.460
 engage in

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.019
 missions work

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.580
 isn't that right

00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:21.140
 we want other

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.720
 people to know

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.240
 the good news

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.820
 we want other

00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:23.500
 people to know

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.460
 the blessing of

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.180
 complete forgiveness

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.900
 for all of their

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:27.019
 sins and it is

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.360
 woven in to our

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.860
 daily life and to

00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:31.019
 our prayer and to

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.680
 our interest

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.680
 what is it that

00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.720
 I can do to

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.560
 draw attention to

00:27:34.560 --> 00:27:36.100
 the need that

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:36.900
 only Jesus can

00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:38.160
 answer and to

00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.019
 Jesus who is the

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:40.279
 solution for the

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.180
 deepest needs of

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.740
 every man

00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:43.779
 well let's look at

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:45.000
 the cause for the

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.420
 great joy going

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.080
 back there to

00:27:47.080 --> 00:27:48.200
 Luke chapter 2

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.160
 mark what it says

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.680
 there for here's

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.820
 the reason for

00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.820
 unto you is born

00:27:52.820 --> 00:27:53.720
 this day in the

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.580
 city of David a

00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.660
 savior who is

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.860
 Christ the Lord

00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:58.380
 as you think about

00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.980
 the cause for

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.660
 great joy I want

00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.320
 you to recognize

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.980
 first of all God

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.179
 keeps his promises

00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:05.379
 God keeps his

00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:07.119
 promises when he

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.819
 says for unto you

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:10.139
 is born this day

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.240
 in the city of

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.659
 David a savior who

00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.619
 is Christ the Lord

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:16.480
 God has kept his

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:19.099
 promise I want you

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.779
 to think with me

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.379
 just for a moment

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.059
 don't need to turn

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.419
 to it but go back

00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.039
 if you will in

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.819
 your thinking back

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.700
 to Genesis chapter

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:26.740
 3 after Adam and

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:29.419
 Eve sinned God

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:31.259
 comes on and

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.000
 speaks with them

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.580
 and what does he

00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:34.940
 promise the day

00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:37.019
 is coming when

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:38.100
 the one who will

00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:39.539
 bruise Satan's

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:41.600
 head will come

00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:45.180
 and that is the

00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.759
 first reference to

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.759
 the fact that God

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.019
 would provide a

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.620
 savior who would

00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:52.360
 come through flesh

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.279
 to be our

00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:55.600
 redeemer and so

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:56.880
 here we have woven

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.860
 into the very

00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:59.300
 beginning of the

00:28:59.300 --> 00:29:00.380
 gospel testimony

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.740
 the Bible's record

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.660
 of the work of God

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.460
 on behalf of

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.580
 fallen mankind

00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.400
 we find God

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.920
 says I will send

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:08.120
 a savior who

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.340
 will come by

00:29:09.340 --> 00:29:10.040
 birth and he is

00:29:10.040 --> 00:29:10.520
 going to be a

00:29:10.520 --> 00:29:11.540
 blessing and the

00:29:11.540 --> 00:29:12.200
 one who redeems

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:14.560
 you woven

00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:16.360
 throughout the

00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:16.960
 Old Testament

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:18.720
 record over and

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.380
 over again there

00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.100
 are little illusions

00:29:20.100 --> 00:29:20.880
 little statements

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.820
 made about the fact

00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:22.780
 that the day is

00:29:22.780 --> 00:29:23.620
 coming when God

00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.180
 would send the

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.320
 Messiah and he

00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:26.120
 would be born of a

00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:26.959
 virgin Mary over

00:29:26.959 --> 00:29:27.659
 there in Isaiah

00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.619
 and the picture

00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:30.199
 plays out for us

00:29:30.199 --> 00:29:31.979
 such that when

00:29:31.979 --> 00:29:34.479
 Herod asked so

00:29:34.479 --> 00:29:35.279
 where is he going

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.259
 to be born they

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.939
 could identify his

00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:39.699
 fact the fact that

00:29:39.699 --> 00:29:40.279
 he was going to be

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.159
 born in the city of

00:29:41.159 --> 00:29:41.779
 Bethlehem and

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:43.439
 recognize this is

00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:43.899
 according to

00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:45.599
 prophecy so I want

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.219
 you to recognize

00:29:46.219 --> 00:29:47.679
 that if God can be

00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:48.599
 trusted to keep his

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:50.219
 promise in the past

00:29:50.219 --> 00:29:51.439
 will he keep his

00:29:51.439 --> 00:29:52.339
 promise in the future

00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.059
 what's the answer

00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:55.299
 how many of you are

00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:56.819
 trusting his promises

00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:58.759
 today or are

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.940
 profoundly anxious

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.339
 living a life that

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.460
 is not resting upon

00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:04.019
 the certainty of what

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:05.700
 he has done and what

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.079
 he has promised to do

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:09.299
 God calls us as his

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:10.399
 people in particular to

00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:13.019
 be people who live in

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.639
 the light of his

00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:15.679
 promises who live in

00:30:15.679 --> 00:30:16.679
 the light of the

00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.419
 certainty of his

00:30:17.419 --> 00:30:19.399
 return I want you to

00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:20.500
 recognize something else

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.519
 we find that God

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:23.240
 provided a savior in

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.700
 the passage it says

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:26.339
 unto you is born this

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.079
 day in the city of

00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:29.319
 David a savior who is

00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:30.019
 Christ the Lord

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:34.059
 last week had the

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.859
 opportunity to talk

00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.940
 with several individuals

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.440
 just the course of

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.059
 having lunch with them

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:41.019
 and not not individuals

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.940
 who part of our

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:43.119
 fellowship and in the

00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.920
 course of conversation

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.279
 we pretty much finished

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.180
 up the meal and I say

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:46.839
 let me ask you a

00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:49.119
 question they had

00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:50.219
 shared that they go to

00:30:50.219 --> 00:30:51.500
 church every Sunday

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:54.179
 morning every Sunday

00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:56.019
 morning I said so let

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.899
 me ask you a question

00:30:56.899 --> 00:31:00.139
 if you were to die

00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:00.659
 how many of you know

00:31:00.659 --> 00:31:01.439
 this question is coming

00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:02.139
 right if you were to

00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:04.419
 die tonight and God

00:31:04.419 --> 00:31:05.179
 were to ask you why he

00:31:05.179 --> 00:31:05.739
 should let you into

00:31:05.739 --> 00:31:06.419
 heaven what would you

00:31:06.419 --> 00:31:08.899
 say now we're talking

00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:10.719
 about people who had

00:31:10.719 --> 00:31:12.719
 already confessed we go

00:31:12.719 --> 00:31:15.139
 to church every Sunday

00:31:15.139 --> 00:31:18.139
 morning never miss I

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:21.000
 said so God asked you

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.759
 why he should let you

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.759
 in what would you say

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:24.800
 there are actually four

00:31:24.800 --> 00:31:26.240
 sitting there and one

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.200
 who had already told me

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.800
 they didn't go to

00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:30.320
 church at all he young

00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:31.560
 guy he said to the two

00:31:31.560 --> 00:31:32.580
 older guys he said that's

00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:38.680
 a good question yeah I

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.780
 said so what would you

00:31:39.780 --> 00:31:42.520
 say one guy says I I

00:31:42.520 --> 00:31:44.900
 don't know I don't know

00:31:44.900 --> 00:31:47.380
 what I would say I'm

00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:51.280
 trying my best how many

00:31:51.280 --> 00:31:51.860
 of you really think

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.660
 you're trying your best

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.940
 look up at me and say

00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:55.320
 I'm trying my best

00:31:55.320 --> 00:31:57.040
 don't raise your hand

00:31:57.040 --> 00:31:58.940
 okay you're not in that

00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:01.820
 crowd the other guy says

00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:03.580
 I I don't know what to

00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:07.060
 say so they had just

00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:09.320
 also told me about their

00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:10.519
 their families and their

00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:12.900
 wife and I said so your

00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:14.880
 wife and you get married

00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:17.320
 in the church and as

00:32:17.320 --> 00:32:18.960
 you're walking down after

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:20.140
 the ceremony your wife

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:22.280
 says to you are we

00:32:22.280 --> 00:32:24.860
 married and you say I

00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:28.940
 don't know I don't know

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:31.200
 I said I got to tell you

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.100
 something about the God

00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:34.420
 that I know he is very

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:35.519
 clear about the things I

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.980
 need to know and the

00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.840
 scriptures make it

00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:40.680
 undeniably clear that I

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.880
 can't save myself and

00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.080
 that God sent his son to

00:32:43.080 --> 00:32:45.940
 be my savior so when we

00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.860
 think about that little

00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:48.120
 word savior I want you

00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:48.960
 to recognize several

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:50.120
 truths about that for one

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:52.200
 it tells us that we have a

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:54.280
 need for help from

00:32:54.280 --> 00:32:56.640
 outside ourselves do you

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:58.600
 follow that why do I need

00:32:58.600 --> 00:32:59.760
 a savior because I can't do

00:32:59.760 --> 00:33:00.460
 it myself

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:06.460
 the second fact that I want

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.579
 you to focus on here is

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:10.019
 that the reality of the

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:12.200
 truth is that there is a

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:14.660
 cancer on the soul of every

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:18.539
 living person that makes it

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:20.079
 impossible for them to save

00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:20.620
 themselves

00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:26.720
 sin has so corrupted our mind

00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:29.000
 and our logic that even in the

00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:32.240
 best of our deeds there is a

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:34.000
 tincture that is deeply

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.839
 offensive to God and there is

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:37.960
 no work of righteousness that

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:40.400
 any man may do that will ever

00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:44.019
 endure him to God you cannot

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:47.240
 save yourself and the thing

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:48.339
 that I want you to recognize

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:51.480
 here is that this fact of

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.519
 salvation that God makes very

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.000
 clear in this passage is a

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:56.880
 salvation that is certain

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:59.799
 because of who has done the

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:01.720
 work listen to the verse

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:03.019
 again it says for unto you is

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:04.279
 born this day in the city of

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:06.640
 David a savior who is Christ

00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:12.280
 the Lord I love the fact that

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.639
 woven into the beauty of the

00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.780
 gospel is the absolute

00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:16.559
 certainty of the eternal

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.840
 destiny of the one who believes

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:20.519
 in Lord Jesus why not because

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:22.480
 man saves himself but but

00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:24.460
 salvation is the work of God

00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:28.039
 and here is the angel declaring

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:30.059
 to those poor shepherds I want

00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:31.920
 to tell you something that God

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:33.440
 has sent his son to be the

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:36.460
 savior of the world one other

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.559
 thing that I want you to mark

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:39.679
 here in this passage is that God

00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:44.880
 has taken on human flesh verse

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:46.860
 12 and this will be a sign for

00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:49.139
 you you will find a baby wrapped

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:52.139
 in swaddling clothes and lying in a

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:57.799
 manger you know I think I think

00:34:57.799 --> 00:35:02.079
 something this fantastic tends to

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:03.539
 stretch our mind to the point that

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:06.299
 we just kind of zone out and

00:35:06.299 --> 00:35:07.500
 don't really think about it very

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:14.599
 often God the infinite holy creator

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:17.139
 of this universe chose to take upon

00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:21.319
 himself human flesh and to be among

00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:29.359
 us to live to suffer to die and if

00:35:29.359 --> 00:35:34.139
 the reality of Christ becoming flesh in

00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:36.900
 the incarnation is not one that kind

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:40.139
 of first of all just kind of overwhelms

00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:42.099
 you and then secondly just fills you

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:43.639
 with thanksgiving my appeal to you

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.920
 would be this that you need to think

00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:49.780
 more carefully about that fact God in

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:54.159
 his love for us and in his sensitivity

00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:56.380
 to our frailty was willing to send his

00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:58.680
 son to come here and live on this earth

00:35:58.680 --> 00:36:01.320
 and to die and to rise again and for

00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:04.659
 all eternity to abide and dwell in

00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:08.680
 flesh with us so as we look at this

00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:12.019
 passage in closing I want you to

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:14.839
 recognize that this tells us a

00:36:14.839 --> 00:36:17.039
 historical fact of about 2,000 some

00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:21.339
 years ago right it's a fact God sent

00:36:21.339 --> 00:36:23.679
 his son the Lord Jesus Christ in keeping

00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:26.919
 with promises he had made centuries

00:36:26.919 --> 00:36:31.059
 millenniums in the past and we who sit

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:33.440
 here today who know the Lord Jesus

00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:35.739
 Christ have the blessing of being able

00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:38.259
 to celebrate look forward to his birth and

00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:40.979
 and just celebrate that fact with with

00:36:40.979 --> 00:36:43.559
 confidence and joy in the fact that we

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:45.679
 who know Christ have had all our sins

00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:47.959
 forgiven and we are looking forward to

00:36:47.959 --> 00:36:49.959
 eternity when we are going to see him

00:36:49.959 --> 00:36:50.879
 face to face

00:36:50.879 --> 00:36:55.279
 I have no doubt there are some of you

00:36:55.279 --> 00:36:57.979
 here today that don't know Christ you

00:36:57.979 --> 00:37:00.639
 may have grown up in a church you may

00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:02.239
 have been like me and had a good

00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:04.779
 devotional life your parents read the

00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:06.200
 Bible to you you heard the Sunday

00:37:06.200 --> 00:37:07.960
 school stories but the fact the matter

00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:10.120
 is is you've never come to grips with

00:37:10.120 --> 00:37:11.800
 the sin in your heart and you've never

00:37:11.800 --> 00:37:15.320
 asked Christ to be your Savior I would

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:18.700
 be remiss if this morning in the face of

00:37:18.700 --> 00:37:20.400
 the sweetness of the gospel I did not

00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:24.600
 plead with you to confess your sins and

00:37:24.600 --> 00:37:26.360
 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in whom

00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:31.080
 alone is salvation you see the reason

00:37:31.080 --> 00:37:32.720
 Jesus came is because we can't save

00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:36.819
 ourselves and all you have in front of

00:37:36.819 --> 00:37:39.719
 you is the undeniable record of your

00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:41.679
 inability to do that which is of

00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:44.539
 eternal significance you can't change

00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:48.439
 who you are but God sent his son the

00:37:48.439 --> 00:37:51.500
 Lord Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for

00:37:51.500 --> 00:37:54.039
 your sins and to grant you salvation

00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:55.679
 through faith in him and I would plead

00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:59.159
 with you you do that now let's bow our

00:37:59.159 --> 00:38:05.159
 heads and pray our precious father we

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:06.420
 are thankful this morning for the

00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:08.019
 sweetness of the gospel that makes it

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:10.239
 clear to us that you sent the Lord

00:38:10.239 --> 00:38:13.399
 Jesus Christ to be our Savior he came

00:38:13.399 --> 00:38:18.639
 here to this earth he lived among us he

00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:20.579
 died for our sins and rose again that

00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:22.519
 all who believe in him might have

00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:26.239
 everlasting life and I would plead with

00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:28.199
 you this morning that those of us who are

00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:30.399
 here today that know Christ would have

00:38:30.399 --> 00:38:32.599
 our hearts lifted up and encouraged to

00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:35.139
 recognize you have done a great thing for

00:38:35.139 --> 00:38:38.859
 us that we could not do that our thank you

00:38:38.859 --> 00:38:40.819
 to you is live a life that is marked by

00:38:40.819 --> 00:38:44.459
 holiness in my humility by a genuine

00:38:44.459 --> 00:38:47.199
 affection and interest in the well-being of

00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:49.419
 those who don't know the Lord Jesus Christ

00:38:49.419 --> 00:38:51.199
 and those who are part of the family of

00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:54.619
 God I pray for those that are here today

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:57.960
 that do not know you some who have grown

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:59.299
 up in homes where they've heard the

00:38:59.299 --> 00:39:01.639
 Bible they've heard the scriptures they

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:03.799
 have had Sunday school in Awana and the

00:39:03.799 --> 00:39:05.440
 fact of the matter is is their hearts are

00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:07.500
 stone cold to you this morning because

00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:10.759
 they've never come to faith I would plead

00:39:10.759 --> 00:39:12.079
 with you that you and your mercy would

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:15.179
 draw them to the cross that they would

00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:16.960
 confess their sins and believe on Christ

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:19.659
 that they would humble themselves and cry

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:22.739
 out for salvation today I ask this in

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:24.199
 Jesus name amen