WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.500 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:15.000 I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:21.500 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:26.500 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day. 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:29.500 Let's dive in together into God's Word. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.000 Alright, well good morning everyone, and I can say Merry Christmas now, yeah? 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.000 Merry Christmas everyone. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:51.000 I just want to say I'm really glad that all of you are here during this cold season, this time where we come together and we see all of the busyness, people shopping, people are preparing for family and friends coming together. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:53.000 It's just a wonderful time. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:01.000 Again, I'm always reminded when we think of these Christmas songs to be reminded of who Jesus Christ is. 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:14.000 Today's sermon is about the greatest gift God's love, and specifically speaking of the fact that Jesus Christ is revelation. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:19.000 He is being revealed to us, being born in the manger. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:26.000 And for some of us, we may get so caught up in the busyness of wrapping gifts and buying gifts. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:32.000 I remember years ago, I watched a movie, it's not really a popular movie, right? 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.000 It's a movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger, eh? 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:37.000 Yeah, there you go. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:43.000 And the idea of this movie is he's trying to get the turbo man. 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.000 Jingle all the way. 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:48.000 I'm going to be a seaman, you don't have to raise your hand. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:50.000 Well, I mean, you got it, right? 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:55.000 And it's a good, but it's so bad it's good. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.000 I don't know if that makes any sense, right? 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:02.000 But the premise of it is he forgets to get the toy. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:11.000 And then he goes on, he ends up becoming turbo man, he ends up getting the turbo man for his kid. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:17.000 Sometimes we can identify, of trying to find the right gift for our family, our friends, 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:22.000 and maybe we might identify once with Arnold Schwarzenegger, at least in that movie context. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.000 And sometimes we get so caught up in that. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.000 We get caught up in the busyness of the Christmas season, running around, and it's like, 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:35.000 okay, I got to finish, I got to make my check, let's make sure things are good by the end of the year. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:43.000 But it's a time for us to really reflect on friends, family, but most importantly, 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:47.000 the birth of Jesus Christ. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:50.000 How many of us have gotten so busy with forgotten that? 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:52.000 We're not raising dry moments. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:58.000 What I want us to do as we think about that, and yes, your pastor did bring up Arnold Schwarzenegger, 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.000 that's kind of a wild one. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.000 Let's turn our vials. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:11.000 I want us to turn to, it's going to be page 1212, 1212, in your ESVP Bibles, 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:14.000 or your Bible of your choice, your mobile device. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:20.000 It's going to be 1 John, chapter 4, verses 9, through 11. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:29.000 And as we're turning there, I want us to keep in mind, again, 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:34.000 the greatest gift that we celebrate this Christmas, this Advent season, 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.000 is God showing His love through Jesus Christ. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:44.000 And today, as we go over through 1 John, chapter 4, verses 9, through 11, 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:49.000 we find that this is where God's love is revealed. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:56.000 And because of this revelation, we are called to live and love like Him. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.000 So are we all there? 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:05.000 1 John, chapter 4, verses 9, we can start in verse 7. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Beloved, let us love one another. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:13.000 For love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:17.000 Anyone who does not love does not know God because of God is love. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:20.000 Verse 9, let's read this together, church. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.000 And this, the love of God, was made what? 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.000 And that is best among us, that God sent His only Son into the world 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.000 so that we might what? 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.000 Live through Him. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:33.000 And this is love. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:37.000 Not that we have loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.000 to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:49.000 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to also love one another. 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 And it goes on in verse 12, finishing that section. 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:54.000 No one has ever seen God if we love one another. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.000 God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:03.000 We start off with that verse 9, and we'll go to that next slide here. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:07.000 And it's always a question when we're reading it, what is happening? 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:11.000 What is the first things that we can see in these verses? 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:13.000 Let's go to that next slide. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:16.000 There's three things that we can see right away. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:20.000 Is that God's love is revealed in Christ, right? 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:25.000 That God sent His Son into the world so that we might live in Him. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:31.000 We look at that verse 9, that God sent His only Son into the world. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:38.000 We think of God's love being beyond anything that's beyond our understanding. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:41.000 For many of us, we think of the word love, 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:46.000 and love has so many different meanings for us in the English language. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.000 Some of us may, as children, we love our toys. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:55.000 That's different than how you love your parents, or at least I certainly hope so. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:06:00.000 How you love your pet, how you love your friends is different than romantic love, 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:03.000 or different how you love a child. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:07.000 And the love that we speak of when we're talking about the love that God has for us 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.000 is an everlasting love. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.000 It is a divine love. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:17.000 It's love that is really beyond what we can understand. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:24.000 And sometimes that can be so, kind of gets you a little bit, and thinking about that, right? 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.000 That God's love is revealed in Christ. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:32.000 It's becoming manifest, meaning that God's love became physical. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:35.000 For us Bible students, the word that came flesh, right? 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:39.000 In the beginning was the word, and the word was God, right? 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:41.000 The word becoming flesh. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:47.000 God's love became physical and accessible for humanity in Christ's coming, 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:56.000 knowing that Jesus Christ was born in the manger, as the fulfillment not one, 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.000 but so many different prophecies. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:06.000 And for some of us, when we hear this good Christmas story, let us realize 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:12.000 the fulfillment of prophecy is paving the way for salvation that a child being born 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:16.000 in the manger of all places. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:21.000 I kind of wish that the Lord was born in a more suitable bed, 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:26.000 but nevertheless, humble beginnings when we think of this. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:32.000 We think of Jesus Christ as ministry, his life as miracles, 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:38.000 that we've been going over in previous weeks, the parables, the teachings of Christ. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:49.000 And knowing that this child through him, salvation will be made available for us, 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.000 that's remarkable. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:59.000 The story, it begins when we think of Jesus in the manger, 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:04.000 where the child to be born is Christ the Lord, and this is God's love 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.000 sensed into the world. This is God's love revealed in Christ. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:10.000 That's how we understand verse 9. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:18.000 We then go to verse 10, that God's love came for all people. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.000 It's a very powerful language when we think about it, right? 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:27.000 When we're looking at this verse, we see in verse 10 that he sent his son 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:34.000 to be the propitiation of our sins. It's showing the purpose of God's love. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:41.000 It is showing that God had a plan for Christ, much as God had a plan for humanity. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:48.000 There is this greatest gift when we think of gifts on Christmas morning. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:51.000 We always think of, take this prop right here, 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:55.000 we think of little gifts being given to us. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:09:00.000 Let us think of the free gift of salvation. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:06.000 That there is an invitation to salvation for all who believe. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:10.000 Now, it may not be wrapped up in wrapping paper like this, 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:16.000 but we often think that the greatest gift is being God's love for us, 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.000 sending his son Jesus Christ into the world. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:26.000 Will you receive this gift? Will you say yes, Lord? 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:30.000 Will you say yes to his death, burial, and resurrection, 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:34.000 and especially when we think of the context here, 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:39.000 Christ being born in that manger, that goes humble beginnings. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:42.000 Let us be reminded this was God's plan. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.000 She was sore us to him. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:52.000 We think of the Jewish culture, the idea that was being separated from the presence of the Lord. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:55.000 In fact, very often when you read scripture when it's saying, 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.000 having the face of God facing towards you, 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:03.000 you never wanted the face of God to face away from you. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:08.000 Your understanding was to have God looking towards you. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:14.000 And in thinking about this, God's plan was Jesus Christ 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:17.000 fulfilling this prophecy, changing the course of history, 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:22.000 giving us the opportunity to receive this free gift of salvation. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.000 That is the reason for this season. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:30.000 That is why we celebrate and we talk about the Christmas story. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.000 We think of the children as they are learning from such a young age, 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.000 why do we do this every single year? 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:41.000 The children to begin to understand who Jesus is. 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:43.000 We think about the three wise men. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.000 We think about how they follow the star. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:48.000 That's kind of an incredible thing. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:54.000 Following the star and knowing that here is Jesus being born, 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:58.000 offering frankincense and myrrh. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.000 It's just a wonderful story, not only for children, but for us as adults. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:08.000 And let us be reminded that in this love, it's not about what we can do, 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.000 it's about what has been done for me. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:15.000 That is what we celebrate in this Christmas season. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:20.000 And the third thing is our response to God's love is to love. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.000 Let us love one another, which as God has loved us. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:27.000 And just as the angels saying that song of praise, 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:33.000 glory to God in the highest, our response should be in a similar manner. 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:39.000 If the heavens declare glory to God, why can't we? 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:45.000 If the animals and all the nature seems in glory, 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:48.000 why can't we? 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.000 That's kind of a heavy reminder, but it's true. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:59.000 Knowing that everything that was created was made with intentionality and divine purpose, 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:03.000 we too, in the same way as the angels proclaimed, 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:09.000 and saying glory, we too should respond. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:14.000 The angels praise, it shows us the heavenly response to God's love, 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.000 and our earthly response should mirror this, 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:22.000 to live and to love, much like how the Lord has. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:27.000 Going to that next slide then, we think, well, what can we learn from this? 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:31.000 There's three things that we can learn from this. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:36.000 The first thing is knowing that God's love begins with Christ. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:42.000 As I have mentioned, let us love in response to his love for us. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:47.000 As I have mentioned, Christ being born in the manger, 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:56.000 the time for us to remember the beginning of what would be the fulfillment of even more prophecies. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:00.000 I'm reminded of Romans 5 verse 8 which says, 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:05.000 while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:08.000 And knowing that, 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:16.000 for some of us, we may dwell so much on our past mistakes, our blunders, our sins that we have made. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:23.000 But let us remember, Christ still was born in that manger for us. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:31.000 Living, dying, being buried, and raising again for the dead is wonderful. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:36.000 The second thing is God's love is shown in Christ. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:42.000 His birth, as I've mentioned, is life, is ministry, is death. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.000 This is the ultimate act of love. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:52.000 And when we think of that word, or appreciation, this teaches us the abundance of God's love. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:14:03.000 And we think of all of this as the mystery that was hidden by God being revealed for us 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:08.000 to see, to learn, and to respond to. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:18.000 It teaches us the abundance of God's love, that Jesus bringing peace between God and humanity. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:23.000 And as I mentioned, the Jewish understanding of being separated from the Lord, 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:32.000 now we have the opportunity for us to be restored unto God, to be connected once again to Him. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.000 Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 tells us then, 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:46.000 For our sake, He made Him to be sin who do no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:52.000 We then go to that third one, which is God's love is to be shown through us. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:58.000 Do you see how powerful it is, the love and the abundance of God, 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:08.000 the revelation of the mystery being revealed to the church to us, that we are a share of that love, 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.000 to speak of that revelation to others. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:17.000 It's to continue to flow through to other people. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:23.000 How many of you, somebody who spoke to you about the gospel story, 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:29.000 when you were young, or maybe when you were middle age, or even when you were older, 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.000 hearing that story, how did you respond? 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:37.000 Maybe it was a few times, maybe it was more than it should have been. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:42.000 Maybe it was the first time. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:47.000 Think about that. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:55.000 We think of that when in John chapter 13 verses 34, where Jesus says, 00:15:55.000 --> 00:16:01.000 A new commandment I give you, that you love one another just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:06.000 Let the love of God, the grace that comes from Him. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:10.000 When we've talked about the advent of the fiends, the hope that exists in Christ, 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:16.000 the peace that surpasses all understanding, the unspeakable and exhaustible joy 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.000 that comes from all of these things they come to us, 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:25.000 that they should flow through us as well to other people. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:30.000 And that's how people know that we are Christian, they know that we are different. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.000 Many of us have met people before, we haven't. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.000 You're Christian. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:39.000 I do it, right? 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:42.000 You probably have those moments before. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:47.000 Normally we go into the application, but what do we do with this? 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:54.000 We observe the text, we learn the lessons from it, you can see there's some clear patterns here. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:57.000 We talk about that. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:17:03.000 For many of us, we read the Bible and we learn from Scripture. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:09.000 But in learning, we're called out to go out and live it out. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:13.000 Because God calls us to be active in our faith. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:21.000 Let us have an active faith, much like how we know that our God is alive and well and working. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:24.000 The word of God being living and active. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:30.000 Let us be alive in Christ and active in His faith. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.000 So how should we respond? 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.000 We have the three things here. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:37.000 To love sacrificially. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.000 It says love forgivingly and love compassionately. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:45.000 We're to love God and to love others. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.000 And here's a difficult one, without expecting things in return. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:54.000 I know for a lot of us who like to do things, we're like, alright, can I have something back too? 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:58.000 We are a human nature. 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:05.000 We're to love the Lord with all of our heart and we're to share in the love of Christ with other people. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:13.000 And part of that love is sharing in that mystery, being revealed, the mystery of Christ, the revelation of Him. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:20.000 John chapter 15 verse 13, greater love has no one than this that someone lay down in his life for his friends. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.000 The second one is love forgivingly. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:32.000 To be quick to forgive, just as God has forgiven you, that's a difficult one. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:39.000 We are to share in that love this idea of forgiveness, forgiving others. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:43.000 I know it's so easy for us to hold grudge against someone, isn't it? 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:45.000 So much easier. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:51.000 But to forgive others, much as we are forgiven, it's a challenge. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.000 But it's something that we are all called to do. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:57.000 And I admit, look, I'm not perfect either. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:03.000 I'd rather not forgive, but in the forgiveness there is that. 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:08.000 It's like that weight off of your shoulders in knowing that. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.000 Be quick to forgive. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:20.000 Ephesians chapter 4 verse 32 tells us, be kind to one another, be tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God and Christ forgive you. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000 That's exhibiting this. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:30.000 And the third one is to love compassionately, to show kindness even when it's undeserved. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:35.000 When someone does us wrong, are we like Scrooge? 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:38.000 I mean, if you've seen movie Scrooge, right? 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:43.000 I know, sometimes I do. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:48.000 But when we think of Scrooge, we have to think, well, can't he be a little more compassionate? 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:53.000 At least before he ends, okay? 00:19:53.000 --> 00:20:09.000 Colossians chapter 3 verse 12 tells us, put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, weakness and patience. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Isn't that part of loving others? 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:26.000 Caesar said then done, but in us being a new creation, in us knowing the Lord and being saved by grace through faith and receiving this gift, 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:32.000 of course we should put on the new self and exhibit this love to others. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:41.000 And I want to ask you, as we begin to close for today, ask yourself this question. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:46.000 Who in your life needs to experience God's love? 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:54.000 Who needs to hear the story of God's revelation in Jesus Christ being born in Asia? 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:59.000 And how can you exhibit the love of Christ to someone you know? 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:10.000 Maybe it's a friend, maybe it's a family member, maybe it's just being present in your everyday interactions. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:13.000 We all live everyday lives, don't we? 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:18.000 I mean, I hope that we all talk to people or at least see people throughout the day. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:25.000 I know some of us like to be issuers and like to hang out alone, but it's still dealing with people. 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:32.000 How can you share in the light, love and truth of Jesus Christ with other people? 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:38.000 Especially in a time such as this, especially in the Christmas season. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:46.000 Isn't this an opportunity for you to not only think of Jesus Christ being born in Asia, 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:50.000 but how you have responded to God's call for your life? 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:55.000 How can you share in that with other people? 00:21:55.000 --> 00:22:02.000 When we look at this verse and we think of the call for us to love much as God has loved, 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:09.000 to us let us think of the greatest gift, of you to seek that gift. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:20.000 Just know that every single day, every moment is an opportunity for you to respond to the invitation that God has for you to be saved. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:27.000 And part of this whole story of Jesus Christ is knowing that the Word became flesh, 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.000 that Christ being born in India, 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:39.000 humble begins, such humble begins. 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:47.000 Let us think of how God sent his Son for us, 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:54.000 that whosoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:23:00.000 So ask yourself that question, who in your life needs to experience God's love? 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:06.000 Who can you talk to and share in a story? 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:14.000 Christmas is about the greatest gift, God's love being revealed in Jesus Christ. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:17.000 This is a time for celebration. 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:22.000 It's a time when we think of children, we think of our own children. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:26.000 We think of the presents that are by the Christmas tree. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:29.000 We think of the stocking stuffers, right? 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:34.000 And there's that sense of excitement that children have on Christmas morning, 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:37.000 about the gifts that they have received. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:44.000 I mean, you were all children once, you all received a gift, if you haven't come talk to me, I'll get you one. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.000 We've all received gifts before, right? 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:55.000 The excitement that we have in receiving a gift is something that is very special to us as when we are children, 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:57.000 it's the most exciting thing. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:24:04.000 And us as parents, when we see our own children opening presents and having that sense of excitement, 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:10.000 so too can we think of the great gift that God our Father gives to us. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:15.000 Just as we've talked about in previous weeks with the parables, 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:22.000 even the angels in heaven, even God the Father himself celebrates, 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:30.000 if someone comes to know the Lord, so too should we celebrate when someone becomes a believer. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:35.000 And so too should there be excitement in receiving the gift I'd seen somewhere. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:39.000 Also, respond to that invitation. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:44.000 In all of this, let us remember, 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:50.000 not only is this love something that we receive, the greatest gift from God, 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:53.000 but it's also something that we share. 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:58.000 We say, look, I am saved by Jesus Christ. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.000 I'm saved because of Him. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.000 That's why we share in the Good News. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.000 And so with that, let's close in prayer together. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:19.000 Father, we thank you for this opportunity for us to go over these couple of verses, 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:23.000 realizing that how things are connected. 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:34.000 May we realize that the revelation of the mystery is through Jesus Christ being born in a manger, 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:38.000 being born in Bethlehem. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:46.000 How wonderful your ways are that you fulfill your prophecy and your promises. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:51.000 I pray that even though we may get busy in our everyday life, 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:55.000 that we can focus and fixate our minds and our hearts on you, 00:25:55.000 --> 00:26:02.000 and the greatest gift that you give to us in Jesus Christ. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:08.000 We are saying these songs away in a manger. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:17.000 We three kings, we're saying all of these Christmas songs to remind us of the Christmas story. 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:25.000 How wonderful it is to know who you are, to know your son Jesus, 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:31.000 and to respond to this gift that you give to us of salvation. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:36.000 And I pray, Father, if there's anyone who hasn't received the gift, 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.000 to stir their hearts. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:45.000 And for those of us who have received the gift, let us grow in you and share this gift. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:51.000 Speaking of who you are, speaking of your son Jesus to others, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:59.000 may we be that white, may we mirror that love, that peace, that joy, and that hope that comes from you. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:05.000 Because through the revelation of Jesus Christ comes that peace. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:10.000 And we recognize the love that you have for us. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.000 Be with us as we sing this last song, Joy to the World. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:23.000 And be with us as we come together and fellowship as we have a meal together. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:29.000 We love you, we praise you, we glorify you, and we honor you. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:33.000 You are the reason for this season. It is in Jesus' name. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:55.000 God bless you all day.