WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.720 Thank you, Carla, and thank you, children, for helping me to read our passage tonight. 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:14.519 Some of them got right on that and were wonderful at it, and some of them I lost quicker than 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:15.480 I'll lose you tonight. 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:19.519 It was a silent night. 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:22.140 It was a holy night. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:24.400 Or was it? 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:30.500 I mean, I don't want to break up the tranquility of it all, but I know that it wasn't silent 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:31.140 at all. 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:34.119 I mean, let's think about it together. 00:00:35.339 --> 00:00:36.640 For one, it was busy. 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:38.119 It was bustling. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:42.780 It was busy because a census was taking place. 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:45.679 There were no vacancies left, apparently. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:54.379 There were people, lots of people, and people, especially travelers, are not quiet people. 00:00:55.219 --> 00:01:00.199 If you think they are, you should have been in those cars at that youth scavenger hunt 00:01:00.199 --> 00:01:00.820 last Sunday. 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:08.780 I had to lay out sick, but after giving my all up here on Sunday morning, but can you imagine 00:01:08.780 --> 00:01:11.359 youth and contest and time restraints? 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:12.599 Noise. 00:01:13.759 --> 00:01:15.180 Travelers are noisy. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:20.000 And there were a bunch of people in Bethlehem. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.939 Verse 1 of Luke chapter 2 says that all the world should be registered. 00:01:27.079 --> 00:01:28.599 It's been put this way, and I quote, 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:35.619 This man, this king, this absolute monarch lifts his finger in Rome and 1,500 miles away in 00:01:35.619 --> 00:01:36.759 an obscure providence. 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:44.919 A poverty-stricken couple undertake a hazardous journey at the whim of a king. 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:49.579 Who was influenced by the Roman Empire? 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:51.539 Who called for this census? 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:54.780 Well, quite honestly, practically the world. 00:01:55.740 --> 00:01:58.340 And here they come, all to their own hometown. 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:03.260 I assure you, it was busy, and it was noisy. 00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:07.840 And there was no room, no hospitals in that day. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:11.300 Births were usually at home with midwives. 00:02:11.420 --> 00:02:12.860 However, they were not at home. 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:15.379 Therefore, they tried a hotel. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:19.599 There was no hotel, nor were there an inn. 00:02:20.920 --> 00:02:25.719 Now, that's not a hotel or even a motel like we would think of it. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.939 Quite honestly, it's not much really of a building. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:36.620 Typically, they were typically a rectangular court with a wall in the center of it. 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:40.479 Around the outer edge of this courtyard were rooms. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:43.520 Well, really, stalls. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:46.939 Usually mud-brick stalls. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:49.740 Sometimes only curtained. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:56.979 It was like an old-time emergency room where only curtains separated you from the one next 00:02:56.979 --> 00:02:57.360 to you. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:02.120 And whatever loud and painful ailment he or she may have next to you. 00:03:03.160 --> 00:03:06.640 But don't forget, that would be in the inn. 00:03:07.660 --> 00:03:11.300 And they were not in the inn because there was no room in the inn. 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:14.260 They were in a cattle stall. 00:03:15.700 --> 00:03:21.680 Most likely a nearby cave close to the inn where they housed the travel animals. 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:24.020 I assure you, it was not silent. 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:27.120 It don't sound very holy to me. 00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:32.120 But it was there that the virgin chose by God bore a son. 00:03:33.580 --> 00:03:39.340 And laid him in a cattle trough after wrapping him in scraps of cloth, the kind you would find 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:40.000 in a barn. 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:42.920 It does not stop there. 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:50.840 The children helped me tell you about shepherds nearby in a field watching sheep. 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.479 That probably wasn't very silent either. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:57.960 The angel came to them and announced. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.920 Nothing silent about an announcement. 00:04:01.920 --> 00:04:03.680 Then a heavenly host came singing. 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.420 No good heavenly choir is silent. 00:04:07.419 --> 00:04:12.059 Not a lot of silence about the night the Lord was born. 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:14.319 Or was it even at night? 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:15.639 Sorry. 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:20.699 The angel said to the shepherds, for unto us is born this day. 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:23.180 And they went quickly to see him. 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:26.120 And I bet they weren't silent about it either. 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:29.099 Like a Black Friday crowd waiting in the parking lot. 00:04:29.599 --> 00:04:32.819 Looking in the windows, jacked up and excited as they could be. 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:38.719 And when they left his presence, they were glorifying and praising God. 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:43.719 Now some of y'all may glorify and praise the Lord silently. 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:45.800 But heaven doesn't. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:46.959 No. 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:48.300 Read Revelation. 00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:51.139 And the shepherds didn't do it either. 00:04:52.219 --> 00:04:53.079 Nor do I. 00:04:53.539 --> 00:04:55.839 Good praise the Lord will do you good. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.459 Unless it's under your breath or silent. 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:00.139 And then it'll hurt you if you're not careful. 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:01.759 Let folks hear it. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.980 It'll do us all good. 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.399 But I just don't think it was that silent. 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:10.300 I can't argue with the holy part of it. 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:14.120 Because when the only begotten Son of God is born to a virgin. 00:05:14.539 --> 00:05:19.060 With angels in the region and royalty on the way. 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:21.300 That's a set apart time. 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:23.579 There's no doubt about that. 00:05:23.659 --> 00:05:24.699 I mean let's be honest. 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:26.839 There was chaos. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.159 They had no room. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:33.920 I choose to believe that Joseph was bargaining quite hard for some kind of quiet place. 00:05:34.020 --> 00:05:36.380 And there was the struggle. 00:05:37.380 --> 00:05:45.480 They had went on an 80 mile trek while she was so pregnant that she delivered upon their arrival. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.480 And there was noise. 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:48.040 And there was noise. 00:05:48.700 --> 00:05:51.020 As I've already made a lot of noise about it. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.800 But that's where it gets interesting to me. 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:58.420 Because in the midst of the chaos. 00:05:58.780 --> 00:06:00.140 In the midst of the struggle. 00:06:00.640 --> 00:06:02.120 In the midst of the noise. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:03.360 There was holiness. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.300 Because Jesus was right there in the midst. 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:14.720 Caesar Augustus thought he was why Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.040 He is the one that made the decree. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:24.600 But the reality is the prophet Micah 700 years earlier had stated in Micah 5 verse 2. 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:32.060 But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah. 00:06:32.200 --> 00:06:41.480 For you shall come forth for me, one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old. 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:44.260 From ancient days. 00:06:45.520 --> 00:06:49.620 And when Herod wanted to know where the Messiah was to be born. 00:06:50.320 --> 00:06:54.280 That's the passage that the chief priests and the scribes referred back to. 00:06:54.719 --> 00:06:55.059 Why? 00:06:55.979 --> 00:06:58.759 Because Bethlehem was a set apart place. 00:06:59.619 --> 00:07:00.919 That's what holy means. 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:05.500 It was set apart for the purpose of the birth of the Lord. 00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:08.799 So even though it may not have felt like it at times. 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:10.179 I guess it was holy. 00:07:10.179 --> 00:07:12.279 And in the midst of that holiness. 00:07:12.659 --> 00:07:14.179 There was a bit of silence. 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:15.959 If you'll pay close attention to the word. 00:07:17.059 --> 00:07:19.359 I don't know about the lambs that stopped bleeding. 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:21.179 Or the cows that stopped mooing. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:22.479 If they were there. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.319 Or the donkey that she rode in on. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:27.740 Which we don't even know about that either, by the way. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:31.540 But if so, they didn't stop kneeing and whining. 00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:32.460 Who knows? 00:07:33.780 --> 00:07:37.180 But you know, sometimes silence comes in the midst of the noise. 00:07:39.140 --> 00:07:41.920 Sometimes peace comes in the midst of the chaos. 00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:46.620 Somehow, all that happened for Mary. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:51.459 In Luke chapter 2, verse 17 through 20, it says this. 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:58.879 And when they, speaking of the shepherds, saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:02.639 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.959 But Mary treasured all these things. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:22.659 So in other words, in the midst of all the ruckus, there can be silence. 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:27.700 Even if it's still so loud all around you. 00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:36.000 And what a wonderful response that is in regards to this Christmas and the birth of Christ. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:43.620 For this Christmas, in the midst of our chaos and the clutter and the noise, let us take a pause. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.240 Let us treasure it up. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:49.179 Ponder on it. 00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:51.000 Take it in. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:54.000 Not the family festivities. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.179 Of course, enjoy and embrace them. 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:58.179 But that's not what I speak of. 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:00.839 Not the gifts around the tree. 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:03.620 Or the twinkling of the lights. 00:09:04.699 --> 00:09:08.839 But enjoy the beauty and the sharing. 00:09:09.079 --> 00:09:13.620 But in the midst of all that, I challenge you with this. 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:18.459 Take time to ponder on the reason for the season. 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:25.299 The babe in a manger that lived a sinless life and bore his life on Calvary. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:28.979 To save all who would repent of their sins. 00:09:29.099 --> 00:09:35.819 That means turn from their way to his way and surrender their lives to him. 00:09:37.699 --> 00:09:42.319 In the stillness of an early Christmas morning. 00:09:42.979 --> 00:09:46.019 Or when the dust is settled tonight. 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:49.419 Take a moment. 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:52.139 And take it in. 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:55.139 Remember. 00:09:56.819 --> 00:09:57.340 Ponder. 00:09:58.100 --> 00:10:01.419 On what God has done for you through Christ. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:06.279 And how in this world have you responded back to him. 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:14.939 What difference does the birth and the life and the death and the resurrection of Christ. 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:18.360 What difference has it made to you? 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:21.360 What difference has it made in your life? 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:24.799 And when we leave that scene. 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.419 It is my prayer. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:28.779 We'll leave it like a shepherd. 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:32.299 Glorifying and praising God. 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:34.179 Letting everyone wondering. 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:37.199 What is it? 00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:39.379 Or who is it? 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:43.000 That's changed your life? 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:45.500 On second thought. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.860 Let's don't leave them wondering. 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.779 Let's tell them. 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:54.580 Let's tell them how Christ changed our lives. 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:57.639 And how we are to live it out. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:58.820 For him. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:01.440 Because I promise you. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:04.600 Whatever you've got to give to God tonight. 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:06.100 He's worth it. 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:07.720 Thank God. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:09.120 For Jesus. 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:11.240 Merry Christmas. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.799 Let's pray together. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.320 Lord Jesus. 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:15.120 I love you. 00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:15.980 And I thank you. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.399 For the gift that you give us in Christ. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.419 I pray Lord. 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:23.039 That if there's someone here today. 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:27.039 Who's never surrendered his or her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:28.419 They won't leave this room. 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:31.299 Without speaking to me. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:35.819 About giving their lives to Christ. 00:11:36.939 --> 00:11:38.240 Let this day. 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:40.719 Be a new one for us. 00:11:41.319 --> 00:11:42.819 To change our direction. 00:11:42.939 --> 00:11:44.319 To be more focused upon. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:46.419 What you are about. 00:11:46.979 --> 00:11:48.919 The difference you make in our lives. 00:11:48.959 --> 00:11:51.620 And the difference we can make with you empowering us dear God. 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:53.719 Help this Christmas. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.279 Not only for us to celebrate each other dear God. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.199 But to celebrate the Savior. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:00.100 And I ask dear God. 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:01.339 For your greatest blessings. 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:03.919 Upon every household that's represented here. 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.679 Or are watching online. 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.919 God bless them with the power of your presence. 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:11.360 Draw them close to you dear God. 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:14.319 And help us to live for your honor and glory. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:17.779 And it's only in Christ's name that we pray. 00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:20.000 And all God's people said. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:21.279 Amen. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:21.459 Amen. 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:21.840 Stand.