WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:05.780 We're starting a new thing, which is where we're going to pass Bibles around to help you see how beautiful the Word of God is. 00:00:05.780 --> 00:00:15.860 Not just because of the publisher, but seeing it in paper is just so much easier to follow as I fly around and jump around. 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:20.140 So I invite you to open up again to Luke chapter 2, verse 22. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:29.980 But maybe before I do that, just to reiterate, I don't know about you, but every week and every 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:36.920 Christmas especially, I have this ongoing battle of just reminding myself why I'm here, what I'm doing here. 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:42.399 And Lord, have mercy on me that this never turns into a routine or something that I do. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:44.100 And then someone asks me, oh, why do you do that? 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:44.880 And you're like, oh, I don't know. 00:00:44.980 --> 00:00:48.179 I just do it because that's what we do on a Sunday. 00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:56.120 But to be able to come here and gather and to worship and to know who we worship is just a gift. 00:00:57.260 --> 00:00:59.780 It is just a gift that I don't ever, ever want to take for granted. 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:02.039 And that actually ties into next week as well. 00:01:02.099 --> 00:01:03.819 Actually, it ties into every week. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:14.219 Honestly, I think turning up 15 minutes late for Lord God Almighty is actually fairly rude anyway. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:21.859 So if you don't get to come in next week because we are too full, please forgive us. 00:01:21.979 --> 00:01:25.199 As we also seek to forgive you as well for not joining us on time. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:29.640 Okay, so I say this as kindly and with much grace and truth as possible. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:33.200 If you want to come and if you want to bring friends, please, please, please come on time. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:36.159 Because when I come to your office and I come and visit you, I come on time. 00:01:36.740 --> 00:01:38.100 And this isn't even my office. 00:01:38.219 --> 00:01:40.840 This is the dwelling place of God Most High. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:44.439 So let's just remember what that is, okay? 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:46.159 Let's remember why we come in. 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:48.859 Let's remember when we come in, this is what we're here for. 00:01:49.219 --> 00:01:51.900 And maybe on that note, let's just spend a moment of silence now. 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.980 I don't know what kind of heart you're coming in here with today. 00:01:55.039 --> 00:01:55.900 Whether you're just flustered. 00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:57.780 Whether actually you're like James, you don't even know. 00:01:57.900 --> 00:02:01.539 To get my family out of the house with the kids is rough. 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:03.099 And I'm here and I'm all flustered. 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:06.400 So I hear you about the punctuality stuff, but we tried our best. 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:07.099 I get it. 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:09.199 So all grace, completely okay. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:11.919 Let's just spend a moment now and just to kind of settle our hearts. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:15.079 Whatever mindset we come in, let's just spend that time just going, 00:02:15.179 --> 00:02:19.219 Lord, we are here first and foremost for you. 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:33.560 Lord, I'm reminded that if our favorite celebrity or sports person or hero or even boss 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.859 or someone we revere, if they walked into this room, we would be filled with excitement, 00:02:37.979 --> 00:02:38.859 fear, and reverence. 00:02:38.859 --> 00:02:39.919 So how much more so? 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:48.679 King Jesus, as you come into this world, as we sing familiar Christmas songs, 00:02:48.780 --> 00:02:54.319 as we just engage in the usual Christian activity, 00:02:54.959 --> 00:02:58.779 how much more so should we be in reverence and awe of you? 00:02:59.859 --> 00:03:07.099 Fill us with awe and wonder now, recognizing that you are right here, right now. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:16.639 Holy Spirit, we open our hearts and our ears and our minds to you. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.259 Would you search our hearts? 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:34.659 Would you test our thoughts? 00:03:34.659 --> 00:03:44.579 If there is any anxiety or anything that is offensive or prideful, 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:48.680 we surrender to you. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:50.240 Would you lead us on the way everlasting? 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:54.319 In your name we pray. 00:03:55.419 --> 00:03:55.719 Amen. 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:58.859 And that's the journey we've been on. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.259 We've been on, we're starting the book of Luke, and we're looking at this gospel and going, 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:04.639 Holy Spirit, where are you working? 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:09.219 If the Holy Spirit is God in the now, God on the move, then he's moving and working. 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:12.639 And we're trying, at least these first few weeks, because it's Christmas, because it's Advent, 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:17.319 we're looking at the Christmas story and go, actually, the main character here is actually the Holy Spirit. 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:20.879 The Holy Spirit was the one that showed up in the form of Angel Gabriel, 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:25.019 and starts intruding into Elizabeth and Zechariah's life and going, 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.800 Hey, you're about to have a baby, and this baby's going to pave the way. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.300 John the Baptist. 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:34.519 And then he goes, he's having a busy day, and then he goes off to Mary, 00:04:34.719 --> 00:04:37.279 and then he does the same thing there and says, you're going to have a baby. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:39.300 And this baby comes, Luke chapter 1. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:42.079 Even just those words should baffle you. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:43.420 Chapter 1, verse 35. 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:47.459 The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:49.939 Therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:51.939 The Son of God. 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:53.439 Mind-blowing. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:55.219 We take that for granted all the time. 00:04:56.579 --> 00:05:00.500 This will be called the Son of God, because the Holy Spirit himself comes upon Mary 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:04.259 and brings this baby into this world. 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.019 And then we see this interaction. 00:05:06.139 --> 00:05:06.759 This is last week. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:09.100 We see this interaction between Mary and Elizabeth, 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:11.060 where they are just filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:14.740 This Holy Spirit that banishes any jealousy, any comparison. 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:16.699 And Elizabeth is just filled with joy, 00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:20.500 even though she's been the one that has been waiting for a baby for years and years and years. 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:25.459 And then this teenage Mary has her baby, and she's like, I am so overjoyed for you. 00:05:25.599 --> 00:05:27.620 And I said, actually, how many of us would actually do that? 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.959 When we see someone else have something happy happen in their lives, 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:34.300 often, often the first thought is, but why is it not happening to me? 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:37.079 Or comparing it to me, and it steals our joy. 00:05:37.139 --> 00:05:38.699 That's what Theodore Roosevelt said. 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.199 That comparison is the thief of joy. 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:43.759 But we see the Holy Spirit comes and gives joy. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.319 And then we see the Holy Spirit comes and points you to other people. 00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:50.379 There's a humility that comes when the Holy Spirit is here, 00:05:50.400 --> 00:05:51.920 because you're not thinking about yourself. 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.019 Elizabeth is not thinking about herself. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.100 She's saying, the mother of my Lord is coming. 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:57.639 Even though I'm about to give birth first, 00:05:58.280 --> 00:05:59.319 this one's more important. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.500 This one's more important. 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:06.560 And then Mary, she could be saying, hey, I'm the real deal. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:08.879 This baby in here is going to be the savior of the world. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.420 I don't even have to try, and I have this baby. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:14.600 But no, she's like, my soul magnifies the Lord, 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:17.019 that he would come upon me on my humble estate. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.360 I don't deserve this, and yet I have this. 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:23.139 How crazy about the generations ahead will call me blessed because of it. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:25.779 So the Holy Spirit comes and gives joy. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:28.060 The Holy Spirit comes and points you to other people. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.019 And then it comes and gives you faith, 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:32.300 and you see Mary sing this incredible song. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:36.079 You see Zechariah give this prophecy, not just about his son, 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:39.160 but about Israel, about mankind. 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:41.720 So the Holy Spirit gives you faith, 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.720 even when you have to go against the people in your life, 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:46.100 even when you have to go against relatives. 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:49.959 They said, Zechariah, why are we not calling your son Zechariah Jr.? 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.100 That's what we do in our family. 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:51.920 That's what we do in this culture. 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:53.639 He said, no, he's going to be called John. 00:06:55.939 --> 00:06:56.840 He gives you faith. 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:59.639 And then finally, the Holy Spirit points you to Jesus. 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:02.139 He says, actually, it's not even about my son. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.339 It's about the one who will come, 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.839 who will shine the light into the darkness, 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.819 who will walk the valley of the shadow of death and come out through it, 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:11.899 and then will walk us through as well. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.959 The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.179 And now we're going to move. 00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:18.159 Now, chapter two begins with a very, 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:20.639 very familiar story that we're actually not going to go through today, 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:22.679 because next week we have lots of fun, 00:07:22.799 --> 00:07:24.439 chaotic activities that we've planned. 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:26.219 And Gav's is laughing because he knows I'm not lying. 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:30.319 We're going to have lots of fun activities to kind of portray the shepherds 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:32.600 and portray the wise men. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:33.240 So that'll be fun. 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:34.019 And I know you know that. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.519 But we're going to move into a passage that I've actually never preached on, 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:39.339 let alone I don't think it's often preached on at Christmas. 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:42.100 But you can kind of say it is still tied to the story, 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:44.379 because it is tied to the story of baby Jesus. 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:47.600 And we're going to see how the Holy Spirit moves in this passage. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.360 It's Luke chapter two, and we'll start from verse 22. 00:07:50.640 --> 00:07:54.620 And as I unpack this verse by verse, I pray that you'll see, again, 00:07:54.700 --> 00:07:56.439 the goal in all of this, if you're like, why am I here? 00:07:56.520 --> 00:07:58.620 Why am I listening to you talk in these next few weeks? 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:01.620 We're looking at how the Holy Spirit is working. 00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:05.460 We're being investigators, looking at this scripture and going, 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:07.100 Holy Spirit, where are your fingerprints? 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:08.500 What are you actually doing? 00:08:09.340 --> 00:08:12.100 What were you doing here through this Christmas story? 00:08:12.140 --> 00:08:14.379 Because so far, I hope it's established clear enough to you 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:17.920 that actually the Holy Spirit has been the one orchestrating this whole Christmas story. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:21.839 And now we move into this passage, which I think is really interesting. 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.839 And it starts here, verse 22. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:27.639 And when the time came for their purification, according to the law of Moses, 00:08:27.779 --> 00:08:30.399 they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:31.959 As it is written in the law of the Lord, 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:34.840 every male who first opens the womb shall be called the holy to the Lord 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:37.919 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:41.340 a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:46.700 So shepherds, they're working. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:49.800 Boom, they see the angels and they go and find the baby in a manger. 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:53.139 And then after this, Mary's just like, what is going on? 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:55.080 What on earth is going on? 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:57.300 Why are shepherds who have no idea who we are? 00:08:57.540 --> 00:08:59.879 Why are kings and wise men who have no idea who we are? 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.100 Why are they coming to us? 00:09:01.160 --> 00:09:03.920 Who really is this baby? 00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:07.360 And then, of course, they have to get on their way and they start 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.460 and they have the first month. 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:13.660 So Mary's and then at 40 days, she's finally let out of the house, 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:15.440 much like the Chinese culture. 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:17.200 And what do they do in the Jewish tradition? 00:09:17.280 --> 00:09:19.960 They have to go to the temple because in those first 40 days, 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.460 the mother who actually has just given birth is considered unclean. 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:26.460 And so she has to go to the temple to do two things. 00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:31.700 The first thing is basically the purification of mum. 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:37.280 So actually, she has to come and basically after this act of going into the temple, 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:41.060 she will come back and she will now no longer be ceremonially unclean. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:43.180 And the second thing is to offer this firstborn. 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:44.720 They offer this firstborn. 00:09:44.800 --> 00:09:46.420 Actually, they give a little bit of money as a symbol. 00:09:46.640 --> 00:09:48.440 And really, it reminds them of the Exodus. 00:09:48.660 --> 00:09:49.960 It reminds them of the Passover. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:52.180 It reminds them of as a people, as the Israelites, 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.220 how they even got here in the first place, 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.440 how they were delivered from the Egyptians. 00:09:56.660 --> 00:09:58.300 So they do these two things. 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:01.359 And then what's really interesting here is from this moment, 00:10:01.479 --> 00:10:03.039 we see the Holy Spirit come in. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:04.199 What do we see? 00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:05.939 We see a man named Simeon. 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:08.299 Again, not often referred to in the Christmas story, 00:10:08.359 --> 00:10:10.279 I guess at this point in our world, 00:10:10.359 --> 00:10:12.559 it's January time now or early February. 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:15.599 But what we see here is Simeon, verse 25. 00:10:15.959 --> 00:10:18.819 And Simeon and this man was righteous and devout, 00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:20.699 waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:23.719 And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:25.599 And so Luke here shows us again, 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:27.199 the Holy Spirit's the one doing stuff. 00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:27.779 What's he doing? 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:29.159 He talks about Simeon. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.720 Simeon, they think he worked in the temple. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.959 They think he was an old man, 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:35.139 but actually nowhere does it say he's an old man. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.419 But he's been waiting. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:38.860 And he's been waiting likely for a long time. 00:10:38.939 --> 00:10:39.819 And what's he been waiting for? 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:41.079 The consolation of Israel. 00:10:41.339 --> 00:10:43.500 He's been waiting for Israel to be delivered 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:45.699 from the oppression of the Romans. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.579 And he's been waiting there. 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:48.860 And he's a righteous and devout man, much like who? 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:53.559 Who have we heard up until this point in chapter one, 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.819 who is a righteous and devout man? 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.059 Who has been, huh? 00:10:56.059 --> 00:10:56.500 Joseph. 00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:57.419 Joseph. 00:10:57.779 --> 00:10:58.079 Good. 00:10:58.219 --> 00:10:58.599 Who else? 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:01.099 The very first one? 00:11:02.299 --> 00:11:02.659 Zechariah. 00:11:03.959 --> 00:11:06.859 You see these men who were just righteous and devout, 00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:08.059 who were just diligent in their way, 00:11:08.359 --> 00:11:10.139 waiting and waiting and waiting. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:11.559 And this is where the Holy Spirit comes. 00:11:11.619 --> 00:11:12.939 And maybe this is the first point I make. 00:11:12.940 --> 00:11:16.060 Because often, maybe now, maybe in the last few decades, 00:11:16.060 --> 00:11:20.160 we've seen a move in the charismatic movement in the church worldwide. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.920 We see people starting to talk a little bit more about the Holy Spirit, 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:26.520 starting to talk about how the Holy Spirit works, 00:11:26.520 --> 00:11:28.020 how the Holy Spirit gives gifts, 00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:31.700 and how the Holy Spirit is even manifested in a church today. 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:36.540 And often, again, often we live in an increasingly polarizing world here, 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:38.400 where it's either, you either go this way, 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:40.400 and you acknowledge completely what the Holy Spirit is doing here, 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.320 or you completely ignore it, and you go this way, 00:11:42.420 --> 00:11:45.160 and you go with tradition, and you go with all the liturgy, 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:46.080 and you go with the word. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.800 And I look at this, and I think, this is interesting. 00:11:49.780 --> 00:11:54.060 You see the Holy Spirit show up in tradition. 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:58.540 You see the Holy Spirit show up in a temple with a man, 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.740 with a righteous man who has been devout all this time, 00:12:01.920 --> 00:12:04.460 likely working in the temple, likely doing all the rituals. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:07.280 The Holy Spirit comes and starts this whole process off here, 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:12.060 because Mary and Joseph decided to follow the rituals of the Jewish people, 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:14.259 handed down from the law of Moses. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:17.759 So you see, actually, the Holy Spirit does work in this place. 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:20.460 In summary, they taught me something. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:24.439 It was a quadrilateral invented by the guy John Wesley, 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.899 and it's the Wesleyan quadrilateral, it's what it's called. 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:30.159 And what it is saying is that actually all of our theology, 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:32.899 which is everything, our approach to God itself, 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:35.120 comes in the form of a quadrilateral. 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:40.259 So the first, basically, is four influences on how you approach God. 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:42.399 The first one is Scripture. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:45.500 We know everything we know about God because of this book. 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:49.659 And as evangelicals, this is the highest authority. 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:53.159 And then the second one is actually reason. 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:56.919 So we start to know about God because of just how we compute. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:00.959 As a former science teacher myself, that's what I used to be able to teach my kids. 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:02.480 I'm like, science tells you how things work, 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:05.360 but faith tells you why they bother to work in the first place. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:08.500 If we are creations, then that points to a creator. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:10.820 And creations surely then have a purpose. 00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:14.179 And I kind of went on that route, and it was my reasoning, 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:15.840 and Tim Keller has a book called The Reason for God, 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.879 which really helps us talk about it in that way. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.039 So you've got Scripture, you've got reason, 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.620 and then you've got another one, which is tradition. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:29.480 So many people actually get to know God and everything about God through tradition, 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:34.379 through rituals, through ceremonies, through services, through liturgy. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:39.480 And then the final one is experience, which is the one where you actually feel God. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:42.299 And this is where the Holy Spirit maybe is a little bit more mentioned, 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:42.980 a little bit more. 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.539 And it's got this kind of, actually, you just feel the love of God. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.860 You sense the Holy Spirit is doing this. 00:13:46.939 --> 00:13:48.220 Have we met people who do that? 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:51.840 You know, I felt the Holy Spirit was here, or he told me this and told me that. 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.720 And so Wesley is saying there's these four quadrilaterals, 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.439 and we've all come at it from different ones. 00:13:57.179 --> 00:14:00.659 Just out of interest, let's see if you're still paying attention. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.419 What was the first one? 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.440 Scripture. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:03.560 Scripture. 00:14:03.880 --> 00:14:04.120 Brilliant. 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:04.940 And the second one? 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.100 Reason. 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:06.700 Third one? 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.160 Tradition. 00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:09.440 And fourth one? 00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:10.480 Experience. 00:14:11.280 --> 00:14:11.680 Excellent. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.540 You know you're preaching to an Asian class. 00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:20.560 Okay, so out of interest, if you think about your own experience, 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:23.380 your own theological method, if you will, 00:14:23.880 --> 00:14:25.520 which one have you been influenced by the most? 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:28.420 Put your hand up if it was reason. 00:14:29.260 --> 00:14:31.240 If you had to choose reason. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:34.519 Put your hand up if it was tradition. 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.919 And if it was scripture. 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:43.840 And if it was experience. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.919 Did I just say that? 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:46.060 Ah, interesting. 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:52.019 Actually, there's more to unpack in this community and how that really works there. 00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:56.739 But just even there, we see that we all come to God from different perspectives. 00:14:57.239 --> 00:15:03.079 And what we see here then is actually the Holy Spirit shows up in tradition and in experience, 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:04.179 and it's all the same. 00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:07.579 And I find that is the message of Jesus. 00:15:07.699 --> 00:15:10.459 Hey, if you're on either end of this, hey, come in. 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:12.039 I'm everywhere. 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.479 I'm everywhere. 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.500 I am in the tradition. 00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:17.699 I am in the man who has been devout and righteous for many, many, many years, 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.039 and I'm still showing up. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:24.299 And I'm also part of the one who's in the reasoning and in the experience and in the tradition and the community. 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:26.500 And so we see him showing up here. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.819 And it's interesting. 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:29.240 And there is a waiting involved. 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:30.959 You see Zechariah waiting for years. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.639 You see Simeon waiting for years. 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:35.620 You see, if you go later into chapter 2, we'll talk about that. 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:38.839 Anna, the prophetess, who implies that she was also very close to God. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.899 Remember, prophecy is just knowing the heart and the word of God. 00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:43.279 And so you see Anna is this. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.519 And she was advanced in years. 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:47.319 And she did not depart from, this is verse 37 in chapter 2. 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:50.959 She did not depart from the temple worshipping with fasting, prayer, night and day. 00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:51.959 So she was waiting. 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:57.360 There is something about the waiting that even in the beginning is so important. 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.180 It tells me one thing. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.320 The Holy Spirit cannot be rushed. 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:02.620 You cannot rush him to do things. 00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:06.139 He waited for 400 years, complete silence, and then he shows up. 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:09.980 There is a wait in the waiting. 00:16:10.900 --> 00:16:14.639 There is a wait in the waiting that actually is good. 00:16:15.800 --> 00:16:17.420 I wonder what you've been waiting for. 00:16:18.660 --> 00:16:20.560 I wonder what the thing that you have been asking God for. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:20.899 Come on. 00:16:21.479 --> 00:16:21.979 It's time. 00:16:23.359 --> 00:16:25.019 You've told me I'll see this. 00:16:25.619 --> 00:16:27.219 And then year after year, it doesn't happen. 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:30.979 There is a wait in the waiting. 00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:34.539 We live in a world of a time of instant gratification. 00:16:35.599 --> 00:16:37.519 I was just reflecting with Christina the other day. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.199 I have lost the joy and interest in watching TV shows. 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:52.400 I grew up in a time, again, in the late 1900s, where you have your favorite show and you wait for it to watch it that once a week. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.960 And it's that one episode. 00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.240 Do you remember? 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:56.820 Not if you remember that time. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:59.759 And you're like, oh, finally, it's the show. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.520 And you watch it. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.939 And then there's the you go. 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.059 And then you wait for next week. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.599 And then it just builds up again. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:11.200 Now I sit and I'm just like, I'm just scrolling through Apple TV or Netflix or Disney Plus. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.379 And I don't really know what to watch. 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:15.019 And I watch a little bit. 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.819 And I'm like, oh, that was kind of good. 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.559 Halfway through. 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:17.139 Now I'm going to skip. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.960 I'm going to move on to something else. 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:22.920 In this time of instant gratification, I think it actually leads to dissatisfaction. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.100 I think it actually leads to, if you get it straight away, you don't actually even enjoy it that much. 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:32.660 But you see here, these people waited for so long. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.059 And finally, finally it comes. 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:35.880 Verse 26. 00:17:36.840 --> 00:17:40.440 So Simeon, good man, the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:42.160 He was waiting for Israel to be delivered. 00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:45.539 And verse 36, we see the Holy Spirit doing two things. 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:47.100 He reveals and he guides. 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:54.019 First thing he says is, and it has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 00:17:54.419 --> 00:17:59.859 You will not die, Simeon, until you actually see the Savior of the world. 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.519 That's number one. 00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:04.359 And then, and he came into the Spirit, into the temple. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:08.740 And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law. 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:11.859 So the Spirit reveals to him that you will see Jesus before you die. 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:14.159 And then he brings him into the temple. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:17.160 And so you can imagine, he's waiting every day, waiting for this. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:21.080 And then, of course, he gets to the point where actually baby Jesus comes in. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:26.540 Of course, you've got Mary, and you've got Joseph, and you've got 40-day-old baby. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.200 So you've got Mary, who's sleep-deprived. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:35.440 You've got Joseph, who's sleep-deprived, walking into the temple, lucky to find their way into the temple. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:40.759 And finally, Simeon sees baby, and he's like, this is it. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:49.180 And so we kind of guess that he worked in the temple because he took him up in his arms because, well, otherwise he's just a random guy. 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.059 Why would he pick up the baby? 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:53.720 So they're probably there for him to give him the baby. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:59.559 So you can imagine, and maybe I'm reading too much into this, or maybe I'm a bit too influenced by the recent movie Mufasa. 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:04.119 So I can imagine him just picking up baby and then just lifting him up. 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.700 We don't sing the song. 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.879 And he's like, this is the baby. 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:14.839 This is it. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:20.000 I've been waiting all these years for this baby. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:25.440 And he does sing a song, which I won't try and sing, or at least he says a few words. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:27.259 And he says this, verse 29 to 32. 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:30.960 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace. 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.920 Now I can die. 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.099 Now I can die. 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:38.839 My life's purpose, I'm done. 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.180 It's accomplished. 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.359 For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:50.700 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.700 Can you imagine? 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:55.779 What's your moment where if I do this, I'm good to die? 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:55.859 Okay. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.759 What's your moment? 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.599 Can you think of one? 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.399 Who can think of one? 00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:06.220 Who's avoiding eye contact with me? 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:12.160 Brayden, do you have a moment where like, if I meet this person or do this, I'm good. 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.779 Like, that's my life is... 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:17.700 Sometimes? 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:17.860 Sometimes? 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.799 I think mine's... 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.960 If I met Michael Jordan, I think... 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.019 I think my soul would be at peace. 00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.539 I would be crying. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.900 But it would be at peace. 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:30.380 Paul, do you have your moment? 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.180 I think it's one. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.140 You can't... 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:38.340 See a great white. 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:40.019 See a great white shark. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.339 Do you see those in Australia? 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:43.980 I hear people encounter those. 00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:45.419 You can. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:45.679 Okay. 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:47.279 So that's one of the big ones. 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:52.059 I think we all, if we'd spent a bit more time and I don't put you on the spot, I think 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:53.639 we all probably have one of those things. 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.240 In the back of our minds, at least. 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.639 What we think our life wants or needs. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:00.359 And once we have that, we will check that box and we will, I'm good. 00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.779 This was Simeon's. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.599 He's like, I am so good. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.519 And what was his one? 00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:09.179 For my eyes have seen your salvation. 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:15.939 Honestly, the reason why I ask is, hey, open the word together. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.579 Let's do it together. 00:21:16.699 --> 00:21:19.839 Because if I'm doing that on my own and I'm just skimming through that and I'm just like, 00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:20.779 I was just Christian. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:23.319 He talked a little bit of devotion finished. 00:21:23.419 --> 00:21:24.299 Get on with the rest of my day. 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:29.159 But if we open it up together and we see, for my eyes have seen your salvation. 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.559 He's looking at the baby. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:34.079 He's going, my eyes have seen your salvation. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.819 What does this tell me? 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:37.319 Salvation is not a concept. 00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:40.559 It is not something that you can do to get. 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:46.519 It is not a set of laws that you need to abide by in order to be saved. 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:50.039 Salvation is a person. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:57.039 Can you appreciate how mind-blowing this is for the people in the temple following all 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.599 these rituals? 00:21:58.119 --> 00:22:02.199 Thinking, okay, if I do this, this, this, and if my baby's 40 days old, I'll do this, 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:05.940 and then mom will do this, and then maybe we will be saved, and maybe God will be pleased 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.259 with us. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:10.819 He comes and says, this baby is the thing, is the reason you're going to be saved. 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:14.720 Salvation is not a concept or set of tasks that you need to do. 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:16.120 It is a person. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:18.259 It is a baby. 00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:19.259 And he is filled with joy. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:24.299 And then he says something else that is shocking, and he says this, that you have prepared in 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:29.160 the presence of all peoples a life for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people, 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:29.940 Israel. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.480 What? 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:35.420 We just heard that he'd been waiting years and years for the consolation of Israel, the 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.019 Jewish people. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:38.920 They're the ones that need to be saved because they're the ones that are being oppressed. 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:44.579 And yet suddenly in this moment that is filled with the Holy Spirit, filled with faith, he 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:46.879 says, no, it's actually, it's more than that. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:51.440 Guys, this gift that we thought would be for us is actually for the Gentiles. 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.720 It's for everyone. 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:55.319 Everyone gets a chance at this. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:59.960 We're all sat here, recipients and beneficiaries of that. 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:07.200 But this gospel, this light is coming to the Gentiles as well for your glory to your people, 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.059 Israel. 00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:13.480 And so you hear this and then actually you will do what the next part says, which is what 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:18.759 Mary and Joseph, verse 33, and his father and his mother marveled at what was said about 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:18.960 him. 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:26.360 At this point, I'm just like, if I'm Mary, I'm just, I don't even know how to compute all 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:28.059 the things that have been said about my child. 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:33.899 Bearing in mind, she's just had 40 days of looking after a newborn, which is probably 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:38.960 one of the hardest tasks any human being can do, changing nappies, sleepless nights and 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.639 all these things. 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:47.799 And yet she just, in chapter one, she heard that this person, this person is verse 32. 00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:50.740 He will be great and will be called the son of the most high. 00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:54.519 And the Lord God will give him to the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.599 the house of Jacob forever. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:57.579 And of his kingdom, there will be no end. 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:59.619 What a prophecy for a baby. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:05.259 That this baby will be a king, will be great, and will have a kingdom that is forever and 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.379 ever. 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:09.639 And then she'll have shepherds visiting her when the baby's born. 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:16.579 And they'll say, the sky's filled up with angels singing this song about your son will 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:18.440 bring peace to this earth. 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:23.120 And it says, after that, and she treasured all these things in her heart. 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:24.220 She cherished all of them. 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:26.420 And there's no way she can't. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.700 There's no way she can forget these things. 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.960 What does it mean? 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.799 My baby's going to bring peace on earth. 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.900 On earth. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:38.660 And anyway, these first 40 days, it does not feel like peace with my baby. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:42.240 And yet somehow this is going to happen. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:44.039 And it makes me think, why did peace come? 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:47.480 And it really brings me to the crux of today's message, which is, what is Christmas even all 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:47.700 about? 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.319 You look at the Christmas trees. 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:53.000 You look at the fairy lights, which, by the way, have nothing to do with Christmas. 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:55.200 They're just fairy lights that make things look nice. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:58.340 But what is the Christmas message really about? 00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:00.480 You sing these Christmas carols. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.860 We sing these Christmas carols about there being joy. 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:06.720 About there being faithful people who are coming. 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:09.380 But this baby is lying in a manger. 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:12.120 What is the Christmas message truly about? 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:14.039 Why does peace come on earth? 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:17.980 The answer is because there was no peace at that time. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:20.120 Why does peace have to come in the first place? 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:21.799 It's because there was no peace. 00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:23.559 Does that make sense? 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.399 I think we lose sight. 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:28.019 I lose sight of that message in the Christmas story. 00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:30.419 Why is Christmas even necessary? 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:36.240 Because if everything was going well and there was peace in there, then maybe baby Jesus didn't 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.039 even need to come. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:41.539 But baby comes because there wasn't peace, because the Israelites were being oppressed, because 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:43.659 there was fighting going on all around the world. 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.619 That is why. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.000 Have you ever thought about that? 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:52.879 That Christmas was necessary because people were at war with each other and people were at 00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.500 war with God. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:56.599 And people were at war with creation. 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.899 What does the word peace even mean? 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.819 Does anyone know from a biblical standpoint? 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:03.399 Gabe, why don't we go with our resident theologian? 00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:05.000 What does the word peace mean in the Bible? 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.240 And the word is? 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.679 Shalom. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.139 Wholeness. 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:13.919 Harmony. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:17.620 A right relationship between people and God. 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:19.660 A right relationship between people and people. 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:22.180 And the right relationship between people and creation. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.160 Christmas. 00:26:23.300 --> 00:26:23.980 Have you thought about that? 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:26.380 Christmas was necessary because those things weren't in place. 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:31.220 And so peace had to come and invade into this reality. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.600 And that was then. 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:37.800 And you look at now and you look at the Middle East and you do not see peace. 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:44.559 You look and you see what's happening in Russia and Ukraine and you do not see peace. 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:51.700 And you look around at the US and you do not see peace. 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:54.059 Where do you see peace in this world? 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:57.299 Other than maybe Finland and Sweden. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.600 And Switzerland, I guess. 00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:01.819 I guess Australia. 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:04.319 No, actually no. 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:04.860 No. 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:08.559 There is no peace. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:14.679 The next time we see a picture of a baby Jesus lying in a manger. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:19.119 We have to remember that he came because there was no peace. 00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:23.859 And he came to bring peace on earth. 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:26.139 What passage is that really pointing us to? 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.619 It's pointing us to Ephesians 2. 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:31.059 Ephesians 2 is the part that really talks about. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.559 And I want you to turn there if you have your Bibles. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:34.119 Because I think this is an important part. 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:43.279 The start of Ephesians 2 talks about the fact that we are all dead in the trespasses and of our sins. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:45.839 That we have followed the course of this world. 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:48.000 We have followed the desires of our flesh. 00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:51.299 And because of that, we are completely dead. 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.940 And we are about to face wrath. 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.639 And then verse 4. 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:58.539 Ephesians 2 verse 4 has those famous two words. 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.099 But God. 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.240 We didn't have peace. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.720 We were at war with each other. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.819 We were at war between countries. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.700 We were at war within the country. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.220 We are at war within our family. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:13.420 We are at war within ourselves. 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:16.440 Romans 7 talks about the war that's happening inside you right now. 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:20.059 When you know what you should do, but you don't do it. 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:22.519 And you know what you shouldn't do, and you still do it. 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:24.339 And there is a war happening inside you. 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:26.120 That is why baby Jesus came. 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:34.939 But you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked following the course of this world. 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:40.439 Following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:48.360 Among whom we all, we here, all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:51.120 And were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:53.340 If you want to ask, what's the reason for Christmas? 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.160 That's it. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:58.279 If you were asked, hey, why do we celebrate Christmas at all? 00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.540 That's it. 00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:02.840 Because we were dead in the trespasses and sins, and we were following the course of this world. 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:04.440 And we were disobedient. 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.860 And we were at war with God. 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.960 And we were at war with each other. 00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:09.080 And that's the reason for Christmas. 00:29:10.580 --> 00:29:13.560 And Jesus came to deliver that. 00:29:15.560 --> 00:29:20.220 And you've noticed that I was just suddenly taking a very hard turn from a Christmas story. 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:28.000 Because honestly, that little Simba moment that Simeon has, when he's so happy and says he can die now. 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:30.600 There's another passage that he actually carries on talking. 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:35.299 So he says that passage, that I can die now because I've seen salvation. 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:35.980 It's a person. 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:39.299 And then Mary and Joseph marvel at this. 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.640 And they're like, oh, that is so amazing. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:43.920 That is so cool that this baby is going to do this. 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:47.180 We thought this would happen because we didn't plan to have this baby. 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.180 So clearly something's going on. 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:53.180 And then Simeon says something that actually is completely just off. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.980 And he says, behold, verse 34. 00:29:56.100 --> 00:29:56.940 We're back in Luke now. 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:59.240 Chapter 2, verse 34. 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:06.060 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel. 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:10.740 And for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also. 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:13.259 So that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:20.879 That is the least Christmassy message, feel good message you can say about a baby. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:24.540 He says, I can die now. 00:30:24.780 --> 00:30:25.740 I've seen salvation. 00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:27.640 This baby is going to save us, all of us. 00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:37.200 And then he says, oh, by the way, this baby has been appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign that is opposed. 00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:41.980 And a sword, mummy Mary, will pierce through your own soul too. 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:45.079 That's confusing. 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.880 What is he talking about there? 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:50.559 And it comes back to this point of peace. 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.259 There was no peace. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.140 Let me establish that again. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.920 There was no peace. 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:55.440 He came to bring peace. 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.620 How does he come to bring peace? 00:30:58.519 --> 00:30:59.420 With a sword. 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:08.320 This baby, helpless, harmless, in a manger, ends up growing up. 00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:10.600 But the way he brings peace is with a sword. 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.800 Matthew 10 talks about this. 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:14.920 He says, I come with a sword. 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:19.759 I hope this at least startles us. 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:23.860 Because often Christmas is all about this kind of lovey-dovey. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.680 Hey, he's come to give you love, hope, peace, and joy. 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.440 Let's sing some songs. 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.320 Let's have some mulled wine. 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:37.359 And it's just, baby Jesus comes to bring peace with a sword that will pierce through our own souls. 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:39.019 What this says is this. 00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:45.019 This baby is going to come and he's going to cause the rise and the fall and the rise and the fall of many. 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:45.679 What does that mean? 00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:50.119 That means that actually Jesus is the most polarizing character you will ever find in this world. 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:53.000 Tim Keller says this. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:57.440 You cannot respond moderately to the person of Jesus. 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.319 It is impossible. 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.900 You cannot. 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:05.960 If I come and tell you, Eunice, that I am going to be your Lord. 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.960 Well, you would just laugh. 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.480 But that's what Jesus is saying. 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.859 Uday, I am your Lord. 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.720 You will do what? 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.579 No, you just shake your head. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:17.420 So you won't say, oh, that's kind of cool. 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.339 Oh, that's cute. 00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.859 Let's sing a song about it. 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:21.279 And then live completely different lives. 00:32:22.719 --> 00:32:27.179 When someone comes to say, I will be your Lord, saying, you will do everything that I say. 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:29.159 That everything you have belongs to me. 00:32:30.219 --> 00:32:32.779 Can you see how offensive the Christmas message truly is? 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:36.779 He will cause the rise and fall of many. 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:45.440 When I think what's happened, especially in our day and age, and actually in every day and age, is that we are simply mildly religious. 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:51.460 We are mildly religious in the sense that we kind of like the Christmas message. 00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:56.480 Only the warm, fuzzy parts, by the way, because they're the ones that make us feel nice. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:33:04.420 But the message of Christmas is like there is no peace. 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:07.579 And he comes to bring peace through a sword. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:12.960 We then have to make a decision and go, wait, wait, who are we? 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:16.839 Do we submit or do we ignore? 00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:20.440 Or do we stay in the middle and just be mildly religious? 00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:24.740 We cannot be in the middle, by the way. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.059 It doesn't work. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.360 Jesus says, I am your Lord. 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:30.259 I deserve, I demand your all. 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:33.019 And I can be trusted. 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.360 And I am good. 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:38.799 But I hope that stirs your heart. 00:33:39.180 --> 00:33:43.599 Because as we're looking at this day, we need people who are not just mildly religious. 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.339 There is no point. 00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.259 You are not good to anyone. 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.779 Most of all, you are not good to yourself. 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:50.799 If you are in that space where you are just comforted by the message of Christmas, 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:55.819 you should be pierced to your heart, to your soul, as what Simeon says here. 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:57.240 And Mary will go through. 00:33:57.339 --> 00:34:00.480 He's prophesying the first point of suffering that is going to happen. 00:34:00.679 --> 00:34:02.279 This is the first moment he talks about suffering. 00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:04.779 Maybe you're going to have this baby and everything's been good so far. 00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:07.119 But let me tell you how he's going to get everything to be good. 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.380 It's going to start with pain. 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:11.519 It's going to start with pain. 00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:13.920 And it's going to start with a sword. 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:15.119 And what is that sword? 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:16.160 What does that sword do? 00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:18.559 It reminds me of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:21.019 When Jesus leaves and he flies off into the sky. 00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:24.260 And suddenly they all start being filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:29.500 And then Peter, who's the coward, who's the impulsive one, stands up and preaches this kerygma, this gospel. 00:34:30.160 --> 00:34:32.599 And then what happens when he preaches the gospel and the Holy Spirit's there? 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:34.119 They are cut to the heart. 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:35.179 Chapter 2, verse 37. 00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:38.219 They are cut to the heart and they repent. 00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:42.319 That's what Jesus is here to do. 00:34:42.839 --> 00:34:46.360 That's what baby, cuddly, cute Jesus is here to do. 00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:48.380 Call you to repentance. 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:53.860 And the Holy Spirit is the one who is working in order to pierce the very depths of our souls. 00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:58.380 The question is, will we respond in such a way? 00:34:58.380 --> 00:35:02.400 Tim Keller again says this, God's peace always comes with a sword. 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:05.680 Peace comes after the sting of repentance. 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:10.940 Peace comes after the sting of repentance. 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:14.099 Peace or God's peace is kind of like an antiseptic. 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:17.059 It'll hurt first before it heals. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:20.740 It'll hurt first before it heals. 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:24.780 So this sword he comes is not the sword of a warrior, but it's the sword of a surgeon. 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:37.180 Cuban, this time last week you were in the hospital and you had to be operated on with a very sharp utensil that no doubt would have caused a lot of pain. 00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:44.340 But our pain was necessary to get out the thing that needed to be going out because your body was at war with itself. 00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:48.860 And so the surgeon comes and operates. 00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:54.519 There's pain and there is pain and there is waiting, but then there is healing. 00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:58.980 Brothers and sisters, that's the Christmas message. 00:36:00.620 --> 00:36:05.019 That we had no peace in this world, that we still do not have peace, but there was a baby that came. 00:36:06.700 --> 00:36:09.099 And this baby causes the rise and fall of many. 00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:12.360 You cannot stay in the middle. 00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:13.620 You cannot hedge your bets. 00:36:13.680 --> 00:36:14.660 You cannot stay on the fence. 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.760 You have to choose. 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:16.720 Is he your Lord? 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.960 Is he Lord of all? 00:36:19.180 --> 00:36:20.680 Or is he not at all? 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:23.860 You have to decide. 00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:30.840 C.S. Lewis says, this only way for you to get peace is to pass through the pain of repentance and exposure. 00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:34.520 There's no way to get into that peace without going through pain. 00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:39.680 Ephesians 2, the second half of it is much more joyous. 00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:40.580 And maybe we'll finish there. 00:36:40.640 --> 00:36:42.480 So if we can turn back to Ephesians 2. 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:46.840 We've just said, Paul's just said that you are dead in your trespasses and sins. 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:48.559 You are about to face God's wrath. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:52.219 And then the second half brings a lot of joy. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.960 Verse 12, we'll go from there. 00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.699 Ephesians 2, verse 12. 00:36:55.820 --> 00:37:00.539 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:02.619 and strangers to the covenants of promise. 00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:04.900 This is the key word if you want to summarize it up. 00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:07.099 Having no hope and without God in the world. 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:13.239 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 00:37:13.339 --> 00:37:20.219 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. 00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:25.679 Remember, at that point, the Jews were oppressed by the Romans, but they also felt as though they were the chosen people. 00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:27.860 And so they were also at war with the Gentiles. 00:37:27.860 --> 00:37:33.640 And what Paul's saying here is, baby Jesus came and broke that dividing wall of hostility down. 00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:36.079 How did he break down that wall with a sword? 00:37:36.220 --> 00:37:39.800 How did he break down the wall between us and God through the cross? 00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:46.860 He breaks down that wall so that we now all here, Gentile or Jew or anyone, all peoples, 00:37:47.120 --> 00:37:50.760 we all now have access to the Father through Jesus. 00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:55.280 We were once dead, but God. 00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:58.000 We were once at war. 00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:04.180 But Jesus, he himself is our peace. 00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:06.620 So what does that mean for you? 00:38:08.540 --> 00:38:11.320 Put yourself in the temple for a second. 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.860 Put yourself in the temple. 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:15.120 You're not Simeon. 00:38:15.600 --> 00:38:16.360 You're not Anna. 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:20.040 You're just someone who's been going there day by day, 00:38:21.040 --> 00:38:24.440 trying to figure out, Lord, what is this whole life about? 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.700 Why am I here? 00:38:27.140 --> 00:38:29.640 Why is there still so much suffering in my family? 00:38:30.120 --> 00:38:32.100 Why is there so much suffering in my people? 00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:34.080 And you're just waiting. 00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:40.080 And suddenly you see this family come in and you see this baby. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:46.039 And you see Simeon lift him up and say, my eyes have seen salvation. 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:55.960 And then you hear him say, this baby is going to be the cause of the rise and fall for many, 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:58.559 and it will pierce your soul. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:02.500 What does that mean for us? 00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:09.559 That means the only point of application here that I have for us is that, 00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:14.780 just like Simeon, would we cast our eyes on that baby Jesus too? 00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:17.079 Because there is something there. 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:22.119 You've grown up thinking that actually all you need to do to attain salvation is to attend church. 00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:26.279 To attain salvation and to appease your mother and your grandmother. 00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:28.380 And you come to church. 00:39:30.400 --> 00:39:34.380 You've always thought that in order to get into heaven, you just need to be a good person. 00:39:37.339 --> 00:39:39.079 Or maybe you've even just given up waiting. 00:39:40.179 --> 00:39:41.079 And you're like, you know what? 00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:42.219 This waiting is taking too long. 00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:45.359 I've been waiting for that spouse for years and it's still not come. 00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:47.940 I'm just going to go and go about it my own way. 00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.920 I'm going to figure this out myself. 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:52.019 I've been waiting for that child for too long. 00:39:52.220 --> 00:39:53.700 I'm just going to go and figure it out myself. 00:39:54.200 --> 00:39:57.720 I've just been waiting for that career and the money I want and the power I want for too long. 00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:59.300 I'm just going to go and figure this out myself. 00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:02.639 Be like Simeon. 00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.240 Be like Zechariah. 00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:05.780 Be like Anna. 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:07.599 Wait. 00:40:08.700 --> 00:40:10.940 And turn your eyes to the baby Jesus. 00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:15.639 Turn your eyes to the one who comes in the most humble form. 00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:19.059 Let us not get confused. 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:21.880 He also comes with a sword. 00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:31.360 He comes with a sword to break down the dividing walls of hostility between us, between us and God, within ourselves. 00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:34.180 To bring us what? 00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:36.079 Shalom. 00:40:37.340 --> 00:40:38.619 To bring us wholeness. 00:40:40.200 --> 00:40:41.320 To bring us harmony. 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:46.660 Let us be cut to the heart. 00:40:47.140 --> 00:40:48.800 Can you see what the Holy Spirit's been doing? 00:40:49.380 --> 00:40:50.500 This whole interaction. 00:40:52.300 --> 00:40:53.700 Whether he reveals to Simeon. 00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:54.960 Whether he guides him into the temple. 00:40:55.100 --> 00:40:56.380 Whether he gives him these words to say. 00:40:56.760 --> 00:40:58.140 Whether he cuts to the heart. 00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:01.820 Would we submit to what he is doing right here? 00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:05.400 Let us ask ourselves today. 00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:06.880 And we will spend the last few minutes. 00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:09.519 And I will invite the worship team to come back up as well. 00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.960 What is the Holy Spirit doing in you? 00:41:14.700 --> 00:41:15.860 Is he revealing something? 00:41:16.820 --> 00:41:18.300 Is he guiding you to somewhere? 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:22.039 Or is he cutting you to the depths of your heart? 00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:24.760 Not to hurt you. 00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:26.720 Not to inflict pain. 00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:28.699 Just for pain's sake. 00:41:29.959 --> 00:41:30.980 But to bring healing. 00:41:32.279 --> 00:41:33.519 But to bring restoration. 00:41:35.299 --> 00:41:36.579 But to bring peace. 00:41:37.379 --> 00:41:38.339 To a weary soul. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:40.759 To a conflicted soul. 00:41:43.779 --> 00:41:45.459 That is what the Holy Spirit is here to do. 00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:47.399 And that's what Jesus came for. 00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:49.859 I'll just spend a moment now just to reflect. 00:41:54.119 --> 00:41:55.659 Father, as we look at this. 00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:58.119 The Christmas story. 00:41:58.259 --> 00:42:00.359 And as we've spent these last few weeks here. 00:42:00.439 --> 00:42:00.879 We see. 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:03.699 Where there is Zechariah and Elizabeth. 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:07.299 Mary and Joseph. 00:42:09.139 --> 00:42:10.339 The shepherds. 00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:14.879 The wise men. 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:18.199 Simeon and Anna. 00:42:24.579 --> 00:42:25.139 Everything. 00:42:25.139 --> 00:42:26.739 Everyone. 00:42:30.359 --> 00:42:32.739 Point to the coming of the Savior of the world. 00:42:37.299 --> 00:42:38.679 This baby in a manger. 00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:50.519 Seemingly helpless. 00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:50.699 Helpless. 00:42:50.699 --> 00:43:01.279 But we submit to him. 00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:02.599 We surrender to him. 00:43:03.439 --> 00:43:05.039 Knowing that he came to bring peace. 00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:06.259 And he comes to bring peace. 00:43:06.319 --> 00:43:07.799 Because he himself is peace. 00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:14.059 And so we repent. 00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:18.860 Of anything in us. 00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:20.880 Among us. 00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:23.099 Between us. 00:43:26.940 --> 00:43:27.960 That is a war. 00:43:31.659 --> 00:43:34.579 And we open ourselves and we subject ourselves willingly. 00:43:35.279 --> 00:43:36.079 To your sword. 00:43:37.340 --> 00:43:38.779 Knowing that you will bring healing. 00:43:38.780 --> 00:43:48.060 We know that your peace comes. 00:43:48.060 --> 00:43:53.240 Through the sting of repentance. 00:43:57.000 --> 00:43:58.720 So Holy Spirit, would you do your work? 00:43:58.719 --> 00:44:02.179 Just as you were doing those 2,000 years ago. 00:44:02.699 --> 00:44:03.799 Amongst all those people. 00:44:08.899 --> 00:44:10.179 Would you do it in us again? 00:44:10.179 --> 00:44:10.179 00:44:10.179 --> 00:44:10.179 00:44:10.179 --> 00:44:14.980 Would you do it in us again? 00:44:14.980 --> 00:44:19.399 Would you do it in us again?