WEBVTT

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 I don't know if you know this, but people who start the day with the news are 27% less happy in the afternoon.

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 It sounds like one of those made-up statistics, doesn't it?

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 How do they prove that?

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 That is actually from a psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Amen.

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 People who start the day with the news are 27% less happy in the afternoon.

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 However made-up it might sound, when we stop to think about it, actually, when we consider the content of our news,

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 the surprise is actually that number isn't a whole lot higher.

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 Just the last few days, what have we had?

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 War, hostages, knife crime, climate alarmism, cost of living crisis, government corruption, murder, and so on.

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 Global to local, across the world, across the street, our world is a dark.

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 It's a dark place.

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 So who can blame those who don't bother with the news?

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 But the truth, if we think about it, is that avoiding the darkness isn't as simple just as deleting your news app.

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 Wherever we go, it seems to follow us.

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 So we look for other ways to escape, not just deleting the news app on our phone, but other ways.

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 Many ways, we could say that life is defined by our...

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 We eat and we drink.

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 And for a moment, darkness seems to lift a little bit.

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 Or we gain.

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 We bring ourselves into another world where we can take on a persona and behave in a different way.

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 That can mask the pain for a bit.

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 Maybe hide from the darkness a bit.

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 And then others take the opposite approach via the world of wellness.

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 It feels like it's completely the other way around.

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 It's much better for us physically.

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 For us physically and emotionally.

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 But actually, focusing on our diet, focusing on exercise, focusing on mindfulness and breath work,

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 that can be just as much as an escape from the darkness of this world as drinking the pain away.

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 It's a way of trying to make my life better in order that the darkness is kept at arm's length a little bit longer.

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 The third option that lots of us engage in is that we obsess about order in our personal lives and in our families.

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 The world out there might be dark and falling apart.

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 But in here, everything's in order.

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 So we can drink it away, we can control it, and we can order our lives in a way that keeps darkness at bay.

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 Lots of us pursue that.

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 But none of these fix the problem, do they, in any substantial or lasting way.

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 And yet, we're looking towards Christmas.

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 The trees are going up.

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 The lights are on around us.

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 And this season, it seems, encourages us to ramp up that escapism.

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 Our culture, it seems, gives us permission to eat and to drink and to indulge at this time of year.

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 We're allowed to spend time and money making our homes look just perfect.

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 And, of course, we're allowed just to spend and spend and spend.

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 It's expected of us that we spend on stuff.

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 Because we're told that stuff will fix the problems.

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 If we have the right stuff, we'll be able to keep the darkness at bay.

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 The reality is that most of us have seen a few Christmases now.

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 And we realize that however nice a time we have with our family and our friends and our carol services.

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 However much goodwill we enjoy in this season with one another, we haven't escaped.

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 We haven't escaped.

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 The darkness remains.

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 And January rolls around and often the darkness is even deeper.

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 So what is the answer?

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 Should we just not bother?

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 Should we delete Christmas like we delete the news app?

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 And just suck it up that this world is a dark and frightening place?

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 Is that what we should do?

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 Happily, no.

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 In fact, Christians recognize that the lights and the celebrations at this time of year are entirely appropriate.

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 Because during this season that we know as Advent, we remember and we look to the coming of Jesus Christ.

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 The light of the world.

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 Advent relates to both his birth and his coming into the world in the future.

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 His birth, that very first Christmas.

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 And his coming again on the last day.

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 Advent is supposed to help us to look both ways, as it were.

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 To look back to Christ's coming in celebration.

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 While at the same time looking forward to his coming again in anticipation of when he returns for his people.

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 And the text that we are planning to study, Lord willing, over the month of December will help us do that.

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 They will help shine light into our darkness.

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 And I hope we'll see.

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 Most importantly, I hope we'll see that it is a light that doesn't get packed up in January.

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 It doesn't get put up in the loft at the end of the season.

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 And it doesn't just make the harshness of life a little bit easier to bear for a week or two at this time of year.

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 I hope we'll see that it is a light that defeats darkness once and for all.

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 It is a light that transforms the lives of those who come under its glow.

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 That's the promise we have before us this morning in this well-known passage in Isaiah 9.

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 Verse 2, can you see?

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

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 Light into darkness.

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 Darkness.

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 Like us, the people in 8th century BC in Isaiah's day knew what cultural and personal darkness felt like.

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 Darkness in the Bible refers both to evil and ignorance.

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 That is, rejecting God's ways, evil, and thinking that they can sort out the problems themselves without him.

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 Ignorance.

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 Rejection of God and self-reliance.

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 Symbolized by darkness.

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 And what happens?

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 Once these people, they faced threats on their borders from stronger nations as Syria was threatening.

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 And they looked anywhere other than God for help.

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 A society crumbled around them.

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 If you have a look back up, verses 19 and 20 in chapter 8.

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 Society is crumbling.

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 They're experiencing the darkness.

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 What do they do?

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 They inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter.

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 They don't bother with God.

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 Instead, they go to the magicians and the mediums.

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 They try to contact their dead relatives.

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 Witchcraft.

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 That's where they turn.

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 But look where it leads.

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 Look how the chapter ends.

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 Verse 21.

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 They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry.

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 22.

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 They'll look at the earth.

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 But behold, distress and darkness.

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 The people are looking to the earth.

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 They're looking to human ideas and resources to fix the world, to fix their situation.

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 They know that they're in darkness.

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 Nobody is in any disagreement that there is a problem with our world.

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 But their answer is to try and overcome it themselves.

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 Sounds very familiar, doesn't it?

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 Everyone acknowledges we have problems in our world today.

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 But where do we turn for answers?

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 The state.

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 Some people turn to the state.

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 The market.

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 Others look there.

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 Increasingly, where are we looking?

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 Technology.

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 Technology.

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 If we can just keep growing in our technological advancements, then we'll be okay.

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 But all of these actually share the same assumption.

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 We can find a way out of the darkness ourselves.

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 If we have enough intellect and innovation directed in the right way, we will work our own way out of the darkness.

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 Let's be honest.

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 Is it really possible?

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 Is it really working?

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 Our leaders and the culture makers have made plenty of promises and technology continues to advance at speed.

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 But is it really moving the world forward in the ways that really matter?

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 Let's be honest.

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 When we look around, is humanity nurtured more?

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 Are the vulnerable safer now?

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 Can politics and science actually fix the deepest problems in our hearts?

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 The current COVID inquiry suggests not.

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 Can we save ourselves from war?

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 Racial animosity.

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 Social envy.

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 Exploitation.

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 Greed.

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 Apparently not.

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 Apparently not.

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 The brightest and the best are doing their thing.

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 Technology is going in its direction at a pace.

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 Are we any better off?

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 Really?

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 The current solutions that we are offered aren't working.

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 Our own attempts at making lasting change.

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 In fact, what happens?

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 They only make the darkness deeper.

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 It's the same that Isaiah saw in chapter 8.

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 It's what Isaiah says will always happen.

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 The more we look to ourselves, the more we look to human solutions, the more the problems will just increase.

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 But, but God has promised an answer.

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 In Isaiah 9, we see what our intellect and innovation cannot achieve.

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 God promises to accomplish.

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 Point number one, God will send light.

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 God will send light.

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 Verse 1, but there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.

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 Verse 2, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

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 Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness on them has light shined.

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 But, things are dark.

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 Things are very, very, very dark.

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 But, God is stepping in.

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 It's not that the people walking in darkness have found a great light or have made a great light for themselves.

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 But, a light from the outside has shone.

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 God shining into darkness.

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 But, what will the light bring?

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 Verse 3, you have enlarged the nation and increased their joy.

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 They rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

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 For, as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

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 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

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 The light will bring joy as captives are set free, as conflicts cease, as enemies are defeated.

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 That, I'm sure you'll agree, is a very significant promise.

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 Not to mention the promise in verse 7.

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 Can you see, of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.

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 Joy and peace.

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 That's the announcement.

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 That's what the light will bring.

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 But, you think, don't you?

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 Here we are all these years later and we still have this awful news feed.

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 Here we are all these years later and we still have suffering and sickness and pain.

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 Surely, the only joy really that we have at Christmas is the pretense that we put on.

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 It's the fleeting joy that we can create.

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 The fleeting joy of a nice day with the family.

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 The only peace we can hope for, surely, is going to be brief and limited because of the mess of my life and the mess of our circumstances in this culture.

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 It sounds to me that what you're saying is just close your eyes and hope for the best in the face of the harsh reality.

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 It doesn't sound true.

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 But let's look at what Isaiah says here.

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 In verses 6 and 7, he's looking forward.

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 Do you see that?

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 His name shall be called.

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 Future.

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 But in 2 to 5, he uses the past tense.

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

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 And he does this because of the certainty that he has that these things will happen.

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 It's coming in the future, but there is certainty because the prophet, looking down the telescope of time,

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 describes events as if they've already happened because he speaks for the one who knows the end from the beginning.

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 So Israel, we're under the shadow of invasion from Assyria.

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 And the promise, verse 3, is that beyond that, beyond the judgment that's going to come through Assyria,

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 God has enlarged the nation, bringing the sort of joy there is when the harvest is a bumper one,

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 or the sort of joy when battle is won and the enemy is plundered.

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 God is promising a restoration when the enemy invasion will cease and the oppression of Assyria will be no more.

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 He's looking beyond the present, beyond what is about to come.

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 God will do just as he did, he promises, in Judges 6 to 8 when Gideon defeated the might of Midian with a tiny band of men.

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 God will do exactly what he did then.

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 And the point of that victory was to show that it was God who did it.

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 He did it with only a small group of people so that people would know that it was his victory.

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 He'll do the same again.

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 The very unimpressive will be victorious because it's God who's at work.

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 Salvation in the Old Testament uses the imagery of war because God's people were a political entity

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 and war was a means of God's judgment.

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 So an end to war represented an end to God's judgment, his punishment.

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 But because the people's problem was fundamentally spiritual and moral,

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 remember that's why we have the imagery of darkness.

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 Rejecting God, trying to live on our own terms.

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 The fundamental problem there is spiritual and moral.

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 It is to do with our relationship with God.

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 That's the imagery of darkness.

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 Because that's the reality, it is no less relevant to us this morning.

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 We know, don't we, that we live.

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 We were reminded of it, the announcement about Stuart, a moment ago.

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 We live facing the inevitability of death.

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 Inevitability.

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 Lots of us want to resist this fact, but it is unavoidable.

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 You might know about Brian Johnson, the Californian tech billionaire.

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 He's 45 going on 18.

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 That's how he describes himself.

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 Physically, he has spent $2 million a year on medical treatments, a strict diet and exercise program to reverse the aging process.

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 He's spending all this money.

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 He's being measured all the time.

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 He has the physical capabilities, it seems, of an 18-year-old, despite the fact he's 45.

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 So he claims to be succeeding.

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 Good for Brian.

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 We know, don't we, he's not going to win in the end.

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 He might be able to live for a very long time, but he can't beat death, can he?

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 Why can he not beat death?

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 Because death is first and foremost a moral reality before it is a physical one.

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 Death, we know, death is the consequence of sin.

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 Death exists because of our rebellion against God.

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 And because of that, however much green paste we eat, how many things we strap ourselves up to and whatever we do, we're all going to die.

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 But the announcement in Isaiah 9 tells us that one day the terrible enemy of the human race will be no more.

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 The light has dawned on us.

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 And we're liberated from the oppression of sin's slavery.

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 That's the reason for the joy.

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 And that's the reason why we can have joy at Christmas and every other day of the year.

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 And it's a joy that transcends our circumstances.

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 Not only that, look at verse 5.

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 The light will also bring an end to all wars and suffering and oppression and injustice.

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 The light will bring peace.

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 And not just, again, military peace, whether in Isaiah's day or in some future day,

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 but peace in the cosmic conflict between us and God.

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 If our biggest problem is our rebellion against God, the sin that cuts us off from Him and leads to the inevitability of death,

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 well, what we need is peace in the conflict between us and Him.

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 All human conflict and hostility in the world, from an argument that you have as someone else,

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 a crossword that you have as someone else, to whatever wars are going on globally,

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 all of it is fundamentally a microcosm of the hostility that exists in our hearts towards God.

00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:55.619
 Each one of us needs to find peace with God.

00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:03.079
 All of us, whoever you are, whatever your experience of life, wherever you've come from this morning,

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:05.460
 you need peace with God.

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:12.440
 And the reason is because we've done that thing which at Christmas is the most offensive thing you can do.

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:18.059
 You know that when someone has given a gift and the person doesn't say thank you,

00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:20.160
 that's the heart of the human condition.

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:24.360
 We've snatched God's gifts and we've not said thank you.

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:28.200
 We've enjoyed God's gifts without any reference to the giver.

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:32.200
 We talk about things like hostility with God.

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:35.319
 You can say, oh, that sounds a bit, that sounds a bit much.

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:38.900
 But actually, that's exactly what we do.

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:41.500
 We take all of His good things and we say, no, thank you.

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.940
 I don't want anything to do with you.

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:47.720
 That ingratitude is offensive to anyone.

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.920
 Never mind the Lord of the cosmos.

00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:54.220
 Never mind the one who gives us every breath.

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:57.240
 So, of course, there's hostility.

00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:03.120
 But the announcement in Isaiah 9 is that in the dawning of this light,

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:09.120
 God has taken the initiative to deal with the problem and to offer us peace with Him.

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:15.859
 The question is, such a beautiful promise, such a wonderful thing.

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.819
 How will this promised light come to be?

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.779
 Here's the second point.

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:21.680
 God's light comes through a baby.

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:25.960
 God's light comes through a baby.

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.620
 Verse 6.

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:31.139
 For to us, a child is born.

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.579
 To us, a son is given.

00:19:33.679 --> 00:19:35.199
 And the government shall be upon his shoulder.

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:40.000
 And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:43.279
 The increase of His government and of peace, there will be no end.

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:48.759
 On the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:51.740
 from this time forth and forevermore.

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:55.059
 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.200
 Sounds strange, doesn't it?

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:07.819
 We have a global problem of moral and spiritual darkness and the solution is a child.

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:11.539
 We have a global problem of moral and spiritual darkness.

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:15.579
 We have got some little children in the congregation, little babies.

00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:17.919
 Llywelyn's probably the newest one.

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:23.759
 After the service, when we're out here having coffee, find Llywelyn and just marvel at the strength.

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:26.159
 Marvel at the wisdom.

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:29.460
 Marvel at the competence.

00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:33.659
 The ability to work everything out in this little one.

00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:36.880
 what must this have sounded like

00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.720
 Isaiah stands up to speak for God

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.080
 and he says listen to me

00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:42.300
 the cultural mess that we are in

00:20:42.300 --> 00:20:44.060
 the darkness of your struggles

00:20:44.060 --> 00:20:45.900
 and all the issues on the news

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:47.100
 don't worry

00:20:47.100 --> 00:20:49.460
 a woman is going to have a baby

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:55.720
 surely God will bring a mighty army

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:58.440
 surely he will provide some

00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.300
 unmissable show of strength

00:21:00.300 --> 00:21:02.320
 no

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.359
 a child

00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:09.200
 but what a child

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.859
 he is human

00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:11.899
 he is born as a baby

00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:13.079
 but he is also divine

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:13.819
 look at the names

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.439
 verse 6

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:15.579
 wonderful counselor

00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:17.019
 mighty God

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.559
 everlasting father

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.000
 prince of peace

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.679
 these are all kingly titles

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:23.639
 his reign

00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:25.579
 he reigns on David's throne

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.159
 verse 7

00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:28.039
 he does that because he is wonderful

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:30.179
 literally kingly counselor

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:32.560
 with all the supernatural wisdom

00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.380
 of God

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.920
 remember Jesus in the gospels

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.420
 knowing what people were thinking

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.759
 before they even speak

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.960
 teaching with unheard of authority

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.340
 speaking about the future

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.600
 before it comes to pass

00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:44.299
 wonderful counselor

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:46.720
 mighty God

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.060
 again in the gospels

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:50.100
 we see Jesus revealing his divine identity

00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:51.039
 as he exercises

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.600
 power and authority

00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:54.439
 over everything

00:21:54.439 --> 00:21:57.759
 with a word

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.819
 he calms a storm

00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.119
 with a word

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:02.199
 he even raises the dead

00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:04.179
 mighty God

00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:06.859
 everlasting father

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.599
 if you were here last week

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.539
 we heard Jesus say

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.379
 if you have seen me

00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.959
 you have seen the father

00:22:11.959 --> 00:22:14.119
 here is the one who cares for us

00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:15.480
 like a loving parent

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.079
 when you look at the ministry of Jesus

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.339
 he's feeding the hungry

00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.480
 he's helping the weak

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:21.360
 he's tender with the broken

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:22.240
 and needy

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.360
 and this care

00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.660
 is everlasting

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.740
 he is the everlasting

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.400
 fatherly care

00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:30.059
 prince of peace

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:31.980
 prince of peace

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.240
 Jesus does not conquer

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.539
 by military force

00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.059
 but instead

00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.400
 through vulnerable suffering

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.400
 and death

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.960
 Jesus life and teaching

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.059
 were amazing

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.759
 but they were not able

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.500
 on their own

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:46.279
 to resolve the vertical hostility

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.680
 between man and God

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.539
 that took the death

00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.740
 of the prince of peace

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:53.120
 on the cross

00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:54.799
 he bore the punishment

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.740
 that we deserve

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.720
 for our sin

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.060
 in order that we

00:22:58.060 --> 00:22:59.200
 could be reconciled

00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.960
 in order that peace

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.200
 would exist between us

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.680
 and our father in heaven

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:07.580
 all this means

00:23:07.580 --> 00:23:08.940
 that when we are in Christ

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.980
 when you put your faith

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.680
 in the Lord Jesus

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:12.140
 you are united to Christ

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:13.380
 and when you are in Christ

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:15.380
 the great enemy of mankind

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.519
 death

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:18.980
 that inevitable

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:20.960
 shadow that is cast

00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.420
 across our lives

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.440
 and across our world

00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.819
 that death

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.799
 has lost its sting

00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:29.240
 in Christ

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.500
 death is like a gun

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.240
 with the bullets

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.859
 taken out

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:34.079
 when it's held up

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.599
 to your face

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.299
 it's frightening

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:37.539
 but it can't kill you

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:40.259
 not in any ultimate sense

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.960
 it can scare you

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:44.920
 but it cannot condemn you

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.200
 physical death

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.039
 for the Christian

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.019
 is just a hurdle

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.740
 on the way

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.740
 to eternal life

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.980
 it's just

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.300
 a speed bump

00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:54.960
 to the new heavens

00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.620
 and the new earth

00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.440
 the home of righteousness

00:23:56.440 --> 00:24:00.140
 what this means is

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.259
 that in our dark world

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:03.039
 marked with all of the pain

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.500
 and sadness

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.200
 that we see

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:05.420
 there is always

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:07.380
 always real hope

00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:11.440
 because of Christmas

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:13.280
 in the person of Jesus

00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.680
 God broke into the darkness

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.400
 bringing light

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.920
 and blessing

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.020
 in verse 7

00:24:17.020 --> 00:24:18.720
 zeal

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.140
 the Lord of hosts

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:21.880
 will do all of this

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:24.100
 all

00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:25.180
 of God

00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.040
 does all

00:24:26.040 --> 00:24:27.040
 that God does

00:24:27.040 --> 00:24:28.220
 so every ounce

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.360
 of divine energy

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.120
 is invested

00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:30.700
 in this

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:33.980
 so the question

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.900
 of the ages then

00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:36.920
 and it's a question

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.880
 that comes into focus

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.780
 at this time of year

00:24:38.780 --> 00:24:39.320
 is this

00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:41.360
 what do you make

00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:42.480
 of this

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.200
 Jesus

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:45.120
 that's the question

00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.019
 that all of us

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:48.200
 need to have an answer for

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:50.400
 what do you make

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.040
 of the one

00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:52.080
 born

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.060
 in the manger

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:55.400
 he is the light

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.880
 of the world

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:57.940
 he is the light

00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:58.360
 of the world

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.940
 who achieves

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.880
 all that is required

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.580
 to give us

00:25:00.580 --> 00:25:01.220
 real hope

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.400
 in this life

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:04.600
 he began

00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:05.180
 his ministry

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.759
 in Galilee

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.160
 Matthew

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:07.740
 chapter 4

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.420
 verse 13

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.960
 and following

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.340
 tells us that

00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:11.560
 and it is this same

00:25:11.560 --> 00:25:12.920
 Galilee of the Gentiles

00:25:12.920 --> 00:25:14.060
 that felt the full force

00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:15.019
 of the Syrian invasion

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.820
 in Isaiah 9

00:25:15.820 --> 00:25:16.340
 verse 1

00:25:16.340 --> 00:25:19.340
 Jesus arrives

00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:19.880
 on the scene

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.740
 taking the words

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.700
 of this prophecy

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.340
 on his lips

00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:23.300
 you remember

00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:24.080
 leaving Nazareth

00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:24.680
 Jesus went

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.600
 and lived in Capernaum

00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.240
 by the sea

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.720
 so that what was spoken

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.840
 by the prophet Isaiah

00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.780
 might be fulfilled

00:25:29.780 --> 00:25:30.880
 the land of Zebulun

00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.980
 and the land of Naphtali

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.259
 the way of the sea

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.059
 beyond the Jordan

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.539
 Galilee of the Gentiles

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.980
 the people dwelling

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.440
 in darkness

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.420
 have seen a great light

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.799
 and for those dwelling

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.420
 in the region

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.720
 the shadow of death

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.339
 on them

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:43.039
 a light

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.220
 has dawned

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.099
 but then he adds

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.579
 something

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.400
 of his own

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:49.680
 Matthew chapter 4

00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.460
 verse 17

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.880
 follows that

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.660
 by saying this

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.660
 repent

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:55.660
 for the kingdom

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.539
 of heaven

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:58.279
 is at hand

00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:03.240
 the reason

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.899
 to celebrate

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.460
 at Christmas

00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.720
 is because

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.279
 through his son

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.460
 God has brought

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.839
 light into our darkness

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:11.220
 and he freely

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.519
 gives real joy

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.920
 and lasting peace

00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.319
 salvation from sin

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.740
 and death

00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.480
 and he does that

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.119
 to anyone

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.980
 who is prepared

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.579
 to do that

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.779
 to repent

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:22.980
 repentance

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:24.000
 is how we receive

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.519
 these gifts

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.039
 from God

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.980
 repentance

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.920
 is the right

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.619
 response

00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.740
 to all that

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.259
 God has done

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.779
 for us

00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:32.500
 the fact

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.220
 that his son

00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.159
 broke into history

00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:35.180
 and all the humility

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.200
 of a flesh

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.200
 and blood baby

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.420
 and then laid down

00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:38.859
 his life

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.480
 to secure

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.180
 those blessings

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.940
 means

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.619
 that we

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.639
 can trust him

00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:46.399
 so I want to

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:46.839
 encourage you

00:26:46.839 --> 00:26:47.220
 this morning

00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.720
 to submit

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.159
 to this

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.740
 Lord Jesus

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:52.079
 because when

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.539
 you submit

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.059
 to him

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.259
 you can face

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.720
 the world

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.319
 with whatever

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:55.919
 fears

00:26:55.919 --> 00:26:56.960
 it may bring

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.039
 with confidence

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.139
 and even

00:26:59.139 --> 00:27:00.299
 even

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.500
 with joy

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.859
 because

00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:04.579
 C.S. Lewis

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.019
 said

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.419
 Jesus

00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:07.519
 is a light

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.159
 for us

00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:09.319
 when all

00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:10.419
 other lights

00:27:10.419 --> 00:27:11.559
 go out

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:14.179
 let's pray

00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:14.500
 together

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.079
 together

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.079


00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.079


00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.079


00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.079


00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.000
 together

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.619
 together

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:16.619


00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.019
 together

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:16.619
!

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.740
 together

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:17.740


00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.420
 together

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 together

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