WEBVTT

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 Let's join together again in prayer. Let's call upon the Lord.

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 O Lord, our God, as we once more come before you to seek your blessing and to give you thanks,

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 we do come before you, O Lord, as those who confess our need,

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 that your Spirit would once again work in our hearts and minds,

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 that we may be stirred up in our souls to magnify and bless the Lord,

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 that we might find our dependence upon you increased,

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 that we might grow too, O Lord, in the love of your name and in the service that we owe to you.

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 Bless us then, we pray today as a congregation of your people.

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 We pray, Lord, that you would bless each and every family represented here,

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 each and every family belonging to us, even if they're not able to be out here this morning.

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 We ask your blessing for those who are watching online and participating that way in the service.

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 We give thanks, Lord, for the technology that enables people who cannot come physically out,

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 that they would nevertheless find a means by which they involve themselves in the service as it proceeds.

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 We pray especially that the preaching of the gospel might today come to be blessed to those who hear it,

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 either here or online.

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 We thank you, Lord, for the many encouragements that you give us in relation to people's comments

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 with regard to your word and how they prize it and how it remains to them a precious, precious gift from God.

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 We pray today, Lord, for each one of us here.

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 You know our needs and you know our concerns.

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 You read our hearts and you're able to deal with us as no other can.

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 We thank you today, Lord, for that, for the way that it brings to us encouragement,

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 that we can bring all our concerns to God, even if we at times ourselves, Lord,

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 feel unable to express them and put them adequately into words.

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 You are able to read our thoughts and read our hearts.

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 You are able, Lord, to read all that we experience in our inmost soul,

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 the pains of our heart, the joys of our heart, our confessions of sin and shortcoming.

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 We pray that as we come to you today, Lord, we may know anew of your blessing,

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 of your hand upon us and of those rich things of the gospel being blessed to us once again.

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 We ask, Lord, your blessing today for those who are ill or in other ways unable to be here with us today.

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 We pray that you bless us in our families, in our family circles.

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 We pray that whatever our circumstances, Lord, in life may be,

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 help us to realize that they are ordered by your providence.

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 As we look to you and seek your blessing,

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 so you are able to bless our events of our lives to us as well,

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 the providences in which we are involved.

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 For you have ordered them and you have patterned them according to your wisdom.

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 We pray, Lord, as we go through from day to day in life,

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 that we may learn more and more to place our confidence and our trust in the hands of the Lord.

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 Lord, bless those who are ill at this time.

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 We pray that your blessing will reach them in their time of illness.

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 We pray for your good hand to be upon them.

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 We pray for their recovery.

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 We pray that you bless their families.

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 We pray especially, Lord, for those who are seriously ill

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 and ask that you bless them whether at home or in hospice or in hospital.

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 Graciously provide for them, we pray,

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 and for all who care for us.

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 During these times, we ask, O Lord, for thankful hearts,

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 that you continue to remember us with those to whom you have given the skills

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 that are able to deal with us and to nurse us,

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 whether we are physically or mentally in need.

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 We pray for those who have mental health issues at this time,

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 and we commend them to you also.

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 We ask, O Lord, that we may constantly bear them before you,

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 and that you are able to deal with us in our minds as well as with our physical needs,

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 that you would graciously, Lord,

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 provide for them at this time your own healing and supporting touch in their lives.

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 We pray, too, for those who are lonely and those who are isolated at this time

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 when many people are able to be together to enjoy so much at this time of year.

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 Lord, we recognize that there are others of whom this is not true.

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 We pray for those who are on their own,

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 for those who feel the time long,

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 for those who don't have family members to call and visit them.

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 We pray for those, Lord, caught up with various types of addictions.

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 We pray for them and ask that you would, O Lord,

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 that you would come into their lives powerfully and deliver them.

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 And we pray that you would bless those who seek to give them counsel and advice and help.

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 We pray, too, Lord, for those who experience the difficulties and trials of old age,

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 for those whose memory is beginning to fail or has failed already.

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 Remember them, Lord.

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 Remember the trauma, the families for whom the trauma of these things is very real each day.

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 We pray for those who today feel exhausted with looking after others.

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 And we feel themselves, Lord, that their health is declining

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 because they so willingly and lovingly give of their time to look after others.

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 Remember them, Lord, we pray.

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 And grant to continue to remember us as a people, as a community, and as a nation.

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 Gracious One, remember us, we pray,

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 with the power of your Spirit.

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 Bless the gospel amongst us and make even these times when Jesus is probably more often spoken of

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 than at other times.

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 We ask, O Lord, that your word as it goes forth, even as it is read,

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 might prove to be a blessing to many.

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 Remember, we pray, the world at large as well.

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 Lord, we are so conscious of how the peace that is often mentioned at this time of year

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 is very much lacking in different parts of the world.

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 O Lord, remember these nations and peoples of the world

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 who are embroiled in war, in hatred, in violence, in strife.

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 And I ask, O Lord, that your word may go forth with power

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 to bring many people out of such situations,

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 and even in these situations, to know yourself.

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 And we pray for days of increasing peace in our nations and throughout the world.

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 And we pray that the peace of the gospel especially

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 will come to permeate the hearts and minds of many people,

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 to lay aside hatred and violence,

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 and come to follow the Lord himself as the Prince of Peace.

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 And Lord, we ask that we may find better days to come

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 than we see in these present days.

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 And we pray that you would bless us now as we continue to wait upon you here.

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 Bless your word to us especially.

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 Open up our hearts and our minds to receive the teaching of your word.

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 And graciously receive our thanks.

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 Cleanse us from all our sin.

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 And we ask it freely in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, if we turn now to the gospel of Luke, chapter 2.

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 We're going to look, as we said already, at verse 20 for a little time.

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 Luke, chapter 2, and verse 20.

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 And I'm dividing the sermon into two just to make it a bit easier,

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 maybe for the young ones to listen,

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 so that they're not such a stretch of mind for them to listen.

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 So we're going to have two main points,

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 and in between we'll sing another psalm,

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 as it is on the outline of the service in the bulletin.

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 So our text for today is Luke, chapter 2, and verse 20.

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 Verse 19, sorry.

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 But Mary treasured up all these things,

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 pondering them in her heart.

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 A loving mother never forgets any detail of her children's lives,

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 if she can help it at all.

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 Everything affecting her children for a loving mother

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 is always remembered, always thought upon,

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 always things that she tries to work her way through in her own mind.

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 She remembers when they were born.

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 She remembers before they were born.

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 She remembers what they were like when they were born.

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 She remembers their early days.

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 She remembers their school days.

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 She remembers their sufferings, their times of illness.

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 She remembers many other things about them and what they said.

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 She remembers them growing up.

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 She remembers what was said of them by other people.

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 And all of that she keeps in her mind.

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 All of that she goes over from time to time, if not on a daily basis.

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 Because to a loving mother, what is more precious than her children,

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 apart from the Lord himself?

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 That's how it is with Mary in verse 19 of this chapter.

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 Mary is trying to put all of that together.

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 Because what she's doing, as we'll see,

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 is taking the things that she has seen and the things that she has heard,

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 and putting all of that together, or trying to put all of that together in her heart and her mind.

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 And as she's doing so, we read here that she treasured up all these things,

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 pondering them in her heart.

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 In her heart.

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 So Mary is really noting the things that she had seen, the things that she had heard.

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 She's trying to put all that together.

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 Remember, this is a very early stage in the New Testament.

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 Jesus has just been born.

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 She had heard prophecies about him.

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 She knew prophecies from the Old Testament scriptures about the Messiah who was coming.

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 And as we'll see, she had been told by the angel, and now by the shepherds, things about this child.

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 And as she tried to put all that together, we read here that she treasured these things in her heart,

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 and she pondered them.

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 She thought deeply about them.

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 And you notice the word, but, at the beginning of the verse,

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 but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

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 And that little word is always very important.

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 Because what it's saying is, here is Mary, who is somewhat different to the others that are mentioned.

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 We read that all who heard it, in verse 18, wondered at what the shepherds told them.

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 They were amazed about it, but it doesn't really say that it affected their lives very much,

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 apart from the fact that they wondered at it.

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 They were amazed at it.

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 But it didn't seem to change their lives in any way.

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 But Mary pondered these things in her heart.

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 Most of the people who heard the shepherds, who heard these things being told,

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 it was interesting for the moment.

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 They wondered at it.

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 They filled them with a sense of amazement.

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 But it seems to have just dissipated very quickly after that.

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 And so it was throughout the whole ministry of Jesus.

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 But Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart.

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 And so especially about Mary.

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 And the first point I want to make is that Mary's treasuring and pondering is a treasuring and pondering of the good news.

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 Of the news of Jesus, the news that is, in fact, the gospel itself.

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 We'll look at that.

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 Mary's treasuring and pondering of the good news.

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 Then we'll have a wee break for our singing.

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 And secondly, we'll look at the benefits for ourselves of treasuring and pondering the things that God has brought us in the gospel.

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 So, Mary's treasuring and pondering the good news.

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 Well, it says here, she treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

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 And the question in your mind possibly is, what things?

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 What things is the verse speaking about?

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 She treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

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 Well, literally, the verse actually says words.

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 In the Greek text of the verse, I should say, Mary treasured up all these words or sayings, pondering them in her heart.

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 And you've got to go over the first part of Luke's gospel in order to actually see from chapter 1 and verse 26.

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 There's Gabriel, the angel sent from God to a virgin, to this Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph.

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 And then it goes on to tell what the angel said to Mary.

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 So, there's the beginning of things, of the words, of the information that God sent to Mary, to this young woman.

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 And then you find later on in chapter 2, later on in chapter 1, that you find Mary coming to visit Elizabeth,

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 a cousin who was going to give birth to John the Baptist.

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 And you find a conversation that took place there as well.

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 And the words of Elizabeth especially about the child that Mary was going to have.

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 So, that was something that was significant and important for Mary to take with her.

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 Words of the angel, words of Elizabeth.

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 Now she comes here again to hear from the shepherds about what they had experienced and what had been told them,

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 especially what you find in verse 14 there.

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 Glory to God in the highest.

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 On earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.

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 Or peace and goodwill to all men, as it's translated elsewhere.

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 And the message then came in the shepherds as they told the things that they had been told themselves by the angel.

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 So, here at verse 19 you find Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

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 So, all of these things that she was told, the information, the revelation from God,

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 especially about this child that she had now given birth to in chapter 2,

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 she treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

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 And these two words go together in a very important way.

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 Treasuring it and pondering it.

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 They belong together.

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 And in fact, we'll see that something you really treasure in your heart is something you're going to be thinking about often.

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 And that's exactly what you have.

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 Mary was treasuring the things in her heart that she heard.

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 And as she was treasuring them, so she pondered them.

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 She considered them further.

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 She thought about them.

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 She was trying in her mind to just get to grips with all that had been said.

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 And treasured is an important word.

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 Let's look at the two words separately, although they're joined together, as I said, in a very important way.

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 Mary treasured up all these things.

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 It really means to keep very carefully something that is precious to you.

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 Think of something like precious jewels, for example, items of precious jewelry.

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 Very often they're kept together, especially ones that are most precious to you.

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 They're kept together, and they're kept carefully.

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 And very often you ponder them in your mind or think about them as well, because they're precious to you.

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 That's how we can look at God's words to Mary.

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 But more than that, God's words in the whole of the gospel message.

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 God's words, indeed, in the whole of the Bible.

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 That's what you really have in your Bibles today, friends.

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 That's what you have, a collection of these precious jewels that God has given us.

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 These jewels of truth, these precious items, these precious words of God that you find set out in this collection in the Scriptures.

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 What do you have in the Bible?

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 You have statements from God.

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 You have promises from God.

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 You have commands from God.

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 You have exhortations from God.

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 You have different kinds of invitations from God.

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 Various other types of passages that you have all the way through the Bible, which we regard rightly as the Word of God,

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 come to be put together over all of these centuries, but now freely in your possession and mine,

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 as these precious spiritual jewels that God has given us in this collection box of the Bible.

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 What are they for?

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 What is this for?

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 Why has God revealed all this to us?

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 Why are we today on Christmas Eve worshiping God here and using the Bible as a central feature,

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 if not the central feature of our service, of our worship?

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 Well, because these words of God are to be treasured.

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 They're to be looked after and prized in our hearts as Mary prized the words that came from God,

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 whether it was from the angel or through the shepherds.

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 She regarded them as God having given her this information.

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.620
 This information about Jesus.

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:13.980
 Are we treasuring the incarnation today?

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:22.400
 Are we treasuring the truth and the fact of the Son of God coming into this world to be born as a human,

00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:25.039
 taking our human nature to himself?

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:33.779
 Are we treasuring it today in the way that you find others in the Bible described as treasuring the words of God?

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:42.740
 You go through that great Psalm, Psalm 119, which is really about the Word of God and responses to the Word of God

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:47.799
 and attitudes to the Word of God, different words used there for the Word of God.

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:52.839
 Statutes, precepts, words, commands, comes to the same thing.

00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:54.759
 That's what you've got packed into your Bible.

00:17:56.119 --> 00:18:01.899
 And in that one of the verses there in Psalm 119, verse 162 says,

00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:16.540
 I prize your word as one that finds great spoil or great treasure.

00:18:16.800 --> 00:18:21.560
 As if he had come across the most precious jewels that you could ever see in this life.

00:18:21.800 --> 00:18:23.480
 That's what he says about his word.

00:18:23.560 --> 00:18:24.640
 I prize your word.

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.259
 I prize your commandment.

00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:28.240
 I value them so highly.

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:34.319
 As someone who has come across great spoil.

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:38.259
 Is that what the incarnation is to yourself and to myself today?

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:46.019
 Is the coming of Jesus something you prize deeply as your most precious jewels?

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:53.000
 Is the truth about Jesus given that place in your heart and my heart today?

00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:57.880
 So we find her treasuring.

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.420
 These words.

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.740
 And then also pondering.

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:06.380
 She treasured up all these words, pondering them in her heart.

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:08.880
 Now pondering is another interesting word.

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:13.779
 Because it literally means to gather things together.

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:16.480
 Or to assemble things together.

00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:20.200
 That's really the background meaning, if you like, of the word.

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:25.099
 And it's developed different meanings and nuances from that background meaning.

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.980
 She was pondering.

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.939
 Something she went on doing.

00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.159
 That's the language that used shows.

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:33.240
 This is something that she went on doing.

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:35.480
 It wasn't something that just came to her for a moment.

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:40.659
 She didn't just ponder it for a few brief moments and then forget about it and move on to something else.

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:49.080
 Because the verses really put in such a way that Mary treasured up all these things and went on pondering them in her heart.

00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:59.619
 She kept on assimilating, putting together these great truths that she had come to be spoken to by God.

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:05.119
 So it means really bringing things together, comparing things, weighing things up.

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:14.239
 Now here we are today and we're in a way like Mary because this word of God, this truthful word of God is reliable.

00:20:14.979 --> 00:20:22.519
 When you read about this event, this particular event itself, it's really because you can trust the word of God as being accurate.

00:20:22.979 --> 00:20:24.319
 It's really taking you back.

00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:25.899
 It's just as if you were there.

00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:28.659
 It's just as if you were there before the manger.

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:32.759
 As if you were there kneeling in front of the manger with the infant Jesus in it.

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:35.700
 Are we pondering it?

00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:41.839
 Are we trying to bring together today everything that's revealed about this Jesus for our benefit?

00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:46.960
 Are the things of the Old Testament, the things that we find in the New Testament Gospels,

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:49.920
 the things that Paul wrote and Peter wrote and John wrote,

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:52.440
 these are all the precious jewels.

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:54.980
 These are all the wonderful jewels of truth.

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:59.960
 And here is Mary as she finds all of these sayings and these statements and these words.

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.859
 What is she doing?

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:02.259
 She's bringing them together.

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:06.160
 That's essentially what Bible study is.

00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:13.519
 It's not just coming to church once in a week or twice in a week or whatever and listening to a sermon.

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.960
 Good though that is.

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.299
 Important though that is.

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.900
 Significant though that is.

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:20.039
 Beneficial we hope though that is.

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:28.599
 It's something that you follow up by putting together, by assembling together each and every day the things that God has revealed.

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:32.779
 And especially as we're here today focusing on the coming of Christ.

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:35.059
 All the things that have to do with His coming.

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:42.339
 All the things that have to do with the Son of God and this wonderful, amazing fact that He took our human nature.

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.339
 It's for our thinking of.

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:47.159
 It's for our thinking of.

00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:49.039
 For our weighing up.

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:55.920
 You see Mary you could say here is exercising her memory, her mind and her heart.

00:21:55.920 --> 00:22:06.039
 All three elements of her person, if you like, of her soul are engaged in this treasuring and in this pondering.

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:09.039
 It's something that affected her emotionally.

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:12.500
 She's using her heart is in it.

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:14.920
 It's not something just formal and stiff and distant.

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.759
 She's caught up in it.

00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:19.740
 Her mind obviously is caught up in it.

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.980
 Her memory is caught up in it.

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.920
 She's remembering the things she heard.

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.460
 Her mind is trying to work through them.

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:28.759
 She's thinking deeply about it and is moving her heart.

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:34.319
 All of that is in exercise at the manger of the Lord.

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.940
 And we're at the manger of the Lord today.

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.359
 Where's my heart?

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.659
 How is it with my heart?

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.399
 Is it hitting my emotions?

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.559
 How is it with my mind?

00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:49.460
 How is it with my will?

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:54.480
 Has it made me more aware of my need to depend upon Christ?

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.980
 To love Jesus?

00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.819
 To talk about Jesus?

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.960
 To commend Jesus?

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:02.659
 As I kneel in front of the manger today,

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.180
 what is it with my heart?

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.659
 And my mind and my memory?

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.960
 Am I treasuring this?

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:15.240
 Am I pondering the incarnation, the coming of the Lord?

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:19.859
 Is it something that in the exercise of my mind?

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:22.639
 And am I saying from today onwards,

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:25.359
 this is something that I will have to do every day.

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:28.359
 It's something I want to do even for a few moments.

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:31.220
 At the beginning or at the end of a day or both.

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:34.339
 I'm trying throughout each day that I live

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:39.000
 to exercise my mind, my heart, my memory

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:42.700
 and gather together as I go along through life

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:45.519
 those things that have to do with Jesus.

00:23:46.600 --> 00:23:49.779
 The things that have to do with the truth of God incarnate,

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.559
 God in the manger,

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:53.600
 God coming into this world,

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.220
 God the Savior,

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.720
 God the Redeemer,

00:23:57.339 --> 00:24:01.220
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:06.079
 So Mary's treasuring and pondering the good news.

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:09.000
 She treasured up all these things,

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.200
 pondering them in her heart.

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:15.160
 Treasuring them as you keep precious jewels together

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:19.279
 and pondering them as you try and bring together

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.259
 all of these truths about the Lord

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:24.460
 and how you not just store them in your heart

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.779
 but work your way through them

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:27.660
 and the relationship between

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:31.600
 each and every part of the truth about Jesus

00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:34.180
 as they're brought to you in the Bible.

00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:37.060
 So we'll pause just for a moment now

00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:37.900
 and sing.

00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.700
 And this time we're singing

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:42.259
 from Psalm 119

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:45.379
 and from verse 33,

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:47.819
 that's on page 159.

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:52.779
 Verses 33 to 40.

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:56.059
 Teach me to follow your decrees

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:58.180
 then I will keep them to the end.

00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:01.000
 Give insight and I'll keep your law

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:04.160
 with all my heart to it attend.

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:07.680
 We'll sing the four stanzas down to verse 40.

00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:08.859
 To God's praise.

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:22.079
 Teach me to follow your decrees

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:31.599
 then I will keep them to the end.

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:40.220
 In this I count by being pure law

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:48.039
 with all my heart to it attend.

00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:54.019
 With me endure

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.839
 the man's breath.

00:25:54.839 --> 00:26:02.839
 For there, O Lord,

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:07.180
 delight I find

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:12.000
 and guide my heart

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.039
 to war to loss.

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:19.859
 from selfish gain

00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.460
 from selfish gain

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:25.859
 reset my mind.

00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:29.859
 O turn my eyes

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:33.859
 from worthless things

00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:38.859
 give life according

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.679
 to your word.

00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:48.679
 To me, your servant

00:26:48.679 --> 00:26:51.679
 keep your flesh

00:26:51.679 --> 00:27:00.679
 so that you may be feared, O Lord.

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:05.500
 remove from me

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:10.500
 the shame I dread

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:13.500
 your loss

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.500
 excel

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:18.500
 in uprightness

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:23.500
 O how I long

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:28.319
 for your decrees

00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:31.319
 deserve me

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:35.319
 in your righteousness

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:41.079
 well the second point

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:43.559
 we want to spend a little bit of time over

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:45.920
 is the benefits for ourselves

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:48.180
 of treasuring and pondering

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:50.259
 the truth about Jesus

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.799
 or the things of the gospel.

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:54.059
 We've seen Mary's treasuring

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.400
 and pondering

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.900
 and something of what these words mean

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:59.019
 what benefit is it to ourselves

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.660
 to treasure

00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:02.180
 and to ponder the things of Christ

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.680
 the things of the gospel.

00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:04.960
 Well, three things

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.859
 I'm going to mention

00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:07.519
 first of all

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.799
 it helps us grow

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:11.339
 in our understanding of Jesus

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:12.720
 helps us grow

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:14.700
 in our understanding of Jesus

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:16.539
 who he is

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:18.900
 that he is indeed God

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:20.420
 that he is God

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:22.120
 having come into this world

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:24.120
 he didn't cease to be God

00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:25.580
 he was still the creator

00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:27.240
 and the upholder of the universe

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:29.019
 mysteriously and wonderfully

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:31.019
 even in becoming human.

00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:33.160
 He didn't lay aside his deity

00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.900
 he didn't lay aside

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:38.780
 any of the attributes of godhood

00:28:38.780 --> 00:28:40.460
 when he came into this world

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.400
 and became man.

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.560
 So as we bring together

00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:44.800
 the truths of the gospel

00:28:44.800 --> 00:28:46.640
 and of the Bible together

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:48.200
 in understanding Jesus

00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:49.700
 we grow in our understanding

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:51.200
 of who he is

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:52.000
 and it's important

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.140
 we always ask

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.140
 who is this?

00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.580
 Luke's gospel asks that

00:28:55.580 --> 00:28:56.780
 a number of times

00:28:56.780 --> 00:28:58.020
 we find passages

00:28:58.020 --> 00:28:59.040
 where the question

00:28:59.040 --> 00:29:00.240
 is asked by various people

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.720
 who is this man?

00:29:01.780 --> 00:29:03.240
 And it's such an important question

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.580
 who is he?

00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:06.360
 Not just what has he done

00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:08.700
 but who is he?

00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:10.400
 He is the Son of God

00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.840
 that's his person

00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:13.540
 the Son of God

00:29:13.540 --> 00:29:15.240
 who took human nature

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.059
 the human nature

00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:17.120
 does not describe

00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.420
 in itself entirely

00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.299
 who he is

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.880
 because he is

00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.519
 the person of the Son of God

00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:24.559
 who took this nature

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:26.160
 this human nature

00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.500
 we have to himself

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:29.799
 and it helps us grow

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.500
 in our understanding of Jesus

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.500
 not only who he is

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:34.640
 but why he became human.

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.299
 Our last study

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:38.059
 remember the words

00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:40.440
 you shall call his name Jesus

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:42.160
 for he will save

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.799
 his people

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.720
 from their sins.

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.059
 Why did he come

00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.779
 into this world?

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:48.779
 Why did the Son of God

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.880
 why did God

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.640
 in his Son

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:52.080
 come into this world

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:53.759
 to take out human nature

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.900
 to place himself

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:56.340
 as he placed himself

00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:57.519
 in a situation

00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.299
 of being deprived

00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.820
 of so many comforts

00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:01.720
 a situation

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.860
 of being tested

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:03.820
 of being tempted

00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.440
 of suffering

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.320
 a situation

00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:07.580
 where he ultimately

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:09.279
 came to suffer

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.679
 the death of the cross

00:30:10.679 --> 00:30:11.240
 and die

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.679
 the death of the cross

00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:13.220
 the death

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.159
 that you and I

00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:14.699
 deserved

00:30:14.699 --> 00:30:15.980
 for our sins.

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.399
 Why?

00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.599
 Why did the Father

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.919
 send him into the world

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:21.000
 to such a situation

00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.939
 and such a death

00:30:21.939 --> 00:30:23.439
 as he experienced

00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:24.240
 and accomplished

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.539
 at Calvary?

00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.500
 Well it's so that

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.599
 you and I

00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:29.439
 would be saved

00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:30.439
 or could be saved

00:30:30.439 --> 00:30:32.759
 he shall be called Jesus

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.839
 for he will save

00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.359
 his people

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.279
 from their sins.

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.019
 It's not so that we

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.539
 would have nice stories

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.859
 about him at Christmas time

00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:40.619
 it's not so that we

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.559
 would know formally

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.899
 the things the Bible

00:30:42.899 --> 00:30:44.160
 tells us about Jesus

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.259
 it's not so that we

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.379
 become accomplished

00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.099
 theologians

00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.500
 not that that's a bad thing

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:51.000
 it's so that we'd be saved

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:53.039
 so that we come to

00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.059
 possess him

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.240
 and embrace him

00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:55.920
 and take him

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.660
 as he's offered

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.339
 in the gospel

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.500
 as the catechism says

00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:00.299
 as our savior

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:02.200
 he is offered

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.160
 as God's gift

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:05.139
 don't leave that gift

00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:05.879
 unwrapped

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.960
 this Christmas time

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.600
 if you haven't

00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.960
 already unwrapped it

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.740
 what I mean by that

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.020
 is taking the gift

00:31:11.020 --> 00:31:11.460
 of God

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.520
 that Jesus himself

00:31:12.520 --> 00:31:13.200
 is

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.420
 and making it

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.040
 your gift

00:31:15.040 --> 00:31:15.680
 God's gift

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.360
 to you

00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:18.120
 making it personally

00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:19.660
 your gift

00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.360
 God's gift

00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:20.760
 to you

00:31:20.760 --> 00:31:21.540
 your acceptance

00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:22.940
 of that gift

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:25.780
 you would never leave

00:31:25.780 --> 00:31:27.460
 the most important

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.560
 and precious gift

00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:29.540
 given to you

00:31:29.540 --> 00:31:30.440
 at Christmas time

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.180
 or any time

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.620
 and just leave it

00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.600
 unwrapped

00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.279
 and just keep

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.039
 looking at it

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.459
 formally

00:31:35.459 --> 00:31:37.299
 and just leaving it

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.219
 and ignoring it

00:31:38.219 --> 00:31:38.759
 and pushing it

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.480
 into a corner

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:41.240
 well some people

00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.119
 sadly do that

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:42.699
 with the greatest

00:31:42.699 --> 00:31:43.679
 gift of all

00:31:43.679 --> 00:31:45.719
 it's not that they

00:31:45.719 --> 00:31:46.679
 absolutely

00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.799
 don't care

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:51.000
 but they just

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.659
 don't want to

00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:52.180
 commit their

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.659
 whole life

00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:53.099
 to him

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:55.220
 they think

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.639
 that's just

00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.980
 going too far

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.960
 that you don't

00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.659
 need to become

00:31:59.659 --> 00:32:01.119
 as people think

00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:01.919
 religious

00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:02.940
 remember

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:04.240
 there's a big

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.779
 difference

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.740
 between religion

00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:07.659
 and Jesus

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.779
 religion

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.879
 and salvation

00:32:09.879 --> 00:32:11.339
 religion

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.839
 itself

00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:13.220
 is a formal

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.619
 thing

00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:14.819
 I know we talk

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.639
 about the Christian

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.160
 religion

00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:17.640
 but sometimes

00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:18.300
 people think

00:32:18.300 --> 00:32:19.040
 being a Christian

00:32:19.040 --> 00:32:19.800
 is just having

00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.320
 religion

00:32:20.320 --> 00:32:22.140
 and having a Bible

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.000
 and having a set

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.540
 of rules

00:32:23.540 --> 00:32:24.660
 that you value

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.120
 that you

00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:26.400
 maybe try

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:26.900
 and keep

00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.280
 but no

00:32:27.280 --> 00:32:28.360
 salvation

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:29.540
 is not the same

00:32:29.540 --> 00:32:29.940
 as religion

00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.340
 salvation

00:32:30.340 --> 00:32:32.560
 is faith

00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:33.580
 in Christ

00:32:33.580 --> 00:32:34.660
 bringing that

00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:35.160
 salvation

00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.660
 into our

00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.100
 possession

00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:37.900
 salvation

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.380
 is being

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:39.380
 saved from

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.200
 our sins

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.820
 from the

00:32:41.820 --> 00:32:42.440
 consequences

00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:43.060
 of our sins

00:32:43.060 --> 00:32:43.600
 from the guilt

00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:44.259
 of our sins

00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:44.900
 I think we saw

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.900
 that last time

00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:46.380
 when we saw

00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.060
 the name

00:32:47.060 --> 00:32:47.460
 Jesus

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.360
 he will save

00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:48.840
 his people

00:32:48.840 --> 00:32:50.680
 from their sins

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:52.560
 that's why

00:32:52.560 --> 00:32:54.120
 he became human

00:32:54.120 --> 00:32:54.980
 and it helps us

00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:56.160
 our understanding

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:56.620
 of Jesus

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.280
 but not only

00:32:57.280 --> 00:32:58.640
 in that sense

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.180
 to save us

00:32:59.180 --> 00:32:59.880
 from our sins

00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:00.620
 but even through

00:33:00.620 --> 00:33:02.040
 the course of life

00:33:02.040 --> 00:33:04.180
 we learn about

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:04.519
 Jesus

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.280
 and the benefits

00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:06.460
 of treasuring

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.340
 and pondering

00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:09.060
 the truth about him

00:33:09.060 --> 00:33:09.940
 is that he will

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.940
 we will know

00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:12.280
 his companionship

00:33:12.280 --> 00:33:12.960
 through life

00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:14.000
 we will know

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.640
 that he's with

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:15.480
 us through life

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.319
 we will know

00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:16.980
 that he stands

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.779
 beside us

00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:19.000
 as we go through

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.519
 the different

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.160
 experiences

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:20.960
 and the difficulties

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.500
 especially

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.840
 of life

00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:23.980
 Hebrews chapter 2

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.740
 and verse 18

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.140
 you remember

00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.600
 finishes

00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.940
 in that way

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.960
 he had made

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.140
 in every respect

00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.079
 like his brethren

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:33.380
 that's like

00:33:33.380 --> 00:33:33.940
 ourselves

00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:35.220
 human beings

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.079
 for because

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:36.759
 he himself

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.880
 has suffered

00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.620
 when tempted

00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:40.140
 he is able

00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:40.799
 to help

00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:41.900
 those who are

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.620
 being tempted

00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:43.200
 and that word

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:43.780
 help means

00:33:43.780 --> 00:33:45.259
 come to their aid

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.480
 come alongside

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:46.800
 them

00:33:46.800 --> 00:33:47.480
 and come to

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.780
 support them

00:33:48.780 --> 00:33:50.360
 it means

00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.660
 a strengthening

00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:52.300
 it means

00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:53.040
 an encouragement

00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:53.620
 it means

00:33:53.620 --> 00:33:54.280
 all of the things

00:33:54.280 --> 00:33:55.340
 that you find

00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:57.259
 inside that word

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.380
 help or strengthening

00:33:58.380 --> 00:34:00.540
 that's why

00:34:00.540 --> 00:34:01.660
 he came into the world

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.700
 that's why

00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.440
 he came to die

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.320
 the death of the cross

00:34:04.320 --> 00:34:05.000
 that's why

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.140
 he took out humanity

00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:07.840
 we don't have

00:34:07.840 --> 00:34:08.320
 a priest

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.160
 as Hebrews

00:34:09.160 --> 00:34:10.019
 elsewhere says

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.900
 we don't have

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.579
 a high priest

00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.119
 in heaven

00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.239
 as the high priest

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:13.860
 of his people

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.280
 who is unable

00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.440
 to sympathize

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:16.960
 with us

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.820
 in our weaknesses

00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:20.400
 doesn't matter

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.000
 what you have

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.759
 to confess

00:34:21.759 --> 00:34:22.619
 today

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.780
 about yourself

00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:25.780
 about your concerns

00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.840
 about your worries

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.800
 about your troubles

00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:29.860
 about your illnesses

00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:31.539
 about your state of mind

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.719
 about your loved ones

00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.159
 you know

00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:34.940
 that there's someone

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.360
 today

00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:36.179
 on the throne

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:36.759
 of heaven

00:34:36.759 --> 00:34:38.139
 who has been

00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.860
 through all of that

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.300
 himself

00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:42.060
 and who as the

00:34:42.060 --> 00:34:42.780
 son of God

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.420
 in our nature

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.240
 is now able

00:34:44.240 --> 00:34:45.260
 to help

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:46.560
 to succor

00:34:46.560 --> 00:34:47.620
 as the AV puts it

00:34:47.620 --> 00:34:48.260
 to strengthen

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:49.700
 to give you

00:34:49.700 --> 00:34:50.960
 the help you need

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:52.420
 that no one else

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.160
 can give you

00:34:53.160 --> 00:34:55.060
 that's why

00:34:55.060 --> 00:34:56.600
 you treasure

00:34:56.600 --> 00:34:57.300
 and ponder

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:58.840
 the truths

00:34:58.840 --> 00:34:59.620
 about Jesus

00:34:59.620 --> 00:35:01.200
 because as you

00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:02.080
 gather them together

00:35:02.080 --> 00:35:02.900
 you begin more

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.960
 and more to understand

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:05.480
 this savior

00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.360
 is for me

00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:08.620
 you begin to understand

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.980
 how can I possibly

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.199
 go on without him

00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:13.000
 how can I face

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:14.059
 the issues of life

00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:14.619
 without him

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.920
 how can I die

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.619
 without him

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:18.199
 how can I go to face

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.579
 God without having him

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:21.380
 as my savior

00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:23.519
 it helps you to grow

00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:25.000
 in your understanding

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.519
 of Jesus

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:25.900
 but

00:35:25.900 --> 00:35:27.639
 secondly it helps us

00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:27.980
 to grow

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.900
 in our

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.859
 appreciation

00:35:29.859 --> 00:35:31.039
 of Jesus

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.500
 and once you treasure

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:34.139
 and you ponder

00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.139
 the truths

00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:35.840
 that you find

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.860
 about Jesus

00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:37.619
 in the Bible

00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.920
 so as you do that

00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.679
 just as it was

00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:41.300
 for Mary

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.960
 there's an increase

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.820
 in your love

00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.559
 your affection

00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:46.119
 your regard

00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:47.079
 for this Jesus

00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:48.039
 you increase

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.579
 in your thankfulness

00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:50.900
 thankfulness to God

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.519
 for him

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:53.179
 thankfulness to himself

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.260
 for all that he's done

00:35:54.260 --> 00:35:54.599
 for you

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.619
 and for who he is

00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.900
 thankfulness for his

00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:57.659
 perfection

00:35:57.659 --> 00:35:59.420
 thankfulness for his

00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.420
 faithfulness

00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:01.960
 thankfulness for everything

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.000
 the Bible tells you

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.960
 as you bring all us

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.820
 you gather us

00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:06.740
 you ponder these things

00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:10.079
 and it helps you as well

00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:10.760
 to add to

00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:12.820
 your dependence upon them

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.680
 which you and I

00:36:13.680 --> 00:36:14.800
 certainly at times

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.460
 have to confess

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.639
 it's not as it should be

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:19.380
 but the more you find out

00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:19.840
 about him

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.559
 and the more you put

00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:22.079
 these truths together

00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.980
 about Christ

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:24.519
 well the more you

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:26.280
 add to your dependence

00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:27.240
 the more you add to

00:36:27.240 --> 00:36:27.820
 your willingness

00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:28.840
 to serve him

00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:30.240
 the more you add

00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:32.319
 to the concern

00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:33.439
 to make him known

00:36:33.439 --> 00:36:35.059
 to your fellow human beings

00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:36.379
 it's as you find out

00:36:36.379 --> 00:36:37.259
 more about him

00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:38.719
 as you treasure

00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.959
 and ponder the truth

00:36:39.959 --> 00:36:40.579
 about Jesus

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.199
 in your heart

00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:42.500
 so you're constrained

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.119
 all the more

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:44.379
 then the more you find out

00:36:44.379 --> 00:36:45.679
 the more you appreciate that

00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:46.899
 the more you ponder that

00:36:46.899 --> 00:36:47.459
 the more you say

00:36:47.459 --> 00:36:48.639
 I have to tell other people

00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:49.359
 about this

00:36:49.359 --> 00:36:51.079
 I have to tell them

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.519
 where they can find salvation

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:54.359
 I have to tell them

00:36:54.359 --> 00:36:55.339
 about this Jesus

00:36:55.339 --> 00:36:56.019
 like the woman

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.859
 of Samaria

00:36:56.859 --> 00:36:57.799
 in John chapter 4

00:36:57.799 --> 00:36:59.239
 come and see this man

00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:01.739
 is not this the Christ

00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:02.779
 he told me all the things

00:37:02.779 --> 00:37:03.679
 that ever I did

00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:05.739
 and what did they do

00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:06.339
 they went out

00:37:06.339 --> 00:37:07.359
 from that town

00:37:07.359 --> 00:37:07.899
 they went out

00:37:07.899 --> 00:37:08.819
 to meet Jesus

00:37:08.819 --> 00:37:09.859
 they flocked out

00:37:09.859 --> 00:37:10.359
 to meet him

00:37:10.359 --> 00:37:11.519
 and then they said

00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:11.919
 to the woman

00:37:11.919 --> 00:37:12.879
 eventually after Jesus

00:37:12.879 --> 00:37:13.519
 had been with them

00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:14.139
 for a time

00:37:14.139 --> 00:37:15.639
 now we believe

00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:16.819
 not for your word

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:18.379
 for we have heard

00:37:18.379 --> 00:37:19.500
 him ourselves

00:37:19.500 --> 00:37:21.699
 and know that this

00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:22.759
 is indeed the Christ

00:37:22.759 --> 00:37:24.719
 the savior of the world

00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:27.239
 is that not

00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.099
 where you are today

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:30.919
 is this not

00:37:30.919 --> 00:37:33.119
 the most wonderful thing

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:34.199
 in your own experience

00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:37.259
 that God has given you

00:37:37.259 --> 00:37:38.799
 the benefit of treasuring

00:37:38.799 --> 00:37:40.000
 and pondering Jesus

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:42.579
 to increase your understanding

00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:43.139
 of him

00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.819
 and who he is

00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:44.500
 and what he's done

00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:46.419
 but to also

00:37:46.419 --> 00:37:48.379
 grow in your appreciation

00:37:48.379 --> 00:37:49.719
 because all of these things

00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:50.839
 as you assimilate them

00:37:50.839 --> 00:37:51.139
 you see

00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:52.039
 like Mary

00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.860
 what they will do

00:37:52.860 --> 00:37:53.940
 is just fill

00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:55.719
 your praise of God

00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:57.279
 you'll begin

00:37:57.279 --> 00:37:58.159
 more and more

00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:59.079
 just to fill

00:37:59.079 --> 00:37:59.860
 all of these things

00:37:59.860 --> 00:38:00.739
 into and fit

00:38:00.739 --> 00:38:01.199
 these things

00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:02.239
 into your praise

00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:03.000
 think of the psalmist

00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:04.099
 Psalm 116

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:06.420
 I love the Lord

00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:08.320
 because he has heard

00:38:08.320 --> 00:38:09.460
 my prayers

00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.079
 and listened

00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:11.440
 to my voice

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.940
 he speaks then

00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:13.239
 about

00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:15.559
 how he was

00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.659
 in such a predicament

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.460
 how the Lord

00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:18.039
 heard him

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.500
 how the Lord

00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.159
 rescued him

00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:20.279
 and came to his aid

00:38:20.280 --> 00:38:22.980
 1 Peter chapter 1

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:24.500
 and verses 8 and 9

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.200
 tells us about

00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:26.380
 Jesus we don't see

00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:27.000
 physically

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:28.600
 here is Peter

00:38:28.600 --> 00:38:29.500
 writing to

00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:30.640
 these people

00:38:30.640 --> 00:38:31.400
 scattered through

00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:32.060
 all the regions

00:38:32.060 --> 00:38:32.700
 he mentions

00:38:32.700 --> 00:38:33.860
 and what's their situation

00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:34.960
 they're being

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:36.140
 persecuted

00:38:36.140 --> 00:38:36.640
 some of them

00:38:36.640 --> 00:38:37.200
 for their faith

00:38:37.200 --> 00:38:37.680
 they're certainly

00:38:37.680 --> 00:38:38.600
 suffering greatly

00:38:38.600 --> 00:38:39.700
 for what they believe

00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:40.960
 for their faithfulness

00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.500
 to Jesus

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:43.400
 and they don't see him

00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:45.019
 they can't see him

00:38:45.019 --> 00:38:45.420
 physically

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:47.040
 like they did

00:38:47.040 --> 00:38:47.440
 in the days

00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:48.560
 of the apostles

00:38:48.560 --> 00:38:49.519
 and these disciples

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:49.920
 here

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:51.680
 in the gospels

00:38:51.680 --> 00:38:54.300
 what does Peter say

00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:55.700
 whom

00:38:55.700 --> 00:38:58.000
 though not seeing

00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:59.380
 you love

00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:01.159
 and in whom

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:03.099
 though now you see him

00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:04.740
 not yet believing

00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:06.039
 you rejoice

00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:06.940
 with joy

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.780
 unspeakable

00:39:07.780 --> 00:39:08.920
 and full of glory

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:10.079
 what is Peter saying

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.440
 it's saying

00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:11.740
 the more you put together

00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:12.500
 in your heart

00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:13.480
 the more you treasure

00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:14.159
 in your heart

00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.240
 the more you ponder

00:39:15.240 --> 00:39:16.139
 in your heart

00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.579
 the things

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.860
 of the Lord himself

00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:19.260
 the more it will add

00:39:19.260 --> 00:39:20.019
 to your sense

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.940
 of appreciation

00:39:20.940 --> 00:39:22.039
 and thankfulness

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.420
 to God

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:23.039
 and dependence

00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.900
 upon him

00:39:23.900 --> 00:39:26.120
 and the more it will

00:39:26.120 --> 00:39:26.880
 enlarge

00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:28.120
 your determination

00:39:28.120 --> 00:39:29.400
 to praise the Lord

00:39:29.400 --> 00:39:31.360
 to have your mouth

00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:32.840
 filled with praise

00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:34.700
 because what Peter

00:39:34.700 --> 00:39:35.420
 is really saying

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:35.579
 is

00:39:35.579 --> 00:39:36.960
 the more you get

00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:38.039
 to know about Jesus

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:38.660
 and the more you get

00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:40.160
 to know Jesus himself

00:39:40.160 --> 00:39:40.720
 especially

00:39:40.720 --> 00:39:42.039
 not just knowing

00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.480
 about him

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.519
 but knowing himself

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:45.539
 the more you do that

00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:46.759
 the more you treasure

00:39:46.759 --> 00:39:48.280
 and ponder these things

00:39:48.280 --> 00:39:50.480
 the more you have

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.840
 a foretaste of heaven

00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:54.800
 because that's what

00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:55.400
 Peter is saying

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.019
 you rejoice

00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:57.280
 with joy

00:39:57.280 --> 00:39:58.460
 unspeakable

00:39:58.460 --> 00:39:59.559
 and full of glory

00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:00.980
 where is that?

00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:02.380
 where is that in perfection?

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:03.440
 it's in heaven

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:05.539
 but it begins

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:06.860
 to flow into your heart

00:40:06.860 --> 00:40:09.079
 the more you know

00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:09.900
 this Jesus

00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:13.019
 the more you treasure him

00:40:13.019 --> 00:40:15.199
 the more you ponder him

00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:17.440
 the more you value him

00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:19.460
 the benefits

00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:20.639
 of treasuring

00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:21.159
 and pondering

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:22.039
 well it helps us grow

00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:22.880
 in our understanding

00:40:22.880 --> 00:40:23.420
 of Jesus

00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:25.159
 it helps us grow

00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:25.980
 in our appreciation

00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.820
 of Jesus

00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:27.820
 and thirdly finally

00:40:27.820 --> 00:40:29.860
 it helps us prepare

00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:32.059
 for meeting with Jesus

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:34.420
 the incarnation

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:36.480
 was the beginning

00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:38.519
 of his life

00:40:38.519 --> 00:40:39.639
 as a human being

00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:43.339
 the end of it

00:40:43.339 --> 00:40:44.339
 the crowning of it

00:40:44.339 --> 00:40:45.339
 end of it

00:40:45.339 --> 00:40:46.019
 in that sense

00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:47.799
 is in his return

00:40:47.799 --> 00:40:49.859
 he's gone to glory

00:40:49.859 --> 00:40:52.039
 he's sitting at the right hand

00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:52.519
 of God

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:54.219
 he's presiding over the universe

00:40:54.219 --> 00:40:56.359
 but he's going to return

00:40:56.359 --> 00:40:58.819
 and on the day of his return

00:40:58.819 --> 00:41:00.099
 he will be seen

00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:00.859
 not as he came

00:41:00.859 --> 00:41:01.679
 the first time

00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.219
 as an infant

00:41:03.219 --> 00:41:04.500
 in a manger

00:41:04.500 --> 00:41:06.239
 dependent on his mother

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:08.099
 being nursed by his mother

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:09.359
 being helped by his mother

00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:10.500
 he's not going to come

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:12.300
 then in his humiliation

00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:14.160
 and in his dependence

00:41:14.160 --> 00:41:15.420
 upon other human beings

00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:16.559
 he's going to come

00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:17.280
 in his glory

00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:18.579
 he's going to come

00:41:18.579 --> 00:41:19.300
 in the majesty

00:41:19.300 --> 00:41:20.420
 of his kingship

00:41:20.420 --> 00:41:21.559
 he's going to become

00:41:21.559 --> 00:41:22.280
 he's going to come

00:41:22.280 --> 00:41:23.200
 decked out

00:41:23.200 --> 00:41:24.360
 in all the garments

00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:24.860
 if you like

00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:26.680
 of his glorious kingship

00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:27.860
 he's going to be accompanied

00:41:27.860 --> 00:41:28.960
 with an innumerable

00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:30.000
 company of angels

00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:31.120
 the whole world

00:41:31.120 --> 00:41:31.599
 will know

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:32.880
 here is the king

00:41:32.880 --> 00:41:34.059
 blow the trumpet

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:35.200
 he's arrived

00:41:35.199 --> 00:41:39.339
 you know

00:41:39.339 --> 00:41:40.259
 in 1st Thessalonians

00:41:40.259 --> 00:41:40.899
 there's a passage

00:41:40.899 --> 00:41:42.139
 among others

00:41:42.139 --> 00:41:43.000
 that tells us

00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.719
 how grand

00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:45.639
 this will be

00:41:45.639 --> 00:41:47.079
 what an immense

00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:48.059
 moment this will be

00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:48.980
 what an awesome

00:41:48.980 --> 00:41:49.980
 thing it will be

00:41:49.980 --> 00:41:51.859
 when Jesus returns

00:41:51.859 --> 00:41:54.599
 1st Thessalonians 4

00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:56.980
 verses 16 to 17

00:41:56.980 --> 00:42:00.639
 for the Lord himself

00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:01.740
 will descend from heaven

00:42:01.740 --> 00:42:03.579
 with a cry of command

00:42:03.579 --> 00:42:05.139
 with a voice of an archangel

00:42:05.139 --> 00:42:06.500
 with the sound

00:42:06.500 --> 00:42:08.019
 of the trumpet of God

00:42:08.019 --> 00:42:09.699
 and the dead in Christ

00:42:09.699 --> 00:42:10.659
 will rise first

00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.820
 then we who are alive

00:42:11.820 --> 00:42:12.780
 who are left

00:42:12.780 --> 00:42:13.559
 will be caught up

00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:14.380
 together with them

00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:14.980
 in the clouds

00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:16.179
 to meet the Lord

00:42:16.179 --> 00:42:16.840
 in the air

00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:18.300
 and so we will always

00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:19.460
 be with the Lord

00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:21.280
 what a moment

00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:23.219
 what an event

00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:25.539
 what a glorious sight

00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:28.900
 what an indescribably

00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:31.059
 great coming

00:42:31.059 --> 00:42:31.900
 this is

00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:34.119
 not a helpless

00:42:34.119 --> 00:42:34.679
 babe

00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:36.480
 in a manger

00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:38.179
 but a king

00:42:38.179 --> 00:42:38.840
 of glory

00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:40.860
 in all his splendor

00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:42.820
 and how do you

00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:43.840
 prepare for that

00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:45.940
 well you bring

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:47.019
 together in your heart

00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:48.219
 you ponder

00:42:48.219 --> 00:42:48.840
 you treasure

00:42:48.840 --> 00:42:50.480
 all the things

00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:51.679
 that are spoken

00:42:51.679 --> 00:42:52.300
 about him

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:53.980
 you placed your

00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:54.779
 trust in him

00:42:54.780 --> 00:42:56.320
 you ask him

00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:57.140
 to look after you

00:42:57.140 --> 00:42:57.740
 when you come

00:42:57.740 --> 00:42:59.120
 through every issue

00:42:59.120 --> 00:42:59.580
 of life

00:42:59.580 --> 00:43:00.320
 and through death

00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:01.260
 and when you come

00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:01.840
 to meet him

00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:02.440
 in eternity

00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:06.180
 you see what it's saying

00:43:06.180 --> 00:43:06.840
 in verse 18

00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:07.640
 of that passage

00:43:07.640 --> 00:43:09.200
 in 1 Thessalonians

00:43:09.200 --> 00:43:09.640
 therefore

00:43:09.640 --> 00:43:11.740
 encourage one another

00:43:11.740 --> 00:43:13.620
 with these words

00:43:13.620 --> 00:43:16.480
 because these words

00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:17.140
 we don't just

00:43:17.140 --> 00:43:18.440
 assimilate them

00:43:18.440 --> 00:43:19.140
 and gather them

00:43:19.140 --> 00:43:19.460
 together

00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:20.240
 and ponder them

00:43:20.240 --> 00:43:20.700
 and treasure

00:43:20.700 --> 00:43:21.920
 in our own hearts

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:22.640
 just for our own

00:43:22.640 --> 00:43:23.740
 personal benefit

00:43:23.739 --> 00:43:25.500
 as we gather

00:43:25.500 --> 00:43:25.959
 together

00:43:25.959 --> 00:43:26.559
 we're gathering

00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:27.019
 together

00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:28.399
 as a people

00:43:28.399 --> 00:43:30.299
 who have the same

00:43:30.299 --> 00:43:31.399
 truths of God

00:43:31.399 --> 00:43:33.039
 prized surely

00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:34.199
 and treasured

00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:34.779
 in our hearts

00:43:34.779 --> 00:43:35.519
 and it's not just

00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:36.819
 for our own benefit

00:43:36.819 --> 00:43:37.639
 we don't keep it

00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:38.419
 to ourselves

00:43:38.419 --> 00:43:39.959
 the apostle said

00:43:39.959 --> 00:43:42.199
 encourage one another

00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:44.079
 with these words

00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:46.959
 you remember

00:43:46.959 --> 00:43:47.819
 at Christmas time

00:43:47.820 --> 00:43:49.059
 how

00:43:49.059 --> 00:43:50.980
 as children

00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:53.840
 we treasured

00:43:53.840 --> 00:43:54.720
 and pondered

00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:56.480
 what Christmas

00:43:56.480 --> 00:43:57.200
 was going to be

00:43:57.200 --> 00:43:57.740
 to us

00:43:57.740 --> 00:43:59.840
 we looked forward

00:43:59.840 --> 00:44:00.980
 to opening presents

00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:02.120
 whether they be

00:44:02.120 --> 00:44:03.640
 many or few

00:44:03.640 --> 00:44:04.820
 it was always

00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.800
 an exciting time

00:44:05.800 --> 00:44:07.320
 and so it is

00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:07.860
 for the children

00:44:07.860 --> 00:44:09.160
 who are here today

00:44:09.160 --> 00:44:09.720
 and thank you

00:44:09.720 --> 00:44:10.539
 for being here today

00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:11.360
 it's great to have you

00:44:11.360 --> 00:44:12.440
 and it's great

00:44:12.440 --> 00:44:12.780
 to be here

00:44:12.780 --> 00:44:13.460
 at Christmas time

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:13.900
 in church

00:44:13.900 --> 00:44:14.840
 worshipping the Lord

00:44:14.840 --> 00:44:16.400
 with your parents

00:44:16.400 --> 00:44:16.960
 or grandparents

00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:18.079
 or other adults

00:44:18.079 --> 00:44:19.200
 there's nothing

00:44:19.200 --> 00:44:19.900
 we like better

00:44:19.900 --> 00:44:20.440
 than having

00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:21.640
 children here

00:44:21.640 --> 00:44:22.120
 and hearing

00:44:22.120 --> 00:44:22.940
 children's noises

00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:23.920
 and children's voices

00:44:23.920 --> 00:44:25.720
 it doesn't disturb us

00:44:25.720 --> 00:44:26.019
 at all

00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:27.019
 it encourages us

00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:27.900
 it gives us

00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:28.559
 a great thrill

00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:30.860
 so you're looking

00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:31.840
 forward to Christmas

00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:33.079
 Christmas day

00:44:33.079 --> 00:44:33.500
 aren't you

00:44:33.500 --> 00:44:34.799
 looking forward

00:44:34.799 --> 00:44:35.960
 to opening your presents

00:44:35.960 --> 00:44:37.460
 looking forward

00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:38.119
 to actually

00:44:38.119 --> 00:44:39.799
 whether or not

00:44:39.799 --> 00:44:40.500
 you get the things

00:44:40.500 --> 00:44:41.320
 that you asked for

00:44:41.320 --> 00:44:42.799
 looking forward

00:44:42.799 --> 00:44:43.259
 to just

00:44:43.259 --> 00:44:44.179
 that moment

00:44:44.179 --> 00:44:45.199
 when you open up

00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:46.159
 those presents

00:44:46.159 --> 00:44:47.099
 and these thoughts

00:44:47.099 --> 00:44:47.679
 right now

00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:48.320
 in your mind

00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:49.139
 what are you doing

00:44:49.139 --> 00:44:50.259
 you're treasuring that

00:44:50.259 --> 00:44:52.099
 they're precious to you

00:44:52.099 --> 00:44:54.000
 you're pondering it

00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:55.279
 you're thinking about it

00:44:55.279 --> 00:44:57.099
 your mind

00:44:57.099 --> 00:44:57.699
 and your heart

00:44:57.699 --> 00:44:58.619
 are engaged in

00:44:58.619 --> 00:44:59.679
 thinking about

00:44:59.679 --> 00:45:00.319
 these presents

00:45:00.319 --> 00:45:01.419
 and opening these presents

00:45:01.419 --> 00:45:01.899
 and being

00:45:01.899 --> 00:45:03.299
 having a good time

00:45:03.299 --> 00:45:06.899
 well that's what

00:45:06.899 --> 00:45:08.500
 we do with Jesus

00:45:08.500 --> 00:45:12.739
 we treasure him

00:45:12.739 --> 00:45:15.159
 we ponder him

00:45:15.159 --> 00:45:18.379
 until that great day comes

00:45:18.379 --> 00:45:21.819
 when he himself

00:45:21.819 --> 00:45:22.939
 has the greatest gift

00:45:22.939 --> 00:45:26.319
 will arrive before us

00:45:26.320 --> 00:45:27.660
 in his glory

00:45:27.660 --> 00:45:30.440
 and until that day

00:45:30.440 --> 00:45:32.039
 here's our privilege

00:45:32.039 --> 00:45:32.559
 friends

00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:34.460
 our privilege

00:45:34.460 --> 00:45:35.460
 to gather together

00:45:35.460 --> 00:45:37.080
 and also

00:45:37.080 --> 00:45:37.980
 for ourselves

00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:38.680
 individually

00:45:38.680 --> 00:45:40.740
 to treasure

00:45:40.740 --> 00:45:42.220
 and ponder

00:45:42.220 --> 00:45:43.220
 in our hearts

00:45:43.220 --> 00:45:44.820
 the truth

00:45:44.820 --> 00:45:46.980
 about Jesus

00:45:46.980 --> 00:45:48.360
 let's pray

00:45:48.360 --> 00:45:51.820
 Lord our God

00:45:51.820 --> 00:45:52.519
 we thank you

00:45:52.519 --> 00:45:53.200
 for your word

00:45:53.199 --> 00:45:54.599
 we thank you

00:45:54.599 --> 00:45:54.619
 we thank you

00:45:54.619 --> 00:45:55.219
 for all that it

00:45:55.219 --> 00:45:55.779
 contains

00:45:55.779 --> 00:45:57.399
 we thank you

00:45:57.399 --> 00:45:58.219
 especially that it

00:45:58.219 --> 00:45:58.899
 brings to us

00:45:58.899 --> 00:46:00.199
 that good news

00:46:00.199 --> 00:46:01.219
 that great message

00:46:01.219 --> 00:46:02.059
 of a saviour

00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:03.419
 who was born

00:46:03.419 --> 00:46:04.460
 in the city of David

00:46:04.460 --> 00:46:05.159
 a saviour

00:46:05.159 --> 00:46:06.659
 who is Christ

00:46:06.659 --> 00:46:07.359
 the Lord

00:46:07.359 --> 00:46:08.939
 we thank you

00:46:08.939 --> 00:46:09.460
 Lord for

00:46:09.460 --> 00:46:10.739
 all that you are

00:46:10.739 --> 00:46:11.259
 in yourself

00:46:11.259 --> 00:46:12.679
 that you have been

00:46:12.679 --> 00:46:13.719
 from all eternity

00:46:13.719 --> 00:46:14.899
 as God

00:46:14.899 --> 00:46:16.319
 we thank you

00:46:16.319 --> 00:46:16.859
 for all that you

00:46:16.859 --> 00:46:17.639
 came to be

00:46:17.639 --> 00:46:19.539
 in taking our humanity

00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:20.279
 to yourself

00:46:20.280 --> 00:46:21.800
 we thank you

00:46:21.800 --> 00:46:22.519
 for the prospect

00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:23.400
 of your coming

00:46:23.400 --> 00:46:24.940
 having accomplished

00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:25.820
 all that you did

00:46:25.820 --> 00:46:27.060
 in this world

00:46:27.060 --> 00:46:28.100
 oh Lord

00:46:28.100 --> 00:46:28.740
 we thank you

00:46:28.740 --> 00:46:30.040
 that your people

00:46:30.040 --> 00:46:31.100
 look forward

00:46:31.100 --> 00:46:32.600
 to your arrival

00:46:32.600 --> 00:46:34.120
 yet on the last day

00:46:34.120 --> 00:46:35.640
 prepare us

00:46:35.640 --> 00:46:36.640
 we pray for that

00:46:36.640 --> 00:46:38.220
 and give us daily

00:46:38.220 --> 00:46:38.740
 to think

00:46:38.740 --> 00:46:39.800
 and to ponder deeply

00:46:39.800 --> 00:46:40.940
 and treasure

00:46:40.940 --> 00:46:41.760
 in our hearts

00:46:41.760 --> 00:46:43.380
 all that is revealed

00:46:43.380 --> 00:46:44.040
 about you

00:46:44.040 --> 00:46:45.240
 hear us now

00:46:45.240 --> 00:46:45.660
 we pray

00:46:45.660 --> 00:46:46.720
 for Jesus sake

00:46:46.720 --> 00:46:47.620
 Amen

00:46:47.619 --> 00:46:50.799
 our final psalm today

00:46:50.799 --> 00:46:51.880
 is psalm number 4

00:46:51.880 --> 00:46:53.779
 we're singing

00:46:53.779 --> 00:46:54.099
 in the

00:46:54.099 --> 00:46:55.980
 Sing Psalms version

00:46:55.980 --> 00:46:56.799
 of Psalm 4

00:46:56.799 --> 00:46:59.319
 that's on page 4

00:46:59.319 --> 00:47:01.519
 and the last

00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:02.239
 three verses

00:47:02.239 --> 00:47:03.179
 from verse 6

00:47:03.179 --> 00:47:07.179
 oh who can show us

00:47:07.179 --> 00:47:07.719
 any good

00:47:07.719 --> 00:47:09.239
 I hear so many say

00:47:09.239 --> 00:47:10.480
 oh Lord

00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:11.239
 shine on us

00:47:11.239 --> 00:47:12.019
 with your light

00:47:12.019 --> 00:47:13.719
 show us your face

00:47:13.719 --> 00:47:14.339
 I pray

00:47:14.339 --> 00:47:16.219
 you filled my heart

00:47:16.219 --> 00:47:17.179
 with greater joy

00:47:17.179 --> 00:47:17.719
 than others

00:47:17.719 --> 00:47:18.480
 may have found

00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:19.879
 as they rejoiced

00:47:19.879 --> 00:47:20.739
 at harvest time

00:47:20.739 --> 00:47:21.819
 when grain and wine

00:47:21.819 --> 00:47:22.279
 abound

00:47:22.279 --> 00:47:24.059
 I will lie down

00:47:24.059 --> 00:47:25.019
 and sleep in peace

00:47:25.019 --> 00:47:26.679
 my heart will rest

00:47:26.679 --> 00:47:27.179
 secure

00:47:27.179 --> 00:47:28.779
 for you alone

00:47:28.779 --> 00:47:29.879
 oh gracious Lord

00:47:29.879 --> 00:47:31.359
 will keep me

00:47:31.359 --> 00:47:32.000
 safe

00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:33.480
 and sure

00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:34.539
 these verses

00:47:34.539 --> 00:47:35.079
 oh who

00:47:35.079 --> 00:47:36.079
 can show us

00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:36.739
 any good

00:47:36.739 --> 00:47:56.000
 I hear so many say

00:47:56.000 --> 00:47:58.959
 oh Lord

00:47:58.959 --> 00:48:02.219
 shine on us

00:48:02.219 --> 00:48:04.219
 with your light

00:48:04.219 --> 00:48:05.480
 with your light

00:48:05.480 --> 00:48:07.219
 show us

00:48:07.219 --> 00:48:09.219
 your face

00:48:09.219 --> 00:48:12.219
 I pray

00:48:12.219 --> 00:48:18.439
 you filled my heart

00:48:18.439 --> 00:48:22.500
 with greater joy

00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:29.219
 than others may have found

00:48:29.219 --> 00:48:34.219
 as they rejoice

00:48:34.219 --> 00:48:36.419
 whose ancestors

00:48:36.419 --> 00:48:38.799
 could run

00:48:38.799 --> 00:48:39.419
 and love

00:48:39.419 --> 00:48:39.799
 who can hold

00:48:39.799 --> 00:48:40.859
 can increased

00:48:40.859 --> 00:48:44.519
 and youth

00:48:44.519 --> 00:48:45.259
 more behind

00:48:45.259 --> 00:48:45.399
 how and the months

00:48:45.399 --> 00:48:46.059
 in heaven

00:48:46.059 --> 00:48:46.339
 I will try

00:48:46.339 --> 00:48:46.859
 earth

00:48:46.859 --> 00:48:47.899
 should to run

00:48:47.899 --> 00:48:48.459
 through me

00:48:48.459 --> 00:48:48.899


00:49:04.219 --> 00:49:19.319
 For you alone, O gracious Lord, will keep me safe and sure.

00:49:21.259 --> 00:49:24.879
 If you allow me to get to the main door, please, I'll see you there after the benediction.

00:49:25.939 --> 00:49:29.659
 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,

00:49:29.739 --> 00:49:34.099
 and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.

00:49:34.219 --> 00:49:34.279
 Amen.