WEBVTT

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 It's fantastic to be here this morning.

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 Let me add my welcome to Steve's.

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 It is so glad that you are here.

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 This is a big day for us as a church.

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 We've got the extravaganza afterwards.

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 It's very exciting to hear that we have over 200 people

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 going to be on this site throughout 4.30 to 7.30,

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 hopefully to hear the gospel spoken to their life,

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 maybe for the first time.

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 Isn't that wonderful and fantastic?

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 We're going to pray now before we hear God's word,

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 so please join me in prayer.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for the news

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 that this afternoon that you're going to have

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 all these people here on site to hear your word,

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 maybe for the first time.

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 And Lord, that's so exciting that your word is so powerful

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 and it can change lives forever.

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 And so Lord, as we sit here this morning,

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 let us be excited that we get to hear from your word,

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 a word that might be quite familiar to us,

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 but nonetheless, that is just as exciting,

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 just as powerful because it's you who speaks to us.

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 It's a word that whilst what might have been written

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 thousands of years ago, it is still speaking to us today.

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 It is living and active.

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 And we pray, Lord, as we hear you this morning,

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 would you change our hearts and our minds

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 to love and to serve you,

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 to be excited about Christmas

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 and what it truly is all about.

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 We pray these things in your son's precious name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 It's less than a week till Christmas.

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 Are you all excited?

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 Yes.

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 Ah, yes.

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 The kids are excited.

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 Christmas is generally an exciting time.

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 I don't know about you,

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 but I've always felt pretty excited around Christmas

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 and I've always felt an anticipation

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 about the day that comes.

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 Everyone is in a very good mood.

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 People are throwing Christmas parties all over the place.

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 Everyone's winding down for the year.

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 People are just more relaxed and happy.

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 Carols are playing in shopping centres,

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 if you like carols.

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 People are cheerful and joyful.

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 It is the season, right?

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 There's so much expectation at Christmas time.

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 Everyone looks forward to this one day.

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 But why?

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 What exactly is it about this day

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 that everyone looks forward to?

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 Is it because work shuts down for a whole week or so

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 and everyone gets a holiday?

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 Is it because we have an excuse to eat

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 as much as we possibly can

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 without any kind of regret or self or shame?

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 Is it because of all the carol events we can go to?

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 The main, last night.

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 Is it because of actually not Christmas Day,

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 but the Boxing Day test the next day?

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 And we're all looking forward to watching that.

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 Is it because of all the presents

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 we're hoping to receive on the day?

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 I imagine your kids,

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 and if our kids are still here,

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 that is probably what's most exciting about Christmas Day.

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 I'm still hoping one Christmas

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 that Stance will bring me my new surfboard

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 that I've been asking for for quite some time now.

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 I've sent into the dimensions to him in the North Pole,

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 but I'm still waiting on a reply.

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 There's so much to look forward to at Christmas time.

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 But does the hype and the expectation last?

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 No.

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 As soon as Christmas rolls through,

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 we're no longer excited about it,

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 no longer thinking about it or talking about it

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 or singing carols anymore.

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 I know for myself that after the hype dies down,

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 I feel a bit drained and a bit empty,

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 totally drained by the expectation I put on the day itself.

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 So much energy and time,

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 preparation goes into this one day,

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 and it comes and goes like that.

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 The thing is, we know that.

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 We're actually quite aware of that.

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 We are not unaware of the hype

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 and how it fizzles out very quickly once it's all over.

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 So how do we in the Western world deal with this issue

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 when the hype is all over?

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 We make another event to look forward to.

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 Boxing Day sales.

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 A day where those of us who are a little let down

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 by our Christmas presents

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 can have a second chance at redeeming the excitement

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 we lost or didn't get on Christmas Day

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 with a good gift for ourselves.

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 But again, Boxing Day hype doesn't last very long.

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 It only lasts one day.

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 And so how do we try and keep the hype going

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 and the excitement coming?

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 Another event.

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 New Year's Eve.

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 A night out on the town where we celebrate

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 and try to forget,

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 either try to forget the year that happened

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 or we celebrate the year that happened

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 and we look forward to the year that is to come.

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 But again, New Year's Eve comes and goes

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 and the excitement dies down

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 as many people wake up the next day

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 maybe not remembering the excitement of the night

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 but certainly its consequences.

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 And so once the excitement passes away

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 and the new year rolls in,

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 how do we continue to make life exciting?

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 How do we continue the hype to keep going?

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 Another event.

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 Australia Day eventually comes along.

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 Do you see where I'm going here?

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 Our world is aware enough to realise

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 that hype doesn't last.

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 They know that the excitement generated

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 at Christmas time by presents and food and holidays

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 and family hangouts dies down eventually.

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 And so we deal with that by constantly having events

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 after events after events to look forward to,

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 to fill out our lives with stuff to do,

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 to keep us happy and distracted,

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 to keep the hype going,

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 to keep our lives exciting.

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 We keep looking forward to the next thing,

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 the next adventure,

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 the next purchase,

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 the next holiday.

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 But is that enough?

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 As we get older,

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 there is less and less we can do

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 until eventually one day

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 we pass from this world

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 and we can no longer do anything.

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 As a 25-year-old,

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 the world tells me

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 that the solution to this problem

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 is to not waste your life now,

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 to live life full,

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 full of venture and excitement,

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 to give it my best shot

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 and hopefully it will be fulfilling enough.

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 As I reflect back on my 20s and 30s,

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 I'll be able to say

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 in my late 70s and 80s,

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 I lived a good life

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 and I'm satisfied and content.

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 But therein lies the issue

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 and the irony.

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 It's not going to be fulfilling enough

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 because as the world is aware,

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 hype and excitement

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 about anything doesn't last.

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 I can live the most exciting,

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 fulfilling life in my 20s and 30s,

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 but the moment that it begins to slow down,

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 I'll be longing for more.

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 The past excitement won't be there

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 to comfort me

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 and keep me content and fulfilled.

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 No, what will happen

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 is that I will end up

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 in a vicious, depressing cycle

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 of trying to seek fulfillment in my 20s

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 and when I'm let down by that outcome,

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 I'll be left unfulfilled, unsatisfied.

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 Our world, particularly in the West,

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 is trapped in this unending cycle

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 of trying to seek fulfillment,

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 of pursuing the exciting life,

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 yet our expectation

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 is never satisfied.

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 Our anticipation

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 or what we hope for

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 is never fully realized.

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 It's not that we don't do enough

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 or don't have enough

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 or the opportunity to enjoy life.

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 It's just that the hype

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 and excitement of material things,

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 of experiences,

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 don't last.

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 We are always left

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 longing, longing for more.

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 So what's the answer then?

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 Do we resign ourselves

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 to nihilism?

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 Do we try and disconnect from the world

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 not to get too attached to anything,

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 otherwise we're disappointed in the end?

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 No.

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 Whilst the direction

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 our modern world

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 wants us to head in

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 is destructive,

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 a destructive cycle,

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 it does get one small thing right.

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 Christmas is exciting.

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 Very exciting.

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 However,

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 the excitement the world focuses on

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 is shallow and cheap

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 compared to the real reason

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 why Christmas is exciting.

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 Christmas is not exciting

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 because of food

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 and presents

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 and holidays

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 and family,

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 although they're great things.

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 Christmas is exciting

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 because the creator

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 of the universe,

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 the all-powerful God,

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 holy and magnificent,

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 gives us something

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 that is more valuable

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 than all else.

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 He gives us something

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 that will last,

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 something that is eternal.

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 Not something

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 that loses excitement,

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 not something that will rust

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 or fade away,

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 but something that will continue

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 to fill our hearts

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 with joy

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 and keep us excited

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 to love and follow him.

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 The world

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 was on the right track,

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 but this morning

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 as we continue

00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:00.020
 in Matthew's gospel

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 looking at the story

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 of Christmas,

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 we're going to see

00:09:02.800 --> 00:09:03.600
 why Christmas

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 is actually truly exciting.

00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:07.820
 As Sam spoke

00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:08.740
 about last week,

00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:09.620
 Matthew starts

00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:10.440
 with a genealogy

00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:11.740
 in order to testify

00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:13.880
 to who Jesus is,

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 that he is a real person

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 who comes from a line

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 of people

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 going back to Abraham.

00:09:20.160 --> 00:09:21.020
 There are many people

00:09:21.020 --> 00:09:21.740
 in the family tree

00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:22.980
 that you might not expect

00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:23.780
 to be in there

00:09:23.780 --> 00:09:25.720
 if you wanted to impress

00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:27.140
 or show your significance

00:09:27.140 --> 00:09:28.360
 in the world.

00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:30.520
 But Matthew does include

00:09:30.520 --> 00:09:31.020
 these people

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 because he wants to show

00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:34.000
 that our God

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 works differently

00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:36.340
 to the way

00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:37.220
 we might expect,

00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:38.640
 that God uses

00:09:38.640 --> 00:09:40.160
 broken people,

00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.500
 people with rough edges,

00:09:41.880 --> 00:09:42.760
 people with skeletons

00:09:42.760 --> 00:09:43.420
 in their closets

00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:44.379
 in order to achieve

00:09:44.379 --> 00:09:45.399
 his perfect

00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:46.819
 and glorious plan.

00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.699
 This big generational

00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:50.819
 picture view

00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:52.479
 that proves

00:09:52.479 --> 00:09:53.959
 Jesus' historicity

00:09:53.959 --> 00:09:56.419
 is there because

00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:57.879
 he did not appear

00:09:57.879 --> 00:09:58.579
 out of nowhere.

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 That's what Matthew

00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:01.339
 wants to intend to do

00:10:01.339 --> 00:10:02.319
 and now Matthew

00:10:02.319 --> 00:10:03.079
 will go on

00:10:03.079 --> 00:10:03.779
 looking,

00:10:03.959 --> 00:10:05.059
 going from that big picture

00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:06.719
 to a narrow scope.

00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:08.179
 Still trying to do

00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:08.959
 the same thing though.

00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.159
 He says in verse 18,

00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:12.039
 this is how the birth

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.659
 of Jesus,

00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:13.839
 the Messiah,

00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:14.579
 came about.

00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:16.459
 So whilst the scope

00:10:16.459 --> 00:10:17.480
 has been narrowed down

00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.259
 from this big generational view

00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.399
 to now looking at

00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.939
 the account of Jesus,

00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:23.259
 Matthew wants to show

00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:24.899
 that the Christmas story

00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:26.659
 is historical.

00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:27.799
 That everything

00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:28.860
 that we read here

00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:29.399
 is true.

00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:30.079
 It happened.

00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:32.120
 It happened for a reason

00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.600
 and every detail

00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:34.600
 is important.

00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:36.419
 Sam mentioned last week

00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:37.740
 a woman who commented

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:38.659
 on an online article

00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.559
 saying that the Christmas story

00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.059
 didn't really happen.

00:10:42.219 --> 00:10:43.500
 It's just a story

00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:45.439
 to show how much

00:10:45.439 --> 00:10:46.879
 God loves us.

00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:49.860
 But that does not do

00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.879
 justice to Matthew's

00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.539
 strong opening here.

00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:55.459
 This is how the birth

00:10:55.459 --> 00:10:56.360
 of Jesus,

00:10:56.459 --> 00:10:56.860
 the Messiah,

00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:57.480
 came about.

00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.199
 Came about.

00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:00.939
 Matthew intends

00:11:00.939 --> 00:11:01.620
 to talk about

00:11:01.620 --> 00:11:02.519
 the historicity,

00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:03.240
 the story,

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.620
 the historical account

00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:06.159
 of Jesus' birth.

00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.139
 He did not just

00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.100
 waste time

00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:08.720
 going through

00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.639
 every single

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.560
 or most names

00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:12.259
 in his generational line

00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:14.080
 to then talk about

00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:14.800
 an allegory

00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:16.600
 of God's love.

00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.420
 An abstract,

00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:18.420
 undefined,

00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:20.040
 substance-less

00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:20.920
 allegory

00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:21.779
 of God's love.

00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:22.240
 No, he

00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.980
 has that lineage there

00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:24.879
 because he wants

00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.800
 to show us

00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:26.899
 that the birth

00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:27.800
 of Jesus is real.

00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.019
 And when we look

00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:29.980
 at the historical account

00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:30.920
 of Jesus' birth,

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.279
 we see there

00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.460
 God's love,

00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:34.060
 truly.

00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.019
 So let's look

00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:36.740
 at the first bit

00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:37.059
 of it.

00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:39.279
 Verse 18.

00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:41.039
 This is how

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.939
 the birth of Jesus

00:11:41.939 --> 00:11:42.899
 Christ came about.

00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.759
 His mother Mary

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.360
 was pledged

00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:44.779
 to be married

00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.360
 to Joseph.

00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:46.799
 But before they

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.360
 came together,

00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:48.279
 she was found

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:48.960
 to be a child

00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:49.799
 through the Holy

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.899
 Spirit because

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:52.319
 Joseph, her husband,

00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.480
 was a righteous man

00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:54.480
 and did not want

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.279
 to expose her

00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.360
 to a public disgrace.

00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:57.699
 He had a mind

00:11:57.699 --> 00:11:58.360
 to divorce her

00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:58.919
 quietly.

00:11:59.299 --> 00:11:59.960
 But after that,

00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:00.600
 he had considered

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.019
 this,

00:12:01.420 --> 00:12:02.399
 an angel of the Lord

00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.220
 appeared to him

00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:03.940
 in a dream

00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:04.279
 and said,

00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:05.740
 Joseph, son of David,

00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.940
 do not be afraid

00:12:06.940 --> 00:12:07.960
 to take Mary home

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.000
 as your wife

00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.279
 because what is

00:12:10.279 --> 00:12:11.320
 conceived in her

00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:12.680
 is from the Holy Spirit.

00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:14.320
 She will give birth

00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.120
 to a son

00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.139
 and you are to give

00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:17.519
 him the name Jesus

00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.860
 because he will save

00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:19.800
 his people

00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:21.420
 from their sins.

00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.379
 This story

00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.920
 can't simply be

00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:26.019
 about God's love

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:26.920
 in a general,

00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:27.740
 abstract,

00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.460
 undefined sense.

00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:30.940
 No, this story

00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:32.500
 whilst is characterized

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.019
 by the love of God

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.300
 is one about redemption.

00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:37.340
 Is it about salvation?

00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.360
 The length required

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.000
 for God

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.259
 to save his people.

00:12:41.660 --> 00:12:41.940
 Indeed,

00:12:42.160 --> 00:12:43.600
 it's the historical nature

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.540
 of this account

00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:46.139
 that gives substance

00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.180
 and definition

00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:49.620
 to God's love for us.

00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:52.000
 The account

00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.460
 of Jesus' birth

00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:54.480
 teaches us

00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.720
 something about humanity.

00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:56.879
 Matthew records

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.700
 the angel saying

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:59.019
 Jesus was sent here

00:12:59.019 --> 00:12:59.960
 to save us

00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.079
 from our sins.

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.620
 We learn that we are

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.279
 a lost

00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:05.299
 and broken people.

00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:06.860
 We need to be saved

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.519
 from our sins

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.620
 but the only way

00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.539
 for our sin

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:10.659
 to be dealt with

00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:13.360
 was by sacrificial death.

00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:15.600
 Someone had to die

00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.299
 in our place

00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:17.759
 in order to stop

00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.960
 the eternally

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.860
 devastating effects

00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:21.779
 of sin.

00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:24.139
 the expectation

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:25.220
 would be that

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.959
 this baby

00:13:25.959 --> 00:13:26.980
 wouldn't just remain

00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:27.839
 as a baby.

00:13:27.959 --> 00:13:28.819
 He would grow up

00:13:28.819 --> 00:13:30.639
 to become a man

00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.899
 who would eventually

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.980
 take our place

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.740
 and face the punishment

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.959
 of sin

00:13:36.959 --> 00:13:38.559
 by dying for us.

00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.120
 So much more

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:41.159
 is going on here

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.039
 than a simple

00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:42.819
 allegory

00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:44.240
 of God's love.

00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:44.759
 In fact,

00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.500
 the allegory

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.279
 means nothing

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:46.819
 and has nothing

00:13:46.819 --> 00:13:47.399
 to stand on

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.579
 without its historical

00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:49.500
 accounts.

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:51.059
 God's love for us

00:13:51.059 --> 00:13:52.100
 is the reason

00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:52.860
 he must send

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.259
 his son to die

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:55.240
 in order that

00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:55.860
 our sins

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.039
 will be paid for.

00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.740
 He cannot love us

00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.279
 without dealing

00:13:59.279 --> 00:13:59.919
 with the issue

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:01.700
 of sin first.

00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:03.860
 But this death

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.799
 would be like no other.

00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:08.200
 In order for Jesus

00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.460
 to be a sufficient

00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.659
 sacrifice

00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:11.860
 for the whole world,

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.919
 he had to be

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.139
 more than just a man.

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.980
 He had to be

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.879
 God.

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.159
 The historical account

00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.779
 puts it like this,

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.919
 that he was born

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.399
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.360
 Otherwise saying

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:24.839
 that he,

00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:26.279
 unlike any other man

00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.539
 who was born,

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:28.299
 this man

00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:29.139
 was born

00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.439
 as a divine person.

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.600
 Jesus

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.480
 is the God-man.

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.939
 Fully God

00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.279
 and fully man.

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.199
 And it's this

00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:39.120
 mystery

00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.579
 and the glory

00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:41.899
 of the incarnation,

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.879
 God taking on flesh,

00:14:44.059 --> 00:14:45.620
 that really shows us

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.500
 how desperate

00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.419
 we are

00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:49.179
 and how much

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:51.340
 God loves us.

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.200
 That he would take

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.259
 on the likeness

00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.879
 of sinful flesh,

00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:57.960
 make himself nothing,

00:14:58.919 --> 00:14:59.840
 humble himself,

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.179
 and be obedient

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:01.899
 to death.

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.000
 What we begin

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.580
 to see

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.299
 by looking

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.580
 at the historical

00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:07.460
 account of Jesus

00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.659
 is more than just

00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.460
 an allegory

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.759
 of God's love.

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.399
 Indeed,

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.319
 turning

00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:14.379
 the historical

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:14.779
 account

00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:15.899
 into an allegory

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.200
 of God's love

00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:18.379
 only serves

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.059
 to weaken

00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:20.319
 and cheapen

00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:21.059
 the love of God,

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:21.819
 which is clearly

00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.700
 seen in the account

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.279
 itself.

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.360
 Let me clarify,

00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:25.720
 though,

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:27.399
 the Christmas story

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:28.319
 is a story

00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.379
 of God's love,

00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:31.340
 but it's not

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.460
 a story told

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.600
 to make sense

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.659
 of a love,

00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.639
 of God's love,

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.899
 that is otherwise

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:37.720
 abstract,

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:37.860
 abstract,

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.720
 or in general,

00:15:40.160 --> 00:15:41.259
 or can't be defined.

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:42.620
 No,

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.220
 God's love

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.180
 is not abstract.

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.259
 It is not undefined.

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.759
 It expresses

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.960
 itself

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.160
 in history

00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:51.940
 through the birth

00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.720
 of our Lord Jesus

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.740
 and in his death.

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.639
 God's love

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.600
 is not explained

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.220
 and defined

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.779
 by the use

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.399
 of allegories

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.500
 or made-up stories.

00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.000
 No,

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.660
 God's love

00:15:59.660 --> 00:16:00.740
 is what is driving

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.000
 the narrative here.

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.080
 The narrative

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.040
 of Jesus' birth

00:16:05.040 --> 00:16:05.920
 doesn't give us

00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:06.460
 an idea

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.220
 of God's love.

00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.540
 it itself occurs

00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:09.519
 because God

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.279
 loves us.

00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:13.960
 That's why

00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:14.660
 it has to be

00:16:14.660 --> 00:16:15.200
 historical.

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:17.879
 He sent

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.560
 his son

00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:19.379
 to be born

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:19.960
 of a virgin

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.720
 and to die

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.399
 on a cross

00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:21.860
 in order that

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.920
 we might have

00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.480
 life.

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.879
 This happened

00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.060
 in history

00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:27.160
 because God

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:27.940
 loves us

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.639
 and his love

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.379
 moves him

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.120
 to intervene

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.980
 and act

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:33.100
 in history.

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:35.139
 At Christmas time

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:36.700
 we are reminded

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.460
 of this

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:37.960
 saviour

00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.759
 who came

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.600
 and died

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.300
 and rose

00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:40.720
 again

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.020
 in order

00:16:41.020 --> 00:16:42.000
 we might live.

00:16:42.140 --> 00:16:43.140
 At Christmas time

00:16:43.140 --> 00:16:43.600
 we are reminded

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.160
 of the gift

00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:45.060
 of salvation

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.100
 that Jesus

00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:47.400
 has saved us

00:16:47.400 --> 00:16:48.500
 from our sins

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.400
 that this

00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:50.180
 happened

00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.540
 in history

00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.640
 because God

00:16:52.640 --> 00:16:53.240
 loved us

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.879
 so much.

00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:56.860
 the question

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.480
 is however

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.740
 what are we

00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.720
 saved for?

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:00.960
 What's the

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.779
 point of God

00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.439
 saving us

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.240
 from our sins?

00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.339
 What do we do

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:04.779
 now?

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.400
 Is it just

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.000
 to simply

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.980
 avoid judgment?

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.240
 Or is there

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.700
 something else

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.319
 going on here?

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.599
 There is

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.240
 something more

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:12.920
 going on here.

00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:13.980
 You see

00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.579
 salvation

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.380
 is not the

00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:15.940
 end goal

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.240
 of the Christmas

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.779
 story.

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.559
 And dare I say it

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.240
 salvation is not

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:20.900
 even the greatest

00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:21.539
 gift

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.819
 that we have

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.659
 at Christmas time.

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.299
 The greatest

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.339
 gift at Christmas

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:28.460
 comes through

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.480
 salvation.

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.379
 And that gift

00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.059
 is that we

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.779
 get God.

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.539
 We

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.539
 get

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.519
 God.

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:37.879
 Look at

00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:38.619
 verse 22.

00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:39.799
 All this

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.420
 took place

00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:40.920
 to fulfill

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.639
 what the Lord

00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:42.420
 had said

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:42.799
 through the

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.159
 prophet.

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.519
 The virgin

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.119
 will conceive

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:45.819
 and give birth

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.399
 to a son

00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:46.720
 and they will

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.139
 call him

00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:47.680
 Emmanuel

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.519
 which means

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.319
 God

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.639
 with us.

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.519
 the great

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.619
 and wonderful

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.440
 gift at

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.079
 Christmas time

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.319
 is that

00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.339
 the God

00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:56.940
 of heaven

00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:57.920
 the creator

00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.819
 of all things

00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.940
 comes down

00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:00.399
 from heaven

00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:00.859
 to earth

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.839
 with his

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.299
 mission

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.119
 and intention

00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:04.319
 to dwell

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.319
 and to be

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:05.740
 with his

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.200
 people.

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.839
 That God

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.279
 would be

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.019
 with us

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.779
 and that we

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.460
 would get

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.220
 to enjoy

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.460
 his presence

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:12.980
 and to be

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.420
 with him.

00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.420
 Is that not

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:14.960
 incredible?

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.519
 There is no

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.139
 other religion

00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.839
 in the entire

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.379
 world

00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.519
 in history

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.460
 where God

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.440
 comes down

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.779
 and spends

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.259
 time with

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.720
 his people

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.740
 except ours.

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.440
 The holy

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.940
 and most

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.539
 powerful

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.579
 and so

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:29.799
 and so

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.599
 other

00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:31.879
 to us

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.480
 would come

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.359
 and dwell

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:34.779
 amongst

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.440
 sinners.

00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:37.799
 The God

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.240
 whose love

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.599
 for us

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.339
 is unconditional.

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.400
 The God

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.980
 who pours out

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.639
 his love

00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.799
 and mercy

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.259
 on us

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.000
 each day.

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.500
 The God

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.400
 who sustains

00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.079
 us in this

00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:46.599
 life

00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:47.559
 and keeps

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.240
 us focused

00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:48.879
 on him.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:49.639
 He has

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.319
 come down

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:51.279
 in the

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.639
 form of

00:18:51.639 --> 00:18:51.980
 a baby.

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.519
 And that's

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:54.919
 what we get

00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:55.599
 for Christmas

00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.799
 himself.

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.459
 And this

00:18:58.459 --> 00:18:58.959
 has always

00:18:58.959 --> 00:18:59.379
 been the

00:18:59.379 --> 00:18:59.759
 plan

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.379
 that God

00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.059
 would dwell

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:01.379
 with his

00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:01.819
 people

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.480
 since the

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.039
 very beginning

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.579
 where Adam

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.000
 and Eve

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.079
 enjoyed God's

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.599
 presence

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.240
 in the

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.619
 garden

00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:07.579
 where he

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.039
 walked

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.899
 with them.

00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:10.299
 As such

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.959
 that presence

00:19:10.959 --> 00:19:11.599
 was soon

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.179
 corrupted

00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:13.039
 by sin

00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.819
 and sin

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.559
 created a

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:14.819
 gulf

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.319
 between

00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.019
 us

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.720
 and God.

00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:17.920
 But then

00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.319
 the whole

00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:18.680
 Bible

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.379
 after that

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:19.779
 is a

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:20.240
 story

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.599
 that

00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.599
 anticipates

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.379
 this

00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.059
 Christmas

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.559
 story

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:23.980
 here

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.299
 in

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.619
 Matthew

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.000
 1.

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.680
 To the

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:26.960
 day

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.619
 Emmanuel

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.240
 would come

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.680
 into the

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.019
 world

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.700
 to save

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.019
 us from

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.599
 our sins

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.279
 in order

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.659
 that we

00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:33.259
 might get

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.019
 to enjoy

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.659
 the presence

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.319
 of God.

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:35.899
 That we

00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:36.759
 would get

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.659
 God

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:39.420
 the most

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.119
 valuable

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.599
 and precious

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.159
 gift

00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:42.879
 that we

00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.439
 can have.

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.559
 He will

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.219
 never fade

00:19:45.219 --> 00:19:45.519
 away.

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.519
 He will

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.199
 never leave

00:19:47.199 --> 00:19:47.559
 us.

00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.079
 He will

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.679
 never fail

00:19:48.679 --> 00:19:49.099
 us.

00:19:49.479 --> 00:19:49.859
 He is

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.379
 God

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:50.799
 and we

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.299
 get him.

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.059
 This

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.559
 means that

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:54.979
 we get

00:19:54.979 --> 00:19:55.459
 to enjoy

00:19:55.459 --> 00:19:56.399
 the confidence

00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:58.339
 that throughout

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:58.939
 our life

00:19:58.939 --> 00:19:59.679
 God is

00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.599
 always with

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:00.979
 us.

00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:01.599
 In the

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.259
 good times

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:02.779
 and in

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.199
 the bad

00:20:03.199 --> 00:20:03.759
 he is

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.399
 always

00:20:04.399 --> 00:20:05.059
 with us

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.579
 sustaining

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.059
 us in

00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.619
 his love

00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.419
 and mercy

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:07.919
 and showing

00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:08.299
 us the

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:08.639
 way

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.699
 forward

00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.299
 by his

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:10.700
 word.

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.319
 He dwells

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.580
 with us

00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.240
 right now

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.759
 by his

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.220
 spirit

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.200
 who has

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:17.080
 been sealed

00:20:17.080 --> 00:20:18.080
 within us

00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:19.940
 who believe

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.240
 and so

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.039
 therefore we

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.940
 know he

00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.360
 can never

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.240
 forsake us.

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:24.819
 Again,

00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:25.779
 this is a

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.500
 historical

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.440
 reality as

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.759
 Matthew quotes

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.539
 from Isaiah

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.160
 the prophet.

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.140
 What was

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.920
 foretold

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.759
 has now

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.720
 come to

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.319
 pass.

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.100
 God

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:38.120
 has entered

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.019
 into history

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.099
 coming

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.720
 down from

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.200
 his royal

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.639
 throne

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.039
 to the

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.480
 dirt

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.720
 to the

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.240
 lowly

00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:45.700
 to us

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.000
 who are

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.599
 unworthy

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.119
 of him

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.940
 and that

00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.379
 he took

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.759
 himself

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.220
 lower

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.299
 by dying

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.559
 on a

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:51.759
 cross

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.339
 for us.

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.000
 God

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.059
 with us

00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.299
 Emmanuel

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.559
 is the

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.019
 end goal

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.279
 of our

00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.599
 Christian

00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.079
 life

00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.519
 that we

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.359
 would glorify

00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:02.879
 him

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.319
 and enjoy

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.660
 him

00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.180
 forever.

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:05.900
 To

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.220
 summarize,

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.440
 God is

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.140
 the gospel.

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.440
 Jesus'

00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.220
 death and

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.700
 resurrection

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.759
 is the

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.240
 means of

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.539
 which we

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.120
 can connect

00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:14.140
 to God

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.180
 and be

00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.779
 in relationship

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.940
 with him.

00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:18.960
 Certainly

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.299
 we are

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.039
 amazed and

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.600
 we praise

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.180
 God for

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.900
 his works

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.440
 and acts

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:22.720
 in this

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.160
 world which

00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:23.940
 include his

00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.840
 death and

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.460
 his resurrection.

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.340
 But we

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.019
 don't worship

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.539
 the death and

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:28.820
 resurrection

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.279
 itself.

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.920
 We worship

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.640
 God

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.620
 and who

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.240
 he is

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.120
 and he

00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.500
 has given

00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:34.840
 himself

00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:35.500
 to us.

00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:40.100
 Matthew

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.800
 started his

00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.259
 book with

00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:41.720
 this great

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.080
 gift,

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.220
 telling us

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.920
 about Emmanuel,

00:21:44.540 --> 00:21:44.840
 that he

00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:45.360
 has come

00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.280
 and he

00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:46.580
 is with

00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:46.960
 us.

00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:48.000
 And he

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.820
 also ends

00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.420
 his book

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.980
 reminding us

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.180
 of the

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.640
 reality of

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.240
 this first

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.200
 Christmas

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.520
 that began

00:21:55.520 --> 00:21:56.240
 to institute

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.240
 this presence

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.460
 when Jesus

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:58.920
 said to his

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.320
 disciples,

00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.420
 Matthew 28,

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.000
 surely I

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.580
 am with

00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:03.680
 you always

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.759
 to the

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.180
 very end

00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:05.380
 of the

00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:05.840
 age.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.600
 God's

00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:08.520
 presence

00:22:08.520 --> 00:22:08.920
 with his

00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.740
 people is

00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:10.440
 here to

00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:10.780
 stay.

00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:12.540
 And this

00:22:12.540 --> 00:22:13.160
 began the

00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:13.860
 first Christmas

00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:15.440
 and in this

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.860
 Christmas that

00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:17.280
 is what we

00:22:17.280 --> 00:22:17.860
 continue to

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:18.400
 celebrate,

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:20.140
 to remember,

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.440
 to be

00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.180
 thankful for,

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.480
 that God

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:23.759
 did not

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.240
 choose to

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.840
 leave us

00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.220
 on our

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.640
 own,

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.600
 but he

00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:27.140
 came to

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.560
 be with

00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:28.700
 us first

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.120
 as a

00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:29.500
 man.

00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.039
 then by

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.319
 his

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:31.759
 spirit,

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.220
 and then

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.819
 once again,

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.920
 face to

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.319
 face.

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.380
 The question

00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:38.859
 I want to

00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.420
 leave you

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:39.839
 all with

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.519
 is how

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:40.839
 do you

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.039
 see

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.480
 Christmas?

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.700
 What is

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.000
 it to

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.259
 you?

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.359
 Is it

00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:45.619
 about

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.059
 presents,

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.539
 hanging out

00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.039
 with family,

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.519
 holidays?

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.319
 If that's

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:49.740
 the case,

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:49.980
 is that

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.859
 really enough?

00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:53.240
 is it

00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.879
 possible

00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.699
 that you've

00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:56.419
 been brought

00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:57.000
 into this

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.439
 cycle of

00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.019
 excitement

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.919
 where you

00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:00.199
 have to

00:23:00.199 --> 00:23:00.759
 constantly

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.679
 be going

00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.000
 to the

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.619
 next thing,

00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:02.859
 to the

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.479
 next event,

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:03.839
 to be

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.579
 finding joy

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.519
 and exciting

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.099
 things,

00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:06.819
 trying to

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.519
 sustain your

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.819
 joy and

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.319
 excitement by

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.919
 looking forward

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.359
 to each

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:09.719
 event?

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.679
 Such will

00:23:11.679 --> 00:23:12.379
 only leave

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:14.459
 you disappointed,

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.699
 unsatisfied,

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.340
 in the

00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:17.700
 end.

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:18.759
 And such

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.360
 a view

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:19.620
 of

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.120
 Christmas

00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:20.860
 is

00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.600
 profoundly

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.180
 shallow

00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:23.500
 compared to

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:23.840
 what it

00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:24.400
 really is

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:24.940
 all about.

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:26.620
 Indeed,

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.039
 what we

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.779
 celebrate

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.500
 at

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:28.860
 Christmas

00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.140
 time,

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.500
 what we

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:29.960
 celebrate

00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.160
 at

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.460
 Christmas

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:30.819
 time

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.559
 is the

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.160
 end

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.960
 of this

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.559
 depressing

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.200
 cycle

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.740
 the world

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.220
 would have

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.920
 us existing.

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.779
 At

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.120
 Christmas

00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:39.400
 time,

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.980
 we don't

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.660
 constantly

00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.319
 look forward

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:41.559
 to the

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.080
 next thing

00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:42.420
 to give

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.180
 us any

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.500
 kind of

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.880
 hope.

00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.240
 We look

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.660
 back.

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.180
 to the

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.600
 hope that

00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:48.059
 came into

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.480
 the world,

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.019
 Emmanuel,

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.640
 in the

00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.039
 Son of

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.340
 Jesus.

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.340
 And as

00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:51.600
 we look

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.220
 back then,

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.580
 we look

00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.120
 forward to

00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:53.819
 the future

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.840
 when we'll

00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.440
 get to dwell

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.900
 with God

00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.759
 in perfect

00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.200
 harmony

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.240
 forever

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.299
 and ever.

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.440
 At

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.740
 Christmas

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.059
 time,

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.319
 we are

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.880
 reminded of

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.240
 Emmanuel.

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:05.940
 And that

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.660
 great joy

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:07.200
 it is to

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.759
 know that

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.360
 we have a

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:08.860
 Saviour who

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.319
 has dealt

00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:10.080
 with our

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:11.580
 sin so that

00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:12.240
 we can enjoy

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.080
 God with us

00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.580
 right now.

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.000
 At

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.240
 Christmas

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.460
 time,

00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:15.640
 we are

00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.100
 reminded that

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.559
 the greatest

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.379
 gift we've

00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.179
 ever received

00:24:18.179 --> 00:24:18.799
 is God

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.240
 himself.

00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.159
 And so in

00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:21.859
 a world full

00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.619
 of chaos

00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:23.759
 and disruption,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.480
 we get to

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.579
 enjoy peace

00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:27.139
 with him

00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:27.940
 in the midst

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.379
 of that

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:28.879
 chaos.

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.059
 In a world

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:30.839
 full of pain

00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.460
 and suffering,

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:31.799
 we get to

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.299
 enjoy the

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.319
 comfort and

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:34.659
 security that

00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:35.240
 God is

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.919
 sovereign and

00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.579
 he is not

00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.480
 far away,

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:37.799
 he hasn't

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.440
 abandoned us,

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:38.879
 but he is

00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.740
 with us

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:41.179
 in the midst

00:24:41.179 --> 00:24:41.579
 of that.

00:24:42.419 --> 00:24:43.079
 In a world

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.460
 full of

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.559
 hopelessness and

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.039
 fear,

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.839
 we get to

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:47.299
 enjoy hope,

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:50.599
 excitement and

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.559
 anticipation about

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.579
 our future that

00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.819
 cannot be affected

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.859
 or changed by

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.680
 anything in this

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:55.920
 world.

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.940
 Our hope is

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.279
 based upon the

00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.099
 fact that Emmanuel

00:24:59.099 --> 00:25:00.019
 is with us.

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.339
 In a world that

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.059
 is constantly

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.019
 running in this

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.960
 cycle of hype and

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.599
 pursuit of

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.500
 excitement and

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:07.980
 happiness,

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.599
 we get to enjoy

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.379
 great contentment,

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.680
 excitement,

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.600
 excitement and

00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:14.000
 a joy that

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.539
 will never run

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:16.460
 dry because

00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.539
 God is with

00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:17.900
 us.

00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.200
 We get to

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.980
 enjoy all these

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.299
 things because

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.840
 of Emmanuel,

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.759
 God with us.

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.960
 That is the

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.700
 greatest gift of

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:29.240
 Christmas and

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.460
 that is what

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.080
 Christmas is all

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.360
 about.

00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:32.799
 Amen.