WEBVTT

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 If you have your Bible with you, you can open it up to Isaiah chapter 9.

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 And with Christmas only 12 days away,

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 I had wanted to spend this time this morning reflecting on something that would prepare us to celebrate as Christmas draws near.

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 But again and again, there was a second thing that kept coming up for me this week,

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 even in the past couple weeks, and that's this whole issue of government.

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 This week alone I had four people, actually not from this church but outside of it,

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 who wanted to talk to me or get in touch with me in some form about when we as Christians should disobey the government.

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 Maybe some of you were invited to go to the protest that was held yesterday in Regina.

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 This past week we saw the Alberta government increase restrictions upon their citizens

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 and make it illegal for anyone who doesn't live alone to gather with another household this Christmas.

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 And so as much as I've been wanting to focus on Christmas this past week,

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 what it is that we're about to celebrate,

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 my attention keeps getting pulled back to government and to COVID.

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 And I will say I'm saddened by how many in the church,

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 many Christians are handling themselves in the midst of this situation.

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 Some are arguing, some are fighting,

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 others are rallying supporters to protest and calling those who won't join them spineless and cowardly.

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 Some are saying that we have a Christian duty to defy the government and engage in civil disobedience

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 and that those of us who aren't are being unfaithful to God.

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 This past week I was scrolling through Facebook on Scott Moe's own post

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 and finding people that were saying,

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 shame on you, Scott Moe,

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 and then clicking on their profile and they're a Christian.

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 The pride, the arrogance, the selfishness, the foolishness,

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 the impatience of Christian people is leaking onto the stage of our nation for all to see.

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 And we've already seen a few churches capture the attention and scorn of many

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 for deliberately defying public health orders.

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 And I can tell you as a pastor watching this,

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 this is very sad.

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 A lot of people are pointing their fingers and their words at the government.

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 Amazingly, almost everyone seems to think that they know better

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 just how to govern a million people here in Saskatchewan

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 than the current people that we have in government.

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 I've been thinking about that old Christmas classic,

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 It's a Wonderful Life.

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 Some of you will have seen that.

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 George Bailey, in a moment of frustration,

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 expresses his wish that he had never been born.

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 Things are going so bad for him.

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 And an angel comes and gives him the chance

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 to see what his life would be like

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 if he had never been born,

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 what the people in his community would be like.

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 I wish we could give that opportunity

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 to everyone who thinks that they know better than the government.

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 The opportunity for all these people

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 to see what it would be like

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 to have been the Premier of Saskatchewan

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 or the Chief Medical Officer for the past year.

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 It doesn't matter that none of us know a thing

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 about provincial leadership and administration

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 or about immunology or about virology.

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 Somehow, many of us think that we are an expert

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 because we've been sitting at home

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 reading things on our devices,

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 our computer, on the internet, on email,

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 finding out what's really going on

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 and how we should really be handling this.

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 And more than anything today,

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 I think what the Church of Jesus Christ needs to do

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 is to simply turn off our phones,

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 to shut down the Facebook, the email, the YouTube,

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 and open our Bibles up

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 and read them

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 and get on our knees and pray.

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 If Christians all across Canada

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 would simply do that for the next month,

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 I think we'd be amazed at how clearly

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 God would speak to us

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 about how we ought to live in these days.

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 I think we'd be amazed at how much joy

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 we'd find in the midst of what's going on,

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 how much strength.

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 I think we'd be amazed at how much encouragement

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 and wisdom God has already given us

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 for such a time as this.

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 I got thinking, you know,

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 do you want to have peace in the midst of all this?

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 Do you want to get that grumblebee out of your bonnet?

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 Do you want to see your anger and frustration

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 melt away into peace and joy?

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 My advice is turn off the internet,

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 open your Bible,

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 and feast.

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 Too many of us are simply letting the news,

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 our Facebook friends,

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 preachers we don't even know,

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 YouTube,

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 guys sitting in their basements recording videos,

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 we're letting them tell us what and how to think,

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 and God himself

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 is being drowned out

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 by all these voices

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 and is not getting through to us.

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 Everybody wants to blame the government

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 and criticize the government.

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 It's the government's fault.

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 This policy is unfair.

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 This is unjust.

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 How come they have applied these rules

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 to this sector

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 and not to this one?

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 This policy takes away my freedoms.

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 Let me be clear,

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 I'm not here to defend the government this morning.

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 But we will open the scriptures

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 and look at what they have to say

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 about government

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 and civil disobedience

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 after we have celebrated Christmas.

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 I think that's really important for us.

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 This morning,

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 I want to point our hearts

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 to a passage

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 that gives us a reason

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 to celebrate

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 at Christmas

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 even as we think of

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 government.

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 long ago,

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 God spoke through the prophet Isaiah

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 and he said this.

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 This is Isaiah 8.22.

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 Then they will look toward the earth

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 and see only distress

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 and darkness

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 and fearful gloom.

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 Nevertheless,

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 verse 1 of 9,

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 Nevertheless,

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 there will be

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 no more gloom

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 for those who are in distress.

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 The people walking in darkness

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 have seen

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 a great light.

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 On those living in the land

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 of deep darkness,

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 a light

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 has dawned.

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 Down to verse 6.

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 For to us,

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 a child is born.

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 To us,

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 a son

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 is given.

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 And the government

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 will be on his shoulders.

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 And he will be called

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 Wonderful Counselor,

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 Mighty God,

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 Everlasting Father,

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 Prince of Peace.

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 Of the greatness

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 of his government

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 and peace,

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 there will be no end.

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 He will reign

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 on David's throne

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 and over his kingdom,

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 establishing

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 and upholding it

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 with justice

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 and righteousness

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 from that time on

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 and forever.

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 the zeal

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 of the Lord Almighty

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 will accomplish this.

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 Many of us

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 are used to hearing

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 these words at Christmas,

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 but I wonder

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 if this Christmas

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 these words

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 don't mean a little bit more.

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 Isaiah spoke first

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 about the darkness

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 of his day.

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 He lived in dark times

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 and the people of Israel

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 were about to go through

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 even darker times

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 in the near future.

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 He spoke of how

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 this darkness

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 would persist

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 until a future day

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 when a great light

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 would come

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 over the horizon.

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 These words remind me

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 that even though

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 we live in dark times today,

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 they're not as dark

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 as times in the past.

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 Why?

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 Because the great light

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 has dawned.

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 Jesus,

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 this child

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 that was promised

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 long ago,

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 this son

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 who was to be given

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 has come

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 and has been given.

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 2,000 years ago

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 in Bethlehem,

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 he was born.

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 And this is what

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 we celebrate at Christmas.

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 But what's so wonderful

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 about this prophecy

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 is that it's about

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 so much more

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 than just a birth.

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 you might wonder,

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 how can we celebrate

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 Christmas this year

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 without a large gathering

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 with family?

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 How can we do it

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 without a whole bunch

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 of people together

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 exchanging gifts,

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 without big turkey dinners,

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 amidst all these restrictions?

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 How can we have joy

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 in the midst of all this?

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 we can celebrate

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 and have joy

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 because Christmas

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 is not just about a birth.

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 It's about the birth

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 of a king

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 who will someday

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 put Scott Moe

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 and Justin Trudeau

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 and Joe Biden

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 or their successors

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 out of a job.

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 Do you hear that

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 in these words?

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 For to us

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 a child is born,

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 to us a son is given,

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 and the government

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 will be

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 on his shoulders.

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 I love this sentence

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 which God spoke

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 long ago

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 through Isaiah.

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 It starts with a birth

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 and it ends

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 with a statement

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 about government.

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 It makes no mention

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 of the several thousand

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 years in between

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 because they do not

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 alter the reality

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 of who this child is

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 and what he will

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 someday do.

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 The government

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 will be

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 on his shoulders.

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 Are you dissatisfied

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.620
 with your current government?

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 I've got news for you

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 this Christmas.

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 You're going to get

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 a new one.

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 This child

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 who was born

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 in Bethlehem

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 2,000 years ago,

00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:33.659
 the man who

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 sojourned

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 through the land

00:11:35.339 --> 00:11:35.939
 of Israel,

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 was crucified

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:38.240
 by a coalition

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.000
 of governments.

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 That same man

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 rose up from death

00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.480
 and ascended

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.199
 to the throne

00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:43.740
 of heaven

00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:45.539
 and in God's

00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:47.319
 wise planning

00:11:47.319 --> 00:11:48.360
 and perfect timing,

00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.519
 that same man

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 will return

00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.819
 with great power

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 and glory

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 and take up

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 the responsibility

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 of governing

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 the great kingdom

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 of God

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 here on this earth.

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 You're getting

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 a new government.

00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:09.720
 Jesus will

00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:10.680
 someday return

00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:11.780
 and he will

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 come to shoulder

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 all of the

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:15.240
 responsibility

00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:16.860
 of oversight,

00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:19.080
 decision making,

00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.420
 policy creation,

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.140
 law enforcement

00:12:23.140 --> 00:12:24.000
 and leadership

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 for all of

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 God's people.

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 The governments

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 of that day

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 when he returns

00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:31.799
 will be

00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:32.779
 displaced

00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:34.379
 and superseded

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.679
 by the king

00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:36.419
 of kings.

00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.279
 What will this

00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.240
 government be like?

00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:47.379
 Isaiah tells us,

00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.379
 of the greatness

00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:49.320
 of his government

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.520
 and peace.

00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:51.500
 There will be

00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:52.700
 no end.

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.460
 Greatness.

00:12:55.640 --> 00:12:56.340
 Let's think about

00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:57.100
 that for a minute.

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.360
 All of the

00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.240
 great governments

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.080
 of the past

00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:02.820
 have at least

00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:03.800
 one thing in common.

00:13:03.900 --> 00:13:04.560
 No matter how

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.700
 great they became,

00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:07.400
 their greatness

00:13:07.400 --> 00:13:08.320
 came to an end.

00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:09.740
 Think of the

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.700
 Egyptian empire.

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.280
 The pyramids

00:13:12.280 --> 00:13:15.380
 came to an end.

00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.440
 Think of

00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.700
 Alexander the Great

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.560
 and what he

00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:19.060
 managed to

00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:19.519
 accomplish

00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.059
 in his brief

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.939
 window in history.

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:24.919
 It came to

00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:25.339
 an end.

00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:26.939
 Think of the

00:13:26.939 --> 00:13:27.839
 greatness of

00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:28.739
 the Roman empire

00:13:28.739 --> 00:13:29.779
 at its heights.

00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:32.619
 Military strength

00:13:32.619 --> 00:13:33.659
 unrivaled.

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.399
 It came to

00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:35.799
 an end.

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.639
 We might even

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.159
 think of

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.979
 present day

00:13:38.979 --> 00:13:39.479
 governments

00:13:39.479 --> 00:13:40.359
 who can rival

00:13:40.359 --> 00:13:40.919
 the greatest

00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:41.659
 nations of

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.059
 our world

00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:42.479
 today.

00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:45.259
 Yet for all

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:45.799
 their greatness

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.299
 there will

00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:46.899
 come a day

00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.159
 when their

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:48.559
 greatness

00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.559
 will fade

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:50.299
 and will

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:50.939
 recede

00:13:50.939 --> 00:13:52.899
 before this

00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:54.099
 one great

00:13:54.099 --> 00:13:54.919
 government.

00:13:55.719 --> 00:13:56.799
 The kingdom

00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.799
 of Christ.

00:13:58.439 --> 00:13:59.419
 The kingdom

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.019
 of God.

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:01.919
 His kingdom

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.779
 when he returns

00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.099
 will be great.

00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:06.079
 His government,

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.659
 his governing

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:09.399
 will be great.

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:10.939
 And it will go

00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:11.659
 from great

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:12.919
 to the greatest

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.919
 of all time.

00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:16.179
 and from there

00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:17.219
 it will continue

00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:18.139
 to become

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.059
 greater

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:20.179
 and increase

00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:21.000
 in greatness

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.199
 forever.

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.939
 Of the greatness

00:14:25.939 --> 00:14:26.919
 of his government

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.139
 there will be

00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:29.899
 no end.

00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.699
 It will never

00:14:33.699 --> 00:14:34.579
 be taken over.

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.259
 It will never

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:35.679
 fall.

00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.179
 It will never

00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:36.919
 be superseded

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.919
 by another kingdom,

00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:38.779
 people,

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:39.679
 nation,

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.480
 leader.

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.060
 not ever.

00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:45.700
 Not only

00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:46.100
 greatness

00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.480
 but peace.

00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.379
 Of peace

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.399
 that comes

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:51.759
 about

00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.960
 from his

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.360
 government.

00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:54.120
 There will be

00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.320
 no end.

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.500
 If you ever

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.200
 take the time

00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.279
 as my wife

00:14:59.279 --> 00:14:59.659
 has

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:01.019
 to read

00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:01.759
 through a brief

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.539
 summary of the

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.259
 world's history

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:05.159
 one thing

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.779
 will stand out

00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.080
 to you

00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.539
 for sure.

00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:07.639
 There has been

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:07.960
 a lot

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:08.500
 of wars

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.819
 again

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.460
 and again

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:10.960
 and again.

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:11.899
 There are

00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:12.580
 these seasons

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:12.939
 in which

00:15:12.939 --> 00:15:13.559
 people live

00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:14.220
 in peace

00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.860
 and wars

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.860
 and hostility

00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.559
 has ceased

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:19.240
 and then it

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.980
 happens again.

00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.639
 War comes.

00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.419
 Hostilities

00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.139
 happen.

00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.259
 But when

00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.740
 the child

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.340
 that was born

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:28.899
 in the manger

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.600
 in Bethlehem

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.199
 returns

00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:31.620
 there will be

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.100
 peace

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:33.860
 forever.

00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:35.679
 Not just

00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.279
 the cessation

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:36.879
 of wars

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.279
 but the

00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:37.799
 cessation

00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.360
 of all

00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.159
 conflicts

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:40.220
 fights

00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.459
 arguments

00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.439
 disputes

00:15:42.439 --> 00:15:43.480
 no more

00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:43.860
 COVID

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.600
 squabbles

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.879
 no more

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.179
 feeling

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:47.899
 unsettled

00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.539
 about people

00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.039
 in the world

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.579
 somewhere

00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:52.179
 whose freedoms

00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:52.579
 are being

00:15:52.579 --> 00:15:53.199
 stripped away

00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:53.639
 for this

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.339
 reason or that

00:15:54.339 --> 00:15:54.839
 no more

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.220
 enemies

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:55.860
 or threats

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.299
 of any

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:56.819
 kind

00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:58.939
 of the

00:15:58.939 --> 00:15:59.279
 peace

00:15:59.279 --> 00:15:59.939
 that comes

00:15:59.939 --> 00:16:00.480
 with his

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:00.980
 governance

00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.740
 there will

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.399
 be no

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.360
 end.

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:07.100
 what else?

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.480
 Isaiah

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.039
 says he

00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.600
 will reign

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.519
 on David's

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:11.879
 throne

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.779
 and over

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.480
 his kingdom

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:15.019
 establishing

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.180
 and upholding

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.600
 it with

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.740
 justice

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:20.300
 justice

00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:22.659
 that's

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.080
 something that

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.440
 we long

00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:23.940
 for in our

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.500
 world today

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.000
 isn't it?

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.279
 No more

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.779
 corruption

00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.460
 no more

00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:28.960
 lies

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.360
 no more

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:30.660
 using

00:16:30.660 --> 00:16:31.139
 positions

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.680
 of power

00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.300
 to achieve

00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:32.800
 personal

00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:33.460
 benefits

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.780
 or to

00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:34.980
 do

00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:35.340
 favors

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.580
 for

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.080
 friends

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.040
 no more

00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:37.300
 of the

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:37.600
 guilty

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.280
 getting off

00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:38.740
 easy

00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:39.420
 or free

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:41.300
 and never

00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:41.700
 again

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.440
 the innocent

00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:43.120
 being

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.980
 wrongly

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.639
 convicted

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.420
 justice

00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:48.000
 from the

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.660
 time that

00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:49.680
 he comes

00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:50.680
 and establishes

00:16:50.680 --> 00:16:51.300
 that kingdom

00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.360
 from that

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.000
 time on

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.120
 and forever

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:57.900
 righteousness

00:16:57.899 --> 00:17:00.480
 there's been a

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.019
 lot of talk

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.899
 in our day

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.759
 about governments

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.180
 trying

00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:05.460
 or failing

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.279
 to do the

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:06.920
 right thing

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.720
 but when

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.160
 Christ

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:09.639
 the one

00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:09.960
 who was

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.200
 born

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.079
 2000 years

00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.319
 ago

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.940
 returns

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.779
 he will

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.220
 not only

00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.519
 know

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:13.839
 what's

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.039
 right

00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:14.460
 he will

00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.000
 establish

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.180
 what is

00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.480
 right

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:16.839
 and he

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.039
 will

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.599
 uphold

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.680
 what is

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:18.960
 right

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:19.639
 from that

00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:20.460
 time on

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:20.980
 it says

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.759
 and forever

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:25.619
 and so

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.200
 we have

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.819
 reasons

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.200
 big reasons

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.039
 to celebrate

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.779
 this Christmas

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.500
 to celebrate

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.000
 with all

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.299
 of our

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:31.720
 hearts

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.879
 because no

00:17:32.879 --> 00:17:33.319
 matter what

00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:33.819
 restrictions

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.439
 are on us

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:34.759
 from the

00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.099
 government

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.000
 this will

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.559
 pass

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.559
 and a day

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.099
 is coming

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:39.659
 when we

00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:39.980
 will have

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.339
 a new

00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:40.899
 government

00:17:40.899 --> 00:17:43.059
 a perfect

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.799
 government

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.240
 and we

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:45.720
 will have

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.119
 that

00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:47.240
 forever

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:50.659
 the zeal

00:17:50.659 --> 00:17:51.740
 of the

00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.099
 Lord

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:52.939
 Almighty

00:17:52.939 --> 00:17:54.099
 will accomplish

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:54.419
 this

00:17:54.419 --> 00:17:55.359
 we might

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:55.819
 read this

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.179
 and think

00:17:56.179 --> 00:17:56.519
 well that

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:56.740
 just

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.039
 sounds

00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.720
 impossible

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.779
 how could

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.139
 we ever

00:17:59.139 --> 00:17:59.720
 have an

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.159
 existence

00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:01.639
 like that

00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:04.000
 maybe that's

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.379
 the reason

00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:04.799
 why God

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.259
 chose to

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:05.720
 paint us

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.359
 this picture

00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:06.799
 here with

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.939
 broad brush

00:18:07.939 --> 00:18:08.379
 strokes

00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:09.220
 about the

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:09.939
 kind of

00:18:09.939 --> 00:18:11.379
 government

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.240
 and kingdom

00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.779
 it will be

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.279
 rather than

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:13.720
 getting into

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.159
 all the

00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.720
 details

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.079
 maybe it'll

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.519
 look so

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.119
 new and

00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.539
 unfamiliar

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.259
 to us

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:18.980
 that it

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.319
 would just

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:19.759
 blow our

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.259
 minds to

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:20.839
 even try

00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.460
 to describe

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:21.819
 it

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.480
 we wouldn't

00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:23.879
 even be able

00:18:23.879 --> 00:18:24.439
 to comprehend

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.279
 it perhaps

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.480
 but lest we

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.000
 think for a

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.420
 moment that

00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:28.759
 this is

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.279
 impossible

00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.000
 this final

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.500
 statement

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.960
 reminds us

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.160
 that it

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.860
 is possible

00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:35.279
 it's possible

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:35.820
 because of

00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:36.200
 the one

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.000
 who will

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.340
 bring it

00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:37.680
 about

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.740
 the zeal

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.200
 of the

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.519
 Lord

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.259
 Almighty

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:43.000
 will accomplish

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.480
 this

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.400
 he is

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.420
 the Lord

00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.519
 Yahweh

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.640
 the creator

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.000
 the one

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.660
 who spoke

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.440
 our universe

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.720
 into existence

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.160
 he is

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:52.700
 almighty

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.839
 there's

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.319
 nothing

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:54.819
 that's

00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.240
 impossible

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.920
 for him

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.720
 that he

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.460
 cannot do

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.680
 and by

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.120
 his

00:18:59.120 --> 00:18:59.880
 zeal

00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:00.440
 by his

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:00.980
 desire

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.480
 he will

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.039
 bring about

00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:02.460
 this

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.180
 good

00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.660
 kingdom

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.900
 with his

00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:05.620
 chosen

00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.079
 king

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:09.900
 and it

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.339
 will last

00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:10.740
 forever

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:14.500
 and so

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.100
 we celebrate

00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:15.740
 not just a

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.140
 birth at

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:16.480
 Christmas

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.460
 but a

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.079
 birth that

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.519
 changes

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.339
 everything

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:21.359
 a light

00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:21.740
 that when

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.319
 it finally

00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.980
 comes to

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.439
 reach the

00:19:23.439 --> 00:19:24.059
 full light

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:24.439
 of day

00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:25.299
 will totally

00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.220
 dispel all

00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:26.519
 of the

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:26.919
 darkness

00:19:26.919 --> 00:19:28.099
 in our

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:28.500
 world

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.179
 we celebrate

00:19:30.179 --> 00:19:30.639
 the birth

00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:30.980
 of our

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.459
 king

00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:33.379
 the Lord

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:33.819
 Jesus

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.339
 when he

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.799
 comes

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.819
 he will

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.740
 solve all

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.619
 the problems

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.000
 of our

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.399
 world

00:19:40.399 --> 00:19:42.279
 the problems

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.720
 that earthly

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.199
 governments

00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:43.799
 have made

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.099
 and the

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:45.480
 problems

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:45.919
 that earthly

00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:46.399
 governments

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:46.699
 have

00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:47.919
 try as

00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:48.279
 they may

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.759
 just been

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.379
 unable to

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.799
 fix

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:52.420
 and so

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:52.740
 I want to

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.299
 encourage us

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:53.740
 to put our

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.140
 hope in

00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:55.220
 that this

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.599
 Christmas

00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.279
 and to

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.519
 truly rejoice

00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.740
 one day

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.500
 this king

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:02.940
 who came

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.519
 long ago

00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.339
 and was

00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:04.779
 born in

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.359
 Bethlehem

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.059
 will come

00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.460
 again

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:08.839
 in his

00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.259
 words

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:11.019
 soon

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:13.140
 he will

00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.599
 return

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:15.319
 and the

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:15.720
 government

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.879
 will be

00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:18.180
 upon his

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.680
 shoulders

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:20.400
 and we

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:20.759
 will come

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.180
 to that

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.660
 moment

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.740
 where we

00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.160
 will take

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.539
 up these

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.019
 words

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.380
 from

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:25.880
 revelation

00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:28.160
 the kingdom

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.740
 of the

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.140
 world

00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:30.539
 has become

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.180
 the kingdom

00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.120
 of our

00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.500
 Lord

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.440
 and of

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:33.840
 his

00:20:33.840 --> 00:20:34.759
 Christ

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.460
 and he

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.060
 will reign

00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:38.000
 forever

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.519
 and ever

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:40.320
 what a

00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:40.680
 wonderful

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.259
 and glorious

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:41.660
 day

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.320
 that will

00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:42.620
 be

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:44.900
 let's

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.180
 pray

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:50.900
 father in

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.080
 heaven

00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.560
 we thank

00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:51.860
 you that

00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:52.340
 you have

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.180
 given us

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.519
 hope

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.080
 and reason

00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:55.880
 to celebrate

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.920
 centuries

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.440
 ago

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:02.820
 and we

00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.759
 trust that

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.420
 you will

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.240
 do all

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.600
 that you

00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:05.779
 have

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.259
 promised

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:08.840
 please help

00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:09.160
 us in

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:09.640
 these days

00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.220
 God not

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.560
 to be

00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:11.180
 dragged down

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.840
 with

00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.560
 discouragement

00:21:12.560 --> 00:21:14.440
 not to be

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.039
 dragged into

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.900
 arguments and

00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.440
 complaining

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:19.480
 help us to be

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.620
 filled with joy

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:22.160
 and full of

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:22.480
 hope

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:26.080
 make us a bright

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:26.960
 and shining light

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.299
 in the darkness

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.100
 all around us

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:29.740
 this Christmas

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.940
 we ask in

00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.660
 Jesus name

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:34.180
 amen

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:36.380
 rumor

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.580
 you

00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:39.600
 you