WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:08.919 So, as you can see, I go to coffee shops often, and one of the coffee shops that I go to, 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:10.640 there's a friend that I've developed there. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:12.759 He's a non-Christian. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:16.699 When I first met him, actually, when he found out that I was, he met me sort of because 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:23.800 he suspected that I was a Christian, because I'd have my Bible out, and he began his conversation 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:27.800 with me by saying about how he used to be an altar boy. 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:32.140 And I know that whenever anybody tells me they used to be an altar boy, it's about because 00:00:32.140 --> 00:00:33.579 they're going to tell me they're no longer a Christian. 00:00:34.219 --> 00:00:37.760 But I waited patiently, because that's almost always how it happens, right? 00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:43.939 And anyway, he would now, some days he'd call himself an agnostic, some days he'd call himself 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:44.340 an atheist. 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:48.460 He sort of goes back and forward between the two of them, and he still goes to church two 00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:52.960 or three times a year, and he was raised in the church, and as he told me, and I now told 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:53.920 you, he was an altar boy. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.380 Anyway, so on Monday, he asked me, he said, so George, what are you going to preach on 00:00:58.380 --> 00:00:58.900 this week? 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:04.379 And I said, well, I'm going to preach on the difference between Christian Christmas and 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:09.280 secular Christmas, or the difference between biblical Christmas and Canadian Christmas. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:10.760 And he said, oh. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:17.020 Gnawed in his head, said, so you're going to talk about gratitude and family and generosity? 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:21.340 And I said, actually, no, that's secular Christmas. 00:01:21.479 --> 00:01:22.759 I'm not going to talk about that at all. 00:01:23.539 --> 00:01:30.359 And he was literally, like his head popped back, because he thought, I mean, he would 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:35.039 tell me all the time he knows about the Christian faith, and he was shocked that I said that 00:01:35.039 --> 00:01:39.979 talking about thanksgiving and gratitude and generosity isn't actually Christian Christmas, 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:41.179 it's secular Christmas. 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:48.220 So we ended up having a 10 or 15 minute conversation, and I will return to it in a little bit, but 00:01:48.220 --> 00:01:49.640 we're going to look at the text. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:56.980 Because, in fact, I realized sometime later afternoon on Friday, or maybe this morning, 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:03.740 there could be a real problem here today, because I will maybe preach against, not against, I'll 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:08.800 try to reveal what Christian Christmas is, and how it's different than secular Christmas, 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.580 and how lots of Christians are confused about that. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:17.620 And I'm really hoping that dance doesn't represent secular Christmas, which could be a little 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:19.160 bit awkward at coffee time. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:24.340 But anyway, because, in fact, Christians in Canada are deeply confused about the difference 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:29.780 between secular Christmas, or Canadian Christmas, or American Christmas, and biblical Christian 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:30.180 Christmas. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:35.160 So this sermon, and actually the next three sermons that I do on the 23rd, and the 24th, and 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:39.859 25th, we're going to look at the four primary stories in the Bible that tell us what biblical 00:02:39.859 --> 00:02:40.680 Christmas is. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:45.219 So if you have your Bibles, and if you don't, it'll be on the screen, but Luke chapter 1, 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:46.740 verses 26 to 38. 00:02:47.419 --> 00:02:51.719 And if you look online, I spent hours working on sermon titles. 00:02:52.079 --> 00:02:53.859 This one's called Luke's First Story. 00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:56.859 Next Sunday, it's Matthew's Story. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:02:59.259 Christmas Eve, it's Luke's Second Story. 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:02.439 And on Christmas morning, it's John's Story. 00:03:03.579 --> 00:03:06.560 I had focus groups and everything to come up with those titles. 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:08.939 They're really gripping. 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:13.699 And anyway, so here's, just before we start reading this, and I should get my notes out 00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:14.919 or I will really be in trouble. 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:19.680 Just before we start reading this, just, you'll notice it's part of a bigger book. 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:22.739 It's not just an individual story, but part of a bigger book. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:28.400 And in fact, what's going on in the bigger book, if you read the verses beforehand, at 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:34.780 least, the book is written by a man named Luke, and he himself is not Jewish. 00:03:35.100 --> 00:03:41.580 He was a pagan who became a Christian, maybe 15 years or a bit longer after the death and 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:42.620 resurrection of Jesus. 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:45.560 So he's a pagan, not Jewish. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:52.500 I think he's the only pagan writer in the New Testament, or pagan who became a Christian 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:52.719 writer. 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:53.819 That might be more accurate. 00:03:54.539 --> 00:04:00.719 And one of the things you see at the beginning of the book is that he says that he's pursued 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:07.800 eyewitnesses and eyewitness reports to write a true story of what went on with Jesus. 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:11.259 And that's a very important thing to see that that's his claim. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:18.779 He doesn't say that this is a story, my story is inspired by true events or based on true 00:04:18.779 --> 00:04:19.240 events. 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:23.699 He'd say, no, every story I tell you is true. 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:24.819 It really happened. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:25.879 It actually happened. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:30.480 I'm telling you not all of the stories of Jesus, but I'm telling you a true story of 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:30.780 Jesus. 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:35.800 And just before, after he introduces that that's what he's done, that he's done this historical 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:36.139 research. 00:04:36.220 --> 00:04:42.560 He was a doctor, a well-educated man, and who's written this biography of Jesus, so to speak. 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:43.680 That's what we would call it today. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:52.240 And then he tells you of a miracle that goes on just before this story of Jesus' cousin, 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:53.160 future cousin. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:58.400 And it's the story of how John the Baptist, how he was conceived. 00:04:58.620 --> 00:05:01.040 And that's the story told just before this. 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:04.780 And now the story continues on verse 26. 00:05:04.779 --> 00:05:07.699 And it starts like this. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:15.479 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth 00:05:15.479 --> 00:05:23.039 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's 00:05:23.039 --> 00:05:23.859 name was Mary. 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:26.339 And we'll just sort of pause there for a second. 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:33.419 And my friend on Monday and I got into a bit of a conversation, not an argument, a conversation 00:05:33.419 --> 00:05:40.199 very quickly when I told him that I was going to be going back to the four Christmas stories 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:41.419 that are recorded in the Bible. 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:45.659 And he said, he basically said, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold it right there. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:46.459 Hold it right there. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:49.000 I mean, those stories aren't true. 00:05:49.179 --> 00:05:53.919 Like they have angels in them and virgin birth and all that stuff, and it's not true. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:58.620 And I said to him after he said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold it right there. 00:05:58.900 --> 00:05:59.879 And he gave me that. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:01.740 And I said, whoa, whoa, whoa, hold it right there. 00:06:02.520 --> 00:06:06.080 You know, and I said, you're confusing two things. 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:11.780 And he, of course, would believe that he never confuses anything, that I'm the one who confuses 00:06:11.780 --> 00:06:12.160 things. 00:06:12.220 --> 00:06:13.500 And we're probably both a bit right. 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:16.160 But I said, you're confusing two things. 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:22.439 You're confusing that you think his story is wrong with what he thinks he's doing. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:28.860 And you need to extend to him the dignity to say what he believes he's doing. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:31.879 Like you can't take that dignity away from him. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:34.860 And you yourself might believe on other ground. 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:38.740 Like I understand that when just because I tell you it's in the Bible doesn't mean you 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:39.339 have to believe it. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.159 I understand that. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:42.319 Like I have no problem with that. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:48.680 But you can't say that he's writing as if there aren't angels and virgin births and all 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:49.420 that type of stuff. 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:52.980 But the story he's writing, he believes this actually happened. 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.879 Like he believes there is an angel that's going to come. 00:06:56.980 --> 00:06:59.400 He believes that the birth actually happens. 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:04.400 And you need to extend to him the dignity, like from your point of view, the dignity of 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:04.920 being wrong. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:09.800 But you can't take away from him and say he's not writing what he's writing. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:12.400 Like if that's the case, you're not really listening to him. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.199 And so that's what's going on here. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:22.459 He's the story centers around God sending an angel to speak to a virgin. 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:25.339 And the title, the word virgin here, it isn't a title. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.599 It's not like a class of women. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:28.439 We'll see in a moment. 00:07:28.599 --> 00:07:34.079 It means something literally a man, a woman who has never had sexual relations with a man. 00:07:34.179 --> 00:07:35.560 That's what the word means. 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:39.899 And so the story continues, verse 29, 28, sorry. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.060 And he, the angel, oh, by the way, the one thing I missed, and it says here in the sixth 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:48.780 month, what he's doing is he's timing it from the early miracle. 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:53.860 So six months after the first miracle, this second encounter happens. 00:07:53.860 --> 00:08:01.580 Verse 28, and he, that is the angel, came to her and said, greetings, oh favored one, the 00:08:01.580 --> 00:08:02.540 Lord is with you. 00:08:03.340 --> 00:08:08.699 But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:09.340 might be. 00:08:10.400 --> 00:08:17.379 And oh favored one, it's an idiomatic expression. 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:22.439 I keep trying to come up with new ways of expressing something like this. 00:08:23.019 --> 00:08:30.540 But if somebody says to you that they have a screw loose, if you say about somebody that 00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:34.100 they have a screw loose, you don't literally believe that they have a screw, you know, 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:37.799 a cap in their skull that's screwed in and one of them's loose. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:39.799 You're referring to somebody who's a bit crazy. 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:41.500 That's an idiomatic expression. 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:47.059 And there's a bit of an idiomatic or Semitic, Semitism here in what the angel says. 00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:52.559 When he says, oh favored one, what he's saying is, I'm speaking to you who are a recipient 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.279 of God's grace. 00:08:55.779 --> 00:08:56.779 That's what it means. 00:08:57.539 --> 00:09:00.699 You who are a recipient of God's grace. 00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:10.319 And God's grace is his unmerited favor, goodness, kindness, and love to you. 00:09:10.579 --> 00:09:11.879 That's what God's grace is. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:13.339 It's something unmerited. 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:23.040 It's his mercy, his love, his forgiveness, his blessing, his peace, his power, unmerited, 00:09:23.280 --> 00:09:24.019 bestowed upon you. 00:09:24.040 --> 00:09:24.960 And that's what he says to Mary. 00:09:25.040 --> 00:09:31.379 He says, Mary, you are one who are a recipient of God's grace. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.280 And Mary's very troubled about this. 00:09:35.180 --> 00:09:36.940 She's troubled about it for several reasons. 00:09:36.940 --> 00:09:38.540 First of all, she's in Nazareth. 00:09:40.560 --> 00:09:45.300 And Nazareth is another way for saying, in the New Testament, we now think of Nazareth 00:09:45.300 --> 00:09:46.500 as being something important. 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:50.500 But one of the ways, if you want to understand the New Testament, every time you see the word 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.560 Nazareth, read nowhere. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:59.400 It would be as if you had a map and you looked at one empty spot and it looked at another empty 00:09:59.400 --> 00:09:59.860 spot. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:04.159 And then you wanted to go from one unimportant empty spot to another. 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:05.800 In the middle of that would be Nazareth. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:08.820 Like it's nowhere, Bill. 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:14.340 It's like a little hamlet if you somehow were lost or were wandering off in the far reaches 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.919 of Canada and you were going. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:18.060 Anyway, it's nowhere, Bill. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:19.379 So she's in nowhere, Bill. 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:24.740 And the second thing is angels, to be in the presence of a real angel is something that 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:30.840 causes like a deep, almost shaking and terror almost regularly throughout the entire New 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:31.220 Testament. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:37.659 It's something that causes you to shake, to almost feel like you're being unmade. 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:44.419 So she neither understands why she, who is in nowhere, between nowhere and nowhere and 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:51.080 nowhere, that she somehow is getting this vision from an angel which is just causing her literally 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.960 to shake by being in the presence of something which is so holy. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:56.560 So she's terrified. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:59.799 So what happens next? 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.680 Well, the angel has to speak to her. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:05.000 Verses 30, continue with verse 30. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.080 And the angel said to her, do not be afraid. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.560 Isn't that wonderful, eh? 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:12.340 That's God speaking to her. 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:14.100 Do not be afraid, Mary. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:16.919 For you have found favor with God. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:17.980 That's the same idea. 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:20.100 You are a recipient of my grace. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:26.820 It's not that she is so perfect or holy that he goes, whoa, she gets the A plus in holiness. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:32.259 He wasn't looking throughout the world for the person who got the A plus plus plus bonus 00:11:32.259 --> 00:11:34.019 marks, got 110%. 00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:35.600 He wasn't looking for that. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.320 She is a recipient of God's grace. 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:39.440 Sorry, read again. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:43.720 And the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 00:11:43.880 --> 00:11:45.520 God's grace has been extended to you. 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:52.480 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:58.500 He will be great, will be called and will be called the Son of the Most High. 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:03.700 And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:06.559 the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom. 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:10.840 There will be no end. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:13.419 Now just sort of pause there. 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.639 A couple of things going on. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:20.700 A couple of weeks ago, if I cough today, I have a, it feels like there's something in 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:23.159 the back of my throat which is just irritating me a little bit. 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:28.319 But a couple of weeks ago, I had an ear infection, and I had to go to a walk-in clinic. 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:32.219 And it was an apple tree medical clinic. 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.899 And so I go and I sit in. 00:12:33.939 --> 00:12:35.980 It was a walk-in clinic, and I had to fill out a form. 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:41.159 And one of the very, very first questions was, what gender were you assigned at birth? 00:12:43.339 --> 00:12:45.459 Now, I'm not saying this for laughs. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.259 I really am not. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:49.059 But I literally, I almost left. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:50.939 I almost left. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:54.700 And the reason I almost left is because if I wanted to go somewhere and have my auras 00:12:54.700 --> 00:13:04.620 massaged, or if I wanted to go somewhere and have some, you know, obscure Norwegian Norse 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:09.320 herbs given to me to balance things in my body, I would go there. 00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:14.400 But I go to a doctor because I believe that science is guiding their decisions. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:19.860 And as soon as I see in virtually the first question that they asked me, what gender were 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.779 you assigned at birth? 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:24.399 I say to myself, this is a company that has discarded science. 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:29.840 Because scientifically, there is only male and female. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:36.039 I mean, it's amazing how much, I mean, one of the things I think that non-Christians think 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:38.319 about Christians is that we're opposed to science. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:45.379 But the fact of the matter is that increasingly, it's only Christians who actually have a basis 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:47.580 and an understanding and appreciation of science. 00:13:48.640 --> 00:13:54.040 Like, it's completely the opposite of probably if you ask the newsroom of CBC or many of the 00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:56.940 faculty at the University of Ottawa, they would see us as anti-science. 00:13:57.040 --> 00:14:02.340 But time and time and time again, we accept what is validly scientifically known. 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:09.300 And so I'm saying this because, you see, when the angel says that the child to be born to 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:14.120 you will be a son and it's named Jesus, the angel isn't assigning gender at birth. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.180 It's a prophecy. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:24.320 Now, just before I go any further, I have all sorts of things which I am prone to as sin, 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:26.500 and I have all sorts of things in me that are broken. 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:33.200 If you get my wife at the right time, she could give you quite a list of things about me that 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:36.000 are far from redeemed and sanctified. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:43.860 But I have never struggled with feeling completely and utterly different from my biological sex. 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:49.360 And if you are here today and you struggle with that, I mean, on one level, it's not something 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:53.360 that I can tell you I have sympathy with in the sense of I experienced it. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:58.340 There's a lot of sins I could sympathize with you with or a lot of brokenness that I could 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:00.000 sympathize with you, but that wouldn't be one. 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:04.019 But I wanted to say that I'm not saying this to dismiss it. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:10.259 It must be a very, very horrible thing to feel as if you were in one body and you believe 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:12.180 you should have a different type of body. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:19.800 And to discover that your own body is a source of distress must be deeply, deeply troubling. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:22.000 And so I would urge you to come and speak to us. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:29.120 We'd love to love you and to pray for you and to help you be whole in Jesus, if that's 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:30.139 something you struggle with. 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:35.299 But in the text here, the angel isn't assigning gender. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:37.519 It's the angel is prophesying. 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:42.340 And the angel says, in a sense, you're going to conceive. 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:45.539 But there's a bit of a catch because, of course, Mary has to say yes. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:51.299 And the angel says, you see, what you're getting here is you're getting here that the angel 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:54.219 says God is going to do something. 00:15:54.860 --> 00:16:00.539 And it's not just that God is going to do something, but God is going to interpret and 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:02.759 explain what he's doing. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:07.579 You see, he doesn't just sort of give words and fables and stories and do nothing. 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:10.980 That's actually what most spirituality is. 00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:11.920 It's just words. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:14.759 Sorry if I have offended, but it's just words. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:19.700 So he doesn't just give words, but he says, I'm going to do something. 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:26.139 And it's easy when I do something for people to misunderstand it or just miss it. 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.740 So I'm going to explain what I'm doing. 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:32.040 And what I'm going to do is you're going to conceive and I'm going to do it. 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:36.339 And what I want you to know is it's going to be a boy and you have to name him Jesus because 00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:42.000 Jesus, as we'll see it in our next story, means I save, God saves, Yahweh saves. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.199 That's what it means. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:48.480 And the other thing is that you have to understand that this baby is going to be great. 00:16:49.319 --> 00:16:55.939 And in the original language, especially in the context with Luke 115, the word great here 00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:57.579 is used in an absolute sense. 00:16:57.580 --> 00:17:02.420 So it means just something more than like, I think Laurier is great. 00:17:02.680 --> 00:17:04.380 Great dad, four kids, he's great. 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:08.759 No, this word great means great, like in an absolute sense. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:14.539 And it even goes on further that this boy is going to be the son of the most high God. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.840 The most high God. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:22.500 Whatever gods or idols you think exist, there is one who is the most high God. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:29.299 And this baby is the son of that, which means that he also is the most high God because he, 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:32.619 if I have a baby, the baby is human. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:42.880 Let's pray that there is never a day when babies are not begotten, that there's only babies 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:51.680 who are made in test tubes and mixed with the genetic stuff of pigs and foxes and dogs and horses. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:56.460 And you have something that who knows what that is that would come out. 00:17:57.020 --> 00:18:00.920 But as it is now, the babies, they're human. 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:04.880 And so if the most, if it is the son of the most high God, 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:11.480 then that which is within, going to be within the womb of Mary is the most high God. 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:18.540 And as well as that, he is going to fulfill all these scriptures. 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:20.220 He's going to ascend a throne. 00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:23.160 The throne of David means the true king of Israel. 00:18:23.320 --> 00:18:27.200 And on top of that, he will also establish a kingdom that will never end. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.740 Never end. 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:32.280 Only God can have something that will never end. 00:18:33.020 --> 00:18:36.560 See how in these very, very, just, it's a very, very simple story. 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.680 It's just an angel speaking to Mary. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:42.900 And it's just, his name will be Jesus and he will be great and he will be the son of the most high God. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:47.299 And he will take the throne of David and he will have a kingdom that goes on forever and ever and ever. 00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:48.620 And it's easy to remember. 00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:52.799 You could say that to a child five or six times and they could spend the rest of the day 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.720 hopping around the house saying it over and over and over again. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:59.140 Or you could be the greatest philosopher, intellectual in the history of the world. 00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:03.840 And you could puzzle over that and puzzle over that and puzzle over that because it is so profound. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.200 And it is so shocking. 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.520 Only God. 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:12.860 That's what it has to be. 00:19:14.040 --> 00:19:16.680 And listen to Mary's response in verse 34. 00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:20.160 And Mary said to the angel, how will this be? 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:23.560 And in my text it says, since I am a virgin. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:26.440 But it actually isn't what it says in the original language. 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:31.559 What it says in the original language is, since I have never known a man. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:36.640 And knowing a man is a euphemism for having sexual intercourse. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:44.940 So she says to the angel, how will this be since I have never had sexual intercourse? 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:47.660 And the other thing is, it's very interesting. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:54.240 You know, maybe some of us as parents would say, yeah, I could see having a kid who's like that. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:59.059 But she thinks of herself and she thinks of Joseph. 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:09.099 And she realizes that Joseph and her having sexual relations and in her having a baby would never create a baby like has just been described. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:13.039 It's just not going to happen. 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:20.440 Mix my DNA with Joseph's DNA and this result will not happen. 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:29.000 So she asked, and you can well imagine there must be a lot of anguish in this asking. 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.320 I'll read it again. 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:32.580 And Mary said to the angel, how will this be? 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:36.600 Since I have never had sexual relations with a man. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:39.580 And then look what the angel says in verse 35. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:44.439 And the angel answered her, the Holy Spirit will come upon you. 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:47.720 And the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:53.019 And therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God. 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:58.839 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son. 00:20:58.919 --> 00:21:02.199 And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:06.279 For nothing will be impossible with God. 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:09.160 And just sort of pause there. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:17.680 Remember, the angel, it's not going to come to the point where Mary's going to have to say something about this. 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:21.779 But the angel in very, very, very simple words. 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:26.859 Once again, words that we could teach probably a three-year-old to say over and over and over again. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:31.160 Yet is very, very profound and very shocking. 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:38.160 And remember, when Luke writes this, he believes he's writing a true story of Jesus. 00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:40.440 That all of this actually happened. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:45.180 And the angel says, Mary, you do nothing. 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:48.240 And other than the fact that we're going to see in a moment, 00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:51.200 you contribute something very important in terms of your permission. 00:21:51.800 --> 00:21:53.120 But you actually do nothing. 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:55.660 The Holy Spirit will come upon you. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:00.000 And the image of the over, which is a very wonderful image, isn't it? 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.019 The power of the Most High will overshadow you. 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.539 And this is an image. 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:09.980 And the image of being overshadowed is an Old Testament or a Tanakh image, 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.480 the first 39 books of the Bible. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:17.500 And it means that his God's, the Most High God's glorious presence will be at work. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:20.519 And that's the image of overshadow you. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:26.740 The Most High God, his presence will be at work as the Holy Spirit comes upon you. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:31.900 And then the angel says, by the way, just, you know, 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:34.740 what the miracle that God's going to do in you isn't the same. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:36.680 But don't you know that Elizabeth, your cousin, 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:41.680 God just did a remarkable miracle in her six months ago, didn't he? 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:46.700 And then he says to her, and this is a profound cry of faith. 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:50.299 It's often, I realized that often I was misremembering this verse. 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:56.680 I sort of remembered it as nothing, for nothing will be impossible for God. 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:59.619 But it actually doesn't say for nothing will be impossible for God. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.879 It says for nothing will be impossible with God. 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.139 It's an invitation to faith. 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.319 With God. 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:10.359 You mere mortal. 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.659 A pillar of dust. 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:17.359 Inhabited by a soul. 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:20.179 That animates it. 00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.740 Living in nowhereville. 00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:28.519 With God, nothing will be impossible for you. 00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:32.519 And how does Mary respond? 00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:35.200 Her response is very famous. 00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:35.960 Verse 38. 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.700 Mary said, 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:39.900 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:43.960 Let it be to me according to your word. 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:46.100 And the angel departed from her. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:51.000 And Mary, it's very, very interesting. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.940 Mary has to say yes. 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:56.120 Even though it is the most high God, 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.500 he doesn't force her. 00:23:58.100 --> 00:24:01.220 He doesn't overwhelm her or overpower her. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:04.539 She has to say yes. 00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:10.039 So, just sort of wrap this up. 00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:13.879 Back to my friend at the coffee shop on Monday. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:16.279 So this is one of the four stories. 00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:19.740 And I've spent more time on the story than I will with my few other comments. 00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:23.319 Because you see, it's way more important you remember the story than you remember my words. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:28.000 Because this is one of the four stories in the Bible that tell us what Christmas is. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:34.779 And you see, I think what my friend, I almost said his name, my friend Bob, thought I was going to say. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:37.700 When I said to him I was going to go back to the basics with the congregation, 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:41.480 tell them what Christian Christmas is as opposed to secular Christmas. 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:44.779 And he thought I was going to say something like this. 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:50.960 Yes, I'm going to talk about how it's all about family and it's all about gratitude and it's all about generosity. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:55.860 And it's not about commercialism, consumerism and excess. 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:58.079 That's what he thought I was going to say. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:04.099 He was shocked when I said that in fact generosity and gratitude is secular Christmas, 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:06.059 not Christian Christmas. 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:15.659 You see, neither what he thought Christian, what he really was thinking of is he was really thinking that moralistic, 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:18.059 I don't mean to offend, I really don't. 00:25:19.399 --> 00:25:22.740 And afterwards you can maybe say, but I want to try to catch your attention. 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:27.419 And really what my friend Bob was saying is that there's moralistic Christmas, 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.159 which is Christian Christmas. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:36.880 And moralistic Christmas says you've got to take some time and you've got to be generous 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:39.300 and you've got to be grateful. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:42.960 How often telling somebody to be grateful does that actually work? 00:25:43.300 --> 00:25:44.540 Be grateful or else. 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:45.460 What? 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.600 But you've got to be grateful. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.920 You've got to be generous. 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:50.420 You've got to be kind. 00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:53.540 You've got to be, got to be, got to be, got to be. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:26:01.480 As opposed to those other boers who are saying, give me a couple of extra beers and a shot of Jack with that and woohoo Christmas. 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:07.619 I mean, the irony is, is that actually not like both of those are non-Christian Christmas. 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:12.399 They're both versions of Canadian Christmas, but neither of them are the biblical Christmas, are they? 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:18.320 In fact, if you go on and read the stories of Jesus, the terrifying thing to my moralistic friends 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:23.120 and most of the moralistic Christmas carols is if we know anything about Jesus, 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:27.080 he would actually side with the guys with the second beer and another shot of Jack 00:26:27.080 --> 00:26:29.500 and not with the moralistic ones. 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:33.440 Because the fact of the matter is, is that moralism keeps more people away from Jesus 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:38.220 than having a couple of beers and a couple of shots of Jack does. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:42.799 Christianity is not moralism. 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:45.319 It's centered on news. 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:48.799 Everything in this story is about news. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:53.279 Everything on this story is about something completely and utterly different. 00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:59.019 And the fact of the matter is, is that on one hand, you have this nagging moralistic. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:05.420 And why it is that, I mean, this is, you know, and many people think that being moralistic and nagging is Christian. 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:09.259 But Christianity is not anything to do with it. 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:14.860 And the fact of the matter is, one of the things I explained to him was that what he was confusing a little bit 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:19.100 was the difference between what Christianity is and the fruit of Christianity, 00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:21.580 what the gospel is and the fruit of the gospel. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:28.420 Because what this story does is ultimately help us to understand and appreciate both sides 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:30.720 of how most Canadians celebrate Christmas. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:35.880 Christianity is centered first and foremost on news, not on advice or moralism. 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.720 And it actually grounds both. 00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:40.180 So just very quickly, Andrew, if you could wrap up the first point. 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.779 Here's the first point of the story. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:48.240 The Most High God entered his creation as a zygote in the womb of Mary. 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:52.720 That's what the story says. 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.420 And you know what? 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:59.820 That makes virtually all religious and spiritual views of God. 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:09.440 And that sentence messes with the head and the thinking of virtually all religion and spirituality. 00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:16.240 The Most High God enters his creation as a zygote? 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:24.579 Almost all views of power are messed up with this story. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.960 It messes with our brain. 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:33.039 It messes with our worldview as this story starts to grip us. 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:36.099 If you could put up the second point. 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:43.200 Remember I said the Most High God entered his creation as a zygote in the womb of Mary. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:47.000 And the second point, he came to reign forever. 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:50.840 He came to reign forever. 00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:54.100 And the word is reign, not rule. 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.259 There's a big difference. 00:28:56.620 --> 00:29:04.000 You see, one of the things that we, you know, Canada has been very upset about or worried about over the last year is 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:09.539 if we enter into a certain free trade pact with our neighbor to the south 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:14.559 or is a trade pact with China or relationships with Russia. 00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:18.720 In all of those cases, what we're worried about is losing sovereignty. 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.339 That's what we're worried about. 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:25.379 You see, but if we enter into this deal with the United States, we lose some of our sovereignty. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:27.559 The United States gets to dictate some of our laws. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:33.379 The concern about the United Nations and the migration thing is that we will lose our sovereignty to the United Nations. 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:39.000 The concern about China is losing our sovereignty, our ability to make our own laws our own ways. 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:41.280 And you see, the word rule doesn't imply sovereignty. 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.660 It just means I have power right now. 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.440 I rule right now. 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.780 I got the TV remote. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:46.680 I rule right now. 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:51.980 And if one of my grandkids said that, I'd come in and say, I have sovereignty. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.460 Give me the remote. 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:57.660 It's my house, my remote, my TV. 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.779 I choose. 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:01.880 And that, you see, is the notion of sovereignty. 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:04.880 And the word reign comes from sovereignty. 00:30:05.060 --> 00:30:08.220 Reign means ruling with sovereign power and authority. 00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:17.200 And that which is born in Mary, the Most High God who enters his creation as a zygote in the womb of Mary, 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:26.380 he comes to reign forever and ever and ever and ever and ever. 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:30.820 And that can be very, very frightening. 00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:34.259 And that's why this story, that's why being gripped by this story is so important. 00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:35.779 If you could put up the next point, Andrew. 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.040 Because what does this story say? 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:39.480 How does this whole story work? 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:52.279 The angel says to Mary, Mary, you are a recipient of God's unmerited love, mercy, affection, power to thrive, his blessing. 00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:55.320 You are a recipient of God's grace and it's unmerited. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:57.519 And all the way through, he says that. 00:30:57.619 --> 00:31:02.039 And at the end of the things, after he says, he reveals that he's speaking on behalf of the Most High God 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:07.559 who creates all things, sustains all things, can do all things, could crush you and me like that. 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.700 It wouldn't, he doesn't even have to, it just, whoa. 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:14.279 And yet, Mary has to say yes. 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:20.019 You see, by God's grace you come under his reign. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.480 That's why it's not moralism. 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:29.759 What I, in a sense, try to have to tell my friend is all the nagging in the world, all the rules in the world, 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:31.980 none of those things will get you into God's reign. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:39.339 You know, it's all about what Jesus did for you on the cross. 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:43.860 It's all about the end of this story, what happens later on in the book of Luke. 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:50.279 And that God has done everything that has to be done to make you right with himself 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:54.440 in the person, in the work, in the death, in the resurrection of his son. 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:57.700 And he does everything with nothing left out. 00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:02.519 And all he can say to you is, will you be like Mary? 00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:08.320 And will you say, let it be to me according to your word? 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:12.700 And you cannot say, by the way, I have a PhD. 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.320 God goes. 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.940 By the way, I'm a victim. 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.420 God goes. 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:20.100 By the way, I'm really good looking. 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.940 God goes. 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.759 None of these things matter. 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:27.940 All is the answer of yes to his invitation. 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:33.240 So by God's grace, you come under his reign. 00:32:33.820 --> 00:32:35.940 With grace, he reigns. 00:32:36.380 --> 00:32:38.440 And by grace, you live. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.340 And you see, it's out of that. 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:44.039 It's out of that, the fruit of that. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:48.460 Out of the fruit of that, as this story of grace grips us, 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:51.180 a natural consequence is to be generous. 00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:57.440 As this story grips us, it often can, and as his reign comes over us, 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:03.440 there starts to be the beginning of the mastering of the sexual appetites of a male 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:08.920 so that he will not follow every sexual appetite and every time, 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:17.880 and that he will seek to have those under the rule of Christ that he might enter into a marriage that is holy and is good. 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:20.220 It is the fruit of the gospel. 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:31.779 Just, you know, by the way, one of the things which is so wonderful about, so what is Christmas? 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:33.960 Christmas is a time to remember this story. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.480 It's a time to rejoice. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:40.420 It's a time to recommit, which we're going to do in a moment. 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:43.100 It's a time to recommit to his reign. 00:33:44.300 --> 00:33:49.779 And one of the things that the Bible tells us, everything from the Sabbath laws to the New Testament to the Old Testament, 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:55.220 is it not only is what God calling us to a time to remember, to rejoice, and to recommit, 00:33:55.300 --> 00:33:56.700 but it's also a time to celebrate. 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.700 It's a time to celebrate with others. 00:33:58.860 --> 00:34:02.759 It is a time to have, those of you who are able, a glass of wine. 00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:05.660 It is a time to have three Cokes rather than just one. 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:14.200 It's a time to have lots of stuffing, and it's a time to think about the single neighbor that lives down the hall in your condo, 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:18.440 or the couple across the street who look like they have no family. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:20.340 It's a time to remember the people in our church. 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:22.440 It's a time to gather people together. 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:26.099 Not only do you remember, not only do you rejoice, not only do you reconnect, 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:33.119 but God wants us to celebrate and feast in terms of what this means because it's good news. 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:37.079 And so it is that the longings of our culture are properly grounded. 00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:41.639 I'm going to ask you to stand, and Andrew, could you get up the final point, please? 00:34:44.299 --> 00:34:46.559 I mean, this is the call of the story. 00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:48.380 This is the remembrance of Christmas. 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:52.719 Lord, reign in me today, every day, and forever. 00:34:52.859 --> 00:34:54.559 And I'm going to invite you to say that with me a moment. 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:58.739 And if you are here today and you have never said something like that to the Lord, 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.920 there is no better time than today. 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:06.720 If you are here today and you struggle with being in a biologically one body, 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:13.680 but finding the biological body that you are in is something that you find terrifying 00:35:13.680 --> 00:35:17.740 and repulsive or just problematic, 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:22.740 there is no better time than now to come under the reign of the Lord 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:25.139 who invites you under his reign by grace 00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:30.179 and will reign by grace and extend grace to you 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:34.440 to begin to know his grace in the midst of your pain. 00:35:35.319 --> 00:35:38.299 And not just for those whom I mentioned because it came up in the sermon, 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.779 but for all of us who are broken, 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.940 there is no better time in your life than today 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:44.859 to cross the great divide 00:35:44.859 --> 00:35:46.299 and be like Mary 00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:48.219 and say, in a sense, 00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:50.179 I just want to, whatever you say, 00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:51.819 I say yes to it all. 00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:54.140 And it's put in the form of this thing. 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.760 So if you could all, 00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:57.240 those whom the Holy Spirit leads, 00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:58.400 if you could say it with me 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:59.200 and then I will pray 00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:00.940 and then we will go into our offertory 00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:02.000 and then we'll have the dance. 00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:04.360 All God's people, if you would pray, 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:06.640 Lord, reign in me 00:36:06.640 --> 00:36:09.300 today, every day, forever. 00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:12.180 Father, pour out the Holy Spirit upon us. 00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:14.200 Pour out the Holy Spirit upon us. 00:36:14.640 --> 00:36:16.100 Help us, Father, this Christmas 00:36:16.100 --> 00:36:18.059 to practice Christian Christmas, 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:20.360 to be able to say, 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:22.259 way to go to our non-Christian friends 00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:24.500 celebrating secular and Canadian Christmas, 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:26.820 but Father, to take these times 00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:28.259 to remember the story, 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.960 to recommit, to reconnect, 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:31.519 and to celebrate 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:33.519 all in the context of 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.980 the Most High, 00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:37.179 entering human race as a Zygote, 00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:38.360 and he comes to rule, 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:39.860 he comes to rule with grace. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:42.139 Father, move in our lives 00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:43.659 and help us to celebrate 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:45.480 and remember Christmas well 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.500 as Christians 00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:48.500 and all God's people said, 00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:49.539 Amen.