WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.379 Chapter 2, I hope you're ready. 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:05.960 Christmas is coming. 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:11.060 I've got a delivery coming today and one coming Tuesday. 00:00:11.140 --> 00:00:12.240 That's kind of pushing it, ain't it? 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:19.740 We all want to give the best gift, the greatest gift that 00:00:19.740 --> 00:00:20.940 somebody can get. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:26.859 Some are not easy to buy for and some will tell you what they 00:00:26.859 --> 00:00:30.399 want and some will tell you more things than they're going to 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:30.719 get. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.759 However, if we go to the first Christmas, to the birth of 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:43.039 Christ, there were a lot of great gifts given. 00:00:44.100 --> 00:00:46.000 I want to talk about that for a few minutes this morning. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:49.399 It's in Luke Chapter 2, beginning in Verse 1. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:50.600 It says, 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.000 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.820 world should be registered. 00:00:55.820 --> 00:00:59.960 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:03.880 Syria and all went to be registered, each to his own town. 00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:07.239 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:10.659 Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:14.280 Bethlehem, because he was of the house and the lineage of David, 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:17.659 to be registered with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. 00:01:18.240 --> 00:01:21.359 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:25.560 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:28.840 swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:31.480 place for them in the inn. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:37.640 I want to share with you this morning a great gift around the 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:40.159 birth of Christ, several great gifts around the birth of Christ. 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:42.500 One of them was promise. 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:47.659 The promises of the Lord are some of the greatest gifts. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:54.019 The promise of the Lord to Zachariah and Elizabeth, the promise they 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:55.040 got was precious. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:57.560 Elizabeth was Mary's cousin. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:01.000 She was older and could not have children. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.939 Now that's always a heavy weight when childbearing is difficult, but it's 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:11.560 even more so difficult in their time because of the scorn of others. 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:16.639 Zachariah and Elizabeth had prayed and had fasted and asked the Lord to 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:20.340 move in a mighty way in their lives, and he hadn't done it. 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:23.979 And they worried about it, and they doubted that God would move in that. 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:26.620 You ever been in a situation like that? 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:30.240 When you had a situation where you asked God to do something mighty in your 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:35.300 life, and there's just no evidence of it, struggling in the midst of that. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:36.219 Well, you're not alone. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:38.100 People have been there before. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:44.439 But they sought the Lord, and the Lord answered their prayer, and 00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:48.800 Zachariah prayed, and the message of the angel was this. 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:50.439 Do not fear. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:52.840 Your prayers have been answered. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:57.060 And the reality is that God answered their prayer better than they had 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:01.380 asked it, better than they ever thought he would. 00:03:01.380 --> 00:03:05.040 He answered better than they had asked. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:09.599 And the son that they would have would pave the way for the Lord. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:12.079 He would baptize the Lord Jesus. 00:03:12.359 --> 00:03:18.639 And Jesus would say about this son that Zachariah had prayed for, had worried 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:20.780 about, had doubted deeply. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:28.120 Jesus said in Matthew 11, 11, among those born of women, there was arisen no one 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:30.740 greater than John the Baptist. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:35.140 When God answers, folks, he answers big. 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:40.980 He does it in his time, and he does it in his way, but he answers big. 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:44.759 One of the greatest gifts that we have is promise. 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:48.920 And he gives us that promise when we seek his face. 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:56.359 Another gift that's so precious around the birth of Christ is room. 00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:06.079 Now, there was room for a very pregnant mother, a journeying father, and an expectant baby boy. 00:04:06.299 --> 00:04:08.019 Now, I know what I'm supposed to say. 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:18.340 I'm supposed to say there was no room, and that the inn had no room, and that the innkeeper had been a monster ever since. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.220 But consider something with me. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:28.680 What if the innkeeper was watching out for the expectant family? 00:04:30.200 --> 00:04:39.640 Just consider, what if the lack of room was not a lack of vacancy, but a lack of elbow space? 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:48.080 Because as I understand it, the hotels in these days were not, were basically mere sleeping stalls. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.840 Just enough to lie down in. 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:54.679 And that's like a sleeping stall. 00:04:54.839 --> 00:05:04.359 If you've flown recently and been to an airport, you'll notice at large airports that they have sleeping pods that you can rent for just a couple of hours. 00:05:04.539 --> 00:05:06.120 It's a very small room. 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:13.859 It's got a little couch that can make into a bed there and just a very small space for you to take a nap and miss a flight. 00:05:14.179 --> 00:05:15.459 It's a great place to do that. 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:26.000 And in reality, that space there is very similar to what a first century inn was like. 00:05:26.099 --> 00:05:28.039 It was not really fit for a berth. 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:30.219 I'm not saying any hotels fit for a berth. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:34.500 But saying that there's no room might mean there's tight quarters. 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:36.819 I don't know that for sure. 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:39.779 It might not be. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:46.560 It might be the bad guy that Brian Clevenger made him out to be during Merry Christmas Pickens. 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:49.399 But even so, there was room. 00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:56.199 And by the way, Clevenger, when they asked him to do that role of the innkeeper, he was scared to death. 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:58.459 He came to me and I said, listen, man, there's nothing to it. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:05:59.939 There ain't but two words you got to say. 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:00.600 No room. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:02.660 And he believed me. 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:05.060 And when I gave him the script, it was rude. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:13.120 But anyway, that scene to me looks pretty special. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.780 Looks pretty sweet, quite honestly. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:20.439 However it came to be. 00:06:22.020 --> 00:06:26.680 Whether he was rude and wouldn't give him space and threw him into a cave. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:32.939 Whether he said, this ain't the right place for a lady to have a berth. 00:06:33.819 --> 00:06:43.040 Can we provide some more privacy in a place that's not ideal but at least allows some decency? 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:56.540 Whichever it was, God cleaned Mary out of space on the outskirts of Bethlehem and enabled her to bear the Savior of the world. 00:06:57.060 --> 00:07:04.020 And because of that, we all can have an eternal difference because he did that. 00:07:04.460 --> 00:07:06.420 A great gift of Christmas's room. 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:12.300 Another gift at the birth of Jesus is presence. 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:18.900 People often say that the greatest gift that you can give to somebody is just being there for someone. 00:07:19.420 --> 00:07:21.680 Just being present. 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:25.960 And nowhere is that more true than in the presence of God. 00:07:26.840 --> 00:07:31.700 I want you to notice how the Lord's presence changed the atmosphere. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:34.560 It's in Luke chapter 2 beginning in verse 8 and it says this, 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:39.439 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.040 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:46.120 The glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with great fear. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:47.780 And the angel said to them, 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:52.120 Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:59.459 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:01.879 And this will be a sign for you. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:06.139 You'll find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:14.159 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 00:08:14.719 --> 00:08:20.159 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:24.500 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:30.939 Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 00:08:31.320 --> 00:08:35.920 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 00:08:36.420 --> 00:08:40.759 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:45.820 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:57.120 I want to tell you the most consistent prayer that I ever pray about Sunday morning worship at Pickens First Baptist Church 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:06.720 is I pray for the manifested, felt, life-changing presence of the Lord Jesus in this room. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:11.440 Now I realize by his promises that he's here. 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:12.980 I know that. 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:15.160 But I like to sense it. 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:23.200 I like to sense the camaraderie that comes when those are one in spirit and the spirit of God is moving in lives. 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:27.100 It is almost tangible when you sense that. 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:29.720 And I pray for that more than anything else. 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:37.320 Because honestly, if God's movement is in this place and he's moving in our lives, it takes care of everything else. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:38.800 The lost gets saved. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:39.920 The saved get right. 00:09:40.180 --> 00:09:41.120 Things happen. 00:09:41.800 --> 00:09:47.720 And when the spirit of God moves, his manifested presence, it changes lives. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:55.620 And I'll tell you, the shepherds here got purity tore up over the angelic presence that surrounded them. 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:59.600 Verse 20 said that they left glorifying and praising God. 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:00.820 It said they went in haste. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:02.259 It means they were getting it to get there. 00:10:02.540 --> 00:10:07.040 There was another one who was obviously blessed by the manifested presence of God. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:09.779 But she responded differently. 00:10:11.040 --> 00:10:12.240 And it's in verse 19. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:13.680 And it says this, 00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:19.660 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:22.940 That means she was thinking about it. 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:25.240 She was ruminating on it. 00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:26.560 She was chewing on it. 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:28.600 She was meditating on it. 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:36.259 Now, I try my best to preach the word of God with some kind of vigor and some kind of life because I think it's a life-changing message. 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:38.340 It means something to me. 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:40.460 And I don't care about showing it. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.820 But you ought to see me when I prepare a message. 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:49.320 Sometimes I have a little running fit there in the study, you know. 00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:51.540 Something gets good and I enjoy it. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:58.099 Or I may well up when I think about the promises of God or when I think about the presence of God. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:06.240 Or I oftentimes walk around in there, talk about it, deal with it, with the Lord before I sit down and pen it. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:10.199 And when I get filled with the presence of God, I get blessed. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:14.120 It's a wonderful gift of God. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:28.140 And God present, being born even in that cave and coming to this earth and promising the Holy Spirit would follow and would fill that gap once he was no longer with us physically present. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.320 I thank God for his presence. 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:33.580 It's one of the great gifts of Christmas. 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:39.060 And then there are those gifts that we're more familiar with that are more obvious. 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:42.800 Frankincense, gold, and myrrh. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:47.240 Those are the treasured gifts of the Magi that was brought to the king. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:50.660 And gold was a gift that was fit for a king. 00:11:51.540 --> 00:11:58.879 And frankincense was a gift for a priest because it was used as a burning incense in worship. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:07.799 And then myrrh was therapeutic, but it was also used to prepare dead bodies in the ways of the customs of that culture in that day. 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:12.980 That means it was a gift good for a sacrificial life. 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:23.919 The reality is each one of those gifts were prophetic of who would be in that manger and who they would meet when they came to him. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.579 However, they are also very practical gifts. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:34.679 Because if they chose to, they could have used those gifts to help finance their travel. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:42.899 Especially the travel that came to them unexpectedly when they had to leave and travel to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:50.939 The precious, expensive gifts from royal visitors, but they were not the most precious. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:56.300 They were not the greatest gift of that day. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:01.860 Because the greatest gift of Christmas was the babe. 00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:03.840 And is the babe. 00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:08.840 We often focus on the birth of Christ at Christmas, and we should. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.660 The virgin-born child was God in the flesh. 00:13:12.760 --> 00:13:17.540 He came to this earth to live a sinless life and to die a death for sinners. 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:25.120 The whole purpose for him coming was to give us both hope, both now and for eternity. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:28.139 Not just any hope, but sure hope. 00:13:28.219 --> 00:13:30.959 It is the greatest gift of Christmas. 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:37.459 And all in one verse, we have what prophesied, what prophecy proclaimed that he would be. 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:48.600 It says in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6, that he would be a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, an everlasting father, and a prince of peace. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:54.280 Literally, wonderful counselor means that he would be a wonder of a counselor. 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:58.660 Wouldn't you love to go to a counselor that knew all things? 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.259 I know one. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:07.159 Wouldn't you love to go to one that knew your problem before you spoke it? 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.500 I know one. 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:16.200 One you could hide nothing from, that accepted you as you are? 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.419 I know one. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:25.259 One who would be thorough, just, honest, and loving. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:25.379 I know one. 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.460 I know one. 00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:31.360 One that understands us like no one else could. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.360 I know one. 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.019 Isaiah 53, 3 says, 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:40.319 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:44.120 As one from whom men hid their faces, hide their faces. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.779 He was despised and we esteemed him not. 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:52.379 The New Testament in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15 and 16 says, 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:56.320 For we don't have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 00:14:56.899 --> 00:15:01.919 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:06.820 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:11.519 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:15.019 I praise God for Christmas because that's what it is. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.940 He's a wonder of a counselor. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.240 You want a special gift for Christmas? 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:21.179 God gave you his son. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:23.519 And his son makes all the difference. 00:15:23.859 --> 00:15:25.919 You need somebody to shoulder your difficulty? 00:15:26.339 --> 00:15:27.459 I know one that can. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.120 Do you need somebody who can lend you an ear? 00:15:30.479 --> 00:15:31.620 I know one who can. 00:15:31.859 --> 00:15:33.299 Do you need a trusting word? 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:34.819 I know one who can. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.019 And it's all found in the Lord Jesus. 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:40.279 He is a wonder of a counselor. 00:15:40.979 --> 00:15:42.319 But he's also a mighty God. 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:49.279 And that word mighty that's used there is often used to speak of a fierce warrior. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:53.439 One that not only goes into battle and is not afraid of battle, 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:56.000 but praise God one that wins the battles. 00:15:57.059 --> 00:16:01.279 Don't ever think that you can win your own battles because the reality is we can't. 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:05.860 The spiritual battles that we face are beyond our strength and are beyond our ability. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:12.980 And I've spent months talking about putting on the armor of God and wielding your sword of the word of the Lord. 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:23.580 And to seek his face faithfully because he is a mighty God that's up to any battle that we may face. 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.419 Not only that, he's everlasting father. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.360 Which is interesting. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:30.960 Because it's a prophecy about the son of God. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:33.259 Yet it says everlasting father. 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:35.360 And what that does is brings up the Trinity. 00:16:36.300 --> 00:16:37.919 And I want you to just think about this for a moment. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:42.419 God is described as three separate persons. 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:46.519 The father gives all authority to the son. 00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:49.399 And bears witness to the son. 00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:53.120 As does Jesus to himself. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:57.000 Yet the son claims nothing for himself. 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:00.700 He gives all glory to the father who has sent him. 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:03.980 The father serves the son. 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:07.140 The son serves the father. 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:11.460 The father and son defer to the Holy Spirit. 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:16.000 Who in turn serves and defers to the father and son. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:22.160 In a oneness that is eternally dynamic and is inexhaustible. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:25.979 And you don't understand that. 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.839 And I don't either. 00:17:28.479 --> 00:17:29.939 Because it is beyond us. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.819 Because God's bigger than us. 00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:35.279 It is absolutely an amazing wonder. 00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.439 But they're all distinct. 00:17:36.959 --> 00:17:40.519 So why is Christ called the everlasting father? 00:17:40.699 --> 00:17:42.579 Well, let the word speak for itself. 00:17:42.939 --> 00:17:44.199 Colossians chapter 2. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.119 Verse 9 and 10 says, 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:47.819 For in him, speaking of Christ, 00:17:48.219 --> 00:17:51.179 the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:57.820 And you have been filled in him who is the head of all rule and all authority. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:01.200 Christ himself put it this way. 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:03.160 In John 14, 9, he said, 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:05.820 Whoever has seen me has seen the father. 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.420 In John 10, verse 30, he said, 00:18:08.560 --> 00:18:11.220 I and the father are one. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.820 That term father means originator. 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:17.019 It means source. 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:22.259 In other words, God is the source of all of eternity. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:26.019 And I will tell you that from the beginning, 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:30.200 from Genesis 1, when God first spoke, 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:32.819 Christ was there. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.720 Let us make man in our image. 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:40.379 The evidence of the Trinity always there. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.539 He's the everlasting father. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.940 Not only that, but he's also the prince of peace. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:49.220 The secret of Christmas is that you can't have peace unless you have the prince of peace. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.720 And Christ came to earth from heaven, 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.080 born in a manger, 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.740 lived among us, 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:56.000 died for us, 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.480 rose again on our behalf 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:01.160 so that we could have peace through him. 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:04.980 He controls every part of that peace. 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:07.039 I want you to think about it for a moment. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.720 He creates peace. 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:13.680 He told the disciples in John 14, 27, 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.980 Peace I leave with you. 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:18.360 My peace I give to you. 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:21.079 Not as the world gives do I give to you. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:23.059 Let not your hearts be troubled, 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.039 neither let it be afraid. 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:30.339 In homes that are troubled with anguish, 00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:34.000 Christ creates peace. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.339 In hearts that are troubled with despair, 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:40.500 it is Christ that creates peace. 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.619 And in your situation, 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:44.059 no matter how big it is, 00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.939 no matter how obvious it is, 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.199 no matter how secret it is, 00:19:47.659 --> 00:19:50.459 Christ is the one that creates peace. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.939 But not only does he create peace, 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.159 but he commands peace. 00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:56.379 He said to a raging storm, 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.439 Peace be still. 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.379 And you know what happened? 00:19:58.919 --> 00:20:01.419 The waves died down and the storm went away. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:04.039 What's your storm? 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.079 What's your storm? 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.559 Whatever it is, 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:13.079 he can bring peace in the midst of that. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:18.740 We would never know real peace 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:22.039 if he had not come to the earth. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.159 He commands peace. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.679 Not only that, 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:27.119 but thank God he preserves peace. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.299 Philippians 4, verse 7 says, 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.959 And the peace of God, 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:34.799 which surpasses all understanding, 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.960 it's beyond our mindset, folks, 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.259 will guard your hearts and your minds 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.519 in Christ Jesus. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:44.460 That means it'll go far beyond anything 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.639 that we can imagine or think up. 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:48.919 It means that it guards us. 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:52.000 His peace protects us. 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:55.460 And it's a peace that we cannot understand. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:59.840 And it is just part of the greatest gift 00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:02.559 of that Christmas day 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.259 and of every Christmas day. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:09.100 The greatest gift of Christmas is the babe. 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:13.240 It is Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.440 And because of that, 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:19.519 man, I wish you a Merry Christmas. 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.880 With every head bowed and every eye closed, 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.220 I want to ask you something this morning. 00:21:25.260 --> 00:21:26.120 Let's be honest. 00:21:26.780 --> 00:21:27.680 Just you and God. 00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:31.620 Has there ever been a time in your life 00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:32.780 when you've asked the Lord Jesus 00:21:32.780 --> 00:21:33.900 to come into your life? 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.840 You surrender your life to him 00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:38.340 and ask him to save you and change you. 00:21:41.040 --> 00:21:42.360 And if that's never happened, 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:44.980 what a greater Christmas gift can you get 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:47.940 than receiving salvation through Christ. 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:50.860 I'd be happy to guide you in that process 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:52.180 and talk to you about that. 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:54.500 It's the greatest decision you'll ever made, 00:21:54.860 --> 00:21:56.700 the greatest gift you'll ever receive. 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.820 Maybe you have done that, 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:01.660 but you've never acknowledged that publicly. 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:04.440 And Jesus, by his commission and by his example, 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:08.120 tells us that we're to follow that up with baptism. 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:12.240 It is a sign to others 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:15.640 of what's already happened to us inside of our lives. 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.920 And the reality is, 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:19.900 if we don't do it as believers, 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:21.560 it becomes a hindrance to us. 00:22:24.040 --> 00:22:25.700 Maybe you're here and God's leading you 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.900 to First Baptist Church. 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:30.400 You've prayed about what God would have you to do 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.759 and you felt led to do that. 00:22:31.800 --> 00:22:34.180 And I encourage you to come as God leads. 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.900 We guide you through that as well. 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:41.980 Maybe you just need to give to the Lord today. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.300 There's areas of your life 00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:46.680 that you're keeping for yourself 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:50.380 and you need to turn those things over to the Lord today. 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:53.759 There's hindrances and strongholds 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.580 that are in your life 00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:57.180 that you need to start afresh. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:23:00.580 The blessed gift of Christmas is 00:23:00.580 --> 00:23:02.620 that Christ will meet you where you are. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.600 He'll forgive you and make you clean. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.740 You do business with God. 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:09.160 Leave here today as a gift to the Lord, 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:11.340 being right with him and being obedient 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.580 when he speaks to your heart and life. 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.580 I realize that you can do that 00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:15.940 where you stand in just a moment 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.140 or you can do it at this altar. 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:19.620 I'll be happy to pray with you through that. 00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:22.680 Either way, I have no idea what God's told you, 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:24.720 but I know you'll never be satisfied 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:28.299 to do anything less than God's very best for your life. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.200 I want you to have that peace 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:32.360 that only the Prince of Peace can bring. 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.960 And so just follow him. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.759 Just trust him. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.740 He'll guide you right. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:39.019 Lord Jesus, I love you and I thank you. 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:41.259 For the privilege of worship today, 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.700 Lord, will you lead us, Father, 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.319 to be everything, Lord, 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.600 that you would have us to be. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:48.120 Help us to be obedient right now 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.420 as we pray. 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:51.660 In Jesus' precious name, amen.