WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.419 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging 00:00:05.419 --> 00:00:06.879 lives for Christ. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:11.759 I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:15.240 Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:22.039 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application. 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:26.879 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:29.080 Let's dive in together into God's Word. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:33.240 Good evening, everyone. 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:34.240 Merry Christmas. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:35.240 Merry Christmas. 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:39.439 It's great to be here with all of you, friends, families. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:43.039 Some of you I may not know, some of you I've seen before. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:45.399 If you don't know me, my name is Patrick Daly. 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:51.159 I'm the pastor here, and it's a pleasure to meet all of you, or see you guys again. 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:58.200 You know, Christmas is a time of, it's a story of beginnings. 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:07.719 Beginnings of hope, the beginning of redemption, and it is the beginning of light that shines 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:09.960 in the darkness. 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:14.960 For many of us, we know what it's like to be in a dark room before, right? 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:18.719 At least I hope we all have. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:27.280 And we know what happens when we turn on a light, how quickly the room is illuminated. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:31.920 We can also think of times where the power might have gone out before. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:40.200 And you're scrambling for your phone, or a lighter, or something to light up the room. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:45.359 How quickly, and how desperately we look for something, could be our phone, it could be 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:52.000 anything to light up the room so that we can see what's in front of us, or what's around 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:53.000 us. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:59.519 And you know how dependent we are on light. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:05.599 We think of electricity, we think of all of these electronics that light up our faces, 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:08.759 the screens, and all of these things. 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:16.840 But when it comes to the Lord, we think of God providing the light from the beginning. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:25.480 From the beginning of our Bible through Scripture and even today, it is the light of Christ 00:02:25.480 --> 00:02:32.120 that shines for all to see, and for all to believe in Him. 00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:38.000 I want to put on the screen here, kind of interesting to think about the Genesis account 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.120 here on Christmas. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:46.680 We think many of us have read this before when it says, in the beginning God created 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.680 the heavens and the earth. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.439 The earth was without form and void. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:57.020 And what was over the face of the deep? 00:02:57.020 --> 00:03:03.159 Darkness was over the face of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the face 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:05.760 of the waters. 00:03:05.760 --> 00:03:12.120 And God said, let there be light, and there was light. 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.680 Some of you may have heard this story before. 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:19.719 If you haven't, it's a really good story, and you should read it sometime. 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:25.520 For many of us, we open our Bibles and we read about how there's this seven-day creation 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:27.020 story as it were. 00:03:27.020 --> 00:03:32.360 Talking about the night and the day, we have the plants and the animals, the formation of 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:34.719 the world that's happening. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:41.760 But even here in these three verses, we have to think for the spiritual truth that comes 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:49.359 from here, that there was darkness over the world. 00:03:49.359 --> 00:03:52.519 And God said, let there be light, and there was light. 00:03:52.519 --> 00:03:57.719 Many of us, we read that and we think of the physical light that's shining into the world, 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:58.719 correct? 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:05.159 But let's think for a moment how there is darkness in the world, and how we need the 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:11.960 light, love, and truth of Jesus Christ to shine in this world. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:18.040 It's a way that many of us may not have thought of it before, but many times and very often 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:24.800 in Scripture we see things that can be viewed upon from a more literal standpoint. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:33.159 But here, for this Christmas, I want us to think about this from a spiritual standpoint, 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:37.600 that there is darkness in this world. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:42.980 There are many people who are lost and they may not have the light. 00:04:42.980 --> 00:04:48.120 And when we think of the light that comes from the Lord, again, the light of Christ 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:52.680 shines for all to believe in Him. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:59.360 The next verse I want to show you is from John chapter 1, verses 1 through 5, which says, 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.920 in the beginning, many of you know this, in the beginning was the Word and the Word 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.439 was with God and the Word was God. 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:12.319 He was in the beginning with God and all things were made through Him. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:17.319 And without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:19.819 In Him was what, church? 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:22.000 In Him was life. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:24.319 And the life was the what? 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:27.520 The light of men. 00:05:27.520 --> 00:05:29.199 What does that light do? 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:32.360 It shines in the what? 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:37.680 The darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:45.639 My friends, there is but a connection that we can think of in this Christmas story, that 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:52.319 the light of the world is here, being born in the manger. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:56.120 We think of the hope that comes from Jesus Christ. 00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:59.680 We think of the peace that surpasses all understanding. 00:05:59.680 --> 00:06:03.519 We think of the joy that is inexhaustible and inexpressible. 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:07.240 And we think of the love of God. 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:11.000 For many of us, we've heard the name Ontario before. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.740 If you haven't, well, this is where we are. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:21.360 Did you know in Japanese, Ontario means grace overflowing? 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:26.079 I found that to be something in our little, there's a book. 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:28.240 Some of you want to check it out. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:34.000 It's that 50 year history book of this church. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:41.599 And someone a long time ago here at this church said that Ontario is translated in 00:06:41.599 --> 00:06:45.680 Japanese as grace overflowing. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:52.039 And what a great way for us to think about this when it comes to our Lord and the grace 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:56.560 that should be overflowing in this place. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:04.840 It's a great reminder for us of the love that God has for us so much so to send his son, 00:07:04.840 --> 00:07:13.960 Jesus Christ, to be born in the manger, to be the fulfillment of all of these prophecies. 00:07:13.960 --> 00:07:16.360 And we think of that light. 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:19.360 Let us think of that light. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:25.480 We think of this next slide here, the heart of the message, the same light that God provides, 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:27.560 the light of creation. 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:34.680 God's first words is let there be light and that it is a declaration that the light will 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:37.920 drive out the darkness. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:46.360 The light of creation is a representation of the light of Christ that will shine in the 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.160 dark and broken world. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:52.560 How we need the light in our life. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:53.800 Amen. 00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:56.520 We also see here the light of Christ. 00:07:56.520 --> 00:08:03.160 Jesus the Word made flesh is the light of the world for us to believe him. 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:12.160 As you can see from these verses, from Genesis to the Gospel of John, Jesus the Word was 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:13.280 there in the beginning. 00:08:13.280 --> 00:08:23.000 The light that God spoke into existence was fulfilled in Christ, the light of the world. 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:28.120 The birth of Jesus again was the fulfillment of prophecy. 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:35.720 It was part of God's plan, his redemptive plan for all of mankind that whosoever believes 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:40.200 shall not perish but have eternal life. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:48.200 God in Bethlehem is Jesus to bring life and light to all people. 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:57.520 And from this light, again we see the representation, this symbolism, this parallel, the light 00:08:57.520 --> 00:09:01.240 of creation and the light of Christ. 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:05.160 That third point then is the light for us. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:11.600 That Christ light shines into the darkest part of the world and even in the darkest parts 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.399 of our life. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:21.799 Some of you may have seen the light, but have you received the light in your heart? 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:28.719 It's a call for you to know who Jesus is and what a special time this is for us to think 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:37.320 of the Christmas story, thinking about such humble beginnings. 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:43.120 The Son of God to be born in a manger, you would have thought he would have been born 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:49.600 in a more suitable place, but yet there was that humble beginning. 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:55.399 And we think to ourselves, we are to, how many of you know that song? 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.920 Let it shine. 00:09:56.920 --> 00:09:57.920 Let it shine. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:58.919 Let it shine. 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.279 This little light of mine. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:02.679 I'm going to let it shine. 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:07.519 There's a verse in there that says, hide it under a what? 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:09.439 A bushel no. 00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:11.959 I'm going to let it shine. 00:10:11.959 --> 00:10:17.959 And for you to know Jesus Christ, to have that relationship with him, to receive the 00:10:17.959 --> 00:10:24.360 light in your hearts, let that light that comes from Christ, let it shine for others 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:35.000 to see how powerful and how illuminating it is when you have not just one, but many 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.440 lights that come from the Lord. 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:44.879 The light of Christ has come into the world and shines in the darkness. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.759 Darkness has not overcome. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:55.759 This is the hope of Christmas that no matter how dark the world is, no matter how crazy 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:04.120 and how busy things get, no matter what the anchors on television or your famous tiktok 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:09.600 influencers say, there is hope in Jesus Christ. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:13.759 And this light of Christ is available for all. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:20.360 Let us come to the light in faith in the presence of the Lord. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:28.720 And tonight what I want us to do, we're going to get our candles and we're going to begin 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.980 lighting them. 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:43.679 And I want you to think of this message tonight. 00:11:44.599 --> 00:11:46.879 You look at a candle, right? 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:56.759 Compared to the lumens, the lighting power of electricity. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:02.079 When we think of the ancient times, they had oil lamps. 00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:11.719 They lit them up and how one lamp, how one candle could make such a profound difference. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:17.040 But tonight be a representation of the light, love and truth of Christ. 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:21.680 I have this image here kind of as an idea here. 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:25.320 Christ being the great candle as it were. 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:28.440 And us being the little flames that are being lit. 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:30.440 So what I want to do, I want to go ahead and start. 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:32.600 Mark, I will start with you. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:39.080 We're going to light our candles to those next to us and those, don't let your light 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:40.080 go out. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:41.080 Right? 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:46.080 As we light it, we can go to the next light. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.080 It's open. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:51.080 I don't want to go in. 00:12:51.080 --> 00:13:14.080 Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:32.080 Round your virgin color and shine, Holy infant, so tender and mild. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:49.080 Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. 00:13:49.080 --> 00:14:06.080 Silent night, holy night, shepherds pray at the sign, 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:58.080 Silent night, holy night, son of God loves your life, 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:15.080 Radiant beach from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace. 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:33.080 Jesus, born and by heaven. 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:42.080 And tonight as we hold our candles up, let us remember the light into the world. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:48.080 That the light of Christ broke into the world on that holy night in Bethlehem. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:55.080 And the light continues to shine in and through us. 00:15:55.080 --> 00:16:04.080 Just as one flame can illuminate a room, Jesus Christ illuminates the world. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.080 Amen. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:11.080 Thank you for listening for this week's message from Ontario Community Church. 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:16.080 I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened in your walk with Christ. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:21.080 For more sermons and resources, visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:26.080 May God bless you as you live out His grace and truth every single day. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.080 Thank you.