WEBVTT

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 To be seated and open your Bibles to Luke chapter 2.

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 To be seated and open your Bibles to Luke chapter 2.

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 And then there are those parents who think that their children are out of this world.

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 And they think that their children can sing better than Beyonce.

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 They think that their children can play better than Messi.

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 And I guess for some parents, maybe for all of us, to some degree we live out our hopes and dreams through our children.

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 You couldn't do it, but you think maybe with a bit of encouragement they can.

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 But let's push it.

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 When push comes to shove, there is only one set of parents who could actually say without a shadow of doubt that their child, their kid was out of this world, literally.

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 At Jesus Christ, who came from heaven itself.

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 And at the birth of any child, there's usually a huge amount of fuss, isn't there?

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 Camera, presence, videos, phone calls.

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 But at the birth of Jesus, the angel of the Lord turns up and makes this massive announcement to shepherds.

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 As he'd already done to Elizabeth and Mary.

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 Look at chapter 2 and verse 10.

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 The angel says this.

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 Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

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 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour who is Christ the Lord.

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 God wants the shepherds to know.

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 He wants you to know this Christmas day that this child born in Bethlehem is good news.

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 It's always good news, isn't it, when a child is born.

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 We've had a number of babies born this year in church life.

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 It's always a joy to get that text message, to get that phone call.

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 But this is uniquely good news.

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 The kind of good news that the word literally was only used at the birth of an emperor.

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 It's good news because the waiting is over.

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 Some of you children, you've been waiting, haven't you, for Christmas to come.

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 There's been a countdown.

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 But Israel had been waiting.

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 Today, finally.

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 Today, on that first Christmas day.

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 Today, today in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you.

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 And at that moment in history, 2,000 years ago for us,

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 the long-awaited saviour had finally arrived.

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 He'd been a long time coming.

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 The Bible is 66 books.

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 It's not a collection of proverbs and myths and nice sayings.

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 It's an unfolding story that starts with creation and finishes with the new creation.

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 The message of the Bible is basically God made this world.

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 We broke it.

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 Jesus fixes it.

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 And that's the storyline of the Bible.

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 But scattered right through the Bible are promises.

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 And so, for example, 2,000 years ago, before the Christmas day, the first Christmas day,

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 God had said to Abraham,

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 Through you a son will come,

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 and your seed will bless the whole of the world.

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 That was 2,000 years before the first Christmas.

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 1,000 years before the first Christmas,

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 God had said to King David in 2 Samuel 7,

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 That from you will come a king,

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 and his kingdom will never end,

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 and he'll be on the throne forever.

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 And death will be no more.

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 Then 500 years before the first Christmas,

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 the prophet Micah

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 said when that king comes,

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 he's going to be born in one place,

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 and one place only,

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 and that place will be a place called Bethlehem.

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 The waiting has been long.

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 Some of us have got long journeys ahead of us this week

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 to visit family,

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 and you will hear little cries from the back,

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 won't you?

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 Are we there yet?

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 When are we going to get there?

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 And that's the cry of the Old Testament.

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 Are we there yet?

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 When are we going to get there?

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 They knew that God's king would come.

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 He would come,

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 and he would fix this world.

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 This world that has gone wrong.

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 He would deal with my problems,

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 and forgive my sins.

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 They just didn't know when.

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 And then we're told,

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 Can you see it?

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 Luke chapter 2, verse 11.

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 And to you this day,

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 in the town of David,

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 a saviour has been born to you.

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 And I know it's old news for us, isn't it?

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 That's not new news for you this morning.

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 It's not old news.

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 It's old news for us,

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 but it's still good news.

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 Let me tell you why it's good news.

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 Let me break it up.

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 It's good news because he is a saviour.

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 And I tell you,

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 we need to be saved as much today

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 as we ever have.

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 We need to be forgiven today

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 as much as we ever have.

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 You've got to know this.

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 You've got to know this today,

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 that there is nothing that you have done

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 that cannot be forgiven by Jesus Christ.

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 Let me say that again.

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 There is nothing that you have done

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 that cannot be forgiven you this morning

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 if you receive Jesus Christ.

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 Because today

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 is born this day in the city of David

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 a saviour.

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 And it's good news,

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 not only that he's a saviour,

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 but he is God's king.

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 Somebody who is in charge of this crazy world.

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 Do you remember last Christmas?

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 Last Christmas,

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 we just survived, didn't we?

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 This kind of

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 next flood of COVID

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 that they thought was going to come through.

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 And we thought, didn't we,

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 we'd come out of the pandemic

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 and it would be happy times again.

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 Life returning back to normal.

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 But this year,

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 we've seen an international crisis.

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 War in Ukraine.

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 Global fallout.

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 Three prime ministers.

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 Political instability.

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 The death of the queen.

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 And England yet again

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 losing the France

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 in the World Cup.

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 A cost of living crisis.

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 Climate anxiety

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 after record heat waves.

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 Do you remember them?

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 But the message of Christmas Day

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 is that this world

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 is not going to stay as it is.

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 So much grief,

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 and yet that grief will be dealt with.

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 And you need to know

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 that God is coming back

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 to take charge of this world.

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 A world that has thumbed its nose

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 at him.

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 And it begins

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 on this day in Bethlehem

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 with the birth of his son.

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 The son of the most high God.

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 God has come to make himself known.

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 And he's come

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 with the express purpose

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 that you would have

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 a relationship with him,

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 but on his terms.

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 But notice how God

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 fulfills his promise.

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 Every Bible

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 believing Israelite

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 knew that God's

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 appointed king

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 had to be born in Bethlehem.

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 But how does it happen?

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 A couple

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 called Mary and Joseph

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 who are betrothed to be married

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 are living in Nazareth.

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 But they end up giving birth

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 80 miles away

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 in Bethlehem.

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 Remember there's

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 no public transport

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 much like today.

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 There are no cars,

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 no motorbikes,

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 no scooters,

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 just a donkey

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 and walking.

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 And it's not as if

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 Joseph is reading

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 Micah one day

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 and thinks,

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 flip Mary,

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 we better get to

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 Bethlehem.

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 You need to have

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 the baby there.

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 That's not how it happened.

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 Look at chapter 2

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 and verse 1.

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 Look at the larger canvas.

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 In those days

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 the decree went out

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 from Caesar Augustus

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 the emperor

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 that all the world

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 should be registered.

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 That there should be

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 a census.

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 So first of all

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 God says

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 500 years before

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 Jesus is born

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 when God's king comes

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 he will be born

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 in Bethlehem.

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 The month before

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 he's born

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 or six months

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 before he's born

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 God works in the heart

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 of the emperor

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 Caesar Augustus

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 in Rome.

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 2,000 kilometers

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 away from

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 Bethlehem

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 and gets him

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 to do a census.

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 It affects the whole

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 of the Roman Empire

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 and on the edge

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 of that Roman Empire

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 a young couple

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 Joseph and Mary

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 who are originally

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 from Bethlehem

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 have got to go back

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 to their hometown

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 and register.

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 Also this amazing

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 prophecy could be

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 fulfilled.

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 So God promised

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 500 years before

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 God works in the heart

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 of an emperor

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 to organize a census

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 and God brings

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 a teenage couple

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 from Nazareth

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 so that in her

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 final trimester

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 she is there

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 and she gives birth

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 to fulfill

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 God's prophecy.

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 So God is a God

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 who makes promises

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 and keeps them.

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 The Bible is not

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 a story of myths.

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 We're not in the realm

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 of Star Trek

00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:53.600
 a long, long time

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 ago in Bethlehem

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 in a Bethlehem

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 far, far away.

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 No, you're dealing

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 with fact.

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 You're dealing

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 with promises

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 made by God

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 in one period

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 of history

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 and fulfilled

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 in another.

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 You can be assured.

00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:09.639
 And so let's not

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 miss the phrase.

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 Look with me

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 at chapter 2

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 verse 11 again.

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 For unto you

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 Isn't that a funny phrase?

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 Unto you

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 Born to you

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 Is born this day

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 in the city of David

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 a saviour

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 who is Christ the Lord.

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 Born to do you good.

00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:37.079
 Martin Luther

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 the German reformer

00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:39.639
 he said this

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 he said

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 why is it

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 when I go into the garden

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 all the birds

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 fly away from me

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 as if I mean

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 to do them harm.

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 Why do they do that?

00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:49.059
 He said

00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:49.500
 I've not come

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 to do them harm

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 but I go into the garden

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 and the birds

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 fly away from me.

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 You know what that's like.

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 If you've got

00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:57.860
 an air rifle

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 it's fair enough

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 isn't it?

00:10:58.899 --> 00:10:59.519
 The birds scatter.

00:11:01.819 --> 00:11:02.819
 But this one

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 born on Christmas day

00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.360
 who came to save

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 not condemn you

00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:12.480
 why is it

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.519
 when I go into the garden

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 all the birds fly away

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 do I mean to do them harm?

00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.600
 Why do they do that?

00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:17.500
 Why is it

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 that when I mention

00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:18.980
 Jesus

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:19.899
 the name of Jesus

00:11:19.899 --> 00:11:20.600
 my friends

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 they want to change

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 the subject

00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:24.759
 as if Jesus

00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:25.899
 means them harm.

00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:28.940
 Could it be right now

00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:30.019
 as I begin to speak to you

00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.879
 about the Lord Jesus

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.800
 you find yourself

00:11:31.800 --> 00:11:33.220
 intentionally distracted.

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:33.900
 I'm not going to think

00:11:33.900 --> 00:11:34.680
 about that you say.

00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:35.800
 I'm not going to allow

00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:37.060
 myself to go there.

00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:42.379
 Maybe you're thinking

00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.659
 I'm too ashamed.

00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:46.099
 I don't think

00:11:46.099 --> 00:11:46.959
 I can be safe

00:11:46.959 --> 00:11:47.719
 with him.

00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:50.699
 Maybe you think

00:11:50.699 --> 00:11:51.539
 as I talk about

00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:52.059
 the Lord Jesus

00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:52.339
 to you

00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:52.559
 you think

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.739
 I know

00:11:53.739 --> 00:11:54.679
 that I can't

00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.219
 be forgiven

00:11:55.219 --> 00:11:55.699
 you don't know

00:11:55.699 --> 00:11:56.219
 what I've done.

00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:57.019
 Could it be

00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:58.199
 that you're so upset

00:11:58.199 --> 00:11:58.839
 with God

00:11:58.839 --> 00:12:00.759
 that there's

00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.939
 an empty space

00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:04.119
 at the family table

00:12:04.119 --> 00:12:05.199
 and you're angry

00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:05.840
 with him

00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:08.580
 and you're blaming God?

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.320
 Could it be

00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:13.320
 that you're kind of afraid

00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.700
 that if you put your trust

00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:15.800
 in this wonderful saviour

00:12:15.800 --> 00:12:16.520
 that he'll ask

00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:17.660
 to be lord of your life

00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:18.540
 and to be in charge

00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:20.140
 and you will lose rights

00:12:20.140 --> 00:12:20.860
 over your life?

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.200
 Or maybe you're thinking

00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:25.720
 I just don't want

00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.600
 to be disappointed again

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:29.980
 because it really is

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.020
 a broken world

00:12:31.020 --> 00:12:31.780
 and there's so much

00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.660
 over promising

00:12:32.660 --> 00:12:33.259
 in our world

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:34.140
 and under delivering.

00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.720
 I quite like the film

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:38.860
 The Incredibles

00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:39.600
 do you know the film

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.120
 The Incredibles?

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:40.580
 It's a good film

00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:40.840
 as that.

00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:42.640
 And at the beginning

00:12:42.640 --> 00:12:44.460
 of the film

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.200
 the main character

00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.080
 who's imaginatively

00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:47.320
 called Mr. Incredible

00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:50.140
 he's going from

00:12:50.140 --> 00:12:51.240
 one scene

00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:51.700
 to another

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:53.000
 saving and rescuing people.

00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:54.820
 He's saving

00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.600
 this person

00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.820
 and that person.

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.020
 And this is what

00:12:59.020 --> 00:12:59.800
 Mr. Incredible says

00:12:59.800 --> 00:13:00.259
 right at the start

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:00.520
 of the film

00:13:00.520 --> 00:13:00.780
 he says

00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:02.759
 you just rescue one

00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.480
 and then there's another

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.300
 it's never ending.

00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.640
 No matter how many times

00:13:08.640 --> 00:13:09.420
 you've saved the world

00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:10.379
 it always manages

00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.000
 to get back

00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:11.940
 in jeopardy again.

00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:14.120
 Sometimes I just

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:14.920
 want it to stay

00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:15.520
 saved.

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:17.940
 You know just

00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:18.379
 for a little bit

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.420
 I feel like the maid

00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:20.400
 I just cleaned up

00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:20.840
 this mess

00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:21.520
 can you not keep it

00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:22.400
 clean for ten minutes?

00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:25.340
 And I think he captures

00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.740
 what we want

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.420
 this world to be

00:13:27.420 --> 00:13:28.379
 we want this world

00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.040
 just to be saved

00:13:29.040 --> 00:13:29.580
 for ten minutes

00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:29.900
 or so

00:13:29.900 --> 00:13:31.560
 just to be alright.

00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:34.399
 and you don't have

00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:34.899
 to think about

00:13:34.899 --> 00:13:35.799
 the whole world

00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:36.359
 you just have to

00:13:36.359 --> 00:13:36.679
 think about

00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:37.359
 your world

00:13:37.359 --> 00:13:37.799
 for a minute.

00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:40.259
 That everything

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.519
 just seems so right

00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.159
 doesn't it?

00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:43.439
 And then it goes wrong.

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.199
 I don't know what

00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:45.839
 your Christmas morning

00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:46.259
 has been like

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:46.799
 maybe it's been

00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:47.699
 the picture perfect

00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.379
 Christmas morning

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.000
 but I promise you

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.779
 it won't stay like that.

00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:54.479
 And God's word

00:13:54.479 --> 00:13:55.019
 comes to you

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.539
 this morning

00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:57.679
 and God says

00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:58.339
 I've not simply

00:13:58.339 --> 00:13:59.419
 come to save you

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.419
 but to save this universe.

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:02.959
 He's come to put

00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:03.599
 right

00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:06.259
 the beginning

00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:06.779
 of the story

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:08.039
 is little you

00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.959
 but the end

00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:09.379
 of the story

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.019
 is the beginning

00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.959
 of a whole new world.

00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.319
 A new creation

00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:13.860
 where there's no more

00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:14.959
 pain or crying

00:14:14.959 --> 00:14:15.659
 or grief

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:18.539
 and that's God's agenda

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:21.059
 with you in it

00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:21.979
 if only you would

00:14:21.979 --> 00:14:22.679
 take his hand.

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.399
 And because it's

00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:26.799
 good news

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.480
 it always comes

00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.579
 with great joy.

00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:31.500
 Whenever you meet

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.199
 the angels

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:33.039
 meet the shepherds

00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.659
 the angels

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.379
 scare the living

00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:34.759
 daylights

00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.459
 out of the shepherds.

00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:38.399
 And the first thing

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.019
 the angel says

00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:40.039
 is do not be afraid

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:40.399
 and then

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.919
 he talks to them

00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.879
 about the Lord Jesus

00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.659
 and the response

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.860
 is always great joy.

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.319
 I don't know

00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:49.159
 when you were born

00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:49.740
 when you were born

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.399
 there was probably

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:50.959
 a great deal

00:14:50.959 --> 00:14:51.579
 of fuss made

00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:51.939
 about you

00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:52.919
 loads of photographs.

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:54.659
 Particularly

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.599
 if you're child number one

00:14:55.599 --> 00:14:56.539
 many child number one

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.519
 if you're child number one

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.459
 there's loads of photographs

00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:58.860
 aren't there?

00:14:59.660 --> 00:15:00.720
 I was child number four.

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.120
 You're lucky

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.500
 if you can find

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:05.139
 four, ten baby photos.

00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.340
 But when you were born

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:07.780
 I can tell you

00:15:07.780 --> 00:15:08.660
 what didn't happen.

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.560
 Verse 13

00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:11.220
 didn't happen.

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:12.740
 In my house

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.120
 especially

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.580
 mum and dad

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.200
 think you are.

00:15:15.540 --> 00:15:15.940
 And suddenly

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.560
 there was an angel

00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:17.100
 and a multitude

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.100
 of the heavenly hosts

00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:18.840
 praising God

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.420
 and saying glory

00:15:19.420 --> 00:15:20.300
 to God in the highest

00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:21.340
 and on earth

00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:22.259
 peace among those

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.440
 with whom he is pleased.

00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:27.060
 A whole army

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:27.740
 of angels

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.700
 burst onto the scene.

00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:31.320
 And what I love

00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:31.600
 is this

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.800
 what is good for us

00:15:32.800 --> 00:15:33.640
 peace on earth

00:15:33.640 --> 00:15:34.700
 is good for God

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.440
 glory to God.

00:15:37.140 --> 00:15:37.580
 One is

00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:39.580
 not at the expense

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:39.880
 of the other

00:15:39.880 --> 00:15:40.400
 our God

00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:42.180
 is a very pro-human God

00:15:42.180 --> 00:15:43.800
 and to glorify him

00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:44.660
 is to do good to people.

00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:46.900
 And to do good to people

00:15:46.900 --> 00:15:47.860
 is to glorify him.

00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:50.500
 And when

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.720
 you were born

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.980
 the angels

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.740
 didn't cry out

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.179
 about that.

00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.000
 I'm sorry.

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.159
 There's no

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.039
 recording

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.940
 in the Bible

00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:00.820
 of angels

00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.500
 rejoicing

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.659
 at my birth

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.299
 or yours.

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.639
 But what the Bible

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.419
 says is this

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.740
 when you are born again

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:10.240
 then the angels

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.860
 kick into gear.

00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:13.899
 Jesus says that

00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:14.940
 in Luke 15

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.299
 he says

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:15.720
 I tell you

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.240
 there is joy

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.960
 before the angels

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.340
 of God

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.820
 over one sinner

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.980
 who repents.

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:22.480
 And since Jesus

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.220
 who was born

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:24.460
 on that first Christmas day

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.600
 is the saviour of the world

00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.899
 we need to trust him

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.539
 that's the call.

00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:29.440
 And since Jesus

00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.000
 who was born

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.879
 on the first Christmas day

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.039
 is Lord and King

00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:32.820
 we need to obey him.

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.740
 And when you do that

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:36.820
 as many of you have

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:38.860
 as Jesus becomes

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.399
 your Lord

00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:40.259
 and your saviour

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.240
 the Bible deems you

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.139
 to be born again.

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.419
 Because nothing more

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.279
 than a fresh start

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:46.679
 has happened.

00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.000
 And when that happens

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.240
 the angels in heaven

00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:50.919
 rejoice

00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.799
 and your heart

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:53.179
 is filled with joy.

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.820
 And Peter says

00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.659
 1 Peter 1.8

00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.580
 we are filled

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:59.299
 with an inexpressible

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.639
 and glorious joy.

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.460
 A joy so wonderful

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.819
 we can't put it into words.

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.759
 I think one of the dangers

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.700
 on a day like this

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.680
 is that you confuse

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.740
 happiness and joy.

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.900
 If you've not been born again

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.000
 by God's Spirit

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.079
 you've not known this joy.

00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.279
 If you've not accepted

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.199
 Jesus as your Lord

00:17:20.199 --> 00:17:20.720
 and saviour

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.819
 you will know of happiness.

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.439
 Yes.

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.899
 That's a human experience

00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:24.899
 but you will not yet know

00:17:24.899 --> 00:17:25.359
 of joy.

00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.779
 Because joy is

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.519
 the single

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.539
 unique

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:31.079
 Christian emotion.

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.740
 Let me give you

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.220
 a definition

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.960
 as I round up.

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.359
 A deep

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.000
 profound

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.919
 experience

00:17:36.919 --> 00:17:37.879
 of thankfulness

00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:39.879
 at the certainty

00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:41.059
 of being saved

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.639
 by Jesus

00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:42.240
 from hell.

00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:44.279
 That's where joy

00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:44.980
 springs from.

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.880
 a deep

00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.500
 and profound

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.240
 experience

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.140
 of thankfulness

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:49.360
 at the certainty

00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:50.880
 of being rescued

00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.380
 by Jesus

00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:51.980
 from hell.

00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.680
 And unless

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.319
 you have

00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.000
 the Lord Jesus

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.880
 you can't have

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.339
 that joy.

00:17:58.940 --> 00:17:59.519
 In fact

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.099
 you can't get it

00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:01.220
 any other way.

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:03.880
 So that means

00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.160
 you can be depressed

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.559
 this morning

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.259
 but you can have

00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:07.819
 that joy.

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:11.019
 Members of this church

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.519
 struggle

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.539
 with anxiety

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.400
 and depression

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.340
 like everyone else.

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:17.160
 People in this church

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.440
 go up

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.240
 and down.

00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.420
 Sometimes it feels

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.000
 like an up and down

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.400
 club.

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.700
 And I need to be

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.280
 really careful

00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:25.620
 this morning

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.120
 that I don't

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.759
 over promise.

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.100
 I'm not promising you

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.900
 in the gospel

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:30.060
 permanent

00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:31.180
 24-7 happiness.

00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.900
 But what I am

00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:34.420
 saying to you

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.519
 is that in the highs

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.480
 and lows

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.200
 of life

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.740
 there is

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.400
 this joy.

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:41.580
 this deep

00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:42.320
 profound

00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:43.040
 experience

00:18:43.040 --> 00:18:43.800
 of thankfulness

00:18:43.800 --> 00:18:45.660
 at being

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.100
 rescued

00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:46.660
 by Jesus

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.200
 from hell.

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.140
 And there is

00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:49.720
 no greater joy

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.120
 than that.

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.080
 When the

00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:53.620
 saviour comes

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.040
 praise

00:18:54.040 --> 00:18:55.040
 and thankfulness

00:18:55.040 --> 00:18:55.420
 follow

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.140
 verse 20

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:56.660
 the shepherds

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.120
 turn up

00:18:57.120 --> 00:18:57.640
 and confirm

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:57.980
 everything

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.360
 the angel

00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:58.800
 says

00:18:58.800 --> 00:19:01.040
 when they

00:19:01.040 --> 00:19:01.420
 meet baby

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:01.740
 Jesus

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.140
 and Mary

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.600
 and Joseph.

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.460
 We're told

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.019
 that the

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.320
 shepherds

00:19:05.320 --> 00:19:05.640
 returned

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.340
 glorifying

00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:06.920
 and praising

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.160
 God

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.440
 for all

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:07.640
 they'd

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:07.900
 heard

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.720
 and seen

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.080
 as it

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.259
 had been

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.460
 told

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:09.600
 them

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:09.840
 back to

00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:09.960
 our

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.240
 verse

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.100
 I bring

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:11.240
 you

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.480
 good

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:11.779
 news

00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:11.960
 of

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.180
 great

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.500
 joy

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:14.259
 that

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:14.400
 will

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:14.580
 be

00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:14.779
 for

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.060
 all

00:19:15.060 --> 00:19:15.400
 people

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.160
 for unto

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:16.340
 you

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:16.720
 is born

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.259
 this day

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.580
 in the

00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:17.779
 city

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.240
 of David

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.900
 a saviour

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.320
 for all

00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:19.620
 people.

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.259
 In this

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.480
 church

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:22.660
 there are

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:22.820
 about

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:24.160
 40 nationalities

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.800
 and people

00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:26.039
 have come

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.400
 to Jesus

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.120
 from very

00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:27.480
 different

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:27.980
 backgrounds

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.960
 at very

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.240
 different

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:29.539
 stages

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.000
 of life.

00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:31.920
 People

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.100
 who've

00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:32.220
 been

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.660
 broken

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:34.779
 others

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:34.980
 who've

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.259
 not been

00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:35.560
 particularly

00:19:35.560 --> 00:19:35.880
 broken.

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.880
 they've

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.200
 just been

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.640
 persuaded

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:37.980
 by the

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.220
 facts

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.360
 of

00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:38.700
 Jesus.

00:19:40.520 --> 00:19:40.980
 People

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.340
 have come

00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:41.760
 when they're

00:19:41.760 --> 00:19:42.100
 happy

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:43.080
 and they've

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.280
 come when

00:19:43.280 --> 00:19:43.760
 they're sad.

00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:45.700
 Some people

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:45.960
 have come

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.220
 when they're

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:46.600
 doing really

00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.020
 well in

00:19:47.020 --> 00:19:47.320
 business

00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:47.740
 some have

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.120
 come when

00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:48.380
 they're

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.100
 flat broke.

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.160
 People

00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:51.420
 have come

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:51.700
 when they're

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.100
 healthy

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.860
 and fit

00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.380
 and others

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:53.840
 when they're

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.320
 unhealthy

00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.400
 and sick.

00:19:57.060 --> 00:19:57.640
 And all

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.080
 have found

00:19:58.080 --> 00:19:58.600
 themselves

00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.160
 worshipping

00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.860
 this Jesus.

00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:02.740
 And when

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.340
 Mary and

00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:04.060
 Joseph went

00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:05.120
 to Bethlehem

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.559
 there was

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.279
 no room

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.659
 was there

00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:07.039
 in that

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.579
 guest house

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.219
 for Jesus.

00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:10.199
 And I

00:20:10.199 --> 00:20:10.619
 wonder this

00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.059
 morning if

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.319
 there is

00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.179
 room for

00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:12.639
 Jesus in

00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:12.979
 that heart

00:20:12.979 --> 00:20:13.459
 of yours.

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.079
 There's a

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.559
 big difference

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:16.919
 isn't there

00:20:16.919 --> 00:20:17.659
 between singing

00:20:17.659 --> 00:20:18.159
 about Jesus

00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:18.519
 as the

00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:18.879
 saviour of

00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.439
 the world

00:20:19.439 --> 00:20:21.679
 that would

00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:22.000
 be just

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.219
 another

00:20:22.219 --> 00:20:22.619
 Christmas.

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.299
 And useless

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.899
 to you

00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.500
 unless you

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.099
 understand that

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.659
 Jesus is

00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:28.619
 my saviour

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:28.979
 and my

00:20:28.979 --> 00:20:29.219
 Lord.

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.000
 Galatians

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.679
 2.20 is

00:20:32.679 --> 00:20:33.059
 one of my

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.379
 favourite

00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:33.719
 verses.

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:36.920
 It says

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.180
 this.

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.660
 Let me read

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.039
 it to you.

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.000
 The life

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.519
 I live

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.519
 I now

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:44.980
 live in

00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.380
 the flesh

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:45.759
 I live

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.339
 by faith

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.640
 in the

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:46.940
 son of

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.200
 God

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.380
 who

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:47.759
 loved

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.160
 me

00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.759
 and

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.079
 gave

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.519
 himself

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.240
 for

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.600
 me.

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:53.779
 You see

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.140
 the truth

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.440
 is

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:54.960
 this morning

00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.259
 there is

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.759
 nothing

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:57.400
 that you

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:57.740
 have done

00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.120
 that can't

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.539
 be forgiven.

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.480
 God so

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.839
 loved the

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.120
 world

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.439
 that's

00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:01.819
 wonderful

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.539
 but God

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:03.919
 so loved

00:21:03.919 --> 00:21:04.279
 me

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.979
 that's

00:21:04.979 --> 00:21:05.359
 unbelievable.

00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:07.299
 Have you

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.759
 done that?

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.519
 Have you

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.299
 made Jesus

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.019
 your saviour

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.859
 and your

00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.179
 Lord

00:21:12.179 --> 00:21:13.959
 that you

00:21:13.959 --> 00:21:14.500
 may know

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.019
 the joy

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.359
 of his

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.679
 forgiveness

00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:17.879
 that you

00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.139
 may know

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.500
 the joy

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:18.979
 of God

00:21:18.979 --> 00:21:22.000
 God being

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.599
 your father

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:24.119
 and of heaven

00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.539
 being your

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.779
 home.

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.500
 let's

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:26.660
 pray.

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:26.779
 Let's

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:26.700
 pray.

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:26.779
 Let's

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:26.700
 pray.

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:26.779
 Let's

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:26.700
 pray.

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:26.779
 Let's