WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 The reading is Matthew chapter 4. 00:00:05.660 --> 00:00:09.480 Now when he had heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.439 And leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:16.100 in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:20.640 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:24.179 The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:28.019 the way of the sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 00:00:28.019 --> 00:00:31.140 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:36.039 and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death on them, a light has dawned. 00:00:36.519 --> 00:00:39.140 From that time, Jesus began to preach, saying, 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.920 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:54.079 Well, put your hand up if you like Christmas. 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:57.060 Whoa, okay. 00:00:58.020 --> 00:01:00.200 I mean, a hostile audience. 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:01.200 Okay. 00:01:01.480 --> 00:01:03.200 Well, I have to say I don't like Christmas. 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:10.620 When it's driven by people who say they love Christmas 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:13.560 and say they want to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:16.219 but of course leave Jesus out of it. 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:20.739 Or just give them a token reference of some cute little baby. 00:01:20.739 --> 00:01:28.379 So it's been a tradition in our household to watch the carol services on TV on the two nights leading up to Christmas. 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:32.180 Carols in Sydney and the Domain and then the Meyer music bowl. 00:01:32.180 --> 00:01:35.340 And I tell you, each year I say, that's it, no more. 00:01:36.080 --> 00:01:39.740 But I come back to them and sort of grind my way through them again. 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:43.420 So I hate Christmas when it presents like that. 00:01:44.919 --> 00:01:48.459 But I do love celebrating the birth of Jesus. 00:01:49.619 --> 00:01:58.500 I do love celebrating the birth of Jesus, who is God's wonderful gift to you and to me and to this world in general. 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:05.700 And who wouldn't want to celebrate that when we understand exactly what God has done in Jesus? 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:12.900 And so I really love reading and thinking about the records of the life of Jesus, the four Gospels. 00:02:12.979 --> 00:02:16.139 We've been working through Matthew's Gospel for the last seven or eight weeks. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:22.400 And I'm just going to pick up the next section, which has fitted really well with our program for Christmas. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:32.319 But girls and boys, before I launch into what I want to say, I've got some photographs to show the girls and boys. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:40.340 Now, I have to tell you, I'm not a real good photographer, so I don't necessarily get the light settings right on the camera first time around. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:42.819 It's great having a digital camera. 00:02:42.920 --> 00:02:46.259 I can take multiple photographs and eventually maybe I can get one right. 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:52.259 So girls and boys, I want to put a photograph or two up now and I want you to guess what you're looking at. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:58.599 Ah, it even looks worse on the screen than it did in my camera. 00:02:58.700 --> 00:03:00.780 Now, that's my first. 00:03:00.860 --> 00:03:02.860 Can anybody guess what I've taken a photograph of there? 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:04.659 Sorry? 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:07.340 My finger. 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:14.580 I don't know how to say this to you gently, Nathaniel. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:15.360 No. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:16.319 Right. 00:03:17.040 --> 00:03:17.520 Try the next. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:18.159 Try the next. 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:19.240 Oh, here we go. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:22.600 I've got a little bit better light now, so that's obviously not a finger, is it, Nathaniel? 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:23.760 No. 00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:24.159 Okay. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:26.200 Any guesses? 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:28.560 A UFO? 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:29.280 Ooh. 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:33.020 Try again. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:34.159 Well, here we go. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:37.680 A bit of a light beam coming in there and things are getting a little bit more visible. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:42.439 Somebody what? 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:45.780 Somebody's singing on stage. 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:48.699 We'll see. 00:03:49.259 --> 00:03:50.199 Go again, James. 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:52.860 Is that going to do it for anybody? 00:03:55.300 --> 00:03:55.699 Yay! 00:03:56.219 --> 00:03:57.259 Except you're not a child. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:57.960 Just be quiet. 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:01.379 So, was that Emma said that? 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:02.240 Yeah. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:03.939 Oh, one of the big... 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:04.280 All right. 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:04.500 Okay. 00:04:04.580 --> 00:04:05.139 Well, there you go. 00:04:05.340 --> 00:04:05.539 Okay. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:07.139 One more slide then, James. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:08.039 Okay. 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:10.979 Now, eventually I got it right. 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:13.419 And the photograph is... 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:15.199 The picture, images of a skateboard. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:22.099 Now, some of the older girls and boys, you might be able to work out why that series of 00:04:22.099 --> 00:04:27.920 images fits with what you've just heard read from the Bible and what I'm going to speak 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:28.379 about now. 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:33.759 We move from dark to being able to see something there. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:37.959 Now, back into the Bible. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.379 Beginnings are always important in the Bible. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:46.639 Especially important in Matthew's biography of Jesus. 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:53.659 So, when Matthew begins his biography or his record of life of Jesus, he links us, he begins 00:04:53.659 --> 00:04:57.180 by linking us right back to the beginning of the nation of Israel. 00:04:57.180 --> 00:05:02.840 And God's promise to undo the effects of sin and restores people to the image bearers they 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:03.660 were created to be. 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:08.860 So, Matthew's writing the story of Jesus, but he takes us back hundreds, thousands of 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:09.180 years. 00:05:11.460 --> 00:05:18.319 Then he sets out the details of the supernatural circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:20.819 the beginning of Jesus' life on this earth. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.720 And he does that in real detail. 00:05:23.840 --> 00:05:24.060 Why? 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:25.519 To establish Jesus' credentials. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:30.819 That Jesus is the long-promised Messiah, God's King and Savior. 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:34.879 That Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:41.620 God himself come into the world in this strange to understand way, but real, God come into 00:05:41.620 --> 00:05:44.919 the world to deliver God's promised salvation. 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:51.219 And in the verses before this morning, Matthew focuses on what Jesus came to do. 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:53.160 So, here we have it. 00:05:53.580 --> 00:05:56.800 The background, so we can understand Jesus who comes. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.200 Then the detail of who Jesus is, his credentials. 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:05.700 And now, in these verses, starting to talk about what Jesus has come to do, his mission, 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:07.960 his formal ministry. 00:06:07.959 --> 00:06:20.079 And if you look at verse 12, we see there that the imprisonment of John the Baptist was, in some shape or form, a signal for Jesus to begin his mission. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:27.879 A bit like saying, well, okay, the support act has now left the stage, John the Baptist. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:31.699 Now it's time for the main show to begin. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:34.100 Another beginning for Matthew. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:38.019 And the details are simple, as Vicki read to them. 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:41.579 And they're delivered to us in amazing picture language. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:44.439 So, as we look at these verses, we've got to look for pictures. 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:50.120 And the picture here, at the start of Jesus' ministry, is this. 00:06:50.219 --> 00:06:52.360 Jesus says, I am the great light. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:07:00.100 The great light promised by God through the prophets hundreds of years earlier, particularly Isaiah. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:07.519 The great light, the Messiah who would deliver God's renewal of salvation. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:11.600 And the picture from the Old Testament is one of darkness and light. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.879 So, the great light would come and dispel the darkness. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:19.879 What is that darkness? 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:26.740 Well, the darkness is a picture of sin and rebellion and being cut off from relationship with God. 00:07:29.020 --> 00:07:37.480 So, Jesus, the great light would come, dispel the darkness, and thereby restore, undo the effects of sin, 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:42.020 and restore people to relationship with God, to light and life. 00:07:45.080 --> 00:07:52.360 Now, you can see in those verses that Jesus deliberately chose the darkest places to come to. 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:54.939 The tribal lands of Zebulun, Naphtali. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:08:05.519 These were places that in the day would have, if you'd asked people, where is the place that most needs God's salvation? 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:07.420 Where are the people most despicable? 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:11.779 They would have said, Galilee, the region of the Jordan. 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:13.360 Zebulun, Naphtali. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:17.800 This was an area where God's word had been completely set aside. 00:08:17.900 --> 00:08:24.000 Where it looked as if, even though they were covenant lands, covenant tribes, God's word had been set aside. 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:30.300 And it looked as if God's covenant promise had completely failed, completely fallen over, been completely lost. 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:41.500 People were totally careless about God's word and totally dismissive of living under God's rule. 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:50.700 Even other Jews, people in Jerusalem, would have looked at Galilee and seen them as despicably sinful people. 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:57.440 And yet it's there that Jesus deliberately chooses to start his ministry. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:03.580 Isaiah 49, verse 6, is one of the verses that's picked up in this. 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:13.640 It's too light a thing, or too little a thing, that you should be my servant to raise up the tribe of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel. 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:16.840 I will make you as a light for the nation. 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:20.900 Nations, that my salvation may reach the end of the earth. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:22.680 That was spoken about the suffering servant. 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:33.659 Remember, history is that God's servant nation, Israel, were supposed to reflect God's character and show God to the whole of the world. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.639 But they failed miserably, absolutely miserably. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:44.219 And so God says, well, okay, I'm going to deliver another type of servant, one servant, a suffering servant, 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:48.539 who will do what my servant nation, Israel, failed to do. 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:52.059 Bring light to the nations. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:52.139 Salvation. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:53.279 Salvation. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:54.879 God's character. 00:09:56.059 --> 00:09:56.979 God is light. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.739 In him there can be no darkness. 00:10:00.239 --> 00:10:01.779 And Malachi 4 is another verse. 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.279 Verse 2. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:06.599 And these are the last verses of the Old Testament. 00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:12.079 Then there was a sort of 400-year period of silence until we get to Matthew's record. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:17.900 And Malachi says, but for you who fear my name, or the Lord says through Malachi, but for you who fear my name, 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:22.660 the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:26.639 And you shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 00:10:29.219 --> 00:10:31.759 Messiah would be like the sun of righteousness. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.360 Light. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:44.080 The warming of the sun coming over the horizon, dispelling the darkness of night, giving new hope, new confidence, new cheer, and bringing healing. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.740 It's a wonderful picture. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.940 Very profound picture. 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:54.500 And so in that context, Jesus was beginning the work of reestablishing his rule. 00:10:54.900 --> 00:10:56.960 That's what he's saying here at the beginning of his ministry. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:01.840 Even now, as you look at me, I'm starting to reestablish my rule. 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:07.100 And my presence, says Jesus, will be as dramatic as the sunrise. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:12.080 Dispelling the darkness of night. 00:11:13.780 --> 00:11:17.360 I think Matthew's hinting at something even more dramatic than that. 00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:21.259 I think he's taking us back to Genesis 1, verses 1 to 3. 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:31.720 Where we have that creation statement of moving from chaos, darkness, emptiness, to light and order. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:35.019 And God's imprint, God's control. 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:42.960 I think Jesus is saying here, look, what I'm about to do is as dramatic as a new creation. 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.480 Things are going to start all over again. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:54.460 And my image bears in this new creation will be what they're meant to be. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.019 What I created them to be. 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:01.000 And verse 17. 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:07.700 This place, this kingdom that Jesus is establishing, is available to anybody. 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:12.519 Anybody who recognizes their desperate need. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:17.639 Who recognize they're caught up in darkness and long for light. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:23.779 Anybody who recognizes and prepared to come to Jesus as Savior and King. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.899 The one who would free them from darkness. 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:28.480 The one who would bring them into light and life. 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:31.340 The one who would bring them into new relationship with God. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.980 Symbolized by that light. 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:40.519 Now, that's the sort of basic thrust of the text. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:43.080 But a little bit more personal to us now. 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:50.139 If we're not really careful, these pictures of darkness and light will just slip over us. 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:58.000 They won't impact us immediately as they would have done people in Jesus' own day. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.100 Why not? 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:04.580 Because our world is absolutely full of artificial light. 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:08.080 We actually don't really know much about darkness. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.680 So I have a question for the girls and boys. 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:14.240 And you can be honest about this one, girls and boys. 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:17.320 Because I'm going to be honest in a minute and tell you what it was for me. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:21.300 Any girls and boys here a bit scared in the dark? 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:29.300 I was whenever I was in, well, I can remember even at age 14, 15 in Ireland. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:33.440 Having to go out and inspect stock and stuff and keep an eye on shades at night time. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.940 And I was terrified of the dark. 00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:41.560 Now, not very many people put their hands up. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:44.020 So maybe I've got an unusual demographic in here. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.580 Or maybe people are just a little bit nervous. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.120 But you know what, girls and boys? 00:13:47.520 --> 00:13:49.280 It's no big deal to be scared of the dark. 00:13:49.780 --> 00:13:51.840 You know, lots of adults are scared in the dark. 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:58.180 If I had 10 adults on the, or 11 adults here, 10 adults along the front here. 00:13:58.180 --> 00:14:02.520 You know, it suggests that at least one, if not two of those adults, 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:05.439 would be scared of the dark, even as adults. 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.639 Even though they know rationally there's nothing necessarily to be frightened of, 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:13.980 darkness still has that fear for us. 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.819 Now, why has darkness got a fear? 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.539 Because it reduces our ability to see. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:23.259 And when we can't see, then we feel out of control. 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.360 We feel vulnerable. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.759 Darkness impairs or nullifies our vision. 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:34.659 So it's not so much the darkness itself that we're frightened of. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:38.100 It's what our minds tell us might be in the darkness. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:45.580 So a good classic example of that is if you're out camping, 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:48.000 and you should give the child a torch. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.980 They'll shine the torch in front of them, 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:51.639 and the torch will light up in front of them. 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:55.919 But they'll be terrified because they also want to shine it behind them. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:59.279 Because the darkness sort of closes in around them from behind them. 00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.360 And so they want to shine it there. 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:02.279 And then they have to shine it that way because the darkness, 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:05.360 it's what's in the darkness that we fear. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.339 Now, I've got something here for the girls and boys. 00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:14.599 So girls and boys, if you were in a place of really, really serious darkness, 00:15:15.479 --> 00:15:16.959 Dave's going to switch off the lights here, 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:20.079 and I'm going to try and see how well this will work. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:21.219 Well, it probably won't work very well. 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:21.879 Anyway, we'll see. 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.100 All right. 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:26.320 So, well, it's a bit better. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:26.799 Okay. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:30.080 So I need two or three volunteers really, really quickly. 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.939 So does anybody want to come up? 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:31.679 It doesn't have to be an adult. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.240 Yeah, come on. 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:32.519 Come on. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.460 You want to come up? 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:33.700 Yeah. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.299 Here we go. 00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:40.159 Now, I'm going to give you a choice to dispel darkness. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:45.960 So there is a match. 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.019 Yeah, okay. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:49.460 So if you're in a really, really dark place, 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:53.320 you reckon that would be a good thing to have, 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.180 to dispel the darkness? 00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:55.780 You reckon it would? 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.280 All right. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:56.759 Give her a go. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.200 See what? 00:15:57.400 --> 00:15:58.340 Don't burn the place down. 00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:59.300 We are insured, I think. 00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:03.940 Well, the first thing we have to do to dispel the darkness 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:05.240 is get the match to work, don't we? 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.620 Try another one. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.480 Maybe I've given you a double. 00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.080 All right. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:08.920 While you're trying that, 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.100 somebody else want to come up? 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:12.519 Because I've got something more high-powered here, 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.240 and it's a tea candle. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:18.379 So I'd say a tea candle's probably going to be annoying. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.240 I'd say a tea candle... 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.039 I'm good. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.460 I'd say that tea candle is probably about... 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:31.779 What? 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:32.340 What do you reckon? 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:34.639 10, 20 times more efficient than a match 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.860 in terms of producing light? 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.019 All right. 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:39.000 Nathaniel's a bit of a HSC guy, 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.980 so I have to respect that. 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:40.639 No. 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:42.019 So there's that, and there's that, 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:43.299 and then I've got my head to it. 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:43.799 All right. 00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:56.539 The backers and that are pretty crammy at the minute. 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.379 Sorry, they're pretty low at the minute. 00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.039 They need replacing. 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.740 So it's not real bright, 00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:02.479 but that's pretty bright on a dark night 00:17:02.479 --> 00:17:03.620 when you've got the head torch on. 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:06.559 And then we've got this. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:18.240 Which of those do you reckon you'd like to match 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.259 or am I with the club like? 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:23.460 Of course, the illustration breaks down 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:26.039 because it's hard to get a lead long enough 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.659 when I'm out camping. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.319 I know all that. 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.339 All right. 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:35.819 So when you're working, 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.799 this sort of thing, 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.500 at least you've got to commend them for effort. 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.699 I really have. 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:40.980 It's a rest of my time. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:45.059 So that's a considerable victory, 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:47.359 and that can be your task for the rest of my time 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:48.720 if you can get a match going. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.699 And when you get a match lit, 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.699 you stand up and wave your hand. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.679 Don't melt your sister's dress. 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.900 But, okay. 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:00.380 When we're in a situation of real darkness, 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:05.200 we don't really want a match, do we? 00:18:06.060 --> 00:18:07.080 And yet, interestingly enough, 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:08.620 if you're in a totally dark room, 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:11.759 a match will actually seem really, really bright. 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.799 But we want a really bright light. 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:20.720 Now, here's the point. 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:23.519 Even though we might talk about it being really dark, 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:24.620 and we do, 00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.620 we sometimes say, 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:27.140 oh, it's a really, really dark night. 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:30.560 We actually don't know what total darkness is 00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:32.060 because of artificial light. 00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:34.500 So, girls and boys, 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.519 you've got lights everywhere in your home. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.279 You've got lights in your bedroom, 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.460 lights in the lounge room. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.560 You've even got a light in the fridge, 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.160 for goodness sake. 00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:43.440 You've got a light in your phone. 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.640 Assuming everybody's got phones. 00:18:47.320 --> 00:18:50.299 And those lights allow us to do the same things at night 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.200 as what we do in the daytime. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:58.380 We have powerful floodlights in sports arenas and in workplaces. 00:18:58.380 --> 00:19:01.840 That allows us to work and play at nighttime like we would during the daytime. 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:03.759 We've got headlights on our cars. 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:06.740 That allows us to travel at the same speed at nighttime in a car 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:09.160 as what we would travel in the daytime, 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.519 in daylight, sunlight. 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:12.759 We get streetlights. 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.200 So, if we want to, 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.480 we can go out for a walk at night. 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:18.319 Almost as clear as it is during the daytime. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:22.419 So, the point is that we rarely, 00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:23.379 in our world, 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.319 if ever, 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.759 experience total darkness. 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.460 But, 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.439 we don't have total darkness 00:19:31.439 --> 00:19:33.279 because if you go into a dark night here, 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.980 your eyes become accustomed to it. 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:37.579 And because your eyes become accustomed to the darkness, 00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.819 that tells you there's still light. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.839 Now, I've actually been in a situation, 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:42.740 two situations, 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:44.139 where there's been total darkness. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:47.480 And I felt the fear rising within me. 00:19:47.540 --> 00:19:49.100 One was when I go caving. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.920 So, when you're in a cave, 00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:52.560 way down below the earth, 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.780 there's just no light. 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.620 Your eyes don't get accustomed. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.100 You can be there for hours, days, 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.860 and your eyes don't get accustomed. 00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.900 There's zero light. 00:20:00.540 --> 00:20:01.020 And that means, 00:20:01.540 --> 00:20:03.900 you can actually put your finger in front of your nose, 00:20:04.780 --> 00:20:06.000 and you can't see it. 00:20:07.020 --> 00:20:08.420 I was also down on mine. 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.840 Alice and I went down on mine in Broken Hill once. 00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:13.140 And the guide told us to turn off our torches. 00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:16.560 After telling us to look where we were, 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.600 we're in a passageway, 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.100 a lead, 00:20:19.520 --> 00:20:19.900 and he said, 00:20:20.060 --> 00:20:20.680 look where you are. 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.560 It was a narrow thing, 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.020 so we're standing facing the wall, 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.940 which was a meter or so in front of us that way. 00:20:25.780 --> 00:20:28.660 And then the lead went off for meters and meters, 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.100 hundreds of meters either side of us. 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.380 Turn off your lights, 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.400 and just stand. 00:20:33.280 --> 00:20:34.800 You know, within about 30 seconds, 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:37.759 I didn't actually know 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.740 which way I was facing, 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:43.220 let alone know how to find my way out of the darkness. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:46.720 My brain was so befuddled with the darkness 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.960 that I totally lost orientation. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:52.579 And I could feel the fear rising within me, 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:54.420 even though I knew the guide was there, 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.819 because he was still talking, 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:59.620 and he was going to tell us to turn our head torches on 00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.680 in a few seconds again. 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:04.920 The darkness was suffocating. 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:07.000 It was fear causing. 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.180 Now, 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:11.180 in the past, 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:12.380 people were terrified 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.240 of nighttime 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:16.240 because of the darkness. 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:17.880 They didn't have artificial light. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.860 They weren't able to see, 00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:21.420 therefore they weren't able to control the world. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.380 They were at a greater risk of being attacked 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:25.080 by wild animals or by enemies. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.600 Darkness was considered 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.199 to be the domain of evil 00:21:30.199 --> 00:21:32.599 and devils. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.839 And in that context, 00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.539 people longed 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.939 to see the dawning 00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.859 of the new day. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:42.500 And they would feel the relief 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.579 flooding through them 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:45.980 because they'd survived the darkness 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:48.059 and once again come into the light. 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:54.659 Darkness, 00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:56.060 and we're almost finished, 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:57.160 darkness is something 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:59.779 that every person in our world 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:02.080 experiences in some way. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:07.340 You might be a person this morning 00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:10.580 who's simply lost in darkness 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:12.440 as you think about your world 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.259 and your life 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:15.420 and its meaning and purpose. 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:16.840 That is, 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.000 when I say lost, 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.880 if somebody asked you, 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.680 how did you get there? 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:20.980 You'd say, 00:22:21.040 --> 00:22:21.460 well, actually, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.080 I don't know. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.460 I don't know, 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.700 but I know, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:26.500 I sense that that's where I'm at. 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.319 And I don't know 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.100 how to get out of it. 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.380 That's like being 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:33.900 in that mine shaft. 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:38.980 Now, 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.840 against that, 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.680 some people find 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.640 they love the darkness. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.259 The Bible talks about that. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.660 Some people love the darkness 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.819 rather than the light 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.819 because their deeds are evil. 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.120 And you only have to walk 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:49.700 down the street of Newcastle 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:51.279 after the hours of midnight 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:53.480 and you see and experience that. 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:56.039 You listen to the news. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.220 It's at nighttime 00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:59.220 when so much crime happens, 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.119 when so many assaults happen, 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:02.940 so much sexual abuse 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.500 and stuff happen. 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:05.720 People love the cover of darkness 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:07.480 because it actually does that. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:09.599 It actually reduces people's vision. 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:11.579 And they think that they can get away 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.700 with things at nighttime. 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:18.160 The party set 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.420 is classic for that. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:19.680 And yet, 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.160 people wake up the next morning 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:23.400 feeling really, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.640 really unsatisfied. 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.319 Perhaps even cheapened 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.240 by their actions 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.940 in the darkness. 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.400 Or diminished, 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.779 feeling diminished 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.620 because of the actions 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.220 of somebody else 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.680 towards them 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.319 in the darkness. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:39.519 So some are simply 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.259 lost in darkness. 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.200 Some love the darkness. 00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:43.079 But there's a third category, 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.700 maybe more. 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.639 I could only think of three. 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:47.359 Some hide 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:49.099 in the shadows of darkness 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:50.179 is the way I'm going to put it. 00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:52.039 And what am I talking about there? 00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:53.539 Well, I think 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.519 there's a lot of people 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.839 who are full of shame. 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.500 And again, 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.200 they're full of shame 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:00.879 either because of their own actions 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:03.220 that they now say 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.059 were just terrible 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.339 or thoughtless 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:08.240 or they're full of shame 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.980 because of the actions 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.399 of other people on them. 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.460 And so, 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.019 they would love 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.859 to be able just to 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.740 have the confidence 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.899 to step out in the light 00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.279 as it were 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.339 and be somebody 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:20.099 who's appreciated and loved 00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:21.740 and know that people 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.259 are going to do that. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:22.940 But so often, 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.899 they hide in the shadows 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:25.720 because they're full of shame 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:28.079 and they don't know 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.179 what to do with that shame 00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:31.940 except to hide. 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:37.139 whatever your situation, 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.179 whatever your connection 00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:38.799 to darkness, 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.539 you're closed out 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.799 from relationship to God 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.220 who is light and life. 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.579 And the brilliant news 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.039 of Christmas 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.619 is that God 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.720 is offering you 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.359 a great gift 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.700 of life and light. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.960 John chapter 8, 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.599 verse 12. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.319 Jesus speaking. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.819 Then Jesus spoke again 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.419 to them saying, 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.779 I am the light 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.359 of the world. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:07.099 He that follows me 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.679 shall not walk 00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.379 in darkness. 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.759 There in picture language 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.460 is God's gift 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.539 to you this morning 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:19.259 at Christmas 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.399 in the birth of Jesus. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:23.640 a light source 00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:27.120 who will totally 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.900 dispel darkness. 00:25:28.080 --> 00:25:28.980 Not just a match, 00:25:29.800 --> 00:25:31.620 but a 500 watt floodlight. 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.200 Not just going to 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.240 push the darkness 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.060 back a little bit, 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.620 but one who dispels 00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.540 darkness completely. 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:41.800 You can't have light 00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:42.440 and dark 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.900 in the same space. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.460 And Jesus floods 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.300 your life, 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.200 promises to flood 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.780 your life 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:51.960 with light 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.680 and life 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.440 in a way 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.019 that dispels 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.779 all darkness. 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.139 And when you think 00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:58.680 about light, 00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.639 and I'll finish 00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.259 on these thoughts, 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.500 light is actually 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.339 able to heal. 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.279 So little babies 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.920 with jaundice 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.500 are put under, 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.859 I think it's a UV light, 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.399 a purple light 00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:07.859 or something like that. 00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:08.319 I don't know 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.920 why they still are, 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.680 but that's what happened 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.639 whenever our kids 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:10.940 were little. 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.839 And that light, 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.920 I have no idea how, 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.420 but somehow 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.240 it breaks down 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.359 whatever the jaundice is 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.019 and heals. 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:20.319 our body absorbs 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.339 various vitamins 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:21.759 and stuff 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.319 through, 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.099 from sunlight 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.700 and light. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.980 Light is able 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.660 to heal your body. 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:28.180 Jesus is the promised 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.539 son of righteousness 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.400 who heals 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.639 and renews you 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:33.579 from the inside out. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.879 Light is able 00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:36.400 to warm 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:36.960 and nourish. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.240 I've been camping 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.480 in some really cold 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.819 times, 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.920 like really cold. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.480 and there's nothing 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.560 nicer than after 00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:46.880 a long, 00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:47.380 dark, 00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:48.160 cold night 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.980 to feel that sun 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.140 come up over the horizon 00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.120 and immediately, 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.420 immediately, 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.460 you can just feel 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.660 it starting to warm you 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.759 to the depths 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.340 of your soul. 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:58.860 And that's what 00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.800 Jesus does. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.340 He warms 00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.039 and nourishes 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.700 your soul 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:04.220 to delight 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.080 in the Lord God. 00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:08.259 And light, 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:08.539 of course, 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.279 illuminates. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:12.220 It increases 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.879 your vision, 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.920 enables us 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.680 to see the way, 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.019 shines into 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.720 the deepest 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.579 recesses 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.319 of our hearts 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.079 and minds, 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:21.079 both exposing 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.740 darkness 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.859 wherever it lurks 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:24.019 and dispelling it 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.579 with his light. 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.379 The verse 17, 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.720 the appropriate 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.420 response 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.740 on Christmas 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.119 morning 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.559 is to move 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.539 towards the light, 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.639 to move 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:38.299 towards Jesus. 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.539 the word in verse 17 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.139 is repent. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.099 That's what the word means. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.779 Stop going that way. 00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:44.299 Stop being in the darkness 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.119 and move 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:46.079 towards the light 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.599 of Jesus, 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.680 the light of life. 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.139 Stop living 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.659 in fear 00:27:51.659 --> 00:27:52.519 and darkness. 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.779 Stop living 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:54.259 cut off 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.899 from relationship 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.299 with God. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.039 Come to Jesus. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.940 The Greek philosopher 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.399 Plato 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:01.639 once said, 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.500 we can easily 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.559 forgive a child 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.379 who is afraid 00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:06.000 of the dark. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.420 the real 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.400 tragedy of life 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.099 is when people 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:10.680 are afraid 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.279 of the light. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.019 Wouldn't that 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.880 be a strange thing 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:18.319 if 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.740 though we have 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.160 a fear 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.000 of darkness, 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:23.480 our fear 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.920 of the light 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.559 actually kept us 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:24.920 coming, 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:26.819 kept us from 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.579 coming to Jesus. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.940 That would be 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.400 a tragedy, 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:30.880 wouldn't it? 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:33.200 Do you want 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:33.660 to celebrate 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.460 Christmas truly? 00:28:35.760 --> 00:28:36.080 Well, 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.140 don't be satisfied 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:39.200 with the fairy lights 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.140 on your Christmas tree. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.620 And they're nice, 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.920 no question about it. 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.240 Don't be satisfied 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.240 with fairy lights 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.960 on your Christmas tree. 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.160 Come to Jesus, 00:28:47.280 --> 00:28:47.900 the true light. 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.500 He'll recreate you. 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.180 He'll renew you. 00:28:52.280 --> 00:28:53.140 He'll heal you. 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.780 He'll dispel darkness 00:28:54.780 --> 00:28:55.840 from every corner 00:28:55.840 --> 00:28:56.760 of your heart and mind. 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.220 He'll give you 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:58.980 such a rich, 00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.819 satisfying, 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.620 delightful 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:02.000 light and life 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.759 so that you can 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:05.039 enjoy the good life 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:06.799 you long for 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.299 and which God 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.960 created you to enjoy. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.059 Thank you very much 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.640 for listening to me 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.460 on this Christmas morning. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.059 Enjoy your day. 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.599 Happy Christmas.