WEBVTT

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 The scripture for today comes from Matthew chapter 2.

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 Starting in verse 1, we read,

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 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,

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 behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

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 saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

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 For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

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 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

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 And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people,

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 he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

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 They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet,

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 And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah.

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 For from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.

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 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly,

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 and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.

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 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,

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 Go and search diligently for the child,

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 and when you have found him, bring me word,

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 that I too may come and worship him.

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 After listening to the king, they went on their way.

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 And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them,

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 until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

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 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

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 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother,

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 and they fell down and worshipped him.

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 Then opening the treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

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 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod,

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 they departed to their own country by another way.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great. Thank you, Annabelle.

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 Well, let's pray together as we come to the passage.

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 Heavenly Jesus Christ,

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 this morning we want to see you.

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 We want to see something of your majesty and your glory,

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 but also your tenderness, your humility and your lowliness.

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 God, I pray that in this scripture,

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 and as we reflect on this hymn that we sang earlier,

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 that God, we will be drawn like these magi to once again,

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 we will be wise men and wise women of the 21st century,

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 to fall on our knees and to worship and adore you.

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 God, we pray, won't you open the eyes of our hearts

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 to come and see you for who you really are.

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 God, come and help us to see who you are,

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 who we are in light of you,

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 and help us, God, to align our lives with you, we pray.

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 In your wonderful and gracious name, amen.

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 Well, it's good to be back with you.

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 I was away the last few weeks,

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 and so it's great to be back.

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 And it's great to be doing this series

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 that Niels has kicked off the last two weeks,

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 Let Heaven and Nature Sing.

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 I hope you've joined us the last few weeks

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 as we've been looking at these wonderful Christmas carols.

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 Now, last week, Niels told you the story.

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 I don't know if you heard of how he became a Christian,

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 I think in his early 20s,

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 and suddenly these Christmas carols

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 that he had known and sang all his life

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 took on a whole new meaning

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 in light of becoming a follower of Jesus.

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 Well, my story is actually quite similar,

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 except it's quite different in another way.

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 I, too, in my early 20s,

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 discovered these Christmas carols

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 in a whole way that they became meaningful to me

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 in a way that they hadn't been before,

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 except the difference is I wasn't a Christian

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 that became a Christian.

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 I was a pastor that discovered the gospel.

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 And I know that sounds strange,

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 but I was a pastor in my young 20s.

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 I was a very bad pastor.

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 I was a very weak Christian,

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 a very immature Christian.

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 I don't know why anybody let me be a pastor,

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 but somebody did.

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 And I thought that I loved and trusted Jesus,

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 but actually I loved and trusted myself,

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 which meant that I was very self-righteous,

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 I was very self-opinionated.

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 And around this time,

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 God very graciously started to show me

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 the wonder of the gospel and the wonder of Jesus.

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 I started to get a glimpse of the depth of my sinfulness

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 and my self-righteousness,

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 of how amazing Christ was and the gospel was.

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 And I started to fall in love with Jesus,

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 which is a good thing for a pastor to do.

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 But around this time,

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 a friend of mine was planting a church

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 in Cape Town, South Africa,

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 where we were living.

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 And I thought I would be a good friend.

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 Their church had an outreach at Christmas time.

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 They had a carol service.

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 And I thought I'd be a good friend.

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 And so I went to this carol service

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 to go and support him.

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 His name is Stephen Murray.

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 The church is called Hope City.

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 And I sat through this carol service,

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 having kind of freshly understood Jesus and the gospel,

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 and I just cried my way through the service

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 as we sang these amazing songs

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 of Jesus and his incredible love for us.

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 And I remember I went home and I did two things.

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 I took the bulletin from that service

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 and I kept it on my desk for about two years.

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 For about two years,

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 I paged through the bulletin every now and then

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 and just reflect on these words.

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 And the other thing I did

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 is I went to iTunes Music Store.

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 Do you remember that?

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 Before the days of Spotify.

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 And I downloaded a whole lot of Christmas carols

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 and I burnt CDs for my mother-in-law

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 and all family members

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 and said,

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 you've got to listen to these carols.

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 They're amazing.

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 My point is that

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 Niels found the gospel

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 and these Christmas carols came alive.

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 As a non-Christian,

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 I as a pastor found the gospel

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 and these Christmas carols came alive.

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 And for both of us,

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 and our hope for you,

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 is that these carols,

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 they become anthems of grace

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 as we discover Jesus

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 in the story of Christmas once again.

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 Now, as a side note,

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 that's one of the reasons

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 why as a church,

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 we are always talking about Jesus

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 and the gospel.

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 Because whether you're a Christian

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 or you're not a Christian,

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 we all need to find the grace of God

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 in the person of Jesus.

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 And so we're constantly going on

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 about Jesus and the gospel.

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 Well, two weeks ago,

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 Niels kicked off with

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 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

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 And last week,

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 we looked at Hark,

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 the Herald Angels,

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 saying,

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 this morning,

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 we're going to look at this carol,

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 O Come, All Ye Faithful.

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 And if you've got your bulletin,

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 you want to open it up,

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 you've got the words of the carol there

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 in front of us

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 and the words of our scripture reading

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 in the insert.

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 I want to encourage you

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 to have this open

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 as we look at these words together

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 this morning.

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 Now, this carol,

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 Come, All Ye Faithful,

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 it's a wonderful Christmas carol.

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 It's got wonderful truths in it.

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 It's a song that calls us

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 to join with countless men and women

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 from years gone by

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 and to come and worship

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 and adore Christ.

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 It's a song that calls us

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 to ponder the gospel message,

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 to reflect on who Jesus is,

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 to contemplate Christmas.

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 But really, at its heart,

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 what it does is it calls us

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 to worship Him.

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 It's a song that calls us

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 not just to sing,

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 but to truly adore Him.

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 And one of the things

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 that's interesting about this hymn

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 is that it's not directed to God.

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 You know, most of the songs

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 that we sing,

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 we sing directly to God

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 or about Him.

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 But actually, most of this hymn,

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 we are singing to ourselves.

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 Now, that might sound strange,

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 but that's something that the Psalms

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 sometimes encourage us to do.

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 Remember Psalm 42,

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 Why are you downcast,

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 O my soul?

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 Why are you in such turmoil within me?

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 Hope in God.

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 And this song follows on from that

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 and it's a song to speak

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 to our own hearts.

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 Martin Lloyd-Jones very famously said,

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 one of our problems in life

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 is that we listen to our hearts

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 more than we speak to our hearts.

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 And so this song calls us,

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 maybe you've had a difficult year,

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 you've had a difficult season.

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 And in a way, the song says,

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 Kevin, cold heart,

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 come, come to God.

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 Come and worship and adore Him.

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 It's a song to speak to our own hearts.

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 But it's also a song that

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 we speak to one another.

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 It's a song that when you come to church

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 and maybe you really don't feel

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 like coming to church,

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 maybe you feel a bit distant from God,

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 or like I said,

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 maybe it's been a really tough season.

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 And as you come and you hear

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 the worship and the praises

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 of those around you,

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 it calls us to worship God

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 and to adore Him together.

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 It's one of the great problems

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 of online church, right?

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 When you're sitting at home

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 with just you and your coffee mug

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 and you're struggling to worship.

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 Oh, and you come and you gather

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 with the saints.

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 Then you hear the saints singing,

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 come, come, let us adore Him.

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 Let us worship Him,

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 Christ the Lord.

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 It's also a song that calls,

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 it's also a song that calls us

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 to slow down.

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 Look at the second,

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 or the third line of the song.

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 It says,

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 come and behold Him.

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 The word behold is a,

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 it's a funny word,

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 it's a very Christian word.

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 It's not quite as funny as hark, right?

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 Hark is not the word,

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 the sound that angels make,

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 as Niels reminded us last week.

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 But behold is a strange word.

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 It's a word we don't use often

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 in English these days.

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 But behold really means

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 to slow down,

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 to contemplate,

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 and to ponder something.

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 It means to take the time

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 to really think deeply

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 about what is before you.

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 One of the problems with our age

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 is we're such a fast-paced world.

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 We've got so much data

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 and information flying at us

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 all the time

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 that we don't know how to slow down.

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 Someone says that culturally

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 we have a cultural ADHD

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 as a society.

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 We're just fast-paced all the time.

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 I don't know if you've ever

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 traveled somewhere.

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 Maybe you do a weekend trip

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 to Tokyo or Shanghai,

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 or maybe you're on a business trip

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 to Europe

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 and you've got one extra day

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 and so you want to go see Paris.

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 You've never been to Paris

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 and you've got to go.

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 And so you've got one day there

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 and you fly through Paris.

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 You do the Eiffel Tower

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 and you do the Louvre

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 and you take selfies

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 at the Eiffel Tower

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 and then you're in front

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 of the Mona Lisa.

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 I don't know if you're allowed

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 to take photos

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 in front of the Mona Lisa.

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 Are you allowed to,

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 Florence?

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 Yes?

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 Okay.

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 So you fly through all the sites

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 and you tick off

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 all your bucket list

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 but you've never actually

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 contemplated.

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.279
 You've never beheld it.

00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:48.419
 I don't know if that's a word.

00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:49.579
 Beheld, is that a word?

00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:50.959
 You've never had a chance

00:10:50.959 --> 00:10:52.759
 to really contemplate

00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:53.679
 what is before you.

00:10:54.719 --> 00:10:56.000
 Here this psalm,

00:10:56.099 --> 00:10:56.899
 this hymn

00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:59.659
 calls us to slow down,

00:10:59.659 --> 00:11:03.139
 to behold Jesus.

00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:05.539
 To think about who it is

00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:06.519
 that we sing

00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.699
 and we worship.

00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:10.939
 It's one of the great things

00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:12.819
 about the Advent season,

00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.740
 about Christmas being

00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.819
 more than just a weekend.

00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:16.740
 If you've joined us

00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:17.899
 in this Advent season,

00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:19.039
 it's taking a month

00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.559
 to really slow down

00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:21.539
 and think about

00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:23.480
 and behold Him.

00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:25.559
 And when we do that,

00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:27.480
 when we see who Christ is,

00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:31.560
 we hear the angels,

00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.680
 we hear the shepherds

00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:33.639
 and the wise men

00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:35.240
 of ages go by

00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.779
 beckoning us

00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:38.100
 to come and worship

00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:39.740
 and adore Him.

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.620
 But of course,

00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:42.960
 really what this song

00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:43.580
 is doing,

00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:45.379
 O come all ye faithful,

00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:47.039
 it's reenacting

00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:48.240
 the spiritual journey

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.560
 of the very first

00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.539
 worshipers of Jesus.

00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.740
 I don't know if you

00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.460
 picked it up

00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:54.600
 in the scripture reading

00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:55.340
 that Annabelle did

00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:56.200
 for us this morning.

00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:57.560
 three times

00:11:57.560 --> 00:11:58.360
 in our scripture reading

00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.100
 it talks about

00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:01.000
 come let us worship Him.

00:12:01.640 --> 00:12:03.240
 In Matthew chapter 2,

00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:04.140
 if you've got the bulletin,

00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:04.540
 look at it,

00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.580
 look at verse 2.

00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:08.100
 The magi,

00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:08.900
 the wise men,

00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:09.960
 they come to Herod

00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.040
 in Jerusalem

00:12:11.040 --> 00:12:11.879
 and they say,

00:12:12.300 --> 00:12:12.960
 where is He

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.800
 who has been born

00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.720
 King of the Jews?

00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.259
 We saw His star

00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:16.900
 when it rose

00:12:16.900 --> 00:12:18.240
 and we have come

00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.920
 to worship Him.

00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:21.900
 Come to worship Him.

00:12:22.420 --> 00:12:23.280
 That's what the song

00:12:23.280 --> 00:12:24.140
 is calling us to do,

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.879
 to follow the footsteps

00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:26.819
 of the first

00:12:26.819 --> 00:12:27.840
 worshipers of Jesus,

00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:28.539
 the shepherds

00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.299
 and the magi

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:30.639
 and to come

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.580
 and worship

00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.600
 Christ the Lord.

00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.199
 And look at what happens

00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:34.980
 in verse 11

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.980
 when they find Him.

00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:36.519
 It says,

00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.460
 going into the house

00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:38.639
 they saw the child

00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.740
 with Mary His mother

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:41.059
 and what did they do?

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.679
 They fell down

00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.399
 on their knees

00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:45.659
 and they worshipped Him.

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.019
 They worshipped Him.

00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:51.259
 The song beckons us,

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.120
 people of every nation

00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:53.860
 and culture,

00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:54.600
 ethnicity,

00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:55.579
 language,

00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:56.579
 tribe and tongue,

00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:57.639
 come.

00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.519
 Come let us worship

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:01.480
 and adore Christ the Lord.

00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:03.399
 Now,

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.179
 before we look into

00:13:04.179 --> 00:13:04.960
 what that means,

00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.919
 look at a couple

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.980
 of other responses.

00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.960
 What are the other responses

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:09.899
 we could have?

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:10.840
 Well,

00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:11.240
 firstly,

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:13.000
 notice Herod's response

00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.579
 to the words

00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:15.579
 of these magi.

00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:18.379
 what is Herod's response?

00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:19.700
 It's hostility,

00:13:19.920 --> 00:13:20.200
 right?

00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.400
 This passage

00:13:23.400 --> 00:13:25.280
 is famously referred to

00:13:25.280 --> 00:13:25.879
 as the passage

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.980
 of the three kings,

00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:27.560
 right?

00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:28.879
 Because we've got

00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.879
 these three magi

00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:31.600
 that travel from the east.

00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:33.360
 It's a very bad description

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.360
 because,

00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:34.940
 firstly,

00:13:35.040 --> 00:13:35.400
 we don't know

00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:35.960
 how many kings

00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.660
 there really were.

00:13:37.160 --> 00:13:37.920
 We just assume

00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:38.740
 there were three kings

00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.860
 because of the three gifts

00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.660
 that are mentioned,

00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:41.800
 gold and frankincense

00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.220
 and myrrh.

00:13:42.520 --> 00:13:43.080
 There could have been

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.600
 two kings,

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.140
 there could have been

00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:45.679
 17 magi,

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.580
 we don't really know.

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.620
 But the other problem

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.720
 is they probably

00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:50.720
 weren't kings at all.

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.159
 They were astrologers,

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.139
 they were philosophers,

00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:54.799
 they were wise men

00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:55.360
 from the east,

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.460
 probably from Babylon.

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:58.840
 But here are some magi

00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.799
 and they come

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:00.659
 and,

00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:01.500
 but really,

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.600
 what this passage is,

00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.319
 is the tale

00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:04.179
 of two kings.

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.639
 It's the tale

00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.439
 of King Herod

00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:07.539
 and the tale

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:08.340
 of King Jesus.

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.039
 And here you have

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:10.960
 Christ the king

00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.419
 born and the wise men,

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:12.919
 the magi,

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.479
 they come

00:14:13.479 --> 00:14:14.559
 and they say,

00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.339
 we have come

00:14:15.339 --> 00:14:16.039
 from afar,

00:14:16.219 --> 00:14:16.819
 where is he

00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:17.399
 who is born

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.639
 king of the Jews?

00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:20.939
 And what is Herod's response?

00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:22.559
 Anger,

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.000
 hostility,

00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:25.379
 rage.

00:14:25.479 --> 00:14:26.399
 Look at verse 3,

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.000
 it says,

00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:27.879
 when Herod heard,

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:28.620
 Herod the king

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.139
 heard this,

00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:30.799
 he was troubled.

00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:32.559
 It's one of

00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:33.399
 Matthew's

00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.559
 great understatements.

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.559
 Herod wasn't

00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:36.199
 just troubled,

00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:37.159
 he was terrified.

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:39.139
 Because here is somebody

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.279
 who is going to

00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:42.120
 threaten his rule,

00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:42.940
 his claim

00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:43.639
 to the throne.

00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:45.039
 Herod has

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.259
 worked hard

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.960
 to eliminate

00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.960
 all the enemies.

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:48.960
 He's on the throne.

00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.120
 He killed

00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:51.279
 one of his brothers.

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.060
 Herod is

00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:54.139
 clearly on the throne

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.179
 and here is somebody

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:55.879
 who claims

00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.700
 to be on the throne.

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.460
 Herod is

00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.519
 hostile

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.460
 to Jesus.

00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.679
 Because Herod

00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.419
 grasped

00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.580
 what is at stake

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.860
 if Jesus

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:07.039
 really is the king.

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.779
 If Jesus

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.759
 is who he said he is

00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:10.620
 or who the magi

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.299
 proclaimed him

00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:11.659
 to be,

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.299
 it means he

00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.039
 needs to be

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:14.720
 dethroned.

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.379
 And friends,

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:16.939
 for us,

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.080
 we can feel the same.

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:18.980
 Jesus comes

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:19.580
 and he says,

00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.759
 I am heaven

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.319
 and earth's

00:15:21.319 --> 00:15:21.860
 true king.

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.519
 Come and

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.319
 adore me.

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.019
 Come and

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.700
 worship me.

00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:26.019
 Do you know

00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:26.559
 what that means?

00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:28.080
 It means we are

00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:28.600
 not on the throne

00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:29.120
 of our lives

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.399
 anymore.

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.319
 It means Christ

00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:32.559
 comes and asks us

00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:33.299
 to step off

00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:33.860
 the throne

00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:35.259
 to worship

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.679
 and adore him.

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.100
 But notice

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.539
 the other

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:41.299
 response here

00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:42.679
 is the religious

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.100
 leaders.

00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.360
 How do they

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:44.720
 respond?

00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:46.319
 Look at 2 verse 4

00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:46.700
 with me.

00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.120
 It says,

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.059
 And assembling

00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:48.700
 all the chief

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.340
 priests and the

00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:50.399
 scribes of the

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:50.779
 people,

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.120
 Herod inquired

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.500
 from there,

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.379
 Where is the

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.080
 Christ to be

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.439
 born?

00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.779
 And they told

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.039
 him,

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.539
 In Bethlehem of

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.039
 Judea,

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.899
 for so it is

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.580
 written by the

00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:00.080
 prophets.

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.120
 And you,

00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:01.899
 O Bethlehem,

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.580
 the land of

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:02.919
 Judah,

00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.059
 from you shall

00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:04.819
 come a ruler,

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.600
 who will

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.379
 shepherd my

00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:06.820
 people.

00:16:07.520 --> 00:16:08.280
 Here are the

00:16:08.280 --> 00:16:09.100
 very brightest

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.840
 and the very

00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:10.640
 best of the

00:16:10.640 --> 00:16:11.420
 biblical scholars.

00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:12.480
 They don't even

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.040
 need to go and

00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:13.540
 search the

00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:13.820
 scriptures.

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.640
 They know the

00:16:14.640 --> 00:16:15.040
 scriptures.

00:16:15.680 --> 00:16:16.340
 Herod comes to

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:16.720
 him and says,

00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:17.320
 Listen,

00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:17.740
 there's some

00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.560
 guys telling us

00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:18.840
 that the

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.060
 Christ has

00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:20.640
 been born.

00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:21.720
 Where should

00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.440
 we find him?

00:16:22.900 --> 00:16:23.600
 And immediately

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.640
 they rattle off

00:16:24.640 --> 00:16:26.340
 in Bethlehem.

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.120
 So said

00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:27.700
 Micah the

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.000
 prophet.

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.160
 Here are the

00:16:29.160 --> 00:16:29.840
 very best

00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.240
 scholars.

00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:30.920
 They know

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.480
 their Bible.

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.560
 They're standing

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.100
 before them

00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:34.080
 astrologers and

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.800
 philosophers who

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.359
 have told them

00:16:35.359 --> 00:16:35.620
 where the

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.240
 Christ is.

00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.139
 And what do

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.519
 they do?

00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.939
 They give the

00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:40.419
 answer and

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:40.959
 then they go

00:16:40.959 --> 00:16:42.099
 back to their

00:16:42.099 --> 00:16:42.519
 books.

00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.339
 They go back to

00:16:44.339 --> 00:16:45.139
 their life as if

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:46.039
 nothing has

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.399
 happened.

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.079
 The hostility of

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:50.479
 Herod and the

00:16:50.479 --> 00:16:51.579
 indifference of the

00:16:51.579 --> 00:16:52.519
 wise leaders,

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.839
 Christmas means

00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.719
 nothing to

00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:55.919
 them.

00:16:58.079 --> 00:16:58.399
 And friends,

00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.059
 for how much of

00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:00.219
 us is that,

00:17:00.839 --> 00:17:01.599
 are we similar?

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.500
 we come,

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.500
 we worship,

00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.240
 we sing the

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.620
 songs,

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.920
 we have the

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.759
 great Christmas

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.200
 feast,

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.539
 we cut open

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.099
 the turkey,

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:11.960
 we open some

00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.500
 presents,

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.259
 we come to

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.740
 church on

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.440
 Christmas Day,

00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.720
 but the day

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.200
 following,

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.279
 life goes back

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.700
 to normal as

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.599
 if nothing has

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.120
 changed.

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.160
 And Christmas

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.240
 calls us to

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.460
 handle life

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.000
 differently.

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.839
 Christmas calls

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.980
 us to get on

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.779
 our knees to

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.960
 proclaim Christ

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.740
 as the Lord.

00:17:31.399 --> 00:17:31.799
 Friends,

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.420
 let's not be

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.079
 like the

00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.859
 religious leaders

00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:35.579
 of Herod's

00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:35.839
 day,

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.399
 who sing the

00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:38.039
 songs and do

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.519
 the advent

00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.299
 calendars and

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:39.799
 put up the

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.539
 Christmas tree

00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.819
 and yet do

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:42.519
 nothing about

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:42.879
 Jesus.

00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:43.579
 Oh friends,

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.579
 let's join the

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.920
 wise men of

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.740
 old and wise

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.500
 women of old

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.420
 who do what

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:48.940
 Herod should

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:49.460
 have done but

00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:49.819
 was too

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.639
 insecure to do.

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.039
 Who do what

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.019
 the religious

00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:53.619
 leaders should

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.639
 have done but

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:54.980
 were too

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.779
 indifferent to do.

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:57.299
 Let's come

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.119
 and worship

00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:59.259
 and adore

00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.919
 Him this

00:17:59.919 --> 00:18:00.179
 year.

00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:01.679
 Friends,

00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.099
 maybe you've

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.899
 known about

00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.619
 Jesus all your

00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:04.939
 life.

00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:06.559
 You know the

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.259
 Christmas carols,

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:07.679
 you know the

00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:08.459
 Christmas story.

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:09.319
 Friends,

00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:09.699
 have you ever

00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.099
 gotten on your

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:10.599
 knees and

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.359
 worshipped Him

00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.399
 and adored Him?

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.500
 Have you ever

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.179
 proclaimed Him

00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:14.879
 as Lord and

00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:15.559
 King of your

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.159
 life and your

00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:16.559
 heart?

00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.899
 This Christmas

00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.799
 treat Jesus

00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.299
 differently.

00:18:20.159 --> 00:18:20.879
 Come and

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.759
 worship and

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.399
 adore Him.

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.619
 Well, how do

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.259
 we do that?

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:25.919
 What does that

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.579
 look like?

00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:27.699
 Well, let's

00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.100
 look at what

00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.720
 the wise men

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:28.960
 do.

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.840
 Look at what

00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.740
 they do in

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.500
 our passage

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.880
 here.

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.259
 They come and

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:34.920
 they find Him.

00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:35.880
 Verse 11,

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:36.980
 it says,

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.559
 they're going to

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:37.900
 their house.

00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.539
 They saw the

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.340
 child with

00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:40.000
 Mary, his

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.140
 mother, and

00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:42.140
 they fell down

00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.680
 and they

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.580
 worshipped Him.

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.940
 The first thing

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.480
 they do is they

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.019
 get on their

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.420
 knees.

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.200
 They get on

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.779
 their knees.

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.660
 What does it

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.200
 mean to get on

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.940
 our knees before

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.920
 King Jesus in

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.100
 21st century

00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:54.940
 Hong Kong?

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:56.340
 It means to

00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:56.920
 acknowledge that

00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.580
 Christ is the

00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.840
 King, that

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.620
 Christ is the

00:18:59.620 --> 00:18:59.820
 Lord.

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.559
 It's proclaiming

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.019
 Him not just

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.640
 as a wise

00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.160
 man, not

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.660
 just as a

00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.799
 sage, not

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.279
 just as a

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.820
 prophet of

00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.620
 ages ago, but

00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.299
 to declare

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:06.860
 Him our

00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:08.200
 King, our

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.660
 Lord.

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:09.980
 Christmas

00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:11.080
 reminds us

00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.480
 that Jesus

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.500
 has the right

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.440
 to tell us

00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:14.920
 what to do

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.220
 with our

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.559
 lives.

00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.140
 Jesus has

00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:17.620
 the right to

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.180
 tell us what

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.460
 to think, how

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:21.000
 to behave, what

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.620
 to do, because

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:22.580
 Christ is the

00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:22.880
 King.

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.400
 He is the

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:24.800
 Lord.

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:25.940
 He is the

00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.580
 one true

00:19:26.580 --> 00:19:27.560
 King that

00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:28.100
 gets to

00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:29.080
 direct our

00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:29.660
 lives.

00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:30.860
 Christmas

00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.600
 reminds us

00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:32.240
 not just of

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.600
 Jesus'

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.700
 lowliness and

00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:34.460
 His gentleness,

00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.060
 but of His

00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:36.540
 majesty and

00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:37.440
 His sovereignty

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.500
 of His

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.200
 Lordship.

00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.440
 Because here

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:41.180
 before this

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.480
 lowly King,

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.800
 these three

00:19:43.800 --> 00:19:44.720
 Magi from

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.180
 the East

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.140
 bow down

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.120
 lower still.

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.880
 They proclaim

00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:49.519
 Christ the

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.720
 King.

00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:50.300
 They get on

00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:50.900
 their knees.

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.420
 But the

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:52.900
 second thing

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.720
 they do is

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.360
 they offer

00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:54.979
 Him their

00:19:54.979 --> 00:19:55.579
 treasures.

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:56.740
 Bowing down

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.379
 before Him,

00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:57.699
 it says,

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.619
 they opened

00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.019
 up their

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.699
 treasures and

00:19:59.699 --> 00:20:00.179
 they offered

00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:00.939
 Him gifts

00:20:00.939 --> 00:20:01.819
 of gold and

00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:02.839
 frankincense and

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.099
 myrrh.

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.539
 And why do

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:04.879
 they offer

00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.379
 these things?

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.519
 Well, gold is

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.399
 a gift for

00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:07.839
 kings,

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:08.979
 proclaiming

00:20:08.979 --> 00:20:09.419
 Christ the

00:20:09.419 --> 00:20:09.659
 King.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.099
 Frankincense

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.559
 was something

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.000
 that was often

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.479
 used in the

00:20:12.479 --> 00:20:13.099
 temple for

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:13.839
 priests and

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.259
 their priestly

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:14.799
 service,

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:15.759
 proclaiming

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.299
 Christ as

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.939
 the mediator

00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.519
 between God

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:17.939
 and man.

00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.399
 Myrrh, we

00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.199
 find out later

00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:20.699
 on in the

00:20:20.699 --> 00:20:21.339
 Gospels, when

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.139
 Jesus is being

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:23.279
 buried, was

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.160
 sometimes an

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.139
 ointment, a

00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:25.639
 spice that

00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.019
 was given

00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.700
 at people's

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.059
 burial.

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.660
 And so here

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.579
 the Holy

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:29.960
 Spirit is

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.319
 telling us,

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.000
 they're proclaiming

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.519
 who Christ

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:31.920
 is, He's

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.319
 the King,

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:33.399
 what He's

00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:33.879
 going to do,

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.319
 He's going to

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.940
 mediate between

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.599
 God and man,

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.399
 and His destiny,

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.019
 He's to die

00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.579
 on the cross.

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.019
 But of course,

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.700
 that wasn't what

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.899
 the wise men

00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.319
 imagined.

00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.759
 They just came

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.399
 and they opened

00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:43.779
 up their

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.519
 treasures and

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:44.720
 said,

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.779
 Jesus, all

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.799
 that we have,

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.220
 all that we

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.779
 are, belongs

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.879
 to you, have

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:52.579
 your way in

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.059
 our life.

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.859
 Friends, what

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:57.259
 would it look

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.279
 like for this

00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:00.160
 Christmas, for

00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.819
 us to get on

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.519
 our knees and

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.200
 say, Jesus,

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.099
 everything I

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:05.799
 have, everything

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:07.899
 that I am, come

00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.420
 and have your

00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:08.700
 way.

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:11.839
 In my work, with

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:13.700
 my money, with

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.440
 my relationships,

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.519
 with my sexuality,

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.539
 and my dreams,

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.159
 and my ambitions,

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.240
 Jesus, here are

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.879
 the deepest

00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:21.819
 desires in the

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.359
 lungs of my

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:24.039
 heart, my hopes

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.720
 and my fears,

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.599
 Jesus, here they

00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.319
 are, I lay them

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.920
 at your feet.

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:31.799
 Come, come let

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.819
 us worship and

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:34.920
 adore Him, Christ

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.779
 the Lord.

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.139
 Really, what this

00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:40.039
 song is about, it's

00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.960
 reminding us what

00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.799
 Christmas is all

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.059
 about.

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.200
 It's so easy for

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.980
 Christmas to be

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.119
 taken over with

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.500
 the gathering,

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.599
 and the food,

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:48.960
 and the

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.519
 decorations, and

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.119
 the carols

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.000
 playing at home,

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.740
 and our holiday

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.519
 plans.

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.259
 And yet, what

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.240
 Christmas is all

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.039
 about, it's about

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.339
 Jesus Christ,

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.399
 heaven and earth's

00:21:59.399 --> 00:21:59.920
 true King.

00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:02.680
 Come, come let

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.779
 us worship and

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.299
 adore Him.

00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.420
 Come let us get

00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:06.480
 on our knees, let's

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.299
 open up the

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.920
 treasures of our

00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.619
 hearts, let's say

00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.480
 Jesus, come and

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.960
 have your way.

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.220
 And why should we

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.839
 do that?

00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.059
 Why should we

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.779
 trust Him?

00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:17.319
 Well, look again

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.359
 at our hymn that

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.139
 we have in front

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.559
 of us.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.039
 Because of who

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.220
 Jesus is, look at

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.559
 the second verse

00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:25.099
 Jeremy led us in

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:25.579
 singing it this

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.240
 morning, it's not

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.039
 often a verse that

00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.339
 we sing, but

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.519
 historically it's

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:29.700
 there.

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.440
 Look at what it

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.339
 says, God of

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.859
 God, light of

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.460
 light, lo he

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.460
 abhors not the

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.299
 virgin's womb,

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.319
 very God, begotten

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.960
 not created, oh

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:41.839
 come, let us adore

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.480
 Him, Christ the

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:43.740
 Lord.

00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:45.279
 Well, what does

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.140
 all that language

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.519
 mean?

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.839
 Where does it

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.279
 come from?

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.160
 It comes from the

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.019
 Nicene Creed.

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.860
 The creeds were the

00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.039
 way that in the

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.000
 ancient days the

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.039
 church taught the

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.799
 church theology.

00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.339
 A thousand years

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.200
 ago not many people

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.680
 could read, and even

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.420
 if they could read

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.099
 people didn't have

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.720
 their own Bibles,

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.120
 they were too

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.620
 expensive.

00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:03.980
 And so the way the

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.120
 people, the church

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:06.339
 taught people theology

00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.180
 were they came up

00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.000
 with these creeds.

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.420
 And so this language

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.299
 is taken from the

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.160
 creed, it's biblical

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:11.839
 theology.

00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.279
 Who is Jesus?

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.000
 He is God of

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.679
 gods, very God.

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.039
 Not just a great

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:19.679
 prophet, not just a

00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:20.819
 wise man, the wisest

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.639
 man that ever lived,

00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:22.639
 that's true, but more

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.980
 than that, not just a

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.079
 great moral teacher.

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:27.039
 Everything that we

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:29.500
 know about God is

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.699
 found in Jesus

00:23:30.699 --> 00:23:31.259
 Christ.

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.699
 He is the eternal

00:23:33.699 --> 00:23:35.379
 uncreated one.

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.059
 A hundred trillion

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:38.519
 years ago, here was

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.939
 Jesus on the throne

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:42.500
 of the universe, God

00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.240
 of gods.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:46.539
 He is forgotten, not

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.059
 created.

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.580
 Forgotten means he

00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:49.820
 is eternally

00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:51.279
 submissive to God

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.500
 the Father, he

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.279
 honors God the

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.240
 Father, and yet

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.320
 never was there a

00:23:55.320 --> 00:23:56.320
 point where he was

00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:57.820
 brought into existence.

00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.380
 Eternally uncreated

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.700
 one.

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.360
 Jesus is the

00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:05.600
 uncaused cause of

00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:07.860
 everything that exists.

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.859
 God of gods.

00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.459
 So think about

00:24:09.459 --> 00:24:09.759
 that.

00:24:10.419 --> 00:24:11.519
 Everything that

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:13.379
 exists has a

00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:15.079
 beginning and has a

00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:16.359
 cause that brings

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.799
 that thing into

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.179
 being.

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.319
 And that thing has a

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.119
 cause, and that

00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:22.119
 thing has a cause,

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.399
 and that thing, and

00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:24.279
 ultimately you go back

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.359
 a trillion years,

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.559
 Jesus Christ is the

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.259
 uncaused cause of

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.679
 everything that exists.

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.779
 He is God of gods.

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.659
 He is light of

00:24:34.659 --> 00:24:34.939
 light.

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.920
 He is the one who

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.680
 brought light into

00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.860
 the world, light out

00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:38.400
 of nothing.

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.320
 This is Jesus.

00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:43.039
 And yet, lo, that

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:45.559
 means but, lo, he

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.480
 abhors not the

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.240
 virgin's womb.

00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:48.380
 It means as

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.460
 glorious and as

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:51.039
 majestic as he is,

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.059
 he is not too

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:54.299
 proud to come and

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.360
 take on the form of

00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.940
 human nature, to be

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.779
 born a baby, to be

00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:00.160
 weak and dependent

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.779
 upon his mother,

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.200
 born in the

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.000
 backwaters of

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.160
 Bethlehem, laying

00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:06.519
 in an animal's

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.480
 feeding trough.

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.960
 Here is Jesus,

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.580
 majestic and yet

00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.920
 meek, awesome and

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:15.600
 yet humble, born to

00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.640
 a virgin in the

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.380
 backwaters of

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:17.960
 Bethlehem.

00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.340
 And yet, friends,

00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.920
 don't let his

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:23.299
 humility and his

00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:26.140
 meekness crowd out

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:28.039
 his majesty and his

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.960
 awesomeness.

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.559
 Don't let the

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:32.700
 lambs and the

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.279
 sheep and the

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.299
 fluffy will and the

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:36.819
 fairy lights crowd

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.799
 out his majesty.

00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.860
 Here is Jesus, God

00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:41.059
 of God, the light

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:43.000
 of light, begotten,

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:43.860
 not created, the

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:46.200
 eternal sovereign God

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.019
 of all creation.

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.900
 Oh, come.

00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:51.799
 Come, let us adore

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.019
 him.

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.640
 Friends, this

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.940
 Christmas, whatever

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.819
 else you do, whether

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.120
 you travel, whether you

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:57.279
 have amazing meals,

00:25:57.739 --> 00:25:58.419
 whether you put on

00:25:58.419 --> 00:26:00.219
 the turkey, whether

00:26:00.219 --> 00:26:01.179
 you have tons of

00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:01.839
 friends over to your

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.639
 house, the one

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:04.619
 thing, let's do this

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:04.979
 Christmas.

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.399
 Come.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.639
 Come, let us adore

00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:08.799
 him.

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.939
 Come, let us worship

00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:10.099
 him.

00:26:10.179 --> 00:26:11.679
 Come, let us join in

00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.659
 the wise men and

00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:14.079
 wise women of ages

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.779
 come past.

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.199
 Let's get on our

00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:16.559
 knees.

00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.159
 Let's open the

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:19.039
 treasure chest of our

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.519
 hearts.

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.039
 Let's say, Jesus,

00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:22.099
 come and have your

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:23.939
 way in my life.

00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:27.059
 Friends, if Christmas

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.839
 is to be anything

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.059
 significant, anything

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.839
 more than just a

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.319
 festival, more than

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.279
 eating too much food

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.379
 and spending too much

00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:35.359
 money, here is the

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:37.559
 solution, to come to

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:39.539
 Jesus Christ and to

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.679
 worship and adore

00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:40.899
 him.

00:26:40.979 --> 00:26:41.719
 Friends, if you want

00:26:41.719 --> 00:26:42.599
 to find out what

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.339
 Christmas is all

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.819
 about, join the

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.619
 faithful saints of

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:45.879
 old.

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.839
 Come, worship and

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.479
 adore him.

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.939
 Come, come, let us

00:26:49.939 --> 00:26:50.539
 worship him.

00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:51.879
 Come and behold him,

00:26:51.939 --> 00:26:52.739
 the king of angels.

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.039
 Come, let us adore

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.359
 him.

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:57.039
 This is what this

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.019
 song is all about.

00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.219
 But there is one

00:27:00.219 --> 00:27:00.779
 thing about this

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.719
 song which is a

00:27:01.719 --> 00:27:02.439
 little bit troubling

00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:04.339
 to me and possibly

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:06.039
 to you as well.

00:27:06.219 --> 00:27:07.259
 It is a great hymn.

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.879
 It is a wonderful hymn

00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.879
 that we should sing.

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.359
 But there is one

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:14.099
 part that troubles me

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:15.019
 and maybe it troubles

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.599
 you as well.

00:27:16.479 --> 00:27:17.779
 It is the very first

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.019
 line and the second

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.339
 line.

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.519
 Look at it with me.

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:20.879
 It says,

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.820
 Oh, come all you

00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:25.580
 faithful, joyful and

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:26.380
 triumphant.

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.760
 It's a wonderful

00:27:28.760 --> 00:27:29.640
 description of maybe

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.840
 how we should approach

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.400
 Christmas.

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:34.020
 And yet, if we're

00:27:34.020 --> 00:27:35.740
 honest, how many of us

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:37.040
 really resonate with

00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:37.340
 that?

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.460
 Maybe here this morning

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.280
 and you, as I said,

00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:40.840
 you've gone through a

00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.540
 difficult time.

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.220
 Maybe it's been a

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.380
 really hard year for you

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.760
 this year.

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.000
 And you feel like

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.759
 there's one thing that

00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.740
 I'm not this morning.

00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:49.299
 It's triumphant, joyful.

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.160
 Maybe, friends, you

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.319
 don't feel very faithful

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.900
 this year.

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.920
 Maybe you've tried to

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.720
 hold on to Jesus.

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.279
 You've been buffeted by

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.460
 the winds and the waves

00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:00.259
 and you feel like if

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.079
 there's one thing that

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.440
 I'm not, it's faithful.

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:07.299
 Friends, come all you

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.680
 faithful, joyful and

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.200
 triumphant.

00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:11.059
 It's what we should be,

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.539
 but it's not what we

00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.079
 always are.

00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:15.779
 How many of us could

00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:17.000
 be said, Monday to

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.299
 Friday, at work, at

00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.500
 home, at university,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:21.400
 the deepest concerns of

00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:22.879
 our hearts are to long

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:24.279
 to adore and worship

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.539
 Him.

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.759
 And what about the

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.599
 final stanza?

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.160
 Ye, Lord, we greet

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.379
 you.

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.619
 Born this happy

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.059
 morning.

00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.980
 Yeah, that's wonderful

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.759
 promise to what

00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.460
 Christmas is.

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:35.720
 But, friends, if we

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.660
 are honest, some of us

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:38.000
 Christmas is not all

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.619
 that happy.

00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.720
 Friends, for some of us

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.799
 maybe you've lost a

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.339
 loved one.

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:44.119
 And as you come to

00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:45.500
 Christmas Day and the

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.459
 build up to Christmas,

00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:47.819
 actually maybe your

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:49.000
 heart is more carrying

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:52.240
 grief or mourning as

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.759
 you think about the

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.599
 loss of maybe a

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:57.740
 father, a brother, a

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.419
 grandmother, a

00:28:59.419 --> 00:28:59.740
 daughter.

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.740
 Maybe the anticipation

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.119
 of Christmas is not so

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.559
 joyful and rosy.

00:29:04.659 --> 00:29:05.759
 It's actually, it's a

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.819
 time of sadness and

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.699
 grief in your heart.

00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:09.440
 Friends, maybe you

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.700
 carry deep shame for

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.160
 something that's

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.460
 happened and Christmas

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:15.120
 reminds you of your

00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:16.340
 unfaithfulness.

00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:18.180
 And so, if you're a

00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.140
 follower of Jesus, we

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.580
 carry this tension in

00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.900
 our hearts because, yes,

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.819
 we want to come and

00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.900
 worship and adore Him.

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.960
 That's where life is

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.380
 found.

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.900
 And yet there's this

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:28.279
 trepidation because,

00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.600
 are we worthy?

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.360
 Will Jesus really

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.120
 accept us?

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.720
 I mean, maybe, okay,

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.799
 Neil, yes, sure, I can

00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.500
 understand that.

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.240
 Jesus would accept

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.779
 Him, okay, Justin,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:39.120
 Annabelle, sure, but

00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:39.640
 me?

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:43.160
 God, am I worthy to

00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:43.799
 come to you this

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.099
 morning?

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.920
 And friends, if all

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.740
 you hear is your

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.880
 pastor or the worship

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:51.000
 leader, Jeremy, saying,

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:52.240
 come, all you faithful,

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:54.000
 try harder, what

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.460
 happens?

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.859
 You feel either

00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.880
 unwelcome and

00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:58.779
 unwanted or you feel

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.839
 like a fraud as you

00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.720
 fake your way through

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.720
 singing the Christmas

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.279
 carols.

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.660
 So, is there any hope

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.920
 for people like us?

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:09.240
 Well, a couple of

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.140
 years ago, a lady

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:11.580
 called Lisa Clow,

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.279
 who is a worship

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.560
 leader and a singer

00:30:14.560 --> 00:30:16.120
 at her church, was

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:17.100
 feeling the same

00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.240
 tension in her

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.680
 heart.

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.160
 She had gone through

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:21.759
 a difficult year and

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.700
 she arrived at church

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:24.660
 one day to sing

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.740
 Christmas carols and

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.660
 she found herself

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.759
 unable to sing.

00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.120
 And so, let's

00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:30.540
 listen to her story as

00:30:30.540 --> 00:30:31.259
 I read it to her.

00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:32.040
 She writes this.

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.300
 She says, I was

00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:33.740
 struggling.

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:35.299
 It had been a long

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.240
 year and a half.

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:38.099
 Finances were very

00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.680
 stressful.

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.740
 I had miscarried twins

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.519
 that year.

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:43.019
 And on top of it, I

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:44.120
 was battling a deep

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:45.240
 relational bitterness

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.559
 with somebody close.

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.680
 My church was having

00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:49.660
 their annual Christmas

00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.960
 carol service and I,

00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.920
 for once, was not

00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.680
 singing that year.

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.920
 I had told my church I

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:56.099
 wasn't able to sing,

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.819
 but what they didn't

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.079
 know was that I was

00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:00.839
 too overcome with shame

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.099
 to stand on the stage

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:03.419
 before my church family

00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:04.000
 that year.

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:07.639
 That Sunday morning,

00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.259
 I stood at my seat

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.519
 as we began to sing,

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.639
 O come all ye

00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:12.019
 faithful.

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.559
 And the very first

00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.480
 line of the song

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:16.240
 absolutely clobbered

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.459
 me.

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.879
 It hit me like a

00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:19.219
 giant wave of guilt.

00:31:19.699 --> 00:31:20.779
 Come all ye

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.219
 faithful.

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:23.279
 Joyful and triumphant.

00:31:23.959 --> 00:31:25.119
 I remember hearing

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:25.819
 those words and

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:27.159
 thinking, I have been

00:31:27.159 --> 00:31:28.319
 so unfaithful.

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:30.219
 My joy has dwindled.

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.960
 I am a triumphant

00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:33.059
 failure.

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:35.460
 I didn't sing for the

00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.440
 rest of the service.

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:39.259
 I drove home, my mind

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.980
 still churning.

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.839
 Is that really those

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.680
 who are invited to

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.000
 Jesus?

00:31:43.579 --> 00:31:44.240
 The faithful?

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.440
 The joyful?

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.839
 The triumphant?

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.620
 If that's the case,

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.380
 I am hopeless.

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:51.920
 Later that afternoon,

00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.880
 I was reminded of

00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.120
 Jesus' invitation in

00:31:54.120 --> 00:31:54.860
 Matthew 11.

00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:56.680
 Come to me, all you

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:58.240
 who are weary and

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.900
 heavy laden.

00:31:58.900 --> 00:32:00.800
 And I will give you

00:32:00.800 --> 00:32:01.259
 rest.

00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:03.000
 Rest.

00:32:03.800 --> 00:32:05.220
 Rest found in Jesus.

00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.960
 Found in His death.

00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.900
 His resurrection.

00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:09.160
 Not my death and

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.640
 resurrection.

00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.519
 That evening, I sat

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.880
 down to write a song

00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:14.840
 for the weary, for the

00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:16.080
 broken, for the

00:32:16.080 --> 00:32:18.100
 ashamed, for myself.

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.220
 Friends, I wonder if

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.700
 you can resonate with

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:23.280
 Lisa's sentiment.

00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:25.380
 Coming to the end of a

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.560
 difficult year of

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:28.720
 exhaustion, weariness.

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.539
 What do you have to

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.779
 bring to Jesus this

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.119
 morning?

00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:33.819
 Maybe you hear the

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.899
 words of the Magi that

00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.940
 bring their gifts and

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.799
 you feel like, Jesus,

00:32:36.919 --> 00:32:37.700
 all I bring is my

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:39.279
 shame, my failure.

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:41.039
 I've got nothing to

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.299
 give.

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.460
 Jesus, do you even

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.720
 want me as part of

00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.200
 your family?

00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.480
 The result of that

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.619
 afternoon was Lisa

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.740
 wrote a song and it's

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:52.299
 on the back of your

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:52.659
 insert.

00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.339
 I wonder if you can

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.919
 turn and look at it

00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.620
 with me and we're

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.259
 going to sing this

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.800
 song in a few

00:32:56.800 --> 00:32:57.500
 minutes time, but I

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.860
 want to just look at

00:32:58.860 --> 00:32:59.680
 these words together.

00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:02.680
 Come, all you

00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.320
 unfaithful.

00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.240
 Come, weak and

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.759
 unstable.

00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.080
 Come, know that

00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:07.840
 you are not alone.

00:33:08.840 --> 00:33:09.960
 Come, barren and

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.220
 waiting ones, weary

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.380
 of praying ones.

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:14.680
 Come, see what your

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.400
 God has done.

00:33:16.380 --> 00:33:17.660
 Christ is born.

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:20.019
 Christ is born.

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:22.720
 Christ is born for

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.019
 you.

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.140
 Come, bitter and

00:33:25.140 --> 00:33:25.500
 broken.

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.920
 Come with fears

00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.660
 unspoken.

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.319
 Come, taste of his

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.160
 perfect love.

00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:31.900
 Come, guilty and

00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.680
 hiding ones.

00:33:33.600 --> 00:33:35.039
 There is no need to

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.279
 run.

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.660
 See what your God

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.279
 has done.

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:39.440
 Christ is born.

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:41.380
 Christ is born.

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:44.319
 Christ is born for

00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:44.579
 you.

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.880
 He is the lamb who

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.660
 was given, slain for

00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:49.319
 our pardon.

00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.700
 His promise is our

00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:52.220
 peace for those who

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.680
 believe.

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.579
 So come, though you

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:57.319
 have nothing, Christ, he

00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:58.100
 is our offering.

00:33:58.299 --> 00:33:59.380
 Come, see what your

00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.240
 God has done.

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:01.960
 Christ is born.

00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.600
 Christ is born.

00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:06.779
 Christ is born for

00:34:06.779 --> 00:34:07.079
 you.

00:34:08.720 --> 00:34:09.840
 Friends, those of us

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.599
 that are Christians this

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.679
 morning recognize this

00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.760
 tension in our hearts,

00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:14.199
 this call of the

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.019
 scriptures and the

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.420
 gospel to come and

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.699
 worship and adore him,

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.220
 to bring our entire

00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:20.240
 lives before him.

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.459
 And yet, if we're

00:34:21.459 --> 00:34:23.059
 honest, there's a part

00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:24.519
 of us that feels, if

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.319
 I've got to bring my

00:34:25.319 --> 00:34:26.619
 best, who is worthy?

00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:28.739
 Well, will Jesus accept

00:34:28.739 --> 00:34:28.979
 me?

00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:31.339
 How can I come before

00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:32.359
 him when all I bring is

00:34:32.359 --> 00:34:33.579
 my shame, my guilt, my

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:35.699
 failure, my unfaithfulness?

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.779
 Friends, the message of

00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.859
 the Bible and the message

00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:40.500
 of Christianity is those

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.659
 that, though we have

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:43.279
 failed him, though we

00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:44.359
 fail to worship and

00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:47.219
 adore him, he has come to

00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.679
 us.

00:34:48.339 --> 00:34:49.819
 We don't come to him on

00:34:49.819 --> 00:34:50.659
 our terms and our

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:52.119
 merits, we come to him

00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:53.819
 because he first came to

00:34:53.819 --> 00:34:54.139
 us.

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.639
 And so, though we feel

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.879
 bitter, and though we

00:34:56.879 --> 00:34:58.500
 feel broken, and though we

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.779
 feel weary, and though we

00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:00.980
 feel exhausted, and though

00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:02.279
 we feel like we have got

00:35:02.279 --> 00:35:04.199
 nothing to give, when we

00:35:04.199 --> 00:35:06.199
 had nothing, Jesus Christ,

00:35:06.299 --> 00:35:08.159
 the eternal, majestic,

00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:11.119
 sovereign God, came to us

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:13.980
 to bring us to God, to

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:16.099
 save us, to reconcile us,

00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:18.179
 so that we have nothing

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:19.400
 Christ came that we

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:21.579
 might have him, the one

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:23.559
 thing that we need, that we

00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:24.840
 may come to him.

00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:29.380
 Weak, unstable, frustrated,

00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:32.659
 weary, full of tears, shame,

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:34.019
 those of us who feel a

00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:37.360
 triumphant failure, Jesus

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:38.199
 has come.

00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:42.299
 Look at, we sang it

00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:43.779
 earlier, in the last

00:35:43.779 --> 00:35:45.639
 stanzas, word of the

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:47.099
 Father, now in flesh

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.460
 appearing.

00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.179
 What does that mean?

00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:51.799
 The Bible is the word of

00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.079
 God.

00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:53.719
 It is God's good word of

00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:55.019
 hope and gospel.

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.960
 It's his word of grace.

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.859
 But God did more than

00:35:58.859 --> 00:36:00.039
 just send us a prophet.

00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:01.539
 He did more than just

00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.559
 send us the scriptures.

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:05.059
 He sent us his son.

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:07.579
 The word of God, now in

00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:09.559
 flesh appearing, to tell

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:12.599
 sinners and sufferers, like

00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:15.599
 you and I, that we are not

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.960
 hopeless, because God

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:20.719
 himself has come to bring us

00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.159
 grace.

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:24.299
 Friends, do you feel like a

00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.179
 triumphant failure this

00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:25.480
 morning?

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:29.179
 Christ is born for you.

00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.320
 Friends, do you feel weary

00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:32.119
 and worn out?

00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:34.980
 Christ is born for you.

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:38.779
 You feel unjoyful, untriumphant.

00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:42.380
 Christ is born for you.

00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:45.860
 And friends, just consider

00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:47.219
 as we come to a close, who

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:48.440
 the Bible recalls as the

00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:49.639
 first worshippers of Jesus.

00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:52.019
 Shepherds and Magi.

00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:54.039
 Shepherds and Magi.

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.000
 Who were the shepherds?

00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.759
 They were uneducated,

00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.320
 unsophisticated,

00:36:58.840 --> 00:37:01.460
 unwealthy, the outcasts of

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:03.599
 society, the very first

00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:05.239
 worshippers of Jesus, were

00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:07.039
 stinky shepherds from the

00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:07.559
 fields.

00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.579
 And who were the Magi?

00:37:09.759 --> 00:37:10.460
 Yeah, okay, they were

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:11.159
 wealthy, they were

00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:12.579
 sophisticated, they were

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:14.059
 upper class, but they were

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.599
 Gentile pagan astrologers,

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.259
 worshippers of the stars.

00:37:18.699 --> 00:37:19.860
 They came from Babylon.

00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:21.259
 They were the very people

00:37:21.259 --> 00:37:22.659
 that the Old Testament,

00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:24.119
 God's enemies.

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.980
 And yet God comes to them,

00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:28.400
 says, come.

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:30.779
 Come, worship and adore him.

00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.280
 Do you know what that

00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:31.620
 means?

00:37:32.060 --> 00:37:33.740
 It means there is no human

00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:35.860
 being in all of the world

00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:38.680
 that is unwelcome,

00:37:39.120 --> 00:37:40.500
 unwurdened to come and

00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:41.680
 worship and behold him,

00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:44.220
 if only we will trust in

00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:44.519
 Jesus.

00:37:45.720 --> 00:37:47.040
 And so look at, or think

00:37:47.040 --> 00:37:48.360
 about the angels' words,

00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.460
 the shepherds out in the

00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.519
 fields, and that's

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.300
 faithful might.

00:37:52.260 --> 00:37:53.380
 Behold, I bring you good

00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:54.460
 news of great joy.

00:37:54.820 --> 00:37:56.320
 For all people,

00:37:57.040 --> 00:37:58.340
 religious and rebels,

00:37:58.900 --> 00:38:00.180
 sinners and sufferers

00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:00.599
 alike.

00:38:01.159 --> 00:38:02.799
 For unto you is born

00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:04.980
 this day, Jesus Christ

00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:06.799
 the Savior, Christ the

00:38:06.799 --> 00:38:07.079
 Lord.

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.259
 And so come.

00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:10.099
 Friends, this Christmas,

00:38:10.259 --> 00:38:11.179
 whether you feel worthy

00:38:11.179 --> 00:38:12.239
 or unworthy, whether you

00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:13.819
 feel like a failure, or

00:38:13.819 --> 00:38:15.059
 you feel triumphant

00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.980
 success, this Christmas,

00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:17.960
 come.

00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:20.239
 Come worship and adore

00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:20.440
 him.

00:38:20.919 --> 00:38:22.199
 Come behold him, Christ

00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:22.659
 the Lord.

00:38:23.319 --> 00:38:23.739
 Come.

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:26.000
 Come and worship him.

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.379
 Let's pray together.

00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:32.340
 Lord Jesus, we marvel God

00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.220
 at the wonder of the

00:38:33.220 --> 00:38:33.900
 gospel, Lord.

00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:35.640
 God, it's utterly

00:38:35.640 --> 00:38:37.099
 astounding when we do

00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:40.559
 think and ponder who it

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.660
 is that you invite to come

00:38:41.660 --> 00:38:42.079
 and worship.

00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:45.280
 That first Christmas

00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:47.240
 night, the shepherds.

00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:49.039
 A few months or years

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:49.980
 later, the magi.

00:38:50.140 --> 00:38:51.400
 And still, God, thousands

00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:53.119
 of years later, you invite

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.340
 sinners and sufferers,

00:38:54.340 --> 00:38:56.740
 unworthy rebels like us.

00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:58.460
 Those who are anything

00:38:58.460 --> 00:39:00.539
 but faithful, joyful, and

00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.019
 triumphant.

00:39:01.140 --> 00:39:02.900
 You call us, invite us

00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:04.980
 to come to you that we

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:07.019
 might find life.

00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:09.460
 That we might find hope.

00:39:10.180 --> 00:39:11.620
 That we might find

00:39:11.620 --> 00:39:13.160
 promise.

00:39:14.620 --> 00:39:16.400
 Jesus, I pray this Christmas,

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:18.760
 God, may we not miss the

00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:20.620
 call of Advent, the call of

00:39:20.620 --> 00:39:22.519
 Christmas, to come worship

00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:24.559
 and adore you and to find

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:26.420
 life in your name.

00:39:27.739 --> 00:39:28.900
 God, I pray especially,

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.960
 God, for those of us this

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.940
 morning that feel

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:35.059
 unworthy to come to you.

00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:37.579
 You, God, feel like maybe

00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.820
 this year we've walked away

00:39:38.820 --> 00:39:39.300
 from you.

00:39:40.599 --> 00:39:42.079
 You feel this year, God, we

00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:43.460
 haven't really walked with you.

00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:47.360
 God, won't you flood us with

00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:48.260
 your grace and mercy.

00:39:49.740 --> 00:39:51.260
 Won't you open our eyes to

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:52.559
 see you for who you are.

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:56.099
 And won't you remind us, God,

00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:58.800
 of the profound invitation of

00:39:58.800 --> 00:40:01.720
 Christmas to come and find our

00:40:01.720 --> 00:40:04.280
 hope that the Savior who is

00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:07.179
 born, the Savior in the

00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:10.039
 manger, Christ the Lord.

00:40:10.039 --> 00:40:11.880
 God, I'm Lord, пока you're

00:40:11.880 --> 00:40:12.539
 ATM.

00:40:12.759 --> 00:40:13.300
 Person, God, don't you

00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:14.420
 really promise to come and

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:15.519
 don't you say well, God or

00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:15.880
 what?

00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:16.759
 I love you.

00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:18.659
 What thứ one is.

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:20.420
 Basically love is to

00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:27.900
 H

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:29.000
 grace to come and

00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:30.340
 see you in the

00:40:30.340 --> 00:40:30.880
 place to come, in

00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:31.440
 love.

00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.960
 God, pray to

00:40:33.099 --> 00:40:34.199
 you right, I'll

00:40:34.259 --> 00:40:35.279
 thank you, God,

00:40:35.279 --> 00:40:36.360
 for요.

00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:37.400
 You

00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:38.380
 and