WEBVTT

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 It never ceases to amaze me how talented so many of our people in this church are so grateful for the privilege of being in a place where music just comes front and center and we get to enjoy.

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 Quality music week after week after week. Thank you, John. Thank you, praise team. Thank you, orchestra. Thank you for playing the organ. I can't remember. I guess the last time was maybe a year ago.

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 So, and then going back to childhood, we had organ every single week. So, it's just such a refreshment to come into the Lord's house and to be encouraged by good music that has deep, rich theology.

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 And leads us to Christ. Leads us to scriptural principles that are transcendent. So, praise the Lord for that. Thank you for your ministry to us this morning through the word.

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 Jeff, thank you for your testimony this morning. I don't know what your experience is, but there may be times where we tend to think that some people have really great testimonies because God has saved them out of really terrible, sinful, ungodly, and wicked circumstances.

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 But truth be told, in our heart of hearts, we all come from that place.

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 Jeff talked about Ephesians chapter 5. Here is your condition and my condition this morning.

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 It says,

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 For while we were still weak, at just the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

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 So, if you're here this morning and you have experienced the benefits of Christ's death,

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 then this verse is talking about you.

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 And he describes you in not so sparkling terms.

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 He speaks of you as one who is ungodly.

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 One who is weak.

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 One who is in desperate need for Christ.

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 That's how he talks about all of us in this room.

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 But fortunately, the story doesn't stop there.

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 It says,

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 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person,

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 although perhaps for a good person one would even dare to die.

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 But God shows his love for us in this,

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 that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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 We were all enemies.

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 We were all ungodly.

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 We were all sinners.

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 We were all rebels to the core.

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 Whether you expressed it in a way that drew attention to yourself or not,

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 you are, and I am, this morning,

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 saved out of rebellion.

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 Saved out of ungodliness.

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 Our situation was as desperate as it could have been.

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 It could not have been worse.

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 And yet, there is hope in the midst of despair.

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 There's hope in the midst of darkness.

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 That hope is only found in the person of Jesus Christ.

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 And that, this morning, is God's greatest gift.

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 In a nutshell, that's our message for today.

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 My guess is, hey, great, let's pray and go home.

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 But what I'd like to do is I'd like to elaborate on that great gift

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 so that we can begin to understand the fullness

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 of how wonderful that gift is.

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 We just sang about it.

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 Thanks, John.

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 What a great song.

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 The wonderful counselor, the mighty God,

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 the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

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 And what is so phenomenal, what is so spectacular about that promise

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 is when that promise is made

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 and how that promise comes to be

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 and who that promise is given to.

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 Because as we begin to recognize the context of the promise,

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 we begin to appreciate that there is hope for me.

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 There is a divine intervention that can happen in my life

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 where God can take me from the darkness of despair,

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 from the gloominess and hopelessness of my situation,

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 and God can create light,

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 and God can create joy,

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 and God can transform my circumstances,

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 not by rearranging the situation per se,

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 but rearranging my focus in the midst of that situation.

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 So I want to talk this morning about the great gift that God's given to us.

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 And I want to look back at Isaiah,

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 probably the two most prominent passages in Isaiah,

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 and perhaps the two most prominent Christmas passages

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 in all of the Old Testament

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 that points forward to this promise of God's greatest gift,

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 the promise of Jesus Christ,

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 the promise of the Messiah.

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 So if you would,

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 I would ask if you would please to turn with me.

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 We'll begin in Isaiah chapter 7,

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 and we'll look at this together.

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 Isaiah chapter 7.

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 If you're a guest with us this morning,

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 you can find Isaiah on page 571.

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 That's where we're going to be,

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 at least for the first part of this message.

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 The promise of God's gift.

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 It's found in Isaiah chapter 7.

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 I said verse 1,

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 but it's actually verses 10 through 14.

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 Okay?

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 So just make that correction.

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 It begins this way.

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 It says,

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 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz.

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 This is in verse 10,

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 now in verse 11.

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 Ask a sign of the Lord your God.

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 Let it be as deep as Sheol,

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 or as high as the heavens.

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 But Ahaz said,

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 I will not ask,

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 and I will not put the Lord to the test.

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 And he said,

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 Hear then,

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 O house of David,

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 is it too little for you to weary men

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 that you weary my God also?

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 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

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 Behold, the virgin shall conceive,

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 and bear a son,

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 and shall call his name Emmanuel.

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 Of course, we understand Emmanuel meaning God with us.

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 Now turn over to chapter 9.

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 There we're going to begin in verse 1,

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 and 2, and 3,

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 and then the promise of a son in verses 6 and 7.

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 It says this,

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 But there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish.

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 In the former time he brought into contempt

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 the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.

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 But in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea,

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 the land beyond the Jordan,

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 Galilee of the nations.

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 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

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 Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness,

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 on them a light is shown.

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 You have multiplied the nations.

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 You have increased its joy.

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 They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,

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 as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

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 Verse 6,

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 For to us a child is born,

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 to us a son is given,

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 and the government shall be upon his shoulder.

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 In his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,

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 Mighty God,

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 Everlasting Father,

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 Prince of Peace.

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 Of the increase of his government,

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 and of the peace there will be no end.

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 On the throne of David and over his kingdom,

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 to establish it and to uphold it with justice

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 and with righteousness,

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 from this time forth and forever.

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 The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

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 Now, right at the start,

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 there should be some things that just jump out at your attention.

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 Things about this promise that stand out as being absolutely mind-boggling.

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 First is,

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 I want you to understand that hope comes from God,

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 and this is just a part of this first point.

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 I want you to understand,

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 as we are moving through this entire passage of Scripture,

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 that if you are looking for hope,

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 you can only find it in one place.

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 There is only one source of hope,

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 and that is God himself.

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 The God of hope is the one who can give hope to you this morning.

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 God himself, it says,

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 the Lord himself will give you a sign.

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 King Ahaz, if you want to know hope,

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 if you want to enjoy the benefits

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 and the blessings of hope

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 and a future of anticipating what God can do,

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 look to God.

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 Hope exists with him.

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 The next is that hope is undeserved.

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 Hope is undeserved.

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 When we look at Romans chapter 5,

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 and then we look at this passage before us this morning,

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 we recognize that we don't deserve hope.

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 We'll see that a little bit more

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 as we dig into the passage some more.

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 But notice in verse 2,

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 it is a people of darkness.

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 Light is coming to a people of darkness,

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 which means it's a people who do not deserve hope.

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 Because they have rebelled,

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 because they have distanced themselves from God.

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 But hope comes in spite of what they deserve.

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 Next is that hope is bound up in God's ability to deliver.

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 Notice the end of verse 7.

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 It says,

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 the zeal of the Lord has done it.

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 Now it's still coming.

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 It is yet future.

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 But in God's mind,

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 it has been accomplished already.

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 And God is the one.

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 He is not just the force,

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 but the power and the strength

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 to bring hope to his people.

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 Not only the source of hope,

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 but the strength by which hope will come.

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 So I don't know your situation this morning.

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 I don't know the crisis

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 that may be looming on you

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 as an individual or as a family.

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 I don't know the decisions

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 that you're trying to make.

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 I don't know the turmoil

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 that you are experiencing right now.

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 But what I do know is that there is an answer.

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 There is an answer,

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 and there is hope,

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 and that hope can be found in Christ alone.

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 The Lord himself can and will do it.

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 The zeal of the Lord is for you

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 if you align yourself with him.

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 That's the start of this morning's message.

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 That kind of becomes

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 kind of the overarching theme

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 as we walk through this passage today.

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 As we look at the promise of God's gift,

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 I want to point out just a couple of things

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 to just mark your attention

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 and make some observations

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 about the timing of this promise.

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 I want you to notice

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 the surprising timing of this promise.

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 If you turn back to chapter 7,

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 just flip a page,

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 and this time we will go to verse 1.

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 What does it say there?

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 In the days of Ahaz,

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 the son of Jotham,

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 son of Uzziah,

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 king of Judah.

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 Now,

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 for most of us,

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 King Ahaz is

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 some anonymous individual

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 we have very little familiarity with.

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 We can talk about King Saul.

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 We can talk about King David.

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 We can talk about Solomon

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 and maybe some others

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 like Josiah and Hezekiah

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 and some others

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 kind of sprinkled in there.

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 For sure we know Ahab

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 because he was that wicked king in Israel.

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 But Ahaz,

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 who was a king in Judah,

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 was very similar to Ahab

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 who was in the northern ten tribes.

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 This is not the time to give a promise.

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 This is not the time for God to show up

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 and give favor

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 and the promise of blessing to his people.

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 In this kingdom,

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 at this particular point in time,

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 was about 730 years

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 before Jesus Christ came.

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 And if you remember

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 a little bit about the chronology

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 and the history

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 of the children of Israel,

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 you'll remember that

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 the light of the world

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 was resident within

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 the nation of Israel itself.

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 Israel alone had the law.

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 Israel alone had the temple.

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 Israel alone had the priests.

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 Israel alone had the revelation from God.

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 And now 10-12ths

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 of the nation of Israel

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 had abandoned their roots

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 and had rejected the God of Israel.

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 It's around 83%.

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 Darkness covered a people.

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 The light of the world

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 was beginning to dim.

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 The hope for the nations

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 was beginning to fade

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 as now 10-12ths

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 of the light of the world

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 had been obliterated,

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 essentially obscured

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 by the rebellion of a people.

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 And to make matters worse,

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 the southern two tribes

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 now under the leadership

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 of King Ahaz

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 was also closing the door

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 on the light

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 that God had given to them.

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 A commentary

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 on King Ahaz's leadership

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 is found in 2 Chronicles

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 chapter 28.

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 It says this,

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 Ahaz was 20 years old

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 when he began to reign.

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 He reigned 16 years

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 in Jerusalem

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 and he did not do

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 what was right

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 in the eyes of the Lord

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 as his father David

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 had done,

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 but he walked in the ways

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 of the kings of Israel.

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 He made metal images

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 for the Baals

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.840
 and he made offerings

00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.460
 in the valley

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.700
 of the son of Hinnom

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:53.700
 and burned his sons

00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:54.640
 as an offering

00:14:54.640 --> 00:14:57.180
 according to the abominations

00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:57.940
 of the nation

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:59.720
 whom the Lord drove out

00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.820
 before the people of Israel

00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:02.020
 and he sacrificed

00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:03.320
 and made offerings

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.379
 on the high places,

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.600
 on the hills

00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.879
 and under every green tree.

00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.180
 And if that wasn't bad enough

00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:11.980
 for him as a king,

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.440
 he led the people

00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:15.040
 of Judah and Benjamin

00:15:15.040 --> 00:15:17.180
 into the very same abominations.

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:20.399
 So that it says

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.239
 of the people

00:15:21.239 --> 00:15:22.739
 that all of them

00:15:22.739 --> 00:15:23.879
 followed after

00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:26.019
 the wickedness

00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.939
 of King Ahaz.

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.199
 The light

00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:32.259
 for the nations

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:34.179
 was being extinguished.

00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:35.719
 So that now

00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:37.500
 the other two twelfths,

00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.319
 the remaining

00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:39.679
 fraction

00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.899
 of the light

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.579
 was beginning

00:15:41.579 --> 00:15:42.359
 to be obscured.

00:15:44.099 --> 00:15:45.159
 Isaiah is writing

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:46.659
 in a dark day

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.399
 where only

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.519
 a hint

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.399
 of light

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:49.980
 remained

00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.019
 with Isaiah

00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:51.679
 and those

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.600
 who were faithful

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.379
 to Yahweh.

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.279
 It is safe

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.819
 to say

00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:58.120
 that the nations

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.819
 and the light

00:15:59.819 --> 00:16:00.719
 to the nations,

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.279
 the hope

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.179
 that they were

00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:03.879
 to experience

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.719
 through the revelation

00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:05.199
 of God,

00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.199
 through his people,

00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.819
 was almost

00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:09.339
 virtually destroyed.

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.379
 But this,

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.500
 by the mercy

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.079
 of God,

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.120
 it was this

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.299
 dark day

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:15.879
 that hope

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.659
 begins to dawn.

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:20.219
 It was in this day,

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.000
 this hopeless day,

00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:22.620
 that God

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:24.919
 sends his prophet Isaiah

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:26.539
 to send a messenger

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.779
 to this wicked king,

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.219
 Ahaz,

00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:29.359
 to say,

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.179
 although you have

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.120
 rebelled against

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.939
 my commands,

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.219
 although you have

00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:35.159
 led the people

00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:36.359
 into wickedness,

00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.339
 it will not

00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:39.779
 get in the way,

00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:41.679
 it will not obscure

00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.659
 my plan

00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.620
 to bring light

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.639
 to this people.

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.259
 Which is to say

00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.639
 that God

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.620
 is the author

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.120
 of light

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.759
 and nothing

00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.079
 can shatter

00:16:53.079 --> 00:16:54.139
 his light

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:55.059
 giving purposes.

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.559
 God is the author

00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:57.959
 of light

00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:58.679
 and nothing

00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.739
 can shatter

00:16:59.739 --> 00:17:00.559
 his light

00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.259
 giving purposes.

00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.479
 I don't know

00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:03.879
 about you,

00:17:03.959 --> 00:17:04.679
 but that gives me

00:17:04.679 --> 00:17:06.579
 special encouragement

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.119
 this morning.

00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.779
 As I look around

00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:09.339
 and I see

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.899
 the darkness

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.540
 of the day

00:17:10.540 --> 00:17:11.560
 in which we live.

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.120
 And I think about

00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:14.580
 the darkness

00:17:14.580 --> 00:17:15.420
 that seems to be

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.259
 pressing in

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.540
 to every context,

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.800
 pressing into

00:17:18.800 --> 00:17:20.160
 our school systems,

00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:21.400
 pressing into

00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:23.120
 our workplaces,

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:24.040
 pressing into

00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:25.100
 our government

00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:26.500
 and all of the things

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.140
 that surround

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:28.280
 the major decisions

00:17:28.280 --> 00:17:29.780
 of this world.

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.700
 I think,

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.060
 is there hope

00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:33.000
 anymore

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.980
 for the church

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:35.320
 and is there hope

00:17:35.320 --> 00:17:36.440
 for his people?

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.320
 And the answer is

00:17:38.320 --> 00:17:39.200
 just look back

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.319
 to the hopelessness

00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.880
 of King Ahaz's day.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.259
 And you can see

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.420
 where that hope comes.

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.279
 It comes

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.880
 not from people,

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.840
 it comes

00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.940
 from Jesus

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.880
 himself.

00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:53.120
 Light can come

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:54.240
 because of the author

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.180
 of light

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.920
 who desires

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.100
 to shine in

00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:57.980
 to this world.

00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.460
 Will you give him

00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.759
 entrance into your home?

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.880
 Will you give him

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.279
 entrance into your life?

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.319
 Will you let

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:06.000
 the king of light

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.340
 shine in your heart

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:07.939
 today?

00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:10.980
 But not only

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.559
 do we see

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.419
 the surprising

00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:13.939
 timing of the promise,

00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:14.759
 I want us

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:16.179
 just to take note

00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:17.619
 of the unlikely

00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:18.299
 origins

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.379
 of this promise.

00:18:20.179 --> 00:18:20.859
 The unlikely

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.659
 origins

00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:22.720
 of this promise.

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.199
 For that,

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.659
 I want to

00:18:24.659 --> 00:18:25.759
 point our attention

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.839
 to chapter 9,

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.399
 verse 1.

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:31.300
 There will be no

00:18:31.300 --> 00:18:31.960
 more gloom

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.019
 for her

00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.600
 who was in

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:34.180
 anguish.

00:18:34.780 --> 00:18:35.519
 In the former

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.460
 time he brought

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:38.080
 into contempt

00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:38.980
 the land of

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.540
 Zebulun

00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:40.420
 and the land

00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:41.100
 of Naphtali.

00:18:41.780 --> 00:18:42.259
 But in

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.019
 the latter

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.980
 time he made

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.580
 glorious

00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.440
 the way

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.240
 of the sea

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.420
 and the land

00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.240
 beyond Jordan,

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.140
 Galilee

00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:50.500
 of the nations.

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.240
 Now,

00:18:52.280 --> 00:18:52.480
 I don't know

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.220
 if that strikes

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:53.640
 you

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.279
 as it

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:55.940
 strikes me.

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.360
 But I want

00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.100
 you to take

00:18:59.100 --> 00:18:59.860
 note of this

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:01.100
 amazing promise.

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:03.440
 Who is

00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:04.200
 Naphtali?

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.079
 Who is

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.920
 Zebulun?

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.079
 Who are

00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.960
 these anonymous

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.000
 individuals?

00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.660
 Where are

00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.140
 these

00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:13.900
 random

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.559
 places?

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.400
 If you can

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.220
 remember back

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:18.920
 to the book

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.839
 of Genesis,

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.039
 if you can

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.980
 remember back

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.779
 to the sons

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:24.079
 of Jacob,

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.420
 perhaps you

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.019
 might recall

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.579
 a few of the

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.360
 names of

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:29.079
 his 12 sons.

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.599
 Certainly you

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.259
 could remember

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.140
 the name

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:32.680
 Levi,

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.079
 or the name

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.519
 Judah,

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.220
 or the name

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.079
 Benjamin.

00:19:36.860 --> 00:19:37.559
 You might be

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.279
 hard pressed

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.819
 to remember

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:39.279
 the name

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.960
 Reuben,

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.039
 or the name

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.519
 Gad,

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.039
 or the name

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.519
 Dan,

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.220
 but at least

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.819
 they're somewhat

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.259
 familiar.

00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.700
 But Naphtali?

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:47.539
 And Zebulun?

00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:47.960
 Who are

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.620
 these people?

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.720
 They're sons

00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:54.299
 of Abraham.

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.500
 They're sons

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.460
 of Jacob.

00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:58.059
 Sons of Israel.

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.120
 And so the

00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.759
 promise is

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.539
 coming to

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.700
 the people

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:04.539
 who are

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.940
 part of the

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.460
 children of

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:06.740
 God.

00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.720
 But people

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.259
 who you

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.259
 wouldn't expect

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.220
 the least

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.920
 likely

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.579
 individuals.

00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.380
 The darkness

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.480
 that had

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.779
 surrounded this

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.420
 group of

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.039
 individuals,

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.980
 the light

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.519
 would dawn,

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.440
 the epicenter

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:19.980
 of light

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.680
 would come

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.500
 on the

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:21.900
 least

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.559
 likely

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.000
 group

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.160
 of

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.660
 individuals.

00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:27.259
 And what's

00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.940
 also quite

00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.480
 surprising

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.960
 is the

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.660
 epicenter

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.320
 of light

00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:31.799
 would come

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:32.140
 in the

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:32.559
 least

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.299
 likely

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.180
 place.

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.700
 Because if

00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.259
 you remember,

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.279
 where is

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:38.000
 Judah and

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.380
 Benjamin?

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.380
 We talk

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:39.799
 about the

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.539
 northern ten

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.019
 tribes,

00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.799
 we talk

00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.220
 about the

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.039
 southern two

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.539
 tribes.

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:45.740
 This was

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.400
 enemy

00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.320
 territory.

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.080
 Naphtali

00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.019
 and Zebulun

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.659
 was not

00:20:50.659 --> 00:20:51.159
 in Judah.

00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:52.279
 It was

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.279
 not Jerusalem.

00:20:54.199 --> 00:20:54.859
 The promise

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.259
 to King

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.899
 Ahaz was

00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:56.319
 not going

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:56.599
 to be

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.019
 centered

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.059
 in Jerusalem,

00:20:58.199 --> 00:20:58.759
 but centered

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.460
 in the

00:20:59.460 --> 00:20:59.899
 furthest

00:20:59.899 --> 00:21:00.559
 regions

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.119
 away

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.319
 from the

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:02.740
 center

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.980
 of Jerusalem.

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.099
 In a

00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:06.619
 place,

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.419
 as a matter

00:21:07.419 --> 00:21:07.740
 of fact,

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.220
 that was

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.439
 first to

00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:10.299
 fall to

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.779
 Assyria.

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:12.460
 And perhaps

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.220
 by the time

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:13.740
 of the writing

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.679
 of this

00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:15.199
 prophecy,

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.399
 those two

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.079
 tribes in

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.759
 the regions

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.519
 surrounding

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.460
 their location

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.299
 had already

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.940
 been absorbed,

00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.480
 had already

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.480
 been obliterated

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.299
 by Assyria.

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.539
 And God

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.960
 says,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.579
 okay,

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.059
 maybe

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.960
 obliterated

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.599
 by human

00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.339
 standards,

00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.900
 but preserved

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.660
 by my

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.079
 power,

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.099
 light would

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.859
 dawn to

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.420
 a people

00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:37.259
 who were

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.259
 least to

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.839
 be expected.

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.940
 A region

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.859
 and a

00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:42.440
 territory

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.619
 least to

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.240
 be expected.

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.680
 Again,

00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.579
 to emphasize

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.819
 that God

00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.279
 is the

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.960
 author of

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.319
 light

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.559
 and nothing

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.960
 can get in

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.379
 the way

00:21:52.379 --> 00:21:53.559
 of God's

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.319
 ability to

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:54.779
 make

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:56.579
 his promises

00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.679
 complete.

00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.139
 And then,

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:01.579
 a promise

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.819
 of a baby?

00:22:04.159 --> 00:22:04.919
 Unto us a

00:22:04.919 --> 00:22:05.699
 child is born?

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.439
 Is that what

00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:08.759
 they're looking

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.059
 for?

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.960
 If you're in the

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.879
 middle of a

00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.419
 military

00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:13.439
 conflict,

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.580
 you're looking

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.000
 for a

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.299
 hero,

00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.559
 not a

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:16.840
 baby.

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.519
 If you're

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:18.900
 in the

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.420
 middle of

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.660
 a religious

00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.460
 crisis,

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.580
 you're looking

00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.019
 for a

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.400
 priest,

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.259
 you're looking

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.140
 for a

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.640
 spiritual

00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:25.980
 leader,

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.380
 you're not

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.340
 looking for

00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:27.759
 a baby.

00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:29.240
 And if

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.620
 you're looking

00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.340
 to join

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:31.140
 two nations

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.440
 that have

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:31.980
 been divided,

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.019
 if you're

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.519
 looking for

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.740
 a leader

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.580
 who can

00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:36.360
 help unite

00:22:36.360 --> 00:22:37.400
 those two

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.220
 regions together,

00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.640
 you're looking

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.380
 for a king,

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.820
 you're not

00:22:40.820 --> 00:22:41.259
 looking for

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.660
 a baby.

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:43.300
 And yet,

00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.540
 the promise

00:22:44.540 --> 00:22:44.980
 of this

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.220
 son,

00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:45.680
 as we will

00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.060
 see in

00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.960
 just a

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.560
 few moments,

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.779
 the promise

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.320
 of a son

00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:49.940
 would deliver

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.880
 on all

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:52.080
 of those

00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:53.080
 expectations,

00:22:54.540 --> 00:22:55.160
 would provide

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.120
 a counselor

00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:57.040
 to help

00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:57.840
 them understand

00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.800
 and know

00:22:58.800 --> 00:22:59.360
 the direction

00:22:59.360 --> 00:22:59.779
 that God

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.220
 wanted for

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:00.440
 them,

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.820
 a king

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:02.160
 who would

00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.759
 come and

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.380
 who would

00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:03.840
 lead the

00:23:03.840 --> 00:23:04.960
 people as

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.259
 God had

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.800
 promised to

00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:06.019
 lead,

00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:07.519
 one who

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.240
 would unite

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.820
 the nations

00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:09.279
 and would

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.040
 lead them

00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:11.640
 into peace,

00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:12.360
 that they

00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:12.800
 had all

00:23:12.800 --> 00:23:13.980
 so desperately

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.880
 longed for.

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.500
 The first

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.240
 message this

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.840
 morning is

00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:19.259
 this,

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:21.440
 your situation

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.220
 might be

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:22.580
 bad,

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.120
 but it's

00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:24.640
 not as bad

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.120
 as it was

00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:25.620
 in Judah.

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.779
 Your crisis

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:29.000
 may be

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.680
 overwhelming

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.279
 to you

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.860
 this morning,

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.259
 but it

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.220
 doesn't even

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.759
 begin to

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.340
 compare

00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:35.940
 with the

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.440
 crisis

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.700
 in Jerusalem,

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:39.240
 the darkness

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:39.920
 that existed

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.340
 there.

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:43.699
 the message

00:23:43.699 --> 00:23:44.240
 for us

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.799
 this morning,

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.480
 the message

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.039
 of hope

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.359
 is that

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.079
 light can

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.859
 dawn for

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.559
 you today.

00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.619
 In the

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.099
 midst of

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.639
 hardship

00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.639
 and suffering

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.720
 and struggle,

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.779
 there is

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.980
 hope for

00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.639
 all of us

00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.220
 this morning

00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.159
 through his

00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:00.480
 son,

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.639
 Jesus Christ.

00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:03.980
 Next,

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.579
 we turn to

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.139
 the purpose,

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.399
 the purpose

00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.119
 of the gift.

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.059
 That was the

00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.659
 promise of the

00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:08.779
 gift,

00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.160
 now the

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.980
 purpose of

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.160
 the gift.

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.059
 Why does

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.200
 God send

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.960
 his gift

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.500
 to us

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:13.759
 in the

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.319
 first place?

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.119
 What is it

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.859
 meant to

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.680
 accomplish for

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:16.980
 us?

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.299
 We see

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.079
 there in

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.899
 verses 2

00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:20.319
 and 3,

00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.980
 notice this,

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.500
 the people

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.139
 who walked

00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:24.599
 in darkness

00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.039
 have seen

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.299
 a great

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:25.639
 light.

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.240
 Those who

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:27.819
 dwell in

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.240
 the land

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.879
 of darkness,

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.859
 on them

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.500
 a light

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:32.099
 has dawned.

00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:37.439
 sorry,

00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:38.219
 lost my

00:24:38.219 --> 00:24:38.419
 plate.

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.379
 You have

00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:40.919
 multiplied

00:24:40.919 --> 00:24:41.639
 the nations,

00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:42.539
 you have

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.079
 increased

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:43.799
 its joy,

00:24:44.219 --> 00:24:45.219
 they rejoice

00:24:45.219 --> 00:24:46.539
 before you

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.279
 as with

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.099
 the joy

00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.339
 at the

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.799
 harvest,

00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:49.939
 as they

00:24:49.939 --> 00:24:50.519
 are glad

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:50.919
 when they

00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:51.419
 divide

00:24:51.419 --> 00:24:52.139
 the spoil.

00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:53.879
 Now,

00:24:53.939 --> 00:24:54.240
 I made a

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.259
 major blunder

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.519
 here.

00:24:56.179 --> 00:24:56.599
 I forgot

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.639
 my phone

00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.119
 so that I

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.619
 know what

00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:58.980
 time it

00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.179
 is.

00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.100
 Thank you.

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.019
 This is

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.620
 very important

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:04.960
 for me

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.299
 and for

00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.560
 you,

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.480
 especially

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.980
 for you.

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.080
 I want to

00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:10.460
 keep check

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:10.799
 on that.

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.120
 Actually,

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:11.320
 I'll just

00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:11.500
 put it

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:11.740
 right here

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:11.980
 so I

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.019
 can see

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:13.259
 what the

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.680
 time is.

00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.700
 Good.

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.799
 Did you

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.120
 see the

00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:18.840
 two-fold

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:19.500
 purpose there?

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.140
 It's

00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.600
 already up

00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:22.120
 there on

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:22.660
 the screen

00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.140
 for you.

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.440
 The purpose

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:25.560
 that God

00:25:25.560 --> 00:25:26.720
 is giving

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.560
 you to

00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:28.120
 send

00:25:28.120 --> 00:25:28.560
 his

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.799
 special

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.240
 gift

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.740
 is a

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.119
 purpose

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.559
 of light

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.480
 and joy.

00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:36.139
 Is that

00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:36.339
 what you

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.839
 would expect?

00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.259
 Because

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.720
 that's not

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:39.980
 what the

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.339
 world would

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.619
 say.

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:42.019
 What

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.559
 would the

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.179
 world say

00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.359
 is the

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:45.799
 reason

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.480
 that God

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.099
 gave his

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.419
 son?

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:48.759
 Why

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.319
 would the

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.919
 world say

00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:50.419
 that you

00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:50.759
 should be

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.159
 a Christian?

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.899
 What is

00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:52.779
 their perception

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.319
 of what it

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:53.960
 means to

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.899
 be a

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.480
 follower of

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:55.759
 God?

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.079
 Well,

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:59.159
 I'm not

00:25:59.159 --> 00:25:59.439
 sure I

00:25:59.439 --> 00:25:59.639
 want to

00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.699
 be a

00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:01.019
 Christian

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.539
 because,

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:01.960
 man,

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:02.639
 you've

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:02.899
 got to

00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:03.259
 give up

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.859
 all your

00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.359
 fun.

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.439
 Who wants

00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:05.740
 to do

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.179
 that?

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.159
 I mean,

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.879
 come on!

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.339
 There's so

00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.460
 many rules

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.299
 and regulations,

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:11.839
 there's so

00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.740
 many boundaries,

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:14.079
 and, man,

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.419
 you've got to

00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:14.980
 give up your

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.980
 Sunday mornings,

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:16.579
 and you've

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:18.779
 got to give

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.199
 up your

00:26:19.199 --> 00:26:20.539
 lifestyle,

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.779
 and all of

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.299
 these things.

00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.220
 Who wants

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.659
 to be a

00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:23.939
 Christian?

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.100
 Christian,

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.539
 it's

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.240
 certainly

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:26.700
 not for

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:26.940
 me.

00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.180
 Maybe

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.900
 for those

00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.400
 who are

00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.039
 believers,

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.940
 our response

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.400
 might be a

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:33.660
 little bit

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:33.960
 better,

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.380
 but still

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.779
 not aligned

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.160
 with the

00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.640
 purpose that

00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.220
 God gives.

00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.519
 We might

00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.080
 say so

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:40.500
 that God

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.080
 can create

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:41.420
 a people

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.080
 for himself,

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.259
 a people

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.940
 who learn

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.460
 to love,

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.220
 a people

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.940
 who learn

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.519
 to follow

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.220
 after God,

00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:48.039
 a people

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.100
 who want

00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:49.480
 to know

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.059
 him more,

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.140
 a people

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:51.960
 who do

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.519
 order their

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:52.960
 life,

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.920
 but are

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.559
 ambassadors

00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.720
 for Christ.

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.680
 And all

00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.039
 of those

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.340
 are good

00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:57.799
 answers,

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.299
 but at

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.880
 the heart

00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.860
 of all

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.259
 of those

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.799
 things,

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.940
 the core

00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.900
 motivation

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.840
 for God

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.400
 and the

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:05.279
 core motivation

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.900
 that keeps

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.880
 us moving

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.920
 into those

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:09.200
 things is

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.420
 that God

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.840
 wants to

00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:11.100
 give you

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.460
 light,

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.600
 and God

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:12.980
 wants to

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.240
 give you

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.519
 joy.

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.600
 God

00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.259
 desires

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.259
 his best

00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.180
 for you.

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.579
 God

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.180
 desires

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.920
 revelation

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.840
 for you.

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.799
 He desires

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.259
 you to

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.599
 be able

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.019
 to think

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.539
 clearly

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.279
 and to

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.500
 be able

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:25.939
 to work

00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:26.639
 through life

00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:26.919
 and to

00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:27.699
 make good

00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.199
 decisions

00:27:28.199 --> 00:27:28.819
 about how

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.379
 to parent

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:30.299
 and how

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:30.740
 to love

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.439
 your spouse

00:27:31.439 --> 00:27:32.419
 and how

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.159
 to respond

00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:33.740
 effectively

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.539
 and appropriately

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.439
 in the

00:27:35.439 --> 00:27:36.459
 work context.

00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:37.500
 He wants

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:37.799
 you to know

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.379
 how to make

00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:38.799
 the big

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.299
 decisions

00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.000
 of life,

00:27:40.199 --> 00:27:40.759
 where to

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.240
 go and

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.619
 what to

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:41.980
 do.

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.579
 He wants

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.179
 you to be

00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:45.359
 governed by

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.459
 his light

00:27:46.459 --> 00:27:47.720
 in every

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.379
 interaction

00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:48.839
 that you

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.459
 have with

00:27:49.459 --> 00:27:50.259
 people.

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:52.859
 He came

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.559
 to give

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.160
 you

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.559
 light.

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.700
 He came

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.879
 to give

00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.259
 you his

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.740
 best.

00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:00.680
 Now,

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.299
 just the

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:01.799
 other day,

00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.160
 and I

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:03.640
 keep picking

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:05.200
 on one

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.440
 of my

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.740
 kids.

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.319
 I'll keep

00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:07.700
 doing it.

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.240
 He makes

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.559
 for good

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.059
 illustrations.

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:14.740
 But you

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.019
 know when

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.259
 you go

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.660
 shopping

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.039
 with your

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.339
 kids?

00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:18.240
 My mom

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.539
 and dad

00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:18.900
 are here

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.720
 and their

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.220
 tradition

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:20.860
 is to

00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:22.820
 give gifts,

00:28:23.280 --> 00:28:24.900
 to give

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:26.360
 money to

00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:26.980
 all their

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.700
 grandkids so

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.000
 that the

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.540
 kids can go

00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:29.019
 out and do

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.500
 some shopping.

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.560
 So we did

00:28:31.560 --> 00:28:32.280
 that yesterday

00:28:32.280 --> 00:28:33.960
 and we did

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.320
 that the day

00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:34.620
 before.

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.980
 And the

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.420
 money is

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.360
 burning a

00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:37.900
 hole in his

00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:38.220
 pocket.

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.280
 So we walk

00:28:40.280 --> 00:28:40.680
 in and no

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.259
 sooner do we

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.860
 get into the

00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:42.640
 store, but he

00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:43.540
 finds exactly

00:28:43.540 --> 00:28:44.240
 what he wants.

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.019
 Right?

00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:46.120
 And then we

00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:46.900
 walk down a

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.320
 couple more

00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:48.019
 aisles and we

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.740
 find another

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.220
 thing that's

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.160
 exactly what

00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.759
 he wants.

00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.000
 And we go a

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.559
 step further

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.359
 and it just

00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:54.639
 goes on this

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:56.139
 way, store

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:56.920
 after store

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.579
 after store,

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.359
 aisle after

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.000
 aisle after

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.680
 aisle, and

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.079
 everything that

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.740
 he puts his

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.440
 eyes on is

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:03.859
 exactly what's

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.440
 going to meet

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.319
 and fill his

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.980
 need for the

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.299
 moment.

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.279
 Well, finally

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.819
 we found

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.400
 something,

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:09.779
 didn't we?

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.079
 What did we

00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.379
 find?

00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:14.980
 We found

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.740
 some nerf

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:17.379
 swords, which

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:17.940
 were great.

00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:18.500
 You can put

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.020
 them together

00:29:19.020 --> 00:29:19.300
 and they

00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:19.780
 light up.

00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.260
 It's really

00:29:20.260 --> 00:29:20.680
 tremendous.

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.600
 And we

00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.860
 found some

00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.560
 other cool

00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:24.220
 toys.

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.440
 But isn't

00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:26.920
 that indicative

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.500
 of us?

00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:30.120
 Whatever we

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.300
 seem to set

00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:32.200
 our eyes on is

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.040
 what we think

00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:35.400
 we need, but

00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:36.520
 we find after a

00:29:36.520 --> 00:29:37.240
 period of time

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.000
 that that

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.940
 relationship isn't

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.500
 actually

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.620
 accomplishing or

00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.700
 satisfying me the

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.560
 way we thought

00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:43.960
 it should.

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:47.440
 that hobby or

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.340
 that job that

00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:49.220
 was supposed to

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.440
 fill the void in

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.000
 your life, that

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.720
 was supposed to

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.779
 leave you with

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.600
 a sense of

00:29:53.600 --> 00:29:56.480
 purpose and a

00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.220
 sense of

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.920
 accomplishment.

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.480
 You find that

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.880
 in actuality it

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:02.319
 is drudgery to

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.519
 go to work day

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:03.900
 by day.

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.680
 It is not

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.319
 filling the

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.059
 vacuum of your

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.319
 heart.

00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.500
 That's why

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.140
 light has come.

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.640
 The light of the

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.000
 world has come to

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.759
 shine into your

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.099
 heart, to shine

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:15.079
 into your heart

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.099
 what you truly

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:18.019
 need, to give

00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.720
 you an awareness

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.559
 of what truly

00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:21.759
 matters, and to

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.720
 awaken your heart

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.660
 to the joy that

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.379
 only God can

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:24.660
 give.

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.339
 Joy that we

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.279
 find here in

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.859
 verse 3.

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.019
 You have

00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.900
 multiplied the

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.359
 nations.

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.819
 You have

00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:35.039
 increased its

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:35.599
 joy.

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.579
 God is the

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.819
 divine mover who

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:41.420
 is moving you

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.500
 into joy.

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.680
 It is passive

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.720
 on our part.

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.680
 We get to

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.640
 experience the

00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.579
 benefits of joy.

00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.880
 It is God's

00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.980
 heart and passion

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:51.180
 to lead you into

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.299
 joy, but joy that

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:53.740
 can only be found

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.299
 in him.

00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:56.819
 And that leads us

00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.539
 to this final,

00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.880
 this final gift,

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:01.559
 the presence of

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.599
 God himself.

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.259
 That is the gift.

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:17.140
 God looked and

00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:20.559
 thought, how can I

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.180
 give them the

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.519
 best?

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.720
 How can I give them

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.200
 the greatest?

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.180
 How can I give them

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:27.140
 the most supreme

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:28.539
 gift in the

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:28.879
 universe?

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.559
 And in order to

00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.379
 accomplish that

00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:32.240
 objective, he gave

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:32.740
 himself.

00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:32.859
 himself.

00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:35.359
 He gave himself

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.660
 to you.

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.680
 We find this

00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.420
 description of

00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:42.180
 himself here in

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:42.819
 the end of verse

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.220
 6.

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.539
 We find those four

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.359
 descriptions, the

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.660
 wonderful counselor,

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.480
 the mighty God, the

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:51.259
 everlasting father, the

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.920
 prince of peace.

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.279
 And we find in those

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.880
 descriptions everything

00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:58.200
 that we need at the

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.240
 very heart of our

00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.559
 being.

00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:01.220
 everything we

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.099
 desire at the

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.839
 core of who we

00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:04.419
 are, are contained

00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:06.079
 in Jesus Christ, are

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.159
 contained in this

00:32:07.159 --> 00:32:08.659
 greatest gift, the

00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:09.579
 gift of Emmanuel.

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.740
 The wonderful

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.220
 counselor.

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.179
 Let me just touch

00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:14.319
 on these briefly.

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.179
 Wonderful counselor.

00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.679
 This passage leaves

00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:21.200
 us with the

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.399
 question, well, who

00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:23.700
 is this wonderful

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.139
 counselor?

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:25.899
 Who is this child?

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:28.339
 It says a child is

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.899
 born, but it

00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.440
 doesn't really

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:29.980
 give us a

00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.259
 description of who

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.820
 he is beyond just

00:32:32.820 --> 00:32:33.720
 a description of his

00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.759
 person and what he

00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.279
 will do.

00:32:36.320 --> 00:32:37.259
 But in Isaiah

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.299
 chapter 28, verse

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.460
 29, it uses these

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.240
 same two words,

00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:41.420
 wonderful and

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.519
 counselor, and it

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.220
 connects them

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.500
 directly to the

00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.440
 person of God.

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.259
 Listen to this.

00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.160
 It says, this also

00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:49.380
 comes from the

00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:50.120
 Lord of hosts.

00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:53.539
 He is wonderful

00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:55.100
 in counsel and

00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:56.799
 excellent in wisdom.

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:59.279
 Speaking of God,

00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.279
 wonderful.

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.240
 You know, when we

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.480
 say wonderful, we

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.319
 think, oh, that's

00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:06.700
 good, or that's

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.539
 beautiful, or that's

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:10.019
 really pleasant, that's

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:11.799
 really nice, that's

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.359
 wonderful.

00:33:13.359 --> 00:33:14.660
 But when the Hebrew

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:16.220
 speaks of wonderful,

00:33:16.639 --> 00:33:17.740
 it means something

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.579
 more like supernatural,

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.940
 something more like

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:24.599
 miraculous, something

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:26.859
 more like spectacular.

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:30.139
 It's the kind of term

00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:31.859
 you would use as a

00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:33.459
 Hebrew to say, it

00:33:33.459 --> 00:33:34.939
 takes your breath

00:33:34.939 --> 00:33:35.659
 away.

00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:39.279
 That is the kind of

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.719
 counselor we have.

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.599
 The kind of counselor,

00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.500
 we don't even have

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.639
 words to describe, it's

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:47.679
 just, wow, wonderful.

00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:50.720
 Look at this counselor.

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:53.220
 Look at who he is and

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:55.539
 the kind of instruction

00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:57.140
 that he gives for those

00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:57.940
 who are his people.

00:33:58.920 --> 00:33:59.860
 And immediately when

00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:01.660
 this term was used, it

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.259
 would have conjured up

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:04.620
 in the minds of the

00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:07.120
 listeners a Solomon-like

00:34:07.120 --> 00:34:09.840
 figure, one who had

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.639
 that kind of wisdom, one

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.760
 who had that kind of

00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:13.340
 prowess.

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:15.780
 Under Solomon's rule,

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:17.240
 the kingdom flourished.

00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:19.340
 There was unimaginable

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:20.000
 prosperity.

00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:22.059
 The reach and expanse

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:23.360
 of his kingdom reached

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.780
 its greatest extent

00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:25.780
 during the time of

00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.160
 Solomon.

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.740
 An unprecedented peace.

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.140
 Nations who were

00:34:30.140 --> 00:34:30.800
 paying tribute.

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.480
 People who were

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:33.660
 governed with justice.

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.620
 A time of unrivaled

00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:36.920
 spiritual enthusiasm.

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.120
 The engineering

00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:39.380
 accomplishments and

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.940
 military prowess during

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.920
 Solomon's reign was

00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.559
 unprecedented.

00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:45.380
 because of the wisdom

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:47.019
 from God that he had

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.720
 given to King Solomon.

00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:51.559
 But compared with

00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:53.660
 Solomon's counsel, this

00:34:53.660 --> 00:34:55.640
 new counselor would

00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:57.600
 embody wisdom.

00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:00.320
 It would be his name.

00:35:01.600 --> 00:35:03.760
 It would so, it would

00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:05.120
 so characterize him as

00:35:05.120 --> 00:35:08.940
 an individual that when

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.880
 you thought about wisdom,

00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:11.000
 you would think about

00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:13.179
 this individual, this

00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:14.659
 son, this child,

00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:15.780
 this Emmanuel.

00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.539
 The wonderful

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.219
 counselor.

00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.500
 Not just like a

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.719
 Solomon, but he

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.920
 embodied everything

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:23.500
 that we would come to

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.619
 enjoy and know

00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:26.219
 as wisdom.

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:30.000
 The women at the well

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.760
 noticed this about

00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:31.119
 Jesus.

00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.739
 She runs back into

00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:34.039
 town.

00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.280
 She says, come see a

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:36.400
 man who told me

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.139
 everything that I ever

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.440
 did.

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.320
 His wisdom to see

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.500
 inside my heart and

00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:42.000
 to know exactly my

00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:43.280
 situation and to

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:44.000
 orchestrate the

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:45.179
 conversation to lead

00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:45.800
 me to God.

00:35:46.700 --> 00:35:47.820
 That was the wisdom

00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:49.059
 that Jesus demonstrated.

00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:52.460
 And Peter, in John

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.740
 chapter 6, as all the

00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.720
 other followers were

00:35:54.720 --> 00:35:57.059
 abandoning Jesus, Jesus

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:58.039
 turns to Peter and

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:59.159
 says, Peter, will you

00:35:59.159 --> 00:35:59.780
 go as well?

00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:02.559
 And Peter says, no,

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.740
 you alone have the

00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:06.539
 words of eternal life.

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.900
 How can I go?

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.440
 You are true wisdom.

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.360
 Couldn't imagine

00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:14.199
 leaving you, Jesus.

00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:16.639
 The question for us

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:18.219
 this morning is not,

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.559
 does wisdom exist?

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.860
 The question for us

00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:24.559
 this morning is, is

00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.119
 Jesus enough for you?

00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:29.539
 Is his wisdom sufficient

00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:31.800
 for you this morning?

00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:34.380
 Well, he is not only

00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:35.699
 the wonderful counselor,

00:36:35.699 --> 00:36:36.619
 he is also the mighty

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:36.939
 God.

00:36:37.939 --> 00:36:39.119
 The mighty God.

00:36:40.359 --> 00:36:41.799
 The king will have

00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:43.339
 God's true might

00:36:43.339 --> 00:36:43.919
 about him.

00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:46.559
 Power so great that it

00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.239
 can absorb all the

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:49.359
 evil which can be

00:36:49.359 --> 00:36:50.839
 hurled at it until

00:36:50.839 --> 00:36:52.359
 none is left.

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:54.199
 I love that statement.

00:36:55.339 --> 00:36:57.480
 Every great king and

00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.879
 every human leader is

00:36:58.879 --> 00:37:00.460
 limited by power, but

00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:02.139
 this king will not be

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.719
 limited in any way.

00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:05.519
 He will overcome

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:07.339
 the obstacles.

00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:09.000
 He will overcome

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.619
 the adversaries.

00:37:11.839 --> 00:37:13.079
 He will institute the

00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.039
 help and the

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:14.799
 deliverance and the

00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:16.179
 salvation that his

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.459
 people so desperately

00:37:17.459 --> 00:37:18.399
 need.

00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.699
 But rather than a

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:22.099
 military conqueror,

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:24.980
 rather than one who

00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:26.139
 would free them from

00:37:26.139 --> 00:37:26.939
 the oppressor,

00:37:27.379 --> 00:37:29.000
 this mighty God would

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.639
 be one who would free

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:31.599
 them from their

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.699
 greatest adversary.

00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:35.299
 The adversary of sin

00:37:35.299 --> 00:37:35.799
 and death.

00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:37.159
 The adversary that

00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:39.960
 confronts and ruins

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:41.380
 every person that has

00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:42.860
 ever walked this

00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:44.339
 planet, including Adam

00:37:44.339 --> 00:37:45.360
 and Eve.

00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:49.579
 This mighty king,

00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:51.480
 this mighty God,

00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:53.059
 would vanquish the

00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:55.559
 greatest enemy of

00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:57.380
 humanity, the enemy

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:58.119
 of sin.

00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:59.920
 The enemy that

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:00.799
 destroys us to the

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.299
 very core.

00:38:01.859 --> 00:38:02.480
 It ruins our

00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:04.099
 thinking, ruins our

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:05.980
 relationships, ruins our

00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:07.900
 joy, ruins God's

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:09.299
 design for our life,

00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:11.679
 and inevitably ruins

00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:13.039
 our future.

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:15.599
 Only Jesus, only in

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.960
 Jesus can we experience

00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:19.480
 the mighty God and

00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:20.719
 his mighty strength.

00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:22.839
 He's also the

00:38:22.839 --> 00:38:23.859
 everlasting father.

00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:25.920
 The title has always

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:27.639
 confused me as I

00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:29.400
 think about Jesus

00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.740
 as the everlasting

00:38:30.740 --> 00:38:31.300
 father.

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:32.960
 What does it mean for

00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:34.200
 somebody who has a

00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:35.099
 New Testament

00:38:35.099 --> 00:38:35.760
 perspective?

00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:37.340
 How can he be God

00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:38.539
 the Son and God

00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:39.000
 the Father?

00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:40.280
 What is going on

00:38:40.280 --> 00:38:40.519
 here?

00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:43.180
 The Old Testament

00:38:43.180 --> 00:38:44.700
 doesn't see things

00:38:44.700 --> 00:38:45.240
 that way.

00:38:46.200 --> 00:38:46.880
 It may be more

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:48.440
 helpful as we look at

00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:49.460
 the person of Jesus

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.220
 Christ to think about

00:38:51.220 --> 00:38:52.740
 what this title really

00:38:52.740 --> 00:38:53.539
 suggests.

00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:53.659
 Christ.

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:55.559
 It might be better

00:38:55.559 --> 00:38:56.599
 for us to think about

00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:58.519
 him as more of the

00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:00.159
 father of eternity,

00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:01.619
 which is also another

00:39:01.619 --> 00:39:03.440
 translation of this

00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:04.659
 phrase, this word,

00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:06.719
 the father of eternity.

00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:08.779
 And in this respect,

00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:09.820
 what it would mean is

00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:11.599
 kind of what Paul says

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.360
 to the church.

00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:13.420
 He says, you know,

00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:15.420
 you have many

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:18.079
 counselors, you have

00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:18.920
 many leaders, but you

00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:19.400
 don't have many

00:39:19.400 --> 00:39:19.820
 fathers.

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:21.739
 I have been your

00:39:21.739 --> 00:39:22.000
 father.

00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:23.099
 I have been the one

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:24.940
 who has been used by

00:39:24.940 --> 00:39:26.380
 God to lead you into

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:27.380
 spiritual life.

00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.400
 And in this way,

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:31.400
 Jesus is the

00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.360
 everlasting father.

00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:34.219
 One who leads us

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:35.880
 into everlasting life

00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:37.260
 through his person,

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:38.420
 his death and

00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:38.960
 resurrection.

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.800
 He ushers us into

00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:42.440
 being children of God

00:39:42.440 --> 00:39:43.599
 and in that way,

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:46.119
 he becomes our father.

00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:48.159
 And only through

00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:50.199
 Jesus, only through

00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:50.880
 him as the

00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:51.760
 everlasting father,

00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:52.680
 can we experience

00:39:52.680 --> 00:39:53.780
 him as the

00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:54.519
 prince of peace.

00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:56.519
 The one who comes

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:58.099
 to make all things

00:39:58.099 --> 00:39:58.700
 new.

00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.800
 It's a familiar word

00:40:00.800 --> 00:40:01.579
 in the Old Testament.

00:40:01.720 --> 00:40:02.599
 It's the word shalom.

00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:04.240
 It's the word that

00:40:04.240 --> 00:40:05.240
 talks about wholeness.

00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:06.559
 The word that

00:40:06.559 --> 00:40:07.519
 deals with the

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:08.460
 entire person,

00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:09.320
 the body,

00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:09.940
 the soul,

00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:10.599
 the spirit,

00:40:10.740 --> 00:40:11.140
 the mind,

00:40:11.220 --> 00:40:11.800
 the emotions,

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.619
 everything about us

00:40:13.619 --> 00:40:14.820
 that God desires

00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:15.820
 to bring peace

00:40:15.820 --> 00:40:16.559
 into our life.

00:40:17.420 --> 00:40:18.019
 And of course,

00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:18.900
 the greatest peace

00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:19.420
 that we need

00:40:19.420 --> 00:40:21.219
 is peace with God

00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:22.820
 through our Lord

00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:24.139
 Jesus Christ.

00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:26.739
 And so I close

00:40:26.739 --> 00:40:27.380
 the message

00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:28.500
 with this question.

00:40:29.219 --> 00:40:29.960
 Do you know

00:40:29.960 --> 00:40:31.780
 the greatest gift?

00:40:32.579 --> 00:40:33.639
 Are you enjoying

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:34.239
 today

00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:36.420
 the greatest gift

00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:37.460
 that God could ever

00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:39.539
 bring to us?

00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:40.599
 The gift of his

00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:41.679
 son, Jesus Christ,

00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:42.980
 who is the

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:43.820
 wonderful counselor,

00:40:44.519 --> 00:40:45.300
 the mighty God,

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:46.239
 the everlasting

00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:46.739
 father,

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:47.479
 and the prince

00:40:47.479 --> 00:40:47.899
 of peace?

00:40:48.419 --> 00:40:48.859
 Let's pray.

00:40:48.859 --> 00:40:48.879
 Let's pray.

00:40:48.879 --> 00:40:48.879