WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.860 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:01.380 --> 00:00:06.900 I'm thankful to open up God's Word with you today to focus on peace. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:08.040 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.960 Please bring it back. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:37.259 And I was just looking back on the last Advent sermon that I did on peace, and it actually 00:00:37.259 --> 00:00:40.780 was 2020, like right after COVID had started. 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:48.679 And so it was like another tumultuous time that I actually had to speak on peace. 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:55.200 But this is the Advent season long ago in ancient times, God preparing and promising 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:56.500 to send a Redeemer. 00:00:56.500 --> 00:01:01.920 However, as we've said, Advent really just means coming or arrival, and also to focus 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:08.680 on the birth of Christ and His first Advent, but also the second coming, which we greatly 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:09.799 look forward to. 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:11.439 Christ has come. 00:01:11.540 --> 00:01:12.319 He is our hope. 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:14.019 He is our peace. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.280 And today, that is going to be our focus, Advent peace. 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:25.480 And when you're learning to preach and to teach God's Word, a lot of the times some guys just 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:30.700 kind of run straight to a text and begin to read it and walk through it. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:36.859 Another way to do it is actually to kind of create the problem first, and then through 00:01:36.859 --> 00:01:41.840 God's Word, show how God meets that particular need. 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:50.719 And I just find it fitting to first talk about why there is an absence of peace in our personal 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:52.400 lives and in our world. 00:01:52.900 --> 00:01:54.560 We can't find it. 00:01:55.340 --> 00:02:01.079 So the opposite of true spiritual peace, as most of us are aware, is anxiety. 00:02:02.340 --> 00:02:09.960 If our elders could count how many times we talk to people in our church, that anxiety is 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:17.659 in those top two or three things that always come up of members in our church, godly people 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:20.360 who are just struggling with anxiety. 00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:31.960 And the definition of anxiety in the Scripture, the word, just hurts to even hear it. 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:44.460 It means to be inwardly divided, to be inwardly torn in different directions, so that you're fracturing 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:46.420 basically from the inside out. 00:02:47.600 --> 00:02:48.420 You felt that? 00:02:48.700 --> 00:02:55.900 Like just different things pulling on you in your heart and in your soul, dividing you so 00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:01.480 that you're fracturing spiritually, and then physically following that. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:03.340 Very real. 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:05.680 All of us have dealt with it. 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:07.700 Some are eating up with it more than others. 00:03:08.819 --> 00:03:12.020 But anxiety is a very real and present thing. 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.939 It's the opposite of peace. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:24.319 And we have an absence of personal peace, family peace, national peace, international peace. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:27.180 We're missing this in our world. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:31.340 There's been a lot of political unrest and national strife. 00:03:32.859 --> 00:03:38.099 Back in 2020, as we remember, we were struck with COVID-19. 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:43.039 And for the first many months, none of us had any idea what was going on. 00:03:43.519 --> 00:03:49.719 And it was the first little disruptor, I guess, to our normal, comfortable lives. 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:53.939 And it changed the world in many ways. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:04.819 One historian calculated that in the last 3,500 years, there's been less than 300 that could 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:08.000 be actually roughly referred to as peaceful. 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:10.340 That's not a lot. 00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:16.659 Basically, there's peace in the world just for enough time for both sides to stop and reload 00:04:16.659 --> 00:04:17.639 for the next thing. 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:19.879 Do you want to think of it that way? 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:28.680 In the last four to five years, we've watched a lot, a lot unfold before us. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:37.100 We watched the botched, disastrous, non-strategic withdrawal from Afghanistan that a lot of our 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:43.199 members in our church and other men that I know were sort of the 9-11 generation over the 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:44.139 last 20 years. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:51.339 There's just all of that disorder fall apart, probably worse than Saigon, leaving many people 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:52.800 behind and many others dead. 00:04:53.800 --> 00:05:00.680 We watched the first major war ramp up since Vietnam, which would have been Russia invading 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:01.219 Ukraine. 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:10.600 The CCP in China, saber-rattling to conquer Taiwan and in many places the world. 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:20.160 And about a year ago, in October, we witnessed the evil, wicked, demonic atrocities against 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:23.160 Israel on October 7th. 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:31.680 The slaughter and mutilation of innocents and hostages taken and the war in Gaza that followed. 00:05:32.580 --> 00:05:38.220 Iran firing hundreds of rockets and missiles and drones at Israel. 00:05:39.020 --> 00:05:43.480 We live in a world without peace. 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:52.259 And many of my military friends scattered all over the place say they get briefed on war to 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:58.240 war, world war ideas with China and other superpowers regularly. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:01.100 If this does happen, here's going to be our response. 00:06:02.700 --> 00:06:04.300 A world without peace. 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:10.280 And on a domestic level, we witnessed crime go up in major cities and small communities. 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:19.439 We witnessed LGBTQ ideology crammed down and enforced in our schools and our society. 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:24.559 And for the last five to four years, there's been just great unrest. 00:06:25.739 --> 00:06:32.879 And it's hit you personally, if you're listening to this, from January 2021 to October 2024, this 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:39.939 past October, the Bureau of Labor reported that the overall household expenditures were up 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:41.759 by 20%. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:45.240 Groceries up 21%. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:48.500 Energy up 29%. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:51.660 Auto insurance 57%. 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:55.060 And rent up 23%. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:57.740 All in the last few years. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:06:59.759 Many lost jobs. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:05.500 Many of you are still struggling to find work, changing jobs, cutting hours, working multiple 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:07.540 jobs just to put food on the table. 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:15.680 But all these different things expose a reality that there is a lack of peace in ourselves, 00:07:16.460 --> 00:07:18.500 in others, and in the world. 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:22.800 It doesn't look or sound very peaceful. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:24.420 It's exposed it. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.360 Because for many years, we just had it so well, we thought. 00:07:29.200 --> 00:07:34.120 And it just revealed this false sense of security that we possess. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:41.280 And so the absence of peace leads people like you and I to search for it. 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:44.139 Because we all long for it. 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:48.259 We want to attain peace in our communities, our families, and the world. 00:07:48.840 --> 00:07:55.019 We want to be free from trouble, free from strife, free from fear, free from anxiety and 00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:55.500 conflict. 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:58.480 And we long for true peace. 00:07:58.600 --> 00:07:59.139 We all do. 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:01.439 Every human does. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:02.899 It's a relentless search. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:05.740 And we do it in different ways. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:08.660 Many of you do it with vacations and escapes. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:13.540 You just think, if I can escape the context I'm in and go have fun and disconnect. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:19.519 But the problem is, sin follows you wherever you go, and it's waiting for you when you get 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:19.860 back. 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:25.339 Others, you've sought peace through financial stability. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.920 I can just build that bank account up enough. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:31.900 But we know, particularly in the last four or five years, how that just drops. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:38.180 And I can't tell you how many men in our church I've talked to who have lost jobs, had to work 00:08:38.180 --> 00:08:41.240 multiple jobs just to provide. 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:45.240 Others, by diversion. 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:51.460 Alcohol, drugs, entertainment, online shopping, take your pick. 00:08:52.700 --> 00:08:58.279 Others in relationships, you just find that this person is strong and capable. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:03.580 If I just lean into that person, they will be the one who gives me peace. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:06.160 But then they turned out not to be Jesus. 00:09:06.460 --> 00:09:09.420 And then they crack and let you down. 00:09:09.560 --> 00:09:15.160 And in the process, you end up crushing them as well by putting that kind of hope in them. 00:09:15.780 --> 00:09:18.240 A lot of people search through peace by health. 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:23.480 They just think, if I just eat right, work out, exercise, if I do the right thing, like, 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:25.320 I will be ready for whatever comes. 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:28.500 But yet, sickness still finds the most healthy of us. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:34.660 And others, by boosting up your own protection, security cameras, firearms, ammo. 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:38.940 But you have found that, like, the bunker can never be deep enough. 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:41.360 And there never can be enough ammo in the shelf. 00:09:41.520 --> 00:09:44.640 You're going to the next gun store and looking at the next gun. 00:09:44.780 --> 00:09:49.920 The next, how many ammo, how much ammo can you store away and et cetera. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:54.179 But even after you have all that, there is a lack of peace. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:55.959 It's not there. 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:59.919 True spiritual peace cannot be found. 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:02.039 It eludes us. 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:06.740 So, why can't we ever be at peace in ourselves? 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:10.879 And why can't we be at peace with those who are around us, others? 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.019 What's burning your soul? 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:14.659 What is it? 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:19.620 I probably, if I named it, if I didn't name it, what is it? 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:23.240 What's tearing your soul apart from the inside out? 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:31.620 So, many people see Christmas and the holiday season as a pleasant distraction away from the burdens and cares of life. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:36.399 But food, family, fun, that idea, gifts, presents. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:40.539 The worldly view of Christmas, the, you know, cheer up. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:41.279 It's Christmas. 00:10:41.419 --> 00:10:42.519 It'll all work out. 00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:46.840 It's the season to be kind to each other and nice to one another. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:48.379 Be extra kind to everybody. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:55.539 But that warm, fuzzy feeling doesn't really help us with, like, how broken our world truly is. 00:10:56.419 --> 00:11:03.580 The worldly view of Christmas cannot patch up the world that has been wrecked by sin. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:07.159 No man-made, superficial peace can actually do that. 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:11.980 So, if you're going to figure out why there's a lack of peace, we know there's a problem. 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:20.159 But with any good doctor, you try to find out, like, the source of that problem, not just the symptom. 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:21.740 The symptoms are we have no peace. 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.639 What causes that? 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.519 What is the true condition? 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:32.240 And Scripture is not bashful about telling us that. 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:39.919 But the reason we can't have peace within ourselves, with others, around the world, are they're just symptoms of a spiritual condition. 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:45.720 That symptom is, or that source is, that we all have sinned and rebelled against God. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:51.480 We all have turned away from the God of peace and made war on Him. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:12:04.580 Sin causes an absence of peace in an individual soul, collectively as people, than a lack of peace in our world. 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:06.259 It's just a trickle-down effect. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:11.480 Sin has caused us to rebel against God directly and indirectly. 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:15.860 Hey, those days that we just ignore God, don't think about Him, don't give Him first in our lives, 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:18.220 those are days that we rebel against God. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:21.019 It isn't just the atheists out there shaking their fists. 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:26.540 It's the times that we ignore Him and count Him as little and insignificant. 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:34.300 And we have no peace because our sin has made us enemies of God, our Creator, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:41.540 that we were meant to know and enjoy and worship and have a relationship with. 00:12:42.540 --> 00:12:45.200 All have sinned and fallen short of His glory. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:50.320 James says that we all have turned against God and we love sin. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:50.500 He says, 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:55.680 You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:02.940 Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 00:13:04.020 --> 00:13:07.720 This is a picture of spiritual unfaithfulness to God, 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:12.500 holding the things of this world in a greater affection than the one who made them. 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:19.620 That if you find that your life revolves around things, stuff, everything else, 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.000 it exhibits that this is being controlled by those things. 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:28.700 Know that God says here that He is jealous for the Spirit He created in you. 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.740 A holy jealousy. 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:30.679 He made you. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.700 You belong to Him, but yet you give it to other things. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:41.460 We have turned against the Creator and worshipped the things of creation. 00:13:43.060 --> 00:13:47.600 George Whitefield, the great awakening preacher, 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.580 he basically, I remember I'm paraphrasing him, 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:50.879 but he said, 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:55.460 How can you ever dream of peace when God is your enemy? 00:13:55.460 --> 00:14:03.940 You cannot be at odds with the sovereign, good, glorious, almighty God and have peace. 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:05.160 You can't be at odds with Him. 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:09.480 Isaiah 57, verse 20, very familiar. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.259 The wicked are like the tossing of the sea, 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:16.080 for it cannot be quiet, 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:19.400 and as waters toss up mire and dirt, 00:14:20.060 --> 00:14:22.960 there is no peace, says God, for the wicked. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:30.160 God cannot give us true joy and true peace apart from Himself. 00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:32.340 There's just no such thing. 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:38.019 So, if you need to be reminded of that reality as a believer today, 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.740 or if you're hearing that for the first time, 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:43.379 know that until your own soul is made right with God, 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.460 you will have no peace or anything else. 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:51.900 So, the true meaning of Christmas that we celebrate, 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:53.740 even though it's stressful and busy, 00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:56.639 and boy, I get drownded in that a lot, 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.939 I just want to slow down. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.699 But like, it just seems like there's this inevitable current that you get into, 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.679 and you just take off, 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:06.759 and you're just along for the ride for a lot of that stuff. 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:11.980 But, it is an opportunity to pause and elevate our souls to a higher place. 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:15.500 It's good for God's people, particularly, 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:19.639 to put their mind and their heart on the true meaning of it, 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:25.460 and to rediscover what it means to have true inner peace with God. 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:29.980 Just really quickly, Scripture calls God, 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.300 God the Father, the God of peace. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.639 Hebrews 13.20 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:38.159 God the Son is the Prince of Peace, 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:39.980 which we'll look at in a moment. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.199 Isaiah 9.6 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:47.819 And God the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Peace. 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:51.620 So, He is a God of Peace. 00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:54.340 So, how can we know that God of Peace? 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:58.559 But really quick, let me define roughly what peace means 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.360 as we see it, like in the Scripture. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:02.860 Ready? 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:08.080 Peace is the inner confidence, rest, and trust 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:12.779 in God's wise, sovereign control of our lives, 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:18.519 resulting from being restored to Him through Jesus Christ. 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:22.519 Peace is the inner confidence, rest, and trust 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:25.700 in God's wise, sovereign control over our lives, 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:30.899 resulting from being restored to Him through Jesus Christ. 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:35.659 kind of a spin-off of our Old Testament word, 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.340 shalom. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:40.079 In essence, a desire for completeness, 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:41.519 a wish for contentment, 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:44.319 a blessing for satisfaction. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:49.699 In short, a blessing that all that is good from God 00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:52.319 would flow into your life. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:55.400 I wish all that is good would come upon you. 00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:59.180 That satisfaction, completeness, and contentment. 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.580 New Testament word, 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:06.279 iron, where we get Irene, the name Irene from, 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:10.519 really means a tranquil state of the soul. 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.580 A soul that is at rest. 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.900 A satisfied soul. 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:18.019 We can have that by being made right with God 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:19.480 through Christ. 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:23.900 Augustine, one of the earlier guys 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:27.200 that I was reading in my journey to Reformed theology, 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:31.960 his famous quote in prayer to God, 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:35.779 God, you have made us for yourself. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.259 Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:42.559 until it rests in you. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.680 Very true. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:47.779 So, let's look at three things today. 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.000 Jumping into God's Word. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.460 Peace promised. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.880 Peace arrives. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.059 And peace experienced. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:59.179 First of all, peace promised. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:02.079 Turning your Bibles to Isaiah 9. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.299 Isaiah 9. 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:08.240 We will start in verse 6. 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:14.279 For to us a child is born, 00:18:14.419 --> 00:18:16.099 to us a son is given. 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:18.839 The government shall be upon His shoulders, 00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.139 and His name shall be called 00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:22.119 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:25.579 Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:28.399 Of the increase of His government 00:18:28.399 --> 00:18:30.539 and of peace there will be no end. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.740 And on the throne of David 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.279 and over His kingdom, 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.679 to establish it and to uphold it 00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:38.259 with justice and with righteousness, 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:41.799 from this time forth and forevermore, 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:44.799 the zeal of the Lord of hosts 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:46.319 will do this. 00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:49.480 Sounds awesome. 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:52.899 So this was a foretelling of peace. 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:57.620 700 years before that instrument of peace, 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:00.259 Christ actually arrived on the scene. 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:03.900 God would bring salvation to His people. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.160 And if you notice that last part, 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:08.640 the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this, 00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:10.460 that's a short way of saying 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:12.500 that nothing is going to stop God 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.360 from doing this. 00:19:14.040 --> 00:19:16.820 Like, nothing is going to prevent God 00:19:16.820 --> 00:19:18.480 from bringing this salvation 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:20.740 and this peace to His people. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:23.660 He is going to accomplish it. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:26.519 So long ago, He spoke through Isaiah, 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:27.579 a child is born, 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.980 a son is given. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:32.019 That son, as we are aware of, 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:34.160 is the embodiment of Emmanuel, 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:36.380 God with us. 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:38.559 Isaiah 7, 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:40.799 Therefore the Lord Himself 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.859 will give you a sign. 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.740 Behold, the virgin shall conceive 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.659 and bear a son 00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:47.639 and shall call His name Emmanuel. 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:50.500 So the Messiah's character 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:52.240 being tied to God 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:55.799 proves His divine origin 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.519 and His character. 00:19:58.539 --> 00:20:00.279 He is the wonderful counselor, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.659 the one who makes good 00:20:01.659 --> 00:20:03.899 and wise plans 00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:04.899 and has the ability 00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:06.099 to execute them 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:08.500 on behalf of His people. 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:11.539 He is the very might of God, 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:13.359 the everlasting Father, 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:16.399 a kingly, noble ruler, 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.720 the powerful one 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:21.079 who will lovingly embrace His people 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:22.659 as a Father, 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:26.319 the King who also is our Father. 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:28.319 The birth of Jesus, 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.079 the Messiah, 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.460 has come already. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.960 He's establishing His kingdom 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.159 and when that happens, 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.659 it won't just happen temporarily. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.599 You study history, 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.359 you're going to see kingdoms 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.379 and empires just go 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:42.679 from the greatest ones. 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.539 We haven't even scratched 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.740 the surface here in America 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.939 if you read anything about Rome 00:20:45.939 --> 00:20:46.819 or anywhere else. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.879 Christ's kingdom will last 00:20:49.879 --> 00:20:51.519 for all eternity. 00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:52.659 That's what it says right here. 00:20:52.719 --> 00:20:53.279 This government, 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:55.119 His throne, 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.939 will last forevermore. 00:20:57.940 --> 00:21:01.820 You know me, 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:03.340 I'm always feeling around 00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:05.680 with some kind of history something. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.160 Picked up an old book 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.140 a good many months ago 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.259 on King Arthur 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:13.720 who's part history, 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.360 mostly legend. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.939 And, 00:21:16.939 --> 00:21:18.419 as you're aware, 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.559 Arthur was born 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:21.719 in humble circumstances 00:21:21.719 --> 00:21:22.519 and became 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:24.459 the rightful king. 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.559 And, 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.699 as many people 00:21:28.699 --> 00:21:29.459 don't really know this, 00:21:29.479 --> 00:21:30.379 he was more of a British, 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.319 Celtic king 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:31.879 from Wales. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.519 He wasn't like 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:34.639 an Anglo-Saxon king. 00:21:34.979 --> 00:21:35.839 So he was Welsh. 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:37.599 The Welsh would be very offended 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.079 if you said 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.199 he came from somewhere else. 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:40.740 And, 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:42.299 he was born of humble means 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.359 and he was born 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.539 the rightful king 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:47.059 possessing Excalibur. 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.680 And, 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.519 his rule 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:51.339 was to both rule over 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:51.980 and unite 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.659 the people 00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:54.440 of the British Isles 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:56.000 to bring about 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.119 unending peace 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.859 and prosperity 00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.139 to the British Isles. 00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:00.480 And, 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:00.919 Arthur 00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:02.319 sacrificed himself 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.500 by dying in battle 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.319 to secure 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.139 his kingdom. 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.480 On and on 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.220 the parallels, 00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:09.579 right? 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.359 But, 00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:11.879 Jesus 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:13.180 is the true 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:15.060 born king 00:22:15.060 --> 00:22:15.760 who rules 00:22:15.760 --> 00:22:16.540 by right 00:22:16.540 --> 00:22:17.540 and power, 00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:19.200 not our 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.980 consent. 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.460 Jesus 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:22.160 will 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.920 unite 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.680 his people 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.400 and he will 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.140 bring about 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.860 an unending 00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:28.100 kingdom 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:29.100 of peace. 00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:31.060 As Arthur 00:22:31.060 --> 00:22:32.080 died on the battlefield, 00:22:32.340 --> 00:22:33.020 Christ died 00:22:33.020 --> 00:22:33.840 on the cross 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.620 to secure 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:36.080 his kingdom. 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.380 Jesus 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.860 is called 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.380 the prince 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.240 of peace. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:41.040 His noble reign 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:41.779 will last 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.299 forever. 00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.440 Boy, 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:43.779 that will be 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.119 great. 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.460 I hate to 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:45.899 shock you, 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.839 but there's 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.500 no president, 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.079 no matter who 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.420 you voted 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.680 for, 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.039 they're not 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.319 going to be 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:49.700 the prince 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.119 of peace. 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.559 It doesn't 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:51.920 matter who 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.240 you voted 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.539 for. 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.980 Only Jesus 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.500 is going to 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:55.839 bring about 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.440 everlasting, 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.839 perpetual peace 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.519 to the nations. 00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.779 This is what 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.480 God's word 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.159 says. 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.539 Believe it 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:02.859 and be 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.339 satisfied. 00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:05.899 Messiah will 00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:06.399 rule with 00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:07.440 perfect justice 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.240 and righteousness. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.720 Man, 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.180 that's something 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.779 that we have 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.240 been missing 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.900 in our world. 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.279 The mark 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.960 of his kingdom 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.279 that will 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.900 have no end. 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.319 So yes, 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:14.720 there's going 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.299 to be, 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:16.660 between now 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.079 and then, 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.900 conflict 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.519 and strife 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.200 in the world. 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.400 But, 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:21.940 that doesn't 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.519 deny or 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.359 disprove that 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:23.920 Jesus is the 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.500 prince of peace. 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.180 It only really 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.359 shows why he 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:26.920 came and the 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.539 need for him 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.220 to come, 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.980 to bring about 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.880 that perpetual 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.680 peace. 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.799 So this was 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.759 peace promised, 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.660 again, 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.680 700 years 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.680 roughly before 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:38.080 Christ came. 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.660 This brings 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.039 us to point 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.600 number two. 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.620 Peace 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.240 arrived. 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:42.640 So, 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:43.759 we have just 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.000 a couple 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.360 places for 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:44.640 you to look 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:44.820 at, 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.240 but look 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.039 at Luke 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.799 chapter 2. 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.180 Our very 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.759 familiar, 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.180 what we 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.880 refer to as 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:53.340 the Christmas 00:23:53.340 --> 00:23:54.080 story or 00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:54.539 Nativity 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:54.960 story, 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.340 whatever you 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:55.519 want to 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:55.900 call it. 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.180 Some country 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.580 people call 00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:57.779 it the 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.240 Nativity 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.720 story. 00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:00.640 We will 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.660 look at 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:03.200 Luke 2 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.160 verse 8. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:06.620 This is 00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:06.960 peace 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.620 arrives. 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:09.660 And in 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.019 the same 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.500 region, 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.040 there were 00:24:11.040 --> 00:24:11.560 shepherds 00:24:11.560 --> 00:24:11.840 out in 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.200 the field 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.519 keeping 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.160 watch over 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:13.720 their flocks 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.240 by night, 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:14.560 and an 00:24:14.560 --> 00:24:14.960 angel of 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.320 the Lord 00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:15.820 appeared to 00:24:15.820 --> 00:24:16.080 them, 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.060 and the 00:24:17.060 --> 00:24:17.540 glory of 00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:17.920 the Lord 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.240 shone 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.840 around them, 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.060 and they 00:24:19.060 --> 00:24:19.540 were filled 00:24:19.540 --> 00:24:20.060 with great 00:24:20.060 --> 00:24:20.519 fear. 00:24:21.340 --> 00:24:21.680 And the 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.160 angel said 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.380 to them, 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:22.960 fear not, 00:24:23.040 --> 00:24:23.560 for behold, 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.019 I bring 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.600 you good 00:24:24.600 --> 00:24:25.180 news, 00:24:26.040 --> 00:24:26.440 gospel, 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.240 of great 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.140 joy it 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:29.460 will be 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.060 for all 00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:30.400 people. 00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.880 For unto 00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.680 you is 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.340 born this 00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:33.640 day, 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:33.940 in the 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.340 city of 00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:34.680 David, 00:24:34.800 --> 00:24:35.300 a Savior, 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.540 who is 00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:36.980 Christ, 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:37.560 the Lord. 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:38.759 And this 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.140 will be a 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.540 sign for 00:24:39.540 --> 00:24:39.720 you, 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.020 you will 00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:40.660 find the 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.280 baby wrapped 00:24:41.280 --> 00:24:41.860 in swaddling 00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:42.460 clothes, 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.040 and laying 00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:43.360 in a 00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:43.640 manger. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.440 And 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:45.860 suddenly, 00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:46.900 there was 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.280 with the 00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:47.800 angel a 00:24:47.800 --> 00:24:48.220 multitude, 00:24:48.520 --> 00:24:48.980 the heavenly 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.440 hosts, 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.140 praising God 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:51.540 and saying, 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.600 glory to 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.180 God in 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.780 the highest 00:24:53.780 --> 00:24:54.259 and on 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.700 earth, 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.340 peace 00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:57.440 among 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.980 those with 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.540 whom he is 00:24:59.540 --> 00:25:00.080 pleased. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.600 Underline that 00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:02.220 last part. 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:05.880 So, 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.759 if you're an 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.520 outdoor person, 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:07.820 you've been 00:25:07.820 --> 00:25:08.280 out in the 00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:08.660 wilderness, 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.220 out in the 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.680 mountains by 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.180 yourself, 00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:11.120 and particularly 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.580 like when the 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.360 sun goes down, 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.180 very calm, 00:25:14.020 --> 00:25:14.980 how quiet it 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.400 is. 00:25:16.560 --> 00:25:17.320 And imagine, 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.020 like all of a 00:25:18.020 --> 00:25:18.200 sudden, 00:25:18.300 --> 00:25:19.180 there are angels 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.640 there talking 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:20.960 to you, 00:25:21.020 --> 00:25:21.880 the shock 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.480 that they must 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.320 have felt. 00:25:24.540 --> 00:25:26.580 But Christ 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:29.100 came here, 00:25:29.280 --> 00:25:29.759 he humbled 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.440 himself to be 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:31.940 born in 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.580 Bethlehem in 00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:33.080 a stable 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:34.259 to poor 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.880 parents, 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.620 humble 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.500 accommodations, 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.660 not five-star 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.559 hotels or 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.120 castles. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.640 He came 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:44.559 as shepherds, 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.160 as his 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.559 witnesses, 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.320 not religious 00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:47.920 elites, 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.680 the humble 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.500 magi, 00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:52.240 not powerful 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.779 kings, 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.259 and all of 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.720 it just to 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.700 frame the 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.380 mighty God 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:56.799 who came 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.980 here to 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.559 save us 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.420 with humility. 00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:01.759 Christ took 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.300 on himself 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:03.120 flesh and 00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:03.660 came to 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.200 save the 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.759 world that 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.640 he created. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.279 Just get 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.620 your head 00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.140 around that. 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.240 Angels 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.840 announces 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:10.680 arrival to 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.420 these lowly 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.140 shepherds. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.600 And Jesus, 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.320 our Messiah 00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:15.640 King, 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.039 arrived. 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:16.380 Notice, 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.120 glory to 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:17.480 God in 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:17.900 the highest 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.320 and on 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:18.680 earth, 00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:20.539 peace among 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.580 those whom 00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:21.980 he is 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.480 pleased. 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.740 Note that 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.480 God's peace 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.019 isn't just 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.539 a general 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.360 goodwill 00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:28.279 to everybody. 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:28.920 It's not a 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.500 reward. 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.580 God's peace 00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:31.980 is not a 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.640 reward to 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.080 those who 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:33.800 have good 00:26:33.800 --> 00:26:34.140 will. 00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:35.539 That's not 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:35.980 what this 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.820 says. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:37.900 Rather, 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.400 it's the 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:38.960 gift of 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.360 God's 00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:39.640 sovereign 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.080 grace, 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.440 his good 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.019 pleasure, 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:41.980 namely 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.860 towards his 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.480 redeemed 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.019 people, 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.580 those who 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.560 would trust 00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:45.860 and give 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.519 their lives 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.220 to the 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.700 Messiah. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.620 And so, 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.740 a beautiful 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.460 picture here 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.660 of Christ 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.300 arriving. 00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.480 Just for 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.000 sake of time, 00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:56.300 I'd like to 00:26:56.300 --> 00:26:56.620 just keep 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.160 reading more, 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.519 but we'll 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.720 just stop 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.119 there with 00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.740 the arrival 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.200 of peace. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.539 This is the 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.579 first advent. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:03.960 Right? 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.019 This leads 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.259 us to 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.839 point three. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.379 Peace 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.119 experience. 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.579 So, 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.799 not only can 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.759 we have 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.279 peace, 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:12.700 right, 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:12.980 we can 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.559 experience 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.680 that peace. 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.379 How do we 00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:15.859 do it? 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:16.900 It's out 00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.180 there. 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.960 It's available. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.700 How do we 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.099 have it? 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.000 Look at 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.000 Romans 5. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.599 Go over 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.579 to Romans 5. 00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:27.959 One of my 00:27:27.959 --> 00:27:28.359 favorite 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.199 explain the 00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:29.759 gospel to 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.259 somebody 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.819 passages. 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.879 Romans 5, 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.799 verses 6 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.459 through 10. 00:27:36.459 --> 00:27:37.199 Just read 00:27:37.199 --> 00:27:37.719 verse 1 00:27:37.719 --> 00:27:38.199 with me. 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.359 Therefore, 00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:40.859 since we 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.179 have been 00:27:41.179 --> 00:27:42.019 justified by 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.379 faith, 00:27:42.439 --> 00:27:42.719 we have 00:27:42.719 --> 00:27:43.599 peace with 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.079 God 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.419 through 00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:46.539 our Lord 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.500 Jesus Christ. 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.539 There's your 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.439 summary verse. 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.039 Okay? 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.379 If you want 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:51.819 peace, 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.240 you have to 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.740 have peace 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.299 with God. 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:53.539 And the 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.019 instrument of 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.619 that peace, 00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.759 the conditional 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:56.139 part, 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.839 is through 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:58.460 Christ. 00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.399 Not anything 00:27:59.399 --> 00:27:59.899 else. 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.240 Like, 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.559 you can't 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:00.819 fill in 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.279 that blank. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.940 It's just 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:03.059 Christ. 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.180 Alright? 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:05.659 Then you 00:28:05.659 --> 00:28:06.000 jump down 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.759 to verse 6. 00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:08.299 For while 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.639 we were 00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.500 still weak, 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:10.619 at the 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.399 right time, 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.579 Christ died 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.099 for the 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:13.859 ungodly. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.539 So, 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.279 our gospel 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.059 is not 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.839 God helps 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.500 those who 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:18.799 help 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.539 themselves. 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.279 We are 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.680 weak. 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:23.700 ungodly. 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.640 Verse 7. 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.759 For one 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.299 will scarcely 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.880 die for 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:28.259 a righteous 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.740 person, 00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:29.340 though perhaps 00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.799 for a good 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.360 person one 00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:30.940 would dare 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.340 even to 00:28:31.340 --> 00:28:31.640 die. 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.060 But God 00:28:33.060 --> 00:28:33.680 shows us 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.220 his love 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.600 for us, 00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:34.820 and that 00:28:34.820 --> 00:28:35.120 while we 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:35.720 were still 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.100 sinners, 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.940 Christ died 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:37.820 for us. 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:39.259 Since 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.799 therefore, 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.100 we have 00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.480 now been 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:41.980 justified 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.160 by his 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:43.519 blood, 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.660 much more 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.060 shall we 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.580 be saved 00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:46.100 by him 00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:47.420 from the 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.080 wrath of 00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:48.500 God. 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:50.299 for if 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:50.720 we were 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.160 enemies, 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:51.700 we were 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.279 reconciled 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.680 to God 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.039 by the 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.359 death of 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:53.740 his son, 00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.480 much more 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.779 now that 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.059 we are 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.000 reconciled, 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.420 shall we 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.099 be saved 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.759 by his 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.240 life. 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.519 So many 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.200 good things 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.440 in there, 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:01.720 but look 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:01.960 at the 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.339 words that 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:02.619 scripture 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.160 uses to 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.700 describe 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.480 us 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.839 before 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.559 we were 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.119 in Christ. 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.440 They're not 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.240 great words. 00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.059 Weak, 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.359 helpless, 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.480 ungodly, 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.119 sinners, 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.660 enemies. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.339 Those are 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:16.920 not things 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.220 you want 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:17.580 to be 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.860 described 00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.360 by, 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.480 of those 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:20.759 who are 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.440 outside 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.100 Christ. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.240 In 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.000 Celtic 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.420 history, 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:25.860 Scotland 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.360 Irish, 00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:26.840 Welsh 00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:27.320 history, 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.560 a lot of 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:28.759 you know 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.200 the pagan 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.759 Druids 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.360 would consider 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.660 the mistletoe 00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:32.120 to be a 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.820 sacred plant. 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.300 And when 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:35.160 enemies met 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:35.759 under the 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.360 mistletoe, 00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:37.100 hanging from 00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:37.600 the sacred 00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:38.039 oak, 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.300 they would 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:39.640 lay down 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.180 their weapons 00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:40.500 in their 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.019 arms and 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.259 they would 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:41.880 embrace 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.060 peace. 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.460 The kiss 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.180 of peace 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.640 under the 00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.080 mistletoe 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:46.500 wasn't a 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:46.860 romantic 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.959 idea at 00:29:47.959 --> 00:29:48.479 that point. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.159 It was 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.359 the way 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:49.859 enemies 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:50.299 would make 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.579 peace 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:50.799 with one 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.179 another 00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:52.619 under the 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.419 mistletoe. 00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:54.899 God 00:29:54.899 --> 00:29:55.179 has 00:29:55.179 --> 00:29:55.559 graciously 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.159 brought a 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.819 means of 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.339 peace to 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.879 us by 00:29:58.879 --> 00:30:00.199 us kissing 00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:00.779 the sun 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.259 at the 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.699 cross. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.139 Underneath 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.679 the cross 00:30:03.679 --> 00:30:04.379 of Christ 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.819 we can 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.500 have peace 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.339 through him 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.759 Jesus 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:09.419 to reconcile 00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:10.740 all things 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.459 to himself, 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.079 all things 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.500 whether on 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.179 earth or in 00:30:13.179 --> 00:30:13.459 heaven, 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:15.059 making peace 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.740 by the 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.359 blood of 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.440 his cross. 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.740 Colossians 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.559 1.20 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:21.099 So God 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:21.500 is basically 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.839 saying, 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.059 yeah, 00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:22.599 though you've 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.399 rejected me, 00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:23.839 though you've 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.419 rebelled against 00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:24.659 me, 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.119 though you've 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:25.579 given your 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.099 love, 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.299 your money, 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:27.659 and your 00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:28.519 time to 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.460 other gods, 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.700 you've 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.339 spurned my 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:32.159 rightful rule 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.519 over your 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.019 life, 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:34.579 by my 00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:34.940 grace, 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.319 I have 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.619 made a 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:36.220 way for 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.299 you when 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.659 you couldn't 00:30:37.659 --> 00:30:38.139 make a 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.779 way to 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:38.980 me. 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.279 I've 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.559 offered 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.339 you peace 00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.879 through the 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:42.539 blood of 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.180 my son. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.180 Many of 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.399 us are 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:45.980 aware of 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:47.059 Psalm 2, 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.399 the prophecy 00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:49.480 of the 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.139 coming king 00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:50.659 Jesus. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.500 What does 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.720 it say at 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:51.920 the end, 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.399 kiss the 00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:52.740 son, 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.220 lest you 00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.619 perish in 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.000 the way. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.000 We are 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.579 to kiss 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.579 this Messiah 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.940 and make 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.619 peace with 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:03.139 God through 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:03.480 him. 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.279 So Christmas 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.940 is a chance 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.420 for us to 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.420 celebrate that 00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:08.859 idea that 00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.319 God sent 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.139 his son in 00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:10.680 order that we 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.279 might not have 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.960 strife with 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.380 him, but 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.920 have peace 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.400 with him. 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.380 No longer 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.299 enemies, but 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.600 friends and 00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.380 sons. 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:18.519 We can have 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.120 peace knowing 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.799 that Christ 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.759 died in our 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.440 place and 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:21.940 suffered as 00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.259 we just 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.660 read. 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:26.279 Not soft 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.200 words, saved 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:28.360 us from the 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:29.259 wrath of 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.819 God. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.559 You will 00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.039 have no 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.620 peace if 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.000 the wrath 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.539 of God 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.980 is still 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.579 over you. 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.360 But knowing 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:37.819 that Christ 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.319 bore your 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:38.860 punishment, 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.160 shed his 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.779 blood so 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.000 that you 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.259 could be 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.940 made right 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:42.420 with him. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:42.779 That word 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.660 justified is 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.220 mentioned many 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.920 times in this 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.480 passage in 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.059 Romans, but 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:49.039 shorthand to 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:49.400 be made 00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.799 right, to 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.200 have right 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.980 standing with 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.539 God, only 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.140 to be done 00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.600 through Jesus 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:57.400 who reconciled 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:57.759 us to 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.299 himself. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:58.600 I was 00:31:58.600 --> 00:31:58.980 thinking of 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.820 the hark 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:01.400 the herald 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.180 angel sing, 00:32:02.320 --> 00:32:03.019 glory to 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.440 the new 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.600 born king, 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.039 peace on 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.600 earth and 00:32:06.600 --> 00:32:07.460 mercy mild, 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.259 God and 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.759 sinners 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:10.500 reconciled. 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.339 You will 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:12.900 not be 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.680 experiencing 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.180 peace if 00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:14.359 you are 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:14.539 not 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.220 reconciled 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.700 to God 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.839 through 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.339 Christ. 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.619 Great 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.279 gospel in 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:19.420 our 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:19.799 Christian 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.539 hymns for 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:20.940 Christmas, 00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:21.680 so eat 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.180 those up. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.720 And we 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.240 can experience 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.720 that true 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.440 inner peace 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.240 by having 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.920 this divine 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:28.400 part in 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:28.619 being 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.220 reconciled 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:29.619 to God 00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:29.859 through 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.279 what his 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:30.980 son has 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.140 accomplished. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.460 He was 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.039 born for 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.680 this purpose. 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.099 And we 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:35.740 can experience 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.200 this peace, 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:36.420 it's not 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:36.840 just like, 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.059 yeah, 00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:37.319 I can 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:37.819 have peace 00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.259 with God, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:38.500 but you 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:38.920 actually can 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.480 know it 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.980 and experience 00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.440 it. 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:44.360 Jesus said 00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:44.620 to his 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.019 disciples, 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.319 we were 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.660 reading in 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.200 John 14 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:46.840 earlier today, 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:49.120 and John 00:32:49.120 --> 00:32:49.519 14, 00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:50.360 verse 25, 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:50.900 telling his 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.660 disciples before 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.340 he is going 00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:52.480 to be 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.340 arrested and 00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:54.980 beaten and 00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.500 crucified, 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.259 he said 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:57.559 this to 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:57.700 them, 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.140 these things 00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.580 have spoken 00:32:58.580 --> 00:32:59.120 to you, 00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:00.259 to his 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:00.740 disciples, 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:01.980 while I'm 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.440 still with 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:02.660 you. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.019 But the 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.319 helper, 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.799 the Holy 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.200 Spirit, 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:06.559 whom the 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:06.980 Father will 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.319 send in 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.779 my name, 00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.080 he will 00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.519 teach you 00:33:08.519 --> 00:33:08.960 all these 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:09.580 things and 00:33:09.580 --> 00:33:09.940 bring to 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.440 remembrance 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:11.019 all that 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:11.319 I have 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.720 said. 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.019 So there's 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.259 a good 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:13.380 one, 00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:13.640 the Holy 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.400 Spirit helps 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:14.880 us remember 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:15.440 what Jesus 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.900 said, 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.380 not just 00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:18.000 tells us 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.500 anything 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.840 all the 00:33:19.840 --> 00:33:20.019 time, 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.380 remember 00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:20.920 God's 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.259 word. 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:22.240 Then Jesus 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.620 says, 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.500 peace I 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.059 leave with 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.319 you, 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.220 my peace 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.819 I give 00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.279 to you, 00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:29.660 not as the 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.319 world gives 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.900 do I give 00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:31.340 to you, 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.460 let not 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:32.860 your hearts 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.420 be troubled 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.039 nor let 00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.440 them be 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.019 afraid. 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.920 So peace 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:37.279 is not 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.759 just the 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.200 absence 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:39.180 of strife, 00:33:40.120 --> 00:33:40.580 conflict, 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.799 and turmoil. 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.680 There's not 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.380 a single 00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.319 place in 00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.680 the Scripture 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.360 that peace 00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:47.019 isn't mentioned 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.740 outside of 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.299 craziness. 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.580 It's always 00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:50.400 in the context 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.000 of something 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:51.620 going on 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.140 that's like 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.740 not awesome, 00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.740 a lot of 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.180 strife, 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:56.440 a lot of 00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.039 conflict. 00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:58.660 This idea 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.160 that our 00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.880 souls, 00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:00.660 we can say 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.720 all is well, 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.160 right? 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.240 that true 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:03.820 spiritual 00:34:03.820 --> 00:34:04.440 peace 00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:06.759 manufactured, 00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:08.680 not manufactured 00:34:08.680 --> 00:34:09.220 by human 00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:09.599 hands, 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.280 but by God 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:11.000 himself we 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.599 can possess. 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.180 Jonathan Edwards 00:34:13.180 --> 00:34:13.940 once commented 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.500 about this 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:14.960 passage. 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:15.420 He said, 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.260 the believer's 00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:18.360 peace is 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.139 both the 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:20.780 strength, 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.320 beauty, 00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:22.139 and dignity 00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.840 of the 00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.119 saint. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:26.059 The beauty 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.940 and dignity 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.619 of the saint. 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:27.900 It's like 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.480 this garment 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.859 we put 00:34:28.859 --> 00:34:30.199 on that 00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:30.679 makes us 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.440 stand out 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.799 in a world 00:34:32.799 --> 00:34:33.420 full of 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.980 strife 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.940 and conflict. 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:37.759 The beauty 00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:38.440 and dignity 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.119 of the saints 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.859 is the peace 00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:40.699 that Christ 00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:41.119 gives. 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:41.980 The settled 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.539 confidence 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:42.980 that your 00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:44.259 soul is 00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:44.819 not at war 00:34:44.819 --> 00:34:45.339 with God 00:34:45.339 --> 00:34:45.719 anymore. 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.259 It is 00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:47.699 right with 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.500 God through 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.819 what Christ 00:34:49.819 --> 00:34:50.839 has accomplished. 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.679 It's a 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.359 possession and 00:34:52.359 --> 00:34:52.839 a privilege 00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:53.339 that he has 00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:53.940 given us 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.859 as saints. 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.039 The world 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:56.619 can't have 00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:56.839 this. 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.079 It all 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.840 comes only 00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.259 through 00:34:58.259 --> 00:34:58.860 Christ. 00:35:00.539 --> 00:35:01.259 We read 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:01.759 this earlier 00:35:01.759 --> 00:35:02.079 today. 00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:02.480 Again, 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.400 we don't 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:04.900 get peace 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.259 by not 00:35:05.259 --> 00:35:06.940 facing the 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.480 facts and 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:07.960 turning around 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:08.259 and trying 00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:08.619 to push 00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.099 the negative 00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.679 thoughts out 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:09.880 of our 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.219 life, 00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:11.139 but rather 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:11.699 turning in 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:12.119 God to 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:12.539 help us 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.139 overcome 00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:13.480 those 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.079 realities. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.579 I've 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.119 learned it. 00:35:18.279 --> 00:35:19.119 Not just 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:19.679 the absence 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:20.360 of danger, 00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:20.759 but it's 00:35:20.759 --> 00:35:21.539 also feeling 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:22.199 protected. 00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:25.199 And no 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.699 matter what's 00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:25.980 going on 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:26.400 around you 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:27.000 by a sense 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:27.480 of God's 00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.260 real presence 00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:28.860 with you, 00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:30.280 God's 00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:30.960 peace with 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.119 you, 00:35:31.180 --> 00:35:31.559 regardless 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:31.840 of what's 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.119 happening 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.680 out here. 00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.760 Isaiah 26 00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:35.160 that we read 00:35:35.160 --> 00:35:35.440 earlier, 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:35.980 you keep 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.400 him in 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:36.800 perfect 00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:37.440 peace 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.059 whose mind 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.720 is stayed 00:35:39.720 --> 00:35:40.460 on you 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.720 because he 00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:42.440 trusts in you, 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:43.119 trusts in the 00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.820 Lord forever, 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.420 for the Lord 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.019 God is an 00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:46.039 everlasting rock. 00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:47.059 I wrote 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.539 that verse 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:47.820 in my 00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:48.300 whiteboard 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:48.539 in the 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:48.980 hospital 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.420 back in 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.199 my recovery 00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:50.840 days of 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.139 early 00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.659 transplant. 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.000 I had 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:52.259 those 00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:52.599 three, 00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:53.259 four month 00:35:53.259 --> 00:35:54.340 stays in 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:54.860 the hospital. 00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.420 My mind 00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:56.940 was not 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:58.179 at peace. 00:35:58.259 --> 00:35:58.440 I was 00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:58.860 trying really 00:35:58.860 --> 00:35:59.300 hard to 00:35:59.300 --> 00:36:00.300 remind myself 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:00.639 of that 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.179 reality. 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.059 But it's 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.739 peace in 00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.179 the midst 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.619 of the 00:36:03.619 --> 00:36:03.900 storm, 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.420 not the 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:04.800 absence 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.559 of the 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:05.900 storm. 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.039 They can 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.219 exist 00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:09.079 simultaneously. 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:10.619 And a lot 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:10.860 of people 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.239 here will be 00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:11.539 able to tell 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:11.860 you many 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.619 stories of 00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.579 having the 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:13.940 peace of 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.500 Christ when 00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:14.960 everything else 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.319 is burning 00:36:15.319 --> 00:36:15.900 down around 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:16.179 them. 00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:18.759 Paul wrote 00:36:18.759 --> 00:36:19.259 to Timothy, 00:36:20.259 --> 00:36:21.079 Now may the 00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:21.619 Lord of 00:36:21.619 --> 00:36:22.339 peace himself 00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:23.339 continually grant 00:36:23.339 --> 00:36:23.940 you peace 00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.699 in every 00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.039 circumstance. 00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:28.380 The Lord 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.440 be with you 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:29.839 all. 00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.460 2 Timothy 00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:31.420 3.16 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:33.519 So a good 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.319 reminder for 00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:35.559 us is that 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:37.319 Jesus never, 00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.799 never 00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:40.639 promised his 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.559 followers anything 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.400 would be easy 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.000 and comfortable. 00:36:43.680 --> 00:36:44.260 Not one 00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:45.599 promise in 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.000 the scripture 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.780 says that. 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.059 Never 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:49.260 promised security 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:49.980 and comfort 00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:51.019 in this 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.420 world. 00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:52.720 Christ doesn't 00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:53.420 want you to 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:53.940 be comfortable 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.320 in this 00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:54.599 world. 00:36:54.700 --> 00:36:54.880 To the 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.400 contrary. 00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:56.780 He doesn't 00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.139 want you to 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:57.500 get comfortable 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.700 in this 00:36:57.700 --> 00:36:57.860 world. 00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.180 He wants 00:36:58.180 --> 00:36:58.639 to shake 00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.119 you up 00:36:59.119 --> 00:36:59.760 to remind 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.700 you that 00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:01.099 this is 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.480 temporal 00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.200 and fleeting 00:37:02.200 --> 00:37:02.480 and we 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:02.740 need to 00:37:02.740 --> 00:37:03.079 put our 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:03.840 minds on 00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:04.460 eternity. 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.280 But he 00:37:06.280 --> 00:37:06.860 promises 00:37:06.860 --> 00:37:09.740 something great 00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:10.240 to his 00:37:10.240 --> 00:37:10.599 people. 00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:11.760 I'm going 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:12.019 to close 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.440 with this. 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.139 John 16 00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:13.599 33. 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.119 Jesus said 00:37:15.119 --> 00:37:15.380 to his 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:15.739 disciples, 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.179 I've told 00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:16.579 you these 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:18.559 things so 00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.099 that in 00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:20.820 me you 00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:21.280 may have 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.739 peace. 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.420 In this 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.059 world you 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.940 will have 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.820 tribulation, 00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.480 trouble, 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.500 trials. 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.440 But take 00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:30.900 heart, I 00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.380 have overcome 00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:31.960 the world. 00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.679 So as long 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:34.059 as we are 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.739 united to 00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:35.340 Christ, we 00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:36.219 also will 00:37:36.219 --> 00:37:36.599 overcome. 00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:36.839 come. 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.679 So just a 00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:39.699 reminder to 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:40.279 use this 00:37:40.279 --> 00:37:43.039 season, and 00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.400 I'm preaching 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:43.779 this to 00:37:43.779 --> 00:37:46.079 myself, that 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:47.339 we can have 00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:48.079 and experience 00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.659 that real 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:50.059 peace with 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.539 God through 00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.099 what Christ 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:52.179 has accomplished. 00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:54.239 And ending 00:37:54.239 --> 00:37:54.900 on a jolly 00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:57.360 note, Spurgeon 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.519 at a Christmas 00:37:58.519 --> 00:38:00.059 sermon, he 00:38:00.059 --> 00:38:00.319 says, 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:00.880 feast, 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.579 Christians, 00:38:01.779 --> 00:38:02.139 feast. 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.219 feast. 00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:03.799 But in 00:38:03.799 --> 00:38:04.559 your feasting, 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:06.179 think of the 00:38:06.179 --> 00:38:06.659 man in 00:38:06.659 --> 00:38:07.259 Bethlehem. 00:38:08.299 --> 00:38:08.920 Let him 00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:09.519 have place 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:09.799 in your 00:38:09.799 --> 00:38:10.199 hearts. 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.559 Give him 00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.099 the glory. 00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:12.659 Think of 00:38:12.659 --> 00:38:13.079 the virgin 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:13.679 who conceived 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.019 him. 00:38:14.920 --> 00:38:15.319 But think 00:38:15.319 --> 00:38:15.819 most of 00:38:15.819 --> 00:38:17.179 all of 00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:17.599 the man 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:18.279 born, the 00:38:18.279 --> 00:38:18.960 child given. 00:38:20.259 --> 00:38:20.679 I will 00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:21.319 finish again 00:38:21.319 --> 00:38:22.159 by saying a 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:22.839 happy Christmas 00:38:22.839 --> 00:38:23.879 to you all. 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:25.539 Let's pray 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:25.940 together.