WEBVTT

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 It would be great if you could keep that passage open in front of you as we look at it this morning,

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 but before we do that, let us pray together.

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 Father, as we turn now to your word, we ask that the words of my mouth

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 and the meditations of all of our hearts would be pleasing to you, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

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 Now to say that 2020 has been a difficult year is probably the biggest understatement in the world.

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 We've all had tough times. Many of us have felt lonely.

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 It has been hard for every single person for different reasons.

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 And speaking with many people in our church, the physical darkness of our lovely Scottish winters doesn't seem to help much either.

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 As the days get darker and darker, the difficulties of 2020 seem to get harder and harder.

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 But celebrating Christmas in the middle of this darkness is actually incredibly fitting

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 because it is in the context of darkness that this wonderful prophecy of Isaiah was first heard.

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 This prophecy that is read out in churches across all of our world in the run up to Christmas.

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 Isaiah was a prophet, a man sent by God with a message to his people.

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 And Isaiah was speaking in one of the darkest times in Israel's history.

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 That's why it begins in verse 2 with the people were walking in darkness.

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 Because as Isaiah spoke these words,

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 there was a looming army en route to destroy the nation of Israel

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 and to carry them off into exile.

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 Imagine the darkness that they felt in their hearts,

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 knowing that in just a few months, weeks, maybe even days,

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 their lives would never be the same again.

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 Torn from their homes and scattered across the known world.

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 This passage isn't about doom and gloom,

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 but it is in this context of utter darkness and despair

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 that a wonderful message of hope is proclaimed.

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 Continue reading with me in verse 2.

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 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.

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 On those living in a land of deep darkness,

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 a light has dawned.

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 So it is in this moment of darkness that a great light can be seen.

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 And as we read on to verse 6,

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 we see that this wonderful light,

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 this wonderful message of hope,

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 comes in the form of a baby.

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 So put yourself in Israel's position at this point in history,

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 hearing this.

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 Enemies crouching at the door.

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 An army on a destruction path

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 that will cut through the heart of your home.

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 And your promise of deliverance and hope is a baby.

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 Now we have had

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 eight babies born into the church family this year.

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 And if you speak to every single one of those parents,

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 I guarantee you,

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 they will testify to the fact

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 that their babies are utterly dependent on them for everything.

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 A baby can do nothing for itself or by itself.

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 So what on earth can this baby do for us?

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 Maybe that's what they were thinking.

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 How can this baby be a source of great light and hope

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 to a nation that is plunged in darkness?

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 Well, the key is found in the four descriptions

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 that we read in 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 will be on his shoulders.

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 He will be called Wonderful Counselor,

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 Mighty God,

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 Everlasting Father,

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 and Prince of Peace.

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 Now as we look back,

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 we know this baby is Jesus.

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 And this prophecy was written

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 some 700 years before his birth.

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 And yet these four descriptions are just as powerful now

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 to us in our times of darkness

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 as they were to the nation of Israel back then.

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 So let's take a look at each of these descriptions

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 of this little baby that we gather to celebrate

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 at Christmas time.

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 The first description we see

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 is that Jesus is a wonderful counselor.

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 So the majority of people in our world today

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 understand the idea of a counselor.

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 Someone who helps you think through

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 and work through some of the good

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 and some of the bad experiences

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 that you've been through in life.

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 And they use a bunch of different methods

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 all with the purpose in mind

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 of helping you be as healthy as you can be.

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 But often the focus in counseling sessions

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 can be that you have the power

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 within yourself to be well.

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 That you are able in and of yourself

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 to be fixed.

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 But Jesus is not a counselor

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 who comes alongside us

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 and tells us to try harder,

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 to do better.

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 He isn't a counselor who tells us

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 that we have the power within ourselves

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 to be sorted.

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 No.

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 Jesus comes alongside us

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 and he guides us

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 to the way that we should live.

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 And he draws alongside us in our pain

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 and kneels with us in it.

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 Often people can think of

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 Jesus like some mean fitness instructor

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 who shouts from the sidelines

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 that you need to do more,

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 be better, work harder,

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 and stop complaining.

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 But that is warped.

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 The message of Jesus

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 is completely the opposite.

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 Jesus draws alongside us

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 in our times of darkness.

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 He draws near.

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 He literally takes on flesh

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 to dwell with a sinful humanity

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 to guide us to the truth

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 that hope is not found in ourselves,

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 but true hope is only found in him.

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 Friends, in your darkest times,

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 in those moments where you feel like

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 breaking down and crying,

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 in those moments when you are

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 at your wit's end,

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 Jesus is the wonderful counselor

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 who draws near,

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 who comes alongside

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 and sympathizes with us.

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 Why?

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 Because he knows pain.

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 He knows suffering.

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 He knows what it means

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 to walk in darkness.

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 But even more than that,

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 he draws alongside

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 and he points us

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 to the place

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 of deliverance.

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 He doesn't pat us on the back

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 and say it will all be fine.

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 But he comes and gives us truths

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 that will carry us

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 through the storms

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 of life.

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 He comes and gives us

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 deliverance from our sins.

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 He offers light

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 in our darkness.

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 He offers life

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 to the spiritually dead.

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 Jesus is a wonderful counselor

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 who will walk with us

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 through the storms of life.

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 And friends,

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 from my own experience

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 of the few years

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 that I've had

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 on this earth,

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 I can tell you

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 that there is no better place

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 to be than in the arms

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 of a wonderful counselor

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 in whom

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 deliverance

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 can be found.

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 So Jesus,

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 this baby

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 that we celebrate

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 at Christmas

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 is described

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 as a wonderful counselor.

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 But secondly,

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 he's described

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 as mighty God.

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 Now we might be tempted

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 to look at the typical

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 nativity scene

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 and see a defenseless baby,

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 a crying infant

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 with no power,

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 a child who's done nothing

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 and can do nothing

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 by themselves.

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 But oh how wrong

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 we would be.

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 Because as we look

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 at the person

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 of Jesus Christ,

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 we are seeing

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 the very image

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 of the invisible God.

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 Here's what Colossians 1

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 has to say

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 about Jesus.

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 The Son

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 is the image

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 of the invisible God,

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 the firstborn

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 over all creation.

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 For in Him

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 all things

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 were created,

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 things in heaven

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 and on earth,

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 visible and invisible.

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 Whether thrones

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 or powers

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 or rulers

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 or authorities,

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 all things

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 have been created

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 through Him

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 and for Him.

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 He is before

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 all things

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 and in Him

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 all things

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 hold together.

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 But God was pleased

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 to have all His fullness

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 dwell in Him.

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 This little baby

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 is the one

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 who flung the stars

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 in their place.

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 This little baby

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 is the eternal Son

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 through whom

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 and for whom

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 all things

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 were created.

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 And this is

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 the eternal Son

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 who has supremacy

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 over everything.

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 Meaning that Jesus

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 is the Son of God.

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 The one who rules

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 and reigns

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 over the entire universe.

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 The one who is

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 in absolute control.

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 And the one whose power

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 is beyond comprehension.

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 The one whose glory,

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 majesty

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 and wonderful nature

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 could not be described

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 even with every single word

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 in every single language

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 on this world.

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 His glory

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 is unfathomable.

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 Friends,

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 if you want to know

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 what God is like

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 you only need to look

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 at Jesus Christ.

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 The person

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 of Jesus.

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 The one

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 in whom

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 the fullness

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 of God

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 dwells.

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 Now what a wonderful

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 message of hope

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 and light

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 in the darkness

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 that is.

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 As the darkness

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 looms,

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 as times of despair

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 and pain

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 come your way,

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 look to Jesus.

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 The eternal

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 Son of the Father,

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 God in the flesh,

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 the mighty God

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 who humbled himself,

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 took on flesh,

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 left his place

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 of glory

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 and came into

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 a sinful world.

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 Why?

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 So that those

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 who walk in darkness

00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:11.279
 can say that they

00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:12.459
 have seen a great light

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 and that they

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 can have deliverance

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 from their darkness

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 and walk

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 in his light

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 because he is

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 mighty God.

00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:24.860
 Wonderful

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 counselor,

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 mighty God.

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 And the third

00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.639
 description we see

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 is that Jesus

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 is everlasting

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 father.

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 Now maybe it's

00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:36.040
 strange to think

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 of a baby

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 as being our

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 everlasting father.

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 It's a bit of

00:10:39.660 --> 00:10:40.420
 an odd phrase

00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:41.539
 that maybe takes

00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:42.259
 us a while

00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:42.699
 to get our

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 heads around.

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 But it means

00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.219
 that Jesus

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 is our father

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 forever.

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 And this

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 conveys two

00:10:49.339 --> 00:10:50.679
 wonderful truths.

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 Firstly,

00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:52.079
 Jesus

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 is everlasting.

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 He has no

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 beginning.

00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:57.819
 He has

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 no end.

00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:00.000
 The life

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 of Jesus Christ

00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.659
 did not begin

00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.099
 at that first

00:11:03.099 --> 00:11:03.519
 Christmas

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.519
 about 2,000

00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.179
 years ago.

00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:06.679
 but there

00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:07.159
 has never

00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:07.959
 been a time

00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:08.539
 where Jesus

00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.779
 did not exist.

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.139
 That's where

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:12.819
 what we read

00:11:12.819 --> 00:11:13.539
 about in John

00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:14.159
 chapter 1,

00:11:14.239 --> 00:11:14.939
 that wonderful

00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:15.699
 passage that

00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:16.519
 teaches us so

00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:17.620
 much about

00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.359
 the Godhead.

00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.019
 John 1

00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:20.679
 says this,

00:11:20.819 --> 00:11:21.620
 in the beginning

00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:22.500
 was the Word

00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.120
 and the Word

00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:23.959
 was with God

00:11:23.959 --> 00:11:24.639
 and the Word

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.799
 was God.

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:27.219
 He was with

00:11:27.219 --> 00:11:27.839
 God in the

00:11:27.839 --> 00:11:28.199
 beginning

00:11:28.199 --> 00:11:30.339
 and the Word

00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:31.339
 became flesh

00:11:31.339 --> 00:11:32.439
 and made

00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.059
 his dwelling

00:11:33.059 --> 00:11:34.439
 among us.

00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:35.879
 So Jesus

00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.839
 is everlasting

00:11:36.839 --> 00:11:37.719
 but secondly

00:11:37.719 --> 00:11:39.099
 he is described

00:11:39.099 --> 00:11:39.579
 as our

00:11:39.579 --> 00:11:39.979
 Father.

00:11:41.439 --> 00:11:41.759
 And the

00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.039
 Bible

00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:43.159
 normally speaks

00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:43.659
 about God

00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.159
 the Father

00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.219
 when it

00:11:45.219 --> 00:11:45.699
 uses the

00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:46.279
 word Father.

00:11:46.439 --> 00:11:46.979
 So why

00:11:46.979 --> 00:11:48.039
 is Isaiah

00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:48.659
 using the

00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:49.519
 description here

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.359
 of Jesus?

00:11:52.719 --> 00:11:53.459
 Well the

00:11:53.459 --> 00:11:53.919
 overarching

00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:54.759
 feeling that

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.139
 a good

00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:55.859
 father has

00:11:55.859 --> 00:11:56.459
 towards his

00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:56.859
 children

00:11:56.859 --> 00:11:58.399
 is love,

00:11:58.819 --> 00:11:59.259
 isn't it?

00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.319
 Sadly we

00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:01.879
 live in a

00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:02.559
 sinful world

00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:02.899
 where that

00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:03.500
 isn't always

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.139
 the case.

00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:07.080
 but fathers

00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:07.740
 are called

00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:08.100
 and are

00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:08.699
 supposed to

00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.100
 love their

00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.460
 children.

00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:11.159
 And there

00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:11.600
 are countless

00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.259
 stories out

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:12.639
 there of

00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.259
 fathers doing

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.059
 wonderful

00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:14.779
 things out

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:15.039
 of a

00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:15.580
 sacrificial

00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:16.539
 love for

00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:16.720
 their

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.080
 children.

00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.259
 Just one

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:18.679
 that I

00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.299
 read about

00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:19.779
 yesterday.

00:12:20.340 --> 00:12:21.460
 In 2019

00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:22.879
 Rick Buckley

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.500
 from Michigan

00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:24.139
 underwent

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.399
 surgery to

00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:25.860
 give his

00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.480
 eight-year-old

00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:26.799
 daughter

00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:27.340
 Charlie

00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.319
 his kidney.

00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:29.539
 And if he

00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:29.879
 wouldn't have

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.639
 gone through

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.240
 that surgery

00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:31.620
 she would

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.120
 have died.

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.940
 And when

00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:34.220
 he was

00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:34.740
 asked about

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:34.980
 it he

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.639
 said that

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:36.720
 he was a

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:37.039
 match.

00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.039
 So he

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.539
 didn't have

00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:38.940
 to even

00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.600
 think about

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:39.759
 it.

00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:40.240
 It was the

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.159
 easiest decision

00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:41.980
 he's ever

00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:42.379
 made in

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:42.940
 his life

00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:45.080
 because he

00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:45.500
 loves his

00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:45.799
 daughter.

00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.519
 And any

00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.139
 parent would

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:49.419
 do that

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:49.720
 for a

00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:50.060
 child.

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:51.620
 Good

00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.500
 fathers

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.919
 love their

00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.320
 children.

00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.299
 And as we

00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:56.759
 look at the

00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.200
 life of

00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:57.779
 Jesus there

00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.320
 can be no

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:58.860
 doubt in

00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.419
 our minds

00:12:59.419 --> 00:12:59.700
 that he

00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:00.460
 loved people.

00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:01.879
 He sat

00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.360
 with those

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:02.639
 on the

00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:03.040
 fringes

00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:03.860
 of society.

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.379
 He went

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.180
 towards those

00:13:06.180 --> 00:13:06.500
 who were

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.500
 deemed unfit

00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.340
 and called

00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:08.780
 broken.

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.300
 He healed

00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:10.780
 those who

00:13:10.780 --> 00:13:11.180
 were sick.

00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:11.820
 He taught

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.860
 people about

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.340
 their need

00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:13.820
 to be made

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.340
 right with

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:14.720
 God and

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.240
 ultimately

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.920
 he laid

00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:17.320
 down his

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:17.800
 life in

00:13:17.800 --> 00:13:18.259
 the greatest

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:18.820
 act of

00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:19.480
 love known

00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.019
 to mankind

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.700
 so that

00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:22.259
 sinners like

00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:22.720
 you and

00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.000
 me can be

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.840
 reconciled to

00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.340
 God, brought

00:13:25.340 --> 00:13:26.600
 into his

00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:27.060
 family.

00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.959
 There is

00:13:28.959 --> 00:13:29.479
 no greater

00:13:29.479 --> 00:13:30.579
 love than

00:13:30.579 --> 00:13:31.079
 the love

00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:31.579
 of God

00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:32.019
 for his

00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:32.419
 people.

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:33.919
 That's why

00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:34.539
 Jesus is

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.259
 described as

00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:36.039
 our everlasting

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.599
 father because

00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:38.339
 he has always

00:13:38.339 --> 00:13:39.739
 been and he

00:13:39.739 --> 00:13:40.299
 will always

00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.859
 be and his

00:13:41.859 --> 00:13:42.679
 love has no

00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:43.039
 end.

00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.739
 Is it not an

00:13:46.739 --> 00:13:47.379
 immense privilege

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.179
 to be counted

00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:49.039
 as sons and

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.899
 daughters of the

00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.539
 living God?

00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:52.159
 To have Jesus

00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.359
 described as our

00:13:53.359 --> 00:13:54.199
 heavenly father

00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:54.979
 whose love goes

00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:56.019
 beyond words and

00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.759
 beyond boundaries.

00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:59.419
 it is a love

00:13:59.419 --> 00:13:59.979
 that we cannot

00:13:59.979 --> 00:14:01.719
 escape and

00:14:01.719 --> 00:14:02.319
 it is a love

00:14:02.319 --> 00:14:02.859
 that never

00:14:02.859 --> 00:14:03.899
 runs out.

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.539
 So this baby

00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:07.259
 that we celebrate

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.159
 at Christmas is

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.039
 a wonderful

00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:09.639
 counselor,

00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:11.299
 mighty God,

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.500
 everlasting

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.619
 father and

00:14:13.619 --> 00:14:14.079
 the fourth

00:14:14.079 --> 00:14:15.019
 description is

00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:16.319
 that Jesus is

00:14:16.319 --> 00:14:17.659
 the prince of

00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:18.139
 peace.

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.619
 Think back to

00:14:20.619 --> 00:14:21.259
 the nation of

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.619
 Israel.

00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:23.379
 Sitting in one

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.179
 of their darkest

00:14:24.179 --> 00:14:25.819
 periods in

00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:26.239
 history,

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.899
 spiritually

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.600
 nowhere,

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.580
 rejecting God

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.440
 and living as

00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:31.960
 they please,

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:32.960
 refusing to

00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.720
 acknowledge the

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.320
 God who has

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:34.799
 saved them

00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:36.340
 countless times

00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:36.980
 from their

00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.360
 enemies,

00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.480
 refusing the

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.139
 God who out

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.259
 of love calls

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.080
 them to repent

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:42.680
 and to come

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.399
 back to him.

00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:45.860
 What do you

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:46.419
 think they would

00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.019
 want as they

00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:47.600
 look over the

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.200
 hills and see

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.000
 an army coming

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.840
 to attack them?

00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:51.740
 They want

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.200
 peace.

00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:52.259
 peace.

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.560
 Well, what

00:14:55.560 --> 00:14:56.320
 wonderful and

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.100
 comforting news

00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.720
 it is to hear

00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.000
 that Jesus is

00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.759
 described as the

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.940
 prince of

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:01.379
 peace.

00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:03.500
 Friends, this is

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.259
 the message of

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:04.800
 hope that should

00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.740
 carry us through

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.860
 our times of

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.259
 darkness.

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.759
 As we walk

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.200
 through the

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.800
 valleys, as we

00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:11.700
 feel abandoned

00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:14.020
 and alone, as we

00:15:14.020 --> 00:15:15.520
 feel the pain and

00:15:15.520 --> 00:15:17.080
 darkness creeping in

00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:18.460
 at every second,

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:20.860
 remember, Jesus is

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.560
 your prince of

00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:21.980
 peace.

00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.560
 Peace in two

00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:24.960
 ways.

00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:27.360
 First of all, it

00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:28.159
 means peace with

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.100
 God because Jesus

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.139
 is the perfect

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.399
 lamb of God who

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.300
 takes away the

00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:34.100
 sins of the

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:34.419
 world.

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:35.980
 He lived the

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.600
 life that we

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.620
 never could in

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.680
 complete obedience

00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:40.620
 to the Father's

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.340
 will and yet he

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.360
 died the death

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.120
 that each and

00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.379
 every single one

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.519
 of us deserves.

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.019
 Bearing all the

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.740
 weight of sin and

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.740
 all the wrath of

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.600
 God in our

00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:53.220
 place, he took

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:53.820
 our punishment.

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.019
 He took our

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.840
 sin so that we

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.580
 could be gifted

00:15:58.580 --> 00:15:59.860
 his righteousness,

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.820
 his right standing

00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.779
 with God so that

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.360
 we could be

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:03.820
 forgiven.

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.240
 Or as Romans 5

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.420
 verse 1 puts it,

00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:08.320
 therefore, since

00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:08.860
 you have been

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.300
 justified by faith,

00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.680
 we have peace

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:13.240
 with God through

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.040
 our Lord Jesus

00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:14.639
 Christ.

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:17.080
 Friends, if you

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.720
 are a Christian

00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.100
 this morning, you

00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:20.200
 are no longer a

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.240
 stranger to God.

00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.680
 You are no longer

00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:24.040
 an object of his

00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:26.500
 wrath, but peace

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.300
 has been made

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.660
 between you and

00:16:28.660 --> 00:16:29.600
 the Almighty God

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.320
 through the death

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.259
 and resurrection of

00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.980
 his Son, Jesus

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.500
 Christ.

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.080
 And if you're not a

00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:35.660
 Christian this

00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:38.160
 morning, come to

00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:38.759
 this Prince of

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.100
 Peace.

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.120
 Come to the only

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.060
 one who can give

00:16:42.060 --> 00:16:43.220
 you peace with God

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:45.100
 and the only one

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.160
 who can forgive you

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.019
 and give you hope

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.839
 and light in your

00:16:49.839 --> 00:16:50.240
 darkness.

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:53.299
 So it means, first

00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:53.980
 of all, that we have

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.980
 peace with God, but

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.360
 secondly, it points

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.860
 to a future day

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.839
 where God and man

00:16:59.839 --> 00:17:00.779
 will dwell together

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.000
 in perfect harmony

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.059
 in the new creation.

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:05.139
 That wonderful place

00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:05.879
 where there will be

00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.599
 no more pain,

00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:08.079
 where there will be

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.059
 no more suffering,

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.379
 no more tears,

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.299
 and no more death,

00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.480
 for the old order of

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.539
 things has gone

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.519
 and the new has

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:15.900
 come.

00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:18.259
 God's dwelling place

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.740
 will be with his

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.120
 people.

00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:23.140
 Now that is true

00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:23.599
 peace.

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.180
 That is a peace

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:25.940
 that will endure

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.120
 forever and it has

00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.099
 been bought and

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.860
 secured through the

00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:30.779
 blood of our Lord

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.579
 and Saviour Jesus

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.519
 Christ shed on the

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:33.920
 cross.

00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:36.680
 And as verse 7

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.559
 goes on to say,

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.640
 there is no end

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.380
 to this kingdom.

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.059
 His reign, the reign

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.019
 of this prince of

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:44.839
 peace will last

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.299
 forever.

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.799
 He will rule with

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:49.039
 justice and

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:49.879
 righteousness and

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.819
 that is a promise

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:52.000
 that is not wishful

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.059
 thinking because

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:55.879
 this peace has been

00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:56.519
 bought with the

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.279
 blood of Jesus.

00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:00.839
 Friends, this is the

00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.279
 wonderful person that

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.980
 we remember this time

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.279
 of year.

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.079
 Not a defenseless

00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:07.379
 baby, but Jesus,

00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:09.279
 wonderful counselor,

00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:11.079
 mighty God,

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:13.019
 everlasting father

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.759
 and prince of peace.

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.799
 This is our king

00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.939
 Jesus, the God

00:18:17.939 --> 00:18:19.539
 and God is the one

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.139
 who accomplished

00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:21.099
 all of this.

00:18:22.159 --> 00:18:23.059
 So if you are in

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.059
 darkness, friends,

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.799
 remember that you

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.619
 have seen a great

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:26.919
 light.

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.379
 He has revealed

00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:29.619
 himself to you in

00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.559
 the person of Jesus

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.659
 Christ this Christmas.

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.319
 Remember that hope

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:35.859
 that can only be found

00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.599
 in him and run to

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:37.859
 him.

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.720
 Hope can be found

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.500
 nowhere else.

00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.380
 Do not stay in

00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:43.940
 your darkness

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.180
 because the light

00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.400
 has been revealed

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.180
 to you.

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.400
 Let's pray together.

00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.920
 Heavenly Father, we

00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:54.839
 thank you so much

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.640
 that you sent your

00:18:55.640 --> 00:18:56.779
 son Jesus Christ

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:59.660
 to reveal you to

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.019
 us.

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.220
 Jesus, we thank you

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:03.079
 so much that you

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.059
 willingly left your

00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:05.059
 place of glory and

00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.920
 came into our

00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:09.740
 sinful world to be

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.720
 light in our

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.140
 darkness.

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:15.120
 But not only that,

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.340
 Father, we thank you

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.039
 that you sent your

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:18.200
 son Jesus Christ to

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.800
 be the solution to

00:19:19.800 --> 00:19:20.740
 our greatest problem.

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.400
 That through his

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.220
 death and resurrection

00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.800
 we are now counted

00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:27.240
 or can be counted as

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.279
 children of you, the

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.920
 great, awesome,

00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:33.100
 almighty, wonderful

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.899
 Father.

00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:36.359
 What a privilege

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.159
 that is.

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.879
 And Father, would

00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:39.419
 you, would that be

00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:40.939
 the focus of our

00:19:40.939 --> 00:19:41.899
 Christmas this year?

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.579
 Would we remember

00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.799
 that Jesus is the

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.039
 reason for the

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.359
 season?

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.459
 In his name we

00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:48.759
 pray.

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:49.899
 Amen.

00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:50.019
 Amen.

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.079
 Amen.