WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.620 This is, we've been going through a series in John, but today it's Christmas Day, so we're taking a break from our series and I'll be looking at Isaiah chapter 9. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:14.359 So if you have your Bibles or your phone apps, open it up to that and we'll be looking at that passage. 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:19.080 If you don't have a Bible or a phone app, there are some Bibles at the back, by all means grab one. 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:22.920 If you don't have a Bible at all, then take that as our Christmas gift to you. 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:36.140 Alrighty, as we go into this Christmas Day, I think it's really important just to point out something that's significant, but that we live with like it's not really true, not really there. 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:48.680 And that is that we live day by day with the truth we choose not to believe in, alongside the lies we choose to believe in. 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:55.519 I know Donald Trump has said there's truth and there's alternate truth, but that's not true. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:00:58.259 There is truth and there is lies. 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:05.219 And I think it's amazing how easily and how regularly we choose to live with lies. 00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:08.299 We know what the truth is, but we choose to live with lies. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:14.200 I find it particularly amazing on days like today, now if your kids don't know this, then I apologise, 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:24.000 but a Christmas Day, we have this day where we either celebrate the birth of Jesus or the arrival of Santa. 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:30.100 I won't go any further than that, just for your kids' sake, but go home and tell them the truth, parents, please. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:38.520 You know, we have this thing, and it's amazing because as a Christian who actually believes what I believe on the basis of evidence, 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:41.619 I'm told not to actually present that. 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:48.299 I mean, I'm discouraged from presenting what I believe to be true and what I can actually see from evidence. 00:01:49.619 --> 00:01:58.799 At the same time, I'm not allowed to crush the dreams of people who have chosen to believe an alternate truth or a lie in this area. 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:00.620 It happens in a lot of different areas. 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:09.340 We've had the last couple of years, one of the big issues in our society has been the issue of gender and how we understand that to work. 00:02:10.140 --> 00:02:16.460 Shifted mightily away from the truth we know to the lie we would choose to believe. 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:20.580 There are a whole bunch of other different areas like this. 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:31.140 I mean, I think your comment, Beth, this morning about how in a talk about not realizing there were going to be so many kids there because at 9 o'clock there weren't. 00:02:31.380 --> 00:02:33.280 I mean, that might be another truth or lie. 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:38.120 Is that too close to the bone to say, you know, when church starts is actually versus when people arrive? 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:39.400 No? 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.520 Maybe that is too close to the truth. 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:42.880 It's a bit uncomfortable, isn't it? 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:48.060 But, you know, I do welcoming regularly, and my record for people who have arrived after the church has started is 71. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.020 I count. 00:02:50.020 --> 00:02:50.100 I count. 00:02:50.380 --> 00:02:51.260 Yes, I count. 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:53.040 Now I'm going to shame you. 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:53.400 No, I'm not. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:54.020 I'm not going to shame you. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:00.840 No, but it's, you know, there are a whole bunch of ways that we approach this, and we just go with it. 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:10.360 We actually have the truth that we can actually choose to believe in, but we so often choose not to believe in it, versus the lie we actually choose to believe in. 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:24.200 And this passage in Isaiah is a point at which Israel, on our behalf in a sense, because they're the first, the forerunners of us actually realizing something about ourselves. 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:33.599 But this group of people actually chose to live and believe a lie about themselves when something was blatantly true. 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:50.900 And so what we have in this passage is an account of how God is actually so fed up with Israel that he actually says, that Isaiah actually says in verse 17 of chapter 8, 00:03:50.900 --> 00:04:03.060 The Lord is hiding his face from Jacob. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:07.780 This is a nation who is described as being in the darkness of gloom, distress and darkness. 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:10.759 They're fearing the attacks of Assyria from the north. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:15.080 They're scared for their lives of Assyria. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:17.699 And so what do they do? 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:27.540 Well, God actually points out to Isaiah what they're going to do instead of actually coming to God himself. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:29.139 What they're going to do is this. 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:33.939 In verse 19, God says to Isaiah, 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:39.240 And when they say to you, inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:47.639 People who actually inquire of spirits, or actually the spirits of, specifically the spirits of dead people, the necromancers. 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:50.219 Bit of an old-fashioned word, but that's what it's about. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.699 That's what people will choose to do. 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:59.019 There's a truth that they could actually believe in and trust in if they were willing to. 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:01.899 The truth that God has always shown himself to be faithful. 00:05:03.099 --> 00:05:06.240 Or there's the lie they choose to believe, and they run to it. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:11.039 I've got to say that this issue of going to mediums is a huge thing. 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:15.719 One of the last jobs I had as a physio, I used to work in a nursing home. 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:19.860 And there were a whole bunch of people that used to come together for lunch around midday. 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:24.199 And we'd sit in the lunchroom and just chat about various different things. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:30.840 And I can tell you now that I was the only person in that room of more than a dozen people regularly. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:34.400 I was the only person in that room who hadn't actually been to see a medium. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:36.780 And a number of them saw mediums regularly. 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:42.819 So when we're talking about this stuff, the truth and the lie, I've got to tell you, this is ingrained into us. 00:05:43.419 --> 00:05:44.139 It is there. 00:05:45.219 --> 00:05:48.919 And God is pointing it out to Isaiah 700 years before Christ. 00:05:48.979 --> 00:05:50.619 We're talking 2,700 years ago. 00:05:51.179 --> 00:05:52.359 This is what people like. 00:05:53.059 --> 00:05:54.359 And this is how he sums it up. 00:05:54.679 --> 00:05:57.079 God sums it up to Isaiah in verse 22 of chapter 8. 00:05:57.079 --> 00:05:59.259 And they will look to the earth. 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:01.759 That's their choice. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:03.240 They will look to the earth. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:03.939 Not to him. 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:05.719 They will look to the earth. 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:08.939 But behold, this is what they'll find. 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:11.439 Distress and darkness. 00:06:12.219 --> 00:06:13.159 The gloom of anguish. 00:06:15.339 --> 00:06:19.319 As these people of Israel are faced with the crisis of Assyria coming to invade them, 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:25.180 they look to everything and everyone but the one who can rescue them. 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:32.439 The truth we choose not to believe versus the lies we choose to believe. 00:06:33.419 --> 00:06:36.419 They actually have an end point. 00:06:36.719 --> 00:06:37.579 They lead somewhere. 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.339 God is hiding his face from these people. 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:42.019 Why? 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:44.719 Because they are people who look to the earth instead of heaven. 00:06:44.719 --> 00:06:54.139 A people who look to the earth instead of heaven in a world that looks to the earth instead of heaven. 00:06:54.139 --> 00:07:05.019 And this anguish that these people are heading into is not the fact that they're caught up in this global conflict scenario where now Assyria is on the rise. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:12.620 The anguish in the world is directly a consequence of rejecting God. 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:18.720 This is the gloom that we find ourselves in in this world. 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:23.639 But as Assyria is given this message by God, it does not end there. 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:27.259 You see, he gives this image of the anguish of gloom and darkness. 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:32.259 This kind of darkness, gloom, depressing sort of bad newsy sort of thing going on. 00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:37.620 But then he actually breaks into that image with a kind of almost a sunrise type theme. 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:44.420 And we read in verse 2 of chapter 9. 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:46.279 I'm into chapter 9 now. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:49.899 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. 00:07:51.159 --> 00:07:52.099 Darkness and gloom. 00:07:52.159 --> 00:07:53.659 And suddenly light is dawning. 00:07:53.660 --> 00:08:04.939 Isaiah's prophecy, as he begins to prophesy to the people, the message to the people, projects himself forward into the future. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:06.900 It's described as a new dawn. 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:11.240 And he does it, if you notice that, he actually does it in past tense. 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.900 Now this isn't meant to mean that it's already happened. 00:08:13.899 --> 00:08:21.379 What it's meant to mean in terms of prophecy, in the language of prophecy and how the kind of the code they used to do it is, 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:30.659 past tense means this is such a certainty that Isaiah can declare it as though it has already happened. 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:36.179 In verse 2, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:39.019 This is what is definitely coming for them. 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:44.340 Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:52.419 Something is going to happen that will turn darkness to light, that will turn anguish to joy. 00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:56.120 And there are three reasons given in this passage for it. 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:00.379 You'll see the three fours in beginning verses 4, 5 and 6. 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:03.220 For the yoke of the burden is lifted. 00:09:03.299 --> 00:09:04.079 The burden is lifted. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:11.480 Now if we're looking in an earthly direction, then we'd see this perhaps reading in this context as Israel's return from exile. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:17.600 But historically we know that this didn't actually solve the problem of the darkness. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:23.259 Even though they did return from exile after 70 odd years, it still didn't resolve the issue. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:25.759 They still lived in an oppressed state. 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:32.300 So the people of God saw this prophecy and they looked beyond their return. 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:35.219 They anticipated something else, something bigger. 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:46.059 Something perhaps, or something definitely, I can say, to do with their relationship with God. 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:52.319 The reason that they went into exile wasn't because Assyria just happened to be mighty at the time and God was on holiday. 00:09:53.099 --> 00:09:58.579 It was because God raised Assyria up to punish Israel, to remind them of who he was. 00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:09.360 They were living in a state where the burden was on them to maintain their relationship with God and they could not do it. 00:10:09.400 --> 00:10:10.100 They kept failing. 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:16.379 They anticipated something else as they saw this prophecy, something bigger. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:20.720 And Jesus said, 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:27.399 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:37.100 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:41.980 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:47.540 When we think about this prophecy and we start to see a resonance in the life of Jesus, 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:51.200 the one who said, yet that burden of the law is too heavy for you to bear. 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.620 You cannot bear it up. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:56.560 So I have come to take it from you. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:03.639 The burden is lifted, is the first four. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:08.099 The second one is the fighting is over. 00:11:08.979 --> 00:11:10.819 Again, if we were looking in an earthly direction, 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:14.019 then the end of conflict would be our expectation that Assyria would either be conquered 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:19.799 or by another power, or actually God would actually intervene in some significant way. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:26.559 The passing of war, violence, and the fear and instability they bring into our lives. 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:30.279 But again, historically we know this didn't come to pass. 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:34.839 Israel remained a tumultuous place right up until the arrival of Jesus. 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:39.359 And we know that even during the arrival of Jesus, Israel was occupied by the Romans. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:46.000 And still, even now, in that area, let alone the rest of the world, 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:49.840 war, oppression, threats of violence are very real. 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:54.399 So what's going on here? 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.919 I think we're going to see a little bit more in the name of Jesus, 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.940 one of the names that Jesus is given in this passage. 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:00.379 What's going on here? 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:06.519 What kind of peace is this child going to bring? 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:14.120 Well, in John 14, 27, Jesus said these words to his disciples, 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:16.460 Peace I leave with you. 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.960 My peace I give you. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:22.179 Not as the world gives do I give to you. 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:26.679 Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them not be afraid. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:27.919 Let them be afraid. 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:32.360 Jesus breaks in and says, I'm actually the peace bringer. 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:35.580 And I'm going to bring a peace, but it's not a peace that you're thinking about. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:37.840 It's not actually a removal of the Romans, 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:41.799 but it's actually a peace between you or me and God. 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:45.139 And how does this come about? 00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:45.839 Well, we find out. 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:48.699 The third four is a child will be born. 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:49.939 The child. 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:55.740 Again, these prophecies had some bearing on the immediate circumstances of God's people. 00:12:55.819 --> 00:13:00.199 And in some way, Cyrus was actually the deliverer, 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:02.179 who was later named in Isaiah, 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:03.839 who will actually bring them out of exile. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:08.440 But he's not the man who can fulfill these promises. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.639 They're too big for him. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.340 They're too far reaching. 00:13:14.300 --> 00:13:16.040 They're actually eternal in scope. 00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:19.700 So there was always a hope for something better. 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:24.680 Always an expectation for something more in the hearts and minds of God's people. 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.320 The hope of a saviour. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:30.040 And here Isaiah is saying, keep hoping. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.600 He's coming. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.760 At that point when he comes, 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.440 the reality of anguish in all its forms 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:43.800 will be seen to have a conclusion. 00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:47.540 And because it has a conclusion, 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:50.020 this gloom will be replaced with joy. 00:13:51.020 --> 00:13:53.160 And this saviour will do it. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:56.699 Man, Israel must have felt they were caught up in the tides of forces 00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:57.939 way beyond their control. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:01.559 Will powers rising and falling and sweeping them up in their wake. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.079 But this saviour, 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.199 regardless of what is going on in the world around us, 00:14:07.459 --> 00:14:08.620 regardless of what we fear, 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:10.199 what we struggle with, 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.000 this saviour will have the power to do it. 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:15.659 And we know because God named him before his birth. 00:14:17.079 --> 00:14:18.199 Gave him four names. 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.659 That's pretty good going. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.519 I don't know about you guys, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:24.039 but Joe and I struggled to name our first child. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.299 Our first child he called Tom. 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:27.860 Did you have arguments? 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:29.079 No, we had discussions. 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:29.679 No arguments. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:32.659 But I think it was like five days in the hospital. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:34.480 He only got his name on the last day as we left. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:34.899 Is that right? 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:38.799 So he was called Baby Patterson for five days in this hospital. 00:14:39.699 --> 00:14:42.019 And you imagine every time the nurse comes in and reminds you, 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.500 because they're doing obs like multiple times a day, 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.960 and they just keep reminding you, Baby Patterson. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.460 Has the baby got a name yet? 00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:49.019 No. 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:51.980 And you know the way that names work now? 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:56.419 It seems like we name our kids more as a reflection of ourselves 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:58.559 and as a reflection of the character of the children, 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.259 not like things were done in these days. 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:03.720 There was an expectation that a name would impart character 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:05.679 or at least reflect the character of someone. 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:07.759 So we called Tom, you know, Tom. 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:08.840 That means twin. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.460 You know Joe's a twin. 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.559 We called Hannah, Hannah, 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:15.079 because Joe's a bit dyslexic, 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.399 and it doesn't matter which way you spell it. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.399 It works out the same. 00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.779 You just, you know, 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.899 and then there's all these hybrid names that people are using now, 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:26.539 and you don't know how to spell them at all. 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:29.039 It doesn't matter which way you spell it. 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.399 I don't know. 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.059 But, you know, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.959 so names are a little bit different, aren't they? 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:35.379 But when we look at this passage, 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.679 the names are significant. 00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:38.720 There were three reasons for joy, 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.180 and there are four names for this joy giver, 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.779 and the four names speak to the character of this saviour, 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.700 what he is going to be like, 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.460 what he is going to do. 00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:47.700 They tell us who he is. 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.940 They tell us what he'll accomplish. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.980 And the first one is wonderful counsellor. 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:57.379 Wonderful is a specific word. 00:15:57.420 --> 00:15:58.240 It means amazing. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.279 I mean, I call Joe this all the time. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.700 I say she's wonderful all the time, 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.340 and she is. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.540 She's an amazing woman, beautiful. 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.879 I used to call her precious, 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.879 but then the Lord of the Rings came out 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.919 and kind of made that a bit creepy. 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:12.819 So I switched to wonderful and beautiful, 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:13.759 and it's better. 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.919 And, you know, 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:17.839 wonderful still has this meaning of amazing. 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:20.719 It's someone or something you deeply admire, 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.679 that you delight in, 00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:23.219 but it's more than that. 00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:27.719 This particular word means beyond the power, 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.439 so wonderful, 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:31.839 that it's beyond the power of man to accomplish. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:36.080 It's almost exclusively used of God's work, 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.220 God's handiwork in the Bible. 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.759 So wonderful, 00:16:40.920 --> 00:16:42.800 as in beyond the power of man to accomplish. 00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:45.519 And counsellor, 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:48.240 a wonderful counsellor, 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.540 a planner, 00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.000 a schemer, 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.840 someone who is renowned for wisdom 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:56.360 and who can use that wisdom 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.820 to bring about great change. 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.259 That's the sense of that word in the Hebrew. 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.280 Linked with wonderful, 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.720 it's meant to give us confidence. 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:05.259 This saviour can solve the problem. 00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:07.200 And for them, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:07.579 the problem, 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.240 the Israelites, 00:17:08.379 --> 00:17:09.480 the problem was right in front of them. 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:09.839 For us, 00:17:09.879 --> 00:17:10.440 it is too. 00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:14.299 To be God's people 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:17.779 and yet to be exiled 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:20.139 because they can't keep the law. 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:23.139 They were a holy nation, 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:25.740 a holy nation 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:28.019 of a holy God, 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:31.180 but they couldn't live up to be holy. 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.839 It's the same for us. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:36.539 If you are not yet in relationship with God, 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.220 he is a holy God 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.299 and no matter how good you think you are 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:41.940 and how good you strive to be, 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:44.019 this is not the way to get there 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.059 because it is just too far. 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.539 The bar is too high. 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:52.859 A holy nation of a holy God, 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.299 but they couldn't live up to being holy. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.079 But there was more. 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:56.779 You see, 00:17:56.879 --> 00:17:59.059 this God has two characteristics in equal measure 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.659 and these are the two characteristics 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:02.599 that we find ourselves just bashing up against. 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.159 That is this. 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:05.680 God is a God of justice 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:08.060 and covenant faithfulness. 00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.779 He's a God of justice 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:12.080 and faithfulness, 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.720 which means 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:14.560 God does not look over 00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:16.380 any fault or flaw 00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:17.980 on the one hand. 00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:20.820 But God is faithful 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:21.620 to his promises 00:18:21.620 --> 00:18:22.440 to his people 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.120 on the other. 00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:27.259 The Israelites had a law 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.980 they cannot keep. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.019 We have an expectation on us. 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:31.600 We inherit it, 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:32.360 which is the same. 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.259 We fall far too short 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.180 of God's character 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.360 to be able to live 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:37.519 and survive in his presence. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.720 We face a God 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.080 who is a God of justice 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:48.660 and we are a part of a world 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:51.140 that cannot reach God. 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:54.259 So, 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:57.500 this is the dilemma 00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:59.400 that this wonderful counsellor 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:00.480 resolves for us. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.460 This saviour would be 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.600 a wonderful counsellor. 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.880 He would be able to solve 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.180 the problem 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.720 that we have no solution for. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:09.079 The saviour had a plan 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.460 that couldn't be undone 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.220 by anyone 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.259 but God. 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.720 I don't know 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.519 if you're aware of 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:18.100 1 John 1, 8 and 9. 00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:18.539 I was brought up 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:20.100 in the Anglican church 00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:20.799 and so we had this 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.440 green prayer book 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.039 which we go through 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.500 every week 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.079 and it was great 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.779 for just like 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.880 pounding scripture 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.380 into you. 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.820 and one of the passages 00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:27.800 that was irregular 00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:29.600 was 1 John 1, 8 and 9. 00:19:30.260 --> 00:19:31.580 If we say we have no sin 00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:32.500 we deceive ourselves 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.820 and the truth is not in us. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:36.260 But if we confess our sin 00:19:36.260 --> 00:19:38.120 God is what? 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:39.960 Faithful 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.480 and just. 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:44.680 Those words come up again. 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.460 To forgive us our sins 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.300 and cleanse us 00:19:47.300 --> 00:19:48.640 from all unrighteousness. 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:52.580 This is the plan 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:54.000 of our wonderful counsellor 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.840 to deliver us 00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:56.700 from a dilemma 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:58.020 that we cannot get out of. 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:01.040 The Israelites before us 00:20:01.040 --> 00:20:01.360 couldn't. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.259 We can't. 00:20:02.780 --> 00:20:03.860 We need Jesus. 00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:05.940 We need this child 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.220 to rescue us. 00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:11.220 The saviour had a plan 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.540 that couldn't be done 00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:13.759 by anyone but God. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:15.759 And so 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:17.820 that's who this child 00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:18.520 would be we read 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.759 the next title is 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.639 Mighty God. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.460 This is who God sends 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.000 himself. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.079 This saviour 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.680 would be called 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.519 Mighty God. 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.539 And this is a huge thing 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:28.940 because we're talking 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.960 about a child being born. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:32.000 So the people of Israel 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.740 would have got this 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.200 and I think 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.960 if we think about it too 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:36.139 it's a huge thing. 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.920 Not only is he wise 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.119 but he's powerful. 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.359 He doesn't rely on 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.440 others to bring 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.519 his plans to fruition. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.339 He has the power 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:44.759 to see it done himself. 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.740 And it's unlimited power 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:48.279 because he is 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.359 the mighty God. 00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:52.579 Isaiah's already alluded 00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.579 to this in 7.14 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.660 and I think in chapter 8 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.079 as well 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.559 by calling him 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.599 this saviour 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.240 Emmanuel 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.440 God with us. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.519 But that could just 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.099 be a name 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.559 because Joshua 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.299 shared the name 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.859 that's the same 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.440 as Jesus. 00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:07.960 Yahweh saves. 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.700 But here 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:11.160 it moves beyond 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.019 the sense of 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.720 oh this is just a name 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.700 to this is 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.759 who he is. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.720 So therefore 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.180 the Lord 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.000 will give you a sign 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.819 behold the virgin 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.480 shall conceive 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.240 and bear a son 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.319 and shall call his name 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:25.660 Emmanuel 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.779 in 7.14 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:28.900 is actually saying 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.539 more than just 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.460 give the kid the name 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:30.799 this 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:32.920 but this is God. 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.360 Emmanuel 00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:35.460 God with us. 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:38.440 God in human form. 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.460 This is an unbelievable claim. 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.779 The creator of the universe 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.759 becoming a creature. 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.400 The one who is 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.340 becoming who 00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:47.059 the one who wills 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.380 everything into existence. 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:53.780 But as incomprehensible 00:21:53.780 --> 00:21:54.540 as that is 00:21:54.540 --> 00:21:56.900 it's immensely comforting 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:59.000 because God 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.060 in all his power 00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:01.220 has come to save us. 00:22:02.040 --> 00:22:02.620 And this is both 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.900 significant 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:05.520 but necessary. 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:08.520 God is perfectly pure. 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.180 He's holy. 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.240 We are not. 00:22:11.760 --> 00:22:12.500 We can't be 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.700 no matter how hard we try. 00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:14.880 There may as well be 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.660 a concrete wall 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.440 between us. 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:19.360 No matter how hard we try 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:20.400 we cannot get through it. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.779 It's impregnable to us. 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:24.980 So God 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.759 breaks it down 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.580 from his sight. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.900 This promised saviour 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.080 our mighty God 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:30.960 doesn't wait for us 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.680 to do the impossible. 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.120 He breaks through 00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.559 this wall 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.259 from his sight. 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.620 It's the only way 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.559 that wall could come down. 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.840 Wonderful counsellor 00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:40.460 mighty God 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:42.620 everlasting father. 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:45.699 I love this. 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.379 The expression 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.399 of that leadership 00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:50.619 of our saviour 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:52.259 is described 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:54.199 in terms of fatherhood. 00:22:55.219 --> 00:22:55.500 Now I know 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.079 for some of you 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.159 that this concept 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:57.679 may not be 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.259 a pleasant 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.199 and welcome thought. 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.119 But let me just say 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:01.959 that as painful 00:23:01.959 --> 00:23:02.699 as it may be 00:23:02.699 --> 00:23:03.359 to remember 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:05.819 an abusive father 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.279 or a father 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.039 who has failed you 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.919 in so many ways 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:10.019 every one of those 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.340 jabs of pain 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.380 should remind you 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.440 that fatherhood 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.200 should be 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.980 something better. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.960 It should be 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.560 something greater 00:23:18.560 --> 00:23:19.060 than that. 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.039 The nature of God 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.700 in human form 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.740 is to be our father. 00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:27.300 Father in the sense 00:23:27.300 --> 00:23:27.980 that he is our 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:29.660 ultimate safe space. 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.240 A father in the sense 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.019 that he provides us 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.800 with existence 00:23:32.800 --> 00:23:33.539 identity 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:34.360 family. 00:23:35.060 --> 00:23:35.740 Think about this. 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.380 Father is integral 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:38.340 to giving life 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:38.920 to his children 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.600 and then he nurtures 00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.500 them by protecting 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.480 and providing for them. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.780 That's existence. 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:45.960 He gives us identity. 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:46.940 We are made in his image. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:48.360 With our own 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:48.880 earthly fathers 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.700 we share DNA. 00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.440 Unfortunately 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.220 it goes beyond that 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.760 because nature 00:23:52.760 --> 00:23:53.800 and nurture are at work 00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:54.380 and unfortunately 00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.100 our kids pick up 00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:55.960 our habits as well. 00:23:56.520 --> 00:23:57.320 You'll know this. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.040 What a good thing 00:23:59.040 --> 00:23:59.980 to have a holy father 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.960 then, a perfect father 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.140 one whose habits 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.960 are not actually 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.780 going to alter 00:24:03.780 --> 00:24:04.700 your life to the negative. 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:07.860 A father who we are 00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:08.700 made in the image of 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.279 and we are being 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:11.160 remade in the image of 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:13.860 and a father gives us 00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:15.160 connection into family. 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.840 He connects us 00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.900 into his family. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.120 We become brothers 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:20.759 and sisters. 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.440 We're not adrift 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:23.860 in the world. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.840 We're never alone. 00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.519 Never alone 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.720 at least because 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.000 God is always with us. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.359 that we're never 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.940 dissociated 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.539 or cut off 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.200 from community 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:35.660 because as God's 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.140 children 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:38.579 we are part 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.299 of his family. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.380 This Savior 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:41.920 provides us 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.440 with a connection 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.079 deeper than we've 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.079 ever known before 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:45.680 and we know 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.500 connections that we 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.700 love and cherish. 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.960 This is the relationship 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.960 we were made for. 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.119 The family that goes 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:54.119 deeper than even 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:54.720 our DNA. 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:59.039 Wonderful Counselor, 00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.620 Mighty God, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.680 Everlasting Father 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.759 and Prince of Peace. 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.360 Peace in Hebrew 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:05.920 means more than 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.559 simply the absence 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.160 of hostility. 00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:07.880 It's actually the 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.900 presence of harmony. 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.620 It's a relational term. 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:12.539 You ever been in 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.339 that conflict where 00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.740 you're in a conflict 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.039 with someone 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.019 you just can't get out of? 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.059 You just kind of 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:17.819 keep missing each other 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.660 and everything you say 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.460 just seems to 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.700 dig the hole deeper? 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:24.180 No one else is married 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:24.440 here? 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.680 Come on guys, 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.299 let's be serious, 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:27.559 yeah? 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.340 I find myself 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:31.039 in conflicts at times 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.200 and you just feel like 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.940 everything I do 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.480 is just like 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.200 putting petrol 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.880 on the flames. 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.819 Conflict just spirals 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.539 out of control. 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.200 Friends, 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.240 this child 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.819 doesn't just come 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.640 with wise words. 00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:49.100 Wise words 00:25:49.100 --> 00:25:50.360 may resolve 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.019 the dispute 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.879 but they don't 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.699 resolve the conflict 00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.399 at the heart level, 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:53.679 do they? 00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:56.559 He doesn't resolve 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:56.879 the problem 00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:57.759 by force of might 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.099 pushing us together 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:00.519 to resolve things. 00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:02.599 This only changes 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.359 the circumstances 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:04.399 but not the reality 00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.659 of what's causing 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.259 us to conflict 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.099 in the first place. 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:11.919 His fatherly concern 00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:12.479 will mean that 00:26:12.479 --> 00:26:13.319 he will not 00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.199 ignore the problem. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.979 He reaches 00:26:15.979 --> 00:26:16.819 beyond the problem, 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.839 beyond the surface 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.099 and he deals 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.939 with our hearts. 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.579 The problem 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.099 that holds us 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.939 apart from each 00:26:22.939 --> 00:26:23.979 other and us 00:26:23.979 --> 00:26:24.500 from him 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.659 is our iniquity. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.219 Each of us 00:26:26.219 --> 00:26:26.599 has turned 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:27.459 to his own way. 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.159 We're all planets 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.819 that demand 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.339 that every other 00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:31.059 planet revolve 00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:31.819 around us. 00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:36.279 God becomes 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.379 the new centre 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.019 to our life, 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:40.000 reorders everything 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.819 and shows us 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.459 how things should 00:26:41.459 --> 00:26:41.859 work. 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:44.839 God, 00:26:44.919 --> 00:26:45.559 the new centre 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.059 with Father 00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.440 and Son 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.259 and Holy Spirit 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.319 infinitely 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:50.779 and permanently 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:52.019 committed to each 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.319 other, 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.899 giving themselves 00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:54.500 to each other, 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.200 showing us the 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:55.859 example of how 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.480 we too 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:58.099 should live. 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:05.179 There's no peace 00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:05.839 with everyone 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.379 turned in on 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:06.899 themselves. 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.840 Father 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:10.960 but man, 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:11.740 the peace 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.220 that Jesus 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.720 brings 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:14.220 by transforming 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.900 our hearts, 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.720 teaching us 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.180 how to give 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.580 out 00:27:16.580 --> 00:27:17.560 instead of 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:18.080 demanding 00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:18.920 and drawing 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.259 in, 00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:22.000 that's a 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.340 prince of 00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:22.660 peace. 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.920 Now in all 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.180 of this, 00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.940 we've gone 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.280 through all the 00:27:27.280 --> 00:27:27.680 four names 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:27.880 now, 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.380 the three 00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:28.700 fours 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:28.860 and the 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.380 four names, 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.440 there's only 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:30.780 one thing 00:27:30.780 --> 00:27:31.040 to say 00:27:31.040 --> 00:27:31.259 and that's 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.540 the one 00:27:31.540 --> 00:27:32.160 driving force 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.680 behind all 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.039 of this 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:35.380 and let 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.660 me say 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.560 this driving 00:27:36.560 --> 00:27:37.299 force gives 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.660 us great 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.080 encouragement, 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.440 it's right 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:38.740 at the end 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:38.980 there, 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.080 the zeal 00:27:40.080 --> 00:27:40.340 of the 00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:40.620 Lord of 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:40.840 hosts 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.160 will do 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.519 this. 00:27:43.080 --> 00:27:43.720 The zeal 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.100 of the 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:44.400 Lord of 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:44.759 hosts 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.140 is what's 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:46.700 at work 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:46.920 in all 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.299 of this. 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.019 Now zeal 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.340 is kind 00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:49.660 of a word 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:49.840 that we 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.320 don't use 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:50.779 that much 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.100 do we? 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.600 But it 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:51.880 actually 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.200 means 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.680 passion. 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.519 If you 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.920 look into 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.039 it, 00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:54.259 the way 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.440 that's 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.660 actually 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:54.980 applied, 00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:55.320 it means 00:27:55.320 --> 00:27:55.660 passion. 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.340 So the 00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:56.799 kind of 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.380 passion that 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:57.799 a husband 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.660 and a 00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.080 wife will 00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.420 have for 00:27:59.420 --> 00:27:59.799 each other, 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:00.660 the kind 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:00.779 of 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.460 that 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.259 romantic 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.600 passion. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:02.880 You know 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.220 what that's 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.540 like? 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.460 It gets 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:04.800 you doing 00:28:04.800 --> 00:28:05.420 all kinds 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:05.940 of things. 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.040 It got 00:28:08.040 --> 00:28:09.060 me vacuuming 00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.500 the house 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:09.880 and cleaning 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.380 the bathroom 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:10.860 whenever Joe 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.200 came over 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.400 when we 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:11.800 were dating. 00:28:12.320 --> 00:28:13.580 It gets 00:28:13.580 --> 00:28:13.920 you doing 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.660 crazy 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.140 things. 00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:17.120 Because they 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:17.460 don't need 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:17.860 cleaning or 00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:18.340 vacuuming, 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.920 normally, 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.440 really. 00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:20.920 You know 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.060 what I 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:21.180 mean? 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.660 Passion is 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:22.980 one of 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.640 those forces 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:24.700 that causes 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.279 us to do 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.900 all kinds 00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.440 of things. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.519 things. 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.539 The 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.120 arrival of 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.880 this child 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:32.580 is God's 00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:33.100 plan for 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.299 our 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.799 salvation. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.220 It's an 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.700 act of 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.160 love, 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.440 an act 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.080 of passion, 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:37.860 the kind 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.140 of love 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:38.340 that will 00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:39.140 let nothing 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.460 get in 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:39.799 the way, 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:40.700 the kind 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:40.980 of love 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.200 that will 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.120 apply all 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:42.920 his creativity 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.320 to, 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.080 the kind 00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:44.340 of love 00:28:44.340 --> 00:28:44.519 that will 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.000 produce a 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.680 mighty act 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.220 of courage, 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.820 the kind 00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.080 of love 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:47.220 that will 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.799 be expressed 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.600 in tenderness, 00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:50.480 the kind 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:50.779 of love 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:50.980 that will 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.759 bring peace. 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:53.840 That's 00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.480 God's 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.240 love for 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.600 you. 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:58.740 And 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.500 that's 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.620 the truth 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.900 we celebrate 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.600 at Christmas 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:04.320 rather than 00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:05.019 the lies 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.420 that we 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.820 could choose 00:29:05.820 --> 00:29:06.259 to believe. 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.740 Let me 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:10.980 pray. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.759 Father God, 00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.960 we thank 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:19.100 you for 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:19.320 your 00:29:19.320 --> 00:29:19.740 saviour. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.019 We thank 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.259 you that 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.660 this child 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.140 became a 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:23.320 man and 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:23.720 lived the 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.100 life that 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.380 we could 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:24.980 never live, 00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:26.240 died the 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.559 death that 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.120 we deserved 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.599 and brought 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.279 peace between 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.640 us. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.720 It's an 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.240 unfathomable 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:32.779 plan for 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:32.960 us, 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.200 Lord. 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.400 It's a 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:34.680 plan we 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.000 could never 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.460 have accomplished 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.140 ourselves 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:37.099 under our 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:37.660 own strength. 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.259 It's a 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.640 plan that 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.039 shows your 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.740 tenderness and 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.400 kindness toward 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:42.819 us. 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.720 And it's the 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.279 only plan that 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.759 brings peace 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.299 between us 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.640 and you. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.059 So we 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.420 thank you 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:49.779 this day, 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.019 Lord. 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:50.920 We thank 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.519 you for 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:51.960 giving us 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.380 your son. 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.660 Amen. 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:53.740 Amen.