WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.980
 going to have a call to worship and we're going to share this together. At our last

00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:12.099
 Kirk session we were speaking about the struggles that we have when we're in person with not being

00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:16.839
 able to sing and it feels more passive than we would like. So we're going to introduce some

00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:24.640
 elements where we can participate together so we can speak truth to one another. So our call to

00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:30.480
 worship comes from Psalm 89. I'll read the part marked leader and then we can all read the part

00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:37.240
 marked all if you feel comfortable to do so. So Psalm 89 from the beginning. I will sing of the

00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:44.939
 Lord's great love forever. With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

00:00:44.939 --> 00:00:54.179
 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in

00:00:54.179 --> 00:01:05.359
 heaven itself. You said I have made a covenant with my chosen to David my servant. I will establish

00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:14.980
 your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations. And now we will sing in our hearts

00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:23.460
 here and you can sing your heart out at home from Psalm 96. We're going to hear the first 10 verses.

00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:49.919
 O sing a new song to the Lord, sing praises to his name. And his salvation day by day, let all the earth proclaim.

00:01:49.920 --> 00:02:11.780
 His glory and his mighty deeds to every land declare. How great and awesome is the Lord, with him no gods compare.

00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:40.780
 the Lord made heaven's high. All power and majesty are his, he dwells in glorious light. All nations to the Lord ascribe,

00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:57.780
 the glory that is due. Glory and strength ascribe to God and praise his name on you.

00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:08.780
 Enter his courts with joy and bring an offering with you.

00:03:08.780 --> 00:03:31.219
 Worship the Lord in holy fear. All earth before him bow. Tell every land the Lord is king. Established is the earth.

00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:42.579
 And cannot move. The Lord will judge the peoples in his truth.

00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:56.800
 Now let's stand together for our time of prayer. Let's pray.

00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:06.219
 Lord, your word calls us to praise you.

00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:10.400
 To ascribe to your name the glory that is due.

00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:19.500
 We thank you for all that we've been able to hear and read of your glory, which is matchless.

00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:24.339
 There is no other God who compares with you.

00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:25.339
 We thank you for all that.

00:04:25.339 --> 00:04:36.019
 We thank you for your covenant promise to King David, that you would send a king who would rule forever.

00:04:36.739 --> 00:04:43.419
 We thank you for that promise that you are a God who brings salvation,

00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:51.679
 that you act in faithfulness to your word in order to save a people for yourself.

00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:58.680
 And Lord, we thank you as we come to Advent that we see all these great realities and truths and promises

00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:05.780
 being fulfilled in the sending of your son Jesus to become one of us,

00:05:05.840 --> 00:05:12.439
 to be a God made flesh and to dwell among us so that we might see your glory,

00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.240
 the glory as of the one and only full of grace and truth.

00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:26.040
 We thank you that Jesus came to live among us in order to live that perfect life of obedience

00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:31.480
 that we could never live and to die as a perfect sacrifice,

00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:37.860
 as our substitute, taking on himself the penalty for our sin,

00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:46.540
 so that in Jesus we might truly be saved, saved from the wages of sin,

00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:51.580
 which is death, to enjoy eternal life with you.

00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:59.120
 Lord, we thank you that Jesus has come as our good shepherd to call us to himself,

00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:04.560
 to call us into life and to lay down his life for us.

00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:10.060
 Lord, we thank you that we can look to Jesus,

00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:16.420
 to walk away from his word, to walk away from your love,

00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:22.019
 that we take for granted our saviour and our salvation,

00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:26.300
 that we don't always want to hear your voice,

00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.720
 and we will often resist it and disobey.

00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:34.220
 Lord, we thank you that we can look to Jesus,

00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:36.080
 the lamb who was slain,

00:06:36.580 --> 00:06:42.340
 to recognise by faith in him and by his wounds we are healed.

00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:49.380
 So in our weakness we come to him to find our strength and our hope.

00:06:50.080 --> 00:06:52.460
 Lord, as we look to Jesus, our king,

00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:55.300
 may you give strength to our faith.

00:06:55.300 --> 00:07:01.139
 Lord, we thank you for your word that we will hear read and preached,

00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:06.000
 and we ask that you would take that word and you would plant it in our hearts,

00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:07.740
 and that you would change us,

00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.180
 that for some you would save us,

00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.819
 for others you would strengthen our faith,

00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:19.280
 so that together we might know real joy this advent,

00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.100
 the joy of knowing Jesus as Lord and saviour.

00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:26.320
 Lord, thank you that we can share together in worship,

00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:29.500
 and that one way we can do that is by praying together.

00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:33.180
 We thank you for the prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples,

00:07:33.780 --> 00:07:36.800
 the Lord's Prayer, which we can now pray together,

00:07:36.960 --> 00:07:37.260
 saying,

00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:40.579
 Our Father, who is in heaven,

00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:42.659
 hallowed be your name.

00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:44.699
 Your kingdom come,

00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:46.560
 your will be done,

00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:48.659
 on earth as it is in heaven.

00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.860
 Give us this day our daily bread,

00:07:52.219 --> 00:07:54.159
 and forgive us our debts,

00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.279
 as we forgive our debtors.

00:07:56.659 --> 00:07:59.099
 And lead us not into temptation,

00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:01.439
 but deliver us from evil.

00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.560
 For yours is the kingdom,

00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:04.560
 the power,

00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:05.560
 and the glory,

00:08:06.219 --> 00:08:06.560
 forever.

00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:07.459
 Amen.

00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:16.720
 Now, our Old Testament reading this morning,

00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:19.639
 it comes from the book of Isaiah,

00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:23.300
 Isaiah and chapter 46.

00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:26.120
 If you have it in your Bibles,

00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:27.840
 or on your device,

00:08:27.900 --> 00:08:28.780
 you can look that up,

00:08:28.840 --> 00:08:30.699
 and otherwise the words will be on the screen.

00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:35.720
 We're going to hear together the first nine verses.

00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.080
 Isaiah chapter 46 from the beginning.

00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.560
 Let's hear God's word together.

00:08:43.560 --> 00:08:44.879
 Bell bows down,

00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.919
 Nebo stoops low,

00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:50.440
 their idols are born by beasts of burden.

00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.220
 The images that are carried about are burdensome,

00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:55.800
 a burden for the weary.

00:08:56.540 --> 00:08:58.540
 They stoop and bow down together.

00:08:59.140 --> 00:09:00.700
 Unable to rescue the burden,

00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:03.200
 they themselves go off into captivity.

00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.020
 Listen to me,

00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:06.360
 you descendants of Jacob,

00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:08.580
 all the remnant of the people of Israel,

00:09:09.260 --> 00:09:11.300
 you whom I have upheld since your birth,

00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:13.160
 and have carried since you were born.

00:09:14.040 --> 00:09:16.060
 Even to your old age and gray hairs,

00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:16.920
 I am he,

00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:19.740
 I am he who will sustain you.

00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.360
 I have made you,

00:09:21.680 --> 00:09:22.980
 and I will carry you.

00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:24.740
 I will sustain you,

00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:26.879
 and I will rescue you.

00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:29.100
 With whom will you compare me,

00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:30.279
 or count me equal?

00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:32.159
 To whom will you liken me,

00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:33.399
 that we may be compared?

00:09:34.299 --> 00:09:36.200
 Some pour out gold from their bags,

00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:37.840
 and weigh out silver on the scales.

00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:41.080
 They hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,

00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:42.940
 and they bow down and worship it.

00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.960
 They lift it to their shoulders,

00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:45.799
 and carry it.

00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.879
 They set it up in its place,

00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:48.960
 and there it stands.

00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:51.139
 From that spot it cannot move.

00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.460
 Even though someone cries out to it,

00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.879
 it cannot answer.

00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.559
 It cannot save them from their troubles.

00:09:58.559 --> 00:09:59.379
 Remember this.

00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:00.779
 Keep it in mind.

00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:02.179
 Take it to heart,

00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:02.759
 you rebels.

00:10:03.439 --> 00:10:05.139
 Remember the former things,

00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.980
 those of long ago.

00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.519
 I am God,

00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:10.179
 and there is no other.

00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:11.659
 I am God,

00:10:12.199 --> 00:10:14.159
 and there is none like me.

00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:15.399
 Amen.

00:10:15.859 --> 00:10:17.679
 This is God's word.

00:10:18.319 --> 00:10:20.399
 Now, before I hand over to Keith,

00:10:20.479 --> 00:10:23.539
 to lead us in our first Advent study,

00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:24.879
 I'm going to pray again.

00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:27.899
 We can remain seated while we pray this time.

00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:30.739
 Lord God,

00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.579
 we thank you for the testimony of your word,

00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:36.120
 that you are a God without equals.

00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:37.200
 Lord,

00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.360
 we ask that you would help us

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:42.519
 to learn the reality of verse 9,

00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:43.899
 that I am God,

00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.159
 and there is no other.

00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:46.820
 I am God,

00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:48.480
 and there is none like me.

00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:49.759
 That we would learn it,

00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.639
 so that we would place our confidence,

00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:52.519
 our hope,

00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.320
 our dependence,

00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:55.399
 on you alone.

00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:56.360
 Lord,

00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:59.060
 we pray that in our preaching,

00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:03.360
 in our Advent devotionals,

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:06.500
 in our praying and serving,

00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:10.159
 we would want above all else,

00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.600
 that you would be glorified,

00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:15.440
 and recognized as the one true God,

00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:18.159
 and Jesus as your son,

00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:21.200
 whom you have sent to be our Savior.

00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:21.919
 Lord,

00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:24.820
 we pray that that message would be heard,

00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:27.300
 as Christians and churches,

00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:28.759
 through this city,

00:11:28.920 --> 00:11:29.560
 through this country,

00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.700
 and around the world,

00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:33.780
 seek to appoint people,

00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:36.440
 to the good news of Jesus,

00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:39.460
 the son you promised to send,

00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:40.460
 to be Savior.

00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:41.700
 Lord,

00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:45.300
 we pray for some of the churches,

00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:47.660
 in our denomination today,

00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.360
 we're asked to pray for London City,

00:11:50.900 --> 00:11:52.140
 and we thank you for the connections,

00:11:52.140 --> 00:11:53.620
 that we have with that church,

00:11:54.040 --> 00:11:55.620
 and we pray for them,

00:11:55.660 --> 00:11:57.600
 as they find themselves back,

00:11:57.640 --> 00:11:58.960
 in a lockdown situation,

00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.940
 we ask that you would encourage,

00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:03.019
 and strengthen Andy,

00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:03.620
 and Harrison,

00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:05.300
 and those who work down there,

00:12:05.780 --> 00:12:08.220
 and we thank you for new life,

00:12:08.300 --> 00:12:10.019
 we thank you for growth,

00:12:10.160 --> 00:12:10.860
 in that church,

00:12:10.900 --> 00:12:11.480
 and we pray,

00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:13.700
 that you would continue,

00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:14.879
 to be with them,

00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:15.820
 and watch over them,

00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:16.900
 especially those who,

00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:19.519
 have been isolated,

00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:20.500
 because of,

00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:22.340
 the long-term effects,

00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.100
 of COVID.

00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:25.080
 We are also asked to pray,

00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.320
 for the church up in Kenyuse,

00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:27.000
 and we pray,

00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.660
 for Alistair Wilson,

00:12:28.660 --> 00:12:30.780
 as he looks after the church there,

00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:31.780
 and we pray,

00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.420
 for every member,

00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:35.340
 of that small church,

00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.620
 and we pray,

00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.140
 that you would encourage them,

00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:38.879
 in their faith,

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:39.980
 we pray,

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:41.180
 that you would enable them,

00:12:41.280 --> 00:12:41.800
 to continue,

00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:43.160
 to hear your word,

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:44.180
 and to be built up,

00:12:44.260 --> 00:12:44.900
 in their faith,

00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:46.220
 and we pray,

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:47.640
 for that town,

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.540
 in that area,

00:12:48.540 --> 00:12:49.180
 of Scotland,

00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:51.460
 that gospel ministry,

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.660
 and the word of the gospel,

00:12:53.140 --> 00:12:54.100
 might flourish,

00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:55.420
 in the lives of men,

00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:55.820
 and women,

00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.279
 and boys and girls.

00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:58.320
 Lord,

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.019
 we also pray,

00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.700
 for the church,

00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:00.960
 in hard places,

00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:02.360
 and we think,

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:02.820
 of the work,

00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:03.920
 of 20 schemes,

00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.060
 recognizing that,

00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:06.200
 where they,

00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:07.899
 are engaged,

00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:08.440
 in ministry,

00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.080
 so often,

00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:10.080
 there are high levels,

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:11.060
 very high levels,

00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:11.940
 of unemployment,

00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:13.320
 addiction,

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.139
 family breakdown,

00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:16.960
 a lack of hope,

00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:18.320
 and a lack of opportunity.

00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:19.060
 Lord,

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:19.500
 we pray,

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:20.639
 that you would give wisdom,

00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:22.480
 you would give perseverance,

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:23.540
 that you would give,

00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:24.919
 much of your Holy Spirit,

00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:26.559
 so that the church,

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.379
 would flourish,

00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.719
 in some of our housing schemes.

00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:30.579
 Lord,

00:13:30.599 --> 00:13:30.980
 we pray,

00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:31.539
 for the church,

00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:32.439
 in hard places,

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.299
 because there is,

00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:34.819
 depopulation,

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.059
 because the church,

00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.339
 is so small,

00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.360
 and fragile,

00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.539
 because there is,

00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.539
 so much apathy,

00:13:40.699 --> 00:13:41.599
 or resistance,

00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:42.099
 and again,

00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:42.620
 we pray,

00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.459
 that you would build up,

00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.019
 your church,

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.120
 and you would tear down,

00:13:45.219 --> 00:13:46.399
 barriers of opposition,

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:47.719
 so that men,

00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.019
 and women,

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:48.459
 and boys,

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:48.899
 and girls,

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.199
 would love to hear,

00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:51.399
 the message,

00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.360
 that would save them,

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:52.919
 and bring them,

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.479
 true life.

00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.159
 We also pray,

00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:56.219
 for parts of the world,

00:13:56.339 --> 00:13:56.939
 where the church,

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:58.479
 is persecuted,

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.000
 forced to meet,

00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:00.899
 in secret,

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.159
 forced to meet,

00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:05.079
 under intense,

00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.399
 scrutiny,

00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:07.819
 facing,

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.679
 government opposition,

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:10.979
 local opposition,

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.219
 challenges,

00:14:12.219 --> 00:14:14.439
 from other religious groups.

00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:14.839
 Lord,

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.039
 give our brothers,

00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:16.759
 and sisters,

00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:17.699
 faith,

00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.199
 and hope,

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:18.779
 and love,

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.720
 and courage,

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.799
 and boldness,

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.559
 and wisdom,

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.759
 as they seek,

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.600
 to live for you.

00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:24.899
 Lord,

00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:25.959
 we continue to pray,

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.819
 for the governments,

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.659
 of the world.

00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.139
 We pray wisdom,

00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:29.600
 for them.

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:30.600
 We pray,

00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.059
 humble dependence,

00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:34.059
 on your word.

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.600
 We pray,

00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.799
 that you would enable,

00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:37.919
 them to deliver,

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:38.659
 justice,

00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.159
 and peace.

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:41.839
 Lord,

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.579
 we recognize,

00:14:42.699 --> 00:14:43.439
 ultimately,

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.199
 that these come,

00:14:44.339 --> 00:14:45.179
 from you,

00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.319
 as the true king,

00:14:46.939 --> 00:14:47.620
 but we pray,

00:14:47.719 --> 00:14:48.519
 as we're called to,

00:14:49.219 --> 00:14:51.379
 for those you have placed,

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.239
 in governments,

00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.519
 in rule over us.

00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.120
 Lord,

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:55.919
 we also pray,

00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:57.819
 for some of the ministries,

00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:59.120
 that we support,

00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.159
 in this city,

00:15:00.859 --> 00:15:01.620
 recognizing,

00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.939
 the challenges,

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.579
 and the needs,

00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.359
 that they are looking,

00:15:04.359 --> 00:15:05.179
 to address.

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:05.659
 We pray,

00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.239
 for the work,

00:15:06.239 --> 00:15:08.259
 of Bethany Christian Trust.

00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.240
 Thank you,

00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:10.379
 for all that they do,

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.319
 with families,

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:12.120
 who are at risk,

00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.459
 with those,

00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.620
 in the homeless,

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.220
 community,

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.379
 with those,

00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:17.759
 who are struggling,

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:18.799
 with addictions.

00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.240
 We remember,

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:20.700
 the work,

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:22.279
 of Friends International,

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.259
 as they look,

00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:23.899
 to welcome,

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.899
 and show kindness,

00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:27.039
 to international students,

00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:27.580
 as they look,

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:29.279
 to share something,

00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.259
 of the love of God,

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.840
 with them.

00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.039
 Lord,

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.600
 we pray,

00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.620
 that you would,

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.419
 give encouragement,

00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:34.940
 to those,

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:35.539
 who are involved,

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.500
 in those ministries,

00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:37.720
 and may,

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.039
 men and women,

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:40.340
 and boys and girls,

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.740
 from Scotland,

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.720
 and around the world,

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.220
 come to hear,

00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:44.940
 and to believe,

00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.139
 in Jesus,

00:15:46.680 --> 00:15:47.639
 as their King,

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.720
 and Saviour.

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.740
 And now we pray,

00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:50.480
 as we come to,

00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.759
 hear your word,

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.160
 that you would enable us,

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.420
 to be free of distraction,

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.519
 that your spirit,

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.120
 would speak,

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:56.860
 pray that,

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:58.259
 you would bless Keith,

00:15:58.300 --> 00:15:58.899
 as he brings,

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.580
 your word,

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:00.600
 to us,

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.920
 that it would do us,

00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:02.220
 all,

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.500
 lasting good.

00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:04.519
 We pray,

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.620
 for our good,

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:07.120
 and for your glory.

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.080
 Amen.

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.580
 So,

00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.420
 I'll hand over to you now,

00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:10.600
 Keith.

00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.160
 Thank you.

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:15.899
 Good morning.

00:16:17.839 --> 00:16:18.879
 As James said,

00:16:18.959 --> 00:16:19.879
 my name is Keith,

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.259
 and it's a pleasure,

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.480
 to be worshiping with you,

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.480
 this morning.

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:23.860
 This morning,

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.600
 we're going to be reading,

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.819
 from Matthew 1,

00:16:26.199 --> 00:16:28.079
 verses 18 through 21,

00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.299
 as we begin,

00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:30.559
 our first week,

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.620
 in an Advent series.

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.299
 Now you may,

00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.559
 if you're anything like me,

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:34.980
 have noticed,

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:35.799
 that some people,

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.740
 have started to celebrate,

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.759
 Christmas a little bit,

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.539
 early this year.

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.860
 And I actually read,

00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:41.219
 an article this past week,

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.179
 about that phenomenon,

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.799
 how people have pushed up,

00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:45.000
 the Christmas season.

00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:46.459
 And in this article,

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.559
 it was actually interviewing,

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.679
 several different people,

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:49.579
 to examine,

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.399
 the positive effects,

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.959
 of celebrating Christmas early.

00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:53.839
 And there were a couple quotes,

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.679
 in here that I found,

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.099
 quite notable,

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.199
 that I wanted to,

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:59.319
 quote for you this morning.

00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:00.559
 One was from a female,

00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.379
 who's a licensed,

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.419
 clinical social worker,

00:17:02.459 --> 00:17:03.259
 and this is what she said.

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:08.160
 When we feel uncertain,

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.480
 it can help us to focus,

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.940
 on what's in our control.

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.339
 We may not be able,

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.299
 to control the spread,

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:13.960
 of the coronavirus,

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.740
 or travel to see our loved ones.

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:17.059
 But we can put up,

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.819
 Christmas holiday decorations.

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.119
 We can bake our favorite treats,

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.640
 and light our favorite,

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.400
 seasonal candles.

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.839
 Putting up decorations,

00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.259
 brings a sense of novelty,

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.740
 and fun to everyday life,

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:29.240
 which is no small feat,

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:29.920
 in a world where,

00:17:30.099 --> 00:17:31.240
 every day feels the same.

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:33.519
 Someone else is later,

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.779
 quoted an article saying this,

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.259
 who would have imagined,

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.500
 that we'd be in a global pandemic,

00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:38.420
 and not be around,

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.359
 our friends and family.

00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.440
 We've got to go,

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.279
 full force Christmas wonderland.

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.579
 We have to have,

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.519
 walls of trees,

00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:46.359
 green and red lights,

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:46.880
 garlands.

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.019
 We're thinking about,

00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.079
 even putting up snow.

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.740
 We've started so early,

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.440
 that by Christmas,

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.380
 it might look like,

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.259
 an enchanted village,

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.819
 in our home.

00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:56.900
 As we see people,

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:57.880
 face,

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.400
 these troubling times,

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.160
 of this pandemic,

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.900
 I think people are,

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.380
 perhaps,

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.300
 noticing this year,

00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:03.900
 more than most,

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.519
 the darkness,

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.779
 that is around us.

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.259
 And maybe this year,

00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:07.920
 more than most,

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.480
 they're trying to push back,

00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.860
 by holding on,

00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.019
 to Christmas cheer,

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.160
 in order to,

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.320
 cause some form,

00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.100
 of distraction,

00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:15.519
 right?

00:18:15.600 --> 00:18:16.180
 To kind of,

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:17.960
 to separate themselves,

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.800
 from the death,

00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:19.460
 and the sickness,

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.519
 that is surrounding them.

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.340
 Maybe you've had,

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.259
 that same desire,

00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.060
 yourself.

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.100
 You've been anticipating,

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.000
 this Christmas season,

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.720
 for the cheer,

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.360
 and the joy,

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.540
 that it brings.

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:30.480
 But it's this darkness,

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.359
 that we recognize,

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.500
 that some are trying,

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.319
 to gloss over.

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.539
 That's the subject,

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.379
 and the setting,

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.779
 of our story today.

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.460
 And we see,

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.119
 in this darkness,

00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.180
 that God,

00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.299
 is at work.

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.319
 So turn with me,

00:18:43.379 --> 00:18:43.779
 if you will,

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.420
 to Matthew,

00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.759
 chapter 1,

00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.680
 verses 18,

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.579
 through 21.

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.779
 Matthew 1,

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.200
 18,

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:50.779
 through 21.

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:52.740
 This is how,

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.599
 the birth of Jesus,

00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.079
 the Messiah,

00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.700
 came about.

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:55.920
 His mother,

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.840
 Mary was pledged,

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.740
 to be married to Joseph.

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.360
 But before they came together,

00:18:59.460 --> 00:18:59.980
 she was found,

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.539
 to be pregnant,

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.400
 through the Holy Spirit.

00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.900
 Because Joseph,

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.420
 her husband,

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.640
 was faithful to the law,

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:06.019
 and yet did not want,

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.640
 to expose her,

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.460
 to public disgrace,

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.300
 he had in his mind,

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.320
 to divorce her quietly.

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.080
 But after he had considered this,

00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:14.000
 an angel of the Lord,

00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:15.140
 appeared to him in a dream,

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:15.560
 and said,

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:15.920
 Joseph,

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.140
 son of David,

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:17.880
 do not be afraid,

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.700
 to take Mary home,

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.259
 as your wife.

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.200
 Because what is conceived,

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:21.740
 in her,

00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.900
 is from the Holy Spirit.

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.259
 She will give birth,

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.879
 to a son,

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.039
 and you are to give him,

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:26.619
 the name Jesus,

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.859
 because he will save,

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.599
 his people from their sins.

00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.740
 This is the word of the Lord.

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.460
 Pray with me.

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.240
 Lord,

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.859
 as we look,

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.920
 at this passage,

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.940
 we ask that you,

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.740
 soften our hearts,

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.259
 that you prepare our minds,

00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.799
 and open,

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.099
 our ears Lord.

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.440
 Help us to see,

00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.660
 this Christmas message,

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.700
 message Lord,

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.740
 with new eyes.

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.220
 May your spirit,

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.879
 be in us,

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.440
 and among us.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:51.980
 We pray this,

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.740
 in Jesus name.

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:53.779
 Amen.

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:56.440
 Now,

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:56.779
 as,

00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:58.400
 has been stated,

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.680
 this is the first week,

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.180
 of Advent.

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.539
 And as I've learned quickly,

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.400
 in my short time,

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:03.900
 in Scotland,

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.279
 the church calendar,

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:05.920
 is not something,

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.460
 that has been well recognized,

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.799
 by Scottish churches.

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.400
 But I think,

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:11.160
 in celebrating Advent,

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.240
 and observing Advent,

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:12.980
 there provides,

00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:14.160
 a structure,

00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.879
 which is to our benefit,

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.960
 as we prepare,

00:20:17.379 --> 00:20:18.039
 for Christmas.

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.400
 A lot of people,

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.059
 kind of,

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.019
 lump Advent,

00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.480
 and Christmas,

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.879
 into one thing,

00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.480
 but it's actually,

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.779
 very distinct.

00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.279
 Advent,

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:25.480
 Advent,

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.980
 is meant to prepare us,

00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.819
 for Christmas.

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.900
 Christmas is a time,

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.360
 of preparation,

00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:31.680
 a time of celebration,

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:32.620
 while Advent,

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.240
 is a time,

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.079
 of preparation.

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.319
 Advent,

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.180
 actually means,

00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:36.660
 coming,

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.980
 or arrival.

00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:38.680
 So,

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:40.160
 as we observe Advent,

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:40.839
 we're actually,

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.559
 remembering,

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.079
 how God's people,

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.599
 waited,

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.240
 centuries,

00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:44.920
 and centuries,

00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:45.599
 for the coming,

00:20:45.900 --> 00:20:46.660
 of their Messiah.

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.519
 It's a time,

00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:48.579
 for us to wait,

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.380
 to celebrate,

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.259
 the birth of Christmas,

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.360
 birth of Christ,

00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:52.259
 at Christmas.

00:20:52.979 --> 00:20:53.559
 But it's also,

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.039
 a time,

00:20:54.159 --> 00:20:55.019
 for us to wait,

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.459
 for the second coming,

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.639
 of Christ,

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.500
 as well.

00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:01.500
 And so,

00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.459
 as we think,

00:21:02.459 --> 00:21:03.619
 about this Advent season,

00:21:03.699 --> 00:21:04.759
 it's easy for us,

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:06.059
 to just get swept up,

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:07.099
 in the Christmas feelings,

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.199
 of the cheer,

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.759
 and the holidays,

00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:09.679
 and the decorations,

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.980
 but Advent,

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.400
 Advent really,

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.299
 does something,

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:12.900
 that the church,

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.759
 really needs.

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:14.600
 It allows us,

00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.100
 time,

00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.000
 to look inward.

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.660
 It allows us,

00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.200
 time,

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:17.920
 to consider,

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.720
 our own,

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.500
 sinfulness,

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.299
 our own,

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.440
 desperate need,

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.880
 for a Savior.

00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.140
 And so,

00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.600
 if we look,

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.299
 at the very beginning,

00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:26.820
 of the Bible,

00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.380
 if you're familiar,

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.840
 with the Bible,

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.380
 you know,

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.320
 that it starts,

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.140
 with the creation,

00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.360
 of the world,

00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.019
 in Genesis,

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:32.660
 and we see,

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.660
 that God has created,

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.380
 a perfect world,

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:34.940
 and placed,

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:35.920
 man and woman,

00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:36.860
 in the Garden of Eden.

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.340
 And we see,

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:38.920
 Adam and Eve,

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.440
 they lived,

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.380
 in perfect harmony,

00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.060
 with each other,

00:21:41.080 --> 00:21:41.880
 and with God,

00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:42.940
 until sin,

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.820
 entered the world.

00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:44.900
 We see,

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.700
 that God had given them,

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.440
 free reign,

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.120
 of the garden,

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.019
 but it told them,

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:49.980
 to not eat,

00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.440
 of one particular tree.

00:21:52.560 --> 00:21:53.019
 But we see,

00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:53.900
 Satan comes in,

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.539
 as a serpent,

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.380
 and he deceives them.

00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.340
 He tempts them,

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.720
 to question God's goodness,

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.460
 and they eat,

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.100
 of that fruit.

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.820
 And when they do,

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.039
 sin and death,

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:03.900
 enter the world.

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.440
 But we see,

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.420
 at the very beginning,

00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.720
 when sin enters the world,

00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.680
 God reveals,

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.200
 tells to us,

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.039
 in the Bible,

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.940
 that he has,

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.940
 a rescue plan,

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.440
 in place,

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.380
 to save his people,

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.120
 from their sins.

00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.259
 So in Genesis,

00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:15.740
 verse,

00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:16.960
 chapter 3,

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.620
 verses 15,

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.720
 is the very first,

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.519
 announcement,

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.620
 of the gospel,

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.500
 where God says,

00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.100
 to the serpent,

00:22:23.560 --> 00:22:24.080
 I will put,

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.620
 enmity,

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:26.080
 enmity between you,

00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:26.920
 and the woman,

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.140
 and between your offspring,

00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:28.860
 and hers,

00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.759
 he will crush your head,

00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.440
 and you will strike his heel.

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:35.000
 And so as we continue,

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.279
 to work through the scriptures,

00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:38.400
 we follow the offspring,

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.320
 of Eve.

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.160
 We see how God,

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.519
 chose to bless a man,

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.160
 named Abraham,

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.420
 and through his family,

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.779
 promised to send a Messiah.

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:46.640
 So if we look,

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.500
 at the very first,

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.340
 part of Matthew 1,

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.860
 it lists the lineage,

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.059
 of Jesus.

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:53.299
 This is the family,

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.900
 that God promised,

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.259
 the Messiah would come from.

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.240
 It starts with Abraham,

00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:00.000
 and moves through King David,

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.920
 all the way to a poor man,

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:02.559
 named Joseph.

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.799
 And this is where we see,

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.980
 God's rescue plan,

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.079
 put into place.

00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:08.339
 So as we consider this passage,

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.099
 and consider God's rescue plan,

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:12.000
 I want us to focus,

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.319
 really on two things today.

00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.740
 One is God's method,

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.480
 and the second is God's mission.

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.359
 So let's first consider,

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:21.180
 the method of God's rescue plan.

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.200
 When we think of methods,

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.279
 maybe think about,

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:24.099
 earlier this week,

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:25.420
 I purchased a tent,

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.460
 for our back garden,

00:23:26.800 --> 00:23:28.060
 kind of a gazebo thing,

00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:28.779
 that would allow us,

00:23:28.820 --> 00:23:29.840
 to have people over,

00:23:30.300 --> 00:23:31.080
 since we can't have them,

00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.660
 in our house,

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:33.200
 at least provide some shelter,

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.000
 from the elements,

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.480
 on our back porch.

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.100
 And when it arrived,

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:37.700
 in this big box,

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.600
 I kind of opened it up,

00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.920
 and it had a piece of paper,

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.920
 with a link to you,

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.200
 a YouTube video,

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.640
 with instructions,

00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.700
 on how to assemble it.

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.360
 And I kind of threw that,

00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:45.840
 to the side,

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.440
 and just started,

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:48.259
 trying to build this tent,

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.259
 and realized after several minutes,

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:51.840
 I wasn't doing it right somehow.

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.740
 So I went back,

00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:53.519
 to the YouTube video,

00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:54.759
 and realized there was a method,

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:56.220
 to get this tent,

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.240
 assembled the right way.

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.259
 And so in the same way,

00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:00.299
 God has used,

00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.259
 a specific method,

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.259
 to bring about,

00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.420
 his Messiah.

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.259
 It says,

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.400
 in verse 18,

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.579
 that Mary was pledged,

00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.519
 to a man named Joseph,

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:10.559
 but before they came together,

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.279
 she was found,

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.940
 to be pregnant,

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.319
 through the Holy Spirit.

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.900
 The method,

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:15.079
 that God uses,

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.879
 in this case,

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.079
 is that his Savior,

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.920
 would be born,

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.500
 through a virgin.

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.160
 And so right out of the gates,

00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.040
 we see this emphasized,

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.400
 right?

00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.360
 It points out,

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.500
 that Joseph is not,

00:24:25.540 --> 00:24:26.700
 the father of Jesus.

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.960
 Jesus comes about,

00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.880
 by the working,

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.840
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.360
 Now it's important,

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:32.840
 to remember,

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.019
 in biblical times,

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.500
 when someone,

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.500
 was betrothed,

00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:36.900
 to someone,

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.480
 that's different,

00:24:37.580 --> 00:24:38.300
 than what we think,

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.500
 of a modern day,

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.080
 encagement.

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.320
 This was a solemn,

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.120
 vow,

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.960
 between a man,

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.500
 and a woman,

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.779
 that wasn't entered,

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.580
 into lightly,

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.440
 and that if it,

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.279
 there was to be,

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:48.920
 any separation,

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.640
 it was considered,

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.340
 the same as what,

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:50.820
 we think of,

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:52.620
 as a divorce.

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.240
 During that year,

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.900
 of betrothal,

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.000
 that would usually last,

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.480
 the woman still lived,

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.300
 with her family,

00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.680
 and didn't come together,

00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:01.620
 with her husband,

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.960
 until after they were married.

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.740
 And so any sort,

00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:06.039
 of sexual impurity,

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.860
 was considered,

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.720
 a form of adultery.

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.519
 And so that's what we see,

00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:11.220
 in these verses,

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.480
 when Mary tells Joseph,

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.320
 that she's pregnant,

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.880
 we see that Joseph,

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:17.160
 is understandably troubled.

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:19.000
 This is his wife to be,

00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:19.860
 this is the woman,

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.560
 that he loves,

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.420
 and it appears,

00:25:21.580 --> 00:25:22.560
 as though she has been,

00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:23.540
 unfaithful.

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:26.200
 And so as he mulls,

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.040
 over what to do,

00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.820
 and he considers,

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.980
 how he should go,

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:31.080
 about divorcing her,

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.240
 we see an angel of God,

00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:32.779
 come to him,

00:25:32.860 --> 00:25:33.320
 in a dream,

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.480
 in verse 20,

00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:35.480
 and say this,

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.300
 Joseph son of David,

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.060
 do not be afraid,

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.980
 to take Mary home,

00:25:39.040 --> 00:25:39.560
 as your wife,

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:41.180
 because what is conceived,

00:25:41.300 --> 00:25:41.800
 in her,

00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.759
 is from the Holy Spirit.

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.920
 And so we see,

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.640
 in these few,

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.700
 short verses,

00:25:48.560 --> 00:25:49.840
 it's made abundantly clear,

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:51.660
 that Jesus is born,

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.780
 of a virgin.

00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:54.020
 It says twice,

00:25:54.080 --> 00:25:54.580
 in these verses,

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.620
 that he is from,

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.700
 the Holy Spirit.

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:57.480
 It states that Mary,

00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:58.500
 and Joseph had not,

00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.180
 come together.

00:25:59.560 --> 00:25:59.840
 In fact,

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:00.540
 if you look forward,

00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.380
 to verse 25,

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.500
 it also confirms,

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:04.440
 that Joseph did not know Mary,

00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:06.420
 until after Jesus was born.

00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:08.800
 Not only that,

00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.600
 but if we look at the way,

00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.620
 that Joseph responded,

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:10.920
 right?

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.320
 His initial desire,

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.240
 to divorce Mary,

00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:13.940
 because of her,

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.880
 suspected infidelity,

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:15.660
 confirms,

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.300
 that he knew,

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.320
 he was not the father.

00:26:19.520 --> 00:26:20.220
 But we see,

00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:21.240
 that God has a plan,

00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:22.320
 for Joseph as well,

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:22.960
 in this case.

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.480
 He wants Joseph,

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:26.360
 to be the earthly father,

00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:27.400
 of Jesus.

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.840
 So he gives him,

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.420
 the responsibility,

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.640
 to name this child.

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.660
 That would give him,

00:26:31.800 --> 00:26:32.520
 the opportunity,

00:26:32.520 --> 00:26:33.820
 to present himself,

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.220
 Joseph,

00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:35.780
 as the legal parent,

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.220
 of Jesus.

00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.040
 And so we see,

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.760
 that in doing this,

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.420
 God is fulfilling,

00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.720
 his promise to his people.

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.900
 He said that this Messiah,

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.440
 would come,

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.619
 through the line of David.

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.819
 Joseph is a descendant,

00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:47.279
 of David.

00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:47.839
 Therefore,

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:49.400
 God is keeping his promise,

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.440
 to his people.

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:53.420
 So you may question then,

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:53.900
 why,

00:26:54.119 --> 00:26:55.500
 does he have to be,

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.220
 virgin born?

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.839
 Why did Jesus,

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.900
 why couldn't he just be,

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.440
 the biological son,

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.400
 of Joseph?

00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:02.480
 And this is a fact,

00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.839
 that many in our day,

00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.359
 and age,

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.379
 disbelieve,

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.640
 right?

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.759
 They think it's just,

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.759
 fairy tale,

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.720
 to think that Jesus,

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.859
 could be born of a virgin.

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:11.000
 It really has no bearing,

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.900
 on his character,

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.779
 or who he was,

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.460
 as a person.

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.900
 But I think it's very important,

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.140
 that we see in this story,

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.859
 as it points out,

00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:19.059
 it is a necessary method,

00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:21.200
 in God's rescue plan.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.960
 It is an essential part,

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.279
 of the Christmas story.

00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.579
 And so I want to look,

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.319
 at a few reasons,

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.180
 why this,

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.539
 the gospel shows us,

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.440
 that this is the case.

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.619
 First of all,

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.140
 we see that the virgin birth,

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.039
 is a fulfillment,

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.839
 of Old Testament prophecy.

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.980
 We see in the Old Testament,

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.819
 it's always this forward facing,

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.220
 right?

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.900
 There's anticipation,

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.160
 there is foreshadowing,

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.099
 of a coming Messiah.

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.380
 And so we see that,

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.039
 in Isaiah,

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.759
 chapter 7,

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.579
 verse 14,

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:48.819
 which says,

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.839
 the Lord himself,

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.960
 will give you a sign.

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.000
 Behold,

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.700
 the virgin shall conceive,

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.579
 and bear a son,

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:56.240
 and shall call his name,

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.620
 Jesus.

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.740
 The virgin birth,

00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.339
 is important,

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.000
 because,

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.860
 it's what God said,

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.620
 would happen.

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.779
 It is God's mean,

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.360
 of fulfilling his promise,

00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.660
 to his people.

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.799
 Secondly,

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.519
 it's important,

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.319
 because it demonstrates,

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.180
 that Jesus,

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:13.539
 is a supernatural person.

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:13.900
 God,

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.980
 Jesus came,

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:16.240
 and is fully God,

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.819
 and is fully man.

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.839
 And this is hard,

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.160
 for us to fathom,

00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.559
 hard for us to understand,

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.539
 but we need to recognize,

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.140
 that Jesus didn't come,

00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.319
 as a mere baby,

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.299
 born by natural,

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.680
 sexual means.

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:30.920
 He is the son of God,

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.660
 who assumes,

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:33.220
 human likeness.

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.519
 He is fully God,

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:36.200
 and fully man.

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.319
 And we see,

00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.160
 because of this,

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.480
 it allows us,

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.339
 to see Jesus,

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.900
 in a different light.

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:44.099
 We see that we are able,

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:45.140
 to relate to him,

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:46.079
 that we know Jesus,

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.180
 can relate to us.

00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.920
 We see throughout,

00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.839
 the New Testament,

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.720
 in the Gospels,

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.779
 where it talks about,

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.700
 Jesus suffering,

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.839
 and Jesus being tempted,

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.620
 in the same way,

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.200
 that we are.

00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.420
 It says in Hebrews,

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.200
 415,

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:59.019
 for we do not have,

00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.680
 a high priest,

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.340
 who is unable,

00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:01.100
 to sympathize,

00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:01.779
 with our weaknesses,

00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:03.220
 but one who,

00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:05.180
 in every respect,

00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.620
 has been tempted,

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.360
 as we are,

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.840
 yet without sin.

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.580
 So Jesus,

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.400
 as a man,

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.240
 provides us,

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.980
 an example,

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.600
 for holy living.

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.360
 But not only that,

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.140
 though he is 100% man,

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.860
 he is also,

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.240
 100% God.

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.059
 So let's not,

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.840
 overlook this miracle,

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.420
 that becomes so easy,

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.620
 for us just to take,

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.160
 for granted,

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:26.779
 during Christmas.

00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:28.080
 This is the eternal,

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:30.060
 omnipotent God,

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.900
 who comes,

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:35.860
 who comes in human form,

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:37.800
 as the fruit of Mary's womb,

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.320
 as it says in Luke.

00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.740
 Jesus is not separate,

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.380
 from God.

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:43.560
 He is God,

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.220
 and therefore,

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:45.180
 he is someone,

00:29:45.340 --> 00:29:46.440
 who we can worship,

00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:47.620
 someone who is worthy,

00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:49.039
 of all of our praise.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.580
 And lastly,

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.800
 we see the virgin birth,

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.539
 is important,

00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.360
 to the Christmas,

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:54.759
 story,

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:56.060
 because it provides,

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.080
 a way for Jesus,

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.880
 to be born,

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.620
 and to be able,

00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:00.400
 to escape,

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.320
 the corruption,

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.460
 and the pollution,

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:04.200
 of our sinful human nature.

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.259
 Since Jesus was born,

00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:06.980
 from the Holy Spirit,

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.019
 he wasn't defiled,

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.100
 by sin.

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.740
 He was born,

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:12.080
 and still was,

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:13.580
 the sinless son of God,

00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.460
 who is able to,

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.180
 fulfill the law,

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.060
 that we can't keep.

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.240
 He is our sinless savior,

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.120
 who is able to go,

00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.759
 to the cross,

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:21.080
 and be our sinless,

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.840
 substitute,

00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:23.519
 where his innocent blood,

00:30:23.620 --> 00:30:24.160
 would be shed,

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.240
 for our sins.

00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:26.759
 So yes,

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.380
 the virgin birth,

00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.320
 is absolutely,

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.540
 important,

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.180
 and vital,

00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.900
 when we consider,

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.700
 the Christmas story,

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.500
 and the birth of Christ.

00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:33.040
 So don't let,

00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:34.180
 be led astray,

00:30:34.540 --> 00:30:36.340
 by bad theology,

00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:38.799
 or secular doubt.

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:40.539
 The virgin birth,

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.939
 this divine conception,

00:30:42.939 --> 00:30:43.799
 is essential.

00:30:44.199 --> 00:30:45.939
 Because if Jesus wasn't born,

00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:47.059
 by this means,

00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:48.819
 he wouldn't have been any different,

00:30:48.919 --> 00:30:49.799
 than anyone else,

00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:51.799
 that is listed,

00:30:51.939 --> 00:30:53.119
 in the first part of Matthew.

00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:54.799
 It's only because,

00:30:54.939 --> 00:30:56.319
 he was our sinless substitute,

00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:57.599
 that he can make atonement,

00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:58.139
 for sins.

00:30:59.179 --> 00:31:00.759
 And so if that's the method,

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.720
 by which God,

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.839
 institutes his rescue plan,

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.539
 by sending a savior,

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:06.359
 through a virgin birth,

00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.419
 and let's look secondly,

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.679
 at his mission.

00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.619
 In verse 21,

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.240
 it says,

00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:13.699
 she will give birth to a son,

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.799
 and you are to give him,

00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.579
 the name Jesus,

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.279
 because he will save,

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.480
 his people from their sins.

00:31:19.179 --> 00:31:20.099
 We see in the verse,

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:20.980
 in this verse,

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:22.359
 that God is the one,

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:25.220
 who names this virgin child,

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:25.899
 Jesus.

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.699
 Now over a decade ago,

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.660
 my wife and I,

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:31.019
 did missions work in China,

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:33.400
 and we were there for a year,

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.720
 and we taught English,

00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.759
 at a university.

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.500
 And over the course of that year,

00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:38.440
 each of us had,

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:40.580
 nearly 300 Chinese students,

00:31:40.580 --> 00:31:41.180
 that we taught.

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.940
 And because our Chinese,

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.799
 was very poor,

00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.000
 and these names,

00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:45.720
 were very difficult,

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.799
 for us to remember,

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.100
 what was common was,

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.080
 we have these,

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.220
 our Chinese students,

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.660
 pick an English name,

00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:53.500
 that we could remember them by.

00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.279
 And it was really neat,

00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:56.080
 to see the wide variety,

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:57.200
 of names that were selected,

00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:58.180
 while we thought they'd pick,

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.799
 what we consider normal names,

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:01.480
 because Chinese names,

00:32:01.560 --> 00:32:03.180
 have a significant meaning to them.

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.299
 They wanted English names,

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.380
 that also had,

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.279
 a significant meaning.

00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:07.519
 So I had students,

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.500
 that were named,

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.539
 I had a lucky star,

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.420
 I had a rainbow,

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.920
 I had a snow,

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.500
 I had three girls,

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.259
 named Echo,

00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.900
 which seemed rather fitting.

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.160
 So in the same way,

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.519
 that these students chose names,

00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.140
 that had meaning,

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.120
 or significance to them,

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:23.080
 we see that God,

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.960
 does the same thing,

00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.840
 in the selection,

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:26.400
 of Jesus's name.

00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:29.019
 We see in the Old Testament,

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.180
 how God changed,

00:32:30.280 --> 00:32:31.080
 Abram's name,

00:32:31.300 --> 00:32:32.100
 to Abraham,

00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.660
 to mean the father of many.

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.480
 So in the same way,

00:32:34.540 --> 00:32:35.240
 he looks here,

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.000
 at his son Jesus,

00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.380
 and we see that,

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.900
 and we see exactly,

00:32:41.060 --> 00:32:41.480
 what it means.

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:43.240
 Jesus is the Greek form,

00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:45.420
 of the Hebrew name Joshua.

00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:47.600
 And Joshua is a contraction,

00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:49.880
 for Yahweh save.

00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:52.240
 Yahweh is the name,

00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:53.040
 the Hebrew name,

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.500
 the proper name for God.

00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.619
 So Jesus means,

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.700
 God saves.

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.879
 And we see this,

00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:00.420
 listed numerous times,

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.099
 in the Old Testament,

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.220
 this repeated reference,

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.559
 to God as our Savior.

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.960
 If we look in Isaiah 43,

00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.319
 11,

00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.220
 it says,

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:06.720
 I,

00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:08.279
 I am Yahweh,

00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:09.039
 and besides me,

00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:09.839
 there is no Savior.

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.139
 In Isaiah 45,

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:12.740
 21,

00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:14.200
 there is no other God,

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.859
 besides me,

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.940
 a righteous God,

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.460
 and a Savior.

00:33:16.599 --> 00:33:17.200
 There is none,

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:17.940
 besides me.

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.200
 And so we see,

00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:21.500
 just like in the Old Testament,

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.599
 where it's emphasizing,

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.759
 who is doing the saving,

00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:25.619
 Matthew does the same emphasis,

00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.700
 in the New Testament.

00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.720
 It's actually really interesting,

00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.700
 if you go back to the Greek,

00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.920
 to look at the sentence structure,

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:31.240
 how he's emphasizing,

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.380
 who is doing the saving.

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.200
 In this last phrase,

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.519
 where it says,

00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:36.160
 because he will save his people,

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:36.759
 from their sins,

00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.259
 in the Greek,

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.220
 the first word,

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.299
 is the pronoun he.

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.519
 And it's followed by the verb,

00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.019
 which says,

00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.200
 he will save.

00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:44.440
 So it's literally translated,

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:44.900
 he,

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:46.160
 he will save.

00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.039
 Matthew's making it,

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.440
 eternally clear to us,

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.180
 that it's Jesus alone,

00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.180
 who does the saving.

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:52.000
 It's Jesus,

00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.700
 who has the power to save,

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.500
 and no one else.

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.660
 And so we also see,

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.200
 that the saving,

00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.400
 is a for sure thing,

00:33:59.460 --> 00:33:59.620
 right?

00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.019
 He says,

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:01.180
 he will save,

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.220
 not he might save,

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.140
 or he can save.

00:34:03.560 --> 00:34:04.700
 Jesus did not come to earth,

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.180
 to create possibilities,

00:34:06.060 --> 00:34:07.100
 for us to be saved.

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.000
 Jesus came,

00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.579
 to save us fully.

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.700
 And so we see,

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.639
 that Matthew is making it,

00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:14.980
 very clear,

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.420
 that we cannot save ourselves,

00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:16.920
 right?

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.500
 No matter how hard we try,

00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.800
 especially this Christmas season,

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.700
 no matter how hard,

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.300
 we try to cover up,

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.560
 the darkness in our lives,

00:34:23.600 --> 00:34:24.160
 and around us,

00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:25.500
 with Christmas sentimentality,

00:34:25.660 --> 00:34:26.780
 and adding more lights,

00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:27.340
 to the tree,

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:29.000
 there's nothing that we can do,

00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:30.880
 to save ourselves.

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.320
 Because I guarantee,

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.060
 that next Christmas,

00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:34.780
 when it rolls around,

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.500
 we're going to be dealing,

00:34:35.580 --> 00:34:36.440
 with the same kinds,

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:36.900
 of struggles,

00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.160
 right?

00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:37.640
 Lord willing,

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.480
 the coronavirus,

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.600
 will be under control,

00:34:39.700 --> 00:34:40.700
 but there'll still be sickness,

00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:42.600
 there'll still be sadness,

00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.700
 there'll still be isolation,

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.539
 and depression,

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.620
 and poverty.

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:47.980
 There's nothing,

00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:48.719
 that we can do,

00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:49.900
 that's going to change that.

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.699
 It is Christ,

00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.460
 alone,

00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.179
 who saves.

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:54.519
 And so,

00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.460
 who does he save?

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.259
 It says very clearly,

00:34:56.359 --> 00:34:57.279
 he saves his people.

00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:59.599
 And this is not just referring,

00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.779
 to the nation of Israel.

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.259
 We know,

00:35:01.359 --> 00:35:02.079
 that the Jewish people,

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:02.579
 were waiting,

00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:04.039
 hundreds and hundreds of years,

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.039
 for this coming Messiah,

00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:05.559
 but Jesus,

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.420
 as a part of his rescue plan,

00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:08.619
 is opening up,

00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:09.579
 the plan of salvation,

00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:10.880
 that all may be saved,

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.359
 through him.

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:13.719
 Paul says,

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.159
 in Romans,

00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:15.079
 there is no difference,

00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:16.279
 between Jew or Greek.

00:35:16.839 --> 00:35:17.699
 The same Lord,

00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:18.440
 is the Lord of all,

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.259
 and gives richly,

00:35:19.319 --> 00:35:20.359
 to all who call on him.

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:20.899
 Everyone,

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.519
 who calls on the name,

00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:23.039
 of the Lord,

00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:23.779
 will be saved.

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.299
 And so,

00:35:25.399 --> 00:35:26.399
 he then applies to us,

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:28.139
 not only in our lineage,

00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:30.079
 in our nationality,

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.719
 but also in our goodness,

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.139
 right?

00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:33.859
 There's nothing that we can do,

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:35.219
 to earn God's favor.

00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.539
 Jesus himself said,

00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.399
 that he came to,

00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.199
 not call,

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.819
 he came not to call the righteous,

00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:41.359
 but to call sinners,

00:35:41.879 --> 00:35:42.379
 to repentance.

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:44.380
 And so,

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.500
 we see that Jesus alone,

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.140
 does the saving.

00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.519
 We are the objects,

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.380
 of that saving.

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.539
 What does he save us from?

00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:52.579
 It saves us from,

00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:53.519
 our sin.

00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:54.119
 And this,

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.300
 is the mission,

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.300
 in which God came,

00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:57.380
 in which Jesus came.

00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:58.880
 He didn't come,

00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.820
 to save us from,

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:01.160
 our circumstances.

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:02.920
 And though while,

00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:04.099
 especially at Christmas,

00:36:04.240 --> 00:36:04.880
 we think about,

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:05.780
 calling out to God,

00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:07.019
 to save us from these times,

00:36:07.160 --> 00:36:07.880
 give us peace,

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.119
 from our circumstances,

00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.059
 we need to recognize,

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:12.119
 that it's not our circumstances,

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:14.420
 that bind us,

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.440
 it's our sin,

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:17.179
 that we need saving from.

00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.079
 And so,

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:20.480
 as we enter this Advent season,

00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.259
 we need to recognize,

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:22.659
 that the true Christmas spirit,

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:25.179
 doesn't avoid the thought,

00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:26.320
 of sin and death,

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.639
 but it looks directly at it.

00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:28.699
 Because until,

00:36:29.219 --> 00:36:30.920
 we deal with the bad news,

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:32.639
 we're not going to fully appreciate,

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:33.820
 the good news.

00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:36.820
 We need to recognize,

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:38.240
 that we are all sinners,

00:36:38.680 --> 00:36:40.360
 that sin has separated us,

00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:40.960
 from God,

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.900
 that the penalty,

00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:43.180
 for sin is death,

00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:44.059
 and it's only through,

00:36:44.160 --> 00:36:45.000
 the son of God,

00:36:45.080 --> 00:36:46.680
 who is our sinless substitute,

00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.140
 that we may have life.

00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:50.940
 Paul says,

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:52.220
 that Jesus came into the world,

00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:53.059
 to save sinners,

00:36:53.140 --> 00:36:54.380
 of whom I am,

00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:55.220
 the worst.

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.539
 Does that resonate with you,

00:36:57.700 --> 00:36:59.100
 if you're not a believer?

00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:00.280
 Do you feel like,

00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:01.039
 you can apply that,

00:37:01.120 --> 00:37:01.519
 to your lives,

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.039
 to recognize,

00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:03.179
 that you are a sinner,

00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:04.400
 in need of grace?

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.779
 The reason that Jesus,

00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:08.820
 was born as a virgin,

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:10.159
 is so that he could live,

00:37:10.219 --> 00:37:11.000
 a sinless life,

00:37:11.139 --> 00:37:13.019
 and be our sinless substitute,

00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:14.179
 on the cross,

00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.840
 that we may be freed,

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:17.300
 from the punishment of sins,

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.820
 and have eternal life.

00:37:19.820 --> 00:37:20.619
 And the neat thing is,

00:37:20.659 --> 00:37:21.920
 it's the same Holy Spirit,

00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:22.880
 that brought life,

00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:24.340
 to Mary's womb,

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.340
 that's the same spirit,

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:28.679
 who Jesus offers to us.

00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:30.920
 It's that same spirit,

00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:31.980
 that provides us,

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.679
 with the power,

00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.219
 and the ability,

00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:33.920
 to have faith,

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:35.119
 that we may also have,

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:36.380
 newness of life,

00:37:36.719 --> 00:37:37.559
 in Christ.

00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.539
 And so you may look,

00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.099
 around yourself,

00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:40.400
 and say,

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:40.659
 well,

00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:41.380
 you know,

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:43.019
 Jesus might have come to earth,

00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:43.940
 but I'm not quite sure,

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.880
 what he came to save,

00:37:44.920 --> 00:37:45.300
 or fix,

00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:45.759
 because,

00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:46.900
 the world's still,

00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:47.980
 a pretty messed up place.

00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:51.000
 But as we look,

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.000
 at Advent,

00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:53.619
 as we observe this season,

00:37:53.679 --> 00:37:54.480
 that's exactly,

00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:55.519
 the thought,

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.960
 that is worth examining.

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.079
 For although,

00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:59.440
 we await a time,

00:37:59.759 --> 00:38:00.840
 for the birth of Jesus,

00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:01.680
 that we celebrate,

00:38:01.680 --> 00:38:02.960
 on December 25th,

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.579
 we also wait,

00:38:04.640 --> 00:38:05.180
 for a time,

00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.039
 where Christ,

00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:07.100
 will come again.

00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:09.280
 And we know,

00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:09.920
 that at that time,

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:10.340
 he says,

00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.079
 that he will come,

00:38:11.180 --> 00:38:11.940
 to judge,

00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:12.700
 the living,

00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:13.340
 and the dead.

00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:14.100
 He will come,

00:38:14.180 --> 00:38:15.059
 to overthrow,

00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.360
 Satan eternally,

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.960
 and destroy death.

00:38:20.180 --> 00:38:20.640
 You know,

00:38:20.680 --> 00:38:21.180
 earlier this week,

00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:22.260
 I was running along,

00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:23.860
 Union Canal,

00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:25.720
 and where it starts,

00:38:25.780 --> 00:38:26.960
 just west of the meadows,

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:29.039
 there's this large mural,

00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:29.780
 on the side of the wall,

00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.160
 I don't know,

00:38:30.220 --> 00:38:30.880
 if it's new or not,

00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.559
 it was the first time,

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.180
 I saw it.

00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:33.660
 And it says,

00:38:33.980 --> 00:38:34.700
 perfection,

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:36.380
 is a matter of time.

00:38:37.720 --> 00:38:38.380
 And while it's a,

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.320
 it's a good thought,

00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:39.880
 and it kind of,

00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:40.820
 brightened up that building,

00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:41.260
 I wondered,

00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:42.780
 do people really believe that?

00:38:42.820 --> 00:38:43.280
 Is that something,

00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.000
 that you believe,

00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:44.700
 that perfection,

00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:46.700
 is just a matter of time?

00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.840
 That if you wait long enough,

00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:50.039
 or try hard enough,

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.960
 you can solve,

00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.519
 the problems of this world?

00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:56.700
 I think that,

00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:57.380
 you know,

00:38:57.460 --> 00:38:58.820
 I think we're really trending,

00:38:58.820 --> 00:39:01.200
 in the opposite direction,

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:01.500
 right?

00:39:01.620 --> 00:39:02.500
 It's not time,

00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:03.559
 that's going to save us,

00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:04.400
 it's only Jesus,

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.240
 by his blood,

00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:06.539
 that we can be saved.

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.059
 So I think,

00:39:07.160 --> 00:39:07.760
 as we look,

00:39:07.900 --> 00:39:09.220
 at this Advent season,

00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.700
 if you do not know Christ,

00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:11.840
 I encourage you,

00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:13.820
 to allow the Holy Spirit,

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.920
 to soften your heart,

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:16.559
 to recognize your need,

00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:18.120
 for a Savior.

00:39:19.240 --> 00:39:20.400
 To recognize the darkness,

00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.579
 is not just around you,

00:39:21.640 --> 00:39:22.559
 but it is inside,

00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:23.559
 each one of us.

00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:27.000
 And to turn to Jesus,

00:39:27.120 --> 00:39:28.440
 knowing that he is coming again,

00:39:28.519 --> 00:39:29.680
 and will judge,

00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:31.640
 those who are not found in him.

00:39:31.720 --> 00:39:32.360
 We have,

00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:34.039
 a sinless Savior.

00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:36.180
 And that is the hope,

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:36.740
 of Christmas,

00:39:37.640 --> 00:39:38.480
 that lights,

00:39:38.680 --> 00:39:39.280
 and candy,

00:39:39.780 --> 00:39:40.420
 and candles,

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.140
 cannot provide.

00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:43.380
 And so,

00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:44.039
 for those of us,

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:45.000
 who are in Christ,

00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:47.360
 understand,

00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:48.579
 that this Advent season,

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:49.039
 is something,

00:39:49.200 --> 00:39:50.140
 that we may observe,

00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:50.760
 once a year,

00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:51.420
 but it is really,

00:39:51.420 --> 00:39:52.960
 a life in which we live.

00:39:53.900 --> 00:39:55.260
 We live in this stage,

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.960
 between the first coming,

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:57.680
 of Christ,

00:39:57.860 --> 00:39:59.380
 and his second coming.

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.360
 We live between,

00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:01.039
 this tension,

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:02.059
 of what is now,

00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:02.760
 and what we know,

00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:04.099
 things ought to be.

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:06.099
 And so,

00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:06.840
 I encourage you,

00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:07.599
 to have hope.

00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:09.280
 Keep the faith,

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:10.119
 because perfection,

00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:11.000
 is coming.

00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:11.920
 It's coming,

00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:12.940
 in the form,

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:13.780
 of Jesus.

00:40:13.780 --> 00:40:15.820
 So,

00:40:15.940 --> 00:40:17.019
 this Advent season,

00:40:17.180 --> 00:40:18.100
 let us look forward,

00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:19.080
 with eager anticipation,

00:40:19.080 --> 00:40:20.519
 when Christ will return,

00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:21.800
 in all his splendor,

00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:22.580
 in all his glory,

00:40:22.680 --> 00:40:23.840
 when he will destroy,

00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:24.660
 the serpent,

00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.560
 eternally,

00:40:25.660 --> 00:40:26.600
 when he will establish,

00:40:26.680 --> 00:40:27.180
 a new heaven,

00:40:27.220 --> 00:40:27.840
 and a new earth,

00:40:28.060 --> 00:40:29.100
 and we may live,

00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:29.860
 in unity,

00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:30.820
 with Christ,

00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:31.980
 our Savior forever.

00:40:33.420 --> 00:40:33.900
 Amen.

00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:35.980
 Pray with me.

00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:42.880
 Heavenly Father,

00:40:43.139 --> 00:40:44.460
 as we are surrounded,

00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:46.480
 by darkness,

00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:49.960
 help us to recognize,

00:40:50.079 --> 00:40:50.500
 the darkness,

00:40:50.500 --> 00:40:51.240
 that is,

00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:53.039
 within each one of us.

00:40:55.539 --> 00:40:56.760
 Help us to recognize,

00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:57.139
 God,

00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:57.639
 that we,

00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:58.619
 are in need,

00:40:58.679 --> 00:40:59.219
 of a Savior.

00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:00.360
 And so,

00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:01.400
 help us to turn,

00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:02.260
 to Christ,

00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.000
 who was born,

00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:03.679
 of a virgin,

00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:04.340
 who lived,

00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:05.539
 a perfect life,

00:41:05.980 --> 00:41:07.719
 our sinless Savior,

00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:08.980
 who became,

00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.400
 our sinless substitute.

00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:14.480
 Lord,

00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:15.579
 allow that truth,

00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:17.880
 to permeate our lives.

00:41:18.579 --> 00:41:19.280
 Allow that to be,

00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:20.559
 the source of our joy,

00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:21.260
 this Christmas,

00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:23.019
 and throughout the year.

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:25.599
 We pray this in Jesus name.

00:41:26.179 --> 00:41:26.380
 Amen.

00:41:29.679 --> 00:41:31.460
 We're now going to sing,

00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:32.659
 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

00:41:33.199 --> 00:41:34.119
 We'll remain seated,

00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:35.380
 and sing in your hearts,

00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:35.900
 if you hear,

00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:37.280
 if you're watching,

00:41:37.800 --> 00:41:38.420
 live stream,

00:41:38.539 --> 00:41:39.219
 please feel free,

00:41:39.300 --> 00:41:39.880
 to sing along.

00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:39.940
 Amen.

00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:56.639
 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,

00:41:56.639 --> 00:42:01.039
 and, O Come, Emmanuel,

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.739
 and, O Come, Emmanuel,

00:42:01.739 --> 00:42:02.799
 and, O Come, Emmanuel,

00:42:02.799 --> 00:42:03.139
 and, O Come, Emmanuel.

00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:05.980
 Who mourns,

00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:07.279
 in lowly,

00:42:07.339 --> 00:42:09.039
 and, O Come, Emmanuel,

00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:09.940
 and, O Come, Emmanuel,

00:42:09.940 --> 00:42:15.159
 until the Son of God draws near,

00:42:15.159 --> 00:42:16.159
 God draws near.

00:42:16.159 --> 00:42:21.460
 Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice,

00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:24.359
 Emmanuel,

00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:29.739
 shall come to me, O Emmanuel.

00:42:29.739 --> 00:42:31.719
 Yes, I am.

00:42:34.359 --> 00:42:46.259
 O come, great Lord of Christ, who loath of all on silent night,

00:42:46.259 --> 00:42:59.319
 who gave Israel's rise to holy love, in cloud and majesty and glory.

00:42:59.739 --> 00:43:12.779
 Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Israel.

00:43:15.779 --> 00:43:27.779
 O come, bright morning star as Jesus, our spirits behind your atletons.

00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:33.780
 O come, great Lord of Christ, who loath of all on silent night,

00:43:33.780 --> 00:43:38.780
 and the light of the day will be.

00:43:38.780 --> 00:43:44.780
 O come, great Lord of Christ, who loath of all on silent night,

00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:55.780
 rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Israel.

00:43:55.780 --> 00:44:10.780
 O come, strong He of David, come, and open wide our heavenly host.

00:44:10.780 --> 00:44:23.780
 Make strength the way that leads our high, and close the path to bear the reed.

00:44:23.780 --> 00:44:37.780
 Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Israel.

00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:52.780
 Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Israel.

00:44:52.780 --> 00:44:54.780
 I am.

00:44:54.780 --> 00:44:56.780
 I am.

00:44:56.780 --> 00:44:58.780
 I am.

00:44:58.780 --> 00:45:00.780
 I am.

00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:01.780
 I am.

00:45:01.780 --> 00:45:05.980
 I am.

00:45:05.980 --> 00:45:08.780
 If you can stand with me to receive our benediction.

00:45:08.780 --> 00:45:13.580
 Our benediction comes from the book of Revelation.

00:45:13.579 --> 00:45:20.480
 to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood to him who testifies surely

00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:27.579
 I am coming again be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever amen