back to indexBerean Community Church Christmas Service - 12/21/2025
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Good morning, church family, and also to those who are joining us here for the first time. 00:02:25.140 |
Welcome to our Christmas service, and as we begin, I'd like to read for us Isaiah chapter 00:02:30.280 |
9, verse 6, for a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government 00:02:36.260 |
will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 00:03:51.340 |
No one on earth deserves the praises that I'll sing. 00:03:56.760 |
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due. 00:04:24.700 |
The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love. 00:04:35.940 |
No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne, before the Holy One of Heaven. 00:04:52.380 |
It's only by your blood, and it's only through your mercy, Lord, I come. 00:05:12.940 |
No one on earth deserves the praises that I'll sing. 00:05:20.220 |
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due. 00:05:28.620 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King. 00:05:41.180 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King. 00:05:42.140 |
No one on earth deserves the praises that I'll sing. 00:05:49.300 |
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due. 00:05:54.300 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King. 00:05:56.300 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King. 00:06:20.980 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King. 00:06:22.980 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King. 00:06:32.540 |
O Lord, I bring an offering of worship to my King King. 00:06:34.100 |
As you're coming in, you probably saw a red tent that is standing outside, or not a tent, 00:06:42.100 |
And that's where our Seekers booth is, meaning that after the service, if you have any questions 00:06:47.200 |
about anything that you've heard, or maybe a friend or family member brought you here and 00:06:51.240 |
you have some questions about, you know, what Christmas is about and what we celebrate. 00:06:56.160 |
And so if you have any questions or anything, they also have resources that they've prepared. 00:07:01.940 |
And so there will be our pastors and some of our outreach team members will be stationed 00:07:09.180 |
And so if you go there, you'll be able to ask questions and they'll help you to understand 00:07:15.700 |
So please visit that booth after the service. 00:07:18.260 |
If you are visiting again for the first time. 00:07:21.980 |
New Year's Eve service and activities on December 31st, that's coming up in two weeks. 00:07:27.160 |
At 6:45, there's going to be our annual ping pong tournament and also our NURTS tournament. 00:07:32.360 |
And so the sign up for that today is the last day. 00:07:35.340 |
So if you are planning to sign up and let's say if you don't have a partner to play ping 00:07:38.580 |
pong or NURTS, you can sign up by yourself and they'll place you on a team. 00:07:42.580 |
But they told me that today is the last day to sign up. 00:07:46.900 |
And then lastly, as we mentioned for the members of the church, we have, we are collecting our 00:07:54.500 |
And so as you're giving, after I pray, we'll give you time to give. 00:07:58.140 |
Please separate that from the general offering. 00:08:01.140 |
As you're giving online, there will be a place where you can drop down and it'll say Lottie 00:08:06.380 |
And if it is a general offering that you're giving, make sure that that's also properly 00:08:11.620 |
And then the offering is going to be going to support our missionaries overseas. 00:08:15.620 |
We'll be handing it over to the IMB, their missions, and they'll be able to distribute it 00:08:25.860 |
Well, this morning we have a special presentation from our choir. 00:08:28.860 |
So we're going to be, I'm going to be praying for the offering and then the choir is going 00:08:33.800 |
to come up and they're going to represent us in our worship. 00:08:37.380 |
And then afterwards we'll have regular praise time. 00:08:41.280 |
I know a lot of you guys came, the grandparents and uncles and aunts and friends and family 00:08:46.580 |
And so they'll come after the main worship set before the sermon. 00:08:50.180 |
And so they'll be ready and they'll, they'll come in after that. 00:08:52.900 |
So let me pray for us and we'll prepare and give you a minute to give the offering. 00:09:00.860 |
Gracious heavenly father, we thank you so much for just a privilege to be able to celebrate 00:09:07.000 |
who Christ is and what he has done for us, especially today, Lord God, as we have come together 00:09:12.260 |
to focus our attention on what the meaning of Christmas is. 00:09:16.680 |
I pray that you would open our eyes and soften our hearts that our worship to you may be genuine. 00:09:22.460 |
It will be flowing from a heart of gratitude. 00:09:25.500 |
I pray for the family and friends and the guests that have come that, uh, first that again, as 00:09:31.720 |
we've come to worship you, that they may also be able to understand who you are. 00:09:36.240 |
And we pray that our giving will be handled with integrity, that it would be multiplied for 00:09:43.580 |
So we thank you, Father God, for this day in Jesus name we pray. 00:10:47.080 |
The everlasting life, the hope and fears of all the years are ready to die. 00:11:05.080 |
How silently, how silent, the wondrous gift is given. 00:11:18.080 |
So God, I am lost to you, the blessings of His hand. 00:11:30.080 |
Now we are made in His glory, an endless world of sin. 00:11:43.080 |
Where big souls will receive His name, the dearest enter His name. 00:11:55.080 |
Oh, holy child of red blood, descend to us, we pray. 00:12:08.080 |
Cast down our sin and enter Him, be born in us today. 00:12:21.080 |
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. 00:12:36.080 |
Oh, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. 00:14:31.080 |
And the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. 00:15:48.080 |
At this time, if we may all rise and spend just a few moments to greet the neighbors around us before we continue our time. 00:17:24.980 |
Sing like the hell, angels sing, glory to the newborn King. 00:17:34.680 |
Peace on earth and mercy fire, God and sinners reconciled. 00:17:42.980 |
Joyful all the nations rise, join the dragon of the skies. 00:17:52.400 |
With angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born at the high. 00:18:00.820 |
Oh, there all angels sing, glory to the newborn King. 00:18:17.740 |
Christ by eyes, heaven adore, Christ the everlasting Lord. 00:18:27.000 |
In time behold Him come, offspring of a virgin's womb. 00:18:35.740 |
Hail the flesh, the golden sea, hail the incarnate Deity. 00:18:44.440 |
Pleased as men with men to dwell, Jesus our men to dwell. 00:18:52.740 |
Far the herald angels sing, holy to the newborn King. 00:19:18.740 |
Light and life to all He brings, present with healing in His wings. 00:19:27.740 |
While He lays His glory power, born man and man no more may die. 00:19:44.740 |
Heart the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King. 00:19:56.740 |
Heart the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King. 00:20:15.740 |
You may all know the traditional Christmas hymn called, "Come all you faithful." 00:20:19.740 |
And this next song is a spin off that title called, "O come all you unfaithful." 00:20:24.440 |
And it really reflects the beauty of the Gospel, where Christ did not come to live and die for the righteous, but for those broken in their sin. 00:20:32.140 |
For those feeling lost and without hope, that Christ would be their hope and life and salvation. 00:20:38.840 |
O come all you unfaithful, come weak and unstable, come know you are not alone. 00:20:56.840 |
O come all you unfaithful, come know you are not alone. 00:21:05.840 |
O come, barren and waiting ones, weary of praying, come see what your God has done. 00:21:28.840 |
O come, bitter and broken, come with fears unspoken. 00:21:44.840 |
O come, bitter and broken, come with fears unspoken, come taste of His perfect love. 00:21:59.360 |
O come, guilty and hiding ones, there is no need to run. 00:22:16.680 |
Christ is born, Christ is born, Christ is born for you. 00:22:34.940 |
He's the Lamb who was given, slain for our pardon. 00:22:51.700 |
He's the Lamb who was given, slain for our pardon. 00:23:44.920 |
Christ is born, Christ is born, Christ is born for you. 00:26:14.160 |
But man sinned, and darkness emptied the world. 00:26:21.380 |
God gave a promise to Abraham that through his descendants all nations would be blessed. 00:26:26.580 |
There are the prophets who spoke of the coming king, a light to those who dwell in darkness. 00:26:38.340 |
And in Bethlehem the promise was written, the word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:27:02.880 |
But to us a child is born, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:27:41.360 |
But poor as I am, I will give to him my heart. 00:27:57.440 |
Unto us a child is born, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:28:21.180 |
Here within our manger lies, the one who made the starry skies. 00:28:29.120 |
This may be born for sacrifice, Christ the Messiah. 00:28:37.120 |
Into our hopes, into our fears, the Savior of the world appears. 00:28:44.860 |
The promise of eternal years, Christ the Messiah. 00:29:08.600 |
Here within our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:29:16.600 |
And here within our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:29:24.520 |
Until us a child is born, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:29:32.260 |
And here within our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:29:40.000 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:29:43.000 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:29:52.000 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:29:56.000 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:30:05.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore, forevermore. 00:30:06.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:07.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:08.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:08.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:09.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:09.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:10.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:10.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:11.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:12.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:12.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:13.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:14.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:30:14.740 |
And here in our manger shall reign forevermore. 00:34:06.600 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:13.600 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:18.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:20.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:21.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:22.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:23.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:23.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:24.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:25.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:26.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:27.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:27.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:28.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:29.860 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:46.120 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:48.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:34:49.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:02.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:02.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:02.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:03.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:04.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:04.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:05.380 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:11.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:12.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:13.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:13.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:14.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:15.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:16.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:17.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:18.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:19.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:19.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:21.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:22.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:23.640 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:45.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:47.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:48.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:49.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:50.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:51.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:35:52.900 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.160 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.160 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.160 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.160 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.160 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.160 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:22.660 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:29.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:30.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:30.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:30.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:31.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:32.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:32.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:33.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:34.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:34.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:35.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:36.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:37.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:38.920 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:43.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:45.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:47.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:48.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:49.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:50.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:51.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:52.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:53.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:54.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:36:55.180 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:22.440 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:24.440 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:26.080 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:27.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:28.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:29.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:30.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:31.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:32.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:33.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:34.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:35.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:36.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:38.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:39.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:40.700 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:44.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:44.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:46.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:47.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:48.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:49.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:50.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:51.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:37:52.960 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:01.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:05.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:05.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:06.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:07.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:07.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:08.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:09.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:10.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:11.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:12.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:13.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:14.220 |
Let all of heaven and earth rejoice on this Christmas morn. 00:38:15.220 |
Philippians 2:5-11, reading out of the NASB, it says, "Have this attitude in yourselves, 00:38:22.700 |
which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard 00:38:27.680 |
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant 00:38:32.640 |
and being made in the likeness of men, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself 00:38:37.420 |
by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 00:38:41.240 |
For this reason also God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is 00:38:45.180 |
above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are 00:38:49.840 |
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus 00:38:54.180 |
Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." 00:38:59.840 |
Father, we thank you for this morning, especially today, as we remember his incarnation and what 00:39:12.060 |
Help us, Lord, to appreciate, to love, adore, and worship him. 00:39:16.720 |
And we pray, Father God, that your word would teach us and guide us. 00:39:21.060 |
Father, I'm sure many of you have different traditions that you have when Christmas comes 00:39:30.060 |
One of the traditions that we have in our home is on Christmas Eve. 00:39:34.060 |
Our family comes together and we have worship with our children. 00:39:39.720 |
Now that the kids are grown up, you know, obviously that's a special time whenever our kids are 00:39:45.380 |
And I remember a few years ago, we went around asking, "What does Christmas mean to you specifically?" 00:39:51.720 |
Not a theological answer, not, you know, this is what the Bible says, but what does Christmas 00:39:58.380 |
And so we all went around sharing, and then at the end of all the children sharing, 00:40:03.040 |
again, you know, even at that time, they're already grown up. 00:40:06.520 |
And then our youngest, who at that time was baptized, this was maybe about three years ago, he got 00:40:12.980 |
baptized, became a Christian, and for the first time, it got to his turn. 00:40:17.040 |
And Isaiah, after everybody shared, Isaiah said, almost tearing up, and he said, "You 00:40:26.840 |
And he said, "Because now that I've become a Christian, this is much more real. 00:40:30.600 |
That this is not just some day that I'm celebrating like Christ's sacrifice for me." 00:40:35.640 |
And I remember when he said that, we all kind of took a step back and like, "Oh, his conversion 00:40:39.880 |
Yeah, and so we were very touched by that, challenged by it. 00:40:46.040 |
But again, when we celebrate Christmas, that depending on how you answer that question, 00:40:56.380 |
Not theological answer, not, you know, "This is what you're supposed to say as a Christian," 00:41:02.260 |
And so just like if we went to someone's birthday, your relationship with the person that you're 00:41:06.740 |
celebrating is going to determine how you celebrate that birthday. 00:41:09.960 |
If you're just there because some celebrity or somebody you know, and you just happen to be 00:41:13.880 |
in a big room, and you're going to eat and go home. 00:41:16.220 |
But if it's somebody that you really care for, love, you walk with, and have a deep interpersonal 00:41:21.640 |
relationship with that person, how you celebrate that person's birthday is going to be different. 00:41:26.220 |
And so for every Christian, how we celebrate Christmas is going to be determined by where 00:41:34.980 |
So we may celebrate it just because it's a holiday in our country, like it does all over 00:41:41.160 |
We may celebrate because I'm a Christian, and I go to church, and this is what we do every 00:41:45.560 |
But it will mean a whole lot different when we have a personal walk with God, knowing 00:41:50.320 |
that everything that we talk about today was done not only for the world, but for me, but 00:41:56.820 |
So today we're going to want to examine His incarnation. 00:42:05.240 |
And so, if we want to really understand what Christmas is about, we have to know first and 00:42:13.520 |
The text tells us that He existed in the form of God, meaning Jesus is God. 00:42:20.200 |
Now, in a room filled with like this, even if you aren't a Christian, you already knew that 00:42:27.200 |
I mean, this is, you know, talking to a room filled with people who already have confessed 00:42:31.580 |
Christ as Lord, but we won't really appreciate what it is that He has done until we understand 00:42:39.480 |
Jesus is God, not a sub-form of God, not simply a representation of God, but Jesus is God. 00:42:53.540 |
Jesus did not all of a sudden appear in human history and then began to exist. 00:42:57.300 |
The Bible tells us He existed prior in the form of God. 00:43:02.480 |
In the Old Testament, whenever God would appear in the form of man, we call that a theophany, 00:43:08.380 |
meaning God comes in a form, presenting Himself as human. 00:43:13.880 |
Many theologians believe in Genesis, when it describes that God walked on the earth in 00:43:20.180 |
the Garden of Eden, that many theologians believe that that was a theophany of Jesus. 00:43:26.740 |
When Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32, most theologians believe that that was a theophany 00:43:35.320 |
Some of you guys may also know this story in Daniel 3:25, when the three friends of Daniel, 00:43:41.860 |
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because they refused to bow to an idol, they were thrown into 00:43:46.840 |
the furnace, and as they are thrown and being punished, instead of being burned up, they 00:43:54.180 |
Many believe that that was also a theophany of Christ, there to protect them and to save 00:44:01.240 |
So that's what a theophany is, and we can name many other instances where we can debate whether 00:44:06.020 |
that was the pre-incarnate Christ who was revealing Himself as a man. 00:44:10.440 |
But what we celebrate today is not a theophany. 00:44:14.780 |
Theophany is a temporary presentation of God in human form. 00:44:19.960 |
What we are celebrating this morning is incarnation. 00:44:26.720 |
Not simply presenting Himself in the form of man, but Christ came to become a man. 00:44:33.020 |
He said He existed in the form of God, He exists in a form of God. 00:44:37.360 |
We have to understand that word for form in the Greek is morphe, and the word morphe basically 00:44:46.600 |
Hebrews 1:3 describes who Jesus is in a bit more detail, will help us understand what we 00:44:54.440 |
It says He is the radiance of the glory of God. 00:44:59.200 |
It's the same word that is used in the Philippian text when it says He came in the form of God. 00:45:09.640 |
Just like if you're looking at the sun, you see the shining of the sun. 00:45:17.460 |
It is the external thing that you are able to see. 00:45:20.500 |
He says He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His very nature, 00:45:27.720 |
And the word in Greek for exact representation is one word. 00:45:37.840 |
But I want you to understand where I'm coming from. 00:45:46.080 |
So in Hebrews 1:3, it says, "Externally and internally, in very essence, He is God." 00:45:55.260 |
And that's why Jesus says when the disciples asked Jesus, "Show us the Father." 00:46:00.740 |
And Jesus answered them in John 4:9, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." 00:46:08.900 |
He doesn't say, "He who has seen me, I will show you the Father." 00:46:11.500 |
He who has seen me, I will point you to the Father. 00:46:14.660 |
If you have seen me, you've seen the Father." 00:46:20.600 |
I want to read another passage, Colossians 1:15-17, "He is the image of the invisible 00:46:29.500 |
It is the exact imprint of God, of the invisible God. 00:46:33.140 |
It is the physical presence of God, firstborn of all creation. 00:46:37.960 |
By Him all things were created, both in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, throne 00:46:45.640 |
All things have been created through Him and for Him. 00:46:49.640 |
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 00:46:52.560 |
Colossians 1:15-17, if you didn't know that this was in reference to Jesus, you would read that 00:46:59.660 |
and think, "This is God of the Old Testament. 00:47:02.240 |
this is the same God who created the universe that we've been studying in the book of Genesis." 00:47:17.600 |
Not only did He create everything, He says everything was created for Him and everything is held together by Him. 00:47:23.600 |
Again, this is nothing new to you, but the reason why I emphasize this is because until you understand that Jesus is God, not a presentation of God, not a representation of God, but He is God. 00:47:43.200 |
Now, why that's important is because when we say that that God took on human form, that He became a man, the distance that He needed to travel. 00:47:52.640 |
Now, every year we have a mission team that goes out to different parts of the world, but one of the areas that we go to is in India. 00:48:00.800 |
And the area that we go to India is we would consider remote as part of the world. 00:48:06.080 |
It has the greatest concentration of unreached people groups in that area. 00:48:10.480 |
And it is probably by distance wise, the farthest we can go. 00:48:15.760 |
So we have to go take two flights to land in Bangalore. 00:48:18.960 |
Once we get to Bangalore, we have to take about five to seven hours to get to the city where they have the hotel. 00:48:24.720 |
And from there, we drive anywhere from one and a half hours to three and a half hours to get to the village. 00:48:31.760 |
And every time we go there, we have to remind people, you know, you're not going to be comfortable because you're not going to have the same amenities that you have here. 00:48:40.720 |
If you're ladies, then you're not going to have the same bathroom. 00:48:43.920 |
So make sure that if you have to go, you may not be comfortable depending on which village we go to. 00:48:48.320 |
But every time we go to some place that is foreign, we understand that certain things we have to let go. 00:48:57.840 |
The reason why I share all of this is when we talk about the incarnation of God, the distance that God had to travel to become a man. 00:49:18.880 |
So what does it mean for God of the universe, who created all things and sustains all things, 00:49:37.760 |
What does it mean for the infinite to take on finite human form, to become a human? 00:49:44.560 |
What does it mean for God, who is all-powerful, to take on the form of a powerless man? 00:49:52.800 |
You know, sometimes, especially when we're rich and we're wealthy and we're living in the West because 00:49:57.280 |
we live in a very powerful world and we are able to do things that a lot of people in the world that 00:50:03.360 |
But we understand that even when we make promises, it, at best, say we're going to try. 00:50:13.040 |
You don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow. 00:50:17.680 |
The other person who made a promise with you, they may change their mind. 00:50:22.000 |
So what does it mean for an all-powerful God? 00:50:26.480 |
What does it mean for the all-powerful to take on finite human beings? 00:50:32.400 |
But the furthest distance that God had to travel is that God, He is holy, holy, holy. 00:50:40.800 |
But the Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:50:45.040 |
So what does it mean for God to take on human form? 00:50:50.480 |
Even though He Himself has never sinned, to be walking among people who are living in sin. 00:50:57.280 |
Of all the miracles that we talk about in the Bible, we talk about Jesus walking on water, 00:51:04.560 |
healing the sick, raising people from the dead, and even His death and resurrection. 00:51:09.600 |
All of that is easy if you can accept His incarnation. 00:51:14.320 |
The greatest miracle, the greatest mystery of Christianity is not His power. 00:51:24.880 |
All that is nothing if you believe that Jesus was God. 00:51:30.560 |
How can a God of the universe who created all things take on human form? 00:51:34.880 |
If we can celebrate Christmas, everything else, logically, makes sense. 00:51:46.560 |
Obviously, when we celebrate Christmas, in order for God to take on human form, 00:51:54.000 |
He said He existed in the form of God, but He did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 00:52:02.240 |
It doesn't mean that God emptied Himself, meaning that He was no longer deity. 00:52:08.160 |
He didn't grasp for all the benefits, all the glory that comes with being God. 00:52:13.600 |
He came to Himself, He veiled Himself, He emptied Himself. 00:52:17.920 |
In fact, in the Westminster Catechism, it describes Jesus' incarnation as the humiliation of Christ. 00:52:30.240 |
Now, it almost seems blasphemous to even use that word "humiliation" because we use that word 00:52:41.120 |
Or maybe we made a mistake or say, "Oh, we got humiliated." 00:52:44.080 |
To describe the same word that you and I use for the mistakes or embarrassment that you and I experienced, 00:52:50.480 |
to describe that as God of the universe taking on human form, it almost seems inappropriate. 00:52:58.160 |
But yet, that's the closest term that we can understand of what we celebrate in Christmas. 00:53:07.040 |
Can you imagine what it took for Him to walk among us? 00:53:12.880 |
We celebrate giving of gifts, we celebrate grace, we celebrate Christ and what it means, our family and friends. 00:53:20.000 |
But the heart of why you and I are here this morning is because God of the universe emptied Himself to walk among us. 00:53:30.800 |
Well, there's four things that I want to emphasize through this text. 00:53:39.520 |
First, Jesus emptied Himself of glory and worship. 00:53:46.480 |
He did not consider equality with God something to be God. 00:53:49.040 |
He didn't demand worship because He came as a humble servant. 00:54:00.400 |
In fact, if Jesus came as Caesar, it would have still been humiliating. 00:54:13.360 |
So even if He came as the most celebrated, most powerful human being on earth, 00:54:25.840 |
In fact, the only people that may have even had some idea that Jesus, the King of kings was coming, 00:54:36.160 |
Then, you know, we celebrate the Magi's coming from a distance, 00:54:41.200 |
Can you imagine when they came and found the King of kings and Lord of lords, 00:54:51.040 |
That the God of the universe took on human form, 00:54:54.480 |
and He was born not only in a manger, but to two poor teenagers. 00:55:05.840 |
And for the majority of His life, He had to learn. 00:55:11.360 |
It wasn't until at the age of 30, when He took on ministry, people began to question, 00:55:20.800 |
He had to empty Himself of His glory to come. 00:55:27.680 |
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 00:55:32.160 |
Again, in John 8:50, Jesus Himself says, "I do not seek my glory. There is one who seeks and judges." 00:55:42.400 |
And the only time the scripture tells us where He sought glory was as He is going to the cross. 00:55:46.960 |
This most humiliating death that a human being could possibly experience. 00:55:53.200 |
And as He was heading toward the cross, He said, "It is time for me to glorify you, and for you to glorify me." 00:56:02.400 |
And He says that's the way He was going to bring glory to God. 00:56:07.040 |
He had to empty Himself of honor, of worship. 00:56:14.240 |
Human beings, even the best of CEOs, even the most celebrated movie star, if He exalts Himself, 00:56:23.360 |
and we say, "Oh, that guy's kind of arrogant," we would expect it. 00:56:25.920 |
We have a superstar who has King tattooed on himself, right? 00:56:34.400 |
But for God Himself to walk on this earth, why would He do that? 00:56:43.280 |
No matter where you are in position, whether you are rich or poor or young or old, 00:56:47.920 |
we admire people who are humble because we know how hard it is for us to humble ourselves. 00:56:56.800 |
When we're wronged and when we're slandered and we feel like they don't understand us, 00:57:01.520 |
it's very difficult for us to just suck it up and just take it. 00:57:05.040 |
You know, in the years that I've been a pastor, I've experienced many different jobs, right? 00:57:11.040 |
And then I was thinking about what's the most humiliating thing that I had to experience. 00:57:16.640 |
You know, when I was 19, the huge aircraft that used to exist out in Fullerton. 00:57:21.280 |
And so I used to work from 5:00 to 2:00 in the morning. 00:57:24.480 |
And my full-time job was to clean 15 public bathrooms. 00:57:35.680 |
Because whenever something was overflowed or toilet was clogged, I was the guy they had to call. 00:57:40.560 |
And I remember, you know, whether it's 12 o'clock or 1 o'clock in the morning, I would run and I would 00:57:44.560 |
have to clean them. I don't want to go through disgusting stories, right? 00:57:50.400 |
You know, one of the jobs that I had was I worked for the city of Bellflower. 00:57:54.960 |
And they tell me, are you willing to climb into the sewer and pick up dead animals? 00:57:58.560 |
Because my job was to go into the underground vaults and clean out whatever was in there. 00:58:05.680 |
And I had to repaint the pipes, the underwater pipes I was going through or else it might pop. 00:58:13.360 |
And I had to drive around and open up manholes and go in there and do that. 00:58:20.960 |
The most humiliating job I had was when my wife was pregnant with my oldest son. 00:58:28.240 |
I wasn't, I didn't really know if I was going to jump back into ministry. 00:58:30.960 |
I was on the verge of possibly stepping away from ministry and I had no income. 00:58:35.440 |
My wife was about six months pregnant and not having income. 00:58:41.520 |
So I got this, you know, telemarketing job because that's all I knew how to do. 00:58:46.800 |
And it was, they were willing to give me a job quickly. 00:58:48.880 |
But I remember during that time, and it wasn't long. 00:58:52.560 |
I worked there maybe about three and a half, four months. 00:58:54.560 |
But it was a telemarketing job where I had to call and I have to convince people to change their 00:59:00.320 |
telephone company or, and they're going to save 15 bucks a month. 00:59:03.920 |
And so after I convinced them, I have to go through this, this presentation. 00:59:08.560 |
I have to say for legal purposes to say the exact phrase or else it gets rejected. 00:59:13.280 |
So even if I got 15 people to, to change, if I don't say it exactly, then it gets rejected. 00:59:18.880 |
So I remember during the three months, you know, I would get 20 people, you know, and I would say, 00:59:24.720 |
And I get like three bucks for everybody that changes. 00:59:26.800 |
And then at the end of the day, there's a 19 year old Asian girl who went to UCI, 00:59:32.000 |
had to go through that and then say, this is right and this is wrong. 00:59:35.120 |
And every day I would get chewed out at the end of the day by this 19 year old girl. 00:59:42.320 |
And I remember every single day, what I hated most about that job is not 00:59:46.080 |
people cussing me out on the phone, but this 19 year old girl. 01:00:00.160 |
You know, I got a kid coming and I have no income. 01:00:09.120 |
Whatever context we're in, it is hard for us to humble us up. 01:00:12.640 |
But the scripture says that God of the universe did not consider equality, got something to be grasped, 01:00:20.960 |
Secondly, he emptied himself of his own will. 01:00:30.320 |
And the word for doulos here basically means a slave. 01:00:40.880 |
You just do whatever the master tells you to do. 01:00:42.800 |
If he tells you to clean up the horse's manure, that's your job for the day. 01:00:46.320 |
If he tells you to come and clean up and take care of the other animals, that's your job for the day. 01:00:56.400 |
Now, humanly speaking, there's certain things that we have to do, especially if you're parents. 01:01:03.280 |
Are you taking care of children because you love them? 01:01:07.200 |
You have to humble yourself and be whatever they need you have to become. 01:01:23.120 |
It says at the throne of God, even the most majestic creatures are surrounding his throne, 01:01:40.080 |
That in and of itself is a mystery beyond our comprehension. 01:01:51.440 |
I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just because I do not seek my own will, 01:02:02.960 |
For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 01:02:10.800 |
Again, think about who it is that we are describing. 01:02:16.800 |
For I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father himself who sent me has given me 01:02:20.720 |
commandment as to what to say and to what to speak. 01:02:24.080 |
He doesn't do anything on his own initiative. 01:02:27.280 |
He doesn't make any own judgment on his own initiative. 01:02:29.600 |
He doesn't say anything by his own initiative. 01:02:35.680 |
Now, again, how hard is it for us to give up our own will? 01:02:41.200 |
Part of the reason why America is the greatest destination for so many people around the world 01:03:00.480 |
It is because the freedom to carry out our will. 01:03:03.760 |
One of the greatest challenges of raising children is to bend their will. 01:03:11.680 |
Some of you guys have very strong-willed children, right? 01:03:14.720 |
And whenever we ask for prayer, that's your number one prayer. 01:03:19.200 |
It's difficult for human beings, for you and I, to bend our will. 01:03:25.360 |
And we don't have a lot to be proud about that we have a hard time bending our will. 01:03:36.480 |
God himself gave up his will to submit himself to take on humanity. 01:03:41.760 |
In fact, the number one reason the Bible tells us that people reject God is because they don't want to surrender their will. 01:03:50.880 |
They'll say, we have people that we talk to all the time. 01:03:53.760 |
You know, I don't have a problem with the theology. 01:03:56.400 |
I don't have a problem with Jesus dying on the cross. 01:04:07.280 |
In Matthew 20:28, it says, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." 01:04:18.720 |
Christ, the God of the universe, surrendered his will and took on humanity that he may save us. 01:04:26.560 |
Thirdly, Jesus emptied himself of his divine power. 01:04:33.040 |
It doesn't mean that he didn't have the power. 01:04:34.640 |
We have glimpses of where we see glimpses of his power. 01:04:44.880 |
You know where we see that first is when he is taken to the wilderness and he is tempted. 01:04:50.320 |
Satan, who is blaspheming and rebelling against God, against him, 01:04:55.360 |
comes to Jesus and says, "If you are the Son of God, 01:04:59.680 |
if you are the Son of God, turn this rock into bread. 01:05:04.160 |
If you are the Son of God, jump off this temple and the angels will come and save you. 01:05:11.520 |
Can you imagine the restraint that he must have practiced not to destroy him right there? 01:05:18.720 |
Remember, the other demons would come and they would recognize who Jesus is, 01:05:24.240 |
and they were terrified because they knew what he was capable of. 01:05:28.320 |
"Son of God, did you come before your time to torture us, have mercy on us?" 01:05:36.080 |
And yet Satan is standing before him, said, "If you are the Son of God, bow down to me." 01:05:41.120 |
If I was Jesus, if any of us was Jesus, Satan would no longer exist today. 01:05:50.240 |
Did you come before your time to torment us? I would have said, "Yes." 01:05:57.280 |
You're done. You're done. You've been rebelling for too long and then now you're going to come to my face 01:06:03.440 |
and you're going to question me? Can you imagine the restraint? When he said he emptied himself and 01:06:09.600 |
he didn't grasp for the power, the power he had to destroy him at that time, and he restrained himself. 01:06:16.960 |
Why did he restrain himself? Because he had work to do. He came for some other reason. He didn't come for glory. 01:06:24.000 |
He didn't come for worship. He didn't come for honor. He came as a servant. So he took it. 01:06:29.280 |
When the people who didn't like what he had to say, because he was calling them out from their sins, 01:06:36.640 |
and they didn't like it. He said, "You guys, all you are is a whitewashed tomb." And because they didn't 01:06:42.640 |
like it. And then he started casting out demons. He said, "You're casting out demons with other demons. 01:06:47.120 |
You are demonic." Can you imagine the restraint? 01:06:51.040 |
I mean, this is a man who tells a storm to stop and it stops. A dead person to say, "Rise," and they rise. 01:06:57.040 |
And this creation, this sinful, rebellious creation that says, "You're demonic." Can you imagine if he 01:07:03.760 |
didn't restrain himself, what would have happened to them? Without a single word, just gone. Right? 01:07:10.960 |
And judgment for eternity. Yet he restrained himself because he humbled himself, emptied himself, 01:07:17.760 |
and didn't grasp for power. Matthew 26:53. As Jesus was headed toward the cross, Peter takes up the sword, 01:07:26.000 |
and he said, "I will protect you." And he begins to swing, and Jesus rebukes him, put him aside, and he says, 01:07:32.640 |
"Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 01:07:38.320 |
legions of angels?" One legion is 6,000. He says, "12 of them." Easily by just saying, "God, come." 01:07:45.760 |
Peter, you think I need you to protect me? You don't recognize who I am. 01:07:54.480 |
So the only reason why I'm submitting myself is because I have to go to the cross. 01:07:59.120 |
When Pontian's Pilate was offended that Jesus was not answering him, as he was questioning him, 01:08:06.720 |
"Why do you not speak?" It says in John 19:10-11, "Pilate said to him, 'You do not speak to me. Do you not 01:08:12.720 |
know that I have authority to release you, and I have authority to crucify you?' Jesus answered, 'You would 01:08:18.880 |
have no authority over me unless it has been given you from above. For this reason, he who delivered me to 01:08:24.400 |
you has the greater sin.'" The only reason why I'm standing before you is because I humble myself, 01:08:31.040 |
because I am emptying myself. You don't have any authority over me. 01:08:36.720 |
Pilate says, "You do not know who I am," and Jesus turns the table and said, "No, you do not know who I am." 01:08:43.360 |
In Matthew 14:65, "They blindfolded him and spit and struck Jesus, mocking him, saying, 'Prophesy, who hit 01:08:54.320 |
you.'" Can you imagine? Can you imagine who he is? And they're hitting him and mocking him and 01:09:05.600 |
spitting on him and Jesus just standing there taking it. Why? Because his work wasn't finished. He emptied 01:09:16.160 |
himself. Matthew 27:40, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." And saying, "You who are going to 01:09:26.400 |
destroy the temple and rebuild in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from 01:09:30.560 |
the cross." Can you imagine hanging on the cross and how tempted he must have been to get off that cross? 01:09:37.920 |
To step off that cross and say, "How dare you?" And yet he did not. He did not because his work wasn't done. 01:09:47.120 |
Fourth and finally, Jesus emptied himself of his intimate presence with the Father. 01:09:53.360 |
If you look at history, they have books and books of the last words of famous people on their deathbed or 01:10:03.520 |
before they're executed. The last thing that they say. Because whatever it is that they said, it's going 01:10:08.800 |
to be magnified. It's the essence of who they are. These are the things that were on their heart and 01:10:14.800 |
at the tip of their tongue before they passed. Well, guess what? We have the last words of Jesus. 01:10:19.600 |
As he is hanging on the cross, it says in Mark 15:34, 01:10:24.160 |
the last words he said was, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Up to this point, every time he 01:10:33.440 |
word to God the Father was Father, Father. But at the cross where he took on the sins of the world 01:10:39.440 |
and he had to be separated from the Father because he who knew no sin became sin. The last words. 01:10:47.440 |
He didn't say, "Father, why are you torturing me? Why is this? This is not fair." He says, "To God, 01:10:54.960 |
my God, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" In Isaiah 53:5-6, it says, "But he was pierced through 01:11:04.960 |
for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being 01:11:10.800 |
fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us turn to 01:11:17.360 |
his own way." Pay attention to this. "But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to follow him." Who did 01:11:25.360 |
that to him? L-O-R-D. In Hebrew, Yahweh. His Father did that to him. His Father did that to him. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 01:11:37.360 |
"He made him who knew no sin to be sin." Who made him sin? His Father did. "He who knew no sin became 01:11:49.600 |
sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." He hung on the cross 01:11:57.680 |
and he had every authority, every right to get off that throne and judge the world, but he hung upon that 01:12:04.240 |
cross because he emptied himself. He emptied himself of his glory. He emptied himself of his power. 01:12:11.120 |
He emptied himself of his will, and then he emptied himself of his intimate relationship with the Father. 01:12:19.040 |
So he cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Now we know what he has done, 01:12:26.080 |
and that in and of itself is a mystery, but when we understand why he did that, 01:12:32.880 |
this is why you and I here are here to worship. This is why, for the last 2,000 years, people have 01:12:38.800 |
taken time off. People have done things to celebrate this day. This is not an ordinary birthday that we 01:12:46.720 |
celebrate. This is God taking on human form. He became a man. Hebrews 2:14-15, it says, "Therefore, 01:12:54.080 |
since the children share in the flesh and blood, he himself likewise also partook of the same, that through 01:12:59.920 |
death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those 01:13:05.600 |
who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." Jesus became a bondservant, a slave, 01:13:12.960 |
to free us from our slavery of our own sins. Jesus became a servant that we may be magnified when Christ 01:13:22.960 |
comes. Jesus tasted death so that you and I may have life and have this life abundantly. He came to reconcile 01:13:31.840 |
us to the Father, to deliver us from death. So he did and experienced and did everything that you and I 01:13:41.120 |
that I deserved so that we may have life and have this life abundantly. Let me give you an illustration 01:13:49.920 |
that might help us to understand what human rebellion looks like. The Bible tells us that we have been 01:13:55.760 |
created to be image bearers. In other words, that we were created to be worshipers. And there's a reason 01:14:01.440 |
why so many people pay ridiculous amount of money to go watch people play professional sports. Because you 01:14:08.560 |
find joy and satisfaction. Right? You will take time off. You will do things. You will travel far in order to 01:14:16.240 |
support your team because it produces joy. Because you and I were created to be worshipers and that's where we 01:14:23.200 |
find true life. When we see something magnificent and we celebrate that we fit into what God had intended. 01:14:30.640 |
A human rebellion is like if you're watching a Super Bowl and then and it's a fantastic game going back 01:14:38.400 |
and forth touchdown interceptions going back and forth back and forth and all of a sudden some guy comes 01:14:43.920 |
in takes his shirt off has his name printed on his shirt on his chest and he's walking around and he's 01:14:49.200 |
disturbing the game because he wants some of the attention. So he's garnering every he's stopping 01:14:56.400 |
the game because no look at me look at me look at me. And doing so not only does he ruin the game 01:15:03.840 |
he's making a fool of himself and at the end of that he will be punished. He'll be punished. See that's a 01:15:14.720 |
microcosm of man's rebellion. That though God created us to be his image bearers and where we 01:15:21.200 |
find life and life abundant is when we see the glory of God and we live in eternity celebrating because 01:15:27.680 |
that's how God created us. But man's rebellion is he wants to get into the middle. Look at me. I want to 01:15:33.600 |
be great. I want to be recognized. And at the end of that not only does it ruin our family ruin our society 01:15:40.240 |
but it taints the glory of God. That's how the Bible describes to all have sinned and fall short of the 01:15:45.520 |
glory of God. So Christ came exactly the opposite of that person. Christ came humbled emptied himself 01:15:56.240 |
as a bond servant as a slave surrendered his will in order to save us. But not only does he save us in 01:16:03.200 |
Hebrews 4:15-16 says for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses 01:16:08.480 |
but one who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with 01:16:14.960 |
confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 01:16:19.520 |
Not only did he deliver us he says he continues as a perfect mediator 100% God 100% man so that he may 01:16:28.640 |
sympathize so that even now after we have believed Christ that we understand that he's a sympathetic 01:16:35.680 |
high priest who says come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my 01:16:42.560 |
yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart. You know what happened to me after 01:16:49.440 |
the three months of telemarketing I have compassion for telemarketers. I know I know how annoying it 01:16:57.040 |
is when you get especially on your cell phone now like more and more calls are coming in is that hey 01:17:01.760 |
you know you got the you want some some you know like you want some roof or you we're selling tires 01:17:06.240 |
whatever it is they call and you just got click right I can't do that anymore I have to have a 01:17:12.800 |
conversation it's like oh thanks for calling it's nice and you did a good job opening up you know 01:17:19.040 |
you know make sure you do this I'm just not interested right now but it's hard for me to 01:17:22.640 |
hang up on them right because I sympathize I know what it feels like all day getting cussed out 01:17:28.960 |
Christ took on human form not only to save us from our sins but to be a sympathetic high priest 01:17:35.920 |
to bring us to God in second Corinthians 8:9 for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 01:17:42.800 |
that though he was rich yet for your sake he became poor so that you through his poverty might 01:17:48.640 |
become rich let me conclude with this some of you who might have been invited here because it was 01:17:55.440 |
Christmas maybe you came to watch some of your nieces and nephews and grandchildren to come and 01:18:00.240 |
perform and maybe you are a co-worker that came because you're curious why is it that you make such 01:18:05.520 |
a big deal about Christmas the reason why Jesus did all of that is because our sins are weighing us down our 01:18:13.600 |
sins is going to lead to judgment and the only way to save us is to reverse that curse and that curse 01:18:19.360 |
was reversed on the cross but there is a contingency he says in first John 1:9 if we confess our sins 01:18:27.520 |
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness 01:18:35.680 |
if you've never asked for forgiveness from this God we invite you now you don't have to have theological 01:18:43.280 |
words you don't need to know the Bible all you need to know is I heard the invitation I believe 01:18:49.280 |
that this is this must be real maybe all the things that I've been experiencing it fits in with what's been 01:18:57.520 |
what's been said and maybe just humbly come before God God forgive me of my sins if you came all the way 01:19:05.680 |
here to save me I want to be saved and to simply come before the Lord and confess you acknowledge 01:19:11.280 |
Lord I'm a sinner in need of your grace and to just honestly pray God if you're real forgive me 01:19:18.880 |
so I ask that you would just simply pray if you have more questions about that you can go to the tent 01:19:26.080 |
outside and we have pastors and people that can help you with that they have some materials that 01:19:29.760 |
they can give you that you can you can take home or maybe you were invited here by a friend and you 01:19:34.640 |
can ask some more detailed questions about it if this is not real the whole world has been duped this is the 01:19:42.880 |
biggest lie in human history but if this is real which I believe it is there's nothing more important 01:19:51.840 |
there's no greater question that you need to answer than this does God exist did God really come did he 01:20:01.200 |
really die for my sins and can he really reconcile me to this God 01:20:05.520 |
I pray that you would come to know this God that you would have this life and life abundant as well let's pray 01:20:20.400 |
help us Lord to see help us to hear from you help us Lord God to respond to you in a reasonable manner 01:20:33.280 |
offer our bodies as a living sacrifice that if we're believers that we would live the rest of our lives 01:20:40.400 |
praising you thanking you and proclaiming you if we have come 01:20:46.640 |
just out of curiosity and if anything that I've said made any sense I pray that you would open their 01:20:53.040 |
ears open their eyes that they may be able to worship you as well and to be forgiven of their sins to be 01:20:59.760 |
made whole so for that end Lord God we pray for your mercy we pray for your grace that we may all together 01:21:08.080 |
worship you in spirit and in truth in Jesus name we pray amen let's all stand up for the closing praise 01:21:53.800 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:01.760 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:09.400 |
Joy to the world, joy to the world, the Savior is. 01:22:22.720 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:32.180 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:36.760 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:38.380 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:46.220 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:48.680 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:22:57.460 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:23:06.920 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:23:09.920 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:23:19.380 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:23:28.840 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:23:40.300 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:23:49.760 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:24:00.220 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:24:02.220 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:24:18.680 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:24:28.680 |
Let all earth be seen, let all earth be seen. 01:24:35.140 |
Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried. 01:24:39.240 |
Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 01:24:43.180 |
But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. 01:24:48.180 |
The chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed. 01:24:53.180 |
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us turned to his own way. 01:24:57.180 |
but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. 01:25:01.640 |
Help us, Lord God, as we celebrate Christmas, the incarnation of Christ, that as we understand 01:25:07.740 |
what he sacrificed for us, that we would return the joy to him through worship and celebration. 01:25:19.100 |
God sent us out. They called Him Jesus. He came to us. He left for you. He left for you. He left for you. 01:25:49.080 |
To buy my pardon. An empty grave is there too. My Savior lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. 01:26:29.400 |
Because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living just because He lives. 01:26:53.400 |
Father, before the dawn of time, You spoke and all created.