WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:03.439 Thank you for listening to the Kelowna Christian Center Podcast. 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:08.160 Our desire is that today's message will be fresh and encouraging to you. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:13.759 For more information on KTC and how to connect, visit us at KTC.net. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:18.079 I believe God continues to give gifts to us. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:20.800 And some of those gifts are in the people beside you. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:23.600 Would you just look at the person beside you and say, You're a gift? 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:26.559 God has placed a gift in you for me today. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:28.239 That's right. 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:31.440 You're here on purpose. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.880 We're so glad that you made this part of uh a part of our service today. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:40.560 You've become uh you're part of our family. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:48.960 And I know that if you're with us today, you're surrounded by some of the most generous and kind people that uh in Kelowna. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:56.799 And uh if you just look at them, look at them in the eyes, and just uh tell them, I'm glad to be, I'm glad I'm sitting beside you today. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.000 It's good. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.079 Um, there are some of the nicest people that are in this place. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:08.719 And uh I'm telling you right now that uh we're just so grateful to be a part of this community. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:12.319 Let's give again another hand for everyone who's here today. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:14.400 Thank you. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:23.519 Um I just find that the presence of uh I the presence of Christmas is just so undeniable. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:25.760 It's undeniable. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:29.359 It really is about our Savior's birth. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:40.159 And every time uh we I mentioned it earlier today, I said there there's some people they have a birthday, and uh it goes it goes undercover. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:49.120 And there are other people like I know Dania, she has a birthday month, and it means every or a week, at least a week, isn't it? 00:01:49.439 --> 00:02:00.000 Her husband's nodding, yes, it is, where we just celebrate, and I tell you, there's something about the the tone of Christmas that you start feeling it in November. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:12.240 You start sensing as this anticipation, it's more than just the market and the promotion, and but you start sensing this anticipation to celebrate Jesus' birth. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:16.319 Celebrate the fact that Jesus came to us. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:22.240 We didn't have to go to him, he came to us, and we celebrate it today. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:24.240 Um, the whole world celebrates. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:26.639 See, and we, you know, of course, we see Santa. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:31.199 I have this one little graphic here, uh, a little humor I thought I'd share with you today. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:34.000 This graphic is uh Christmas group therapy. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:38.719 It's uh you can see Santa there says, I don't even believe in myself. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.240 That's his problem. 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:45.759 Uh those the snowman saying, I think I'm bipolar. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:50.319 Uh the reindeer, Rudolph, all the other reindeer laugh and call me names. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:51.520 He's got problems. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.479 And then the elf says, I'm trapped in a dead-end job. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:58.159 It's just the same thing year after year after year. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.520 It's uh the moment of Christmas. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.159 So we also saw something else uh here, this other graphic I just saw. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:24.400 This is if the three wise men had been women, and they would have asked direction, derived on time, they would have cleaned the stable, and they would have made casseroles and brought gifts of reasonable gifts for a newborn baby, like diapers and wipes, and we have milk and formula. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:32.159 This is something that uh would have happened instead of these other kinds of gifts that men would bring, like frankincense and myrrh and gold, right? 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:34.400 Those were necessary. 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:41.840 Um, I'm so grateful for uh all of you who are a big part of this season. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:45.360 Um we all contribute in a way to the season. 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:52.000 I think of families that are are taking other people into their homes over the Christmas season. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:04:00.240 I'm thinking of all those of you who have braved the traffic of the season, those who went to Costco. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:03.759 I was there, I made sure I was there. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:07.120 Did you know they opened an hour early at nine o'clock? 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.639 I was there at 9 a.m. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:10.479 and then someone was rolling in at 10. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:11.919 They're like, How are you already here? 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.080 And I said, Well, they opened at 9. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.439 10 is the busy time, and they're like, Are you kidding me? 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:17.920 I'm here. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.879 There were hundreds of people were in there already. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:34.800 Um, you have to brave the elements that some of you are traveling from outside of the province or from the uh the lower mainland, and we're just so grateful that you made it here safe and sound. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:37.439 Um, I actually love Christmas. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.399 I love hot chocolate, I love the shopping. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:47.120 Uh my wife's acting actually surprised, she probably shakes her head because I actually like the season. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:49.839 She's not convinced yet that I do. 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:55.600 But I the season I love, the chaos I'm not so enthralled with. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:56.879 How many of you are with me? 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:58.639 You know, the chaos of the season. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.040 But I love the season of Christmas. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:07.120 Um, I know that there are people who made an attempt not to shop in the mall this year. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:12.480 They decide to make all of their gifts and make and make sure to shop online. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:21.040 And they said, I was gonna commit, I'm not gonna get any of my gifts in the mall or in store, it's all gonna come to my door. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.319 Why, you may ask? 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:31.600 Because it's 2018 and we can do that now and relieve ourselves of any of that stress that comes with shopping. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:37.120 Um, I know that there are others who are uh are buying their gifts early. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:42.879 Some of you guys bought your gifts in November, and I just applaud this is the slow clap. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:43.920 Well done. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.199 Your work and your early planning paid off. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.680 Um, how many of you are glad that you still have one more day tomorrow to go get some gifts? 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:53.920 Yes, I see that hand, I see that hand. 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:56.160 I see that hand over there. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.240 Uh, how many of you are uh wrapping presents? 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:03.120 And we all know that there are two types of wrappers. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:18.079 Those who uh those who cut the wrapping paper, and then there are those of you who have the scissors and you just glide through the wrapping paper, and then there are those of you who try to glide through the wrapping paper and it just bunches up and cuts and tears. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.319 Yes, that's me, okay. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.959 Um I could use some scissors for Christmas, Natalie. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.279 Uh, how many of you are families that open one present at a time? 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:39.040 And everyone waits and watches, and how many of you are pre- are those who are just like, grab a present and let's rip it open, let's get this thing done. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:48.480 Um, I I was talking to some people in the in the church in our community here, and I said, Hey, what's your tradition for Christmas? 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.160 And they're like, Well, we do this thing, it's called Bad Santa. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:53.360 Have you ever heard of it? 00:06:53.519 --> 00:07:05.759 This is like where you buy just a gift that's a generic gift, and you just you draw straws, and one person gets a gift at one point, then they change it over, and someone can steal gifts. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.000 And I think that is just terrible. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:22.319 You've taken something that is like the moment of giving gifts to a game and a competition, and something that's uh something that's not Christmas spirit at all. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:27.920 It's stealing other people's gifts for your own good pleasure afterwards. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:32.079 You can rub it in their face while you drink eggnog and be like, it was mine. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.000 I I stole it from you. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:52.800 Um there are many different practices, many different traditions uh throughout Christmas, and uh, Christmas gifts and the giving of gifts are all great and wonderful, but let me tell you today, there's no greater gift than that gift that was given, that gift that was given through Jesus Christ. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:53.600 Amen? 00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:00.639 Hey, there was no greater gift than the gift given through Jesus Christ. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:10.879 That gift, it saved us, it gave us freedom in a place that we could never have achieved on and of ourselves. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:15.839 Jesus came into this world for me. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:16.639 What do you say? 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:22.480 For me, for me, for me, for me, for the whole world. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:30.399 No one excluded, no one of different gender, no one of different race, no one of different economic position. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:40.639 Everyone, Jesus Christ, came for the whole world to rescue the world and save the world from their place of sin. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:49.039 And so today, when I'm uh I want to just take a few minutes and talk to you about the legacy of Jesus. 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:58.960 This last few weeks we've been talking about our own legacy, and it's it's wonderful to have to reflect on what we're gonna leave behind that will continue and carry on. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:10.720 But I'm telling you today, Jesus 2,000 years ago, he came to this world, and what he left behind, I'm still embracing in full today. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:17.200 I'm still embracing that peace, that love, that joy, that hope, that presence. 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:24.879 I'm still holding on to it now, today, and it's still available for you and for me. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:28.080 That verse that was uh shared in that last video. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:34.240 I'm just gonna read it to you a little, uh uh, take a moment and read it to you again. 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.600 It says in John chapter 1, it says, In the beginning was the word. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:41.039 The word was with God, the word was God. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:43.679 He was with God in the beginning. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:45.919 Through him all things were made. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.360 Without him nothing was made that had been made. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.279 In him was what? 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:52.559 Life. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:10:04.559 And that life was the light of all mankind, and that light shined in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:12.799 There is a great light that came to the world, and that great light, it not only lives in the world, it lives in our heart. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:20.639 It enlightens us and makes us aware of who he is, his presence, and what he's done for us. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:26.960 And Jesus Christ came into our darkness and he came to bring us light. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:32.000 He came into our broken world and he repaired it. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.879 And that is the good news. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:41.440 That's the great message that we have repaired life, a repaired life because of Christ. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:47.279 He is light, and the scripture says, if you have Jesus, you have that light. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:53.279 That light to our path, that light to our feet, that light to our way. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:11:00.000 We have that that helper and that support in terms of our destination. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:08.480 Jesus and his legacy, what he's left for us is to become that light to darkness. 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:14.559 I know a lot of things that are crazy can happen in the dark. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:25.840 Uh, I know you're not, not everyone is like me, but I think we all had that moment in our lives where uh we encountered darkness. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:33.679 And I'm not talking about like an emotional darkness, or I'm talking about the first time you were in the dark. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.759 In the dark, dark. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:42.159 And you might have to go back into your memory banks here and remember that time when you were in your dark. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:12:01.679 I had this terrible, like I was preparing this and I was reminded back when I would sleep on the top of my bunk bed, and I'd sleep on top of the covers because I thought, you know how covers wrinkle up, kind of bunch up a little bit, and when you look at them, in my mind I thought they were snakes under my covers. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:05.440 And if you didn't have a fear of snakes, you will now, right? 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:09.440 And I used to think, oh my goodness, there are snakes under my covers. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:18.879 I'd sleep on the top of my covers until it was like, until it was late, and I would call on my parents and be like, Mom, dad, mostly mom, mom. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:23.360 I got snakes under my covers, and she would like it was irrational. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:25.279 There were no snakes under there. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.559 At least that's what I thought. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:32.000 She's like, No, there are no snakes, they're not gonna find their way under your covers. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.759 But the way she solved the issue is she just turned what? 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:44.080 Turn the light on, take a look, and you'll realize that that fear doesn't have to be there. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.960 There are no snakes under your covers. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:52.799 Well, so much can be resolved when you simply allow the light to come in. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:13:00.879 So much can be resolved in our life when we just open up and let the light come in. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:05.679 And let the light take away any of the fear. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:10.320 For many, I would suggest for all we've encountered this darkness. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:15.759 And at this time of the year, it's a reminder that you don't have to live in the dark. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:18.559 You can live with the light. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:22.720 You don't have to live in fear, we can live in hope. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:28.639 The road ahead can seem dark, but with Jesus with us, he becomes that light to our feet. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.879 He becomes that light to our path. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:35.679 There are many types of attributes that are associated with this darkness. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:42.480 Um one of them is that darkness brings pain, but the light will bring healing. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:47.120 I remember uh growing up in the church as a pastor's kid. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:50.960 Uh oftentimes we were the last of the children to leave. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:57.360 And uh last of the families to leave the church, as my dad would be locking up, and others would be helping. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:13.919 And uh I would hang out with my my brother and my sister, and we had this little game that we'd turn off all the lights in this main auditorium or an auditorium that was like this, and we'd shut off all the lights, and it was like super dark. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.120 And then we would play tag. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.600 You know that would be fun. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:23.440 You're like, I wonder if I could still do that. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.240 Yeah, tag. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:36.159 And we would play tag in a room that was dark, and which isn't very smart because you know that all of those chairs are like at about shin level, right? 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:40.639 And the problem wasn't in the being in the dark. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:42.879 If you stayed still, you were safe. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:52.799 The problem was when you started hearing that someone was coming after you and you made this mental decision, I'm gonna make a run for it in the dark. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:59.440 And you'd run as hard as you could, and you just prayed that there wasn't a chair in front of you. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:04.399 And you'd hear crash, crash, and then you'd hear crying, and then mom and dad would come in the room. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.279 What are you doing? 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:10.559 It's like we're playing a game, it's awesome, it's the best game ever. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:18.399 But the Bible talks about this darkness, this darkness that actually brings pain. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.159 It says it in this way. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:30.320 It says, the way of people in Proverbs 4.19, it says this the way of people is like darkness. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:32.879 They do not know over what they stumble. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:36.399 It's like they're constantly stumbling over things. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:55.759 At Christmas time, we used to stay at my grandparents' house, and you know you're familiar with your own house, but when you're staying at someone else's house, it's like uh in the dark, we would get up, and for some reason, she had this bed that had like a frame on it, like those metal frames, and you would hit your leg. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:58.240 How many of you know what I'm talking about? 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:02.720 Those beds were like the guy who designed it is just laughing. 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:19.919 Ha ha, how many he probably had stock in some shin company because you you were always hitting yourself on the corner of those beds, but you would stumble in the darkness, the way of darkness, in the darkness, you feel pain. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:27.039 But when the light comes, there is a way out, there's healing, there's hope. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:37.279 And so John says this I come into the world as a light, so that not so that not one who believes in me should stumble in darkness. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:41.840 So no one, no one would stumble in darkness. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:48.720 I want to have that light so that I don't fool around in the dark. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:53.600 I'm walking in the light because I don't want to continue to have pain. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.360 I don't like pain. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:02.720 I think sometimes that I'd be really good at pain, and then I realize by going to the dentist, I'm not. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.079 I just realize I'm not good with this. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:12.480 And so in that moment, I say, Lord, I want to choose the gift of light today. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:18.559 I want to choose the gift of whole of light so that I don't have pain. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:25.119 In the darkness, we feel lost, but in the light, we find we're found. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.279 Feeling lost is is a horrible feeling. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:35.759 Uh when you feel lost, you have a deep desire to like just get back to a place of security and safety. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.720 You're just like, oh no, I'm lost. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:45.279 But you don't know how to get to that place of safety, and it's it's a very intimidating moment. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:52.000 Uh, you and you know that if you just start running, you're actually gonna get even more lost. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:59.839 You gotta stop and you gotta find that place of of security again. 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:11.359 And the Bible says this the Bible says, all we like sheep, like sheep, all of us have lost our way and gone astray. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:17.680 All of us, and and this is this is something that we all have in common. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:26.400 We've all got that that that place where we have lost our way and where we've we've gone astray. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:40.960 Uh we've all fallen short, we've all gone on the wrong path, we all took the wrong way, and and the light of the world comes to actually help us find the right path. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:51.279 The Bible says it's a narrow way, but God will help us find that narrow way, He'll help us find that way to uh being found. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:56.160 So I love the fact that God takes care of lost people. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:03.119 I love the fact that He'll leave 99 to help find me. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.279 If I'm lost, I hope you look for me. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.279 Can I see his hand out there? 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.960 Who's gonna look for me if I get lost? 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:14.000 Okay I need I see that those hands. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.920 Look for me. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:20.400 I'm not panicking right now, it's not like, but look for me. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.880 If I'm lost, I want you to look for me. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:30.000 I want you to search me out, I want you to find out where I was and where I was going and and and seek me out. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:40.240 The scripture says, listen, we were all lost in darkness, but God came and he searched us out and he found us. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:43.039 That is the message of Christmas. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:50.079 In darkness, we get confused, but in the light, we experience clarity. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:20:02.720 Um many people have have come to a place in their life where they're like, man, I don't know my purpose, I don't know my calling, I don't know why I'm here, I don't know what I'm to do while I'm here. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:12.880 They they're looking for a place of clarity, and in the light you find clarity, in the light you find purpose. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:16.160 Confusion is erased when we turn to God. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:21.680 Confusion is is avoided, disorientation is avoided. 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:46.400 When we turn to God, he brings clarity to our lives, and that just allows us to have that confidence so we know that things work together for good when we uh when we seek Him out and when we love God and when we're called according to His purpose, He actually brings clarity to our lives and darkness in the darkness. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.279 Sometimes we feel fear, afraid. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.640 But in the light we have confidence. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:58.480 You aren't the first in this room to feel fear. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:02.640 Everyone's experienced this fear of the dark, even this morning. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:09.519 Like I thought it was great that Malachi's like, you know, we're gonna turn down the lights, don't be concerned. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:14.000 We're turning them down, you'll be okay, just stay where you are. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:15.119 Like, don't panic. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.000 There's no power outage, there was nothing like that. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:21.759 It's like lights will come down, don't worry, you'll be fine. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:27.599 Because people have this sense of like, I don't want to be in the dark, I want to be in the light. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:53.680 And the Bible says this about people who are are living in that place of darkness, and the Bible says that it's perfect light, it's perfect love that casts out all fear, perfect love casts out all fear, and when you let the light of Jesus into your life, the Bible says all fear dissipates, all fear is gone. 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:56.480 You experience perfect love. 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.759 People sometimes feel fear, and the answer to that. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.559 Fear is like we I just gotta get stronger. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.000 I gotta get bolder. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:06.480 I gotta be bigger than my fear. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:10.960 But the issue is what we really need is just the love of God. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.039 Know that God loves you. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.400 Know that you're called. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.799 Know that he's got you in his hand. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.559 Know that he's protecting you. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:20.319 Know that he's there for you. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:23.359 Know that he's like a whisper away. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:27.519 Know that God is for you, not against you. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:32.319 Know that he's not out to get you, but he's there to help you. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:42.160 This is the hope that we have that we don't have fear, we don't have uh tragedy because we have Jesus. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.480 We have the light of the world. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:51.759 Um it's interesting that during this time of the year, it becomes a really dark point of the year. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.960 It's one of the darkest times of a season. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.880 It's during this season. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:02.000 And it's in this time of the year we celebrate the great light that comes. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:05.119 We celebrate the light of Christ. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:08.880 We celebrate this life that comes because of Jesus. 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:24.240 I want to read you a bit of this story of the Christmas story today, and just share with you a little bit of God's God's heart for Jesus' uh Jesus' legacy that he was to leave. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:37.359 And it starts in Luke chapter 2, and it's always kind of one of our uh practices just to read the scripture and just hear the story as it's read in scripture. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:50.880 It says in Luke chapter 2, it says it was in the days of Caesar Augustus, where census was taken of the entire Roman world, and everyone went to their own town to register. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:24:05.039 Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house line of David. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:11.119 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.680 And while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:20.480 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:30.160 She wrapped him in clothes, placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them in the inn. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:34.319 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:44.720 They were watching over their flock at night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.680 What is that like? 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.359 A great light. 00:24:47.839 --> 00:25:02.799 Watching their sheep at night, in the darkness, angel comes and a great, great light, like a spotlight comes in the middle of the night, shone around them, and they say this. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:05.519 They say, first of all, they're really afraid. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:11.920 They're like, I don't know what's happening here because it's a light at dark at night, like a massive light. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:14.319 And they said, I don't know what this is all about. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:16.480 And he's the angels say this. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:29.359 The angels say, Don't be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause you great joy and will become great joy for all people. 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:34.799 Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:38.000 He is the Messiah, He is the Lord. 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.079 And this will be a sign to you. 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:45.039 You'll find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:47.839 So go look for him in a stable. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:53.440 And so if you're looking for love today, this light has come. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:26:06.720 And the Bible says God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, Jesus, so that whoever believes in him would not perish but have this everlasting, eternal life. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:11.680 This hope that we have, this life that we have, is because of Jesus. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:17.920 And if you're looking for that love, 2,000 years ago, love became present. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:21.039 Love changed our options. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:26.400 We didn't have to work for our our acceptance. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:29.039 Love gave us a new destination. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.960 Love gave us hope. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:33.599 Love became the legacy of Jesus. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:39.920 The legacy of Jesus for us today is that love came down. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:42.079 Love came down. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:48.319 Jesus said, if you're looking for joy, I'll bring good news. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:51.680 I'll create great joy for all people. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:53.519 How many of you are all people? 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:56.559 Turn to your neighbor, give them a big smile. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.400 There's good news. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:01.759 There's great joy available to you. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.920 There's great joy. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:09.440 Good news is that Jesus came so that we could have relief from our sin. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:12.480 We could be forgiven. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:15.839 We could have forgiveness and eternal life. 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:18.640 We don't have to be lost or confused. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.319 There'd be great joy. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:24.720 One of the great authors whose past now, C. 00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:24.960 S. 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:32.160 Lewis, said this: the Son of God became a man so that men could become sons of God. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:40.319 We have this great life, this great joy, the great news, the good news. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:44.480 The news that puts the Mary in Merry Christmas. 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.759 Merry. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:50.079 Happy, joyful, Merry Christmas. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:56.000 We have merriment in our heart because of this great joy. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:03.359 Merriment because God became men so that men could become sons of God. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:07.759 God sent his son so that we could become sons. 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:10.160 This is a great joy. 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:12.160 And Jesus said, You know what? 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.680 You don't have to worry anymore. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:15.119 I'll become the way. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.079 I'm the truth. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.880 I'm the life. 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:20.960 Anyone who wants to go to the Father can come through me. 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:33.440 And Jesus and the baby, and I'm sure his mom and dad looked at him in the manger and were like, through him, all people will be able to access the God the Father. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:41.200 Through him, all people will have access to Father God. 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:50.000 Believe in him, accept him, receive him, recognize him in your own life, in your own heart. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:53.359 And by receiving him, you'll find the way to God. 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:59.359 If you've been searching for God, the only way to get to God is through Jesus. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:07.599 Through Jesus, who came to us 2,000 years ago, who is who we're celebrating today. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:14.079 2,000 years ago, you can find the Father through him. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:21.440 And by finding the Father, you'll find your purpose, you'll find your hope, you'll find what you were created to do. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:30.960 Isaiah was a prophet who was years before Jesus was even come to earth. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:39.519 He was prophesying, he was looking forward, he was looking and hoping, and he was saying, you know what, there's something special that's going to come. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:41.440 And it's going to be a light. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.039 And it's going to be this light. 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.160 And he said this. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:51.519 He said, People walk in darkness, and when you see Jesus, you'll see a great light. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:58.240 Those who dwell in the land of deep darkness, on him the light will shine. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:02.559 If you're in darkness today, there is light for you. 00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:04.480 There is hope for you. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.559 There is life for you. 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:10.880 Christmas isn't man's attempt to reach God. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:15.039 It was God's attempt to reach man. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:18.799 It was God's way of reaching men. 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:22.960 And so today we look for that joy. 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:24.480 We look for that love. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:26.799 We look for that peace. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:30.559 And if you're looking for peace today, you'll find it. 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:35.920 The angels came and they say, Be still, don't be afraid. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:39.599 Realize that peace has come to the earth. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:42.960 Peace isn't found in a pill or in the bottle. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:45.839 Peace is found in Jesus Christ. 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:49.119 He's the author of all peace. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:51.839 Anxiety slips away. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:56.799 Concerns and the burdens that you carry, you can just throw on him. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:02.559 This little baby would be the one who would carry the burden of the world. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.960 Isn't that amazing? 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.559 Jesus. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:11.440 Jesus carrying the burdens of the world. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:15.519 You and I were never designed to carry it. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:19.599 Instead, Jesus was there to carry it. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.640 Do you know what? 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:28.559 Lastly, I want to share with you today the last point of his legacy, the last point of what he left for us. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.160 And you know what it was? 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.240 Himself. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:37.599 The scripture says his name would be called Emmanuel. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:44.079 That means God is no longer far away, but God is with us. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:50.160 The legacy that Jesus left was that I will never leave you. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:55.119 Two thousand years ago he came and he is never left. 00:31:55.759 --> 00:32:05.279 He's with us today, he's in our hearts today, he's in our, it's who we carry in our spirit. 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.960 He's there. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:11.359 Sometimes I think we we don't realize it. 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:14.400 We're so close and yet we don't connect. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:28.880 It's like at my house, I I have uh my cell phone, and sometimes I'll get in my vehicle and warm up the car, and I'll back out of the garage a little bit, and I'll just want to check my email. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:42.240 And I'm it says, like I see the little icon there that the Wi-Fi is connected, but I'm not, I'm within proximity of the Wi-Fi, but I'm not connected to the Wi-Fi. 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.720 I can't actually access my email. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:46.240 I can't connect. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:48.559 I'm too far separated. 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:54.079 I'm still connected, I just can't, I can't make that engagement point. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:33:11.359 And too often I feel that we're like close, we're close, like the Bible says Jesus is here today, with us today, in this place, today. 00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:18.240 The Bible says when we sing songs, he comes and inhabits that song. 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:22.720 Where two or more are gathered, that's where he is. 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:26.559 That seat next to you, he's sitting right there. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:31.839 I as a child, my parents told me God is everywhere. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.079 I remember they were told me I lifted my feet off the off the chair. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:37.680 I'm like, is he under my chair? 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.920 I'm like, he's under your chair. 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:45.200 He's here, he's that close to you and to me. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:47.839 Jesus is here. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.920 Jesus is here. 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:58.559 And so today, my challenge, my reminder to you is don't live in darkness anymore. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:01.200 Not when the light has come. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:16.239 Why walk in the darkness in pain, in confusion, in lostness, in anxiety when the light has come, and the scripture says he turned the light on for the whole world. 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:24.000 He turned the light on, he became the light of the world so that no one would need to walk in darkness. 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:35.360 He left us his peace, he left us his love, he left us his joy, and he left us himself for all of us to experience. 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:38.000 Do you believe it today? 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.280 Amen. 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:42.800 Will you just take a moment and just bow your heads with me? 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:48.800 Father, today, we just realize that you're here with us. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:58.960 For some in this room, it may be the first time that they actually realize that you're here and that you care for them and you love them. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:13.119 And this isn't just a story uh uh or a holiday that's celebrated uh out of tradition, but it's a reality that Jesus, you do come and bring peace. 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:16.000 You do come and bring joy and hope. 00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:23.360 You do come and love us, you do come and provide us with your presence so that we're no longer alone. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:45.920 For others here today, we're just reminded of who you are, and we choose in our heart to magnify you, to make you large, to make you great, to make you uh make you uh aware so that other people can become aware of you. 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:49.119 And Father, today we choose you. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.800 We choose you. 00:35:51.360 --> 00:36:08.480 And Father, today I just I just want to take a moment, and I just want to invite, if anyone in this place, because I believe Jesus is here, and that he's not afraid of you, and he's saying, Don't be afraid. 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:11.440 I'm gonna come, I'm gonna light up your life. 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:34.480