WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church Podcast. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:13.039 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.399 To find out more, go to Awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:20.800 Well, Merry Christmas. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:24.239 Thanks so much for joining us today. 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:28.239 I so wish we could gather in person. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.679 And yet I'm incredibly grateful that we get to share this special moment. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:47.679 And so thankful for our team that's put all the work into the service and to those experienced kids to create a very special Christmas Eve service for us together. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.000 And in fact, we had something fun earlier today. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:56.640 My family and I were part of the team that were driving these experienced kids. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.719 And we didn't just want to drive them around. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:03.280 We actually got dressed up and uh my kids were good sports. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.760 And so we wanted to do our little elving. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:10.560 We blasted Christmas music, got hot cocoa, and we had a blast. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.519 And I hope you really enjoy those Christmas uh experience kits. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:23.120 And so if you got yours, would you go ahead and just get the candle ready uh for our at the end of the message? 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:29.040 And maybe uh in the hustle and bustle you weren't able to register, or maybe you're brand new, and that's great. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:38.480 Just grab a candle in your house and uh get it ready, as it'll be a significant part at the end of our sermon today. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:50.959 Well, this year, I believe more than ever, we need uh, you know, Christmas to be more than just a nice idea, more than just the trinkets and the lights and the glitter. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:58.719 What we need is we need the reality and the power of what Christmas really is. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:11.280 You see, at the center of Christmas is a fundamental reality that the prophet Isaiah expressed when he foretold about Emmanuel God with us. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:12.719 He wrote this. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:13.599 Check this out. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:19.039 It says, the people walking in darkness have seen a great light. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:24.719 On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:28.000 We need light this Christmas, don't we? 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:30.879 It's been a dark year. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:52.879 And, you know, as our world has just ground to a halt again, and Christmas parties have canceled, and maybe your holiday plans have been changed, and you know, the most wonderful time of the year for many has just become a weary reminder of a really hard and dark year. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:03.360 And the question that we're wrestling with, the question on our hearts and our minds is simply this question. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.120 Is there any light at the end of this tunnel? 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.120 Is there any light? 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:10.319 I mean, we're just hoping. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:19.039 Is there any light at the end of this long dark year that we've been going through together? 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:23.759 You know, when I was a kid, I was afraid of the dark. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.599 I mean, I was like really afraid of the dark. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:34.879 Um, you know, my parents would put me to bed and they'd turn off the light, and as soon as they left, I'd go flip the light back on. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:41.439 Uh, I had a wild imagination, and so it just went uh everywhere when the lights were off. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:45.520 And my mom to help me, she got a tape recorder. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:50.319 Yes, that's what we used to listen uh to music in the 80s and 90s. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:58.800 Uh was a little cassette tape, and and she'd put it by my bed and play worship music or or play different stories. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.560 Uh, there was this thing back in the day, maybe some of you know it. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:07.759 It was uh this worship kids' ministry called Salty the Singing Songbook. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:12.800 Uh, and it was this big blue songbook, and he told stories and sang songs. 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:27.199 And I remember uh my mom got one particular tape from this, you know, collection of um uh songbooks that they did is called Farley uh McFirefly, Fear Fighting Farley McFirefly. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:32.959 And it was the story of this Firefly that had a broken wing. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:44.079 And so he couldn't fly, but he could glow and through song and through story told the truth of God's word of why we didn't need to be afraid of the dark. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.000 Well, I gotta tell you, I just I wore that tape out. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:58.240 It was by the side of my bed, and so many nights as a kid I just played that and fell asleep, the fear of fighting Farley McFirefly. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:05.600 You know, I it isn't just kids, though, that are afraid of the dark, is it? 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:19.279 You know, as we grow up, our imagination may not go as wild as it once did, but there's still something about the dark, about the unknown, even as we get older. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.759 You know, why is it? 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:26.000 Why are we afraid of the dark? 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:33.519 You know, in the Bible, darkness represents actually evil and the brokenness in our world. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:42.399 It represents the pain and the suffering, the injustice and the evil that we see in our world. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:48.480 And I think one of the reasons why we're afraid of the dark is when things are dark. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.879 Everything's unknown and uncertain around us. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:06:01.519 You see, light guides us, light directs us, light reveals what's real and what's true. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.519 Light shows us the obstacles in our path. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:15.519 And when it's dark, we can't see, and we're just stumbling and fumbling, and just trying to somehow navigate, hoping we're headed in the right direction. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:29.360 And maybe for some this year you felt lost, wandering, stumbling, fumbling, searching for some light just to guide you. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:35.839 You know, we're afraid of the dark, I think, because nothing good grows in the dark. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:38.800 Uh, you know, light brings life. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.439 Without the sun, nothing will grow. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:52.319 And in fact, we're just headed, or actually, we just passed the darkest part of the year when the days are shortest. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:07:04.879 And and you know this, and we see this, that when the the light fades and there's more darkness and gloom, just people experience increased levels of depression and and despair. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:09.920 And because light, light brings life. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:16.399 And you know, this spiritually is true for so many of us when things are dark. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:22.240 Maybe perhaps you're wrestling with your meaning or your purpose. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:29.759 Maybe there's been this hiding or living in shame and wrestling with your identity. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:32.000 And see, we're searching. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:38.079 We're searching for that light at the end of the tunnel that will bring direction and bring life. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:43.920 And, you know, we're afraid of the dark because when it's dark, it's empty and void. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:44.879 There's not beauty. 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:49.040 You notice that light brings not only life, but it's beautiful. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:50.959 It brings beauty. 00:07:51.279 --> 00:08:08.560 I mean, the sunrise and the sunset, and and as the sun casts its golden beams, and they just dance in the sky, and and you just take it in, and and not only is it beautiful, but whatever it touches, it brings beauty. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:20.879 Or maybe you've been out uh away from the city to look at the night sky and you see the heavenly host and you see the stars and the beauty all around. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:34.639 And I think this year, perhaps there's some inside where there is this sense of emptiness and void, of searching for something to light your way. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:54.320 You see, I think as adults, and just for us, we're afraid of the dark because without light, there isn't direction, there isn't life, there isn't beauty, there isn't a solution to the evil and the brokenness in our world. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:03.519 And the Christmas message is this the people walking in darkness have seen a great light. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:08.799 On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:17.679 A light has dawned, meaning a light that is from outside of our world that brings light. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:32.399 And the problem is, the problem for us is we're often searching for a light from inside of us or inside of our world to bring life and direction and hope. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:39.919 You know, we often think that the darkness can be solved with just more education or technology, don't we? 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:45.840 If we just had more education than the evil and the injustice, we could solve that. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.879 Or if we had more technology, then we no longer have the suffering that we see. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:10:01.279 And the problem is, the problem is we have more education, we have more technology, and we just have more darkness, don't we? 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:07.679 And question for you What are you looking to light your way? 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:18.879 What are the things that you're searching to hope that will bring life in the middle of darkness, to bring direction and hope and beauty? 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:23.039 You know, for some, I think the light at the end of the tunnel is this vaccine. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:30.720 It's like when we get that vaccine, then life will finally be right and work outright, or a political candidate. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:37.600 When I we get this right person in office, or maybe the economy being fixed. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:11:11.600 Or think more personally, it's it's been a lonely year, and if I could just find the right person, if I could just get married, or maybe you are married and life's been hard, and you're like, maybe if I could just find a new person or get out of this marriage, or or work and going, if I could just get the right job, I'm out of work and and light and life would be better if I had this job, or or maybe you're in a job, but it's not the job of your dreams. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.960 If I could just get a new job or a new boss. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:24.720 And we have these things that we're looking to light our way, whether it's your success or relationships or family or career. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:48.399 And the problem is we're constantly looking inside of ourselves or inside of our world to light our way, and nothing, no person and no thing will bring the ultimate hope and direction and life and beauty that will satisfy our soul. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:59.919 And what you're looking for, what I looked for, whether we realize it or not, is what we've been looking for is Jesus. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:16.159 You know, the gospel writer John, in the opening lines, as he's describing Jesus, helping us understand this one that came who is the Son of God, he says this about Jesus. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:23.840 He says, in him, that's Jesus, was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:33.600 That Jesus is life itself, the author of life, life, and in him is the light of all mankind. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:39.440 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.320 Like, like we know this about light. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:45.440 The minute you light a candle, darkness flees. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:48.480 The minute you flip the switch, darkness goes. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:58.960 And and what he's saying is the light, Jesus, the minute he enters the scene, darkness and suffering and evil flees. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:05.120 In fact, Jesus even said this about himself. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:11.440 He said, I am the light of the world. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.480 Not a light. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.679 Not one of many lights. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.840 Not a nice light that you should try. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.799 I'm the light. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:27.759 I'm the light that guides and directs. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:33.279 I'm the light that brings life and purpose and meaning and beauty. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:45.279 Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:52.960 You see, the message of Christmas is simple. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:58.320 It's just that Jesus is the light of the world. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:22.320 The message is that the Son of God came into this world, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to defeat the sin and pain and suffering in our world, was buried and rose again, defeating the darkness of death itself. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:29.120 He's the light of the world, the only true light that guides us. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:37.600 See, what's so good about Christmas is we're it reminds us that we're not waiting on light at the end of a tunnel. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:43.600 The light of the world has arrived and is here for you and me. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:48.960 And so, and so, how can we experience this light? 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:52.799 How can this light be yours right now? 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:59.679 Well, the prophet Isaiah goes on to explain exactly how we can experience this light. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:05.279 And he says, just a few verses later, after he says, a light has gone, he writes this. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:22.240 He says, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:28.799 Well, how can we experience this light and this light being ours? 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:33.679 First, uh, you notice that the light of the world is born. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:38.480 See, a child was born. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:42.320 It is Emmanuel, God, with us. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:54.639 It's not you figuring out how you can work your way to God, how can you somehow fix up your life, do better, earn uh, you know, your way to God. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:59.440 It is God moving towards you, God who said, I'm coming for you. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:05.519 I have moved into your world, into your experience, into your reality. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.679 I have come after you. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.320 You don't have to come after me. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.600 I've already pursued you. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:25.120 I love how um Tim Keller puts it in unpacking the reality that Emmanuel got with us in our experience. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:36.879 Uh, in his book, uh Hidden Christmas, he writes, if God has really been born in a manger, then we have something that no other religion even claims to have. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:44.399 Now think about this: it's a God who truly understands you from the inside of your experience. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:48.720 Like the light of the world, Jesus, he understands you. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:54.480 He's experienced and stepped into the darkness and the pain. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:01.840 He he stepped in and experienced being born into a poor, marginalized family. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:06.640 He he's experienced the tiffs and the tensions that that families have. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:21.519 He's experienced heartache and loss and brokenness and and and he's experienced rejection and pain and suffering and humiliation, and he's experienced death his itself. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:30.640 See, you have a wonderful savior who understands exactly what you're going through. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:33.440 And how can this light be yours first? 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.400 He's already come for you. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:42.400 And the second thing you see is that he it is a gift towards us. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.920 A son is given, it's a gift. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:55.359 God has given us this gift, it's not something that you can do or or earn or somehow, you know, do better. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:01.279 God says, I am giving you the light of the world. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:06.079 Uh, in fact, this is why at Christmas time we give gifts. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.200 I don't know if you know this. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.319 This is the foundation of why we sit around and give gifts. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:18.880 And many of you, you know, at some point, whether today, depending on, you know, how you grew up or on Christmas Day, you sit around and you give gifts. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.240 And if you're doing that, and maybe if you have kids, remind them. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:32.319 The reason we're handing out gifts to one another is to remind us that God gave the greatest gift of all, His Son Jesus, for us. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.079 And see, a gift. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:38.319 The only thing you can do with a gift is receive it. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:55.359 It can be beautifully packaged, it can be sitting there, but you don't get to experience the wonder and the reality and the gift itself until you take it and receive it. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:01.440 So you can know about the gift and you can see it, and you can look at it and go, okay, that's wonderful, that's fantastic. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:04.160 And it will just sit there nicely wrapped. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:14.559 But the minute you take it into your hands and you begin to unwrap it, you couldn't do anything to earn it, it was given freely to you, then you get to experience the reality of this. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:19.759 John, the gospel writer, goes on to say this about receiving the gift. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:25.359 He says, the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:32.319 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, notice this the world did not recognize him. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.039 Why? 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:39.279 Because we're looking to so many other things to bring light and life into our life. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:45.200 So many other things to satisfy, to bring direction and hope instead of the light of the world. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.160 He goes on. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.720 He says, Yet to all who did what? 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.640 Help me out, receive him. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:20:00.240 To those who believed on his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.400 To all who receive him. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.960 Well, how do I receive him? 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.480 It's very simple. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:14.799 He said, To those who believe on his name, that means to put the weight and trust of your life in Jesus. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:17.279 To say, you are the light. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:23.839 I've been looking for so many things to give direction and to guide and to show me the way. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:26.480 Jesus, I'm going to now look to you. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.319 I've been looking to so many things to actually bring life. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:35.839 And it might be your job, it might be your, you know, a relationship, it might be experiences. 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:38.799 And Jesus, only you have life. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:43.359 I've been looking to so many things to bring beauty and meaning. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:46.720 And you begin to go, only you have that. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:21:02.880 In fact, scripture tells us that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, that you're God, that you're the King, and then if we believe in our heart that God raised him up from the grave. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:15.759 Meaning, meaning that we don't worship just a baby in a manger, and this is one particular moment that is a special God with us experience. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:31.680 But that baby, like I said earlier, grew up, lived a perfect life, died for you and me, to defeat the darkness itself, and rose again and is living and sits at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:43.039 And when you say, Okay, I believe in you, I trust you, he says, the light of the world comes to reside in you. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:57.039 And for many, even as I'm talking, there's been something stirring in your heart because this year's been a dark year and you're just wrestling, and and all you have to do is say, Jesus, I need you. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:00.079 Would you be the light in my life? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.000 I believe you're the light of the world. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:05.680 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:12.799 I believe who you are, who you said you are, and I'm gonna follow you from this day forward. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.079 It's simple. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.920 It's a gift, and he's come for you. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:27.440 And that's the invitation for us to personally, not just out there, but to personally experience the light. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:33.599 You know the question is there any light at the end of this tunnel? 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:40.559 The Christmas message is that Jesus is the light of the world. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:56.960 And he's actually the light in the tunnel with you through this season, walking with you to guide you and direct you and bring meaning and purpose in an incredibly difficult season. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.640 In the Christmas season. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.680 I love Christmas. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:07.039 The Christmas season just gets to act like this little tape recorder by my bed. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.279 Just to remind us. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.960 Put on repeat. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:14.960 Put on repeat the reminder of Jesus, you've come for us. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.759 You love us. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.920 You indeed are the light of the world. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.119 Come for me. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:22.720 There's no need to be afraid. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.920 No darkness that can overcome you. 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:30.720 Jesus, you are the light and life for all who receive you. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:33.519 And so as we close, would you take your candle? 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:41.039 And go ahead and just light it. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:49.599 And we're gonna spend a moment and sing silent night together. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:24:09.440 And remind our hearts wherever you're coming from, maybe this moment was the first time you began to turn towards Jesus and say, You are the light of the world, or maybe you've been a follower of Jesus for a long time and you just needed to be reminded and you needed the tape recorder next to your bed. 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:17.359 And that we would sing this, recognizing the reality God's come for you. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:22.240 God loves you, He is the only true light of the world. 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.160 Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:27.680 The light of the world's with you in the tunnel.