WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:04.719 Welcome to this week's message from the church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:10.800 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:13.359 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.760 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:18.960 Thank you, Dr. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:26.239 Lovett, and certainly my privilege to be in this pulpit and have the pastor that we have. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:30.399 And it's kind of a joke before we came and visited this summer. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:43.119 And he said, if Dr. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.159 Lovett's in his church, you ain't gonna preach. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:48.719 And sure enough, I sent him. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:50.799 I said, We this is how we do these missions trips. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:51.679 I always preach. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.920 And uh he said, Well, that's nice, Rick, but I'll go ahead and preach. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.520 And so, anyways, it really is my honor. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:01.280 I didn't know if I'd ever preach with Dr. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:04.400 Lovett in the service, and y'all know why. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.640 He's the best, he really is. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.040 And so, thankful for this opportunity. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:11.519 Merry Christmas! Good to see you all. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:12.959 And uh, it's exciting. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:28.959 Uh, I I had a lot of story to tell family this year that you know for a long time it looked a lot different, and um, it was fun to explain how God has worked us into being in Alabama and um and and the family in Texas, that was all better to them because it was further south. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:32.560 It didn't matter how where we were, but further south was good to them. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:35.599 They said it's not Texas, but Alabama's good. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:40.159 So, anyways, we are enjoying the Christmas season. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:42.000 Uh, I want to talk to you this morning. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:45.519 I uh I thought I would stay in tune with what Dr. 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:51.439 Lovett has been preaching on the Christ of Christmas, and he's been presenting the whys of Christmas. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:59.280 And he presented um why the virgin birth and why Joseph and the dream and why Bethlehem last week. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:03.200 And so I thought about Christmas and I thought, why Jesus? 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:16.000 When God could have done anything he wanted to do because he's God, what significant parts of Jesus made him choose to provide Jesus for us? 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:27.199 He could have done anything, it could have happened any other way that he'd wanted because he's God, and nobody tells God what to do, but he chose Jesus, and I'm so glad he did. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:28.800 Let's pray together. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:31.199 Father, we thank you for this opportunity. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:36.639 God, I'm so glad to be with our church family here this Christmas season. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:42.560 And God, we are celebrating you, the reason that we have life, the reason we have hope and joy. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:51.039 And God, I pray that just for a few moments as we study your word, God, we've given gifts, we've had traditions and times with family. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.479 I pray that this time, God, you would be blessed. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:03:01.840 God, let something we do glorify you, and God, give you honor and you glory, and let us put something back in your stocking. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.479 And God, let us just give for a moment to you. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:06.479 We love you, Lord, in Jesus' name. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:07.280 Amen. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.960 If you got your Bibles, turn them to John chapter 1 this morning. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:16.719 John chapter 1, and I want to read a few scriptures together, and then we'll break into the message. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:21.280 John chapter 1, verse 1 through 5, and then we'll go on down to verse 14. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:25.840 It says this In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.080 He was in the beginning with God. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:32.639 All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:39.599 In him was life, and the life was the light of man, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:44.639 Go on down to verse 14, which is sort of our key verse for this study. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:52.719 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:04:10.639 John bore witness of him and cried out, saying, This was he of whom I said, he who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me, and of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace, for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.039 No one has seen God at any time. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:17.920 The only begotten Son who is the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:25.360 So I want to give you three principles today about why Jesus and why, as we look through this scripture, we can claim that God gave us Jesus. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.040 And the number one first thing is Jesus is God's man. 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:39.600 If you look at that word begotten of God, in the Greek the word is monogenes, which means literally one of a kind, the only one of its class. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:42.160 Jesus is only one, one of a kind. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:43.360 There's no one like him. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.360 He is the begotten of God. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:47.519 And he came to be flesh in verse 14. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.160 It says, The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:55.040 We needed him to come to be flesh, and that was his purpose in coming. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:02.720 Galatians 4, 4, and 5 says this, but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:04.720 He was made to be flesh. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.800 See, he was in the beginning with God, and he was a part of God. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.959 And we saw the great illustration Dr. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:12.720 Lovett gave of how to explain that. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:19.120 God, the Holy Spirit, and the Father are three in one, just like the H2O of water. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.720 And how can we explain that? 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:23.839 But they are together as one, but they're separate. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.680 And so Jesus was there at creation and he came to be flesh. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:28.879 He was made of a woman. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:32.800 Hebrews 2.17 says this about him being flesh. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:37.120 Therefore, in all things he had to be made like his brethren, in all ways. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:41.199 And so Jesus in the flesh was fully flesh. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.160 He wasn't superhero in part. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:48.639 He was all God, but on this earth he was limited to be flesh. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:50.000 He was fully man. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.360 Hebrews 4.15 said this about that. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:58.240 He was tempted in all ways, like as we are, yet without sin. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:01.600 You see, he knew every weakness that we knew. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:08.800 He was tired, he was lonely, he was weak, he was hungry, and he did all those things without sinning. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:11.839 He was fully man, but never sinned. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:13.519 Jesus is God's man. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:18.319 And I know going through the weaknesses of a man to go through those things and never sin. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:20.879 What an amazing testimony. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:25.120 You see, I often when I'm tired is when I'm at my weakest. 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:29.519 And I know a couple times being tired, this has happened to me twice. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:33.839 Two times around two in the morning, I've fallen asleep and the TV's been on. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:34.319 Okay. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:39.439 And one time I woke up at two, and some of you folks that are a little older will appreciate this. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:41.360 The Carol Burnett show was on. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:46.079 And it was a promotional thing to sell the DVDs. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.680 And so I wake up at two in the morning. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:49.920 Alright, you're not really in your right mind. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:53.680 And so I wake up, and I'm telling you, this thing had me dying laughing. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:57.519 I'm watching it, and it was this skit of gone with the wind. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:57.839 Okay? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:58.800 Y'all remember that movie? 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:03.199 So Carol Burnett comes down as went with the wind. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:07.360 And she turns in this window and there's this big green drape. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:12.720 Well, in the movie, Scarlett O'Hare wears this great big green gown and this one memorable scene. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:20.160 And she looks in this window, and all of a sudden she's turned around and spun around, and she comes downstairs and she's in the drapes. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.040 This great big green curtain is all wrapped around her. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:30.639 And the guy that's playing Rhett Butler, uh, he he looks there, he says, Scarlett, what a beautiful gown you're wearing. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:34.560 And she says, Well, I saw it in the window and I just had to have it. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:37.279 I was dying. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:43.680 I picked up my credit card and I called in two in the morning and ordered the very best of Carol Burnett. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:52.079 About a year later, at two in the morning, very tired, I wake up and I see you, y'all see all these things. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.519 The sauna belt. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:54.800 It's gonna be the answer. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.800 I'm gonna get a six-pack. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.839 I watched this thing for about 15 minutes and I'm like, this is great. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:05.600 You don't have to do they're like, no sit-ups, no hard workout, no fancy diet. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.759 All you gotta do is wear the sauna belt. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:08.480 You can wear it. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:10.160 And and so I'm like, all right. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:13.199 And you know, three easy payments of$9.95. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:16.879 I'm like, for 10 bucks I can get a six-pack, I'm in. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:20.000 So at two in the morning, I call and order this thing. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:20.639 I got it. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:23.680 I'm telling you, worst purchase I've ever purchased. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:28.079 Okay, it didn't tell you on there that people are walking freely and everything. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.000 This thing had a cord, okay? 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:32.720 Yeah, how far can you go and move around? 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:38.639 I thought I could wear it all the time, and all of a sudden, no, I had to be sitting in my bed and wearing this thing. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:41.840 And I never got a sickness pack, I just got kind of sweaty. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:48.639 So I know as a man, bad choices come in our moments of weakness. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:54.639 And Jesus never knew a home, but he never sinned. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.840 He was often hungry, but he never sinned. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:06.720 People cursed his name and tried to pull him into some philosophical arguments and tried to pull him into sin, but he never sinned. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:11.200 Let me tell you, we're gonna talk in a little bit how much we needed that, how important that is. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:13.919 But he came, he became flesh for us. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.159 A couple of reasons why he became flesh. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:19.600 Number one, he came flesh to have authority. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:27.679 Romans 5, 17 through 19 says, by one man sin entered into the world, and death because of sin. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:30.879 The first Adam, sin entered the world because of man. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:35.360 But God in Genesis gave dominion of the earth to man. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.720 And so we had an authority problem. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:46.720 You see, because Psalms 115-16 says this the heavens are the Lord's, but the earth has he given to the children of men. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:49.519 It was for men. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:54.240 And John 5.27, we see part of God's plan. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:59.600 It says, and he gave authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:05.919 Jesus came and became flesh to take back the authority to be the sacrifice that we needed. 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:07.279 He came to do that. 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:12.399 He became flesh to take back authority, he became flesh to be put to death. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:18.320 You see, God the Father in Deuteronomy 32 says, I kill and I make alive. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:20.720 It's up to God the Father, okay? 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.519 And it's the Father's place, Jeremiah 10, 6. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:24.720 There's no one higher. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:27.600 You see, God the divine cannot die. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:30.799 He's immortal, he's eternal. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:40.480 He had to make man, he had to make Jesus become flesh, and Jesus became flesh for that purpose so that he could come and give his life. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:42.320 He became flesh. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:44.960 He also came to be glorious. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.000 C.S. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:51.279 Lewis says this imagine your dog is at your feet. 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:52.720 Your precious animal. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:53.360 I know Dr. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.879 Lovett can understand. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.120 Rocky's at your feet, Doc. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.879 Imagine every dog is in deep distress. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:07.200 And if it would help all the dogs in the world, you would become a man. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:27.360 Would you put down your human nature, leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, comfort, and choose instead of intimate communion with those you love, the poor substitute of slobbering and wagging your tail? 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:34.080 You see, Christ became a man and limited what was most precious. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:40.399 He had communion with the Father in heaven, all of glory, all of splendor. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:42.559 And he became glorious. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:44.799 Why? 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:46.720 Why would he do that? 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:53.120 As you think about, would you become a dog so that other dogs could do better? 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.600 I can't even imagine. 00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:00.320 You see, scripture says this, he became glorious for a couple of reasons. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:06.799 In Exodus 33, 20, Moses asked God the Father, let me see your glory. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.120 And he responded, No one can see God's glory. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.399 You cannot see my face and live. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.080 It would kill you. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:25.919 It was like the first time I saw Heather walking across Tennessee Temple campus, it physically took my breath away. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:27.279 It hurt my heart. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.320 I said, Oh, wow. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:34.480 By the way, it still does. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:45.759 Listen, I tell the teen boys all the time, if you will be godly and a little bit funny, there's a chance. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.559 There is hope. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:52.799 If you will love God, it doesn't matter if she's way out of your league. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.320 There's a chance. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.320 You just gotta pray that God would give her a heart like I did. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.960 God give her a heart for a wretch such as I. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.960 Oh God, please. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:10.320 But have you ever been awestruck by something that you've seen of this earth, of this creation? 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:17.600 There's people that's been to the Grand Canyon or seen a sunrise and said, wow, would you look at that? 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.240 We got to go down to the Gulf Shores and uh stay there. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:26.320 Um and we looked out, and everywhere we looked, there was ocean. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.320 Just wow. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.600 You see a rainbow. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.600 Wow, would you look at this? 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:38.159 And and and he spoke out of his glory, and that came just words. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:46.399 I've never heard someone speak, and it threw me back, and the glory of their words just made me go, that is the awesomeness of our God. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:49.919 He spoke, and the glory we see can take our breath away. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:55.600 His glory is undefinable, it's unmatchless, there's nothing like it. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:14:06.240 And he chose to leave his glory to help the dog to help you and I become better. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:08.960 Our God is awesome. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:11.759 Jesus was God's man. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:19.919 Because he is so awesome, and because God is also eternal and omnipotent and omniscient, he's all-knowing. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.600 He always had a plan. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.440 And Jesus is just that. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.799 He's God's plan. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:33.200 The word plan there I looked up in the Greek, it's God's best offer, his best desire for us has always been Jesus. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.080 His best. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:38.320 The word is Thalamea, his best for us. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.639 Could God have made a different plan? 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:43.759 Well, that's really past your or my pay grade. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.320 He could have made a different plan if he wanted to. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.279 I know nothing is impossible with God, the word says. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.879 But this plan is perfect. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.360 And if he would have made another one, it would have been perfect. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:15:03.440 It's like a the college professor used to ask these questions that were perplexing and said, Could God make a rock so big that God couldn't move it? 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:07.200 I thought, what does that mean? 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.000 And he he answered the question finally. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:14.960 He said, Yes, God could make a rock so big that even God couldn't move it. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:16.960 And then he would move it. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:20.559 Like, that doesn't help, Professor. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.559 This is God's plan. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.080 I know it, and I know it to be perfect. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:28.799 And I know as I've tried to make plans in my life, sometimes I mess up plans. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:33.600 And sometimes my plans don't go the way that I want them to go, and they're not the best. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:37.519 And then I may argue and fight and fuss over what I think is my plans. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:43.759 And as I was considering that, the first summer camp we took teens to, I had my plan set. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:47.440 Now I didn't choose the camp, but I got uh to Calvary in Indiana. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.480 They had chosen a camp. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:53.360 And we were gonna go to Florida 20-something hours with a group of 50 teenagers. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.440 And uh yes, you see, you're already seeing parts of the plan. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.759 You would have been wiser to do this. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:01.679 But I said, okay, let's do it. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:11.440 And then we jump on the bus, and I'm 24 years old, leading a group of 50 teenagers, and we get going, and this trip takes way longer than MapQuest said. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:11.759 Okay. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.799 16 hours turned into 26 hours. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:20.639 Three hours into the trip, this is not part of my plan, but a girl started going to a diabetic shock. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:30.480 She forgot her insulin, and so we're in Kentucky on the mountain somewhere and trying to drive through some podunk town and find the the kit that you buy in the Walgreens to fix this thing. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.240 I'm like, what is happening? 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.639 Okay, this is my intro to youth. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:38.480 And um, so we get that fixed, get back on the highway about an hour later. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.440 Guess what? 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:44.000 They didn't supply us with a 2014 Greyhound. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:46.879 This was a 1978 Greyhound. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:49.039 And of course it broke down. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:54.960 And we didn't have, once we finally got it back going, we had no more air conditioning the rest of the trip. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.200 And there's two little windows in the front. 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.879 That's the only windows. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:07.680 My wife was early in pregnancy with our first child, all the nausea, all that stuff going on, sweating on a bus with 50 kids. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.799 She loved me. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.279 Okay. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:17.359 We get down there finally, and mind you, before all that happened, we I had played in a softball game, ripped open my leg. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:19.039 I had paid no attention to my leg. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:33.039 We get down there, and by the first night, we're in the first chapel service, and we're just wore out, hadn't slept for 20-something hours, and my my leg was beginning to bulge, and Heather looks down and she points, and I hadn't even looked at it. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:37.599 She points at my foot and she's like, and I look down and I'm like, whose foot is that? 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:42.559 It's just like she says, we're going to the emergency room. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:47.119 So my first camp, we went to the emergency room, hadn't slept almost for two straight days. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:54.720 They gave me an MRI, they gave me an X-ray, they gave me uh something else, and I'm like, it's it's right there, it's my skin, you can see it. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:57.440 And they're like, No, did you come here for treatment? 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:00.640 Apparently I came there for$8,000 worth of bills. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.920 But, you know, they just needed to put on some cream on my leg. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.720 I had this infection from sliding and open up my leg. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.720 But that first two days was like that. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.640 I try to save the camp for the kids. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.839 They've been sweating all week. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.960 This is my plans. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:16.640 Okay, and they're in the hot sun and the camp provided inflatables. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.920 That's their fun time. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.920 Let's go burn our feet off. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:23.519 And so I'm like, I don't even care. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:25.279 I talk to the pastor, try to get it worked out. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:28.240 I'm gonna take them to this big arcade, it's called Dave and Busters. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:31.519 I get there, I'm 24, I go in, I say, this is what we want to do. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.799 We want to give you money and put our teens in here and have fun. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.839 This is my plan. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:41.920 And they said, All right, well, we're gonna need one per every four kids. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.200 We need a chaperone. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.960 We only had one per seven. 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.400 I thought, really? 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.119 I said, Well, we'll go in phases, no big deal. 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.000 I made a new plan. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.119 Okay, that's it. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:55.680 They they looked at me and said, and the chaperone has to be at least 25 years or older. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.160 I'm like, I need a chaperone. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.559 I brought these kids this far. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.079 You're telling me I have to have a chaperon. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.799 I'm 24. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:05.839 I need a person to come in here with me to spend money for you. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.880 Yes, sir. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:12.400 Okay, listen, I know my plans are not always the best plans. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:18.480 I know they don't always work out, but you can bet this God's plans are always the best plans. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.720 Scripture says his ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:26.240 And so Jesus has always been God's plan. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:29.359 It was his plan to show the Father. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.160 He revealed the Father when He came. 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.920 John 5 19 says this. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:40.480 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son of Man can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:43.920 For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:47.680 From beginning to end, Jesus was God's plan. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.480 John 14, 6 says this. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:55.920 Jesus is having a conversation with Philip, and he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:58.240 No man comes to the Father but by me. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:03.759 He said, If you knew me, you would know and see him, the Father. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.240 Philip says, he's confused. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.480 He says, just show us the Father. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:13.759 Jesus says, Philip, how long have I been with you and yet you do not know me? 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.400 If you have seen me, you have seen him. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.240 I'm the mirror of him. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:24.480 Jesus came to reveal the Father, to bring heaven's glory to earth and to show him. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:26.559 That's why he was able to do the miracles. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.000 That's why he was able to heal. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:33.039 That's why he had the message that nobody else ever had or could ever repeat. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:35.920 Because he was God in the flesh. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.839 He was mirroring the Father. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:45.119 Listen, if you look at my son Wyatt, a lot of people say, can't deny that boy. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.400 They look at him and say, you can tell who his father is. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:53.599 And then they see him act, and those who really know me say, You can tell who his father is. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:57.920 And so I know that he is a part of me. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:00.640 And I'm so proud of who my son is. 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:06.799 And I said to my family, this year has been the greatest year near Christmas because my son came to know Christ. 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.160 What a gift. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:10.079 I was so excited about that. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:13.599 And I can't deny him, but he just has a part of me. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:16.480 He's not all of me, he has parts of my wife. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.160 But I can't deny him. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:22.000 And so Jesus has all of the Father. 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:25.519 He is the ultimate source of God's glory. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:30.480 This act of grace of him coming reveals the Father to us. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:35.039 People have kind of talked about, you know, we were created. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.440 God created us because he needed a relationship with us. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.799 And that's not the case. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:41.519 God created us because it brings him glory. 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:48.880 And the defining act, I heard a preacher once say, of God's glory is in the act of Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:57.440 The act that shows the glory of the Father in its highest form to us is the grace shown in the act of Christ on the cross. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:04.640 We see the Father's love in all of Its splendor in that act, redeeming mankind. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:07.759 And so we see his glory. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.200 He came to give glory. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.759 He came to show the Father glory. 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.440 He also came to serve. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:20.559 Mark 10, 45 says, the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:27.119 In Philippians chapter 2, we see the scripture where it says Jesus humbled himself to be obedient all the way to the cross. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.480 He came to serve. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.480 He came to serve broken humanity. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:33.920 When you see Jesus all through scripture, he's serving someone. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.920 And he's never looking for an opportunity. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.000 Everywhere he's going, he's taking it. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:46.319 You talk about how Jesus is the great discipler, but he discipled disciples while walking down the road with opportunities to serve. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.799 If someone was blind, he would fix their blindness, he would heal. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:54.480 As they were going towards something, he was serving. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:59.039 And so Jesus came to serve, and he served broken humanity well. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:03.119 So you asked the question, it's Christmas, how can I serve? 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:09.440 I'm glad that you're thinking about that question because at CCW, we sure have some needs. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:17.440 And God has provided this great vision and this great church in an opportune area where we can serve. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.759 And I'm so thankful that God has opened the doors. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:24.079 We have a great youth program in Iwana, and there's people that serve in a food ministry. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.279 And most of you probably got hit by the defensive line as you walked in. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.799 Somebody here to greet you. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:31.680 There's people that are going to take offering. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.279 There's people that are going to usher you. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:36.640 There's so many needs, and there's things that have not been created. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:39.440 And it's so awesome that we're in a church that's just three years. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.519 The things are not yet created. 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:45.359 So God's given you something, and you need to serve. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:51.119 Someone said this: you're never more like Jesus than when you serve. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.920 That's right. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:52.720 Amen. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:59.440 Rick Warren said this: God's ultimate goal for your life on this earth is not comfort. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:05.519 I like being a pastor, but I need to clean spilled drinks. 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:09.200 I like being a father, but I've got to wipe tears. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:16.880 God is not interested in us living in the lap of luxury and being comfortable. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:20.079 We're never more like him than when we serve. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:22.319 The son of man never had a pillow. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.799 Never had a place to rest. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.599 A king of ultimate glory. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:33.920 To make a dog like me have a chance. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.799 He came to serve. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:40.480 But he also came, thank God, to save. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.839 Came to save the lost. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.319 Luke 19, 10 says it so well. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:48.240 He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:54.319 And I can tell you, I've been lost and I've been found, and I'm so thankful for the saving of the lost. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.920 I read this story. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:00.640 The other day, a man named Tom Lopez was a lifeguard in Destin, Florida. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:04.480 And guards, when they're trained, are told not to leave a certain area. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:10.400 But when a beachgoer came running to Tom, telling him of a person drowning, Tom ran. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:12.240 Lopez did what came naturally. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:16.640 He jumped into the ocean and pulled that life into safety, saving him. 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:25.440 Lopez was soon after served notice of his violation and that he was fired for leaving the section designated for his company to patrol. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:30.400 Lopez said, I saw a man who was going to drown, a life that needed to be saved. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:33.519 If I had not left my area, he would be dead. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.799 I was trained to save lives. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:39.920 Listen, Jesus has no boundary. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.599 Jesus has no stipulation. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.680 He doesn't care about your race or your social status or your past. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.440 He came to save the lost. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:50.319 And when he sees you drowning, he comes running. 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:54.000 And his life preserver isn't a raft, but it's his blood. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:26:00.480 And he throws it to you, he opens his arms and he says, Take hold, I'm here to save you. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.559 You don't have to drown anymore. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:04.319 You don't have to keep struggling. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.519 You don't have to keep fighting. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.200