WEBVTT 00:00:01.520 --> 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 --> 00:00:17.600 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:21.519 Luke chapter 2. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:33.600 And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.640 Caesar did not have a clue. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:37.520 Hey Joe. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:41.200 Did not have a clue. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:49.039 A clue how God was using him to bring about this divine day. 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:51.520 The birth of the Savior. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:52.719 Didn't have a clue. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:56.719 First time that they had brought the taxation together. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:02.079 And this taxing was first made with Serenius, who was the governor of Syria. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:05.840 They all went to be taxed, everyone into his home city. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.879 That's why they had to go back to Bethlehem. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:12.400 That was where Joseph's home city was. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:17.519 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:20.640 That's where he and Mary at the time were residing. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:25.280 Into Judea, and to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:33.920 Because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:39.439 And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:50.799 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the end. 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:58.079 And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:07.439 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:18.319 And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for I behold, I, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:28.159 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:30.319 Unbelievable. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:37.599 The theology and the principles that slotted in these first 11 verses. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.319 We have a little saying around here. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:47.360 The Bible says in Psalms 119, verse 105, thy word is a what? 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:51.840 Lamp and a light unto our path. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:56.000 We love it, we learn it, we live it. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:59.520 We love it, we learn it, we live it. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:05.680 So today, let's begin as we look at this unbelievable challenge of Christmas. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:09.199 Why is Christmas such a challenge? 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:16.879 Well, not just Christmas, there's several challenges that God gives us in the scriptures. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:27.280 In fact, we see that a challenge in this Christian sense has been defined as God's response. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:32.879 In other words, when God gives us a challenge, then we have to respond. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:36.960 For example, we see several challenges in Scripture. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.960 First of all, we see the challenge of Scripture, Hebrews 4.12. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:56.719 For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of the soul and of the spirit and of the joints and of the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:04.719 In other words, how many times have you been challenged as you in your quiet time have been reading the Word of God? 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:14.159 And God just grips your heart with a principle or with a promise or, hey, or with a warning, and just grips you immediately, and you're challenged what? 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:23.920 To do that promise or to claim that promise or to walk in that direction or to walk not in that direction or to heed that warning. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:38.800 Especially when you're in a church service and you hear the anointing teaching and preaching of the pastor or the Sunday school teacher, and God just grips your heart and challenges you to do that truth. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:42.800 Well, secondly, we also are challenged by the Holy Spirit. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:53.759 In John 16, 8, the Holy Spirit says that he has come to reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.600 So we are challenged through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:59.839 He convicts us of our sin. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.040 Can I get an amen? 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:02.160 Or oh me. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:02.959 He does. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:23.439 You know, and the more you, let me say this: the closer you get to walking with the Lord, and the more you get to studying the scriptures and allowing that challenge of the scriptures to purify your heart and open your heart as a mirror to show you where you are with the Lord and what you need to do and what you need to change. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:35.519 The closer you get to Him, the quicker the Holy Spirit's gonna bound, reveal to you exactly when you're walking in the wrong direction and confirm when you're walking in the right direction. 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:36.639 Amen. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:38.079 Isn't that good? 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:47.519 But then of righteousness, he's gonna teach us to be righteous and to walk in righteousness, and then he's gonna warn us of judgment. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:50.240 There are consequences, ladies and gentlemen. 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:50.800 Amen. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.519 What's wrong with the church in America today? 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:56.240 We have quit preaching the consequences. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.120 We don't even believe there is a hell. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:00.160 I've got news for you. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:01.040 There's a hell. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:02.800 And it's real. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:07.839 And I know several people, David said they've been asking me, when are you gonna preach that message on hell? 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:08.959 It's coming. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.120 I'm just getting you ready so you can handle it. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.120 Amen. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.199 I see a first of the year. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:18.560 Oh yeah, oh yeah. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:22.160 Why we want to live righteously in 2014? 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:23.839 Because we don't want to go to hell. 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.279 That's a good New Year's resolution. 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:28.399 Hello? 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:29.360 Amen. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:33.199 That's a good New Year's resolution. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:41.439 So anyway, we are challenged by the scriptures, challenged by the Holy Spirit, and then we are challenged as saints. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:43.279 What are we challenged? 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:44.399 Acts 1.8. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:54.800 You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, unto the uttermost parts of the world. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:59.279 We are challenged to be a light set on a hill that cannot be hid. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:08.160 We are challenged to be a witness to everyone that God places us in the position to have influence on. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:09.279 Can I get an amen? 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:11.759 We're challenged. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:18.079 A question to all of us are we doing that challenge? 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:22.639 Are we responding to those challenges? 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:33.279 And then the last challenge, which brings me to our subject today, the last challenge is, and boy, what a challenge it is. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:35.680 The challenge of the seasons. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:39.120 Christmas, Easter. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:42.240 Oh, what challenges. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:47.199 The challenges of what really took place are unbelievable. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:53.120 In fact, for many, they are definitely unbelievable. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.759 They don't think they ever happened. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.519 So today, let's look at the challenges of Christmas. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:00.879 There's three. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:07.199 First of all, let's look at the challenge of the miracles of Christmas in verse 11. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:11.600 On that eventful night, the angels sang. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:15.600 Boy, wouldn't you love to have been the shepherds and heard the angels sing? 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:22.639 Wouldn't you love to have been at Mary's birth of the little baby Jesus and heard the angels sing? 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:24.240 Well, guess what? 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.480 One day we're going to hear them sing. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:31.680 When we go to heaven and we're all in heaven, we're going to hear the angels sing. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:32.559 But guess what? 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:34.639 You know what I was thinking about got me so excited? 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:37.679 There's one song the angels cannot sing. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.600 And that's the song of the redeemed. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.639 They can't sing that, but we can. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:45.519 Amen. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:54.159 So we see that they, the angels, sang this song unto you is born this day. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:58.240 In the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:12.559 Now, we cannot examine the circumstances and the miracles that surround the birth of Jesus Christ without being impressed that there is an unbelievable element of the supernatural. 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:13.600 Amen? 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.960 Unbelievable element of the supernatural. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:20.240 For example, let's look at the miracles of Christmas. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:24.159 Number one, the miracle of that divine production. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.919 That divine production of that child. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.279 Look at verse 11. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:30.639 Circle this word. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.559 Unto you is born. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.159 Circle the word born. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.639 This day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:47.360 If we accept the Bible to be the inerrant, infallible, hey, living word of God, which we do, we believe it's without error. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:48.399 Can I get an amen? 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.639 You say, but now wait a minute. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:51.360 Men wrote it. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:51.840 No. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:57.200 Men were the scribers of it. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:58.639 God wrote it. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:13.200 All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man or woman of God may be fully equipped to do the will of God. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:15.440 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:23.519 For prophecy came not in the old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:24.960 2 Peter 2. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:25.679 Amen. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.360 So God wrote it. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:38.080 So when we look at this unbelievable, supernatural birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the process of the birth was natural. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:40.000 How many women in here have had children? 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.360 Most of you. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:42.320 Okay. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:47.360 I had the privilege of being there when my two daughters were born. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:52.480 In fact, that Sunday night, my wife literally kicked me off the stool. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.200 Dr. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.879 Rees was there. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:00.879 And I had that night before, this was unbelievable. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.480 I had just laid down. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.399 Two o'clock in the morning. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:06.879 I'd been up praying and working on my message. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.799 And I laid down and I said, Oh, what a day it's going to be tomorrow in church. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:16.559 Susan said, I think I'm having the baby. 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:17.440 Huh? 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.120 It was our first. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:22.320 I jumped out out of bed, grabbed the car, and we went to the hospital. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:23.679 Called David and Christy. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.519 They went to the hospital with us. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:31.679 Well, about seven, eight o'clock that morning, we had no baby. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.240 In fact, the doctor said it's gonna be a while. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.679 You can go preach. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.200 I said, Good. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:40.240 I said, I've studied all week, all night. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.279 I'm going to preach, honey. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:41.840 I'll be back. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.360 Hold the baby. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.159 Hold that baby. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.600 I'll be back. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:49.519 We did. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.279 Christy stayed with Susan. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:52.559 Dave and I got in the car. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:53.279 I went and preached. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.399 Now I didn't stay and shake hands after preaching, I promise. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:57.679 Like I normally did. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:59.600 I jumped in the car and went back. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:00.960 Man, I thought we were going to get. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.639 Oh man, we're going to go back and have a baby. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:03.759 Well, I got back. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:07.279 Three o'clock, four o'clock, no baby. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:14.000 Now you got to realize I've been up now almost 30-something hours without sleep. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.080 So we're in the room. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.039 I didn't mean it the way you took that, Rosemary. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:28.799 What I was going to say, I know she's having the labor pain. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.519 She's died. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.240 She's cried. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.519 I understand all that. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:34.559 Not my wife, because she said, give her the drugs. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.480 She didn't do anything naturally. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:37.600 Maybe you should have asked. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.039 Maybe I should have had. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:39.759 Yeah. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:44.720 So I'm sitting there trying my best to stay awake. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.000 And Dr. 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:52.159 Reeves said, we're sitting there and I know it's a rabbit, but it's a good one. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:59.519 And uh so I'm sitting there and I'm sitting there watching Dallas Cowboys and Redskins playing football. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.639 And uh I'm about to, I'm like this, and and Dr. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:12.240 Reeves said, Hey, Susan, if you would hurry up and have this baby, Pastor Danny could go back and preach Sunday night service. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:16.240 About that time, she raised up, we thought she was about half out of it. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:21.519 She went, bam! Kicked the doctor and me both off the stools. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:26.320 She said, she said, uh, Dr. 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:33.279 Ree said, I thought that that uh epidural is supposed to be taking by now. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:39.039 But anyway, I thought to myself, what a miracle the birth process is. 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:49.440 If you've ever seen a baby born, you cannot believe, hey, if that doesn't change your belief system that there must be, has to be a God. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.799 Amen. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.600 I'll never forget those two incidents. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.240 I'll never, never, especially that one. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:02.960 But but we see the process here was natural, but the conception was supernatural. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:06.559 The conception was supernatural. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:08.080 What do you mean, Pastor? 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:20.240 I mean that the seed of the woman, Genesis 3.15, by the process and the director of the Holy Spirit, united that seed with God Himself. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.799 Unbelievable. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.360 Unbelievable. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.159 Dr. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:28.960 Luke records this mystery as follows. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:31.440 Watch this, Luke 135. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:39.600 And he says, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:45.679 Therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.039 Unbelievable verse. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:53.200 Unbelievable theology, unbelievable foreknowledge, right here in this one verse. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.440 For example, the Holy Spirit. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:00.720 We see that the Holy Spirit was the presider over the conception. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:03.360 And I thought, is that not his job? 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.360 The Holy Spirit was the presider over the conception. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:12.320 But not only was he the presider over the conception, watch. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:16.799 Secondly, he was the power over the conception. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:25.279 Notice what he says: the Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the high shall overshadow thee. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.559 And then notice, and therefore also that holy thing. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:34.159 We see the Holy Spirit is the one that produces that holiness. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.759 It's the we see the purity of the conception. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:44.240 And then look, he says, that holy thing which shall be born unto thee shall be called the Son of God. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:46.320 The person of the conception. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.200 Wow. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:54.320 He's the, hey, he is the presider, he's the power, he's the purity of the conception. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:58.639 And he points out he who the person of that conception is. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.639 He is the son of God. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:01.840 Wow. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.279 Wow. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:18.720 And then I thought to myself, God uses the Holy Spirit to fulfill his purpose in everything he does, even to the direct conception of the Son of God. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:19.919 Wow. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:30.159 The Holy Spirit is for the purpose of God living in us to perform in us his will for us. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.000 Is that not good? 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.919 Say that's good, preacher. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.840 Because it is. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:41.120 And that is what we see the miracle of the divine production. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.879 Unbelievable. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:47.279 Isaiah 7, 14, and the Lord shall give you a sign. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.039 Now watch. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:53.200 Behold, a virgin shall conceive. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:56.480 Oh, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:58.879 And his name shall be called what? 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.480 Which means what? 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:02.799 God with us. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.720 A virgin. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:08.240 How would you like to have been Mary at the age of 14? 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.000 Luke chapter 1. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:22.079 And the angel comes upon Mary and says, You found favor in God's eyes, and you are going to bear the child of God. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:32.559 Now, first of all, I don't think many of us would have even, for one moment, not have been scared to death of the angel's appearance. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:35.039 But then he says, You're going to have a child. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.640 It's going to be God's child. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:40.160 She said, Time out. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.519 Time out. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.599 I'm not trying to be disrespectful. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:50.720 I'm not trying to throw any doubt on what you're saying, since you're the angel of God. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:54.559 But there's one problem here. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.400 I've never known hey, I've never known a man. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:00.720 I've never had sexual relations with a man. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.880 And if I remember correctly, you need both of them to have a baby. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:11.039 He said, Mary, you don't worry about that. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.200 God's gonna handle it. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:22.240 And then one of the most profound, the greatest statements ever written in the Word of God, in verse 38 in Luke 1. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:28.240 And Mary said, back to the angels, I don't understand what's about to happen. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:32.720 But let it be done according to me, according to your word. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.640 Wow. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.559 That's faith. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:38.559 14 years old. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.400 Unbelievable. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.759 Unbelievable. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:46.240 Most 14-year-olds now, they're way from being grown. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:50.319 Whole different culture, isn't it? 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.000 But that's what we see. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:58.000 We see this unbelievable, hey, miracle of the birth of Christ. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.519 She knew no man. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:02.640 And then look at Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:14.640 Unto us, I meant not only do we see this miraculous miracle of the conception and the birth, but look at what Isaiah 9, 6 says. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:21.759 Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.319 Now that's a powerful statement in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:38.319 Because we see not only this birth was going to show us the humanity of God, but it was also going to show us the divinity of God. 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:42.640 Because unto us a child is born, that is humanity. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:46.880 But when he says, But unto us a son is given, that's God. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.839 Only God could give his son. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.200 Amen. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.799 So we see this miraculous miracle of production. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:04.960 That Jesus was as much man as I am man, but yet he was as much God as God ever has been or ever will be. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.759 And you and I will never figure that out. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:08.960 Amen. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.880 And don't even try. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:16.319 In fact, Webster, let me read you this. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:18.880 I found this as I was studying this week. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:21.519 The story told of Daniel Webster. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.279 You know Daniel Webster? 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:25.440 Webster's dictionary? 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.599 Godly man. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.039 Godly man. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.079 You need to go back. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:34.160 I want to find, if anyone can find me, the original Webster dictionary. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:36.960 Because they've done a little changing in some of the other ones. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.720 But the original, listen to this. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:43.359 The story was told of Daniel Webster when he was in the prime of his manhood. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:47.039 He was dining with a company of literary men in Boston. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:51.359 During the dinner, the conversation turned upon the subject of Christianity. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.319 Mr. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:21:01.359 Webster frankly stated his belief in the divinity of Christ and his dependence upon the atonement of the Savior. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.279 One man said to him, Mr. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:07.039 Webster, can you comprehend how Christ could be both God and man? 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.559 Good question. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:09.519 Great question. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.279 We all ask that question. 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:21.440 Well, notice, probably one of the brightest men to ever write any kind of books, the dictionary, unbelievable. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:23.519 Notice what his answer was. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.160 Mr. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.079 Webster promptly replied, No, sir, I cannot comprehend it. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.839 If I could comprehend him, he would be no greater than myself. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:36.160 I feel that I need a superhuman savior. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.839 I'll ditto that. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:40.799 Amen. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.400 Amen. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:46.079 So, notice the second thing. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.759 This miracle of divine providence. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.039 Now, watch this. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:58.640 Unto you is born this day, underline the two words this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:05.359 Have you ever considered the Timing, the circumstances that surrounded the birth of Christ. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:20.079 You must realize this morning that if you are a born-again Christian and you are walking in the Spirit of the living God, you are allowing the Holy Spirit to control your life through the instruction and teachings of the Word of God. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:23.519 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.319 We love it. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.279 We learn it. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.319 We live it. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.960 It's our clear biblical truth. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:36.799 If we are being obedient and really have that hunger and desire to let God fulfill in us what he wants, listen to me. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.799 This gets me so excited. 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.079 Excited, excuse me. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:46.880 There is no thing that happens to you and me that God's not in control and charge of. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.319 Wow. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.160 That's good. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.720 Now that'll bring peace. 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.400 That'll bring peace. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.279 Amen. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:59.599 Hey, Caesar Augustus didn't really control this. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.400 God did. 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:12.559 He knew that he needed Jesus, his son, to be born in Bethlehem because we're going to see in a few moments, it was a prophetic truth that had to be fulfilled. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.279 And he controlled it. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:18.319 Do you realize everything that happens to your life? 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.680 Man, this is so good. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:27.359 Everything that happens to your life, if you're walking in the Spirit, it happens at the right time, at the right place with the right person. 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.480 Woo! Somebody say that's good, preacher. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:34.000 Right time, right place, right person. 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.119 Amen. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:37.920 That way you don't have to worry about who you're dating. 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:40.000 You just walk with the Lord. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:43.359 Hey, the right person to come at the right time at the right place. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.839 The key is that you're at the right place. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:50.319 And by the way, you're not going to find the one that God wants you to have if you're in the bar. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:51.680 Hello. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.119 Not going to be there. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.799 Oh, well, I'm going in there to witness. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.640 I got a Greek word for that, baloney. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:03.119 You're going in there to get off track by Satan. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.599 That's what you're going in there for. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.880 I don't want to hear that. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.440 Uh-uh. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.799 I don't want to hear it. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:14.559 So we see again that God is controlling everything. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:20.000 Now, it brings me to the miracle of divine, the third thing, divine prophecy. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:27.519 Not only the divine providence, in other words, God controlled the place, the time, the event. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.279 Can I say something? 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:35.119 Do you just did you just comprehend what I said about divine providence? 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:42.240 If you are walking with the Lord, nothing is going to happen to you that God's not designed for it to happen. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.680 Man, that's good. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:52.880 That's the peace of God that passes all understanding that shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.000 Right? 00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:01.920 You know one thing about this Auburn thing that's been funny to me. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.720 Everybody's been saying a miracle. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.720 It's a miracle when they beat Georgia. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.480 It was a miracle when they beat Alabama. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:10.400 It's the prayer's a miracle. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:14.400 For one time out of all this football, they got it right. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.400 God is in the miracle business. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:23.200 Now, I'm not sure he was in the miracle of football. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.160 Oh yeah. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.279 Oh yeah. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:28.000 A true Auburn fan would say that. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:31.119 Especially beating Alabama, right? 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.880 But now watch. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.079 Here's what I'm saying. 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.880 Folks, listen. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:44.400 This ought to be the most encouraging thing for each of us to make sure that we're in the will of God, knowing that his divine providence leads us every step of the way. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:52.960 Now that right there is enough for you to say, Amen, and you got enough that if you'll just obey that truth, it'd been worth you being here. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:54.880 But I got a lot more. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:00.640 Notice the miracle of divine prophecy. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.160 Now, verse 11 again. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:10.480 Unto you is born this day in the city of David, underlying the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.680 Now, are you ready for this? 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.400 This is awesome. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:20.960 Out of 333 prophecies that happened during the advent of Christmas. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:29.039