WEBVTT 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:04.639 Well, I'll join with the army and say, Merry Christmas, church. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:06.240 Isn't that exciting? 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:07.839 The journey that we've been on. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:09.439 We're almost there. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:11.839 It's this week. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:14.880 Anybody excited that Christmas is almost here? 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:16.879 Woo! Finally. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.320 I told my wife Jill this morning, I wish it were tomorrow. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:21.359 I just, I'm ready. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:22.160 I'm ready. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:26.800 But you know, this journey that we've all been on as we're getting so close now. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:31.039 Um obviously there's some other journeys we've been on as well, isn't it? 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:34.560 Uh just the reality that a lot of things are happening at once. 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.679 It is a journey for many of total exhaustion. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:39.200 Anyone almost there? 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.119 Yeah, yeah, okay, admin it. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:48.799 Uh sometimes it's it's a journey of just trying to make it and get there and not get distracted. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:50.399 You know what I mean? 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:56.799 And and for some, it's it's really a journey in an area that we wouldn't want to be in. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:03.840 Uh, you know, like pilgrim in pilgrim's progress, that that business of going through places you don't want to go. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:09.680 And specifically, I'm talking about the many of us that are going through Christmas without a loved one. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:12.640 Um, many here for the first time. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.719 Uh, some of us uh with anniversaries. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:23.760 Uh I lost my dad uh just well, it was nine years ago, but it was this week. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:30.000 Uh and he was the patriarch of our family, and every member of my family is mourning that. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:33.760 Uh and well, sidebar a little bit. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:35.840 Let me just give a sidebar. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:46.879 Um, and that's why we started here a men's group helping other guys to work through loss, specifically death of loved ones. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:48.480 Uh, we meet here Tuesday evenings. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.439 You're welcome to join us. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.079 I just facilitate it, I'm just part of that group. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:54.319 Uh but it's it's serious business. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:00.640 And and yeah, that's that's a journey that many, anybody want to admit they're on their journey now trying to get through Christmas with that. 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.959 And and that's that's real, and I don't want to suggest in any way that that's be put aside. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:06.799 That's part of the journey as well. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:14.159 But what I feel led to to share with us today is that we are also on a very holy journey. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:18.960 It is a journey of awe and wonder. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.840 A holy journey of awe and wonder. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:32.639 And it can happen at any time when we kind of wake up and realize wait a minute, why am I so distracted? 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:36.400 This is about Christ and his love for us. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:45.520 You know, it can happen when you take your kids or your grandkids to some Christmas show or the Christmas lights, and you're struck by the beauty of all of it. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:55.360 Or you hear this great Christmas uh music that you love and you've fallen in love with over the years, and it comes out of nowhere, and you just, oh yes. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.520 And you're reminded. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:02:59.599 Do you know what I mean? 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:02.400 It actually happened for me in a very unexpected way. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.639 This this Tuesday night group that I just mentioned. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:09.280 I get here about 6:30 to come in and get the lights on. 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:20.000 And as I came in a couple weeks ago, I was startled to see, well, first, it was the first time I'd ever been in this building by myself in the dark. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:22.479 Uh, I want to tell you something. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:24.159 It's almost scary. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:27.120 Because I'm used to coming in like all the rest of us. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:35.919 We come in and there's greeters out there at the door, and everybody's saying hi, and there's coffee available, and wow, it's it's a big dark place. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:43.439 And yet, as I came in that that back office door, I I saw there was a light on, and I wondered, well, I wonder where the light is. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.719 And and I walked towards the lobby, and then it hit me. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:53.840 It was the lights on the nativity and all those trees. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:59.520 And I just saw it from the back, and I I didn't turn on any more lights. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:01.360 I didn't know where they were, to be honest. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:13.280 I and I walked around to the front, and here's this beautiful manger, all in lights, surrounded by darkness, but it was dispelling the darkness. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.519 And Megan, if you're if you're listening, thank you for that. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.160 And the team that put that together. 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:22.160 And I you know what I did? 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.439 I dropped to my knees. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:25.519 I didn't know what else to do. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:26.959 It hit me. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:41.839 It may be a journey of us to come to get prepared for Christmas, but ultimately it's uh his journey coming for us, coming for me, and coming for you. 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:45.920 He left heaven for us? 00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:48.399 What was he thinking? 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.240 He must really love us big time. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:05:00.480 A couple hundred years ago, there was a classic book book uh referring to Jesus as the hound of heaven. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:03.920 He leaves heaven to come for us. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.839 And it hit me at that moment. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:11.920 In fact, I stayed on my knees long enough to then I heard knocking on the door and realized it I didn't know how to unlock it. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:15.040 It doesn't unlock, and I had to get there to let other guys come in. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:24.000 But but even bigger awe and wonder, the next week I come in and lights are on and music is playing, and I'm going, what is going on? 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.160 I was ready to, you know, kind of recreate the scene. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:26.879 You know how it is? 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.480 You you experience Christ at one moment and you want to go back to that same moment. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.240 I was ready to come into a dark church with a little light for an activity. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:37.360 And instead, all the lights are on and music is playing. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.199 I'm going, what is going on? 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:47.199 So I walk in to the lobby again, and I was overwhelmed. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.560 It was all those boxes that you just saw. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:56.639 It was blankets and pillows and sleeping bags and and all. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:00.800 It was I was blown away. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:03.680 I I was speechless. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:07.040 Something that Jill will say is very rare in my life. 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:10.959 I just overwhelmed. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:15.920 And I had the thought, God, who would do this? 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:18.480 Who could be so generous? 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.079 And he said to me, My people. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:25.519 His hands are my people. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:31.199 And I came to realize that only people who have been touched by Christ are that generous. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.879 And in fact, a community that is that generous. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:37.680 I had never, I've been in a lot of disaster places. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:39.279 I'd never seen that. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:42.160 I was not prepared for that. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.560 That's what this awe and wonder is about that I'm encouraging you to. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:53.120 Because when we commit ourselves over and over, as hard as it is to say, Lord, I want to be on this holy journey. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:56.000 I want to be on this journey of awe and wonder with you. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.480 There is unspeakable joy. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:00.160 I'm not talking about happiness. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:06.639 I'm talking about, you know, there's a whole lot of difference between being happy in a moment and having that joy of Jesus. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:11.360 Um, I'm talking about the joy of Jesus that just knocks you off your feet. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.160 And you go, can I say holy cow? 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:17.439 Holy cow! Look at all this stuff. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:19.759 Holy cow, you love us this much. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.519 Holy cow, we care that much about people 300 miles away? 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:25.199 Yeah, apparently we do. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:27.519 And here's Leah sorting. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:29.120 It's quarter seven at night. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.079 People should, it's dark. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:31.120 People should be going home. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.240 No, she's still sorting. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:34.639 Keith's common, somebody else to help security. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:36.879 Going, holy cow. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:44.879 What a marvel to be part of a place of Jesus followers, isn't it? 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:56.319 Because there's every moment, whether we're here or at home or just by ourselves, there's that moment of awe and wonder that places us into the joy of Jesus. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:58.720 Think about the original Christmas. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:03.839 I mean, Mary is visited by an angel, and she says, Yes. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.519 I mentioned that in another setting this week. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:12.160 One of the guys said, I've never heard that mentioned before at Christmas. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:14.879 I guess it must be your Catholic or Episcopal background. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.079 And I said, Guilty? 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:18.639 I really appreciate Mary. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:24.079 God wanted to do a great work, and it's God's work, but Mary said yes. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.120 And we have to as well, right? 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.800 We have to keep saying yes because we get otherwise distracted. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:36.480 Mary said yes, and so in the midst of her pregnancy, she goes to care for her cousin. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:48.000 Her old cousin, Elizabeth, who is with child, and that child just happens to be the guy we call John the Baptist. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:56.320 And something amazing we're told out of the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verse 44. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:57.840 The story's just being told. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:02.320 And yet Matthew believes it's important enough to tell us about. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:10.320 Elizabeth, when Mary walked in, said, When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.480 Now, let's take a moment for awe and wonder here. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:21.519 Mary is pregnant, probably first trimester, maybe start a second, with our Savior. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:35.519 Elizabeth is pregnant, probably last trimester, needs help from Mary, and she's carrying John the Baptist, and John leaps in the womb in the presence of Jesus who's in the womb. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:37.360 Yeah, okay, sure. 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:37.759 Of course. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:38.879 Happens every day, right? 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:42.000 I mean, just whoa! Are you serious? 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:46.960 And then if, and and what is what does Elizabeth recognize is going on? 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.120 It's Jesus' joy. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.320 Presence of Jesus, joy. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:54.559 Holy cow. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.080 Or as the police chief said, holy crap. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:01.759 What have I been so distracted by? 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:03.519 Jesus. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:04.480 Joy. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.519 But then, of course, you know, we're still in the story, just starting to unfold. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.240 And what will we celebrate here in another few days? 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:20.639 Angels appear in the sky at these shepherds who were, let's admit, they're in the dark. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:24.320 They may not have been in the dark spiritually, they could have been. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.519 But they're in the dark. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:26.480 It's night. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:28.159 And they probably had a little fire. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.159 Maybe it's starting to go down as they've maybe cooked up a little bit of bread or something. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:38.480 And the sky becomes blazing light, and angels are singing. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:40.480 And what do they say? 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:43.279 They're told, don't be afraid. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:46.960 I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.960 Good news of great joy. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:53.039 That's what they want to talk about. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.679 The Savior's come, the Messiah's here. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:56.799 Run up that hill. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.240 And you're going to see him. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.480 What? 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.799 Angels singing? 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:07.600 And what do they sing about? 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.759 Great joy. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:15.039 My brothers and sisters, that's the journey we need to keep committing ourselves to being on. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.799 This journey of awe and wonder. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:21.600 Because God has something for us. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:23.679 He's going to surprise us. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:27.039 He's always going to surprise us because he loves us so much. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:32.320 And one of those things that we experience is great joy. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:46.559 And what I've had to find myself reminding myself and others through these years is if you haven't experienced that joy, let me risk saying you're out of touch with Jesus. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.600 It's not your kids' fault. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:52.879 It's not you don't have enough time in the day. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:55.120 It's not your spouse's fault. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.000 It's about your walk with Jesus. 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:01.759 Because he has a joy this world has no clue about. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:07.600 So I want to take you on this awe and wonder journey. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.559 Just remind you of this holy journey that we're on. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:18.480 And I want us to go to the place that often churches go to at this time of year. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.960 And I want us to go to the prophet Isaiah chapter 9. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:27.039 So if you have the Bible with you, many of you will recognize what that is all about. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:37.200 But turn with me and I'll have Alex has it up on the screen, and I want to read to you, and we're going to we're going to spend our time today in Isaiah chapter 9, verses 2 through 7. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:41.200 And we're looking at this amazing prophecy. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:49.679 Let me just mention in Isaiah chapter 9, as Isaiah in the big picture at least, he's a prophet. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:55.759 That is, he gets words from God and then is told to speak to us. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.919 Now, the Bible is very clear, it mentions it numerous times that we're to test the prophets. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.720 You don't just because someone says they're a prophet doesn't mean it's true. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:04.559 We have to put them to the test. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.000 But Isaiah is one of the big ones. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:12.480 He preached six, seven hundred years before Christ. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:15.600 He's called one of the pre-exilic prophets. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.840 It was before the destruction of Jerusalem, and then some of it seems to be after. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:24.960 But he's one of the, what's called the major prophets, because we have so many writings from him. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.480 And he's one of the ones that's quoted a whole lot. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.919 He was really connected to God. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:35.519 And God spoke through him a lot. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:47.759 And in chapter 9, again, six, seven hundred years before Christ, he says this the people who walk in darkness will see a great light. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.840 For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.440 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:00.720 They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, like warriors dividing the plunder. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.200 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:09.440 You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.279 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.879 They will all be fuel for fire. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.639 We'll get to that in a minute. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.799 And then the all-famous verses. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:35.759 The government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:38.559 His government and its peace will never end. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:43.519 Now, one of the first times I preached on that many years ago, I had an older gentleman come up to me at the end of the service. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:45.840 He says, Oh, I love it when you read those words. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.799 I said, Really? 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.360 Why? 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:50.320 And he said, Well, Fred, Handel's Messiah. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:53.600 And I went, Oh yeah, wonderful counselor. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:57.600 And I I could sing it for you, but I won't save you that agony. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.679 And I said, Oh yeah. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.399 I said, Yeah, Handel's Messiah, of course. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:06.320 And I said, Is that an important Christmas song for you? 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:12.399 And he said, Well yeah, because I was, I used to be in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.240 I said, Oh? 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:21.360 And he said, Yeah, there was years where we sang Handel's Messiah throughout the capitals of Europe. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:25.519 I went, oh, you really appreciate these verses. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.799 Oh, you get it. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:30.080 You see, I was still trying to figure out how important this was. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:40.960 Look with me at these verses of what Isaiah is given by God to speak to the world about. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:48.799 That there will be a time when people who walk in darkness will see a great light. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:54.159 And isn't that probably at some level why we so love Christmas lights? 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:58.000 Why some of us apparently put zillions of lights out. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.519 Because we love how it dispels the darkness. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:11.919 But we're told that in these few verses, we're told that one who is gonna come to us is the light. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.759 He is light. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:34.720 And think about all the ways we use the images of light, of the light of understanding, the light of knowledge, you know, now I see. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:42.080 That business of light giving us clarity, of light helping us to well, to know the way. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:54.000 I find it significant that in Matthew chapter 4 he's telling us about who this Jesus is. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.399 Matthew chapter 4, verse 13. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:01.360 Sorry, I did the thing that we always do. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:02.240 I went to Mark. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:04.319 Let me get back to Matthew chapter 4. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.920 It's on the screen. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.960 And Matthew is telling us who Jesus is. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:17.200 He says, this was fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:25.920 In the land of Zebulin and Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee, where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:31.440 For those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:47.759 Whoa! So that Matthew, the famous apostle who wrote the gospel, who followed and walked with Jesus, said, This I want you to know right from the start in my gospel. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.599 We're talking about who Isaiah talked about. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:57.039 We're talking about the one who is light, who is our light. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:09.680 If you are in any sense in darkness or depressed or overwhelmed or confused or can't see the way forward, Jesus. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:15.440 And we have to keep reminding ourselves of that, and we have to remind our family and friends of that, don't we? 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.799 Jesus. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.680 He is the light. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:43.200 Now, what I find fascinating is the gospel writer John, after the other three Gospels are written, he could have other things to say about Jesus, and he does amazing and wonderful things, but he opens his gospel, chapter one, with the words, God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.440 John himself was not the light. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:49.200 He was simply a witness to tell about the light. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:54.000 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:19:02.079 It'sn't interesting that the gospel writer, John, after the other gospels have already been written, says, This is what I want you to understand. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:04.559 We're not talking about John the Baptist. 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:07.440 We're not talking about any of the prophets. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:10.559 We're not talking about someone who's living a good life. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:14.160 We're not talking about his hands, ultimately. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.640 We're not talking about who the pastor is. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:20.319 We're not talking about who the leaders are. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.680 We're talking about the one who is the light. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:41.759 And then, as we jump ahead to John chapter 8, Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:48.400 If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.240 Wow. 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.759 Wow. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.519 The light of the world. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:20:09.039 So that even as we are on this journey of awe and wonder, we're journeying on the way to the one who God Himself, 600 years before He was born, said, He's the light. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.240 Why? 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:13.200 Because we walk in darkness without Him. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:23.680 And we get preoccupied with so many things that are not as helpful as if we would just commit ourselves to this journey with Jesus. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:30.240 And the wonderful thing is, it doesn't matter whether we're just starting the journey or whether we've been on the journey for many, many years. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:35.599 It's always about paying attention to the journey, this holy journey. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.720 Jesus. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:41.279 But let's get back to Isaiah. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.000 He has so much to teach us. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:51.119 And I want us to actually look at the second portion of this prophecy in chapter 9. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:56.079 And it's the one about battle and war and the days of Midian. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:21:09.759 And I have to admit to you, in most biblical lectionaries, that is, cycles of prayers that people use in churches or liturgical churches use around the world, this section about battle and Midian, days of Midian is just removed. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.759 Because we don't like to talk about war, do we? 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:20.559 And it's so sad that many Christians have decided they don't like to read the Old Testament because it gets them uncomfortable. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.319 So we'll just read the new because it feels good because it's all about the God of love. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:34.480 And what we don't understand is that all the Old Testament battles teach us in the natural how the spirit world works in the spiritual. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:45.599 So God reveals and shows to us in very practical language on earth how He wants and does work in the Spirit. 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.880 And this is one of those many cases. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:59.119 God tells Isaiah to say that it's just going to be like well, when the Israelites defeated the Midianites. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:00.720 That. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.920 Well, I have to admit, as I was preparing, I thought, well, I'll I'll look that up because I forget what that one is. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.880 And you can find it in Numbers chapter 31. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.799 Anybody ever read Numbers? 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.119 No, I don't, it's just once a year, that's it for me. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.480 But um it talks about the Battle of Midian. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:26.960 It was the last battle that Moses had to lead before they came into the Promised Land, following their the desert experience. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.519 Okay? 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:34.480 Now, for the battle, one thousand men were chosen from every single tribe. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:41.039 So it involved all of God's people were involved in this huge battle against the Midianites. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:55.279 When the whole battle was over, the generals and the commanders came to Moses and Aaron and presented them the gold in gratitude to God. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:06.079 The amount of gold they presented is equivalent in the value today, twelve million dollars of gold. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:17.440 Presented in gratitude to God because the generals and commanders had come to realize the battle wasn't theirs. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.680 It was won by God. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.440 How did they know that? 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:25.759 Not a single man was lost. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:32.640 A battle of twelve thousand men against an entire air army. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:35.039 No one was lost. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.799 And the generals and commanders said, We didn't do this. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:41.279 This is God's victory. 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:50.799 So they turned over 12 million of gold and said to God, Thank you for your great victory. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:56.079 That's what God tells Isaiah to tell us. 00:23:56.640 --> 00:24:03.119 That this one who comes is going to win an amazing victory, and it will not cost us our blood. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.799 It will cost us his. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.960 Yeah, he does. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.319 He wants that much joy in our lives, yeah. 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:28.559 He really wants to live in the light of understanding by walking with Jesus? 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.119 Yeah. 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.559 He sure does. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:34.000 He doesn't want us confused about what Christmas is about. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:36.240 He doesn't want us confused about finances. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:40.240 He doesn't want us confused about anything. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:44.240 Because he's going to win the victory for our lives. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:49.839 If we're just willing to say yes. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.039 But it goes on. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:25:03.920 God tells Isaiah some of the names that this child who comes, who is born, this son who he gives, will have. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:06.559 Of many, many, many titles. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:12.640 If you count up the titles of God in the Bible, there's somewhere around 170. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:23.440 But in this portion, besides him being light, and besides him being the one who brings God's victory, we're told he's a wonderful counselor. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:27.839 Actually, the wonderful counselor. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:34.559 Now, when I when I read that on Isaiah, I go, well, that's interesting. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:42.720 And it's especially interesting because that's the word that Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:50.079 You see, when Jesus was about to finish his earthly life and go to the cross, he gathered with his disciples that last night in the upper room. 00:25:50.240 --> 00:26:01.279 And the details of that conversation, including him giving us the Lord's Supper and washing the disciples' feet, he had some amazing teachings about the Holy Spirit. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:08.240 In John chapter 14, Jesus says this. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:13.759 And I'm just going to quote just one verse here. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:21.440 Jesus says, I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor who will never leave you. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:25.920 Sometimes it's translated advocate, sometimes it's translated counselor. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.920 The Greek word is paraclete. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:32.880 We don't have a word to describe that, so we use all these other English words. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:37.920 He's the counselor, the wonderful counselor. 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:46.960 So the Father tells Isaiah to tell us that the one who comes to us is going to be a wonderful counselor, the wonderful counselor. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:53.359 And Jesus, as he is getting ready to leave this earth, says, And I'm going to give you the wonderful counselor. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.400 How does that work? 00:26:56.960 --> 00:27:03.440 Well, John chapter 16, Jesus says this to the disciples. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:16.720 That's an amazing section right in there, because again, we don't have English words to translate the Greek very well. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:24.640 And I understand that what Jesus is saying is, y'all don't have enough experience to understand what I want to tell you. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:31.359 But as you live, you're going to gain more experience, and I'll keep teaching you. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:39.599 And this is what he goes on and says When the Spirit of truth, the counselor, comes, he will guide you into all truth. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:43.119 He will not speak on his own, but will tell you what he has heard. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.799 He will tell you about the future. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:50.240 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.319 Whoa. 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:54.880 All that belongs to the Father is mine. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:59.200 That's why I said the Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.799 Jesus repeats it a second time. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.079 Do you think that's important? 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.000 Don't you think that's important? 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.920 Anyone think that's important? 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.559 Okay. 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:15.599 Listen to what Jesus says a second time in the upper room to the disciples before the next morning he goes to the cross. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:18.319 He says, It's to your advantage I go away. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:24.240 There's a lot of life you haven't yet experienced and you don't yet understand, but I know what's ahead for you. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.720 And I'm your wonderful counselor. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:37.200 So I'm going to give you the Holy Spirit so that you have that presence inside of you, coaching and guiding you. 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.240 Wow. 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:45.759 Now, and do you remember what Jesus did the first time he met with them after he rose from the dead? 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.960 And he went up to the other upper room where they were afraid? 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:51.519 And he said, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:00.880 This isn't just theology, this is reality. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:08.480 So that the very presence and identity of Jesus can have that transformation work in us. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.000 Let me give you an example. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:17.359 We've already had some pictures on it and some mention of it. 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:20.880 How about the Sirens Project? 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:26.319 Who goes off 300 miles just because there's a disaster down there? 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.359 It doesn't affect us. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.039 Oh, yes, it does. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:33.680 So Warren and Daniel and the team head off this time to Kentucky. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:39.200 To be light in the darkness. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.799 How do we participate? 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:42.720 We come in and volunteer. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:44.480 We bring things. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:51.039 And others are our light, and they help to deliver it because we're all in this together. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:53.519 We don't have to figure it out. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:55.039 We don't have to make it work. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:57.119 We don't have to be anxious and concerned. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:01.759 We have to say yes and be part of the team and say, Lord, guide me in your spirit. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:04.240 And that's the journey, Lord, I want to be on. 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:06.559 This journey of awe and wonder. 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:09.200 Lord, I want to see what you do. 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:15.359 And so use me, Lord. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:18.880 I went on one of their trips, I'll never forget it. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:30.160 Went down to Louisiana a year or two ago, whenever it was, and put on those those chaps and put on the helmet and put on the gloves and got those chainsaws going with everybody else. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:37.359 And went, oh God, forgive me from forever feeling a pity party about myself. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:41.680 When I see what brothers and sisters are experiencing around the world. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.960 That's this journey we're on. 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:47.119 How do we become more powerful? 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:51.759 It's not by doing more, it's by drawing closer. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:57.920 This holy journey, this awe and wonder that God even wants to use me. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:30:59.839