WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:03.040 I asked Fred Goodwin if he would share this morning. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:08.320 Fred is uh, if I could, if someone asked me who Fred is to me, he's he's like my pastor. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:10.400 You know, I I need I need a pastor. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:13.839 And for the last two years or so, Fred has been he's been my pastor. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:19.359 He's been a man who has has poured a lot into me, has taught me a lot, challenges me a lot, helps me grow. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:21.440 He he knows the Lord so well. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:23.920 And I'm not saying this to make him feel old, because he's not. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:24.480 He's not. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:28.320 Everything's relative, but Fred became a pastor the year I was born. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:31.920 And uh, and so he knows a lot more than me. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:37.200 And the thing I love about Fred is he's not just a person who knows about God, he knows God. 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:38.799 He walks with God. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:42.000 He's followed God faithfully for decades. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.520 And uh and he's got a lot of wisdom that God has shared with him. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:50.000 And I said, hey man, will you talk this morning um and just share with our church getting ready for Christmas? 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:50.960 And he said, absolutely. 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:55.280 So if you guys wouldn't mind, put your hands together for Fred as he comes out and shares with us. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.280 Good morning, family. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.640 I feel like I've been with you enough or worship with you enough to say family, and it's a nice feeling. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.239 It always is to be back. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:21.200 And yes, after 35 years of working on Christmas Eve, Jill and I get the privilege of coming here and joining you in the make sure we have two seats. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.840 We we want two seats with you on Christmas Eve, because we want to worship with you on Christmas Eve. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:29.120 Um it's a wonderful time of year, isn't it? 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:35.120 And therefore I want to say to you, Merry Christmas! Uh it's that time, isn't it? 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:36.400 Isn't this a great time of year? 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:38.879 The lights, uh, the the music. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:40.959 Uh people seem to be so pleasant. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:43.120 And and how about all the Christmas movies? 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:44.560 Aren't they fun? 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:46.560 I mean, what let's just see here for a minute. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.120 What's what's a great Christmas movie? 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:50.640 White White Christmas. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.599 Yeah, I could I could do the whole dance and sing every song. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:55.200 I was raised on that one. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:55.840 What else? 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:56.959 Elf. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:57.359 Elf? 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:57.680 Really? 00:01:57.760 --> 00:01:58.079 Yeah, Elf. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:01:59.200 Elf is a lot of fun. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:00.239 What else? 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:02.480 It's a wonderful life. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:03.760 It's a wonderful life. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.159 Well, that yeah, that's that's one of the classics. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:10.639 I have to admit, I would add to it Santa Claus, at least one in two. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:12.159 You know? 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:15.599 I mean, just there's some great movies, Polar Express. 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:17.039 You know? 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:20.560 I I did a quick survey as I was preparing for this week. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.879 Uh I found that Netflix, you can find 40 Christmas movies. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:26.400 Just on that Netflix. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:27.599 Can you imagine? 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:35.120 If you shift over to Hulu, because they now own Lifetime, I guess, channel, there's 143 Christmas movies. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:36.319 Can you imagine? 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:38.719 We don't have time for all of that. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:43.360 If you go to the new Disney Plus, woo, ooh, pretty cool. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:46.400 Um I counted 24 Christmas movies. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.039 There's a whole lot of Christmas movies this time of year. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:51.039 But but you know what's interesting? 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.319 I don't find any of them about Jesus. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:58.159 It's like a bait and switch. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:09.759 If I went to your family to your house and you said you wanted to show family videos, I would expect to see videos about your family. 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:14.960 I wouldn't expect to see how Americans celebrate this. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:18.879 I'd expect to hear about this. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:26.719 I find it amazing how many movies actually use the term Christmas, and they're not about Christ at all. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:36.080 And as you heard from Justin, there are so many people in our even our neighborhoods who have no idea that Christmas isn't just about family. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:38.159 It's not just about having time off. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:43.199 It's not just about presents, it's not just about going in debt, God forbid. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:46.080 It's about Christ. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:50.000 The word Christmas, Christ itself means the anointed one. 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:52.240 It's the same word as Messiah in Hebrew. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:56.240 It means the chosen one, the anointed one sent from God. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.639 The mess, M-A-S, uh, comes from the Latin dismissa. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:02.319 Let me explain where it comes from. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:09.759 Long before the Roman Catholic Church was the Roman Catholic Church, we're talking about the first centuries of the church, Christmas became significant. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:13.840 It was a celebration of Christ coming to us. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:20.399 The must comes from the Latin dismissa, that after the service you were dismissed. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:23.439 What was the Christmas event? 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.560 The church gathered as one. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:34.000 The leader would go and read from John chapter 1, the prologue of John, in the beginning was the Word. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:37.279 And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:38.879 He was with God in the beginning. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:46.720 And after he read that opening prologue, one would go and light the Christ candle, that big white candle in the middle of the Advent wreath. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:49.279 The one that had been long waited for. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:55.279 They'd light the white candle symbolizing Christ coming to this earth, the light of the world. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.000 And after the worship, they would be dismissed. 00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:59.600 That was Christmas. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:04.800 It's all about Christ coming for us. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:06.399 That's our story. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:09.759 You know, I was just ten years old when I came around the corner, I'll never forget. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:15.680 Came around the corner from our dining room into our living room, and I saw an entire room filled with packages. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:21.839 And I had the conscious thought at age 10, what is all this for? 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:25.199 Why are there so many presents? 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:32.639 Our story is not about how we celebrate an event that we make up. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:36.800 Because we cannot have Christmas without Christ. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:45.680 Our story is the most wonderful story of all, and it's told from, well, way back at the dawn of time. 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:49.279 Justin even mentioned last week the fall. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:50.480 Genesis chapter 3. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.839 Adam and Eve choose to not listen to God and do what we want to do. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:54.800 Thank you very much. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:57.120 And God steps in the garden. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:08.000 He turns to Satan as a serpent and says, one day, an offspring of hers will crush your head. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.399 Now, you know how to kill a snake. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.160 You may not like to, but there's times you got to. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:13.759 How do you do it? 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.360 You crush the head. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:19.360 Oh, the body may still flop around, but the bite's gone. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:21.600 Oh, death wears your sting. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:28.720 You see, the Christ comes to destroy the power of Satan in our lives. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:41.839 And if you think I'm exaggerating it a little bit, Paul, even in his letter to the Romans chapter 16, says, the God of peace will one day crush Satan under your feet. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.600 You'll one day know he is a defeated foe. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:51.759 And when you get afraid and overwhelmed by darkness or pain or suffering, you've taken your eyes off the Christ. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:55.040 And that's just Genesis chapter 3. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:59.040 I mean, flash forward into 2 Samuel. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:10.720 I hope you've got this chapter in one of your most favorite Old Testament readings, because in 2 Samuel chapter 7, David goes to the prophet Nathan and says, I want to build a house for the Lord. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:12.639 And Nathan says, Do what you want. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:13.759 It's a great idea. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:19.600 Until Nathan has a night with the Lord, and Eli says, No, no, David's got too much blood on his hands. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.079 But I will build his house. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:28.000 One day one of his sons from his line will be my son. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:30.399 And he'll reign forever. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.839 That's the promise. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:37.360 He's coming to reign. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:45.120 The celebration of Christmas is that he's come for us to build a kingdom that we can be part of, that we can live in. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:52.399 Not with all the trappings of America, but as those who redeemed to live with Christ. 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.160 I mean, we can turn to even to Job. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:08:00.319 I mean, who would ever be asked to suffer as much as Job did? 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.399 That portion of the Bible, maybe the oldest portion of Scripture. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:07.519 Some believe it's 2,000 years BC. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:12.079 And Job has a horrible life for a long time. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:18.319 And then you find where his heart is in Job chapter 19. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:25.920 And he says, But for me, I know my Redeemer lives. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.160 He will stand upon the earth at last. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.600 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:32.879 I will see him for myself. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.639 Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:37.120 I am overwhelmed at the thought. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.759 For him, it was a thought. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:44.639 For us, 2,000 years after Christ, it's the reality. 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:47.360 Our Redeemer lives. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:51.120 I've been a pastor at a lot of crises in people's lives. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:55.759 Deathbeds, serious surgeries with brain aneurysms, cancer, and the rest. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:09:00.399 What is all the difference in the world when I'm standing at the bedside and saying, What can I pray for? 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.559 And that person just smiles and says, I know my Redeemer lives. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:09.759 Whether he calls me home now or I come back to this world to be more with my family, I just trust him. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:18.639 But that's a very different prayer in a very different environment than when someone's in panic and saying, Well, just pray that the doctors do what they should so I can come get over this. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.240 I'm going, Really? 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.600 That's all it is? 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:25.279 There's no trust. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.200 How many times I've heard people pray? 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:32.799 It sounds more like Santa Claus than to God of the universe. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:39.440 We're just telling God what we want rather than trusting what he wants to do in us and through us. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:42.480 Job even knew that. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:48.399 And to go back to David with all the Psalms, I mean, he wrote, somehow he knew. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:53.279 A thousand years before Christ, he knew that his God was a God of salvation. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:57.519 He knew that the Lord was his shepherd. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:04.080 And the language he uses in the Hebrew is not just generic God, Yahweh. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:08.240 It's often what we translate into Adonai, the king. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.399 He says, I know my God is my king. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:15.840 That's the language we use for Jesus. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:21.279 In Psalm 103, he says, As far as the east is from the west, he puts our sins from us. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.440 Do you understand how far that is? 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.679 It's not north and south. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.759 If you go north far enough, you'll start going south. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:30.559 If you go west far enough, you'll always go west. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:32.960 It's amazing. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.080 Do you believe that? 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:45.120 That all the brokenness, all the sin, all the selfishness, all the crap that you've had in your mind and your heart, it's gone because Christ has come for you. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:46.480 It's gone. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.519 David, David somehow knew that. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:11:00.399 And later he speaks about the one who will come, and we will sing Hosanna, but he comes to bear our sins. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:03.759 Or how about Isaiah? 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:08.399 I mean, five plus hundred years before Christ, he was told. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.919 He knew. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:12.320 You know the famous passage, don't we? 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.840 I'll save you from breaking out into song. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:16.799 I won't do that, but for to us a child is born. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:18.720 To us a son is given. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:20.960 The government will rest on his shoulders. 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:26.240 Not the government that we have to deal with reading news every week, but the real government. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.320 And of him there will be no end. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:35.840 He will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.360 His government and its peace will never end. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:47.600 His rule with fairness or righteousness is a better word, with righteousness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:50.240 That's what he comes to do. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.639 Born as a child, to be the son, capital S Son. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.639 And these are some of his titles. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:00.480 Now, in scripture, you get about 130 names for God, really, really do. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:05.840 But here we're given four powerful ones for the one who's going to be born in our midst. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.279 He's a wonderful counselor. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.679 Do you understand why that's so significant? 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:22.000 Because in the Greek, when Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit coming, and it's to our advantage he's going to go back to heaven because he's going to give the Holy Spirit, the word he uses there is the paraclete, the parakletos. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:29.120 That word means comforter, encourager, counselor. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:36.799 The king, the wonderful counselor, counsels us through the Holy Spirit. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:48.240 As we worship and pray and study his word and around other believers and share life with them, and we begin having something happen in our hearts, and something happen in our minds, and we go, maybe God's speaking to me. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:51.039 And it's the Holy Spirit, and it comes from the wonderful counselor. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:54.320 But he's not just the wonderful counselor, he's mighty God. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.919 That's what he was crucified for. 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.919 He said, I and the Father are one. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:00.480 And they said, Can't happen, we'll kill you. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.240 Huh. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:04.399 And he's the everlasting Father. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:12.320 Paul wrote in Colossians chapter 3, he said that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:15.519 That is, if you want to know what God's like, look at Jesus. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:18.240 Because he is the everlasting Father. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.240 He and the Father are one. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.519 That's how it works. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:27.360 We didn't understand God the Father, so he sent his son so we could see what that's like. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:39.679 That our God is love, not this romantic, silly love of Christmas movies that we have to agonize and get through, and we already know how the movie's going to end before it starts. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.000 Not that kind of romantic love. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.919 Something much, much deeper. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:46.720 A love that we're told is patient and kind. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:50.559 It's not arrogant, it's not rude, it's not boastful, it doesn't insist in its own way. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.159 It bears all things. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:57.919 God loves you so much he bears your life with you, and often we don't even notice. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:13:59.759 Why? 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.879 Because he loves you. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.519 He loves you. 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.720 This is the one who is coming for us. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.480 This is whose birth we celebrate. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:11.679 This is our most wonderful Christmas story. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:13.120 It's our story. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:14.799 It's our family story. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:16.320 And oh yes. 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.399 He's also the Prince of Peace. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.639 This is not just peace, absence of fighting. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.759 We English speakers are too quick to run to that. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:29.679 That my circumstances will be alright because I'm with the Prince of Peace. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:32.879 No, the word in Hebrew is shalom. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.840 It means contentment. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:39.039 It means you're at peace because you know who you're with. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:42.720 That's far more powerful than any circumstance. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.679 Oh, yeah, it's hard sometimes. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.000 Darkness can be very dark. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.360 But a darkness can be dispelled with a single flame. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.480 Is that flame within? 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:01.440 Is the Christmas miracle the fact that you can never find the perfect gift for someone? 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.919 Because it's already been given by God. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:07.600 He's come for us, he's given his life for us. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.440 He says, Will you accept me? 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.360 Will you let me guide your life? 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.320 The Prince of Peace. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:15.519 Oh, and that was over 500 years before Christ came. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:16.480 How about Jeremiah? 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:24.799 Jeremiah in chapter 31 said that God's going to give us a new covenant, not like the old one that we broke, not the being good enough, Ten Commandments kind of covenant. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:28.399 But a covenant where he comes and gives us a new heart. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.159 And we can know God personally. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.480 Whoa. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:37.279 How about Ezekiel? 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:42.480 That may not be one of your favorite books, but Ezekiel's got a lot of good stuff to say. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:48.399 Chapter 34, he says, the one who comes is going to be our good shepherd, the one who looks after us. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:53.279 He says in chapter 36 that his spirit is going to create this new heart in us. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.039 You know, we all need a heart transplant. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:55.759 We do. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:57.600 We need a mind transplant too. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.559 Paul writes, be transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.799 We all need that because we're so selfish. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.519 We do want to open up the presence. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:12.080 So he comes to give us a new heart that is concerned about him and his world and people who are suffering. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.519 He gives us a new mind so we see things not from our perspective but from his. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:18.639 And Ezekiel told us that's why he's coming. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.159 So he could give us a new heart and a new spirit, a new life. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:28.000 He even says in chapter 37, he says, you know, even if your dry bones. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.720 And, you know, we've all had that feeling, haven't we? 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.480 We're just trying to survive a day. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.799 We're feeling we have no life at all. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.080 And we're told by Ezekiel, God will just breathe new life. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.080 And he does that. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.360 He does that. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:50.399 Isn't it interesting that when Jesus conquered death, he went to the upper room and he told the disciples, receive the Holy Spirit. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.600 What do you do next? 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.200 He breathed on them. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:59.279 He said, Do you think if Jesus breathed on you, you'd receive something? 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.799 Have you received his breath this morning? 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.559 He's here. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.720 If you receive. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:12.559 Now maybe you're just covering up the the with a coat, your heart, and your mind, because you don't want that. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.240 But risk it. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.880 He wants to breathe on you to bring you new life. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.880 That's our story. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.079 Or how about how about Daniel? 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:24.880 I love Daniel. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:27.039 I've asked uh to have Daniel put up. 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:31.759 Daniel has an amazing message in chapter uh chapter seven. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:35.519 He tells us eventually why the Christ has to come. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:45.599 And he has a vision of the ancient of days, whose clothing is as white as snow, his hair as pure as wool, and he sits on the throne. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.519 And in the vision continued, I saw someone like a son of man. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:53.680 It's interesting, son of man, because that's the term Jesus used to describe himself. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:59.920 More than any other term or title, Jesus used Son of Man when he was speaking about himself. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.920 And this Son of Man is coming with the clouds of heaven. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:07.519 He approached the ancient one who was led it who and was led into his presence. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:14.480 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.839 His rule is eternal. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.440 It will never end, his kingdom will never be destroyed. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.359 Church, do you get it? 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.359 He is the Son of Man. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:25.599 He has all authority in heaven and earth. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:29.200 That's why he can say, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.160 Now y'all go. 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.799 And it is, it is, is this, he speaks in southern. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.759 He says, y'all. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.039 It is plural. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.559 It's not just for you pastors and just for you teachers, not just for you musicians. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.880 He says, Y'all go in my authority. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.759 Not your authority. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.960 Your authority is too small. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:48.400 You go in my authority, the name above every name. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.759 Whoa! And Daniel knew that. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.000 There's going to be one who is the Son of Man who's going to come and he has all authority in heaven and earth. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:58.640 And Jesus says, I'm going to show you how I get this. 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.079 And he dies for us. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:03.440 And the Father raises him. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:06.799 And then he says, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me here. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.759 Receive my spirit. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.319 Whoa. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.559 And it's every nation. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:19.039 Has anybody here had a Christmas in another nation that's vastly different from our Western way of manipulating it? 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.319 Anybody? 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.160 Boy, I don't see any names. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.039 I don't see any hands. 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.799 Okay, there's one, two, three. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:36.559 I tell you what, when you're in a culture where there's no lights and no music and no Christmas trees, and the only packages you can find are ones that you may have carried in your bag. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:45.200 And you open them up for your wife, and you start a fire, and you sit on a mattress that you've pulled off the floor. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:49.359 But you're together and you're celebrating the Christ. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:51.039 And it's enough. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.960 Because it's true. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:57.200 Everything we add is extra, but it's not the ultimate meaning. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:59.519 It's all about Christ. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.160 He comes to us. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.599 How about Micah? 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.759 Micah tells us he's going to be born in Bethlehem. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.440 That's pretty cool, don't you think? 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:11.359 Oh, by the way, folks, he's going to be born in Bethlehem. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.440 So when you hear the story, no it's true. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.960 Because it comes from God. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.640 Or how about Zephaniah? 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.480 No doubt one of your favorite books. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.440 I was teaching on this this week, and I found people didn't know where Zephaniah was. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:26.000 And so I suggested the table of contents. 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:29.039 And then I was a bit concerned because they still couldn't find it. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:33.200 Little bitty book near the end of the Old Testament. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.200 But Zephaniah is a cool book. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:39.680 And this is what he says about what the Messiah will come to do for us. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:43.039 And I'm just going to read from chapter 3. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.000 Good, I've got Zechariah here, so give me a minute. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.160 I've got to get the other side of Habakkuk here. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.880 Zephaniah chapter 3. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.920 Great. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:55.200 I once saw this when I was a little kid. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:59.599 I saw the priest, the pastor, unable to find the page he wanted to read in scripture. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:04.160 And I thought, well, if I'm ever ordained, I will know where to go in the Bible. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.599 And here I am. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.119 I can't find Zephaniah. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:07.759 Thank you, Lord. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:09.119 This is a lot of fun. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.680 Be patient. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.319 I will find it. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.039 I know it's here. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.000 There it is. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.519 Two little pages. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.200 I was close. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:20.319 Zephaniah chapter 3. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:25.039 Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout aloud to Israel. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.079 Be glad. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:28.000 Rejoice with all your heart. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.759 O daughter of Jerusalem, for the Lord will remove his hand of judgment. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:33.519 He will disperse the armies of your enemy. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:37.440 And the Lord Himself, the King of Israel, will live among you. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:40.960 At last your troubles will be over, you will never again fear disaster. 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:43.119 On that day, the announcement to Jerusalem will come. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.079 Cheer up. 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.519 Don't be afraid. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.440 For the Lord your God is living among you. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:49.680 He is a mighty Savior. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:53.279 He will take delight over you with gladness. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:55.440 With his love, he will come all your fears. 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:58.799 He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.680 Even goes on. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.240 Says on that day I will gather you together, I will bring you home. 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:10.480 Hundreds of years before Christ came, God gave the word to Zephaniah. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:13.039 This is what Messiah wants to do for each of us. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:16.319 He wants to bring us home where we belong. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:24.880 Not playing the game that somehow money or status or power or sex or success will somehow give us meaning and purpose. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:29.279 It's only going to be found in the one who comes to save us. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:33.680 Now, each of these verses are profound and significant for me personally. 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.119 That's why I'm sharing with them with you. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:38.079 But this one has a special chord in me as a dad. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:41.920 You see, when my youngest was in eighth grade, he was playing soccer. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:46.160 And of course, eighth grade is age 13, so he's starting to deal with manhood and all those other kinds of things. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:53.119 He was a forward in the good soccer team, and one of the defenders kicked the ball and it caught him right between his legs. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:55.519 And guys, you know what happened next. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:58.400 He's on the ground, gasping for breath. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:02.720 And of course, as his dad, I went charging out on the field. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:06.160 Until the umpire said, Get off the field, sir, you have no right to be here. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.400 And I'm going, I'm his dad. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.440 I'm his dad. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:15.279 So I backed up like this, and fortunately I saw from the other side the coach was running over to him, and I went, well, at least he's getting comfort from somebody. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:21.519 And the coach did something very strange, got over him with a four-point stance over him like this. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.440 That's pretty weird. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.000 I haven't seen ministry like that before. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:33.119