It has stood the test of
time, God's Word, The Bible.
00:00:07.26\00:00:16.83
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:16.83\00:00:22.10
It Is Written,
sharing hope around the glove.
00:00:22.10\00:00:51.40
"And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a
00:00:51.40\00:00:54.60
decree from Cesar Augustus,
that all the world should be
00:00:54.60\00:00:57.20
taxed.
00:00:57.20\00:00:58.26
(And this taxing was
first made when Cyrenius was
00:00:58.26\00:01:01.36
governor of Syria).
00:01:01.36\00:01:02.86
And all went to be taxed,
every one into his own city.""
00:01:02.86\00:01:06.36
(Luke 2:1-3) I'm John Bradshaw.
00:01:06.36\00:01:09.46
Thanks for joining me today.
00:01:09.46\00:01:10.93
It's that time of year.
00:01:10.93\00:01:13.13
The Christmas music has been
playing in stores for weeks,
00:01:13.13\00:01:16.43
Christmas meals have
been planned down to the last
00:01:16.43\00:01:19.90
mince pie, the trees are up
- real ones or artificial ones,
00:01:19.90\00:01:24.80
family gatherings have
been anticipated for ages and
00:01:24.80\00:01:27.80
people have traveled
often many miles to be with
00:01:27.80\00:01:30.83
relatives, the kids are
going to get to see Grandma and
00:01:30.83\00:01:34.03
Grandpa again, retailers
are either breathing easy or
00:01:34.03\00:01:37.56
licking their
wounds, Christmas lights are
00:01:37.56\00:01:40.36
twinkling, carolers have gone
out spreading Christmas joy,
00:01:40.36\00:01:44.86
work parties have been
attended, bonus checks have
00:01:44.86\00:01:48.16
been gratefully received,
Christmas cards have been
00:01:48.16\00:01:51.40
sent and received from
long-ago friends and distant
00:01:51.40\00:01:55.00
relatives, catalogs from
companies you didn't even
00:01:55.00\00:01:59.16
know existed have arrived
in your mailbox, people are
00:01:59.16\00:02:02.33
planning to enjoy one last
splurge before starting their
00:02:02.33\00:02:05.83
diet in the new year,
cantatas have been enjoyed,
00:02:05.83\00:02:10.36
the Hallelujah Chorus has
moved hearts, nativity scenes
00:02:10.36\00:02:15.70
grace front yards, some
people are enjoying a white
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Christmas, and where I grew
up people are heading to the
00:02:18.30\00:02:22.03
beach and trying
to avoid sunburn.
00:02:22.03\00:02:24.83
Christmas.
00:02:24.83\00:02:26.20
Andy Williams sang that
it's "The Most Wonderful
00:02:26.20\00:02:28.50
Time of the Year".
00:02:28.50\00:02:29.76
And it's hard
to argue with that.
00:02:29.76\00:02:32.03
At Christmas time
people tend to be HAPPY.
00:02:32.03\00:02:34.26
Life slows down for a day
or two, long enough for people
00:02:34.26\00:02:38.23
to connect with
loved ones and friends.
00:02:38.23\00:02:41.73
And in this culture of ours
a major Christmas tradition is
00:02:41.73\00:02:45.73
gift giving.
00:02:45.73\00:02:46.76
In fact you can cay
that maybe its the overriding
00:02:46.76\00:02:49.46
Christmas tradition.
00:02:49.46\00:02:50.96
We know that Christmas
is a religious tradition - a
00:02:50.96\00:02:53.40
Biblical tradition -
it's a Christian tradition.
00:02:53.40\00:02:56.93
Yet even atheists participate
in celebrating Christmas and
00:02:56.93\00:03:00.23
in giving a receiving gifts.
00:03:00.23\00:03:02.83
In fact, if you went to any
shopping center at all, you'd
00:03:02.83\00:03:05.53
get the impression
that Christmas is all about
00:03:05.53\00:03:08.10
the gifts.
00:03:08.10\00:03:09.26
Every Christmas season,
all across the fruited plain,
00:03:09.26\00:03:13.10
children sit on Santa's
knee and tell him they want
00:03:13.10\00:03:16.63
bicycles and lego sets and
scooters and dolls and video
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games and a
whole lot more beside.
00:03:21.66\00:03:24.50
Adults will be wanting
clothing and golf clubs and
00:03:24.50\00:03:27.76
iPods and camera gear -
and video games and a whole lot
00:03:27.76\00:03:31.93
more besides.
00:03:31.93\00:03:33.90
What do you want for Christmas?
00:03:33.90\00:03:37.30
Some years ago I asked
several people to tell me
00:03:37.30\00:03:39.73
about the best gift
they had ever received.
00:03:39.73\00:03:42.60
Now, their response
didn't really surprise me.
00:03:42.60\00:03:46.20
I know for a fact that
some of them had over the years
00:03:46.20\00:03:48.20
been given some pretty
impressive and expensive
00:03:48.20\00:03:50.53
gifts.
00:03:50.53\00:03:52.13
But not one of them told
me that the best gift they'd
00:03:52.13\00:03:54.63
ever received was a new car
or a vacation in Hawaii or a
00:03:54.63\00:03:57.83
new flat-screen Television set.
00:03:57.83\00:04:00.26
Each of them told
me a similar story.
00:04:00.26\00:04:02.66
It was in every case
something like, "I remember
00:04:02.66\00:04:05.40
years ago - it was my
birthday, and my daughter -
00:04:05.40\00:04:08.76
she was just little
then - she went and made me a
00:04:08.76\00:04:12.00
beautiful card, and she
decorated it, and she wrote
00:04:12.00\00:04:14.80
the sweetest thing on there...
00:04:14.80\00:04:16.50
And, you know, I
still have that card.
00:04:16.50\00:04:18.23
Nothing I've ever been given
means has meant so much to me
00:04:18.23\00:04:20.86
as that card does."
00:04:20.86\00:04:22.90
It wasn't the diamond
ring, it wasn't the fur coat, it
00:04:22.90\00:04:24.70
wasn't the Rolex...
00:04:24.70\00:04:26.80
but something from the heart,
something simple, something
00:04:26.80\00:04:29.90
pure - something that
represents true, genuine
00:04:29.90\00:04:34.26
love.
00:04:34.26\00:04:35.40
Doesn't that
sound like Christmas?
00:04:35.40\00:04:38.06
Really, when you stop and
think about it, overeating,
00:04:38.06\00:04:40.93
overspending and
overindulging don't have a
00:04:40.93\00:04:45.73
whole lot to do
with the birth of Jesus.
00:04:45.73\00:04:48.60
So what really matters
most at Christmas time?
00:04:48.60\00:04:53.20
How would you end the
sentence if you would have
00:04:53.20\00:04:56.06
said, "All I Want
for Christmas is..."
00:04:56.06\00:05:00.93
What would make
Christmas truly special for you?
00:05:00.93\00:05:06.60
What's the essence
of the Christmas story?
00:05:06.60\00:05:09.53
I'm sure you might be able
to answer that question in a
00:05:09.53\00:05:11.53
number of ways, but there's
a Bible verse that for me
00:05:11.53\00:05:15.96
brings us back to
the very heart of it all.
00:05:15.96\00:05:18.83
John 3:16 says, "For God
so loved the word that He gave
00:05:18.83\00:05:25.73
His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him
00:05:25.73\00:05:28.86
should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
00:05:28.86\00:05:34.00
The reason Christmas is
observed at all, is that long
00:05:34.00\00:05:37.03
ago the decision was made
that Jesus would be given to
00:05:37.03\00:05:39.33
the human family.
00:05:39.33\00:05:43.00
God "gave" - and He gave
the greatest and most expensive
00:05:43.00\00:05:47.53
gift that could
possibly be given.
00:05:47.53\00:05:50.60
Remember how the prophet
Isaiah put it in chapter 9
00:05:50.60\00:05:54.16
and verse 6: "For unto us a
child is born, unto us a Son
00:05:54.16\00:05:59.40
is given; and the government
shall be upon His shoulder."
00:05:59.40\00:06:02.80
(Isa 9:6).
00:06:02.80\00:06:04.20
Notice - "unto us a...
00:06:04.20\00:06:05.63
Son is given."
00:06:05.63\00:06:09.60
Beyond the Christmas
lights on the houses, beyond the
00:06:09.60\00:06:12.56
Christmas trees, beyond
the mountains and mountains of
00:06:12.56\00:06:15.50
wrapping paper, beyond
the last-minute Christmas
00:06:15.50\00:06:17.86
shopping on Christmas
Eve (men, you know what I
00:06:17.86\00:06:20.30
mean...) Beyond everything,
Christmas as a Christian
00:06:20.30\00:06:24.30
tradition stems from the fact
that God sent Jesus into the
00:06:24.30\00:06:28.86
world.
00:06:28.86\00:06:30.16
And what did He do that for?
00:06:30.16\00:06:32.36
As John 3 verse17 says, For
God sent not his Son into the
00:06:32.36\00:06:37.60
world to condemn the world;
but that the world through
00:06:37.60\00:06:41.76
him might be saved.
00:06:41.76\00:06:45.60
God was so committed
to giving you and me every
00:06:45.60\00:06:48.50
opportunity to experience
character transformation, He
00:06:48.50\00:06:52.36
was so committed to you
and me being forgiven and
00:06:52.36\00:06:54.46
cleansed, and freed from
guilt, God was so committed
00:06:54.46\00:06:58.23
to us having everlasting
life, that He gave the
00:06:58.23\00:07:02.63
greatest gift given ever
by anyone to anyone ever.
00:07:02.63\00:07:07.73
He gave Jesus.
00:07:07.73\00:07:11.10
He gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth
00:07:11.10\00:07:13.56
in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
00:07:13.56\00:07:18.80
You know there have been some
pretty remarkable gifts given
00:07:18.80\00:07:21.03
over .
00:07:21.03\00:07:22.76
Russian business tycoon
Roman Abramovitch bought his
00:07:22.76\00:07:25.73
girlfriend a fourteen
million dollar sculpture.
00:07:25.73\00:07:29.80
English soccer player David
Beckham is said to have spent
00:07:29.80\00:07:32.70
eighty thousand
pounds on a bag for his wife.
00:07:32.70\00:07:35.50
An American movie
star evidently bought a
00:07:35.50\00:07:39.00
200-year-old Olive Tree
for her movie star husband, for
00:07:39.00\00:07:41.90
$18,000 for a tree.
00:07:41.90\00:07:44.43
A musician bought his son a
car for his 16th birthday - a
00:07:44.43\00:07:48.33
$360,000 car.
00:07:48.33\00:07:52.70
Too bad the boy didn't yet
have his driver's license yet.
00:07:52.70\00:07:55.73
An Indian businessman
bought his wife a sixty million
00:07:55.73\00:07:59.30
dollar luxury jet
for her 44th birthday.
00:07:59.30\00:08:02.90
His brother obviously felt
the heat and and so brought
00:08:02.90\00:08:04.96
HIS wife a luxury
yacht shortly afterwards.
00:08:04.96\00:08:08.76
Worth more than
eighty million dollars.
00:08:08.76\00:08:12.26
Of course India's Taj Mahal
was a gift given by an Indian
00:08:12.26\00:08:14.96
emperor to his deceased wife.
00:08:14.96\00:08:18.23
Impressive gifts.
00:08:18.23\00:08:20.33
But are they the gifts
that really matter most?
00:08:20.33\00:08:24.66
In a moment, What really
does matter most at Christmas?
00:08:24.66\00:08:30.16
And Joseph also went up
from Galilee, out of the city of
00:08:30.16\00:08:33.33
Nazareth, into Judea, unto
the city of David, which is
00:08:33.33\00:08:37.36
called Bethlehem (because
he was of the house and lineage
00:08:37.36\00:08:40.76
of David).
00:08:40.76\00:08:42.03
To be taxed with Mary his
espoused wife, being great
00:08:42.03\00:08:44.66
with child.
00:08:44.66\00:08:46.26
And so it was, that
while they were there, the days
00:08:46.26\00:08:49.23
were accomplished that
she should be delivered.
00:08:49.23\00:08:52.50
And she brought forth her
firstborn son, and wrapped
00:08:52.50\00:08:55.30
him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger, because
00:08:55.30\00:08:58.23
there was no room for
them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7
00:08:58.23\00:09:01.66
???????????
??????????? And here is
00:09:01.66\00:09:32.33
today's Bible question:
Was Jesus a created being - an
00:09:32.33\00:09:35.96
angel?
00:09:35.96\00:09:39.56
The Bible comments on this
directly in several places.
00:09:39.56\00:09:42.23
Hebrews 1:4 says Jesus was
"made so much better than the
00:09:42.23\00:09:46.20
angels".
00:09:46.20\00:09:47.73
So He is not an angel.
00:09:47.73\00:09:49.23
So then, was He made?
00:09:49.23\00:09:51.20
The Bible says He was made.
00:09:51.20\00:09:53.06
Well, that word 'made'
doesn't always mean 'made' as
00:09:53.06\00:09:55.96
in 'brought into existence.'
Many Bible translations say
00:09:55.96\00:09:58.60
that in a different way.
00:09:58.60\00:10:00.10
And then, Hebrews 1:5 -
the very next verse - says that
00:10:00.10\00:10:03.56
Jesus is God's Son.
00:10:03.56\00:10:05.73
Jesus wasn't an
angel, and He wasn't created.
00:10:05.73\00:10:10.60
Come back with me
right back to the beginning.
00:10:10.60\00:10:13.40
Genesis 1:1 says, - In
the beginning God created the
00:10:13.40\00:10:16.50
heavens and the earth.
00:10:16.50\00:10:19.20
Now notice verse 26 - "Let
us make man in our image, after
00:10:19.20\00:10:23.90
our likeness."
00:10:23.90\00:10:25.46
Our?
00:10:25.46\00:10:26.76
That's plural.
00:10:26.76\00:10:27.96
That's because the Father,
the Holy Spirit AND Jesus
00:10:27.96\00:10:31.43
were present at creation.
00:10:31.43\00:10:34.03
It would be hard to believe
Jesus was a created being AND
00:10:34.03\00:10:36.00
the Creator!
00:10:36.00\00:10:38.13
John 1:1: "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word
00:10:38.13\00:10:42.16
was with God, and
the Word was God."
00:10:42.16\00:10:44.66
That's Jesus we
are talking about.
00:10:44.66\00:10:46.90
And then verse 3 says, "All
things were made by Him, and
00:10:46.90\00:10:50.76
without Him was not
anything made that was made."
00:10:50.76\00:10:53.73
So, Jesus was the
Creator, not the created.
00:10:53.73\00:10:58.03
He wasn't made, wasn't
brought into existence,
00:10:58.03\00:11:00.80
wasn't originated
- Jesus is eternal.
00:11:00.80\00:11:04.20
There's a reason its hard
for us humans to get our mind
00:11:04.20\00:11:07.06
around that.
00:11:07.06\00:11:07.83
Because we're human
- everything from our
00:11:07.83\00:11:10.33
prospective has a
beginning in our minds.
00:11:10.33\00:11:14.10
Well as the Bible says,
God's ways aren't our ways and
00:11:14.10\00:11:16.90
God's thoughts
aren't our thoughts.
00:11:16.90\00:11:19.73
And I'm glad that God doesn't
have to operate under the
00:11:19.73\00:11:22.43
same constraints as people do.
00:11:22.43\00:11:26.43
That would make
God a pretty small God.
00:11:26.43\00:11:29.13
If you have a question
you'd like answered, go to
00:11:29.13\00:11:30.73
ItIsWritten.com, click on the
questions tab and submit your
00:11:30.73\00:11:34.53
question.
00:11:34.53\00:11:35.66
I hope I'll be able to
answer your Bible question.
00:11:35.66\00:11:40.20
If you have a Bible question
for Pastor John Bradshaw,
00:11:40.20\00:11:42.70
please write to It Is
Written, Box O, Thousand
00:11:42.70\00:11:45.80
Oaks, CA 91359, orisit our
website Itiswritten.com and
00:11:45.80\00:11:50.53
send us your questions on line.
00:11:50.53\00:12:16.66
"And the angel said unto
them, Fear not, for behold, I
00:12:16.66\00:12:19.06
bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to
00:12:19.06\00:12:23.83
all people.
00:12:23.83\00:12:24.90
For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a
00:12:24.90\00:12:27.66
Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord.
00:12:27.66\00:12:31.66
And this shall be a sign unto
you: You shall find the babe
00:12:31.66\00:12:35.23
wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.
00:12:35.23\00:12:39.56
And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the
00:12:39.56\00:12:42.80
heavenly host praising
God, and saying, Glory to God in
00:12:42.80\00:12:47.93
the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men."
00:12:47.93\00:12:52.66
Luke 2:10-14 Thanks
for joining me today.
00:12:52.66\00:12:55.90
Even though Jesus was not
born on December 25th, its
00:12:55.90\00:12:57.90
become the day on which the
Christian world remembers the
00:12:57.90\00:13:01.00
great event when Jesus was
born in Bethlehem, when the
00:13:01.00\00:13:04.76
Messiah came into the
world to be its Saviour.
00:13:04.76\00:13:08.06
Christmas in the Western
World is characterized by
00:13:08.06\00:13:10.93
family gatherings, house
decorating, food consuming,
00:13:10.93\00:13:14.13
gift giving - and sometimes
it seems as though we might
00:13:14.13\00:13:19.03
just miss the point.
00:13:19.03\00:13:21.73
As you look around, would
you get the impression that
00:13:21.73\00:13:24.33
Christmas is
actually about Jesus?
00:13:24.33\00:13:27.50
Or does it look like it's
more about sales and stuff
00:13:27.50\00:13:30.26
and possessions?
00:13:30.26\00:13:32.73
I remember one Christmas
seeing a young boy who had
00:13:32.73\00:13:35.53
forgotten all about the
gifts he was given, but he was
00:13:35.53\00:13:37.56
having the time of his life
playing with the wrapping the
00:13:37.56\00:13:40.76
gifts came in.
00:13:40.76\00:13:42.43
He was having more fun with
a plastic bag than he ever did
00:13:42.43\00:13:44.23
than with the
expensive toys he'd been given.
00:13:44.23\00:13:47.60
I hope yours is a
very Happy Christmas.
00:13:47.60\00:13:51.33
So let me ask you, what would
make this Christmas happy for
00:13:51.33\00:13:54.90
you?
00:13:54.90\00:13:56.50
And, What would you
really like for Christmas?
00:13:56.50\00:14:00.23
"And they came with haste,
and found Mary, and Joseph,
00:14:00.23\00:14:02.83
and the baby lying in a manger.
00:14:02.83\00:14:07.00
And when they had seen
it, they made known abroad the
00:14:07.00\00:14:09.66
saying which was told
them concerning this child.
00:14:09.66\00:14:12.66
And when they had seen
it, they made known abroad the
00:14:12.66\00:14:15.80
And all they that heard
it wondered at those things
00:14:15.80\00:14:17.36
which were told
them by the shepherds."
00:14:17.36\00:14:18.96
LUKE 2:16-18 This Christmas
- while you're enjoying your
00:14:18.96\00:14:20.56
mashed potatoes at Grandma's
annual Christmas feast -
00:14:20.56\00:14:24.36
there are some people who
won't be getting very much,
00:14:24.36\00:14:27.53
or giving very much, because
they simply don't have very
00:14:27.53\00:14:30.03
much.
00:14:30.03\00:14:32.06
Someone just this week lost
a job and there's no money for
00:14:32.06\00:14:36.93
extras.
00:14:36.93\00:14:37.76
Someone this week found
out that insurance won't cover
00:14:37.76\00:14:39.26
that claim, and
now they're in a jam.
00:14:39.26\00:14:41.73
Someone yesterday
perhaps, found out that the
00:14:41.73\00:14:45.43
investments they'd made
to fund their retirement have
00:14:45.43\00:14:48.23
collapsed, and now they're
not going to have nearly as
00:14:48.23\00:14:51.86
much as they thought they would.
00:14:51.86\00:14:55.63
So at Christmas,
what really matters?
00:14:55.63\00:14:57.06
Is it the 'stuff'?
00:14:57.06\00:14:57.83
Is it the gifts and the
Christmas tree and the lights
00:14:57.83\00:15:01.86
on the outside of the house?
00:15:01.86\00:15:02.70
What really
matters this Christmas?
00:15:02.70\00:15:07.06
And let's think about
this from God's point of view.
00:15:07.06\00:15:08.86
When we think about what
we want for Christmas, that's
00:15:08.86\00:15:10.33
one thing but
what would God want?
00:15:10.33\00:15:13.60
If God had a Christmas wish
list, what do you think would
00:15:13.60\00:15:16.43
be on it?
00:15:16.43\00:15:17.93
If God said, All I
Want For Christmas Is...
00:15:17.93\00:15:21.40
how do you think
He'd finish the sentence?
00:15:21.40\00:15:24.80
World peace?
00:15:24.80\00:15:25.93
Sure.
00:15:25.93\00:15:27.10
God would want
that, wouldn't He?
00:15:27.10\00:15:28.66
Full churches?
00:15:28.66\00:15:30.30
In many cases, no doubt.
00:15:30.30\00:15:31.83
No more war, or
violence in the streets?
00:15:31.83\00:15:34.90
Surely God would want to
see an end to oppression and
00:15:34.90\00:15:37.66
racism and hate and
violence of all kinds.
00:15:37.66\00:15:40.20
But as important as
those things are, they're
00:15:40.20\00:15:43.63
secondary.
00:15:43.63\00:15:44.76
That is, peace in the
world can only come when there's
00:15:44.76\00:15:49.73
truly peace in the heart.
00:15:49.73\00:15:53.03
In the Proverbs, God tells
us what He wants for Christmas.
00:15:53.03\00:15:56.23
In Proverbs 23:26, God says,
"My son, give me thine heart,
00:15:56.23\00:16:04.90
and let thine
eyes observe my ways."
00:16:04.90\00:16:09.30
God asks for your
heart this Christmas.
00:16:09.30\00:16:13.73
A simple request, but
it's not always easy for people
00:16:13.73\00:16:17.16
like you and me to fulfill.
00:16:17.16\00:16:19.30
Now, what do I mean by that,
saying it isn't always easy
00:16:19.30\00:16:22.13
for a person to give
his or her heart to God?
00:16:22.13\00:16:27.36
As sinful human beings we
wrestle with our own will,
00:16:27.36\00:16:30.00
our own desires and wants,
and sometimes giving God our
00:16:30.00\00:16:34.46
heart seems like the
toughest thing of all.
00:16:34.46\00:16:38.43
Now, not to give God our
heart would be for us to make
00:16:38.43\00:16:41.86
the same mistake as was made
by the people of Israel when
00:16:41.86\00:16:43.86
Jesus came the first time.
00:16:43.86\00:16:46.30
John wrote that "He came unto
His own, and His own received
00:16:46.30\00:16:50.10
Him not."
00:16:50.10\00:16:50.83
Think of who the people
were who WERE prepared to meet
00:16:50.83\00:16:54.16
Jesus: a few humble
shepherds, and some wise men
00:16:54.16\00:16:58.60
from a foreign country.
00:16:58.60\00:17:00.46
Then there was Anna and
Simeon, but in a country that
00:17:00.46\00:17:03.43
was built upon the hope
of the coming of the Messiah,
00:17:03.43\00:17:06.56
that was precious few.
00:17:06.56\00:17:10.20
When Jesus came to the
earth the first time, that first
00:17:10.20\00:17:13.26
Christmas his parents
couldn't even find a place
00:17:13.26\00:17:16.10
for Jesus to dwell.
00:17:16.10\00:17:17.56
I sincerely hope it won't
be that way this Christmas.
00:17:17.56\00:17:20.56
Christ is looking
for a dwelling place this
00:17:20.56\00:17:23.16
Christmas.
00:17:23.16\00:17:24.66
Not a stable, not an inn
- He's looking for a heart.
00:17:24.66\00:17:28.50
"My son - my daughter -
give me your heart," God asks.
00:17:28.50\00:17:32.40
Paul wrote to the Ephesians
and discussed the hope, in
00:17:32.40\00:17:36.56
Ephesians 3:17 we read there,
Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ
00:17:36.56\00:17:42.03
may dwell in your
hearts by faith..."
00:17:42.03\00:17:48.06
(Eph 3:17).
00:17:48.06\00:17:49.16
And in Revelation 3:20,
the same Jesus is looking for a
00:17:49.16\00:17:52.26
place to rest.
00:17:52.26\00:17:54.43
And He says, Behold, I
stand at the door and knock.
00:17:54.43\00:17:58.03
If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come
00:17:58.03\00:18:04.86
in to him and dine
with him, and he with Me.
00:18:04.86\00:18:07.73
What's most
important this Christmas?
00:18:07.73\00:18:10.33
As important as some of
the trappings and even the
00:18:10.33\00:18:12.93
traditions of Christmas
have become, surely the most
00:18:12.93\00:18:15.46
important part of Christmas
is Christ - not simply the
00:18:15.46\00:18:16.56
historical Christ,
the baby in the manger.
00:18:16.56\00:18:19.46
But the present day Christ,
looking for lodging, looking
00:18:19.46\00:18:24.06
to see if you'll give Him
the best gift you could give Him
00:18:24.06\00:18:28.73
- the gift of your heart.
00:18:28.73\00:18:30.86
The gift of your life.
00:18:30.86\00:18:36.03
"And Simeon blessed them,
and said unto Mary his mother,
00:18:36.03\00:18:38.50
Behold, this child is set
for the fall and rising again of
00:18:38.50\00:18:43.90
many in Israel; and for a
sign which shall be spoken
00:18:43.90\00:18:45.63
against.) Yea, a sword shall
pierce through they own soul
00:18:45.63\00:18:52.16
also,) that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed."
00:18:52.16\00:18:56.83
Luke 2:34, 35 ???????? ?????????
00:18:56.83\00:19:08.66
In Matthew 4:4 the
Word of God says, "It Is
00:19:08.66\00:19:11.93
Written, man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every
00:19:11.93\00:19:14.20
word that proceeds
from the mouth of God."
00:19:14.20\00:19:17.73
Every Word is a one minute
Bible base daily devotional
00:19:17.73\00:19:20.93
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:19:20.93\00:19:24.00
specially for
busy people like you.
00:19:24.00\00:19:26.33
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:19:26.33\00:19:29.10
on line every day on
our website itiswritten.com.
00:19:29.10\00:19:31.96
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:19:31.96\00:19:35.93
Watch Every Word, you'll
be glad you did, here is a
00:19:35.93\00:19:44.73
sample.
00:19:44.73\00:19:50.60
Merry Christmas.
00:19:50.60\00:19:51.76
I hope you're able to take
some time today with family
00:19:51.76\00:19:53.83
and friends, or if that isn't
possible, to take time with
00:19:53.83\00:19:56.00
God and remember how
great His blessings have been.
00:19:56.00\00:19:58.50
Christmas Day is
evidence that God is faithful.
00:19:58.50\00:20:00.86
The birth of Jesus proves
that God keeps his promises.
00:20:00.86\00:20:03.36
God promised in Micah
5:2 that Jesus would come.
00:20:03.36\00:20:06.43
He said, "But thou, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, though thou be
00:20:06.43\00:20:11.13
little among the thousands
of Judah, yet out of thee shall
00:20:11.13\00:20:13.43
he come forth unto me that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose
00:20:13.43\00:20:17.20
goings forth are of
old, from everlasting."
00:20:17.20\00:20:20.16
God kept His promise, and
there's no reason He won't
00:20:20.16\00:20:23.16
continue to keep
His promises to you.
00:20:23.16\00:20:25.83
If you're making this
day special, I hope it's a
00:20:25.83\00:20:27.93
perfect day.
00:20:27.93\00:20:29.16
I'm glad I've
been able to greet you.
00:20:29.16\00:20:31.50
God bless you today.
00:20:31.50\00:20:32.53
Merry Christmas.
00:20:32.53\00:20:33.80
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:20:33.80\00:20:36.03
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:20:36.03\00:20:48.73
It is written is sharing
the good news of the gospel
00:20:48.73\00:20:51.30
around the world.
00:20:51.30\00:20:54.00
Part of our mission is to
bring the word of God to some
00:20:54.00\00:20:55.80
of the most
remote places one earth.
00:20:55.80\00:20:59.93
Right now we are providing
audio bibles to the people of
00:20:59.93\00:21:02.16
Papua New Guinea.
00:21:02.16\00:21:03.46
We call this
audio Bible the Godpod.
00:21:03.46\00:21:07.46
Through the solar power MP3
player, people can hear God's
00:21:07.46\00:21:09.90
Word in their own language.
00:21:09.90\00:21:10.56
If you'd like to help It Is
Written share the Word of God
00:21:10.56\00:21:16.10
by providing solar power
Godpod Bibles, please call
00:21:16.10\00:21:20.43
our toll free
number 1-800-253-3000.
00:21:20.43\00:21:24.10
Call right now just tell
the operator you would like to
00:21:24.10\00:21:27.96
help with the Godpod project.
00:21:27.96\00:21:32.56
You can also participate
by sending your gift to: It Is
00:21:32.56\00:21:33.93
Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359.
00:21:33.93\00:21:38.10
And for your convenience,
you can also make a gift on line
00:21:38.10\00:21:41.56
at itiswritten.com.
00:21:41.56\00:21:44.10
This ministry uses every
reasonable effort to fund its
00:21:44.10\00:21:47.20
projects as described.
00:21:47.20\00:21:48.10
Should the project become
fully funded or should the
00:21:48.10\00:21:50.36
nature of the project
change due to unexpected
00:21:50.36\00:21:52.76
circumstances, funds will
be directed towards similar
00:21:52.76\00:21:55.56
worthy projects.
00:21:55.56\00:21:57.16
Our toll free number is
1-800-253-3000, and our web
00:21:57.16\00:22:03.00
address is
itiswritten.com ?????????
00:22:03.00\00:22:15.73
"And she was a widow of
about fourscore and four years,
00:22:15.73\00:22:19.66
which departed not from
the temple, but served God with
00:22:19.66\00:22:22.53
fastings and
prayers night and day.
00:22:22.53\00:22:25.50
And she coming in that
instant gave thanks likewise
00:22:25.50\00:22:30.36
unto the Lord, and spake
of him to all them that looked
00:22:30.36\00:22:33.30
for redemption in Jerusalem."
00:22:33.30\00:22:36.03
Luke 2:37, 38 My Dad told me
00:22:36.03\00:22:38.00
many years ago about the
gift that meant most to him.
00:22:38.00\00:22:40.10
The Christmas in question
was many years before, and a
00:22:40.10\00:22:43.50
number of years
before I was born.
00:22:43.50\00:22:45.93
One of my older brothers
had wanted to buy Dad a gift, so
00:22:45.93\00:22:49.50
he scraped together what was
only a few cents and went and
00:22:49.50\00:22:53.70
bought Dad a little
bar of shaving soap.
00:22:53.70\00:22:57.40
And that touched my father's
heart - and was more special
00:22:57.40\00:22:59.80
to him than any other
gift he had ever received.
00:22:59.80\00:23:03.26
And why do you think that was?
00:23:03.26\00:23:05.20
Because it came from the heart.
00:23:05.20\00:23:07.20
It was given with
love - and a lot of it.
00:23:07.20\00:23:10.06
The innocent, giving,
self-sacrificing love of a
00:23:10.06\00:23:12.56
little boy doing
something sweet for his Daddy.
00:23:12.56\00:23:17.16
See - that's
what's really important.
00:23:17.16\00:23:19.60
A gift that's
given from the heart.
00:23:19.60\00:23:23.63
This year, I wonder
what you'll give Jesus for
00:23:23.63\00:23:26.83
Christmas?
00:23:26.83\00:23:28.23
I'm sure I can safely say
He doesn't really want or need
00:23:28.23\00:23:31.66
anything you can buy at a
department store or anything
00:23:31.66\00:23:33.66
you can order online.
00:23:33.66\00:23:35.76
But Jesus wants
something given from the heart.
00:23:35.76\00:23:39.03
In fact, He wants your heart.
00:23:39.03\00:23:40.23
Just a small thing - but it
is what He wants from you and
00:23:40.23\00:23:46.36
from me.
00:23:46.36\00:23:48.50
Can you give Jesus
your heart this Christmas?
00:23:48.50\00:23:52.93
"And when they had performed
all things according to the
00:23:52.93\00:23:56.26
law of the Lord, they
returned into Galilee, to
00:23:56.26\00:23:59.40
their own city Nazareth.
00:23:59.40\00:24:01.33
And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, filled with
00:24:01.33\00:24:06.60
wisdom.
00:24:06.60\00:24:07.93
And the grace of God was
upon Him..." Luke 2:39, 40
00:24:07.93\00:24:11.36
We wish for you a
Christmas filled with the
00:24:11.36\00:24:13.23
love and presence of God.
00:24:13.23\00:24:15.46
Whatever your circumstances
this year, we hope you'll
00:24:15.46\00:24:18.20
remember that God so
loved the world that He gave.
00:24:18.20\00:24:21.56
The birth of Jesus represents
the giving-ness and the love
00:24:21.56\00:24:24.06
of a great God.
00:24:24.06\00:24:25.93
A God who inspired the
Bible writer to write, "He that
00:24:25.93\00:24:29.06
spared not His own Son,
but delivered Him up freely for
00:24:29.06\00:24:32.83
us all, how shall He not
with Him also freely give us all
00:24:32.83\00:24:37.93
things?"
00:24:37.93\00:24:39.86
I want to invite
you to pray with us.
00:24:39.86\00:24:41.86
Christmas day we have a lot
to be thankful for, and even
00:24:41.86\00:24:43.63
if your Christmas day is
filled from your prospective,
00:24:43.63\00:24:46.10
maybe even more challenges
than blessings, we still have
00:24:46.10\00:24:49.60
so much to be thankful for.
00:24:49.60\00:24:51.00
As we pray to the God who so
loved this world that He gave
00:24:51.00\00:24:54.80
the greatest gift
that could ever be given.
00:24:54.80\00:24:59.33
Let's all pray together.
00:24:59.33\00:25:01.16
Our Father in heaven,
today we thank You, and we thank
00:25:01.16\00:25:04.76
You for Jesus who was willing
to give Himself for the lost
00:25:04.76\00:25:09.93
people of this lost world.
00:25:09.93\00:25:12.13
And we thank You that in
Your goodness and in Your love,
00:25:12.13\00:25:15.36
whatever our circumstances
today, we can know that there
00:25:15.36\00:25:18.46
is a God of love who truly
loves us and has prepared for
00:25:18.46\00:25:22.23
us a bright and
a hopeful future.
00:25:22.23\00:25:25.20
How many more Christmas
days there can be until Jesus
00:25:25.20\00:25:28.76
comes back to this world to
take us home, we do not know,
00:25:28.76\00:25:31.30
but until He returns, I
pray that You help us to be
00:25:31.30\00:25:34.90
faithful, to trust You, to
believe in You and to lean on
00:25:34.90\00:25:41.56
You.
00:25:41.56\00:25:43.00
You who have given us so
much, we say to You Thank
00:25:43.00\00:25:46.20
You, and we pray that You
will continue to bless us,
00:25:46.20\00:25:49.86
not merely for our own
sake but so that You will be
00:25:49.86\00:25:53.40
glorified.
00:25:53.40\00:25:54.80
You have truly given us
the greatest blessings and for
00:25:54.80\00:25:58.70
that today we say Thank
You and we pray in Jesus name,
00:25:58.70\00:26:03.86
AMEN.
00:26:03.86\00:26:43.40
Perhaps our program today
has impressed you today with a
00:26:43.40\00:26:45.53
personal need for
deeper Bible study.
00:26:45.53\00:26:47.86
If you decide to listen
to God and follow where He
00:26:47.86\00:26:50.06
leads, we've got a wonderful
resource that can help you to
00:26:50.06\00:26:52.26
do that in a systematic way.
00:26:52.26\00:26:53.93
The Discover Bible guides.
00:26:53.93\00:26:56.40
These Bible guides are
easy to use and can be yours
00:26:56.40\00:26:59.40
absolutely free.
00:26:59.40\00:27:01.40
If you live in North America
we'll send you these full
00:27:01.40\00:27:05.23
colored guides or you
can find them in our website
00:27:05.23\00:27:09.10
itiswritten.com.
00:27:09.10\00:27:11.60
Request the Discover
Bible guides by calling our Toll
00:27:11.60\00:27:13.73
Free number 1-800-253-3000.
00:27:13.73\00:27:15.10
Lines are open 24 hours.
00:27:15.10\00:27:18.90
They may be
busy, so keep trying.
00:27:18.90\00:27:21.90
You may also request to us
by writing to: It Is Written,
00:27:21.90\00:27:25.00
Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359.
00:27:25.00\00:27:28.83
Thank you for your letters
and your continue support.
00:27:28.83\00:27:34.73
Our Toll Free number is
1-800-253-3000, and our web
00:27:34.73\00:27:37.00
address is itiswritten.com
From all of us here at It Is
00:27:37.00\00:27:46.30
Written, Merry Christmas.
00:27:46.30\00:27:47.40
And a happy New
Year to you as well.
00:27:47.40\00:27:49.30
I hope you'll join us next time.
00:27:49.30\00:27:51.20
Until then, please remember:
It is written: man shall not
00:27:51.20\00:27:54.36
live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from
00:27:54.36\00:27:59.63
the mouth of God.
00:27:59.63\00:28:01.30