>>John Bradshaw: This is It Is Written. 00:00:19.51\00:00:21.42 I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for joining me. 00:00:21.45\00:00:24.92 It was a day like no other. 00:00:24.95\00:00:27.49 Exactly when it was we don't know. 00:00:27.52\00:00:30.83 But we do know that 2,000 or so years ago 00:00:30.86\00:00:33.90 on a Middle Eastern evening, "the desire of all nations," 00:00:33.93\00:00:38.50 as the prophet Haggai called Him, 00:00:38.53\00:00:40.50 was born in a stable in Bethlehem, 00:00:40.54\00:00:43.30 just five miles from where Jesus would eventually die. 00:00:43.34\00:00:46.94 It was a day that had been anticipated by the human family 00:00:46.98\00:00:49.94 almost since the creation of the world. 00:00:49.98\00:00:53.15 Following Adam and Eve's descent into sin, 00:00:53.18\00:00:56.08 God promised them--and us-- 00:00:56.12\00:00:58.89 that a Deliverer would come to the planet. 00:00:58.92\00:01:01.72 Humanity by then was hopelessly and irretrievably lost. 00:01:01.76\00:01:06.53 This wasn't a punitive action on the part of God. 00:01:07.50\00:01:10.93 Sin had separated us from Him, and it had introduced rebellion 00:01:10.97\00:01:15.87 into the minds of every human being that would ever live. 00:01:15.90\00:01:20.24 If there was any doubt as to how serious this was, 00:01:20.28\00:01:23.24 Adam and Eve's own son murdered his brother. 00:01:23.28\00:01:27.15 Humans were broken. 00:01:27.18\00:01:29.22 But what God proposed was a way out of the mess 00:01:29.25\00:01:32.59 we'd been plunged into. 00:01:32.62\00:01:34.26 "You've sinned?" God was, in effect, asking the human family. 00:01:34.29\00:01:38.06 "You have rebellion in your heart? 00:01:38.09\00:01:39.89 You're on the wrong trajectory?" 00:01:39.93\00:01:42.60 God was saying, "You're broken, but I'll fix you. 00:01:42.63\00:01:46.53 "You're damaged, but I'll remake you. 00:01:46.57\00:01:49.74 "You're unrighteous, but I'll give you the righteousness 00:01:49.77\00:01:54.01 "of my very own Son, so that through Him 00:01:54.04\00:01:57.98 "you can confidently live in that decaying world, 00:01:58.01\00:02:01.65 knowing that there is better ahead." 00:02:01.68\00:02:04.39 [crunching footsteps on gravel] 00:02:04.42\00:02:06.42 We're drawn to the Christmas story for numerous reasons. 00:02:07.42\00:02:11.46 The improbability of an unassuming young woman 00:02:11.49\00:02:14.20 being selected to be the mother of the Messiah 00:02:14.23\00:02:17.20 and then conducting herself with grace 00:02:17.23\00:02:19.87 in the midst of what was, frankly, a scandal. 00:02:19.90\00:02:23.20 We're drawn by the story of a Baby being born in a stable 00:02:23.24\00:02:27.11 and then placed in a feeding trough to sleep. 00:02:27.14\00:02:29.81 There's something almost exciting about the whole idea, 00:02:29.84\00:02:33.48 although the reality of it all was a whole lot less appealing 00:02:33.52\00:02:37.15 than the Hallmark version of the story. 00:02:37.19\00:02:39.49 A husband and his new young bride were in a stable 00:02:39.52\00:02:42.32 and not a hotel. 00:02:42.36\00:02:43.83 They were far from family, 00:02:43.86\00:02:45.59 and there's drama and tragedy in the story, too, isn't there? 00:02:45.63\00:02:48.90 A megalomaniacal king ordering the death of all the baby boys 00:02:48.93\00:02:52.47 in Bethlehem. 00:02:52.50\00:02:53.80 The wise men, who traveled from a distant country 00:02:53.84\00:02:56.91 following a star in order to find the Messiah, 00:02:56.94\00:03:00.44 at a time when virtually all of Israel had gone to sleep 00:03:00.48\00:03:03.58 on the prophecies. 00:03:03.61\00:03:05.18 The Bible says that when Herod learned about the mission 00:03:05.21\00:03:07.65 of the wise men, 00:03:07.68\00:03:08.88 "he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." 00:03:08.92\00:03:12.29 They had reason to be. 00:03:12.32\00:03:14.22 Herod was known for brutality, for cruelty. 00:03:14.26\00:03:18.69 And there's theology in the story. 00:03:18.73\00:03:21.00 The wise men had read the messianic prophecy 00:03:21.03\00:03:23.70 in the book of Numbers, a prediction made by Balaam, 00:03:23.73\00:03:27.20 of all people, about "a Star." 00:03:27.24\00:03:30.04 And then they'd studied the time prophecy in the book of Daniel, 00:03:30.07\00:03:33.11 chapter 9. 00:03:33.14\00:03:34.54 It told them right about when the Messiah would be born. 00:03:34.58\00:03:38.28 All they needed was the where, and the star showed them that. 00:03:38.31\00:03:43.12 They came to the place where Jesus would be born, 00:03:43.15\00:03:46.32 and instead of finding a nation full of expectation and hope, 00:03:46.35\00:03:50.53 they found...not much. 00:03:50.56\00:03:53.43 As John wrote in John 1:11, 00:03:53.46\00:03:55.63 "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." 00:03:55.66\00:04:00.37 But we're really drawn to the Christmas story 00:04:00.40\00:04:02.84 by the wonder of it all. 00:04:02.87\00:04:05.24 Mary brought into the world the One who had created the world. 00:04:05.27\00:04:09.41 Her Child would save the world. 00:04:09.44\00:04:12.45 While Jesus was entirely dependent on Mary for life, 00:04:12.48\00:04:16.89 Mary was entirely dependent on Him for everlasting life. 00:04:16.92\00:04:22.22 This wasn't just another birth. 00:04:22.26\00:04:24.33 There may even have been other babies born 00:04:24.36\00:04:26.63 in or near Bethlehem that night. 00:04:26.66\00:04:29.33 But this One was different. 00:04:29.36\00:04:32.27 Mary delivered her Deliverer. 00:04:32.30\00:04:35.70 ¤[Scott Michael Bennett plays soft piano music]¤ 00:04:37.07\00:04:42.08 ¤ Mary, did you know ¤ 00:05:00.33\00:05:03.70 ¤ that your Baby Boy will one day walk on water? ¤ 00:05:03.73\00:05:11.77 ¤ Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy ¤ 00:05:11.81\00:05:18.38 ¤ would save our sons and daughters? ¤ 00:05:18.41\00:05:23.49 ¤ Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? ¤ 00:05:23.52\00:05:33.53 ¤ Oh, this Child whom you've delivered, ¤ 00:05:35.36\00:05:40.94 ¤ He will soon deliver you. ¤ 00:05:40.97\00:05:45.37 ¤ Oh, Mary, did you know? ¤ 00:05:45.41\00:05:50.41 ¤ Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy ¤ 00:05:56.69\00:06:03.06 ¤ would give sight to a blind man? ¤ 00:06:03.09\00:06:06.80 ¤ Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy ¤ 00:06:06.83\00:06:12.80 ¤ would calm a storm with His hand? ¤ 00:06:12.83\00:06:17.37 ¤ Did you know that your Baby Boy ¤ 00:06:17.41\00:06:22.48 ¤ has walked where angels trod? ¤ 00:06:22.51\00:06:28.15 ¤ When you kiss your little Baby, ¤ 00:06:28.18\00:06:32.49 ¤ don't you know you've kissed the face of God? ¤ 00:06:32.52\00:06:38.29 ¤ Oh, Mary, did you know? ¤ 00:06:38.33\00:06:46.30 ¤ The blind will see, and the deaf will hear, ¤ 00:06:49.57\00:06:54.24 ¤ and the dead will live again, the lame will leap, ¤ 00:06:54.28\00:07:01.35 ¤ and the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb. ¤ 00:07:01.38\00:07:09.66 ¤ Oh, Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy ¤ 00:07:09.69\00:07:16.20 ¤ is Lord of all creation? ¤ 00:07:16.23\00:07:20.00 ¤ Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy ¤ 00:07:20.04\00:07:25.61 ¤ would one day rule the nations? ¤ 00:07:25.64\00:07:30.51 ¤ Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? ¤ 00:07:30.55\00:07:40.06 ¤ Oh, this sleeping Child you are holding 00:07:41.79\00:07:47.66 is the great I AM. ¤ 00:07:47.66\00:07:59.34 ¤ Mary, did you know? ¤ 00:08:01.44\00:08:09.18 ¤ Mary, did you know? ¤¤ 00:08:11.59\00:08:21.23 >>John: I want to encourage you to get today's free offer, 00:08:28.20\00:08:31.04 "The Gift of the Spirit." 00:08:31.07\00:08:33.14 Find out what God can do in your life 00:08:33.17\00:08:36.14 through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:36.18\00:08:38.98 To get today's free offer, 00:08:39.01\00:08:40.38 call us now on 800-253-3000. 00:08:40.42\00:08:44.29 That's 800-253-3000, 00:08:44.32\00:08:47.32 or visit us online at iiwoffer.com. 00:08:47.36\00:08:51.43 It's completely free, today's free offer, 00:08:51.46\00:08:53.60 "The Gift of the Spirit." 00:08:53.63\00:08:55.03 800-253-3000. 00:08:55.06\00:08:57.60 >>John Bradshaw: Thanks for joining me on It Is Written. 00:08:58.60\00:09:01.00 There have been some remarkable, 00:09:01.04\00:09:03.17 some truly beautiful Christmas songs composed. 00:09:03.20\00:09:06.91 "Silent night! Holy night!" 00:09:06.94\00:09:09.78 "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!" 00:09:09.81\00:09:12.58 "O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! 00:09:12.61\00:09:17.49 O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!" 00:09:17.52\00:09:21.36 No other season, no other holiday, 00:09:21.39\00:09:24.53 no other nothing has songs as beautiful and powerful. 00:09:24.56\00:09:28.80 But oddly enough, 00:09:28.83\00:09:30.17 there's a Christmas song we've never heard, 00:09:30.20\00:09:32.40 and it's the most famous one of all. 00:09:32.43\00:09:35.67 We know the words, 00:09:35.70\00:09:37.34 but wouldn't it be something to hear the music? 00:09:37.37\00:09:41.11 The Bible puts it like this in Luke chapter 2: 00:09:41.14\00:09:44.58 "And there were in the same country shepherds 00:09:44.61\00:09:47.25 "abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:09:47.28\00:09:51.65 "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, 00:09:51.69\00:09:55.16 "and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: 00:09:55.19\00:09:57.73 "and they were sore afraid. 00:09:57.76\00:10:00.60 "And the angel said unto them, 00:10:00.63\00:10:02.63 "'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 00:10:02.66\00:10:08.20 "'which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day 00:10:08.24\00:10:12.91 "'in the city of David a Saviour, 00:10:12.94\00:10:15.31 "'which is Christ the Lord. 00:10:15.34\00:10:17.71 "'And this shall be a sign unto you; 00:10:17.75\00:10:19.81 "'ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 00:10:19.85\00:10:23.35 lying in a manger.'" 00:10:23.39\00:10:25.22 We don't know much about these shepherds, 00:10:26.15\00:10:27.92 but we do know that they had to have been faithful. 00:10:27.96\00:10:31.59 They were entrusted with the responsibility and the privilege 00:10:31.63\00:10:35.00 that not even the theologians in Jerusalem were granted. 00:10:35.03\00:10:38.80 God didn't go to the academically qualified; 00:10:38.83\00:10:41.87 He went to the spiritually qualified. 00:10:41.90\00:10:44.41 And these shepherds were evidently people of real faith. 00:10:44.44\00:10:48.21 The angel shared with them "good tidings of great joy." 00:10:48.24\00:10:52.38 Now, that word "great," it's the Greek word "megas." 00:10:52.41\00:10:56.12 It's where we get the word "mega," very large, huge-- 00:10:56.15\00:11:00.22 like Tokyo is a megacity. 00:11:00.26\00:11:02.79 In terms of measurement, 00:11:02.82\00:11:04.49 "mega" can be used to mean a factor of one million. 00:11:04.53\00:11:08.06 Megahertz is one million hertz, 00:11:08.10\00:11:10.37 a measurement of radio frequency. 00:11:10.40\00:11:12.50 So you get the idea. 00:11:12.53\00:11:14.27 This was good news of mega-joy, 00:11:14.30\00:11:18.34 and it was shared with shepherds. 00:11:18.37\00:11:20.61 That day "Cristos Kyrios" had been born-- 00:11:20.64\00:11:23.78 no less a person than Christ the Lord. 00:11:23.81\00:11:27.45 They're watching their sheep on what would otherwise be 00:11:27.48\00:11:30.12 a predictably low-key evening, and the Messiah had been born! 00:11:30.15\00:11:36.06 See, you and I have lived our entire lives 00:11:36.09\00:11:39.19 knowing that the Messiah has been born. 00:11:39.23\00:11:42.16 We look forward to His return. 00:11:42.20\00:11:44.50 But that's not what everyone has done since Creation. 00:11:44.53\00:11:47.70 We live in the assurance that the Messiah has come, 00:11:47.74\00:11:51.44 but for 4,000 years people looked forward 00:11:51.47\00:11:55.28 to His first advent, and He still hadn't shown up. 00:11:55.31\00:11:58.95 Isaiah had written about it: 00:11:58.98\00:12:00.62 "Therefore the Lord Himself [shall] give you a sign: 00:12:00.65\00:12:03.52 "Behold, [a] virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, 00:12:03.55\00:12:07.72 and shall call His name Immanuel." 00:12:07.76\00:12:10.63 But Isaiah, by now, had been dead for hundreds of years, 00:12:10.66\00:12:15.03 long before the Messiah came to Israel. 00:12:15.06\00:12:17.60 But now, here they were, just another night in Bethlehem, 00:12:17.63\00:12:21.87 and the shepherds were being told by angels 00:12:21.90\00:12:24.54 of this incredible event. 00:12:24.57\00:12:27.24 The Savior had come. 00:12:27.28\00:12:28.94 The Deliverer was here, no more waiting. 00:12:28.98\00:12:32.61 And the angels sang! 00:12:32.65\00:12:35.32 Luke 2:13, 00:12:35.35\00:12:36.89 "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude 00:12:36.92\00:12:40.09 "of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 00:12:40.12\00:12:43.63 "'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 00:12:43.66\00:12:47.60 goodwill toward men!'" 00:12:47.66\00:12:50.00 You never heard a song like that. 00:12:50.03\00:12:52.47 The birth of the Messiah was so significant, 00:12:52.50\00:12:55.20 so life-changing, so earth-shattering 00:12:55.24\00:12:58.37 that angels couldn't keep quiet. 00:12:58.41\00:13:00.41 The angels sang. 00:13:00.44\00:13:02.28 Now, whether you're a singer or not, 00:13:02.31\00:13:05.05 I hope the story of the Savior's birth gives you a reason 00:13:05.08\00:13:08.18 to sing, a reason to experience mega-joy. 00:13:08.22\00:13:12.52 [The Emmanuel Quartet] ¤ Hark! The herald angels sing, ¤ 00:13:13.19\00:13:18.49 ¤ "Glory to the newborn King! ¤ 00:13:18.53\00:13:23.30 ¤ "Peace on earth and mercy mild, ¤ 00:13:23.33\00:13:28.20 ¤ God and sinners reconciled!" ¤ 00:13:28.24\00:13:33.14 ¤ Joyful, all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies; ¤ 00:13:33.17\00:13:42.82 ¤ with angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" ¤ 00:13:42.85\00:13:56.40 ¤ Silent night! Holy night! ¤ 00:13:56.43\00:14:04.44 ¤ All is calm, all is bright. ¤ 00:14:04.47\00:14:12.15 ¤ Oh, 'round yon virgin mother and Child. ¤ 00:14:12.18\00:14:20.42 ¤ Holy Infant so tender and mild, ¤ 00:14:20.46\00:14:28.13 ¤ oh, sleep in heavenly peace, ¤ 00:14:28.16\00:14:37.47 ¤ sleep in heavenly peace. ¤ 00:14:37.51\00:14:43.95 ¤ Oh, let earth receive her King. ¤ 00:14:43.98\00:14:51.92 ¤ Let every heart prepare Him room, ¤ 00:14:51.95\00:14:56.96 ¤ and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature, ¤ 00:14:56.99\00:14:59.66 ¤ and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, ¤ 00:14:59.69\00:15:02.26 ¤ and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. ¤ 00:15:02.30\00:15:09.24 ¤ Angels we have heard, angels we have heard on high, ¤ 00:15:09.27\00:15:14.61 ¤ sweetly singing o'er the plains, ¤ 00:15:14.64\00:15:17.55 ¤ and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. ¤ 00:15:17.58\00:15:25.75 ¤ Gloria ¤ 00:15:25.79\00:15:36.33 ¤ in excelsis Deo. ¤ 00:15:36.36\00:15:42.00 ¤ Gloria ¤ 00:15:42.04\00:15:53.08 ¤ in excelsis Deo. ¤ 00:15:53.11\00:15:59.92 ¤ Hark! The herald angels sing, ¤ 00:15:59.95\00:16:06.90 ¤ "Glory to the newborn King!" ¤ 00:16:06.93\00:16:16.30 ¤ Angels we have heard on high. ¤ 00:16:16.34\00:16:24.61 ¤ Angels we have heard. ¤ 00:16:24.65\00:16:28.15 ¤ Ooo. ¤¤ 00:16:28.18\00:16:33.19 >>John: I want to encourage you to get today's free offer, 00:16:37.76\00:16:40.50 "The Gift of the Spirit." 00:16:40.53\00:16:42.50 Find out what God can do in your life 00:16:42.53\00:16:45.50 through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:45.53\00:16:48.34 To get today's free offer, 00:16:48.37\00:16:49.77 call us now on 800-253-3000. 00:16:49.80\00:16:53.68 That's 800-253-3000, 00:16:53.71\00:16:56.71 or visit us online at iiwoffer.com. 00:16:56.75\00:17:00.82 It's completely free, today's free offer, 00:17:00.85\00:17:02.92 "The Gift of the Spirit." 00:17:02.95\00:17:04.52 800-253-3000. 00:17:04.55\00:17:06.86 >>John Bradshaw: Thanks for joining me on It Is Written. 00:17:07.86\00:17:10.66 It's a fascinating old thing in a way, 00:17:10.69\00:17:13.16 every year, Christmas gifts. 00:17:13.19\00:17:15.10 What are you going to get this year? 00:17:15.13\00:17:16.50 Clothing? Electronics? Money? 00:17:16.53\00:17:18.93 Somehow, in many cases, one's Christmas joy 00:17:18.97\00:17:22.30 is connected to what appears under a tree, 00:17:22.34\00:17:25.47 which, at best, is a little suspect. 00:17:25.51\00:17:28.38 However, it's true that the birth of Jesus 00:17:29.31\00:17:31.91 and the giving of gifts are inextricably linked. 00:17:31.95\00:17:36.18 Matthew 2:11 says, 00:17:36.22\00:17:37.55 "And when they"-- that's the wise men-- 00:17:37.59\00:17:39.89 "were come into the house, they saw the young Child 00:17:39.92\00:17:42.92 "with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him: 00:17:42.96\00:17:47.23 "and when they had opened their treasures, 00:17:47.23\00:17:49.70 "they presented unto Him gifts; 00:17:49.73\00:17:52.23 gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." 00:17:52.27\00:17:55.27 So gift-giving and Christmas are closely associated, 00:17:55.30\00:17:59.37 but at that first Nativity, the gifts were being given to God, 00:17:59.41\00:18:05.45 to the Christ Child. 00:18:05.48\00:18:07.15 And the truth is, He still looks to us for our gifts. 00:18:07.18\00:18:11.72 You can give your spouse or your parents or your kids 00:18:11.75\00:18:14.92 something impressive this Christmas, 00:18:14.96\00:18:18.16 but what are you giving God? 00:18:18.19\00:18:20.00 And, no, He doesn't need a new tie or tools 00:18:20.03\00:18:22.36 or exercise equipment. 00:18:22.40\00:18:24.30 But there is something He wants, something He really wants. 00:18:24.33\00:18:28.40 In Proverbs 23:26, God says, 00:18:28.44\00:18:31.31 "My son, give me your heart." 00:18:31.34\00:18:34.61 In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, 00:18:34.64\00:18:37.25 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:18:37.28\00:18:39.98 "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 00:18:40.02\00:18:43.15 I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me." 00:18:43.18\00:18:47.59 What God asks you for is your heart. 00:18:47.62\00:18:51.49 If He has that, then He has everything. 00:18:51.53\00:18:55.40 God is the Giver; 00:18:55.43\00:18:56.80 He gave Jesus for us so we can live forever. 00:18:56.83\00:19:00.04 He gives us the Holy Spirit. 00:19:00.07\00:19:01.87 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts 00:19:01.90\00:19:04.37 "to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father 00:19:04.41\00:19:07.54 give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" 00:19:07.58\00:19:10.68 Jesus is preparing a mansion for you in heaven right now. 00:19:10.71\00:19:14.82 He's one day soon coming back to this world to give you eternity. 00:19:14.85\00:19:19.85 If you want it, you'll live in a world without sin or pain 00:19:19.89\00:19:25.03 or sickness or death, 00:19:25.06\00:19:26.76 in a place where the streets are paved with gold, 00:19:26.80\00:19:29.63 and until then you'll live in the assurance 00:19:29.66\00:19:32.60 that life is yours, that Christ is yours, 00:19:32.63\00:19:36.54 and that the God of heaven loves you with an everlasting love. 00:19:36.57\00:19:41.04 God has given us so much, everything. 00:19:42.04\00:19:45.68 "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 00:19:45.71\00:19:48.78 "because His compassions fail not. 00:19:48.82\00:19:51.99 They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." 00:19:52.02\00:19:56.83 That faithful God, full of love and grace towards you, 00:19:56.86\00:20:01.56 is hoping you won't forget Him in your Christmas giving 00:20:01.60\00:20:04.87 this year and that you'll give Him the best possible gift 00:20:04.90\00:20:09.80 and allow Him to unwrap your heart. 00:20:09.84\00:20:13.34 ¤ [Roy Treiyer plays piano softly] ¤ 00:20:14.58\00:20:20.08 [Claudia Ramirez] ¤ O holy night! ¤ 00:20:32.69\00:20:36.80 ¤ The stars are brightly shining; ¤ 00:20:36.83\00:20:42.04 ¤ it is the night of our dear Savior's birth. ¤ 00:20:42.07\00:20:50.05 ¤[Roy continues to play "O Holy Night"]¤ 00:20:50.08\00:20:56.12 ¤ Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ¤ 00:20:56.15\00:21:05.09 ¤ till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. ¤ 00:21:05.13\00:21:14.84 ¤ A thrill of hope-- the weary world rejoices, ¤ 00:21:14.87\00:21:23.04 ¤ for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! ¤ 00:21:23.08\00:21:31.39 ¤ Fall on your knees! ¤ 00:21:31.42\00:21:39.26 ¤ O hear the angel voices! ¤ 00:21:39.29\00:21:47.47 ¤ O night divine, ¤ 00:21:47.50\00:21:55.14 ¤ O night when Christ was born! ¤ 00:21:55.18\00:22:04.09 ¤ O night divine, ¤ 00:22:04.12\00:22:11.76 ¤ O night, O night divine! ¤ 00:22:11.79\00:22:23.04 ¤[Roy continues playing song on piano]¤ 00:22:23.07\00:22:26.07 ¤[Roy plays piano transition to "We Three Kings"]¤ 00:22:29.84\00:22:33.98 ¤ Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, ¤ 00:22:34.02\00:22:38.29 ¤ gold I bring to crown Him again, ¤ 00:22:38.32\00:22:42.76 ¤ King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. ¤ 00:22:42.79\00:22:53.47 ¤ Oh, star of wonder, star of night, ¤ 00:22:53.50\00:23:01.34 ¤ star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, ¤ 00:23:01.38\00:23:08.15 ¤ still proceeding, guide us to Thy perfect light. ¤ 00:23:08.18\00:23:18.09 ¤[Roy plays piano transition back to "O Holy Night"]¤ 00:23:18.13\00:23:26.10 ¤ Truly He taught us to love one another; ¤ 00:23:39.18\00:23:47.59 ¤ His law is love, and His gospel is peace. ¤ 00:23:47.62\00:23:57.17 ¤ Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, ¤ 00:23:57.20\00:24:05.57 ¤ and in His name all oppression shall cease. ¤ 00:24:05.61\00:24:14.48 ¤ Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we; ¤ 00:24:14.52\00:24:22.56 ¤ let all within us praise His holy name. ¤ 00:24:22.59\00:24:30.33 ¤ Christ is the Lord! ¤ 00:24:30.37\00:24:37.17 ¤ O praise His name forever! ¤ 00:24:37.21\00:24:44.48 ¤ His power and glory ¤ 00:24:44.51\00:24:52.62 ¤ evermore proclaim! ¤ 00:24:52.65\00:24:59.59 ¤ His power and glory ¤ 00:24:59.63\00:25:07.47 ¤ evermore proclaim! ¤ 00:25:07.50\00:25:13.07 ¤[piano key change]¤ 00:25:13.94\00:25:15.08 ¤ Fall on your knees! ¤ 00:25:15.11\00:25:21.98 ¤ O hear the angel voices! ¤ 00:25:22.02\00:25:29.26 ¤ O night divine! ¤ 00:25:29.29\00:25:36.13 ¤ O night when Christ was born; ¤ 00:25:36.16\00:25:43.94 ¤ O night divine! ¤ 00:25:43.97\00:25:53.82 ¤ O night, ¤ 00:25:53.85\00:25:57.62 ¤ O night divine, ¤ 00:25:57.65\00:26:05.86 ¤ divine! ¤¤ 00:26:06.86\00:26:14.84 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 00:26:17.04\00:26:18.81 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 00:26:18.84\00:26:22.48 To support this international life-changing ministry, 00:26:22.51\00:26:25.55 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 00:26:25.58\00:26:29.88 You can send your tax-deductible gift 00:26:29.92\00:26:31.29 to the address on your screen, 00:26:31.32\00:26:32.82 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 00:26:32.85\00:26:36.69 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. 00:26:36.73\00:26:39.46 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 00:26:39.49\00:26:43.67 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 00:26:43.70\00:26:46.84 >>John Bradshaw: Let's pray together now. 00:26:47.94\00:26:49.70 Our Father in heaven, I'm reminded that in the Bible, 00:26:49.74\00:26:52.27 it says, "What shall I render unto the Lord 00:26:52.31\00:26:55.34 for all His benefits towards me?" 00:26:55.38\00:26:57.61 You have done so much. 00:26:57.65\00:26:59.45 You ask so little. 00:26:59.48\00:27:01.65 Lord, take our heart, for we cannot give it. 00:27:01.68\00:27:05.35 Keep it as Your very own because we cannot keep it for You. 00:27:05.39\00:27:09.72 We look forward to the day when Jesus comes back, 00:27:09.76\00:27:13.13 but until then we accept the gift of Your Son Jesus. 00:27:13.16\00:27:16.70 Friend, would you do that now? 00:27:16.73\00:27:19.00 And we ask You to accept the little we have, 00:27:19.03\00:27:21.20 accept our heart, 00:27:21.24\00:27:22.54 and make it Yours forever. 00:27:22.57\00:27:24.81 We pray in Jesus' name, 00:27:24.84\00:27:27.34 amen. 00:27:27.38\00:27:28.71 From all of us here at It Is Written, 00:27:28.74\00:27:30.75 have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. 00:27:30.78\00:27:34.72 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 00:27:34.75\00:27:36.82 Until then, remember: 00:27:36.85\00:27:38.95 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 00:27:38.99\00:27:43.46 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 00:27:43.49\00:27:47.73 ¤[dramatic theme music]¤ 00:27:47.76\00:27:54.74