Amen and amen.
00:03:44.95\00:03:47.42
Let's join together in
responding to God's call
00:03:47.46\00:03:50.43
to meet him here.
00:03:50.46\00:03:52.26
If you open your
worship bulletin to page eight
00:03:52.29\00:03:54.96
and stand with me,
00:03:55.00\00:03:56.40
we will read this
responsive call to worship
00:03:56.43\00:04:00.14
on this Sabbath
before Christmas.
00:04:00.17\00:04:03.41
It's the words of
acquaint Christmas carol.
00:04:03.44\00:04:05.94
As it fell upon a
night In the winter weather
00:04:12.68\00:04:16.38
Angels bright in starry
height Began to sing together
00:04:16.42\00:04:22.29
Shepherd sleeping on the
plane Woke to see the glory
00:04:22.32\00:04:26.23
All amazed they stood and gazed
00:04:26.26\00:04:29.30
And heard the angels story
00:04:29.33\00:04:31.90
Unto you a child is
born In a manger lowly
00:04:31.93\00:04:35.07
Humble, He, yet born to
be The king of love most holy
00:04:35.10\00:04:41.21
Happy angels from afar
Cease your singing never
00:04:41.24\00:04:46.01
In excelsis
gloria! Forever and forever
00:04:46.05\00:04:50.85
Oh come let us adore Him Amen.
00:04:50.89\00:04:53.52
Amen. Let us pray.
00:04:53.56\00:04:55.49
And so we come, beloved Father,
00:04:58.03\00:04:59.63
in response to
the Christmas call
00:04:59.66\00:05:01.30
to come and adore
Him, Christ the Lord.
00:05:01.33\00:05:05.87
And given all that we've
been tempted to adore this year,
00:05:05.90\00:05:09.74
we wish you to know
we come to adore Him
00:05:09.77\00:05:12.17
most of all, and best of all.
00:05:12.21\00:05:15.64
We come to worship Him
who was the darling of heaven,
00:05:15.68\00:05:18.25
the word made flesh,
00:05:18.28\00:05:19.98
the only begotten of the Father,
00:05:20.02\00:05:21.48
full of grace and truth.
00:05:21.52\00:05:23.95
We come, dear God, to
worship You in Christ,
00:05:23.99\00:05:26.72
the baby of Bethlehem, to
rejoice with all our hearts,
00:05:26.76\00:05:31.16
voices, minds, souls.
00:05:31.19\00:05:34.80
Rejoicing for the
love that came down to us
00:05:34.83\00:05:36.97
long, long ago in Jesus
our Savior we praise you.
00:05:37.00\00:05:42.70
Amen.
00:05:42.74\00:05:44.81
Remain standing, please.
00:05:44.84\00:05:46.41
Good Christians, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice
00:06:23.98\00:06:30.95
Give ye heed to what we say
00:06:30.99\00:06:34.76
Jesus Christ is born today
00:06:34.79\00:06:38.69
Ox and ass before Him bow
And He is in the manger now
00:06:38.73\00:06:46.30
Christ is born
today! Christ is born today!
00:06:46.33\00:06:52.81
Good Christians, now rejoice
00:06:55.84\00:06:59.78
With heart and soul and voice
00:06:59.81\00:07:04.02
Now ye hear of endless bliss
00:07:04.05\00:07:08.06
Jesus Christ was born for this!
00:07:08.09\00:07:12.09
He has opened the heavenly door
00:07:12.13\00:07:16.13
And we are blest forevermore
00:07:16.16\00:07:20.60
Christ was born for
this! Christ was born for this!
00:07:20.64\00:07:27.31
[song playing]
00:07:51.07\00:07:54.77
O little town of Bethlehem
00:10:08.90\00:10:14.84
How still we see thee lie
00:10:14.88\00:10:20.78
Above thy deep
and dreamless sleep
00:10:20.82\00:10:26.76
The silent stars go by
00:10:26.79\00:10:33.09
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
00:10:33.13\00:10:39.47
The everlasting Light
00:10:39.50\00:10:45.14
The hopes and
fears of all the years
00:10:45.17\00:10:51.71
Are met in thee tonight
00:10:51.75\00:10:59.29
How silently, how silently
00:10:59.32\00:11:05.39
The wondrous gift is given
00:11:05.43\00:11:11.20
So God imparts to human hearts
00:11:11.23\00:11:17.37
The blessings of his heaven
00:11:17.41\00:11:23.75
No ear may hear his coming
00:11:23.78\00:11:29.55
But in this world of sin
00:11:29.58\00:11:35.32
Where meek souls
will receive him, still
00:11:35.36\00:11:41.80
The dear Christ enters in
00:11:41.83\00:11:47.54
Angels we have heard on high
00:12:35.78\00:12:39.95
Singing sweetly
through the night
00:12:39.99\00:12:44.19
And the mountains in reply
00:12:44.23\00:12:48.30
Echoing their brave delight
00:12:48.33\00:12:52.43
Gloria
00:12:52.47\00:12:54.67
In excelsis Deo
00:13:01.18\00:13:05.45
Gloria
00:13:05.48\00:13:08.12
in excelsis Deo
00:13:13.96\00:13:18.06
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
00:13:21.43\00:13:25.77
Why these songs of happy cheer?
00:13:25.80\00:13:30.24
What great
brightness did you see?
00:13:30.27\00:13:34.61
What glad tidings did you hear?
00:13:34.64\00:13:38.88
Gloria
00:13:38.91\00:13:41.22
In excelsis Deo
00:13:47.46\00:13:51.83
Gloria
00:13:51.86\00:13:54.50
In excelsis Deo
00:14:00.67\00:14:04.37
See him in a manger laid
00:14:09.08\00:14:13.48
Whom the angels praise above
00:14:13.52\00:14:17.82
See him in a manger laid
00:14:17.85\00:14:22.32
While we raise
our hearts in love
00:14:22.36\00:14:26.96
Gloria
00:14:27.00\00:14:29.43
In excelsis Deo
00:14:35.37\00:14:39.77
Gloria
00:14:39.81\00:14:42.58
In excelsis Deo
00:14:48.88\00:14:54.46
Amen.
00:15:01.63\00:15:02.96
Thank you, Oregon and Oboe.
00:17:46.09\00:17:49.20
That was beautiful.
00:17:49.23\00:17:51.47
And, boys and girls, and I...
Oh, we still have kids coming.
00:17:51.50\00:17:53.97
Am I getting started
just a little early here?
00:17:54.00\00:17:56.00
Looks like I am.
00:17:56.04\00:17:59.57
All right. We'll wait.
00:17:59.61\00:18:02.34
Oh, listen.
00:18:02.38\00:18:03.71
While the others
are coming, this,
00:18:03.75\00:18:05.75
I'm holding this in my
hand so I won't forget.
00:18:05.78\00:18:07.92
Do you see this beautiful,
beautiful worship bulletin?
00:18:07.95\00:18:11.35
This is for tomorrow night.
00:18:11.39\00:18:13.02
Tell your mommies and
daddies tomorrow night,
00:18:13.05\00:18:15.12
5 o'clock right
here in this church.
00:18:15.16\00:18:17.66
A lovely...
00:18:17.69\00:18:19.03
Oh, look at this, a
lovely Christmas eve service
00:18:19.06\00:18:22.16
has been planned for
children, and moms and dads,
00:18:22.20\00:18:25.57
and people who might be alone
or people who have family here
00:18:25.60\00:18:28.90
tomorrow night, 5 o'clock here
in the Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:18:28.94\00:18:31.97
Hey kids, come on up. All right.
00:18:32.01\00:18:34.34
So I'm thankful to my friend
and story scout Sharon Dudgeon
00:18:34.38\00:18:39.61
who found this story for me.
00:18:39.65\00:18:42.28
Come on up.
00:18:42.32\00:18:44.29
Good. Grab some seats here.
00:18:44.32\00:18:46.39
Because if you're
really, if you're really quiet,
00:18:46.42\00:18:49.62
we have a present,
we're gonna give you today.
00:18:49.66\00:18:53.13
Don't tell
anybody. Okay. All right.
00:18:53.16\00:18:56.36
So grab a seat
there. There you go.
00:18:56.40\00:18:58.90
Nice to have you. Good.
00:18:58.93\00:19:00.57
Can you get in? Now let's...
00:19:00.60\00:19:02.44
You have to sit on the floor.
00:19:02.47\00:19:03.81
Don't worry
about finding a stair.
00:19:03.84\00:19:05.47
I don't think
there'll be any stairs.
00:19:05.51\00:19:08.18
How about over
here? There's some space.
00:19:08.21\00:19:11.28
Nice to have all of you.
00:19:11.31\00:19:12.91
Merry Christmas to
you, Amos. Glad to have you.
00:19:12.95\00:19:15.95
Say today's story,
Denville, Denville, New Jersey.
00:19:15.98\00:19:20.06
Another one from New Jersey.
00:19:20.09\00:19:21.42
Where all these
stories from New Jersey.
00:19:21.46\00:19:22.79
Denville, New Jersey.
00:19:22.82\00:19:24.73
So it's a Friday night.
Few weeks ago, Friday night.
00:19:24.76\00:19:29.06
And mother and father know that
00:19:29.10\00:19:30.77
they're going to have to
go to the hospital eventually
00:19:30.80\00:19:32.20
because mommy whoo! whoo!
00:19:32.23\00:19:34.47
Mommy is going to have a baby.
00:19:34.50\00:19:36.04
Yes, she is.
00:19:36.07\00:19:38.54
And mother thinks,
whoo, this is coming closer.
00:19:38.57\00:19:41.71
This is coming closer.
00:19:41.74\00:19:43.08
So she input,
daddy jumped in the car.
00:19:43.11\00:19:44.55
That car races down the
road in Denville, New Jersey,
00:19:44.58\00:19:47.95
races down the road
but all of a sudden,
00:19:47.98\00:19:49.58
oh, traffic,
traffic, move, move,
00:19:49.62\00:19:52.05
it's too late nobody's
moving, traffic, traffic.
00:19:52.09\00:19:54.39
Mother says, "It's coming,
it's coming, it's coming."
00:19:54.42\00:19:56.56
So the father jumped
out of the car. He ran.
00:19:56.59\00:19:58.16
He ran in, he
said, "Yo, somebody call,
00:19:58.19\00:20:00.40
call the police
and the ambulance.
00:20:00.43\00:20:01.80
My wife's having a baby."
00:20:01.83\00:20:04.90
The police came
and the ambulance came
00:20:04.93\00:20:07.44
and the baby was born
right there, right there.
00:20:07.47\00:20:10.11
Couldn't get to
the hospital in time.
00:20:10.14\00:20:11.77
Oh, well, you hear about
these stories all the time.
00:20:11.81\00:20:15.64
But let me tell you
about Saturday night.
00:20:15.68\00:20:17.11
So that was Friday
night, Saturday night,
00:20:17.15\00:20:19.31
also Denville, New Jersey.
00:20:19.35\00:20:21.48
A mother and father are saying,
00:20:21.52\00:20:23.55
"Oh, I think they're coming,
00:20:23.59\00:20:26.96
those contractions are coming,
we got to go to the hospital.
00:20:26.99\00:20:29.72
Honey, honey, jump in, jump in."
00:20:29.76\00:20:33.43
But as they're
racing to the hospital,
00:20:33.46\00:20:34.96
the contractions are
getting worse, worse, and worse.
00:20:35.00\00:20:37.33
Finally, she says, "Stop, stop,
00:20:37.37\00:20:39.13
I'm going to have
a baby right here."
00:20:39.17\00:20:40.50
He pulls over he runs and says,
00:20:40.54\00:20:41.87
"Somebody call the
police and the ambulance.
00:20:41.90\00:20:44.17
My wife's having a baby."
00:20:44.21\00:20:46.98
Guess what? The same
two police showed up.
00:20:47.01\00:20:51.28
The same two police showed up.
00:20:51.31\00:20:52.88
The ambulance showed up
00:20:52.91\00:20:54.62
and the baby was
born right there.
00:20:54.65\00:20:57.02
Both cases, a
healthy boy, a healthy boy.
00:20:57.05\00:21:00.29
Right there, same place.
00:21:00.32\00:21:03.02
I want to show you the place
00:21:03.06\00:21:04.39
where these two babies were born
00:21:04.43\00:21:05.76
in Denville, New Jersey.
00:21:05.79\00:21:07.13
Look at your screen
right in front of you.
00:21:07.16\00:21:08.50
Can you believe that?
00:21:11.10\00:21:12.43
The two babies were born
00:21:12.47\00:21:13.80
in the parking
lot of Burger King
00:21:13.84\00:21:15.54
by the same police.
00:21:15.57\00:21:20.01
Hey. Hey, Junior.
Where were you born?
00:21:20.04\00:21:22.28
Burger King?
00:21:22.31\00:21:24.11
Oh, no. Are you serious?
00:21:24.15\00:21:25.91
Well, I was born in Taco Bell.
00:21:25.95\00:21:29.78
No, no, really.
00:21:29.82\00:21:31.15
Two boys now are going
to say, where you were born?
00:21:31.19\00:21:33.15
Burger King.
00:21:33.19\00:21:34.92
But listen to
this, boys and girls,
00:21:34.96\00:21:36.29
when the King of kings
came, the King of kings,
00:21:36.32\00:21:39.56
He didn't have a nice
little septic parking lot,
00:21:39.59\00:21:42.06
clean and sterile.
00:21:42.10\00:21:43.43
No, no, no.
00:21:43.47\00:21:44.80
Let's see where the
King of kings was born.
00:21:44.83\00:21:46.30
No, Burger King
there. That's a barn.
00:21:46.33\00:21:49.24
The King was born in a manger.
00:21:49.27\00:21:52.71
Put in a little manger
with animals and smells.
00:21:52.74\00:21:56.04
And why did He do it? Oh.
00:21:56.08\00:21:58.98
Oh, how God loves His
children on this planet.
00:21:59.01\00:22:02.58
Oh, how He loves you.
00:22:02.62\00:22:03.95
He loves mommy, He loves daddy,
He loves every earth child.
00:22:03.99\00:22:08.42
And that's why we have Christmas
00:22:08.46\00:22:09.79
because God loves us so much.
00:22:09.82\00:22:13.09
It makes you just want to
love Him back, doesn't it?
00:22:13.13\00:22:16.43
Oh, it makes you
want to love Him back.
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.60
You weren't born in Burger King.
00:22:18.63\00:22:20.14
You were born in
a manger to save us.
00:22:20.17\00:22:25.21
Will somebody like to
thank Jesus for being...
00:22:25.24\00:22:27.78
You don't need to
be a front row person
00:22:27.81\00:22:30.71
to thank Jesus for being
born in a manger to save us.
00:22:30.75\00:22:36.75
Would you like to thank,
somebody like to thank Jesus?
00:22:36.79\00:22:39.29
Raise your hand. All
right, it's the back row.
00:22:39.32\00:22:42.26
Sissy right there
with a red on your...
00:22:42.29\00:22:44.99
Well, you too can come together.
00:22:45.03\00:22:46.36
You pray
together. Come on forward.
00:22:46.39\00:22:47.80
Yeah. Okay. Now
let's close our eyes.
00:22:47.83\00:22:50.47
And let me get that
microphone. Here we go.
00:22:50.50\00:22:52.07
Let's close our
eyes as the young ladies
00:22:52.10\00:22:54.24
make their way to the front
00:22:54.27\00:22:55.94
and they're going to thank Jesus
00:22:55.97\00:22:57.51
for loving us like that.
00:22:57.54\00:22:59.71
Can you believe it.
00:22:59.74\00:23:01.08
He loves us just like that.
00:23:01.11\00:23:03.55
And, sissy, what's your name?
00:23:03.58\00:23:04.91
Zia. Zia.
00:23:04.95\00:23:06.28
And, sissy, what's your name?
00:23:06.31\00:23:07.65
Lana. Lana.
00:23:07.68\00:23:09.02
So let's fold our
hands and close your eyes
00:23:09.05\00:23:10.85
with Zia and Lana
as they, as they pray.
00:23:10.89\00:23:14.72
Lana, I saw your hands
for us, would you go please.
00:23:14.76\00:23:17.23
Dear Jesus,
thank you for this day,
00:23:17.26\00:23:19.19
thank you for
another day of life,
00:23:19.23\00:23:21.96
thank you for being born
00:23:22.00\00:23:24.00
and thank you for
dying on the cross.
00:23:24.03\00:23:27.00
Thank you for making us
00:23:27.04\00:23:30.91
and all the animals
in your name we pray.
00:23:30.94\00:23:33.11
Amen. And Zia?
00:23:33.14\00:23:35.18
Dear Heavenly Father,
00:23:35.21\00:23:36.54
thank you for
this wonderful day.
00:23:36.58\00:23:38.18
Please come into our
hearts as we're at church
00:23:38.21\00:23:41.12
and who is ever
traveling keep them safe,
00:23:41.15\00:23:45.02
who's ever sick heal
them in your name we pray.
00:23:45.05\00:23:48.39
Amen. Amen.
00:23:48.42\00:23:49.76
Thank you Zia and Lana.
00:23:49.79\00:23:51.56
And now quietly reverently
and Claudia, where is she?
00:23:51.59\00:23:55.80
She's right here.
00:23:55.83\00:23:57.17
And she has some helpers
who are going to be right there
00:23:57.20\00:23:59.17
and over here.
00:23:59.20\00:24:00.60
Make sure you get
your special Christmas gift
00:24:00.64\00:24:03.94
from Pioneer to our
wonderful favorite children.
00:24:03.97\00:24:07.68
Merry Christmas
and God bless you.
00:24:07.71\00:24:09.14
Let's pray.
00:24:13.42\00:24:15.38
Oh, God, it is the child
that has summoned us here,
00:24:15.42\00:24:20.72
grown up, our
Savior forever and ever.
00:24:20.76\00:24:25.16
Amen. We thank you.
00:24:25.19\00:24:27.93
As we continue to
brew over this gift,
00:24:27.96\00:24:32.60
connect with our busy lives,
00:24:32.63\00:24:34.64
as we survive in
the third millennium.
00:24:34.67\00:24:36.34
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:24:36.37\00:24:40.68
Joseph the husband of Mary
00:24:40.71\00:24:45.75
is a perfect foil
for a stunning reality
00:24:45.78\00:24:48.85
you and I need to check
out and just examine to get,
00:24:48.88\00:24:51.59
I say the perfect simply because
00:24:51.62\00:24:53.69
whenever Joseph
shows up, no kidding.
00:24:53.72\00:24:56.02
Whenever he shows up
in the gospels anywhere,
00:24:56.06\00:24:58.23
he never says a
word ever, ever, ever.
00:24:58.26\00:25:02.10
Not a peep from him
00:25:02.13\00:25:03.53
that his fiancé turned to wife.
00:25:03.57\00:25:05.97
She speaks often,
00:25:06.00\00:25:09.17
you wonder was it
that way in their home?
00:25:09.20\00:25:10.57
We don't know.
00:25:10.61\00:25:11.94
But every time Joseph
appears in the gospel narrative,
00:25:14.78\00:25:16.98
somebody else is
doing the talking.
00:25:17.01\00:25:18.55
Every time he appears in
Matthew's Christmas story,
00:25:18.58\00:25:21.72
an angel does the
talking, go figure.
00:25:21.75\00:25:24.72
I want to show you that
00:25:24.75\00:25:26.09
because there's
something embedded in this.
00:25:26.12\00:25:27.92
I want you to see it.
00:25:27.96\00:25:29.29
Open your Bible to
the Gospel of Matthew,
00:25:29.32\00:25:30.66
the familiar Christmas story,
only told in Matthew and Luke,
00:25:30.69\00:25:33.50
nothing in
Mark, nothing in John,
00:25:33.53\00:25:35.40
just these two record
what we have been reliving
00:25:35.43\00:25:38.67
these moments
together in worship.
00:25:38.70\00:25:41.37
So drop down to verse 18.
00:25:41.40\00:25:42.74
This is Matthew Chapter 1,
00:25:42.77\00:25:44.11
I'm in the New
International Version.
00:25:44.14\00:25:45.47
"This is how the birth of
Jesus the Messiah came about:
00:25:45.51\00:25:48.31
His mother Mary was
pledged to be married to Joseph,
00:25:48.34\00:25:51.25
but before they came together,
she was found to be pregnant
00:25:51.28\00:25:53.85
through the Holy Spirit.
00:25:53.88\00:25:55.32
Because Joseph her
husband was faithful to the law,
00:25:55.35\00:25:58.52
and yet did not
want to expose her
00:25:58.55\00:25:59.99
to public disgrace,
00:26:00.02\00:26:01.72
he had a mind to
divorce her quietly.
00:26:01.76\00:26:04.53
But after he
had considered this,
00:26:04.56\00:26:05.89
an angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a dream and said,
00:26:05.93\00:26:08.26
'Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid
00:26:08.30\00:26:11.50
to take Mary home as your wife,
00:26:11.53\00:26:13.80
because what is conceived in her
00:26:13.84\00:26:15.17
is from the Holy Spirit.
00:26:15.20\00:26:16.54
She will give birth to a son,
00:26:16.57\00:26:17.91
and you were to
give him the name Jesus,
00:26:17.94\00:26:19.27
because he will save
his people from their sins.'
00:26:19.31\00:26:22.31
All this took place to fulfill
00:26:22.34\00:26:24.21
what the Lord said
through the prophet Isaiah,
00:26:24.25\00:26:26.38
'The virgin will conceive
and give birth to a son,
00:26:26.41\00:26:28.78
and they will call him Immanuel'
00:26:28.82\00:26:30.45
which means God with us.'"
00:26:30.49\00:26:32.72
The inexplicable
mystery is presented.
00:26:32.75\00:26:37.13
Matter of fact
in Holy Scripture,
00:26:37.16\00:26:40.00
take it or leave it,
this is how it happened.
00:26:40.03\00:26:43.03
That's angel and
Joseph scene one.
00:26:43.06\00:26:44.63
Let's go to angel
and Joseph scene two
00:26:44.67\00:26:46.63
in this short little narrative.
00:26:46.67\00:26:48.67
Before we get to
angel and Joseph scene two,
00:26:48.70\00:26:50.41
we need to just pick up here
in verse 1 and 2 of chapter 2.
00:26:50.44\00:26:54.14
"And after Jesus was
born in Bethlehem..."
00:26:54.18\00:26:56.18
Old little town of
Bethlehem, "In Judea,
00:26:56.21\00:26:58.18
during the time of
King Herod, Magi..."
00:26:58.21\00:27:00.62
We just talked
about that Latin word,
00:27:00.65\00:27:02.32
"From the east came
to Jerusalem and asked,
00:27:02.35\00:27:04.65
'Where is the
one who has been born
00:27:04.69\00:27:06.32
king of the Jews?
00:27:06.35\00:27:07.69
We saw his star" Stellar,
00:27:07.72\00:27:10.66
"We saw his star when it rose
00:27:10.69\00:27:14.86
and have come to worship Him.'"
00:27:14.90\00:27:16.33
Desire of Ages
pulls the veil aside,
00:27:20.40\00:27:23.41
and for at least
for this faith community
00:27:23.44\00:27:25.47
grants us a peek
00:27:25.51\00:27:27.08
that we never would
have guessed on our own.
00:27:27.11\00:27:29.71
And that is, that
this star is not a planet.
00:27:29.74\00:27:36.08
It's not a sun.
00:27:36.12\00:27:37.45
It's not a star,
which stars or suns.
00:27:37.49\00:27:38.92
It's none of the above.
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.29
It's "A distant
company of shining angels."
00:27:40.32\00:27:44.56
I tell you what,
if you go out walking
00:27:48.00\00:27:49.50
and you have been
walking and running this fall,
00:27:49.53\00:27:51.70
the mornings had been
absolutely spectacular.
00:27:51.73\00:27:54.60
I've never seen the
skies clearer in the dark
00:27:54.64\00:27:59.21
and as I've gone walking,
one day, two days in a row
00:27:59.24\00:28:02.38
in the very same spot.
00:28:02.41\00:28:04.41
I looked up into the heavens.
00:28:04.45\00:28:05.85
Just a white little dot
circumnavigating the earth.
00:28:08.98\00:28:13.36
Twenty four hours
later, there it is again.
00:28:13.39\00:28:16.52
It's a satellite.
00:28:16.56\00:28:18.69
Whatever this distant
company of angels looked like,
00:28:18.73\00:28:20.86
it was called a Stellar.
00:28:20.90\00:28:22.23
It was called a star in Latin,
00:28:22.26\00:28:25.30
but it was
moving, clearly moving.
00:28:25.33\00:28:26.94
You can look at stars and
then there's a little movement
00:28:26.97\00:28:29.17
but now this, this was
just like, like a satellite.
00:28:29.20\00:28:33.68
The portent, the mystery
these kings from the east,
00:28:33.71\00:28:37.81
we follow the
star, this must be He.
00:28:37.85\00:28:41.32
So now here comes in.
00:28:41.35\00:28:42.68
So the wise men go to Herod,
00:28:42.72\00:28:44.05
we know the
story about vile Herod,
00:28:44.09\00:28:45.42
"Yo, come back,
let me know please,
00:28:45.45\00:28:46.79
I want to go
worship Him by myself."
00:28:46.82\00:28:48.16
The wise men then
followed the star in verse 10
00:28:48.19\00:28:49.76
because they're so
overjoyed, they see it again
00:28:49.79\00:28:51.86
and they go and
present their gifts
00:28:51.89\00:28:53.53
and then they're
warned in the dream.
00:28:53.56\00:28:54.90
No, no, no, no, no,
don't go back to that king.
00:28:54.93\00:28:57.20
Go home another way.
00:28:57.23\00:28:58.83
Now here comes angel
and Joseph scene number two.
00:28:58.87\00:29:01.60
"And when they had
gone, an angel of the Lord,"
00:29:01.64\00:29:03.47
no doubt the same one,
00:29:03.51\00:29:04.84
"appeared to Joseph in a dream.
00:29:04.87\00:29:06.21
'Get up,' he said,
00:29:06.24\00:29:07.58
'take the child and his
mother and escape to Egypt.
00:29:07.61\00:29:08.94
Stay there until I tell you,
00:29:08.98\00:29:10.31
for Herod is going to search
for the child to kill him.'"
00:29:10.35\00:29:12.88
They're gone.
00:29:12.91\00:29:14.48
Herod rides into
town, days later,
00:29:14.52\00:29:16.45
every baby under the
age of two slaughtered.
00:29:16.48\00:29:20.49
Mist.
00:29:20.52\00:29:24.13
Angel and Joseph,
scene number three,
00:29:24.16\00:29:25.96
drop down to verse 19.
00:29:25.99\00:29:27.33
"And after Herod
died, an angel of the Lord
00:29:27.36\00:29:28.70
appeared in the
dream to Joseph in Egypt,
00:29:28.73\00:29:30.07
and he said,
00:29:30.10\00:29:31.83
'Get up, take the
child and his mother,
00:29:31.87\00:29:33.23
you can go back to
the land of Israel,
00:29:33.27\00:29:34.60
for those who are trying
00:29:34.64\00:29:35.97
to take the
child's life are dead.'"
00:29:36.00\00:29:38.21
And then comes angel and Joseph,
00:29:38.24\00:29:39.81
scene number four.
00:29:39.84\00:29:41.18
Verse 21.
00:29:41.21\00:29:42.54
"And so he got up, took
the child and his mother,
00:29:42.58\00:29:43.91
they went back to
the land of Israel.
00:29:43.95\00:29:45.38
But when he heard that
Archelaus was reigning in Judea
00:29:45.41\00:29:48.78
in place of his father Herod,
00:29:48.82\00:29:50.15
Oh man, Joseph is
afraid to go there."
00:29:50.19\00:29:53.59
Angel number
four, scene number four.
00:29:53.62\00:29:57.26
"And having been
warned in a dream..."
00:29:57.29\00:29:59.39
obviously, the same angel,
00:29:59.43\00:30:01.06
"Joseph withdrew to
the district of Galilee,
00:30:01.10\00:30:03.00
and he went and lived in a
little town called Nazareth.
00:30:03.03\00:30:05.17
So it was fulfilled what
was said to the prophets,
00:30:05.20\00:30:07.20
that he would be
called a Nazarene."
00:30:07.24\00:30:09.30
There they are, four
fascinating angel appearances,
00:30:09.34\00:30:12.21
and angels do all the
talking, all the talking,
00:30:12.24\00:30:14.44
Joseph never says a
word, just radical obedience.
00:30:14.48\00:30:17.55
He obeys every single time.
00:30:17.58\00:30:22.55
But if you consider
the shining star angels,
00:30:22.58\00:30:27.82
and if you presume
that the four appearances
00:30:27.86\00:30:30.46
that were by angel
to Joseph are a templat
00:30:30.49\00:30:33.33
for the appearance of
it in a dream to the Magi,
00:30:33.36\00:30:36.10
that would
probably an angel as well,
00:30:36.13\00:30:37.77
could be the same
angel the whole time,
00:30:37.80\00:30:39.83
you have ladies and
gentlemen, count them, six, six,
00:30:39.87\00:30:42.17
six appearances of
angels in this story.
00:30:42.20\00:30:47.31
And if you go to the Christmas
story in Luke, guess what?
00:30:47.34\00:30:49.44
Angels are everywhere.
00:30:49.48\00:30:51.28
They're
everywhere, the whole Bible
00:30:51.31\00:30:52.65
but in the
Christmas story in particular,
00:30:52.68\00:30:54.02
I need you to see this
00:30:54.05\00:30:55.38
because you see
where it's going.
00:30:55.42\00:30:56.75
Angel number one in Luke.
00:30:56.79\00:30:58.12
We've already been to
Luke in this Advent season,
00:30:58.15\00:30:59.79
so let's not go back.
00:30:59.82\00:31:01.16
Angel number one shows
up to the father-in-law
00:31:01.19\00:31:04.33
to be of young John the Baptist.
00:31:04.36\00:31:06.26
An angel says,
"My name is Gabriel."
00:31:06.29\00:31:07.63
So we know it's Gabriel.
00:31:07.66\00:31:09.00
That same angel shows up to
the young virgin teenager Mary
00:31:09.03\00:31:12.40
and we know because
Luke says, he was Gabriel.
00:31:12.43\00:31:15.67
Every time Gabriel shows
up, he says, "Don't be afraid."
00:31:15.70\00:31:18.47
Angel number three.
00:31:21.74\00:31:23.68
And angel number four,
all happen at one time.
00:31:23.71\00:31:26.01
So let's go to Luke.
00:31:26.05\00:31:27.38
We'll just finish out the
Christmas story right here,
00:31:27.42\00:31:28.85
Luke, Chapter 2.
00:31:28.88\00:31:30.22
So turn, find
Luke 2 in your Bible.
00:31:30.25\00:31:32.59
And let's pick it up in verse 7.
00:31:32.62\00:31:34.06
Every time Gabriel shows
up. He says, "Don't be afraid."
00:31:39.76\00:31:43.60
And did you notice that
when he showed up with Joseph,
00:31:43.63\00:31:46.37
he said, "Don't be afraid."
00:31:46.40\00:31:48.64
I think we can safely conclude
00:31:48.67\00:31:50.01
that the angel that
showed upto the fiancé
00:31:50.04\00:31:52.11
would also show up to
the other half of the fiancé.
00:31:52.14\00:31:55.04
Same angel, Gabriel.
00:31:55.08\00:31:56.81
No doubt.
00:31:56.85\00:31:58.71
So we have angel
showing up twice.
00:31:58.75\00:32:01.45
But now here comes
three and four times.
00:32:01.48\00:32:04.39
Luke Chapter 2,
drop down to verse 7.
00:32:04.42\00:32:05.89
"And she gave birth," Mary did,
00:32:05.92\00:32:07.86
"to her firstborn, a son,
00:32:07.89\00:32:09.22
and she wrapped
him in cloths..."
00:32:09.26\00:32:10.63
Mother and
daughter Joanne and Jessica
00:32:10.66\00:32:12.33
just read this a moment ago,
00:32:12.36\00:32:13.70
"And place him in a manger,
00:32:13.73\00:32:15.06
because there was no
guest room available for them.
00:32:15.10\00:32:17.07
And there were
shepherds living out
00:32:17.10\00:32:18.43
in the fields near nearby,
00:32:18.47\00:32:20.20
keeping watch over
their flocks at night."
00:32:20.24\00:32:21.67
Probably October,
00:32:21.70\00:32:23.04
because that would be the
time they'd be in the fields.
00:32:23.07\00:32:24.57
Winter, they're just,
they wouldn't be out there.
00:32:24.61\00:32:26.54
So probably October.
00:32:26.57\00:32:29.31
"And the angel..."
00:32:29.34\00:32:30.68
Here comes,
00:32:30.71\00:32:32.05
"An angel of the
Lord appeared to them,
00:32:32.08\00:32:33.85
and the glory of the
Lord shone around about them,
00:32:33.88\00:32:35.85
and they were terrified.
00:32:35.88\00:32:37.22
But the angel said to them..."
00:32:37.25\00:32:38.59
What he's been saying
all through this chapter.
00:32:38.62\00:32:39.95
"Don't be afraid."
Must be the same one.
00:32:39.99\00:32:43.29
Does it at the resurrection too.
00:32:43.32\00:32:44.66
Don't be afraid.
00:32:44.69\00:32:47.03
An angel says to
them, "Don't be afraid.
00:32:47.06\00:32:48.70
I bring you good news
00:32:48.73\00:32:50.20
that will cause
great joy for the people.
00:32:50.23\00:32:52.50
Today in the town of David
a Savior has been born to you,
00:32:52.53\00:32:56.04
he is the Messiah, the Lord.
00:32:56.07\00:32:57.64
This will be a sign to you:
00:32:57.67\00:32:59.01
You will find a
baby wrapped in cloths
00:32:59.04\00:33:00.38
and lying in a manger..."
00:33:00.41\00:33:01.74
And suddenly as if they could
no longer be held in check.
00:33:01.78\00:33:04.28
Here comes the fourth
appearance of angels in Luke.
00:33:04.31\00:33:06.35
"Suddenly a great
company of the heavenly host..."
00:33:06.38\00:33:08.35
And the Greek word is
army, the heavenly army sings.
00:33:08.38\00:33:13.76
"He appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying,
00:33:13.79\00:33:15.86
'Glory to God in
the highest heaven,
00:33:15.89\00:33:18.39
and on earth peace to
those on whom his favor rests.'"
00:33:18.43\00:33:23.87
One more time we pull the
veil aside in Desire of Ages,
00:33:23.90\00:33:27.90
and we are told that
these shepherds gaze upon
00:33:27.94\00:33:30.01
and I'm quoting now,
00:33:30.04\00:33:31.51
"They gaze upon witnesses to
00:33:31.54\00:33:35.61
the brightest picture
ever be held by human eyes."
00:33:35.64\00:33:41.72
I don't know how they did this.
00:33:41.75\00:33:43.08
I had to get an
eye exam this week.
00:33:43.12\00:33:44.72
You were going
to get an eye exam,
00:33:44.75\00:33:46.09
all you four eyed people
00:33:46.12\00:33:47.86
and you go to that
doc, you go to your,
00:33:47.89\00:33:49.22
you go to the
doctor and what does he do?
00:33:49.26\00:33:50.59
Put a little drops in
and what's he going to do?
00:33:50.63\00:33:52.09
He's going to dilate it.
00:33:52.13\00:33:53.46
You have no iris
now, no color digest,
00:33:53.50\00:33:55.16
big dark circles.
00:33:55.20\00:33:56.97
And they tell
you when you leave.
00:33:57.00\00:33:58.33
Oh by the way, it's going
to take a while to wear up.
00:33:58.37\00:34:00.24
We got these ugly
glasses that you may wear,
00:34:00.27\00:34:02.50
hopefully you brought your own.
00:34:02.54\00:34:04.57
Yeah, you never
were the ugly ones.
00:34:04.61\00:34:05.94
You don't want to be
seen with those ugly ones.
00:34:05.97\00:34:09.74
I can imagine these shepherds,
00:34:09.78\00:34:11.11
the brightest,
the brightest scene
00:34:11.15\00:34:12.48
ever witnessed by human eyes.
00:34:12.51\00:34:14.12
Was it like
this? Was it like this?
00:34:14.15\00:34:15.75
No sunglasses.
00:34:19.19\00:34:21.36
Four appearances of angels.
00:34:21.39\00:34:25.69
By the way, they're everywhere.
00:34:25.73\00:34:27.50
Not just in the Christmas
story, they're everywhere.
00:34:27.53\00:34:28.93
They're everywhere in the Bible.
00:34:28.96\00:34:31.03
You want to see what
angels do it by the way?
00:34:31.07\00:34:32.43
You want to know what
angels do for a living?
00:34:32.47\00:34:33.94
You gonna look at
this job description here
00:34:33.97\00:34:35.30
and you're going
to say, Man, I'm glad
00:34:35.34\00:34:36.67
that's not my job description.
00:34:36.71\00:34:38.04
Let me run, let
me run this by you.
00:34:38.07\00:34:39.41
This is the Old Testament.
Take a look at Psalm 104.
00:34:39.44\00:34:41.88
Was earnest prayer, I
was quoting from Psalm 103.
00:34:41.91\00:34:43.98
Look at the Psalm 104.
00:34:44.01\00:34:47.15
Here's the job
description for an angel.
00:34:47.18\00:34:48.72
Now this is
going to surprise you,
00:34:48.75\00:34:50.09
you're going to say,
'I don't see any angels."
00:34:50.12\00:34:51.45
If you're in the
NIV, you're saying, what?
00:34:51.49\00:34:53.15
Are you serious? In
this verse? Take a look.
00:34:53.19\00:34:55.22
Psalm 104, on
the screen for you.
00:34:55.26\00:34:56.59
Verse 4.
00:34:56.62\00:34:57.96
"He, God, makes
winds his messengers,
00:34:57.99\00:34:59.93
flames of fire his servants."
00:34:59.96\00:35:01.66
Now what do we have here?
00:35:01.70\00:35:03.03
We have winds,
we have messengers,
00:35:03.06\00:35:04.73
we have flames of
fire, we have His servants.
00:35:04.77\00:35:06.80
Who are they? They're angels.
00:35:06.84\00:35:09.04
Because the Hebrew can also
be translated an alternate way.
00:35:09.07\00:35:12.07
In fact, the New King James
00:35:12.11\00:35:13.44
translates it the alternate way.
00:35:13.48\00:35:15.08
And when the writer of
Hebrews comes along and says,
00:35:15.11\00:35:16.91
I need that verse,
00:35:16.95\00:35:18.35
he will translate
it the alternate way
00:35:18.38\00:35:20.12
which is the Greek way
00:35:20.15\00:35:21.48
and so just look
at Hebrews Chapter 1.
00:35:21.52\00:35:22.92
You don't have to
take my word for it.
00:35:22.95\00:35:24.45
The very verse you
just read looks like this
00:35:24.49\00:35:27.19
in the New Testament.
00:35:27.22\00:35:28.56
Hebrews Chapter 1,
drop down to verse 7.
00:35:28.59\00:35:32.23
Look at this. Verse 7.
00:35:32.26\00:35:34.03
"And speaking of
the angels, God says..."
00:35:34.06\00:35:36.36
Now this is the identical verse,
00:35:36.40\00:35:38.43
"He makes his angels spirits..."
00:35:38.47\00:35:40.80
It said he makes
his messengers wins,
00:35:40.84\00:35:43.44
but the Hebrew can be translated
00:35:43.47\00:35:44.81
just like Greek either way
00:35:44.84\00:35:46.17
breath, wind, spirit,
00:35:46.21\00:35:47.54
saint, messenger, angel, same.
00:35:47.58\00:35:50.15
"He makes his angel spirits,
00:35:50.18\00:35:51.95
and his servants
flames of fire.'"
00:35:51.98\00:35:53.68
Now drop down to verse 14
00:35:53.72\00:35:55.05
because here's the
job description now.
00:35:55.08\00:35:56.92
"Are not all
angels ministering spirits
00:35:56.95\00:35:59.82
sent to serve those who
will inherit salvation?"
00:35:59.85\00:36:03.99
There it is,
00:36:04.03\00:36:05.36
that's the job
description of an angel.
00:36:05.39\00:36:06.83
He is a spirit.
00:36:06.86\00:36:08.40
He or she, I don't
know they're genderless.
00:36:08.43\00:36:10.33
I couldn't tell
you who they are,
00:36:10.37\00:36:13.67
but their spirits,
00:36:13.70\00:36:15.57
they take a corporeal body
on when it's essential for them
00:36:15.60\00:36:19.27
and they show up and they eat
00:36:19.31\00:36:21.08
and they touch you
00:36:21.11\00:36:22.44
and they are a body
but they are spirits.
00:36:22.48\00:36:26.05
The body is just a front
00:36:26.08\00:36:29.12
in order to
communicate with you and me.
00:36:29.15\00:36:32.02
Well, not encumbered by a body,
00:36:32.05\00:36:35.19
one single assignment the
angel has one sent to minister
00:36:35.22\00:36:38.36
to those who are
heirs of salvation.
00:36:38.39\00:36:40.10
Those who are going
to inherit salvation.
00:36:40.13\00:36:41.60
Stay with them, your mission
should you choose to accept it,
00:36:41.63\00:36:45.03
rookie angel
00:36:45.07\00:36:46.77
because we need more.
00:36:46.80\00:36:48.64
Your mission should you
choose to accept it is this.
00:36:48.67\00:36:51.51
You will stay with this child
from the moment she breathes.
00:36:51.54\00:36:54.14
You will stay with her
every day and night, 24/7,
00:36:54.18\00:36:58.38
until the earthling
dies or Christ returns,
00:36:58.41\00:37:00.58
whichever comes first.
00:37:00.62\00:37:01.95
You will stay with them.
00:37:01.98\00:37:03.42
Do you understand me?
00:37:03.45\00:37:05.92
Yes, Sir.
00:37:05.95\00:37:08.62
And yet Jesus says in Matthew
Chapter 18, they're angels.
00:37:08.66\00:37:11.39
Speaking of children,
00:37:11.43\00:37:12.76
their angels always
behold the face of the Father.
00:37:12.79\00:37:14.93
So something's going
on here in the spirit
00:37:14.96\00:37:17.37
that you and I don't understand.
00:37:17.40\00:37:18.97
We're talking about beings
00:37:19.00\00:37:20.84
that are a lot
bigger and mightier
00:37:20.87\00:37:22.87
than you and I will ever be.
00:37:22.90\00:37:27.04
I say, I wish,
00:37:27.08\00:37:28.41
I wish, I could see
an angel like they did.
00:37:28.44\00:37:30.45
I wish, I could just see
an angel show up somewhere.
00:37:30.48\00:37:33.75
Guess what?
00:37:33.78\00:37:35.78
Maybe you have.
00:37:35.82\00:37:37.35
Maybe you are
00:37:37.39\00:37:38.72
because Hebrews
Chapter 13, same book says,
00:37:38.75\00:37:40.66
"Hey, listen, don't
forget to entertain strangers
00:37:40.69\00:37:43.19
because some of them have
entertained angels unawares."
00:37:43.22\00:37:45.96
Take a look to the
person to your right, right now.
00:37:45.99\00:37:47.76
Look at the person
on your left nap, nap.
00:37:47.80\00:37:49.43
These two can't be
angels, I understand.
00:37:49.46\00:37:50.90
But you can't see
who's sitting behind you.
00:37:50.93\00:37:52.50
You don't know
who's sitting behind you.
00:37:52.53\00:37:54.47
There could be an angel
in this audience right now.
00:37:54.50\00:37:57.34
There may be many angels
filling this space right now.
00:37:57.37\00:37:59.84
Of course your angel
and my angel are here.
00:37:59.87\00:38:01.84
They've been singing with us,
00:38:01.88\00:38:03.21
they took that music
and send it heavenward.
00:38:03.24\00:38:06.38
Angels.
00:38:06.41\00:38:10.32
Desire of Ages on
the screen for you.
00:38:10.35\00:38:11.75
By the way, there's a
collection of these quotation
00:38:11.79\00:38:13.92
stuck in your worship
bulletin, you go home with it.
00:38:13.96\00:38:15.96
"Heaven and Earth," reading now,
00:38:15.99\00:38:17.33
"Heaven and earth are
no wider apart today than
00:38:17.36\00:38:19.06
when angels listen,
00:38:19.09\00:38:20.43
that when shepherds rather
listened to the angels' song.
00:38:20.46\00:38:23.67
Humanity is still as much the
object of heaven's solicitude
00:38:23.70\00:38:26.47
as when common men and
women of common occupations,
00:38:26.50\00:38:29.47
long ago met angels at noonday,
and they talked with heavenly
00:38:29.50\00:38:32.41
messengers in the
vineyards and in the fields."
00:38:32.44\00:38:34.54
Now to us, third millennium,
00:38:34.58\00:38:36.41
"To us in the
common walks of life..."
00:38:36.44\00:38:38.55
That would be you and
me, "Heaven may be very near.
00:38:38.58\00:38:41.92
Angels from the courts above
will attend the steps of those
00:38:41.95\00:38:45.19
who come and go
at God's command."
00:38:45.22\00:38:48.66
Angels, they have
one solitary mission,
00:38:48.69\00:38:51.86
seek and save every possible
earth child that you can
00:38:51.89\00:38:55.73
until I come.
00:38:55.76\00:38:57.10
Do you understand?
00:38:57.13\00:38:59.63
Yes, Your Majesty.
00:38:59.67\00:39:02.00
24/7.
00:39:04.97\00:39:08.24
Bring them home to me.
00:39:08.28\00:39:11.01
But here listen, what
is so stunning about this?
00:39:11.05\00:39:13.95
And here comes a profound part
00:39:13.98\00:39:15.98
is what the Christmas
story actually reveals namely,
00:39:16.02\00:39:18.59
have you ever noticed.
00:39:18.62\00:39:20.16
I didn't tell just
these last few days.
00:39:20.19\00:39:22.89
Have you ever noticed
00:39:22.92\00:39:24.49
that there are two beings
that keep showing up together
00:39:24.53\00:39:28.26
in the Christmas
story all the way through?
00:39:28.30\00:39:31.13
Let me just show you.
00:39:31.17\00:39:32.50
Let's do a little bit
of statistics, all right?
00:39:32.53\00:39:34.17
Let's put it on the screen.
00:39:34.20\00:39:35.54
Angels, do you
see Matthew up there?
00:39:35.57\00:39:36.94
Six times angels appear.
00:39:36.97\00:39:39.24
If we grant
these just in company
00:39:39.27\00:39:41.61
and showing up to
the Magi twice, okay?
00:39:41.64\00:39:43.61
Six times, Luke, angels,
00:39:43.65\00:39:45.48
we just looked
at them, four times.
00:39:45.51\00:39:48.98
But there's somebody else
00:39:49.02\00:39:50.69
who keeps showing up
in this story with them
00:39:50.72\00:39:53.69
in the Book of Matthew
put up the Holy Spirit.
00:39:53.72\00:39:57.49
Two times in the Book of Matthew
00:39:57.53\00:40:00.60
with the Christmas story only.
00:40:00.63\00:40:02.10
In the Book of Luke
00:40:02.13\00:40:03.47
which we went
through a few Sabbaths ago,
00:40:03.50\00:40:05.10
eight times.
00:40:05.13\00:40:06.47
Add the two columns, please.
00:40:06.50\00:40:07.84
Ten times in both columns.
00:40:07.87\00:40:09.70
Ten times these two beings,
00:40:09.74\00:40:13.64
these celestial individuals
00:40:13.68\00:40:17.11
appear together
a total of 20 times
00:40:17.15\00:40:19.81
which may not be so surprising
00:40:19.85\00:40:21.18
when we just noted that
angels are called spirits
00:40:21.22\00:40:23.08
and he's called the Holy Spirit.
00:40:23.12\00:40:25.12
What's not so surprising
00:40:25.15\00:40:26.49
when we saw that
angels are called winds
00:40:26.52\00:40:27.86
and Jesus said to John,
the spirit is like a wind.
00:40:27.89\00:40:31.99
And Jesus says to
the woman at the well,
00:40:32.03\00:40:34.36
"God is a spirit in
those who worship him,
00:40:34.40\00:40:36.90
must worship Him
in spirit in too.
00:40:36.93\00:40:38.37
It's not a surprise,
we should not be surprise
00:40:38.40\00:40:40.80
that there is a very
intimate partnership,
00:40:40.84\00:40:42.67
a very intimate camaraderie
00:40:42.70\00:40:44.31
between angels
and the Holy Spirit.
00:40:44.34\00:40:46.94
They do what they do together.
00:40:46.98\00:40:50.08
Surprise!
00:40:50.11\00:40:52.48
Douglas Cooper in his
book, The Gentle Dove:
00:40:52.51\00:40:55.58
The Holy Spirit, God's
Greatest Gift, subtitle.
00:40:55.62\00:40:58.22
These 43
characteristics that describe
00:40:58.25\00:41:00.72
one who lives his life
00:41:00.76\00:41:02.09
and who lives her
life in the spirit.
00:41:02.12\00:41:03.63
Beautiful 43 of these.
00:41:03.66\00:41:05.36
Here comes number 15.
00:41:05.39\00:41:06.86
I shared number 10 a
few days ago with you.
00:41:06.90\00:41:09.16
But here's number 15
on the screen please.
00:41:09.20\00:41:12.27
So if you live a
life in the spirit,
00:41:12.30\00:41:13.90
"The providence and protection
and guidance of angels
00:41:13.94\00:41:16.47
will become more
evident in your life."
00:41:16.50\00:41:20.21
Hold on, keep
reading, Hebrews 114,
00:41:20.24\00:41:22.84
"Are they not all
ministering spirits,
00:41:22.88\00:41:24.38
sent a minister for them
00:41:24.41\00:41:25.75
who will be the
heirs of salvation?"
00:41:25.78\00:41:27.32
In other words,
you and me, hold on!
00:41:27.35\00:41:29.58
This is created now.
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.05
"In a very real sense,
00:41:31.09\00:41:32.72
angels are the 'modems'
00:41:32.75\00:41:35.52
through which we connect
with the realms of the Spirit."
00:41:35.56\00:41:37.69
Hit the pause
button right there.
00:41:37.73\00:41:39.06
Do you know what a modem is?
00:41:39.09\00:41:40.43
We all have them,
00:41:40.46\00:41:41.80
but do you know
what a modem does?
00:41:41.83\00:41:43.16
A modem takes
digital information,
00:41:43.20\00:41:45.63
encodes it and decodes
it from source to recipient,
00:41:45.67\00:41:48.64
so that everybody's
talking the same language
00:41:48.67\00:41:51.07
and you get the signals.
00:41:51.11\00:41:53.58
Cooper is suggesting that
00:41:53.61\00:41:54.94
angels are the modems
of the Kingdom of Heaven
00:41:54.98\00:41:59.11
by which we connect with
the realms of the Spirit.
00:41:59.15\00:42:00.82
Keep reading.
00:42:00.85\00:42:02.18
"They are not the
light," Jesus is the light,
00:42:02.22\00:42:04.05
"but they are the light-bearers,
00:42:04.09\00:42:05.75
they are our personal
bond to the heavenly realms,
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.72
to the deeper most
progressive truths and insights
00:42:08.76\00:42:11.46
and spiritual
experiences for us today."
00:42:11.49\00:42:14.03
They are our connect doors
00:42:14.06\00:42:17.07
to the eternal
reality which we cannot see.
00:42:17.10\00:42:22.57
Assigned to you, assigned to me.
00:42:22.60\00:42:25.77
One right here
beside me right now,
00:42:25.81\00:42:28.98
his mission,
00:42:29.01\00:42:30.61
stay with that boy,
00:42:30.65\00:42:33.01
save him.
00:42:33.05\00:42:35.98
I want them home.
00:42:36.02\00:42:38.52
You have one.
00:42:38.55\00:42:39.89
So this place is
filled if we could see that.
00:42:39.92\00:42:43.56
You know what
they're saying right now
00:42:43.59\00:42:45.76
about you, about me.
00:42:45.79\00:42:50.67
It's provocative
thought, is it not?
00:42:50.70\00:42:52.10
I had a professor
here in the seminary,
00:42:52.13\00:42:53.47
a great teacher
named Ralph Edren,
00:42:53.50\00:42:55.40
who made the
startling suggestion in class
00:42:55.44\00:42:57.14
when I was a
little MDiv student,
00:42:57.17\00:42:58.81
and I have pondered
that ever since and that is,
00:42:58.84\00:43:01.04
it is through the angels
00:43:01.08\00:43:02.41
that the Holy Spirit exercises
is omnipresent ministry.
00:43:02.44\00:43:06.51
He's the great mainframe.
00:43:06.55\00:43:07.88
Didn't have that
language back then.
00:43:07.92\00:43:09.25
He's the great mastermind
00:43:09.28\00:43:11.05
and so He's in connection
with every spirit being.
00:43:11.09\00:43:17.16
And by the way, the good
news is whether good or bad,
00:43:17.19\00:43:21.26
nobody steals a march on you.
00:43:21.30\00:43:23.60
But that God is
not watching very,
00:43:23.63\00:43:26.27
that's as far as you go.
00:43:26.30\00:43:27.90
Stop.
00:43:27.94\00:43:29.50
Look in my eye on, you boy.
00:43:29.54\00:43:33.74
Wow, supernaturally intimately.
00:43:33.78\00:43:36.34
Look, I, we
just crossed the line
00:43:36.38\00:43:38.91
for our mortal
minds into mystery.
00:43:38.95\00:43:40.82
We cannot understand this.
00:43:40.85\00:43:42.18
I understand that.
00:43:42.22\00:43:43.55
But here's the point.
00:43:43.59\00:43:46.12
This much is clear
from the Christmas story.
00:43:46.15\00:43:48.29
All of heaven,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
00:43:48.32\00:43:51.09
all of heaven,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
00:43:51.13\00:43:53.80
and billions of angels.
00:43:53.83\00:43:55.86
All of heaven is on
your side right now.
00:43:55.90\00:44:00.44
Right now, all of heaven.
00:44:00.47\00:44:03.97
If you need
every angel in heaven,
00:44:04.01\00:44:05.34
you'll get
every angel in heaven.
00:44:05.37\00:44:07.31
If they have to leave
the rest of us to get to you,
00:44:07.34\00:44:09.88
they'll leave the
rest of us to get to you.
00:44:09.91\00:44:12.11
All of heaven is on your side.
00:44:12.15\00:44:14.45
You can take that
to the bank, cash it.
00:44:14.48\00:44:18.05
All of heaven 20 times
10, they're there together.
00:44:18.09\00:44:22.82
Ten each the Christmas story.
00:44:22.86\00:44:27.30
And trust me,
00:44:27.33\00:44:28.66
you and I are going to
need all of heaven on our side
00:44:28.70\00:44:30.47
because CS Lewis
is absolutely right.
00:44:30.50\00:44:33.70
We are in a war, almost
desperate war and that's why
00:44:33.74\00:44:35.94
the Christmas story
happened in the first place.
00:44:35.97\00:44:37.57
Let me put that classic
book of his Mere Christianity
00:44:37.61\00:44:42.94
on the screen for
you, some lines from it.
00:44:42.98\00:44:45.18
CS Lewis, CS Lewis,
"this universe is at war,
00:44:45.21\00:44:49.75
a civil war, a rebellion,
00:44:49.78\00:44:51.79
and we are living in
a part of the universe
00:44:51.82\00:44:53.59
occupied by the rebel.
00:44:53.62\00:44:55.42
Enemy-occupied territory
that is what this world is.
00:44:55.46\00:44:58.19
Christianity is a story of
00:44:58.23\00:44:59.56
how the
rightful king has landed,
00:44:59.59\00:45:01.70
you might say
landed in disguise,
00:45:01.73\00:45:03.77
you might say behind
enemy lines he has landed
00:45:03.80\00:45:07.90
and it's calling
all of us to take part
00:45:07.94\00:45:09.70
in a great
campaign of sabotage."
00:45:09.74\00:45:15.31
I'm here. I'm here.
00:45:15.34\00:45:19.35
I've come to you
that you might have life
00:45:19.38\00:45:20.98
and that you
might have it abundantly
00:45:21.02\00:45:22.65
so come to me, learn from me,
00:45:22.68\00:45:25.55
follow me, go for me.
00:45:25.59\00:45:30.69
Lo, I'm with you always
00:45:30.73\00:45:32.16
even to the end
of the age, gone.
00:45:32.19\00:45:34.40
Sabotage, you belong to me.
00:45:37.43\00:45:41.87
Remember whose side you are on?
00:45:41.90\00:45:44.31
I'm with you, do you see him?
00:45:44.34\00:45:46.37
No, you don't.
00:45:46.41\00:45:47.74
He's with you too.
00:45:47.78\00:45:49.28
She.
00:45:49.31\00:45:52.25
Desire of Ages is
making this point powerfully.
00:45:52.28\00:45:54.72
Last quotation on the screen.
00:45:54.75\00:45:56.08
"The Savior shows His followers
the conflicts they must meet,
00:45:56.12\00:46:00.36
He reveals the character
and the plan of the battle..."
00:46:00.39\00:46:02.99
He says what's going to happen?
00:46:03.02\00:46:04.83
Do what I tell you. Trust me.
00:46:04.86\00:46:08.23
He reveals to His followers
00:46:08.26\00:46:10.13
the character and
the battle of the plan,
00:46:10.17\00:46:11.57
they, I'm going
to change it to we.
00:46:11.60\00:46:13.00
"We are to contend
with supernatural forces,
00:46:13.03\00:46:15.34
evil and dark,
00:46:15.37\00:46:16.71
but we are assured
of supernatural help.
00:46:16.74\00:46:19.57
All the intelligences
of heaven are in this army.
00:46:19.61\00:46:22.78
And more than just the
angels are in the ranks.
00:46:22.81\00:46:25.65
The Holy Spirit,
the representative
00:46:25.68\00:46:27.72
of the Captain of
the Lord's host..."
00:46:27.75\00:46:29.38
That would be
Christ Jesus Himself.
00:46:29.42\00:46:31.32
He's the captain.
00:46:31.35\00:46:32.69
"The representative of the
Captain of the Lord's host,
00:46:32.72\00:46:34.56
comes down in the rank,
00:46:34.59\00:46:36.22
comes down to
direct the battle."
00:46:36.26\00:46:38.36
In a military lingo of generals,
00:46:38.39\00:46:41.23
he puts boots on the
ground where the action is
00:46:41.26\00:46:44.70
to represent the commander
of the Lord's host, Captain.
00:46:44.73\00:46:48.74
I'm here for the captain.
00:46:48.77\00:46:51.17
You don't see me
00:46:51.21\00:46:53.21
but I see you
and I'm watching you.
00:46:53.24\00:46:56.08
And I'm with you.
00:46:56.11\00:46:58.21
He's with you.
00:46:58.25\00:46:59.91
They are with you.
00:46:59.95\00:47:01.55
All heaven is on your
side. Never be afraid.
00:47:01.58\00:47:04.79
I don't know what
you're going through today.
00:47:04.82\00:47:06.82
Just two days before Christmas.
00:47:06.86\00:47:08.56
And I'm looking at the
live screen lens right now.
00:47:08.59\00:47:11.03
I don't know what
you're going through.
00:47:11.06\00:47:12.39
Wherever on this
planet you are right now
00:47:12.43\00:47:13.96
it matters not to me
what you're going through.
00:47:14.00\00:47:15.70
But I tell you what
it meant, what matters.
00:47:15.73\00:47:17.77
What matters is all of
heaven is on your side.
00:47:17.80\00:47:21.00
All of heaven.
00:47:21.04\00:47:22.80
All the
intelligences, all of heaven.
00:47:22.84\00:47:25.97
Oh, we forgot to finish this.
00:47:26.01\00:47:27.34
"The Holy Spirit,
00:47:27.38\00:47:28.71
the representative of the
captain of the Lord's host
00:47:28.74\00:47:30.08
comes down to
direct the battle."
00:47:30.11\00:47:31.45
Well, I love this ending.
00:47:31.48\00:47:32.81
"Our
infirmities, may be many..."
00:47:32.85\00:47:34.18
Oh God, our weaknesses,
00:47:34.22\00:47:35.55
my weaknesses
this year are many.
00:47:35.58\00:47:38.12
God says, you don't
have to remind me, Dwight.
00:47:38.15\00:47:40.12
"Our infirmities may be many,
00:47:44.39\00:47:46.43
our sins and mistakes
this year have been grievous,
00:47:46.46\00:47:50.33
but the grace of God is for all
who seek it with contrition."
00:47:50.37\00:47:54.47
I wipe it clean.
00:47:54.50\00:47:55.84
Oh boy, don't miss next Sabbath,
00:47:55.87\00:47:57.41
one service again, but
don't miss the good news.
00:47:57.44\00:48:00.04
We end the year
with next Sabbath.
00:48:00.08\00:48:01.81
"Grace of God is for all
who seek it with contrition.
00:48:01.84\00:48:04.48
The power of
omnipotence is enlisted
00:48:04.51\00:48:06.92
in behalf of
those who trust in God."
00:48:06.95\00:48:10.52
I will put my trust in Him.
00:48:10.55\00:48:14.02
You may trust me.
00:48:14.06\00:48:17.33
I'm with you.
00:48:17.36\00:48:19.36
And I will be with you
till you die or till I come,
00:48:19.39\00:48:23.47
whichever comes
first. Stay with me.
00:48:23.50\00:48:28.10
Stay with me.
00:48:28.14\00:48:29.90
That's it.
00:48:34.38\00:48:36.51
God so loved the world
that He gave us His only Son.
00:48:36.54\00:48:38.85
That's it.
00:48:38.88\00:48:41.15
God has given everything He has.
00:48:41.18\00:48:43.89
And now secret campaign of...
00:48:43.92\00:48:49.42
A subterfuge.
00:48:49.46\00:48:50.79
Sabotage.
00:48:54.90\00:48:58.93
Ask me every morning for
the baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:48:58.97\00:49:01.24
and I will give you
that Holy Spirit every day.
00:49:01.27\00:49:03.34
You ask me every day for
the baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:49:03.37\00:49:05.31
and I will give you
the Holy Spirit every day.
00:49:05.34\00:49:07.31
You ask me every day for
the baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:49:07.34\00:49:10.85
and I will give
it to you every day.
00:49:10.88\00:49:13.35
And he will be with you
00:49:13.38\00:49:14.72
and the two of
them together have you?
00:49:14.75\00:49:17.39
They have your back,
they have your front,
00:49:17.42\00:49:20.46
they have your
heart, they have your mind.
00:49:20.49\00:49:23.83
Wow.
00:49:23.86\00:49:25.69
And that, ladies and gentlemen,
is a good news this Christmas,
00:49:25.73\00:49:28.13
what do you say?
00:49:28.16\00:49:29.56
It's great
news. It's great news.
00:49:29.60\00:49:33.30
So is there room in your in?
00:49:33.34\00:49:35.67
Let Him in.
00:49:35.70\00:49:37.54
He said, "I need
to come in every day."
00:49:37.57\00:49:39.44
Ask me for that
baptism every day.
00:49:39.47\00:49:41.11
Is there room in your in?
00:49:41.14\00:49:42.48
Give me that room, please.
00:49:42.51\00:49:43.85
I need that room.
00:49:43.88\00:49:45.21
Karen now is
going to sing the appeal
00:49:45.25\00:49:46.95
that you have
room for the Savior
00:49:46.98\00:49:48.92
and do you seek him a new.
00:49:48.95\00:49:50.82
Have you a place for the
one who lived and died for you?
00:49:50.85\00:49:53.86
Are you as
humble as a shepherd boy
00:49:53.89\00:49:55.59
or as wise as men of old?
00:49:55.62\00:49:57.76
Would you've come that night
00:49:57.79\00:49:59.53
and would you
have sought the light,
00:49:59.56\00:50:01.26
do you have a room?
00:50:01.30\00:50:03.20
They journeyed far
00:50:18.75\00:50:21.52
A weary pair
00:50:21.55\00:50:23.85
They sought for
shelter From the cold night air
00:50:23.89\00:50:29.56
Someplace where she
00:50:29.59\00:50:32.36
Could lay her head
00:50:32.39\00:50:35.16
Where she could give her babe
00:50:35.20\00:50:38.17
A quiet bed
00:50:38.20\00:50:42.10
Was there no room?
00:50:42.14\00:50:45.07
No shelter there?
00:50:45.11\00:50:47.68
In all the town a
spot someone could spare?
00:50:47.71\00:50:54.58
Was there no soul
come to their aid?
00:50:54.62\00:51:00.49
A stable bare was
where the family stayed
00:51:00.52\00:51:06.03
Do you have room for the savior?
00:51:09.23\00:51:14.50
And do you seek Him anew?
00:51:14.54\00:51:19.47
Have you a place for the one
00:51:19.51\00:51:23.78
Who lived and died for you?
00:51:23.81\00:51:30.02
Are you as
humble as a shepherd boy
00:51:30.05\00:51:36.09
Or as wise as men of old?
00:51:36.12\00:51:42.50
Would you have come that night?
00:51:42.53\00:51:48.20
Would you have sought the light?
00:51:48.24\00:51:53.84
Do you have room?
00:51:53.88\00:51:56.78
A star arose, a wondrous light
00:52:04.62\00:52:09.82
A sign from God
This was the holy night
00:52:09.86\00:52:15.90
And yet so few would go to see
00:52:15.93\00:52:21.10
The babe who came
to rescue you and me
00:52:21.14\00:52:27.91
This child divine is now a king
00:52:27.94\00:52:33.42
The gift of life to
all the world He brings
00:52:33.45\00:52:40.49
And all mankind
He saves from doom
00:52:40.52\00:52:46.59
But on that night,
for Him, there was no room
00:52:46.63\00:52:52.23
Do you have room for the savior?
00:52:55.97\00:53:01.64
And do you seek Him anew?
00:53:01.68\00:53:06.41
Have you a place for the one
00:53:06.45\00:53:10.25
Who lived and died for you?
00:53:10.29\00:53:16.19
Are you as
humble as a shepherd boy
00:53:16.22\00:53:22.36
Or as wise as men of old?
00:53:22.40\00:53:28.44
Would you have come that night?
00:53:28.47\00:53:34.51
Would you have sought the light?
00:53:34.54\00:53:40.48
Do you have room?
00:53:40.52\00:53:44.19
Will you come tonight?
00:53:52.13\00:53:58.23
Will you seek the light?
00:53:58.27\00:54:05.67
Do you have room?
00:54:05.71\00:54:10.41
Amen.
00:54:21.22\00:54:22.86
Let's stand as we pray.
00:54:27.96\00:54:29.30
Oh, God, may You find
room in all our hearts...
00:54:40.08\00:54:44.58
In all our lives,
00:54:48.62\00:54:52.35
in all our marriages,
00:54:52.39\00:54:57.56
in all our living,
00:54:57.59\00:55:01.93
please find room.
00:55:01.96\00:55:05.90
You can have our room.
00:55:05.93\00:55:07.67
There's room, come in,
00:55:07.70\00:55:12.71
knowing that all of
heaven is on our side.
00:55:12.74\00:55:16.04
Dear God and we praise You.
00:55:16.08\00:55:18.65
You give us courage,
00:55:18.68\00:55:20.22
we go forth to the unknown,
00:55:20.25\00:55:23.55
but we will never
go forth alone ever.
00:55:23.59\00:55:27.96
Stay with us.
00:55:27.99\00:55:29.79
Hold us close until Jesus comes.
00:55:29.82\00:55:33.53
And now may the
grace of the Father...
00:55:39.27\00:55:41.20
The love of the Lord Jesus,
00:55:45.34\00:55:48.61
the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit
00:55:48.64\00:55:51.75
be with you all.
00:55:51.78\00:55:53.82
Amen.
00:55:53.85\00:55:55.18
Thank you for
joining us in worship today.
00:56:12.80\00:56:14.80
I hope you were blessed.
00:56:14.84\00:56:16.24
As we enter the
busy holiday season,
00:56:16.27\00:56:18.01
I trust you're able to
snatch some quiet moments
00:56:18.04\00:56:20.08
to reflect on all
that you're grateful for.
00:56:20.11\00:56:22.64
Me, I'm thankful for you,
00:56:22.68\00:56:24.61
for your
prayers, for your letters,
00:56:24.65\00:56:25.98
which literally come to
us from around the world.
00:56:26.01\00:56:28.75
You'll never know the impact
your prayers for this ministry
00:56:28.78\00:56:31.09
have on me and our entire team.
00:56:31.12\00:56:33.46
Trust me, you bless
me through your prayers.
00:56:33.49\00:56:36.36
So I'm thankful for you.
00:56:36.39\00:56:37.79
I'm thankful for the
young creative tech team
00:56:37.83\00:56:39.43
that makes this ministry happen.
00:56:39.46\00:56:41.33
They keep coming up
with new innovative ideas
00:56:41.36\00:56:43.40
for sharing the
gospel globally through
00:56:43.43\00:56:45.27
electronic media, television,
radio, web, mobile, whatever.
00:56:45.30\00:56:49.60
What's more, these young
innovators have had the skills
00:56:49.64\00:56:52.87
and the commitment to
see our projects through.
00:56:52.91\00:56:55.61
So I'm thankful for
you, I'm thankful for them.
00:56:55.64\00:56:58.31
And you'd expect me to say this
00:56:58.35\00:56:59.68
as another year draws to an end.
00:56:59.71\00:57:01.15
I'm also thankful for
the financial support of
00:57:01.18\00:57:03.22
viewers like you that
makes this ministry possible.
00:57:03.25\00:57:06.96
If you've been
blessed this New Year,
00:57:06.99\00:57:08.42
I'd like to ask you
to join the hundreds
00:57:08.46\00:57:10.09
who financially support
our New Perceptions Ministry.
00:57:10.13\00:57:13.60
It's simple to do, just
call our toll free number
00:57:13.63\00:57:16.16
877-HIS-WILL, the
two words, HIS-WILL,
00:57:16.20\00:57:19.40
and our friendly operators
will be happy to assist you.
00:57:19.43\00:57:22.20
Trust me, no gift
is too small for God
00:57:22.24\00:57:24.64
to use to spread His good news.
00:57:24.67\00:57:26.37
And let me remind
you, not a single penny
00:57:26.41\00:57:28.31
of your
donation will come to me.
00:57:28.34\00:57:29.98
Every gift is entirely
invested in our mission
00:57:30.01\00:57:32.95
to communicate
God's everlasting gospel
00:57:32.98\00:57:35.18
to what we believe is
an end-time generation.
00:57:35.22\00:57:38.15
So once again,
00:57:38.19\00:57:39.52
the number to
call is 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:39.55\00:57:42.29
This Christmas,
00:57:42.32\00:57:43.66
I wish for you God's
very best wrapped up in Jesus,
00:57:43.69\00:57:46.70
24/7 all the way
through the New Year to come.
00:57:46.73\00:57:51.93
God bless you.
00:57:51.97\00:57:53.30