Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP171223A
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03:44 Amen and amen.
03:47 Let's join together in responding to God's call 03:50 to meet him here. 03:52 If you open your worship bulletin to page eight 03:55 and stand with me, 03:56 we will read this responsive call to worship 04:00 on this Sabbath before Christmas. 04:03 It's the words of acquaint Christmas carol. 04:12 As it fell upon a night In the winter weather 04:16 Angels bright in starry height Began to sing together 04:22 Shepherd sleeping on the plane Woke to see the glory 04:26 All amazed they stood and gazed 04:29 And heard the angels story 04:31 Unto you a child is born In a manger lowly 04:35 Humble, He, yet born to be The king of love most holy 04:41 Happy angels from afar Cease your singing never 04:46 In excelsis gloria! Forever and forever 04:50 Oh come let us adore Him Amen. 04:53 Amen. Let us pray. 04:58 And so we come, beloved Father, 04:59 in response to the Christmas call 05:01 to come and adore Him, Christ the Lord. 05:05 And given all that we've been tempted to adore this year, 05:09 we wish you to know we come to adore Him 05:12 most of all, and best of all. 05:15 We come to worship Him who was the darling of heaven, 05:18 the word made flesh, 05:20 the only begotten of the Father, 05:21 full of grace and truth. 05:23 We come, dear God, to worship You in Christ, 05:26 the baby of Bethlehem, to rejoice with all our hearts, 05:31 voices, minds, souls. 05:34 Rejoicing for the love that came down to us 05:37 long, long ago in Jesus our Savior we praise you. 05:42 Amen. 05:44 Remain standing, please. 06:23 Good Christians, rejoice With heart and soul and voice 06:30 Give ye heed to what we say 06:34 Jesus Christ is born today 06:38 Ox and ass before Him bow And He is in the manger now 06:46 Christ is born today! Christ is born today! 06:55 Good Christians, now rejoice 06:59 With heart and soul and voice 07:04 Now ye hear of endless bliss 07:08 Jesus Christ was born for this! 07:12 He has opened the heavenly door 07:16 And we are blest forevermore 07:20 Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this! 07:51 [song playing] 10:08 O little town of Bethlehem 10:14 How still we see thee lie 10:20 Above thy deep and dreamless sleep 10:26 The silent stars go by 10:33 Yet in thy dark streets shineth 10:39 The everlasting Light 10:45 The hopes and fears of all the years 10:51 Are met in thee tonight 10:59 How silently, how silently 11:05 The wondrous gift is given 11:11 So God imparts to human hearts 11:17 The blessings of his heaven 11:23 No ear may hear his coming 11:29 But in this world of sin 11:35 Where meek souls will receive him, still 11:41 The dear Christ enters in 12:35 Angels we have heard on high 12:39 Singing sweetly through the night 12:44 And the mountains in reply 12:48 Echoing their brave delight 12:52 Gloria 13:01 In excelsis Deo 13:05 Gloria 13:13 in excelsis Deo 13:21 Shepherds, why this jubilee? 13:25 Why these songs of happy cheer? 13:30 What great brightness did you see? 13:34 What glad tidings did you hear? 13:38 Gloria 13:47 In excelsis Deo 13:51 Gloria 14:00 In excelsis Deo 14:09 See him in a manger laid 14:13 Whom the angels praise above 14:17 See him in a manger laid 14:22 While we raise our hearts in love 14:27 Gloria 14:35 In excelsis Deo 14:39 Gloria 14:48 In excelsis Deo 15:01 Amen. 17:46 Thank you, Oregon and Oboe. 17:49 That was beautiful. 17:51 And, boys and girls, and I... Oh, we still have kids coming. 17:54 Am I getting started just a little early here? 17:56 Looks like I am. 17:59 All right. We'll wait. 18:02 Oh, listen. 18:03 While the others are coming, this, 18:05 I'm holding this in my hand so I won't forget. 18:07 Do you see this beautiful, beautiful worship bulletin? 18:11 This is for tomorrow night. 18:13 Tell your mommies and daddies tomorrow night, 18:15 5 o'clock right here in this church. 18:17 A lovely... 18:19 Oh, look at this, a lovely Christmas eve service 18:22 has been planned for children, and moms and dads, 18:25 and people who might be alone or people who have family here 18:28 tomorrow night, 5 o'clock here in the Pioneer Memorial Church. 18:32 Hey kids, come on up. All right. 18:34 So I'm thankful to my friend and story scout Sharon Dudgeon 18:39 who found this story for me. 18:42 Come on up. 18:44 Good. Grab some seats here. 18:46 Because if you're really, if you're really quiet, 18:49 we have a present, we're gonna give you today. 18:53 Don't tell anybody. Okay. All right. 18:56 So grab a seat there. There you go. 18:58 Nice to have you. Good. 19:00 Can you get in? Now let's... 19:02 You have to sit on the floor. 19:03 Don't worry about finding a stair. 19:05 I don't think there'll be any stairs. 19:08 How about over here? There's some space. 19:11 Nice to have all of you. 19:12 Merry Christmas to you, Amos. Glad to have you. 19:15 Say today's story, Denville, Denville, New Jersey. 19:20 Another one from New Jersey. 19:21 Where all these stories from New Jersey. 19:22 Denville, New Jersey. 19:24 So it's a Friday night. Few weeks ago, Friday night. 19:29 And mother and father know that 19:30 they're going to have to go to the hospital eventually 19:32 because mommy whoo! whoo! 19:34 Mommy is going to have a baby. 19:36 Yes, she is. 19:38 And mother thinks, whoo, this is coming closer. 19:41 This is coming closer. 19:43 So she input, daddy jumped in the car. 19:44 That car races down the road in Denville, New Jersey, 19:47 races down the road but all of a sudden, 19:49 oh, traffic, traffic, move, move, 19:52 it's too late nobody's moving, traffic, traffic. 19:54 Mother says, "It's coming, it's coming, it's coming." 19:56 So the father jumped out of the car. He ran. 19:58 He ran in, he said, "Yo, somebody call, 20:00 call the police and the ambulance. 20:01 My wife's having a baby." 20:04 The police came and the ambulance came 20:07 and the baby was born right there, right there. 20:10 Couldn't get to the hospital in time. 20:11 Oh, well, you hear about these stories all the time. 20:15 But let me tell you about Saturday night. 20:17 So that was Friday night, Saturday night, 20:19 also Denville, New Jersey. 20:21 A mother and father are saying, 20:23 "Oh, I think they're coming, 20:26 those contractions are coming, we got to go to the hospital. 20:29 Honey, honey, jump in, jump in." 20:33 But as they're racing to the hospital, 20:35 the contractions are getting worse, worse, and worse. 20:37 Finally, she says, "Stop, stop, 20:39 I'm going to have a baby right here." 20:40 He pulls over he runs and says, 20:41 "Somebody call the police and the ambulance. 20:44 My wife's having a baby." 20:47 Guess what? The same two police showed up. 20:51 The same two police showed up. 20:52 The ambulance showed up 20:54 and the baby was born right there. 20:57 Both cases, a healthy boy, a healthy boy. 21:00 Right there, same place. 21:03 I want to show you the place 21:04 where these two babies were born 21:05 in Denville, New Jersey. 21:07 Look at your screen right in front of you. 21:11 Can you believe that? 21:12 The two babies were born 21:13 in the parking lot of Burger King 21:15 by the same police. 21:20 Hey. Hey, Junior. Where were you born? 21:22 Burger King? 21:24 Oh, no. Are you serious? 21:25 Well, I was born in Taco Bell. 21:29 No, no, really. 21:31 Two boys now are going to say, where you were born? 21:33 Burger King. 21:34 But listen to this, boys and girls, 21:36 when the King of kings came, the King of kings, 21:39 He didn't have a nice little septic parking lot, 21:42 clean and sterile. 21:43 No, no, no. 21:44 Let's see where the King of kings was born. 21:46 No, Burger King there. That's a barn. 21:49 The King was born in a manger. 21:52 Put in a little manger with animals and smells. 21:56 And why did He do it? Oh. 21:59 Oh, how God loves His children on this planet. 22:02 Oh, how He loves you. 22:03 He loves mommy, He loves daddy, He loves every earth child. 22:08 And that's why we have Christmas 22:09 because God loves us so much. 22:13 It makes you just want to love Him back, doesn't it? 22:16 Oh, it makes you want to love Him back. 22:18 You weren't born in Burger King. 22:20 You were born in a manger to save us. 22:25 Will somebody like to thank Jesus for being... 22:27 You don't need to be a front row person 22:30 to thank Jesus for being born in a manger to save us. 22:36 Would you like to thank, somebody like to thank Jesus? 22:39 Raise your hand. All right, it's the back row. 22:42 Sissy right there with a red on your... 22:45 Well, you too can come together. 22:46 You pray together. Come on forward. 22:47 Yeah. Okay. Now let's close our eyes. 22:50 And let me get that microphone. Here we go. 22:52 Let's close our eyes as the young ladies 22:54 make their way to the front 22:55 and they're going to thank Jesus 22:57 for loving us like that. 22:59 Can you believe it. 23:01 He loves us just like that. 23:03 And, sissy, what's your name? 23:04 Zia. Zia. 23:06 And, sissy, what's your name? 23:07 Lana. Lana. 23:09 So let's fold our hands and close your eyes 23:10 with Zia and Lana as they, as they pray. 23:14 Lana, I saw your hands for us, would you go please. 23:17 Dear Jesus, thank you for this day, 23:19 thank you for another day of life, 23:22 thank you for being born 23:24 and thank you for dying on the cross. 23:27 Thank you for making us 23:30 and all the animals in your name we pray. 23:33 Amen. And Zia? 23:35 Dear Heavenly Father, 23:36 thank you for this wonderful day. 23:38 Please come into our hearts as we're at church 23:41 and who is ever traveling keep them safe, 23:45 who's ever sick heal them in your name we pray. 23:48 Amen. Amen. 23:49 Thank you Zia and Lana. 23:51 And now quietly reverently and Claudia, where is she? 23:55 She's right here. 23:57 And she has some helpers who are going to be right there 23:59 and over here. 24:00 Make sure you get your special Christmas gift 24:03 from Pioneer to our wonderful favorite children. 24:07 Merry Christmas and God bless you. 24:13 Let's pray. 24:15 Oh, God, it is the child that has summoned us here, 24:20 grown up, our Savior forever and ever. 24:25 Amen. We thank you. 24:27 As we continue to brew over this gift, 24:32 connect with our busy lives, 24:34 as we survive in the third millennium. 24:36 We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 24:40 Joseph the husband of Mary 24:45 is a perfect foil for a stunning reality 24:48 you and I need to check out and just examine to get, 24:51 I say the perfect simply because 24:53 whenever Joseph shows up, no kidding. 24:56 Whenever he shows up in the gospels anywhere, 24:58 he never says a word ever, ever, ever. 25:02 Not a peep from him 25:03 that his fiancé turned to wife. 25:06 She speaks often, 25:09 you wonder was it that way in their home? 25:10 We don't know. 25:14 But every time Joseph appears in the gospel narrative, 25:17 somebody else is doing the talking. 25:18 Every time he appears in Matthew's Christmas story, 25:21 an angel does the talking, go figure. 25:24 I want to show you that 25:26 because there's something embedded in this. 25:27 I want you to see it. 25:29 Open your Bible to the Gospel of Matthew, 25:30 the familiar Christmas story, only told in Matthew and Luke, 25:33 nothing in Mark, nothing in John, 25:35 just these two record what we have been reliving 25:38 these moments together in worship. 25:41 So drop down to verse 18. 25:42 This is Matthew Chapter 1, 25:44 I'm in the New International Version. 25:45 "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: 25:48 His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, 25:51 but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant 25:53 through the Holy Spirit. 25:55 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, 25:58 and yet did not want to expose her 26:00 to public disgrace, 26:01 he had a mind to divorce her quietly. 26:04 But after he had considered this, 26:05 an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 26:08 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid 26:11 to take Mary home as your wife, 26:13 because what is conceived in her 26:15 is from the Holy Spirit. 26:16 She will give birth to a son, 26:17 and you were to give him the name Jesus, 26:19 because he will save his people from their sins.' 26:22 All this took place to fulfill 26:24 what the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, 26:26 'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, 26:28 and they will call him Immanuel' 26:30 which means God with us.'" 26:32 The inexplicable mystery is presented. 26:37 Matter of fact in Holy Scripture, 26:40 take it or leave it, this is how it happened. 26:43 That's angel and Joseph scene one. 26:44 Let's go to angel and Joseph scene two 26:46 in this short little narrative. 26:48 Before we get to angel and Joseph scene two, 26:50 we need to just pick up here in verse 1 and 2 of chapter 2. 26:54 "And after Jesus was born in Bethlehem..." 26:56 Old little town of Bethlehem, "In Judea, 26:58 during the time of King Herod, Magi..." 27:00 We just talked about that Latin word, 27:02 "From the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 27:04 'Where is the one who has been born 27:06 king of the Jews? 27:07 We saw his star" Stellar, 27:10 "We saw his star when it rose 27:14 and have come to worship Him.'" 27:20 Desire of Ages pulls the veil aside, 27:23 and for at least for this faith community 27:25 grants us a peek 27:27 that we never would have guessed on our own. 27:29 And that is, that this star is not a planet. 27:36 It's not a sun. 27:37 It's not a star, which stars or suns. 27:38 It's none of the above. 27:40 It's "A distant company of shining angels." 27:48 I tell you what, if you go out walking 27:49 and you have been walking and running this fall, 27:51 the mornings had been absolutely spectacular. 27:54 I've never seen the skies clearer in the dark 27:59 and as I've gone walking, one day, two days in a row 28:02 in the very same spot. 28:04 I looked up into the heavens. 28:08 Just a white little dot circumnavigating the earth. 28:13 Twenty four hours later, there it is again. 28:16 It's a satellite. 28:18 Whatever this distant company of angels looked like, 28:20 it was called a Stellar. 28:22 It was called a star in Latin, 28:25 but it was moving, clearly moving. 28:26 You can look at stars and then there's a little movement 28:29 but now this, this was just like, like a satellite. 28:33 The portent, the mystery these kings from the east, 28:37 we follow the star, this must be He. 28:41 So now here comes in. 28:42 So the wise men go to Herod, 28:44 we know the story about vile Herod, 28:45 "Yo, come back, let me know please, 28:46 I want to go worship Him by myself." 28:48 The wise men then followed the star in verse 10 28:49 because they're so overjoyed, they see it again 28:51 and they go and present their gifts 28:53 and then they're warned in the dream. 28:54 No, no, no, no, no, don't go back to that king. 28:57 Go home another way. 28:58 Now here comes angel and Joseph scene number two. 29:01 "And when they had gone, an angel of the Lord," 29:03 no doubt the same one, 29:04 "appeared to Joseph in a dream. 29:06 'Get up,' he said, 29:07 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. 29:08 Stay there until I tell you, 29:10 for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.'" 29:12 They're gone. 29:14 Herod rides into town, days later, 29:16 every baby under the age of two slaughtered. 29:20 Mist. 29:24 Angel and Joseph, scene number three, 29:25 drop down to verse 19. 29:27 "And after Herod died, an angel of the Lord 29:28 appeared in the dream to Joseph in Egypt, 29:30 and he said, 29:31 'Get up, take the child and his mother, 29:33 you can go back to the land of Israel, 29:34 for those who are trying 29:36 to take the child's life are dead.'" 29:38 And then comes angel and Joseph, 29:39 scene number four. 29:41 Verse 21. 29:42 "And so he got up, took the child and his mother, 29:43 they went back to the land of Israel. 29:45 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea 29:48 in place of his father Herod, 29:50 Oh man, Joseph is afraid to go there." 29:53 Angel number four, scene number four. 29:57 "And having been warned in a dream..." 29:59 obviously, the same angel, 30:01 "Joseph withdrew to the district of Galilee, 30:03 and he went and lived in a little town called Nazareth. 30:05 So it was fulfilled what was said to the prophets, 30:07 that he would be called a Nazarene." 30:09 There they are, four fascinating angel appearances, 30:12 and angels do all the talking, all the talking, 30:14 Joseph never says a word, just radical obedience. 30:17 He obeys every single time. 30:22 But if you consider the shining star angels, 30:27 and if you presume that the four appearances 30:30 that were by angel to Joseph are a templat 30:33 for the appearance of it in a dream to the Magi, 30:36 that would probably an angel as well, 30:37 could be the same angel the whole time, 30:39 you have ladies and gentlemen, count them, six, six, 30:42 six appearances of angels in this story. 30:47 And if you go to the Christmas story in Luke, guess what? 30:49 Angels are everywhere. 30:51 They're everywhere, the whole Bible 30:52 but in the Christmas story in particular, 30:54 I need you to see this 30:55 because you see where it's going. 30:56 Angel number one in Luke. 30:58 We've already been to Luke in this Advent season, 30:59 so let's not go back. 31:01 Angel number one shows up to the father-in-law 31:04 to be of young John the Baptist. 31:06 An angel says, "My name is Gabriel." 31:07 So we know it's Gabriel. 31:09 That same angel shows up to the young virgin teenager Mary 31:12 and we know because Luke says, he was Gabriel. 31:15 Every time Gabriel shows up, he says, "Don't be afraid." 31:21 Angel number three. 31:23 And angel number four, all happen at one time. 31:26 So let's go to Luke. 31:27 We'll just finish out the Christmas story right here, 31:28 Luke, Chapter 2. 31:30 So turn, find Luke 2 in your Bible. 31:32 And let's pick it up in verse 7. 31:39 Every time Gabriel shows up. He says, "Don't be afraid." 31:43 And did you notice that when he showed up with Joseph, 31:46 he said, "Don't be afraid." 31:48 I think we can safely conclude 31:50 that the angel that showed upto the fiancé 31:52 would also show up to the other half of the fiancé. 31:55 Same angel, Gabriel. 31:56 No doubt. 31:58 So we have angel showing up twice. 32:01 But now here comes three and four times. 32:04 Luke Chapter 2, drop down to verse 7. 32:05 "And she gave birth," Mary did, 32:07 "to her firstborn, a son, 32:09 and she wrapped him in cloths..." 32:10 Mother and daughter Joanne and Jessica 32:12 just read this a moment ago, 32:13 "And place him in a manger, 32:15 because there was no guest room available for them. 32:17 And there were shepherds living out 32:18 in the fields near nearby, 32:20 keeping watch over their flocks at night." 32:21 Probably October, 32:23 because that would be the time they'd be in the fields. 32:24 Winter, they're just, they wouldn't be out there. 32:26 So probably October. 32:29 "And the angel..." 32:30 Here comes, 32:32 "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, 32:33 and the glory of the Lord shone around about them, 32:35 and they were terrified. 32:37 But the angel said to them..." 32:38 What he's been saying all through this chapter. 32:39 "Don't be afraid." Must be the same one. 32:43 Does it at the resurrection too. 32:44 Don't be afraid. 32:47 An angel says to them, "Don't be afraid. 32:48 I bring you good news 32:50 that will cause great joy for the people. 32:52 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, 32:56 he is the Messiah, the Lord. 32:57 This will be a sign to you: 32:59 You will find a baby wrapped in cloths 33:00 and lying in a manger..." 33:01 And suddenly as if they could no longer be held in check. 33:04 Here comes the fourth appearance of angels in Luke. 33:06 "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host..." 33:08 And the Greek word is army, the heavenly army sings. 33:13 "He appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 33:15 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, 33:18 and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'" 33:23 One more time we pull the veil aside in Desire of Ages, 33:27 and we are told that these shepherds gaze upon 33:30 and I'm quoting now, 33:31 "They gaze upon witnesses to 33:35 the brightest picture ever be held by human eyes." 33:41 I don't know how they did this. 33:43 I had to get an eye exam this week. 33:44 You were going to get an eye exam, 33:46 all you four eyed people 33:47 and you go to that doc, you go to your, 33:49 you go to the doctor and what does he do? 33:50 Put a little drops in and what's he going to do? 33:52 He's going to dilate it. 33:53 You have no iris now, no color digest, 33:55 big dark circles. 33:57 And they tell you when you leave. 33:58 Oh by the way, it's going to take a while to wear up. 34:00 We got these ugly glasses that you may wear, 34:02 hopefully you brought your own. 34:04 Yeah, you never were the ugly ones. 34:05 You don't want to be seen with those ugly ones. 34:09 I can imagine these shepherds, 34:11 the brightest, the brightest scene 34:12 ever witnessed by human eyes. 34:14 Was it like this? Was it like this? 34:19 No sunglasses. 34:21 Four appearances of angels. 34:25 By the way, they're everywhere. 34:27 Not just in the Christmas story, they're everywhere. 34:28 They're everywhere in the Bible. 34:31 You want to see what angels do it by the way? 34:32 You want to know what angels do for a living? 34:33 You gonna look at this job description here 34:35 and you're going to say, Man, I'm glad 34:36 that's not my job description. 34:38 Let me run, let me run this by you. 34:39 This is the Old Testament. Take a look at Psalm 104. 34:41 Was earnest prayer, I was quoting from Psalm 103. 34:44 Look at the Psalm 104. 34:47 Here's the job description for an angel. 34:48 Now this is going to surprise you, 34:50 you're going to say, 'I don't see any angels." 34:51 If you're in the NIV, you're saying, what? 34:53 Are you serious? In this verse? Take a look. 34:55 Psalm 104, on the screen for you. 34:56 Verse 4. 34:57 "He, God, makes winds his messengers, 34:59 flames of fire his servants." 35:01 Now what do we have here? 35:03 We have winds, we have messengers, 35:04 we have flames of fire, we have His servants. 35:06 Who are they? They're angels. 35:09 Because the Hebrew can also be translated an alternate way. 35:12 In fact, the New King James 35:13 translates it the alternate way. 35:15 And when the writer of Hebrews comes along and says, 35:16 I need that verse, 35:18 he will translate it the alternate way 35:20 which is the Greek way 35:21 and so just look at Hebrews Chapter 1. 35:22 You don't have to take my word for it. 35:24 The very verse you just read looks like this 35:27 in the New Testament. 35:28 Hebrews Chapter 1, drop down to verse 7. 35:32 Look at this. Verse 7. 35:34 "And speaking of the angels, God says..." 35:36 Now this is the identical verse, 35:38 "He makes his angels spirits..." 35:40 It said he makes his messengers wins, 35:43 but the Hebrew can be translated 35:44 just like Greek either way 35:46 breath, wind, spirit, 35:47 saint, messenger, angel, same. 35:50 "He makes his angel spirits, 35:51 and his servants flames of fire.'" 35:53 Now drop down to verse 14 35:55 because here's the job description now. 35:56 "Are not all angels ministering spirits 35:59 sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" 36:04 There it is, 36:05 that's the job description of an angel. 36:06 He is a spirit. 36:08 He or she, I don't know they're genderless. 36:10 I couldn't tell you who they are, 36:13 but their spirits, 36:15 they take a corporeal body on when it's essential for them 36:19 and they show up and they eat 36:21 and they touch you 36:22 and they are a body but they are spirits. 36:26 The body is just a front 36:29 in order to communicate with you and me. 36:32 Well, not encumbered by a body, 36:35 one single assignment the angel has one sent to minister 36:38 to those who are heirs of salvation. 36:40 Those who are going to inherit salvation. 36:41 Stay with them, your mission should you choose to accept it, 36:45 rookie angel 36:46 because we need more. 36:48 Your mission should you choose to accept it is this. 36:51 You will stay with this child from the moment she breathes. 36:54 You will stay with her every day and night, 24/7, 36:58 until the earthling dies or Christ returns, 37:00 whichever comes first. 37:01 You will stay with them. 37:03 Do you understand me? 37:05 Yes, Sir. 37:08 And yet Jesus says in Matthew Chapter 18, they're angels. 37:11 Speaking of children, 37:12 their angels always behold the face of the Father. 37:14 So something's going on here in the spirit 37:17 that you and I don't understand. 37:19 We're talking about beings 37:20 that are a lot bigger and mightier 37:22 than you and I will ever be. 37:27 I say, I wish, 37:28 I wish, I could see an angel like they did. 37:30 I wish, I could just see an angel show up somewhere. 37:33 Guess what? 37:35 Maybe you have. 37:37 Maybe you are 37:38 because Hebrews Chapter 13, same book says, 37:40 "Hey, listen, don't forget to entertain strangers 37:43 because some of them have entertained angels unawares." 37:45 Take a look to the person to your right, right now. 37:47 Look at the person on your left nap, nap. 37:49 These two can't be angels, I understand. 37:50 But you can't see who's sitting behind you. 37:52 You don't know who's sitting behind you. 37:54 There could be an angel in this audience right now. 37:57 There may be many angels filling this space right now. 37:59 Of course your angel and my angel are here. 38:01 They've been singing with us, 38:03 they took that music and send it heavenward. 38:06 Angels. 38:10 Desire of Ages on the screen for you. 38:11 By the way, there's a collection of these quotation 38:13 stuck in your worship bulletin, you go home with it. 38:15 "Heaven and Earth," reading now, 38:17 "Heaven and earth are no wider apart today than 38:19 when angels listen, 38:20 that when shepherds rather listened to the angels' song. 38:23 Humanity is still as much the object of heaven's solicitude 38:26 as when common men and women of common occupations, 38:29 long ago met angels at noonday, and they talked with heavenly 38:32 messengers in the vineyards and in the fields." 38:34 Now to us, third millennium, 38:36 "To us in the common walks of life..." 38:38 That would be you and me, "Heaven may be very near. 38:41 Angels from the courts above will attend the steps of those 38:45 who come and go at God's command." 38:48 Angels, they have one solitary mission, 38:51 seek and save every possible earth child that you can 38:55 until I come. 38:57 Do you understand? 38:59 Yes, Your Majesty. 39:04 24/7. 39:08 Bring them home to me. 39:11 But here listen, what is so stunning about this? 39:13 And here comes a profound part 39:16 is what the Christmas story actually reveals namely, 39:18 have you ever noticed. 39:20 I didn't tell just these last few days. 39:22 Have you ever noticed 39:24 that there are two beings that keep showing up together 39:28 in the Christmas story all the way through? 39:31 Let me just show you. 39:32 Let's do a little bit of statistics, all right? 39:34 Let's put it on the screen. 39:35 Angels, do you see Matthew up there? 39:36 Six times angels appear. 39:39 If we grant these just in company 39:41 and showing up to the Magi twice, okay? 39:43 Six times, Luke, angels, 39:45 we just looked at them, four times. 39:49 But there's somebody else 39:50 who keeps showing up in this story with them 39:53 in the Book of Matthew put up the Holy Spirit. 39:57 Two times in the Book of Matthew 40:00 with the Christmas story only. 40:02 In the Book of Luke 40:03 which we went through a few Sabbaths ago, 40:05 eight times. 40:06 Add the two columns, please. 40:07 Ten times in both columns. 40:09 Ten times these two beings, 40:13 these celestial individuals 40:17 appear together a total of 20 times 40:19 which may not be so surprising 40:21 when we just noted that angels are called spirits 40:23 and he's called the Holy Spirit. 40:25 What's not so surprising 40:26 when we saw that angels are called winds 40:27 and Jesus said to John, the spirit is like a wind. 40:32 And Jesus says to the woman at the well, 40:34 "God is a spirit in those who worship him, 40:36 must worship Him in spirit in too. 40:38 It's not a surprise, we should not be surprise 40:40 that there is a very intimate partnership, 40:42 a very intimate camaraderie 40:44 between angels and the Holy Spirit. 40:46 They do what they do together. 40:50 Surprise! 40:52 Douglas Cooper in his book, The Gentle Dove: 40:55 The Holy Spirit, God's Greatest Gift, subtitle. 40:58 These 43 characteristics that describe 41:00 one who lives his life 41:02 and who lives her life in the spirit. 41:03 Beautiful 43 of these. 41:05 Here comes number 15. 41:06 I shared number 10 a few days ago with you. 41:09 But here's number 15 on the screen please. 41:12 So if you live a life in the spirit, 41:13 "The providence and protection and guidance of angels 41:16 will become more evident in your life." 41:20 Hold on, keep reading, Hebrews 114, 41:22 "Are they not all ministering spirits, 41:24 sent a minister for them 41:25 who will be the heirs of salvation?" 41:27 In other words, you and me, hold on! 41:29 This is created now. 41:31 "In a very real sense, 41:32 angels are the 'modems' 41:35 through which we connect with the realms of the Spirit." 41:37 Hit the pause button right there. 41:39 Do you know what a modem is? 41:40 We all have them, 41:41 but do you know what a modem does? 41:43 A modem takes digital information, 41:45 encodes it and decodes it from source to recipient, 41:48 so that everybody's talking the same language 41:51 and you get the signals. 41:53 Cooper is suggesting that 41:54 angels are the modems of the Kingdom of Heaven 41:59 by which we connect with the realms of the Spirit. 42:00 Keep reading. 42:02 "They are not the light," Jesus is the light, 42:04 "but they are the light-bearers, 42:05 they are our personal bond to the heavenly realms, 42:08 to the deeper most progressive truths and insights 42:11 and spiritual experiences for us today." 42:14 They are our connect doors 42:17 to the eternal reality which we cannot see. 42:22 Assigned to you, assigned to me. 42:25 One right here beside me right now, 42:29 his mission, 42:30 stay with that boy, 42:33 save him. 42:36 I want them home. 42:38 You have one. 42:39 So this place is filled if we could see that. 42:43 You know what they're saying right now 42:45 about you, about me. 42:50 It's provocative thought, is it not? 42:52 I had a professor here in the seminary, 42:53 a great teacher named Ralph Edren, 42:55 who made the startling suggestion in class 42:57 when I was a little MDiv student, 42:58 and I have pondered that ever since and that is, 43:01 it is through the angels 43:02 that the Holy Spirit exercises is omnipresent ministry. 43:06 He's the great mainframe. 43:07 Didn't have that language back then. 43:09 He's the great mastermind 43:11 and so He's in connection with every spirit being. 43:17 And by the way, the good news is whether good or bad, 43:21 nobody steals a march on you. 43:23 But that God is not watching very, 43:26 that's as far as you go. 43:27 Stop. 43:29 Look in my eye on, you boy. 43:33 Wow, supernaturally intimately. 43:36 Look, I, we just crossed the line 43:38 for our mortal minds into mystery. 43:40 We cannot understand this. 43:42 I understand that. 43:43 But here's the point. 43:46 This much is clear from the Christmas story. 43:48 All of heaven, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 43:51 all of heaven, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 43:53 and billions of angels. 43:55 All of heaven is on your side right now. 44:00 Right now, all of heaven. 44:04 If you need every angel in heaven, 44:05 you'll get every angel in heaven. 44:07 If they have to leave the rest of us to get to you, 44:09 they'll leave the rest of us to get to you. 44:12 All of heaven is on your side. 44:14 You can take that to the bank, cash it. 44:18 All of heaven 20 times 10, they're there together. 44:22 Ten each the Christmas story. 44:27 And trust me, 44:28 you and I are going to need all of heaven on our side 44:30 because CS Lewis is absolutely right. 44:33 We are in a war, almost desperate war and that's why 44:35 the Christmas story happened in the first place. 44:37 Let me put that classic book of his Mere Christianity 44:42 on the screen for you, some lines from it. 44:45 CS Lewis, CS Lewis, "this universe is at war, 44:49 a civil war, a rebellion, 44:51 and we are living in a part of the universe 44:53 occupied by the rebel. 44:55 Enemy-occupied territory that is what this world is. 44:58 Christianity is a story of 44:59 how the rightful king has landed, 45:01 you might say landed in disguise, 45:03 you might say behind enemy lines he has landed 45:07 and it's calling all of us to take part 45:09 in a great campaign of sabotage." 45:15 I'm here. I'm here. 45:19 I've come to you that you might have life 45:21 and that you might have it abundantly 45:22 so come to me, learn from me, 45:25 follow me, go for me. 45:30 Lo, I'm with you always 45:32 even to the end of the age, gone. 45:37 Sabotage, you belong to me. 45:41 Remember whose side you are on? 45:44 I'm with you, do you see him? 45:46 No, you don't. 45:47 He's with you too. 45:49 She. 45:52 Desire of Ages is making this point powerfully. 45:54 Last quotation on the screen. 45:56 "The Savior shows His followers the conflicts they must meet, 46:00 He reveals the character and the plan of the battle..." 46:03 He says what's going to happen? 46:04 Do what I tell you. Trust me. 46:08 He reveals to His followers 46:10 the character and the battle of the plan, 46:11 they, I'm going to change it to we. 46:13 "We are to contend with supernatural forces, 46:15 evil and dark, 46:16 but we are assured of supernatural help. 46:19 All the intelligences of heaven are in this army. 46:22 And more than just the angels are in the ranks. 46:25 The Holy Spirit, the representative 46:27 of the Captain of the Lord's host..." 46:29 That would be Christ Jesus Himself. 46:31 He's the captain. 46:32 "The representative of the Captain of the Lord's host, 46:34 comes down in the rank, 46:36 comes down to direct the battle." 46:38 In a military lingo of generals, 46:41 he puts boots on the ground where the action is 46:44 to represent the commander of the Lord's host, Captain. 46:48 I'm here for the captain. 46:51 You don't see me 46:53 but I see you and I'm watching you. 46:56 And I'm with you. 46:58 He's with you. 46:59 They are with you. 47:01 All heaven is on your side. Never be afraid. 47:04 I don't know what you're going through today. 47:06 Just two days before Christmas. 47:08 And I'm looking at the live screen lens right now. 47:11 I don't know what you're going through. 47:12 Wherever on this planet you are right now 47:14 it matters not to me what you're going through. 47:15 But I tell you what it meant, what matters. 47:17 What matters is all of heaven is on your side. 47:21 All of heaven. 47:22 All the intelligences, all of heaven. 47:26 Oh, we forgot to finish this. 47:27 "The Holy Spirit, 47:28 the representative of the captain of the Lord's host 47:30 comes down to direct the battle." 47:31 Well, I love this ending. 47:32 "Our infirmities, may be many..." 47:34 Oh God, our weaknesses, 47:35 my weaknesses this year are many. 47:38 God says, you don't have to remind me, Dwight. 47:44 "Our infirmities may be many, 47:46 our sins and mistakes this year have been grievous, 47:50 but the grace of God is for all who seek it with contrition." 47:54 I wipe it clean. 47:55 Oh boy, don't miss next Sabbath, 47:57 one service again, but don't miss the good news. 48:00 We end the year with next Sabbath. 48:01 "Grace of God is for all who seek it with contrition. 48:04 The power of omnipotence is enlisted 48:06 in behalf of those who trust in God." 48:10 I will put my trust in Him. 48:14 You may trust me. 48:17 I'm with you. 48:19 And I will be with you till you die or till I come, 48:23 whichever comes first. Stay with me. 48:28 Stay with me. 48:34 That's it. 48:36 God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son. 48:38 That's it. 48:41 God has given everything He has. 48:43 And now secret campaign of... 48:49 A subterfuge. 48:54 Sabotage. 48:58 Ask me every morning for the baptism of the Holy Spirit 49:01 and I will give you that Holy Spirit every day. 49:03 You ask me every day for the baptism of the Holy Spirit 49:05 and I will give you the Holy Spirit every day. 49:07 You ask me every day for the baptism of the Holy Spirit 49:10 and I will give it to you every day. 49:13 And he will be with you 49:14 and the two of them together have you? 49:17 They have your back, they have your front, 49:20 they have your heart, they have your mind. 49:23 Wow. 49:25 And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a good news this Christmas, 49:28 what do you say? 49:29 It's great news. It's great news. 49:33 So is there room in your in? 49:35 Let Him in. 49:37 He said, "I need to come in every day." 49:39 Ask me for that baptism every day. 49:41 Is there room in your in? 49:42 Give me that room, please. 49:43 I need that room. 49:45 Karen now is going to sing the appeal 49:46 that you have room for the Savior 49:48 and do you seek him a new. 49:50 Have you a place for the one who lived and died for you? 49:53 Are you as humble as a shepherd boy 49:55 or as wise as men of old? 49:57 Would you've come that night 49:59 and would you have sought the light, 50:01 do you have a room? 50:18 They journeyed far 50:21 A weary pair 50:23 They sought for shelter From the cold night air 50:29 Someplace where she 50:32 Could lay her head 50:35 Where she could give her babe 50:38 A quiet bed 50:42 Was there no room? 50:45 No shelter there? 50:47 In all the town a spot someone could spare? 50:54 Was there no soul come to their aid? 51:00 A stable bare was where the family stayed 51:09 Do you have room for the savior? 51:14 And do you seek Him anew? 51:19 Have you a place for the one 51:23 Who lived and died for you? 51:30 Are you as humble as a shepherd boy 51:36 Or as wise as men of old? 51:42 Would you have come that night? 51:48 Would you have sought the light? 51:53 Do you have room? 52:04 A star arose, a wondrous light 52:09 A sign from God This was the holy night 52:15 And yet so few would go to see 52:21 The babe who came to rescue you and me 52:27 This child divine is now a king 52:33 The gift of life to all the world He brings 52:40 And all mankind He saves from doom 52:46 But on that night, for Him, there was no room 52:55 Do you have room for the savior? 53:01 And do you seek Him anew? 53:06 Have you a place for the one 53:10 Who lived and died for you? 53:16 Are you as humble as a shepherd boy 53:22 Or as wise as men of old? 53:28 Would you have come that night? 53:34 Would you have sought the light? 53:40 Do you have room? 53:52 Will you come tonight? 53:58 Will you seek the light? 54:05 Do you have room? 54:21 Amen. 54:27 Let's stand as we pray. 54:40 Oh, God, may You find room in all our hearts... 54:48 In all our lives, 54:52 in all our marriages, 54:57 in all our living, 55:01 please find room. 55:05 You can have our room. 55:07 There's room, come in, 55:12 knowing that all of heaven is on our side. 55:16 Dear God and we praise You. 55:18 You give us courage, 55:20 we go forth to the unknown, 55:23 but we will never go forth alone ever. 55:27 Stay with us. 55:29 Hold us close until Jesus comes. 55:39 And now may the grace of the Father... 55:45 The love of the Lord Jesus, 55:48 the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 55:51 be with you all. 55:53 Amen. 56:12 Thank you for joining us in worship today. 56:14 I hope you were blessed. 56:16 As we enter the busy holiday season, 56:18 I trust you're able to snatch some quiet moments 56:20 to reflect on all that you're grateful for. 56:22 Me, I'm thankful for you, 56:24 for your prayers, for your letters, 56:26 which literally come to us from around the world. 56:28 You'll never know the impact your prayers for this ministry 56:31 have on me and our entire team. 56:33 Trust me, you bless me through your prayers. 56:36 So I'm thankful for you. 56:37 I'm thankful for the young creative tech team 56:39 that makes this ministry happen. 56:41 They keep coming up with new innovative ideas 56:43 for sharing the gospel globally through 56:45 electronic media, television, radio, web, mobile, whatever. 56:49 What's more, these young innovators have had the skills 56:52 and the commitment to see our projects through. 56:55 So I'm thankful for you, I'm thankful for them. 56:58 And you'd expect me to say this 56:59 as another year draws to an end. 57:01 I'm also thankful for the financial support of 57:03 viewers like you that makes this ministry possible. 57:06 If you've been blessed this New Year, 57:08 I'd like to ask you to join the hundreds 57:10 who financially support our New Perceptions Ministry. 57:13 It's simple to do, just call our toll free number 57:16 877-HIS-WILL, the two words, HIS-WILL, 57:19 and our friendly operators will be happy to assist you. 57:22 Trust me, no gift is too small for God 57:24 to use to spread His good news. 57:26 And let me remind you, not a single penny 57:28 of your donation will come to me. 57:30 Every gift is entirely invested in our mission 57:32 to communicate God's everlasting gospel 57:35 to what we believe is an end-time generation. 57:38 So once again, 57:39 the number to call is 877-HIS-WILL. 57:42 This Christmas, 57:43 I wish for you God's very best wrapped up in Jesus, 57:46 24/7 all the way through the New Year to come. 57:51 God bless you. |
Revised 2019-01-14