Hark! the herald angels sing
00:00:20.28\00:00:24.89
"Glory to the newborn King
00:00:24.92\00:00:29.29
Peace on earth and mercy mild
00:00:29.32\00:00:33.93
God and sinners reconciled"
00:00:33.96\00:00:38.37
Joyful, all ye nations rise
00:00:38.40\00:00:42.87
Join the triumph of the skies
00:00:42.90\00:00:47.24
With the angelic host proclaim
00:00:47.28\00:00:51.58
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
00:00:51.61\00:00:56.02
Hark! The herald angels sing
00:00:56.05\00:01:00.46
"Glory to the newborn King"
00:01:00.49\00:01:06.73
Hail the
heaven-born Prince of Peace
00:01:06.76\00:01:11.20
Hail the Son of
Righteousness Light
00:01:11.23\00:01:15.74
Life and life to all He brings
00:01:15.77\00:01:20.64
Risen with healing in His wings
00:01:20.68\00:01:25.18
Mild He lays His glory by
00:01:25.21\00:01:29.82
Born that man no more may die
00:01:29.85\00:01:34.42
Born to raise the sons of earth
00:01:34.46\00:01:38.96
Born to give them second birth
00:01:38.99\00:01:43.57
Hark! The herald angels sing
00:01:43.60\00:01:48.20
"Glory to the newborn King"
00:01:48.24\00:01:54.54
O Come all ye faithful
00:02:11.13\00:02:16.67
Joyful and triumphant
00:02:16.70\00:02:20.80
O come ye, O come ye
00:02:20.84\00:02:25.31
To Bethlehem
00:02:25.34\00:02:30.58
Come and behold Him
00:02:30.61\00:02:35.25
Born the King of angels
00:02:35.28\00:02:39.39
O come, let us adore Him
00:02:39.42\00:02:44.16
O come, let us adore Him
00:02:44.19\00:02:48.80
O come, let us adore Him
00:02:48.83\00:02:54.14
Christ the Lord
00:02:54.17\00:02:59.11
Sing, choirs of angels
00:02:59.14\00:03:04.01
Sing in exultation
00:03:04.05\00:03:08.22
O sing, all ye citizens
00:03:08.25\00:03:12.72
Of heaven above
00:03:12.75\00:03:17.76
Glory to God,
00:03:17.79\00:03:21.46
all glory in the highest
00:03:21.50\00:03:26.60
O come, let us adore Him
00:03:26.63\00:03:31.24
O come, let us adore Him
00:03:31.27\00:03:36.01
O come, let us adore Him
00:03:36.04\00:03:41.18
Christ the Lord
00:03:41.22\00:03:46.69
Silent night
00:03:57.97\00:04:02.34
holy night
00:04:02.37\00:04:06.17
All is calm
00:04:06.21\00:04:10.15
All is bright
00:04:10.18\00:04:14.32
Round yon
virgin mother and Child
00:04:14.35\00:04:22.19
Holy Infant, so tender and mild
00:04:22.22\00:04:30.00
Sleep in heavenly peace
00:04:30.03\00:04:35.64
Sleep in heavenly peace
00:04:38.24\00:04:45.61
Joy to the
world, the Lord has come
00:04:51.39\00:04:56.02
Let earth receive her King
00:04:56.06\00:05:00.73
Let every heart prepare Him room
00:05:00.76\00:05:05.50
And heaven and nature
sing And heaven and nature sing
00:05:05.53\00:05:10.07
And heaven, and
heaven and nature sing
00:05:10.11\00:05:16.48
Joy to the
world, the Savior reigns
00:05:16.51\00:05:21.22
Let men their songs employ
00:05:21.25\00:05:26.19
While fields and
floods, rocks, hills, and plains
00:05:26.22\00:05:31.06
Repeat the sounding
joy Repeat the sounding joy
00:05:31.09\00:05:35.96
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
00:05:36.00\00:05:42.57
No more let sins and sorrow grow
00:05:42.60\00:05:47.41
Nor thorns infest the ground
00:05:47.44\00:05:52.38
He comes to make
His blessings flow
00:05:52.41\00:05:57.55
Far as the curse is
found Far as the curse is found
00:05:57.59\00:06:02.62
Far as, far as
the curse is found
00:06:02.66\00:06:09.80
He rules the world
with truth and grace
00:06:09.83\00:06:14.64
And makes the nations prove
00:06:14.67\00:06:19.77
The glories of His righteousness
00:06:19.81\00:06:24.78
And wonders of His
love And wonders of His love
00:06:24.81\00:06:29.68
And wonders, wonders of His love
00:06:29.72\00:06:34.89
Amen.
00:06:38.06\00:06:39.39
You may be seated.
00:06:39.43\00:06:40.80
Crown Him the
Son of Righteousness
00:06:57.95\00:07:05.05
Crown Him the
King above all kings
00:07:05.09\00:07:11.09
Let the nations
declare He is Lord
00:07:11.13\00:07:17.50
Sing Emmanuel the Savior is born
00:07:17.53\00:07:24.07
Crown Him the
Son of Righteousness
00:07:37.49\00:07:44.06
Crown Him the
King above all kings
00:07:44.09\00:07:50.27
Let the nations
declare He is Lord
00:07:50.30\00:07:56.77
Sing Emmanuel the Savior is born
00:07:56.81\00:08:03.58
He shall be called
Wonderful Counselor
00:08:03.61\00:08:10.42
Everlasting One
00:08:10.45\00:08:16.62
He shall be
called Jesus the Savior
00:08:16.66\00:08:23.60
Peace to earth has come
00:08:23.63\00:08:29.20
We worship and adore Him
00:08:29.24\00:08:35.54
The Lord
00:08:35.58\00:08:40.02
Jesus the Son of God
00:08:48.66\00:08:52.43
He reigns
00:08:52.46\00:08:54.96
Forever His
kingdom will not fail
00:08:55.00\00:09:01.14
God Almighty in justice He comes
00:09:01.17\00:09:07.48
Sing Emmanuel great is His love
00:09:07.51\00:09:14.32
He shall be called
Wonderful Counselor
00:09:14.35\00:09:20.79
Everlasting One
00:09:20.82\00:09:27.06
He shall be
called Jesus the Savior
00:09:27.10\00:09:33.67
Peace to earth has come
00:09:33.70\00:09:39.37
We worship and adore Him
00:09:39.41\00:09:45.65
The Lord
00:09:45.68\00:09:48.55
Unto us His love has come
00:09:51.35\00:09:57.49
Unto us Christ is born
00:09:57.53\00:10:03.73
Now to Him be the glory
00:10:03.77\00:10:08.47
And all the praise
00:10:08.50\00:10:14.08
Unto us His love has come
00:10:16.18\00:10:22.45
Unto us Christ is born
00:10:22.48\00:10:28.62
Now to Him be the glory
00:10:28.66\00:10:33.36
And all the praise
00:10:33.40\00:10:37.50
Unto us His love has come
00:10:41.14\00:10:47.31
Unto us Christ is born
00:10:47.34\00:10:53.58
Now to Him be the glory
00:10:53.62\00:10:58.52
And all the praise
00:10:58.55\00:11:04.59
He shall be called
Wonderful Counselor
00:11:06.73\00:11:13.64
Everlasting One
00:11:13.67\00:11:19.24
He shall be
called Jesus the Savior
00:11:19.27\00:11:25.95
Peace to earth has come
00:11:25.98\00:11:31.39
We worship and adore Him
00:11:31.42\00:11:37.36
The Lord
00:11:37.39\00:11:43.16
Now to Him be the glory
00:11:43.20\00:11:48.27
And all the praise
00:11:48.30\00:11:54.41
Now to Him be the glory
00:11:56.08\00:12:01.52
And all The praise
00:12:01.55\00:12:07.99
Amen. Amen.
00:12:14.23\00:12:15.56
Thou didst leave Thy throne
00:12:21.17\00:12:25.01
And Thy kingly crown
00:12:25.04\00:12:28.31
When Thou camest to earth for me
00:12:28.34\00:12:34.95
But in Bethlehem's
home Was there found no room
00:12:34.98\00:12:41.52
For Thy holy nativity
00:12:41.56\00:12:48.06
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus
00:12:48.10\00:12:54.94
There is room in
my heart for Thee
00:12:54.97\00:13:01.84
Heaven's arches
rang when the angels sang
00:13:01.88\00:13:08.45
Proclaiming Thy royal degree
00:13:08.48\00:13:14.82
But of lowly birth
didst Thou come to earth
00:13:14.86\00:13:21.33
And in greatest humility
00:13:21.36\00:13:27.94
Oh, come to my heart
00:13:27.97\00:13:31.34
Lord Jesus
00:13:31.37\00:13:34.61
There is room in
my heart for Thee
00:13:34.64\00:13:41.58
The foxes found rest
00:13:41.62\00:13:44.72
And the birds their nest
00:13:44.75\00:13:48.02
In the shade of the forest tree
00:13:48.06\00:13:54.20
But Thy couch was
the sod O Thou Son of God
00:13:54.23\00:14:00.60
In the deserts of Galilee
00:14:00.64\00:14:06.98
Oh, come to my heart
00:14:07.01\00:14:10.38
Lord Jesus
00:14:10.41\00:14:13.68
There is room in
my heart for Thee
00:14:13.72\00:14:19.82
This is now the
time in our service
00:14:21.79\00:14:24.46
where we come forward
00:14:24.49\00:14:25.83
to bring our praises
and petitions to the Lord.
00:14:25.86\00:14:28.73
This is such a
season to be thankful for.
00:14:28.76\00:14:31.90
We can be thankful
for so many things,
00:14:31.93\00:14:34.60
but in the midst
of all the celebration
00:14:34.64\00:14:36.47
there's still hurt,
and there's still pain.
00:14:36.50\00:14:40.08
So whatever it is
00:14:40.11\00:14:41.44
that you need to
bring to the Lord,
00:14:41.48\00:14:42.81
I ask that you
bring it here and now.
00:14:42.84\00:14:44.55
Please come, join
us here in the front.
00:14:44.58\00:14:47.32
Thou camest, O Lord
With the living Word
00:14:59.93\00:15:06.63
That should set Thy people free
00:15:06.67\00:15:13.24
But with mocking scorn
And with crown of thorn
00:15:13.27\00:15:19.85
They bore Thee to Calvary
00:15:19.88\00:15:26.32
Oh, come to my heart,
00:15:26.35\00:15:29.79
Lord Jesus
00:15:29.82\00:15:32.99
There is room in
my heart for Thee
00:15:33.03\00:15:40.37
When the heavens shall ring
00:15:40.40\00:15:43.84
And the angels sing
00:15:43.87\00:15:47.21
At Thy coming to victory
00:15:47.24\00:15:53.88
Let Thy voice call me up
00:15:53.92\00:15:57.49
Saying "Yet there is room
00:15:57.52\00:16:01.16
There is room at
My side for thee"
00:16:01.19\00:16:08.13
My heart shall rejoice
00:16:08.16\00:16:11.97
Lord Jesus
00:16:12.00\00:16:15.70
When Thou comest
and callest for me
00:16:15.74\00:16:23.58
Let's pray, Oh God,
00:20:45.34\00:20:47.31
what child is this?
00:20:47.34\00:20:49.61
This child that now an
entire planet recognizes,
00:20:49.64\00:20:54.72
but doesn't know.
00:20:54.75\00:20:56.22
Get the story out,
00:20:58.69\00:21:00.46
we humbly pray in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:21:00.49\00:21:05.76
Back in 1895,
00:21:05.79\00:21:07.13
an American writer
named Henry Van Dyke Junior
00:21:07.16\00:21:09.30
wrote a book.
00:21:09.33\00:21:10.67
It ended up being a classic.
00:21:10.70\00:21:12.03
I don't know if
you've heard of it,
00:21:12.07\00:21:13.40
The Other Wise Man.
00:21:13.44\00:21:15.80
Tradition says
there were three wise men
00:21:15.84\00:21:17.74
because of the three gifts.
00:21:17.77\00:21:19.61
So he writes of
a fourth wise man,
00:21:19.64\00:21:21.34
he gives him a name.
00:21:21.38\00:21:22.71
Artaban,
00:21:22.74\00:21:24.08
and Artaban was standing
beneath the midnight heavens
00:21:24.11\00:21:26.65
when that mysterious
star exploded into existence.
00:21:26.68\00:21:30.49
His three
friends living far away
00:21:30.52\00:21:32.59
also witnessed
the birth of the star.
00:21:32.62\00:21:35.46
They communicate,
00:21:35.49\00:21:36.83
"We'll go together
to find the Child King,
00:21:36.86\00:21:39.46
portended by the star.
00:21:39.49\00:21:44.90
Artaban starts out
with his little casket,
00:21:44.93\00:21:47.97
his treasure chest
of his three gifts,
00:21:48.00\00:21:50.21
a sapphire, a ruby,
and a pearl of great price.
00:21:50.24\00:21:56.38
But as he is with his steed,
00:21:56.41\00:21:58.98
racing to the
point of rendezvous,
00:21:59.01\00:22:01.05
he comes across a man
dying at the side of the road.
00:22:01.08\00:22:03.12
He alights, he jumps
down, ministers to the man,
00:22:03.15\00:22:07.69
and by the time it
gets back up on that...
00:22:07.72\00:22:11.09
Onto that horse, and
arrives at the rendezvous point,
00:22:11.13\00:22:15.43
they're gone,
00:22:15.46\00:22:16.80
they thought he
wasn't coming, they went.
00:22:16.83\00:22:19.47
And now all he has is a horse,
00:22:19.50\00:22:20.84
and you can't cross
the desert with a horse.
00:22:20.87\00:22:22.20
And so with one of his treasures
00:22:22.24\00:22:24.31
he purchases a camel caravan,
00:22:24.34\00:22:27.64
and they ride,
the caravan and he.
00:22:27.68\00:22:31.45
And when he arrives
in Bethlehem, of course,
00:22:31.48\00:22:34.08
his three Magi friends are gone.
00:22:34.12\00:22:35.95
And a parent,
parents with the child,
00:22:35.98\00:22:38.35
they're gone as well.
00:22:38.39\00:22:39.85
He races to Egypt,
hoping to find the baby there,
00:22:39.89\00:22:43.12
they're gone from Egypt.
00:22:43.16\00:22:44.49
He goes to country
after country after country
00:22:44.53\00:22:46.83
in the story as
Van Dyke tells it,
00:22:46.86\00:22:48.93
it's about him all along the way
00:22:48.96\00:22:50.60
with this
compassion and his care,
00:22:50.63\00:22:52.07
finding people in
need and caring for them.
00:22:52.10\00:22:55.30
Thirty three years go
by, and on a sunny morning,
00:22:55.34\00:22:59.24
he comes riding into
Jerusalem unbeknown to him.
00:22:59.27\00:23:02.18
This is the day
of Jesus crucifixion.
00:23:02.21\00:23:06.48
As he's moving down
an alleyway of Jerusalem,
00:23:06.51\00:23:08.18
he sees a young girl being
sold as a slave, he steps up,
00:23:08.22\00:23:10.85
he pulls out his last treasure,
a pearl of great price,
00:23:10.89\00:23:16.29
he buys her freedom.
00:23:16.32\00:23:18.06
And she turns away.
00:23:18.09\00:23:19.43
He turns down the alley
00:23:19.46\00:23:21.16
and a loose roof
tile tumbles the air
00:23:21.20\00:23:23.97
strikes him in the head,
he's on the ground and die.
00:23:24.00\00:23:26.67
This man, who has spent his life
00:23:26.70\00:23:29.14
looking for the Christ child.
00:23:29.17\00:23:31.94
Before he dies,
he hears a voice.
00:23:31.97\00:23:34.78
The voice speaks these
words, "Verily, I say unto thee,
00:23:34.81\00:23:37.75
in as much as thy has doneth
unto one of the least of these,
00:23:37.78\00:23:40.52
my brethren, thou
has done it unto Me.
00:23:40.55\00:23:43.35
and they're in calm
radiance of wonder and love."
00:23:43.39\00:23:48.42
Artaban dies
00:23:48.46\00:23:51.79
realizing he has found the King.
00:23:51.83\00:23:55.83
There is the question,
00:23:55.86\00:23:57.20
maybe you're the other wise man,
00:23:57.23\00:23:58.63
maybe you're the
other wise woman.
00:23:58.67\00:24:00.50
Have you found the King?
00:24:00.54\00:24:03.54
I want to go to the
story of these three.
00:24:03.57\00:24:05.94
We say three because
there are three gifts.
00:24:05.97\00:24:07.64
Open your Bible
to Matthew Chapter 2.
00:24:07.68\00:24:09.08
This is the real story.
00:24:09.11\00:24:11.65
It doesn't really matter
how many wise men there were,
00:24:11.68\00:24:13.48
the truth of the matter is
00:24:13.52\00:24:14.85
if that these three gifts
are what will preoccupy us,
00:24:14.88\00:24:17.02
this beautiful advent season.
00:24:17.05\00:24:19.59
Gift today, a gift next Sabbath,
00:24:19.62\00:24:21.12
and just then before
Christmas, the third gift.
00:24:21.16\00:24:23.86
Matthew Chapter 2.
00:24:23.89\00:24:25.23
So you're
finding it in your Bible.
00:24:25.26\00:24:27.33
I'm being in NIV.
00:24:27.36\00:24:29.10
Matthew 22:1.
00:24:29.13\00:24:33.20
"And after Jesus was
born in Bethlehem in Judea,
00:24:33.23\00:24:35.47
during the time of King Herod,
00:24:35.50\00:24:37.14
Magi from the east
came to Jerusalem and asked,
00:24:37.17\00:24:40.74
'Where is the one
00:24:40.78\00:24:42.11
who has been
born king of the Jews?
00:24:42.14\00:24:44.38
We saw his star when it rose,
00:24:44.41\00:24:46.25
and we have come
to worship Him.' "
00:24:46.28\00:24:49.28
You know what?
00:24:49.32\00:24:50.65
You can't help but
admire these pagans, strangers
00:24:50.69\00:24:55.22
driven across
countless miles of sand,
00:24:55.26\00:24:58.79
seeking, searching, following.
00:24:58.83\00:25:02.10
It reminds me the
words of Blaise Pascal,
00:25:02.13\00:25:03.90
the French mathematician,
you remember, and philosopher.
00:25:03.93\00:25:07.14
His words on the screen.
00:25:07.17\00:25:09.17
"If you are searching for
God, then you have found Him."
00:25:09.20\00:25:14.78
I like that.
00:25:14.81\00:25:16.14
Apparently, the
journey is the reward.
00:25:16.18\00:25:18.11
In seeking for God,
you have begun finding Him.
00:25:18.15\00:25:23.75
Verse 1 again,
00:25:23.79\00:25:25.12
"And after Jesus was
born in Bethlehem in Judea,
00:25:25.15\00:25:27.26
during the time of King Herod,
00:25:27.29\00:25:28.62
Magi from the
east came to Jerusalem.
00:25:28.66\00:25:30.56
And they asked,
'Where is the one
00:25:30.59\00:25:31.99
who has been
born king of the Jews,
00:25:32.03\00:25:33.43
we saw a star when it rose
00:25:33.46\00:25:35.46
and we have come
to worship Him.' "
00:25:35.50\00:25:39.17
James A.K. Smith
is a philosopher.
00:25:39.20\00:25:41.20
He teaches up the
road in Grand Rapids,
00:25:41.24\00:25:42.90
Calvin College and seminary.
00:25:42.94\00:25:45.57
Just a few days ago,
00:25:45.61\00:25:46.94
I got a hold of
this three volume set
00:25:46.98\00:25:48.31
on culture and worldview.
00:25:48.34\00:25:49.68
I'm reading volume one,
00:25:49.71\00:25:51.05
it's called
Desiring the Kingdom.
00:25:51.08\00:25:52.41
And in the book, he describes
00:25:52.45\00:25:54.85
what we're all
driven for, the human race.
00:25:54.88\00:25:58.85
I put his words,
Smith's words on the screen,
00:25:58.89\00:26:01.06
"This is just to say..."
00:26:01.09\00:26:02.96
What is it we're seeking for?
00:26:02.99\00:26:04.49
"This is just to
say that to be human
00:26:04.53\00:26:07.06
is to desire the kingdom,
00:26:07.10\00:26:08.90
some version of the kingdom,"
00:26:08.93\00:26:10.27
Look, we don't all
look for the same kingdom,
00:26:10.30\00:26:12.20
but we're all in
search of a kingdom.
00:26:12.23\00:26:14.27
What's he talking about?
00:26:14.30\00:26:16.27
"This is just to
say that to be human
00:26:16.30\00:26:17.64
is to desire the kingdom,
some version of the kingdom,
00:26:17.67\00:26:19.84
which is the aim of our quest.
00:26:19.87\00:26:22.51
Every one of us is on
a kind of Arthurian..."
00:26:22.54\00:26:25.01
You remember
King Arthur and the,
00:26:25.05\00:26:28.22
the Knights of the Round
Table, you remember that legend?
00:26:28.25\00:26:31.25
They're looking for the chalice,
00:26:31.29\00:26:32.65
they believed it.
00:26:32.69\00:26:34.02
The legend was that
that's the goblet Jesus
00:26:34.06\00:26:36.22
lifted up in the upper room.
00:26:36.26\00:26:40.33
"Every one of us is on
a kind of Arthurian quest
00:26:40.36\00:26:43.97
for the Holy Grail,"
00:26:44.00\00:26:45.33
that's what they
call that chalice,
00:26:45.37\00:26:46.70
"that hope for,
longed-for, dream
00:26:46.74\00:26:48.64
for picture of the good life.
00:26:48.67\00:26:50.24
The realm of human flourishing
00:26:50.27\00:26:52.04
that we pursue without ceasing."
00:26:52.07\00:26:53.74
Everybody driven
to find the kingdom
00:26:53.78\00:26:56.34
of human flourishing,
00:26:56.38\00:26:57.71
to be thevery best
that we have longed for.
00:26:57.75\00:27:01.78
Live in a world of Magi.
00:27:01.82\00:27:05.42
Seekers, looking for a kingdom,
00:27:05.45\00:27:09.22
maybe subconsciously looking
for the king of the kingdom,
00:27:09.26\00:27:13.40
all of us.
00:27:13.43\00:27:16.90
Verse 1 again,
00:27:16.93\00:27:18.27
"And after Jesus was
born in Bethlehem in Judea,
00:27:18.30\00:27:20.74
during the time of King Herod,
00:27:20.77\00:27:22.10
Magi from the east
came to Jerusalem and asked,
00:27:22.14\00:27:24.77
'Where is the one
00:27:24.81\00:27:26.14
who has been
born king of the Jews?
00:27:26.17\00:27:27.51
We saw His star when it rose
00:27:27.54\00:27:29.11
and we have come
to worship Him.' "
00:27:29.14\00:27:32.11
You see this
Magi have chanced upon
00:27:32.15\00:27:35.38
a prediction
from one of their own,
00:27:35.42\00:27:37.62
a member of the
ancient order named Balam.
00:27:37.65\00:27:40.96
They came across this line.
00:27:40.99\00:27:42.32
On the screen for
you, Numbers Chapter 24,
00:27:42.36\00:27:44.23
"A star will come out of Jacob
00:27:44.26\00:27:47.20
and a scepter will
rise out of Israel."
00:27:47.23\00:27:50.67
Is this the
harbinger of the promised King?
00:27:50.70\00:27:55.24
And so they set out.
00:27:55.27\00:27:56.84
Desire of Ages,
00:27:56.87\00:27:58.34
sits behind the veil
of their inner thinking.
00:27:58.37\00:28:01.54
Put the words on
the screen for you,
00:28:01.58\00:28:02.91
"The light of
God is ever shining
00:28:02.94\00:28:05.81
amid the
darkness of heathenism."
00:28:05.85\00:28:08.22
Today, we'd say
secularism, we'd say paganism,
00:28:08.25\00:28:12.72
the light of God,
ever in that darkness.
00:28:12.75\00:28:14.96
"As these Magi
studied the starry heavens
00:28:14.99\00:28:17.39
and sought to fathom the mystery
00:28:17.43\00:28:18.86
hidden in their bright paths,
00:28:18.89\00:28:20.60
they beheld the
glory of the Creator.
00:28:20.63\00:28:23.43
The Magi had welcomed the
light of heaven-sent truth
00:28:23.47\00:28:26.60
in their search of
Hebrew scriptures."
00:28:26.63\00:28:29.14
But here's the fascinating line,
00:28:29.17\00:28:30.57
"Now it was shed upon
them in brighter rays,
00:28:30.61\00:28:32.77
here it comes, through dreams,
00:28:32.81\00:28:35.18
they were instructed to go
00:28:35.21\00:28:36.54
in search of the newborn Prince.
00:28:36.58\00:28:40.28
You know what?
00:28:40.32\00:28:42.08
This is a provocative reminder.
00:28:42.12\00:28:43.85
You have to admit
00:28:43.89\00:28:45.82
that God is willing to
tap every arsenal he has
00:28:45.85\00:28:51.33
to connect with a man,
to connect with a woman,
00:28:51.36\00:28:52.86
to connect with a nation.
00:28:52.89\00:28:56.46
And He uses dreams.
00:28:56.50\00:28:58.97
I sit on the
board of an organization
00:28:59.00\00:29:02.30
that just put up
a massive billboard
00:29:02.34\00:29:05.01
outside of Detroit,
the largest air populous,
00:29:05.04\00:29:07.38
population in
America, all right?
00:29:07.41\00:29:08.78
A big billboard,
and on the billboard,
00:29:08.81\00:29:10.88
these words,
00:29:10.91\00:29:12.65
"If in your dreams
you have seen a man
00:29:12.68\00:29:15.62
dressed in white, call
this toll free number."
00:29:15.65\00:29:19.09
And the number is there.
00:29:19.12\00:29:21.06
What's going on?
00:29:21.09\00:29:22.62
We're finding out
that in the Islamic world,
00:29:22.66\00:29:24.96
across the Islamic world
00:29:24.99\00:29:27.16
dreams are beginning
to point to somebody,
00:29:27.20\00:29:31.37
a man dressed in white.
00:29:31.40\00:29:34.64
Would it bother you
00:29:34.67\00:29:36.44
if God showed up to
the politicians of the day,
00:29:36.47\00:29:40.74
and somehow makes a play
00:29:40.78\00:29:42.11
for their minds
and their loyalty?
00:29:42.14\00:29:43.98
I mean, you want to talk about
00:29:44.01\00:29:45.35
the president of
the United States,
00:29:45.38\00:29:46.72
you want to talk about
the president of China,
00:29:46.75\00:29:48.08
what is it?
00:29:48.12\00:29:49.45
The G20 down in
Argentina right now,
00:29:49.48\00:29:51.12
take any of those
leaders, UK prime minister,
00:29:51.15\00:29:53.42
Germany's prime
minister, what does that matter?
00:29:53.46\00:29:56.46
Is that...
00:29:56.49\00:29:57.96
He's not going to
show up to politicians.
00:29:57.99\00:29:59.66
We all know how
godless politicians are?
00:29:59.69\00:30:02.46
Oh, really?
00:30:02.50\00:30:05.13
Wasn't there a godless...
00:30:05.17\00:30:06.77
Wasn't there a
godless governor once,
00:30:06.80\00:30:08.74
a Roman governor,
00:30:08.77\00:30:10.11
whose wife was given a dream
00:30:10.14\00:30:13.27
from the man in white?
00:30:13.31\00:30:16.95
If God could reach
Pilate through a dream,
00:30:16.98\00:30:20.38
and a spouse, fair game.
00:30:20.42\00:30:24.75
We dismiss our
leaders too quickly.
00:30:24.79\00:30:26.86
And I was glad to hear
00:30:26.89\00:30:28.22
Pastor John
pray for our leaders,
00:30:28.26\00:30:29.59
the leaders of this nation.
00:30:29.62\00:30:31.06
We're not about
political ideology and loyalty.
00:30:31.09\00:30:33.53
Now we're about the salvation
00:30:33.56\00:30:36.20
of the human race, seekers.
00:30:36.23\00:30:39.67
What's so revealing to me
00:30:39.70\00:30:41.04
in the story of the
Magi is a profound links.
00:30:41.07\00:30:43.54
God goes to save one individual,
00:30:43.57\00:30:47.14
one nation like
Herod, watch this.
00:30:47.18\00:30:50.31
Verse 3, "When King Herod
heard this, he was disturbed."
00:30:50.35\00:30:54.45
Listen, if you consider yourself
00:30:54.48\00:30:56.42
the King of the Jews,
and you hear the king,
00:30:56.45\00:30:58.52
the real King of
the Jews has been born.
00:30:58.55\00:30:59.99
Are you on red alert?
00:31:00.02\00:31:01.39
Of course you are.
00:31:01.42\00:31:02.92
So he's disturbed, "and
all Jerusalem with him."
00:31:02.96\00:31:05.46
Verse 4, "And
when he called together
00:31:05.49\00:31:07.86
all the people's chief
priests and teachers of the law,
00:31:07.90\00:31:10.47
he asked them
00:31:10.50\00:31:12.10
where the
Messiah was to be born."
00:31:12.13\00:31:14.14
Oh, they said, verse
5, "In Bethlehem in Judea,
00:31:14.17\00:31:16.74
for this is what the
prophet has written.'"
00:31:16.77\00:31:19.17
Matthew Chapter 5,
00:31:19.21\00:31:20.54
"But you, Bethlehem,
in the land of Judah,
00:31:20.58\00:31:22.28
are by no means least
among the rulers of Judah,
00:31:22.31\00:31:25.08
for out of you will come a ruler
00:31:25.11\00:31:26.51
who will shepherd my people.'
00:31:26.55\00:31:28.35
Then Herod call,
00:31:28.38\00:31:32.32
he calls the Magi to him,
00:31:32.35\00:31:34.79
and he finds out
from them the exact time
00:31:34.82\00:31:37.26
the star has appeared.'"
00:31:37.29\00:31:39.06
When was that baby born?
00:31:39.09\00:31:41.96
Verse 8, "And he sent
them to Bethlehem and he said,"
00:31:42.00\00:31:45.20
wink, wink, 'Go and
search carefully for the child.
00:31:45.23\00:31:47.77
And as soon as you find
him I want you to report to me,
00:31:47.80\00:31:49.80
so that I too may
go and worship him.'"
00:31:49.84\00:31:54.11
Desire of Ages
again on the screen.
00:31:54.14\00:31:56.21
Because the wise men go.
00:32:04.15\00:32:08.19
Could God have save Herod,
00:32:08.22\00:32:09.56
by the way,
before Desire of Ages?
00:32:09.59\00:32:10.93
Could God have save Herod?
00:32:10.96\00:32:13.29
Do you know what?
00:32:13.33\00:32:14.66
This is Herod the great.
00:32:14.70\00:32:16.03
The day is coming
00:32:16.06\00:32:17.40
when the great
grandson of Herod the Great
00:32:17.43\00:32:20.54
will be sitting in a courtroom
00:32:20.57\00:32:22.90
and listening to the
testimony of a man named Paul,
00:32:22.94\00:32:28.01
who will
eloquently lay out a case
00:32:28.04\00:32:29.61
for the fledging
religion called Christianity.
00:32:29.64\00:32:32.21
And when Paul
finishes his defense,
00:32:32.25\00:32:35.58
the great grandson,
Herod Agrippa II will cry out,
00:32:35.62\00:32:39.72
"Almost you persuade me
00:32:39.75\00:32:43.19
to become a Christian."
00:32:43.22\00:32:46.70
And God make a
play for Herod himself?
00:32:46.73\00:32:49.86
He does.
00:32:49.90\00:32:51.23
"And after they
had heard the king,
00:32:57.87\00:33:01.31
they went on their way."
00:33:01.34\00:33:02.68
This is verse 9.
00:33:02.71\00:33:04.08
"And the star that they had seen
00:33:04.11\00:33:05.45
when it rose went ahead of them
until it stopped over the place
00:33:05.48\00:33:08.08
where the child was."
00:33:08.12\00:33:09.45
Verse 10, "And
when they saw the star,
00:33:09.48\00:33:11.72
they were overjoyed."
00:33:11.75\00:33:13.09
Because supernatural affirmation
00:33:13.12\00:33:17.69
that they're not
on a wild goose chase,
00:33:17.73\00:33:19.33
this is a mission
they've been sent on.
00:33:19.36\00:33:22.13
Verse 10, "And when they saw
the star, they were overjoyed,"
00:33:22.16\00:33:24.17
in verse 9, "and on
coming into the house,
00:33:24.20\00:33:28.07
they saw the child
with his mother, Mary,
00:33:28.10\00:33:29.84
and they bowed
down and worshiped Him.
00:33:29.87\00:33:33.34
Then they opened their treasures
00:33:33.38\00:33:34.71
and presented Him
with gifts of gold,
00:33:34.74\00:33:36.38
frankincense, and myrrh.
00:33:36.41\00:33:38.11
And having been
warned in a dream
00:33:38.15\00:33:39.75
not to go back to Herod,
00:33:39.78\00:33:41.18
they return to their
country by another route."
00:33:41.22\00:33:45.65
Now, Desire of
Ages on the screen,
00:33:45.69\00:33:47.66
"Beneath the
lowly guise of Jesus,
00:33:47.69\00:33:50.83
they recognized the
presence of divinity.
00:33:50.86\00:33:54.16
They gave their hearts
to Him as their Savior."
00:33:54.20\00:33:57.17
We're talking about
pagan seekers, but they sense,
00:33:57.20\00:34:00.50
"This is the divine one."
00:34:00.54\00:34:01.87
"They give their
hearts to Him as their Savior,
00:34:01.90\00:34:04.77
and then poured out their gifts,
00:34:04.81\00:34:06.78
gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.
00:34:06.81\00:34:09.14
What a faith was theirs!
00:34:09.18\00:34:10.51
It might have been said of
the wise men from the East,
00:34:10.55\00:34:12.28
as afterward of
the Roman centurion,
00:34:12.31\00:34:14.05
'I have not
found so great faith,
00:34:14.08\00:34:15.78
no, not in Israel.'"
00:34:15.82\00:34:19.35
Put that line up
on the screen again.
00:34:19.39\00:34:21.16
"Then they
opened their treasures
00:34:21.19\00:34:22.59
and presented Him
with the gifts of gold."
00:34:22.62\00:34:26.03
Three gifts, gift number one,
00:34:26.06\00:34:29.10
the coinage of kings.
00:34:29.13\00:34:32.37
You got to admit.
00:34:32.40\00:34:33.84
This is a
beautifully meaningful moment.
00:34:33.87\00:34:37.87
I mean here are
these pagan seekers
00:34:37.91\00:34:39.51
faces to the ground,
00:34:39.54\00:34:41.24
worshipping the
child before them,
00:34:41.28\00:34:42.91
they opened
their treasure caskets,
00:34:42.94\00:34:44.91
the gold spills
out before the baby.
00:34:44.95\00:34:48.95
And little did they know
00:34:48.98\00:34:51.19
that while they
have given their gold
00:34:51.22\00:34:53.32
to this one,
they considered king,
00:34:53.36\00:34:55.66
He has given His gold to them.
00:34:55.69\00:35:00.26
The gift is working, absolutely,
00:35:00.30\00:35:01.93
but as it turns out,
00:35:01.96\00:35:03.77
it's a gift
straight from the king.
00:35:03.80\00:35:05.83
I want to end with
the Christmas story
00:35:05.87\00:35:07.84
as told in Revelation.
00:35:07.87\00:35:09.27
It's just a one
liner, simple little line.
00:35:09.30\00:35:11.27
But watch this,
talking about a gift exchange.
00:35:11.31\00:35:14.28
Revelation Chapter 12,
00:35:14.31\00:35:16.28
Bible's last
book, the Apocalypse.
00:35:16.31\00:35:18.71
Christmas story, verse 5,
00:35:18.75\00:35:20.88
"And she gave birth
to a son, a male child,
00:35:20.92\00:35:23.59
who 'will rule all the
nations with an iron scepter.'"
00:35:23.62\00:35:25.85
That's a Messianic prophecy,
He's going to be the King.
00:35:25.89\00:35:29.99
"And her child was snatched
up to God and to His throne."
00:35:30.03\00:35:33.06
That's it.
00:35:33.09\00:35:34.43
That's the
Christmas story in Revelation.
00:35:34.46\00:35:36.03
But go back, just turn
back a few pages to Chapter 3.
00:35:36.06\00:35:41.30
Revelation 3,
bright red letters,
00:35:41.34\00:35:43.20
obviously these
are the words of Jesus.
00:35:43.24\00:35:45.44
Revelation 3:14,
00:35:45.47\00:35:46.81
"And to the angel of the church
00:35:46.84\00:35:48.98
in Laodicea write:
00:35:49.01\00:35:51.55
These are the words of the Amen,
00:35:51.58\00:35:53.45
the faithful and true witness,
the ruler of God's creation."
00:35:53.48\00:35:56.48
Now drop down to verse 18.
00:35:56.52\00:35:59.12
"I counsel you to buy from me."
00:35:59.15\00:36:01.72
What's the gift?
00:36:01.76\00:36:03.32
"I counsel you to buy
from me gold refined in fire,
00:36:03.36\00:36:06.36
so you can become rich
and white clothes to wear,
00:36:06.39\00:36:08.60
so that you can cover
your shameful nakedness,
00:36:08.63\00:36:10.63
and salve to put on your
eyes, so that you can see."
00:36:10.67\00:36:16.04
Ain't that incredible?
00:36:16.07\00:36:17.67
What the wise man, what the Magi
00:36:17.71\00:36:20.01
give to the Christ
child, that same Christ child,
00:36:20.04\00:36:23.21
when He grows up
and ascends eventually
00:36:23.24\00:36:24.81
to the throne of the universe
00:36:24.85\00:36:26.48
returns as a gift
to all who seek Him,
00:36:26.51\00:36:30.05
solid gold.
00:36:30.09\00:36:32.12
What's that line again?
00:36:32.15\00:36:33.49
"I counsel you
to buy from Me gold
00:36:33.52\00:36:35.32
refined in the fire,
so you may become rich!"
00:36:35.36\00:36:39.09
It's got a God
speak line, isn't it?
00:36:39.13\00:36:42.00
Buy from Me that which is free?
00:36:42.03\00:36:43.37
I mean, how can
you buy something
00:36:43.40\00:36:44.73
and call it free?
00:36:44.77\00:36:46.10
How can you call it a
gift, when I've purchased it?
00:36:46.13\00:36:48.04
And when God speaks,
that's the way He talks.
00:36:48.07\00:36:51.11
There's something so priceless
about this gift that it's free.
00:36:51.14\00:36:55.28
In fact, let me
put Isaiah Chapter 55,
00:36:55.31\00:36:59.65
same God speaking the same way.
00:36:59.68\00:37:01.38
Verse 1 in the Old Testament,
"Come, all you who are thirsty,
00:37:01.42\00:37:04.92
come to the waters,
and you have no money come,
00:37:04.95\00:37:08.02
buy, and eat!
00:37:08.06\00:37:09.42
Come buy wine and milk
00:37:09.46\00:37:11.16
without money and without cost."
00:37:11.19\00:37:13.80
I mean, how can
you buy, I'm penniless.
00:37:13.83\00:37:17.10
No, no, no, no,
without money and without cost
00:37:17.13\00:37:19.90
means you'll never
have enough money to buy it,
00:37:19.93\00:37:22.00
and so I'll never
charge you a penny to have it.
00:37:22.04\00:37:26.98
In other words, what
is priceless, it's free.
00:37:27.01\00:37:32.35
Solid gold.
00:37:32.38\00:37:36.25
The solid gold of
Christ Jesus Himself.
00:37:36.28\00:37:41.62
I'm reading a book right now.
00:37:41.66\00:37:43.96
Title of the book, Wounded
in the House of His Friends,
00:37:43.99\00:37:47.30
it's written by Ron Duffield.
00:37:47.33\00:37:49.53
In the book he tells,
00:37:49.56\00:37:52.47
"In December 1891
00:37:52.50\00:37:53.84
that short little
five foot three inch
00:37:53.87\00:37:56.20
American writer
named Ellen White
00:37:56.24\00:37:58.34
has landed in Australia.
00:37:58.37\00:38:00.01
She's thinking about the friend
00:38:00.04\00:38:01.38
she's left behind in
America as she speaks.
00:38:01.41\00:38:04.21
December 19, she speaks
to a group in Melbourne,
00:38:04.25\00:38:07.25
and these are her words."
00:38:07.28\00:38:08.65
Put it on the screen for you.
00:38:08.68\00:38:10.02
She describes
how this solid gold
00:38:10.05\00:38:11.79
comes from Jesus, on the screen.
00:38:11.82\00:38:13.86
"Jesus did not seek you and
me because we were his friends."
00:38:13.89\00:38:18.06
Didn't say, "Whoa, you know,
00:38:18.09\00:38:19.43
we've been
friends for a long time,
00:38:19.46\00:38:20.80
I'll go die for
her, I'll die for him."
00:38:20.83\00:38:22.43
No, no, no, no, "Jesus
did not seek you and me
00:38:22.46\00:38:24.87
because we were his friends,
00:38:24.90\00:38:26.23
for we were estranged from
him and unreconciled to God.
00:38:26.27\00:38:30.54
It was while we were yet
sinners," quoting Romans 5,
00:38:30.57\00:38:34.98
"as while we were yet sinners
that Christ died for us."
00:38:35.01\00:38:37.48
If Jesus were to
show up right now,
00:38:41.22\00:38:45.05
in front of you, in front of me
00:38:45.09\00:38:47.09
as we're worshiping God
at this moment in His house.
00:38:47.12\00:38:52.23
If He were to stand
00:38:52.26\00:38:53.66
on the other side
of your music stand
00:38:53.70\00:38:55.03
or on the other
side of your pew,
00:38:55.06\00:38:56.40
and He reaches out
with a universal gesture of,
00:38:56.43\00:38:59.77
"Give me your hand."
00:38:59.80\00:39:02.34
And He would reach out,
00:39:02.37\00:39:03.71
and you would tremblingly
place your hand in His.
00:39:03.74\00:39:09.01
When His sleeve goes
back, you'll see a purple scar,
00:39:09.04\00:39:15.02
and realize His body is
covered with purple scars,
00:39:15.05\00:39:19.55
not just on His wrist, not
just in His side, His feet,
00:39:19.59\00:39:22.79
His whole back was lacerated,
00:39:22.82\00:39:24.83
and has healed purple.
00:39:24.86\00:39:29.80
And even holding
His hand, I suppose,
00:39:29.83\00:39:35.50
we would struggle
to grasp the immensity
00:39:35.54\00:39:40.08
of what those scars represent.
00:39:40.11\00:39:44.75
He hanging on that cross,
00:39:44.78\00:39:48.82
crying out into the darkness,
00:39:48.85\00:39:51.35
"My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me?"
00:39:51.39\00:39:55.29
That He hanging on that
cross was willing to die.
00:39:55.32\00:40:00.10
Get this, He was
willing to die for forever,
00:40:00.13\00:40:03.13
so that you and I could live
00:40:03.16\00:40:06.90
forever and ever.
00:40:06.94\00:40:09.50
I'll leave forever
00:40:09.54\00:40:12.11
if you let Dwight home forever.
00:40:12.14\00:40:15.51
How do you comprehend that?
00:40:15.54\00:40:18.38
It's a gospel.
00:40:18.41\00:40:23.22
The magnitude,
the wonder of it all.
00:40:23.25\00:40:28.09
She goes on and
talking to that group
00:40:28.12\00:40:30.03
in Melbourne, on the screen.
00:40:30.06\00:40:31.69
But Jesus has promised
to give us His Holy Spirit,
00:40:31.73\00:40:35.26
the one gift that brings
every other gift with it,
00:40:35.30\00:40:37.27
the one gift,
00:40:37.30\00:40:38.63
you ask for the Holy
Spirit every single morning,
00:40:38.67\00:40:40.00
you get every gift in
the treasury of heaven.
00:40:40.04\00:40:43.04
"He, Jesus, has promised
to give us His Holy Spirit,
00:40:43.07\00:40:46.78
that we might become
assimilated to His nature,
00:40:46.81\00:40:49.71
changed into His image."
00:40:49.74\00:40:51.08
Now, here it comes, "Buy faith,"
00:40:51.11\00:40:54.05
buy with no money.
00:40:54.08\00:40:55.75
"Buy faith and love."
00:40:55.78\00:40:57.19
That's the gold,
00:40:57.22\00:40:58.95
"the precious,
beautiful attributes
00:40:58.99\00:41:00.42
of our Redeemer."
00:41:00.46\00:41:01.79
And by the way, it's
Jesus' faith that you buy,
00:41:01.82\00:41:03.56
you don't buy your own faith.
00:41:03.59\00:41:04.96
You're not saved
by your own faith.
00:41:04.99\00:41:07.23
It's Jesus'
faith that saves you.
00:41:07.26\00:41:09.26
You're not saved by
your own love and affection,
00:41:09.30\00:41:12.90
for the God of the universe,
00:41:12.93\00:41:14.27
it's His love and
affection for you.
00:41:14.30\00:41:16.64
Buy faith,
00:41:16.67\00:41:18.41
buy the solid gold.
00:41:18.44\00:41:23.48
The beautiful
attributes of our Redeemer,
00:41:23.51\00:41:26.18
and then she
ends that little talk.
00:41:26.21\00:41:28.65
"O, shall we not
open the heart's door
00:41:28.68\00:41:31.39
to this heavenly Visitor?
00:41:31.42\00:41:33.39
And let Him in."
00:41:33.42\00:41:36.12
So here's the
deal, now sit down.
00:41:36.16\00:41:39.49
What if this Christmas?
00:41:39.53\00:41:41.86
What if this
Christmas, we, you, and I
00:41:41.90\00:41:44.37
decided to go for the solid gold
00:41:44.40\00:41:47.77
of Jesus Himself.
00:41:47.80\00:41:49.30
That's what He gives.
00:41:49.34\00:41:50.67
He said, "You come to me,
00:41:50.71\00:41:52.04
that's what
I'll give, priceless.
00:41:52.07\00:41:54.41
Buy it for free."
00:41:54.44\00:41:56.75
He say, "Dwight, come on,
give me a gift, give me a gift,
00:41:56.78\00:41:59.58
where I could get the solid gold
00:41:59.61\00:42:01.78
of Jesus this Christmas,
and into the New Year,
00:42:01.82\00:42:03.89
and want to give
you that gift right now.
00:42:03.92\00:42:05.32
And by the way, it's free."
00:42:05.35\00:42:07.26
There's nothing wrong
with asking for a gift.
00:42:07.29\00:42:08.72
Let's ask Jesus for this one.
00:42:08.76\00:42:10.83
You have to have a
smartphone for this gift.
00:42:10.86\00:42:14.66
Most of you have
the app already on,
00:42:14.70\00:42:16.60
so I'm just going
to go straight to...
00:42:16.63\00:42:17.97
Let's put on the screen.
00:42:18.00\00:42:19.33
You need to have this app.
00:42:19.37\00:42:20.70
And you'll see
where we're going.
00:42:20.74\00:42:22.07
You see the
YouVersion app up on the screen.
00:42:22.10\00:42:24.37
You already have YouVersion
on your smartphone, I'm sure.
00:42:24.41\00:42:27.98
Okay, so here's what you do.
00:42:28.01\00:42:31.11
You don't have it,
just go to the App Store,
00:42:31.15\00:42:32.75
Android, Apple, doesn't matter.
00:42:32.78\00:42:35.52
Here's what you do.
This is really cool.
00:42:35.55\00:42:38.32
You can do this
with a YouVersion.
00:42:38.35\00:42:39.69
There are probably other apps
00:42:39.72\00:42:41.06
that you can do it with as well.
00:42:41.09\00:42:42.42
So anyway, I'm gonna do it
right here in front of you.
00:42:42.46\00:42:43.79
So you can know that it works.
00:42:43.83\00:42:45.16
So you tap the brown Bible,
00:42:45.19\00:42:48.10
and it opens it up, right?
00:42:48.13\00:42:52.43
Then you look down at
the bottom of the page,
00:42:52.47\00:42:56.24
and it'll say, read, all right.
00:42:56.27\00:42:58.91
So you hit read,
it'll take you do
00:42:58.94\00:43:00.28
any Bible passage you wish.
00:43:00.31\00:43:01.64
So you type in a Bible
passage, and then up at the top,
00:43:01.68\00:43:04.11
you see this little
sound icon, little sound icon.
00:43:04.15\00:43:06.61
You tap that,
watch, here's what happens?
00:43:06.65\00:43:09.18
There's something else.
00:43:09.22\00:43:12.55
You ready?
00:43:12.59\00:43:13.92
Okay.
00:43:13.96\00:43:15.56
The Vine and the
Branches, Chapter 15.
00:43:15.59\00:43:19.16
It's on the message.
00:43:19.19\00:43:20.53
"I am the Real Vine and
my Father is the Farmer.
00:43:20.56\00:43:22.90
He cuts off every branch of
me that doesn't bear grapes.
00:43:22.93\00:43:26.03
And every branch
that is grape-bearing
00:43:26.07\00:43:27.87
he prunes back so
it will bear even more.
00:43:27.90\00:43:30.67
We are already pruned back
by the message I have spoken.
00:43:30.71\00:43:34.08
"Live in me.
00:43:34.11\00:43:35.44
Make your home in
me just as I do in you.
00:43:35.48\00:43:37.78
In the same way that a branch
can't bear grapes by itself
00:43:37.81\00:43:40.75
but only by being
joined to the vine,
00:43:40.78\00:43:43.08
you can't bear fruit
unless you are joined with me.
00:43:43.12\00:43:46.65
I am the Vine,
you are the branches.
00:43:46.69\00:43:49.12
When you're joined
with me and I with you,
00:43:49.16\00:43:51.59
the relation
intimate and organic,
00:43:51.63\00:43:53.46
the harvest is
sure to be abundant.
00:43:53.50\00:43:55.80
Separated, you
can't produce a thing."
00:43:55.83\00:43:59.13
Ain't that cool?
00:43:59.17\00:44:01.54
That is absolutely cool.
00:44:01.57\00:44:03.74
You have the app anywhere,
you got to have ear buds,
00:44:03.77\00:44:07.58
and you don't do this
in the middle of class,
00:44:07.61\00:44:09.04
you just, you leave the ear buds
00:44:09.08\00:44:10.41
in your pocket.
00:44:10.45\00:44:11.85
But in the middle of the
day, you say I got to connect,
00:44:11.88\00:44:15.25
I got to connect with Jesus.
00:44:15.28\00:44:16.75
And by the way, when
you use the YouVersion,
00:44:16.79\00:44:19.02
don't go to the Old Testament
00:44:19.05\00:44:20.39
and the rest of
the New Testament.
00:44:20.42\00:44:21.92
Begin, concentrate on
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
00:44:21.96\00:44:25.49
You just...
00:44:25.53\00:44:26.86
I would suggest you just
work one story at a time,
00:44:26.90\00:44:29.16
work your way
through the gospel.
00:44:29.20\00:44:30.53
When you get to the end of
that gospel, go to the next.
00:44:30.57\00:44:31.90
But always hit the little
icon, the sound icon at the top,
00:44:31.93\00:44:34.90
put your ear buds in.
00:44:34.94\00:44:36.27
And you know what?
00:44:36.30\00:44:37.64
While you're
listening, I'm telling you,
00:44:37.67\00:44:40.01
the Spirit of Living
God is talking to you
00:44:40.04\00:44:42.91
while you're listening
to the words of scripture.
00:44:42.94\00:44:44.71
Some people think, look at,
00:44:44.75\00:44:46.35
"Do you have to read the Bible
to get the blessing out of it?"
00:44:46.38\00:44:48.62
Wrong.
00:44:48.65\00:44:49.98
Revelation 1:3,
00:44:50.02\00:44:51.52
"Blessed are those
who hear the word."
00:44:51.55\00:44:55.42
You got to have the app.
00:44:55.46\00:44:56.79
You have to have the app.
00:44:59.56\00:45:02.30
But you got a
smartphone, you got an app,
00:45:02.33\00:45:05.23
you can hear
Him speaking to you.
00:45:05.27\00:45:08.14
And the Holy Spirit will be,
00:45:08.17\00:45:09.50
He'll be in that
electronic transmission.
00:45:09.54\00:45:10.87
He will be behind you.
00:45:10.91\00:45:12.24
He'll say, "You
girl, did you catch that?
00:45:12.27\00:45:13.71
Boy?
00:45:13.74\00:45:15.08
Did you hear
what I'm telling you?"
00:45:15.11\00:45:18.01
There'll be times
when your tears will
00:45:18.05\00:45:21.48
trickle down your cheeks.
00:45:21.52\00:45:22.92
Why?
00:45:22.95\00:45:24.29
Because something He
said was so personal,
00:45:24.32\00:45:28.12
and you were listening to Him.
00:45:28.16\00:45:30.56
That's all.
00:45:30.59\00:45:31.93
It's a free gift.
00:45:31.96\00:45:33.50
There's nothing
wrong with asking for gifts
00:45:33.53\00:45:35.36
for Christmas is there.
00:45:35.40\00:45:38.37
You want solid gold,
00:45:38.40\00:45:41.14
you want to go deeper
00:45:41.17\00:45:42.50
and deeper and deeper with Jesus
00:45:42.54\00:45:43.87
than you've ever been before?
00:45:43.91\00:45:45.94
I want to tell you something.
00:45:45.97\00:45:47.31
When you go deeper and deeper,
00:45:47.34\00:45:48.81
there's stuff that happens
00:45:48.84\00:45:50.18
that can never happen
until you're down there.
00:45:50.21\00:45:53.92
And you can be 19
and get down there.
00:45:53.95\00:45:57.09
You can be 20
and get down there.
00:45:57.12\00:46:00.12
It's not a matter of
age, it's a matter of desire.
00:46:00.16\00:46:04.76
"Blessed are those who hear."
00:46:04.79\00:46:07.16
Get yourself the app
for free for Christmas.
00:46:07.20\00:46:11.33
You know why?
00:46:11.37\00:46:12.70
Because you're the
other wise man, that's why.
00:46:12.73\00:46:15.14
You're the other wise woman.
00:46:15.17\00:46:16.91
You say, "How do
you know, Dwight?"
00:46:16.94\00:46:18.27
I know because you're here.
00:46:18.31\00:46:21.08
You wouldn't be here.
00:46:21.11\00:46:22.94
You would not be here,
00:46:22.98\00:46:25.28
if you weren't a wise man.
00:46:25.31\00:46:29.92
I want to end with the letter.
00:46:29.95\00:46:33.79
Got it from my
friend, Bob Butts.
00:46:33.82\00:46:36.32
He's a longtime
member of our parish.
00:46:36.36\00:46:38.49
I suppose he's in his 80s,
he's in a home, a care home.
00:46:38.53\00:46:43.97
And he sent me the letter.
00:46:44.00\00:46:45.33
I recognized his
handwriting on the outside,
00:46:45.37\00:46:47.50
so I ripped the envelope
open, and I see at the top,
00:46:47.54\00:46:51.47
I said, "Oh, this looks...
00:46:51.51\00:46:52.84
This must be hotel stationary."
00:46:52.87\00:46:55.84
If you've ever done
that, stayed in a hotel room
00:46:55.88\00:46:57.25
and taken the
stationary home and used it?
00:46:57.28\00:46:59.05
It's for that, you can,
it's okay, it's not illegal.
00:46:59.08\00:47:02.95
So I said, "Bob?
00:47:02.98\00:47:04.32
Why does he write
me a letter on this?"
00:47:04.35\00:47:05.72
'Cause it looks like a hotel.
00:47:05.75\00:47:08.32
And then I
dropped down, and it says,
00:47:08.36\00:47:10.39
"private and confidential,
private and confidential."
00:47:10.43\00:47:12.96
Why would Bobby
sending me a letter
00:47:12.99\00:47:14.36
that's private and confidential.
00:47:14.40\00:47:16.50
So I'm expecting it
to read Dear Dwight,
00:47:16.53\00:47:19.23
but it reads
instead Dear Mr. Butts.
00:47:19.27\00:47:23.20
Oh, good night,
this is a letter to Bob,
00:47:23.24\00:47:25.87
and he just sent
me a photocopy of it.
00:47:25.91\00:47:28.04
Okay, "I should
first like to apologize
00:47:28.08\00:47:30.65
for the length of
time it has taken us
00:47:30.68\00:47:32.28
to reply to your letter.
00:47:32.31\00:47:34.48
The last several months
have been extremely busy
00:47:34.52\00:47:36.28
for this office,
and we have consequently
00:47:36.32\00:47:38.15
been unable to reply as quickly
as we should have liked to."
00:47:38.19\00:47:42.52
That sounds very
formal kind of English to me,
00:47:42.56\00:47:45.16
must be a form
letter or something.
00:47:45.19\00:47:47.96
Then I get to
the second paragraph.
00:47:48.00\00:47:50.63
"The Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge
00:47:50.67\00:47:52.30
have asked me to thank you."
00:47:52.33\00:47:55.30
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,
do you know who they are?
00:47:55.34\00:47:59.74
Now I told
everybody in first service,
00:47:59.77\00:48:01.11
they were Harry and Megan.
00:48:01.14\00:48:03.88
People lined up the door
to correct me afterwards.
00:48:03.91\00:48:05.95
They are not Harry and Megan,
00:48:09.15\00:48:11.79
they are William and Kate,
00:48:11.82\00:48:15.22
the future King of England.
00:48:15.26\00:48:19.93
They just had a
baby named Louis,
00:48:19.96\00:48:22.80
and Bob must have written them,
00:48:22.83\00:48:25.20
and sent a gift
because they're thanking him.
00:48:25.23\00:48:28.27
The Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge...
00:48:28.30\00:48:30.57
Am I making this up?
00:48:30.61\00:48:32.51
"The Duke and the
Duchess of Cambridge
00:48:32.54\00:48:33.88
have asked me to thank you
00:48:33.91\00:48:35.24
for their kind letter and gift."
00:48:35.28\00:48:36.61
I'm thinking what
would Bob send to them?
00:48:36.64\00:48:39.21
"Their Royal Highness,
TRH," that's what it stands for.
00:48:39.25\00:48:42.58
"Their Royal Highnesses
are most grateful to you
00:48:42.62\00:48:45.75
for taking the
trouble to send them the book,
00:48:45.79\00:48:48.09
100 Favorite Bible Verses."
00:48:48.12\00:48:53.40
You go, Bob, I mean you go.
00:48:53.43\00:48:57.20
Did any of you
send that book too?
00:48:57.23\00:48:59.67
We didn't even
think about it, did we?
00:48:59.70\00:49:02.40
But here's a guy
in retirement home,
00:49:02.44\00:49:07.11
full time care, and he says,
00:49:07.14\00:49:09.34
"I want to send
something to celebrate
00:49:09.38\00:49:11.21
the birth of Prince Louis.
00:49:11.25\00:49:15.98
It was really
most thoughtful of you.
00:49:16.02\00:49:19.75
And the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge
00:49:19.79\00:49:21.12
have asked me to send you
00:49:21.16\00:49:22.49
their warmest
thanks and best wishes."
00:49:22.52\00:49:25.69
Hugs and kisses.
00:49:25.73\00:49:27.13
God, it doesn't
say hugs and kisses,
00:49:27.16\00:49:28.66
it says, this is just
English, it's British.
00:49:28.70\00:49:33.03
"Your sincerely, Claudia Spens."
00:49:33.07\00:49:37.47
Ain't that amazing?
00:49:37.51\00:49:38.84
It isn't, guys? Royalty.
00:49:38.87\00:49:40.31
Oh, by the way, what
I thought was a hotel,
00:49:40.34\00:49:43.55
it's Kensington Palace.
00:49:43.58\00:49:46.78
I thought it was
hotel, a new chain.
00:49:46.82\00:49:51.69
Oh, my.
00:49:51.72\00:49:53.62
We're talking about royalty,
folks, Kensington Palace.
00:49:53.66\00:49:56.96
When the Magi bow
before the Christ child,
00:49:56.99\00:49:59.03
they worshipped Him
as King, He is royalty,
00:49:59.06\00:50:01.73
King of kings,
and Lord of lords.
00:50:01.76\00:50:04.70
And it is in His
presence that we have gathered
00:50:04.73\00:50:07.10
to worship today.
00:50:07.14\00:50:08.47
But I have good news for you.
00:50:08.50\00:50:10.41
When you follow
the wise man's example,
00:50:10.44\00:50:13.81
and you bow down to worship
00:50:13.84\00:50:15.74
the same King,
00:50:15.78\00:50:20.25
you will not get a letter
from the palace secretary.
00:50:20.28\00:50:24.62
When you bow
down to worship Him.
00:50:24.65\00:50:26.65
Guess what?
00:50:26.69\00:50:28.02
There will be a
knock at your door.
00:50:28.06\00:50:30.66
And when you go to the door,
00:50:30.69\00:50:32.73
there will be
the highest royalty
00:50:32.76\00:50:35.43
in the universe,
00:50:35.46\00:50:36.80
standing there with
a smile on His face.
00:50:36.83\00:50:39.07
Saying, "Behold, I
stand at the door and knock.
00:50:39.10\00:50:42.04
If you hear me knocking
and my voice open the door,
00:50:42.07\00:50:45.97
and I'll come into you,
00:50:46.01\00:50:47.94
and we will spend
the day together."
00:50:47.98\00:50:52.31
Good news, ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:52.35\00:50:54.35
solid gold.
00:50:54.38\00:50:56.72
You give Him the
little that you give Him,
00:50:56.75\00:50:58.49
but the gift
exchange is incredible.
00:50:58.52\00:51:00.32
He gives you Himself every day
00:51:00.36\00:51:04.86
that you open that door,
00:51:04.89\00:51:08.13
listen to His voice
through your ear buds
00:51:08.16\00:51:11.87
and say, "Come on in, today."
00:51:11.90\00:51:17.11
Wow, you can't
go deeper than that.
00:51:17.14\00:51:21.74
When you're through just
turn the card upside down,
00:51:21.78\00:51:23.28
and our ushers
are now going to stand
00:51:23.31\00:51:24.65
and receive the
Connect cards from you.
00:51:24.68\00:51:27.12
Just put it in
the offering plate,
00:51:27.15\00:51:28.48
include your...
00:51:28.52\00:51:29.95
You're talking
about a gift exchange,
00:51:29.98\00:51:31.39
you have something
to give, that's fine.
00:51:31.42\00:51:33.86
You didn't have
anything to give today,
00:51:33.89\00:51:35.39
that's all right with us.
00:51:35.42\00:51:37.06
We're just glad you're here.
00:51:37.09\00:51:38.43
Put that in the
offering plate as well.
00:51:38.46\00:51:39.79
And while the
ushers are now serving you,
00:51:39.83\00:51:41.86
we're going to sing
what the Wind Symphony
00:51:41.90\00:51:44.67
beautifully
rendered just a moment ago
00:51:44.70\00:51:47.24
by Giovanni, What Child Is This.
00:51:47.27\00:51:49.30
We're going to
put the words to it
00:51:49.34\00:51:50.97
and sing together.
00:51:51.01\00:51:53.38
I'll put the words
on the screen for you.
00:51:53.41\00:51:56.21
What child is
this, who, laid to rest
00:52:21.14\00:52:26.37
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
00:52:26.41\00:52:32.71
Whom angels greet
with anthems sweet
00:52:32.75\00:52:39.29
While shepherds
watch are keeping?
00:52:39.32\00:52:46.23
This, this is Christ the King
00:52:46.26\00:52:52.20
Whom shepherds
guard and angels sing
00:52:52.23\00:52:59.07
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
00:52:59.11\00:53:04.91
The babe
00:53:04.95\00:53:06.72
The son of Mary
00:53:06.75\00:53:13.15
Why lies He in such mean estate
00:53:13.19\00:53:20.20
Where ox and ass are feeding?
00:53:20.23\00:53:26.80
Good Christians,
fear, for sinners here
00:53:26.84\00:53:33.54
The silent Word is pleading
00:53:33.58\00:53:40.98
This, this is Christ the King
00:53:41.02\00:53:47.02
Whom shepherds
guard and angels sing
00:53:47.06\00:53:54.10
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
00:53:54.13\00:54:00.14
The babe, the son of Mary
00:54:00.17\00:54:08.08
So bring him
incense, gold, and myrrh
00:54:08.11\00:54:14.88
Come, peasant, king, to own Him
00:54:14.92\00:54:21.46
The King of
kings salvation brings
00:54:21.49\00:54:28.06
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
00:54:28.10\00:54:35.14
This, this is Christ the King
00:54:35.17\00:54:41.34
Whom shepherds
guard and angels sing
00:54:41.38\00:54:48.48
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
00:54:48.52\00:54:55.02
The babe, the son of Mary
00:54:55.06\00:55:02.73
Oh, God, what can we
give you this Christmas,
00:55:07.87\00:55:11.97
the little we have,
00:55:12.01\00:55:14.78
we have along the way.
00:55:14.81\00:55:18.28
But we're being a bit
bolder this Christmas,
00:55:18.31\00:55:22.08
and we're asking for a gift.
00:55:22.12\00:55:24.15
Please give us the solid gold
00:55:24.19\00:55:28.89
of Jesus Himself.
00:55:28.92\00:55:31.89
Take us deeper and deeper
than we've ever been before.
00:55:31.93\00:55:36.77
And as we bow to
worship you each new morning,
00:55:42.07\00:55:48.04
accept our invitation.
00:55:48.08\00:55:49.74
Lord Jesus, come in,
00:55:49.78\00:55:53.42
come in today together.
00:55:53.45\00:55:56.32
And now may the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:56:01.16\00:56:05.26
and the love of God,
00:56:05.29\00:56:07.20
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:56:07.23\00:56:08.93
be with you all.
00:56:08.96\00:56:11.30
Amen.
00:56:11.33\00:56:12.67
Thank you for
joining us in worship today.
00:56:16.77\00:56:18.57
I hope you were blessed.
00:56:18.61\00:56:20.11
As we enter the
busy holiday season,
00:56:20.14\00:56:21.81
I trust you're able to
snatch some quiet moments
00:56:21.84\00:56:23.88
to reflect on all
that you're grateful for.
00:56:23.91\00:56:26.45
Me, I'm thankful for you,
00:56:26.48\00:56:28.42
for your
prayers, for your letters,
00:56:28.45\00:56:29.78
which literally come to
us from around the world.
00:56:29.82\00:56:32.55
You'll never know
the impact your prayers
00:56:32.59\00:56:34.16
for this ministry have
on me and our entire team.
00:56:34.19\00:56:37.36
Trust me, you bless
me through your prayers.
00:56:37.39\00:56:40.13
So I'm thankful for you.
00:56:40.16\00:56:41.70
I'm thankful for the
young creative tech team
00:56:41.73\00:56:43.40
that makes this ministry happen.
00:56:43.43\00:56:44.97
They keep coming up
with new innovative ideas
00:56:45.00\00:56:47.30
for sharing the gospel globally
through electronic media,
00:56:47.34\00:56:50.11
television, radio,
web, mobile, whatever.
00:56:50.14\00:56:53.48
What's more, these young
innovators have had the skills
00:56:53.51\00:56:56.85
and the commitment to
see our projects through.
00:56:56.88\00:56:59.45
So I'm thankful for
you, I'm thankful for them.
00:56:59.48\00:57:02.32
And you'd expect me to say this
00:57:02.35\00:57:03.69
as another year draws to an end.
00:57:03.72\00:57:05.05
I'm also thankful
00:57:05.09\00:57:06.42
for the financial
support of viewers like you
00:57:06.45\00:57:08.79
that makes this
ministry possible.
00:57:08.82\00:57:10.83
If you've been
blessed this New Year,
00:57:10.86\00:57:12.23
I'd like to ask you
to join the hundreds
00:57:12.26\00:57:14.00
who financially support
our New Perceptions Ministry.
00:57:14.03\00:57:17.47
It's simple to do, just
call our toll free number
00:57:17.50\00:57:20.00
877-HIS-WILL, the
two words, HIS-WILL,
00:57:20.04\00:57:23.37
and our friendly operators
will be happy to assist you.
00:57:23.41\00:57:26.11
Trust me, no gift is too small
00:57:26.14\00:57:28.01
for God to use to
spread His good news.
00:57:28.04\00:57:30.08
And let me remind you,
00:57:30.11\00:57:31.45
not a single
penny of your donation
00:57:31.48\00:57:32.88
will come to me.
00:57:32.91\00:57:34.25
Every gift is entirely
invested in our mission
00:57:34.28\00:57:36.85
to communicate
God's everlasting gospel
00:57:36.89\00:57:39.15
to what we believe is
an end-time generation.
00:57:39.19\00:57:42.22
So once again,
the number to call is
00:57:42.26\00:57:43.83
877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:43.86\00:57:46.19
This Christmas, I wish for you
00:57:46.23\00:57:47.96
God's very best
wrapped up in Jesus,
00:57:48.00\00:57:50.60
24/7 all the way
through the New Year to come.
00:57:50.63\00:57:55.70
God bless you.
00:57:55.74\00:57:57.07