I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I wanna spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I wanna spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I wanna spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome to 3ABN
Today Christmas Family Worship.
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All right.
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It's so good to be
here with my family.
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And you guys are
our family as well.
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And my husband Danny Shelton.
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Happy to be here
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and happy for you to host today.
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Well, you know, it's weird.
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I get to relax a little bit.
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I know, but I actually
prefer you doing this part
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and I sitting in.
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I like this part.
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This is my...
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Right, okay. It's all on you.
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Oh, thanks. Okay.
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I'm here with you, though.
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I know you are.
Thank you so much.
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And then we have
my brother-in-law
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Pastor Kenny Shelton
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and his lovely
wife, my sister-in-law,
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my sis, Chris Shelton.
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And who is behind us? Pardon me?
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And who is behind us?
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Well, okay, I just...
well, I have to finish...
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I'm the one
sitting in the chair.
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Okay.
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I hear you say B
and I just thought
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you're just gonna say behind us.
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No, I was
saying Behold the Lamb.
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Okay. Just in case.
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And then we have,
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this is my
other son, Tim Parton.
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And behind us,
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and he is going to
play and sing a song.
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I like it when he's in
front where I can see it.
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I can watch him play.
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I'm trying to see if I can...
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Not really. I know.
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Can't do that.
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But it's fun to watch. Yes.
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I'm gonna tell you
more about the song
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after we have a prayer.
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Pastor Kenny,
brother, would you pray for us?
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Absolutely. Yeah,
let's pray, shall we?
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Our Loving Heavenly Father,
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we thank You for the privilege
that we have of prayer.
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We thank You for the privilege
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of belonging to
the family of God.
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We thank You now
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for the promise
of the Holy Spirit,
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two or three are
gathered together,
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You promised to be in our midst.
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Lord, we rely upon that,
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we pray for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
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May our hearts and
our minds and our hands
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be pure before Thee.
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We ask forgiveness for
anything in our heart in life
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that needs not be there.
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We need to hear from heaven.
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We pray this
program will be a blessing
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to those everyone who
listen or they're watching
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whatever it might be and to us.
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Lord, we want to
be fed from on high.
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So we pray now in a special way
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as we turn
everything over to Thee,
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that your Holy Spirit
will guide our tongues,
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our thoughts, our minds,
our hearts, and may at last,
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that Calvary we see
Jesus and Lamb of God
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that take away
the sins of the world.
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Thank You for hearing,
for answering our prayer.
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Thank You for the privilege.
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Thank You for
the folks all those
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who view those who
send in letters and cards.
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We just thank you for
everyone in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen. Thank you so much.
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Well, Tim, I asked him to
come and play this song for us
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because this song has
special meaning about...
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It's been over a year.
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It was before Christmas
time last year, I think,
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that you had given
Tim and me a challenge
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about writing a song.
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I think I did.
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And you said, "Why
don't you two write a song?"
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So we took you up on it.
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And so I was in the worship room
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and I prayed and I said,
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"Lord, would you please
give me a Christmas song,
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some words to a Christmas song?"
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And I
specifically asked for that
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and the Holy Spirit, praise God,
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just started giving me
the lyrics to the song.
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And I sent them to Tim.
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And in no time, you
know, he's just too much,
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in no time the
Spirit had given him
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also a tune for the song.
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And so this song is about
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many of you who feel like
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the Christmas just
might not be for you.
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You're lonely.
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You never get a
gift for Christmas.
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But this is about
God's greatest gift.
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So, Tim, please
sing. Absolutely.
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I thought I had no gift
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When I looked under the tree
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But then I heard
a voice that said
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You didn't think of Me
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For I'm the
greatest gift you have
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I'll meet your every need
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Just place your
life into My hands
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I'll help you to succeed
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The greatest
gift you'll ever get
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Is right here in your heart
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He will comfort
guide and teach you
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You will never be apart
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And if you give
your heart to Him
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You'll never want again
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For He's the
best and greatest gift
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God ever gave to man
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Yes, Jesus is the greatest gift
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God ever gave to man
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For He's all I need
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He's all I need
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Jesus is all I need
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And if you gave
your heart to Him
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You'll never want again
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For He's the
best and greatest gift
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God ever gave to man
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Yes, Jesus is the greatest gift
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God ever gave to man
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Amen. Hallelujah.
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Praise the Lord. Beautiful.
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I got goosebumps.
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Thank you, Tim,
that's beautiful.
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Thank you so much, Tim.
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I can't even hear
that without crying.
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I mean, because
Jesus is the greatest gift.
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Yeah, I'll give you my
opinion why, one of the reasons.
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Yes.
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Because when
you're a songwriter,
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you write poems,
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or I'm sure the
pastor when you're preaching,
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there's times that you
know, this didn't come from you.
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Come on now. That's right.
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So that's
really humbling to know
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that God gave it to you.
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Amen.
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When Tim is playing, he
knows God gave that to him.
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Yes. It was nothing he did.
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Yeah, he
practiced, but God still gave.
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There's a lot of people
who practice as much as him,
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who does not have
that gift that he has.
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That's right. And the anointing.
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The anointing. Yeah.
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He has an
anointing. He absolutely does.
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These words,
cause I've been there,
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you see, I
didn't even write that.
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Yeah, I know.
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I heard Laney Wolf,
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who's one of the
greatest minds in my mind
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and, you know,
ever gospel songwriters
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and there's times like
you and he co-wrote the song.
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And he says,
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"Seven hundred
songs I've written,
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this one God just took
the pen and wrote it for me."
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You know, so that's
what we're hearing today.
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That's an incredible song.
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First time it's
been done, right?
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Yes.
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We do it before we
ended up not doing it.
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I have a feeling
people are going to be wanting
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to sing that all
over and around the world.
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Wouldn't that be neat? Yes.
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That's beautiful. I love it.
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You say you
looked under the tree?
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Yes.
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You know, I
thought I had all the gifts
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when I looked under the tree,
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but then I heard
a voice that said,
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"You didn't think of Me."
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Yeah.
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Which is a great segue
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to what I wanted to
talk about for just a minute.
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Look at you.
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Because it just hit me because,
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you know,
Christmas, what is Christmas?
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You know, we say the
Santa Claus and reindeer
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and, you know,
all of these things.
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And so many
people around the world
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celebrate Christmas
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and they're looking
under that tree for the gift.
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"What did I get for Christmas?
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What did I get?
What I gave to you?"
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That's a devil's plan
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of taking something as
beautiful as the birth...
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I don't want to say
that the birth, death,
00:10:03.10\00:10:05.43
and resurrection of
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:10:05.47\00:10:08.00
they want to take that
00:10:08.04\00:10:09.37
and the devil wants
to get eyes off of that
00:10:09.40\00:10:10.97
and put it on about us
and all, this is wonderful.
00:10:11.01\00:10:14.54
And, you know, as kids,
00:10:14.58\00:10:16.11
that's all fun and to
think about a lot of that stuff,
00:10:16.14\00:10:18.45
but I mean, you know, Christmas
00:10:18.48\00:10:20.48
and then we have those people
on one side, we totally forget,
00:10:20.52\00:10:24.02
you know, but on the other side
00:10:24.05\00:10:25.85
that I'm amazed
the devil doesn't care
00:10:25.89\00:10:27.66
as Teresa Booth used to say,
00:10:27.69\00:10:29.02
"Which side of the
boat you fall out of,
00:10:29.06\00:10:30.76
just as long as you fall out."
00:10:30.79\00:10:32.76
So there are people who,
00:10:32.79\00:10:34.86
you know, we've
totally forget about
00:10:34.90\00:10:37.67
the real meaning of Christmas.
00:10:37.70\00:10:39.47
So secular, but
on the other hand,
00:10:39.50\00:10:40.97
then you have people
they've written here,
00:10:41.00\00:10:42.50
they've written to me and so
00:10:42.54\00:10:43.87
why do you even
mention the word Christmas?
00:10:43.91\00:10:46.44
You know, that's Christ, mass
00:10:46.47\00:10:48.08
that's just short for Christmas.
00:10:48.11\00:10:49.44
That's a Catholic tradition
or it's pagan tradition.
00:10:49.48\00:10:53.58
You know, December 25th,
00:10:53.62\00:10:55.25
Christ wasn't
born on December 25th,
00:10:55.28\00:10:57.65
and you know what, we know that.
00:10:57.69\00:10:59.49
And we absolutely know that.
00:10:59.52\00:11:02.26
And wherever that came
from and the word Christmas
00:11:02.29\00:11:06.16
I'm sure that's true,
00:11:06.19\00:11:07.53
in fact, the first the I
think the very first time
00:11:07.56\00:11:10.70
Christmas was recorded
00:11:10.73\00:11:12.40
celebration of
Christmas was 336 AD,
00:11:12.43\00:11:15.44
I think, it was
King Constantine,
00:11:15.47\00:11:17.41
who was a
Christian, who was Catholic,
00:11:17.44\00:11:18.84
but they made that.
00:11:18.87\00:11:20.91
But you can say,
00:11:20.94\00:11:22.28
"Okay, I'm gonna
stay away from that,"
00:11:22.31\00:11:23.91
because, you know,
they did it or paganism.
00:11:23.95\00:11:28.08
I won't get into all the sun god
00:11:28.12\00:11:30.42
and the sun worship but...
00:11:30.45\00:11:32.29
Or we can say,
look, here we are,
00:11:32.32\00:11:34.26
in a situation where the world,
00:11:34.29\00:11:36.86
this time of year,
00:11:36.89\00:11:38.59
is willing to hear about Jesus.
00:11:38.63\00:11:41.70
That's right.
00:11:41.73\00:11:43.06
And so you go into Walmart,
00:11:43.10\00:11:44.80
I don't care what
stores you go into,
00:11:44.83\00:11:46.37
gas stations,
Christmas music's playing,
00:11:46.40\00:11:48.90
some other secular,
00:11:48.94\00:11:50.31
but still they will
play religious music
00:11:50.34\00:11:53.44
talking about
the birth of Christ,
00:11:53.48\00:11:55.01
Silent Night,
00:11:55.04\00:11:56.38
you've heard all the songs,
Hark the Herald Angels Sing,
00:11:56.41\00:11:58.71
they never would
any other time of year.
00:11:58.75\00:12:00.95
What a great
opportunity to be a witness.
00:12:00.98\00:12:03.79
So I'm amazed that
people have written to me,
00:12:03.82\00:12:06.32
and I actually
talked to a fellow,
00:12:06.35\00:12:07.72
he was a pastor that worked here
00:12:07.76\00:12:09.66
from another denomination.
00:12:09.69\00:12:11.03
And he said,
00:12:11.06\00:12:12.39
"I'm so disappointed that
you as a Seventh-day Adventists
00:12:12.43\00:12:15.83
would celebrate Christmas."
00:12:15.86\00:12:18.13
And I said, "Well,
to explain celebrate..."
00:12:18.17\00:12:19.93
Well, just
acknowledge Christmas,
00:12:19.97\00:12:21.97
you know, December 25 and,
00:12:22.00\00:12:24.11
you know, kind of
the word Christmas
00:12:24.14\00:12:25.77
and you even
mention it on the air.
00:12:25.81\00:12:27.44
But I said,
00:12:27.48\00:12:28.81
"You know, it's
really interesting because,
00:12:28.84\00:12:31.35
as he had said,
00:12:31.38\00:12:32.71
we don't know the
day Christ was born.
00:12:32.75\00:12:35.52
Now we don't think it's...
00:12:35.55\00:12:37.39
From everything we can tell,
00:12:37.42\00:12:38.75
it's probably in
the fall or the spring."
00:12:38.79\00:12:40.12
Right.
00:12:40.16\00:12:41.49
We don't really know,
00:12:41.52\00:12:42.86
the shepherds were probably
wouldn't be out in the snow
00:12:42.89\00:12:44.23
and all that because
it isn't cold over there
00:12:44.26\00:12:45.59
in the winter time.
00:12:45.63\00:12:46.96
But we don't know that.
00:12:47.00\00:12:48.33
But here's what's interesting.
00:12:48.36\00:12:49.70
I said to this pastor,
00:12:49.73\00:12:51.07
"Isn't that interesting,
00:12:51.10\00:12:52.43
we're celebrating
00:12:52.47\00:12:53.80
the birth of
Christ on this earth.
00:12:53.84\00:12:55.64
But actually, when
we celebrate Christ,
00:12:55.67\00:12:57.91
there is no birth
00:12:57.94\00:12:59.34
because He's the
beginning and the end.
00:12:59.37\00:13:00.98
He's the Alpha, He's the Omega.
00:13:01.01\00:13:02.34
He's the first and the last."
00:13:02.38\00:13:03.71
Right.
00:13:03.75\00:13:05.08
So that's all, you
know, frivolous to me.
00:13:05.11\00:13:07.12
So when was born is not
important on this earth.
00:13:07.15\00:13:10.89
It's the fact that he
was born and gave His life
00:13:10.92\00:13:15.06
and sacrificed for
each and every one of us.
00:13:15.09\00:13:18.19
But I said to
this person, I said,
00:13:18.23\00:13:19.63
"Isn't it
interesting that you're saying,
00:13:19.66\00:13:21.96
well, you know, I don't want
anything to do with Christmas
00:13:22.00\00:13:24.33
because that's
pagan, that's Catholic,
00:13:24.37\00:13:26.80
and Protestant or this."
00:13:26.84\00:13:28.87
And I said,
00:13:28.90\00:13:30.24
"Well, why is it
then you're upset that
00:13:30.27\00:13:32.87
I will at least
acknowledge the season
00:13:32.91\00:13:35.84
not necessarily the day.
00:13:35.88\00:13:37.71
But I'll acknowledge the
season that Christ was born
00:13:37.75\00:13:40.82
because we don't really
know of the day, for sure.
00:13:40.85\00:13:44.32
But you will go to
church every Sunday,
00:13:44.35\00:13:46.99
when God said,
00:13:47.02\00:13:48.36
"Oh, the seventh day's
00:13:48.39\00:13:49.72
the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,
00:13:49.76\00:13:51.09
and that has been
changed by the Catholic Church."
00:13:51.13\00:13:53.96
I mean, there's
wonderful Catholic people.
00:13:54.00\00:13:55.83
I don't mean we're talking
about organizations right now.
00:13:55.86\00:13:58.53
But yet, people want to be
so legalistic about it to say,
00:13:58.57\00:14:02.64
"Oh, well..." So I said,
00:14:02.67\00:14:04.01
"Well, look, this is totally
00:14:04.04\00:14:05.97
we know what day God said
00:14:06.01\00:14:07.88
to keep as a
seventh day Sabbath."
00:14:07.91\00:14:10.01
And this person is a Christian,
00:14:10.05\00:14:11.38
I said, "You're aware,
He said the seventh day,
00:14:11.41\00:14:14.18
and you realize Sunday is
the first day of the week."
00:14:14.22\00:14:16.65
And so now you
want to talk about me,
00:14:16.69\00:14:19.55
because we, you know,
00:14:19.59\00:14:21.36
I'm not saying we go
all out for Christmas,
00:14:21.39\00:14:23.26
but just
acknowledge the birth of Christ.
00:14:23.29\00:14:26.29
And so I didn't
care if I grew up...
00:14:26.33\00:14:28.96
It was on September,
00:14:29.00\00:14:30.50
that'd have been fine with me
00:14:30.53\00:14:31.87
because, as I
said, Christ wasn't...
00:14:31.90\00:14:33.87
He's not dictated by this earth,
00:14:33.90\00:14:36.60
by the rules and the
laws of the earth around here.
00:14:36.64\00:14:40.94
So as I said, the
first and the last,
00:14:40.98\00:14:42.81
there is no beginning.
There's no end to Him.
00:14:42.84\00:14:44.31
That's right.
00:14:44.35\00:14:45.68
So I said, isn't it interesting
that people want to...
00:14:45.71\00:14:47.85
They say a guy at a
gnat and swallow a camel,
00:14:47.88\00:14:50.19
but you when we do have a
day, and God set that day aside,
00:14:50.22\00:14:54.49
and then we know that
somebody has changed it,
00:14:54.52\00:14:56.62
we're willing to do that
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.19
and go to church
on a day every week.
00:14:58.23\00:15:00.60
There is nothing
that the Lord put up
00:15:00.63\00:15:02.63
and you know it's not
00:15:02.66\00:15:04.00
and then you're
worried about somebody who's...
00:15:04.03\00:15:05.60
"Well, Christmas,
you know, I don't know,
00:15:05.63\00:15:07.17
I don't think
Christ was born that day."
00:15:07.20\00:15:08.57
Yeah. So it all goes back to...
00:15:08.60\00:15:10.91
To me, it's balance. Amen.
00:15:10.94\00:15:12.97
It's what do we
do with what we have.
00:15:13.01\00:15:14.34
Okay. Okay?
00:15:14.38\00:15:15.71
So in the era in which
we live, and where we are,
00:15:15.74\00:15:21.72
and the way we were raised,
okay, I look at is every year,
00:15:21.75\00:15:24.79
what an incredible opportunity
00:15:24.82\00:15:27.02
to witness for
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:15:27.06\00:15:28.92
about His birth
00:15:28.96\00:15:30.29
because a lot of
people are not...
00:15:30.33\00:15:32.09
Atheists celebrate Christmas,
not necessarily that part.
00:15:32.13\00:15:35.26
But you'll see
they're buying presents,
00:15:35.30\00:15:37.50
in a spirit, they
call it, of Christmas,
00:15:37.53\00:15:40.27
and all of this stuff.
00:15:40.30\00:15:41.64
But yet the true
meaning is there.
00:15:41.67\00:15:43.27
And we need people saying,
00:15:43.30\00:15:44.77
"We don't care. We know for...
00:15:44.81\00:15:46.88
We're almost positive,
it wasn't December 25th."
00:15:46.91\00:15:49.94
But we are
positive that He was born,
00:15:49.98\00:15:52.61
that there's a
plan of salvation,
00:15:52.65\00:15:54.32
Jesus came down, born
in a manger in Bethlehem,
00:15:54.35\00:15:58.35
and lived for 33
years, and literally died.
00:15:58.39\00:16:03.06
Nobody took His life.
00:16:03.09\00:16:04.43
He gave it on
the cross of Calvary.
00:16:04.46\00:16:05.79
That's right.
00:16:05.83\00:16:07.16
And now through His death,
00:16:07.20\00:16:08.53
His burial and His resurrection,
00:16:08.56\00:16:09.90
He's now at the ever-interceding
00:16:09.93\00:16:11.77
at the right hand of the Father,
00:16:11.80\00:16:13.44
just for you and for me.
00:16:13.47\00:16:14.80
That's what we're
telling the world about,
00:16:14.84\00:16:16.57
that's what we're talking about
00:16:16.60\00:16:17.94
whether it's December
25th or March 10th or April 25.
00:16:17.97\00:16:22.08
We don't care. We don't care.
00:16:22.11\00:16:24.21
We're going to be there
when we can and reach people,
00:16:24.25\00:16:27.65
we're in the reachable.
00:16:27.68\00:16:29.02
I don't know,
that's my little deal.
00:16:29.05\00:16:31.79
And that's what
we're here to do today.
00:16:31.82\00:16:33.79
Please don't write me
letters to complain about it
00:16:33.82\00:16:36.93
'cause I'll
probably just throw them out.
00:16:36.96\00:16:40.30
That's what we want to
do today is to talk about
00:16:40.33\00:16:43.40
what Christmas means to us
00:16:43.43\00:16:46.13
and, you know, what things
we want to share with you,
00:16:46.17\00:16:49.40
just some ideas about Christmas
that's worth holding on to.
00:16:49.44\00:16:52.77
So what were you gonna say?
00:16:52.81\00:16:54.14
I just wanted to comment
on what he's talking about
00:16:54.18\00:16:56.04
'cause over the years,
00:16:56.08\00:16:57.41
I struggled with the same thing,
00:16:57.45\00:16:58.78
and I can just hear
in my mind people saying,
00:16:58.81\00:17:00.82
"Okay, you're
talking about Sunday,
00:17:00.85\00:17:02.62
well, then why keep the other?"
00:17:02.65\00:17:04.65
You know, but
what really helped me,
00:17:04.69\00:17:07.16
well, there's a lot of things
that the Lord helped me with,
00:17:07.19\00:17:09.92
there was one verse
00:17:09.96\00:17:11.29
I haven't been able to find
that helped me to understand
00:17:11.33\00:17:14.03
about traditions
in a certain time
00:17:14.06\00:17:16.13
and how it's different.
00:17:16.16\00:17:17.83
But what really
helped us through prayer
00:17:17.87\00:17:19.77
because we are so
blessed to have a prophet.
00:17:19.80\00:17:21.74
And she talks about
Christmas, and I read about it.
00:17:21.77\00:17:24.67
And she talked about her faith
00:17:24.71\00:17:26.34
and having a
tree, not having a tree,
00:17:26.37\00:17:28.04
and how God would be pleased
if every church had a tree,
00:17:28.08\00:17:31.21
a Christmas
tree laden with money
00:17:31.25\00:17:32.98
to give to the poor.
00:17:33.01\00:17:34.35
But what helped me to
understand when I hear,
00:17:34.38\00:17:37.09
"Oh, it's pagan,
it's pagan, it's pagan,"
00:17:37.12\00:17:39.09
as I was praying
and studying and saying,
00:17:39.12\00:17:41.02
"Lord, I don't understand."
00:17:41.06\00:17:43.22
The difference is,
00:17:43.26\00:17:45.09
it's because it
doesn't break His law.
00:17:45.13\00:17:47.50
So it's not a sin. Right.
00:17:47.53\00:17:48.96
Sin is the
transgression of the law.
00:17:49.00\00:17:51.07
See, Sabbath and
Sunday right there, you hit it
00:17:51.10\00:17:54.27
because to change that is
transgression of God's law.
00:17:54.30\00:17:58.27
There's a lot of things
that Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
00:17:58.31\00:18:01.01
Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
00:18:01.04\00:18:02.54
those are all pagan names.
00:18:02.58\00:18:04.31
The key to the city is pagan.
00:18:04.35\00:18:06.15
You'll love this one,
Danny, ties are pagan.
00:18:06.18\00:18:09.42
I know that.
00:18:09.45\00:18:12.02
From paganism.
00:18:12.05\00:18:13.39
I guess I'll do
the lecture today.
00:18:13.42\00:18:14.76
Today.
00:18:14.79\00:18:16.12
If you see in the
time we're living in,
00:18:16.16\00:18:17.56
we're not
worshipping these things,
00:18:17.59\00:18:20.26
we're not... Whether it's a tie,
00:18:20.30\00:18:22.83
it has lost that
paganistic meaning.
00:18:22.86\00:18:25.33
So there's a lot of
traditions that we keep that,
00:18:25.37\00:18:28.84
you know, if we began
to worship these things,
00:18:28.87\00:18:31.04
then it would become...
00:18:31.07\00:18:32.41
It'd be an idol and
we would be sinning.
00:18:32.44\00:18:35.08
But as long as
we're not in our focus,
00:18:35.11\00:18:37.45
I think, you know, the blessing,
00:18:37.48\00:18:39.21
"Spirit of Prophecy"
00:18:39.25\00:18:40.58
is that it helps
us to point us back
00:18:40.62\00:18:43.15
to what you started
with what that song,
00:18:43.18\00:18:45.65
that song was like a
whole hour right there
00:18:45.69\00:18:49.02
that Christ is
the greatest gift.
00:18:49.06\00:18:51.19
And as you were saying,
00:18:51.23\00:18:52.56
this is a time
when people's hearts,
00:18:52.59\00:18:54.56
they're open
00:18:54.60\00:18:55.93
because this has always had
00:18:55.96\00:18:57.30
kind of a special
meaning in their lives.
00:18:57.33\00:18:59.00
That's right.
00:18:59.03\00:19:00.37
Why not take advantage
00:19:00.40\00:19:01.74
of the
opportunity to reach people
00:19:01.77\00:19:04.84
when they're most open to it?
00:19:04.87\00:19:06.21
Amen.
00:19:06.24\00:19:07.58
I mean, that just
makes the most sense to me.
00:19:07.61\00:19:09.94
You know, they're open to it,
00:19:09.98\00:19:11.31
the music is
playing in the stores,
00:19:11.35\00:19:13.08
you can give out tracks,
00:19:13.11\00:19:14.45
you can, you know,
have a way of meeting people
00:19:14.48\00:19:18.25
where they are at that time.
00:19:18.29\00:19:20.39
Well, you know,
Jesus, He did say, and again,
00:19:20.42\00:19:23.09
it's not
worshiping what we're doing
00:19:23.12\00:19:24.56
'cause He said,
00:19:24.59\00:19:25.93
"In vain do they worship me,
00:19:25.96\00:19:27.30
teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men."
00:19:27.33\00:19:29.16
Why?
00:19:29.20\00:19:30.53
Something when you
mentioned this program,
00:19:30.57\00:19:32.43
there's something that hit
me and I thought, you know,
00:19:32.47\00:19:34.04
I jotted it down.
00:19:34.07\00:19:35.57
I just have to read it
00:19:35.60\00:19:37.27
because when I
think of this season,
00:19:37.31\00:19:40.78
many times I
think I've forgotten...
00:19:40.81\00:19:43.28
We always say the reason
you know, for the season...
00:19:43.31\00:19:45.25
You know, Jesus is
the reason for the season,
00:19:45.28\00:19:47.22
but I think so often,
00:19:47.25\00:19:48.58
maybe we forget
that maybe I forget that.
00:19:48.62\00:19:51.49
And in this I
thought how interesting
00:19:51.52\00:19:53.56
when you talk about
before the incarnation,
00:19:53.59\00:19:57.13
so when you call
and said I just said,
00:19:57.16\00:19:58.93
"Lord, what could you give me
00:19:58.96\00:20:01.66
that I could give to
be an encouragement."
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.16
And it may just be for me.
00:20:03.20\00:20:05.07
And so I found
and I love the book
00:20:05.10\00:20:06.77
"Desire of Ages," 410.
00:20:06.80\00:20:08.24
Yes.
00:20:08.27\00:20:09.60
It says this,
00:20:09.64\00:20:10.97
it's talking about
the birth of Christ.
00:20:11.01\00:20:12.37
That's why we're here.
00:20:12.41\00:20:13.74
We're talking about
the birth of Christ.
00:20:13.78\00:20:15.11
We're talking about
His life, His example,
00:20:15.14\00:20:17.25
everything that He did
for us and is doing right now.
00:20:17.28\00:20:20.55
You mentioned, you
know, He's ever-interceding.
00:20:20.58\00:20:22.32
Praise God for that,
00:20:22.35\00:20:23.69
we wouldn't have a chance.
00:20:23.72\00:20:25.05
But this is the thing
00:20:25.09\00:20:26.42
that just kept going
through over in my mind.
00:20:26.45\00:20:28.46
It says, "Even before,"
00:20:28.49\00:20:30.39
many of you
will understand this,
00:20:30.43\00:20:32.59
"before He took
humanity upon him."
00:20:32.63\00:20:35.90
Right before He
was born in the manger,
00:20:35.93\00:20:37.70
before He came down here,
00:20:37.73\00:20:40.27
He saw the whole
length of the path
00:20:40.30\00:20:43.54
that he must travel
00:20:43.57\00:20:45.84
in order to save
that which was lost.
00:20:45.87\00:20:49.04
Every pain, every
rant of His heart,
00:20:49.08\00:20:53.78
every insult that
was heaped upon His head,
00:20:53.82\00:20:58.19
every privation that
He was called to endure
00:20:58.22\00:21:01.52
was open to His view
00:21:01.56\00:21:04.03
before He laid aside
His crown and royal robe,
00:21:04.06\00:21:09.40
stepped down from the throne,
00:21:09.43\00:21:12.00
to clothe His
divinity with humanity.
00:21:12.03\00:21:15.30
The path from
the manger to Calvary
00:21:15.34\00:21:18.94
was all before His eye.
00:21:18.97\00:21:22.04
He knew that the,
00:21:22.08\00:21:23.41
notice this,
00:21:23.45\00:21:24.78
"He knew that the anguish
that would come upon Him.
00:21:24.81\00:21:27.68
He knew it all.
00:21:27.72\00:21:29.95
And yet, He said..."
00:21:29.98\00:21:32.49
This is amazing, right?
00:21:32.52\00:21:33.86
We have to look at what
we're thinking about the baby,
00:21:33.89\00:21:35.42
we're talking about being born,
taking on, you know, humanity.
00:21:35.46\00:21:39.29
Before he looked
down the stream of time,
00:21:39.33\00:21:41.70
I was just... I
shed tears on my own.
00:21:41.73\00:21:44.33
You know, in private, we say...
00:21:44.37\00:21:45.70
Just read it
00:21:45.73\00:21:47.07
and just say He'd seen
everything He would go through,
00:21:47.10\00:21:49.97
all the experiences
He knew as Christ is God.
00:21:50.01\00:21:54.91
And He still said,
00:21:54.94\00:21:56.28
"I love man,
enough that I'm willing,
00:21:56.31\00:21:58.58
there's no other way for
man to have forgiveness of sin."
00:21:58.61\00:22:02.18
And so He said,
00:22:02.22\00:22:03.92
Psalms 40:7-8, you
know it well, He said,
00:22:03.95\00:22:06.52
"Lo, I come," you know,
00:22:06.55\00:22:08.39
"in the volume of
this book, it is written,"
00:22:08.42\00:22:10.13
notice this,
00:22:10.16\00:22:11.49
"I delight to do
Thy will, O my God, yea,
00:22:11.53\00:22:15.06
Thy law is within my heart."
00:22:15.10\00:22:19.53
Just to be able for
Him to look down and know
00:22:19.57\00:22:22.80
how He'd be rejected
of men, despised of men,
00:22:22.84\00:22:26.11
nailed to the cross,
00:22:26.14\00:22:27.84
somehow He saw
us, He saw mankind,
00:22:27.88\00:22:33.62
He saw there was no
hope for this world,
00:22:33.65\00:22:35.42
He saw there was
no hope for any of us.
00:22:35.45\00:22:37.95
And He was
willing to go through,
00:22:37.99\00:22:40.32
He saw it all.
00:22:40.36\00:22:42.02
That might be a song too.
00:22:42.06\00:22:43.39
He Saw it All. Oh, I like it.
00:22:43.43\00:22:45.29
You know, before He came...
00:22:45.33\00:22:47.60
I was thinking
about writing one.
00:22:47.63\00:22:48.96
Go ahead. Go ahead.
00:22:49.00\00:22:51.40
Before He came,
00:22:51.43\00:22:52.77
I mean, to me that
just addled my mind,
00:22:52.80\00:22:56.10
just like...
00:22:56.14\00:22:57.47
Because many
times if we could see
00:22:57.51\00:22:58.84
some of the things
that would transpire
00:22:58.87\00:23:00.28
from some of the
decisions that we have made,
00:23:00.31\00:23:04.15
you know, and we see
what's going to come,
00:23:04.18\00:23:05.95
many of us just run from it.
00:23:05.98\00:23:07.32
We just, you know,
and some of the things,
00:23:07.35\00:23:08.68
you're in this last day
00:23:08.72\00:23:10.05
giving the message to the world,
00:23:10.09\00:23:11.45
you know, if we
realized what was being said
00:23:11.49\00:23:13.59
and how there may come a time
00:23:13.62\00:23:15.06
that those
things will come back,
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.53
how many would
continue on to do what they did?
00:23:17.56\00:23:19.79
No one can see like
Jesus, and/or saw, but anyway,
00:23:19.83\00:23:22.86
He was willing, and
that just encouraged me.
00:23:22.90\00:23:26.03
Yes.
00:23:26.07\00:23:27.40
He was willing to come
00:23:27.44\00:23:28.77
as a baby in a manger, helpless.
00:23:28.80\00:23:30.44
Amen.
00:23:30.47\00:23:31.81
To change His whole
nature to come back fully man,
00:23:31.84\00:23:37.31
even though He's fully God,
00:23:37.35\00:23:38.68
he's fully man and
come to this planet,
00:23:38.71\00:23:43.69
leaving paradise.
00:23:43.72\00:23:45.15
We can't even describe,
00:23:45.19\00:23:46.82
we don't even
know what it's like.
00:23:46.86\00:23:49.29
And to leave that to come here,
00:23:49.32\00:23:51.59
and to be rejected
and beaten and tortured,
00:23:51.63\00:23:56.50
I mean... It gives us value.
00:23:56.53\00:23:59.97
Yes.
00:24:00.00\00:24:01.34
When you think, you know,
00:24:01.37\00:24:02.70
if you think that
00:24:02.74\00:24:04.07
you're not worthy of
anything or whatever,
00:24:04.11\00:24:06.74
you have value because
Jesus placed value on you.
00:24:06.78\00:24:11.51
That's good. Yeah.
00:24:11.55\00:24:12.88
I mean, it just...
00:24:12.91\00:24:14.25
Like what you're
saying right now is
00:24:14.28\00:24:15.92
I have to try to rethink
00:24:15.95\00:24:19.19
how I conduct
myself during this time.
00:24:19.22\00:24:21.99
I have to really think about it
because the whole object of it.
00:24:22.02\00:24:26.80
This time of the year
we're saying is Jesus,
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.36
and I have to look at
what He was willing to do
00:24:29.40\00:24:31.67
and what He did do.
00:24:31.70\00:24:33.03
That's right.
00:24:33.07\00:24:34.40
And it just kind of
puts things in perspective
00:24:34.44\00:24:36.10
and some of the stuff,
I just want to, you know,
00:24:36.14\00:24:38.14
not trying to get
away, just kind of show...
00:24:38.17\00:24:39.51
And here's the theme.
00:24:39.54\00:24:41.48
Here's really the reason.
00:24:41.51\00:24:43.98
And not just say it,
00:24:44.01\00:24:46.15
that should be our
theme and our thought
00:24:46.18\00:24:47.52
when we gather together,
00:24:47.55\00:24:48.88
whether in the
house or anything I do.
00:24:48.92\00:24:50.25
Jesus. Jesus.
00:24:50.29\00:24:51.62
Yeah, that's it. Amen.
00:24:51.65\00:24:52.99
And like it goes
back to that song,
00:24:53.02\00:24:54.36
"The Greatest Gift."
00:24:54.39\00:24:56.02
I mean, to stop and think
00:24:56.06\00:24:58.03
that He thinks
that we're worth that.
00:24:58.06\00:25:00.26
Wow.
00:25:00.30\00:25:01.63
You know, when I
think even about Christian
00:25:01.66\00:25:04.43
and going
through these last days
00:25:04.47\00:25:07.14
and what it means to be fully,
00:25:07.17\00:25:10.71
fully relying upon
him and all the world,
00:25:10.74\00:25:14.44
and all the support of the world
00:25:14.48\00:25:17.15
will be cut away from us.
00:25:17.18\00:25:19.18
You know, and what
Christ went through
00:25:19.21\00:25:21.55
and to see it before,
00:25:21.58\00:25:22.92
and I cry if I
see an animal killed,
00:25:22.95\00:25:26.25
you know, I'd cry if it's mine.
00:25:26.29\00:25:29.06
Well.
00:25:29.09\00:25:30.43
But I remember one time,
00:25:30.46\00:25:31.79
you know,
several times going down,
00:25:31.83\00:25:33.16
and I pray for animals
that are out on the road,
00:25:33.19\00:25:34.80
"Lord, please get
them off, get him off,"
00:25:34.83\00:25:37.17
you know, 'cause to see
it, it breaks your heart.
00:25:37.20\00:25:40.04
And here He saw
00:25:40.07\00:25:41.40
what was going to happen to Him.
00:25:41.44\00:25:43.34
He knew the feelings.
00:25:43.37\00:25:45.31
And yet if He were to exhibit
00:25:45.34\00:25:48.41
or to exert His own godly power,
00:25:48.44\00:25:52.45
we would have been lost.
00:25:52.48\00:25:54.55
He had a way out.
00:25:54.58\00:25:55.92
He did. He had a way out.
00:25:55.95\00:25:58.65
The song says.
00:25:58.69\00:26:00.02
"He Could Have
Called Ten Thousand Angels."
00:26:00.06\00:26:03.53
He had a way.
00:26:03.56\00:26:04.89
But He looked down, He said,
00:26:04.93\00:26:06.26
"Danny's more
important than My life.
00:26:06.29\00:26:09.16
Yvonne, you're more important
than the stripes on my back.
00:26:09.20\00:26:13.77
Kenny, you're more important
than the holes in my head
00:26:13.80\00:26:17.67
from the crown of thorns."
00:26:17.71\00:26:19.04
Yeah. That's what
breaks your heart.
00:26:19.07\00:26:20.41
It breaks my heart.
00:26:20.44\00:26:21.81
But it's going back and
thinking about these things
00:26:21.84\00:26:24.81
and the greatest gift...
00:26:24.85\00:26:26.51
It's no wonder that we read
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.22
that all of heaven
was given in that manger.
00:26:28.25\00:26:33.09
Amen.
00:26:33.12\00:26:34.46
When those shepherds
were called from the field,
00:26:34.49\00:26:37.33
and I like this
00:26:37.36\00:26:38.69
'cause that's one
thing I did read a little bit
00:26:38.73\00:26:40.60
before coming today...
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.00
Tonight was that the angels
'cause you think about it,
00:26:43.03\00:26:46.10
it was so dark, and the angels,
00:26:46.13\00:26:48.67
just the glory
of God's so bright.
00:26:48.70\00:26:50.71
Think about Moses, you know,
00:26:50.74\00:26:52.27
they had to cover his head
00:26:52.31\00:26:53.64
after he'd been in
the presence of God.
00:26:53.68\00:26:55.71
And here are angels
coming from the presence of God.
00:26:55.74\00:26:57.81
But there was one,
00:26:57.85\00:26:59.18
we're told in
"Spirit of Prophecy,"
00:26:59.21\00:27:00.55
one angel that came down,
00:27:00.58\00:27:01.95
and he strengthened them
00:27:01.98\00:27:04.15
to be able to
stand in that glory.
00:27:04.19\00:27:06.79
And I thought,
00:27:06.82\00:27:08.16
"What hope and what help
we have to look forward to
00:27:08.19\00:27:12.73
to be strengthened
in these last days."
00:27:12.76\00:27:14.86
Amen.
00:27:14.90\00:27:16.23
To stand,
everything else is pulled apart
00:27:16.26\00:27:19.47
so that we can
stand in the glory of God.
00:27:19.50\00:27:21.50
Amen.
00:27:21.54\00:27:22.87
It's interesting
that as you're talking,
00:27:22.90\00:27:24.71
it reminded me that when
He came, He could have...
00:27:24.74\00:27:28.01
At His birth,
00:27:28.04\00:27:29.38
he could have come
to earth the first time
00:27:29.41\00:27:30.85
with 10,000 angels.
00:27:30.88\00:27:32.21
Oh, yes. Yeah.
00:27:32.25\00:27:33.58
He could have come
with these radiant beams of,
00:27:33.62\00:27:35.72
you know, His
purity all around Him.
00:27:35.75\00:27:38.55
But He would not
relate to anybody on earth.
00:27:38.59\00:27:41.59
So you say,
00:27:41.62\00:27:42.96
"Oh, well, it's easy for
Him 'cause He's privileged."
00:27:42.99\00:27:45.03
That's right.
00:27:45.06\00:27:46.39
We hear that
word a lot nowadays.
00:27:46.43\00:27:47.76
"He's privileged."
00:27:47.80\00:27:49.13
So well, He was, you
know, all of this stuff.
00:27:49.16\00:27:50.93
No.
00:27:50.97\00:27:52.30
So He came to
the lowly of lowly,
00:27:52.33\00:27:54.17
wasn't even born in a family
in a home and all of that,
00:27:54.20\00:27:57.77
He was born out in a manger.
00:27:57.81\00:27:59.31
That's not coincidence,
00:27:59.34\00:28:00.81
you know, that's
all divine providence,
00:28:00.84\00:28:03.51
a babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes,
00:28:03.55\00:28:05.35
it says, in a manger,
00:28:05.38\00:28:06.98
and literally no
place to lay his head.
00:28:07.02\00:28:09.85
And here you
have the Son of God,
00:28:09.88\00:28:11.69
the Creator of
the universe, saying,
00:28:11.72\00:28:14.56
"I know what this life is like.
00:28:14.59\00:28:16.83
And I know for those of you
who are struggling, you know,
00:28:16.86\00:28:20.20
'Hey, I was born there.'"
00:28:20.23\00:28:22.03
And yet, you know, to see Him
00:28:22.06\00:28:24.83
come up the way he
came through all those years
00:28:24.87\00:28:29.04
and then to take,
00:28:29.07\00:28:30.41
as you mentioned, the rejection
00:28:30.44\00:28:33.07
because
literally most of His life
00:28:33.11\00:28:34.94
is about rejection.
00:28:34.98\00:28:36.64
When He went into
ministry, for sure,
00:28:36.68\00:28:38.55
they probably
liked Him as a carpenter.
00:28:38.58\00:28:40.68
You know, really
good at what He did.
00:28:40.72\00:28:42.15
Yeah. Probably the best.
00:28:42.18\00:28:43.85
Everything had to be
perfect. People loved Him.
00:28:43.89\00:28:46.49
Kenny and I know
something about that
00:28:46.52\00:28:47.86
used to when we were...
00:28:47.89\00:28:49.22
I would say when we were in
construction full time back,
00:28:49.26\00:28:51.96
you know, in the
'70s and all of that,
00:28:51.99\00:28:54.46
I mean, we had a lot of friends.
00:28:54.50\00:28:55.83
People seem to like me,
00:28:55.86\00:28:57.20
as soon as we got into ministry,
00:28:57.23\00:28:58.57
you find out how
many enemies you got.
00:28:58.60\00:28:59.93
And you're like,
00:28:59.97\00:29:01.30
"What did I do
wrong? What's different?"
00:29:01.34\00:29:02.67
Well, they just...
00:29:02.70\00:29:04.04
But so Jesus, I'm
sure He was, you know,
00:29:04.07\00:29:07.38
you want to hire somebody,
00:29:07.41\00:29:08.74
you want somebody to
work greater than Joseph
00:29:08.78\00:29:10.58
because you're not
going to get any better,
00:29:10.61\00:29:12.78
you know, craftsman,
00:29:12.81\00:29:14.15
not just
carpenters, but craftsman.
00:29:14.18\00:29:16.12
But then when He
went into ministry,
00:29:16.15\00:29:18.99
Satan unleashed everything,
everything to destroy,
00:29:19.02\00:29:22.52
and the people around Him
basically all rejected Him.
00:29:22.56\00:29:27.46
And yet, He did it anyway.
00:29:27.50\00:29:30.20
That's right. Praise God.
00:29:30.23\00:29:31.57
Even His family didn't
know really who He was,
00:29:31.60\00:29:34.50
His brothers, His sisters,
you know, they didn't really...
00:29:34.54\00:29:37.44
He was a Man of
sorrows and with grief.
00:29:37.47\00:29:42.34
And that is just when
you think about everything
00:29:42.38\00:29:45.61
He endured for us.
00:29:45.65\00:29:47.78
You think He actually felt pain?
00:29:47.82\00:29:49.45
People say,
00:29:49.48\00:29:50.82
"Well, He had
too many advantages.
00:29:50.85\00:29:52.45
There was no problem for Him.
00:29:52.49\00:29:53.92
He just told the
devil, 'Go jump in the lake.'"
00:29:53.96\00:29:56.52
Whatever, you think
He actually felt pain
00:29:56.56\00:29:58.59
when they put
the crown of thorns
00:29:58.63\00:29:59.96
on His head,
00:30:00.00\00:30:01.33
when they
pierced Him in the side?
00:30:01.36\00:30:02.70
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:30:02.73\00:30:04.07
Absolute pain, hunger, thirst.
00:30:04.10\00:30:07.97
Everything that
we feel, He felt.
00:30:08.00\00:30:10.17
That's why He can go
back to the Father and say,
00:30:10.21\00:30:14.04
"Lord, forgive them.
00:30:14.08\00:30:16.04
I've been there.
00:30:16.08\00:30:17.41
I know what
they're going through.
00:30:17.45\00:30:19.35
I know that Godly sorrow.
00:30:19.38\00:30:22.72
I know what they've done.
00:30:22.75\00:30:24.22
Yes, they failed,
but I know, I understand.
00:30:24.25\00:30:26.99
I was there, I was
tempted in every way
00:30:27.02\00:30:29.56
that they were
tempted and I can see."
00:30:29.59\00:30:32.09
But the beauty of it is,
00:30:32.13\00:30:34.60
the Father
accepts that shed blood
00:30:34.63\00:30:37.07
and is able no
matter what we've done,
00:30:37.10\00:30:39.03
so no matter what
you've done in your past,
00:30:39.07\00:30:41.30
it doesn't make any difference.
00:30:41.34\00:30:42.67
That's right.
Isn't that amazing?
00:30:42.70\00:30:44.04
Whatever you've done,
God is willing to forgive it.
00:30:44.07\00:30:46.61
You just have to be
willing to let go of it.
00:30:46.64\00:30:48.54
People say,
00:30:48.58\00:30:49.91
"Well, you know, I
want to be a Christian,
00:30:49.94\00:30:51.71
but it's just
so many sacrifices,
00:30:51.75\00:30:53.95
so many sacrifices."
00:30:53.98\00:30:55.32
Well, yeah, you
gotta sacrifice your fear,
00:30:55.35\00:30:57.82
you gotta sacrifice your hate.
00:30:57.85\00:30:59.35
That's good.
00:30:59.39\00:31:00.89
You know, you gotta
sacrifice all these things.
00:31:00.92\00:31:02.86
For some reason,
we want to hang on
00:31:02.89\00:31:04.89
to all the
selfishness and all these things
00:31:04.93\00:31:07.40
and it's like, you know,
00:31:07.43\00:31:08.83
and all these
temptations you want to hang on.
00:31:08.86\00:31:11.73
Now the difference
is, we're still tempted.
00:31:11.77\00:31:14.00
We still fall from time to time,
00:31:14.04\00:31:16.27
but we always can
go back to Jesus...
00:31:16.30\00:31:18.37
Amen. When we're really sorry.
00:31:18.41\00:31:20.41
And it has to be a Godly sorrow,
00:31:20.44\00:31:22.61
"Lord, I'm so sorry."
00:31:22.64\00:31:24.25
He forgives us just like that.
00:31:24.28\00:31:25.81
But the devil puts us
on guilt trips to say,
00:31:25.85\00:31:28.58
"Well, you know,
you are too bad."
00:31:28.62\00:31:30.45
How many people have you
talked to and they say...
00:31:30.49\00:31:32.65
More used to...
00:31:32.69\00:31:34.02
I remember when we were younger,
00:31:34.06\00:31:35.39
working together,
00:31:35.42\00:31:36.76
people say, "Oh..."
00:31:36.79\00:31:38.13
We'd tell the guy if
he's a lumberyard driver.
00:31:38.16\00:31:39.53
We meet at lumberyard
or contractors coming out,
00:31:39.56\00:31:41.96
we'd say, talk
about coming to church,
00:31:42.00\00:31:44.03
"Oh I'd go to church,
00:31:44.07\00:31:45.40
if I walked into your church,
the roof would fall on my head.
00:31:45.43\00:31:48.44
You know, I am in no
condition to go to church.
00:31:48.47\00:31:51.21
I am spiritually too
bad to go to church."
00:31:51.24\00:31:54.41
We said that's why
the church is there.
00:31:54.44\00:31:55.94
That's right.
00:31:55.98\00:31:57.31
It's a hospital
for sinners. Yes.
00:31:57.35\00:31:59.18
You know, not necessarily
the saints but the sinners.
00:31:59.21\00:32:01.48
So that's where
we come, you know,
00:32:01.52\00:32:03.52
to join together
00:32:03.55\00:32:04.99
and so know that this salvation,
00:32:05.02\00:32:08.22
this plan of redemption
is unfathomable in our minds.
00:32:08.26\00:32:12.16
Now we see
through a glass directly
00:32:12.19\00:32:14.53
but then face to face,
00:32:14.56\00:32:16.06
someday we'll really
understand better buying,
00:32:16.10\00:32:20.50
but we
understand this great gift.
00:32:20.54\00:32:24.17
And that's why I'm not
God because I'd just say,
00:32:24.21\00:32:26.04
"Well, that's enough for
them. Like out they go...
00:32:26.07\00:32:29.68
You're gone. You know, next!"
00:32:29.71\00:32:31.81
I know I know.
00:32:31.85\00:32:33.18
You know, so that's
why he's God and I am not,
00:32:33.21\00:32:34.85
but to have to
know ahead of time...
00:32:34.88\00:32:36.38
Yeah.
00:32:36.42\00:32:37.75
What's gonna happen and say,
00:32:37.79\00:32:39.12
"You know what, My
creation's worth it.
00:32:39.15\00:32:40.49
I'm not gonna let
sin through the devil.
00:32:40.52\00:32:42.96
I'm not gonna let that."
00:32:42.99\00:32:44.33
But He had to
create us with free choice.
00:32:44.36\00:32:45.89
People are like,
00:32:45.93\00:32:47.26
"Well, why did He allow sin?
00:32:47.30\00:32:49.16
Well, if He knew that,
why did He create Satan?
00:32:49.20\00:32:51.93
Why did He, you know,
allow all this to happen?"
00:32:51.97\00:32:55.07
Just because He
loved us. He loved us.
00:32:55.10\00:32:57.57
Otherwise, you're
a bunch of robots,
00:32:57.61\00:32:59.04
you're a bunch of computers.
00:32:59.07\00:33:01.74
No, God gives us free
moral agents to choose
00:33:01.78\00:33:05.71
right from wrong.
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.08
And when we're thinking
00:33:07.12\00:33:08.45
if we can really
put everything aside,
00:33:08.48\00:33:11.19
and it's so simple,
00:33:11.22\00:33:12.55
especially when
you hit and around 70,
00:33:12.59\00:33:14.62
it's really much
easier to understand.
00:33:14.66\00:33:17.69
You're not
gonna be here forever.
00:33:17.73\00:33:19.06
What happens to me when I die?
00:33:19.09\00:33:20.80
Is there an eternity?
00:33:20.83\00:33:22.43
If so, where am I
going to spend it?
00:33:22.46\00:33:24.27
You start thinking in ways
you don't think when you're 22
00:33:24.30\00:33:26.74
and you feel good,
00:33:26.77\00:33:28.10
and you're hooked
to the world, right?
00:33:28.14\00:33:29.47
You're out there, you think,
00:33:29.50\00:33:30.84
"Boy, nobody I can't take,
00:33:30.87\00:33:32.21
you know, whatever
problem, I can go at it."
00:33:32.24\00:33:33.74
No, I think that's why
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.28
He lets us get
a little bit older
00:33:35.31\00:33:37.18
so we can humble
down sometimes and say,
00:33:37.21\00:33:40.65
"Okay, we need a Savior."
00:33:40.68\00:33:42.22
Yes.
00:33:42.25\00:33:43.59
And I'm so thankful
for this time of year.
00:33:43.62\00:33:46.49
Oh, it's a year,
of course, year-round,
00:33:46.52\00:33:48.39
but this time of year,
00:33:48.42\00:33:49.76
yeah, we're gonna
take advantage of that
00:33:49.79\00:33:51.26
and talk to as many people,
00:33:51.29\00:33:52.89
sing songs about Jesus
00:33:52.93\00:33:54.76
that we can do for
the whole world to hear
00:33:54.80\00:33:57.10
because one soul is
going to be worth it all.
00:33:57.13\00:33:59.30
That's right. That's right.
00:33:59.33\00:34:01.74
Go ahead.
00:34:01.77\00:34:03.10
No, I was gonna say something.
00:34:03.14\00:34:04.47
Go ahead, brother.
00:34:04.51\00:34:06.21
My mind went...
00:34:06.24\00:34:07.58
Brother Danny was talking there
00:34:07.61\00:34:08.94
I was reading
some of this stuff.
00:34:08.98\00:34:11.18
Two things, I think,
00:34:11.21\00:34:12.55
in principle that
probably we've known,
00:34:12.58\00:34:15.88
but yet when I read it, it just,
00:34:15.92\00:34:17.62
it really made sense to me.
00:34:17.65\00:34:19.62
And so maybe it'll
help someone else...
00:34:19.65\00:34:22.36
First of all is,
00:34:22.39\00:34:23.73
and I'm gonna
say food for thought,
00:34:23.76\00:34:25.59
food for thought that
God, we're talking about,
00:34:25.63\00:34:29.16
God came closer to
man through Christ,
00:34:29.20\00:34:33.94
notice this,
00:34:33.97\00:34:35.30
than before His
fall after sin came in,
00:34:35.34\00:34:39.67
God was drawn
closer to the sinner
00:34:39.71\00:34:43.41
because of Jesus Christ.
00:34:43.45\00:34:45.71
So God is in this picture.
00:34:45.75\00:34:48.28
You know, not
only Christ suffered,
00:34:48.32\00:34:49.68
God suffered through His Son.
00:34:49.72\00:34:52.79
And I thought I read this
00:34:52.82\00:34:54.16
because you were talking
about some time you would say,
00:34:54.19\00:34:56.06
I would say, "That's enough,"
00:34:56.09\00:34:57.69
right?
00:34:57.73\00:34:59.06
Oh, yeah.
00:34:59.09\00:35:00.43
We say, we fool with
this so long with sin,
00:35:00.46\00:35:01.86
we say, that's enough.
00:35:01.90\00:35:03.23
But I read this in
7 Testimonies 2:25,
00:35:03.26\00:35:05.23
it said,
00:35:05.27\00:35:06.60
"Christ came to this
earth with a message,"
00:35:06.63\00:35:08.47
I love it, "of
mercy and forgiveness."
00:35:08.50\00:35:11.24
When Christ left heaven,
00:35:11.27\00:35:12.81
we're talking about
Him coming down here,
00:35:12.84\00:35:14.48
we're talking about this season,
00:35:14.51\00:35:15.84
that we're to
remember these things here.
00:35:15.88\00:35:17.75
He saw humanity had sunken,
00:35:17.78\00:35:19.85
notice, in
wretchedness and sinfulness.
00:35:19.88\00:35:23.72
He knew that men and women
were depraved and degraded,
00:35:23.75\00:35:29.12
and that they cherished
the most loathsome vices.
00:35:29.16\00:35:33.26
Notice this, this
is the part which said,
00:35:33.29\00:35:35.40
angels, not sinner,
00:35:35.43\00:35:38.10
angels marveled that
Christ should undertake
00:35:38.13\00:35:42.70
what seemed to
them a hopeless task.
00:35:42.74\00:35:46.57
The angels, when
Christ decided to come here,
00:35:46.61\00:35:48.64
they said, they
looked on us and they said,
00:35:48.68\00:35:50.71
"It's a hopeless
task." I can see.
00:35:50.75\00:35:52.38
How would the angels say that?
00:35:52.41\00:35:53.75
I mean, that's a little
different in my thinking
00:35:53.78\00:35:55.12
right now than before.
00:35:55.15\00:35:56.52
They marveled that
00:35:56.55\00:35:57.89
God could
tolerate a race so sinful.
00:35:57.92\00:36:02.56
They could see no room for love.
00:36:02.59\00:36:08.40
And then, I like the
article goes on, just says,
00:36:08.43\00:36:11.23
but, and then it comes in, but.
00:36:11.27\00:36:14.34
John 3:16,
00:36:14.37\00:36:16.30
"God so loved the world
00:36:16.34\00:36:19.54
that He gave His only
begotten Son, that..."
00:36:19.57\00:36:20.98
We quote it, but do
we really understand it?
00:36:21.01\00:36:24.48
The angels
couldn't quite get it.
00:36:24.51\00:36:27.05
Other words, was so bad
the race have become so bad
00:36:27.08\00:36:29.95
that they're saying,
00:36:29.98\00:36:31.55
"Oh, there's not a chance?
00:36:31.59\00:36:32.92
How are they going to be saved?
00:36:32.95\00:36:34.32
They can't possibly do it."
00:36:34.36\00:36:36.62
But God so loved
the world. Right.
00:36:36.66\00:36:38.63
And this is the
season they say for that.
00:36:38.66\00:36:41.63
Not about all the other stuff,
00:36:41.66\00:36:43.00
but it's a season to
remember God and Jesus Christ.
00:36:43.03\00:36:46.00
And they were right.
00:36:46.03\00:36:47.37
We can't do it.
00:36:47.40\00:36:48.80
No, that's right.
00:36:48.84\00:36:50.44
We can't do it.
00:36:50.47\00:36:51.84
But He can, and that's why...
00:36:51.87\00:36:53.88
And the enemy,
00:36:53.91\00:36:55.24
he's always putting
this depression upon us.
00:36:55.28\00:36:57.81
I know, when Danny was speaking,
00:36:57.85\00:36:59.58
and again, with him,
00:36:59.61\00:37:00.95
my heart was kind of
going back to something
00:37:00.98\00:37:02.62
I had read too this
morning that gave me hope.
00:37:02.65\00:37:05.72
Because so often
we get so caught up
00:37:05.75\00:37:08.82
and even past sins,
00:37:08.86\00:37:10.83
or if you're
going through something,
00:37:10.86\00:37:12.19
you know, it's wrong,
00:37:12.23\00:37:13.56
and you're holding on
to it, and you feel like,
00:37:13.60\00:37:15.60
"Well, there's no hope for
me. There's no hope for me."
00:37:15.63\00:37:19.13
And I love what I read.
00:37:19.17\00:37:22.00
It's in 1
Selected Messages, it says,
00:37:22.04\00:37:25.31
"At different times
letters have come to me..."
00:37:25.34\00:37:27.44
And I'm reading
this because I feel like
00:37:27.48\00:37:29.44
there could be somebody at home.
00:37:29.48\00:37:32.05
I feel like, you know, I
like what they're saying,
00:37:32.08\00:37:34.45
but there's no hope
for me, I've gone too far.
00:37:34.48\00:37:37.39
Just listen if that's you.
00:37:37.42\00:37:40.16
"Letters have
come to me from persons
00:37:40.19\00:37:41.96
who were in
despair over their sins.
00:37:41.99\00:37:45.33
One and another have written,
00:37:45.36\00:37:48.10
'I fear that I am past all help.
00:37:48.13\00:37:50.40
Is there any hope for me?'
00:37:50.43\00:37:52.57
To these poor souls
the message has been given,
00:37:52.60\00:37:55.77
'Hope in God.
00:37:55.80\00:37:57.54
The Father has
bread enough to spare.
00:37:57.57\00:38:00.08
Arise, and go to your Father.
00:38:00.11\00:38:01.88
He will meet
you a great way off.
00:38:01.91\00:38:04.91
He will give you His love
00:38:04.95\00:38:06.95
and He will give
you His compassion.'"
00:38:06.98\00:38:09.12
Isn't that what we desire?
00:38:09.15\00:38:11.82
"When the enemy
comes in like a flood,
00:38:11.85\00:38:13.96
and seeks to overwhelm you
with the thought of your sin,
00:38:13.99\00:38:16.62
tell him, 'I know I am a sinner.
00:38:16.66\00:38:19.83
If it were not, I
could not go to the Savior.
00:38:19.86\00:38:23.23
For He says,
00:38:23.26\00:38:24.60
'I come not to
call the righteous,
00:38:24.63\00:38:26.77
but sinners to repentance.'"
00:38:26.80\00:38:29.40
He's calling each
and every one of us,
00:38:29.44\00:38:31.67
He's calling each and every one
of you at home to come to Him.
00:38:31.71\00:38:35.38
Look in that
manger, see that baby.
00:38:35.41\00:38:37.61
That's why He came
was to win us back to Him.
00:38:37.65\00:38:42.12
And so that we can
live for eternity with Him.
00:38:42.15\00:38:44.59
Yes, yes.
00:38:44.62\00:38:45.95
It's hard to fathom
00:38:45.99\00:38:47.32
how God can hear
everybody's prayer
00:38:47.36\00:38:49.52
around the world.
00:38:49.56\00:38:50.89
Yeah.
00:38:50.93\00:38:52.26
You know, millions of people,
and how somebody is in Russia,
00:38:52.29\00:38:56.13
China, America, and
all this, how can He do it?
00:38:56.16\00:38:58.90
And I was in Russia one time.
00:38:58.93\00:39:01.17
And I was thinking about it,
00:39:01.20\00:39:02.54
'cause we were
talking to some people
00:39:02.57\00:39:03.91
who weren't really Christians.
00:39:03.94\00:39:05.44
They were becoming Christians,
had come to meetings,
00:39:05.47\00:39:07.44
and they came to
our 3ABN center there.
00:39:07.48\00:39:10.71
And so it
occurred to me, I said,
00:39:10.75\00:39:12.31
"Well, let me
ask you a question.
00:39:12.35\00:39:13.85
You wonder how
God could know you."
00:39:13.88\00:39:16.05
And they said,
00:39:16.08\00:39:17.42
"With all the people on
earth, how can God know me?"
00:39:17.45\00:39:20.92
I said, "Well, for
instance, right now,
00:39:20.96\00:39:23.93
when I go home
next week in America,
00:39:23.96\00:39:26.53
I can dial about 10 numbers,
00:39:26.56\00:39:28.76
and you're going
to answer the phone.
00:39:28.80\00:39:30.57
Seven billion people on earth,
a man has figured out a way,
00:39:30.60\00:39:34.10
I can get you..."
00:39:34.14\00:39:35.47
Come on.
00:39:35.50\00:39:36.84
"Just by dialing the phone.
00:39:36.87\00:39:38.21
Now you think God can't find you
00:39:38.24\00:39:39.77
and read your mind,
00:39:39.81\00:39:41.14
and know about you,
what your needs are."
00:39:41.18\00:39:43.71
Of course, and
that was years ago.
00:39:43.75\00:39:45.28
And now with the
internet and all that,
00:39:45.31\00:39:47.18
we can see
people around the world,
00:39:47.22\00:39:49.02
anybody you want anywhere.
00:39:49.05\00:39:50.42
I mean, God is so far
above all that, isn't He?
00:39:50.45\00:39:52.69
Yeah.
00:39:52.72\00:39:54.06
A little sample of
the gifts that He's given.
00:39:54.09\00:39:56.22
And the reason
He's given man this
00:39:56.26\00:39:57.99
is so we can get
the gospel to the world.
00:39:58.03\00:40:00.20
He said, "Go ye
into all the world,"
00:40:00.23\00:40:02.13
but we didn't do it.
00:40:02.16\00:40:03.50
I mean, honestly,
00:40:03.53\00:40:04.87
if every Christian on
earth today would say,
00:40:04.90\00:40:06.30
"All right, I'm
gonna make it my work
00:40:06.33\00:40:08.50
to tell somebody about Jesus,"
00:40:08.54\00:40:10.14
the gospel go to
the whole world quickly.
00:40:10.17\00:40:12.44
But we never did.
00:40:12.47\00:40:13.81
It's kind of like
Moses all over again
00:40:13.84\00:40:15.28
out in the wilderness,
00:40:15.31\00:40:16.64
you know, should
have been a few days
00:40:16.68\00:40:18.01
and ends up 40 years and keeps,
00:40:18.05\00:40:19.91
you know, I mean,
all of this happening.
00:40:19.95\00:40:22.08
But you know what?
00:40:22.12\00:40:23.45
The Lord, right
now He's given us,
00:40:23.49\00:40:26.02
literally this technology,
00:40:26.05\00:40:27.89
because we really
haven't done our part.
00:40:27.92\00:40:29.56
So He says, "I'm
going to help you.
00:40:29.59\00:40:31.13
Heaven is not heaven
till my children's home.
00:40:31.16\00:40:32.99
I want to come
back for the people.
00:40:33.03\00:40:35.06
I want to come
back for My creation.
00:40:35.10\00:40:37.10
So I'm going to
give you technology
00:40:37.13\00:40:39.30
that now every individual..."
00:40:39.33\00:40:40.97
Now only a few
years ago, Yvonne,
00:40:41.00\00:40:42.87
when we started
3ABN 35 years ago,
00:40:42.90\00:40:46.07
even up to 15 or 20 years ago,
00:40:46.11\00:40:50.01
I would tell people
just think of the technology,
00:40:50.05\00:40:52.28
we can take one
of our trucks to...
00:40:52.31\00:40:54.42
I could take it to
your house, I tell people,
00:40:54.45\00:40:56.35
could go in your living room,
00:40:56.38\00:40:57.85
and we could send
signals around the world.
00:40:57.89\00:40:59.99
That's just amazing.
00:41:00.02\00:41:01.36
Today, anybody in
their home anywhere,
00:41:01.39\00:41:03.83
can go to Facebook, YouTube,
go to wherever they want,
00:41:03.86\00:41:06.76
and they have their own church,
00:41:06.80\00:41:08.13
they have their own ministry,
have whatever they want to do.
00:41:08.16\00:41:11.00
And that's why today we
have to take it seriously
00:41:11.03\00:41:13.23
when Jesus said,
00:41:13.27\00:41:14.60
"Go ye into all the world."
00:41:14.64\00:41:15.97
We can't sit back
in the Second Coming,
00:41:16.00\00:41:17.64
"Well, Lord, I didn't
do this. I didn't do that."
00:41:17.67\00:41:19.81
No, what did you do,
not what I didn't do.
00:41:19.84\00:41:22.68
He's more
interested in what we do,
00:41:22.71\00:41:24.75
do for the cause of God.
00:41:24.78\00:41:26.11
So now instead of
getting on all these things,
00:41:26.15\00:41:28.45
and arguing with everybody,
00:41:28.48\00:41:29.82
and fighting with people
and using it as gossip channel,
00:41:29.85\00:41:32.59
we should be uplifted
00:41:32.62\00:41:33.99
in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:41:34.02\00:41:35.86
in this time of year, as well.
00:41:35.89\00:41:37.36
If you can't do
nothing yourself,
00:41:37.39\00:41:38.89
put on Tim Parton,
00:41:38.93\00:41:40.26
and play in some of his
songs, and music that are on it.
00:41:40.30\00:41:43.83
Get your YouTube channel,
00:41:43.87\00:41:45.20
and go to Facebook
00:41:45.23\00:41:46.57
and just bombard it
with the gospel of Christ,
00:41:46.60\00:41:48.67
John 3:16.
00:41:48.70\00:41:50.04
If it just ran
over and over every day,
00:41:50.07\00:41:52.57
look how many people
would be drawn to you.
00:41:52.61\00:41:55.54
"My word will not
return unto me void."
00:41:55.58\00:41:57.81
So that's why even in
the past people said...
00:41:57.85\00:42:00.35
And when we started,
00:42:00.38\00:42:01.78
I really felt like
we're here to counteract
00:42:01.82\00:42:03.99
and I'm going to use
names, and I'll tell you why.
00:42:04.02\00:42:06.05
At that time,
the Jimmy Swaggart,
00:42:06.09\00:42:08.69
The Jim and Tammy
Bakkers, and Nora Roberts,
00:42:08.72\00:42:11.33
all these it was, you
know, people that way out there,
00:42:11.36\00:42:13.90
I thought these people...
00:42:13.93\00:42:15.26
And so I was so convinced
00:42:15.30\00:42:17.13
that so I started
going to churches,
00:42:17.17\00:42:18.50
I want to build an
Adventist television station
00:42:18.53\00:42:21.00
that we can counteract.
00:42:21.04\00:42:22.57
And one night the Lord hit me,
00:42:22.60\00:42:23.94
I mean, only after a few weeks,
and He really hit me with that.
00:42:23.97\00:42:28.01
And so I had a dream.
00:42:28.04\00:42:29.38
I dreamed I was in
this big apple orchard.
00:42:29.41\00:42:32.08
It must have been
Washington State somewhere.
00:42:32.11\00:42:33.95
But all the trees
were heavy laden and huge,
00:42:33.98\00:42:37.19
beautiful ripe
red apples were there,
00:42:37.22\00:42:39.22
and it was just me and God.
00:42:39.25\00:42:40.59
I didn't see Him.
00:42:40.62\00:42:41.96
But I knew He was
there, was talking to Him.
00:42:41.99\00:42:43.32
And I said,
00:42:43.36\00:42:44.69
"Lord, what are all
of these big apples?"
00:42:44.73\00:42:46.70
He said,
00:42:46.73\00:42:48.06
"These are big red ripe apples."
00:42:48.10\00:42:49.43
He said,
00:42:49.46\00:42:50.80
"These are all the
people been brought to me
00:42:50.83\00:42:54.84
through other ministries.
00:42:54.87\00:42:56.20
Your fight is not against."
00:42:56.24\00:42:58.21
He said,
00:42:58.24\00:42:59.57
"Now it's your job to give them
the three angels' messages."
00:42:59.61\00:43:01.81
So what it taught me was,
00:43:01.84\00:43:04.15
it doesn't make any difference,
00:43:04.18\00:43:05.51
I'm not worthy
to give the message.
00:43:05.55\00:43:06.92
You're not worthy.
00:43:06.95\00:43:08.28
The Bakkers
aren't, the Swaggarts,
00:43:08.32\00:43:09.65
all these people, none of us
are worthy to give the message.
00:43:09.68\00:43:12.59
And so He said,
00:43:12.62\00:43:13.96
"Your enemy is not each
other. Your enemy is the devil."
00:43:13.99\00:43:16.69
So right now there are people,
00:43:16.73\00:43:18.79
see, an atheist
could read the Bible,
00:43:18.83\00:43:21.53
if we hired an
atheist to read the Bible
00:43:21.56\00:43:24.03
and the Bible only,
00:43:24.07\00:43:25.40
people would be drawn to Jesus.
00:43:25.43\00:43:27.30
Now, why is that?
It's not about the reader.
00:43:27.34\00:43:29.54
It's not about...
00:43:29.57\00:43:30.91
It's a message
and not the messenger.
00:43:30.94\00:43:32.67
So He says,
00:43:32.71\00:43:34.11
"My word will not
return unto me void."
00:43:34.14\00:43:37.01
So when it goes out
there, so you don't have to say,
00:43:37.05\00:43:39.28
"Oh, well, you know,
00:43:39.31\00:43:40.65
I'm not really
qualified, Yvonne,
00:43:40.68\00:43:42.52
I don't have a gift to gab.
00:43:42.55\00:43:43.89
I'm just not very good."
00:43:43.92\00:43:45.45
It's not about you.
It's about going forward.
00:43:45.49\00:43:48.16
The blessing of God is
on the go as we always say.
00:43:48.19\00:43:51.06
So when you go forward,
God then does the rest of it.
00:43:51.09\00:43:54.53
He will take what you
say, the jumbled-up words,
00:43:54.56\00:43:57.07
which He's done
for me for years.
00:43:57.10\00:43:58.77
Thank you, Jesus.
00:43:58.80\00:44:00.14
And lets it go out
00:44:00.17\00:44:01.77
to reach a lost and dying world.
00:44:01.80\00:44:03.74
So the blessing
today of God is on the go.
00:44:03.77\00:44:06.27
But think of the
technology God has given us,
00:44:06.31\00:44:08.78
all the ways that we can.
00:44:08.81\00:44:10.35
So we don't want to be,
00:44:10.38\00:44:12.38
let's don't think
that the Second Coming
00:44:12.41\00:44:13.75
is going to come and
00:44:13.78\00:44:15.12
"Well, you know,
I didn't do this,
00:44:15.15\00:44:16.62
and I didn't do that bad thing."
00:44:16.65\00:44:18.45
No, what have we done to
get the gospel to the world?
00:44:18.49\00:44:21.36
We can't be selfish.
00:44:21.39\00:44:22.82
I have a friend
of mine who said,
00:44:22.86\00:44:25.39
"I don't really
have to do anything.
00:44:25.43\00:44:27.06
I just want to be a hermit.
00:44:27.10\00:44:28.43
That way, I'm
not gonna be tempted
00:44:28.46\00:44:29.80
to the people around the world.
00:44:29.83\00:44:31.40
I'll just be a hermit
and serve the Lord there."
00:44:31.43\00:44:33.23
And, you know, I'm like,
00:44:33.27\00:44:34.77
"Oh, how can you just say,
00:44:34.80\00:44:36.30
you don't care about
the rest of the world,"
00:44:36.34\00:44:37.87
you know, the rest
of people on the planet.
00:44:37.91\00:44:39.81
So, "For God so loved the world,
00:44:39.84\00:44:41.61
He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believeth in Him
00:44:41.64\00:44:45.21
should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
00:44:45.25\00:44:47.65
That should be for
us, this time of year,
00:44:47.68\00:44:51.05
and any time of year,
00:44:51.09\00:44:53.05
it's our mission
statement for life.
00:44:53.09\00:44:56.46
It's good. God
so loved the world.
00:44:56.49\00:44:58.03
Amen. Amen.
00:44:58.06\00:44:59.39
And we have to keep
focused on the mission.
00:44:59.43\00:45:02.60
You know, and not
lose sight of the mission.
00:45:02.63\00:45:04.70
To me this mission
has been operation rescue.
00:45:04.73\00:45:09.10
Okay, tell us about it.
00:45:09.14\00:45:10.47
Operation rescue...
00:45:10.51\00:45:11.84
I wanna drink water.
00:45:11.87\00:45:14.68
Well, you know,
recently here on this planet,
00:45:14.71\00:45:20.18
there was a rescue
mission that was done,
00:45:20.22\00:45:23.79
it was the last week of October.
00:45:23.82\00:45:26.25
And this American missionary
had been abducted in Africa,
00:45:26.29\00:45:33.06
near the Nigerian border.
00:45:33.09\00:45:34.86
He was abducted by seven
men that came in with AK47s,
00:45:34.90\00:45:41.74
and took him
00:45:41.77\00:45:43.10
just to some
abandoned place in Nigeria,
00:45:43.14\00:45:45.67
and held him there.
00:45:45.71\00:45:47.41
And the Navy SEALs Team Six,
00:45:47.44\00:45:52.68
the special ops went
in and rescued this guy.
00:45:52.71\00:45:56.79
And Mike Pompeo,
Secretary of State
00:45:56.82\00:45:59.65
and what he said, he said,
00:45:59.69\00:46:01.72
"Thanks to the
extraordinary courage
00:46:01.76\00:46:03.83
and
capabilities of our military,
00:46:03.86\00:46:05.73
the support of our intelligence,
00:46:05.76\00:46:07.10
professionals, and
our diplomatic efforts,
00:46:07.13\00:46:09.60
the hostage will be
reunited with his family.
00:46:09.63\00:46:12.57
We will never abandon
any American taken hostage."
00:46:12.60\00:46:16.24
Wow!
00:46:16.27\00:46:17.61
Now if we apply
that, spiritually...
00:46:17.64\00:46:20.94
Okay, come on now.
00:46:20.98\00:46:22.51
We know that the angel
went and told Joseph and Mary,
00:46:22.54\00:46:28.02
that Mary was
going to have a baby
00:46:28.05\00:46:30.79
and that he was
to be named Jesus,
00:46:30.82\00:46:33.86
Yeshua, actually.
00:46:33.89\00:46:36.12
And Yeshua would save
His people from their sins.
00:46:36.16\00:46:41.36
We are the hostages,
we are held captive...
00:46:41.40\00:46:44.57
Come on, that's good.
00:46:44.60\00:46:45.93
By the enemy. Yes, preach it.
00:46:45.97\00:46:47.54
But just like Pompeo said,
00:46:47.57\00:46:50.01
"We'll never
abandon any American."
00:46:50.04\00:46:52.84
So our Savior has said,
00:46:52.87\00:46:55.08
"I will never leave
you nor forsake you.
00:46:55.11\00:46:58.21
I've got you.
00:46:58.25\00:46:59.85
I'm gonna rescue you."
00:46:59.88\00:47:01.55
And He did this a
verse in Isaiah that says,
00:47:01.58\00:47:07.32
"Can the prey be
taken from the mighty
00:47:07.36\00:47:09.72
or the captives of
a tyrant be rescued?
00:47:09.76\00:47:13.60
For thus says the Lord,
00:47:13.63\00:47:14.96
'Even the captives of the mighty
00:47:15.00\00:47:16.77
shall be taken and the
prey of the tyrant, be rescued,
00:47:16.80\00:47:20.74
for I will contend with
those who contend with you
00:47:20.77\00:47:23.00
and I will save your children.'"
00:47:23.04\00:47:25.04
So He will rescue
us and not only us,
00:47:25.07\00:47:28.68
but our children.
00:47:28.71\00:47:30.05
So any stronghold
that has us in its grip,
00:47:30.08\00:47:34.48
Jesus can break that
because He is omnipotent.
00:47:34.52\00:47:37.52
He is the Mighty One.
00:47:37.55\00:47:38.89
He is the one that
can break all bondage.
00:47:38.92\00:47:42.36
So we don't have to say,
00:47:42.39\00:47:43.73
"Oh, I'm held
captive by this sin.
00:47:43.76\00:47:46.29
I can't break loose."
00:47:46.33\00:47:47.96
We can through
Christ. He's the only way.
00:47:48.00\00:47:50.67
We can't do it on our own.
00:47:50.70\00:47:53.03
But through Him, we can do it.
00:47:53.07\00:47:55.20
And then in Luke
11:21-22 it says,
00:47:55.24\00:47:58.44
"When a strong man, fully armed,
00:47:58.47\00:48:00.94
guards his own house,
00:48:00.98\00:48:02.54
his possessions are safe.
00:48:02.58\00:48:04.31
But when someone stronger,
attacks him and defeats him,
00:48:04.35\00:48:07.62
he takes away
that man's full armor
00:48:07.65\00:48:09.92
in which he had trusted
00:48:09.95\00:48:11.42
and divides up his plunder."
00:48:11.45\00:48:13.42
So, Jesus, Yeshua is our Goel,
our Deliverer, our Redeemer.
00:48:13.46\00:48:18.93
And He says, he can go
in, that strong man, Satan,
00:48:18.96\00:48:24.27
he's stronger, that Satan.
00:48:24.30\00:48:26.43
That's right. That's right.
00:48:26.47\00:48:27.80
And whatever Satan
had in his possession,
00:48:27.84\00:48:31.57
don't even think about
it 'cause Jesus is stronger.
00:48:31.61\00:48:35.34
And can take him down.
00:48:35.38\00:48:37.45
So we don't have to worry,
00:48:37.48\00:48:39.51
we don't have to be concerned
00:48:39.55\00:48:42.28
because Yeshua,
00:48:42.32\00:48:44.69
the God who saves,
He is our salvation,
00:48:44.72\00:48:48.09
and He will fight our
battles for us, and rescue us.
00:48:48.12\00:48:52.59
Come on now!
00:48:52.63\00:48:53.96
That's it. That's it.
00:48:54.00\00:48:55.33
I mean, when we
think about Jesus,
00:48:55.36\00:48:57.17
you just want to shout.
00:48:57.20\00:48:58.53
All because of the Word
00:48:58.57\00:48:59.90
was made flesh
and dwelt among us.
00:48:59.93\00:49:02.90
That's right You know,
I'm talking about 1 Timothy,
00:49:02.94\00:49:05.31
what's it, 3:16.
00:49:05.34\00:49:06.68
Paul said this, he said,
00:49:06.71\00:49:08.04
"Without controversy,
great is the mystery of," what?
00:49:08.08\00:49:11.18
"Godliness.
00:49:11.21\00:49:12.55
God was
manifested in the flesh."
00:49:12.58\00:49:14.75
I mean, that's big.
00:49:14.78\00:49:16.12
You talking about God
manifest in the flesh.
00:49:16.15\00:49:17.59
When Christ came to
the world born in a manger,
00:49:17.62\00:49:20.59
He stooped low
00:49:20.62\00:49:23.86
to take upon
Himself, human nature.
00:49:23.89\00:49:26.76
Why?
00:49:26.80\00:49:28.13
I got the question, why?
00:49:28.16\00:49:29.50
So He might reach the sinful,
fallen man, and lift him up.
00:49:29.53\00:49:34.70
However, low that any,
00:49:34.74\00:49:36.67
you sunk down
in the mire of sin,
00:49:36.71\00:49:39.41
no matter how low,
00:49:39.44\00:49:41.04
He was willing to come down
00:49:41.08\00:49:42.41
and go a little
bit lower to get below,
00:49:42.44\00:49:43.78
so He could pick us
back up out of this thing.
00:49:43.81\00:49:46.05
And I thought about,
00:49:46.08\00:49:47.42
why a child, why
born in a manger?
00:49:47.45\00:49:48.88
We're talking about helpless?
00:49:48.92\00:49:50.25
I found some thought
that was interesting.
00:49:50.29\00:49:52.35
Signs of the
Times 9-30-89 says this,
00:49:52.39\00:49:55.42
"He was made a child,
00:49:55.46\00:49:57.96
that he might understand
the temptations of childhood
00:49:57.99\00:50:02.86
and know its weaknesses."
00:50:02.90\00:50:04.53
Not though, how
interesting one more quick,
00:50:04.57\00:50:06.23
Review and Herald, 10-1-89,
it says, well, what it says?
00:50:06.27\00:50:10.24
Why didn't an angel do it?
Why did Christ have to do it?
00:50:10.27\00:50:12.67
You know, we've heard that,
why didn't somebody else...
00:50:12.71\00:50:14.58
"An angel would not have known
00:50:14.61\00:50:16.24
how to
sympathize with fallen man."
00:50:16.28\00:50:20.22
But Jesus came
00:50:20.25\00:50:21.68
and He's touched
with our infirmities.
00:50:21.72\00:50:24.62
Praise God. Hebrews 4:15.
00:50:24.65\00:50:26.89
He came down, He
experienced everything.
00:50:26.92\00:50:29.69
And now, I know you're gonna
have the, you know, the mind.
00:50:29.72\00:50:31.99
Oh, he know...
They don't have that...
00:50:32.03\00:50:33.56
He was touched ...
00:50:33.60\00:50:34.93
The Bible says and I believe it.
00:50:34.96\00:50:36.83
Everything.
00:50:36.87\00:50:38.20
All tempted, everything.
00:50:38.23\00:50:39.57
He was tempted
like we in all points,
00:50:39.60\00:50:40.94
yet without sin.
00:50:40.97\00:50:42.30
Praise God!
00:50:42.34\00:50:43.67
Think about
that, only one, we say,
00:50:43.71\00:50:45.04
on the planet that came
down here on this earth, right?
00:50:45.07\00:50:47.88
He's the only one
that beat the devil.
00:50:47.91\00:50:49.78
All the rest of the whole world,
00:50:49.81\00:50:51.15
every person has ever been born
00:50:51.18\00:50:52.51
has sinned and come
short of the glory of God.
00:50:52.55\00:50:55.08
Jesus was the
only one. That's right.
00:50:55.12\00:50:57.02
This make me think
differently about the season.
00:50:57.05\00:51:00.82
And really don't
forget what it's all about.
00:51:00.86\00:51:04.49
He said, because...
00:51:04.53\00:51:05.86
You talk about
incarnation quickly,
00:51:05.89\00:51:07.60
because it says it's an excu...
00:51:07.63\00:51:09.10
You know, we're
talking about exhaustible.
00:51:09.13\00:51:10.73
You can't exhaust a subject
when you talk about this.
00:51:10.77\00:51:13.90
It's a mystery, it
says, no man can explain it,
00:51:13.94\00:51:16.67
the human mind
cannot understand at all.
00:51:16.71\00:51:19.77
And we'll go
through the ceaseless ages
00:51:19.81\00:51:21.28
learning more about
00:51:21.31\00:51:22.64
what will heaven gave up
00:51:22.68\00:51:24.01
so that we can
spend eternity with Him.
00:51:24.05\00:51:26.18
To me it's just an exciting,
00:51:26.21\00:51:27.55
just to think about
somewhat His eyes...
00:51:27.58\00:51:29.02
So please remember,
00:51:29.05\00:51:30.39
His eye is on the sparrow
00:51:30.42\00:51:32.02
and I know He watches over me.
00:51:32.05\00:51:35.26
"Oh, glory I just did not
did, where I thought myself.
00:51:35.29\00:51:37.76
Thank you..."
00:51:37.79\00:51:39.83
Stop.
00:51:39.86\00:51:41.23
But what she was doing
00:51:41.26\00:51:42.60
was winding her minds
up to think about, His eye.
00:51:42.63\00:51:45.93
And it's not what we need to do,
00:51:45.97\00:51:47.64
it's not just talk
and it's just not words.
00:51:47.67\00:51:51.24
I want to see put in
action in my own life, you know,
00:51:51.27\00:51:54.08
and in the lives of
others when disappointment comes
00:51:54.11\00:51:56.38
and heartache comes,
00:51:56.41\00:51:57.75
and when you're
just beside yourself,
00:51:57.78\00:51:59.11
and you just
don't know what to do,
00:51:59.15\00:52:00.52
you just don't know how
it's going to all work out,
00:52:00.55\00:52:03.92
know that His eyes on you.
00:52:03.95\00:52:05.65
He's never going to take it off.
00:52:05.69\00:52:07.02
That's right. He has a plan.
00:52:07.06\00:52:08.39
That's right.
00:52:08.42\00:52:09.76
And He's sending angels,
00:52:09.79\00:52:11.13
angels are there like lightning,
00:52:11.16\00:52:12.49
just coming and going
00:52:12.53\00:52:13.86
and God is in control
of wheel within a wheel!
00:52:13.90\00:52:15.23
God has it all worked out.
00:52:15.26\00:52:16.60
I just get excited
to think about that.
00:52:16.63\00:52:18.20
It helps me. That's good.
00:52:18.23\00:52:20.30
It helps me to
understand that kind of learn.
00:52:20.34\00:52:22.10
I'm trying to try to
learn it more every day.
00:52:22.14\00:52:24.57
I think it will help a
lot of people, you know,
00:52:24.61\00:52:26.74
everything that you said,
00:52:26.78\00:52:28.41
because people
are afraid right now,
00:52:28.44\00:52:31.08
they're afraid
for their finances,
00:52:31.11\00:52:32.45
they're afraid for socialism,
they're afraid for what's,
00:52:32.48\00:52:35.78
you know,
happening in our country,
00:52:35.82\00:52:37.19
all these shut downs,
our economy, everything
00:52:37.22\00:52:40.09
and they have nothing
without Jesus to hold on to.
00:52:40.12\00:52:44.63
You know, this is part
00:52:44.66\00:52:45.99
of what we were
been talking about.
00:52:46.03\00:52:47.56
But I think it gives us
hope, it gives us something.
00:52:47.60\00:52:51.43
But we have to make a decision.
00:52:51.47\00:52:53.40
Everybody at home you
have to make a decision.
00:52:53.44\00:52:55.90
And even with Christmas,
00:52:55.94\00:52:57.37
what type of
Christmas do we want?
00:52:57.41\00:52:59.14
Do we want the Santa
Claus? Do we want the reindeer?
00:52:59.17\00:53:01.28
Do we want all these
presents? Da-da-da-da-da.
00:53:01.31\00:53:03.58
Or do we want that gift?
00:53:03.61\00:53:05.35
Do we want to center
everything around Christ?
00:53:05.38\00:53:07.52
Do we want to help others?
00:53:07.55\00:53:09.22
But my study this
morning took me to Simeon.
00:53:09.25\00:53:12.95
I thought, "Who is Simeon?"
00:53:12.99\00:53:14.42
I wanted to know a little
bit more about Simeon and Anna.
00:53:14.46\00:53:17.59
And, you know,
whenever Mary had taken Jesus
00:53:17.63\00:53:20.53
and to have Him anoint...
00:53:20.56\00:53:22.63
Well, not anointed, but...
00:53:22.66\00:53:24.50
What's the word I'm looking for?
00:53:24.53\00:53:25.87
Blessed.
00:53:25.90\00:53:27.24
Dedicated to the Lord,
00:53:27.27\00:53:28.60
you know, to
dedicated to the Lord.
00:53:28.64\00:53:30.51
And when the
priest was holding Jesus
00:53:30.54\00:53:32.41
'cause there was
nothing about Jesus at that time
00:53:32.44\00:53:35.01
that would show
that He was the Messiah.
00:53:35.04\00:53:37.18
He was the little
baby, the Savior, the King.
00:53:37.21\00:53:40.98
And, but Simeon had
been praying for years.
00:53:41.02\00:53:45.12
"Lord, don't let me die
before I see the Messiah.
00:53:45.15\00:53:48.86
Don't let me die."
00:53:48.89\00:53:50.23
And when the priest was
holding that baby there,
00:53:50.26\00:53:53.40
Simeon recognized the baby.
00:53:53.43\00:53:56.03
Had been the Holy Spirit.
00:53:56.06\00:53:57.40
Oh, yes. Spirit...
00:53:57.43\00:53:58.77
Look, I can imagine, he
said, holding the King of kings,
00:53:58.80\00:54:03.47
Lord of lord, who created
all things in the universe,
00:54:03.51\00:54:06.27
he just said,
00:54:06.31\00:54:07.64
and you're
holding Him as a baby...
00:54:07.68\00:54:09.01
As a baby.
00:54:09.04\00:54:10.38
This is like mind
boggling, at least to me.
00:54:10.41\00:54:13.48
I want to make a quick point...
00:54:13.52\00:54:14.85
Okay.
00:54:14.88\00:54:16.22
The reason
Simeon recognized Him,
00:54:16.25\00:54:17.79
is because Simeon
and Anna later on,
00:54:17.82\00:54:20.69
they had been living in
the atmosphere of heaven.
00:54:20.72\00:54:24.13
We have choices in our
home every moment of every day,
00:54:24.16\00:54:27.80
whether or not
we're going to stay
00:54:27.83\00:54:29.16
in the atmosphere of heaven,
00:54:29.20\00:54:30.53
or we're going to
let the world come in.
00:54:30.57\00:54:32.63
And as these last day,
00:54:32.67\00:54:34.04
people, as you're praying
to be a part of that 144,000,
00:54:34.07\00:54:37.64
we need to be making decisions
every moment of every day,
00:54:37.67\00:54:41.18
to live in the
atmosphere of heaven.
00:54:41.21\00:54:42.88
So that when we see these things
00:54:42.91\00:54:44.55
around us happening,
00:54:44.58\00:54:46.15
our eyes are fixed on
Christ, and we have hope,
00:54:46.18\00:54:49.32
and we recognize
what's taking place.
00:54:49.35\00:54:50.69
Amen. Yes.
00:54:50.72\00:54:52.12
Amen.
00:54:52.15\00:54:53.49
So, maybe it's
where do we go from here,
00:54:53.52\00:54:55.19
what would the
Lord have us to do?
00:54:55.22\00:54:57.09
You know, we've been divided...
00:54:57.13\00:54:58.46
You touched on
it, Chris, but on,
00:54:58.49\00:55:00.23
whether it's
politics this time of year,
00:55:00.26\00:55:02.06
and all things
that are gonna happen,
00:55:02.10\00:55:03.93
whether it's
doctrinal, right now,
00:55:03.97\00:55:08.67
Christians all around the world,
00:55:08.70\00:55:10.34
we should be coming
together on the fact that
00:55:10.37\00:55:13.14
there is no
escape for this planet
00:55:13.17\00:55:15.18
except through
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:55:15.21\00:55:16.61
Come on. That's right.
00:55:16.64\00:55:17.98
And so, unity would be something
00:55:18.01\00:55:19.51
that we could do as a
church and as a people.
00:55:19.55\00:55:22.22
Forget about all the stuff
00:55:22.25\00:55:23.59
that distracts us
from the Word of God.
00:55:23.62\00:55:26.15
And say, "Lord, help us to
see You and put You first."
00:55:26.19\00:55:30.06
Because right now our
church, you can go on Facebook,
00:55:30.09\00:55:33.13
all kinds of things,
00:55:33.16\00:55:34.50
you'll see
people within the church
00:55:34.53\00:55:35.86
fighting each other
00:55:35.90\00:55:37.23
about things that
aren't going to last,
00:55:37.27\00:55:39.10
rather than joining together
about things that are eternal.
00:55:39.13\00:55:42.57
And so today is my...
00:55:42.60\00:55:46.04
I know New Year's right away,
but New Year's resolution is,
00:55:46.07\00:55:49.61
Lord, take me and use me,
00:55:49.64\00:55:51.01
first of all,
forgive me for my sins
00:55:51.05\00:55:53.38
and take me and use me,
00:55:53.42\00:55:54.75
like You've never used me before
00:55:54.78\00:55:56.52
in this coming year.
00:55:56.55\00:55:58.12
But the Lord's
coming is very soon.
00:55:58.15\00:55:59.92
Amen.
00:55:59.95\00:56:01.29
The signs of the
times are all around.
00:56:01.32\00:56:03.16
Yes. Go ahead.
00:56:03.19\00:56:04.93
It's all right.
Closing thoughts.
00:56:04.96\00:56:06.80
We only got, I can't believe,
less than a minute and a half.
00:56:06.83\00:56:09.96
I know! I know! I
know! Do you believe it?
00:56:10.00\00:56:11.43
Do you guys have
closing thoughts?
00:56:11.47\00:56:12.80
Oh, go ahead. Oh, this...
00:56:12.83\00:56:14.37
If we get started
00:56:14.40\00:56:15.74
we'll have to have another hour.
00:56:15.77\00:56:17.11
Well, look out.
Yeah, I'm excited about it.
00:56:17.14\00:56:18.47
Good lesson.
00:56:18.51\00:56:19.84
This has been so great
00:56:19.87\00:56:21.21
because, to me,
00:56:21.24\00:56:22.58
there's so much meat
in here to hold on to.
00:56:22.61\00:56:26.58
And that's what we need.
00:56:26.61\00:56:27.95
We have to have
something to hold on to, hope,
00:56:27.98\00:56:30.39
as you were
talking about earlier.
00:56:30.42\00:56:31.95
We have hope in Jesus.
00:56:31.99\00:56:33.46
And so, we hold on to that hope.
00:56:33.49\00:56:36.36
He is our way out,
00:56:36.39\00:56:38.49
He is our Rescuer,
our Savior, our Deliverer.
00:56:38.53\00:56:42.06
He's that Rock, He is our Lord.
00:56:42.10\00:56:44.80
He is our God, the Almighty God.
00:56:44.83\00:56:47.47
And so, if we hold on to Him
00:56:47.50\00:56:50.47
that will give us what
we need to make it through.
00:56:50.51\00:56:53.58
You might be feeling
alone this Christmas,
00:56:53.61\00:56:55.81
you might be feeling as
though you have no family,
00:56:55.84\00:56:57.98
no one that cares.
00:56:58.01\00:56:59.35
We care. We pray
for our 3ABN family.
00:56:59.38\00:57:02.45
And we know that as
long as you hold on to Jesus,
00:57:02.48\00:57:06.12
you are never alone.
00:57:06.15\00:57:07.82
You will never be alone.
00:57:07.86\00:57:09.19
So make sure that
with everything in you
00:57:09.22\00:57:12.79
that you seek after Him,
00:57:12.83\00:57:14.20
if you seek
Him, you'll find Him.
00:57:14.23\00:57:16.53
If you ask for
whatever it is you want
00:57:16.56\00:57:19.60
and you seek and you knock,
00:57:19.63\00:57:21.50
He will open the
door and answer you.
00:57:21.54\00:57:25.57
And He's standing at the
door right now and knocking.
00:57:25.61\00:57:28.34
Let Him in.
00:57:28.38\00:57:29.71
It'll be the best
decision you ever made.
00:57:29.74\00:57:31.28
May God richly bless you.
00:57:31.31\00:57:33.05
Merry Christmas
and Happy Sabbath!
00:57:33.08\00:57:34.75