Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Back To Bethlehem (Part 1)

December 4, 2024 | S24:E4904

Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Back To Bethlehem (Part 1) | December 4, 2024

♪ music ♪
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[announcer] from the pulpit
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Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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This is pathway to victory with dr. robert jeffress.
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Hi, am robert jeffress
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And welcome again to pathway to victory.
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God has a long history of working in unexpected ways.
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When the jews anticipated a powerful king
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To save them from the romans, god sent a child in the manger
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To save them from their sin.
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And today we'll step back in time to the place
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Where god broke onto the human stage as a little baby.
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It was an unlikely village
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Where history was changed forever.
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My message is titled,
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"back to bethlehem."
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On today's edition of pathway to victory.
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♪ music ♪
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[announcer] the celebration of jesus' birth,
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Each christmas marks the moment
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When god's radiant hope entered our world.
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And jesus calls us to share this light with others.
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You can help pierce the darkness with the light
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Of god's word through the pathway to victory
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Light the darkness matching challenge.
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Since 1996, pathway to victory has been boldly sharing
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The gospel of jesus christ.
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And your gift doubled an impact will be used
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To proclaim god's truth here in america
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And around the world.
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♪ music ♪
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I think about the story of the little girl
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Who was learning to pray what we call "the lord's prayer."
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One night her dad walked past the bedroom,
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The door was opened.
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He saw his little girl kneeling by the bed
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And praying the lord's prayer, and he heard her say,
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"and lord forgive us of our christmases
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As we forgive those who christmas against us."
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Maybe you feel like you've been christmas against
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By the time christmas finally arrives.
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You know it's trite, but it's nevertheless true.
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So many times, the distractions
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Of the holiday season cause us to lose sight
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Of what christmas is really about,
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The entrance of the savior of the world into the world.
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And so today i'm going to invite you to take your bibles
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And turn back to luke chapter 2 as we take a journey back
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To bethlehem to talk about the most important birth
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In human history.
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Now, i want you to think of luke's account of this birth
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As a play in three different acts.
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Michael, this is a three act play
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And it begins act one, not in bethlehem,
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But it occurs hundreds of miles away from bethlehem
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In the seat of world power.
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Then it wasn't new york city or washington dc,
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The seat of world power was rome.
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The story begins, you know it well.
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"now, it came about in those days
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That a decree went out from caesar augustus
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That a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
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This was the first census taken while quirinius
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Was governor of syria."
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Now, why does luke give
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Us all of this historical background?
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Remember, he was writing this as a letter
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To a man named theophilus, lover of god,
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Probably a recent convert,
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And he was trying to show theophilus that the story
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Of christianity is not rooted in fantasy or fable.
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It is rooted in historical fact.
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And the setting for this story is something everyone
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Was well aware of when luke wrote this letter.
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60 years earlier, luke reminded theophilus 60 years earlier,
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Caesar augustus, the roman emperor, had issued a decree
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That a census should be taken of the entire world
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For the purpose of taxation.
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Now, let's talk about caesar augustus for just a moment.
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Did you know this is the only time he's mentioned
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In the bible,
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But he's a well-known figure in secular history.
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Now, caesar augustus was his title, caesar,
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His physician is emperor, augustus was his chosen name.
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It means venerable, the venerable emperor, his real name,
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His birth name was octavian.
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Now we know about octavian from secular history.
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He was the grand nephew of julius caesar.
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And when julius caesar was assassinated,
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He left his kingdom to his grand nephew octavian.
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Octavian ruled rome from 27 dc until ad 14.
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He did a number of notable things.
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He's probably best known for establishing the pax romana,
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The roman peace throughout the world.
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But as often happens, this successful ruler began
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To believe his own press clippings.
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And so he gave him himself another title, pontifex maximus,
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Highest priest.
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And he commanded that the entire kingdom began
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To engage in emperor worship.
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Now this was caesar augustus,
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And at this particular time in history,
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The government in rome faced a very familiar problem.
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They were spending more money than they were taking in.
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Sound familiar?
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Have you ever noticed how government, when that happens,
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They never think about cutting expenses.
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The knee jerk reaction
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Is what caesar augusta's reaction was, let's raise taxes.
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And so in order to tax the world to tax the empire,
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There were no irs computers back then to track people
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Down like dogs and make them pay.
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No. instead, if you were going to get tax money from people,
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You had to know who the people were.
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So he had to have them registered in order
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To be able to tax them.
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Now, the roman government was very methodical
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In how they were going to conduct this census.
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The head of each household would go back to the place
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Of his birth where the family records were kept in order
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To register for the census.
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So if you were a head of household
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And you lived in nazareth,
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But were born in jerusalem, you'd go to jerusalem.
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If you lived in jerusalem,
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But were born in nazareth, you'd go the opposite direction.
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And this is where we see joseph and mary.
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This couple we met last time, joseph was the head
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Of the household, and so he was commanded to go
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To the place of his birth.
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He lived in nazareth,
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But he was commanded to go to his birthplace,
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Which was bethlehem.
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Look at verses four and five.
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"and joseph also went up from galilee."
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Wait a minute, galilee's in the north,
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Bethlehem's 80 miles to the south.
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What do you mean? he went up from galilee?
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He's talking about the elevation.
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Even though galilee was in the north,
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If you traveled southward,
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You were really going up in elevation
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As you came towards jerusalem and bethlehem.
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"and joseph also went up from galilee from the city
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Of nazareth."
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That's up in the north.
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"down to the south, to judea, to the city of david,
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Which is called bethlehem because he was of the house
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And family of david,
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In order to register along with mary who was engaged to him,
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And was with child."
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Remember last time the angel had just come gabriel to mary
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And said, "you're going to give birth to the savior."
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Now we've skipped about eight or nine months,
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And now at this point, mary is pregnant, very pregnant,
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And they're on their way to bethlehem.
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Now the question is why does luke refer mary as the one
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Who was engaged to joseph?
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Remember the angel told joseph what had happened
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And told him to go ahead and marry mary.
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The fact was they had been betrothed engaged.
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But once joseph got the word, he took mary as his wife.
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Why does luke now nine months later say
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They were simply engaged?
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I think the reason is found in matthew 1:25.
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Remember the bible says that joseph kept mary a virgin
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Until she gave birth to a son.
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Even though by this time they had gone
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Through the married ceremony,
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They were still living like an engaged couple.
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They had not had a sexual relationship
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And would not until jesus was born.
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That's why he refers to mary as joseph's
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In fiance rather than wife.
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Now the question comes up,
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Why did mary go with joseph to bethlehem?
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The law only required joseph
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To be the one to go to bethlehem.
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Why would mary about to deliver a child right on the back
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Of a donkey for 85 miles down to bethlehem?
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Well, i think there are three reasons.
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The first reason is the obvious reason
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Because she was so close to birth,
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Joseph didn't want to leave her by herself.
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Second reason is mary had been the subject
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Of some very vicious rumors about her pregnancy.
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Remember the story was going
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Around that mary's pregnancy was not divine.
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It was the result of a one night stand
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With a roman soldier named pantera.
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And joseph wanted to spare
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Her all of this small town gossip.
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So he took her with him.
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But the third reason
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That mary went is perhaps the most important reason.
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700 years earlier, god had prophesied
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Through a prophet named micah.
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These words found in micah 5:2.
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"but as for you, bethlehem ephrathah
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Too little to be among the clans of judah.
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From you one will go forth from me to be ruler in israel,
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His goings forth
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Or from long ago, from the days of eternity."
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God had predicted the exact place of the messiah's birth.
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It would be in this little town of bethlehem.
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So for that to be fulfilled, mary had to go to bethlehem
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To bring this thing to pass.
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Bethlehem was such a small town,
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It wasn't even listed in the registry
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Of towns found in joshua 15 or nehemiah 11.
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Now what i want you to think about for a moment
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Is how god used natural events
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To bring about his supernatural plan.
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Think about this, with one stroke of the pen,
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Caesar augustus hundreds of miles away,
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The most powerful man in the world.
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With one stroke of his pen,
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He signed an edict that would have ramifications
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He could have never imagined.
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Little did caesar know that when he signed that order,
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It would cause a man named joseph whom he had never met
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To travel to a little village called bethlehem.
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Augustus had never heard of in order
00:11:09.158 --> 00:11:11.861
That joseph's wife might give birth to the king
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Of the universe.
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A king whose followers within just a few hundred years
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Would topple the entire roman empire.
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Isn't that an amazing thought?
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You ask people on the street at that time,
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Who is the most powerful man in the world?
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There wouldn't have been any argument.
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Everyone would've said, "octavian, caesar augustus."
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Why?
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Of course,
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He is the most important person in all of the world.
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The truth is he was nothing but a pawn on god's chessboard.
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God used him to do something he had no idea
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Would result in the birth of the king of kings,
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And lord of lords.
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And isn't it amazing
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That today if you stop people on the street
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And you ask them, "who was octavian?"
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There's not one in a hundred
00:12:03.612 --> 00:12:05.414
Who could tell you who octavian is.
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Most people can't tell you who the president
00:12:07.416 --> 00:12:08.918
Of the united states is.
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I mean, people are so stupid today,
00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:12.021
But that's another story.
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Nobody can tell you.
00:12:14.190 --> 00:12:15.457
One in a 100 could tell you who octavian is.
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But 2,000 years later,
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Everybody knows the name of jesus christ.
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I mean, think about this. think about this.
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How many people do you know right now
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That are gathered together someplace in the world,
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Worshiping, praying to singing songs about octavian?
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Do you know anybody who's doing that?
00:12:38.848 --> 00:12:41.317
But today, hundreds of millions of people around the world,
00:12:41.317 --> 00:12:45.888
2,000 years later are worshiping the name of jesus christ.
00:12:45.888 --> 00:12:51.160
Some of them are paying a heavy price to do so.
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What i want you to see is god uses natural events
00:12:54.597 --> 00:12:58.667
To bring about his supernatural plan.
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You know, you open the newspaper today,
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Turn on the television set.
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You think the world is spending out of control,
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Terrorist threats, political upheaval,
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Increasing tensions in the middle east.
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We think the world is out of control.
00:13:13.315 --> 00:13:14.984
It's not out of control.
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As at pearson says,
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"history is really his story."
00:13:18.554 --> 00:13:22.458
It's the story of jesus christ.
00:13:22.458 --> 00:13:24.560
And as god said through jeremiah the prophet,
00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:27.062
"i am watching over my word to perform it."
00:13:27.062 --> 00:13:31.667
Act one of this play began in rome,
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Act two we go to a small inn in bethlehem.
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Look at verses six and seven.
00:13:40.175 --> 00:13:41.477
"and it came about that while they were there,
00:13:41.477 --> 00:13:44.546
The days were completed for mary to give birth
00:13:44.546 --> 00:13:48.284
And she gave birth to her firstborn son
00:13:48.284 --> 00:13:51.287
And she wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger
00:13:51.287 --> 00:13:55.124
Because there was no room for them in the end."
00:13:55.124 --> 00:13:59.628
Isn't it interesting? only two verses record
00:13:59.628 --> 00:14:02.197
The most important birth in history.
00:14:02.197 --> 00:14:05.034
Ken gire, a gifted author in his book,
00:14:05.868 --> 00:14:08.203
"intimate moments with the savior,"
00:14:08.203 --> 00:14:10.739
Uses his sanctified imagination
00:14:10.739 --> 00:14:12.975
To paint a picture for us of what that experience
00:14:12.975 --> 00:14:15.911
Must have been like.
00:14:15.911 --> 00:14:17.112
Listen to this.
00:14:17.112 --> 00:14:18.881
"by the time mary
00:14:18.881 --> 00:14:20.449
And joseph arrive, the small hamlet of bethlehem is swollen
00:14:20.449 --> 00:14:24.520
From an influx of travelers.
00:14:24.520 --> 00:14:27.423
The end is packed.
00:14:27.423 --> 00:14:28.824
People feeling lucky if they were able
00:14:28.824 --> 00:14:30.659
To negotiate even a small space on the floor.
00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:34.430
Now it is late. everyone is asleep and there is no room.
00:14:34.430 --> 00:14:39.735
But fortunately, the innkeeper is not all about shekels
00:14:40.803 --> 00:14:43.005
And mites,
00:14:43.005 --> 00:14:44.373
True his stable is crowded with his guests animals.
00:14:44.373 --> 00:14:48.143
But if they could squeeze out a little privacy there,
00:14:48.143 --> 00:14:50.612
Mary and joseph, were welcome to it.
00:14:50.612 --> 00:14:53.582
Joseph looks over at mary whose attention is concentrated
00:14:53.582 --> 00:14:57.419
On fighting a contraction.
00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.488
'we'll take it.'
00:14:59.488 --> 00:15:00.789
He tells the innkeeper without hesitation.
00:15:00.789 --> 00:15:04.059
The night is still when joseph creeks open the stable door.
00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:08.597
As he does a chorus of barn animals make
00:15:08.597 --> 00:15:12.234
And respond with a note of the intrusion,
00:15:12.234 --> 00:15:15.771
The stench is pungent and humid,
00:15:15.771 --> 00:15:18.340
As there have not been enough hours in the day
00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:21.010
For the innkeeper to tend the guest,
00:15:21.010 --> 00:15:22.778
Let alone the livestock.
00:15:22.778 --> 00:15:25.214
A small oil lamp lightened by the innkeeper,
00:15:25.214 --> 00:15:28.217
Flickers to dance shadows on the walls,
00:15:28.217 --> 00:15:31.453
A disquieting place for a woman in the throes of childbirth.
00:15:31.453 --> 00:15:35.691
Far from home, far from family,
00:15:35.691 --> 00:15:39.161
Far from what she had expected for her firstborn.
00:15:39.161 --> 00:15:43.565
But mary makes no complaint.
00:15:43.565 --> 00:15:45.567
It is a relief just to finally get off the donkey.
00:15:45.567 --> 00:15:49.004
She leans back against the wall, her feet swollen,
00:15:49.004 --> 00:15:52.674
Back aching,
00:15:52.674 --> 00:15:54.109
Contractions growing stronger and closer together.
00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:57.846
Joseph's size dart around the stable,
00:15:57.846 --> 00:16:00.549
Not a minute to lose quickly a feeding trough
00:16:00.549 --> 00:16:04.486
Would have to make for a crib.
00:16:04.486 --> 00:16:07.089
Hay would serve as a mattress.
00:16:07.089 --> 00:16:10.526
Blankets.
00:16:10.526 --> 00:16:11.960
Blankets, oh his robe would do.
00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:15.130
And those rags hung out to dry, would help.
00:16:15.130 --> 00:16:18.333
A gripping contraction, doubles mary over
00:16:18.333 --> 00:16:20.769
And sends him racing for a bucket of water,
00:16:20.769 --> 00:16:24.239
A scream from mary knives
00:16:24.239 --> 00:16:26.141
Through the calm of that silent night,
00:16:26.141 --> 00:16:29.078
Joseph returns breathless,
00:16:29.078 --> 00:16:31.647
Water sloshing from the wooden bucket.
00:16:31.647 --> 00:16:34.583
Sweat pours from mary's contorted face
00:16:34.583 --> 00:16:37.653
As joseph, the most unlikely midwife
00:16:37.653 --> 00:16:41.156
In judea rushes to her side.
00:16:41.156 --> 00:16:44.493
The involuntary contractions are not enough
00:16:44.493 --> 00:16:48.097
And mary has to push with all of her strength.
00:16:48.097 --> 00:16:51.867
Joseph places a garment beneath her and with a final push
00:16:51.867 --> 00:16:56.738
And alongside her labor is over,
00:16:56.738 --> 00:17:01.410
The messiah has arrived."
00:17:01.410 --> 00:17:04.913
[audience] amen.
00:17:04.913 --> 00:17:06.148
(audience claps)
00:17:06.148 --> 00:17:08.217
You know, i think cs lewis had it right when he said,
00:17:08.217 --> 00:17:13.555
"the greatest miracle of all time
00:17:14.323 --> 00:17:16.425
Is not the atonement or even the resurrection.
00:17:16.425 --> 00:17:20.696
The greatest miracle is the incarnation
00:17:20.696 --> 00:17:24.833
God becoming flesh."
00:17:24.833 --> 00:17:28.036
[audience] amen.
00:17:28.036 --> 00:17:29.505
Max cato says it this way, "stepping from the throne,
00:17:29.505 --> 00:17:33.041
God removed his robe of light
00:17:33.041 --> 00:17:35.611
And wrapped himself in skin, pigmented human skin.
00:17:35.611 --> 00:17:40.916
The light of the world entered a dark wet womb.
00:17:41.850 --> 00:17:45.454
He whom angels worship, nestled himself in the placenta
00:17:45.454 --> 00:17:50.359
Of a peasant, was birthed into a cold night
00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:54.429
And then slept on cow's hay."
00:17:54.429 --> 00:17:57.499
An interviewer once asked the famed designer,
00:17:58.467 --> 00:18:01.270
Versace if he believed in god.
00:18:01.270 --> 00:18:04.473
Versace responded, "yes, i believe in god,
00:18:04.473 --> 00:18:07.676
But i'm not the kind of religious person who goes to church,
00:18:07.676 --> 00:18:11.513
Who believes in the fairy tale
00:18:11.513 --> 00:18:13.248
Of jesus born in the stable with a donkey.
00:18:13.248 --> 00:18:16.885
I'm not stupid.
00:18:16.885 --> 00:18:18.587
I can't believe that god with all the power that he has,
00:18:18.587 --> 00:18:22.224
Would have to have himself born in the stable.
00:18:22.224 --> 00:18:25.093
It wouldn't have been comfortable."
00:18:25.093 --> 00:18:29.097
But that's the whole point, isn't it?
00:18:29.865 --> 00:18:32.034
That god was willing to give up the comfort of heaven.
00:18:33.135 --> 00:18:36.672
He and the person of his son, jesus was willing to come
00:18:36.672 --> 00:18:39.841
To earth to be born in the most humble circumstances.
00:18:39.841 --> 00:18:42.945
And he came not to be worshiped,
00:18:42.945 --> 00:18:45.747
Not at the beginning anyway.
00:18:45.747 --> 00:18:47.616
He came to be sacrificed for our sins.
00:18:47.616 --> 00:18:51.753
Paul said it this way in philippians 2 in talking
00:18:51.753 --> 00:18:54.523
About jesus christ.
00:18:54.523 --> 00:18:55.791
"although he existed in the form of god,
00:18:55.791 --> 00:18:58.760
He did not regard his equality
00:18:58.760 --> 00:19:00.729
With god a thing to be grasped.
00:19:00.729 --> 00:19:03.031
But he emptied himself, taking the form of a bond servant
00:19:03.031 --> 00:19:06.935
And being made in the likeness of men
00:19:06.935 --> 00:19:09.705
And being found in the appearance as a man,
00:19:09.705 --> 00:19:12.140
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point
00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:16.211
Of death, even death on a cross."
00:19:16.211 --> 00:19:19.881
The final act of this play occurs
00:19:20.549 --> 00:19:23.585
On a hill outside of bethlehem.
00:19:23.585 --> 00:19:25.954
Look at verse eight.
00:19:25.954 --> 00:19:27.823
"and in the same region,
00:19:27.823 --> 00:19:29.324
There were some shepherds staying out in the fields
00:19:29.324 --> 00:19:33.262
And keeping watch over their flock by night."
00:19:33.262 --> 00:19:37.366
They were not, as some children say,
00:19:37.366 --> 00:19:38.800
"washing their socks by night."
00:19:38.800 --> 00:19:40.969
They were keeping watch over their flock by night.
00:19:40.969 --> 00:19:44.406
Many of us have been to this place,
00:19:44.406 --> 00:19:46.141
Shepherd's field where this occurred,
00:19:46.141 --> 00:19:48.910
The shepherds were tending their sheep.
00:19:48.910 --> 00:19:50.545
Now, most people don't realize this story
00:19:50.545 --> 00:19:53.215
Probably did not take place in december.
00:19:53.215 --> 00:19:55.417
He was probably very close to passover time.
00:19:55.417 --> 00:19:58.620
And it's very probable that these shepherds
00:19:58.620 --> 00:20:00.822
Were taking care of sheep
00:20:00.822 --> 00:20:02.124
That would soon become the passover lambs
00:20:02.124 --> 00:20:05.327
That would be used as a representative of the coming savior.
00:20:05.327 --> 00:20:09.931
Now you have to know something about shepherds to appreciate
00:20:09.931 --> 00:20:12.734
What is going on here.
00:20:12.734 --> 00:20:14.303
Shepherds represented the lowest rung in the jewish culture.
00:20:14.303 --> 00:20:19.474
Shepherds took care of dirty and smelly sheep.
00:20:20.375 --> 00:20:24.146
And because they did so they were dirty
00:20:24.146 --> 00:20:27.282
And smelly themselves.
00:20:27.282 --> 00:20:28.850
There was no sure deodorant
00:20:28.850 --> 00:20:30.719
Back then to take the stench away.
00:20:30.719 --> 00:20:33.588
So if you are going to have a party,
00:20:33.588 --> 00:20:35.057
Guess who you would never invite to your party?
00:20:35.057 --> 00:20:38.060
They never made it to any a-list parties, the shepherds.
00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:40.996
They were the outcast of jewish society.
00:20:40.996 --> 00:20:44.266
Isn't it interesting that god chose to make his announcement
00:20:44.266 --> 00:20:49.137
Of the savior's birth not to the political leaders in rome,
00:20:49.137 --> 00:20:52.507
Not to the jewish leaders in jerusalem.
00:20:52.507 --> 00:20:54.976
He chose to make this announcement
00:20:54.976 --> 00:20:57.179
To the smelly dirty shepherds.
00:20:57.179 --> 00:21:01.416
Look at how it came about. verse nine.
00:21:01.416 --> 00:21:03.685
"and the angel of the lord suddenly stood before them
00:21:03.685 --> 00:21:07.889
And the glory of the lord shone around them
00:21:07.889 --> 00:21:10.225
And they were terribly frightened."
00:21:10.225 --> 00:21:11.860
I would think so.
00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:13.495
Imagine out there in the darkness
00:21:13.495 --> 00:21:15.130
When suddenly gabriel appears
00:21:15.130 --> 00:21:17.933
And gabriel said to them, "do not be afraid."
00:21:17.933 --> 00:21:21.870
Notice how that's his entering line.
00:21:21.870 --> 00:21:24.139
Every time he runs into somebody, "don't be afraid."
00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:27.075
They had every right to be afraid.
00:21:27.075 --> 00:21:28.877
"for behold, i bring you good news of a great joy,
00:21:28.877 --> 00:21:32.381
Which shall be for all the people.
00:21:32.381 --> 00:21:34.816
For today in the city of david, there has been born
00:21:34.816 --> 00:21:37.619
For you a savior who is christ the lord?"
00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:41.990
Well, there were many babies probably born
00:21:41.990 --> 00:21:43.925
That night in jerusalem, in all of israel.
00:21:43.925 --> 00:21:47.396
So to be more specific, he gave the sign verse 12,
00:21:47.396 --> 00:21:50.899
"and this will be a sign for you.
00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:52.968
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths
00:21:52.968 --> 00:21:55.537
And lying in a manger."
00:21:55.537 --> 00:21:58.106
And suddenly the single voice of gabriel gave way
00:21:58.106 --> 00:22:01.376
To a multitude.
00:22:01.376 --> 00:22:02.677
Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands
00:22:02.677 --> 00:22:05.180
Of angels in the heaven saying.
00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.982
Verse 14,
00:22:06.982 --> 00:22:08.417
"glory to god in the highest and on earth, peace."
00:22:08.417 --> 00:22:14.022
Now, if you have the king james version,
00:22:14.890 --> 00:22:16.525
It says "peace, goodwill toward men."
00:22:16.525 --> 00:22:21.029
That's a very unfortunate translation,
00:22:21.029 --> 00:22:24.032
Even though it's a translation we're used to
00:22:24.032 --> 00:22:25.967
And we see plastered on christmas cards everywhere, peace,
00:22:25.967 --> 00:22:29.371
Goodwill toward men
00:22:29.371 --> 00:22:31.339
That makes it sound like god
00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.908
Is simply given a generic blessing to everybody.
00:22:32.908 --> 00:22:36.011
Peace you all,
00:22:36.011 --> 00:22:37.779
Goodwill to everybody.
00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:39.948
That's not what the text says.
00:22:39.948 --> 00:22:42.784
What the text really says
00:22:42.784 --> 00:22:44.386
Is what the new american standard translates it,
00:22:44.386 --> 00:22:47.589
"peace among men with whom god is pleased."
00:22:47.589 --> 00:22:52.894
Ladies and gentlemen, the only people
00:22:53.695 --> 00:22:55.330
Who are at peace with god,
00:22:55.330 --> 00:22:57.299
And peace with themselves are those who have accepted
00:22:57.299 --> 00:23:01.102
The forgiveness that christ comes to offer.
00:23:01.102 --> 00:23:03.905
Romans 5:1 says,
00:23:03.905 --> 00:23:05.307
"therefore, having been justified by faith,
00:23:05.307 --> 00:23:09.511
We have peace with god through our lord jesus christ."
00:23:09.511 --> 00:23:14.416
♪ music ♪
00:23:14.416 --> 00:23:19.154
We're just getting started in this important study
00:23:20.155 --> 00:23:22.624
Of luke chapter 2 as we revisit the familiar story
00:23:22.624 --> 00:23:26.461
Of our lord's birth.
00:23:26.461 --> 00:23:28.363
Well, every day on television, radio, and the internet,
00:23:28.363 --> 00:23:31.800
Pathway to victory is pointing people
00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:33.702
To our savior jesus christ.
00:23:33.702 --> 00:23:36.204
And right now we've been blessed
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With a tremendous opportunity to touch even more lives
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With the hope of the gospel through the pathway to victory,
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Light the darkness matching challenge.
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From now through december 31st,
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Your gift will have twice the impact
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Until we reach the goal of $1.5 million.
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That means a gift of $200 would become $400.
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A $1,000 gift would become $2,000.
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A $10,000 gift would become $20,000.
00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:09.137
And so it goes.
00:24:09.504 --> 00:24:11.072
In matthew 5, jesus said, "you are the light of the world."
00:24:11.072 --> 00:24:15.443
And when you support pathway to victory,
00:24:15.443 --> 00:24:17.612
You're letting your light shine before others,
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Allowing them to see the goodness
00:24:20.682 --> 00:24:22.551
Of our heavenly father.
00:24:22.551 --> 00:24:24.319
Please don't miss out on this opportunity
00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:26.821
To double the impact of your giving.
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Together we are lighting the darkness
00:24:29.391 --> 00:24:31.660
And sharing the radiant hope of jesus christ
00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:34.863
With a world in need.
00:24:34.863 --> 00:24:36.898
Now stay right there.
00:24:36.898 --> 00:24:38.466
I'll be back with more pathway to victory in just a moment.
00:24:38.466 --> 00:24:41.536
♪ music ♪
00:24:41.536 --> 00:24:43.405
[announcer] the one thing god wants
00:24:43.405 --> 00:24:44.906
More than anything else in this world is time with you.
00:24:44.906 --> 00:24:48.610
Make god your priority by spending quality time in his word
00:24:48.610 --> 00:24:52.180
With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:56.151
This year's devotional
00:24:56.151 --> 00:24:57.385
Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
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With inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
00:24:59.254 --> 00:25:01.623
And now with larger print,
00:25:01.623 --> 00:25:02.991
The 260 practical insights from dr. robert jeffress
00:25:02.991 --> 00:25:06.328
Are easier to read.
00:25:06.328 --> 00:25:07.762
This stunning 532 page devotional makes
00:25:07.762 --> 00:25:10.665
An ideal christmas gift for loved ones
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Who want to grow in their faith too.
00:25:12.567 --> 00:25:14.636
Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us.
00:25:14.636 --> 00:25:18.039
He chose to do it through the written word.
00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:21.042
And that's why it's so important for you
00:25:21.042 --> 00:25:22.911
And for me to set aside regular time
00:25:22.911 --> 00:25:25.447
To read the word of god.
00:25:25.447 --> 00:25:28.049
[announcer] every season carries an uplifting theme.
00:25:28.049 --> 00:25:30.385
Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
00:25:30.385 --> 00:25:34.456
In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
00:25:35.390 --> 00:25:37.525
With insights from colossians.
00:25:37.525 --> 00:25:39.294
And in the fall and winter,
00:25:39.294 --> 00:25:40.829
Embrace the father
00:25:40.829 --> 00:25:42.197
Who loves you with inspirational readings based
00:25:42.197 --> 00:25:44.633
On the parable of the prodigal son.
00:25:44.633 --> 00:25:46.801
When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
00:25:47.902 --> 00:25:50.372
Take a moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth
00:25:50.372 --> 00:25:53.074
Of god's word with the brand new 2025 pathway
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To victory daily devotion.
00:25:56.211 --> 00:25:58.480
Your gift of support not only provides
00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.548
You with this life-giving resource,
00:26:00.548 --> 00:26:02.484
It empowers us to spread the hope filled message
00:26:02.484 --> 00:26:05.253
Of jesus christ as well.
00:26:05.253 --> 00:26:07.188
Thank you for supporting the ministry of pathway to victory.
00:26:07.188 --> 00:26:10.992
♪ music ♪
00:26:10.992 --> 00:26:13.628
The biblical record
00:26:13.628 --> 00:26:15.096
Of jesus' birth reads like a carefully scripted play
00:26:15.096 --> 00:26:18.233
With three distinct acts.
00:26:18.233 --> 00:26:20.101
And the more you read the bible, the more you realize
00:26:20.101 --> 00:26:23.271
That every chapter in scripture is part
00:26:23.271 --> 00:26:26.041
Of one big story about god's plan to redeem mankind.
00:26:26.041 --> 00:26:30.945
Next time, we'll continue to revisit the dramatic scene
00:26:30.945 --> 00:26:33.848
That unfolded on that hill outside of bethlehem,
00:26:33.848 --> 00:26:37.652
And we'll identify two crucial responses
00:26:37.652 --> 00:26:40.321
To god's indescribable gift of salvation.
00:26:40.321 --> 00:26:44.259
Stay tuned for a preview
00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.527
Of what's coming up next in our series,
00:26:45.527 --> 00:26:47.896
The incomparable christ.
00:26:47.896 --> 00:26:50.265
The one thing, the only thing you
00:26:50.999 --> 00:26:53.668
And i were left on earth to do,
00:26:53.668 --> 00:26:55.603
And that is to share the good news of jesus christ
00:26:55.603 --> 00:26:59.441
With as many people as possible before he returns.
00:26:59.441 --> 00:27:04.145
God's message is to be shared and not kept.
00:27:04.145 --> 00:27:08.983
[announcer] set your dvr
00:27:09.484 --> 00:27:10.852
And join us next time for part two of the message.
00:27:10.852 --> 00:27:13.388
"back to bethlehem" here on pathway to victory.
00:27:13.388 --> 00:27:16.658
♪ music ♪
00:27:16.658 --> 00:27:16.658

Robert Jeffress - Back To Bethlehem (Part 1)

December 4, 2024 | S24:E4904

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