Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - What If There Were No Christmas?

December 19, 2024 | S24:E5105

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 - What If There Were No Christmas? | December 19, 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, i'm robert jeffress and welcome again
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To "pathway to victory."
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This week you're likely in the throes
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Of your holiday preparations.
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Perhaps like so many others you're thinking to yourself,
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Life sure would be a lot easier
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Without this christmas thing.
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Well, today we're going to take a very real look
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At what life would be like if christ had never been born.
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My message is titled, "what if there were no christmas?"
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On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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♪ joy to the world ♪
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♪ the lord is come ♪
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♪ let earth receive her king ♪
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♪ let every heart prepare him room ♪
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♪ and heaven and nature sing ♪
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♪ and heaven and heaven and nature sing ♪
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[singer] we sing "joy to the world."
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All the ladies, sing together.
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♪ joy to the world the savior reigns ♪
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And the men
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♪ let men their songs employ ♪
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♪ while fields and floods ♪
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♪ rocks, hills, and plains ♪
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♪ repeat the sounding joy ♪
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♪ repeat, repeat the sounding joy ♪
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♪ repeat the sounding joy ♪
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♪ he rules the world with truth and grace ♪
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♪ he rules the world with truth and grace ♪
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♪ and makes the nations prove ♪
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♪ the glories of his righteousness ♪
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♪ and wonders of his love ♪
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♪ and wonders, wonders of his love ♪
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♪ heaven and nature sing ♪
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♪ all lend your voice, heaven and nature ♪
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♪ heaven and nature sing ♪
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♪ heaven and nature, heaven and nature sing ♪
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♪ heaven and nature sing ♪
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♪ heaven and nature ♪
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♪ heaven and nature, heaven and nature sing ♪
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(audience cheers and applauds)
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[announcer] the celebration of jesus' birth each christmas
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Marks the moment 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
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With the light 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"
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Has been boldly sharing the gospel of jesus christ.
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And your gift, doubled in impact,
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Will be used 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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You know, one way you know it's christmas
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Is by the continuous showing of the holiday classic movie,
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"it's a wonderful life" with jimmy stewart and donna reed.
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Remember that movie?
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We know the story by heart.
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Stewart plays a man named george bailey
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Who has a catastrophe at work
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And because of that, he decides to take his own life.
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He curses the day that he was born,
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And clarence the angel appears to him and saves his life
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And shows him what the world would've been like
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Had he not been born.
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And he gains a whole new perspective on living.
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Well, i was thinking about that story this week,
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Especially with all the stress that comes with christmas.
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You know some people when they think about the gifts to buy
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And the meals to prepare,
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And the family members you don't like
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You have to get together with.
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You know, they think about those things
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And they think about,
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Well, maybe life would be easier without christmas.
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They're tempted to pray like that little girl.
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Remember the story, she knelt by the side of the bed
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And she was praying the lord's prayer,
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But she got confused and she said,
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"and father, forgive us of our christmases
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As we forgive those who christmas against us."
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(audience laughs)
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Maybe you feel like you've been christmased against
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Once too often, and you wonder,
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Would it be better not to have christmas?
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What if in fact there were no christmas?
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What if in fact jesus christ had not been born in bethlehem?
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But for the few minutes we have this morning,
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I want to talk about what would happen
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If there were no christmas.
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What would this world be like
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Had there been no birth of jesus christ?
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Well, first of all, if there were no christmases,
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If there were no coming of christ,
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The prophecies of the bible about christ
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Would've been left unfulfilled.
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You know, most people don't know this,
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But in the old testament written 400 to 1,000 years
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Before christ came,
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There are hundreds of prophecies about the coming messiah
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And jesus fulfilled every one of them.
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For example, consider the place of his birth.
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You know, the story of christmas doesn't begin in bethlehem.
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It begins 1,400 miles away from bethlehem in rome,
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The center of world power at that time.
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So caesar augustus, luke 2 tells us,
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Ordered a census to tax the entire world
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And he made everybody in the roman empire
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Go back to the place of their birth
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To register for taxation.
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Little did caesar augustus know
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That by signing that executive order,
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He would cause a couple he had never met before
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To travel to a little tiny town
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He had never heard of before in israel
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To give birth to the savior of the world.
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And yet god prophesied all of that
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700 years before caesar augustus signed that order.
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Micah 5:2 prophesied that it will be in bethlehem
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That the messiah is born.
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But as for you, bethlehem,
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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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Bethlehem was such a tiny no account town
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That it wasn't registered in the list of cities.
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Today we would say it didn't even make it onto google maps,
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It was that insignificant of a place.
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But god knew about it and he said,
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"this is where messiah will be born."
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That was prophesied.
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Another prophecy was made about the manner of his birth.
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Isaiah 7:14, written 600 years before christ was born,
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Prophesied that he would be born of a virgin.
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And indeed, matthew 1:23 says he was born of a virgin.
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The bible talks about his ministry.
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600 years before christ was born
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It was prophesied that his ministry would begin in galilee
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In the north, and that's what happened.
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Did you know his betrayal by judas iscariot
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Was prophesied 520 years before it happened?
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In zacharia, now this is the old testament.
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The old testament, zacharia 11, 12, and 13.
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It prophesies that the messiah would be sold
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For 30 pieces of silver.
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How did zacharia know that?
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It was only because god had ordained it.
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Even the manner of jesus' death
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Was prophesied ahead of time.
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In psalm 22, written 1,000 years before christ,
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Before crucifixion had even been invented by the romans.
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Psalm 22 gives a perfect description of his crucifixion.
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Isaiah 600 years earlier said he would be crucified
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Between two thieves.
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Isaiah 53:9 says that the messiah would be buried
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In a rich man's tomb.
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All of these things prophesied about jesus
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Hundreds of years before he was born.
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Now, some of you skeptics would say,
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Well, it's just accidental
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That jesus happened to fulfill those prophecies.
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It was coincidence.
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Peter stoner is a mathematician.
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He wrote a book entitled "science speaks,"
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And he decided to calculate the odds, the probability
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That one person like jesus could have accidentally fulfilled
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Just eight of those 200 prophecies.
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What is the mathematical probability of one man in history
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By chance fulfilling eight?
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Not 200, but eight of those prophecies.
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He came up with a number, one in 10 to the 17th power.
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Do you know how big of a number 10 to the 17th power is?
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That's a one with 17 zeros behind it.
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One chance in that big of a number
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That jesus could have fulfilled eight prophecies,
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But it wasn't eight, it was 200.
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Peter stoner goes on to say,
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The odds of one man fulfilling 48 of those prophecies
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Is one in 10 to the 157th power.
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What do you think the odds are
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Of 200 of those prophecies being accidentally fulfilled?
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There's a greek word for it, zilch.
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Nothing. no probability whatsoever.
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This wasn't an accident.
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This was god's plan by which jesus came into the world.
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And if there were no jesus, there would've been
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All of these prophecies left unfulfilled.
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You say, well that's interesting, robert,
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But what does that mean to me?
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What does it mean to me
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That jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies?
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Well, if there were no christmas, if there were no jesus
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Who was born in bethlehem,
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There would be no payment for our sins today.
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You know, people get all emotional about christmas
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For the wrong reason.
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They hear about a baby being born
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And they start thinking about all the babies in the world.
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Aren't they sweet and cuddly?
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Then they start thinking about their own baby being born
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And they get misty eyed and so forth,
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And they fall into the syrupy sentimentality of christmas
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And they miss the real point.
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Ladies and gentlemen, the magic of christmas
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Is not that a baby was born.
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Lots of babies are born,
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Lots of babies were born that night in israel.
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What the magic of christmas is, is this baby was different.
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He was the son of god who could do for us
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Only what he could do, and that is to take away our sins,
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To be the payment for our sins.
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You know, it was job the patriarch who asked the question,
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How can a man, a woman be right with god?
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Did you know our biggest problem
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Is not that we don't have an education?
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Somebody has said, if our biggest need were an education,
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God would've sent us a teacher.
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If man's biggest need was for money,
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God would've sent us an economist.
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If our greatest need was for technology,
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God would've sent us an innovator.
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But our greatest need was for forgiveness,
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And that's why god sent us a savior.
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That's why the angel said,
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"for unto you is born this day in the city of david,"
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A what? a savior who is christ the lord.
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He shall save his people from their sins.
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You say, well, why do i need anybody
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To save me from my sins?
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The bible says, all of us are sinners.
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We're all sinners.
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The pope is a sinner, priests are sinners.
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Your pastor is a sinner, we've all sinned, the bible says,
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And fallen short of the glory of god.
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Every one of us have sinned.
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Some have sinned more than others,
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But, you know, it really doesn't matter.
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We're all sinners.
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And not only that,
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The bible says somebody has to pay for our sin.
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Romans 6:23 says, "the wages of sin is death."
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God can't just overlook our sin.
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He's a just god. payment has to be made for our sin.
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And the problem with our sin is it just keeps increasing.
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Did you know we all have an internal sin clock
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That registers our sins?
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Every wrong thought we have every wrong attitude we held,
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Every wrong action we commit, it just keeps spinning
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And our debt to god increases and increases and increases.
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And if we die still owing that debt to god,
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We'll spend eternity trying to pay it off in hell.
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That's what hell is, it's separation from god.
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But here's the good news of christmas,
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Even though we could never pay off that debt,
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I mean do we think taking a little wafer at communion's
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Going to pay off our sin debt?
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Or getting in that baptistry and getting wet?
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No, there's nothing we can do to pay off our sin.
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And if we die without our sin being paid for,
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We spend eternity trying to work out that sin debt.
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But here's the good news.
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Jesus came to pay that debt for us.
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He is the only person who never sinned
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When he died on the cross in some inexplicable way,
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He took the punishment from god that we deserve to take.
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And that's why some of jesus' final words on the cross were,
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Remember the words, "it is finished."
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-the greek word for that- -(audience applauds)
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The greek word for finished is tetelestai.
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Tetelestai, literally it's an accounting term
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That means paid in full.
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Jesus has paid in full our sin debt for us.
00:15:12.167 --> 00:15:16.271
And the most important decision we ever make in life,
00:15:16.271 --> 00:15:19.008
Ladies and gentlemen, is who is going to pay for our sin?
00:15:19.008 --> 00:15:23.212
Are we going to try to pay our sin debt ourselves?
00:15:23.212 --> 00:15:26.281
If so, we'll spend all eternity trying to work it off.
00:15:26.281 --> 00:15:29.485
Or are we going to allow jesus to pay that debt for us?
00:15:29.485 --> 00:15:33.055
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:15:33.055 --> 00:15:34.590
The fact that jesus christ died on the cross 2000 years ago,
00:15:34.590 --> 00:15:37.426
To pay your sin debt means nothing to you
00:15:37.426 --> 00:15:40.863
If you don't receive that pardon for your sins
00:15:40.863 --> 00:15:44.633
That he offers you.
00:15:44.633 --> 00:15:45.901
You say, "well, how do you receive it?"
00:15:45.901 --> 00:15:47.703
Jesus explained it this way.
00:15:47.703 --> 00:15:49.204
He said, for god so loved the world
00:15:49.204 --> 00:15:51.740
That he gave his only begotten son
00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:54.109
That whosoever believes, trusts in, clings to him
00:15:54.109 --> 00:15:59.081
Shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life.
00:15:59.081 --> 00:16:02.851
Now listen to me, if you don't hear another word i'm saying,
00:16:02.851 --> 00:16:05.721
Believing in jesus doesn't mean
00:16:05.721 --> 00:16:07.823
Just believing the right things about jesus,
00:16:07.823 --> 00:16:10.359
Intellectually believing in jesus.
00:16:10.359 --> 00:16:12.561
No, it means to trust in, to depend upon him
00:16:12.561 --> 00:16:16.231
For the forgiveness of your sins.
00:16:16.231 --> 00:16:18.333
There has to be that time in our life
00:16:18.333 --> 00:16:20.536
When we kneel before a holy god and we say,
00:16:20.536 --> 00:16:23.205
"god, i know i've messed up.
00:16:23.205 --> 00:16:26.275
I know i've sinned.
00:16:26.275 --> 00:16:27.643
I know i've disappointed you,
00:16:27.643 --> 00:16:30.079
But i believe that you sent jesus to die for me.
00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:33.582
And i'm trusting in what he did for me,
00:16:33.582 --> 00:16:36.351
Not in my good works,
00:16:36.351 --> 00:16:37.820
But in what he did for me to save me from my sins."
00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:42.024
And the moment you do that
00:16:42.024 --> 00:16:43.992
And you mean it with all of your heart,
00:16:43.992 --> 00:16:45.961
The bible says, your sins are forgiven.
00:16:45.961 --> 00:16:49.198
They are forgotten by god forever. isn't that good news?
00:16:49.198 --> 00:16:53.836
That is the message of christmas.
00:16:53.836 --> 00:16:57.072
Christ came to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
00:16:57.072 --> 00:17:01.743
If there were no christmas,
00:17:01.743 --> 00:17:03.011
There would be no payment for our sins.
00:17:03.011 --> 00:17:05.747
There's a third consequence of no christmas, no christ,
00:17:05.747 --> 00:17:09.751
And that is if there were no christmas,
00:17:09.751 --> 00:17:12.521
There would be no one in heaven
00:17:12.521 --> 00:17:15.424
Who understands my problems.
00:17:15.424 --> 00:17:18.627
There would be no one in heaven who really understands us.
00:17:18.627 --> 00:17:21.196
You see, the reason god came
00:17:21.196 --> 00:17:22.731
And took on human form was not just to fulfill prophecies
00:17:22.731 --> 00:17:27.236
And not even just to make a payment for our sins,
00:17:27.236 --> 00:17:30.205
But also so that we could have somebody in heaven
00:17:30.205 --> 00:17:33.041
Who understands us.
00:17:33.041 --> 00:17:34.676
Hebrews 2:17 and 18 say,
00:17:34.676 --> 00:17:36.945
Therefore god had to be made like his brethren in all things
00:17:36.945 --> 00:17:40.682
So that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest
00:17:40.682 --> 00:17:44.920
And things pertaining to god to make propitiation,
00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:48.157
Satisfaction for the sins of the people.
00:17:48.157 --> 00:17:50.826
For since god himself was tempted
00:17:50.826 --> 00:17:53.262
And that which he has suffered,
00:17:53.262 --> 00:17:55.197
He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
00:17:55.197 --> 00:17:58.867
Do you remember the romans and the greeks?
00:17:58.867 --> 00:18:00.435
They created all these mythological gods.
00:18:00.435 --> 00:18:03.405
They were just distant deities
00:18:03.405 --> 00:18:05.941
And they were characterized by apathy,
00:18:05.941 --> 00:18:08.944
A pathios in greek, without feeling.
00:18:08.944 --> 00:18:13.549
These gods they made up in heaven,
00:18:13.549 --> 00:18:16.051
Had no connection with people on earth.
00:18:16.051 --> 00:18:18.387
They were untouched when they saw people suffering.
00:18:18.387 --> 00:18:22.024
But the true faith, the only faith christianity teaches
00:18:22.024 --> 00:18:26.061
That god took on human form in the person of jesus
00:18:26.061 --> 00:18:29.965
And he came so he could experience everything we experience,
00:18:29.965 --> 00:18:33.936
Temptation, frustration, anger, betrayal.
00:18:33.936 --> 00:18:36.939
He's experienced all of those things and yet without sin.
00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:41.443
And when we pray to him, we can know we're praying to a god
00:18:41.443 --> 00:18:44.446
Who understands us
00:18:44.446 --> 00:18:45.747
Because he's been where we've walk every day.
00:18:45.747 --> 00:18:49.351
If there were no christmas,
00:18:49.351 --> 00:18:51.286
We would have no friend in heaven who understands us.
00:18:51.286 --> 00:18:54.957
And finally today, if there were no christmas,
00:18:54.957 --> 00:18:59.328
If christ had not come, there would be no hope of life
00:18:59.328 --> 00:19:03.465
Beyond the grave.
00:19:03.465 --> 00:19:05.400
Again, job, the old testament patriarch
00:19:06.268 --> 00:19:08.704
Who lived 4,000 years ago,
00:19:08.704 --> 00:19:10.739
He asked the most important profound question
00:19:10.739 --> 00:19:15.143
Of human existence.
00:19:15.143 --> 00:19:17.779
If a man dies, will he live again?
00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:22.117
Don't you agree, when you think about it?
00:19:23.018 --> 00:19:25.053
That's the bottom line question.
00:19:25.053 --> 00:19:27.389
When i close my eyes for the very last time here on earth,
00:19:28.557 --> 00:19:32.294
Is that it?
00:19:32.294 --> 00:19:33.562
Do i just go into nothingness,
00:19:34.196 --> 00:19:37.266
Never remembering that i ever existed?
00:19:37.266 --> 00:19:40.068
Is that what awaits me when i die?
00:19:40.802 --> 00:19:43.772
Or is there a life?
00:19:43.772 --> 00:19:45.707
Is there hope beyond the grave?
00:19:45.707 --> 00:19:49.144
If a person dies, shall he live again?
00:19:49.978 --> 00:19:54.449
The birth, the death, the resurrection of jesus christ
00:19:55.550 --> 00:19:59.054
Answers that question.
00:19:59.054 --> 00:20:01.189
There is life beyond the grave.
00:20:01.189 --> 00:20:03.959
As the bible says in 1 corinthians 15,
00:20:03.959 --> 00:20:06.194
"as in adam all die,
00:20:06.194 --> 00:20:08.830
So those who are in christ shall all be made alive.
00:20:08.830 --> 00:20:14.169
I mean, it's unstated, but it's obvious.
00:20:15.037 --> 00:20:17.439
If there were no christmas, if christ had not come,
00:20:17.439 --> 00:20:20.409
There would be no one who could have paid for our sins
00:20:20.409 --> 00:20:23.812
And conquered death for once and for all.
00:20:23.812 --> 00:20:27.382
Without christmas, there would be no easter.
00:20:27.382 --> 00:20:31.353
Without a manger in bethlehem,
00:20:31.353 --> 00:20:33.689
There would be no empty tomb in jerusalem.
00:20:33.689 --> 00:20:37.659
But the fact is christ did come and he conquered death
00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:41.596
And he promised those who trusted in him
00:20:41.596 --> 00:20:43.832
Will also one day conquer death.
00:20:43.832 --> 00:20:46.468
I realize christmas is a bittersweet time for many people,
00:20:47.703 --> 00:20:52.374
Especially those who have lost loved ones in death.
00:20:53.442 --> 00:20:56.011
Maybe i'm speaking to some of you this morning,
00:20:56.011 --> 00:20:58.080
Some of you watching on television,
00:20:58.080 --> 00:21:00.882
You've lost a husband or a wife,
00:21:00.882 --> 00:21:04.252
A friend, a parent, maybe even a child,
00:21:04.252 --> 00:21:08.990
And that's why you have mixed feelings at christmas.
00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:11.360
Yes, you're grateful for all those times
00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:13.261
That you've spent together,
00:21:13.261 --> 00:21:14.663
But there's a hole in your heart, there's a void,
00:21:14.663 --> 00:21:18.367
There's something missing, and you wonder,
00:21:18.367 --> 00:21:20.969
Am i ever going to see that loved one again or is this it?
00:21:22.137 --> 00:21:26.942
Christmas answers that question with jesus' words.
00:21:27.943 --> 00:21:30.746
In john 11:25, jesus said,
00:21:30.746 --> 00:21:32.914
"i am the resurrection and the life.
00:21:32.914 --> 00:21:36.918
He who believes in me, though he were dead,
00:21:36.918 --> 00:21:40.589
Yet shall he live again."
00:21:40.589 --> 00:21:43.558
Author philip yancy tells about two tombstones
00:21:44.526 --> 00:21:48.130
Here in america.
00:21:48.130 --> 00:21:50.265
One tombstone is in the hollywood forever cemetery
00:21:50.265 --> 00:21:54.503
In los angeles, california.
00:21:54.503 --> 00:21:56.171
It marks the grave of mel blanc.
00:21:56.171 --> 00:22:00.008
You may not know the name mel blanc, but you know his voice.
00:22:00.008 --> 00:22:03.245
He was the voice of bugs bunny and daffy duck
00:22:03.245 --> 00:22:06.081
And the road runner
00:22:06.081 --> 00:22:07.482
And all those wonderful warner bros. cartoons.
00:22:07.482 --> 00:22:11.620
But before he died, mel blanc left this instruction
00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:14.656
That he wanted three words on his tombstone,
00:22:14.656 --> 00:22:18.059
The same three words
00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.428
He would close every warner bros. cartoon with.
00:22:19.428 --> 00:22:23.031
"that's all, folks."
00:22:23.031 --> 00:22:25.534
That's what's on his tombstone, "that's all, folks."
00:22:26.568 --> 00:22:30.772
Philip yancy describes another tombstone.
00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:34.109
It marks a grave in rural louisiana.
00:22:34.910 --> 00:22:37.145
It's underneath an oak tree.
00:22:37.145 --> 00:22:39.414
It's the grave of a friend's grandmother.
00:22:39.414 --> 00:22:42.517
And before she died, she said,
00:22:43.151 --> 00:22:44.553
"i want one word etched on my tombstone."
00:22:44.553 --> 00:22:48.757
"waiting."
00:22:49.057 --> 00:22:51.393
"waiting."
00:22:51.693 --> 00:22:53.795
Mel blanc was wrong.
00:22:54.262 --> 00:22:56.498
This isn't all that there is.
00:22:56.498 --> 00:22:59.434
There is a hope waiting for those who know christ as savior,
00:22:59.434 --> 00:23:04.139
And we are waiting for that great fulfillment.
00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:07.142
(audience applauds)
00:23:07.142 --> 00:23:10.479
Because jesus christ did come 2,000 years ago at bethlehem,
00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:16.284
We have a bible filled with prophecies
00:23:17.085 --> 00:23:19.554
That have been fulfilled.
00:23:19.554 --> 00:23:21.723
We have a savior who has paid once and for all for our sins.
00:23:21.723 --> 00:23:27.062
We have a friend in heaven who understands us,
00:23:28.029 --> 00:23:31.399
And most of all, we have a hope waiting for us
00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:34.970
Beyond the grave.
00:23:34.970 --> 00:23:36.905
That's the message of christmas.
00:23:36.905 --> 00:23:40.075
♪ music ♪
00:23:40.408 --> 00:23:43.879
Yes, and no message is more important
00:23:44.713 --> 00:23:47.182
For us to hear and remember
00:23:47.182 --> 00:23:49.017
As we prepare for the christmas celebration next week.
00:23:49.017 --> 00:23:52.721
Well, we're over halfway through the month of december,
00:23:52.721 --> 00:23:55.790
And if you haven't given yet toward the pathway to victory
00:23:55.790 --> 00:23:59.261
Light the darkness matching challenge,
00:23:59.261 --> 00:24:01.429
There's still time to send your gift.
00:24:01.429 --> 00:24:03.899
Right now, every dollar you give
00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:06.067
Will be automatically matched
00:24:06.067 --> 00:24:07.569
And therefore doubled in size and impact
00:24:07.569 --> 00:24:10.705
Because of the matching challenge.
00:24:10.705 --> 00:24:12.941
As we celebrate the birth of christ next week,
00:24:12.941 --> 00:24:15.777
We remember that his light has overcome the darkness,
00:24:15.777 --> 00:24:19.681
And this record setting matching challenge
00:24:19.681 --> 00:24:22.284
Will enable us to share this good news
00:24:22.284 --> 00:24:24.486
With many more people so that christ's light may shine
00:24:24.486 --> 00:24:28.390
Even in the darkest corners of our world.
00:24:28.390 --> 00:24:31.826
Thank you so much for your generosity
00:24:31.826 --> 00:24:34.396
And i look forward to hearing from you today.
00:24:34.396 --> 00:24:37.566
And stay right there,
00:24:37.566 --> 00:24:38.867
I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
00:24:38.867 --> 00:24:41.102
In just a moment.
00:24:41.102 --> 00:24:43.004
[announcer] the one thing god wants
00:24:43.772 --> 00:24:45.273
More than anything else in this world is time with you.
00:24:45.273 --> 00:24:48.977
Make god your priority by spending quality time in his word
00:24:48.977 --> 00:24:52.547
With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
00:24:52.547 --> 00:24:56.551
This year's devotional
00:24:56.551 --> 00:24:57.786
Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
00:24:57.786 --> 00:24:59.621
With inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
00:24:59.621 --> 00:25:01.923
And now with larger print,
00:25:01.923 --> 00:25:03.325
The 260 practical insights from dr. robert jeffress
00:25:03.325 --> 00:25:06.661
Are easier to read.
00:25:06.661 --> 00:25:08.096
This stunning 532-page devotional
00:25:08.096 --> 00:25:10.699
Makes an ideal christmas gift
00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:12.200
For loved ones who want to grow in their faith too.
00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:14.970
Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us,
00:25:14.970 --> 00:25:18.373
He chose to do it through the written word.
00:25:18.373 --> 00:25:21.343
And that's why it's so important for you and for me
00:25:21.343 --> 00:25:23.678
To set aside regular time to read the word of god.
00:25:23.678 --> 00:25:28.350
[narrator] every season carries an uplifting theme.
00:25:28.350 --> 00:25:31.252
Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
00:25:31.252 --> 00:25:34.856
In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
00:25:35.790 --> 00:25:37.892
With insights from colossians.
00:25:37.892 --> 00:25:39.995
And in the fall and winter, embrace the father who loves you
00:25:39.995 --> 00:25:43.164
With inspirational readings
00:25:43.164 --> 00:25:44.666
Based on the parable of the prodigal son.
00:25:44.666 --> 00:25:47.202
When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
00:25:48.303 --> 00:25:50.772
Take a moment to anchor yourself
00:25:50.772 --> 00:25:52.474
In the calming truth of god's word
00:25:52.474 --> 00:25:54.342
With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
00:25:54.342 --> 00:25:58.880
Your gift of support not only provides you
00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:01.016
With this life-giving resource,
00:26:01.016 --> 00:26:02.784
It empowers us to spread
00:26:02.784 --> 00:26:04.386
The hope-filled message of jesus christ as well.
00:26:04.386 --> 00:26:07.489
Thank you for supporting the ministry of pathway to victory.
00:26:07.489 --> 00:26:13.895
Believe me, i know the christmas season can be hectic.
00:26:14.929 --> 00:26:18.400
At times it's even tempting to wish
00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.468
That we didn't have to worry about christmas at all.
00:26:20.468 --> 00:26:23.605
But beyond the gifts and the gatherings,
00:26:23.605 --> 00:26:26.341
Christmas represents the hope of mankind,
00:26:26.341 --> 00:26:29.444
Our only path to eternal life
00:26:29.444 --> 00:26:32.180
Through faith in jesus christ.
00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:34.849
Well, in our troubled world many wonder
00:26:34.849 --> 00:26:37.385
If evil is triumphing over good,
00:26:37.385 --> 00:26:39.954
But next time we'll explore how jesus,
00:26:39.954 --> 00:26:42.624
The light of the world,
00:26:42.624 --> 00:26:44.159
Will ultimately overcome all the darkness.
00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:47.962
Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
00:26:47.962 --> 00:26:50.699
On "pathway to victory."
00:26:50.699 --> 00:26:53.535
You see, there's a real tension in the christmas story.
00:26:53.535 --> 00:26:57.138
The light of christ coming people thought
00:26:57.138 --> 00:26:59.441
Would erase forever the darkness, but it hasn't done that.
00:26:59.441 --> 00:27:04.212
Many of you right now are still experiencing
00:27:04.212 --> 00:27:08.616
The darkness of this world.
00:27:08.616 --> 00:27:10.318
Is light the best representation of christ,
00:27:10.318 --> 00:27:15.256
Considering the darkness we're experiencing now?
00:27:15.256 --> 00:27:18.326
[announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
00:27:18.326 --> 00:27:20.562
For the message, "when darkness overcomes the light,"
00:27:20.562 --> 00:27:23.998
Here on "pathway to victory."
00:27:23.998 --> 00:27:23.998

Robert Jeffress - What If There Were No Christmas?

December 19, 2024 | S24:E5105

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