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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - When Darkness Overcomes the Light | December 20, 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,
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- In our troubled world,
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- Many wonder if evil is triumphing over good.
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- From global conflicts to personal struggles,
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- It can seem as if the darkness
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- Has eclipsed the light of christ's arrival 2,000 years ago.
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- But today we'll explore why jesus
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- Remains the true light of the world
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- And how his light ultimately overcomes all darkness.
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- My message is titled when darkness overcomes the light,
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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 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
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- 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
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- Here in america and around the world.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- You may have seen my christmas commentary this weekend
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- At fox news about the fact that christmas
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- Has been canceled for the first time in a long time
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- In that little village known as bethlehem.
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- There'll be traditional services in some of the churches,
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- But the traditional christmas tree that is in manger square
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- Won't be there this year.
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- There'll be no christmas lights illuminated.
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- The city officials said that such festivities
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- Seem out of step with the horrors of war
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- That that area of the world is experiencing.
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- The darkness of death, the darkness of war
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- Has overcome the lights of christmas,
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- Or so it seems.
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- By the way, that's not the first time
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- That's happened in bethlehem.
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- You remember 2,000 years ago, on a pitch black night,
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- The blackness suddenly gave way to light
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- As the angel made his announcement
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- To that group of shepherds on a judean hillside.
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- The angel gabriel said,
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- "behold, i bring you good news of great joy,
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- Which will be to all people
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- For unto you is born this day in the city of david
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- A savior who is christ the lord."
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- And that one angel's voice gave way to a multitude of angels
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- Who said loudly, "glory to god in the highest.
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- And on earth, peace toward men
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- With whom god is well pleased."
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- There is the light of christ's birth,
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- But that lightness was quickly eclipsed by darkness.
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- Remember, it wasn't too long after that that herod,
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- Hearing the news of christ's arrival,
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- Decided to launch a genocide against the jewish people,
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- Much like we saw just a few months ago.
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- Herod's order was to kill every hebrew, every jewish baby,
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- Male baby two years of age and younger.
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- And that little village
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- That had heard the announcement of christ's birth
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- Suddenly found themselves burying their dead children.
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- The light turned to darkness.
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- And in a sense, we've lived in that darkness
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- For more than 2,000 years.
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- You see, there's a real tension in the christmas story.
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- The light of christ coming, people thought,
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- Would erase forever the darkness.
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- But it hasn't done that.
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- Many of you right now are still experiencing
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- The darkness of this world.
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- Perhaps there's a place at your christmas table this year
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- That will be empty that was filled with somebody last year.
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- You've experienced the darkness of death
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- Or perhaps some other darkness has invaded your life.
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- And you're wondering, is christ coming
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- Really what it was built up to be?
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- Is light the best representation of christ
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- Considering the darkness we're experiencing now?
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- When you look at some of our most familiar christmas songs,
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- They use the motif of life.
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- I think of our service we're having this afternoon.
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- One of the most beautiful parts of that candlelight service
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- Is when all the lights are turned out
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- And we hold up our candles and sing "silent night."
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- Remember the third verse of that hymn.
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- Silent night, holy night,
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- Son of god loves pure light,
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- Radiant beams from thy holy face,
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- With the dawn of redeeming grace,
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- Jesus lord, at thy birth,
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- Jesus lord, at thy birth.
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- You see light used to describe christ
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- In some of the most well-known passages of scripture.
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- John uses that metaphor in john 1.
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- Remember how he introduced jesus?
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- He said in john 1:6-9, "there came a man sent from god,
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- Whose name was john.
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- He came as a witness, to testify about the light,
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- That all might believe through him.
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- John was not the light,
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- But he came to testify about the light.
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- There was the true light which, coming into the world,
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- Enlightens every man."
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- Jesus described himself this way in john 8:12.
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- "i am the," what, "the light of the world.
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- He who follows me shall not walk in the darkness,
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- But shall have the light of life."
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- And then in john 12:46, jesus said,
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- "i have come as light into the world,
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- So that everyone who believes in me
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- Will not remain in darkness."
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- A number of years ago,
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- I read an article by dr. robert russell.
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- And he discussed reasons that light
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- Was still an apt description for jesus christ.
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- I want to expand on those ideas
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- For just a few moments this morning.
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- Why is jesus the light of the world?
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- Well, think about it.
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- Light, first of all, commands our attention.
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- Especially light in the darkness
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- Has a way of commanding our attention.
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- How many of you remember just a few years ago
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- When our power grid here in texas failed completely?
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- Remember what that was like for a few days?
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- I don't know what your house was like,
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- But mine was very, very cold.
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- And it was very, very dark.
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- In fact, i remember for those few days,
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- We figured out we better get all of our chores done
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- Before the night came.
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- By five o'clock, things would start getting dark.
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- And so we were like pioneer people
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- From "little house on the prairie,"
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- Scurrying around to get our chores done
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- Before the night came,
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- Because when the night came, it got very, very dark.
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- We were stumbling around our house in the darkness.
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- But we found a candle, lit that candle,
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- Put it on the kitchen table.
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- And amy and i were drawn like moths to that flame,
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- Because it provided light,
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- It provided the warmth that we desired.
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- Light, especially in the darkness, commands our attention.
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- And that's why when isaiah prophesied
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- About the coming messiah 700 years before he came,
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- Listen to what he said in isaiah 9:2.
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- "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
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- On those living in the land of deep darkness,
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- A light has dawned."
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- He was predicting that jesus, his arrival,
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- Would command our attention.
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- It's amazing that the birth of jesus
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- Commanded anybody's attention when you think about it.
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- I mean, he was born to two parents
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- Who didn't have two denari to rub together.
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- He was born in a village so small
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- It wasn't even listed on the registry of judean cities.
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- He was born not in a hospital, not in a home,
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- But in an animal feeding trough.
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- He was born 1,450 years before the printing press,
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- 1,900 years before the radio.
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- And yet, today, 2,000 years later,
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- His birth is the central event in human history.
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- If you don't believe that,
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- If you're skeptical of that claim, just think about this.
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- Why is it when this last month of the year,
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- You're writing a check, if you still write checks,
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- You'll use the year, you'll write the date,
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- December, 2023.
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- Or if you sign a document, it will have on it 2023.
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- 2023, what does that mean?
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- It's been 2023 years since the most important event
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- In human history.
- 00:09:18.781 --> 00:09:20.416
- And everyone who acknowledges time
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- Has to acknowledge the one
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- Who split time in half, jesus christ.
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- He is the focus of human history.
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- Colossians 1 says, "for by him, jesus,
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- All things were created in heaven and on the earth."
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- Do you remember the cnn talk show host larry king,
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- The late larry king?
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- He was jewish.
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- And i remember reading an interview with him one time.
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- Somebody asked him, "larry, if you could interview
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- Anybody in the world, whom would you choose?"
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- He didn't hesitate.
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- He said, "jesus christ."
- 00:09:55.751 --> 00:09:59.221
- So the interviewer asked him
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- The ultimate follow up question.
- 00:10:01.323 --> 00:10:03.459
- He said, "well, if you could interview jesus
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- And you had only one question to ask him,
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- What would you ask him?"
- 00:10:08.297 --> 00:10:10.132
- And larry said, "i would ask him
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- If he really was born of a virgin,
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- Because to me the answer to that question defines history."
- 00:10:17.640 --> 00:10:22.878
- Jesus was born of a virgin.
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- He was the son of god.
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- And he still defines history.
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- And, you know, as our church enters
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- Into a new year of ministry,
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- A ministry that impacts not only the city of dallas
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- And not only our nation, but the entire world,
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- Let's remember, our mission is not to lift up a moral code.
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- Our mission is not to lift up a political philosophy
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- For people to embrace.
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- We are lifting up a person, jesus christ,
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- Who said, "if i be lifted up,
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- I will draw all men unto myself."
- 00:10:58.881 --> 00:11:01.784
- Light commands our attention.
- 00:11:01.784 --> 00:11:04.520
- Secondly, light reveals our flaws.
- 00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:09.091
- And this is a part of light we don't like.
- 00:11:09.091 --> 00:11:12.061
- It reveals our deficiencies.
- 00:11:12.061 --> 00:11:14.697
- I mean, think about it.
- 00:11:14.697 --> 00:11:16.232
- If you're going to have a romantic dinner with somebody,
- 00:11:16.232 --> 00:11:18.234
- You have that dinner over candlelight,
- 00:11:18.234 --> 00:11:20.035
- Not over a floodlight.
- 00:11:20.035 --> 00:11:21.737
- There are certain things you don't want accented.
- 00:11:21.737 --> 00:11:24.807
- It's the same way, by the way, with criminals.
- 00:11:25.741 --> 00:11:28.277
- If you're trying to protect your house,
- 00:11:28.277 --> 00:11:30.446
- What do the police tell you to do?
- 00:11:30.446 --> 00:11:32.148
- Put lights everywhere because light repels the darkness.
- 00:11:32.148 --> 00:11:36.452
- Light reveals sinister motives and actions.
- 00:11:36.452 --> 00:11:40.356
- And jesus is a light that doesn't appeal to everybody.
- 00:11:40.356 --> 00:11:44.326
- Have you ever wondered why it is people are turned off,
- 00:11:44.326 --> 00:11:48.564
- They are repelled by the gospel message
- 00:11:48.564 --> 00:11:51.667
- And they hate the name of jesus?
- 00:11:51.667 --> 00:11:53.969
- In fact, i mean, think about it.
- 00:11:53.969 --> 00:11:55.905
- Have you ever heard anybody accidentally hit their thumb
- 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.141
- With a hammer and say,
- 00:11:59.141 --> 00:12:00.075
- "oh my, benjamin franklin."
- 00:12:00.075 --> 00:12:02.344
- (congregants laughing)
- 00:12:02.344 --> 00:12:04.079
- Or, "mahatma gandhi!"
- 00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:05.948
- (congregants laughing)
- 00:12:05.948 --> 00:12:06.849
- "buddha, buddha, buddha."
- 00:12:06.849 --> 00:12:09.118
- No, there's one name they curse by, jesus christ.
- 00:12:09.118 --> 00:12:12.988
- Why is that?
- 00:12:12.988 --> 00:12:14.590
- There are people who are repelled by the light of jesus.
- 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:18.227
- They don't like their flaws being revealed.
- 00:12:18.227 --> 00:12:21.030
- Jesus is like a perfect straight ruler
- 00:12:21.030 --> 00:12:24.967
- That reveals how crooked people's lives really are.
- 00:12:24.967 --> 00:12:29.238
- And jesus predicted that by the way,
- 00:12:29.238 --> 00:12:31.407
- That some people would choose to reject him.
- 00:12:31.407 --> 00:12:34.310
- In john 3:19-20, jesus said,
- 00:12:34.310 --> 00:12:37.246
- "this is the judgment,
- 00:12:37.246 --> 00:12:38.881
- That the light has come into the world,
- 00:12:38.881 --> 00:12:40.850
- And men love the darkness rather than the light,
- 00:12:40.850 --> 00:12:44.119
- For their deeds were evil.
- 00:12:44.119 --> 00:12:45.988
- For everyone who does evil hates the light,
- 00:12:45.988 --> 00:12:49.425
- And does not come to the light for fear
- 00:12:49.425 --> 00:12:51.560
- That his deeds will be exposed."
- 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:54.897
- Some people are drawn by the light,
- 00:12:54.897 --> 00:12:56.999
- Others are repelled by it.
- 00:12:56.999 --> 00:12:58.734
- You see that in the christmas story itself.
- 00:12:58.734 --> 00:13:01.403
- Turn over to matthew 2 for just a moment.
- 00:13:01.403 --> 00:13:04.139
- Here you see two very distinct reactions
- 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:06.675
- To the coming of christ.
- 00:13:06.675 --> 00:13:08.711
- Matthew 2:1, "now after jesus was born
- 00:13:08.711 --> 00:13:11.947
- In bethlehem of judea
- 00:13:11.947 --> 00:13:13.816
- In the days of herod the king,
- 00:13:13.816 --> 00:13:16.452
- Magi from the east," probably persia,
- 00:13:16.452 --> 00:13:20.456
- Which is today's iran,
- 00:13:20.456 --> 00:13:22.691
- "magi from the east arrived in jerusalem, saying,
- 00:13:22.691 --> 00:13:26.428
- 'where is he who has been born king of the jews?
- 00:13:26.428 --> 00:13:29.265
- For we saw his star in the east,
- 00:13:29.265 --> 00:13:32.167
- And we have come to worship him.'
- 00:13:32.167 --> 00:13:35.104
- And when herod heard this, he was troubled."
- 00:13:35.104 --> 00:13:38.674
- Literally, the word is stirred up.
- 00:13:38.674 --> 00:13:41.543
- He was agitated, and all jerusalem with him.
- 00:13:41.543 --> 00:13:45.848
- When herod heard the news that jesus had been born,
- 00:13:46.916 --> 00:13:51.420
- It bothered him.
- 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:53.088
- He was paranoid anyway
- 00:13:53.088 --> 00:13:55.024
- About somebody taking over his kingdom.
- 00:13:55.024 --> 00:13:57.559
- And the idea that another king was on the scene
- 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.895
- Bothered him greatly.
- 00:13:59.895 --> 00:14:01.230
- And remember what he said to the magi?
- 00:14:01.230 --> 00:14:02.998
- He said, "you go and find him.
- 00:14:02.998 --> 00:14:05.334
- And when you find him, let me know where he is
- 00:14:05.334 --> 00:14:08.203
- So that i might worship him as well."
- 00:14:08.203 --> 00:14:11.974
- Right. (laughs)
- 00:14:11.974 --> 00:14:13.976
- His purpose in finding the light
- 00:14:13.976 --> 00:14:15.844
- Was to extinguish the light.
- 00:14:15.844 --> 00:14:17.980
- He had no desire to know the real jesus.
- 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:20.416
- And that's why herod stumbled around in darkness
- 00:14:20.416 --> 00:14:23.285
- For several years and died without ever finding him.
- 00:14:23.285 --> 00:14:26.822
- But contrast that to these magi.
- 00:14:26.822 --> 00:14:29.291
- We call them the wise men from the east.
- 00:14:29.291 --> 00:14:33.429
- Something in them, god stirred up a desire in their heart
- 00:14:33.429 --> 00:14:38.367
- To know the true god.
- 00:14:38.367 --> 00:14:40.736
- And their desire was so sincere
- 00:14:40.736 --> 00:14:42.805
- That god sent a star to eliminate the way
- 00:14:42.805 --> 00:14:46.241
- And to bring them to bethlehem to find jesus.
- 00:14:46.241 --> 00:14:50.412
- By the way, god does that for anybody.
- 00:14:50.412 --> 00:14:53.782
- When god senses a heart that truly wants to know him,
- 00:14:53.782 --> 00:14:58.620
- God will move heaven and earth
- 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:00.322
- To make sure that person finds him.
- 00:15:00.322 --> 00:15:02.925
- Jeremiah 29:13, god says,
- 00:15:02.925 --> 00:15:05.561
- "and you will seek me and find me
- 00:15:05.561 --> 00:15:07.563
- When you search for me with all of your heart."
- 00:15:07.563 --> 00:15:11.400
- If you really want to know god,
- 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:13.402
- God will lead you to the same place
- 00:15:13.402 --> 00:15:16.372
- That he led the wise men, to the feet of jesus christ.
- 00:15:16.372 --> 00:15:21.076
- He is our way to god.
- 00:15:21.076 --> 00:15:23.112
- And that's why light is so powerful.
- 00:15:23.112 --> 00:15:25.080
- Light reveals our flaws.
- 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:28.183
- It repels those who don't want to know god,
- 00:15:28.183 --> 00:15:30.953
- But it draws those who want to know god.
- 00:15:30.953 --> 00:15:34.423
- There's a third similarity between light and jesus christ.
- 00:15:34.423 --> 00:15:39.061
- Light overpowers our darkness.
- 00:15:39.061 --> 00:15:42.531
- Yes, there's a time that it seems like darkness
- 00:15:42.531 --> 00:15:45.134
- Overpowers the light,
- 00:15:45.134 --> 00:15:46.602
- But eventually light overpowers the darkness.
- 00:15:46.602 --> 00:15:50.205
- In ephesians 6:12, which we're going to look at next month
- 00:15:50.205 --> 00:15:53.642
- When we resume our ephesians series.
- 00:15:53.642 --> 00:15:56.412
- No, i haven't forgotten about ephesians.
- 00:15:56.412 --> 00:15:58.547
- We're coming back to it next month.
- 00:15:58.547 --> 00:16:00.983
- But listen to chapter six, verse 12.
- 00:16:00.983 --> 00:16:03.285
- Paul gives us an analysis of every problem you're facing
- 00:16:03.285 --> 00:16:07.890
- In your life right now.
- 00:16:07.890 --> 00:16:09.458
- Paul says, "for our struggle,"
- 00:16:09.458 --> 00:16:12.094
- Life is a struggle, isn't it?
- 00:16:12.094 --> 00:16:14.129
- "our struggle is not against flesh and blood,"
- 00:16:14.129 --> 00:16:17.032
- That is, it's not against other people.
- 00:16:17.032 --> 00:16:18.934
- "but it's against the rulers, against the powers,
- 00:16:18.934 --> 00:16:22.237
- Against the world forces of this," what,
- 00:16:22.237 --> 00:16:25.207
- "darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness
- 00:16:25.207 --> 00:16:29.578
- In the heavenly places."
- 00:16:29.578 --> 00:16:31.747
- There's a battle going on right now
- 00:16:32.481 --> 00:16:34.650
- Between the forces of darkness and the forces of light,
- 00:16:34.650 --> 00:16:39.154
- Between the kingdom of satan and the kingdom of god.
- 00:16:39.154 --> 00:16:42.257
- And it seems like at times that darkness is winning out.
- 00:16:42.257 --> 00:16:46.995
- Maybe some of you here, some of you watching,
- 00:16:47.930 --> 00:16:50.199
- Are having a hard time entering into the festivities
- 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:54.002
- Of christmas this year.
- 00:16:54.002 --> 00:16:56.004
- You've experienced darkness.
- 00:16:56.004 --> 00:16:58.474
- The darkness of death of a loved one
- 00:16:58.474 --> 00:17:00.742
- Has touched your life this year.
- 00:17:00.742 --> 00:17:03.245
- Maybe you have the uncertainty
- 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:06.348
- Of a financial difficulty you're experiencing
- 00:17:06.348 --> 00:17:09.051
- Or a health concern.
- 00:17:09.051 --> 00:17:11.253
- Maybe your darkness is due to a child or a grandchild
- 00:17:11.253 --> 00:17:16.592
- Who has wandered away from you and wandered away from god.
- 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.629
- In the battle between light and darkness,
- 00:17:20.629 --> 00:17:22.798
- It seems like darkness is winning
- 00:17:22.798 --> 00:17:24.766
- Because darkness is winning, for now,
- 00:17:24.766 --> 00:17:28.937
- But it won't always be that way.
- 00:17:28.937 --> 00:17:31.874
- A day comes when the light overcomes the darkness.
- 00:17:31.874 --> 00:17:35.244
- Just think about the disciples themselves.
- 00:17:35.244 --> 00:17:39.248
- That friday afternoon we call good friday
- 00:17:39.248 --> 00:17:41.817
- Was a dark, dark day.
- 00:17:41.817 --> 00:17:44.586
- Jesus had just been crucified,
- 00:17:44.586 --> 00:17:46.421
- His body placed in the tomb.
- 00:17:46.421 --> 00:17:48.657
- The disciples' dreams of a kingdom had been dashed.
- 00:17:48.657 --> 00:17:52.594
- They had never been lower than they were friday evening.
- 00:17:52.594 --> 00:17:56.632
- But three days later, that easter sunday began to dawn.
- 00:17:56.632 --> 00:18:01.837
- And an angel appeared.
- 00:18:02.337 --> 00:18:03.705
- His appearance was like lightning, the bible says.
- 00:18:03.705 --> 00:18:06.975
- And the light of that angel's power illuminated the tomb
- 00:18:06.975 --> 00:18:10.812
- And raised jesus christ from the dead.
- 00:18:10.812 --> 00:18:14.216
- And the darkness of death was eclipsed
- 00:18:14.216 --> 00:18:16.585
- By the light of god's power.
- 00:18:16.585 --> 00:18:18.820
- And that same power will rid your life of darkness as well.
- 00:18:18.820 --> 00:18:23.759
- Light eventually overcomes the darkness.
- 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:26.995
- That is the promise for every follower of jesus christ.
- 00:18:26.995 --> 00:18:32.334
- And finally, light offers us direction.
- 00:18:33.168 --> 00:18:37.206
- That's why it's such a good description of jesus.
- 00:18:37.206 --> 00:18:39.441
- Light offers us direction.
- 00:18:39.441 --> 00:18:41.543
- Now think about this with me for a moment.
- 00:18:41.543 --> 00:18:43.445
- Imagine the captain of a giant jumbo jet liner
- 00:18:43.445 --> 00:18:48.083
- Weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds.
- 00:18:48.083 --> 00:18:50.852
- He's trying to land that airplane
- 00:18:50.852 --> 00:18:53.555
- In the midst of a driving rainstorm at night.
- 00:18:53.555 --> 00:18:57.759
- There's only one place he can safely land the plane,
- 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:00.762
- That strip of concrete in the darkness.
- 00:19:00.762 --> 00:19:03.665
- How does he find that place of safety?
- 00:19:03.665 --> 00:19:07.069
- There are lights on that runway that shine, that blink,
- 00:19:07.069 --> 00:19:11.974
- Motioning for him to come to this place of safety.
- 00:19:11.974 --> 00:19:16.511
- It's the same for us.
- 00:19:16.511 --> 00:19:18.614
- How can we ever navigate successfully through the darkness,
- 00:19:18.614 --> 00:19:23.285
- The uncertainty of this life,
- 00:19:23.285 --> 00:19:25.787
- With all kind of surprises that come our way
- 00:19:25.787 --> 00:19:28.924
- And disappointments?
- 00:19:28.924 --> 00:19:30.792
- And how can we ever hope to navigate our way
- 00:19:30.792 --> 00:19:34.263
- Through the darkness of eternity?
- 00:19:34.263 --> 00:19:36.865
- Jesus said, "i am the way.
- 00:19:36.865 --> 00:19:39.901
- I'm the way.
- 00:19:39.901 --> 00:19:41.603
- I am the way, the truth, and the life.
- 00:19:41.603 --> 00:19:44.906
- No man comes to the father but by me."
- 00:19:44.906 --> 00:19:48.010
- We need jesus to lead us safely through this life
- 00:19:48.010 --> 00:19:52.681
- And safely into his presence in all of eternity.
- 00:19:52.681 --> 00:19:56.818
- You probably, some of you,
- 00:19:56.818 --> 00:19:58.754
- Recognize the name of paul harvey.
- 00:19:59.488 --> 00:20:02.891
- Paul harvey was the most successful radio commentator
- 00:20:02.891 --> 00:20:07.329
- On the radio on abc news.
- 00:20:07.329 --> 00:20:09.464
- He was also a christian.
- 00:20:09.464 --> 00:20:12.134
- He once came and spoke at our church.
- 00:20:12.134 --> 00:20:15.070
- And he said, when he talked to our church,
- 00:20:15.070 --> 00:20:19.508
- That many times through the years
- 00:20:19.508 --> 00:20:21.310
- When his travels brought him to dallas,
- 00:20:21.310 --> 00:20:23.612
- He sat on the back row of the old sanctuary of our church
- 00:20:23.612 --> 00:20:28.283
- And participated in worship.
- 00:20:28.283 --> 00:20:31.053
- He was a very devoted christian.
- 00:20:31.053 --> 00:20:33.055
- And every year, every year without fail,
- 00:20:33.055 --> 00:20:36.558
- On the day closest to christmas,
- 00:20:36.558 --> 00:20:38.527
- He would use the same story about the meaning of christmas.
- 00:20:38.527 --> 00:20:43.465
- The story was about an old farmer
- 00:20:43.465 --> 00:20:45.534
- Who had become jaded in his christian faith.
- 00:20:45.534 --> 00:20:49.338
- He had isolated himself from his friends and family members.
- 00:20:49.338 --> 00:20:53.642
- He was all alone one evening
- 00:20:53.642 --> 00:20:56.478
- When one raw winter night,
- 00:20:56.478 --> 00:20:58.714
- The farmer heard an irregular thumping sound
- 00:20:58.714 --> 00:21:01.283
- Against the kitchen storm door.
- 00:21:01.283 --> 00:21:03.852
- He went to a window and watched as tiny shivering sparrows,
- 00:21:03.852 --> 00:21:08.590
- Attracted to the evident warmth inside,
- 00:21:08.590 --> 00:21:11.893
- Beat in vain against the glass.
- 00:21:11.893 --> 00:21:14.763
- Touched, the farmer bundled up
- 00:21:14.763 --> 00:21:17.032
- And trudged through fresh snow
- 00:21:17.032 --> 00:21:18.600
- To open the barn for the struggling birds.
- 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:22.037
- He turned on the lights, tossed some hay in the corner,
- 00:21:22.037 --> 00:21:25.340
- And sprinkled a trail of saltine crackers
- 00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:28.043
- To direct them to the barn.
- 00:21:28.043 --> 00:21:30.479
- But the sparrows, which had scattered in all directions
- 00:21:30.479 --> 00:21:33.615
- When he emerged from the house,
- 00:21:33.615 --> 00:21:35.550
- Still hid in the darkness, afraid of him.
- 00:21:35.550 --> 00:21:39.187
- He tried various tactics,
- 00:21:39.187 --> 00:21:41.556
- Circling behind the birds to drive them toward the barn,
- 00:21:41.556 --> 00:21:45.093
- Tossing cracker crumbs in the air toward them,
- 00:21:45.093 --> 00:21:48.296
- Retreating to his house to see
- 00:21:48.296 --> 00:21:50.031
- If they would flutter into the barn on their own,
- 00:21:50.031 --> 00:21:53.201
- But nothing worked.
- 00:21:53.201 --> 00:21:55.070
- He, a huge alien creature, had terrified the birds.
- 00:21:55.070 --> 00:21:59.875
- They couldn't understand
- 00:21:59.875 --> 00:22:01.042
- That he actually wanted to help them.
- 00:22:01.042 --> 00:22:04.012
- He withdrew to his house
- 00:22:04.012 --> 00:22:05.447
- And watched the doomed sparrows through a window.
- 00:22:05.447 --> 00:22:09.418
- As he stared, a thought hit him
- 00:22:09.418 --> 00:22:11.186
- Like a lightning bolt from heaven.
- 00:22:11.186 --> 00:22:13.688
- If only i could become a bird,
- 00:22:13.688 --> 00:22:16.324
- One of them just for a moment,
- 00:22:16.324 --> 00:22:18.794
- Then i wouldn't frighten them
- 00:22:18.794 --> 00:22:20.362
- So i could show them the way to warmth and safety.
- 00:22:20.362 --> 00:22:24.332
- At the same moment, another thought dawned on him.
- 00:22:25.333 --> 00:22:29.171
- He had grasped the whole meaning of the incarnation.
- 00:22:29.171 --> 00:22:34.843
- Have this attitude in yourselves,
- 00:22:35.577 --> 00:22:39.314
- Which was in christ jesus,
- 00:22:39.314 --> 00:22:41.550
- Who although he existed in the form of god,
- 00:22:41.550 --> 00:22:45.420
- He didn't regard his equality with god
- 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:48.123
- A thing to be grasped, held onto,
- 00:22:48.123 --> 00:22:51.026
- But he emptied himself.
- 00:22:51.526 --> 00:22:53.795
- And taking on the appearance of a man,
- 00:22:53.795 --> 00:22:55.764
- He became obedience to the point of death,
- 00:22:55.764 --> 00:22:59.501
- Even death on a cross.
- 00:22:59.501 --> 00:23:02.270
- Ladies and gentlemen,
- 00:23:02.771 --> 00:23:04.272
- Jesus christ did not just point us to the way to god.
- 00:23:04.272 --> 00:23:08.410
- He is the way to god.
- 00:23:08.410 --> 00:23:11.446
- "i am the way, the truth, and the life.
- 00:23:11.446 --> 00:23:15.383
- No man comes to the father except through me."
- 00:23:15.383 --> 00:23:18.920
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:19.254 --> 00:23:23.358
- Do you know for certain that when you die,
- 00:23:24.226 --> 00:23:26.628
- You'll be welcomed into heaven with open arms?
- 00:23:26.628 --> 00:23:30.131
- There's only one way to be sure,
- 00:23:30.131 --> 00:23:32.167
- And it's through jesus christ.
- 00:23:32.167 --> 00:23:34.636
- Today, as we talk about christmas gifts,
- 00:23:34.636 --> 00:23:37.272
- Receiving them and giving them,
- 00:23:37.272 --> 00:23:39.441
- I pray you receive the greatest gift of all,
- 00:23:39.441 --> 00:23:42.744
- The gift of god's forgiveness.
- 00:23:42.744 --> 00:23:45.413
- Well, by now, i hope you know about our matching challenge
- 00:23:45.413 --> 00:23:48.517
- That's taking place right now in the amount of $1.5 million.
- 00:23:48.517 --> 00:23:52.754
- We're calling it the pathway to victory
- 00:23:53.588 --> 00:23:55.757
- Light the darkness matching challenge.
- 00:23:55.757 --> 00:23:58.360
- And for good reason.
- 00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.661
- From the very beginning,
- 00:23:59.661 --> 00:24:00.829
- God's light has pierced the darkness.
- 00:24:00.829 --> 00:24:03.498
- In genesis 1, the creator commanded, "let there be light."
- 00:24:03.498 --> 00:24:08.103
- And at that precise moment,
- 00:24:08.103 --> 00:24:09.704
- The darkness was consumed by a bright light.
- 00:24:09.704 --> 00:24:13.308
- This miracle set the stage for a grand narrative
- 00:24:13.308 --> 00:24:16.778
- That culminates in the birth of jesus christ,
- 00:24:16.778 --> 00:24:19.881
- The light of the world.
- 00:24:19.881 --> 00:24:21.716
- Friends, it's our privilege together to shine christ's light
- 00:24:21.716 --> 00:24:25.921
- In the darkest corners of our world.
- 00:24:25.921 --> 00:24:28.523
- So would you join me in this noble cause,
- 00:24:28.523 --> 00:24:31.126
- To pierce the darkness with the light of god's word?
- 00:24:31.126 --> 00:24:34.663
- Thank you for entrusting your gifts to "pathway to victory."
- 00:24:34.663 --> 00:24:38.533
- Now stay right there.
- 00:24:38.533 --> 00:24:39.801
- I'll be back with more in just a moment.
- 00:24:39.801 --> 00:24:43.305
- [announcer] the one thing god wants
- 00:24:44.072 --> 00:24:45.574
- More than anything else in this world is time with you.
- 00:24:45.574 --> 00:24:49.311
- Make god your priority by spending quality time in his word
- 00:24:49.311 --> 00:24:52.847
- With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotional.
- 00:24:52.847 --> 00:24:56.851
- This year's devotional
- 00:24:56.851 --> 00:24:58.086
- Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
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- With inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
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- Are easier to read.
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- This stunning 532-page devotional
- 00:25:08.363 --> 00:25:11.032
- Makes an ideal christmas gift for loved ones
- 00:25:11.032 --> 00:25:13.201
- Who want to grow in their faith too.
- 00:25:13.201 --> 00:25:15.236
- Of all the ways god could have revealed himself to us,
- 00:25:15.236 --> 00:25:18.673
- He chose to do it through the written word.
- 00:25:18.673 --> 00:25:21.676
- And that's why it's so important for you and for me
- 00:25:21.676 --> 00:25:23.979
- To set aside regular time to read the word of god.
- 00:25:23.979 --> 00:25:28.650
- [announcer] every season carries an uplifting theme.
- 00:25:28.650 --> 00:25:31.553
- Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
- 00:25:31.553 --> 00:25:35.156
- In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
- 00:25:36.091 --> 00:25:38.226
- With insights from colossians.
- 00:25:38.226 --> 00:25:40.295
- And in the fall and winter, embrace the father who loves you
- 00:25:40.295 --> 00:25:43.465
- With inspirational readings
- 00:25:43.465 --> 00:25:44.966
- Based on the parable of the prodigal son.
- 00:25:44.966 --> 00:25:47.502
- When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
- 00:25:48.603 --> 00:25:51.072
- Take a moment to anchor yourself
- 00:25:51.072 --> 00:25:52.741
- In the calming truth of god's word
- 00:25:52.741 --> 00:25:54.609
- With the brand new 2025 pathway to victory daily devotion.
- 00:25:54.609 --> 00:25:59.180
- Your gift of support not only provides you
- 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:01.316
- With this life-giving resource,
- 00:26:01.316 --> 00:26:03.084
- It empowers us to spread the hope-filled message
- 00:26:03.084 --> 00:26:05.854
- Of jesus christ as well.
- 00:26:05.854 --> 00:26:07.789
- Thank you for supporting the ministry
- 00:26:07.789 --> 00:26:09.758
- Of "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:09.758 --> 00:26:13.261
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:26:13.595 --> 00:26:14.929
- Perhaps you feel like you're being smothered
- 00:26:14.929 --> 00:26:16.931
- In darkness right now.
- 00:26:16.931 --> 00:26:19.034
- Friends, jesus never promised to illuminate everything
- 00:26:19.034 --> 00:26:22.804
- That's going to happen in the future,
- 00:26:22.804 --> 00:26:25.006
- But he has promised that he will never leave you
- 00:26:25.006 --> 00:26:28.143
- Nor forsake you.
- 00:26:28.143 --> 00:26:29.944
- And like a lamp to your path,
- 00:26:29.944 --> 00:26:31.980
- He will show you the next step forward
- 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:34.649
- That you need to take.
- 00:26:34.649 --> 00:26:36.718
- Well, christmas provides a great reason to celebrate
- 00:26:36.718 --> 00:26:39.821
- Because as the angel of the lord said,
- 00:26:39.821 --> 00:26:42.424
- "today there has been born for you a savior
- 00:26:42.424 --> 00:26:46.261
- Who is christ the lord."
- 00:26:46.261 --> 00:26:48.363
- And next time, we're going to set aside all the distractions
- 00:26:48.363 --> 00:26:51.966
- And fully engage in the miraculous birth of jesus.
- 00:26:51.966 --> 00:26:55.970
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:55.970 --> 00:26:58.740
- On "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:58.740 --> 00:27:01.109
- How many different ways can you tell the christmas story?
- 00:27:02.277 --> 00:27:05.046
- The plot line doesn't change, or it shouldn't change.
- 00:27:05.046 --> 00:27:08.416
- In what you're telling,
- 00:27:08.416 --> 00:27:09.584
- The characters certainly don't change.
- 00:27:09.584 --> 00:27:11.853
- So how do you get something fresh
- 00:27:11.853 --> 00:27:14.723
- Out of the christmas story?
- 00:27:14.723 --> 00:27:16.024
- That's a challenge every pastor has.
- 00:27:16.024 --> 00:27:19.294
- [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:19.294 --> 00:27:21.563
- For the message stop and smell the manger,
- 00:27:21.563 --> 00:27:24.599
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:26.534
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:27:26.534 --> 00:27:26.534
