Tony Evans - The True Light of Christmas

December 22, 2024 | S

Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - The True Light of Christmas | December 22, 2024
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.317
  • Tony evans: when they saw god's star over bethlehem, they came
  • 00:00:01.751 --> 00:00:05.522
  • Looking for jesus even at the inconvenience of the journey,
  • 00:00:05.655 --> 00:00:06.723
  • Because he is worthy of whatever distance we have to travel
  • 00:00:09.959 --> 00:00:14.597
  • To get to where he is.
  • 00:00:14.597 --> 00:00:16.399
  • So the question in the new year: is jesus worthy of your worship
  • 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:21.504
  • Even if you have to be inconvenienced to get to it?
  • 00:00:21.504 --> 00:00:24.674
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:24.674 --> 00:00:33.650
  • Tony: there's some folks who discovered christmas
  • 00:00:33.650 --> 00:00:39.055
  • And that's what i want to talk to you about today.
  • 00:00:39.055 --> 00:00:42.592
  • The folks who found christmas, and some of the awesome lessons
  • 00:00:42.592 --> 00:00:49.232
  • That we learn from the folks who found christmas.
  • 00:00:49.232 --> 00:00:53.036
  • Lessons for them, but lessons for you and me as well.
  • 00:00:53.036 --> 00:00:59.676
  • The purpose of light is to help you see things clearly.
  • 00:00:59.676 --> 00:01:04.047
  • The opposite of light is darkness, where you do not see
  • 00:01:04.047 --> 00:01:07.984
  • Things clearly.
  • 00:01:07.984 --> 00:01:11.354
  • Light is necessary to dispel darkness so that you are
  • 00:01:11.354 --> 00:01:17.260
  • Illuminated to reality.
  • 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:20.897
  • The bible makes it clear that men live in darkness.
  • 00:01:20.897 --> 00:01:24.734
  • They don't see things clearly.
  • 00:01:24.734 --> 00:01:26.736
  • That's why we do the sins we do, make the mistakes we do,
  • 00:01:26.736 --> 00:01:30.807
  • Have the failures we do, because we don't see things
  • 00:01:30.807 --> 00:01:34.744
  • As they ought to be seen.
  • 00:01:34.744 --> 00:01:36.312
  • We just think we do.
  • 00:01:36.312 --> 00:01:39.082
  • Jesus is the light of the world.
  • 00:01:39.082 --> 00:01:41.284
  • His job is to bring reality to our darkness.
  • 00:01:41.284 --> 00:01:49.459
  • We live in a world illuminated by the s-u-n, the sun.
  • 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:57.033
  • But we don't benefit from the sun just because we look
  • 00:01:57.033 --> 00:02:01.571
  • At the sun.
  • 00:02:01.571 --> 00:02:02.906
  • We benefit from the s-u-n because we see everything else
  • 00:02:02.906 --> 00:02:07.076
  • Because of it.
  • 00:02:07.076 --> 00:02:08.645
  • In other words, because there is an s-u-n, we see all that earth
  • 00:02:08.645 --> 00:02:14.017
  • Has to offer because there is an s-o-n.
  • 00:02:14.017 --> 00:02:19.956
  • We not only can look at the sun, but we see everything else
  • 00:02:19.956 --> 00:02:24.861
  • When we look at everything else in light of the s-o-n.
  • 00:02:24.861 --> 00:02:30.700
  • What the physical sun is, the s-u-n, is to the physical world,
  • 00:02:30.700 --> 00:02:37.974
  • The s-o-n, son, is to our spiritual reality.
  • 00:02:37.974 --> 00:02:45.081
  • So when you do not look at things through the visor
  • 00:02:45.081 --> 00:02:50.053
  • Of the s-o-n, you will not see it clearly because you will be
  • 00:02:50.053 --> 00:02:55.158
  • Limited to your five senses.
  • 00:02:55.158 --> 00:02:59.462
  • So to really catch christ this christmas is to be able to see
  • 00:02:59.462 --> 00:03:06.836
  • Your life as it ought to be seen, evaluated as it ought
  • 00:03:06.836 --> 00:03:11.741
  • To be evaluated, and benefit from clear sight lines rather
  • 00:03:11.741 --> 00:03:17.880
  • Than the darkness that we've gotten
  • 00:03:17.880 --> 00:03:19.215
  • Used to operating in.
  • 00:03:19.215 --> 00:03:22.518
  • So let's tour some folks who ran into jesus and see what they saw
  • 00:03:22.518 --> 00:03:27.991
  • So that you can see what you see.
  • 00:03:27.991 --> 00:03:31.361
  • The first person i'd like to talk about is mary,
  • 00:03:31.361 --> 00:03:37.166
  • Jesus's mother.
  • 00:03:37.166 --> 00:03:40.403
  • In chapter 1 of the book of luke, an angel comes
  • 00:03:40.403 --> 00:03:47.343
  • To mary and tells mary she's gonna have a baby,
  • 00:03:47.343 --> 00:03:55.485
  • And this presents a biological dilemma because mary says
  • 00:03:55.485 --> 00:04:02.792
  • In verse 34 of chapter 1,
  • 00:04:02.792 --> 00:04:05.094
  • "how can this be, since i am a virgin?"
  • 00:04:05.094 --> 00:04:11.301
  • Now, i would call that a practical question.
  • 00:04:11.301 --> 00:04:15.238
  • "i've never been intimate with a man.
  • 00:04:15.238 --> 00:04:19.142
  • I am a virgin, but you just told me i'm gonna be pregnant.
  • 00:04:19.142 --> 00:04:25.181
  • Logically, biologically, scientifically, angel, what you
  • 00:04:25.181 --> 00:04:33.523
  • Just said can't happen.
  • 00:04:33.523 --> 00:04:37.060
  • How can this thing be?"
  • 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:39.762
  • The angel tells her that the holy spirit is
  • 00:04:39.762 --> 00:04:42.999
  • Going to come up--come on, you got to be kidding.
  • 00:04:42.999 --> 00:04:46.302
  • "the holy spirit is going to come upon you,
  • 00:04:46.302 --> 00:04:49.572
  • And when the holy spirit comes upon you," verse 35,
  • 00:04:49.572 --> 00:04:52.975
  • "the power of the most high is gonna overshadow you.
  • 00:04:52.975 --> 00:04:56.779
  • And for this reason, the holy child shall be
  • 00:04:56.779 --> 00:05:00.750
  • Called the son of god."
  • 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:03.052
  • But i want you to notice something.
  • 00:05:03.052 --> 00:05:06.322
  • The angel tells her something that i don't want you to miss
  • 00:05:06.322 --> 00:05:11.027
  • In verse 37.
  • 00:05:11.027 --> 00:05:13.529
  • He says, "the reason you need to buy this, mary,
  • 00:05:13.529 --> 00:05:17.867
  • Is because nothing is impossible with god."
  • 00:05:17.867 --> 00:05:22.271
  • You see, one of the lessons of christmas is don't put god
  • 00:05:22.271 --> 00:05:26.509
  • In a box, because when god wants to do something he can transcend
  • 00:05:26.509 --> 00:05:31.981
  • Logic to do it.
  • 00:05:31.981 --> 00:05:34.283
  • He can transcend your education to do it.
  • 00:05:34.283 --> 00:05:37.820
  • I want to contrast mary with zacharias.
  • 00:05:37.820 --> 00:05:42.658
  • Now, zacharias is married to elizabeth.
  • 00:05:42.658 --> 00:05:46.562
  • Elizabeth is a relative of mary.
  • 00:05:46.562 --> 00:05:50.366
  • Zacharias is old.
  • 00:05:50.366 --> 00:05:53.102
  • An angel comes to zacharias in this same chapter and says,
  • 00:05:53.102 --> 00:05:58.841
  • "you're going to be the father of a baby."
  • 00:05:58.841 --> 00:06:02.745
  • Zacharias has a big question because zacharias said
  • 00:06:02.745 --> 00:06:09.218
  • To the angel, "how will i know this for certain?"
  • 00:06:09.218 --> 00:06:12.755
  • Now that's the same question mary had, "how can this
  • 00:06:12.755 --> 00:06:15.324
  • Thing be?"
  • 00:06:15.324 --> 00:06:17.126
  • Zacharias goes logical like mary did.
  • 00:06:17.126 --> 00:06:21.497
  • Mary said, "i am a virgin."
  • 00:06:21.497 --> 00:06:23.199
  • That's logical.
  • 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:24.767
  • Zacharias says, "how can this thing be, that i'm gonna have
  • 00:06:24.767 --> 00:06:28.971
  • A baby, my wife's gonna have a baby?
  • 00:06:28.971 --> 00:06:31.107
  • I'm an old man."
  • 00:06:31.107 --> 00:06:33.476
  • He says, "this is not possible.
  • 00:06:33.476 --> 00:06:35.378
  • I'm an old man.
  • 00:06:35.378 --> 00:06:36.979
  • Not only that, but my wife is advanced in years.
  • 00:06:36.979 --> 00:06:41.617
  • She's already been through menopause.
  • 00:06:41.617 --> 00:06:44.287
  • She's an old lady now.
  • 00:06:44.287 --> 00:06:46.622
  • You're telling me i'm going to have a baby through my
  • 00:06:46.622 --> 00:06:49.892
  • Wife elizabeth?
  • 00:06:49.892 --> 00:06:51.494
  • That's not logically possible."
  • 00:06:51.494 --> 00:06:54.764
  • Look at what the angel tells him.
  • 00:06:54.764 --> 00:06:57.266
  • The angel says to zechariah in verse 20 of luke 1,
  • 00:06:57.266 --> 00:07:02.171
  • "and, behold, you shall be silent, and unable to speak,
  • 00:07:02.171 --> 00:07:07.610
  • Until the day when these things take place, because you did not
  • 00:07:07.610 --> 00:07:12.348
  • Believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
  • 00:07:12.348 --> 00:07:16.652
  • Wait a minute now.
  • 00:07:16.652 --> 00:07:18.421
  • We got the same kind of scenario and impossibility, something
  • 00:07:18.421 --> 00:07:24.527
  • That can't happen.
  • 00:07:24.527 --> 00:07:26.629
  • Zacharias is too old, his wife is too advanced in years
  • 00:07:26.629 --> 00:07:30.867
  • For her to get pregnant.
  • 00:07:30.867 --> 00:07:32.235
  • Biology says that can't happen.
  • 00:07:32.235 --> 00:07:35.171
  • Mary is a virgin.
  • 00:07:35.171 --> 00:07:36.839
  • She can't get pregnant because there's no man
  • 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:39.008
  • On the scene.
  • 00:07:39.008 --> 00:07:40.643
  • Logic says that can't happen.
  • 00:07:40.643 --> 00:07:43.746
  • So we've got the similar situation, but we've got
  • 00:07:43.746 --> 00:07:47.783
  • Two different reactions.
  • 00:07:47.783 --> 00:07:50.186
  • The angel tells zachariah, "because you did not believe,
  • 00:07:50.186 --> 00:07:55.791
  • You will not be able to speak until it happens."
  • 00:07:55.791 --> 00:08:00.630
  • But the angel tells mary, "get ready, because you're
  • 00:08:00.630 --> 00:08:06.302
  • Getting ready to experience a supernatural reality."
  • 00:08:06.302 --> 00:08:10.006
  • But both of them had doubts and had questions.
  • 00:08:10.006 --> 00:08:14.076
  • So the issue is, when you are facing an impossibility,
  • 00:08:14.076 --> 00:08:17.713
  • Something that does not make sense, that is revealed by god,
  • 00:08:17.713 --> 00:08:23.219
  • What's the difference between a doubt that brings
  • 00:08:23.219 --> 00:08:27.456
  • Discipline and a doubt that brings a miracle?
  • 00:08:27.456 --> 00:08:30.927
  • Because they both had a doubt, they both had a question,
  • 00:08:30.927 --> 00:08:34.397
  • Because it wasn't logical.
  • 00:08:34.397 --> 00:08:36.265
  • Here's the difference.
  • 00:08:36.265 --> 00:08:37.667
  • It's shown in chapter 1, verse 38.
  • 00:08:37.667 --> 00:08:41.904
  • When the angel said nothing is impossible with god, mary said,
  • 00:08:41.904 --> 00:08:46.876
  • "'behold, the bondslave of the lord; may it be done
  • 00:08:46.876 --> 00:08:52.582
  • To me according to your word.'
  • 00:08:52.582 --> 00:08:54.383
  • And the angel departed from her."
  • 00:08:54.383 --> 00:08:56.886
  • You see, both would require a miracle, but zacharias's doubt
  • 00:08:56.886 --> 00:09:02.625
  • Was a miracle that led him to unbelief.
  • 00:09:02.625 --> 00:09:06.762
  • Mary's doubt was a miracle that led her to submission.
  • 00:09:06.762 --> 00:09:11.934
  • Even though mary said, "i don't understand it, even though it
  • 00:09:11.934 --> 00:09:15.738
  • Doesn't fit my biological reality, because it came from
  • 00:09:15.738 --> 00:09:20.776
  • God, i'm going to be your bondservant, and do to mama
  • 00:09:20.776 --> 00:09:25.748
  • Whatever you want to do.
  • 00:09:25.748 --> 00:09:27.416
  • Because if god said it, i don't have to understand it,
  • 00:09:27.416 --> 00:09:31.487
  • I don't have to figure it out.
  • 00:09:31.487 --> 00:09:32.955
  • I just have to embrace it.
  • 00:09:32.955 --> 00:09:34.890
  • And when i embrace it, the supernatural enters
  • 00:09:34.890 --> 00:09:39.128
  • Into the natural."
  • 00:09:39.128 --> 00:09:40.496
  • Don't go into the new year with your natural thinking.
  • 00:09:40.496 --> 00:09:44.300
  • Don't go into the new year with your human understanding.
  • 00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:49.071
  • Don't go into your new year with your education and your
  • 00:09:49.071 --> 00:09:53.943
  • Information, as though that would determine what god can do,
  • 00:09:53.943 --> 00:09:58.514
  • Is able to do, will do, won't do, because the angel told mary
  • 00:09:58.514 --> 00:10:03.986
  • To tell me to tell you that nothing is impossible with god.
  • 00:10:03.986 --> 00:10:11.594
  • You must enter the new year if you understand christmas
  • 00:10:11.594 --> 00:10:16.899
  • With an understanding that god can blow your box, god can
  • 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:23.339
  • Mess up your thoughts, god can reverse your direction.
  • 00:10:23.339 --> 00:10:26.842
  • And he can do it on a dime because the angel came
  • 00:10:26.842 --> 00:10:30.246
  • To mary out of nowhere.
  • 00:10:30.246 --> 00:10:34.517
  • So, elizabeth, zachariah's wife, gets pregnant.
  • 00:10:34.517 --> 00:10:41.357
  • Mary comes to visit her.
  • 00:10:41.357 --> 00:10:43.426
  • And i just want to make this side point in verse 41.
  • 00:10:43.426 --> 00:10:47.697
  • "when elizabeth heard mary's greeting, the baby leaped
  • 00:10:47.697 --> 00:10:52.735
  • In her womb; and elizabeth
  • 00:10:52.735 --> 00:10:55.037
  • Was filled with the holy spirit."
  • 00:10:55.037 --> 00:10:56.806
  • So, mary is pregnant, she comes to meet elizabeth who's
  • 00:10:56.806 --> 00:11:04.680
  • Pregnant, and when mary comes to elizabeth, the baby
  • 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:10.319
  • In elizabeth's womb jumps because jesus has entered
  • 00:11:10.319 --> 00:11:16.425
  • Into the vicinity in the womb of mary.
  • 00:11:16.425 --> 00:11:19.662
  • Now, the second group that didn't miss jesus on christmas
  • 00:11:19.662 --> 00:11:25.801
  • Were the shepherds.
  • 00:11:25.801 --> 00:11:28.637
  • We're told in chapter 2, verse 8 that "in the same region there
  • 00:11:28.637 --> 00:11:33.876
  • Were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping
  • 00:11:33.876 --> 00:11:38.114
  • Watch over the flock by night."
  • 00:11:38.114 --> 00:11:40.282
  • And here we go with another angel.
  • 00:11:40.282 --> 00:11:42.918
  • An angel shows up, i'm gonna say something about that
  • 00:11:42.918 --> 00:11:45.688
  • In a moment, of the lord, and guess how he showed up?
  • 00:11:45.688 --> 00:11:49.391
  • Suddenly.
  • 00:11:49.391 --> 00:11:51.127
  • So suddenly the angel comes, and there are these shepherds
  • 00:11:51.127 --> 00:11:55.898
  • And they're scared to death.
  • 00:11:55.898 --> 00:11:59.268
  • The angel says, "do not be afraid,"
  • 00:11:59.268 --> 00:12:01.670
  • Because they're scared.
  • 00:12:01.670 --> 00:12:03.005
  • They haven't seen anything like this before.
  • 00:12:03.005 --> 00:12:07.443
  • "do not be afraid; for behold," somebody say "behold."
  • 00:12:07.443 --> 00:12:11.781
  • There are a lot of scary things that is going to happen
  • 00:12:11.781 --> 00:12:14.984
  • And you're going to face in the new year.
  • 00:12:14.984 --> 00:12:17.119
  • And when you face fear, he tells them, because they are afraid,
  • 00:12:17.119 --> 00:12:21.223
  • He tells them to behold.
  • 00:12:21.223 --> 00:12:23.359
  • That means look intensely at.
  • 00:12:23.359 --> 00:12:25.628
  • What are they to behold?
  • 00:12:25.628 --> 00:12:26.996
  • "i bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the
  • 00:12:26.996 --> 00:12:30.166
  • People; for today in the city of david has been born for you
  • 00:12:30.166 --> 00:12:33.035
  • A savior, who is christ the lord."
  • 00:12:33.035 --> 00:12:35.437
  • The more scared you get, the more you need to focus on jesus.
  • 00:12:35.437 --> 00:12:39.942
  • He tells scared shepherds, "look to jesus, and that will calm
  • 00:12:39.942 --> 00:12:44.346
  • Your fear, and it will turn fear into good news and fear into joy
  • 00:12:44.346 --> 00:12:49.318
  • If you look to jesus."
  • 00:12:49.318 --> 00:12:51.287
  • So whatever scares you in the new year, focus on jesus,
  • 00:12:51.287 --> 00:12:56.125
  • Who can give you peace in the midst of a storm.
  • 00:12:56.125 --> 00:12:59.161
  • So get your focus straight in the new year so that jesus can
  • 00:12:59.161 --> 00:13:03.365
  • Turn fearful situations, anxiety, and anxiousness
  • 00:13:03.365 --> 00:13:08.204
  • Into stability, calm, peace, and joy.
  • 00:13:08.204 --> 00:13:11.974
  • But let's go deeper.
  • 00:13:11.974 --> 00:13:13.843
  • He says that the savior's going to be born in the city of david.
  • 00:13:13.843 --> 00:13:18.347
  • "and i'm gonna give you a sign," verse 12 says.
  • 00:13:18.347 --> 00:13:23.085
  • "you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger."
  • 00:13:23.085 --> 00:13:32.127
  • Now, at first that doesn't seem like much.
  • 00:13:32.127 --> 00:13:35.664
  • You're gonna see a baby, okay?
  • 00:13:35.664 --> 00:13:37.633
  • A lot of babies.
  • 00:13:37.633 --> 00:13:40.069
  • You're gonna see a baby with cloth on him.
  • 00:13:40.069 --> 00:13:43.739
  • Okay, well any baby's gonna be wrapped in something.
  • 00:13:43.739 --> 00:13:47.743
  • You're gonna be found a baby in a manger.
  • 00:13:47.743 --> 00:13:50.212
  • Well, that's a little different, but that's sort of like a crib.
  • 00:13:50.212 --> 00:13:52.882
  • It was a feeding trough, but it's sort of like a crib.
  • 00:13:52.882 --> 00:13:54.917
  • And if there was no room in the inn,
  • 00:13:54.917 --> 00:13:57.486
  • You got to put the baby into something.
  • 00:13:57.486 --> 00:13:58.954
  • So, how is that a sign?
  • 00:13:58.954 --> 00:14:02.458
  • Because i see a baby, baby's got cloth on him,
  • 00:14:02.458 --> 00:14:06.161
  • And the baby's lying in a different kind of lying
  • 00:14:06.161 --> 00:14:09.064
  • But it's lying in a trough.
  • 00:14:09.064 --> 00:14:10.766
  • But how is that a sign that he's the savior?
  • 00:14:10.766 --> 00:14:16.038
  • What is unique about that?
  • 00:14:16.038 --> 00:14:18.140
  • What is special about that?
  • 00:14:18.140 --> 00:14:21.277
  • I think the king james says he will be wrapped
  • 00:14:21.277 --> 00:14:23.879
  • In "swaddling clothes."
  • 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:26.682
  • Well, who is he talking to?
  • 00:14:26.682 --> 00:14:28.817
  • He's talking to shepherds.
  • 00:14:28.817 --> 00:14:30.219
  • What are shepherds doing?
  • 00:14:30.219 --> 00:14:31.587
  • They're watching over lamb and sheep, right?
  • 00:14:31.587 --> 00:14:33.055
  • Let me tell you about the shepherds.
  • 00:14:33.055 --> 00:14:35.858
  • These are not just general shepherds.
  • 00:14:35.858 --> 00:14:38.894
  • The shepherds that the angel comes to are shepherds that are
  • 00:14:38.894 --> 00:14:43.565
  • Watching over the lambs that would be offered
  • 00:14:43.565 --> 00:14:46.335
  • As sacrifice on the altar for the sins of the people.
  • 00:14:46.335 --> 00:14:51.640
  • The lambs had to be without spot or wrinkle.
  • 00:14:51.640 --> 00:14:54.944
  • They could not have any blemishes, any cuts,
  • 00:14:54.944 --> 00:14:57.780
  • Any scars on them.
  • 00:14:57.780 --> 00:15:00.215
  • So back in jesus's day, what they would do is they would wrap
  • 00:15:00.215 --> 00:15:04.320
  • A newborn lamb in cloth so that as the lamb began to move
  • 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:10.626
  • Around, it wouldn't rub off of something and get a scar on it,
  • 00:15:10.626 --> 00:15:14.897
  • Because then it would be no good.
  • 00:15:14.897 --> 00:15:16.598
  • You couldn't offer it anymore.
  • 00:15:16.598 --> 00:15:18.200
  • So when the shepherds heard that they were to find a baby
  • 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:22.571
  • That would be wrapped like one of the lambs that they
  • 00:15:22.571 --> 00:15:25.307
  • Would normally wrap, because this baby was born
  • 00:15:25.307 --> 00:15:28.811
  • To die, they would know that this is the savior
  • 00:15:28.811 --> 00:15:32.982
  • Because this is the lamb of god come to be offered
  • 00:15:32.982 --> 00:15:37.019
  • As the sacrifice for mankind.
  • 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:43.559
  • So that's why the wrapping was so important, and it was
  • 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:46.996
  • The wrapping of a baby like the wrapping of a newborn lamb,
  • 00:15:46.996 --> 00:15:50.432
  • Because jesus had to be the son of god without spot
  • 00:15:50.432 --> 00:15:54.737
  • Or blemish, the sinless son of god.
  • 00:15:54.737 --> 00:15:59.208
  • And so they come, and now the angels come forth
  • 00:15:59.208 --> 00:16:03.579
  • And they're singing, "and the shepherds," verse 20,
  • 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:08.650
  • "went back, glorifying and praising god for all
  • 00:16:08.650 --> 00:16:12.321
  • That they had heard and for what they had been told."
  • 00:16:12.321 --> 00:16:15.991
  • Each of these could be a sermon within itself.
  • 00:16:15.991 --> 00:16:18.894
  • These shepherds experience the miracle of jesus's birth.
  • 00:16:18.894 --> 00:16:24.800
  • Why?
  • 00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:26.135
  • Because they recognize the uniqueness of the savior
  • 00:16:26.135 --> 00:16:28.604
  • And responded accordingly.
  • 00:16:28.604 --> 00:16:31.040
  • Let me show you somebody else who didn't miss christmas.
  • 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:35.544
  • His name is simeon, chapter 2, verse 25.
  • 00:16:35.544 --> 00:16:40.516
  • "there was a man in jerusalem whose name was simeon; and this
  • 00:16:40.516 --> 00:16:43.919
  • Man was a righteous and devout--he was righteous
  • 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:46.855
  • And devout, looking for the consolation of israel," that is,
  • 00:16:46.855 --> 00:16:50.259
  • Looking for the savior, "and the holy spirit was upon him.
  • 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:55.397
  • And it had been revealed to him by the holy spirit that he
  • 00:16:55.397 --> 00:16:58.567
  • Would not see death before he had seen the lord's christ.
  • 00:16:58.567 --> 00:17:03.338
  • And he came in the spirit into the temple; and when the parents
  • 00:17:03.338 --> 00:17:08.977
  • Brought in the child jesus, to carry out for him the custom
  • 00:17:08.977 --> 00:17:13.115
  • Of the law," circumcision on the eighth day, "then he took
  • 00:17:13.115 --> 00:17:16.218
  • Him into his arms, and blessed god."
  • 00:17:16.218 --> 00:17:20.222
  • Simeon didn't miss christmas.
  • 00:17:20.222 --> 00:17:23.258
  • The reason he didn't miss christmas, he says he
  • 00:17:23.258 --> 00:17:25.727
  • Was righteous and devout.
  • 00:17:25.727 --> 00:17:27.696
  • In other words, he had committed his life to the lord.
  • 00:17:27.696 --> 00:17:32.067
  • Secondly, he didn't miss christmas because he was looking
  • 00:17:32.067 --> 00:17:34.470
  • For jesus.
  • 00:17:34.470 --> 00:17:36.939
  • So if you really want to experience god in the new year
  • 00:17:36.939 --> 00:17:40.742
  • And you really want to make the most out of christmas,
  • 00:17:40.742 --> 00:17:43.946
  • Live a life that seeks to please him.
  • 00:17:43.946 --> 00:17:46.915
  • It's called righteousness.
  • 00:17:46.915 --> 00:17:48.851
  • Be fully committed to him.
  • 00:17:48.851 --> 00:17:50.853
  • It's called being devout.
  • 00:17:50.853 --> 00:17:52.821
  • And then keep your eyes open for him,
  • 00:17:52.821 --> 00:17:55.090
  • Because he was looking for jesus.
  • 00:17:55.090 --> 00:17:57.426
  • He was looking for the consolation of israel.
  • 00:17:57.426 --> 00:17:59.995
  • He was looking for jesus to show up.
  • 00:17:59.995 --> 00:18:03.298
  • And it's a beautiful thing, he was told he wouldn't see death
  • 00:18:03.298 --> 00:18:06.902
  • Until he saw jesus.
  • 00:18:06.902 --> 00:18:08.737
  • Oh, this is deep, this is deep.
  • 00:18:08.737 --> 00:18:12.708
  • You see, when it comes time for you to die, you want
  • 00:18:12.708 --> 00:18:15.077
  • To be able to see jesus.
  • 00:18:15.077 --> 00:18:18.914
  • Now, i must warn you, let me warn you, because he's
  • 00:18:18.914 --> 00:18:24.186
  • Going to give us a warning here.
  • 00:18:24.186 --> 00:18:25.954
  • He gives us the warning in verse 34.
  • 00:18:25.954 --> 00:18:35.097
  • "and simeon blessed them and said to mary his mother,
  • 00:18:35.097 --> 00:18:40.002
  • 'behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many
  • 00:18:40.002 --> 00:18:45.674
  • In israel, and for a sign to be opposed--and a sword will pierce
  • 00:18:45.674 --> 00:18:52.481
  • Even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts
  • 00:18:52.481 --> 00:18:58.720
  • May be revealed.'"
  • 00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:00.322
  • Whoa.
  • 00:19:00.322 --> 00:19:03.659
  • Simon says commitment to jesus will be polarizing.
  • 00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:10.599
  • Many will rise and fall at his name.
  • 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:16.038
  • Too many of us as christians are safe because we don't want
  • 00:19:16.038 --> 00:19:20.943
  • To offend anybody.
  • 00:19:20.943 --> 00:19:22.277
  • I don't mean being offensive, that's not what i mean.
  • 00:19:22.277 --> 00:19:26.215
  • But we don't want to be offending by being too close
  • 00:19:26.215 --> 00:19:31.286
  • To jesus, so we stay generic god.
  • 00:19:31.286 --> 00:19:35.290
  • Let me tell you what jesus's answer is.
  • 00:19:35.290 --> 00:19:38.227
  • He says in matthew chapter 10, "if you deny me before men,
  • 00:19:38.227 --> 00:19:41.096
  • I will deny you before my father.
  • 00:19:41.096 --> 00:19:43.865
  • If you affirm me before men, i will affirm you
  • 00:19:43.865 --> 00:19:46.034
  • Before my father."
  • 00:19:46.034 --> 00:19:47.836
  • So don't--"if you're embarrassed to be associated with me, you
  • 00:19:47.836 --> 00:19:51.707
  • Don't want your friends to know you believe in me, you don't
  • 00:19:51.707 --> 00:19:53.976
  • Want people to know you're committed to me, you don't want
  • 00:19:53.976 --> 00:19:56.345
  • People to know i'm your savior, you skip me because i'm
  • 00:19:56.345 --> 00:19:59.982
  • An embarrassment to you, then just tagging on
  • 00:19:59.982 --> 00:20:03.452
  • 'in jesus's name' to your prayer won't mean a thing.
  • 00:20:03.452 --> 00:20:06.321
  • You must be willing to be identified with me."
  • 00:20:06.321 --> 00:20:11.560
  • That's why he says in philippians 2 that at the name
  • 00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:15.197
  • Of jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess
  • 00:20:15.197 --> 00:20:20.602
  • That jesus is lord, to the glory of the father.
  • 00:20:20.602 --> 00:20:24.172
  • It is your identification with jesus, and not merely your
  • 00:20:24.172 --> 00:20:27.843
  • Belief in god, that makes christmas with a little juice
  • 00:20:27.843 --> 00:20:31.580
  • In it.
  • 00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:32.914
  • That makes christmas potent.
  • 00:20:32.914 --> 00:20:35.217
  • That makes christ real.
  • 00:20:35.217 --> 00:20:38.820
  • He says, "this child is gonna cause a problem."
  • 00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:42.324
  • Because when you go out with jesus and you get away
  • 00:20:42.324 --> 00:20:45.427
  • From generic god, you're gonna have some folk that's not gonna
  • 00:20:45.427 --> 00:20:48.030
  • Buy you now.
  • 00:20:48.030 --> 00:20:49.564
  • So jesus is okay right now, but when you cross the calendar
  • 00:20:49.564 --> 00:20:53.235
  • Over and you still will treat it like christmas, like jesus is
  • 00:20:53.235 --> 00:20:56.338
  • Something special, like he's the son of the living god,
  • 00:20:56.338 --> 00:20:59.841
  • That he is your savior and your lord, if you go out there like
  • 00:20:59.841 --> 00:21:03.278
  • That, you're gonna have a problem.
  • 00:21:03.278 --> 00:21:06.081
  • He tells mary, "i just want you to know that, yeah, he's all
  • 00:21:06.081 --> 00:21:11.086
  • That, but he will create a problem."
  • 00:21:11.086 --> 00:21:14.489
  • But he says, "not only will many rise and fall," he says,
  • 00:21:14.489 --> 00:21:19.661
  • "he's gonna create a problem for your soul."
  • 00:21:19.661 --> 00:21:23.165
  • So he's gonna have a problem--he's gonna be a problem
  • 00:21:23.165 --> 00:21:26.234
  • For you.
  • 00:21:26.234 --> 00:21:27.669
  • Not just for the folk around you, he's gonna be a problem
  • 00:21:27.669 --> 00:21:30.138
  • For you, because you're gonna want to do some things
  • 00:21:30.138 --> 00:21:32.774
  • That jesus won't agree with.
  • 00:21:32.774 --> 00:21:34.810
  • You're gonna wanna go somewhere that jesus doesn't want you
  • 00:21:34.810 --> 00:21:37.379
  • To go.
  • 00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:38.714
  • You're gonna wanna be something that jesus doesn't want you
  • 00:21:38.714 --> 00:21:40.615
  • To be.
  • 00:21:40.615 --> 00:21:41.983
  • And so you and jesus are gonna have a problem.
  • 00:21:41.983 --> 00:21:44.152
  • He says jesus will oppose your soul.
  • 00:21:44.152 --> 00:21:47.089
  • So jesus is a problem because he will bring you
  • 00:21:47.089 --> 00:21:50.692
  • Into conflict with yourself, where you will have to say no
  • 00:21:50.692 --> 00:21:55.030
  • To you and yes to him.
  • 00:21:55.030 --> 00:21:57.699
  • But when you say no to you and yes to him, you get more
  • 00:21:57.699 --> 00:22:01.870
  • Of him in you, but not until you say no to you and yes to him.
  • 00:22:01.870 --> 00:22:08.777
  • So you see, christmas brings a conflict within you
  • 00:22:08.777 --> 00:22:13.949
  • And without you, and it's all about jesus.
  • 00:22:13.949 --> 00:22:18.487
  • Finally, the final persons who found jesus are the wise men
  • 00:22:18.487 --> 00:22:25.060
  • In matthew chapter 2.
  • 00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:26.995
  • First of all, all these nativity scenes where
  • 00:22:26.995 --> 00:22:29.097
  • You see wise men around the manger?
  • 00:22:29.097 --> 00:22:34.403
  • No, not true.
  • 00:22:34.403 --> 00:22:37.939
  • There were no wise men at the manger at the end
  • 00:22:37.939 --> 00:22:42.310
  • With the shepherds because chapter 2, verse 11
  • 00:22:42.310 --> 00:22:48.450
  • Says, "and coming into the house they saw the child."
  • 00:22:48.450 --> 00:22:53.155
  • So when the wise men get there, jesus is not in the manger,
  • 00:22:53.155 --> 00:22:58.126
  • He's in the house.
  • 00:22:58.126 --> 00:23:00.061
  • Two, he's not a baby, he's a child.
  • 00:23:00.061 --> 00:23:01.863
  • The greek word for "child" means "toddler."
  • 00:23:01.863 --> 00:23:04.866
  • So he's not a infant anymore.
  • 00:23:04.866 --> 00:23:07.102
  • He's over one years old, okay?
  • 00:23:07.102 --> 00:23:11.139
  • Now, the wise men saw his star when the child was born.
  • 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:17.279
  • It says they came from the east on camel, on horse.
  • 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:22.751
  • There were no 747s, okay, so they didn't fly there.
  • 00:23:22.751 --> 00:23:28.824
  • They had to walk there with camels and horses and donkeys.
  • 00:23:28.824 --> 00:23:34.629
  • So if you're coming from the far east
  • 00:23:34.629 --> 00:23:38.467
  • To the middle east on horseback and camel and donkey, you don't
  • 00:23:38.467 --> 00:23:44.773
  • Do that in a week or a month.
  • 00:23:44.773 --> 00:23:48.009
  • It takes a bunch of months to make that trip.
  • 00:23:48.009 --> 00:23:52.481
  • But when they saw the shekinah glory, when they saw god's star
  • 00:23:52.481 --> 00:23:58.587
  • From the east over bethlehem, they came looking for jesus,
  • 00:23:58.587 --> 00:24:03.725
  • Even at the inconvenience of the journey.
  • 00:24:03.725 --> 00:24:07.662
  • We don't want to drive 20 minutes to worship.
  • 00:24:07.662 --> 00:24:12.667
  • They took over a year to get to jesus because they decided
  • 00:24:12.667 --> 00:24:16.771
  • He's worthy of the inconvenience of the trip.
  • 00:24:16.771 --> 00:24:20.675
  • He's worthy because they said, "we have come to worship him
  • 00:24:20.675 --> 00:24:25.480
  • Because he is worthy of whatever distance we have to travel
  • 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:29.818
  • To get to where he is.
  • 00:24:29.818 --> 00:24:31.653
  • And he's worthy of our frankincense,
  • 00:24:31.653 --> 00:24:33.622
  • He's worthy of our myrrh, he's worthy of our worship.
  • 00:24:33.622 --> 00:24:38.226
  • We have come to worship him."
  • 00:24:38.226 --> 00:24:40.462
  • So the question in the new year is: is jesus worthy
  • 00:24:40.462 --> 00:24:44.499
  • Of your worship?
  • 00:24:44.499 --> 00:24:45.867
  • What do you think about the king of kings,
  • 00:24:45.867 --> 00:24:48.136
  • The lord of lords, and the christ who is born
  • 00:24:48.136 --> 00:24:51.840
  • In bethlehem?
  • 00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:53.208
  • He is worthy of your worship.
  • 00:24:53.208 --> 00:24:57.946
  • So give him his worth this christmas.
  • 00:24:57.946 --> 00:25:03.251
  • And what did they get in return?
  • 00:25:03.251 --> 00:25:06.755
  • Verse 12, "and having been warned by god in a dream not
  • 00:25:06.755 --> 00:25:12.327
  • To return to herod, the magi," the wise men, "left for their
  • 00:25:12.327 --> 00:25:16.898
  • Own country by another way."
  • 00:25:16.898 --> 00:25:19.067
  • Oh, did you see that?
  • 00:25:19.067 --> 00:25:20.702
  • "having been warned in a dream."
  • 00:25:20.702 --> 00:25:23.738
  • You see, when you get jesus in the right place and give him
  • 00:25:23.738 --> 00:25:28.643
  • The right worship, he can tell you which direction you ought
  • 00:25:28.643 --> 00:25:32.247
  • To take.
  • 00:25:32.247 --> 00:25:35.083
  • They were warned in a dream.
  • 00:25:35.083 --> 00:25:37.652
  • "don't go back this route because herod is looking
  • 00:25:37.652 --> 00:25:40.455
  • After you, and he wants to kill you, and he wants
  • 00:25:40.455 --> 00:25:42.023
  • To kill the baby.
  • 00:25:42.023 --> 00:25:43.358
  • You need to take another route."
  • 00:25:43.358 --> 00:25:44.759
  • See, what god wants to give you, if you recognize jesus and give
  • 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:48.263
  • Him the worth that he's deserve, is your personal internal gps
  • 00:25:48.263 --> 00:25:53.134
  • To be able to direct you.
  • 00:25:53.134 --> 00:25:54.502
  • "no, don't do this," "don't take that opportunity,"
  • 00:25:54.502 --> 00:25:57.672
  • "don't go to that situation," "no, because i'm not in that.
  • 00:25:57.672 --> 00:25:59.407
  • I'm over here."
  • 00:25:59.407 --> 00:26:00.775
  • "it looks good, but it won't be good five years from now,
  • 00:26:00.775 --> 00:26:03.311
  • So don't go there."
  • 00:26:03.311 --> 00:26:04.646
  • See, god wants to steer you, but he won't steer you either
  • 00:26:04.646 --> 00:26:07.182
  • Directly or through a voice or through a dream if you're not
  • 00:26:07.182 --> 00:26:09.784
  • Willing to come and worship him.
  • 00:26:09.784 --> 00:26:12.153
  • They got led because they were willing to do what it took
  • 00:26:12.153 --> 00:26:15.523
  • To give him the praise that he deserves.
  • 00:26:15.523 --> 00:26:19.060
  • Jesus is the light of the world.
  • 00:26:19.060 --> 00:26:22.030
  • He wants to illumine your light in the new year.
  • 00:26:22.030 --> 00:26:26.234
  • And the folks who found jesus found guidance, found miracles,
  • 00:26:26.234 --> 00:26:29.971
  • Found the supernatural.
  • 00:26:29.971 --> 00:26:32.173
  • So you can go into the new year with a plain ordinary life
  • 00:26:32.173 --> 00:26:35.944
  • And just use your own human understanding and do
  • 00:26:35.944 --> 00:26:38.647
  • The best you can.
  • 00:26:38.647 --> 00:26:39.981
  • Or you can decide, no, this christmas i'm banking
  • 00:26:39.981 --> 00:26:41.850
  • On the supernatural.
  • 00:26:41.850 --> 00:26:44.219
  • I'm not gonna lean to my own understanding.
  • 00:26:44.219 --> 00:26:46.855
  • I'm gonna bank on this christ child who is now risen
  • 00:26:46.855 --> 00:26:50.291
  • From the dead because jesus is the light of the world.
  • 00:26:50.291 --> 00:26:55.964
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:55.964 --> 00:27:15.917
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:05.907 --> 00:27:30.001