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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - Christmas B.C.

December 18, 2024 | S24:E5103

Greg Laurie - Christmas B.C.
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #RelationshipwithGod #Forgiveness #Religion #Jesus #Repentance #Christmas #Confession/PowerofWords #Sin #inActive #Restoration #Disobedience #VirginBirth #Messiah #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - Christmas B.C. | December 18, 2024
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Greg laurie: christ was not born in a manger
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  • So we could go shopping.
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  • Christ was not born so that we could go to parties.
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  • Christ was born so we'd realize
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  • We don't have to be alone in life.
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  • The message of christmas is you're not alone.
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  • Emmanuel, god is with us, and god can be more than with you,
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  • He can be in you.
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day where life begins ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, the day where life begins ♪♪
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  • Greg: the real story of christmas goes back really far,
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  • Before mary and joseph, before bethlehem, before shepherds and
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  • Wise men, before caesar augustus and herod, or the innkeeper.
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  • In fact, the first mention of christmas is b.c.,
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  • Which is before christ.
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  • You say, "but how's that possible?"
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  • Because it goes back long ago to a garden, the garden of eden,
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  • And in that garden there was a tree.
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  • We can call it the first christmas tree, if you like.
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  • It wasn't decorated with lights and ornaments.
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  • It was a mysterious tree called the tree of the knowledge
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  • Of good and evil, okay?
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  • So here's adam and eve.
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  • They were in a literal paradise, radiant beauty at every turn,
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  • Exotic wildlife, the perfect temperature, and best of all,
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  • No sin or the guilt and shame that accompanies them.
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  • So god's just saying to them, "here you are.
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  • Enjoy all that i have created.
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  • There's one restriction, only one: stay away from
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  • The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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  • Scene 2, adam and eve
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  • At the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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  • Why are they there?
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  • God says, "don't go there."
  • 00:02:05.429 --> 00:02:06.864
  • "all right, right, here we are."
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  • The other day, my wife and i were with some of our grandkids
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  • And they went home ahead of us and cathe says,
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  • "don't look in my office. stay out of my office."
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  • So i said, "cathe, now they're gonna go look in there,"
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  • 'cause she had some presents there for 'em.
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  • You tell someone, "don't do that, and the first thing we
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  • Wanna do is do the thing we were told not to do, right?"
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  • 'cause we think our parents are keeping us from something or
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  • The reason they say you can't do it is because it's really cool.
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  • That's what they thought.
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  • But listen, if god tells you to not do something,
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  • It's for your own good.
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  • When are we gonna learn that?
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  • The bible says: "no good thing will he withhold
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  • From those that walk uprightly."
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  • If god says, "no," then that's a bad thing.
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  • He's keeping you away from it.
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  • If it's a good thing, he'll give it to you.
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  • But anyway, they went to that tree.
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  • You know the rest of the story.
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  • They enter into a conversation with the devil,
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  • Which is never a good idea.
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  • The bible says: "resist the devil and he will flee
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  • From you," but no, adam and eve are conversing with the devil,
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  • And he tells them, "go ahead and eat of this fruit because
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  • In the day you eat thereof, you will be as a god,
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  • Knowing good and evil."
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  • And genesis 3:6 says: "the woman was convinced.
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  • The fruit looked so fresh and delicious,
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  • And it would make her so wise.
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  • So she ate some of the fruit and gave some to her husband,
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  • And he ate it too.
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  • And their eyes were opened."
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  • Yeah, their eyes were opened, all right.
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  • But they did not become gods.
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  • They realized they had been fools.
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  • And they lost that sweet fellowship with god.
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  • That's the worst thing about sin.
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  • When your fellowship with god is stopped.
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  • Not your relationship with god.
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  • See, if you have a child that's disobedient, they're still your
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  • Child but that communication has a breakdown.
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  • In the same way, if we sin against god, we're still
  • 00:04:01.044 --> 00:04:03.914
  • A child of god but now our communication has a breakdown.
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  • Every day the lord would show up in the garden when the sun was
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  • Setting and he and his friend adam would talk about what adam
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  • Had seen in the garden that day.
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  • What a great opportunity.
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  • But now, communication is severed.
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  • You know, one of the worst things about having your
  • 00:04:24.101 --> 00:04:26.837
  • Fellowship with god broken down is you lose that joy.
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  • That's why david said in psalm 51 after he had sinned,
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  • "restore unto me the joy of my salvation."
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  • Have you lost that joy?
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  • Has your fellowship with god broken down in some
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  • Way, shape, or form?
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  • And so the lord comes for his daily appointment
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  • With adam, calling out, "adam, where are you?"
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  • And adam says, "well, we heard your voice and we're
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  • Naked and we're hiding."
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  • And then the lord says, "who told you you were naked?"
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  • Question: did god know where adam was?
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  • Of course.
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  • God is omniscient, which means all-knowing.
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  • Why did god say, "adam, where are you?
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  • Have you eaten of this tree?"
  • 00:05:09.313 --> 00:05:11.214
  • Because god wanted confession.
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  • The only way to get rid of your sin is to confess it to god.
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  • Don't make excuses for it, don't try to cover it up.
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  • Just own it, admit it, confess it, and be forgiven of it.
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  • 1 john 1:9 says: "if we will confess our sin, he is faithful
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  • And just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us
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  • From all unrighteousness."
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  • So god demands an explanation.
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  • Adam said, "lord, it's the woman you gave me."
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  • First excuse of all time.
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  • "the woman you gave me."
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  • Now, how did he say that?
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  • Did he say, "lord, it's the woman you gave me.
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  • It's her fault.
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  • Lord, i was--i laid down to take a nap, i wake up,
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  • A rib is missing, and she's here"?
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  • Or did he say, "it's the woman you gave me,"
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  • Placing the blame on god?
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  • Well, whatever it was, he wasn't taking responsibility.
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  • And then the woman, she doesn't take responsibility either.
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  • She says, "well, that serpent tricked me.
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  • It's the devil's fault."
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  • And now god gives the first christmas verse.
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  • It's not isaiah 9:6 which says: "unto us a child is born,
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  • Unto us a son is given.
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  • His name shall be called wonderful, counselor,
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  • The mighty god, the everlasting father."
  • 00:06:24.721 --> 00:06:26.923
  • Nor is it micah 5:2 that says: "you bethlehem, though you
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  • Be little among the thousands of judah, yet out of you shall
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  • Come forth one whose origins have been from everlasting."
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  • No, it's neither one of those verses.
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  • The first christmas verse is genesis 3:15 where god now
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  • Says to satan: "there's coming one who will bruise your head,
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  • But you will bruise his heel."
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  • Satan was on notice.
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  • God was saying, "devil, i'm gonna send the messiah.
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  • He's gonna crush your head.
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  • You'll bruise his heel, but he'll crush you."
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  • So, the devil knew, game on.
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  • The battle lines have been drawn.
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  • And satan knew specifically that the messiah
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  • Was gonna come through the jewish people.
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  • Antisemitism was born.
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  • What is antisemitism?
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  • It's a hatred of the jewish people
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  • Who are god's chosen people.
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  • And the devil declares war on what god loves,
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  • And he tries to stop the jewish race and, specifically,
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  • Stop the messiah from coming.
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  • And that really is what christmas is all about.
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  • You're saying, "this is not a very christmassy message, greg."
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  • Well, we'll hear some messages a little bit later on that might
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  • Be a little more to your liking, but i'm trying to pull
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  • The camera back and give you the big picture.
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  • Jesus was born to die that we might live.
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  • Listen to this: "the shadow of the cross lay over the beauty
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  • Of the first christmas night."
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  • Jesus was coming to bridge the gap between god and humanity,
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  • And he was going to restore what was lost in the garden.
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  • And satan did not want there to be a first christmas.
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  • You've heard about the grinch that stole christmas, right?
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  • I think some people know that story better than the biblical
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  • Story of the birth of christ.
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  • Well, this is the devil who tried
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  • To stop christmas from happening.
  • 00:08:20.770 --> 00:08:23.540
  • It goes clear back to the first books of the bible,
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  • Like in the book of exodus.
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  • Here we have the pharaoh give an order, saying,
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  • "i don't want any of those jewish baby boys to live.
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  • Put them all to death," and the hebrew midwives refused, of
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  • Course, and moses was spared and ultimately became the one
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  • Who would deliver israel in the great exodus.
  • 00:08:41.157 --> 00:08:43.960
  • Fast forward to the book of esther.
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  • You have a plot hatched by a wicked man named haman
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  • To wipe the jews off the face of the earth.
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  • This plan was thwarted by queen esther who was jewish,
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  • And haman ended up hanging on the very gallows
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  • He had erected for others.
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  • So all attempts to stop christmas were failing.
  • 00:09:01.344 --> 00:09:04.881
  • But now fast forward to the new testament and we're in
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  • The gospel of matthew, and we have king herod sitting on
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  • The throne, and these mysterious visitors come looking for
  • 00:09:10.387 --> 00:09:15.458
  • "he that had been born known as the king of the jews."
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  • There's not a worse thing you could have said to a guy like
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  • Herod than, "we're looking for the king of the jews."
  • 00:09:23.266 --> 00:09:25.535
  • Why? that was his title.
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  • They're basically saying,
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  • "you're not the king of the jews.
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  • We're looking for the king of the jews.
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  • We've seen his star in the east
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  • And we have come to worship him."
  • 00:09:34.044 --> 00:09:36.446
  • So, herod gave the decree, "kill all those baby boys
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  • Born in bethlehem."
  • 00:09:39.649 --> 00:09:41.217
  • He was trying to stop christmas, but listen to this.
  • 00:09:41.217 --> 00:09:44.354
  • That was never going to happen.
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  • You can't stop messiah from coming and listen to this:
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  • Nothing will stop christ from coming again.
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  • He's gonna come again.
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  • Because god will always have the last word.
  • 00:09:56.900 --> 00:10:00.503
  • And right on time, the messiah came,
  • 00:10:00.503 --> 00:10:03.039
  • Born in the manger in bethlehem.
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  • Galatians says: "when the time was just right, god sent forth
  • 00:10:05.342 --> 00:10:09.879
  • His son, born of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those
  • 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:14.351
  • That are under the law, that we might receive the spirit
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  • Of adoption whereby we cry, 'abba father.'"
  • 00:10:17.654 --> 00:10:21.758
  • But listen, jesus did not begin his existence in bethlehem.
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  • Jesus is god.
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  • He has always existed.
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  • He has neither beginning nor end.
  • 00:10:31.801 --> 00:10:33.803
  • He, like the father and the holy spirit, is co-equal, co-eternal.
  • 00:10:33.803 --> 00:10:39.476
  • He himself said, "i am the alpha and the omega,
  • 00:10:39.476 --> 00:10:42.412
  • The beginning and the end."
  • 00:10:42.412 --> 00:10:44.047
  • So the real christmas story does not begin in bethlehem
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  • Or even on planet earth.
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  • It begins in heaven where a decision was made
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  • That christ would come to our world.
  • 00:10:51.655 --> 00:10:54.090
  • So, was there a christ before christmas?
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  • Is there a jesus before bethlehem?
  • 00:10:56.593 --> 00:10:58.895
  • The answer is "yes," and that's what we're talking about.
  • 00:10:58.895 --> 00:11:02.198
  • Because really, the story of christmas is both about
  • 00:11:02.198 --> 00:11:05.602
  • An arrival and a departure.
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  • We celebrate his birth at christmas,
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  • But heaven was sending the messiah.
  • 00:11:10.473 --> 00:11:14.144
  • Isaiah 9:6 sums it up: "unto us a child is born,
  • 00:11:14.144 --> 00:11:18.048
  • Unto us a son is given."
  • 00:11:18.048 --> 00:11:20.583
  • Our perspective, a child was born.
  • 00:11:20.583 --> 00:11:22.452
  • God's perspective: a son was given.
  • 00:11:22.452 --> 00:11:25.221
  • And his name shall be called wonderful, counselor,
  • 00:11:25.221 --> 00:11:28.692
  • The mighty god, the everlasting father."
  • 00:11:28.692 --> 00:11:31.728
  • That was deity in diapers.
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  • That was the almighty god coming to us as a helpless
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  • Little baby born in that manger of bethlehem.
  • 00:11:38.968 --> 00:11:43.907
  • So now let's look at some christophanies.
  • 00:11:43.907 --> 00:11:48.578
  • You're going, "i don't know what you're talking about."
  • 00:11:48.578 --> 00:11:50.146
  • Well, theologians have a couple of terms.
  • 00:11:50.146 --> 00:11:52.082
  • One is a theophany which means an appearance of god.
  • 00:11:52.082 --> 00:11:55.185
  • Another is a christophany.
  • 00:11:55.185 --> 00:11:57.220
  • And i suggest to you christ appeared many times
  • 00:11:57.220 --> 00:12:00.557
  • In the old testament.
  • 00:12:00.557 --> 00:12:02.358
  • Listen, jesus is in the old testament concealed,
  • 00:12:02.358 --> 00:12:06.062
  • And he's in the new testament revealed.
  • 00:12:06.062 --> 00:12:09.265
  • So we read a lot about jesus in the new testament but
  • 00:12:09.265 --> 00:12:12.168
  • He was around in the old testament a lot as well.
  • 00:12:12.168 --> 00:12:16.573
  • Example, the story of abraham and isaac on mount moriah.
  • 00:12:16.573 --> 00:12:21.277
  • Now, we know that jesus and abraham met each
  • 00:12:21.277 --> 00:12:25.115
  • Other and communicated.
  • 00:12:25.115 --> 00:12:26.549
  • Jesus said that.
  • 00:12:26.549 --> 00:12:27.951
  • When did this happen?
  • 00:12:27.951 --> 00:12:29.619
  • Now, we're guessing but i think this is a pretty educated guess.
  • 00:12:29.619 --> 00:12:32.455
  • Genesis 22 is the story of abraham and his son, isaac.
  • 00:12:32.455 --> 00:12:37.093
  • As you'll recall, isaac was born in the later years of abraham
  • 00:12:37.093 --> 00:12:41.264
  • And his wife sarah.
  • 00:12:41.264 --> 00:12:42.999
  • God had promised them that they would have a son and from their
  • 00:12:42.999 --> 00:12:46.436
  • Son would come the jewish race.
  • 00:12:46.436 --> 00:12:48.071
  • But they were getting on in years and sarah
  • 00:12:48.071 --> 00:12:51.374
  • Was not pregnant.
  • 00:12:51.374 --> 00:12:52.709
  • Now she's, well, past the time when a woman should normally
  • 00:12:52.709 --> 00:12:55.512
  • Get pregnant and she, all of a sudden, is pregnant
  • 00:12:55.512 --> 00:12:58.782
  • With isaac and the child is born and, by the way,
  • 00:12:58.782 --> 00:13:00.950
  • The name "isaac" means laughter.
  • 00:13:00.950 --> 00:13:03.887
  • Because he filled their home with joy.
  • 00:13:03.887 --> 00:13:05.955
  • He was the light of their life.
  • 00:13:05.955 --> 00:13:08.191
  • Imagine how hard it must have been when god asked
  • 00:13:08.191 --> 00:13:11.594
  • The incomprehensible of abraham and said, "take that son of
  • 00:13:11.594 --> 00:13:15.965
  • Yours and offer to him--offer him to me as a sacrifice."
  • 00:13:15.965 --> 00:13:19.969
  • Genesis 22:1: "god tested abraham's faith and obedience.
  • 00:13:19.969 --> 00:13:24.340
  • 'abraham,' god called.
  • 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:26.442
  • 'yes,' he replied. 'here i am.'
  • 00:13:26.442 --> 00:13:28.711
  • 'take your son, your only son--yes, isaac,
  • 00:13:28.711 --> 00:13:32.148
  • Whom you love so much-- and go to the land of moriah.
  • 00:13:32.148 --> 00:13:35.118
  • Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.'
  • 00:13:35.118 --> 00:13:37.587
  • Isaac asked his father, 'where's the lamb for the sacrifice?'"
  • 00:13:37.587 --> 00:13:42.325
  • Now abraham prophetically says in genesis 22:8:
  • 00:13:42.325 --> 00:13:45.762
  • "'my son, god will provide for himself
  • 00:13:45.762 --> 00:13:48.598
  • The lamb for a burnt offering.'
  • 00:13:48.598 --> 00:13:51.034
  • And the two of them went together."
  • 00:13:51.034 --> 00:13:53.636
  • Now, sometimes in religious art you'll see this depicted
  • 00:13:53.636 --> 00:13:56.139
  • As a older man with a very young boy.
  • 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:59.209
  • But that's really not the way it was.
  • 00:13:59.209 --> 00:14:01.244
  • Isaac was probably a young adult at this point,
  • 00:14:01.244 --> 00:14:04.080
  • Full grown and strong.
  • 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.949
  • He knew what was coming down.
  • 00:14:05.949 --> 00:14:07.584
  • He wasn't stupid, okay?
  • 00:14:07.584 --> 00:14:09.586
  • He knew that he was gonna be sacrificed.
  • 00:14:09.586 --> 00:14:11.688
  • Potentially, he could have said, "dad, you're an old dude.
  • 00:14:11.688 --> 00:14:13.990
  • Why don't we sacrifice you instead of me?
  • 00:14:13.990 --> 00:14:15.992
  • 'cause i have a whole life ahead of me.
  • 00:14:15.992 --> 00:14:18.595
  • Most of your life is behind you, right?"
  • 00:14:18.595 --> 00:14:20.563
  • No, but he didn't do that.
  • 00:14:20.563 --> 00:14:22.432
  • Isaac went along with this which makes it so amazing.
  • 00:14:22.432 --> 00:14:26.069
  • And is this not a picture of what happened at the cross?
  • 00:14:26.069 --> 00:14:30.173
  • I love how genesis 22:8 says: "the two of them went together."
  • 00:14:30.173 --> 00:14:35.278
  • And this is exactly what happened when jesus died
  • 00:14:35.278 --> 00:14:38.047
  • On the cross for us.
  • 00:14:38.047 --> 00:14:39.449
  • The father, son, and the holy spirit working toward
  • 00:14:39.449 --> 00:14:42.819
  • This goal of the redemption of mankind.
  • 00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:46.155
  • The father making the ultimate sacrifice in giving his son,
  • 00:14:46.155 --> 00:14:50.526
  • Again, back to isaiah 9:6, "unto us a son is given,"
  • 00:14:50.526 --> 00:14:53.863
  • The son making the ultimate sacrifice
  • 00:14:53.863 --> 00:14:56.799
  • In laying his life down.
  • 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.902
  • Jesus said, "no one takes my life from me.
  • 00:14:58.902 --> 00:15:02.472
  • I lay it down of my own accord.
  • 00:15:02.472 --> 00:15:05.642
  • Greater love has no man than this," our lord says,
  • 00:15:05.642 --> 00:15:07.777
  • Then he laid down his life for his friends.
  • 00:15:07.777 --> 00:15:11.214
  • Even what god said to abraham is reminiscent of what jesus did.
  • 00:15:11.214 --> 00:15:15.618
  • Genesis 22: "take your son, your only son,
  • 00:15:15.618 --> 00:15:20.023
  • Whom you love so much."
  • 00:15:20.023 --> 00:15:22.825
  • That gives you a glimpse of what happened at the cross
  • 00:15:22.825 --> 00:15:26.029
  • From the perspective of the father.
  • 00:15:26.029 --> 00:15:28.631
  • His only son.
  • 00:15:28.631 --> 00:15:30.066
  • What did jesus say in john 3:16?
  • 00:15:30.066 --> 00:15:31.901
  • "for god so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son
  • 00:15:31.901 --> 00:15:36.372
  • And whoever believes in him shall not perish,
  • 00:15:36.372 --> 00:15:39.242
  • But have everlasting life."
  • 00:15:39.242 --> 00:15:42.045
  • So, abraham's preparing now to plunge the knife into his son.
  • 00:15:42.045 --> 00:15:46.149
  • And by the way, he believed that if isaac died,
  • 00:15:46.149 --> 00:15:48.952
  • God would raise him again from the dead.
  • 00:15:48.952 --> 00:15:51.421
  • That's interesting considering that no one had been
  • 00:15:51.421 --> 00:15:53.957
  • Raised from the dead at this point, historically.
  • 00:15:53.957 --> 00:15:56.159
  • But still, abraham believed that and right before the knife
  • 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:59.595
  • Comes down, genesis 22:11: "at that moment the angel of
  • 00:15:59.595 --> 00:16:02.832
  • The lord shouted to him from heaven, 'abraham!
  • 00:16:02.832 --> 00:16:05.535
  • Abraham!' 'yes,' he said.
  • 00:16:05.535 --> 00:16:07.370
  • The lord said, "lay down the knife.
  • 00:16:07.370 --> 00:16:09.505
  • Don't hurt the boy in any way, for now i know that you truly
  • 00:16:09.505 --> 00:16:11.674
  • Fear god, you've not withheld your beloved son from me."
  • 00:16:11.674 --> 00:16:17.113
  • Notice that it says: "the angel of the lord."
  • 00:16:17.113 --> 00:16:20.416
  • Not "an angel"; "the angel."
  • 00:16:20.416 --> 00:16:22.285
  • And to the point, who told abraham to offer his son, isaac?
  • 00:16:22.285 --> 00:16:27.824
  • Was it an angel or was it god himself?
  • 00:16:27.824 --> 00:16:30.093
  • It was god.
  • 00:16:30.093 --> 00:16:31.694
  • So it's worth noting here that the angel, so called, says,
  • 00:16:31.694 --> 00:16:36.666
  • "you did not withhold your beloved son from me."
  • 00:16:36.666 --> 00:16:38.868
  • I believe that this so-called angel was none other
  • 00:16:38.868 --> 00:16:42.005
  • Than christ himself.
  • 00:16:42.005 --> 00:16:44.173
  • I believe this is a christophany
  • 00:16:44.173 --> 00:16:46.642
  • And jesus stepped in to this situation.
  • 00:16:46.642 --> 00:16:49.779
  • And it reminds us that god is with us in our times of testing.
  • 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:55.251
  • Are you going through a time of testing right now?
  • 00:16:55.251 --> 00:16:57.920
  • The bottom has dropped out,
  • 00:16:57.920 --> 00:16:59.756
  • Something unexpected has happened.
  • 00:16:59.756 --> 00:17:01.624
  • You're facing a time of crisis.
  • 00:17:01.624 --> 00:17:03.726
  • You feel as though god has abandoned you
  • 00:17:03.726 --> 00:17:06.129
  • Or forgotten about you.
  • 00:17:06.129 --> 00:17:08.498
  • Nothing could be further from the truth.
  • 00:17:08.498 --> 00:17:10.400
  • I love what the lord says over in isaiah 43:2, god speaking:
  • 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:14.871
  • "when you go through deep waters, i'll be with you.
  • 00:17:14.871 --> 00:17:18.474
  • When you go through rivers of difficulties,
  • 00:17:18.474 --> 00:17:20.443
  • You will not drown.
  • 00:17:20.443 --> 00:17:22.078
  • When you walk through the fire of oppression,
  • 00:17:22.078 --> 00:17:24.080
  • You will not be burned up, the flames will not consume you."
  • 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:28.284
  • God's saying, "i'm there with you."
  • 00:17:28.284 --> 00:17:30.119
  • And god is with you right now, whatever you're going through.
  • 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:34.390
  • Okay, so let's go to christophany number two.
  • 00:17:34.457 --> 00:17:37.693
  • The wrestling match between jacob and the angel.
  • 00:17:37.693 --> 00:17:41.364
  • It's in genesis 32.
  • 00:17:41.364 --> 00:17:43.733
  • Jacob had made a mess of his life.
  • 00:17:43.733 --> 00:17:46.469
  • He had offended his brother esau, he had been a conniver,
  • 00:17:46.469 --> 00:17:51.007
  • Fell out with his father-in-law laban,
  • 00:17:51.007 --> 00:17:53.276
  • Was facing the consequences of all of his bad decisions.
  • 00:17:53.276 --> 00:17:56.979
  • In effect, he was rebelling against god.
  • 00:17:56.979 --> 00:18:00.283
  • And genesis 32:24 says that "jacob was alone in the camp,
  • 00:18:00.283 --> 00:18:03.920
  • And a man came and wrestled with him
  • 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.022
  • Until the dawn began to break.
  • 00:18:06.022 --> 00:18:08.691
  • When the man saw he could not--or would not win the match,
  • 00:18:08.691 --> 00:18:11.527
  • He touched jacob's hips--hip and wrenched it out of its socket.
  • 00:18:11.527 --> 00:18:15.398
  • Then the man said, 'let me go, the dawn is breaking!'
  • 00:18:15.398 --> 00:18:18.167
  • Jacob said, 'i'll not let you go until you bless me.'
  • 00:18:18.167 --> 00:18:22.238
  • 'what is your name?' the man says.
  • 00:18:22.238 --> 00:18:24.340
  • Your name will no longer be called jacob,'"
  • 00:18:24.340 --> 00:18:27.043
  • Because jacob said what his name was.
  • 00:18:27.043 --> 00:18:28.845
  • "'from now on you'll be called israel,' and jacob called
  • 00:18:28.845 --> 00:18:32.715
  • That place peniel (which means 'face of god'),
  • 00:18:32.715 --> 00:18:35.952
  • For he said, 'i have seen god face to face.'"
  • 00:18:35.952 --> 00:18:38.988
  • I don't think jacob was wrestling with an angel.
  • 00:18:38.988 --> 00:18:42.458
  • I think he was wrestling with god,
  • 00:18:42.458 --> 00:18:44.961
  • And specifically he was having a wrestling match with jesus.
  • 00:18:44.961 --> 00:18:48.431
  • That's never going to end well.
  • 00:18:48.431 --> 00:18:50.900
  • Don't laugh too quickly; you've wrestled with him before.
  • 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:54.537
  • Have you ever known the will of god and refused to do it?
  • 00:18:54.537 --> 00:18:58.107
  • Resisted it?
  • 00:18:58.107 --> 00:19:00.109
  • Maybe the lord nudged you, "why don't you go,
  • 00:19:00.109 --> 00:19:02.345
  • Share the gospel with that person over there?
  • 00:19:02.345 --> 00:19:04.780
  • Why don't you go apologize to your spouse
  • 00:19:04.780 --> 00:19:07.016
  • For what you just said?"
  • 00:19:07.016 --> 00:19:08.618
  • Why don't you do this or that, and we say
  • 00:19:08.618 --> 00:19:10.720
  • "no, i don't want to."
  • 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.321
  • Or the lord shows his will to us and we refuse
  • 00:19:12.321 --> 00:19:14.957
  • To go in that direction.
  • 00:19:14.957 --> 00:19:16.893
  • And so here's what god is saying:
  • 00:19:16.893 --> 00:19:19.462
  • "jacob, when are you gonna discover that my plan for you
  • 00:19:19.462 --> 00:19:22.598
  • Is better than your plan for yourself?"
  • 00:19:22.598 --> 00:19:24.867
  • Let me ask you this question.
  • 00:19:24.867 --> 00:19:27.203
  • Do you feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your
  • 00:19:27.203 --> 00:19:29.672
  • Shoulders right now, trying to figure out how to resolve
  • 00:19:29.672 --> 00:19:33.242
  • Problems that you have created?
  • 00:19:33.242 --> 00:19:35.444
  • It's time to surrender to god.
  • 00:19:35.444 --> 00:19:38.648
  • So now here's old jacob.
  • 00:19:38.648 --> 00:19:40.316
  • Of course, he's fighting. fighting with the lord.
  • 00:19:40.316 --> 00:19:43.219
  • And then toward the end, he's hanging on to him.
  • 00:19:43.219 --> 00:19:45.521
  • The lord's like, "i gotta go."
  • 00:19:45.521 --> 00:19:46.889
  • "you're not going anywhere 'til you bless me."
  • 00:19:46.889 --> 00:19:49.425
  • "okay." i like that, though.
  • 00:19:49.425 --> 00:19:51.928
  • You see, he went from resisting to resting.
  • 00:19:51.928 --> 00:19:56.098
  • He went from cunning to clinging.
  • 00:19:56.098 --> 00:19:59.101
  • He went from wrestling to nestling.
  • 00:19:59.101 --> 00:20:02.071
  • Now he's hanging on to god.
  • 00:20:02.071 --> 00:20:04.106
  • He had learned his lesson and he had surrendered his will to god.
  • 00:20:04.106 --> 00:20:07.343
  • Can you do the same?
  • 00:20:07.343 --> 00:20:09.312
  • Is this boring?
  • 00:20:09.312 --> 00:20:11.147
  • Too bad, i'm still going.
  • 00:20:11.147 --> 00:20:13.082
  • Okay, i have one more 'cause like, eight people, "no,"
  • 00:20:13.082 --> 00:20:15.885
  • The others like, "i need to go.
  • 00:20:15.885 --> 00:20:17.753
  • I gotta go christmas shopping."
  • 00:20:17.753 --> 00:20:20.356
  • All right, one more christophany for you: the story of
  • 00:20:20.356 --> 00:20:23.559
  • Shadrach, meshach, and abednego in the fiery furnace.
  • 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:27.029
  • You know their story.
  • 00:20:27.029 --> 00:20:29.298
  • It's in the book of daniel.
  • 00:20:29.298 --> 00:20:31.234
  • These three young godly men who would not bow before
  • 00:20:31.234 --> 00:20:34.604
  • The false image of nebuchadnezzar.
  • 00:20:34.604 --> 00:20:38.140
  • So the people of israel were taken captive
  • 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:41.310
  • By the babylonians.
  • 00:20:41.310 --> 00:20:43.512
  • Why--because they kept turning to false gods.
  • 00:20:43.512 --> 00:20:46.616
  • God warned them again and again,
  • 00:20:46.616 --> 00:20:48.484
  • "stop worshiping these false gods.
  • 00:20:48.484 --> 00:20:50.353
  • Stop turning to these idols.
  • 00:20:50.353 --> 00:20:52.154
  • Turn to me."
  • 00:20:52.154 --> 00:20:53.556
  • Yeah, whatever.
  • 00:20:53.556 --> 00:20:55.057
  • They went back to the false gods again and again.
  • 00:20:55.057 --> 00:20:56.926
  • The lord says, "okay, you want false gods, you want idols.
  • 00:20:56.926 --> 00:20:59.695
  • I'm sending you to idol central, babylon."
  • 00:20:59.695 --> 00:21:03.032
  • And they were taken captive.
  • 00:21:03.032 --> 00:21:05.534
  • And as they were being taken to this distant land,
  • 00:21:05.534 --> 00:21:08.971
  • Nebuchadnezzar noticed these four young men, shadrach,
  • 00:21:08.971 --> 00:21:13.509
  • Meshach, and abednego.
  • 00:21:13.509 --> 00:21:15.044
  • Those were not their jewish names or these were the names
  • 00:21:15.044 --> 00:21:17.280
  • He gave to them later.
  • 00:21:17.280 --> 00:21:18.648
  • And we know them best by those names.
  • 00:21:18.648 --> 00:21:20.249
  • And daniel.
  • 00:21:20.249 --> 00:21:21.651
  • He says, "i want you in my court.
  • 00:21:21.651 --> 00:21:23.519
  • I wanna school you at the babylonian university
  • 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:26.455
  • And teach you the ways of babylon."
  • 00:21:26.455 --> 00:21:28.391
  • So that's a pretty sweet deal.
  • 00:21:28.391 --> 00:21:30.192
  • If they play their cards right, they would live
  • 00:21:30.192 --> 00:21:31.994
  • In the lap of luxury and affluence and influence.
  • 00:21:31.994 --> 00:21:35.665
  • But one day, nebuchadnezzar erects a giant image, covered
  • 00:21:35.665 --> 00:21:39.935
  • In gold, and commands everyone in the kingdom to worship it.
  • 00:21:39.935 --> 00:21:44.307
  • And as soon as the band cranked up the babylonian idol theme
  • 00:21:44.307 --> 00:21:47.943
  • Song, everyone bowed down before the idol except three men
  • 00:21:47.943 --> 00:21:52.248
  • Who stuck out like sore thumbs: shadrach, meshach, and abednego.
  • 00:21:52.248 --> 00:21:56.452
  • They were wearing black leather motorcycle jackets,
  • 00:21:56.452 --> 00:21:59.855
  • Wearing sunglasses, had their wallet on a chain 'cause if
  • 00:21:59.855 --> 00:22:04.126
  • You ride a motorcycle, you have to have a chain to your wallet
  • 00:22:04.126 --> 00:22:06.862
  • And i'm not sure why.
  • 00:22:06.862 --> 00:22:08.998
  • Who's gonna take a wallet from a biker?
  • 00:22:08.998 --> 00:22:11.500
  • I don't know.
  • 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.069
  • But that, of course, i made that up, but they're,
  • 00:22:13.069 --> 00:22:15.204
  • "no, we won't bow."
  • 00:22:15.204 --> 00:22:17.173
  • They sent word to the king, "those guys,
  • 00:22:17.173 --> 00:22:19.308
  • Shadrach, meshach, and abednego, they serve in your palace.
  • 00:22:19.308 --> 00:22:21.277
  • They won't bow." "oh, they just misunderstood.
  • 00:22:21.277 --> 00:22:23.512
  • Give 'em another chance."
  • 00:22:23.512 --> 00:22:24.847
  • "c'mon, guys, bow before the image."
  • 00:22:24.847 --> 00:22:26.982
  • They said, "we're not bowing. we refuse."
  • 00:22:26.982 --> 00:22:30.152
  • He was so angry, he commanded that the furnace be heated
  • 00:22:30.152 --> 00:22:33.589
  • Seven times hotter and he told his men to throw
  • 00:22:33.589 --> 00:22:37.960
  • Shadrach, meshach, and abednego into the fiery furnace.
  • 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:41.464
  • The flames were so hot, it killed the king's servants
  • 00:22:41.464 --> 00:22:45.868
  • As they came to the edge of the abyss, and in went
  • 00:22:45.868 --> 00:22:49.939
  • These three young men and here's what we read in daniel 3:23:
  • 00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:55.111
  • "shadrach, meshach, and abednego, securely tied,
  • 00:22:55.111 --> 00:22:57.646
  • Fell down into the roaring flames.
  • 00:22:57.646 --> 00:23:00.116
  • But suddenly, as he was watching, nebuchadnezzar
  • 00:23:00.116 --> 00:23:03.319
  • Jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers,
  • 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:06.489
  • 'wait, didn't we throw three men into the furnace?'
  • 00:23:06.489 --> 00:23:09.925
  • 'yes, your majesty, three men.'
  • 00:23:09.925 --> 00:23:11.460
  • 'look!' nebuchadnezzar said.
  • 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:13.729
  • 'i see four men, walking around in the fire.
  • 00:23:13.729 --> 00:23:16.832
  • They're not hurt by the flames and the fourth one looks
  • 00:23:16.832 --> 00:23:20.202
  • Like the son of god--!'" a christophany.
  • 00:23:20.202 --> 00:23:24.273
  • Who was walking around with shadrach, meshach, and abednego
  • 00:23:24.273 --> 00:23:26.976
  • In the fiery furnace?
  • 00:23:26.976 --> 00:23:28.811
  • Jesus.
  • 00:23:28.811 --> 00:23:30.146
  • "hey, guys, need some sunscreen?
  • 00:23:30.146 --> 00:23:32.047
  • How's it going?"
  • 00:23:32.047 --> 00:23:34.049
  • And god is walking around with you in your fiery furnace.
  • 00:23:34.049 --> 00:23:38.387
  • Again, you are not alone.
  • 00:23:38.387 --> 00:23:40.489
  • He comes to us and he says,
  • 00:23:40.489 --> 00:23:43.025
  • "i'll never leave you or forsake you."
  • 00:23:43.025 --> 00:23:46.962
  • And if you were to translate that more literally, it would
  • 00:23:46.962 --> 00:23:50.332
  • Go as follows: jesus speaking, "i will never, no never,
  • 00:23:50.332 --> 00:23:54.136
  • No never, leave you or forsake you.
  • 00:23:54.136 --> 00:23:58.207
  • That's the essential message of christmas.
  • 00:23:58.207 --> 00:24:02.311
  • We're not alone in the world.
  • 00:24:02.311 --> 00:24:04.613
  • Jesus came to abraham, jacob, shadrach, meshach, and abednego
  • 00:24:04.613 --> 00:24:08.884
  • In pre-incarnate appearances.
  • 00:24:08.884 --> 00:24:12.021
  • But one day god will come again to this planet, but he was born
  • 00:24:12.021 --> 00:24:16.625
  • In that manger and he died on the cross, and he rose again.
  • 00:24:16.625 --> 00:24:19.662
  • He's always been there and he will always be there.
  • 00:24:19.662 --> 00:24:23.199
  • Jesus says: "i am with you to the end of the age."
  • 00:24:23.199 --> 00:24:27.570
  • So, yes, jesus appeared b.c.
  • 00:24:27.570 --> 00:24:30.473
  • And i wonder if there's somebody here right now listening to me
  • 00:24:30.473 --> 00:24:32.875
  • Or watching me or hearing me wherever you are, and you've
  • 00:24:32.875 --> 00:24:35.478
  • Been searching for god and he's here and he's ready
  • 00:24:35.478 --> 00:24:38.747
  • To come into your life.
  • 00:24:38.747 --> 00:24:41.250
  • You know, the holidays can be a hard time for a lot of people.
  • 00:24:41.250 --> 00:24:45.087
  • It can be a lonely time, it can be a depressing time.
  • 00:24:45.087 --> 00:24:48.891
  • Maybe they don't have family or maybe the holidays mark
  • 00:24:48.891 --> 00:24:53.128
  • The departure of a loved one that was with them last year
  • 00:24:53.128 --> 00:24:58.100
  • That is not with them this year, so there's a sadness attached.
  • 00:24:58.100 --> 00:25:02.471
  • So while everyone else is having a great time,
  • 00:25:02.471 --> 00:25:05.374
  • ♪ it's the most wonderful time of the year ♪
  • 00:25:05.374 --> 00:25:08.511
  • They're not feeling that way.
  • 00:25:08.511 --> 00:25:10.346
  • It's a depressing time for them.
  • 00:25:10.346 --> 00:25:12.314
  • But don't miss the essential message of christmas.
  • 00:25:12.314 --> 00:25:14.984
  • Christ was not born in a manger so we could go shopping
  • 00:25:14.984 --> 00:25:19.054
  • And spend half our life looking for a parking place at a mall.
  • 00:25:19.054 --> 00:25:23.192
  • Christ was not born so we could go to parties.
  • 00:25:23.192 --> 00:25:28.130
  • Christ was born so we'd realize
  • 00:25:28.130 --> 00:25:29.999
  • We don't have to be alone in life.
  • 00:25:29.999 --> 00:25:32.301
  • The message of christmas is you're not alone.
  • 00:25:32.301 --> 00:25:34.570
  • Emmanuel, god is with us, and god can be more than with you,
  • 00:25:34.570 --> 00:25:38.641
  • He can be in you.
  • 00:25:38.641 --> 00:25:41.010
  • A relationship with him, jesus who was born in the manger at
  • 00:25:41.010 --> 00:25:44.980
  • Bethlehem, and died in the cross of calvary, rose again from
  • 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:48.817
  • The dead 3 days later and now he stands at the door of your life
  • 00:25:48.817 --> 00:25:52.087
  • And he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice
  • 00:25:52.087 --> 00:25:54.857
  • And open the door, he'll come in.
  • 00:25:54.857 --> 00:25:57.192
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie, i've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:00.262 --> 00:26:02.831
  • God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:02.831 --> 00:26:06.502
  • Here's the problem: we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:06.502 --> 00:26:10.105
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:10.105 --> 00:26:12.975
  • But the good news is that 2,000 years ago, god sent
  • 00:26:12.975 --> 00:26:16.512
  • His son, jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin,
  • 00:26:16.512 --> 00:26:20.449
  • And then to rise again from the dead.
  • 00:26:20.449 --> 00:26:23.218
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready
  • 00:26:23.218 --> 00:26:26.622
  • To come into your life right now.
  • 00:26:26.622 --> 00:26:28.857
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:28.857 --> 00:26:30.926
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:26:30.926 --> 00:26:34.063
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:26:34.063 --> 00:26:37.399
  • Just say," lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:40.903
  • You're the savior who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:26:40.903 --> 00:26:44.406
  • I turn from my sin now, and i choose to follow you
  • 00:26:44.406 --> 00:26:47.610
  • From this moment forward."
  • 00:26:47.610 --> 00:26:50.012
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:26:50.012 --> 00:26:52.114
  • If you did, god in heaven
  • 00:26:52.114 --> 00:26:53.949
  • Has heard you, and i wanna
  • 00:26:53.949 --> 00:26:55.718
  • Send you a new testament
  • 00:26:55.718 --> 00:26:57.353
  • To start reading.
  • 00:26:57.353 --> 00:26:59.388
  • Female announcer: jesus says that "where two or three
  • 00:27:00.789 --> 00:27:03.192
  • Are gathered in my name, there i am in the midst of them."
  • 00:27:03.192 --> 00:27:07.630
  • We are all different.
  • 00:27:07.630 --> 00:27:08.998
  • We have different interests, different personalities,
  • 00:27:08.998 --> 00:27:12.134
  • Different upbringings, and different ways we do life,
  • 00:27:12.134 --> 00:27:16.071
  • But here, we have a deep connection,
  • 00:27:16.071 --> 00:27:19.608
  • And you are welcome here.
  • 00:27:19.608 --> 00:27:23.712
  • This is harvest.
  • 00:27:23.712 --> 00:27:23.712