1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. harvest pastor greg laurie
  4. Episodes
  5. Greg Laurie - The Nobody In The Middle of Nowhere
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - The Nobody In The Middle of Nowhere

December 17, 2024 | S24:E5102

Greg Laurie - The Nobody In The Middle of Nowhere
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#GregLaurie #Salvation #Sacrifice #Religion #Jesus #PromisesofGod #Christmas #Supernatural #Miracles #Prophecy #Sin #inActive #Resurrection #VirginBirth #Savior #Messiah #HarvestwithPastorGregLaurie

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - The Nobody In The Middle of Nowhere | December 17, 2024
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.368
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:01.968 --> 00:00:05.005
  • Greg laurie: listen to this, if there's no virgin birth,
  • 00:00:05.138 --> 00:00:08.074
  • There's no sinless christ.
  • 00:00:08.208 --> 00:00:09.943
  • And if there's no sinless christ, there's no atonement.
  • 00:00:10.076 --> 00:00:11.077
  • And if there's no atonement, there's no forgiveness.
  • 00:00:13.213 --> 00:00:16.816
  • And if there's no forgiveness, there's no hope of heaven.
  • 00:00:16.816 --> 00:00:20.086
  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪
  • 00:00:22.856 --> 00:00:29.929
  • ♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
  • 00:00:29.929 --> 00:00:38.772
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:42.108 --> 00:00:43.877
  • ♪ oh we adore you jesus. ♪
  • 00:00:43.877 --> 00:00:51.651
  • ♪ to behold the lamb of god, ♪
  • 00:00:53.420 --> 00:01:00.393
  • ♪ who comes to take away ♪
  • 00:01:00.393 --> 00:01:02.395
  • ♪ the sins of the world. ♪
  • 00:01:02.395 --> 00:01:08.268
  • ♪ o come let us adore him, ♪
  • 00:01:08.268 --> 00:01:22.215
  • ♪ o come let us adore him ♪
  • 00:01:15.075 --> 00:01:29.389
  • ♪ christ the lord. ♪
  • 00:01:29.389 --> 00:01:35.728
  • ♪ we love you jesus. ♪
  • 00:01:35.728 --> 00:01:39.199
  • ♪ we give you all the glory, ♪
  • 00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:52.745
  • ♪ we give you all the glory ♪
  • 00:01:45.972 --> 00:02:00.253
  • ♪ christ the lord. oh oh oh ♪
  • 00:02:00.253 --> 00:02:09.362
  • ♪ yeah ♪
  • 00:02:11.464 --> 00:02:17.504
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:02:17.504 --> 00:02:30.583
  • ♪ oh ♪
  • 00:02:24.377 --> 00:02:34.554
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:02:34.554 --> 00:02:40.126
  • ♪ yeah ♪
  • 00:02:40.126 --> 00:02:42.629
  • ♪ all the praise is yours, we love you god. ♪
  • 00:02:42.629 --> 00:02:50.803
  • ♪ all our hearts are yours. yeah ♪
  • 00:02:50.803 --> 00:02:59.546
  • ♪ we praise your name. ♪
  • 00:03:02.248 --> 00:03:06.686
  • ♪ we'll praise your name forever, ♪
  • 00:03:06.686 --> 00:03:10.790
  • Male: come on, sing it where you are.
  • 00:03:10.790 --> 00:03:12.926
  • ♪ we praise your name forever, ♪
  • 00:03:12.926 --> 00:03:19.399
  • ♪ we praise your name forever ♪
  • 00:03:19.399 --> 00:03:29.242
  • ♪ christ the lord. ♪♪
  • 00:03:32.845 --> 00:03:42.055
  • Greg: all right well, we're looking at luke chapter 1 and
  • 00:03:44.624 --> 00:03:46.926
  • We're gonna spend a little bit of time talking about that story
  • 00:03:46.926 --> 00:03:51.364
  • Of stories, the christmas story.
  • 00:03:51.364 --> 00:03:55.268
  • I wanna focus on two very well-known characters and see if
  • 00:03:55.268 --> 00:03:58.471
  • We can uncover a few new things about them possibly,
  • 00:03:58.471 --> 00:04:02.942
  • Mary and joseph.
  • 00:04:02.942 --> 00:04:04.844
  • Mary, handpicked by god to be a fulfillment of bible prophecy,
  • 00:04:04.844 --> 00:04:11.117
  • But the other person, the lord picked joseph to me is the
  • 00:04:11.117 --> 00:04:14.687
  • Unsung hero of the christmas story, and by the way, joseph
  • 00:04:14.687 --> 00:04:19.726
  • Was also used by god to fulfill prophecy.
  • 00:04:19.726 --> 00:04:23.630
  • So let's reread that fantastic story that i never tire of.
  • 00:04:23.630 --> 00:04:28.635
  • Luke chapter 1 verse 26.
  • 00:04:28.635 --> 00:04:31.304
  • "now on the sixth month, the angel gabriel was sent by god to
  • 00:04:31.304 --> 00:04:34.440
  • A city of galilee named nazareth, to a virgin.
  • 00:04:34.440 --> 00:04:37.877
  • Betrothed to a man whose name was joseph
  • 00:04:37.877 --> 00:04:39.812
  • Of the house of david.
  • 00:04:39.812 --> 00:04:41.714
  • The virgin's name was mary.
  • 00:04:41.714 --> 00:04:43.650
  • And the angel came to her and said, 'hail or greetings, you
  • 00:04:43.650 --> 00:04:47.053
  • Are highly favored, the lord is with you.
  • 00:04:47.053 --> 00:04:49.455
  • Blessed are you among women.' and when she saw him, she was
  • 00:04:49.455 --> 00:04:52.759
  • Troubled at his scene and considered what manner of
  • 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:55.895
  • Greeting this was.
  • 00:04:55.895 --> 00:04:57.330
  • And then the angel said to her, 'do not be afraid mary, for you
  • 00:04:57.330 --> 00:05:00.533
  • Have found favor with god, and behold you will conceive in your
  • 00:05:00.533 --> 00:05:02.435
  • Womb and bring forth a son and you will call his name jesus,
  • 00:05:02.435 --> 00:05:07.974
  • He will be great.
  • 00:05:07.974 --> 00:05:09.375
  • He'll be called the son of the highest and the lord god
  • 00:05:09.375 --> 00:05:11.744
  • Will give him the throne of his father david.
  • 00:05:11.744 --> 00:05:14.280
  • And he'll reign over the house of jacob forever and of his
  • 00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:17.417
  • Kingdom, there will be no end.' then mary said, 'how can this be
  • 00:05:17.417 --> 00:05:21.487
  • Since i do not know a man?'
  • 00:05:21.487 --> 00:05:23.723
  • And the angel said to her, 'the holy spirit
  • 00:05:23.723 --> 00:05:26.326
  • Will come upon you.
  • 00:05:26.326 --> 00:05:27.727
  • The power of the highest will overshadow you.
  • 00:05:27.727 --> 00:05:30.096
  • Therefore that holy one who is born will be called
  • 00:05:30.096 --> 00:05:32.832
  • The son of god.
  • 00:05:32.832 --> 00:05:35.668
  • Now indeed, elizabeth, your relative is also conceived a son
  • 00:05:35.668 --> 00:05:38.805
  • In her old age.
  • 00:05:38.805 --> 00:05:40.673
  • And this is now the six month for her who has been called
  • 00:05:40.673 --> 00:05:43.576
  • Barren.
  • 00:05:43.576 --> 00:05:44.977
  • For with god nothing will be impossible.'"
  • 00:05:44.977 --> 00:05:47.547
  • And i love mary's response.
  • 00:05:47.547 --> 00:05:49.582
  • "then mary said, 'behold the maid servant of the lord, let it
  • 00:05:49.582 --> 00:05:52.985
  • Be to me according to your word.'
  • 00:05:52.985 --> 00:05:55.788
  • And the angel departed from her."
  • 00:05:55.788 --> 00:05:59.125
  • You know mary, what a special woman she was.
  • 00:05:59.125 --> 00:06:03.329
  • More little girls have probably been named after her than any
  • 00:06:03.329 --> 00:06:06.733
  • Other woman who has lived in human history and justly so.
  • 00:06:06.733 --> 00:06:10.603
  • Mary was the only person present at both the birth of christ and
  • 00:06:10.603 --> 00:06:15.108
  • His crucifixion.
  • 00:06:15.108 --> 00:06:16.943
  • She saw jesus enter this world as her son, and she saw him
  • 00:06:16.943 --> 00:06:21.881
  • Leave as her savior.
  • 00:06:21.881 --> 00:06:24.584
  • Maybe the lord chose her because he knew she would do what he
  • 00:06:24.584 --> 00:06:28.321
  • Asked her to do.
  • 00:06:28.321 --> 00:06:30.223
  • Now, here's something very important we don't wanna miss.
  • 00:06:30.223 --> 00:06:32.992
  • Where was mary living when this angelic message came?
  • 00:06:32.992 --> 00:06:37.563
  • She was living in the city of nazareth.
  • 00:06:37.563 --> 00:06:40.700
  • I think one of the problems, if you will, of christmas today, is
  • 00:06:40.700 --> 00:06:44.470
  • We've made it too beautiful.
  • 00:06:44.470 --> 00:06:47.640
  • You know, with our horse drawn carriages, and a snow gently
  • 00:06:47.640 --> 00:06:51.644
  • Falling and you know, and all the wonderful things we think of
  • 00:06:51.644 --> 00:06:55.648
  • This time of the year, we sometimes take the nativity
  • 00:06:55.648 --> 00:06:59.519
  • Story and sprinkle a little too much fairy dust on it, and
  • 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:03.756
  • Almost treated as though it were a child's story which it is, but
  • 00:07:03.756 --> 00:07:07.927
  • It's an adult story as well, but we forget that it's a historical
  • 00:07:07.927 --> 00:07:12.098
  • Event that actually happened.
  • 00:07:12.098 --> 00:07:14.300
  • And i think when you peel off that veneer of beauty, and get
  • 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:18.070
  • To the raw truth of what took place, it's actually a far more
  • 00:07:18.070 --> 00:07:22.108
  • Appealing story.
  • 00:07:22.108 --> 00:07:24.377
  • So let's simply start with the place nazareth.
  • 00:07:24.377 --> 00:07:27.547
  • That's where mary was living.
  • 00:07:27.547 --> 00:07:29.949
  • Nazareth was a wicked place.
  • 00:07:29.949 --> 00:07:33.186
  • And that brings me to my first point, mary lived a godly life
  • 00:07:33.186 --> 00:07:37.290
  • In an ungodly place.
  • 00:07:37.290 --> 00:07:39.392
  • Again, mary lived a godly life in an ungodly place.
  • 00:07:39.392 --> 00:07:43.729
  • Angels have been dispatched to wicked places before, they were
  • 00:07:43.729 --> 00:07:47.266
  • Sent to sodom and gomorrah and they got lot and his family out
  • 00:07:47.266 --> 00:07:52.071
  • And sodom and gomorrah were known for their sin,
  • 00:07:52.071 --> 00:07:55.308
  • And so was nazareth.
  • 00:07:55.308 --> 00:07:57.677
  • This was a place, how shall i put it delicately?
  • 00:07:57.677 --> 00:08:01.514
  • Where more than one girl would find herself pregnant, because
  • 00:08:01.514 --> 00:08:05.685
  • Of the roman soldiers and the young girls there.
  • 00:08:05.685 --> 00:08:10.223
  • These soldiers would prey upon these young women.
  • 00:08:10.223 --> 00:08:13.860
  • Nazareth was so wicked, that's why when nathaniel was called by
  • 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:18.297
  • Jesus, and was told that jesus came from nazareth, he said,
  • 00:08:18.297 --> 00:08:22.668
  • "can any good thing come out of nazareth?"
  • 00:08:22.668 --> 00:08:26.539
  • That's why he would say like, "are you kidding me, nazareth?"
  • 00:08:26.539 --> 00:08:30.176
  • Nothing good has ever come out of nazareth."
  • 00:08:30.176 --> 00:08:32.445
  • That's where mary lived when the angel came to her, and that's
  • 00:08:32.445 --> 00:08:37.316
  • Where the young jesus grew up.
  • 00:08:37.316 --> 00:08:39.685
  • But mary shows it's possible to live a holy life in an unholy
  • 00:08:39.685 --> 00:08:44.624
  • Place.
  • 00:08:44.624 --> 00:08:46.425
  • Mary was a nobody, in a nothing town, in the middle of nowhere.
  • 00:08:46.425 --> 00:08:53.065
  • But god chose her to literally fulfill bible prophecy.
  • 00:08:53.065 --> 00:08:58.037
  • Because god uses nobody's to tell everybody about somebody.
  • 00:08:58.037 --> 00:09:03.709
  • And look at verse, look at isaiah 7:14 rather tells us that
  • 00:09:03.709 --> 00:09:08.314
  • She fulfilled scripture because the bible says, "the lord
  • 00:09:08.314 --> 00:09:11.517
  • Himself would give a sign and the virgin would conceive and
  • 00:09:11.517 --> 00:09:15.488
  • Bare a son and call his name emmanuel."
  • 00:09:15.488 --> 00:09:18.524
  • You know you wonder, mary was probably a great student of
  • 00:09:18.524 --> 00:09:20.693
  • Scripture, that certainly reflected in something we call
  • 00:09:20.693 --> 00:09:24.130
  • The magnificat or the psalm of mary that i'll mention
  • 00:09:24.130 --> 00:09:27.433
  • In a moment.
  • 00:09:27.433 --> 00:09:28.968
  • But she knew the word of god.
  • 00:09:28.968 --> 00:09:30.670
  • You wonder if she ever thought, "i think i'm gonna be the
  • 00:09:30.670 --> 00:09:33.606
  • Fulfillment of that prophecy."
  • 00:09:33.606 --> 00:09:35.608
  • I seriously doubt that, but indeed she was to be and what an
  • 00:09:35.608 --> 00:09:39.512
  • Amazing thing that was.
  • 00:09:39.512 --> 00:09:42.181
  • Because here was a young unknown girl living in a relatively
  • 00:09:42.181 --> 00:09:46.018
  • Unknown city, who was gonna bring about the most known event
  • 00:09:46.018 --> 00:09:50.356
  • In human history.
  • 00:09:50.356 --> 00:09:52.325
  • Mary was literally a fulfillment of a promise that god had made.
  • 00:09:52.325 --> 00:09:57.930
  • And christmas has a lot to do with promises.
  • 00:09:57.930 --> 00:10:01.467
  • Going back to the very beginning.
  • 00:10:01.467 --> 00:10:03.002
  • God promised adam and eve that a deliverer would come one day.
  • 00:10:03.002 --> 00:10:07.006
  • God promised isaiah that the virgin would conceive and give
  • 00:10:07.006 --> 00:10:09.508
  • Birth to the savior.
  • 00:10:09.508 --> 00:10:11.611
  • And god promised mary she would give birth to that savior.
  • 00:10:11.611 --> 00:10:15.781
  • Evidently, god wants us to know, he keeps his promises.
  • 00:10:15.781 --> 00:10:19.685
  • The angel even affirmed at verse 37, "every promise of god will
  • 00:10:19.685 --> 00:10:23.522
  • Surely come true."
  • 00:10:23.522 --> 00:10:25.625
  • And listen, god has made a lot of promises to you and we need
  • 00:10:25.625 --> 00:10:29.562
  • To take hold of those promises.
  • 00:10:29.562 --> 00:10:31.831
  • I've said before promises are a lot like gift cards, that are
  • 00:10:31.831 --> 00:10:34.734
  • Left unclaimed.
  • 00:10:34.734 --> 00:10:36.102
  • I don't know about you, but i get a few gift cards
  • 00:10:36.102 --> 00:10:38.037
  • This time of year.
  • 00:10:38.037 --> 00:10:39.605
  • I have to say that i have quite a few in and out gift cards, and
  • 00:10:39.605 --> 00:10:42.808
  • Thank you for those, if you gave me one.
  • 00:10:42.808 --> 00:10:45.011
  • I think people think that all i do is eat at in-n-out burger and
  • 00:10:45.011 --> 00:10:49.081
  • Krispy kreme doughnut, because i use them as illustrations.
  • 00:10:49.081 --> 00:10:52.618
  • And by the way, if you've given me one of those, thank you, but
  • 00:10:52.618 --> 00:10:54.787
  • Please don't give me any more.
  • 00:10:54.787 --> 00:10:57.123
  • And i'll be honest, i've re-gifted a few of those cards,
  • 00:10:57.123 --> 00:10:59.558
  • I hope you don't mind.
  • 00:10:59.558 --> 00:11:01.594
  • Because i would be 400 pounds if i used them all.
  • 00:11:01.594 --> 00:11:05.231
  • But you know, i have these gift cards and sometimes i'll give
  • 00:11:05.231 --> 00:11:08.634
  • Them to someone else, and there's some gift cards that you
  • 00:11:08.634 --> 00:11:11.404
  • Know i''ll go, "well that was very nice, but i don't know if
  • 00:11:11.404 --> 00:11:13.339
  • I'm ever gonna go to this restaurant called liver world."
  • 00:11:13.339 --> 00:11:16.475
  • You know, it just doesn't appeal, but i don't get many
  • 00:11:16.475 --> 00:11:18.944
  • Like that, they're usually for great things and i'm
  • 00:11:18.944 --> 00:11:21.180
  • Appreciative of it.
  • 00:11:21.180 --> 00:11:22.982
  • But sometimes i'll find a gift card like i did the other day to
  • 00:11:22.982 --> 00:11:26.185
  • A place i like to go to and i forgot all about it.
  • 00:11:26.185 --> 00:11:29.388
  • And i'm like, look, "i have this gift card, why didn't i use it?"
  • 00:11:29.388 --> 00:11:32.491
  • That's what the promises of god are like.
  • 00:11:32.491 --> 00:11:34.660
  • They're just sitting here in the bible, and we don't read the
  • 00:11:34.660 --> 00:11:37.530
  • Bible, so we don't know the promises, or we read the
  • 00:11:37.530 --> 00:11:40.433
  • Promises and we don't believe the promises, but we need to
  • 00:11:40.433 --> 00:11:44.070
  • Read it, believe it, and start living these promises out.
  • 00:11:44.070 --> 00:11:48.641
  • Christmas reminds us that god keeps his promises, and he
  • 00:11:48.641 --> 00:11:52.678
  • Certainly kept it with mary and she was surprised and humbled
  • 00:11:52.678 --> 00:11:57.450
  • That god would choose her.
  • 00:11:57.450 --> 00:11:59.051
  • Look at verse 29.
  • 00:11:59.051 --> 00:12:00.686
  • "when she saw him." this is gabriel.
  • 00:12:00.686 --> 00:12:02.455
  • "she was troubled at this scene, and wondered
  • 00:12:02.455 --> 00:12:05.558
  • What kind of greeting this was."
  • 00:12:05.558 --> 00:12:07.493
  • This word trouble could be translated, disturbed, confused,
  • 00:12:07.493 --> 00:12:11.330
  • And a failure to function.
  • 00:12:11.330 --> 00:12:13.532
  • Listen, if gabriel showed up, something big was about to come
  • 00:12:13.532 --> 00:12:16.969
  • Down and indeed it was.
  • 00:12:16.969 --> 00:12:19.138
  • And so she couldn't function just stunned, she's standing
  • 00:12:19.138 --> 00:12:21.907
  • There like, "what is happening?
  • 00:12:21.907 --> 00:12:24.543
  • Why is this angel here and why is he saying this to me?
  • 00:12:24.543 --> 00:12:27.947
  • I've done nothing to merit this."
  • 00:12:27.947 --> 00:12:29.648
  • Bringing me to my second point, mary was honestly surprised that
  • 00:12:29.648 --> 00:12:34.019
  • God had selected her and not someone else.
  • 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:37.223
  • She was honestly surprised that god had selected her, not
  • 00:12:37.223 --> 00:12:40.659
  • Someone else.
  • 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:42.461
  • She might have said, "well it's about time someone noticed my
  • 00:12:42.461 --> 00:12:45.197
  • Godly lifestyle and singled me out."
  • 00:12:45.197 --> 00:12:48.033
  • No, she didn't think that at all, she was stunned that she
  • 00:12:48.033 --> 00:12:50.202
  • Would be given this privilege.
  • 00:12:50.202 --> 00:12:53.239
  • And now look at what gabrielle says in verse 31, "behold you
  • 00:12:53.239 --> 00:12:57.209
  • Will conceive in your womb and bring forth the son and you
  • 00:12:57.209 --> 00:12:59.879
  • Shall call his name jesus, and he'll be great and he'll be the
  • 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:04.517
  • Son of the highest, and the lord god will give them the throne of
  • 00:13:04.517 --> 00:13:07.153
  • His father david."
  • 00:13:07.153 --> 00:13:08.521
  • And i love this, mary agreed and said, "i'm willing to do
  • 00:13:08.521 --> 00:13:12.725
  • Whatever god wants."
  • 00:13:12.725 --> 00:13:15.161
  • Then mary offers that magnificat as it sometimes called, the
  • 00:13:15.161 --> 00:13:20.132
  • Psalm of mary.
  • 00:13:20.132 --> 00:13:22.067
  • And in luke 1:46 she says, "my soul magnifies the lord, how i
  • 00:13:22.067 --> 00:13:26.906
  • Rejoice in god my savior.
  • 00:13:26.906 --> 00:13:28.841
  • He took notice of this lowly servant girl, and now generation
  • 00:13:28.841 --> 00:13:32.845
  • After generation will call me blessed, for he the mighty one
  • 00:13:32.845 --> 00:13:36.348
  • Is holy.
  • 00:13:36.348 --> 00:13:37.817
  • And he has done great things for me."
  • 00:13:37.817 --> 00:13:39.885
  • Bringing me to my third point, mary obeyed and magnified god.
  • 00:13:39.885 --> 00:13:45.524
  • She obeyed and magnified god.
  • 00:13:45.524 --> 00:13:47.827
  • She could have said, "i don't want to do this lord."
  • 00:13:47.827 --> 00:13:51.864
  • 'cause she knew a lot of people were not gonna believe what she
  • 00:13:51.864 --> 00:13:55.835
  • Was about to tell them.
  • 00:13:55.835 --> 00:13:57.837
  • She lived in nazareth, a city known for immorality, and she
  • 00:13:57.837 --> 00:14:01.974
  • Was now gonna tell them, "oh yes i'm pregnant, but it's not what
  • 00:14:01.974 --> 00:14:06.478
  • You think, i'm the fulfillment of bible prophecy, i'm the
  • 00:14:06.478 --> 00:14:10.816
  • Mother of the messiah."
  • 00:14:10.816 --> 00:14:13.018
  • "uh-huh."
  • 00:14:13.018 --> 00:14:14.620
  • She knew that was gonna happen.
  • 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:16.755
  • She knew she was gonna have to live with that reputation, and
  • 00:14:16.755 --> 00:14:19.158
  • Here's what's challenging, if you've sought to be a godly girl
  • 00:14:19.158 --> 00:14:23.128
  • Or for that point, a godly guy, and you've tried to be moral,
  • 00:14:23.128 --> 00:14:27.633
  • And do what god wants you to do, and then you had the reputation
  • 00:14:27.633 --> 00:14:31.303
  • Of a girl that gets around town, if you will, a loose woman,
  • 00:14:31.303 --> 00:14:35.274
  • That's a hard thing to have to bear when you've actually lived
  • 00:14:35.274 --> 00:14:37.810
  • A life that's a very opposite of that, but she had to live that
  • 00:14:37.810 --> 00:14:41.213
  • Way for the rest of her life.
  • 00:14:41.213 --> 00:14:44.683
  • But she obeyed and magnified god.
  • 00:14:44.683 --> 00:14:47.686
  • I love how she magnified god.
  • 00:14:47.686 --> 00:14:50.489
  • I want to give glory to god, and she did that, of course.
  • 00:14:50.489 --> 00:14:54.526
  • Now let me close with a few thoughts about joseph.
  • 00:14:54.526 --> 00:14:58.197
  • I do think in many ways he is the unsung hero
  • 00:14:58.197 --> 00:15:01.233
  • Of the christmas story.
  • 00:15:01.233 --> 00:15:03.002
  • There are very few songs about joseph.
  • 00:15:03.002 --> 00:15:05.471
  • There's not a song called joseph did you know, right?
  • 00:15:05.471 --> 00:15:10.376
  • And we hear that song, you know, "silent night, holy night, all
  • 00:15:10.376 --> 00:15:13.779
  • Is calm, all is bright round yon virgin, mother and child."
  • 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:18.550
  • Okay, great, but wait, joseph was there.
  • 00:15:18.550 --> 00:15:21.787
  • Didn't he ever hold the baby jesus too?
  • 00:15:21.787 --> 00:15:24.523
  • Not even one line about him and he sort of forgotten
  • 00:15:24.523 --> 00:15:27.760
  • And ignored.
  • 00:15:27.760 --> 00:15:29.295
  • But that's my fourth point, god chose joseph as surely
  • 00:15:29.295 --> 00:15:33.198
  • As he chose mary.
  • 00:15:33.198 --> 00:15:35.768
  • It's very important.
  • 00:15:35.768 --> 00:15:37.169
  • God chose joseph just as surely as he chose mary.
  • 00:15:37.169 --> 00:15:40.406
  • And listen to this god, the father in heaven, chose joseph
  • 00:15:40.406 --> 00:15:45.811
  • To be a stepfather or father figure to jesus on earth.
  • 00:15:45.811 --> 00:15:51.517
  • I mean, what a privilege?
  • 00:15:51.517 --> 00:15:53.152
  • God says, "okay mary, you're the mother, you'll carry the son of
  • 00:15:53.152 --> 00:15:55.854
  • God in your womb, but there's gonna be a father figure for
  • 00:15:55.854 --> 00:15:58.757
  • This boy when he is growing up, and i got to find
  • 00:15:58.757 --> 00:16:01.627
  • Just the right guy."
  • 00:16:01.627 --> 00:16:02.962
  • God picked a man's man.
  • 00:16:02.962 --> 00:16:04.630
  • He's a carpenter.
  • 00:16:04.630 --> 00:16:06.365
  • A carpenter knows how to put his back to a task.
  • 00:16:06.365 --> 00:16:09.335
  • He knows how to build things, take things apart.
  • 00:16:09.335 --> 00:16:11.804
  • He has a strong work ethic.
  • 00:16:11.804 --> 00:16:14.807
  • And the lord said, "i want that man to be the father figure, the
  • 00:16:14.807 --> 00:16:18.444
  • Stepfather, if you will, of jesus christ as he grows up."
  • 00:16:18.444 --> 00:16:22.614
  • Another thing that carpenters do is they fix broken things.
  • 00:16:22.614 --> 00:16:27.386
  • And what a privilege joseph had to be there.
  • 00:16:27.386 --> 00:16:30.522
  • But now of course when the lord told mary she's gonna have the
  • 00:16:30.522 --> 00:16:33.559
  • Child, she's thinking, "how am i ever gonna explain this
  • 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:35.995
  • To joseph?"
  • 00:16:35.995 --> 00:16:37.863
  • You know when she told him, he is like, "eh yeah, right?"
  • 00:16:37.863 --> 00:16:40.766
  • And he was about to put her away privately like he loved this
  • 00:16:40.766 --> 00:16:43.535
  • Girl, but it's like, "mary, i'm sorry i can't go there
  • 00:16:43.535 --> 00:16:46.705
  • With you."
  • 00:16:46.705 --> 00:16:48.040
  • But the lord had that covered and he came to joseph as well.
  • 00:16:48.040 --> 00:16:49.775
  • And this is over in matthew, i'll just read it to you, but
  • 00:16:49.775 --> 00:16:51.510
  • It's matthew 1:20 when, "while joseph was thinking about these
  • 00:16:51.510 --> 00:16:56.415
  • Things, the angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream
  • 00:16:56.415 --> 00:16:59.151
  • Saying, joseph son of david, don't be afraid to take to you
  • 00:16:59.151 --> 00:17:01.620
  • Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the
  • 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:04.456
  • Holy spirit, and shall bring forth the son
  • 00:17:04.456 --> 00:17:07.059
  • And call his name jesus.
  • 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.660
  • And he will his save his people from their sins."
  • 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:11.463
  • Now, just as easily as mary could have said,
  • 00:17:11.463 --> 00:17:14.533
  • "no, i don't wanna do this."
  • 00:17:14.533 --> 00:17:17.169
  • Joseph could have said no.
  • 00:17:17.169 --> 00:17:19.271
  • "now i know you're an angel and all, but when i go down to the
  • 00:17:19.271 --> 00:17:22.775
  • Work site tomorrow morning and i tell the guys that my fiancé is
  • 00:17:22.775 --> 00:17:28.847
  • Pregnant, but she's the mother of the messiah, they're never
  • 00:17:28.847 --> 00:17:31.517
  • Gonna believe it."
  • 00:17:31.517 --> 00:17:33.585
  • But he was willing to obey the lord as well and god used him in
  • 00:17:33.585 --> 00:17:38.590
  • An incredible way.
  • 00:17:38.590 --> 00:17:40.325
  • You know, joseph fulfilled bible prophecies as well.
  • 00:17:40.325 --> 00:17:43.162
  • Because an angel of the lord spoke to him in a dream after
  • 00:17:43.162 --> 00:17:48.200
  • Jesus was born, and told him to flee from herod to egypt.
  • 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:52.738
  • Joseph did not hesitate, he did not wait until morning.
  • 00:17:52.738 --> 00:17:56.208
  • He trusted god and he moved, and after herod died and after
  • 00:17:56.208 --> 00:17:58.644
  • Hearing from god in his dreams, joseph returned back home to
  • 00:17:58.644 --> 00:18:03.282
  • Nazareth.
  • 00:18:03.282 --> 00:18:04.683
  • That was important because scripture said the messiah would
  • 00:18:04.683 --> 00:18:07.553
  • Be called out of egypt and that the messiah would be called a
  • 00:18:07.553 --> 00:18:11.223
  • Nazarene.
  • 00:18:11.223 --> 00:18:12.958
  • So joseph's actions not only protected his wife and adopted
  • 00:18:12.958 --> 00:18:17.196
  • Son, but prepared the way for god to fulfill
  • 00:18:17.196 --> 00:18:20.532
  • Many more prophecies.
  • 00:18:20.532 --> 00:18:23.268
  • So we gotta to give him his due man, this guy, played a
  • 00:18:23.268 --> 00:18:26.605
  • Significant role as he was there in the life of jesus.
  • 00:18:26.605 --> 00:18:31.176
  • Now let me close with this thought, and that's a preacher's
  • 00:18:31.176 --> 00:18:34.980
  • Way of saying, "i'm gonna go 20 more minutes 'cause thoughts are
  • 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:37.416
  • Long," but i won't go 20 more minutes.
  • 00:18:37.416 --> 00:18:39.751
  • But let me close with this idea.
  • 00:18:39.751 --> 00:18:42.087
  • Some would say, "well, you know the whole virgin birth thing,
  • 00:18:42.087 --> 00:18:44.323
  • I mean is that really that important?
  • 00:18:44.323 --> 00:18:46.525
  • It's kind of hard to believe, isn't it?"
  • 00:18:46.525 --> 00:18:48.861
  • I've even heard some preachers say, "you don't have to believe
  • 00:18:48.861 --> 00:18:51.797
  • In the virgin birth of jesus to be a christian, you just need to
  • 00:18:51.797 --> 00:18:56.401
  • Believe in his death and his resurrection from the dead."
  • 00:18:56.401 --> 00:19:00.205
  • I would beg to differ, because of what value is the death and
  • 00:19:00.205 --> 00:19:04.576
  • Resurrection of jesus if he were not supernaturally conceived.
  • 00:19:04.576 --> 00:19:10.115
  • Listen, by being conceived miraculously in the womb,
  • 00:19:10.115 --> 00:19:13.452
  • It mean that christ did not have the sin nature.
  • 00:19:13.452 --> 00:19:18.423
  • See, if he had the sin nature, then he was
  • 00:19:18.423 --> 00:19:22.461
  • Just like anybody else.
  • 00:19:22.461 --> 00:19:23.996
  • But no, he was supernaturally conceived, he was fully god, and
  • 00:19:23.996 --> 00:19:27.065
  • Fully man.
  • 00:19:27.065 --> 00:19:28.467
  • Listen to this, if there's no virgin birth,
  • 00:19:28.467 --> 00:19:31.103
  • There's no sinless christ.
  • 00:19:31.103 --> 00:19:33.205
  • And if there's no sinless christ, there's no atonement.
  • 00:19:33.205 --> 00:19:36.441
  • And if there's no atonement, there's no forgiveness.
  • 00:19:36.441 --> 00:19:39.978
  • And if there's no forgiveness, there's no hope of heaven.
  • 00:19:39.978 --> 00:19:43.749
  • You take away the virgin birth and you lose everything.
  • 00:19:43.749 --> 00:19:47.553
  • So it's essential to believe this along with everything else
  • 00:19:47.553 --> 00:19:51.990
  • That the bible teaches, because this happened as the lord had
  • 00:19:51.990 --> 00:19:55.794
  • Appointed it to happen.
  • 00:19:55.794 --> 00:19:58.063
  • The birth of jesus christ was such a significant event but
  • 00:19:58.063 --> 00:20:00.999
  • Let's just close with asking, why did he come?
  • 00:20:00.999 --> 00:20:05.671
  • Well there's many things i could say that the bible tells us
  • 00:20:05.671 --> 00:20:08.941
  • About why christ came, but just let me give you a couple.
  • 00:20:08.941 --> 00:20:11.543
  • Number one, jesus came to be born in a manger and to die on
  • 00:20:11.543 --> 00:20:16.682
  • The cross, and arise from the dead, and to give his life
  • 00:20:16.682 --> 00:20:20.319
  • As a ransom for many.
  • 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:22.521
  • Jesus himself said in mark 10:45, "the son of man,"
  • 00:20:22.521 --> 00:20:26.525
  • Speaking of himself, "did not come to be served but to serve
  • 00:20:26.525 --> 00:20:30.329
  • Others, and give his life as a ransom for many."
  • 00:20:30.329 --> 00:20:34.333
  • Secondly, jesus came that we might have life
  • 00:20:34.333 --> 00:20:38.370
  • And all of its fullness.
  • 00:20:38.370 --> 00:20:40.505
  • Yes, it is the promise of life after death and what a glorious
  • 00:20:40.505 --> 00:20:43.308
  • Promise that is, but it's also the promise of life during life
  • 00:20:43.308 --> 00:20:47.379
  • Because jesus said, "i have come that you might have life and
  • 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:52.084
  • That more abundantly.
  • 00:20:52.084 --> 00:20:54.286
  • You know, christmas marks our life, and we look at christmas
  • 00:20:54.286 --> 00:21:00.192
  • And we think of last christmas.
  • 00:21:00.192 --> 00:21:02.761
  • And we remember loved ones that were with us last christmas that
  • 00:21:02.761 --> 00:21:05.998
  • Are not with us this christmas.
  • 00:21:05.998 --> 00:21:08.667
  • There's just something about the whole christmas season, it
  • 00:21:08.667 --> 00:21:11.103
  • Causes us to think about these things and we think, "wow, they
  • 00:21:11.103 --> 00:21:15.207
  • Were here with me last year sitting next to me in church or
  • 00:21:15.207 --> 00:21:19.711
  • I saw them and now they're not here."
  • 00:21:19.711 --> 00:21:21.780
  • Yes because their life has passed, but if they were a
  • 00:21:21.780 --> 00:21:24.049
  • Believer, they're now enjoying to the fullest, the unspeakable
  • 00:21:24.049 --> 00:21:28.287
  • Gift, the eternal gift, the most valuable of all gift.
  • 00:21:28.287 --> 00:21:32.824
  • So we wanna make every effort to get that gift into the hands of
  • 00:21:32.824 --> 00:21:37.029
  • Every loved one we have, and make sure we've leveraged every
  • 00:21:37.029 --> 00:21:41.533
  • Opportunity to share our faith.
  • 00:21:41.533 --> 00:21:44.803
  • Don't be compromised by what is around you, or be intimidated by
  • 00:21:44.803 --> 00:21:49.574
  • It, or be afraid to share what you believe.
  • 00:21:49.574 --> 00:21:52.210
  • Be like mary and live that godly life in the ungodly place.
  • 00:21:52.210 --> 00:21:56.648
  • And when you gather together with family and friends for
  • 00:21:56.648 --> 00:21:59.751
  • Christmas, and not all of your family is christian probably.
  • 00:21:59.751 --> 00:22:03.722
  • In fact for some of you, you may be the only christian, but when
  • 00:22:03.722 --> 00:22:06.658
  • The meal is being served and maybe they set their drinks down
  • 00:22:06.658 --> 00:22:11.797
  • And say, "well why don't you go ahead and do that prayer thing
  • 00:22:11.797 --> 00:22:19.471
  • To the man upstairs."
  • 00:22:19.471 --> 00:22:21.273
  • "thank you i'd be happy to."
  • 00:22:21.273 --> 00:22:23.408
  • Seize the moment my friend, you have the floor.
  • 00:22:23.408 --> 00:22:27.746
  • One of the great things about doing that prayer is, most
  • 00:22:27.746 --> 00:22:30.382
  • People don't interrupt prayers.
  • 00:22:30.382 --> 00:22:32.918
  • There are exceptions of course, 'cause uncle harry gets very
  • 00:22:32.918 --> 00:22:35.087
  • Drunk sometimes, but generally they won't.
  • 00:22:35.087 --> 00:22:39.024
  • "well, let's all pray."
  • 00:22:39.024 --> 00:22:41.159
  • And you thank the lord for your family, and you thank the lord
  • 00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:43.895
  • For the meal, and you thank the lord for the baby being born in
  • 00:22:43.895 --> 00:22:46.832
  • A manger, yes do all that.
  • 00:22:46.832 --> 00:22:49.368
  • But then you could thank the lord that the baby grew to be a
  • 00:22:49.368 --> 00:22:51.503
  • Man, and he died on the cross and he rose from the dead, and
  • 00:22:51.503 --> 00:22:57.743
  • We can know him.
  • 00:22:57.743 --> 00:22:59.644
  • And then you might say, "and while our heads are bowed
  • 00:22:59.644 --> 00:23:01.113
  • And eyes are closed, uncle harry, i'm talking to you.
  • 00:23:01.113 --> 00:23:07.719
  • Uncle harry, if you would like jesus to come into your life,
  • 00:23:07.719 --> 00:23:09.988
  • Would you just raise your hand while we're praying?"
  • 00:23:09.988 --> 00:23:13.258
  • You know, now i'm not suggesting do that, but do something sort
  • 00:23:13.258 --> 00:23:18.263
  • Of like that.
  • 00:23:18.263 --> 00:23:19.598
  • You hear what i'm saying?
  • 00:23:19.598 --> 00:23:20.932
  • Do something sort of like that.
  • 00:23:20.932 --> 00:23:22.901
  • Take advantage of the opportunity and leverage it
  • 00:23:22.901 --> 00:23:26.905
  • For god's glory.
  • 00:23:26.905 --> 00:23:28.340
  • 'cause we want people to have this unspeakable gift
  • 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:31.076
  • That we have.
  • 00:23:31.076 --> 00:23:32.544
  • The message of christmas is emmanuel, god is with us, he's
  • 00:23:32.544 --> 00:23:35.380
  • With you in your pleasure, he's with you in your pain, he's with
  • 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:40.051
  • You wherever you are.
  • 00:23:40.051 --> 00:23:42.921
  • And he has everything that you need, even if you're a nobody in
  • 00:23:42.921 --> 00:23:47.259
  • A nowhere town, living in the middle of nowhere, you're known
  • 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:51.596
  • To god, and you're loved by god.
  • 00:23:51.596 --> 00:23:55.767
  • Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart, and you have seen
  • 00:23:59.905 --> 00:24:04.443
  • Your need for jesus christ.
  • 00:24:04.443 --> 00:24:06.611
  • Jesus christ is the son of god, who came from heaven
  • 00:24:06.611 --> 00:24:10.582
  • To this earth.
  • 00:24:10.582 --> 00:24:11.917
  • He was born in a manger, he died in a cross, he rose again
  • 00:24:11.917 --> 00:24:16.188
  • From the dead.
  • 00:24:16.188 --> 00:24:17.522
  • Why?
  • 00:24:17.522 --> 00:24:18.857
  • Because he loves you and he wants a relationship with you.
  • 00:24:18.857 --> 00:24:21.159
  • Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
  • 00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:23.261
  • I don't wanna be a religious person, i don't think you wanna
  • 00:24:23.261 --> 00:24:25.931
  • Be one either, i'm talking about relationship with god.
  • 00:24:25.931 --> 00:24:30.802
  • Jesus who died and rose again stands at the door of your life
  • 00:24:30.802 --> 00:24:35.140
  • And he knocks and he says, if you'll hear his voice and open
  • 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:38.410
  • The door, he will come in.
  • 00:24:38.410 --> 00:24:40.111
  • Question, have you asked jesus christ to come and live inside
  • 00:24:40.111 --> 00:24:43.181
  • Of you?
  • 00:24:43.181 --> 00:24:44.583
  • You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
  • 00:24:44.583 --> 00:24:46.485
  • Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
  • 00:24:46.485 --> 00:24:48.820
  • Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
  • 00:24:48.820 --> 00:24:51.790
  • I'm sure you would.
  • 00:24:51.790 --> 00:24:53.325
  • And in the same way, if christ has come to live inside of you,
  • 00:24:53.325 --> 00:24:56.194
  • You will know.
  • 00:24:56.194 --> 00:24:57.662
  • And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
  • 00:24:57.662 --> 00:25:01.166
  • He's just a prayer away.
  • 00:25:01.166 --> 00:25:02.968
  • All you need to do is say, "jesus, i want this relationship
  • 00:25:02.968 --> 00:25:06.271
  • With you, i want you to forgive me of my sin, i wanna go
  • 00:25:06.271 --> 00:25:09.774
  • To heaven when i die."
  • 00:25:09.774 --> 00:25:11.376
  • Would you like to do that?
  • 00:25:11.376 --> 00:25:13.178
  • Would you like christ to come into your life?
  • 00:25:13.178 --> 00:25:15.447
  • If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me.
  • 00:25:15.447 --> 00:25:18.316
  • You can pray it out loud or you can pray it in the quietness
  • 00:25:18.316 --> 00:25:21.586
  • Of your heart.
  • 00:25:21.586 --> 00:25:23.021
  • But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ to be
  • 00:25:23.021 --> 00:25:25.891
  • Your savior and lord.
  • 00:25:25.891 --> 00:25:27.592
  • Pray this with me now.
  • 00:25:27.592 --> 00:25:29.060
  • "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner but i know that you're
  • 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:33.198
  • The savior, who died on the cross for my sin and rose again
  • 00:25:33.198 --> 00:25:37.769
  • From the dead, now come into my life.
  • 00:25:37.769 --> 00:25:41.006
  • I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
  • 00:25:41.006 --> 00:25:45.677
  • Thank you for hearing this prayer and answering this
  • 00:25:45.677 --> 00:25:48.813
  • Prayer, in jesus's name, amen."
  • 00:25:48.813 --> 00:25:51.983
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:25:51.983 --> 00:25:54.920
  • If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture that
  • 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:57.756
  • Christ himself has come to live inside of you, and i would love
  • 00:25:57.756 --> 00:26:01.560
  • To send to you at no charge something called the
  • 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:05.030
  • 'new believers' bible.'
  • 00:26:05.030 --> 00:26:06.798
  • It's a very friendly translation of the new
  • 00:26:06.798 --> 00:26:09.034
  • Testament, you'll find very understandable, and it's filled
  • 00:26:09.034 --> 00:26:12.604
  • With hundreds of notes that i wrote that will encourage you in
  • 00:26:12.604 --> 00:26:16.474
  • This commitment you've just made to follow jesus.
  • 00:26:16.474 --> 00:26:19.277
  • Let me send that to you at no charge, and let me be the first
  • 00:26:19.277 --> 00:26:22.714
  • To say to you, congratulations and welcome
  • 00:26:22.714 --> 00:26:26.418
  • To the family of god.
  • 00:26:26.418 --> 00:26:30.021
  • Greg: you know, the bible says: "a good person
  • 00:26:31.056 --> 00:26:34.059
  • Leaves an inheritance for their children's children."
  • 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:37.996
  • God encourages all of us as christians to manage
  • 00:26:37.996 --> 00:26:41.666
  • Our money well so we can be a blessing to our families
  • 00:26:41.666 --> 00:26:45.470
  • And to others.
  • 00:26:45.470 --> 00:26:46.805
  • Harvest has a special gift for you today, an opportunity
  • 00:26:46.805 --> 00:26:50.542
  • To set up a will or a living trust completely free of charge.
  • 00:26:50.542 --> 00:26:55.947
  • Here's how you can learn more.
  • 00:26:55.947 --> 00:26:58.016
  • Greg: i'm excited to announce that here at harvest
  • 00:26:58.083 --> 00:27:00.418
  • We partnered with our friends at freewill.
  • 00:27:00.418 --> 00:27:03.922
  • Freewill is an easy to use estate planning tool
  • 00:27:03.922 --> 00:27:06.725
  • That allows you to make planned gifts to organizations
  • 00:27:06.725 --> 00:27:09.928
  • Of your choice.
  • 00:27:09.928 --> 00:27:11.396
  • It's a creative opportunity to support the work we're doing
  • 00:27:11.396 --> 00:27:14.633
  • Here at harvest ministries.
  • 00:27:14.633 --> 00:27:16.334
  • So as you make your plans, i hope you'll consider
  • 00:27:16.334 --> 00:27:19.204
  • Investing in this ministry so we can continue
  • 00:27:19.204 --> 00:27:22.240
  • To preach the gospel and teach the word of god
  • 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:24.876
  • For years to come.
  • 00:27:24.876 --> 00:27:26.211
  • You can learn more at freewill.com/harvest.
  • 00:27:26.211 --> 00:27:30.000