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Touching Lives with James Merritt | James Merritt - Christmas To The Rescue | December 22, 2024
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- Male announcer: welcome to the international broadcast ministry
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- Of "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
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- Here at "touching lives," our mission is to touch the lives of
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- The lost and enrich the faith of the found.
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- And now here is pastor, author, and speaker, dr. james merritt.
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- James merritt: when i was a senior in high school, i went to
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- Church with a man.
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- God rest his soul.
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- He's not here.
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- That's one reason i wait to tell the story.
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- His name, i'm not making this up.
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- His name was grover dover.
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- That was his name, grover dover.
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- Rumor has it, he has a brother-- he had a brother named over and
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- Another named rover.
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- I don't know if that's true or not, but his name was
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- Grover dover.
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- Grover was not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
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- Let me just kind of put it to you that way.
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- But when i was a senior in high school, he came up to me on a
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- Christmas eve service and said, "hey, i want to go ahead and
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- Give you both your graduation present and your christmas
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- Present at the same time."
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- And i said, "yeah, okay."
- 00:01:06.715 --> 00:01:08.550
- Well, he gave me a tie but it wasn't your classy brooks
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- Brothers kind of a tie that you would tie.
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- It was a clip-on tie.
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- Now you may say, "what is that?"
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- Well, back in the day, one of the things that was really hot
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- Was a clip-on tie.
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- Now i'm gonna show you this tie, okay?
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- I'm gonna put it up on the screen, but now let me just say
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- This to you.
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- There's only been two ugly ties in the history of clothing.
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- That's both of them.
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- He gave me this tie.
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- That tie was given to me in over 50 years ago, okay?
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- It's hideous.
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- I mean, it's just hideous.
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- It's white, pink, blue, burgundy.
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- It kind of looks like an auburn uniform or something like
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- That, okay?
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- I mean, it's just ugly.
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- It's just horrendous.
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- It's just horrific.
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- Well, when i got it, my dad, especially, my dad and mom, when
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- I brought it home and opened it.
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- I mean, they just--they just laughed their head off and they
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- Immediately said, "you know, you need to wear that tie.
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- You need to wear it."
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- Matter of fact, my mom said, "why don't you wear that to
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- Your graduation?"
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- And i said, "well, i'm gonna tell you two reasons
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- Why i won't.
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- Number one, i'll get beat up.
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- Number two, i'll never get another date."
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- So, i've never worn that tie.
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- I've never clipped it on and i've waited all these years for
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- This reason.
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- If you live long enough and you go through enough christmases,
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- You're gonna get a gift that it will be an academy award winning
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- Performance if you act like you like it.
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- I'm just telling you right now.
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- So let me tell you what i did.
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- I came up with a better idea.
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- While my mom and dad were alive and this was before some of my
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- Boys were born, we used to have a big family
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- Christmas get-together.
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- Every year, i started the first year.
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- I didn't--i didn't wear it, but i'll tell you what i did do.
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- I wrapped it up and i gave it to an unsuspecting family member.
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- And every year everybody came to our christmas get-together with
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- A dread in their heart.
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- They knew they were gonna get that tie.
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- They didn't know what box it would be in.
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- They didn't know where it was, but they were gonna be stuck
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- With that tie.
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- We passed that tie around year after year after year.
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- And i'm just telling you, we all have gotten those gifts that on
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- The outside, let's just be honest, you're lying through
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- Your teeth.
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- You're going, "oh, isn't that nice?"
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- But inside you're saying, "what a moron.
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- I can't believe you'd give me something like that gift," okay?
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- We've all had that kind of a gift.
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- Which makes the other kind of gift so meaningful because what
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- You love is when you get that gift and when the moment you
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- Open it, you know, somebody put a lot of planning into that gift
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- And a lot of creativity into that gift and really kind of
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- Thinking about what kind of a gift do i think they would like?
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- A gift that you want, a gift that you would need.
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- Maybe it might even be a gift sometimes, this is the cool one,
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- Is when you get a gift that you would ever thought getting for
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- Yourself, but somehow they came up for it and you knew that that
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- Gift was just for you.
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- And we've all received a gift just like that.
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- Now, if you haven't, i've also learned that some people will go
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- Out of their way to make sure that they get that gift.
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- I heard the other day about two little boys and they were
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- Spending the night at their grandmother's house.
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- It was the week before christmas.
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- So the grandmother said, you know, it was late, she put them
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- To bed.
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- She said, okay, boys, i want you to say your prayers now, before
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- You go to sleep.
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- And so she went to her bedroom.
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- Well, the younger boy went first but he didn't say his prayer.
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- He yelled his prayer and this is what he prayed, just like this:
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- "dear god.
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- I want a bicycle for christmas, amen."
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- His brother looked at him.
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- He said, "why are you yelling?
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- God's not deaf."
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- He said, "no, but i think grandma is."
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- Now we all have a way of kind of making sure that we get
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- That gift.
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- And i thought to myself, as i read that story, here's the
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- Great news about christmas.
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- God's not deaf and god doesn't sleep.
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- And let me tell you what god did 2000 years ago.
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- God gave us a gift without even asking for it, gave the entire
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- World the only christmas gift we ever really need.
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- By the way, it was planned for us before we were born, it was
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- Prepared for us to give us exactly what we need.
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- It was provided for us free of charge.
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- And best of all, it is a personal gift, tailor made
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- For you.
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- Tailor made for me.
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- It is absolutely the perfect gift for everyone.
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- And guess where we find it?
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- We find it in the story of christmas.
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- So i want you to read--you don't have to read it out loud.
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- We're gonna put it up on the screen.
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- But i want to read to you the classic christmas story.
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- It's out of the gospel of luke chapter 2.
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- I'm gonna read it and while
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- I'm reading it, i want you, just for fun, see if you
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- Can pick out the word that i'm going to talk about
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- Tonight, okay?
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- Let's read it together.
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- "in those days, caesar augustus issued a decree that a census
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- Should be taken of the entire roman world.
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- This was the first census that took place while quirinius was
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- Governor of syria.
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- And everyone went to their own town of nazareth in galilee to
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- Judea, to bethlehem, the town of david, because he belonged to
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- The house and the line of david.
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- He went there to register with mary, who was pledged to be
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- Married to him and was expecting a child.
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- While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
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- And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
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- She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
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- There was no guest room available for them.
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- There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping
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- Watch over their flocks at night.
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- An angel of the lord appeared to them, and the glory of the lord
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- Shone around them, and they were terrified.
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- But the angel said to them, 'do not be afraid.
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- I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all
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- The people.
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- Today in the town of david, a savior has been born to you; who
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- Is--who is the messiah, the lord, a savior.'"
- 00:07:17.419 --> 00:07:21.556
- Who's messiah, the lord.
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- "'this will be a sign to you: you'll find a baby wrapped in
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- Cloths, lying in a manger.'
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- Well, suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared
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- With the angel, praising god, saying, 'glory to god in the
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- Highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his
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- Favor rest.'
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- When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
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- Shepherds said to one another, 'let's go to bethlehem, see this
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- Thing that's happened, which the lord has told us about.'
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- So they hurried off and found mary and joseph, and the baby,
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- Who was lying in the manger.
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- When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what
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- Had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were
- 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:55.423
- Amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
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- So mary treasured up all these things and pondered them
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- In her heart.
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- The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising god for
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- All the things they'd heard and seen, which were just as they
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- Had been told."
- 00:08:11.606 --> 00:08:14.342
- Now, obviously, there are several words you might say,
- 00:08:14.342 --> 00:08:18.246
- "i think that might be the word.
- 00:08:18.246 --> 00:08:19.614
- I think this could be the word.
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- I think that might be the word."
- 00:08:20.949 --> 00:08:22.317
- But there's one word tonight, i want us to focus on.
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- There's one word i wanna come just full stop.
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- I want to camp out.
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- I want to focus like a laser beam on just this one word.
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- And that word is found in the 11th verse.
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- And this is the word: "today in the town of david a," say that
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- Out loud with me.
- 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:46.841
- "savior has been born to you; he is the messiah, the lord."
- 00:08:46.841 --> 00:08:54.015
- That word "savior" in one word describes the greatest gift you
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- And i and everyone before us and everyone after us can
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- Ever receive.
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- And let me tell you why.
- 00:09:03.191 --> 00:09:04.559
- In that one little word, it tells us three things about what
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- This christmas baby was and is and will be, that makes
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- Christmas what it is.
- 00:09:13.735 --> 00:09:15.704
- This is gonna be very short.
- 00:09:15.704 --> 00:09:17.038
- So listen, quick.
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- Ready?
- 00:09:18.573 --> 00:09:19.908
- Savior, number one, tells us who he is.
- 00:09:19.908 --> 00:09:23.511
- Savior tells us who he is.
- 00:09:23.511 --> 00:09:26.281
- Now, it is not coincidental that of the titles--that of the
- 00:09:26.281 --> 00:09:30.185
- First word in this list of titles, jesus is given this
- 00:09:30.185 --> 00:09:33.121
- Word, "savior."
- 00:09:33.121 --> 00:09:34.823
- This is the word.
- 00:09:34.823 --> 00:09:36.191
- That's the very first word.
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- That's not incidental.
- 00:09:37.525 --> 00:09:39.828
- That is fundamental.
- 00:09:39.828 --> 00:09:42.163
- Why?
- 00:09:42.163 --> 00:09:43.498
- Because that's the first thing jesus is.
- 00:09:43.498 --> 00:09:45.066
- He is the savior.
- 00:09:45.066 --> 00:09:47.602
- As a matter of fact, let me tell you something.
- 00:09:47.602 --> 00:09:49.070
- I'd never noticed this before until i worked on this message
- 00:09:49.070 --> 00:09:51.606
- A few weeks ago.
- 00:09:51.606 --> 00:09:53.041
- You go back and read the first 20 verses of that--of that--of
- 00:09:53.041 --> 00:09:56.511
- The story of the birth of jesus, and if you're really reading it
- 00:09:56.511 --> 00:09:59.447
- And paying attention, there's a question you would be forced to
- 00:09:59.447 --> 00:10:02.550
- Ask when you get to the end of that verse--those verses.
- 00:10:02.550 --> 00:10:05.820
- What's the baby's name?
- 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:08.323
- Because we're not given a name, we're given titles.
- 00:10:08.323 --> 00:10:11.226
- He's savior, he's messiah, he's lord.
- 00:10:11.226 --> 00:10:14.429
- But you nowhere hear his name.
- 00:10:14.429 --> 00:10:16.431
- Why don't you hear his name?
- 00:10:16.431 --> 00:10:17.999
- Well, you did, but you just don't realize it, because the
- 00:10:17.999 --> 00:10:21.770
- Meaning of the word "savior" is his name.
- 00:10:21.770 --> 00:10:26.574
- That is what it means.
- 00:10:26.574 --> 00:10:27.942
- His name means savior.
- 00:10:27.942 --> 00:10:29.377
- You say, "how do you know that?"
- 00:10:29.377 --> 00:10:30.779
- Do you remember what the angel said to joseph before jesus was
- 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:33.481
- Born, over in the gospel of matthew?
- 00:10:33.481 --> 00:10:35.150
- Here's what he said.
- 00:10:35.150 --> 00:10:36.618
- He said: "she will give birth to a son, you're to give him the
- 00:10:36.618 --> 00:10:38.887
- Name jesus."
- 00:10:38.887 --> 00:10:40.255
- Why?
- 00:10:40.255 --> 00:10:41.623
- "because he will save his people from their sins."
- 00:10:41.623 --> 00:10:45.427
- Now i'm gonna give you a little bit of a greek lesson for just
- 00:10:45.427 --> 00:10:47.562
- A minute.
- 00:10:47.562 --> 00:10:48.930
- The name "jesus" is almost a transliteration of the greek
- 00:10:48.930 --> 00:10:52.333
- Word, "iesous."
- 00:10:52.333 --> 00:10:54.102
- Iesous is the greek word, jesus is the english word.
- 00:10:54.102 --> 00:10:57.739
- The hebrew form of iesous is yeshua.
- 00:10:57.739 --> 00:11:01.076
- That comes from the personal name of god, which is yahweh.
- 00:11:01.076 --> 00:11:03.978
- But all those--all those names put together simply mean to
- 00:11:03.978 --> 00:11:07.682
- Save, to deliver, or to rescue.
- 00:11:07.682 --> 00:11:10.785
- So in other words, iesous or yeshua means "god saves" or
- 00:11:10.785 --> 00:11:15.657
- "god rescues."
- 00:11:15.657 --> 00:11:17.392
- So now, when i read the word "savior," i say, okay, that's
- 00:11:17.392 --> 00:11:20.895
- Who you are.
- 00:11:20.895 --> 00:11:23.164
- You're my rescuer, you're my deliverer.
- 00:11:23.164 --> 00:11:27.969
- You are my savior.
- 00:11:27.969 --> 00:11:30.004
- Now, it's very interesting, even though the new testament
- 00:11:30.004 --> 00:11:33.174
- Represents only about 25% of the entire bible, the name "jesus"
- 00:11:33.174 --> 00:11:37.979
- Appears more than any other name in the bible.
- 00:11:37.979 --> 00:11:40.582
- It occurs over 1600 times.
- 00:11:40.582 --> 00:11:43.318
- Now, you think about this.
- 00:11:43.318 --> 00:11:44.786
- God writes this book through authors.
- 00:11:44.786 --> 00:11:47.756
- God's the author, men wrote it, but god authors this book,
- 00:11:47.756 --> 00:11:50.625
- 66 books.
- 00:11:50.625 --> 00:11:51.960
- And of all the names in--that you read in that book, abraham,
- 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:55.096
- Isaac, jacob, moses, joseph, daniel, the prophets, paul,
- 00:11:55.096 --> 00:11:59.634
- Peter, the apostles.
- 00:11:59.634 --> 00:12:00.969
- Of all the names, the name that occurs more than any other name,
- 00:12:00.969 --> 00:12:04.005
- 1600 times, is the name "jesus."
- 00:12:04.005 --> 00:12:06.608
- Why is that?
- 00:12:06.608 --> 00:12:08.910
- Because god wants us to know something about this name.
- 00:12:08.910 --> 00:12:12.480
- And that is every time you hear the name "jesus," every time you
- 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.784
- Speak the name "jesus," every time you read the name "jesus,"
- 00:12:15.784 --> 00:12:19.454
- Every time you hear somebody talk about the name "jesus,"
- 00:12:19.454 --> 00:12:22.123
- Think about this word, "savior."
- 00:12:22.123 --> 00:12:25.460
- He is the savior.
- 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.795
- He is the rescuer.
- 00:12:26.795 --> 00:12:29.898
- That's who he is.
- 00:12:29.898 --> 00:12:32.100
- But then there's something else in that word.
- 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:34.669
- Savior not only tells us who he is.
- 00:12:34.669 --> 00:12:38.106
- Savior tells us why he came.
- 00:12:38.106 --> 00:12:40.542
- Now, here's what--let's go back to matthew 1 just for a moment
- 00:12:40.542 --> 00:12:43.845
- And listen again to what matthew heard, what matthew recorded.
- 00:12:43.845 --> 00:12:47.081
- "she will give birth to a son, you're to give him the
- 00:12:47.081 --> 00:12:48.950
- Name jesus."
- 00:12:48.950 --> 00:12:50.285
- Why?
- 00:12:50.285 --> 00:12:51.653
- "because he will save his people from their sins."
- 00:12:51.653 --> 00:12:53.755
- So now we know why the angel said, "don't call him charlie,
- 00:12:53.755 --> 00:12:57.225
- Don't call him joe, don't call him jacob, don't call
- 00:12:57.225 --> 00:12:59.594
- Him michael.
- 00:12:59.594 --> 00:13:00.929
- You call him jesus because he's--here specifically why
- 00:13:00.929 --> 00:13:04.999
- He came.
- 00:13:04.999 --> 00:13:06.334
- Because he will save his people from their sins."
- 00:13:06.334 --> 00:13:10.605
- I'm gonna say--i'm gonna give you a question in a minute.
- 00:13:10.605 --> 00:13:12.740
- Before i do it, if you're one of those folks that don't come to
- 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.376
- Church but maybe a time or two a year, maybe this is your first
- 00:13:15.376 --> 00:13:18.413
- Time since easter or you haven't been in church in years.
- 00:13:18.413 --> 00:13:20.815
- That's fine.
- 00:13:20.815 --> 00:13:22.150
- I'm glad you came.
- 00:13:22.150 --> 00:13:23.484
- I'm not here to throw doubt on you.
- 00:13:23.484 --> 00:13:24.853
- I'm glad that you came.
- 00:13:24.853 --> 00:13:26.187
- I'll take any time you'll come, you're welcome here.
- 00:13:26.187 --> 00:13:27.555
- But you may not be used to a little churchy language.
- 00:13:27.555 --> 00:13:29.357
- So i'm gonna ask you a question in a moment.
- 00:13:29.357 --> 00:13:30.992
- It may sound a little churchy, but it's an important question.
- 00:13:30.992 --> 00:13:34.529
- I believe the single most important question you can ever
- 00:13:34.529 --> 00:13:39.701
- Ask another human being.
- 00:13:39.701 --> 00:13:41.536
- If i were talking to the president of the united states,
- 00:13:41.536 --> 00:13:43.872
- I'd love to ask this question.
- 00:13:43.872 --> 00:13:45.640
- If i were talking to vladimir putin, i'd like to ask
- 00:13:45.640 --> 00:13:48.743
- This question.
- 00:13:48.743 --> 00:13:50.078
- If i were talking to the mullah and the imam of gaza strip,
- 00:13:50.078 --> 00:13:53.882
- I'd love to ask this question.
- 00:13:53.882 --> 00:13:55.250
- If i was talking to benjamin netanyahu, i would love to ask
- 00:13:55.250 --> 00:13:58.987
- This one question.
- 00:13:58.987 --> 00:14:01.956
- And here's the question: "are you saved?"
- 00:14:01.956 --> 00:14:06.227
- That's the question i'd love to ask because there's only two
- 00:14:06.227 --> 00:14:09.297
- Kinds of people in the world: saved and lost.
- 00:14:09.297 --> 00:14:12.033
- Not black and white, not rich and poor, not
- 00:14:12.033 --> 00:14:14.102
- Democrat, republican.
- 00:14:14.102 --> 00:14:15.436
- You're either saved or you're lost.
- 00:14:15.436 --> 00:14:17.405
- Now, again, i realize that's churchy language, so let me just
- 00:14:17.405 --> 00:14:19.440
- Clarify what i mean by that.
- 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:20.775
- It's actually a biblical term.
- 00:14:20.775 --> 00:14:22.610
- It's used over 150 times in the new testament.
- 00:14:22.610 --> 00:14:25.013
- And if you're like me and grew up in a country church, which i
- 00:14:25.013 --> 00:14:27.248
- Did, not far from here, you sang a lot of old hymns.
- 00:14:27.248 --> 00:14:29.918
- And if you sang a lot of old hymns, you will know that they
- 00:14:29.918 --> 00:14:32.353
- Sing a lot about being saved and about being redeemed.
- 00:14:32.353 --> 00:14:36.357
- Now, if you're tracking with me, you ought to be asking yourself
- 00:14:36.357 --> 00:14:39.193
- A question right now that you may not know the answer to.
- 00:14:39.193 --> 00:14:41.663
- And that is, "what do i need to be saved from?
- 00:14:41.663 --> 00:14:45.800
- You say i need to be rescued, you say jesus is a rescuer.
- 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:48.536
- What do i need to be rescued from?"
- 00:14:48.536 --> 00:14:52.206
- We don't have to wonder, we're told.
- 00:14:52.206 --> 00:14:54.742
- He will save his people from their sins.
- 00:14:54.742 --> 00:15:00.415
- Now, as much as we love the christmas story and as much as
- 00:15:00.415 --> 00:15:03.885
- We thank god for the christmas story, i'm gonna be very honest.
- 00:15:03.885 --> 00:15:07.655
- You can read luke chapter 2, verses 1 through 20 every day
- 00:15:07.655 --> 00:15:11.225
- For the rest of your life, but you will never really understand
- 00:15:11.225 --> 00:15:14.629
- That christmas--what christmas is, till you understand that the
- 00:15:14.629 --> 00:15:18.166
- Beginning of the story is how we can be rescued from our sin.
- 00:15:18.166 --> 00:15:23.638
- Now, i realize when you came to church tonight, i guarantee you
- 00:15:23.638 --> 00:15:27.108
- That a lot of you would be thinking right now perhaps,
- 00:15:27.108 --> 00:15:29.877
- "i wish i hadn't come tonight.
- 00:15:29.877 --> 00:15:31.913
- I just wanted to hear the christmas story.
- 00:15:31.913 --> 00:15:34.315
- I just want to hear about gentle jesus, meek and mild.
- 00:15:34.315 --> 00:15:36.818
- I'd just like to walk out here with jingle bells and just be
- 00:15:36.818 --> 00:15:39.554
- Left alone.
- 00:15:39.554 --> 00:15:40.888
- I certainly didn't think we'd talk about this word
- 00:15:40.888 --> 00:15:42.890
- Called sin."
- 00:15:42.890 --> 00:15:46.361
- So i wanna make two things clear and hopefully we'll be on the
- 00:15:46.361 --> 00:15:49.364
- Right side of this.
- 00:15:49.364 --> 00:15:51.466
- I will be the first one to tell you this.
- 00:15:51.466 --> 00:15:55.803
- If you go to a church and all that church ever talks about is
- 00:15:55.803 --> 00:16:01.275
- Sin, that's all they ever talk about is sin, you probably are
- 00:16:01.275 --> 00:16:05.813
- Going to the wrong church.
- 00:16:05.813 --> 00:16:08.883
- But i also want to tell you if you go to a church and they
- 00:16:08.883 --> 00:16:13.054
- Never talk to you about sin, you're definitely going to the
- 00:16:13.054 --> 00:16:16.691
- Wrong church.
- 00:16:16.691 --> 00:16:18.026
- Now, i don't wanna--i don't wanna get in either ditch.
- 00:16:18.026 --> 00:16:20.061
- I'm not gonna major on it, i'm not gonna minor on it.
- 00:16:20.061 --> 00:16:22.263
- I don't wanna do--i wanna be right where i need to be.
- 00:16:22.263 --> 00:16:24.532
- Having said that, let me just-- make sure you understand that
- 00:16:24.532 --> 00:16:27.268
- The primary message of christmas and the primary message of the
- 00:16:27.268 --> 00:16:29.737
- Church, unlike what you hear out there in the world, it's not
- 00:16:29.737 --> 00:16:32.373
- Bad news.
- 00:16:32.373 --> 00:16:33.708
- It's good news, but it's the good news that we need because
- 00:16:33.708 --> 00:16:37.812
- Of the bad news.
- 00:16:37.812 --> 00:16:39.147
- The bad news is we're all sinners.
- 00:16:39.147 --> 00:16:40.882
- We all need to be rescued.
- 00:16:40.882 --> 00:16:43.251
- There's something i knew about every person that came to the
- 00:16:43.251 --> 00:16:45.653
- First service.
- 00:16:45.653 --> 00:16:46.988
- I know about every person in this service.
- 00:16:46.988 --> 00:16:48.356
- Some of you i've never met, some of you who i may not
- 00:16:48.356 --> 00:16:50.158
- Meet tonight, some of y'all i may never meet ever.
- 00:16:50.158 --> 00:16:52.727
- But i can--there's something i know about every single person
- 00:16:52.727 --> 00:16:55.430
- I meet.
- 00:16:55.430 --> 00:16:56.764
- I don't have to know whether you went to college or not.
- 00:16:56.764 --> 00:16:58.366
- I don't have to know what kind of parents you had.
- 00:16:58.366 --> 00:16:59.967
- I don't have to know what you do for a living.
- 00:16:59.967 --> 00:17:01.769
- I don't have to know what your political affiliation is.
- 00:17:01.769 --> 00:17:04.105
- I don't need to know anything about that.
- 00:17:04.105 --> 00:17:05.673
- Here's one thing i know about you.
- 00:17:05.673 --> 00:17:08.509
- I'm gonna say it real bluntly.
- 00:17:08.509 --> 00:17:09.844
- You're jacked up.
- 00:17:09.844 --> 00:17:12.180
- You say, "that's not nice to say."
- 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.514
- It's just true.
- 00:17:13.514 --> 00:17:15.049
- You say, "well, you are jacked up."
- 00:17:15.049 --> 00:17:16.884
- Yeah, i am.
- 00:17:16.884 --> 00:17:18.252
- I'm listen--you're listening to a jacked-up preacher.
- 00:17:18.252 --> 00:17:20.888
- We're all jacked up.
- 00:17:20.888 --> 00:17:22.223
- We're just jacked up in different ways.
- 00:17:22.223 --> 00:17:24.058
- The bible calls that sin.
- 00:17:24.058 --> 00:17:25.993
- But the good news--here's the good news of christmas.
- 00:17:25.993 --> 00:17:28.930
- Jesus came to rescue us from sin.
- 00:17:28.930 --> 00:17:32.567
- Jesus came to unjack us.
- 00:17:32.567 --> 00:17:35.069
- Jesus came to say, "hey, i think, in fact, i know i have
- 00:17:35.069 --> 00:17:39.340
- The solution to your problem."
- 00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:41.242
- Now to be clear, that's not the only reason that jesus came.
- 00:17:41.242 --> 00:17:45.012
- He came to give us life here that's abundant and joyful and
- 00:17:45.012 --> 00:17:48.683
- Purposeful and meaningful.
- 00:17:48.683 --> 00:17:50.351
- You know, one of the reasons why i'm so glad i get up every
- 00:17:50.351 --> 00:17:53.488
- Morning knowing i know jesus, one of the reasons i get so
- 00:17:53.488 --> 00:17:55.990
- Excited about being a believer, is i'm sometimes unhappy.
- 00:17:55.990 --> 00:18:03.731
- I'll give you an example.
- 00:18:03.731 --> 00:18:05.099
- About three saturdays ago, i was down in the dome in atlanta.
- 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:10.838
- I left very unhappy.
- 00:18:10.838 --> 00:18:14.342
- It's a good thing that i didn't see the refs in an alley that
- 00:18:14.342 --> 00:18:17.378
- Night, but i live full of joy because my joy never ends,
- 00:18:17.378 --> 00:18:23.618
- Because i know the one who gives me joy unspeakable and full
- 00:18:23.618 --> 00:18:26.687
- Of glory.
- 00:18:26.687 --> 00:18:28.022
- So jesus did come to give us joy.
- 00:18:28.022 --> 00:18:29.557
- He also came to give us a home in heaven.
- 00:18:29.557 --> 00:18:31.792
- He also came so that we could have the holy spirit to lead us
- 00:18:31.792 --> 00:18:34.662
- And guide us and direct us so that we could be what we ought
- 00:18:34.662 --> 00:18:37.498
- To be and we could do what we ought to do.
- 00:18:37.498 --> 00:18:40.468
- But i don't want you to miss the primary reason that he came.
- 00:18:40.468 --> 00:18:43.070
- The bible says he came to rescue us and save us from our sins.
- 00:18:43.070 --> 00:18:48.042
- So when you hear the word "savior," you say, "okay, i know
- 00:18:48.042 --> 00:18:51.179
- Who he is.
- 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:52.547
- He's the savior.
- 00:18:52.547 --> 00:18:53.881
- I know why he came.
- 00:18:53.881 --> 00:18:55.249
- He came to save me from my sins."
- 00:18:55.249 --> 00:19:00.087
- But there's one last thing i want you to understand and
- 00:19:00.087 --> 00:19:01.889
- We're done.
- 00:19:01.889 --> 00:19:03.925
- That word "savior" tells me who he is.
- 00:19:03.925 --> 00:19:07.595
- That word "savior" tells me why he came.
- 00:19:07.595 --> 00:19:11.499
- But that word "savior" tells us what we need because i want you
- 00:19:11.499 --> 00:19:16.003
- To hear the next thing.
- 00:19:16.003 --> 00:19:18.606
- Get in real close.
- 00:19:18.606 --> 00:19:24.178
- The one thing, the only thing, that will keep you and me from
- 00:19:24.178 --> 00:19:33.087
- Ever having a relationship with god is sin.
- 00:19:33.087 --> 00:19:38.259
- That's all.
- 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.627
- The only barrier between you and god, and me and god, is sin.
- 00:19:39.627 --> 00:19:45.366
- Therefore, the only thing, the one thing, that we need is
- 00:19:45.366 --> 00:19:50.905
- A savior who can rescue us from our sin.
- 00:19:50.905 --> 00:19:54.942
- Now you know why that word came first.
- 00:19:54.942 --> 00:19:57.211
- Messiah didn't come first.
- 00:19:57.211 --> 00:19:58.980
- Lord didn't come first.
- 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.348
- The angel made it plain: savior comes first.
- 00:20:00.348 --> 00:20:03.217
- So we read it again.
- 00:20:03.217 --> 00:20:04.552
- "a savior has been born to you.
- 00:20:04.552 --> 00:20:07.521
- He is the messiah, the lord."
- 00:20:07.521 --> 00:20:09.724
- Yes, he is the messiah.
- 00:20:09.724 --> 00:20:11.425
- He is the christ of the jewish people.
- 00:20:11.425 --> 00:20:13.661
- He's exactly the one the old testament prophets talked about.
- 00:20:13.661 --> 00:20:16.464
- He is the messiah.
- 00:20:16.464 --> 00:20:17.832
- He's also the lord.
- 00:20:17.832 --> 00:20:19.200
- He's lord of everything in the universe, everyone in the
- 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:22.336
- Universe, he's lord in everything, he's lord
- 00:20:22.336 --> 00:20:24.739
- Over everything.
- 00:20:24.739 --> 00:20:26.107
- He's lord for everything.
- 00:20:26.107 --> 00:20:27.608
- But first, he is the savior who came to rescue us and we need
- 00:20:27.608 --> 00:20:32.380
- To be rescued.
- 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.748
- Do you know why?
- 00:20:33.748 --> 00:20:35.082
- We've got a sickness we can't heal.
- 00:20:35.082 --> 00:20:36.450
- "today is born for you a savior who is christ, the lord."
- 00:20:36.450 --> 00:20:43.124
- So would you bow your heads and close your eyes for just
- 00:20:43.124 --> 00:20:46.027
- A moment?
- 00:20:46.027 --> 00:20:47.361
- And i wanna ask just one question.
- 00:20:47.361 --> 00:20:50.464
- This is so important and i don't want you to raise your hand
- 00:20:50.464 --> 00:20:55.369
- Unless you mean it.
- 00:20:55.369 --> 00:20:56.737
- If you don't mean it, just keep your hand in your pocket.
- 00:20:56.737 --> 00:20:59.240
- I wonder how many people here-- because we had a lot of people
- 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:01.509
- At the first service.
- 00:21:01.509 --> 00:21:02.843
- I wonder how many of you would say tonight, you walked in here
- 00:21:02.843 --> 00:21:06.981
- Without a savior.
- 00:21:06.981 --> 00:21:08.883
- You're not ready to meet god.
- 00:21:08.883 --> 00:21:11.852
- You're glad that you didn't meet your end before you got
- 00:21:11.852 --> 00:21:15.323
- Here tonight.
- 00:21:15.323 --> 00:21:17.525
- And i'm just asking a very simple question and some of you
- 00:21:17.525 --> 00:21:20.628
- Little boys and little girls and teenagers and grown men, grown
- 00:21:20.628 --> 00:21:23.030
- Women, you need to raise your hand right now.
- 00:21:23.030 --> 00:21:24.632
- Here's my question.
- 00:21:24.632 --> 00:21:25.966
- And if this is you, i want you to raise your hand.
- 00:21:25.966 --> 00:21:28.669
- If you're one of those people and you would look--you'd be
- 00:21:28.669 --> 00:21:30.838
- Honest, nobody's looking but me, if you'd be honest enough
- 00:21:30.838 --> 00:21:33.641
- To say, "pastor, i need a savior.
- 00:21:33.641 --> 00:21:36.977
- I understand now, i've got a problem.
- 00:21:36.977 --> 00:21:38.913
- It's called sin.
- 00:21:38.913 --> 00:21:40.281
- I got a sickness i can't heal, a problem i can't solve, a barrier
- 00:21:40.281 --> 00:21:43.284
- I can't break.
- 00:21:43.284 --> 00:21:44.652
- I need a savior."
- 00:21:44.652 --> 00:21:46.387
- How many of you right now, you'd say, "that's me.
- 00:21:46.387 --> 00:21:48.389
- I need a savior."
- 00:21:48.389 --> 00:21:49.790
- Raise your hand up real--right now, real high.
- 00:21:49.790 --> 00:21:51.325
- Let me see.
- 00:21:51.325 --> 00:21:52.660
- Hands are going up all over the building.
- 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:54.028
- Keep your hands up, real high.
- 00:21:54.028 --> 00:21:55.363
- Let me see them.
- 00:21:55.363 --> 00:21:56.731
- Don't be ashamed.
- 00:21:56.731 --> 00:21:58.065
- Hold those hands up.
- 00:21:58.065 --> 00:21:59.433
- I see it.
- 00:21:59.433 --> 00:22:00.768
- I see that hand.
- 00:22:00.768 --> 00:22:02.136
- I see that hand, i see that hand.
- 00:22:02.136 --> 00:22:03.471
- I see that hand. i see that hand.
- 00:22:03.471 --> 00:22:06.173
- Okay, i want you to put your hands down.
- 00:22:06.173 --> 00:22:07.508
- If you're one of those people that raised your hand, you're
- 00:22:07.508 --> 00:22:09.009
- One of those people that raised your hand, "i need a savior,"
- 00:22:09.009 --> 00:22:11.078
- All right, why don't we take care of it right now?
- 00:22:11.078 --> 00:22:14.115
- I don't want you to walk out of here and say, "i need a savior."
- 00:22:14.115 --> 00:22:18.953
- I want you to walk out of here tonight and say, "i've got
- 00:22:18.953 --> 00:22:22.356
- A savior.
- 00:22:22.356 --> 00:22:23.691
- His name is jesus."
- 00:22:23.691 --> 00:22:25.159
- So if you raised your hand and you say, "i need a savior," i
- 00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:29.196
- Want you to pray this prayer right now.
- 00:22:29.196 --> 00:22:30.664
- I'm gonna pray it out loud.
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- I want you to pray it in your heart.
- 00:22:31.999 --> 00:22:34.268
- Just say, "lord jesus, i need a savior.
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- I am a sinner.
- 00:22:40.074 --> 00:22:42.610
- I'm lost.
- 00:22:42.610 --> 00:22:44.879
- I need to be rescued.
- 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:48.482
- I have a problem i cannot solve.
- 00:22:48.482 --> 00:22:51.752
- I have a sickness i cannot heal.
- 00:22:51.752 --> 00:22:55.990
- I'm telling you tonight, lord jesus, i believe you are
- 00:22:55.990 --> 00:22:59.627
- That savior.
- 00:22:59.627 --> 00:23:01.295
- I believe you died for my sins.
- 00:23:01.295 --> 00:23:04.265
- I believe god raised you from the dead.
- 00:23:04.265 --> 00:23:07.468
- I believe you're alive right now.
- 00:23:07.468 --> 00:23:10.538
- And i'm asking you to become my savior.
- 00:23:10.538 --> 00:23:16.110
- I repent and turn away from my sin and i surrender everything
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- That i am to everything that you are.
- 00:23:21.816 --> 00:23:28.389
- Thank you, lord jesus, for hearing my prayer and thank you
- 00:23:28.389 --> 00:23:33.427
- For becoming my savior."
- 00:23:33.427 --> 00:23:36.397
- Announcer: to watch an extended version of today's message from
- 00:23:37.631 --> 00:23:40.067
- Dr. james merritt, go to touchinglives.org.
- 00:23:40.067 --> 00:23:44.038
- James: if you've been paying attention to the news this year,
- 00:23:48.209 --> 00:23:50.377
- You know that preaching the word of god and proclaiming the
- 00:23:50.377 --> 00:23:53.547
- Gospel of god has never been more urgent.
- 00:23:53.547 --> 00:23:56.650
- Everywhere you look, there are natural disasters, economic
- 00:23:56.650 --> 00:24:00.287
- Uncertainty, political turmoil, wars, rumors of wars.
- 00:24:00.287 --> 00:24:04.859
- Bible-believing christians like us know that god has a message
- 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:08.629
- For us in dark times like these.
- 00:24:08.629 --> 00:24:10.965
- But broadcasting this message to the ends of the earth requires
- 00:24:10.965 --> 00:24:14.535
- The generous support of people like you.
- 00:24:14.535 --> 00:24:17.371
- For decades, i have been honored to teach god's word and proclaim
- 00:24:17.371 --> 00:24:21.609
- The gospel through "touching lives," but our work has
- 00:24:21.609 --> 00:24:24.612
- Just started.
- 00:24:24.612 --> 00:24:25.946
- God has given me a bold vision for expanding our reach
- 00:24:25.946 --> 00:24:29.016
- Dramatically over the next ten years, and i need you to realize
- 00:24:29.016 --> 00:24:32.987
- This vision.
- 00:24:32.987 --> 00:24:34.321
- Thanks to the generosity of our ministry partners, we have
- 00:24:34.321 --> 00:24:37.124
- Been given a very large matching gift, which means
- 00:24:37.124 --> 00:24:40.761
- That every dollar you give this month will be doubled.
- 00:24:40.761 --> 00:24:44.164
- Doubling our impact to reach the world for jesus christ.
- 00:24:44.164 --> 00:24:47.034
- If you're thinking about giving a tax-deductible gift to
- 00:24:47.034 --> 00:24:49.837
- "touching lives" before the end of the year, we would be so
- 00:24:49.837 --> 00:24:52.873
- Grateful and we'll use your donation to help in spreading
- 00:24:52.873 --> 00:24:55.776
- The message of the gospel across the globe.
- 00:24:55.776 --> 00:24:58.879
- And as a sign of our gratitude, we're giving a free copy of our
- 00:24:58.879 --> 00:25:02.616
- New "through the bible in a year" journal to anyone who
- 00:25:02.616 --> 00:25:05.920
- Gives a gift of any size this month.
- 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:09.223
- As my wife teresa and i prepare for the christmas season, my
- 00:25:09.223 --> 00:25:12.626
- Heart is drawn to the impact of a little baby born in a quiet
- 00:25:12.626 --> 00:25:17.398
- Tucked away place, jesus.
- 00:25:17.398 --> 00:25:20.334
- His story reminds us of god's ultimate love for us and how,
- 00:25:20.334 --> 00:25:23.504
- Even in the most unpredictable times, he is our guide and
- 00:25:23.504 --> 00:25:28.542
- Our protector.
- 00:25:28.542 --> 00:25:29.877
- I invite you to prayerfully consider making your best gift
- 00:25:29.877 --> 00:25:33.314
- This christmas season to help us achieve our bold vision of
- 00:25:33.314 --> 00:25:36.784
- Taking the gospel of jesus to the ends of the earth.
- 00:25:36.784 --> 00:25:40.120
- Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry, which is more
- 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:43.857
- Important than ever before.
- 00:25:43.857 --> 00:25:46.160
- Teresa and i love you and we're praying favor on your life
- 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:49.430
- In the coming year.
- 00:25:49.430 --> 00:25:51.332
- ♪♪♪
- 00:25:51.332 --> 00:26:01.875
- James: let me ask you a question.
- 00:26:01.942 --> 00:26:03.377
- Have you ever wondered whether god has a plan for the end of
- 00:26:03.377 --> 00:26:05.746
- The world or maybe whether we're living in the end-times
- 00:26:05.746 --> 00:26:08.148
- Right now?
- 00:26:08.148 --> 00:26:09.483
- Well, actually, the last book of the new testament is called
- 00:26:09.483 --> 00:26:11.919
- Revelation and it holds the key to understanding where history
- 00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:15.456
- Is all leading.
- 00:26:15.456 --> 00:26:16.824
- The apostle john, who wrote that book, opens with a series of
- 00:26:16.824 --> 00:26:19.627
- Seven letters to seven churches across a region called
- 00:26:19.627 --> 00:26:23.263
- Asia minor.
- 00:26:23.263 --> 00:26:24.632
- I have always wanted to visit those churches and teach what
- 00:26:24.632 --> 00:26:27.301
- The bible says about them.
- 00:26:27.301 --> 00:26:28.636
- And now for the first time in my life in next april, i'm going to
- 00:26:28.636 --> 00:26:32.706
- Journey there and i'd like for you to consider joining me for
- 00:26:32.706 --> 00:26:36.043
- This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- 00:26:36.043 --> 00:26:38.445
- On this tour, we will visit all seven churches of the
- 00:26:38.445 --> 00:26:41.548
- Revelation, explore what the scriptures teach us about them.
- 00:26:41.548 --> 00:26:44.485
- Plus we'll visit with many other world-renowned locations such as
- 00:26:44.485 --> 00:26:48.656
- The site where the trojan war horse legend took place.
- 00:26:48.656 --> 00:26:51.825
- You do not want to miss this life-changing trip.
- 00:26:51.825 --> 00:26:54.895
- Space is limited.
- 00:26:54.895 --> 00:26:56.230
- We expect this trip to sell out and sell out soon.
- 00:26:56.230 --> 00:26:58.699
- So book your spot to join us today.
- 00:26:58.699 --> 00:27:01.101
- You can register at touchinglives.org
- 00:27:01.101 --> 00:27:04.238
- Or under the event section of our mobile app.
- 00:27:04.238 --> 00:27:07.174
- Can't wait to go.
- 00:27:07.174 --> 00:27:08.509
- Want to see you there.
- 00:27:08.509 --> 00:27:10.511
- ♪♪♪
- 00:27:10.511 --> 00:27:20.320
- Announcer: touching the lives of the lost and enriching the faith
- 00:27:22.956 --> 00:27:25.959
- Of the found.
- 00:27:25.959 --> 00:27:27.628
- This is "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
- 00:27:27.628 --> 00:27:30.597
