1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:29,980 We'll be right back. 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:41,560 Like the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King. 3 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:50,800 Glory to the newborn King, glory to the newborn King. 4 00:00:52,800 --> 00:01:04,320 Christ my heart is still adored, Christ the everlasting Lord. 5 00:01:04,320 --> 00:01:15,540 Lay him high, behold him calm, cross-spring of the virgin. 6 00:01:16,540 --> 00:01:22,540 Vailed in flesh to God and sea. 7 00:01:22,540 --> 00:01:28,260 Hailed in calm deity. 8 00:01:28,260 --> 00:01:35,160 Released as men with them to dwell. 9 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:41,260 Jesus, I remember you well. 10 00:01:41,260 --> 00:01:46,480 Hark the narrow angels. 11 00:01:46,540 --> 00:02:00,540 see glory to the new born here 12 00:02:16,540 --> 00:02:30,580 And the Lord's way, we dream, we dream, we dream, we dream, we dream, we dream, we dream. 13 00:02:30,580 --> 00:02:31,580 Oh, yeah. 14 00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:27,580 Glory to the newborn King, glory to the newborn King, glory to the newborn King, glory to the newborn King. 15 00:03:30,580 --> 00:03:33,840 Turn it easy to live in time. 16 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:41,840 Turn it easy to live in my life. 17 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:46,600 Heart to every angel see. 18 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:52,860 Glory to the newborn King. 19 00:04:00,580 --> 00:04:14,580 here 20 00:04:30,580 --> 00:04:38,280 In the name of our dear Savior 21 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:50,360 Long lay the word that sin had never found 22 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:58,040 Till we appear in the soul of its word 23 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:24,040 A thrill of weary world rejoicing for yonder new glorious morning on your knees. 24 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:33,040 Come hear the angel voices 25 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:40,040 O night divine 26 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:47,040 O night when Christ was born 27 00:05:54,040 --> 00:06:12,040 Truly taught us to love and unloved His honor is great, and His gospel is pure 28 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:29,400 Shame shall be brave, for the slave is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease. 29 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:35,100 Sweet hymns of joy 30 00:06:35,100 --> 00:06:39,400 And grateful for the praise 31 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:44,400 That always in us 32 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,400 Praise the Lord's name 33 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:55,400 Christ is the Lord 34 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:18,680 Oh, praise me forever, oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born. 35 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:55,380 I'm going to go. 36 00:07:55,400 --> 00:08:01,460 To purchase our salvation 37 00:08:01,460 --> 00:08:04,280 That we might dwell 38 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:08,380 We can never know 39 00:08:08,380 --> 00:08:14,460 What grace us for 40 00:08:14,460 --> 00:08:19,140 To lead the bliss of glory 41 00:08:19,140 --> 00:08:23,220 And die for sinners 42 00:08:23,220 --> 00:08:27,660 Guilty and forlorn 43 00:08:27,660 --> 00:08:33,220 Oh, Lord, indeed 44 00:08:33,220 --> 00:08:43,040 Repeat the wondrous story 45 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:50,220 Of night divine 46 00:08:50,220 --> 00:09:14,220 All night, all night, when Christ was born, all night, all night, all night, when Christ was born. 47 00:09:20,220 --> 00:09:22,700 Oh, Christ was born. 48 00:09:50,220 --> 00:10:04,220 Oh, who is it? 49 00:10:04,220 --> 00:10:08,220 Uh-oh, I can't see it. 50 00:10:08,220 --> 00:10:10,360 And all is bright 51 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:15,020 She seems to carry my life 52 00:10:15,020 --> 00:10:19,340 Gloria 53 00:10:19,340 --> 00:10:20,480 Gloria 54 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:25,400 I hear the angels singing 55 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,400 Gloria 56 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:31,620 All of the heavens 57 00:10:31,620 --> 00:10:32,440 We can 58 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,220 Gloria 59 00:10:34,220 --> 00:11:02,220 *music* 60 00:11:02,220 --> 00:11:04,220 buddy 61 00:11:32,220 --> 00:11:42,200 Good morning. 62 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:47,320 As you can tell, I am not Rachel, but I'm filling in for Rachel today. 63 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:52,360 She's, I think, at Liberty, maybe, visiting with some college friends that were in town. 64 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,160 So I'm filling in, and I'm going to do my best. 65 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,520 So if you all would stand, we're going to start with some Scripture reading. 66 00:12:00,940 --> 00:12:07,360 Our Scripture this morning, and it should be on the screen, it's Isaiah 9, 6 through 7, and it says this, 67 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:15,580 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 68 00:12:15,580 --> 00:12:23,900 and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 69 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:29,140 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. 70 00:12:29,140 --> 00:12:36,460 on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and 71 00:12:36,460 --> 00:12:43,220 with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will 72 00:12:43,220 --> 00:12:50,580 do this. This is the word of the Lord. Will you bow with me in prayer? God, we love you and we just 73 00:12:50,580 --> 00:12:54,840 want to come before you humbly to thank you for this awesome time that we have to come and to 74 00:12:54,840 --> 00:13:01,120 worship you especially as we enter into this this advent season as we prepare for the the coming of 75 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:07,260 Christ the Messiah that was promised like this verse in Isaiah says that the government was 76 00:13:07,260 --> 00:13:11,720 going to rest and there's going to be no end to the joy and peace that he was going to bring to 77 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:17,000 the world father and we know that we haven't yet seen the full fulfillment of that father but we 78 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:22,700 get the opportunity each and every day to go out into the world and to in our small spheres of 79 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:27,080 influence to start to bring this verse to life, and we just thank you for that opportunity. 80 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:32,280 Bless our time that we have here this morning. Be with Brandon as he brings us a message later. We 81 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:36,820 just pray that you would inspire him through the Holy Spirit, that it would be your words coming 82 00:13:36,820 --> 00:13:41,020 through him, that our hearts would be ready to receive it, and Father, ultimately that we could 83 00:13:41,020 --> 00:13:46,220 go out into the world and be beacons for the hope that we have in Christ. We pray this all in his 84 00:13:46,220 --> 00:13:52,980 name. Amen. All right, so our first Song is going to be indescribable, and during the song we're 85 00:13:52,980 --> 00:13:57,360 going to have some little munchkins that are going to come up and light our second, our first and 86 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:03,180 second advent candle. So the reminder, the first candle represents hope, and today our candle 87 00:14:03,180 --> 00:14:08,000 represents peace. So now is the real test, is can I work this thing? 88 00:14:16,220 --> 00:14:31,840 From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea, creations revealing your majesty. 89 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:38,360 From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring 90 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:47,040 Every creature unique in the song that it sings 91 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,460 Full exclaiming 92 00:14:49,460 --> 00:14:53,160 Indescribable, uncontainable 93 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:58,860 You place the stars in the sky and you know them by name 94 00:14:58,860 --> 00:15:03,260 You are amazing God 95 00:15:03,260 --> 00:15:09,160 All-powerful, untangable 96 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:13,980 All-struck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim 97 00:15:13,980 --> 00:15:18,860 You are amazing God 98 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:31,200 Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go? 99 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:38,460 Or seen heavenly storehouses laid in with snow? 100 00:15:38,460 --> 00:15:46,800 Who imagined the sun and gives souls to its light? 101 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:54,860 Yet conceals it to bring us the coolest of night? 102 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:11,420 None can fathom, indescribable, uncontainable. You place the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing, God. 103 00:16:13,660 --> 00:16:27,340 All-powerful, untamable, awestruck, we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, you are amazing God. 104 00:16:27,340 --> 00:16:43,340 Indescribable, uncontainable, you place the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing God. 105 00:16:43,660 --> 00:16:49,260 Incomparable, unchangeable 106 00:16:49,260 --> 00:16:51,880 You see the depths of my heart 107 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,920 And you love me the same 108 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:59,180 You are amazing God 109 00:16:59,180 --> 00:17:06,500 You are amazing God 110 00:17:13,660 --> 00:17:17,480 I think in our next song, we're going to do a drum solo over here. 111 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:18,880 So we're going to be in for a big treat. 112 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,880 So we're going to sing our next song. 113 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,580 And then after that, we're going to go into our prayer and share time. 114 00:17:25,580 --> 00:17:30,600 So if you have anything to pray or share about, be thinking about that during the song. 115 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,440 And Russell will come up and we'll share this. 116 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,940 So our next song is Joy to the World. 117 00:17:43,660 --> 00:17:53,920 Joy to the world, the Lord is come. 118 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:58,880 Let earth receive her King. 119 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:06,340 Let every heart prepare Him room. 120 00:18:06,340 --> 00:18:11,920 And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing. 121 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:18,360 And heaven and heaven and nature sing. 122 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:25,540 Joy into the world, the Savior reigns. 123 00:18:25,540 --> 00:18:30,060 Let all their songs employ. 124 00:18:30,060 --> 00:18:37,680 Wild fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains. 125 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:49,700 Repeat the sound in joy. Repeat the sound in joy. Repeat, repeat the sound in joy. 126 00:18:50,620 --> 00:19:08,380 He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness 127 00:19:08,380 --> 00:19:12,080 And wonders of His love 128 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,120 And wonders of His love 129 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:21,400 And wonders and wonders of His love 130 00:19:38,380 --> 00:20:08,360 Thank you. 131 00:20:08,380 --> 00:20:38,360 Thank you. 132 00:20:38,380 --> 00:21:08,360 Thank you. 133 00:28:08,380 --> 00:28:19,600 We're now going to move into our time of communion. 134 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,160 And for that, we're going to be singing Jesus Messiah. 135 00:28:38,380 --> 00:28:57,440 He became sin, who knew no sin, that we might become His righteousness. 136 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:05,500 He humbled Himself and carried the cross 137 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:08,980 Love's so amazing 138 00:29:08,980 --> 00:29:14,940 Love's so amazing 139 00:29:14,940 --> 00:29:20,740 Jesus, Messiah 140 00:29:20,740 --> 00:29:28,060 Name above all names 141 00:29:28,060 --> 00:29:32,700 Blessed Redeemer 142 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:36,600 Emmanuel 143 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:44,060 The rescue for sinners 144 00:29:44,060 --> 00:29:49,640 The ransom from heaven 145 00:29:49,640 --> 00:30:01,460 Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all 146 00:30:01,460 --> 00:30:10,780 His body, the bread, His blood, the wine 147 00:30:10,780 --> 00:30:16,780 Broken and poured out all for love 148 00:30:16,780 --> 00:30:24,560 The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn. 149 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:36,460 Love so amazing, love so amazing, yeah. 150 00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:46,540 Jesus, Messiah, name above all names. 151 00:30:46,540 --> 00:31:02,580 Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel, the rescue for sinners. 152 00:31:04,580 --> 00:31:20,820 The ransom from heaven, Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. 153 00:31:20,820 --> 00:31:28,020 All our hope is in you. 154 00:31:28,020 --> 00:31:33,940 All our hope is in you. 155 00:31:34,580 --> 00:31:47,360 All the glory to you, God, the light of the world. 156 00:31:47,360 --> 00:32:03,140 Jesus Messiah, name above all names, blessed Redeemer. 157 00:32:04,580 --> 00:32:31,900 Emmanuel, the rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven, Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. 158 00:32:34,580 --> 00:32:43,080 Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all. 159 00:33:04,020 --> 00:33:17,220 One of the most profound moments for me in regard to the gospel was those first words we just sang about Jesus becoming our righteousness. 160 00:33:17,220 --> 00:33:27,080 Because for a lot of my life, I knew that Jesus had saved me, but then I had somehow thought that it was now up to me. 161 00:33:27,780 --> 00:33:32,060 In fact, I remember a Sunday school teacher once kind of describing it like a blackboard 162 00:33:32,060 --> 00:33:36,520 where Jesus wipes it off and cleans it, and then you fill it up with your sins, 163 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:40,380 and then he'll erase it, but it'll never be as clean as it once was. 164 00:33:40,380 --> 00:33:46,520 And there was some sort of this discouragement as I looked at the brokenness of my life. 165 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:53,840 But those words from Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 21 about how Jesus became sin 166 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:58,260 so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 167 00:33:58,260 --> 00:34:00,200 That changes everything. 168 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:03,420 That God, if you are a Christian, when He looks at you, 169 00:34:03,420 --> 00:34:05,840 He doesn't see your brokenness. 170 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:07,060 He doesn't see your rebellion. 171 00:34:07,060 --> 00:34:10,260 He doesn't see a blackboard that you filled up and messed up 172 00:34:10,260 --> 00:34:12,060 and then tried to wipe out with forgiveness. 173 00:34:12,060 --> 00:34:15,020 When He looks at you, He sees Jesus. 174 00:34:15,020 --> 00:34:18,240 The one who kept the law. 175 00:34:18,240 --> 00:34:21,400 The one who was obedient in your place. 176 00:34:21,980 --> 00:34:23,680 the One who died for your sins 177 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,220 and rose for your victory. 178 00:34:26,220 --> 00:34:28,640 And when you realize 179 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:31,900 that Jesus doesn't just take away your sins, 180 00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:35,020 but He also gives you His righteousness, 181 00:34:35,020 --> 00:34:40,360 it changes and transforms everything. 182 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,260 In Colossians, the first chapter, 183 00:34:43,260 --> 00:34:46,220 we find these words speaking about Jesus. 184 00:34:46,220 --> 00:34:49,060 He is the image of the invisible God, 185 00:34:49,060 --> 00:34:50,780 the firstborn of all creation. 186 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:57,180 For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, 187 00:34:57,180 --> 00:35:00,180 whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authority. 188 00:35:00,180 --> 00:35:04,220 All things were created through Him and for Him. 189 00:35:04,220 --> 00:35:07,920 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 190 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:11,480 And He is the head of the body, the church. 191 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:17,780 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. 192 00:35:19,180 --> 00:35:21,360 For in Him all the fullness of God 193 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:23,080 was pleased to dwell. 194 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,300 And through Him reconciled to Himself 195 00:35:26,300 --> 00:35:29,100 all things, whether on earth or heaven, 196 00:35:29,100 --> 00:35:32,340 making peace by the blood of His cross. 197 00:35:32,340 --> 00:35:35,440 And you, who were once alienated 198 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,300 and hostile in mind, 199 00:35:37,300 --> 00:35:38,740 doing evil deeds, 200 00:35:38,740 --> 00:35:42,660 He is now reconciled in His body 201 00:35:42,660 --> 00:35:43,680 by His death, 202 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:46,020 in order to present you holy 203 00:35:46,020 --> 00:35:50,340 and blameless and a broad reproach in Him. 204 00:35:50,340 --> 00:35:52,720 Let's pray before we partake together. 205 00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:54,440 Father in Heaven, 206 00:35:54,440 --> 00:36:00,140 these words that we've just read about Your Son, 207 00:36:00,140 --> 00:36:01,500 simple to read, 208 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:04,500 but so profoundly wonderful 209 00:36:04,500 --> 00:36:09,580 as we just get a tiny glimpse of who He is 210 00:36:09,580 --> 00:36:11,820 and we see what He has done 211 00:36:11,820 --> 00:36:14,280 and how He has saved us. 212 00:36:14,820 --> 00:36:19,660 And we thank You that You have sent Your Son who died for our sins 213 00:36:19,660 --> 00:36:25,360 and who has given us His righteousness and has given us His victory. 214 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:29,560 That He presents us blameless to You. 215 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:32,860 So we thank You this morning by the Gospel. 216 00:36:32,860 --> 00:36:39,380 Humble us that we would not see our work or our ability, but we would see Jesus. 217 00:36:39,380 --> 00:36:44,480 Strengthen us so we wouldn't see our weakness and our fear, 218 00:36:44,580 --> 00:36:45,760 that we would see Jesus. 219 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:48,500 And so help us as we break this bread 220 00:36:48,500 --> 00:36:50,060 and as we drink this cup, 221 00:36:50,060 --> 00:36:52,880 that You would help us to fix our eyes 222 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:54,280 upon Your Son. 223 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:56,900 I ask that You bless this bread and this cup. 224 00:36:56,900 --> 00:36:58,380 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 225 00:36:58,380 --> 00:36:59,300 Amen. 226 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:03,920 Jesus, with the disciples, 227 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:07,160 they celebrate Passover together. 228 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:10,180 After dinner, He would take 229 00:37:10,180 --> 00:37:11,740 a piece of unleavened bread. 230 00:37:11,740 --> 00:37:13,780 When He had given thanks, 231 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:15,700 he will break it, and he will say, 232 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:17,980 this is my body, which is for you. 233 00:37:17,980 --> 00:37:19,600 Do this in remembrance of me. 234 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:25,900 In the same way also, he will take the cup, 235 00:37:25,900 --> 00:37:28,020 one of the four cups of Passover, 236 00:37:28,020 --> 00:37:32,820 the cup that celebrated God's people's redemption from Egypt, 237 00:37:32,820 --> 00:37:36,660 the promise that he would redeem them with an outstretched arm, 238 00:37:36,660 --> 00:37:39,420 and Jesus is about to redeem his people, 239 00:37:39,420 --> 00:37:43,080 not just from physical slavery, but from slavery to sin. 240 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:44,820 And he will say this, 241 00:37:44,820 --> 00:37:47,300 this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 242 00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:49,320 Do this as often as you drink it 243 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:50,620 in remembrance of me. 244 00:37:50,620 --> 00:37:58,920 For as often as you eat this bread 245 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:01,440 or as we together eat this bread 246 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:02,940 and we drink this cup, 247 00:38:02,940 --> 00:38:06,100 we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 248 00:38:13,640 --> 00:38:31,460 This morning's reading is from Micah and Luke, and it begins with a word I had to look 249 00:38:31,460 --> 00:38:39,720 up to find out how it was pronounced, and that is Bethlehem Ephrata, and the reason 250 00:38:39,720 --> 00:38:48,340 we have that sort of transliterated Hebrew word is it's a backpack word that would be 251 00:38:48,340 --> 00:38:53,680 more or less a whole paragraph. But if you were Jewish, you would know the story of Rachel. 252 00:38:53,680 --> 00:39:03,880 And what makes this connection between Bethlehem and Ephrata interesting is Brandon had the 253 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:09,320 opportunity to preach through Genesis. And one of the reasons it's good that he did that and good 254 00:39:09,320 --> 00:39:13,360 that we were here to hear about it was you get 255 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:17,020 words like Bethlehem Ephrathah and you 256 00:39:17,020 --> 00:39:21,180 learn the story of Rachel and 257 00:39:21,180 --> 00:39:25,020 so we will read it and then Brandon will preach 258 00:39:25,020 --> 00:39:29,220 but you oh Bethlehem Ephrathah 259 00:39:29,220 --> 00:39:33,520 who are too little to be among the clans 260 00:39:33,520 --> 00:39:37,360 of Judah from you shall come forth for 261 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:46,800 me, one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient 262 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:47,760 days. 263 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:57,280 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth. 264 00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:05,960 Then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel, and he shall stand 265 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:09,980 and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, 266 00:40:09,980 --> 00:40:15,000 in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. 267 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:18,360 And they shall dwell secure, 268 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:23,740 for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth, 269 00:40:23,740 --> 00:40:28,840 and he shall be their peace. 270 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:32,600 And in the same region, 271 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:39,940 there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over the flocks by night. 272 00:40:39,940 --> 00:40:48,400 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, 273 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:51,860 and they were filled with great fear. 274 00:40:51,860 --> 00:41:02,360 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy 275 00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:05,240 that will be for all the people. 276 00:41:05,240 --> 00:41:10,060 For unto you is born this day in the city of David 277 00:41:10,060 --> 00:41:13,620 a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 278 00:41:13,620 --> 00:41:16,460 And this will be a sign for you. 279 00:41:16,460 --> 00:41:20,460 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes 280 00:41:20,460 --> 00:41:22,940 and lying in a manger. 281 00:41:22,940 --> 00:41:26,900 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude 282 00:41:26,900 --> 00:41:30,980 of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 283 00:41:31,660 --> 00:41:38,880 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 284 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:41,260 This is the word of the Lord. 285 00:41:41,260 --> 00:41:58,280 Let's pray and then dive into it this morning. 286 00:41:58,740 --> 00:42:20,720 Father in heaven, we thank you for grace, we thank you for your mercy, we thank you for your word and for the work of your spirit, we thank you for your church, we thank you for our worship this morning, we thank you for allowing us to celebrate the gospel together. 287 00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:28,260 I just ask that as we look at a big, big scriptural idea, 288 00:42:28,260 --> 00:42:31,400 a wonderful idea, a life-changing thing, 289 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:34,300 that you would be at work in our hearts, 290 00:42:34,300 --> 00:42:37,480 that you would change us, that you would transform us, 291 00:42:37,480 --> 00:42:40,940 that you would preach peace to those who are far off, 292 00:42:40,940 --> 00:42:43,660 and you would preach peace to those who are near. 293 00:42:43,660 --> 00:42:46,240 We thank you so much for Jesus. 294 00:42:46,240 --> 00:42:48,360 It's in his name we pray. Amen. 295 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:58,460 So on occasion, the kids and I will find some sort of show that we all sort of connect on and then we watch it together. 296 00:42:58,460 --> 00:43:07,580 And the one I'm specifically referring to, I think it was originally maybe a BBC show, but it ended up on Netflix and it was called The Workshop. 297 00:43:07,580 --> 00:43:18,520 And so what people would do is they would bring in their beloved, cherished family heirlooms and they would bring them in sort of broken or in pieces or falling apart. 298 00:43:19,020 --> 00:43:22,240 And the people in the workshop would take those things, 299 00:43:22,240 --> 00:43:26,200 and all different kinds of craftsmen, from woodworkers to upholsterers 300 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:31,560 to painters to ceramics experts, all of these people would gather together 301 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,800 and they would go to work on somebody's beloved heirlooms. 302 00:43:35,800 --> 00:43:40,000 Heirlooms that had memories and deep emotional significance. 303 00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:43,740 And they would take and they would work and they would put these things back together 304 00:43:43,740 --> 00:43:45,480 and they would present them to the people. 305 00:43:45,620 --> 00:43:53,180 And just about every time, you know, when grandma's, you know, beautiful china that she had had that was in pieces for years is put back together, right? 306 00:43:53,180 --> 00:43:55,740 There's an emotional reaction by the people. 307 00:43:55,740 --> 00:44:03,500 And the one that I think really kind of grabbed me was this family comes in and they bring an old accordion. 308 00:44:03,500 --> 00:44:06,960 And my thought, first of all, was like, I've never been a big accordion fan. 309 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:09,920 It's like, why would we restore an accordion, right? 310 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,160 Like, maybe the less the better. 311 00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:18,680 And she begins to tell how her grandma, in World War II, you had this accordion, she learned to play it. 312 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:23,640 And the granddaughter said, well, I've been learning to play the accordion, and I would love grandma's accordion. 313 00:44:23,640 --> 00:44:27,740 And so they go to work, and it's not an easy process, and they get it working. 314 00:44:27,740 --> 00:44:32,180 And the show ends with the whole family sitting in the living room, 315 00:44:32,180 --> 00:44:34,820 and there's 94-year-old grandma sitting right in the middle. 316 00:44:34,820 --> 00:44:38,660 And her granddaughter gets up and just starts playing her grandma's accordion. 317 00:44:38,660 --> 00:44:41,040 And grandma, you know, there's tears running down her face. 318 00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:42,160 Not sad tears, right? 319 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:48,100 Tears of joy over this thing that she had loved and now her granddaughter loves. 320 00:44:48,100 --> 00:44:51,060 And it's like everything was all put back together. 321 00:44:51,060 --> 00:44:56,600 The broken thing that was in all of these pieces is made whole. 322 00:44:56,600 --> 00:44:59,040 And it's a wonderful moment to experience. 323 00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:04,640 And it's a wonderful moment for those of us on the outside who witnessed it. 324 00:45:05,380 --> 00:45:12,640 That's a small picture of how the word peace is used in the Bible. 325 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:16,160 There's sort of two main ways, one in the Old Testament, one in the New Testament. 326 00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:20,900 And the interesting thing, when we talk about biblical languages, sometimes it's easy to zone out. 327 00:45:20,900 --> 00:45:28,300 But the interesting thing about this is all of us already know both the Old Testament word for peace, which is shalom. 328 00:45:28,720 --> 00:45:34,500 And we also probably, even if we don't realize it, know the New Testament word for peace, 329 00:45:34,500 --> 00:45:38,380 a reine, or in our language we would say Irene, right? 330 00:45:38,380 --> 00:45:40,140 We know people who have been named Irene. 331 00:45:40,140 --> 00:45:46,340 It's literally just a transliteration of that Greek word for peace brought in to English. 332 00:45:46,340 --> 00:45:51,340 And biblical peace is more than just the absence of conflict. 333 00:45:51,340 --> 00:45:57,220 It doesn't just mean that there's no war or there's no fighting or there's no noise. 334 00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,680 Biblical peace is more than simply absence. 335 00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:03,800 It's also presence. 336 00:46:03,800 --> 00:46:05,840 It's restoration. 337 00:46:05,840 --> 00:46:07,640 It's completeness. 338 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:09,800 It's everything back where it belongs. 339 00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:16,220 So, for example, a rock that has no cracks and no flaws, 340 00:46:16,220 --> 00:46:20,860 that is whole, is sort of the picture of peace. 341 00:46:20,860 --> 00:46:26,000 Or a stone wall with no gaps or missing bricks. 342 00:46:27,360 --> 00:46:33,720 The core idea is that everything is out of alignment and peace brings it back to where it's supposed to be. 343 00:46:33,720 --> 00:46:40,020 It's not just that there's no conflict, but it's the presence of everything being put back together. 344 00:46:40,020 --> 00:46:45,980 Not just that we're not fighting, but that we are living together in harmony. 345 00:46:45,980 --> 00:46:56,220 And in our world, it's very easy and in our lives to see that everything is out of alignment and so much needs restoration. 346 00:46:57,360 --> 00:46:59,620 And this idea of biblical peace, 347 00:46:59,620 --> 00:47:02,360 not just leaving behind conflict, 348 00:47:02,360 --> 00:47:04,480 but this picture of restoration, 349 00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:08,540 of putting things back the way they should go, 350 00:47:08,540 --> 00:47:11,260 should grab our hearts. 351 00:47:11,260 --> 00:47:13,980 It's something that's talked about frequently 352 00:47:13,980 --> 00:47:15,140 in the ministry of Jesus. 353 00:47:15,140 --> 00:47:17,360 In the prophecies that we've read this morning 354 00:47:17,360 --> 00:47:19,780 from both Isaiah and from Micah, 355 00:47:19,780 --> 00:47:20,660 we see peace. 356 00:47:20,660 --> 00:47:22,700 The angels, as they announce the birth, 357 00:47:22,700 --> 00:47:24,620 they announce the birth of Jesus 358 00:47:24,620 --> 00:47:27,900 as peace on earth. 359 00:47:27,900 --> 00:47:30,340 Jesus in John 14 will say, 360 00:47:30,340 --> 00:47:32,440 My peace I give to you. 361 00:47:32,440 --> 00:47:37,720 In Ephesians 2, it talks about how He Himself is our peace. 362 00:47:37,720 --> 00:47:40,140 And then He preached peace to those who are far away 363 00:47:40,140 --> 00:47:42,560 and preached peace to those who are near. 364 00:47:42,560 --> 00:47:46,960 And so I want to look at a prophecy from Micah 2 this morning. 365 00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:51,020 And in this prophecy, it's going to point us to peace, 366 00:47:51,140 --> 00:47:56,600 but it's also a beautiful picture of God's grace and His mercy 367 00:47:56,600 --> 00:48:01,440 to a bunch of rebellious, obnoxious, terrible people. 368 00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:04,700 There's a lot of wonderful things about biblical prophecy. 369 00:48:04,700 --> 00:48:08,200 It confirms the claims of Jesus. 370 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:10,820 One of the ways in which we see that is through prophecy. 371 00:48:10,820 --> 00:48:14,240 It points us to the faithfulness of God. 372 00:48:14,240 --> 00:48:18,640 We see how God sovereignly, as at work, not just in single moments, 373 00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:21,460 but throughout history to accomplish His purposes. 374 00:48:21,460 --> 00:48:25,940 But one of the things that stands out, especially about this Micah passage, 375 00:48:25,940 --> 00:48:31,600 is that God shows grace and mercy to a bunch of terrible people 376 00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:35,600 through talking about the Savior that was to come. 377 00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:39,520 And if you're not very familiar with the context of Micah, 378 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:43,000 God's people are divided into two separate areas. 379 00:48:43,000 --> 00:48:45,700 There are the northern tribes, we refer to those Israel, 380 00:48:45,700 --> 00:48:48,640 and then there is Judah, the southern tribes. 381 00:48:49,400 --> 00:48:53,000 And at this point, the Assyrians are coming for the northern tribes 382 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:55,180 because they are filled with idolatry. 383 00:48:55,180 --> 00:48:57,700 They're filled with injustice. 384 00:48:57,700 --> 00:49:02,700 Righteousness is nowhere to be seen among the people. 385 00:49:02,700 --> 00:49:08,520 And so one of the themes of Micah is you see this call for righteousness and justice. 386 00:49:08,520 --> 00:49:11,840 And the Assyrians are about to come. 387 00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:15,400 And in verse 1 of this text, we didn't read it this morning, 388 00:49:15,400 --> 00:49:17,460 it talks about how there will be a siege 389 00:49:17,460 --> 00:49:20,520 and an attack on the one who leads Israel. 390 00:49:20,520 --> 00:49:25,380 And so you have this punishment that bluntly is well-deserved, right? 391 00:49:25,380 --> 00:49:29,300 You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes, right? 392 00:49:29,300 --> 00:49:32,280 You do something wrong, you're going to pay for it. 393 00:49:32,280 --> 00:49:37,900 And if we looked at the northern tribes of Israel in this scenario, 394 00:49:37,900 --> 00:49:41,220 we would look at them and say they deserve everything they're going to get. 395 00:49:41,220 --> 00:49:45,340 They got themselves into it, they can figure it out themselves. 396 00:49:46,540 --> 00:49:50,440 There's nothing that can happen to them that they do not deserve. 397 00:49:50,440 --> 00:49:54,080 And then here comes God in the midst of this. 398 00:49:54,080 --> 00:49:57,320 And He says, I'm going to send one who will shepherd you. 399 00:49:57,320 --> 00:50:01,720 But not just shepherd you, but shepherd you in the strength of the Lord. 400 00:50:01,720 --> 00:50:05,940 I'm going to send one who will be your peace. 401 00:50:05,940 --> 00:50:09,940 And I'm going to send him to this little tiny town. 402 00:50:09,940 --> 00:50:16,000 In the middle of nowhere, so small that in several censuses of Israel it doesn't even show up. 403 00:50:16,540 --> 00:50:22,960 And in this you see God's grace and His mercy to a bunch of undeserving people. 404 00:50:22,960 --> 00:50:27,420 It's a message that isn't just for the audience of Micah, 405 00:50:27,420 --> 00:50:29,380 but it's a message that our hearts need as well. 406 00:50:29,380 --> 00:50:34,380 That for undeserving, broken, rebellious sinners, 407 00:50:34,380 --> 00:50:42,560 God comes with mercy and grace even in the midst of all of the chaos. 408 00:50:43,100 --> 00:50:47,740 We find God promising to bring this wonderful event to happen. 409 00:50:47,740 --> 00:50:51,640 And so we come to this little town. 410 00:50:51,640 --> 00:50:52,920 Brent talked about it a little bit. 411 00:50:52,920 --> 00:50:57,440 And it's sort of a surprising location for these kind of things to happen. 412 00:50:57,440 --> 00:51:02,320 Now for us, after the fact, it doesn't seem like that much of a surprising location. 413 00:51:02,320 --> 00:51:03,320 We sing, right? 414 00:51:03,320 --> 00:51:05,220 Oh, little town of Bethlehem. 415 00:51:05,220 --> 00:51:08,060 Or we sing, you'll come to Bethlehem and see. 416 00:51:08,500 --> 00:51:12,280 More than 2 million people a year make a trip to Bethlehem 417 00:51:12,280 --> 00:51:14,600 to see where it all happened. 418 00:51:14,600 --> 00:51:18,740 And so for us, Bethlehem is kind of a big deal, right? 419 00:51:18,740 --> 00:51:21,320 We talk about it, we sing about it, we visit it. 420 00:51:21,320 --> 00:51:25,320 But in Jesus' day, it was not. 421 00:51:25,320 --> 00:51:27,980 In Micah's day, it was not. 422 00:51:27,980 --> 00:51:30,480 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 423 00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:33,720 who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, 424 00:51:33,720 --> 00:51:37,040 for from you shall come forth for me 425 00:51:37,040 --> 00:51:38,800 one who is to be ruler in Israel, 426 00:51:38,800 --> 00:51:41,160 whose coming forth is from old, 427 00:51:41,160 --> 00:51:43,420 of ancient of days. 428 00:51:43,420 --> 00:51:45,160 And so for those in ancient times, 429 00:51:45,160 --> 00:51:46,340 this would be a shock. 430 00:51:46,340 --> 00:51:48,320 And they would go, really? There? 431 00:51:48,320 --> 00:51:50,560 In fact, we get a glimpse of that 432 00:51:50,560 --> 00:51:51,980 as the Magi come. 433 00:51:51,980 --> 00:51:53,360 They follow the star. 434 00:51:53,360 --> 00:51:55,280 They've come to worship the king. 435 00:51:55,280 --> 00:51:56,700 And they don't go to Bethlehem. 436 00:51:56,700 --> 00:51:58,660 They go to Jerusalem because it's the capital. 437 00:51:58,660 --> 00:52:00,880 See, this is where you would search for a king. 438 00:52:00,880 --> 00:52:05,240 So Herod sends forth those who study the law 439 00:52:05,240 --> 00:52:06,700 and study the Old Testament Scriptures 440 00:52:06,700 --> 00:52:08,600 and they come back and they say, well, it's in Bethlehem. 441 00:52:08,600 --> 00:52:10,840 Five miles south. 442 00:52:10,840 --> 00:52:14,980 This town is so small that in several of these censuses 443 00:52:14,980 --> 00:52:16,080 it will not make the list. 444 00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:18,800 There's a time where a census of God's people is taken 445 00:52:18,800 --> 00:52:22,000 and any town that can field a thousand men for battle 446 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:24,960 is listed and Bethlehem doesn't make the list. 447 00:52:24,960 --> 00:52:29,200 Most scholars think maybe between six or seven hundred people 448 00:52:29,200 --> 00:52:31,660 lived in this little tiny town. 449 00:52:31,660 --> 00:52:35,840 And here God takes this little tiny town 450 00:52:35,840 --> 00:52:38,480 and he makes the birthplace of the Savior. 451 00:52:38,480 --> 00:52:41,200 And part of the thing that as we approach things like that, 452 00:52:41,200 --> 00:52:44,480 for us to ask is to say, why would God do that? 453 00:52:44,480 --> 00:52:46,520 Why would God take this little town 454 00:52:46,520 --> 00:52:48,340 that oftentimes when towns are listed, 455 00:52:48,340 --> 00:52:49,760 it's completely skipped over 456 00:52:49,760 --> 00:52:53,800 because it's so small and so seemingly unimportant? 457 00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:57,620 I'll give you a little bit of history from Bethlehem. 458 00:52:57,620 --> 00:53:01,800 The very first place we find this mentioned 459 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:05,040 is as Brent mentioned in the book of Genesis. 460 00:53:05,840 --> 00:53:12,980 as Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, has died. 461 00:53:12,980 --> 00:53:20,160 And the picture of Bethlehem in Genesis chapter 35 is one of grief. 462 00:53:20,160 --> 00:53:25,480 But also, we find Bethlehem being a place of redemption. 463 00:53:25,480 --> 00:53:29,140 In one of my favorite books in the Old Testament, the book of Ruth, 464 00:53:29,140 --> 00:53:33,880 you find a family leaving Bethlehem, going into a far-off land. 465 00:53:33,980 --> 00:53:36,760 Everybody dies except for the mom, Naomi. 466 00:53:36,760 --> 00:53:40,360 She comes back with a Moabite daughter, Ruth. 467 00:53:40,360 --> 00:53:42,780 And when she comes back to town, everybody says, 468 00:53:42,780 --> 00:53:43,860 good, Naomi's here. 469 00:53:43,860 --> 00:53:45,180 She says, don't call me Naomi. 470 00:53:45,180 --> 00:53:46,280 Don't call me sweetness. 471 00:53:46,280 --> 00:53:48,940 Call me Mara, because I am bitter, 472 00:53:48,940 --> 00:53:51,660 because God has taken everything from me. 473 00:53:51,660 --> 00:53:53,200 And she comes back to Bethlehem. 474 00:53:53,200 --> 00:53:56,240 And it's in that town of Bethlehem 475 00:53:56,240 --> 00:53:58,760 that a guy by the name of Boaz, 476 00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:00,120 through the providence of God, 477 00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:02,320 will redeem a Moabite 478 00:54:02,320 --> 00:54:04,380 by the name of Ruth 479 00:54:04,380 --> 00:54:06,220 and he will turn their lives 480 00:54:06,220 --> 00:54:08,340 from bitterness to sweetness 481 00:54:08,340 --> 00:54:10,220 by redeeming 482 00:54:10,220 --> 00:54:12,400 them. It goes on 483 00:54:12,400 --> 00:54:13,320 to be the fact 484 00:54:13,320 --> 00:54:15,960 that Boaz and Ruth 485 00:54:15,960 --> 00:54:18,680 will become great-grandparents 486 00:54:18,680 --> 00:54:20,120 of King David. 487 00:54:20,120 --> 00:54:22,700 The small 488 00:54:22,700 --> 00:54:23,860 young man who when 489 00:54:23,860 --> 00:54:26,220 Samuel comes to anoint him as 490 00:54:26,220 --> 00:54:28,260 king, he's so small that all the 491 00:54:28,260 --> 00:54:32,620 other brothers leave him out in the fields and they they bring the more important ones together 492 00:54:32,620 --> 00:54:37,280 to meet the prophet and the prophet goes through all of them and none of them 493 00:54:37,280 --> 00:54:41,360 passes is there anybody else yeah there's David but he's so little we left him out 494 00:54:41,360 --> 00:54:49,220 with the sheep and it becomes the hometown of David the name Bethlehem means simply house 495 00:54:49,220 --> 00:54:57,640 of bread and it's in this town we find grief we find redemption we find nourishment 496 00:54:57,640 --> 00:55:05,720 we find God taking little things and making them so very important and this town what it does is 497 00:55:05,720 --> 00:55:13,640 it shows us the power of God think about it what's easier to do something that you have all of the 498 00:55:13,640 --> 00:55:20,800 resources for and all the skills and the abilities and it just sort of happens for you or to not have 499 00:55:20,800 --> 00:55:26,980 any skills or any abilities no resources at all and make it happen we love the second story more 500 00:55:26,980 --> 00:55:33,200 right? The guy who has to fight his way by practicing every day to make it into professional 501 00:55:33,200 --> 00:55:38,700 sports. Or the guy who against all odds and all failures and no resources managed to start a 502 00:55:38,700 --> 00:55:44,400 successful business. We look at those people who take nothing and turn it into something. And we 503 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:49,900 admire them and we love their stories. We call them an inspiration. And here God takes this 504 00:55:49,900 --> 00:55:52,060 little town that's first of all 505 00:55:52,060 --> 00:55:54,120 known in Scripture for 506 00:55:54,120 --> 00:55:56,080 grief, then becomes 507 00:55:56,080 --> 00:55:57,180 known for redemption. 508 00:55:57,180 --> 00:56:00,140 Becomes known for being the home of 509 00:56:00,140 --> 00:56:02,140 King David and becomes known for 510 00:56:02,140 --> 00:56:03,860 being a place where people are 511 00:56:03,860 --> 00:56:06,020 fed through the products that they raise. 512 00:56:06,020 --> 00:56:08,280 He takes this little tiny town 513 00:56:08,280 --> 00:56:09,960 and He uses it 514 00:56:09,960 --> 00:56:11,840 for such amazing purposes. 515 00:56:11,840 --> 00:56:14,160 This town gives us hope 516 00:56:14,160 --> 00:56:16,260 because God takes little 517 00:56:16,260 --> 00:56:18,240 insignificant, grieving, 518 00:56:18,620 --> 00:56:20,200 Broken people in need of redemption. 519 00:56:20,200 --> 00:56:23,040 And He sends them a Savior. 520 00:56:23,040 --> 00:56:26,220 And so it's to this sort of surprising town 521 00:56:26,220 --> 00:56:29,760 we come to our wonderful Savior. 522 00:56:29,760 --> 00:56:32,200 Listen to what Micah says. 523 00:56:32,200 --> 00:56:35,440 He shall stand and shall shepherd his flock 524 00:56:35,440 --> 00:56:36,500 in the strength of the Lord 525 00:56:36,500 --> 00:56:39,360 and in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. 526 00:56:39,360 --> 00:56:41,880 And they shall dwell secure. 527 00:56:41,880 --> 00:56:45,260 For now he shall be great to the ends of the earth 528 00:56:45,260 --> 00:56:47,740 and he shall be their peace. 529 00:56:47,780 --> 00:56:51,980 And in verse 2, we get this picture of the eternal nature of Jesus. 530 00:56:51,980 --> 00:56:55,800 This ruler who's coming won't just be any ordinary ruler, 531 00:56:55,800 --> 00:57:02,120 but he will be one who from eternity past is coming to save his people. 532 00:57:02,120 --> 00:57:06,080 And we see, first of all, that our Savior stands. 533 00:57:06,080 --> 00:57:08,860 And that may not seem like a very big deal when you hear, 534 00:57:08,860 --> 00:57:10,220 He shall stand. 535 00:57:10,220 --> 00:57:14,740 But biblically, posture sends a message about you. 536 00:57:14,860 --> 00:57:18,980 For example, when Jesus talks about the tax collector and the Pharisee, 537 00:57:18,980 --> 00:57:23,140 and there's this picture of the humility of the tax collector 538 00:57:23,140 --> 00:57:26,060 as he won't even raise his eyes to heaven 539 00:57:26,060 --> 00:57:30,180 because he's so ashamed of who he is and what he has done, 540 00:57:30,180 --> 00:57:32,900 he won't look in the direction of God. 541 00:57:32,900 --> 00:57:37,240 And in the book of Hebrews, it goes even farther to unpack this, 542 00:57:37,240 --> 00:57:41,920 and it talks about how the priests stand daily ministering. 543 00:57:42,220 --> 00:57:46,720 And one of the reasons that Jesus is a superior high priest 544 00:57:46,720 --> 00:57:50,900 is because He makes one sacrifice and He sits down. 545 00:57:50,900 --> 00:57:54,700 The fact that the Old Testament priests never got to sit down 546 00:57:54,700 --> 00:57:57,020 means their work is never done. 547 00:57:57,020 --> 00:58:00,880 Standing is a picture of somebody who is active and at work. 548 00:58:00,880 --> 00:58:05,100 And when we come to this text, we find a picture of our Savior 549 00:58:05,100 --> 00:58:09,120 not coming in an advisory role, 550 00:58:09,380 --> 00:58:11,140 Not coming to observe. 551 00:58:11,140 --> 00:58:13,200 Not coming to make suggestions. 552 00:58:13,200 --> 00:58:17,020 But He comes and He stands among His people. 553 00:58:17,020 --> 00:58:20,540 That He is at work and He is with them. 554 00:58:20,540 --> 00:58:22,400 And notice what it says. 555 00:58:22,400 --> 00:58:25,160 That what He will do. 556 00:58:25,160 --> 00:58:26,820 That He will shepherd. 557 00:58:26,820 --> 00:58:30,260 It's a picture that runs throughout all of Scripture. 558 00:58:30,260 --> 00:58:34,940 One of the things we find about biblical shepherds is they know their flock. 559 00:58:35,680 --> 00:58:39,440 Jesus in John chapter 10 will say that He knows the sheep and they know Him. 560 00:58:39,440 --> 00:58:40,940 That He knows them. 561 00:58:40,940 --> 00:58:43,980 And to think about this in regards to our shepherd, 562 00:58:43,980 --> 00:58:46,260 that He knows you, right? 563 00:58:46,260 --> 00:58:49,840 Not just the face that you present to the world. 564 00:58:49,840 --> 00:58:54,360 Not just how you portray yourself when you're around others. 565 00:58:54,360 --> 00:58:57,240 That your shepherd knows you. 566 00:58:57,240 --> 00:59:00,260 The deepest part of your being, all of your failures, 567 00:59:00,260 --> 00:59:04,600 all of your fear, all of your sin, all of your brokenness, 568 00:59:04,660 --> 00:59:09,000 He knows you, and he knows you by name, and he loves you. 569 00:59:09,000 --> 00:59:15,300 The shepherd doesn't just know, but he also leads his flock. 570 00:59:15,300 --> 00:59:18,060 He goes out before them. 571 00:59:18,060 --> 00:59:22,920 John 10 will say, when he has brought out all his own, he goes before them. 572 00:59:22,920 --> 00:59:28,480 And have you ever thought what a wonderful thing it is that Jesus, the good shepherd, leads his flock? 573 00:59:29,020 --> 00:59:32,080 Because anything that the flock is going to encounter, 574 00:59:32,080 --> 00:59:34,740 the one leading it will encounter first. 575 00:59:34,740 --> 00:59:38,500 That Jesus, by going ahead of us, 576 00:59:38,500 --> 00:59:45,140 He will encounter everything before we do. 577 00:59:45,140 --> 00:59:48,640 And so the good shepherd leads his flock, 578 00:59:48,640 --> 00:59:50,940 but he also feeds his flock. 579 00:59:50,940 --> 00:59:53,280 In one of the most famous good shepherd passages, 580 00:59:53,280 --> 00:59:55,860 we hear those familiar words, right? 581 00:59:55,860 --> 00:59:58,840 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 582 00:59:59,020 --> 01:00:02,540 he makes me to lie down in green pastures 583 01:00:02,540 --> 01:00:04,900 he leads me beside still waters 584 01:00:04,900 --> 01:00:07,600 he restores my soul 585 01:00:07,600 --> 01:00:11,980 the shepherd also protects his flock 586 01:00:11,980 --> 01:00:14,580 in John 10 you have this picture 587 01:00:14,580 --> 01:00:17,040 of an ancient sheepfold 588 01:00:17,040 --> 01:00:20,220 and Jesus will say I am the door to the sheep 589 01:00:20,220 --> 01:00:23,700 for the sheep are brought into an enclosed area 590 01:00:23,700 --> 01:00:26,340 and the shepherd lays himself down 591 01:00:26,340 --> 01:00:28,100 between them and danger 592 01:00:28,100 --> 01:00:31,380 And you have this picture of a shepherd 593 01:00:31,380 --> 01:00:35,440 who knows you, who leads you, 594 01:00:35,440 --> 01:00:37,500 who nourishes you, 595 01:00:37,500 --> 01:00:40,640 and stands between you and danger. 596 01:00:40,640 --> 01:00:43,580 This picture of someone who is active 597 01:00:43,580 --> 01:00:45,440 and alert and vigilant, 598 01:00:45,440 --> 01:00:48,560 seeking to provide the needs for your soul. 599 01:00:48,560 --> 01:00:52,920 We also see that our Savior is powerful. 600 01:00:52,920 --> 01:00:56,480 And He shall stand and shepherd His flock 601 01:00:56,480 --> 01:00:58,760 in the strength of the Lord 602 01:00:58,760 --> 01:01:01,620 and in the majesty of the name of the Lord God 603 01:01:01,620 --> 01:01:03,840 and they shall dwell secure. 604 01:01:03,840 --> 01:01:06,000 The purpose of this 605 01:01:06,000 --> 01:01:08,880 is to direct us to the strength of the shepherd 606 01:01:08,880 --> 01:01:10,820 and this majesty to remind us 607 01:01:10,820 --> 01:01:12,440 that these things that we're hearing 608 01:01:12,440 --> 01:01:14,160 that seem so great 609 01:01:14,160 --> 01:01:16,160 that there is one who is coming 610 01:01:16,160 --> 01:01:17,860 who is from eternity past 611 01:01:17,860 --> 01:01:20,880 who will stand and he will go to work for his people 612 01:01:20,880 --> 01:01:23,240 and he will know them 613 01:01:23,240 --> 01:01:25,680 and he will lead them 614 01:01:25,680 --> 01:01:27,560 and He will nourish them 615 01:01:27,560 --> 01:01:28,840 and He will protect them. 616 01:01:28,840 --> 01:01:32,140 That these are not just idle promises, 617 01:01:32,140 --> 01:01:34,200 but that He has the power 618 01:01:34,200 --> 01:01:37,080 to do these things. 619 01:01:37,080 --> 01:01:40,980 And the first part of Micah v. 5 620 01:01:40,980 --> 01:01:42,160 just simply says this, 621 01:01:42,160 --> 01:01:45,040 and He shall be their peace. 622 01:01:45,040 --> 01:01:48,440 Think about how we try to find peace. 623 01:01:48,440 --> 01:01:52,480 For a lot of us, maybe peace is a place. 624 01:01:52,480 --> 01:01:55,180 For me, I like being out in the woods. 625 01:01:55,680 --> 01:01:58,260 where it's quiet, maybe there's running water for me, 626 01:01:58,260 --> 01:02:00,720 that is something that is peaceful. 627 01:02:00,720 --> 01:02:04,420 Spurgeon writing to young preachers will say, 628 01:02:04,420 --> 01:02:07,700 it's a good thing to get out and walk through the fields 629 01:02:07,700 --> 01:02:09,240 and walk through the woods, 630 01:02:09,240 --> 01:02:11,900 because it restores your soul, 631 01:02:11,900 --> 01:02:13,720 and in the peace and the quiet, 632 01:02:13,720 --> 01:02:17,620 it brings life to your body. 633 01:02:17,620 --> 01:02:20,340 Most of us have a place, maybe not in the woods, 634 01:02:20,340 --> 01:02:22,860 beside a stream or beside a lake or on the beach, 635 01:02:22,860 --> 01:02:24,680 most of us have a place we see as peaceful. 636 01:02:25,240 --> 01:02:31,860 And we say, if I could just live in that peaceful place, it would happen. 637 01:02:31,860 --> 01:02:37,960 And so we come to that peaceful place, and we want to maybe live there. 638 01:02:37,960 --> 01:02:39,160 In fact, some of us do, right? 639 01:02:39,160 --> 01:02:42,300 We'll go to the place that we want to live in. 640 01:02:42,300 --> 01:02:51,280 The problem is, is that in doing so, we pack up and we bring our troubles right along with us. 641 01:02:52,680 --> 01:02:55,020 And even if you don't bring your troubles with us, 642 01:02:55,020 --> 01:02:59,800 the problem is you stay long enough and they're going to find you. 643 01:02:59,800 --> 01:03:03,440 So we try to provide peace. 644 01:03:22,680 --> 01:03:52,660 Thank you. 645 01:03:52,680 --> 01:04:22,660 Thank you. 646 01:04:22,680 --> 01:04:52,660 Thank you. 647 01:07:52,680 --> 01:07:59,900 He removes the conflict of our sin. 648 01:07:59,900 --> 01:08:02,520 He gives us his life. 649 01:08:02,520 --> 01:08:07,660 And in the gospel, we're restored. 650 01:08:07,660 --> 01:08:09,540 We're made whole. 651 01:08:09,540 --> 01:08:13,600 And he begins to see those who have been transformed by the gospel. 652 01:08:13,600 --> 01:08:16,160 It doesn't just transform their relationship with God. 653 01:08:16,160 --> 01:08:23,140 but he wants to transform his relationships, his leaders, his friends, his co-workers. 654 01:08:23,140 --> 01:08:27,100 He puts people back to you. 655 01:08:27,100 --> 01:08:31,620 Part of the Adventism is not just looking back. 656 01:08:31,620 --> 01:08:34,340 It's also looking forward. 657 01:08:34,340 --> 01:08:38,140 It's looking forward to that day when Jesus says, 658 01:08:38,140 --> 01:08:41,240 I am making all things new. 659 01:08:42,380 --> 01:08:44,880 We will see the peace that He will bring. 660 01:08:44,880 --> 01:08:48,740 And we look forward to today when He comes again. 661 01:08:48,740 --> 01:08:54,020 Father in Heaven, I thank You for Jesus and I thank You for grace. 662 01:08:54,020 --> 01:08:58,720 I thank You that You, through Your cross, have made peace. 663 01:08:58,720 --> 01:09:04,620 You help us look at You and confront You. 664 01:09:04,620 --> 01:09:11,160 We would not try in our own strength to sit in the store and not hide. 665 01:09:11,160 --> 01:09:28,700 We're going to stand and sing. 666 01:09:28,700 --> 01:09:33,920 We're going to sing a song about building our life around Jesus. 667 01:09:33,920 --> 01:09:35,620 So we're going to sing Cornerstone. 668 01:09:41,160 --> 01:10:03,680 My hope is built on nothing less 669 01:10:03,680 --> 01:10:09,380 Than Jesus' blood and righteousness 670 01:10:09,380 --> 01:10:16,780 I dare not trust the sweetest frame 671 01:10:16,780 --> 01:10:23,580 But wholly trust in Jesus' name 672 01:10:23,580 --> 01:10:34,000 My hope is built on nothingness 673 01:10:34,000 --> 01:10:39,640 Bend Jesus' blood and righteousness 674 01:10:39,640 --> 01:10:47,460 I dare not trust the sweetest frame 675 01:10:47,460 --> 01:10:53,820 But wholly trust in Jesus' name 676 01:10:53,820 --> 01:11:03,320 Christ alone, cornerstone 677 01:11:03,320 --> 01:11:06,300 Weak made strong 678 01:11:06,300 --> 01:11:09,880 In the Savior's love 679 01:11:09,880 --> 01:11:13,160 Through the storm 680 01:11:13,160 --> 01:11:20,220 He is Lord, Lord of all 681 01:11:20,220 --> 01:11:31,120 When darkness seems to hide His face 682 01:11:31,120 --> 01:11:37,900 I rest on His unchanging grace 683 01:11:37,900 --> 01:11:44,400 In every high and stormy gale 684 01:11:44,400 --> 01:11:50,580 My anchor holds within the veil 685 01:11:50,580 --> 01:11:58,380 My anchor holds within the veil 686 01:11:58,380 --> 01:12:03,600 Christ our Lord 687 01:12:03,600 --> 01:12:07,120 Call us Lord 688 01:12:07,120 --> 01:12:10,180 Weak and strong 689 01:12:10,180 --> 01:12:13,700 In the Savior's life 690 01:12:13,700 --> 01:12:17,120 Through the storm 691 01:12:17,120 --> 01:12:20,520 He is Lord 692 01:12:20,520 --> 01:12:24,700 Lord our Lord 693 01:12:24,700 --> 01:12:30,340 Christ the Lord 694 01:12:30,340 --> 01:12:33,940 Cold as snow 695 01:12:33,940 --> 01:12:37,020 Weak made strong 696 01:12:37,020 --> 01:12:40,580 In the Savior's light 697 01:12:40,580 --> 01:12:44,080 Through the storm 698 01:12:44,080 --> 01:12:47,420 He is Lord 699 01:12:47,420 --> 01:12:52,020 Lord our Lord 700 01:12:52,020 --> 01:13:01,540 When He shall come with trumpet sound 701 01:13:01,540 --> 01:13:07,420 Oh, may I then in be found 702 01:13:07,420 --> 01:13:14,140 Dressed in His righteousness alone 703 01:13:14,140 --> 01:13:20,300 For this stand before the throne 704 01:13:22,020 --> 01:13:37,020 We've been strong in the Savior's love. 705 01:13:37,020 --> 01:13:47,900 Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all. 706 01:13:52,020 --> 01:13:59,680 I want to thank you for joining us this morning. 707 01:13:59,680 --> 01:14:01,760 Just a few announcements. 708 01:14:01,760 --> 01:14:07,940 We'll be here on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. for our weekly Bible study. 709 01:14:07,940 --> 01:14:12,260 So we're going through some of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. 710 01:14:12,260 --> 01:14:21,320 We'll be back next Sunday with sort of moving more through these things that Jesus brings to us in his arrival. 711 01:14:21,500 --> 01:14:24,320 Also, if you have not had a chance to do so, 712 01:14:24,320 --> 01:14:25,460 one of the things we're trying to do, 713 01:14:25,460 --> 01:14:27,780 we try to do this about every year, year and a half, 714 01:14:27,780 --> 01:14:31,540 is we'd like to update our church contact information. 715 01:14:31,540 --> 01:14:33,960 And so part of the way we do that, 716 01:14:33,960 --> 01:14:35,140 you can do it either online, 717 01:14:35,140 --> 01:14:37,900 there's a link in the email we sent out Friday, 718 01:14:37,900 --> 01:14:40,160 or there are some forms back there 719 01:14:40,160 --> 01:14:43,600 on the information slash snack table. 720 01:14:43,600 --> 01:14:46,220 And you can just fill out your information 721 01:14:46,220 --> 01:14:47,680 and drop it in the offering plate. 722 01:14:47,680 --> 01:14:49,820 Just want to make sure we're sort of up to date 723 01:14:49,820 --> 01:14:52,560 on everybody's contact information. 724 01:14:52,560 --> 01:14:54,860 We're going to go ahead 725 01:14:54,860 --> 01:14:56,740 and we're going to pray. 726 01:14:56,740 --> 01:14:58,760 I'm going to read a verse from Ephesians 727 01:14:58,760 --> 01:15:00,760 and then we will sing. 728 01:15:00,760 --> 01:15:02,080 Instead of singing the doxology, 729 01:15:02,080 --> 01:15:04,220 we're just going to sing the chorus 730 01:15:04,220 --> 01:15:05,540 of Go Tell It on the Mountain. 731 01:15:05,540 --> 01:15:07,000 All right, let's pray. 732 01:15:07,000 --> 01:15:08,260 Father in heaven, 733 01:15:08,260 --> 01:15:10,860 thank you for loving us and caring for us. 734 01:15:10,860 --> 01:15:12,820 Thank you that you bring us together 735 01:15:12,820 --> 01:15:14,600 with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 736 01:15:14,600 --> 01:15:17,060 We thank you that you are our peace. 737 01:15:17,060 --> 01:15:18,600 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 738 01:15:18,600 --> 01:15:19,020 Amen. 739 01:15:19,620 --> 01:15:22,900 Paul's speaking to the Ephesian church after telling them 740 01:15:22,900 --> 01:15:25,580 that he's sending a brother in Christ to encourage them. 741 01:15:25,580 --> 01:15:26,340 He will say this, 742 01:15:26,340 --> 01:15:31,940 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 743 01:15:31,940 --> 01:15:37,120 Grace be to all who love Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible. 744 01:15:49,620 --> 01:15:53,900 Over the hills and everywhere 745 01:15:53,900 --> 01:15:57,660 Go tell it on the mountain 746 01:15:57,660 --> 01:16:01,180 That Jesus Christ is born 747 01:16:19,620 --> 01:16:49,600 Thank you. 748 01:16:49,620 --> 01:17:19,600 Thank you. 749 01:17:19,620 --> 01:17:49,600 Thank you.