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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - From Manger To Majesty

December 23, 2024 | S24:E5202

Allen Jackson - From Manger To Majesty
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #Visions/Dreams #Lord #Religion #Shepherd #Christmas #WordofGod #Miracles #Angels #inActive #Resurrection #AllenJacksonMinistries #AllenJackson #Death #Authority #KingdomofGod #VirginBirth #Manger #Luke2

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - From Manger To Majesty | December 23, 2024
  • ...
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  • Allen jackson: it is such a privilege to be with you today.
  • 00:00:06.289 --> 00:00:08.491
  • Our topic is the-- "from the manger to majesty."
  • 00:00:08.491 --> 00:00:11.795
  • And we're focusing on the miracle
  • 00:00:11.795 --> 00:00:13.363
  • Of jesus's entry into time.
  • 00:00:13.363 --> 00:00:15.098
  • But it was a very inauspicious beginning.
  • 00:00:15.098 --> 00:00:17.434
  • It's in a stable, it's not celebrated by
  • 00:00:17.434 --> 00:00:19.302
  • The powerful, the rich, the wealthy, those that
  • 00:00:19.302 --> 00:00:21.571
  • Had access to authority in any way.
  • 00:00:21.571 --> 00:00:23.907
  • The shepherds were the primary, or at least
  • 00:00:23.907 --> 00:00:25.442
  • The first attenders to jesus's birth.
  • 00:00:25.442 --> 00:00:28.311
  • It's a pathway for us today.
  • 00:00:28.311 --> 00:00:29.646
  • It's a lesson that's important.
  • 00:00:29.646 --> 00:00:31.481
  • If we want god's best, it typically
  • 00:00:31.481 --> 00:00:33.650
  • Begins with an attitude of serving.
  • 00:00:33.650 --> 00:00:36.219
  • And usually we're serving in a way when there
  • 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:37.720
  • Are very few people who even notice.
  • 00:00:37.720 --> 00:00:39.722
  • You serve the lord anyway.
  • 00:00:39.722 --> 00:00:41.758
  • Grab your bible and a notepad, but most importantly, serve god.
  • 00:00:41.758 --> 00:00:45.095
  • Allen: the topic for our christmas eve this year
  • 00:00:46.329 --> 00:00:47.964
  • Is "from the manger to majesty."
  • 00:00:47.964 --> 00:00:50.700
  • We live in a broken world, have you noticed?
  • 00:00:50.700 --> 00:00:54.070
  • Just seems to me just about any window you look out of, it's
  • 00:00:54.070 --> 00:00:56.372
  • Pretty apparent that we're living in a season of really
  • 00:00:56.372 --> 00:00:59.342
  • Unprecedented turmoil and confusion.
  • 00:00:59.342 --> 00:01:02.612
  • When we have an unseasonably cold winter day, our electric
  • 00:01:02.612 --> 00:01:06.883
  • Grid is not sufficient to help us heat our homes, and yet they
  • 00:01:06.883 --> 00:01:11.488
  • Insist that we all go buy an electric car.
  • 00:01:11.488 --> 00:01:16.259
  • The lack of logic in those two things doesn't seem to settle
  • 00:01:16.259 --> 00:01:19.095
  • Upon anybody who's pitching all those ideas to us.
  • 00:01:19.095 --> 00:01:22.799
  • It really doesn't seem to matter where you
  • 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:24.367
  • Look, that type of insanity rules.
  • 00:01:24.367 --> 00:01:27.804
  • The rule of law is crumbling around us, violence in our
  • 00:01:27.804 --> 00:01:32.142
  • Cities, we can't enforce our own borders, we're
  • 00:01:32.142 --> 00:01:35.211
  • Practicing voodoo economics, spending money that
  • 00:01:35.211 --> 00:01:38.615
  • We haven't had for a long, long time.
  • 00:01:38.615 --> 00:01:41.451
  • The good news of christmas is in the midst
  • 00:01:41.451 --> 00:01:42.952
  • Of all of that craziness and darkness and
  • 00:01:42.952 --> 00:01:46.356
  • Insanity comes the light of hope of jesus.
  • 00:01:46.356 --> 00:01:50.527
  • That no matter what happens in our world, there's
  • 00:01:50.527 --> 00:01:52.262
  • A hope for us that's anchored beyond time.
  • 00:01:52.262 --> 00:01:55.765
  • So that being a christian isn't about just where you sit for a
  • 00:01:55.765 --> 00:01:57.934
  • Few minutes on a sunday or how you observe a holiday, it has to
  • 00:01:57.934 --> 00:02:01.504
  • Do with the authority in your life, the authority that you
  • 00:02:01.504 --> 00:02:05.108
  • Live under and what the implications of that are.
  • 00:02:05.108 --> 00:02:08.778
  • And we're gonna use the familiar words of the birth narrative of
  • 00:02:08.778 --> 00:02:11.981
  • Jesus from the gospel of luke to open that door.
  • 00:02:11.981 --> 00:02:15.885
  • We're gonna follow jesus's journey from the manger to the
  • 00:02:15.885 --> 00:02:19.055
  • Demonstration of the majesty of heaven.
  • 00:02:19.055 --> 00:02:22.592
  • Majesty has kind of a particular meaning in the scripture.
  • 00:02:22.592 --> 00:02:26.963
  • The majesty is the displayed glory of god, the awesomeness of
  • 00:02:26.963 --> 00:02:31.568
  • An almighty god, an omnipotent god.
  • 00:02:31.568 --> 00:02:34.470
  • It's god and his power and his wisdom and his divine authority.
  • 00:02:34.470 --> 00:02:38.274
  • All of that breaks forth into the way that our senses can
  • 00:02:38.274 --> 00:02:41.144
  • Experience it in the majesty of god.
  • 00:02:41.144 --> 00:02:46.749
  • And jesus's life is the story of that journey from the manger to
  • 00:02:46.749 --> 00:02:50.286
  • The display of the majesty of god.
  • 00:02:50.286 --> 00:02:53.690
  • And i wanna invite you to imagine that
  • 00:02:53.690 --> 00:02:55.124
  • God would do that for you as well.
  • 00:02:55.124 --> 00:02:58.928
  • We'll start in luke chapter 2 and verse 4.
  • 00:02:58.928 --> 00:03:01.931
  • It's a passage of scripture that i suspect
  • 00:03:01.931 --> 00:03:03.399
  • Is familiar to all of us.
  • 00:03:03.399 --> 00:03:04.801
  • If you didn't learn it by reading it in
  • 00:03:04.801 --> 00:03:06.135
  • The gospel of luke, i bet you learned it from
  • 00:03:06.135 --> 00:03:07.737
  • Charlie brown's christmas, makes me smile.
  • 00:03:07.737 --> 00:03:12.308
  • Luke 2 and verse 4, "so joseph also went up from the town of
  • 00:03:12.308 --> 00:03:15.011
  • Nazareth in galilee to judea, to bethlehem the town of david,
  • 00:03:15.011 --> 00:03:19.649
  • Because he belonged to the house in the line of david.
  • 00:03:19.649 --> 00:03:22.485
  • He went there to register with mary, who was pledged to be
  • 00:03:22.485 --> 00:03:24.821
  • Married to him and was expecting a child.
  • 00:03:24.821 --> 00:03:28.291
  • While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
  • 00:03:28.291 --> 00:03:31.728
  • And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
  • 00:03:31.728 --> 00:03:34.864
  • She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because
  • 00:03:34.864 --> 00:03:38.301
  • There was no room for them in the inn."
  • 00:03:38.301 --> 00:03:41.070
  • Again, it's a familiar story, i hope, to all of us.
  • 00:03:41.070 --> 00:03:44.907
  • It's a very humble beginning for the king of all kings
  • 00:03:44.907 --> 00:03:47.977
  • And the lord of all lords, the lord of all creation.
  • 00:03:47.977 --> 00:03:52.515
  • And yet his entry into time takes place in a stable,
  • 00:03:52.515 --> 00:03:56.085
  • In a relatively insignificant village,
  • 00:03:56.085 --> 00:03:58.588
  • Overlooked by almost everyone.
  • 00:03:58.588 --> 00:04:01.057
  • It's a very humble beginning.
  • 00:04:01.057 --> 00:04:03.626
  • And if you're reading it for the first time,
  • 00:04:03.626 --> 00:04:05.628
  • It's abundantly clear that he's gonna need help.
  • 00:04:05.628 --> 00:04:09.666
  • I mean, there doesn't seem to be a lot of
  • 00:04:09.666 --> 00:04:11.000
  • Momentum behind the jesus initiative at this point.
  • 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:14.003
  • The only people who attend his birth are the shepherds and
  • 00:04:14.003 --> 00:04:17.874
  • They're babbling about something they've seen or heard.
  • 00:04:17.874 --> 00:04:21.411
  • The circumstances i think could honestly be
  • 00:04:21.411 --> 00:04:23.413
  • Described as less than perfect.
  • 00:04:23.413 --> 00:04:25.481
  • Does that feel right?
  • 00:04:25.481 --> 00:04:27.483
  • Those of you that have experienced the birth of a child
  • 00:04:27.483 --> 00:04:29.352
  • Or perhaps a grandchild, if the message came that that was gonna
  • 00:04:29.352 --> 00:04:33.122
  • Need to happen in a barn 'cause there wasn't any room anywhere
  • 00:04:33.122 --> 00:04:35.124
  • Else, probably not the most perfect circumstance.
  • 00:04:35.124 --> 00:04:39.796
  • And yet in the midst of it, the message of
  • 00:04:39.796 --> 00:04:41.531
  • God through the angels and every other way is
  • 00:04:41.531 --> 00:04:45.168
  • That it's a time of tremendous hope.
  • 00:04:45.168 --> 00:04:48.871
  • So i'm gonna ask you to process that with me for a minute.
  • 00:04:48.871 --> 00:04:50.840
  • It's a bit of a paradox that in the brokenness of a stable and
  • 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:54.577
  • The lack that is demonstrated there, in the humility that is
  • 00:04:54.577 --> 00:04:58.481
  • Demonstrated there, there is the hint of the
  • 00:04:58.481 --> 00:05:01.784
  • Emergence of the power and the glory of god.
  • 00:05:01.784 --> 00:05:05.588
  • Jesus's story begins in a barn.
  • 00:05:05.588 --> 00:05:09.425
  • Now that works for me, i like barns.
  • 00:05:09.425 --> 00:05:12.228
  • I mean, i'm happy in a barn.
  • 00:05:12.228 --> 00:05:15.164
  • Has something to do with the way i grew up.
  • 00:05:15.164 --> 00:05:16.666
  • My father was a veterinarian so i spent a lot of time in barns.
  • 00:05:16.666 --> 00:05:21.037
  • When i lived at home the majority of the time, he was an
  • 00:05:21.037 --> 00:05:23.239
  • Equine practitioner, he only treated horses.
  • 00:05:23.239 --> 00:05:26.075
  • So i was in the barns in miami, the thoroughbred tracks in miami
  • 00:05:26.075 --> 00:05:28.978
  • And then we moved to tennessee and i was in the walking horse
  • 00:05:28.978 --> 00:05:31.214
  • Barns here and occasionally, usually with less enthusiasm, i
  • 00:05:31.214 --> 00:05:35.385
  • Might've been in the barn where there was a dairy herd.
  • 00:05:35.385 --> 00:05:38.488
  • I've been in a lot of barns.
  • 00:05:38.488 --> 00:05:40.490
  • So when i read the story of bethlehem, i like this scenario.
  • 00:05:40.490 --> 00:05:45.161
  • And i would even submit to you that from the vantage point of
  • 00:05:45.161 --> 00:05:47.430
  • Hindsight, and we're all much smarter in hindsight, it's a
  • 00:05:47.430 --> 00:05:50.299
  • Preview of what is to come in jesus's life.
  • 00:05:50.299 --> 00:05:54.036
  • The demonstration of humility often overlooked
  • 00:05:54.036 --> 00:05:56.205
  • And discounted, diminished, not celebrated
  • 00:05:56.205 --> 00:05:58.441
  • By the people who perhaps should have.
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  • I don't know how much time you've spent
  • 00:06:02.378 --> 00:06:03.713
  • In a barn, murfreesboro's changing.
  • 00:06:03.713 --> 00:06:06.182
  • Middle tennessee has changed, but barns are a
  • 00:06:06.182 --> 00:06:08.718
  • Place where you find something very specific.
  • 00:06:08.718 --> 00:06:13.089
  • If you don't have a lot of experience,
  • 00:06:13.089 --> 00:06:14.424
  • Your answer might be livestock.
  • 00:06:14.424 --> 00:06:16.592
  • You'd expect to find a horse or maybe a cow, or if you visited
  • 00:06:16.592 --> 00:06:20.096
  • Church on christmas eve, our barn might have a camel in it,
  • 00:06:20.096 --> 00:06:23.766
  • Or the odd llama, or a few goats.
  • 00:06:23.766 --> 00:06:27.036
  • Livestock in a barn, that's pretty consistent.
  • 00:06:27.036 --> 00:06:30.106
  • The type may change, but the one thing that's
  • 00:06:30.106 --> 00:06:32.675
  • Consistent across all those barns that are
  • 00:06:32.675 --> 00:06:34.644
  • Populated by livestock, have you figured it out yet?
  • 00:06:34.644 --> 00:06:38.614
  • Manure.
  • 00:06:38.614 --> 00:06:40.383
  • I checked, it's a word cleared for church.
  • 00:06:40.383 --> 00:06:43.319
  • I looked it up in the theological
  • 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:44.654
  • Dictionary, it's okay, i'm allowed to say it.
  • 00:06:44.654 --> 00:06:47.490
  • And here's the reality, barns are places
  • 00:06:47.490 --> 00:06:49.292
  • Where you find lots of manure.
  • 00:06:49.292 --> 00:06:51.794
  • And i can announce to you, if you don't know,
  • 00:06:51.794 --> 00:06:54.564
  • Life comes fully loaded with a lot of manure.
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  • You might suggest i'm something of a manure authority.
  • 00:07:00.870 --> 00:07:05.675
  • I spent my teenage years and early
  • 00:07:05.675 --> 00:07:07.810
  • Adulthood cleaning out barns.
  • 00:07:07.810 --> 00:07:09.879
  • I have hauled thousands of pounds of manure.
  • 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:13.549
  • Cleaned it out of the barn, distributed all over the farm.
  • 00:07:13.549 --> 00:07:17.820
  • You know, there are some very sophisticated and effective
  • 00:07:17.820 --> 00:07:22.558
  • Mechanical devices that will spread manure around the farm.
  • 00:07:22.558 --> 00:07:26.629
  • My father didn't wanna invest in one of those.
  • 00:07:26.629 --> 00:07:30.600
  • He thought he was feeding me, that was enough.
  • 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:33.035
  • I was the distribution system.
  • 00:07:33.035 --> 00:07:35.738
  • And in doing that day after day, and week after week, and month
  • 00:07:35.738 --> 00:07:39.141
  • After month, i discovered something,
  • 00:07:39.141 --> 00:07:40.910
  • Manure makes things grow, it really does.
  • 00:07:40.910 --> 00:07:45.448
  • It can change the quality of the vegetation on the farm.
  • 00:07:45.448 --> 00:07:49.652
  • You have to be persistent with it.
  • 00:07:49.652 --> 00:07:52.154
  • So i came with some good news this christmas season, and
  • 00:07:52.154 --> 00:07:55.791
  • You'll be very grateful you got out on a very cold
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  • Christmas eve for this nugget of truth.
  • 00:07:58.861 --> 00:08:01.864
  • If your life is filled with manure
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  • This christmas, it's growing season.
  • 00:08:03.933 --> 00:08:08.738
  • Oh, slipped that one right in there, it's true.
  • 00:08:08.738 --> 00:08:16.512
  • It was true in jesus's life to grow from the place
  • 00:08:16.512 --> 00:08:19.048
  • Of the manger for his story to be the canvas where
  • 00:08:19.048 --> 00:08:22.618
  • The majesty of god could be displayed.
  • 00:08:22.618 --> 00:08:25.588
  • If you're gonna follow that pathway, you and i will have to
  • 00:08:25.588 --> 00:08:28.591
  • Know what to do with all the manure.
  • 00:08:28.591 --> 00:08:31.661
  • No life escapes it, not one of us.
  • 00:08:31.661 --> 00:08:35.565
  • I mean, we can dress up and come to church for a few minutes and
  • 00:08:35.565 --> 00:08:37.567
  • Act like we always smell nice, but we don't.
  • 00:08:37.567 --> 00:08:41.871
  • I would submit to you that that scene
  • 00:08:41.871 --> 00:08:43.306
  • In bethlehem was filled with stress.
  • 00:08:43.306 --> 00:08:47.009
  • Mary, joseph, and baby jesus, you know them,
  • 00:08:47.009 --> 00:08:48.978
  • We've seen the manger scenes recreated in our
  • 00:08:48.978 --> 00:08:51.013
  • Homes, or the lobbies of the churches, or
  • 00:08:51.013 --> 00:08:53.149
  • In the public square at least once upon a time.
  • 00:08:53.149 --> 00:08:56.719
  • But there was more than enough stress
  • 00:08:56.719 --> 00:08:58.554
  • There, there is an unplanned pregnancy.
  • 00:08:58.554 --> 00:09:00.256
  • No matter how you shape that, or craft that,
  • 00:09:00.256 --> 00:09:01.924
  • Or tell that story, that's stressful.
  • 00:09:01.924 --> 00:09:05.761
  • Plans have to be changed, stories have to be altered.
  • 00:09:05.761 --> 00:09:08.931
  • Wedding plans are awkward now.
  • 00:09:08.931 --> 00:09:12.301
  • Just a few days ago or a few weeks ago could
  • 00:09:12.301 --> 00:09:14.337
  • Be centered on the color of the dresses or the icing on
  • 00:09:14.337 --> 00:09:16.572
  • The cake, now the plans are altogether different.
  • 00:09:16.572 --> 00:09:20.977
  • Trust has been strained.
  • 00:09:20.977 --> 00:09:23.212
  • Initially with just mary and joseph, but some angelic
  • 00:09:23.212 --> 00:09:25.581
  • Interventions helped with that, but as far as we know from the
  • 00:09:25.581 --> 00:09:28.084
  • Text, the angels didn't go any further than that.
  • 00:09:28.084 --> 00:09:29.852
  • They didn't talk to mary's parents,
  • 00:09:29.852 --> 00:09:31.187
  • Or joe's parents, or the grandparents.
  • 00:09:31.187 --> 00:09:33.823
  • The angels didn't visit everybody in the synagogue.
  • 00:09:33.823 --> 00:09:37.026
  • So as the story begins to grow, quite
  • 00:09:37.026 --> 00:09:39.495
  • Literally, trust is strained all around.
  • 00:09:39.495 --> 00:09:48.471
  • And then we read luke 2, they're in bethlehem.
  • 00:09:48.471 --> 00:09:51.974
  • They live in nazareth, the northern part of israel.
  • 00:09:51.974 --> 00:09:54.243
  • They had to make a lengthy journey to bethlehem, not
  • 00:09:54.243 --> 00:09:56.612
  • Because it's a holiday, not because they have family there
  • 00:09:56.612 --> 00:09:58.914
  • They wanna go see, they have to travel from nazareth to
  • 00:09:58.914 --> 00:10:02.351
  • Bethlehem because of the order of caesar.
  • 00:10:02.351 --> 00:10:06.422
  • You see, first century israel is under the authority
  • 00:10:06.422 --> 00:10:08.658
  • Of rome, an authoritarian pagan government.
  • 00:10:08.658 --> 00:10:12.461
  • They suffer the humiliation of being taxed, having the wealth
  • 00:10:12.461 --> 00:10:15.898
  • From their own pockets and their own businesses flowing to rome
  • 00:10:15.898 --> 00:10:19.502
  • To feed the habits of the pagans.
  • 00:10:19.502 --> 00:10:22.805
  • They have the indignity of billeting roman troops.
  • 00:10:22.805 --> 00:10:25.341
  • The men suffer the humiliation, the women
  • 00:10:25.341 --> 00:10:27.243
  • And children suffer far more.
  • 00:10:27.243 --> 00:10:30.846
  • So the hated romans send them to bethlehem,
  • 00:10:30.846 --> 00:10:33.549
  • There's plenty of stress in that stable.
  • 00:10:33.549 --> 00:10:37.119
  • And then the shepherds show up.
  • 00:10:37.119 --> 00:10:38.454
  • They only guest to the birth other than the livestock are the
  • 00:10:38.454 --> 00:10:42.158
  • Shepherds, and they were uninvited.
  • 00:10:42.158 --> 00:10:45.361
  • I ride a donkey halfway across the country to give birth in a
  • 00:10:45.361 --> 00:10:47.997
  • Barn and you invited the shepherds?
  • 00:10:47.997 --> 00:10:52.968
  • They're babbling about something.
  • 00:10:52.968 --> 00:10:54.303
  • Angels or heavenly hosts, "peace on earth, goodwill to men."
  • 00:10:54.303 --> 00:10:57.339
  • It looks good on a christmas card, but if
  • 00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:59.175
  • You've just given birth, maybe not so much.
  • 00:10:59.175 --> 00:11:03.412
  • And then perhaps the most unexpected component of the
  • 00:11:03.412 --> 00:11:05.915
  • Story to me, and it's wrapped in stress.
  • 00:11:05.915 --> 00:11:10.953
  • The angel visits joseph again, the last time he chatted with
  • 00:11:10.953 --> 00:11:14.590
  • The angel or the angel chatted with him, it was to tell him not
  • 00:11:14.590 --> 00:11:18.094
  • To be afraid to take mary home as his wife because the thing
  • 00:11:18.094 --> 00:11:21.097
  • That was conceived in her was from the holy spirit.
  • 00:11:21.097 --> 00:11:25.167
  • And the angel's back this time.
  • 00:11:25.167 --> 00:11:26.702
  • But this time the message is different.
  • 00:11:26.702 --> 00:11:28.370
  • The angel says, "run for your life.
  • 00:11:28.370 --> 00:11:31.874
  • Take the baby and his mother, run for your life."
  • 00:11:31.874 --> 00:11:36.846
  • Oh, we know it in more biblical language, the flight to egypt.
  • 00:11:36.846 --> 00:11:41.450
  • Folks, they didn't board a plane.
  • 00:11:41.450 --> 00:11:44.053
  • They got out the donkey again and they ran for their lives.
  • 00:11:44.053 --> 00:11:48.190
  • Does that bother you at all? it bugs me a little bit.
  • 00:11:48.190 --> 00:11:51.260
  • I've read my bible, god's pretty good with fireballs, like,
  • 00:11:51.260 --> 00:11:53.996
  • Directed lightning strikes on his enemies.
  • 00:11:53.996 --> 00:11:57.867
  • I mean, occasionally even the earth opens up
  • 00:11:57.867 --> 00:11:59.568
  • And swallows a few thousand people.
  • 00:11:59.568 --> 00:12:02.171
  • He can part an ocean, he can strike them
  • 00:12:02.171 --> 00:12:04.740
  • With a botch, or the itch, or the plague.
  • 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:06.776
  • None of those things are on the menu this day.
  • 00:12:06.776 --> 00:12:09.044
  • The message is, "joseph, run for your life."
  • 00:12:09.044 --> 00:12:14.183
  • I'm pretty certain that when joseph had that first meeting
  • 00:12:14.183 --> 00:12:18.087
  • With the angel and he said, "this is a god-thing," and he
  • 00:12:18.087 --> 00:12:23.626
  • Thought that that god thing would come with a whole
  • 00:12:23.626 --> 00:12:25.494
  • Contingent, the whole cadre of guardian angels.
  • 00:12:25.494 --> 00:12:32.201
  • And now joseph is being asked to rearrange
  • 00:12:32.201 --> 00:12:33.936
  • His life and his plans, to run.
  • 00:12:33.936 --> 00:12:41.377
  • So how do we get from the stable to the king of kings?
  • 00:12:41.377 --> 00:12:47.683
  • How do we move from an infant fleeing for his life to jesus,
  • 00:12:47.683 --> 00:12:54.690
  • The name that's above every name?
  • 00:12:54.690 --> 00:12:57.960
  • I wanna take just a couple of more
  • 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.295
  • Minutes and see if we can understand.
  • 00:12:59.295 --> 00:13:00.896
  • Look with me in philippians chapter 2.
  • 00:13:00.896 --> 00:13:04.867
  • It's not presented to us in the scripture as a part of the birth
  • 00:13:04.867 --> 00:13:08.337
  • Narrative, but it's very much a part of jesus' life story.
  • 00:13:08.337 --> 00:13:12.341
  • The book of philippians is written
  • 00:13:12.341 --> 00:13:13.676
  • To the church at philippi.
  • 00:13:13.676 --> 00:13:15.010
  • It's the only letter in the new testament that's not written as
  • 00:13:15.010 --> 00:13:17.179
  • A correction to some mistake, either
  • 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:19.782
  • Theologically or behavioral problem, it's
  • 00:13:19.782 --> 00:13:22.818
  • Written to encourage the christians in philippi.
  • 00:13:22.818 --> 00:13:25.888
  • And in the second chapter, paul talks about jesus specifically.
  • 00:13:25.888 --> 00:13:30.626
  • And he presents his life to us as a pattern for our lives.
  • 00:13:30.626 --> 00:13:35.798
  • He begins with a statement that, again, is a little odd to me.
  • 00:13:35.798 --> 00:13:38.400
  • He said, "your attitude should be
  • 00:13:38.400 --> 00:13:40.302
  • The same as that of christ jesus."
  • 00:13:40.302 --> 00:13:42.438
  • Did you know god cared about your attitude?
  • 00:13:42.438 --> 00:13:45.708
  • Who knew?
  • 00:13:45.708 --> 00:13:47.776
  • I thought he cared about my dress code and
  • 00:13:47.776 --> 00:13:49.511
  • My beverage list, sometimes my vocabulary, but
  • 00:13:49.511 --> 00:13:53.916
  • I didn't know he cared about my attitude.
  • 00:13:53.916 --> 00:13:55.818
  • The bible says, "your attitude and
  • 00:13:55.818 --> 00:13:57.386
  • My attitude should reflect jesus."
  • 00:13:57.386 --> 00:14:00.723
  • The single most important thing i can tell you about your
  • 00:14:00.723 --> 00:14:02.758
  • Attitude is that whatever it is, good or bad, it's your attitude.
  • 00:14:02.758 --> 00:14:08.831
  • Nobody gave it to you, you chose it.
  • 00:14:08.831 --> 00:14:11.800
  • If you're grumpy and mean spirited, you chose it.
  • 00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:16.205
  • Merry christmas.
  • 00:14:16.205 --> 00:14:18.908
  • You see, your attitude doesn't reflect your circumstances, your
  • 00:14:18.908 --> 00:14:22.244
  • Attitude reflects your choices about your circumstances.
  • 00:14:22.244 --> 00:14:27.049
  • Jesus had every reason to be angry,
  • 00:14:27.049 --> 00:14:28.918
  • Or resentful, or embittered, and he wasn't.
  • 00:14:28.918 --> 00:14:32.655
  • And so we're given the counsel to
  • 00:14:32.655 --> 00:14:33.989
  • Have the attitude of christ jesus.
  • 00:14:33.989 --> 00:14:36.458
  • And then they're gonna give us some
  • 00:14:36.458 --> 00:14:37.793
  • Details about that beginning in verse 6.
  • 00:14:37.793 --> 00:14:39.828
  • "who, being in very nature god, did not consider equality with
  • 00:14:39.828 --> 00:14:42.665
  • God something to be grasped, but he made himself nothing, taking
  • 00:14:42.665 --> 00:14:46.869
  • The very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
  • 00:14:46.869 --> 00:14:50.539
  • And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and
  • 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:54.610
  • Became obedient to death-- even death on a cross."
  • 00:14:54.610 --> 00:15:00.382
  • Wow.
  • 00:15:00.382 --> 00:15:01.717
  • I don't believe it's a call to be a martyr.
  • 00:15:01.717 --> 00:15:03.385
  • I don't believe that at all, but
  • 00:15:03.385 --> 00:15:04.720
  • We're told to model jesus's attitude.
  • 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.056
  • And it starts with this expression of yielding.
  • 00:15:07.056 --> 00:15:10.259
  • "he didn't consider equality with god something to be
  • 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:13.362
  • Grasped, but he made himself nothing."
  • 00:15:13.362 --> 00:15:16.432
  • Now i will confess in public and online, yielding is not my
  • 00:15:16.432 --> 00:15:20.002
  • Favorite thing, i've had to learn to yield.
  • 00:15:20.002 --> 00:15:23.739
  • It's taken the spirit of god and some determination for me to
  • 00:15:23.739 --> 00:15:26.775
  • Even make the beginning of an inroad in learning to yield.
  • 00:15:26.775 --> 00:15:31.347
  • I don't like to yield when i'm driving.
  • 00:15:31.347 --> 00:15:34.283
  • Do you see those yellow triangular signs that say yield?
  • 00:15:34.283 --> 00:15:37.086
  • When i see one, you know what that means to me?
  • 00:15:37.086 --> 00:15:39.788
  • Hurry, 'cause if i can get to the intersection
  • 00:15:39.788 --> 00:15:42.624
  • Ahead of you, you can yield.
  • 00:15:42.624 --> 00:15:44.560
  • I've got the right of way.
  • 00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:47.730
  • Yeah, yielding is not fun.
  • 00:15:47.730 --> 00:15:49.465
  • And yet the story from jesus, the pathway out of that
  • 00:15:49.465 --> 00:15:51.867
  • Manger to the majesty of god was he yielded.
  • 00:15:51.867 --> 00:15:58.073
  • I don't think it's ever easy.
  • 00:15:58.073 --> 00:15:59.408
  • He humbled himself.
  • 00:15:59.408 --> 00:16:02.077
  • You see, we choose to think of others before we think of
  • 00:16:02.077 --> 00:16:04.680
  • Ourselves that we would serve someone else.
  • 00:16:04.680 --> 00:16:07.950
  • Humility is something that you collect
  • 00:16:07.950 --> 00:16:09.952
  • Or develops within you indirectly.
  • 00:16:09.952 --> 00:16:13.055
  • There's behaviors you engage in
  • 00:16:13.055 --> 00:16:14.390
  • That allows humility to grow within you.
  • 00:16:14.390 --> 00:16:16.158
  • If you forfeit that, if you reject the choices towards
  • 00:16:16.158 --> 00:16:18.360
  • Humility, the alternative is you can be humiliated.
  • 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:22.965
  • Very different thing, same outcome, humble yourself.
  • 00:16:22.965 --> 00:16:27.503
  • And then it says he chose obedience.
  • 00:16:27.503 --> 00:16:29.438
  • We have to choose obedience.
  • 00:16:29.438 --> 00:16:30.773
  • I don't believe obedience is very often fun.
  • 00:16:30.773 --> 00:16:34.143
  • I don't think it's fun for children.
  • 00:16:34.143 --> 00:16:36.211
  • It has to be taught and reinforced with love and
  • 00:16:36.211 --> 00:16:38.147
  • Discipline and consistency or it will never take root.
  • 00:16:38.147 --> 00:16:42.684
  • And the same is true for us as adults.
  • 00:16:42.684 --> 00:16:44.319
  • Obedience to god is not automatic, it's not intuitive.
  • 00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:48.690
  • It has to be reinforced, it has to be demonstrated,
  • 00:16:48.690 --> 00:16:51.393
  • And then it takes loving discipline
  • 00:16:51.393 --> 00:16:53.262
  • For that to take root in our hearts.
  • 00:16:53.262 --> 00:16:54.763
  • But ultimately we have to choose it, we will have
  • 00:16:54.763 --> 00:16:56.832
  • To choose obedience, or we will lead our lives as rebels.
  • 00:16:56.832 --> 00:17:02.271
  • If you're living in rebellion to god tonight, that means
  • 00:17:02.271 --> 00:17:04.273
  • There's a truth that you know and you're choosing not to be
  • 00:17:04.273 --> 00:17:07.042
  • Obedient to it, understand you're forfeiting
  • 00:17:07.042 --> 00:17:10.279
  • The opportunity you have on that pathway out of the stable.
  • 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:14.083
  • Allen: 2024 has almost slipped past us.
  • 00:17:17.953 --> 00:17:21.223
  • Thank you for your partnership this year.
  • 00:17:21.223 --> 00:17:23.325
  • It's been the most remarkable season we've ever known together
  • 00:17:23.325 --> 00:17:26.595
  • And i thank you for your faithful investment of time,
  • 00:17:26.595 --> 00:17:29.465
  • Energy, and prayers in our ministry.
  • 00:17:29.465 --> 00:17:31.600
  • Change is taking place in the earth.
  • 00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:33.902
  • We're seeing in our own nation, god responded to us with
  • 00:17:33.902 --> 00:17:36.772
  • Tremendous mercy and grace.
  • 00:17:36.772 --> 00:17:39.341
  • We have leaders that are headed to washington d.c., to enact
  • 00:17:39.341 --> 00:17:42.377
  • Changes to restore a set of values that have brought
  • 00:17:42.377 --> 00:17:44.847
  • Strength to our nation.
  • 00:17:44.847 --> 00:17:46.315
  • It's a time of great optimism and hope and anticipation and i
  • 00:17:46.315 --> 00:17:50.285
  • Believe that's true in the church as well.
  • 00:17:50.285 --> 00:17:52.321
  • Folks, we can't stand on the sidelines and expect somebody
  • 00:17:52.321 --> 00:17:55.090
  • Else to be the change.
  • 00:17:55.090 --> 00:17:56.859
  • We need the presence of god to emerge in our schools, on our
  • 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:59.962
  • College campuses, back in our churches.
  • 00:17:59.962 --> 00:18:03.132
  • And so i think it's a critical time that we bring the message
  • 00:18:03.132 --> 00:18:05.968
  • Of the truth of jesus christ.
  • 00:18:05.968 --> 00:18:07.636
  • It's a hopeful message.
  • 00:18:07.636 --> 00:18:09.004
  • It's a message of wholeness and healing and deliverance and
  • 00:18:09.004 --> 00:18:11.907
  • Freedom that we desperately need in our cities, in our
  • 00:18:11.907 --> 00:18:15.410
  • Communities, wherever god's people gather.
  • 00:18:15.410 --> 00:18:17.946
  • Join us.
  • 00:18:17.946 --> 00:18:19.281
  • Let's be a part of what god is doing in the earth and we will
  • 00:18:19.281 --> 00:18:21.950
  • Celebrate his faithfulness to the people of our generation.
  • 00:18:21.950 --> 00:18:25.621
  • Thank you for being a part.
  • 00:18:25.621 --> 00:18:26.989
  • Female announcer: god has uniquely blessed us.
  • 00:18:28.891 --> 00:18:31.393
  • The best is yet to come.
  • 00:18:31.393 --> 00:18:34.196
  • God has heard our prayers.
  • 00:18:34.196 --> 00:18:36.765
  • God has delivered us from oppression.
  • 00:18:36.765 --> 00:18:40.636
  • We live in a season of shaking, but together we stand, united in
  • 00:18:40.636 --> 00:18:47.009
  • Heart and purpose, to accomplish the will of god in
  • 00:18:47.009 --> 00:18:50.312
  • Our generation.
  • 00:18:50.312 --> 00:18:52.814
  • We will not stop.
  • 00:18:52.814 --> 00:18:54.883
  • Allen: i wanna ask you to make a sacrificial investment in
  • 00:18:56.885 --> 00:18:59.655
  • Our ministry.
  • 00:18:59.655 --> 00:19:01.023
  • We have a generous partner who'll match every gift between
  • 00:19:01.023 --> 00:19:03.091
  • Now and the end of the year.
  • 00:19:03.091 --> 00:19:04.459
  • We're making plans for the year ahead with a boldness and a
  • 00:19:04.459 --> 00:19:07.429
  • Courage unlike anything we've done in the past.
  • 00:19:07.429 --> 00:19:10.432
  • We wanna make as clear a statement for the gospel of
  • 00:19:10.432 --> 00:19:13.035
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:19:13.035 --> 00:19:14.403
  • We wanna strengthen the church.
  • 00:19:14.403 --> 00:19:16.038
  • We want to tell the truth in a way that people can rally
  • 00:19:16.038 --> 00:19:19.041
  • Around it.
  • 00:19:19.041 --> 00:19:20.409
  • God is moving in the earth, and we intend to participate
  • 00:19:20.409 --> 00:19:23.045
  • With him.
  • 00:19:23.045 --> 00:19:24.379
  • I hope you'll join us as we look forward to the new year.
  • 00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:27.349
  • Thank you in advance for your generous
  • 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:29.351
  • Investments in what god is doing.
  • 00:19:29.351 --> 00:19:31.019
  • God bless you.
  • 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.721
  • Announcer: as we step into this new season, let's be faithful to
  • 00:19:32.721 --> 00:19:36.191
  • Seek god.
  • 00:19:36.191 --> 00:19:37.759
  • Let's make room for him to refine our hearts so we can join
  • 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:41.196
  • Him in what he's doing.
  • 00:19:41.196 --> 00:19:43.198
  • Pastor allen's new 90-day devotional journal called, "set
  • 00:19:43.198 --> 00:19:47.202
  • Apart for his purposes," can help.
  • 00:19:47.202 --> 00:19:49.972
  • Each day brings a new scripture, teaching, prayer, and a
  • 00:19:49.972 --> 00:19:53.742
  • Journaling prompt.
  • 00:19:53.742 --> 00:19:55.077
  • We'll also send custom page markers so you can flag anything
  • 00:19:55.077 --> 00:19:58.513
  • You want to revisit.
  • 00:19:58.513 --> 00:20:00.048
  • Request your copy of "set apart for his purposes," when you
  • 00:20:00.048 --> 00:20:02.751
  • Donate $50 or more today at allenjackson.com or call...
  • 00:20:02.751 --> 00:20:13.996
  • Allen: one of the great reliefs of life is to discover
  • 00:20:18.066 --> 00:20:19.935
  • There is a god and it's not you or me.
  • 00:20:19.935 --> 00:20:24.940
  • His ways are better than my ways, his
  • 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:26.642
  • Thoughts are higher than my thoughts.
  • 00:20:26.642 --> 00:20:29.311
  • He has more strength and power and wisdom
  • 00:20:29.311 --> 00:20:31.113
  • And experience than i'll ever have.
  • 00:20:31.113 --> 00:20:33.615
  • So i'm learning to yield to him far more readily and far more
  • 00:20:33.615 --> 00:20:36.418
  • Gratefully than i've ever done before because
  • 00:20:36.418 --> 00:20:39.521
  • I want him to write my future, not me.
  • 00:20:39.521 --> 00:20:43.158
  • Philippians chapter 2 and verse 9.
  • 00:20:43.158 --> 00:20:44.726
  • "therefore, god exalted him," jesus, "to the highest place and
  • 00:20:44.726 --> 00:20:48.730
  • Gave him the name that is above every name,
  • 00:20:48.730 --> 00:20:51.300
  • That at the name of jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on
  • 00:20:51.300 --> 00:20:54.069
  • Earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that jesus
  • 00:20:54.069 --> 00:20:57.606
  • Christ is lord, to the glory of god the father."
  • 00:20:57.606 --> 00:21:01.410
  • There it is, because he humbled himself and became obedient,
  • 00:21:01.410 --> 00:21:06.381
  • Obedient even to death, and even death on a cross.
  • 00:21:06.381 --> 00:21:10.919
  • He wasn't grasping, he yielded, therefore, god exalted him.
  • 00:21:10.919 --> 00:21:17.826
  • So if you're in a manger and there's way too much manure and
  • 00:21:17.826 --> 00:21:22.497
  • The aroma's not good and the footing's poor and you don't
  • 00:21:22.497 --> 00:21:27.035
  • Know the way through, i would invite you this
  • 00:21:27.035 --> 00:21:30.205
  • Christmas eve to take jesus as the pattern.
  • 00:21:30.205 --> 00:21:33.475
  • Choose obedience, choose to forgive, choose to live
  • 00:21:33.475 --> 00:21:37.679
  • Generously, choose to yield to the lord.
  • 00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:41.817
  • I trust god.
  • 00:21:41.817 --> 00:21:45.153
  • He can take every one of us from those scenes in our lives and
  • 00:21:45.153 --> 00:21:48.156
  • Those circumstances in our lives that look like they're defined
  • 00:21:48.156 --> 00:21:50.892
  • By the stable and make them a display of his majesty.
  • 00:21:50.892 --> 00:21:55.931
  • I suspect you know it's true.
  • 00:21:55.931 --> 00:21:57.265
  • There's probably some circumstances in
  • 00:21:57.265 --> 00:21:58.600
  • Your life where you've already experienced it.
  • 00:21:58.600 --> 00:22:02.003
  • I wanna pray with you.
  • 00:22:02.003 --> 00:22:03.338
  • When you came in this evening, they gave
  • 00:22:03.338 --> 00:22:04.673
  • You the elements of communion.
  • 00:22:04.673 --> 00:22:07.042
  • If you'll retrieve those, if you didn't receive them when you
  • 00:22:07.042 --> 00:22:09.077
  • Came in, there's ushers in the aisles, if you'll
  • 00:22:09.077 --> 00:22:10.479
  • Raise a hand, they'll bring one to you.
  • 00:22:10.479 --> 00:22:12.681
  • They may try and sell it, but it's really supposed to be free.
  • 00:22:12.681 --> 00:22:16.752
  • If you're at home online, you don't have to have
  • 00:22:16.752 --> 00:22:19.454
  • One of our communion kits, you can grab a
  • 00:22:19.454 --> 00:22:20.956
  • Saltine cracker and a glass of water.
  • 00:22:20.956 --> 00:22:23.692
  • You can use an oreo and a coke.
  • 00:22:23.692 --> 00:22:27.295
  • I don't mean that disrespectfully, but you don't
  • 00:22:27.295 --> 00:22:29.197
  • Have to have a wafer that is stamped with a religious symbol
  • 00:22:29.197 --> 00:22:32.134
  • In order to participate in communion, isn't that good?
  • 00:22:32.134 --> 00:22:36.104
  • You know, communion is not a church
  • 00:22:36.104 --> 00:22:37.839
  • Tradition or just a ritual.
  • 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:40.409
  • It is a tradition and a ritual, but it's far more than that.
  • 00:22:40.409 --> 00:22:44.713
  • Our lord himself implemented this.
  • 00:22:44.713 --> 00:22:48.283
  • He did it as a part of his observation
  • 00:22:48.283 --> 00:22:50.952
  • As a faithful jewish rabbi.
  • 00:22:50.952 --> 00:22:54.055
  • You see, the jewish people already had
  • 00:22:54.055 --> 00:22:55.590
  • A meal that was significant to them.
  • 00:22:55.590 --> 00:22:57.259
  • Every year they celebrated passover, it was the last meal
  • 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:00.695
  • They had in egypt before god delivered them.
  • 00:23:00.695 --> 00:23:03.365
  • And he commanded the jewish people every year to celebrate
  • 00:23:03.365 --> 00:23:07.269
  • That passover meal so they would never forget
  • 00:23:07.269 --> 00:23:09.371
  • That he had delivered them from slavery.
  • 00:23:09.371 --> 00:23:13.642
  • And jesus is celebrating the passover meal
  • 00:23:13.642 --> 00:23:15.610
  • With his disciples in jerusalem, but at the end of
  • 00:23:15.610 --> 00:23:19.681
  • The meal, he reaches over and takes bread.
  • 00:23:19.681 --> 00:23:21.616
  • There's a place set for messiah.
  • 00:23:21.616 --> 00:23:23.618
  • And he takes the bread and he said, "this bread
  • 00:23:23.618 --> 00:23:25.487
  • Is my body broken for you, as often as you
  • 00:23:25.487 --> 00:23:27.456
  • Eat this, do this in remembrance of me."
  • 00:23:27.456 --> 00:23:32.127
  • Well, he hasn't been to the cross yet.
  • 00:23:32.127 --> 00:23:34.796
  • They haven't seen him suffer yet.
  • 00:23:34.796 --> 00:23:38.400
  • The importance of what he was saying to them was only gonna
  • 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.102
  • Become clear in the few hours ahead.
  • 00:23:41.102 --> 00:23:44.072
  • So they wrote this for us after the fact so
  • 00:23:44.072 --> 00:23:46.508
  • That we would never lose sight of it.
  • 00:23:46.508 --> 00:23:49.644
  • We don't come to the communion table because it's a holiday or
  • 00:23:49.644 --> 00:23:51.980
  • A part of a religious service, we come because
  • 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:54.850
  • We benefit from what happened on that cross,
  • 00:23:54.850 --> 00:23:56.918
  • And jesus is the one that told us that.
  • 00:23:56.918 --> 00:24:01.189
  • See, something supernatural happened on the cross.
  • 00:24:01.189 --> 00:24:03.592
  • It looked like a great defeat to jesus and a victory for his
  • 00:24:03.592 --> 00:24:06.895
  • Enemies, but in truth, through the cross,
  • 00:24:06.895 --> 00:24:09.231
  • Satan's power over humanity was broken.
  • 00:24:09.231 --> 00:24:13.134
  • A divine exchange takes place on that cross, the perfect,
  • 00:24:13.134 --> 00:24:16.104
  • Sinless, obedient son of god took upon himself all of the
  • 00:24:16.104 --> 00:24:20.141
  • Judgment that was due by divine justice, my
  • 00:24:20.141 --> 00:24:23.011
  • Ungodliness, my rebellion and yours
  • 00:24:23.011 --> 00:24:27.415
  • That in turn, you and i might receive all of
  • 00:24:27.415 --> 00:24:29.217
  • The blessings due to his perfect obedience.
  • 00:24:29.217 --> 00:24:33.021
  • So when we come to the communion table, we come to appropriate by
  • 00:24:33.021 --> 00:24:36.858
  • Our belief what jesus provided for us.
  • 00:24:36.858 --> 00:24:42.998
  • We take the paradox of the defeat of the
  • 00:24:42.998 --> 00:24:44.833
  • Cross and make it a victory in our lives.
  • 00:24:44.833 --> 00:24:48.870
  • Not because we're smart, or powerful,
  • 00:24:48.870 --> 00:24:50.739
  • Or clever, but because jesus is.
  • 00:24:50.739 --> 00:24:58.413
  • See, whatever power you think is arrayed against you, whether
  • 00:24:58.413 --> 00:25:02.384
  • It's demonic, or political, or relational, or whatever you may
  • 00:25:02.384 --> 00:25:07.088
  • Think it is, the power of god is greater.
  • 00:25:07.088 --> 00:25:11.860
  • And so for that reason, we come
  • 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:13.795
  • Regularly to the communion table.
  • 00:25:13.795 --> 00:25:16.631
  • Now, let's come tonight as disciples.
  • 00:25:16.631 --> 00:25:19.601
  • Again, jesus said, "this bread is my body broken for you.
  • 00:25:19.601 --> 00:25:23.672
  • As often as you eat this, do this in remembrance of me."
  • 00:25:23.672 --> 00:25:26.841
  • Let's receive together.
  • 00:25:26.841 --> 00:25:30.579
  • Then he took a cup and said, "this cup is a new covenant."
  • 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:34.282
  • Literally a new contract.
  • 00:25:34.282 --> 00:25:36.651
  • "it'll be sealed with my own blood.
  • 00:25:36.651 --> 00:25:38.520
  • And as often as you drink this cup, you proclaim
  • 00:25:38.520 --> 00:25:40.755
  • My death until you see me again."
  • 00:25:40.755 --> 00:25:44.092
  • Let's receive together.
  • 00:25:44.092 --> 00:25:52.634
  • Will you bow with me in prayer?
  • 00:25:52.634 --> 00:25:56.137
  • Father, thank you.
  • 00:25:56.137 --> 00:25:57.973
  • Thank you for your great love for us that you sent your son.
  • 00:25:57.973 --> 00:26:01.943
  • And lord jesus, we thank you that in your obedience you
  • 00:26:01.943 --> 00:26:05.413
  • Offered yourself as a living sacrifice, that we
  • 00:26:05.413 --> 00:26:08.850
  • Might be set free, that we might be forgiven,
  • 00:26:08.850 --> 00:26:12.053
  • And cleansed, and redeemed, and justified.
  • 00:26:12.053 --> 00:26:16.291
  • That through the shed blood of jesus, every
  • 00:26:16.291 --> 00:26:18.493
  • Claim against us has been canceled.
  • 00:26:18.493 --> 00:26:20.695
  • We praise you for it tonight.
  • 00:26:20.695 --> 00:26:22.897
  • And as we have received the bread and the
  • 00:26:22.897 --> 00:26:24.232
  • Cup, we receive your life into our lives.
  • 00:26:24.232 --> 00:26:27.435
  • I thank you that we've been declared righteous, made holy,
  • 00:26:27.435 --> 00:26:31.740
  • Set apart for the purposes of god.
  • 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:35.076
  • We thank you lord jesus, that we can face christmas morning with
  • 00:26:35.076 --> 00:26:38.513
  • The great hope and promise of our redemption alive within us.
  • 00:26:38.513 --> 00:26:43.918
  • And i pray for those that are listening that have broken
  • 00:26:43.918 --> 00:26:45.920
  • Hearts, i pray you will mend them.
  • 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:50.392
  • Those that face serious diagnosis, that
  • 00:26:50.392 --> 00:26:52.727
  • You would bring life to their bodies.
  • 00:26:52.727 --> 00:26:55.397
  • Those who are filled with despair and hopelessness, that
  • 00:26:55.397 --> 00:26:58.133
  • You would bring joy and a purpose.
  • 00:26:58.133 --> 00:27:01.436
  • I thank you for your faithfulness in our life,
  • 00:27:01.436 --> 00:27:03.538
  • That greater is the one who is in us than
  • 00:27:03.538 --> 00:27:06.241
  • Whatever may be arrayed against us.
  • 00:27:06.241 --> 00:27:08.977
  • We thank you for the victory of the cross and for the blood of
  • 00:27:08.977 --> 00:27:12.347
  • Jesus that has transferred us from the kingdom
  • 00:27:12.347 --> 00:27:15.717
  • Of darkness into the kingdom of your son.
  • 00:27:15.717 --> 00:27:18.586
  • In his name we pray, amen.
  • 00:27:18.586 --> 00:27:27.362