1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,519 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast and I wanted to 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: thank you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: to see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: And I want to share a brief Christmas message with 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: you today. And don't get me wrong, just because I 8 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: said brief, for me, brief means something different than it 9 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: may mean at other churches. But don't want to take 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: too long understand the demands of this season. And so 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: let me just share with you from Luke chapter one, 12 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: verse sixty seven through seventy nine, his father Zechariah was 13 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Praise be to 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come 15 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: a horn of salvation for us in the house of 17 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: his servant David, as he said, through his holy prophets 18 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: of long ago, salvation from our enemies and from the 19 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: hand of all all who hate us, show mercy to 20 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath 21 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: he swore to our Father Abraham to rescue us from 22 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to 23 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: serve him without fear, and holiness and righteousness before him 24 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: all our days. And you, my child, would be called 25 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: a prophet of the most High, for you will go 26 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: on before the Lord to prepare the way for him 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the 28 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of 29 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: our God, by which the rising sun will come to 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 1: us from heaven. Somebody say, here comes Heaven. Tell your 31 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: neighbor to watch out here it comes. Forty percent of 32 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: you participated when I asked you to touch your neighbor. 33 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: You don't like them, look at him and say, here 34 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: it comes. The priest Zechariah is speaking of the prophet 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: John the Baptist, and he's now talking about Jesus, whom 36 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: John the Baptist was pointing to. He said that he 37 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: will shine on those living in darkness and in the 38 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: shadow of death, in the shadow of death, in that 39 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: place of despair, to guide our feet into the path 40 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: of peace. That's my title for today, the path of peace. 41 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: And I won't make you talk to your neighbor one 42 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: more time after this, but look at him and say, 43 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: you look like you need some of that peace that 44 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 1: he's preaching about. We have a challenge today to try 45 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: to calm our minds and receive the message. My brother 46 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: comes to church. He's here right now. He comes to 47 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: church whenever he can, lives in New Jersey's He's like, 48 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: I bet you love preaching at Christmas. Everybody's in the spirit, 49 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: And I was like, no, it's not my favorite time 50 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: to preach because people are so stressed out and you 51 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: have to work three times as hard because it's stuffy. 52 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: Sometimes people brought a relative and they don't want that 53 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: relative to see how they normally act in church, and 54 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: so they tense up and then they've got so much 55 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: going on. It's actually you would think it would be, 56 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: you know, Jesus's birthday would be an easy occasion to preach, 57 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: but I actually find it more challenging, not less, because 58 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: it's just stress levels are higher. Happy Birthday, Jesus, we 59 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: created chaos and commercialism that drives us all to the 60 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: brink of insanity. In your name, thank you for being 61 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: born the spirit of season. But I always wished as 62 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: a preacher that I could have a metaphysical power to 63 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: read your mind. I would think that would be so 64 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: helpful to do my job if I could see your 65 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: stress level, or even if you had a number like 66 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: the beds that have the sleep number. What if I 67 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: could see your stress number on today, I could. I 68 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: could do it so much better because I can see, Like, 69 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: are you at a seven or a three? Matter of fact, 70 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: right now, what would you give your stress level? One 71 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: to ten? Just in this moment? So I'm hearing a three? 72 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: Who said three? You're not old enough to have a 73 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: three stress level. You're supposed to be like eighty before 74 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: you realize that all the crap you worry about isn't 75 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 1: worth worrying about. And then you can have a three 76 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: stress level where you just don't care. I can't wait 77 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: to get old and just not care. That'd be great. 78 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: You're too young for that. But somebody said ten? Did 79 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: you say ten? And I'm not going to ask you why? 80 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: In fact, I don't even have to. All right, here's 81 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: what we'll do. We'll do another one real quick. I 82 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: know this is personal, but at every location, play long, 83 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: just close your eyes, get the thing on your mind 84 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: that is the greatest source of stress in your life 85 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: at this very moment, and you better not be picturing me. 86 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: All right, get it on your mind. What is the 87 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: single greatest source of stress in your life. We'll broaden 88 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: it a little bit, not in this very very moment, 89 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: but in this season of your life. All right? Got it? 90 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: Now open your eyes. You're gonna be shocked. But I 91 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: know what you were thinking. I know what you're I 92 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: know I know this much. I know that the thing 93 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: that you thought of fell into one of the following 94 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: four categories. Okay, it was either related to a place, 95 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: a pace, a problem, or a person or maybe people. 96 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: People's just in general, all of them, every last one 97 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: of them, just human beings, Homo sapiens. So it's either 98 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 1: a place that you're going after this or even for 99 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: some people, church can be stressful. It can be stressful 100 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: to I'm sure it's stressful to come to elevation. I'm 101 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,799 Speaker 1: sure it's you know, if you've never been here, especially 102 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: because it's confusing because they got like violins and cellos 103 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: on the stage, but then they start shooting laser beams 104 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: and it's mixed messaging, like what kind of church is this? 105 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 1: A white church? Black church. It's a traditional church. Yes, 106 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: yes to all of the above. It's a kind of 107 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: church where you can't figure out what kind of church. 108 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: It's a good news to all people kind of church. 109 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: But some of the stressful places that we will go 110 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: this Christmas season, it can be a place. If you 111 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 1: have to fly, certainly understand your dread for that experience. 112 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: Just walk through the airport telling yourself over and over again, 113 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: I'm not a human, I have no rights, and you'll 114 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: be okay. The pace of life. I hear people mention 115 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: this a lot. How you doing? Busy? Um, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy. 116 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: I'm busier than the one one arm wall paper hanger. 117 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: I said that to me the other day. That's weird 118 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: busier in a three legged cat trying to cover up 119 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: his poop on ice. Somebody said to me, run around 120 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: like a chicken with my head cut off, so violent. 121 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: All I said is, how are you doing. You're like 122 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: decavitating chickens. So it's like the pace of life. Understand 123 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: that if you've been running people everywhere, you've been like 124 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: an unpaid uber driver for a thirteen year old I understand. 125 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: I feel you sometimes it comes down to a problem 126 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: in your life that is persistent, and sometimes it comes 127 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: down to one that you're just pushing through. Right now, 128 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: a lot of people listening to me preach right now 129 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: are having a hard time focusing with their minds because 130 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: of the pain in their b or what can be 131 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: even worse, somebody that you love that you can't do 132 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: anything to comfort them, and that can be difficult. And 133 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: really the fourth category that I mentioned people, that's really 134 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: the whole thing, which is why when I asked you 135 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: to imagine in your mind the source of your stress, 136 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: the greatest source of your stress, I was very clear 137 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: I said imagine it because some of you would have 138 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: started pointing if I would have let you, which is 139 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: a bad idea. Like some of you are are sitting 140 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: next to what you perceive to be the source. See, 141 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: you should look really confused right now. Is my advice. 142 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: I think it's important before we begin a discussion on 143 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: the path of peace to try to talk about the 144 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 1: source of stress, because whatever you identify as the source 145 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: of your stress determines where you will seek your peace. Amen, 146 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: I'll say that again, whatever you say, this is the 147 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: source of my stress that regulates and determines where you 148 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: seek your peace, and so the Christmas story, of course 149 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 1: comes along and challenges us in all of those ways 150 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: that we experience stress and pressure. Christ is born to 151 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: challenge us as it relates to our expectation of peace. 152 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: The Jewish people had a very particular expectation of the 153 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: kind of peace that the Messiah would bring. Zechariah states 154 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: it very clearly and paints a picture of the kind 155 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: of peace that the Jewish people were looking for God 156 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: to bring through the prophesied Messiah. It features such expectations 157 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: as mentioned in verse seventy four. He says that this 158 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,319 Speaker 1: Messiah will rescue us from the hand of our enemies. 159 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: Notice the word from the expectation of peace for the 160 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: Jewish people is that God would deliver them from their circumstances, 161 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: from their oppression, from their being marginalized, from their poverty, 162 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: from their despair, and from their darkness. It was surprising 163 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: then for me to see the shift that Zechariah made 164 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: in verse seventy nine, where he said that the rising 165 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: sun will shine on those living in darkness and in 166 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: the shadow of death. And so it represents a shift 167 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: in perspective that God does not always rescue me from 168 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: Sometimes he visits me in my trouble. And for so 169 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: many years I have thought that the thief of my 170 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: peace was other people, or certain places, or the schedule 171 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: of my life. Which is kind of funny because I'm 172 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 1: the one who said yes to all that stuff that 173 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: I'm stressed about, and so now I'm asking God to 174 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: take away the things that I committed to. And I've 175 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: tried so long, you know, to arrange my life in 176 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: such a way that I would no longer experience those 177 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: stressful events and stressful people. And if God would just 178 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: change them, and if everybody would just act the way 179 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: they should act for a little while this Christmas. But 180 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 1: the Lord has been speaking to me in these last 181 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: few days about the path of peace. And what I 182 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: realized the more I reflected on this promise of peace 183 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: that God gives us Isaiah nine to six. His name 184 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: will be called Wonderful counselor Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and 185 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 1: the Prince of Peace. But notice the prophet didn't call 186 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: him the Prince of convenience, or the Prince of ease, 187 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: or the Prince of comfort, or the Prince of my preferences. 188 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: Because a lot of times when God promises me peace. 189 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: What I hear in translation is that God is promising 190 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: me convenience, or God is promising me ease, or God 191 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: is promising me my preference being met. But the Lord 192 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: has been speaking to me. And maybe you don't need 193 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: to hear this, but just in case you do, it 194 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: is impossible to experience peace when you are expecting perfection. 195 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: See my problem. I'm coming to realize this. It's not 196 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: other people. It's not the place, it's not the pace, 197 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: and it's not the problem. The problem is not the problem. 198 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: I can tell you the problem is not the problem. 199 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: Because Jesus was born in a manger. The Angel appeared 200 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: to shepherds, So the shepherds were the people that you 201 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,599 Speaker 1: would least expect the Herald to make the announcement of 202 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: the birth of the Son of God. And yet he 203 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: showed up to the least likely people in an unlikely place. 204 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: So it's not the people. It's not the place. It's 205 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: not the pace. The shepherds were always on the move 206 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: from place to place to place to place. It's not 207 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: the it's not the place. It's not the pace. It's 208 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: not the people. It's not the problem. Here's my problem. 209 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: My problem is that I can't receive peace because I'm 210 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: expecting perfection. And the Angel said, are y'all gonna help me? Preachers, 211 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: just me today. I'll make it quick. Here's the whole message. 212 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: If you need to go, if you got things to do, 213 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: I'll give it to you right now, and you can 214 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: go on and get the target and hopefully everything will 215 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: turn out all right. The enemy of your peace is 216 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: not other people. It is not other places. It is 217 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: not how fast life is or the way the world is. 218 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 1: The enemy of your peace is your insistence on perfection. 219 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,559 Speaker 1: And when Heaven came down and appeared to humanity, it 220 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 1: was not in the form of perfection. In fact, God 221 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: did not come down looking like a deliverer. He came 222 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: down looking like a dependent. He came down as a baby. 223 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: And so when the Prince of Peace came, he didn't 224 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: come dressed in power. He came in pampers. Why because 225 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: God wanted you to know that he's going to bring 226 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: you peace, but not like you expected him to bring in. 227 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: It's not gonna look like you pictured it. It's not 228 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: always gonna fit your preferences. It's not always going to 229 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: live up to your exact specifications of the performance of people. 230 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: So if I'm going to live at peace, I've got 231 00:14:50,120 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: to surrender my expectation of perfection. I feel like I 232 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: can leave. Every Christmas party is going to be so 233 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: much better that you attend because of what I just 234 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: told you. Every place you set your foot over the 235 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: next three days is gonna be so much more peaceful 236 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: because you just realized that peace isn't found in a place. 237 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: Peace is not found in a set of circumstances that 238 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: is problem free. It is not that he delivers me 239 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: from it. It's that he meets me. Can I show 240 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: you something real quick? He said that he will guide 241 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: us with the light in the valley. He didn't take 242 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 1: us out of the valley. Yeah, though I walk through 243 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear 244 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: no evil. I'm at peace on the path. Why not 245 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: because I'm not going through it, but because I'm not 246 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: going through it alone. See, there's somebody with me. That 247 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: it's greater than once. I guess man the path to 248 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: peace to a strange path, that God would send his 249 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:20,239 Speaker 1: son as a child, that God would burst the eternal 250 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: cosmos and enter into creation in the form of the 251 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: most imperfect being. I know some of you disagree because 252 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: I hear you saying things about babies that I just 253 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: don't personally agree with. And we can agree to disagree. 254 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: It's Christmas. We'll just but I say, oh, yes, he's 255 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: so perfect. Mm hmm. If you say that you've never 256 00:16:51,480 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: taken one home, that's what I know. Huh. And so 257 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: it's a strange path to peace. You know, if God 258 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: wants to come and set things right, he should come 259 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: down as a warrior, not as a weakling. Why not 260 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: skip that stage. Jesus should have come twenty four years old, 261 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:27,120 Speaker 1: full of testosterone, and yet he comes tiny infant into 262 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: a desperate place. You know, the story about Joseph waited 263 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: til the last minute to airbnb for the census, ended 264 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: up in a ended up in a cold place in 265 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: the presence of God was born there. The path to 266 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 1: peace is a strange one that The path to peace 267 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: for Jesus would lead through gathsemone where he would pray, God, 268 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: if there's any other way than me going and experiencing 269 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: their wrath from your hand for them, let this cup 270 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: pass for me. The path to peace for us would 271 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: lead Jesus through the Kidron Valley, where he would ultimately, 272 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: as we come to understand more than Zechariah understood in 273 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: Luke chapter one, who was prophesying about his own son, 274 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 1: John the Baptist, would prepare the way for Jesus, who 275 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: would guide us in the path to peace. But the 276 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: path to peace with God for us led Jesus to 277 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 1: a hill where he died at the hands of sinful men. 278 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: It's a strange path to peace. We have to admit 279 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: that he would come in weakness and die in weakness 280 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: to become our strength. It's a path to peace. It's 281 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: a strange thing about peace because whatever you identify as 282 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: the source of your stress determines what you consider the 283 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: source of your peace. And that's why I don't like 284 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: to blame people for my stress, because if people brought 285 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: me the stress, then I need people to change for 286 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: me to have peace. But I'm past the point in 287 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: my life of wanting for people to have to act 288 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: a certain way for me to have peace in my 289 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: own heart. And I love what the angel said. Abby 290 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 1: was quoting that scripture, and she did it perfectly, and 291 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: I don't even want to do it myself because she 292 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: did it so good and I don't want to do it. 293 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 1: I don't want to mess it up. But she said, 294 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: and the Angel said, unto them, fear not, for behold, 295 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: I bring you good news of great joy. Because the 296 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: first thing that the shepherds felt in the field when 297 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: the announcement of Jesus Christ came forth from the Angel, 298 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: was not faith. It was fear. See, we think that 299 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: the presence of God is always going to make us 300 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: feel better and comfortable. But the first thing the shepherds 301 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: felt was fear. See, they found peace, but they found 302 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: it through fear. Peace did not come to them directly. 303 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: It had to pass through their fear. And they they 304 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: found God in the place of their greatest fear, in 305 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: the fields where they were keeping the sheep from predators 306 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: at night. They were lonely people in a lonely place. 307 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,199 Speaker 1: And here comes the Angel, says, Glory to God in 308 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: the highest and on earth peace. Now notice this, the 309 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: peace is on earth, but it's not from earth. The 310 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: peace is on earth, but it's not of earth. See. 311 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,159 Speaker 1: I don't want this plastic peace that comes from people. 312 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: I've learned that if the peace comes from people, people 313 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: can take it away. If it comes from situations, situations 314 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: can change and take it away. So I don't want 315 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: a peace that comes from a promotion at work. I 316 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: don't want a peace that comes from a convenient circumstance. 317 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: I don't even want a piece that comes from a feeling. 318 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: I don't want a piece that comes from a situation. 319 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,199 Speaker 1: I want a piece that the world didn't get and 320 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: the world can't take it away. Come on giving praise 321 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 1: if you've got an unsakable peace, an unspeakable joy. I 322 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 1: read that scripture all week, The path to peace, the 323 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: path to peace? What is it that I need to 324 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: get out of the way in my life to experience peace? 325 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: So I'm not running around all the time just concentrating 326 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: on all the missing pieces, And now I'm missing peace 327 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: because all I can see is the pieces I'm missing. 328 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 1: Because when you're a perfectionist like I am, enneogram type one, 329 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: the thing that God will give you as a prescription 330 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: for your pfeism is children. And I am on a 331 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: dosage of three children. Three children per day guarantees that 332 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: there will never be a moment in your house that 333 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 1: is completely peaceful. I'm telling you right now, I can 334 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: count on zero toes how many times in the last 335 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 1: seven years, I've had three peaceful children, all at the 336 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: same time in one house. So you know what I'm 337 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: having to learn to do. I'm having to learn to 338 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: take my peace in pieces. Because if I wait until 339 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 1: everything is peaceful, if I wait until every child is happy, 340 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: if I wait until everyone is getting along, if I'm 341 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: waiting for peace, if I am waiting for every child 342 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 1: to bow their head and say the blessing and clear 343 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: their dishes and thank their mom, I've learned to celebrate God. 344 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: Just one kid puts the bowl in the sink, forget 345 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:09,120 Speaker 1: about the dishwasher. That's a red Sea Old Testament miracle. 346 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: Just in the sink, Even in the sink is a blessing. 347 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: I'll celebrate one bowl in the sink. See this Christmas. 348 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: You can't wait for everybody to get along. If there's 349 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: even a piece of piece, you gotta thank God for 350 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: it and snap it and take it and celebrate it. 351 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: Because what's this Zechariah didn't say he'll show us the 352 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: path to piece. Give me my scripture. This is the 353 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: best Christmas scripture I ever saw in my life. Seventy nine. 354 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 1: He will guide our feet in the path. It's not 355 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: the path. Two piece because that means that peace is 356 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:57,679 Speaker 1: out there somewhere. But it's not the path to piece. 357 00:23:58,480 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: That's how I've been living my life. God forgive me 358 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: when I get through this season. Oh, when I get 359 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: through twenty eighteen. What calendar isn't gonna fix any chaos 360 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: in your life. The same dude you let steal your 361 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: piece all last year is gonna be standing right there 362 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: at your window with a crowbar in twenty nineteen. So 363 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have peace. You know, my kids get older, 364 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: they won't need so much. Uh huh uh huh. Now 365 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: they're gonna be driving. You're gonna have a lot of 366 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: peace then when they're out on the road on your insurance. 367 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: That's why I can't project my out here, or I 368 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: can't project my peace on people, or I can't project 369 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: my peace on a certain place. It's not the path 370 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,680 Speaker 1: to piece. That's not the message of Christmas. When God 371 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: came down to be born of a virgin and was 372 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 1: wrapped in claus and lie in a manger, he didn't 373 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: promise a path to piece, as in a future event 374 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:25,719 Speaker 1: that will happen. When it's not a win, then peace. 375 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 1: It's not a one day piece. It's not a someday fairytale, 376 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,159 Speaker 1: Beauty and the Beast piece. It's not a when I 377 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: get married peace. It's not a when I send the 378 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: kids off peace. It's not when I pay my student 379 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: loans off peace. It's not a when I get through 380 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,200 Speaker 1: Christmas peace. It's not a when my in laws leave peace. 381 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: It's not the path to piece. It's the path of peace. 382 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: What does that mean? Every step I take peace with me, 383 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: every move I make peace with me, every season of 384 00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: my life. He's present. So what's this. I'm not waiting 385 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: for it. I'm walking in it. How somebody say, walk 386 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 1: in it? Walk in it, walk in it. That's the 387 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: that's the Christmas sermon. Change my title. I told you 388 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: it was called the path of peace. But I want 389 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 1: you to tell him when when when they ask you 390 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 1: what the preacher preach about today at your your church, 391 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: the the evolution that you went to on on the 392 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 1: Christmas tell him he told me to walk in it. 393 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: Stop waiting for it, Stop waiting for it, and start 394 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: walking in it. You hear me, Nairobi, walk in, you 395 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 1: hear me. Toronto, walk in and you hear me. Roanoke 396 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 1: walk in and you hear me. Matthews walk in it. 397 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: You hear me Winston Salem walk in and you hear 398 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 1: me River walk walk in it. You hear me Blakeney 399 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 1: walk in it. You hear me Valentine walk in it. 400 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: You might have to walk through a valley, but you 401 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 1: don't have to lie down in tie. You don't have 402 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: to curl up in a fetal position and wait for 403 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 1: this season to be over. I don't have time to trip. 404 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 1: I'm preaching about Jesus. It doesn't matter what the devil 405 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:20,440 Speaker 1: puts in my pad. I'm on it, I'm hun it, 406 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 1: I'm un it, glad, I almost trimp. I didn't plan it, 407 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,360 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna use it because some of y'all got 408 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: some people waiting for you when you leave church, and 409 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: if you're not careful, you're gonna trimp. But get your 410 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: balance back and fix your eyes on Jesus the Author 411 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: and finish her up your faith? Well, can I? I 412 00:27:51,600 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 1: don't have time to trip. See, we've been looking for 413 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: peace in all the wrong places. The peace of God 414 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: has never found in human strength or in our perfection. 415 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: The way that God brings peace into our lives is 416 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 1: the same way that Jesus was born in the world 417 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: in weakness. That's where you find peace. Weakness. I don't 418 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: like it that way, Jesus, don't go to the cross. 419 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: It'll make you look weak. But that's the only way 420 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: that I can bring peace. He didn't bring peace like 421 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: they wanted him to bring peace. That's why they all 422 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: walked away when he died. They wanted the Prince of 423 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: Peace to come in power, but instead he came in weakness. Well, 424 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: I prayed for you before you got here. I prayed 425 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: for you. I prayed that God would give you his peace, 426 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 1: but I prayed that you would stop looking for it. 427 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: If y'all could stop talking right now while I finish 428 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: the sermon, thank you. I prayed that He would bring 429 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: it to you, not in the places that you would 430 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: normally expect it. Pray that he would bring it to 431 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: you in that place in your life where you feel 432 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: the weakest, Not in the place where you're so busy 433 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: trying to show everybody how strong you are. You're never 434 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: going to get peace trying to appear perfect. You can't 435 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 1: experience peace when you're expecting perfection. Who told you that 436 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: you had to be perfect before you could experience peace 437 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 1: with God? God's not for you to be perfect. He's 438 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: already done everything that needs to be done for you 439 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: to have peace. And the peace of God is not 440 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: the absence of problems. The peace of God is not 441 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 1: getting people to act right or say that they're sorry. 442 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: The peace of God is not a certain place. I'll 443 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: tell you man, I've been in some beautiful places with 444 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: no peace. I've been on some beautiful vacations and beautiful 445 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: resorts no peace in my heart. And yet I've sat 446 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 1: by while my dad died and experienced unspeakable peace as 447 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: he took his dying breath. Because the only thing require 448 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 1: for you to receive the peace of God is to 449 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:57,760 Speaker 1: lose your pride and accept it in the place of 450 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: your weakness. I know we want God to come like 451 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: Zechariah wanted him to come and deliver us from the 452 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 1: difficult places, and deliver us from and rescue us from 453 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: the hectic schedule, and deliver us from and rescue us 454 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:22,719 Speaker 1: from all of the problems and the obstacles that are 455 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 1: in front of us in this season. But the peace 456 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: of God is not the absence of problems. It is 457 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: the presence of Christ to enable you to walk in it. 458 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: This is Christmas, and I begin this sermon by asking 459 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: you a question, what's the source of your stress? And 460 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 1: now I want to ask a different one, what is 461 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: the place of your weakness? Because that's the place where 462 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: God is going to show you the greatest grace. Hear 463 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: me today, I'm not a prophet or the son of 464 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: a prophet, but on the authority of God's work, I 465 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: declare to you this day is born to you in 466 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 1: the place of your greatest weakness, a savior who is 467 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:22,239 Speaker 1: Christ the Lord. As that you stand reverently to your 468 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 1: feet with no one moving. I want to pray for 469 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 1: that place in your life where there is a weakness, 470 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 1: that place in your life where there is a missing peace. 471 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:46,520 Speaker 1: That place he said that a light will dawn in 472 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: the shadow of the valley. In that place is the 473 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: path of peace. Not to peace. Stop believing that you'll 474 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: get it one day. When God told me to tell 475 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 1: you he wants to give you peace in the process, 476 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: in the process of who you're becoming with every step 477 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:12,600 Speaker 1: in arrival, peace in the process. That's what incarnation means. 478 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: That's why this weird Christmas story suddenly makes sense because 479 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: peace came in the form of weakness. Just to admit 480 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: that you need him. It's the first step. So right now, 481 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 1: in the holiness of this moment, on this sacred occasion 482 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: called Christmas, there's a place of weakness in your life 483 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,479 Speaker 1: where you would like to invite the Holy Spirit this 484 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: season to come and bring his deep peace that transcends 485 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: all understanding. I want to ask you, at every location 486 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: and all over the world watching online, to lift both 487 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 1: of your hands in the air to God as a 488 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: sign of your surrender and trust. Father. For every hand 489 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 1: stretched before you today, I decree your peace for that situation. 490 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,760 Speaker 1: I cannot read their mind and I cannot know their struggle. 491 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:08,040 Speaker 1: But not only do you know the need, you are 492 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:12,720 Speaker 1: the one who longs to meet it. Thank you Father 493 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: for this moment, for when we are weak, then we 494 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: are strong. We thank you for Emmanuel, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 495 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:34,680 Speaker 1: a Prince a peace. Your head still bowed and your 496 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: eyes still closed, you can put your hands down. There's 497 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 1: someone here who is far away from God, and the 498 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: message of Christmas is that you don't have to stay 499 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 1: that way. Right now, I'd like to invite you to 500 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 1: receive the gift of salvation. The Bible says that if 501 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and 502 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,200 Speaker 1: believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. 503 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,160 Speaker 1: You will be saved. And this Christmas, I would love 504 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 1: to lead you in this prayer that just acknowledges your 505 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:09,719 Speaker 1: need for Jesus. So we'll pray now out loud as 506 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 1: a church family at all of our locations for the 507 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: benefit of those who are coming to God or maybe 508 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 1: coming back to God right now in this moment. The 509 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:25,400 Speaker 1: presence of God is here, real and available, and so 510 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: we pray this prayer together for all of those who 511 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:32,360 Speaker 1: are in need of salvation today and want this to 512 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:36,239 Speaker 1: be your new beginning. Pray with me, Heavenly Father. I 513 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:41,360 Speaker 1: believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and 514 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:45,880 Speaker 1: the Savior of the world. And today I make Jesus 515 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: the Lord of my life. I believe he died that 516 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:54,800 Speaker 1: I could be forgiven and rose again to give me life. 517 00:35:55,080 --> 00:36:02,000 Speaker 1: I receive this new life. This is in Jesus' name. 518 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 1: If you just prayed that on the count of three, 519 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 1: shoots your hand up high. I want to celebrate you 520 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:10,439 Speaker 1: on every location. One, two, three, hands up, hands up, 521 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 1: hands up, God, Bless you, God, bless you. Come on 522 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 1: rejoice about it. Come on, people of God, rejoice about it. 523 00:36:21,239 --> 00:36:25,280 Speaker 1: It's the greatest gift. It's the reason for the season. 524 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,360 Speaker 1: Come on, let's rechoice in the salvation of our God. 525 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 1: Let's rejoice in the peace of our God. Well, I 526 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed the podcast today. If you did, there 527 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 1: are just a couple things I'd love for you to do. 528 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:46,279 Speaker 1: Number One, subscribe to our show. That way, the most 529 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:49,520 Speaker 1: recent episode will always be in your feed, waiting for 530 00:36:49,640 --> 00:36:53,120 Speaker 1: you ready when you are. And Secondly, if this ministry 531 00:36:53,160 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 1: has impacted you and you'd like to help us continue 532 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 1: to reach others, you can click the link in the 533 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:00,399 Speaker 1: description and you can give now and I'll I'll see 534 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:09,839 Speaker 1: you next time on the Elevation podcast mm HM