1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,160 Speaker 1: Come on, put it in the chat right now. If 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: you say I'm a giver, I'm a giver. I'm a giver. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: I'm a giver. Thank you Lord for all these faithful givers, 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: for the seed they've sown. Thank You for Holly. Thank 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: You for the life that she lives, the woman that 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: she is. Thank You for how beautiful she is inside 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,159 Speaker 1: and out. Today, God, would you speak through her the 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: exact thing we need to hear. We are listening. We 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: are ready for a holly, jolly Christmas. We thank you 10 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 1: Lord in Jesus' name, y'all. Thank God for Holly as 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: she comes. Wow, Merry Christmas. I have to say welcome 12 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: to those of you who are watching online and all 13 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: of our campuses today. I am so glad to know 14 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: that you are prioritizing the Word of God in your 15 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: life and in your family during the busiest season of 16 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: the year. And I believe that God is going to 17 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: multiply your time today. You're going to accomplish everything you 18 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: need to accomplish in the next six days, roughly one 19 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty hours. Still Christmas, But who's County not me? 20 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: Before you sit down, I just want to read my 21 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: passage really quick. If you have a Bible, I'm going 22 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: to be in Luke chapter two, verse eight. If you 23 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: don't have a Bible, it's going to be on the 24 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: screen there for you. Luke two says. And there were 25 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over 26 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: their flocks. At night. An angel of the Lord appeared 27 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 28 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: and they were terrified. The angel said to them, do 29 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: not be afraid. I bring you good news that will 30 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: cause great joy for all the people. Today in the 31 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: town of David, a savior has been born to you. 32 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a 33 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: signed to you. You will find a baby wrapped in 34 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: cloths and lying in a manger. Let's pray, Lord, would 35 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: you speak to us today? God, would you help us 36 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: to clear our minds of all the thoughts that are 37 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: flying through our heads, the things that we need to do, 38 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: the burdens that are on our shoulders. God, we set 39 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: it all aside right now, and we ask for you 40 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: to speak to us. We are listening. We know you 41 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: have a message for us today. And God, for all 42 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: the delivery men and women out there, would you bless them, 43 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: would you help them not to get lost driving around? 44 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: Would you keep them safe? And would you bring our 45 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: packages safely to our doorsteps? Jesus name Amen, you can 46 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: be seated. Thank you, Worshiptia. Anyone out there tracking a package, 47 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: let me see your hand? Are you tracking a package? 48 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's a gift or a curse 49 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,839 Speaker 1: that technology has allowed us to literally see where our 50 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: packages are at all times, except for some of these 51 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: apps that are not quite accurate, and they're driving me crazy. 52 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: I thought that I was doing really good this year 53 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: when I started Christmas shopping in October. I'm telling you, 54 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: never ever have I Christmas shopped before Black Friday. But 55 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: this year I was like scared. The Today's Show had 56 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: me nervous that nothing was gonna get here, and so 57 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: I started in October. But I got to tell you, 58 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: it has been no less stressful for me because I 59 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: have spent the entire month of December obsessively tracking my packages. 60 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: I currently have one package that I know is not 61 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: gonna make it here by Christmas, and I have three 62 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: that I keep hitting refreshed on and it's going to 63 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: be a Christmas miracle if they arrive in time. How 64 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: many of you believe in Christmas miracles? Yes? Okay, So 65 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: last week one of the things that I had ordered 66 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: for Steven hadn't come in yet, and so I went 67 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: and found the email and I found the tracking number 68 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: and when I clicked on it, my heart sank because 69 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 1: it said Canada Post. And I didn't realize that my 70 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: package was coming from a foreign country. Nothing against our 71 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: Canadian friends, shout out to those of you watching at 72 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: our Toronto campus. But my package sat at your border 73 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: for three days. How do I know? Because I checked 74 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: it every day. I kept the Canada Post tab open 75 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: in my browser, and I just I kept clicking refreshed. 76 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: And on day two I started to panic and I 77 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: imagined my package getting lost in a giant pile of 78 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: boxes at customs, because I know Canada is really much 79 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: more strict about COVID and all the things, and maybe 80 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: my package had COVID, And so I started thinking of 81 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: backup gifts. And then on the third day, I refreshed 82 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: in the item the thing said item has arrived in 83 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: foreign country. USA. How many of you thank God for 84 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: the third Day? The believing God for some Third Day packages? 85 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: This Christmas. I think one of the best and the 86 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: worst parts of Christmas is mail, because on one hand, 87 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: I'm constantly tracking my packages, but on the other hand, 88 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: the relief and the pure joy that can be felt 89 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: when you pull into your driveway and you see a 90 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: pile of boxes on your front door. Some of the 91 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: men in here are like, I do not feel pure 92 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: joy when I see all those boxes. But Sir Eric Phillips, 93 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: happy birthday. You were not waiting for a Christmas miracle. 94 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: And the feeling when you start to read those return 95 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: labels and you realize that your gift is here, It's amazing. 96 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: It is a great feeling. Amen. Anybody know that feeling? Okay, 97 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: last week Stephen taught us something good is coming from this. 98 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: Were you here, If you were here, do the motions 99 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: with me. He said this, He said, something good is 100 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: coming from this. Remember, and he told us that if 101 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: anything good can come from Nazareth, then something good is 102 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: coming from this. And I loved it when he said 103 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: don't leave Egypt without going through the gift shop, because 104 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: he made fun of me. But you guys, I love 105 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: a gift shop. I have loved gift shop since I 106 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: was ten years old. I don't know why I love 107 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: a gift shop. If you don't buy the mug, were 108 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: you really even there? You had to have proof that 109 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: you were there. Something good is coming from this. What 110 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: a promise he gave us to hold onto. And I 111 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 1: thought about it all week, and I kept thinking about 112 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: how so many people are going through a dark season 113 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: in their lives. Right now. You might be watching and thinking, 114 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: I wish my biggest Christmas. My biggest worry this Christmas 115 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: season was making sure that my packages got delivered on time. 116 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: I've been thinking a lot about my friend Kimberly, whose 117 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: fourteen year old son has cancer and he has been 118 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: fighting for his life in the hospital, and how she 119 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: hasn't seen her twelve year old son for two months. 120 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: And I know that many of you are going through 121 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: maybe a divorce, or you lost your job, or you 122 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: lost a loved one this year, and you don't even 123 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: want to celebrate Christmas. And I just want to say 124 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: to you that if it feels dark to you this year, 125 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: if you I want you to know that I'm praying 126 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: for you, and I'm also so thankful that you are 127 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: here with us in church today because God can handle 128 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: your disappointments and your doubts, and when you come to 129 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: church where you log on to your computer and you 130 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: take time and you worship God, even in the midst 131 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: of a difficult season, you're sending a message to yourself 132 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: and to the enemy that you may be under attack, 133 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: but you are not going to go down. And I 134 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: believe I'm praying that you are going to go out 135 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: of here today full of faith and joy and hope 136 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: in your heart because God has given me a message 137 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: for you. So this week, when I was reading this 138 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: passage Luke to about the shepherds, and I kept praying 139 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: about what God wanted me to say to you, and 140 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: I had all these things, but they weren't all coming together. 141 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: And I was thinking, there's only six days left till Christmas, 142 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: and God, what do you want me to say? And 143 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: I finally figured out he wants me to give you 144 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: part two of Pastor Steven sermon from last week. All right, 145 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: so last week we learn something good is coming from 146 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: this This week part two, we've got some new motions. 147 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: Goes like this, something good is here right now. Okay, 148 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: let's do it one more time, No, one more time 149 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 1: here because now you got it Okay, something good is 150 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: here right now, right now, today, I want to take 151 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: the story of the Shepherds and show you that not 152 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: only is something good coming from this from your situation, 153 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: but also something good is here right now. Room's eight 154 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: twenty eight tells us that God is working all things 155 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: for good. But what I am learning is that while 156 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: I'm waiting for God to do this good work, there 157 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: is good to be found in every situation, in every person, 158 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: in every moment right here. So in our time that 159 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: we have together, I want to show you three things 160 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: to remember this holiday season that will help you focus 161 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: on the good in the middle of the chaos, in 162 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: the middle of the loneliness, in the middle of your dysfunction, 163 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: in the middle of every single situation that you face. 164 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: Are you ready, Let's go. Let's look at the first 165 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: two verses that we read. Luke tells us in verse 166 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: eight and the shepherds, we're living out in the fields nearby, 167 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: keeping watch over their flocks at night, and an angel 168 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: of the Lord appeared to them. The first thing that 169 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: I want to point out to you is that God 170 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: is here, not there. One of the themes that I 171 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: love about the Christmas story in the Bible is how 172 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: God chooses the least likely people to carry out his plan. 173 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: It's not just in the Christmas story. It's all throughout 174 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: the Bible. But when we think about the Christmas story, 175 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: Mary was she was not an experienced mother, she was 176 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: just a girl. Joseph was not the son of a 177 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: prominent community leader or a Bible scholar. Yet God chose 178 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: them to ordinary people to care for and protect and 179 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: raise Jesus. And then when it came time to spread 180 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: the news of the birth of his son, God chose 181 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: the shepherds. Now when we picture the shepherds, I think 182 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: that we picture this. I just grabbed this little case. This. 183 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: The book was better. The book is always better. If 184 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: I have any book lovers out there, I think that 185 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: we picture this. I took this from my foyer. For 186 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: some reason, my Nativity set only has one shepherd. I'm 187 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: not sure why. I never noticed that before there were 188 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: shepherds in the field. But anyway, I think we picture 189 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: this guy, and you know, he's got this peaceful these 190 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: peaceful little lambs that are you know, looking up at him, 191 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: and and he's got this this baby lamb in his arms, 192 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: and he's got this beautiful white robe and the shepherd 193 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: thing on his head, and he just looks so good 194 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: and peaceful. I mean, he's holding a lamb. Right, that's 195 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: my perception of what the shepherds were like. But actually, 196 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: during this period of history, shepherds were some of the 197 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: lowest in society. First of all, just purely because of 198 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: their work with animals. They were considered unclean by Jewish law, 199 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: and just because of the nature of their job. This 200 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: made them an outcast from the community on a regular basis. 201 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: But not just that, they were also commonly assumed to 202 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: be dishonest and untrustworthy people. Now, if I was God, 203 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: if you're glad, I'm not God. My kids are glad. 204 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: I'm not God. If I was God, I would have 205 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: chosen the priests, right. They were the ones who knew 206 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: all about the ancient prophecies. They were the ones who 207 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: had experience in spiritual matters, and they were respected in 208 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: the community. Why didn't the angel go to the temple? 209 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: But instead the angels went to the field. And I 210 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: think it's funny how God works because most of the time, 211 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: in my experience, he doesn't show up there the place 212 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: where you think he should. He shows up here the 213 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: place where you are. The shepherds are some of the 214 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: least respected people in the community. They were going to 215 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: be the first to receive the announcement of the birth 216 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 1: of the King of God's Son, not in the temple, 217 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: but out in the field. And I believe that God 218 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: is sending you and I the message today that you 219 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: don't have to change anything about yourself for God to 220 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: reveal himself to you. You don't have to get clean, 221 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: you'll not to be successful, you don't have to be 222 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: a Bible prophecy expert. You don't even have to be 223 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: an exceptionally good person. Your accomplishments, your status, your appearance 224 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: do not qualify you in a spiritual sense. Now. Obviously, 225 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: as we grow in our relationship with God, we do 226 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: change and we do mature, and God doesn't want you 227 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: to stay where you are. But who you are right 228 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: now is all you need to be for God to 229 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: reveal himself to you right now, in this moment. It's 230 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: your position that's important. God reveals himself to those who 231 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: have space to hear him, who have room to receive him. 232 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: The shepherds didn't have a high position in human terms, 233 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: but in spiritual terms, they were perfectly positioned because they 234 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: were in the field at night, outside of the hustle 235 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: and bustle of town life. They were not sleeping comfortably 236 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: with a roof over their head and warm blankets. They 237 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: were outside in the dark. I don't want to have 238 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: to remind you about being kept in the dark. I 239 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: hope you were paying attention two weeks ago. If not, 240 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: you go back two weeks and hear Pastor Stephen talk 241 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: about being kept in the dark. But I gotta tell you, 242 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: if you feel like you are outside and in the 243 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: dark this Christmas, if you feel lost and confused, if 244 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: you feel like no one sees you, you just might 245 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: be in the best position to hear from God. I 246 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: think that God knew. He knew that he could get 247 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: the shepherd's attention because they were away from the noise 248 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: of the town. In my experience, God does not need 249 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: me to be a certain way in order for me 250 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: to hear him speak. But he does not shout, and 251 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: he does not compete with all the other things that 252 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: I have going on in my life. And for me, 253 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: the biggest hindrance to my relationship with God is my schedule. 254 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: When my life is busy and hurried and rushed. I 255 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: have no space for God to speak to me. I 256 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: have no time for God to speak to me. And 257 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: every time the holiday season comes around, every single time, 258 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: you think I'd get this figured out, but I get 259 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: so caught up in the rush of everything that everything 260 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: that I have to do, everything that I've committed to do, 261 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: that I end up limping into the new year feeling 262 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: depleted because I've just spent the last month trying to 263 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: worship Jesus, and this year, I feel like God is 264 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: saying to me, Hey, Holly, I didn't ask for all 265 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: of that decorating your home with beautiful decorations. That's great, 266 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: and all the delicious meals and all the gifts that 267 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: you buy for people, that's great. But what God wants 268 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: from me this Christmas is my attention, the message the gift. 269 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 1: Can you give him your attention? The message that the 270 00:17:54,720 --> 00:18:01,239 Speaker 1: Angel delivered was the King is here today, and I 271 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: want you to know he's here. He's here in this room, 272 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: he's here in your car, he's here in your kitchen, 273 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: he's here at your desk, he's here in your thoughts, 274 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: right where you are, just how you are. You don't 275 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: have to wait until you get there to experience God. 276 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 1: Don't wait until Christmas Eve to experience Jesus. It's not 277 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: about there, it's about here, this present moment. Take a breath. 278 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: Can you make some space for God in your life? 279 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: Because something good is here, Not when I get over it, 280 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: not when I get through it, not when I get 281 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: past it. It's here right now. Okay. I can't wait 282 00:18:58,080 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: to tell you this next part because God gave me 283 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: this part first, and I have been waiting for several 284 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: weeks to tell you this next part. I don't want 285 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: to like over promise and underdelivered, but it's really good. Okay. 286 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: So look at what the shepherd. Look at what the 287 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: scripture says. But the Angel said to the shepherds verse nine. 288 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 1: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the 289 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. 290 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: But the Angel said to them, do not be afraid, 291 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: and bring you good news that will cause great joy 292 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 1: for all the people. Today in the town of David, 293 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: A savior has been born to you. He is the 294 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: Messiah the Lord. Are you ready for this? Here's number two. 295 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: God has good things to say to you. Don't be afraid. 296 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: I bring you good news now. I grew up in church. 297 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: In fact, I would challenge anyone who is in this 298 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: or watching online today that I have spent more time 299 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: in church than you. Some of you heard me say 300 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: this before, but my dad was a pastor my whole life, 301 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:18,479 Speaker 1: I rarely missed a Sunday or a Wednesday church. In fact, 302 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: the same is kind of true for my kids. Abby 303 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 1: has strep throat. She's backstage right now watching. But then, 304 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: when I was in high school, my parents joined this 305 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: traveling revival ministry where we held services almost every night. 306 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: And then I went to a Christian college, and then, 307 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: as you know, I married a pastor. And I'm so 308 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: grateful for the foundation that my parents gave me in 309 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: my faith. It made me the person that I am today. 310 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: But somewhere along the lines, and no fault to you, 311 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 1: Mom and Dad, hate my parents are watching at our 312 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 1: Greenville location, Somewhere along the lines, I spent a lot 313 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: of my teen years and my young adult life missing 314 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: what it means to actually have a relationship with Christ 315 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: because I thought that most of the time, when God 316 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: speaks to you, it's because you have broken a rule. 317 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: In fact, I remember a Sunday school lesson where we 318 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: memorize numbers thirty two twenty three. This is what it says. Behold, 319 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your 320 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: sin will find you out. I still't remember it. And 321 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: oftentimes when I would think about my relationship with God, 322 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: I would think about the things that I'm not supposed 323 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: to do as a believer in Christ, and I would 324 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: imagine that when God would speak to me, it would 325 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: be about something that I needed to stop doing. Now, listen, 326 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 1: before I get to the good news part. Sometimes when 327 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 1: God speaks to us, it is to correct us. Sometimes 328 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 1: it is to direct us, or redirect us, or stop 329 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 1: us from doing something really dumb. And when God speaks 330 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,400 Speaker 1: these things to us, like be kinder to your spouse, 331 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: be honest in your schoolwork, be faithful in your job, 332 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 1: it can be really hard to receive. Nobody wants to 333 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: hear Hey, you need to change this. So yes, that 334 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: is a part of having a relationship with God. But 335 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: listen to me say this. This is so important. If 336 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 1: you only hear me say one thing today, I want 337 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: you to hear me say this. Jesus came so that 338 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: you and I do not have to be afraid of God. 339 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: Even when God speaks to correct us, he does it 340 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: as a loving father, not a condemning judge. Four times 341 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,679 Speaker 1: in the Christmas Story the characters are told not to 342 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: be afraid. I got to tell you about him. The 343 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: first time is in Luke one thirteen, and the Angel 344 00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: says to Zachariah, fear not, your prayers have been answered, 345 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: and I believe that God wants you to know today 346 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 1: that He hears your prayers. You don't have to be 347 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: afraid that your prayers are going nowhere. God hears you. 348 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: Then in Luke thirty Luke one p. Thirty the Angel 349 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 1: told Mary, fear not, you have found favor with God. 350 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: And I believe that God wants you to know today 351 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: that you are blessed and highly favored. You are his child, 352 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: and he is proud of you, and he has good 353 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,160 Speaker 1: gifts that he wants to give you this Christmas season. 354 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: And then in Matthew one thirty, the Lord said to Joseph, 355 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. 356 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: God wants you to know that you don't have to 357 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,199 Speaker 1: be afraid to do the things that you know that 358 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: He is calling you to do. Don't be afraid to forgive. 359 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: Don't be afraid to give of your time, of your gifts, 360 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: of your money, don't be afraid to love. When God 361 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: directs you like he did Joseph. He's gonna be with 362 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: you the whole way. He's gonna send you the wise 363 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: man and give you the gifts that you need to 364 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: carry you on to Egypt. And then the fourth time 365 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: is the angels to the shepherds, and the angel says, 366 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: do not be afraid. I bring you good news that 367 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: will bring great joy to all the people. I read 368 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: a quote this week that said, all fear is the 369 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 1: notion that God's love ends. And I want to tell 370 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: you today, don't be afraid of what your loving Father 371 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: wants to speak to you today. First John four eighteen, 372 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: there is no fear in love, because perfect love drives 373 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: out fear. Fear has to do with punishment. And Jesus 374 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: did not come to earth to punish us. He came 375 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: to earth to save us. He came to earth to 376 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 1: atone for our sins, not to condemn us again and 377 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: again and again about them. The funny thing about that 378 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: verse in numbers it said your sin will find you out. 379 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,239 Speaker 1: And I think that my sin does a pretty good 380 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: job of finding me out. Most of us are doing 381 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: a great job feeling ashamed of the mistakes that we 382 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,239 Speaker 1: have made. Most of us are well aware of the 383 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 1: consequences of our poor choices. The message of Jesus is repentance, 384 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: not shame and condemnation. And God did not send his 385 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 1: son to rub your mistakes in your face. He sent 386 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: his son because he loves you, and his love for 387 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: you is endless. It's beyond anything that you can fathom. 388 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: There is nothing that you can do that will make 389 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: God stop loving you. I gotta say that again because 390 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: I wanted to sink in. There is nothing that you 391 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: can do that will make God stop loving you. And 392 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: what God wants for you is to have a relationship 393 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: with you. That is the gospel. You know what is 394 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: actually literally translated good news. He has good news that 395 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: he wants to speak to you. Does anybody need some 396 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: good news today? There's a lot of bad news out there. 397 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: There's a lot of scary news. I'm scared about my packages, 398 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: a lot of news. My husband will come home and 399 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 1: I'll tell him I, Oh, I've got something to tell you, 400 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: and You'll look at me. You'll say, is it good 401 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: or bad and I'm not an angel, but I do 402 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: have some good news for you today. And I believe 403 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,479 Speaker 1: that you came to church today because God wanted to 404 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: speak some good news to your heart. So listen to me. 405 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: Here's some good news. You are loved and accepted just 406 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,360 Speaker 1: the way you are. Good news. Good news God sent 407 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: his one and only son to earth for you. Good 408 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 1: News God is for you, not against you. Good News 409 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: you are not alone. Good news you are more than 410 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: a conqueror. Good News God has put his spirit inside 411 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: of you to comfort you and to guide you. Don't 412 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 1: let fear keep you from receiving the good news that 413 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: God has for you, because this news will bring you joy, 414 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: an unexplainable knowing that makes you smile from the inside out. 415 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: No matter what's going on around you, something good is here. 416 00:27:56,600 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: Good news and great joy. That's what God wants you 417 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 1: to experience this Christmas. The Bible tells us that when Sarah, 418 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: Abraham's wife finally held her son in her arms at 419 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,479 Speaker 1: the age of ninety and she saw the promise of 420 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: God fulfilled in flesh. You know what she said. She said, 421 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: God has brought me laughter. I want you to laugh 422 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: this Christmas season I want you to smile, not because 423 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: everything's great in your life, but because you have heard 424 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: good news and it caused you to feel great joy. 425 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: Joy is the secret of Christmas, and it is here 426 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: for you right now. When you receive the good news 427 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: of Jesus. Look back at what the Angel said. Just 428 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: keep going verse eleven. Today. Something good is here right now, 429 00:28:56,800 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: not tomorrow. Today, Town of David, a savior husband born 430 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:05,360 Speaker 1: to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will 431 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: be a sign to you. You will find the baby 432 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: wrapped in clogs and lying in a manger. And suddenly 433 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 1: a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the Angel, 434 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: praising God and saying glory to God in the highest 435 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: and on earth, Peace on those to those on whom 436 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:23,719 Speaker 1: His favor rests. And when the angels had left them 437 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 438 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has 439 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: happened which the Lord has told us about. So they 440 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby 441 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: who was lying in a manger. All right, so something 442 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: good is here right now, but it might not be 443 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 1: in plain sight. That's my last point to today. God 444 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 1: wants you to find the good. The Angel says to 445 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: the shepherds, you will find the baby wrapped in cloths 446 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 1: and lying in a manger. And the shepherd said, let's 447 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: go find it, and they hurried off. And the Bible 448 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: says they found Mary and Joseph and the baby who 449 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: was lying in a manger. How many of you know 450 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 1: that what that you will find what you're looking for 451 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: this Christmas. If you're looking for drama, you're not going 452 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: to have to search very hard. If you're looking for 453 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 1: a reason to be annoyed, you shouldn't have too much 454 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: trouble finding that. You're looking for a fight. If you're 455 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: looking for the negative, it's going to be right there 456 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 1: in plain sight. But I came today to tell you 457 00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: six days before Christmas, one hundred and fifty hours, something 458 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: good is here right now. Are you looking for it? 459 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: First Christmas that Stephen and I lived in Charlotte, Stephen's 460 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: parents came to our house to celebrate Christmas. In the past, 461 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,480 Speaker 1: we had always driven down to their house, but this 462 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: particular year we had a brand new baby, and we 463 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: were busy building the launch team of Elevation, which would 464 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: begin services Sunday Morning services the following February, and Stephen 465 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,959 Speaker 1: was providing for our family in that season by traveling 466 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: and preaching at every little don't picture this church basement, 467 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 1: picture that, every little youth group speaking event that he 468 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: could fit into his calendar, and then spending every free 469 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: second of his time planting this church. We were stretched 470 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: thin in every way with time, with money, with everything, 471 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: and so his parents generously came to us and on 472 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: Christmas morning, one of the gifts that we opened was 473 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars gift card to Walmart from Stephen's uncle, 474 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 1: and this was a big deal to us and we 475 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: were super grateful for that gift. His uncle I had 476 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,840 Speaker 1: never really given us a gift that big before, and 477 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: so it was just a wonderful, pleasant surprise. And a 478 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: few weeks later, Seem was headed out the door and 479 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,480 Speaker 1: he said, Hey, where's that gift card that uncle Russell 480 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: gave us? And you know, I got a bad feeling, 481 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: and so you know, I casually started looking in like 482 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 1: the normal places you would look at in my wallet. 483 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: I was like, was it in your wallet? And we 484 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 1: couldn't find it anywhere. So then we both started looking 485 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: and we looked, and we looked, and I'm not gonna 486 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 1: lie to you. We got into a fight. I was 487 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: gonna say a little fight. We got into a big 488 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 1: fight over it. This was not my finest missus better 489 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: half moment. We fought over who had the card last, 490 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 1: We fought over whose fault it was missing. We fought 491 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: over why we couldn't be more responsible human beings were 492 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 1: like grown up adults now, and why didn't we value 493 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: the card more? And it wasn't good. And eventually we 494 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: stopped looking, and we went our separate ways, and I 495 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 1: just decided it must have accidentally been thrown away. Two 496 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:42,600 Speaker 1: years later, I was decorating our house for Christmas, and 497 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 1: in the bottom of the storage bend of decorations was 498 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 1: that one hundred dollars gift card to Walmart. It had 499 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: been in the house all along. Now, guys, I gotta 500 00:33:55,680 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 1: tell you. I looked in empty suitcases, diaper bags, wallets, drawers, pockets, cars, 501 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:04,239 Speaker 1: everything that I could think of to look. But I 502 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:09,239 Speaker 1: never thought to look in the Christmas decoration ben And 503 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: it just made me think that a lot of the 504 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 1: things that we're searching for are at the bottom of 505 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:23,920 Speaker 1: places that you don't think to look three times in 506 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:29,000 Speaker 1: ten verses. In the Bible, Luke tells us that the 507 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:33,400 Speaker 1: baby would be found in a manger. Why did he 508 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:39,640 Speaker 1: say manger three times in ten verses? I think it's 509 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,479 Speaker 1: because a manger is the last place that you would 510 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 1: think to look for a baby. That's how they were 511 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: gonna know it was the right baby. The angel didn't say, 512 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 1: go look for a newborn baby, because quite frankly, all 513 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 1: newborn babies look the same. They're scrunchy and goopy and crying. 514 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: They looked like little a I'm not really a baby person, 515 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: But look for a baby and a manger. Now that's 516 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 1: not something that you see every day, because a manger 517 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:20,840 Speaker 1: was a feeding troth for animals, a manger was an ordinary, mundane, 518 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:27,439 Speaker 1: glorified dog bowl. And throughout time, there are a lot 519 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: of places that people might put a baby, a crib, 520 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:34,319 Speaker 1: a cradle, basket, a drawer, a person's arms, But the 521 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,320 Speaker 1: last place that you would think to find a baby 522 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:43,279 Speaker 1: would be a feeding troth. And the message to the 523 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:47,799 Speaker 1: shepherds it's the same message to us. Something good is 524 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:53,560 Speaker 1: here right now today, but it's not gonna be where 525 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:58,959 Speaker 1: you expect it. But when you find it. It's gonna 526 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 1: bring you great joy and you're never gonna be the 527 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 1: same again. Last week, when Pastor Stephen was ending his message, 528 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,800 Speaker 1: have you ever the people who like to take notes 529 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: sometimes when Pastor Stephen says, stand up, put your notebooks down, 530 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:16,719 Speaker 1: and then he says, like the best things, and I'm like, no, no, no, 531 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: no no. So last week, at the very end of 532 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:22,520 Speaker 1: his message, he just like shoots off things that I 533 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: would make a whole message around, and he tells us, 534 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 1: he says, be looking for the good and he said, 535 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:37,000 Speaker 1: you're gonna find it this Christmas in dirty places, annoying people, 536 00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:40,840 Speaker 1: and simple moments. When he said that, I was like, whoa, 537 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 1: I think that's my storment. So I wrote it down 538 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 1: and I just want to just, you know, expound on 539 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:56,840 Speaker 1: that because I like more words than him. Right now today, 540 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: can you find the good in the dirty places of 541 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:07,200 Speaker 1: your life, the places that you don't want anyone to see, 542 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:12,320 Speaker 1: you know, the unfiltered places then no one's going to 543 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: see in your Facebook feed, on your Christmas card. We 544 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:23,120 Speaker 1: all have those places. Your marriage is a manger, it's messy, 545 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: it's imperfect, and there are places in it that you 546 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:32,239 Speaker 1: don't want anyone to see. But there is good to 547 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:36,919 Speaker 1: be found in your marriage. Can you find the good 548 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:48,520 Speaker 1: and annoying people. There's good in your teenager, There's good 549 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: in that annoying coworker that you sit next to or 550 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 1: work with every day. What if this Christmas season you 551 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:03,160 Speaker 1: went around look looking for the good in your family? 552 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:06,880 Speaker 1: Now this might be Actually, this is harder to live 553 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 1: out than it is for me to just say it 554 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:15,879 Speaker 1: from the stage, But let's all together try to. Rather 555 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:20,360 Speaker 1: than seeing the things that drive you crazy about people, 556 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:25,760 Speaker 1: maybe you can focus on the things that they do well. 557 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:30,560 Speaker 1: Surely you can find something or the things that they 558 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,960 Speaker 1: have been through that can give you compassion for the 559 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 1: way that they act or the way that they treat 560 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: you or treat others. There's good to be found. And 561 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:48,880 Speaker 1: then there's what he said, the simple moments. Can we 562 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:53,440 Speaker 1: just spend some time over the next few days seeing, 563 00:38:54,160 --> 00:39:01,719 Speaker 1: finding looking for the mundane major moments. This week I 564 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:06,520 Speaker 1: started thinking about the simple moments in my life, and 565 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:09,680 Speaker 1: I want to see the good in the ordinary moments. 566 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 1: Because you see, when I said at the beginning, God 567 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: wants you to have space to hear him. God wants 568 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 1: you to have space in your schedule. I'm not saying 569 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,359 Speaker 1: that you have to get up earlier, or stay up later, 570 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:25,320 Speaker 1: or cancel something. I'm saying, can you see the good 571 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:29,960 Speaker 1: in everything that you do? Like driving my kids to 572 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:35,200 Speaker 1: school simple every day. And let me tell you, the 573 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:38,719 Speaker 1: Furdic children they do not have a mother who is 574 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:43,319 Speaker 1: a pleasant morning person. And most days we leave our 575 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:47,360 Speaker 1: house seven to ten, that's the goal. And most days 576 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:51,280 Speaker 1: traffic is bad and I'm dropping them. We're like peeling 577 00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:53,440 Speaker 1: in on two wheels at the last second, and I'm 578 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:59,200 Speaker 1: like run. Don't get get any ideas. They're not beautiful, 579 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:02,840 Speaker 1: meaningful conversations going on in your pastor's wife's car in 580 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:08,879 Speaker 1: the morning. But I know that one day I will 581 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:12,600 Speaker 1: just I will miss just breathing the same air as 582 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:14,880 Speaker 1: them for twenty five minutes in the car in the morning. 583 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:21,640 Speaker 1: It's a simple moment. Simple moment like I need to 584 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:24,839 Speaker 1: do a better job smiling at people. If you have 585 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:27,640 Speaker 1: a mask on. You know, some people love the mask 586 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:32,240 Speaker 1: because you don't have to smile with your eyes see 587 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:36,840 Speaker 1: the people that are around you. Simple moments like staying 588 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:41,319 Speaker 1: a little bit longer at the dinner table. It wasn't 589 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: a perfect meal that we had this last Monday, and 590 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:48,720 Speaker 1: no one went back for seconds. But I told everyone, 591 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:51,560 Speaker 1: we are eating together. It's six forty five on Monday night, 592 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: and I want everyone to be there. And we sat 593 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 1: down and we ate together, and it wasn't about the food. 594 00:40:56,840 --> 00:41:01,160 Speaker 1: It was about the time around the table. You've got 595 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:05,480 Speaker 1: simple moments in your job, simple moments in your laundry. 596 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 1: God comes through mangers, the ordinary, the places that you 597 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:20,840 Speaker 1: don't think to look. Manger moments. It's an opportunity to 598 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:26,279 Speaker 1: look for God in the unexpected, to see Him in 599 00:41:26,360 --> 00:41:29,719 Speaker 1: your work, to see Him in all your roles, in 600 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:33,160 Speaker 1: all your mess. You don't have to deny the dark. 601 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:36,520 Speaker 1: You don't have to pretend like everything is amazing. I 602 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:40,520 Speaker 1: know that this didn't turn out the way that you expected, 603 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:42,840 Speaker 1: but what I want to say to you today is 604 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:48,359 Speaker 1: don't let your unmet expectations keep you from seeing the 605 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:52,320 Speaker 1: gifts that are all around you. And the greatest gift 606 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:56,800 Speaker 1: of all. Matthew Won twenty three tells us the Virgin 607 00:41:57,080 --> 00:42:00,520 Speaker 1: will conceive and give birth to a sun, and they 608 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:06,480 Speaker 1: will call him em Manuel, which means God with us, 609 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:13,760 Speaker 1: the gift of Christmas. He said, you are not alone God, 610 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:25,200 Speaker 1: is with you. He's here right now. Something good is 611 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:33,560 Speaker 1: here right now. It is Jesus Manuel God with us. 612 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: He is with you in your pain. He is with 613 00:42:37,040 --> 00:42:40,120 Speaker 1: you in your disappointment. He is with you when you 614 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,200 Speaker 1: feel like you're being kept in the dark. He is 615 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:46,600 Speaker 1: with you in all of the ordinary moments and tasks 616 00:42:46,840 --> 00:42:53,640 Speaker 1: of your day. Something good is here right now now. 617 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:56,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to end on a down note. I 618 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:58,520 Speaker 1: want you to walk out of here, like I said, 619 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:01,359 Speaker 1: with a smile on your face that came up from 620 00:43:01,400 --> 00:43:04,440 Speaker 1: the inside. So here's what we're gonna do. Stand up, 621 00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:09,359 Speaker 1: and don't you dare leave right now. Don't you dare 622 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:11,719 Speaker 1: turn your computer off. You're gonna miss the best part. 623 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:13,520 Speaker 1: And I want a lot shorter than Pastor Stephen does 624 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:18,319 Speaker 1: every single week, so there's no rush to leave, all right. 625 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:24,360 Speaker 1: What I want you to do first, Let's do our emotions. Okay, Ready, 626 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:30,840 Speaker 1: something good is here right now. I want you to 627 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:33,600 Speaker 1: turn to the person next to you and tell them 628 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:48,440 Speaker 1: something good. Can be anything, anything, all right, all right, 629 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:50,759 Speaker 1: I told you I was gonna get you out of here. 630 00:43:51,440 --> 00:43:55,719 Speaker 1: Turn to another person something good, Tell someone else something good, 631 00:43:55,800 --> 00:44:00,160 Speaker 1: something you're thankful for, a person, an answer prayer. If 632 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:02,080 Speaker 1: you're watching online, I want you to put it in 633 00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:09,840 Speaker 1: the chat. Tell me something good right now, something good. 634 00:44:12,719 --> 00:44:18,080 Speaker 1: We're looking for the good this week. We're not gonna 635 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:25,040 Speaker 1: wait on there because something good is here right now. 636 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:28,799 Speaker 1: Can I show you one more thing? One more thing 637 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 1: real quick? Look at verse twenty, let me find it. 638 00:44:34,719 --> 00:44:38,960 Speaker 1: Verse twenty of Luke chapter two, it says this, the 639 00:44:39,080 --> 00:44:45,480 Speaker 1: shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God 640 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:49,880 Speaker 1: for all that they had heard and seen. It was 641 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:55,239 Speaker 1: just as the angel had told them. They found the 642 00:44:55,280 --> 00:44:59,080 Speaker 1: baby was in a manger, just as the angels had said, 643 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:03,279 Speaker 1: they worship the baby. Then they went into the town 644 00:45:03,360 --> 00:45:06,120 Speaker 1: of Bethlehem, and they told everyone what they had seen. 645 00:45:06,440 --> 00:45:09,040 Speaker 1: And then what did they do? What did it say? 646 00:45:09,080 --> 00:45:13,959 Speaker 1: Put it back up? What did say? I got it? Okay? 647 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:19,600 Speaker 1: There it is. The shepherds went back to their flocks, 648 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:22,880 Speaker 1: glorifying and praising God. When you walk out that door today, 649 00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:27,600 Speaker 1: you're going back to your flocks, but you're not going 650 00:45:27,680 --> 00:45:32,200 Speaker 1: back the same You're going back a new you, with 651 00:45:32,320 --> 00:45:36,919 Speaker 1: a new perspective. Because your eyes are open. You've heard 652 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,439 Speaker 1: the good news. It's brought you great joy. You're gonna 653 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:43,320 Speaker 1: be looking for the good. You're going out of there today, 654 00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:48,240 Speaker 1: back to your flocks. Put a new you. Let's pray. Lord, 655 00:45:49,280 --> 00:45:52,400 Speaker 1: we're going back to our flocks right now. Thank you 656 00:45:52,480 --> 00:45:54,960 Speaker 1: for what you have shown us today. Thank you for 657 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:59,320 Speaker 1: your word. Thank you for the good news of Jesus. 658 00:45:59,400 --> 00:46:02,399 Speaker 1: It brings us great joy God all day to day. 659 00:46:02,680 --> 00:46:07,600 Speaker 1: Would you just flood our hearts with good news, good messages. 660 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:11,439 Speaker 1: Flood our hearts with your love. Open up our eyes 661 00:46:11,480 --> 00:46:14,200 Speaker 1: as we close out twenty twenty one. We want to 662 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:17,720 Speaker 1: see the good that is here right now. We're looky 663 00:46:18,640 --> 00:46:23,000 Speaker 1: and God, we thank you that you are with us. 664 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:32,359 Speaker 1: I Manuel, it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Well. 665 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:34,800 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed today's podcast, there are a couple things 666 00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:38,120 Speaker 1: I'd love for you to do. Make sure to subscribe, rate, 667 00:46:38,440 --> 00:46:41,439 Speaker 1: and review this podcast. You can also help us reach 668 00:46:41,480 --> 00:46:45,319 Speaker 1: others by investing today at Elevationchurch dot org, slash give 669 00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:48,560 Speaker 1: and thanks again for joining us on the Elevation Podcast.