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Speaker 1: Have this in mind, which was also in Christ. Jesus,

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Speaker 1: who existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality

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Speaker 1: with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself

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Speaker 1: taking the form of a servant. Being made in the

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Speaker 1: likeness of men and being found in human form, he

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Speaker 1: humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, Yes,

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Speaker 1: the death of the Cross Philippians two five through eight.

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Speaker 1: Dear Lord, we are in awe of the gift of

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Speaker 1: you who left the splendor of heaven to be borne

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Speaker 1: in a humble manger. May your selfless love and humility

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Speaker 1: inspire us to live lives of compassion, kindness, and self sacrifice.

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Speaker 1: As we celebrate your birth, our Savior, help us to

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Speaker 1: embrace the spirit of giving, not just in presence, but

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Speaker 1: in presence, offering our time, love and empathy to those

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Speaker 1: around us. May the miracle of Christmas fill our hearts

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Speaker 1: with gratitude and joy, and may we strive to walk

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Speaker 1: in your footsteps of sharing your love with a world

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Speaker 1: in need. In your precious name, we pray, Amen, the.

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Speaker 2: Entire world resided in the shadow of Rome, Julius Caesar,

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Speaker 2: Emperor and Genius, reached out his hand and seized power

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Speaker 2: wherever he could. His authority went unquestioned, and his sword

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Speaker 2: found the necks of many foes. It was an era

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Speaker 2: steeped in strife and unrest, when men forged their destinies

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Speaker 2: amidst the anvil of war and the hammer of politics.

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Speaker 2: As the glory of Rome was about to blossom under

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Speaker 2: Julius Caesar, a child was born into the world. Little

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Speaker 2: did anyone know this child would one day be worshiped

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Speaker 2: as a god. He would amass followers from nations around

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Speaker 2: the ancient world, rallying them under his name. This child

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Speaker 2: was born in the zenith of Roman potential. His name

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Speaker 2: was Octavian.

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Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham. With today's episode of the

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Speaker 3: Bible and a Year podcast. We're taking time from now

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Speaker 3: until Christmas to explore the rich and powerful story of

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Speaker 3: the Nativity. If the Jesus Podcast has blessed, you considered

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Speaker 3: following and subscribing to the podcast so you never miss

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Speaker 3: an episode. So far, we've surveyed some of the prophecies

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Speaker 3: heralding the coming of Jesus. We saw how the Messiah's

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Speaker 3: coming was foretold from the beginning. The hope and longing

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Speaker 3: for a redeemer endured throughout the generations before we were

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Speaker 3: introduced to our classic Christmas heroes like Zachariah, Elizabeth, Mary,

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Speaker 3: and Joseph. We're going back into the anals of history.

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Speaker 3: Jesus was born into a unique time in history where

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Speaker 3: the boot of Rome was pressing against the throat of Israel.

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Speaker 3: The cruel rule of Caesar Augustus spread across the ancient world.

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Speaker 3: Let's tune in now to this cinematic retelling of Caesar's

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Speaker 3: rise to power. We will explore why this story is

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Speaker 3: paramount to the Christmas message.

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Speaker 2: Octavian was born under the lineage of Caesar. He was

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Speaker 2: the adored son of the Roman Empire Julius Caesar. His

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Speaker 2: illustrious uncle was considered a titan among mortals. He claimed

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Speaker 2: swaths of land for the Roman Empire with brutality and force.

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Speaker 2: But to a power and conquest bloom, so do the

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Speaker 2: forms of treachery. Julius Caesar fell beneath the blade by

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Speaker 2: his kin, leaving an empire fractured and trembling on the

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Speaker 2: brink of chaos. Rome was vulnerable and in disarray. Young

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Speaker 2: Octavian was ready to rise in his uncle's place, determined

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Speaker 2: to lift Rome and carry its glory on his shoulders.

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Speaker 2: As Octavian strode for power, he was flanked by Marc,

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Speaker 2: Anthony and Lepidus, generals in the Armies of Caesar. The

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Speaker 2: three men all claimed Rome as theirs, but only one

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Speaker 2: could be emperor. Their class was Titanic, splitting the empire

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Speaker 2: into three realms. Each leader had command over his dominion,

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Speaker 2: but Octavian would not be denied the throne. Anthony and

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Speaker 2: Octavian stood as adversaries on the battlefield. Anthony's rage boiled

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Speaker 2: against Octavian. If the East is to be mine, Anthony declared,

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Speaker 2: his eyes hard with resolve. Then let it be known

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Speaker 2: that I will not bow to you, Octavian, not in

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Speaker 2: this lifetime. So the dance began, with each ruler amassing

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Speaker 2: legions of loyal warriors, their eyes alight with the fire

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Speaker 2: of the one true king they believed in. The War

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Speaker 2: was brutal, and the once united Rome risked consuming itself

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Speaker 2: within mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt a maston

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Speaker 2: army they believed to be unwrithed. The blood soaked the

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Speaker 2: sand as swords and shields clashed. Although their roots were fierce,

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Speaker 2: Octavian was undeterred by the staggering might of Anthony and Cleopatra,

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Speaker 2: he masterfully marshaled his men and slaughtered the armies of Anthony.

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Speaker 2: Lepidus was next, and his troops were subdued and banished

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Speaker 2: to the far north. On a battlefield now hallowed by

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Speaker 2: the blood and honour of countless men, Octavia the victim stood,

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Speaker 2: surveying the horizon. He was alone, the last man standing

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Speaker 2: amidst the ruins of a rivalry that had swallowed all hope.

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Speaker 2: He stood over the battlefield and marched towards the summit,

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Speaker 2: overlooking the carnage. His rivals had been defeated, and no

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Speaker 2: one was left to stand in his way. His breath

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Speaker 2: misted the cool air as he whispered, I am no

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Speaker 2: longer Octavian. I am Caesar Augustus. War wounds ravaged the

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Speaker 2: Roman Empire, and its people desperately sought peace. With the

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Speaker 2: mantle of power secure on his shoulders, Caesar Augustus set

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Speaker 2: out to heal his empire. I have dreamed of a

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Speaker 2: Rome reborn, he addressed the masses, his voice resonating through

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Speaker 2: the crowd's silence. Today we embark on a journey towards

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Speaker 2: that dream. His rule brought stability, silencing the discord that

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Speaker 2: had torn at the very fabric of Rome. Yet the

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Speaker 2: taste of power was addictive, and Augustus sought to climb

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Speaker 2: to divine heights. He reduced the Roman senate to mere

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Speaker 2: whispers in the hallways of power, himself rising above the

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Speaker 2: mortal coils to be revered as a god. His soldiers

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Speaker 2: were disciples, now his governors, his apostles, all bending their

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Speaker 2: knees in supplication to their Lord and God. The shadow

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Speaker 2: of Rome enveloped the nation of Israel. Israelites watched in

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Speaker 2: quiet dismay, their homelands slowly losing its identity under Roman dominance.

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Speaker 2: Rome's insidious influence diluted their once proud culture. It was

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Speaker 2: like being under the boot of Babylon once again. Amid

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Speaker 2: subjugation and tragedy. They clumbed to God and cried out

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Speaker 2: to him for salvation. The pain of their oppression fuelled

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Speaker 2: their longing for a hero, a redeemer. They clung to

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Speaker 2: the words of the prophecy spoken to David long ago.

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Speaker 2: When your days are over, I will establish the throne

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Speaker 2: of his kingdom forever. The people yearned for the promised savior,

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Speaker 2: a beacon, and the desolation to restore their land and

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Speaker 2: their dignity. Isaiah's words echoed in their hearts. The people

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Speaker 2: walking in darkness had seen a great light. They waited,

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Speaker 2: their eyes brimming with hope, their hearts heavy with expectation.

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Speaker 2: They imagined a ruler that would rival Caesar Augustus. They

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Speaker 2: envisioned a Messiah who had reclaimed the Holy Mountain and

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Speaker 2: thwart the armies of Rome. They imagined conquest like David,

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Speaker 2: and riches like Solomon. Yet as the wheel of fate turned,

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Speaker 2: no one could have anticipated the form their redemption would take.

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Speaker 2: Caesar Augustus Emperor and god. Families would disrupt their lives

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Speaker 2: and travel to the homeland of their kin to be counted.

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Speaker 2: This census, another example of Rome's power, would make way

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Speaker 2: for the Messiah to be born.

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Speaker 3: Let's unpack the story of Caesar Augustus together. You may

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Speaker 3: wonder why we highlighted a part of Caesar's story in

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Speaker 3: a Christmas podcast. It's because Octavian's rise to power sets

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Speaker 3: the stage for the Messiah to be born. The tale

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Speaker 3: of Octavian's assent to the throne is vital for us

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Speaker 3: to understand, because we wouldn't have the Christmas story without it.

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Speaker 3: His expansive reach into the Eastern world enveloped Israel. Although

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Speaker 3: the Pax Romana brought unprecedented peace to the Roman Empire,

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Speaker 3: God's peace, people were pressed for all they had. Increased

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Speaker 3: taxes and Roman regulation were the crucibles for religious radicals

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Speaker 3: and self righteousness. That oppression began a domino effect of

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Speaker 3: events that led to Jesus' birth, most notably the census

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Speaker 3: that would take Mary and Joseph away from Nazareth and

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Speaker 3: to Bethlehem. This story also contrasts the reigning kingdom of

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Speaker 3: Rome and the incoming Kingdom of Christ. Octavian's rise as

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Speaker 3: the sole ruler of Rome marked a turning point in history.

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Speaker 3: All of the ancient world was enveloped under his rule,

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Speaker 3: including Israel. In the times of Moses, David, and Elijah.

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Speaker 3: The idols of the age were gods like Bail, Dagon

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Speaker 3: and Asherah. They were false Canaanite gods who entrapped the

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Speaker 3: people of Israel in false worship. Yet during the time

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Speaker 3: of Jesus, Peter, and Paul, the false god was Caesar.

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Speaker 3: Through sheer force and will power, he made himself to

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Speaker 3: be like a God. He demanded the worship of his followers,

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Speaker 3: and whoever defied him faced death. But while Caesar's rule

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Speaker 3: was marked with brutality and self glorification, Jesus's rule was

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Speaker 3: marked by a grace and self sacrifice. Christmas is not

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Speaker 3: only a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,

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Speaker 3: but it's also an opportunity to reflect on the kingdom

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Speaker 3: he brought into this world. This kingdom stands in sharp

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Speaker 3: contrast to the kingdoms of this world, represented most vividly

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Speaker 3: by Caesar Augustus during the festive season. Let's explore these contrasts.

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Speaker 3: In the era when Christ was born, Caesar Augustus ruled

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Speaker 3: a vast empire. His kingdom was one of conquest, political intrigue,

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Speaker 3: and earthly power. He sought to unify people under the

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Speaker 3: banner of Rome, but his methods were often forceful and

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Speaker 3: self serving. Contrast, Jesus came to establish a kingdom not

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Speaker 3: of this world. His reign is one of peace, justice,

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Speaker 3: and righteousness, founded on love and self sacrifice. The Kingdom

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Speaker 3: of God transcends all borders, and its king invites all

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Speaker 3: to partake in its blessings. Caesar Augustus was known for

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Speaker 3: his ambition and pride. He built monuments to his own

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Speaker 3: glory and inscribed his name on coins as son of God.

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Speaker 3: His rule was characterized by self aggrandizement and the pursuit

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Speaker 3: of personal power. Jesus, the true Son of God, stands

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Speaker 3: in total opposition to Caesar's pride and self serving nature.

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Speaker 3: Born in a manger, living a life of humility, and

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Speaker 3: dying a criminal's death, Jesus exemplified self sacrifice. He washed

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Speaker 3: his disciples feet and gave his life for all humans.

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Speaker 3: The Gospel of Christ does something extraordinary that no earthly

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Speaker 3: kingdom can achieve. It creates a people unified that not

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Speaker 3: by nationality, race, creed, culture, or socio economic status, but

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Speaker 3: by a shared love for Christ. The Gospel invites all people,

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Speaker 3: rich and poor, jew and gentile, slave and free to

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Speaker 3: come to Jesus. To come to Jesus. It tears down

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Speaker 3: the walls that divide us, offering a common ground in

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Speaker 3: the person and work of Christ. In Christ, we find

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Speaker 3: a new identity that transcends all earthly distinctions. We are

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Speaker 3: children of God, citizens of a heavenly kingdom. Our loyalty

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Speaker 3: to Christ binds us together in a community that reflects

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Speaker 3: the love and grace of our King. As we celebrate Christmas,

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Speaker 3: let us reflect on these profound contrasts. While the kingdom

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Speaker 3: of Caesar Augustus was characterized by power, pride, and self service,

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Speaker 3: the Kingdom of God stands as a beacon of love, humility,

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Speaker 3: and self sacrifice. May we, as followers of Christ, imitate

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Speaker 3: our humble King. Let us serve one another and love,

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Speaker 3: recognizing that true greatness in God's Kingdom is found in

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Speaker 3: being a servant of all. And Finally, as we look

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Speaker 3: to the Manger, may we see the hope of a

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Speaker 3: better kingdom, a kingdom not of this world, but one

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Speaker 3: that is coming. May our hearts be filled with joy

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Speaker 3: this Christmas as we reflect on the true King and

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Speaker 3: his kingdom. May our lives be marked by the humility, love,

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Speaker 3: and unity to characterize the Kingdom of God. Thanks for

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Speaker 3: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor

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Speaker 3: Jagraham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot Com app and

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Speaker 3: make prayer a priority in your life. If you enjoy

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Speaker 3: this podcast, share it with someone you love. By sharing

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Speaker 3: this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life

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Speaker 3: and If you want more resources on how to tap

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Speaker 3: into God's power for successful Christian living, be sure to

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Speaker 3: visit Jagraham dot org. God bless you,