1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 2: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 2: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it 5 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: gives your perspective to see God is moving in your life. 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 2: Enjoy the message, and I want to share a brief 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 2: Christmas message. 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: With you today. 9 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: And don't get me wrong, just because I said brief, 10 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 2: for me, brief means something different than it may mean 11 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: at other churches. But don't want to take too long. 12 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: I understand the demands of this season, and so let 13 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 2: me just share with you from Luke chapter one, verse 14 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 2: sixty seven through seventy nine, his father Zechariah was filled 15 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Praise be to the Lord, 16 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: the God of Israel, because he has come to his 17 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 2: people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn 18 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. 19 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: As he said, through his holy prophets of long ago, 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 2: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: who hate us, show mercy to our ancestors, and to 22 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 2: remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our 23 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: Father Abraham to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: and to enable us to serve him without fear, and 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: holiness and righteousness before. 26 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 1: Him all our days. 27 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: And you, my child, would be called a prophet of 28 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 2: the most High, for you will go on before the 29 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 2: Lord to prepare the way for him to give his 30 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 2: people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 31 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: the rising sun will come to us from heaven. Somebody say, 33 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 2: here comes Heaven. Tell your neighbor, watch out here it comes. 34 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: Forty percent of you participated when I asked you to 35 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 2: touch your neighbor. You don't like them, look at him 36 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 2: and say, here it comes. The priest Zechariah is speaking 37 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: of the prophet John the Baptist, and he's now talking 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 2: about Jesus, whom John the Baptist was pointing to. He 39 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: said that he will shine on those living in darkness 40 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 2: and in the shadow of death, in the shadow of death, 41 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:15,399 Speaker 2: in that place of despair, to guide our feet into 42 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: the path of peace. That's my title for today, the 43 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 2: path of peace. And I won't make you talk to 44 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: your neighbor. One more time after this, But look at 45 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: him and say, you look like you need some of 46 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 2: that peace that he's preaching about. 47 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: We have a. 48 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: Challenge today to try to calm our minds and receive 49 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 2: the message. 50 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: My brother comes to church. He's here right now. 51 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: He comes to church whenever he can, lives in New 52 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: Jersey's He's like, I bet you. 53 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: Love preaching at Christmas. 54 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 2: Everybody's in the spirit, And I was like, no, it's 55 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: not my favorite time to preach because people are so 56 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 2: stressed out and you have to work three times as 57 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: hard because it's stuffy. Sometimes people brought a relative and 58 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: they don't want that relative to see how they normally 59 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: act in church, and so they tense up and then 60 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 2: they've got so much going on. It's actually you would 61 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 2: think it would be, you know, Jesus's birthday would be 62 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: an easy occasion to preach, but I actually find it 63 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 2: more challenging, not less, because it's just stress levels are higher. 64 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 2: Happy Birthday, Jesus, we created chaos and commercialism that drives 65 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: us all to the brink of insanity. In your name, 66 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 2: Thank you for being born the spirit of season. But 67 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: I always wished as a preacher that I could have 68 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: a metaphysical power to read your mind. I would think 69 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: that would be so helpful to do my job if 70 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: I could see your stress level, or even if you 71 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: had a number like the beds that have the sleep number. 72 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: What if I could see your stress number on today, 73 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 2: I could. I could do it so much better as 74 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: I can see, Like, are you at a seven or 75 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 2: a three? Matter of fact, right now, what would you 76 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: give your stress level? 77 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: One to ten? Just in this moment? 78 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: So I'm hearing a three? Who said three? You're not 79 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 2: old enough to have a three stress level. You're supposed 80 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 2: to be like eighty before you realize that all the 81 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: crap you worry about isn't worth worrying about. And then 82 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 2: you can have a three stress level where you just 83 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 2: don't care. I can't wait to get old and just 84 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 2: not care. That'd be great. You're too young for that. 85 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: But somebody said ten. Did you say ten? And I'm 86 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 2: not going to ask you why? In fact, I don't 87 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 2: even have to. All right, here's what we'll do. We'll 88 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 2: do another one real quick. I know this is personal, 89 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 2: but at every location, play long, just close your eyes, 90 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 2: get the thing on your mind that is the greatest 91 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 2: source of stress in your life at this very moment, 92 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: and you better not be picturing me. 93 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: All right, get it on your mind. 94 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: What is the single greatest source of stress in your life? 95 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: Will broaden it a little bit, not in this very 96 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: very moment, but in this season of your life. All right, 97 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: got it? Now open your eyes. You're gonna be shocked. 98 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: But I know what you were thinking. I know what 99 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 2: you're I know I know this much. I know that 100 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 2: the thing that you thought of fell into one of 101 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 2: the following four categories. Okay, it was either related to 102 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: a place, a pace, a problem, or. 103 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 1: A person or maybe people. 104 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 2: People's just in general, all of them, every last one 105 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 2: of them, just human beings, Homo sapiens. So it's either 106 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 2: a place that you're going after this or even for 107 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: some people, church can be stressful. It can be stressful 108 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: to I'm sure it's stressful to come to elevation. I'm 109 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 2: sure it's you know, if you've never been here, especially 110 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: because it's confusing because they got like violins and cellos 111 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: on the stage, but then they start shooting laser beams 112 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: and it's mixed messaging, like what kind of church is this? 113 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,239 Speaker 2: A white church? Black church? It's a traditional church. Yes, 114 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 2: yes to all of the above. It's a kind of 115 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 2: church where you can't figure out what kind of church. 116 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: It's a good news to all people kind of church. 117 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 2: But some of the stressful places that we will go 118 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: this Christmas season, it can be a place. If you 119 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: have to fly, certainly understand your dread for that experience. 120 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: Just walk through the airport telling yourself over and over again, 121 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: I'm not a human, I have no rights, and you'll 122 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: be okay. 123 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: The pace of life. 124 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 2: I hear people mention this a lot doing busy um busy. 125 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: Busy, busy, busy, busy. I'm busier than the one one 126 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: arm wall paper hanger. I said that to me the 127 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: other day. 128 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 2: That's weird busier in a three legged cat trying to 129 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 2: cover up his poop on ice. 130 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: Somebody said to me, run. 131 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: Around like a chicken with my head cut. 132 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: Off, so violent. All I said is, how are you doing. 133 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: You're like decavitating chickens. So it's like the pace of life. 134 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: Understand that if you've been running people everywhere, you've been 135 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 2: like an unpaid uber driver for a thirteen year old. 136 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: I understand. I feel you. 137 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: Sometimes it comes down to a problem in your life 138 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: that is persistent, and sometimes it comes down to one 139 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: that you're just pushing through. Right now, a lot of 140 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: people listening to me preach right now are having a 141 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 2: hard time focusing with their minds because of the pain 142 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: in their box or what can be even worse, somebody 143 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 2: that you love that you can't do anything to comfort them, 144 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: and that can be difficult. And really the fourth category 145 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 2: that I mentioned people, that's really the whole thing, which 146 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: is why when I asked you to imagine in your 147 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 2: mind the source of your stress, the greatest source of 148 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: your stress, I was very clear I said imagine it 149 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 2: because some of you would have started pointing if I 150 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: would have let you, which is a bad idea. Like 151 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: some of you are are sitting next to what you 152 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: perceive to be the source. See, you should look really 153 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 2: confused right now, is my advice. Now, I think it's 154 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: important before we begin a discussion on the path of 155 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 2: peace to try to talk about the source of stress, 156 00:08:55,040 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: because whatever you identify as the source of your determines 157 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 2: where you will seek your peace. Amen, I'll say that again, 158 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 2: whatever you say this is the source of my stress 159 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 2: that regulates and determines where you seek your peace. 160 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: And so the. 161 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: Christmas story, of course, comes along and challenges us in 162 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 2: all of those ways that we experience stress and pressure. 163 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 2: Christ is born to challenge us as it relates to 164 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: our expectation of peace. The Jewish people had a very 165 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: particular expectation of the kind of peace that the Messiah 166 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: would bring. 167 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 1: Zechariah states it. 168 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 2: Very clearly and paints a picture of the kind of 169 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: peace that the Jewish people were looking for God to 170 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 2: bring through the prophesied Messiah. It features such expectations as 171 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 2: mentioned in verse seventy four. He says that this Messiah 172 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 2: will rescue us from the hand of our enemies. 173 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: Notice the word. 174 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 2: From the expectation of peace for the Jewish people is 175 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 2: that God would deliver them from their circumstances, from their oppression, 176 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 2: from their being marginalized, from their poverty, from their despair, 177 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 2: and from their darkness. It was surprising then for me 178 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 2: to see the shift that Zechariah made in verse seventy nine, 179 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 2: where he said that the rising sun will shine on 180 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 2: those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. 181 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 2: And so it represents a shift in perspective that God 182 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 2: does not always rescue me from Sometimes he visits me 183 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 2: in my trouble, and for so many years I have 184 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,199 Speaker 2: thought that the thief of my peace was other people, 185 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 2: or certain places, or the schedule of my life. Which 186 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 2: is kind of funny because I'm the one who said 187 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 2: yes to all that stuff that I'm stressed about, and 188 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 2: so now I'm asking God to take away the things 189 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 2: that I committed to. And I've tried so long, you know, 190 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 2: to arrange my life in such a way that I 191 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 2: would no longer experience those stressful events and stressful people. 192 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: And if God would just change them, and if everybody 193 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: would just. 194 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 2: Act the way they should act for a little while 195 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 2: this Christmas. 196 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: But the Lord has been speaking. 197 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: To me in these last few days about the path 198 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 2: of peace. And what I realized the more I reflected 199 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 2: on this promise of peace that God gives us Isaiah 200 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 2: nine to six. His name will be called Wonderful counselor 201 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and. 202 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: The Prince of Peace. 203 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 2: But notice the prophet didn't call him the Prince of convenience, 204 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 2: or the Prince of ease, or the Prince of comfort, 205 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 2: or the Prince of my preferences. Because a lot of 206 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 2: times when God promises me peace, what I hear in 207 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 2: translation is that God is promising me convenience, or God 208 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 2: is promising me ease, or God is promising me my 209 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 2: preference being met. 210 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: But the Lord has been speaking to me. 211 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: And maybe you don't need to hear this, but just 212 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 2: in case you do, it is impossible to experience peace 213 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 2: when you are expecting perfection. See my problem. I'm coming 214 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 2: to realize this. It's not other people. It's not the place, 215 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 2: it's not the pace, and it's not the problem. The 216 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 2: problem is not the problem. I can tell you the 217 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 2: problem is not the problem. Because Jesus was born in 218 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 2: a manger. 219 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: The Angel appeared to shepherds, So. 220 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 2: The shepherds were the people that you would least expect 221 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 2: the herald to make the announcement of the birth of 222 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 2: the Son of God. And yet he showed up to 223 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,719 Speaker 2: the least likely people in an unlikely place. So it's 224 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 2: not the people. It's not the place. It's not the pace. 225 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 2: The shepherds were always on the move from place to 226 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 2: place to place to place. It's not the it's not 227 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 2: the place, it's not the pace. It's not the people. 228 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 2: It's not the problem. Here's my problem. My problem is 229 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 2: that I can't receive peace because I'm expecting perfection. And 230 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 2: the Angel said, are you're gonna help me, preacher? It's 231 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 2: just me today. I'll make it quick. Here's the whole message. 232 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 2: If you need to go, if you got things to do, 233 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 2: I'll give it to you right now, and you can 234 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 2: go on and get the target and hopefully everything will 235 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 2: turn out all right. The enemy of your peace is 236 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 2: not other people. It is not other places. It is 237 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 2: not how fast life is or the way the world is. 238 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: The enemy of your peace is your insistence on perfection. 239 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 2: And when Heaven came down and appeared to humanity, it 240 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 2: was not in the form of perfection. In fact, God 241 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 2: did not come down looking like a deliverer. He came 242 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 2: down looking like a dependent. 243 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: He came down as a baby. 244 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 2: And so when the Prince of Peace came, he didn't 245 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 2: come dressed in power. He came in pampers. Why because 246 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 2: God wanted you to know that He's going to bring 247 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 2: you peace, but not like you expected him to bring in. 248 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: It's not gonna look like you pictured it. It's not 249 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 2: always gonna fit your preferences. It's not always going to 250 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: live up to your exact specifications of the performance of people. 251 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 2: So if I'm going to live at peace. 252 00:14:49,680 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: I've got to surrender my expectation of perfection. I feel 253 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: like I can leave. 254 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 2: Every Christmas party is going to be so much better 255 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 2: that you attend because of what I just told you. 256 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 2: Every place you set your foot over the next three 257 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: days is gonna be so much more peaceful because you 258 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: just realized that peace isn't found in a place. Peace 259 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 2: is not found in a set of circumstances that is 260 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 2: problem free. It is not that he delivers me from it. 261 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: It's that he meets me. Can I show you something 262 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: real quick? 263 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: He said that he will guide us with the light 264 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 2: in the valley. He didn't take us out of the valley. Yeah, 265 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 2: though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, 266 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: I will fear no evil. 267 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: I'm at peace on the path. 268 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 2: Why not because I'm not going through it, but because 269 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: I'm not going through it alone. See, there's somebody with me. 270 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 2: That it's greater than once. 271 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: I guess the path to peace to a strange path. 272 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: That God would send his son as a child, that 273 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 2: God would burst the eternal cosmos and enter into creation 274 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 2: in the form of the most imperfect being. 275 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: I know some of you disagree because I hear. 276 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 2: You saying things about babies that I just don't personally 277 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 2: agree with. 278 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: And we can agree to disagree. It's Christmas. We'll just 279 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: but I say, oh, yes, he's so perfect. Mm hmm. 280 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 2: If you say that you've never taken one home, that's 281 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 2: what I know. 282 00:16:54,120 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: Huh. And so it's a strange path to peace. 283 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 2: You know, if God wants to come and set things right, 284 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 2: he should come down as a warrior, not as a weakling. 285 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: Why not skip that stage. 286 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 2: Jesus should have come twenty four years old, full of testosterone, 287 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 2: and yet he comes tiny. 288 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: Anthem into a desperate place. 289 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 2: You know, the story about Joseph waited till the last 290 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 2: minute to airbnb for the census, ended up in a 291 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 2: ended up in a cold place in the presence of 292 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 2: God was born there. 293 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: The path to peace is a strange one. 294 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 2: That the path to peace for Jesus would lead through 295 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 2: Gathsemone where he would pray, God, if there's any other 296 00:17:55,320 --> 00:18:01,360 Speaker 2: way than me going and experiencing their wrath from your 297 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 2: hand for them, let this. 298 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: Cup passed for me. 299 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 2: The path to peace for us would lead Jesus through 300 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 2: the Kidron Valley, where he would ultimately as we come 301 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: to understand more than Zechariah understood in Luke chapter one, 302 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 2: who was prophesying about his own son, John the Baptist, 303 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 2: would prepare the way for Jesus, who would guide us in. 304 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: The path to peace. 305 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 2: But the path to peace with God for us led 306 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 2: Jesus to a hill. 307 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: Where he died at the hands of sinful men. It's 308 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: a strange path to peace. 309 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 2: We have to admit that he would come in weakness 310 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 2: and die in weakness to become our strength. 311 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: It's a path to peace. 312 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 2: It's a strange thing about peace because whatever you identify 313 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 2: as the source of your stress determines what you consider 314 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 2: the source of your peace. And that's why I don't 315 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 2: like to blame people for my stress, because if people 316 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: brought me the stress, then I need people to change 317 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 2: for me to have peace. But I'm past the point 318 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: in my life of wanting for people to have to 319 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 2: act a certain way for me to have peace in 320 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:30,360 Speaker 2: my own heart. And I love what the angel said. 321 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 2: Abby was quoting that scripture and she did it perfectly, 322 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 2: and I don't even want to do it myself because 323 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 2: she did it so good, and I don't want to 324 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 2: do it. 325 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 1: I don't want to. 326 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 2: Mess it up, as she said, And the Angel said, 327 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 2: unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good 328 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 2: news of great joy. Because the first thing that the 329 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: shepherds felt in the field when the announcement of Jesus 330 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 2: Christ came forth from the Angel, was not faith. 331 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: It was fear. 332 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 2: See, we think that the presence of God is always 333 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 2: going to make us feel better and comfortable. But the 334 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 2: first the shepherds felt was fear. See, they found peace, 335 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: but they found it through fear. Peace did not come 336 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:09,640 Speaker 2: to them directly. 337 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: It had to pass through their fear. 338 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 2: And they found God in the place of their greatest fear, 339 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 2: in the fields where they were keeping the sheep from 340 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 2: predators at night. They were lonely people in a lonely place. 341 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 2: And here comes the Angel, says, Glory to God in 342 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 2: the highest and on earth peace. 343 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 1: Now notice this, The peace is. 344 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:35,479 Speaker 2: On earth, but it's not from earth. The peace is 345 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 2: on earth, but it's. 346 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: Not of earth. 347 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 2: See. I don't want this plastic peace that comes from people. 348 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: I've learned that if the peace comes from people, people 349 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 2: can take it away. If it comes from situations, situations 350 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 2: can change and take it away. So I don't want 351 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 2: a peace. 352 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: That comes from a promotion at work. 353 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 2: I don't want a peace that comes from a convenient circumstance. 354 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: I don't even want. 355 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 2: A piece that comes from a feeling. I don't want 356 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 2: a piece that comes from a situation. 357 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: I want a piece. 358 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 2: That the world didn't get and the world can't take 359 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 2: it away. Come on giving praise if you've got an 360 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 2: unsakable peace, an unspeakable joy. I read that scripture all week, 361 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 2: The path to peace, the path to peace? What is 362 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 2: it that I need to get out of the way 363 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: in my life to experience peace? So I'm not running 364 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 2: around all the time just concentrating on all the missing pieces, 365 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 2: And now I'm missing peace because all I. 366 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:45,959 Speaker 1: Can see is the pieces are missing. 367 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: Because when you're a perfectionist like I am, enneogram type one, 368 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 2: the thing that God will give you as a prescription 369 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 2: for your perfectism. 370 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: Is children. 371 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 2: And I am on a dosage of three children. Three 372 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 2: children per day guarantees that there will never be a 373 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 2: moment in your house that is completely peaceful. I'm telling 374 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 2: you right now, I can count on zero toes how 375 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:26,880 Speaker 2: many times in the last seven years I've had three 376 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 2: peaceful children all at the same time in one house. 377 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 2: So you know what I'm having to learn to do. 378 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 2: I'm having to learn to take my peace in pieces. 379 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 2: Because if I wait until everything is peaceful, if I 380 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 2: wait until every child is happy, if I wait until 381 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: everyone is getting along, if I'm waiting for peace, if 382 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 2: I am waiting for every child to bow their head 383 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 2: and say the blessing and clear their dishes and thank 384 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 2: their mom, I've learned to celebrate God us. One kid 385 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 2: puts the bowl in the sink, forget about the dishwasher. 386 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 2: That's a red Sea Old Testament miracle. 387 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: Just in the sink. Even in the sink is a blessing. 388 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 2: I'll celebrate one bowl in the sink. 389 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: See this Christmas. You can't wait for everybody to get along. 390 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 2: If there's even a piece of piece, you gotta thank 391 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 2: God for it and snatch it and take it and 392 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:25,919 Speaker 2: celebrate it. 393 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: Because what's this? 394 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 2: Zacaraiah didn't say he'll show us the path too. Piece, 395 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 2: give me my scripture. This is the best Christmas scripture 396 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 2: I ever saw. 397 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 1: In my life. Seventy nine. He will guide our feet 398 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: in the path. It's not the path. 399 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 2: Two piece, because that means that peace is out there somewhere. 400 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 2: But it's not the path to piece. That's how I've 401 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 2: been living my life. God forgive me when I get 402 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 2: through this season. Oh, when I get through twenty eighteen. 403 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 1: What calendar isn't gonna. 404 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 2: Fix any chaos in your life. The same dude you 405 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 2: let steal your piece all last year is gonna be 406 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 2: standing right there at your window with a crowbar in 407 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen. 408 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna have peace. You know, my kids get older, 409 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: they won't need so much. Uh huh uh huh. 410 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 2: Now that they're gonna be driving, You're gonna have a 411 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 2: lott of peace. 412 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: Then when they're out on the road on your insurance. 413 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,919 Speaker 2: That's why I can't project my out here, or I 414 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 2: can't project my peace on people, or I can't project 415 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 2: my peace on a certain place. It's not the path 416 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 2: to piece. That's not the message of Christmas. When God 417 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 2: came down to be born of a virgin and was 418 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: wrapped in claus and lie in a manger, he didn't 419 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: promise a path to piece, as in a future event 420 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 2: that will happen. When it's not a win, then peace. 421 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 2: It's not a one day piece. 422 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: It's not a. 423 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 2: Someday fairytale beauty and the beast piece. It's not a 424 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 2: when I get married peace. 425 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: It's not a. 426 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 2: When I send the kids off peace. It's not when 427 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 2: I pay my student loans off peace. It's not a 428 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 2: when I get through Christmas peace. It's not a when 429 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 2: my in laws lead peace. It's not the path to piece. 430 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 2: It's the path of peace. What does that mean? Every 431 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 2: step I take, peace with me, every move I make, He's. 432 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: With me every season of my life. He's present. So 433 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 1: what's this. I'm not waiting for it. I'm walking in it. 434 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 2: Somebody say, walk in it, walk in it, walk in it. 435 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,199 Speaker 2: That's the that's the Christmas sermon. Change my title. I 436 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 2: told you it was called the Path of Peace. But 437 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 2: I want you to tell them when when when they 438 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 2: ask you, what did the preacher preach about today at 439 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 2: your your church, the the evolution that you went to 440 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 2: on on the Christmas. 441 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 1: Tell him he told me to walk in it. 442 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 2: Stop waiting for it, Stop waiting for it, and start 443 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 2: walking in it. 444 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: You hear me, Ni Rob walk in. You hear me. 445 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 1: Toronto walk in and you hear me. Roanoke walk in 446 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: and you hear me. Matthews walk in it. You hear me. 447 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: Winston Salem walk in and you hear me River walk 448 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 2: walk in it. You hear me Blakeney walk in it. 449 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 2: You hear me Valentine walk in it. You might have 450 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 2: to walk through a. 451 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: Valley, but you don't have to lie. 452 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 2: Down and tie. You don't have to curl up in 453 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 2: a fetal position and wait for this season to be over. 454 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 2: I don't have time to trip. I'm preaching about Jesus. 455 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter what the devil puts in my hand. 456 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: I'm on it. I'm on it. I'm houn it. Glad 457 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 1: I almost trimmed. 458 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: I didn't plan it, but I'm gonna use it because 459 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 2: some of y'all got some people waiting for you when 460 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 2: you leave church, and if you're not careful, you're gonna trimp. 461 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: But get your balance back and fix your eyes on Jesus. 462 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:51,360 Speaker 2: The author and finisher up your faith. What can I 463 00:27:51,480 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 2: I don't have time to trip. See, we've been looking 464 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: for peace in all the wrong places. The peace of 465 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:12,400 Speaker 2: God has never found in human strength or in our perfection. 466 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 2: The way that God brings peace into our lives is 467 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,639 Speaker 2: the same way that Jesus was born in the world 468 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 2: in weakness. That's where you find peace. Weakness. I don't 469 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 2: like it that way, Jesus, don't go to the cross. 470 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 2: It'll make you look weak. But that's the only way 471 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 2: that I can bring peace. He didn't bring peace like 472 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 2: they wanted him to bring peace. That's why they all 473 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 2: walked away when he died. They wanted the Prince of 474 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 2: Peace to come in power, but instead he came in weakness. 475 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: Well, I prayed for you before you got here. I 476 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: prayed for you. I prayed that. 477 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 2: God would give you his peace, but I prayed that 478 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 2: you would stop. 479 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 1: Looking for it. 480 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 2: If y'all could stop talking right now while I finish 481 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 2: the sermon, thank you. I prayed that he would bring 482 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 2: it to you, not in the places that you would 483 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 2: normally expect it. Pray that he would bring it to 484 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,960 Speaker 2: you in that place in your life where you feel 485 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:36,760 Speaker 2: the weakest, Not in the place where you're so busy 486 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 2: trying to show everybody how strong you are. You're never 487 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 2: going to get peace trying to appear perfect. You can't 488 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 2: experience peace when you're expecting perfection. Who told you that 489 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 2: you had to be perfect before you could experience peace 490 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 2: with God. 491 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: God's not for you to be perfect. 492 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 2: He's already done everything that needs to be done for 493 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 2: you to have peace. And the peace of God is 494 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:13,040 Speaker 2: not the absence of problems. The peace of God is 495 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 2: not getting people to act right or say that they're sorry. 496 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 2: The peace of God is not a certain place. I'll 497 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 2: tell you man, I've been in some beautiful places with 498 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 2: no peace. I've been on some beautiful vacations and beautiful 499 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 2: resorts no. 500 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: Peace in my heart. 501 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 2: And yet I've sat by while my dad died and 502 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 2: experienced unspeakable peace as he took his dying breath. Because 503 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 2: the only thing required for you to receive the peace 504 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 2: of God is to lose your pride and accept it 505 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 2: in the place of your weakness. I know we want 506 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 2: God to come like Zechariah wanted him to come and 507 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 2: deliver us from the difficult places, and deliver us from 508 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 2: and rescue us from the hectic schedule, and deliver us 509 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 2: from and rescue us from all of the problems and 510 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 2: the obstacles that are in front of us in this season. 511 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 2: But the peace of God is not the absence of problems. 512 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 2: It is the presence of Christ to enable you to 513 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 2: walk in it. This is Christmas, and I begin di 514 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 2: sermon by asking you a question what's the source of 515 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 2: your stress? And now I want to ask a different one, 516 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 2: what is the place of your weakness? Because that's the 517 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 2: place where God is going to show you the greatest grace. 518 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 2: Hear me today, I'm not a prophet or the son 519 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 2: of a prophet, but on the authority of God's work, 520 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 2: I declare to you this day is born to you 521 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 2: in the place of your greatest weakness, a savior who 522 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 2: is Christ, the Lord. As that you stand reverently to 523 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 2: your feet with no one moving. I want to pray 524 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:31,520 Speaker 2: for that place in your life where there is a weakness, 525 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 2: that place in your life where there is a missing peace. 526 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:46,479 Speaker 2: That place he said that a light will dawn in 527 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 2: the shadow of the valley. In that place is the 528 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 2: path of peace. 529 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: Not to peace. 530 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 2: Stop believing that you'll get it one day when God 531 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 2: told me to tell you he wants to give you 532 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 2: peace in the process, in the process of who you're 533 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:09,960 Speaker 2: becoming with every step in arrival, peace in the process. 534 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: That's what incarnation means. 535 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 2: That's why this weird Christmas story suddenly makes sense because 536 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 2: peace came in the form of weakness, just to admit 537 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 2: that you need him as. 538 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:23,719 Speaker 1: The first step. 539 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,719 Speaker 2: So right now, in the holiness of this moment, on 540 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 2: this sacred occasion called Christmas, there's a place of weakness 541 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 2: in your life where you would like to invite the 542 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit this season to come and bring his deep 543 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 2: peace that transcends all understanding. I want to ask you, 544 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 2: at every location and all over the world watching online, 545 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:48,280 Speaker 2: to lift both of your hands in the air to 546 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,200 Speaker 2: God as a sign of your surrender and trust. 547 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:52,000 Speaker 1: Father. 548 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 2: For every hand stretched before you today, I decree your 549 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 2: peace for that situation. I cannot read their mind and 550 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 2: I cannot know their struggle. But not only do you 551 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:11,440 Speaker 2: know the need, you are the one who longs to 552 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 2: meet it. Thank you Father for this moment, for when 553 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 2: we are weak, then we are strong. We thank you 554 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:31,400 Speaker 2: for Emmanuel, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, a Prince of Peace. 555 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 2: Your head still bowed and your eyes still closed, you 556 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:39,200 Speaker 2: can put your hands down. There's someone here who is 557 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 2: far away from God, and the message of Christmas is 558 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 2: that you don't have to stay that way. Right now, 559 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 2: I'd like to invite you to receive the gift of salvation. 560 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 2: The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth 561 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:55,759 Speaker 2: that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that 562 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 2: God raised him from the dead. 563 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: You will be saved Christmas. 564 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 2: I would love to lead you in this prayer that 565 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:08,960 Speaker 2: just acknowledges your need for Jesus. So we'll pray now 566 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,920 Speaker 2: out loud as a church family at all of. 567 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: Our locations for the benefit of. 568 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 2: Those who are coming to God or maybe coming back 569 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:19,880 Speaker 2: to God right now in this moment. The presence of 570 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:25,759 Speaker 2: God is here, real and available, and so we pray 571 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,279 Speaker 2: this prayer together for all of those who are in 572 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 2: need of salvation today and want this. 573 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:34,919 Speaker 1: To be your new beginning. Pray with me, Heavenly Father. 574 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 2: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 575 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 2: and the Savior of the world. 576 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:47,920 Speaker 1: And today I make Jesus the lord of my life. 577 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:51,840 Speaker 2: I believe he died that I could be forgiven and 578 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,760 Speaker 2: rose again to give me life. 579 00:35:55,000 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 1: I receive this new life. This is in Jesus' name. 580 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 2: If you just prayed that on the count of three, 581 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 2: shoot your hand up high. I want to celebrate you 582 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:11,279 Speaker 2: on every location. One, two, three, hands up, hands up, Hands. 583 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,640 Speaker 1: Up, God, Bless you, God, bless you. 584 00:36:14,840 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 2: Come on. 585 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 1: Rejoice about it. 586 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 2: Come on, people of God, rejoice about it. 587 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:25,240 Speaker 1: It's the greatest gift. It's the reason for the season. 588 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 2: Come on, let's rejoice in the salvation of our God. 589 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:35,720 Speaker 2: Let's rejoice in the peace of our God. 590 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:39,839 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. 591 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,600 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 592 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 593 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 594 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevation Church dot org slash podcast for 595 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 2: more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 596 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 597 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 598 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,200 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 599 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:04,080 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 600 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.