1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: Be sure to. 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: Subscribe so we can get you these new sermons every week. 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: I hope you're blessed today. We praise you for who 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: you are. We praise you because you came and because 7 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 2: you can. We come to worship you, adore you, and 8 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: give you glory. 9 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: Christ the Lord. Thank you for coming for us, thank 10 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: you for dying for us. Thank you for giving us 11 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: this moment. We worship you, Almighty God in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, 12 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: I want to welcome you to a very special Sunday 13 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: at Elevation Church. Welcome to our evam around the world. 14 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: A few minutes from now, we'll have the chance to 15 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: give our offering, and that will be absolutely incredible. As 16 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: we stand in the midst of so many miracles that 17 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: God has done for each of us, and so many 18 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: miracles that He's done for all of us. I just 19 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: invite you to bring your offering with joy today, and 20 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: maybe your offering is a million dollars. We have had 21 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: people give a million dollars in these offerings, and you 22 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: would clap if they gave it to you. And your 23 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: bank account. I don't know why you're not clapping, because 24 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: we can use that to help people. Yeah, but it 25 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: might not be that much in terms of the finances 26 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: of it. But we all get to stretch our faith together. 27 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: So whether you're here in a building or watching online, 28 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: I'm excited about the opportunity to give. As you give, 29 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: you will select one word or phrase. Some people make 30 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: up really creative words, like my word for the year 31 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: is trusting God, even though I don't see his goodness 32 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: a lot of hyphens. But whether it's a sentence or 33 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: a word, something that captures the spirit of what you're 34 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: believing God to do in your life. And will believe 35 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: God with you and stand with you for that. And 36 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: again at the end of the sermon, I'll pray and 37 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: we'll have that opportunity, which means that I've got to 38 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: preach short today, which means that you've got to listen hard. 39 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: So tell your neighbor, if we get out latest your 40 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 1: fault for not listening. I can look and see how 41 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: good you're listening. If we do this right, I will 42 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: have you home in time today to watch the Panthers 43 00:02:51,200 --> 00:03:00,120 Speaker 1: lose or the Panthers playing today all right, that's a prophecy, 44 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: Praise the Lord. I started a tradition a few years 45 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: ago of giving you your Christmas sermon on the week 46 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 1: you give the offering. So I'm going to continue that 47 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: tradition today. 48 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: I like to give it to you before you get 49 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 3: so busy. 50 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: The busier you get in this season, the less bandwidth 51 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,399 Speaker 1: you have. So I want to give you the Christmas 52 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,679 Speaker 1: story and walk through it together and see a few 53 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: things that God would speak to us before things get 54 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: extra hectic. How many would say, it's already extra hectic. 55 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: Pastor Stephen, you're about thirty five years too late. Well 56 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: made this message. Find you and catch up with you 57 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: wherever you are today, remain standing in honor of the 58 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: reading of God's word. If you're joining us online today, 59 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: let us know in the chat where you're watching from. 60 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: And everybody just say, I trust in God, I trust 61 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: in God. I trust in God. Are you a soprano? 62 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: Luke Chapter two, Versus seven through twelve. Luke, Chapter two, 63 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: verses seven through twelve. And she brought forth her firstborn 64 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him 65 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: in a manger because there was no room for them. 66 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: In the end, they were in the same country, shepherds 67 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 68 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, 69 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, 70 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said, unto them, 71 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: fear not, for behold, I bring bring you good tidings 72 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: of great joy, which shall be to all people. For 73 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: unto you is born this day in the City of David, 74 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall 75 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: be a sign. Unto you, you will find the babe 76 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Let's put 77 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: our hands together and thank God for the gift of 78 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Look at that again with me verse twelve. 79 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying 80 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: in a manger. The title I want to give this 81 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: message today is a little unusual. But stick with me 82 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: and I'll make it make sense. The Lord told me 83 00:05:54,800 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: to tell you the pajamas are a prophecy. The pajamas 84 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: are a prophecy. Now touch your neighbor and say, don't 85 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: sleep through this sermon. This one's going to make sense. 86 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: In a minute, you may be seated. The pajamas are 87 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: a prophecy. Amen. Yeah. So when I think about this 88 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: Christmas announcement to the Shepherds and the Christmas story in general, 89 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: it causes me to reflect and realize how many times 90 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: in my life that rejection or the fear of rejection 91 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: has kept me from receiving a gift that God wanted 92 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: to give me. I don't like to admit that because 93 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: I would like to pretend as if everybody else was 94 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: to blame for the things I didn't get in life, 95 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: or that I'm just waiting on the Lord for everything 96 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: I've prayed for. But this Christmas, in reflecting, I thought 97 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: a lot about how rejection and I'll break that down 98 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: just a little bit for you right now. But first 99 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: let me tell you a story. On Christmas Eve, my 100 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: grandmother on my dad's side would always come to see 101 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: us with my uncle Russell, and both of them are 102 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: now in heaven. They both died within the last couple 103 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: of years. I want to tell you about the last 104 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: time that I saw both of them. They lived just 105 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: about two hundred yards apart on the same piece of land. 106 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: My uncle called me to tell me that he was 107 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: sick and that he didn't have much time. He'd kept 108 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: it a secret. He didn't tell anybody. And I really 109 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: loved this uncle too. He was my cool uncle. He 110 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: was my cool uncle. He didn't give me beer or 111 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: anything like that when my dad wasn't looking, but he 112 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: always had my back. When I called the DJ Jazzy 113 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: Jeff nine hundred hot line, the Fresh Prince in Jazzy 114 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: Jeff nine hundred hot line and ran up a seventy 115 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: dollars phone bill, he was the one to meet me 116 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: out in the yard and let me know I was 117 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: in trouble so I could prepare to go face my dad. 118 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: And he had my back. So I went to see him, 119 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: and it was really sad because he was already in 120 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: the bed. Why didn't you tell us sooner? We could 121 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: have come and seen you sooner. Be as a very 122 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: private person and going to see him with my mom, 123 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: I figured while we were there we would get to 124 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: see my grandmother too, who was also pretty sick. But 125 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: something weird happened, and y'all, I didn't want to tell 126 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: this story at the start of my sermon because it's 127 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: going to sound heavy, but it's all right to laugh. 128 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: Because it's kind of funny, and everybody's family it's kind 129 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: of crazy, and so don't feel bad laughing at this 130 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: when I tell you, because kind of funny. We're sitting 131 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: there with my uncle and my grandmama calls and they 132 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: pick up the phone, and we're sitting with my uncle, 133 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: and I hear my grandmama on the phone while my 134 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 1: uncle's girlfriend is sitting there, and she says, hey, hey, grandmama. 135 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: And they had tension in their relationship too, but you know, 136 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: she was calling because he was very sick and probably 137 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 1: days away from dying, and so she I can't believe 138 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: I'm telling you all this. She goes, what are y'all doing? 139 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: And Sandy says, well, Faith and Stephen are here, and 140 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: Grandmama goes, Faith and Stephen, oh God. Now I love 141 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: my grandmama. It's not like we had some horrible relationship. Again. 142 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: She would come every Christmas Eve. My grandmama was the 143 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: one who would record the pay per view WrestleManias for 144 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: me when I was a boy. So I owe her 145 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: a great debt of gratitude, love and honor. Anyway, she said, 146 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: Faith and Stephen, oh God. Then she goes, are they 147 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: coming over here. She know we could hear, and Sandy said, oh, 148 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:51,319 Speaker 1: I don't know, Grandmama, and Grandmama goes, god, I hope not. 149 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: I know. It's kind of like ray for pestor Stephen, 150 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: and and so it was the weirdest thing. And we 151 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: didn't go see her and then never saw her again. 152 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: I never saw her again. And I don't know that 153 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: I regret that necessarily, because I mean, it was pretty 154 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: obvious we weren't wanted. But you know, my mom said something, 155 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: and in fact checked this with her to make sure 156 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: she actually said it. This week when we were driving away, 157 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: we were like, what that crazy that we were like 158 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: these unwanted aliens invading She didn't want to see us, 159 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: And she goes, my mom goes, well, maybe it wasn't 160 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: that she didn't want to see us. Maybe she didn't 161 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: want us to see her in that state and the 162 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: house in that state, and she had raised another girl 163 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: after she had raised one of her son's daughters, and 164 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: then those kids were there, and so the house was 165 00:10:55,960 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: always a mess. Maybe she wasn't reject us, Maybe she 166 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: was protecting herself from being seen by us. The reason 167 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: I mention that as embarrassing as the story is, and 168 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: as awkward as it is, Merry Christmas, everybody, there's a 169 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 1: heart wrenching Christmas story. To warm your spirits. We'll put 170 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: some hot cocoa into communion cups a Christmas even make 171 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: it up to you something like that. The reason I 172 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: share it is because it made me realize that a 173 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: lot of times we reject blessings in our life because 174 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: we don't accept the messes that come with them. And 175 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: what I love about Luke chapter two and the way 176 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: that God comes to earth in the form of a 177 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: baby born in a barn in Bethlehem, is that it 178 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 1: lets me know that God is very comfortable stepping into 179 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,199 Speaker 1: my mess. I want to say to somebody today whose 180 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: life is a mess going into this holiday season. House 181 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: is a mess, mind is a mess, marriage is a mess. 182 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: Money is a mess. If I look long enough, I'll 183 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: find a mess. Don't make me get up under the bed. 184 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: I will fight. I'll open the doors in the closet. 185 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 1: In the room, you don't let anybody in. Everybody in 186 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: here has a mess. And I think one of the 187 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: greatest sins of the Church is the cutification of Christmas. 188 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: I made that word up. Cutification little baby Jesus. You know, 189 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: babies are only cute when you're waving at them. They're 190 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: chaotic if you're raising them. I will repeat that again 191 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: because you are a little slow today. Y'all came in 192 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: on that dial up modem spiritual setting. Okay, I'm gonna 193 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: say it again. Babies are cute when you wave all. 194 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 1: Look have babies so cute? But when you're raising them, 195 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, the baby becomes the perfect symbol of Christmas 196 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: because it teaches us that God is comfortable in our chaos. 197 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 1: So don't wait till you get it all together to 198 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: invite God in. Don't be like Grandmama and think, well 199 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,719 Speaker 1: if they saw how I was living. The beauty of 200 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: the incarnation of Jesus Christ is that while o Romans 201 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: five eight, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, 202 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: and while we were in our lowly state, he came. 203 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: Notice where he came. He came in a field to 204 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: the shepherds. So it reminds me to know that God 205 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: can reach me wherever I am. God can reach me 206 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: wherever I am. Let's get that confession, go and say 207 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: it out loud. God can reach me wherever I am. 208 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: And this is why we sing the Christmas Carol. I've 209 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: got friends in low places the Christmas Carol because because 210 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: it's good to know that this season you have some 211 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: expectations for great moments and peaceful moments and wonderful reunions 212 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: and wonderful gifts and all of that. But if you 213 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: really want to have a blessed Christmas season, might I 214 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: give you some unspiritual sounding advice. Lower your expectations right, 215 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: set your expectations low. And you're like, but no, the 216 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: Bible said, fear not, for behold, I bring you good 217 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: tidings of great joy. So in that sense, we expect 218 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: blessing to come into our life. How many are expecting 219 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: God to bless you before the year is over in 220 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: a brand new, beautiful way. Well, don't be shy about it. 221 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: You're not gonna get in like that little timid Christian. 222 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: How many are expecting God to bless you? 223 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 4: Yeah? 224 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: I am, of course I am. I'm expecting for him 225 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: to show up and provide for me. I'm expecting for 226 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: him to see me through with this peace. I'm expecting 227 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: for him to create moments that I'll remember. I'm expecting 228 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: him to visit in my life, and I need to 229 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: stop screaming because this isn't the best part of my sermon. 230 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: But God promised number one, he will reach you. Notice 231 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: that the angels came to the shepherds. And the reason 232 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: I mentioned Saint Garth Brooks is because look at this verse. 233 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: You never seen this before in the Christmas story it said, 234 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: and lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them. 235 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: You missed it. While we're so busy looking for God 236 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 1: to come from up here from a high experience. While 237 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: we're so busy waiting for God to come up here, 238 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: the Angel of the Lord came upon them, the Bible says, 239 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: and Lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them. 240 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: So if you're looking for God in your life right now, 241 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: looking for provision and protection in your life, right now, 242 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: I got a piece of advice. Look low. Imagine Heaven 243 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: wanting to get the word out that the Savior of 244 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: the world is born, and so Heaven puts together an 245 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: advertising agency, a marketing team. We got to get the 246 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: word out and let everybody know that the Savior is born, 247 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: that the one who was prophesied is coming, that the 248 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah is here, 249 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: right now today is born to you in the City 250 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: of David, a savior, which is Christ, the Lord, who 251 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: will we assemble to be the influencers that will spread 252 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,719 Speaker 1: this heavenly message. And so God looks at Silicon Valley 253 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: and finds some tech startup billionaires, but he can't give 254 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,479 Speaker 1: them the message because they're too high for it. And 255 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: God looks at somebody else who has a perfect standing 256 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: in society, some socialite who is accepted by all, who 257 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: has entree into every environment, but he can't give them 258 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 1: the message because they're too high for it. And God 259 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: puts together a search committee. We need to give somebody 260 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: the message that the Savior is born, and we can't 261 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: find anybody except these shepherds. You got to understand something 262 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:53,719 Speaker 1: about the shepherds. The shepherds, we're the lowest people in 263 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: the society of the day. So when God get ready 264 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 1: to shout, got ready to give the high, highest announcement, 265 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: he picked the lowest people to give the highest announcement. 266 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: And I wonder, is he looking for somebody today who's 267 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: been real low because he wants to show you something. 268 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: I had to learn this that the Lord looks slow. 269 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,360 Speaker 1: Did you know that the Lord looks low. Jesus said, 270 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: I am lowly in heart for all of those who 271 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: are in a spiritual low today, he's looking for you. 272 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: Tell your neighbor in case they're going through, say he's 273 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: looking for you. He's looking for you. Hey, angels over here, 274 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: we're important now. I'm not looking for you. Hey angels 275 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: over here, I'm real smart. I'm not looking for you. 276 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: Hey angels over here, I'm accepted by everybody. I'm not 277 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: looking for you. I'm looking for a low person. You say, 278 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: what does that mean if my life is going good, 279 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: that God won't bless me. It doesn't mean that at all. 280 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: It just means that the only reason your life is 281 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: going good is because He reached down when you were lone. 282 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 1: And some of us have forgotten. I'm gonna give you 283 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 1: twenty three seconds to remember how he reached down low, 284 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: how you didn't deserve for him to answer your prayer, 285 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: how you had to pray for him to get you 286 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: out of a situation that you got yourself into. Fake 287 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: people on Christmas. That's cute Christmas phrase I'm talking about. 288 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 1: He reached down Loa. 289 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 5: He reached way down Loa. 290 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: And the Bible said lo the Angel of the Lord. 291 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: Everybody saw loa, loa. I got a friend in low, 292 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 1: oh places that encouraged me. Look for God in the 293 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: lows over the next twenty days, look for the lessons 294 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 1: he wants you to learn in the lows. After all, 295 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: if He chose lowly shepherds to reveal his son to, 296 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: maybe he will choose your low moment to reveal the 297 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 1: greatest lessons of your life. Now, I'm on o'clock today, 298 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: But that's not the only thing I wanted to tell 299 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: you about. That's just one thing. The first thing I 300 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: noticed is that God promises to reach you. There are 301 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: three points in this sermon. If you choose to write 302 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: them down, he will reach you. And then the second 303 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: thing what really got my attention. And y'all, I don't 304 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: get tired of preaching the Christmas story. I don't know why. 305 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: It's the same every time I read it, but I'm 306 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: not That's why we come back around to this again. 307 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 1: It's the same. But I'm not. I'm growing, I'm changing, 308 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: I'm not staying a baby. Jesus didn't and he's in me. 309 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: And so it's interesting, isn't it that God would reveal 310 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: himself to lowly people and reach them. What a strategy. 311 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: I got to point this out. The Angel could have 312 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: told everybody Jesus was born. 313 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 6: He didn't. 314 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: He told the shepherds. They went to Bethlehem and saw it, 315 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: and they told everybody because God wanted people to receive 316 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 1: the word of his son through messy messengers. And that's 317 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: a lot of what's going on in your life right now. 318 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: God is speaking to you through messy messengers. But if 319 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: you don't accept the mess you reject the blessing. So 320 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 1: he promises to reach you. And it's the contrast, isn't it. 321 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: I wrote this in my notes. See if this makes 322 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: sense to you. Jesus is in the juxtaposition. Jesus is 323 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: in the juxtaposition because on one hand, I'm given a 324 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 1: promise of great joy. On the other hand, I am 325 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: told to look in a manger for a baby. There's 326 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: nothing great about a baby physically speaking. Now, I want 327 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: to teach you a little bit so we don't just 328 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: have a sentimental Christmas. Let's really let's really dig into this. 329 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: The smallness of the body that God chose to inhabit 330 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: says something about the way He works in our lives. 331 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: If God being God could be born of a virgin 332 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: right than he could have skipped to the highest version 333 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: of humanity to come to earth. That would have been 334 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: more efficient. God chooses the least efficient way possible to 335 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: save the world. And the only way I can explain 336 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 1: this to you is to tell you that God does 337 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: not always work in the way that makes the least 338 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: mess or takes the least time. He works in the 339 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: way that brings him the most glory. Y'all better help 340 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: me preach, you better help me preach. This is the 341 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: Christmas sermon. He looks for a shepherd. They're messy, they're 342 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: in the fields. When they go to see the baby. 343 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 1: They didn't even get to wash their hands. They were 344 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: in the middle of their mess. And God shows up. 345 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: You are in the middle of a mess and God, 346 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: God will show up. But how will he show up? 347 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 6: Small? Small? 348 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 1: You will find a babe wrapped in cloths and lying 349 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 1: in a manger. Big enough to save the world, small 350 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 1: enough to fit in a cradle. This is the juxtaposition 351 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: of Jesus. In the Book of Zechariah, chapter four, verse ten, 352 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: the prophet says, despise not the day of small beginnings, 353 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,919 Speaker 1: And this Christmas. You have to understand that some of 354 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: the things that God gives you in your life are 355 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: under wraps right now. They're big, but they're in a 356 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: little package. The fact that Jesus came as a baby 357 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: lets us know that there is a development process to 358 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,960 Speaker 1: everything that God does in your life. So you pray 359 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: for something and get frustrated because what God gave you 360 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: doesn't match what you ask for. The fact that He 361 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: came as a baby lets me know that there is 362 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: a part of God that I must grow into. Feels 363 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 1: so annointed to preach this to somebody who has been frustrated. 364 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: You have been frustrated because you have been comparing your 365 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 1: starting place to somebody else's finished product. If God says, 366 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: if you look for me, you'll find me as a baby, 367 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: just a small thing, just a small prayer, Holly. The 368 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: other day, one of the men I met at the 369 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: wrestling match said, I got a question to ask you. 370 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: Elevation church, right, I said, because that could go either way. 371 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 1: He could say my whole family got saved there, or 372 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: he could say I heard y'all pass out marijuana instead 373 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: of communion bread. Is that true? 374 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 3: I mean, people say all kind of crazy stuff about 375 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 3: our church. I've heard everything about our church. Many people 376 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 3: have heard crazy stuff about our church before. I'm not 377 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 3: looking because you hurt my feelings. I'm closing my eyes 378 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 3: that big church, that megachurch. But here's what he said 379 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 3: to bless me. He said, I got a question I 380 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 3: always want to ask you. Elevation Church, right, And obviously 381 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 3: I'm kidding. I'm proud to pastor this church. I'm proud 382 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 3: to pastor. 383 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 7: A church that would give millions of dollars and reach 384 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 7: millions of souls and do amazing things, and stand and 385 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 7: serve and drive back darkness and shatter stereotypes, and clothe 386 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 7: the orphan and clothe the naked, and feed the hungry, 387 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 7: and visit those in prison and proclaim the acceptable. 388 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 8: Year thought the Lord's favor. I said, yeah, Elevation Church. 389 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 8: What little edgy? 390 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: He said, did y'all used to meet in a basement? 391 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: And I had to think about it because I barely 392 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:05,159 Speaker 1: remember that basement, But I said, yeah, actually we did 393 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: in the basement of the Matthews Community Center. Give me 394 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: my handheld, Mike. The Lord must want me to preach. Preach. 395 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,479 Speaker 1: This is my teaching, Mike. Let's go ahead. And make 396 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:20,080 Speaker 1: the switch. Something's wrong. I will not let a microphone 397 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: stop me from releasing this message. Get this off me, Jared, 398 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: come over, Jared, Jared. Everybody say Jared, take off the 399 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: grave clothes and let him go. All right? So he said, 400 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: did you meet in a basement? I said, yeah, we 401 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: actually did for a few weeks. That's where we started, 402 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:49,880 Speaker 1: at the Matthews Community Center basement. He said, how long 403 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: did you meet there? I said not long, but it 404 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:57,680 Speaker 1: was the longest six weeks of my life. I used 405 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,480 Speaker 1: to go in the bathroom in the baseman of the 406 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: Matthews Community Center and I would stand over the toilet 407 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 1: because every week I felt like I would throw up 408 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 1: because I was pregnant. You ever had mourning sickness for 409 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: something God was doing in your life? No offense. I 410 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: know it's just a metaphor, but I felt like that. 411 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 1: I felt like I was carrying something big. Maybe that's 412 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: why I wanted to preach about Mary, because maybe I 413 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 1: was standing over the toilet feeling like I was carrying something. 414 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: But I'm scared of something. But I'm carrying something. But 415 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: I'm scared of something, And in that chucks the position. 416 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 1: Are you there right? Now, you know God has given 417 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 1: you a word. You know God has called you to 418 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: do something. You know God has made you a promise. 419 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: You know he reached out and saved you. You know 420 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 1: he's given you a testimony. You know he brought you 421 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: out of a miri pit. You know he set your 422 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: feet on the rock. But in that basement, behind the 423 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: closed door of a bathroom stall, I was privately petrified. Yeah, 424 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: and I didn't think it'd be good if I threw 425 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: up in front of my team. I didn't think that 426 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: would be a good look for leadership. And yet somehow 427 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 1: from that basement. Now I'm preaching about a barn in 428 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 1: Bethlehem and a basement in Matthews. But I'm really preaching 429 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: about the low place in your life today, whatever it is, 430 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: the small beginning in your life today, because God said, 431 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: not only will I reach you, I will wrap you. 432 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: Think about Jesus. Come on, let's consider it before we 433 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: get real cute with it and put money on our 434 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:11,240 Speaker 1: credit cards to tell Jesus Happy Birthday before we go 435 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: into debt. Show the Lord how much we appreciate all 436 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 1: He's done for us, before we get into all that chaos. 437 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: Let's take a moment, and consider the Christ A babe 438 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: born in a manger, laid in a manger. Why give 439 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: me Luke two seven? Because there was no room for 440 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: him In the end, he was rejected. The Savior came 441 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: and he was rejected. He was rejected because they had 442 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: no room. And so now I wonder, am I talking 443 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 1: about Jesus or am I talking about you? Because maybe 444 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: you've been rejected not by a person, but maybe your 445 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 1: dream has been rejected or denied, or delayed or deferred 446 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: this year and in that place of rejection, where you 447 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: could not find room for yourself, could not feel at 448 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: home in your emotions, could not see a solution through 449 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: your red seat, could not see a way through your storm, 450 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: could not find peace in your night, could not figure 451 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: out your next step to take in that place of rejection, 452 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: watch this, you will find a babe in a manger. 453 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: It wasn't Mary's plan to place him in a manger. 454 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: It was not her preference to place him in a manger. 455 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 1: Sometimes we end up in places we didn't plan to be. 456 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: I didn't plan for my season to get ended early. 457 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 1: I didn't plan for my job to go overseas or 458 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: replaced by a computer. I didn't plan for my kid 459 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: to come home and say I need some money. I'm 460 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: on drugs. I didn't plan for any of this. But 461 00:31:55,880 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 1: just because you did not expect it doesn't mean God 462 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: hasn't covered it to you, whom this word is for, 463 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 1: it is a specific word. You have been rejected by people, 464 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: could not find anyone to help you, didn't get it 465 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:19,640 Speaker 1: from where you wanted to get it from. It didn't 466 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 1: come through when you needed it to come through. Jesus 467 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: was laid in a manger, but watched the Bible put 468 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 1: it back up. It says he's wrapped in swaddling clothes 469 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 1: laying in a manger. The manger is a cold place, 470 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: the manger is a strange place. But the swaddling clothes, 471 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: see these strips of linen that were wrapped around him 472 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: were a symbol of his mother's care. How many would say, 473 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: I was rejected, but God wrapped me. I was disappointed, 474 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: but he wrapped me. I was lost and lonely, but 475 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: he rapped me. I was turned away, but he rapped me. 476 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: I was done wrong, but he rapped to me. And 477 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 1: this becomes the prophecy that the promise of God does 478 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: not mean we will never find ourselves in a low place. 479 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 1: It simply means that wherever life lays you, God has 480 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: you rapped. Say God has me rapped. Say it again, 481 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: God has me rap. In fact, right now I feel 482 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 1: the Everlasting Father wrapping his arms around somebody to let 483 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: you know that you didn't plan to be here, but 484 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: he planned for your arrival, and he prophesied. Joseph and 485 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: Mary didn't think this was the right time to have 486 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 1: the baby. They were headed to Bethlehem, which wasn't even 487 00:33:56,360 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 1: where their hospital was or their gift registry. But the 488 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: prophet had said Micah chapter five, verse two, from you 489 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:10,920 Speaker 1: Bethlehem will come a ruler. So they had to be 490 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:15,640 Speaker 1: in Bethlehem at that exact moment so they could give 491 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:20,360 Speaker 1: birth to this king. And the Spirit wants you to 492 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 1: know right now, he's got you rapped. He's got you rapped. 493 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 1: He welcomes you with your weird self, He welcomes you 494 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,879 Speaker 1: with your weak self. I know it because of how 495 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: he came. He reached me, He rapped me. I never 496 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:51,359 Speaker 1: paid attention to the swaddling clothes, never thought much about them. 497 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,800 Speaker 1: I was too busy trying to get to the frankincense 498 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:59,120 Speaker 1: and the gold and the mirrh, the good stuff. But 499 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: I found out some some times God will allow you 500 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 1: to be rejected and he will wrap you, and that 501 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: sometimes people's rejection is God's protection. Don't assume God isn't 502 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 1: doing it. He's just got it under wraps right now. 503 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 1: Don't assume it's insignificant. You will find the babe wrapped 504 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:33,920 Speaker 1: in swaddling clothes, long strips of linen that wrapped the Savior. 505 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: He's got you wrapped right now. I can't get off 506 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,080 Speaker 1: of it, y'all. He's got you wrapped right now. Because 507 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 1: this cold in this manger, this cold in this divorce, 508 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:47,959 Speaker 1: is cold in this condition. It's cold in this hospital room. 509 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: It's cold in this prison bed. It's cold in this 510 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:55,680 Speaker 1: loveless home. It's cold in this adolescent trial, is cold 511 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 1: in this court case is cold right now. But I'm covered, 512 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:06,520 Speaker 1: but I'm covered. Put it in the chatters cold, but 513 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:10,280 Speaker 1: I'm covered. Tell your neighbor is cold, but I'm covered. 514 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:14,320 Speaker 1: I siffer sometimes. But he came to the shepherds to 515 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,640 Speaker 1: let me know that I'll never go so low he 516 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: can reach me, that I'll never make a mess too bad, 517 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:25,480 Speaker 1: that he won't step into it. Stop turning God away, Grandmama, 518 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 1: because your house is a mess. 519 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:30,319 Speaker 9: When he comes in, he'll clean it up when he 520 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 9: comes in. He'll fix it up when he comes in. 521 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 9: He'll turn it around when he comes in. He'll bring 522 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 9: new wine when. 523 00:36:38,040 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 1: He comes in. I got good news of great joy. 524 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 5: Shell the zippers, I'm stepping in, shell, my hid. 525 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:55,640 Speaker 1: You'll got a friend in a love place. You gotta safe. 526 00:36:55,680 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 5: You're in a major Listen him thirty seconds figs or grave. 527 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:19,720 Speaker 1: Low. The angel came lo. I see God reaching down 528 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 1: to the addicted today, this Christmas season, the broken family, 529 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:28,400 Speaker 1: the grieving family, the same in your heart, everything that 530 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:30,680 Speaker 1: you want to use to keep him out. He said, 531 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:35,040 Speaker 1: that's the reason I'm coming in. I came to Saints Sinners. 532 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,320 Speaker 1: We haunt it right now, mister, we're haunt it right now. 533 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: And I realized, can I tell you one more thing? 534 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:48,520 Speaker 1: He said that he will reach you. Say he'll reach me. 535 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: Number two, say he'll rap me. Maybe you need to 536 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:54,719 Speaker 1: tell your neighbor. Pretend like you're an angel for a minute. 537 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:58,080 Speaker 1: Make the announcement. Everybody. Say he'll reach you. Put it 538 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:01,640 Speaker 1: on the line. Say he'll reach you. Say he'll rap you. 539 00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 1: He'll rap you like a gift. How many know some 540 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:07,879 Speaker 1: of you have been taken for granted, and you think 541 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 1: you don't have a gift, and you think you're not 542 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,959 Speaker 1: good at anything. You got it. You're just rapped right 543 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,399 Speaker 1: now because when God gets ready to unwrap it, he's 544 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:19,000 Speaker 1: gonna use it, and he needs you to be mature 545 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:27,240 Speaker 1: enough to handle it. Yes, Lord, I feel no doubt 546 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:29,720 Speaker 1: that this is the message God wanted us to shout 547 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:35,920 Speaker 1: about this Christmas. Y'all keep clapping like an angel wants 548 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: to shout like a separate one time. Sound like He 549 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 1: paid for you. 550 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 5: When you could comb the hell the boys. 551 00:38:45,719 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 1: He's good when. 552 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:51,360 Speaker 5: You couldn't bum the hem. If he has to reach 553 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:55,960 Speaker 5: way down edenough will picul up. 554 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:09,759 Speaker 1: So I give you this. God was once a baby 555 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:18,280 Speaker 1: taking his first breath. Sovereignty lay swaddled where the oxen slept. 556 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:26,719 Speaker 1: God was once a toddler taking his first steps. The 557 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 1: carpenter of the cosmos wobbled on two legs. God once 558 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:43,360 Speaker 1: wore pajamas. You didn't know that God wore pajamas. He said, 559 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 1: you will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying 560 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:51,719 Speaker 1: in the major in now, Isaiah said he'd be born 561 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:55,600 Speaker 1: of a virgin. Micah said he would be born in Bethlehem. 562 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,680 Speaker 1: But not one of the prophets told me he would 563 00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:03,560 Speaker 1: be wrapped in class. That's because it was hidden. It 564 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:07,840 Speaker 1: is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is hidden. 565 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:11,800 Speaker 1: It does not yet appear what we shall be ah. 566 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:16,320 Speaker 1: But watch this. Although the pajamas were not directly prophesied, 567 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:21,760 Speaker 1: the pajamas are a prophecy. I told you it would 568 00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:25,719 Speaker 1: make sense when I finished. Now, let's appreciate when Jesus 569 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,800 Speaker 1: comes in human form, we see him wrapped in strips 570 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:33,520 Speaker 1: of linen. The next time we will see strips of 571 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:42,439 Speaker 1: linen in the story of Jesus. The next time we 572 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:46,719 Speaker 1: see strips of linen. Let me teach the Bible. The 573 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:51,799 Speaker 1: Bible says in John chapter twenty, verse five that when 574 00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:54,960 Speaker 1: Peter got to the tomb where the body of the 575 00:40:55,120 --> 00:41:00,279 Speaker 1: Savior used to lay, he came following John, and he 576 00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:04,560 Speaker 1: went into the tomb, and he saw the linen cloths 577 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:09,360 Speaker 1: lying there. What's he trying to say, Fernick, I'm trying 578 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:20,000 Speaker 1: to say, what use to holdings? Couldn't hold it anymore? Man, 579 00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:23,600 Speaker 1: That's why he was wrapped in strips of linen. He 580 00:41:23,840 --> 00:41:26,359 Speaker 1: was letting me. Now they're gonna. 581 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:29,760 Speaker 5: Lay me in the grave with the biddle of your sins. 582 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:37,640 Speaker 1: But it's three dyes, three days, three minutes, and I 583 00:41:37,640 --> 00:41:47,880 Speaker 1: can finish three days. God lived in a body, laid 584 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:55,040 Speaker 1: down in a grave. Three days later he was gone. 585 00:41:55,920 --> 00:42:05,759 Speaker 1: Linen strips remained. The mystery figured it out. The mystery 586 00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:11,480 Speaker 1: of the linen strips is that Jesus was born swallowed 587 00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:16,759 Speaker 1: in linen strips. When he died, he was buried in 588 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:22,440 Speaker 1: linen strips, and when he rose, he left the linen 589 00:42:22,520 --> 00:42:28,960 Speaker 1: strips to let you know that he is Lord of. 590 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:41,760 Speaker 6: All, Lord of all, Lord of all, Lord of all. 591 00:42:43,760 --> 00:42:48,440 Speaker 1: In linen strips, and you will find the band. Stop 592 00:42:48,520 --> 00:42:52,240 Speaker 1: looking up there to something better in the future, wrapped 593 00:42:53,719 --> 00:43:00,279 Speaker 1: swaddling clothes. You keep telling me who left you, Start 594 00:43:00,320 --> 00:43:03,040 Speaker 1: telling me how he held you. When they left you, 595 00:43:03,560 --> 00:43:10,960 Speaker 1: he rapped me. So he came to the shepherds to 596 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:16,239 Speaker 1: let me know he can reach me. He came as 597 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:20,880 Speaker 1: a baby, raptinglenin to let me know that he can 598 00:43:21,560 --> 00:43:25,040 Speaker 1: rap me. And at the end of his life he 599 00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:28,840 Speaker 1: rose from the dead, and he left his linen strips 600 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:40,120 Speaker 1: to let me know he can raise me. The pajamas 601 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:45,759 Speaker 1: were a prophecy, y'all. He was swaddled, not only so 602 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:49,520 Speaker 1: he wouldn't shiver. Jesus was God. He could have made 603 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:54,200 Speaker 1: his body a seat warmer even as a baby. He 604 00:43:54,320 --> 00:43:58,440 Speaker 1: was swaddled in strips so you would know that He 605 00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:03,160 Speaker 1: came to die for you, and that whatever has died 606 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:10,880 Speaker 1: in your life will rise again in His name. And 607 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:19,320 Speaker 1: this is my Christmas message to you. This is the 608 00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:29,520 Speaker 1: prophecy of the pajamas. Every Christmas, my wife gives every 609 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:35,400 Speaker 1: member of our family pajamas. It's a tradition. Every Christmas, 610 00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:39,520 Speaker 1: she gives us pajamas on Christmas Eve. When the kids 611 00:44:39,520 --> 00:44:43,879 Speaker 1: were little, they didn't like the pajamas, but they knew 612 00:44:43,880 --> 00:44:48,839 Speaker 1: what the pajamas signified. It meant, not many hours from now, 613 00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:53,640 Speaker 1: we got something for you. We got something for you. 614 00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:56,879 Speaker 1: Tell your neighbor. God's got something for you. God's got 615 00:44:56,880 --> 00:45:00,480 Speaker 1: something for you. Because when they opened the pajama they 616 00:45:00,480 --> 00:45:05,319 Speaker 1: could know, oh, it's Christmas Eve. It became like Pavlov's dog. 617 00:45:05,600 --> 00:45:09,719 Speaker 1: They started getting excited about the pajamas because of what 618 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:15,440 Speaker 1: the pajamas prophesied. I need you to start getting excited 619 00:45:15,480 --> 00:45:21,480 Speaker 1: again about what God can do in your life despise, 620 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:29,200 Speaker 1: not today a small Beginning's Linen's strips are lying there. 621 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,680 Speaker 1: An empty grave is there to prove my savior lips. 622 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:37,760 Speaker 1: Not just a manger birth, but an empty grave showing 623 00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:42,399 Speaker 1: my family and pajamas every Christmas Eve, every Christmas Eve? 624 00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:46,839 Speaker 1: What is going on with my hair? Every Christmas Eve? 625 00:45:48,440 --> 00:45:51,560 Speaker 1: That's back when I used to preach seven thousand Christmas services. 626 00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:54,520 Speaker 1: Look at my hair. It's a wonder I didn't end 627 00:45:54,600 --> 00:45:57,560 Speaker 1: up in a rehab facility preaching that many Christmas services. 628 00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:03,480 Speaker 1: Oh God, that was the year. You know what I 629 00:46:03,480 --> 00:46:07,120 Speaker 1: think this woman was when she gave them those pajamas 630 00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:12,799 Speaker 1: with a dog on it. I think I just thought 631 00:46:12,840 --> 00:46:19,600 Speaker 1: about this. She was prophesying to show up the other picture. 632 00:46:21,160 --> 00:46:28,560 Speaker 1: Now we got a dog for real. Now we got 633 00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:37,600 Speaker 1: a dog for real. The pajamas were a prophecy. I 634 00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:39,439 Speaker 1: want you to get the picture in your mind. One 635 00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:42,040 Speaker 1: more time of Christmas for real. You can have your 636 00:46:42,080 --> 00:46:44,280 Speaker 1: Christmas scented candles all you want. If they really smelled 637 00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:47,480 Speaker 1: like Christmas, you wouldn't want to light them because it 638 00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:52,200 Speaker 1: was messy, it was smelly, it was rough. You would 639 00:46:52,280 --> 00:46:54,440 Speaker 1: light a candle to cover up the smell of the 640 00:46:54,440 --> 00:46:59,120 Speaker 1: First Christmas, but from that game a savior. So I 641 00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:09,440 Speaker 1: give you this charge Christmas. Expect a blessing. Expect a blessing. 642 00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:12,600 Speaker 1: And Lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, 643 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:14,680 Speaker 1: and the glory of the Lord chilling round about them. 644 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:18,600 Speaker 1: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of 645 00:47:18,680 --> 00:47:23,240 Speaker 1: great joy, which shall be to all people, shepherds and sages, 646 00:47:23,800 --> 00:47:27,680 Speaker 1: all people, billionaires and broke, all people. 647 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:39,239 Speaker 10: Expect the blessing and accept the mess. Accept it, accept it. 648 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:40,840 Speaker 10: God accepts you. 649 00:47:41,600 --> 00:47:46,120 Speaker 1: I never saw my grandmother again because she wasn't expecting 650 00:47:46,120 --> 00:47:51,120 Speaker 1: our visit. We never had a moment because she didn't 651 00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:53,400 Speaker 1: want to show her mess. I know you keep pushing 652 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:56,839 Speaker 1: God out, keep pushing joy out, keep pushing the future out, 653 00:47:57,080 --> 00:47:59,880 Speaker 1: keep pushing peace out, keep pushing it out. Because you're messy. 654 00:48:00,320 --> 00:48:05,960 Speaker 1: Expect the blessing from the God who steps into your mess. 655 00:48:07,560 --> 00:48:12,960 Speaker 1: This is the Lord of the linen strips. This is 656 00:48:13,000 --> 00:48:17,839 Speaker 1: the prophecy of the pajamas. God has you wrap wrap 657 00:48:17,880 --> 00:48:21,560 Speaker 1: your arms around yourself right there where you are. Yeah, yeah, yeah, God, 658 00:48:21,600 --> 00:48:24,799 Speaker 1: I thank you that you got me covered. I thank 659 00:48:24,840 --> 00:48:28,240 Speaker 1: you for covering my family. I thank you for covering 660 00:48:28,239 --> 00:48:31,120 Speaker 1: my special needs child. I thank you for covering the 661 00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:33,880 Speaker 1: soldier who's overseas and can't be with their family. I 662 00:48:33,960 --> 00:48:37,640 Speaker 1: thank you, Lord, I thank you for covering me as 663 00:48:37,680 --> 00:48:41,080 Speaker 1: I look at an empty seat. I thank you for 664 00:48:41,120 --> 00:48:43,440 Speaker 1: covering me as I wish I could do more for people, 665 00:48:43,440 --> 00:48:46,400 Speaker 1: but I can't right now. I thank you for covering 666 00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:50,439 Speaker 1: those who are waiting for a breakthrough in their emotions. 667 00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:55,040 Speaker 1: I thank you that they're covered even in the cold. 668 00:48:55,120 --> 00:48:59,880 Speaker 1: This Christmas, you said you'll find Jesus wrapped. Thank you 669 00:49:00,120 --> 00:49:09,000 Speaker 1: Jesus for rapping me. Oh come lis. 670 00:49:10,680 --> 00:49:16,560 Speaker 6: Uh, Oh calm. 671 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:28,239 Speaker 4: Well us, Yeah, sweet sweet scarp have your wedding. 672 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:34,160 Speaker 1: M Yeah, cried. 673 00:49:36,760 --> 00:49:40,600 Speaker 11: The Lord of All in linen strips. Let's adore him now, 674 00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:48,520 Speaker 11: Oh calm, when you stand in reverence the King of 675 00:49:48,640 --> 00:50:02,600 Speaker 11: Kings come, Oh come, Glory to God in the highest. 676 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:17,360 Speaker 1: And on earth, peace in your low place. For he alone, 677 00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:21,320 Speaker 1: that's why we glorify. 678 00:50:28,040 --> 00:50:28,920 Speaker 6: Say it again. 679 00:50:30,200 --> 00:50:43,040 Speaker 12: He now on every hand lifted in his presence, say 680 00:50:43,080 --> 00:51:00,600 Speaker 12: we give you all the glory God. 681 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:03,600 Speaker 13: Thanks for joining us today. We pray that God has 682 00:51:03,600 --> 00:51:05,960 Speaker 13: spoken to you in a unique and powerful way through 683 00:51:05,960 --> 00:51:08,520 Speaker 13: the message. Well we are in our year in offering 684 00:51:08,600 --> 00:51:10,880 Speaker 13: season as a church where we get the opportunity to 685 00:51:10,960 --> 00:51:13,239 Speaker 13: reflect back on all the ways that God has been 686 00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:16,160 Speaker 13: faithful to our ministry this year, but also to look 687 00:51:16,200 --> 00:51:19,120 Speaker 13: ahead at what we're believing God for in the upcoming year. 688 00:51:19,440 --> 00:51:21,000 Speaker 13: And each year as a church, we get to come 689 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:24,279 Speaker 13: around a special offering and offering that contributes to both 690 00:51:24,320 --> 00:51:27,439 Speaker 13: outreach efforts in local and global cities and as well 691 00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:30,360 Speaker 13: as the expansion of our ministry continuing to reach people 692 00:51:30,360 --> 00:51:33,000 Speaker 13: all over with the hope of the Gospel. And we'd 693 00:51:33,040 --> 00:51:35,200 Speaker 13: invite you to take part and participate in our year 694 00:51:35,239 --> 00:51:37,720 Speaker 13: end offering. To do so, you can go to Elevationchurch 695 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:39,759 Speaker 13: dot org. Just click the banner there at the top, 696 00:51:40,000 --> 00:51:41,719 Speaker 13: and then you'll be able to see everything that you 697 00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:43,680 Speaker 13: need to be a part of our year end offering. 698 00:51:43,840 --> 00:51:46,760 Speaker 13: You'll see two options. The first is to begin tithing. 699 00:51:47,080 --> 00:51:49,719 Speaker 13: Maybe you've been wanting to prioritize God in your finances, 700 00:51:49,760 --> 00:51:52,280 Speaker 13: but you haven't taken that step to make a commitment 701 00:51:52,320 --> 00:51:54,399 Speaker 13: to doing so. This is a great place to begin. 702 00:51:54,840 --> 00:51:57,879 Speaker 13: Or perhaps you've been giving consistently in this season. God 703 00:51:57,920 --> 00:52:00,360 Speaker 13: may be challenging you to stretch above and on the 704 00:52:00,440 --> 00:52:03,600 Speaker 13: tithe to give a sacrificial gift to our year end offering. 705 00:52:03,880 --> 00:52:05,840 Speaker 13: If you're part of one of our physical locations, you 706 00:52:05,840 --> 00:52:07,960 Speaker 13: can choose your campus there, or if you're part of 707 00:52:07,960 --> 00:52:11,160 Speaker 13: our online ministry, of course you'll choose Epham or online 708 00:52:11,239 --> 00:52:13,160 Speaker 13: and then enter the amount that you'd like to give. 709 00:52:13,640 --> 00:52:15,360 Speaker 13: We are believing for all the ways that God is 710 00:52:15,400 --> 00:52:17,560 Speaker 13: going to stretch our faith in this season through our 711 00:52:17,600 --> 00:52:19,600 Speaker 13: year end offering, and we can't wait to see what 712 00:52:19,600 --> 00:52:22,000 Speaker 13: God does through you. God bless and we'll see you 713 00:52:22,080 --> 00:52:22,279 Speaker 13: soon