Light has come
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 5th December 2021
Passage: Isaiah 9:1-7
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Good morning, everyone.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 Now, don't these Christmas lights look good?
00:00:07 --> 00:00:08 Yes.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 I'm really thankful to the 40 or so people of the team
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 who came in on Wednesday night
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 and really, I don't know if I...
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 Pimped the church out, I suppose is a modern term.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:21 Thank you for laughing at me, my dear wife.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 Made the church look wonderful.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:24 Let's thank them.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:25 Yes.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:27 They've done a wonderful job.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 The church looks great.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 And yet, it's a little bit weird that we put lights inside.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:41 It's a bit strange that we bring a tree into our house
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 in December, or maybe November if you're particularly keen,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 and we put lights on it.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 It's a bit strange that in the southern hemisphere,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 in the brightest and lightest part of the year,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 we go, do you know what we need?
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 The sun is up to 8 o'clock at night.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 We need more lights.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 You know, we're going to put up lights
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 so that people can see the decorations in our house,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 but they can only see them from about 8.30.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 And, you know, I don't go out past the 8 o'clock these days,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:15 but this tradition comes from our European heritage,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 Australia's European heritage,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 where Christmas is the darkest time of the year.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 And so lights are put up because the season is dark,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 and so they're put up to light the way.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 But there is something much more symbolic in it.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 It's not just because we need to see,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 but we generally don't like the dark.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 As children, we're...
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 Sorry, I'm just struggling with this chord at the moment.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:46 As children, we are afraid of the things that go bump in the night.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:51 But as adults, you know, suburbs put lights up in dark spots
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 to reduce rates of crime.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 Light makes us feel safe.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 Rates of depression follow the season,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 increasing as the dark increases.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:07 And so the lack of light has a palpable impact on us as humans.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:11 But this attitude of putting up lights in the dark,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 it's symbolic of also where we are as people.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:19 We think that we can fix problems of darkness,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 the darkness of the world and the darkness of our hearts.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 We think that we can be the agents of change.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 We have light in us.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 We can fix the problems of society.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 We can fix the darkness out there.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 At least that's the optimistic view.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 The optimist says we can fix all of society's problems.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 But the pessimist says that all you have to do is watch the news.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 People have been hurting each other for thousands of years
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 and there's nothing we can do to ever change that.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Now, I'm not sure which of those that you're more likely to be.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:58 Do you fall on the more optimistic side or the more pessimistic side?
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 I definitely chop and change between the two these days.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:08 But if we can vary between the two, what do we do?
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 Where does this light actually come from?
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 If it doesn't come from within us, well, then we can be tempted to despair.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 Much like the pessimist, there is no hope.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 Humanity is doomed.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:27 But what John 1 and Isaiah 9, that John has just read for us,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 show that there is a third way.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 It's not just optimism without looking at the world
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 and it's not just pessimism.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 There is a third way.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:40 A way where we can see that the world is dark and terrible,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 but there also is a light.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 And we need a light that comes not from within us,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 but from outside of us.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 We need the light to come.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:55 We need Jesus himself to light our darkened hearts
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 and this darkened world.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 And a strange thing is going to happen.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:05 A strange thing is going to happen for those that follow Jesus the light.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 It's the opposite of a tan.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 You know, this time of year, I'm often trying to get a tan.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 What do we do?
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 We go and spend time in the sun and the sun makes our skin darker.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 But what happens when we spend time with the light Jesus?
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 We actually become lighter.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 We become light like Jesus.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 And so as you would have noticed, we're in Christmas.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:26 It's Christmas.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 I'm not sure if you're ready for Christmas.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Christmas is ready for you, whether you are ready for it or not.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 December always seems to creep up on me, but it's here.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 It's Christmas.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:42 And so for the next five weeks, we're in a series of Christmas
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 because the light has come.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 God himself has come.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 And so we can now see because of Jesus.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 We can have light and we can have hope.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 And so today, as we start this series, we're going to look at what the light is.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 We're going to look at what does it mean that Jesus is the light.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:03 And the challenge today for us will be for us to be light.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 So as we do this, let me pray.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:11 Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time at Christmas.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:18 Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to remind ourselves of the amazing joy
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 that you became a person.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:28 God, as we spend the next four or five weeks getting ready for Christmas,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 buying presents, organizing feasts,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:36 help us not to miss the most significant part of Christmas,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:41 that you have lit our way home and that you are a light for us even now, Lord.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 We ask this in your son's name.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:44 Amen.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 Three points for us today.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 You can be following along in the St. Paul's app.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 You can be making notes in there.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 First, we're going to see the dark.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 Then we're going to see the light.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 And then we're going to see reflections.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:03 Now, Christmas, it can often seem like Christmas is for kids.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 There's presents, and then there's more presents,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 and then there's presents from family members,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 and you've got to buy presents for your second cousin twice removed.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:17 And then there's food, and there's candy canes, and there's chocolate.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 And a lot of it can seem like it's aimed at kids.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 But Isaiah 9, the very start of Isaiah 9,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 shows who Christmas is aimed for.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 It's not just for kids.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 It's not just for people who like decorations.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 Please have your Bibles open.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 We're going to look at Isaiah 9.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 We're going to spend a bit of time in Isaiah 9 today.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 More time in Isaiah 9 than in John 1.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 So have your Bibles open.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 We're going to start in verse 1.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:48 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.
00:06:48 --> 00:07:11 So who is this message of Christmas for?
00:07:11 --> 00:07:17 It is for those who are in gloom, who are in darkness and in distress.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:22 It's not really family-friendly, hallmark Christmas movie vibes.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 I'm not sure if you're a hallmark Christmas movie type person.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 My Netflix has been inundated with these movies.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:34 It seems to be new sequels with the exact same cast and the exact same plot every year.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:39 But that's what we think Christmas is, these nice, happy family vibes.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:46 But Isaiah 9 says that the message of Christmas comes to those who are in darkness, in distress.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:53 And there's this description of the area of Galilee, of Galilee being in darkness.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:58 Galilee was in a really difficult spot in the nation of Israel.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:02 They were the front door to the nations.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 So they were in the north.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:11 And if there was an invading army coming to Israel, they would come through Galilee first.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17 Can you imagine being in Galilee and just, ah, there's another army coming?
00:08:18 --> 00:08:23 They're going to rape and pillage us first before they go any further?
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 Where is our help?
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 Where is the army from Jerusalem coming to protect us?
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 And so this message is for the broken and downcast and oppressed.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:39 God is going to honour this town of Galilee in a special way.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 Galilee, in verse 2, is described as in darkness.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:50 The Bible also describes the whole world as in darkness.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 We saw this in John 1.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:58 And it uses this term darkness to be both about evil and about ignorance.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 It's very similar to the way we'd use the language.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 We use darkness to be, you know, oh, that person, he's in the dark.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 He has no knowledge.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 Sorry, Tom, I'm not actually meeting you.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 That person doesn't know what's happening.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 We also talk about it as evil.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 We talk about dark or black.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 Oh, that person, they've got a black heart.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 They've got darkness inside them.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:24 Or if you're like me, a Star Wars nerd, you'd say they've gone to the dark side.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 In Chinese, you'd say something similar.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 It's xin hei.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 It's a dark heart.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:36 You don't have to look much further than what was happening in the time where Jesus was born.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:41 It was a dark world filled with darkened hearts.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:46 Jesus' birth was a time of violence and injustice.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:56 There was abuse of power, homelessness, refugees fleeing oppression, families ripped apart, people filled with grief.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 But that world isn't actually that different to ours now.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:06 We could say the same thing about all of those.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 Our time, just like Jesus, is a time of violence and injustice.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 There's abuses of power.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 There's homelessness.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 There's refugees fleeing injustice.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 There's families ripped apart.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 There's people filled with grief.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:29 Just like in Jesus' time, we see the dark and we long for the light, for justice and safety and protection from evil.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:35 Humans have been longing for light and the love of light, of salvation.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 And we think that we can fix the problems around us.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 We can think that all we have to do is have more technology.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 Then we can feed the world.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 All we need is to continue to innovate.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:54 All we need to do is continually to get to know the different cultures, to know each other.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 And then there will be peace.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 Then we can fix the problems of war and racism.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:07 And we can hold up stories of what happened on Christmas Day in, I think it was 1942, World War II.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 The battle lines are drawn between the Allies and the Nazis.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 And there is, you know, they're on either sides.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:21 Christmas Day comes and the war stops for a very brief moment.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:25 They go out there into no man's land and they play soccer.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 They probably called it football at the time.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 And it was joyful.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 They shared rations.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 They had a wonderful meal.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 And we can see stories like that.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 And we can think, yes, see, people can do it.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 There is light within us.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 We can fix all the problems of the world.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:45 And it's very easy to forget that that was one day in 365.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 And then the next day they just went back to war and killing each other.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:57 No one knows how to cure suffering and evil.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 At the end of chapter 8 of Isaiah, the people try.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 They consult magicians and mediums instead of God.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 And the chapter finishes on a depressing note.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:13 They will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 Nothing really has changed.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:20 We still look to human resources to fix the problems of the world.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:25 You know, to go back to that kind of hallmark Christmas movie vibe,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 I'm not sure if you've been watching them on Netflix this year.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 I've seen a little bit of a couple.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 I can't really avoid it in my household.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 I'm not going to blame anybody in particular.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 We were watching one the other night.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 And the theme always seems to be very similar.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 There's a problem.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:47 And romance and love need to happen.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 You know, there's some kind of Christmas miracle.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 And then this couple bring a community together.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 You know, we watched...
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 I can't remember.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 It was about a family being broken apart.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:03 But the Christmas miracle was that at Christmas, love prevailed.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 And the Christmas miracle was that this family was brought back together.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 Or a community comes together and a community is saved.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 And then there is happiness and peace.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:17 And we even say things like, don't do that at Christmas.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 It's Christmas Day.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Stop doing that.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:24 Can't you just love each other because it's Christmas?
00:13:24 --> 00:13:28 And we think that there is this specialness to Christmas time
00:13:28 --> 00:13:33 that should motivate people to peace and love and joy.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 And I've been catching myself...
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 You know, yesterday we were setting up the Christmas tree.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:42 And so many times I wanted to say, just love each other because it's Christmas.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 But what's that got to do with the price of fish?
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 Which is a very strange Australian saying.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 I'm not sure where that comes from.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 But what has that got to do with the time?
00:13:52 --> 00:13:59 Because just because it's December doesn't mean that we should be loving anybody more.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 But we seem to think that that is the message of Christmas.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 Love conquers all.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 It can unite us.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 We think that that is the message of Christmas.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:14 But here in Isaiah 9, the message of Christmas is that it is dark.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:18 The world is evil and ignorant.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 We actually don't even realise how bad things are.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:28 And that's one of the reasons why social media for a lot of people is really difficult at the moment.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:33 Because for the first time in human history, we can actually see how bad the world is.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:38 We can actually hear about terrible things going on.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 And we're not built to process that amount of darkness in the world.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:48 Thinking that humanity can save itself just leads to more darkness.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:53 And so the message of Christmas cannot be, let's be united.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 Let's be peaceful.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 Let's love and the spirit of Christmas will bring us together.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 That can't be the message of Christmas.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:07 We grow up and learn that many of the fairy tales around Christmas aren't real.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 And this is just another thing that we need to unlearn.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:14 We want to hold on to this view that the light is in us.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:19 And we can bring joy and the spirit of Christmas can help heal the world.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 But this is just another part of Christmas that we need to unlearn.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 But the opposite message is also not true.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 It's not true that we are stuck in darkness and therefore we should give in.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 That we should just become apathetic and not care.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:41 Instead, the message of Christmas is that the world is dark, but the light has come.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 Things are bad.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 Things are actually really, really bad.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 But there is a hope that has come.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 There is a light.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 And that light is a baby.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 It's our second point today, the light.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 Isaiah 9, verse 6 says,
00:15:57 --> 00:16:13 Isaiah 9, verse 6 says,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:18 Isaiah 9 not only tells us who the light is, but also how we get the light.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:25 This light, Jesus, the Son of God, born to die on a cross, raised to life.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 He is given to us.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:37 This light that comes to our darkened hearts and to our darkened world to reveal who we are and to reveal who God is.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 He is given.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:45 The only way you can receive this is to admit that you need this free gift.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 It's a gift of grace that we don't deserve.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 Christmas is about receiving gifts.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 But this is a gift that is really hard to receive.
00:16:57 --> 00:17:02 If you've ever been in financial trouble and someone has offered a large chunk of money,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:05 you know that some gifts are really hard to accept.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 You know, you have to swallow your pride.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 You have to admit, oh, actually, I really need this help.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 But imagine it was Christmas morning.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Let's push ourselves forward.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 What is it?
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 19 days or something.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 20 days.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 20 days to Christmas.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 And you open up a present.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 And there is a book there called
00:17:24 --> 00:17:29 How to Properly Put on Makeup for Your Face Shape.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 How do you feel?
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 What do you mean?
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 What are you trying to say with this book?
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 Is there an issue?
00:17:37 --> 00:17:40 So, you know, you put that to one side, feeling a little hurt.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 And then you take another one.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 You pull off the ribbon.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 You rip the wrapping paper apart because, you know, you never try and keep it.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 You just always throw it away.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 And there's another book there.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53 And it's called How to Get Over Yourself and Your Own Pride.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 You grab something out of the stocking.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 And it's raw grain.
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 It's a can of raw grain to grow your hair back.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:04 Now, you could get angry at this point.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 You could get angry.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 Or you could admit that these gifts are hard to receive.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:15 To receive them, you have to admit that you are flawed.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 That you are weak and you need help.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:25 That, you know, maybe you're terrible at putting on makeup and that you're arrogant and hard to be around or that you're balding.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 Now, I don't want to recommend anybody give these gifts.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 You know, don't say you need to grow in humility.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 I'm going to give you this gift so you can learn about your weaknesses.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 That's not a good thing.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:39 But that is the meaning of Christmas.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 Is that we are weak.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 That we are flawed.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 That my heart is dark.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:49 That the culture I'm living in is darkened.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:52 And it sends me scurrying around in the dark.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 And I can't pull myself together.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 And I need this Christmas gift.
00:18:57 --> 00:19:00 No matter how hard it is to receive.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 I need to be saved by grace.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 I am in desperate need of this child.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 God's son given.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:14 And that title in Isaiah 6 is a wonderful title.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 The title of Jesus here.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 Sorry, Isaiah 9 verse 6.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 Wonderful counselor.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 Mighty God.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 Everlasting Father.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 Prince of Peace.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 He is a wonderful counselor.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 He is God become flesh.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:35 He knows what it's like to be frail and to be human.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 And if God was really born in a manger.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:43 He is a God who understands us from the inside.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 He's had the same experiences.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:51 There's no other religion that says that God suffered like his people.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:56 Jesus knew what it was like to be courageous in the face of suffering.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 To be abandoned by friends.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 To be alone.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 To be crushed by injustice.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 To be tortured and to die.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:10 How amazing that we can take our burdens.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 Our pain and our grief to him.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:16 But he's also a mighty God.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 And he's everlasting father.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 And that means he's created the world.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 And it's easy at Christmas time.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 To like the story of the baby born in the manger.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:29 But people didn't just like Jesus.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 We can't just like this story.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 They aren't.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 People that knew Jesus.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 Either loved him and worshipped him.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 Or they hated him and killed him.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 There is no middle path.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 There is no I really like the story of Jesus.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 I like the cute fluffy manger scene.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:52 You either love him and worship him as the mighty God.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Or you hate him.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:56 There is no in between.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 And Tim Keller makes the wonderful point.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 That it's too limiting.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 It's too small.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:04 To say that we should celebrate Jesus.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Born at Christmas.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 We should stare dumbstruck.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 Lost in wonder.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 That the mighty God.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 Became like us.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 You know that feeling when you see.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 A really wonderful Christmas light display.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 You know there's a couple of houses around.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 That you know we try and find.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 And you rock up there.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 My first question is always.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 How much is this costing for the electricity bill?
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Because the light.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 The house is just lights everywhere.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 And there's you know inflatable Santas.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 There's just.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 There's things to look at.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 And for a lot of those places.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 You just stand.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 And stare in wonder.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Oh there's that.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 Oh there's look at that.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 There's this thing over here.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 And then you know there's a coffee cart.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 That's parked on the street.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 And there's a Mr. Whippy van.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 And there's people coming from far and wide to look.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 And you know make money out of it.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 But we take photos and we share them.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 Look at this display.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 How much more the true light himself Jesus.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:08 Should we be staring at.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 Dumbstruck in wonder.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Amazed.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 At his goodness.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 That the light himself has come.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:21 John 1.9 says that Jesus is the light.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 But also he is going to give the light.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 That's our third point today.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 That we are to be reflections.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 The light that we so desire to have.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 That we want to have to conquer evil and suffering.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 Jesus gives it.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 The light comes from Jesus.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 And he gives it to his disciples.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 Jesus says in Matthew 5.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 You are the light of the world.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:52 A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 Neither do people light a lamp.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 And put it under a bowl.
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 Instead they put it on a stand.
00:22:58 --> 00:23:01 And it gives light to everyone in the house.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 In the same way.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 Let your light shine before others.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 That they may see your good deeds.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 And glorify your father in heaven.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 Jesus says that.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 We.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 The church.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 Are the light of the world.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 We have seen the light.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 Jesus.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 And we get to take.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 This light.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 That we are celebrating here today.
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 We get to take this.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 To the diversity of Chatswood.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 To our friends.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 And to our families.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 One way to understand this.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Is that.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 We are like the moon.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 The moon has no light of its own.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 The sun sets.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 The sun goes down.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 But we can continue to see the light of the sun.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 Reflected in the moon.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 The moon doesn't have any light of its own.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 But it bounces back the light of the sun.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 And we can still see.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 And you know on those nights when it's a full moon.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 It's like actually it's pretty bright out here.
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 I can see pretty well.
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 We are to be the moon.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 To bask in the light and the glory of Jesus.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 And to shine that out.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:12 So that no matter how dimly we shine to the people around us.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 People would realize that they're in the dark.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 The sun has gone.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 But his light continues to shine.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 On us.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 And from us.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 The sun has gone to heaven.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:28 But his light still shines.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:32 The light shines against the darkness.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 It reveals things for what they are.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:38 It gets rid of deceptions and half-truths.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:43 And so Jesus in Matthew 5 called us to let the light shine from us.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:46 So that people would see our good deeds.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 For the first time in a while.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 We've set Christmas lights up outside our building.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 Very much like that passage in Matthew 5.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 We want to be a light on a hill.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 We want the church building to be noticed.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 So that people say.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 Oh wow.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 Look at that light on a hill.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 Doesn't it look nice?
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 But how much more do we want the people of Chatswood?
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 The people in our families.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 Our friends.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 The people on our front lines.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:18 To see our good deeds of love and generosity.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 And forgiveness.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:23 How we go out of our way to shine as a light.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 So that people say.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 Wow.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 Look at that person.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 Where did they get that light from?
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 And we want to be the moon to people.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 So we can say.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 Don't look at me.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 I'm just doing what Jesus has done.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 He is the true light.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 And so.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 I have three encouragements.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 Three brief encouragements.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 Of what it could be like.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:49 What it could look like to be the light of Jesus today.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 First of all.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 From Matthew 5.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 Don't hide your light.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 Imagine.
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 You know.
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 When you're stuck in the dark.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 And you're stumbling around.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 You've stubbed your toe.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 You're crying a little bit from that.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 You're hitting your shins.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:10 And then you realize that there's somebody just standing at the light switch.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 Why didn't you turn the light on?
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 Let's not be like that person.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:20 Let's not hide our light from the people around us.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 Even the people in our families.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 Even the people who might already know Jesus.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 Let's not hide our light.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 Let's do what Matthew 5 says.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 To show the light in good deeds.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 To love.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 People are stuck in darkness.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 And without us.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 They will continue to be ignorant of Jesus.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 So don't hide your light.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 Secondly.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:44 Take your light where it's dark.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 As we've encouraged.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 We've got piles of these out on the table.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 And we've got these candy canes.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 Now I had my first candy cane of the season yesterday.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 And I forgot how much I like a good candy cane.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 Now these candy canes are not for you.
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 I did have one child this morning say.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 Can I have a candy cane?
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 I said.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 No.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 They're for your friends.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 If you eat them.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:05 People can't get to hear about Jesus.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 And they're committed.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 They want to take 10 of them to their friends.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 To invite them to our carol service on the 19th.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 And that's wonderful.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 I'm going to trust them with 10 of those.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 I will maybe encourage their parents.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 Just to encourage them.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 To make sure they get to their friends.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 But I want to encourage you to do the same thing.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 Just like Jess.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 I'm going to be giving these out to people in my street.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 Now I need to talk to Ian and Helen.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 Who are here.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 To make sure I don't do the same people as them.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 But you know what?
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 Maybe those people can have two or three candy canes.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 That's probably okay.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 Keep me accountable as well.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 I want to be encouraging.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 The people I know and love around me.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 With a little gift.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 To say hey.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 There's something happening.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Come and see this Jesus.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 Share the good news of Jesus.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 Is what we should be doing.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 Invite people to Christmas here with us.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 But we can think.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 Job done.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 I have been the light to people.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:06 I have shared the good news.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 And that's a really good thing.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 Do that.
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 But we can think.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 That's all I need to do.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 To be light to people.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 And it's not Matthew 5 said.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:18 Share the light in love and good deeds.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 And so do that.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 By sitting with people in grief.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Offer.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 Help.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 Or food.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 Christmas is a time.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:31 Where people feel very far from families.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:34 The last two years have been particularly difficult for many people.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 Because we haven't been able to see family.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 To see friends.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:41 It can be emphasized in this season.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:45 Where a lot of people are away from friends or family or feeling lonely.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:48 Extend love to them in this season.
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 So.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 Don't hide your light.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 Secondly.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 Take your light to where it's dark.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 And thirdly.
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 Shine together.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:03 You might not be feeling like the fullest of moons.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 Reflecting the light of Jesus.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 You might actually be feeling like that.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 What's it called?
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 When it's just a sliver of moon?
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 Eclipse.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 Yep.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 Thank you.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:14 You might be feeling like an eclipsed moon.
00:29:15 --> 00:29:17 You might be feeling like if somebody looked at you.
00:29:17 --> 00:29:23 There's a whole lot of worries and anxieties getting in the way of the light of Jesus shining through your life.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 And so let me encourage you.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Shine with other people.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 Take someone with you.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 Take another person.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 Take another light.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 What could your community group do?
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 I'm very aware that most community groups have only got a couple of weeks left.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 And then it's Christmas.
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 And then, you know, January's kind of out.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 But what could your community group do?
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 Who could your family love?
00:29:44 --> 00:29:47 I think this was one of my favorite parts of Wednesday night.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 We set up all the Christmas decorations.
00:29:49 --> 00:29:54 But there was just this team of 20 or so people sorting all of the toys and tucker for us.
00:29:55 --> 00:30:05 It was really wonderful seeing people get in and pack boxes so that we can do love and good deeds for people down in Kullborough.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:07 Steve's going to be dropping them off on Monday night.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:12 And they are ready to be serving that community to love them.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:15 To give them an opportunity to come and hear Jesus.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 And do you know what?
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 To just love people like Jesus is loved.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:23 How can you be shining the light of Jesus on mission?
00:30:23 --> 00:30:31 We, as a church, can have a far greater impact than if we're trying to do things on our own.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:36 And so at Christmas time, we love to celebrate light.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:44 But this year, let's reflect more on Jesus so that we can reflect his light to the world.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 Let me pray.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:56 Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, are you a mighty God, everlasting Father.
00:30:57 --> 00:31:00 We thank you for all your goodness to us in Jesus.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:05 That you not only prophesied him from many years ago.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:12 But that you sent him for us, people lost in the dark.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:19 Just as Isaiah 9 said, people in the dark, darkened hearts and in an evil and darkened time.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:24 Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus, that he is light.
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 That we can know you.
00:31:28 --> 00:31:32 Heavenly Father, help us be light to the world.
00:31:32 --> 00:31:35 God, you have given us this incredible privilege.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:38 Help us not hide it under a bowl.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 Help us to shine light.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 To share the good news of Jesus.
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 To invite people.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 Lord, we want to see many people come to know and love you.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:51 But Lord, there are many people in our lives.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 People that you know who they are.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:56 That we long to see saved.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 Father, help us be praying for them.
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 Help us be deliberate.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:04 And help us to share love and good deeds.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 And Father, help us do that together.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 We ask this in your son's name.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 Amen.