The Reason for Christmas
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 24th December 2023
Passage: Luke 2:8-20
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Good morning, everyone. Great to be at church with you this morning. My name is Steve, the senior pastor here.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 And if you've got your Bibles open there, that'd be fantastic.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 And I'll take a quick look at that passage, which is in front of us in Luke chapter 2.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:25 I read an article this morning by a journalist who said that we are drawing the curtain on 2023 as we celebrate Christmas.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:32 And it's a year that you really, that you could only really describe as bizarro year.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:37 A year of great uncertainty and turmoil.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:45 They went on and listed a whole heap of things that would classify as unusual, bizarre things that governments around the world are doing.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:52 But also very mindful of a, we're closing the year at a time of great turmoil.
00:00:52 --> 00:01:02 It's not far from our minds, conflicts in the Middle East, but also in Ukraine and Russia.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:13 There have been tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of lives that have been lost in these conflicts.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:18 Communities fractured, people stricken in life.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:27 And they're just two of the big ones in terms of conflicts that are in the media in our world in this last year.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:33 In 2023 alone, there were 114 wars globally.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 We just really hear about two of them.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:38 114.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:45 The definition of a war is an active conflict where over 1 lives have lost.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:50 And there's been 114 of them in this world this year.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:59 Of the past 3 years of recorded history, there has only been 268 years war-free.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 268 years with no recorded war.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 That is a meagre 8% of recorded history.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:12 That's all.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:19 For those who think that religion is to blame for that, of all those recorded wars in history,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 less than 7% have anything to do with religion.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 Less than 7%.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:32 In more recent history, from 1945 to 2015,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:42 there were only 26 days of no recorded war somewhere in the world.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 26 days.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:50 So what are we to make then of the message that we just heard?
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 From Luke chapter 2.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 From 2 years ago.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 That at the heart of Christmas,
00:02:56 --> 00:03:02 which half of the world's population is celebrating right now,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 what are we to make of the promise of peace?
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 It was right there.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:12 Verse 14.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 Glory to God in the highest,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 Peace.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:21 Peace.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 That's something that we desire.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 We desire peace in our relationships.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 Our world is in desperate need for peace.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 And frankly,
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 many of us would love peace deep inside of our hearts,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 in the recesses of our hearts.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 We're in turmoil and conflict with ourselves.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 And the Bible promises peace,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 and that's the reason for Christmas, we are told.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 To bring peace to humanity.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 So what is this peace that the birth of Jesus promises,
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 and how do we get it?
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 That's the three things I kind of want to, you know,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 tackle this morning really briefly.
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 Say three things.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 I want to treasure the message of Christmas,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 and when we do, we find peace,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 and when we find peace, we start to live fearlessly.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 They're the three things I want to do
00:04:08 --> 00:04:12 as we look at Luke 2 this morning.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:13 So first of all,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 treasuring the message of Christmas.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 Really hearing the Christmas story
00:04:20 --> 00:04:25 isn't easy to do when you've heard it so, so many times.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 I mean, so many times.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 There is an over-familiarity to the story of Christmas,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 and to hear well, we know,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 is the important thing in life.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 Not just important in this passage.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 We are told here that the shepherds
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 were told something by the angels.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 Then they went and saw
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 that it was as they were told.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 Then we are told in verse 17
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 that when they saw Jesus,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 they then went and spread the word
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 about everything that they had heard about Jesus.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 Verse 18 we read,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 And all who heard it
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 And there is an even deeper hearing.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 In verse 19, it says,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:22 Mary treasured up all these things
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 and pondered them in her heart.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:32 This is more than just merely hearing some news.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 You know, we all hear news every day
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 and on the most part,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 it has no impact on us at all.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 Those with children
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 know the experience of telling them something
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 and it's not being followed through with.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 Probably those with husbands as well.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 Did we hear the information?
00:05:56 --> 00:05:56 Did they hear the information?
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 Yes.
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 Heard the information?
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 Did it get our attention?
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 Do we think through the implications?
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 I mean, really understand
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 of what we were told?
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 Well, on the most part, no.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 The first thing we are told here
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 is that God speaks to and through the ordinary.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 The shepherds get an angel
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 and everyone else gets a shepherd.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:27 Just ordinary, low-class,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 first-century shepherds.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 Secondly, we are told
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 that Mary is a model for us
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 on how to hear.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 She heard the news from the angel
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 and then she hears the news
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 from the shepherds.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 And we are told she treasures it.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 She ponders in her heart
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 what she has just heard.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 The word ponder here
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 means to put into context,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 to think it through,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 to make the connections
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 between what I'm hearing
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 and the rest of my life.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 How does it explain my life?
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 What does it mean for the way I'm living?
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 It is focused mental discipline.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 Treasuring is also a little bit more emotional
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 than just mere study.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 It means to keep this news alive.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 It is to keep the fire burning,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 to relish it,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 to savor it,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 turn it over and over
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 and get in my mind
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 heart
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 to see how it connects
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 with my life.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 That is,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 what we are told here
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 is Mary doesn't
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 just know the news
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 of the arrival of God intellectually.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 She fans the flame of it
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 in her heart
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 by pondering it again
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 and again
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 and again
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 and again
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 and making connections
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 in the rest of her life.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 She takes this news
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 into the centre
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 of her being
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 until it means
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 everything to her.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 This hearing that she has
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 is an attitude
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 of the heart.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 We shouldn't underestimate
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 our ability
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 to hear
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 and also
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 not to hear
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 the good news
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 of Christmas.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 We don't really want
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 to be like the crowd
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 who just marvels
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 at this birth.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 We want to be like Mary
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 and ponder
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 and treasure
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 the good news of Jesus
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 and the reason is
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 is because when we do hear well
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 we discover
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 the remarkable promise
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 of peace.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 Have a look at it there
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 if you've got your Bibles
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 verses 13 and 14.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 Suddenly
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 a great company
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 of the heavenly hosts
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 appeared with the angel
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 praising God
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 and saying
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 glory to God
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 in the highest heaven
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 and on earth
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 peace to those
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 on whom
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 his favour rests.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 It's a very
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 specific
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 promise
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 of peace.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 It's peace
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 for those
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 to whom
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 God's grace
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 and favour
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 and mercy
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 rest.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 On the surface
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 it looks like
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 well this is just
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 a promise
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 for a select group
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 of people.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 That's all this is.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 But you have to read it
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 in the light
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 of verse 10.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 The angels
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 said to them
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 do not be afraid
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 I bring you
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 good news
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 that will cause
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 great joy
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 for all
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 people.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 Today
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 in the town
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 of David
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 a saviour
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 has been born
00:09:29 --> 00:09:29 to you
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 he is the
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 Messiah
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 the Lord.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 So what
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 Luke
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 the writer
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 of this
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 the recorder
00:09:36 --> 00:09:36 of this biography
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 is saying here
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 is that one of the
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 great benefits
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 secrets of grasping
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 the good news
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 about God's grace
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 to us in Jesus
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 Christ
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 at Christmas
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 is that you now
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 have peace with God.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 That's crucial.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 That is so crucial
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 because one of the
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 great
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 and important
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 themes
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 of the
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 New Testament
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 is that
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 before we embrace
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 God's grace
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 grace and mercy
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 we are
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 in fact
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 at war
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 with him.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 Most people
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 don't believe
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 that.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 Most people
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 have not grasped
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 that aspect
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 of the Christmas
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 story.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 Many would say
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 that they just
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 don't simply
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 don't believe
00:10:27 --> 00:10:27 in God
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 or that they
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 are indifferent
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 to God.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 Hardly
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 anyone
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 wanders around
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 and says
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 I'm hostile
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 towards God.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 I'm in
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 open conflict
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 with him.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 And yet
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 the New Testament
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 puts it like that.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 It says
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 the mind
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 governed by
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 the flesh
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 is hostile
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 to God.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 It does
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 not submit
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 to God.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 That is
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 at the heart
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 of Christianity
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 before it's
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 great news
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 of God's love
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 is the
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 reality
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 of open
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 warfare
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 against God.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 Our
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 relationship
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 with God
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 is not
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 disbelief
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 and indifference
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 it's actually
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 hostility
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 towards him.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 And let me
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 just be clear
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 this is for
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 both the
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 religious person
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 and the
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 irreligious
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 person.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 Open
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 hostility
00:11:25 --> 00:11:30 overtly
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 asserting
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 our independence
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 from our
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 creator.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Both the
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 religious
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 and the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 irreligious
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 are openly
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 declaring
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 they want
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 to live
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 life
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 their way.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 The
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 religious
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 person
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 covertly
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 asserts
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 their
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 independence
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 from God.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 You know
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 they do
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 religious
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 activities
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 you know
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 they turn
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 up to
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 church
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 they read
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 the Bible
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 they pray
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 try and
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 follow the
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 Ten Commandments
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 that kind
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 of stuff
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 try to be
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 a good
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 person
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 with the
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 expectation
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 that it
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 wins God's
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 favour towards
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 them in some
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 way.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 It's an
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 attempt to
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 control
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 my life
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 and my
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 relationship
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 with God.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 It's a
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 declaration that
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 I ultimately
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 do not
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 trust God.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 No matter
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 who we are
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 in our
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 nature we
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 are hostile
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 to God
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 and particularly
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 in the
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 western world
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 we are
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 committed to
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 the idea
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 that we
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 will only
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 ever be
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 truly
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 deeply
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 happy
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 if we
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 are in
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 charge
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 of our
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 own
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 lives.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 The
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 mark of a
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 real Christian
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 is that they
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 come to see
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 the hostility.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 They've seen
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 not only that
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 they have done
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 wrong things
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 but even
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 the right
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 things that
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 they've done
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 have been
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 done for the
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 wrong reasons
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 the wrong
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 motives.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 Christmas
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 is the
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 beginning of
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 what God
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 does for us
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 through Jesus
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 Christ to
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 initiate a
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 peace treaty.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 God's grace
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 to us and
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 peace go
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 together.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 Those who
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 grasp the
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 grace of
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 God are
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 those who
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 have peace
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 with God
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 and at the
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 very least
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 it means
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 Christmas
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 sorry at the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 very least it
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 means that for
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 Christians we
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 ought to be
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 peacemakers.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 At the
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 very least
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 peacemakers
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 are people
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 who have
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 admitted their
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 wrongs, their
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 flaws, their
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 hostility towards
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 God, they
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 have swallowed
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 their pride, they
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 have surrendered
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 to their God,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 they've accepted
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 his grace and
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 his goodness and
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 they've found
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 peace with him.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 And when that
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 happens between
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 you and God
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 it means that you
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 actually go out
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 into a world and
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 you do it with
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 others.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 A
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 Christian
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 is someone
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 who knows
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 how to admit
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that they are
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 wrong,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 how to
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 forgive,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 how to
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 reconcile
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 because that
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 is what God
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 has done for
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 them.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 And we
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 become peacemakers
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 between races
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 and classes,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 family members,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 neighbours,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 colleagues.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 Peace comes
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 to those who
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 grasp God's
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 grace and
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 threw them
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 to the
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 world.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 So,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 treasure the
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 message,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 discover the
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 peace,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 and thirdly,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 being at peace
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 with God
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 leads to
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 fearless living.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 I get that
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 from verses
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 8 and 10,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 have a look
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 at it.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 Those,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 sorry,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 there were
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 shepherds
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 living out in
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 the fields
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 nearby,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 keeping watch
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 over their
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 flocks at
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 night.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 An angel of
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 the Lord
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 appeared to
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 them and
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 the glory
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 of the Lord
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 shone around
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 them and
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 they were
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 terrified.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 But the
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 angel said
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 to them,
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 do not
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 be afraid,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 I bring
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 you good
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 news that
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 will cause
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 great joy
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 for all
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 people.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 The
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 shepherds
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 were terrified.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 Angels
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 tell them,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 don't be
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 afraid,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 because I
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 bring you
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 good news.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 That's the
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 reason why
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 you shouldn't
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 be afraid,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 because I've
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 got good
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 news for
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 you.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 Embracing
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 the good
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 news of
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 Christmas
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 means that
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 we can
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 be at
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 peace and
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 we can
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 live
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 fearlessly.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 You see,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 what normally
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 happens in
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 the Bible
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 is that
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 when God
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 shows up,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 people are
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 terrified.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 First time
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 it ever
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 happened was
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 in the
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 Garden of
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 Eden with
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 Adam and
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 Eve.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 After they
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 sinned,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 before sin
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 was in the
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 picture,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 before there
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 was hostility
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 with God,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 there was
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 no fear.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 When we
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 have perfect
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 relationship
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 with God,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 there is no
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 fear in
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 life.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 that's so
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 crucial as
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 we come to
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 the end of
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 2023,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 because most
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 of us come
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 to Christmas
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 living lives
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 of some
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 element of
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 fear and
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 anxiety.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 The fear of
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 rejection,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 the fear of
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 failure,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 the fear of
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 bad things
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 happening,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 the fear of
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 the future,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 the fear of
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 death.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 We live
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 each day
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 trying to
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 earn our
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 self-worth
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 and people's
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 respect,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 and if we
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 don't constantly
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 get affirmation
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 and love from
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 people,
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 we just
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 die inside.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 We are
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 slaves to
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 our performance
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and other
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 people's
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 perceptions of
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 us.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 It's a life
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 of fear,
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 knowing that
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 ultimately we
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 cannot control
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 our lives.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 Deep down
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 in the
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 recesses of
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 our hearts,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 we are in
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 conflict with
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 ourselves.
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 It's hard
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 enough trying
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 to manage
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 other people's
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 perception of
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 us,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 us,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 let alone
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 our own
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 perceptions
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 of us.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 Every time
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 something
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 unexpected
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 happens to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 us,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 it's just
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 another
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 reminder
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 that we
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 are not
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 in
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 control.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 We're
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 especially
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 afraid of
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 death.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 In death,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 we lose
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 absolutely
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 everything.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 We are
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 filled with
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 fear,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 but we
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 fill our
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 lives with
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 distractions in
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 order to not
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 think about
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 it.
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 Distractions
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 so that we
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 can't listen
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 well to
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 the good
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 news and
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 find peace.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 We are
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 our own
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 masters and
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 we are
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 unqualified
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 for the
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 job.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 And when
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 push comes
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 to shove,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 we know
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 it.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 We have
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 taken God's
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 crown and
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 placed it
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 in our own
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 heads, so
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 to speak,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and we
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 are way
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 over our
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 heads.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 We are
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 usurposed
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 to a
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 throne that
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 we don't
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 deserve, nor
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 are qualified
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 for, and
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 on the first
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 Christmas, the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 real king
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 turned up, and
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 we are
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 terrified.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 His beauty
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 shows us
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 our
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 ugliness.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 His power
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 shows us
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 our impotence.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 His light
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 shows us
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 our darkness.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 us.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 And yet
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 his grace
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 to us
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 shows us
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 the solution.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 Verse 11,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 again, a
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 saviour has
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 been born
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 to you.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 He is the
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Messiah, the
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 Lord.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 He is the
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 saviour of
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 the human
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 race.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 To have
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 peace and
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 to live
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 fearlessly, we
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 need to
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 abandon
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 every form
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 of self
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 salvation and
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 rest in his
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 salvation.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 salvation.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 The baby
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 born in the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 manger, we
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 are told
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 here in
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 verse 11, is
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 the Lord.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 And the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 word Lord
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 there in the
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 original language
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 is a direct
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 translation from
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 the Hebrew
00:18:48 --> 00:18:51 word Yahweh.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 Yahweh.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 It's a
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 significant word.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 It's the
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 covenant name
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 of God in
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 the Old
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 Testament.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 The baby
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 born in the
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 manger is not
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 just a saviour
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 or a sage.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 He is the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 creator of
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 the universe.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 That's what
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 that word
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Lord means.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 If the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 God who
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 made all
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 things is
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 prepared to
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 humble himself
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 and to
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 come to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 earth, for
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 us he is
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 trustworthy.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 Is that
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 plausible?
00:19:27 --> 00:19:31 way back in
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 1961, the
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 Soviet Union
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 put a man
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 in space for
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 the first
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 time.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 27-year-old
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 Yuri Gagarin
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 orbited the
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 earth for
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 about 90
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 minutes, an
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 hour and a
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 half, something
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 like that.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 When he
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 came back to
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 earth, the
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 head of the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 Soviet Union at
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 time, Nikita
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 Khrushchev, said
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 that we have
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 sent someone
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 into space and
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 we did not
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 find God.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 God does not
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 exist.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 There's no God
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 up there.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 The Oxford
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 scholar C.S.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 Lewis read
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 that and
00:20:17 --> 00:20:20 fired off an
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 article in
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 response called
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 the seeing
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 eye.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 This is part
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 of what he
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 wrote.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 The Russians, I
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 am told, report
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 that they have
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 not found God
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 in outer space.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 Looking for
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 God or
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 heaven by
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 exploring space
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 is like reading
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 or seeing all
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 of Shakespeare's
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 plays in the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 hope that you'll
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 find Shakespeare
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 as one of the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 characters.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 Shakespeare is
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 in one sense
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 present at
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 every moment
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 in every one
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 of his plays.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 But he's
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 never present
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 in the same
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 way that
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 Princess Hamlet
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 is.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 My point is
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 that if God
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 does exist,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 he is related
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 to the universe
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 more as an
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 author is
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 related to a
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 play than as
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 one object in
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 the universe is
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 related to another
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 object in the
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 universe.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 He went on to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 ask the question,
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 how then do we
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 find God or
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 also avoid
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 God?
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 He first
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 answered how
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 we avoid
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 God and
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 maybe at
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 the end of
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 this crazy
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 year of 2023
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 this might be
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 a pertinent
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 message for
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 you.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 He says,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 avoid silence.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 This is how to
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 avoid God.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 Avoid silence,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 avoid solitude,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 concentrate on
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 money, sex,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 status, health,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 and your own
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 grievances.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 Keep the radio
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 turned on or
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 the television or
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 YouTube or
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 whatever it is
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 he might have
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 said if he was
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 existing right
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 now.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 Live in a
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 crowd.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 Use plenty of
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 sedation.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 If you must
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 read books,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 select those
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 books very
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 carefully, but
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 you'd be better
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 off just to
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 stick with the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 newspapers.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 To some,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 God is
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 discoverable
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 everywhere.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 To others,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 nowhere.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 It depends
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 on the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 attitude of
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 your heart.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 And I
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 would add it
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 would depend
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 on the
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 level of
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 hostility that
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 you have
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 towards God.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 Lewis went
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 on to write
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 that he had
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 less advice on
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 how to find
00:22:32 --> 00:22:34 God, he
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 said because it
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 was God who
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 came to find
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 us on the
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 very first
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 Christmas.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 His point
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 was that the
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 only way to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 know God who
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 made everything
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 is if this
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 God writes
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 himself into
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 his own
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 story, as a
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 character in
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 his own story.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 It's the only
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 way that we
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 would ever know
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 him.
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 If he chooses
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 to write himself
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 into the history
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 of the world
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 that he has
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 made, and
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 that is what
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 C.S.
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 Lewis says,
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 is the claim
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 of Christian,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 the claim of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 Christmas.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 It's the
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 infinitely wonderful
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 moment of
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 Christmas, that
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 God writes
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 himself into
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 his own
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 story.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 It means
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 that God
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 looks at the
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 world that he
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 created, he
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 could see the
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 terrible trouble
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 that humanity
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 was in, the
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 hostility, the
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 chaos, the
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 conflict, the
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 war, both
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 externally and
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 internally, and
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 he wrote
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 himself into the
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 history as
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 Jesus Christ, the
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 saviour of the
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 world.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 And he
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 didn't come
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 simply to
00:23:45 --> 00:23:48 embrace us, but
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 to take our
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 hostility upon
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 himself and to
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 die for us.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 He lost his
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 peace so that
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 we can have
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 peace forever.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 And so I'm not
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 sure what 2023
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 has been like
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 for you.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Many people are
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 claiming it's the
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 hope, the year
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 that they hope
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 never to revisit.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 Look to
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 Christmas at the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 end of the year
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 and find peace.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 To the degree
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 that we grab
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 hold of the
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 good news and
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 ponder it and
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 treasure it and
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 play it over, to
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 the degree that
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 our fears will
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 diminish and
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 peace will rise
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 in our hearts.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 What's your
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 next step?
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 Maybe it might
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 be just to
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 wander across,
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 literally take
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 your next step
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and wander across
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 the atrium in
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 church here and
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 you'll find some
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 free resources such
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 as the case for
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 Christmas.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 Is Christmas
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 believable?
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Christmas uncut?
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 First part, maybe
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 it might be simply
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 this Christmas
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 season to grow a
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 bit of quietness
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 and a bit of
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 solitude and
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 ponder the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 message.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 Merry Christmas.