WEBVTT 00:00:05.929 --> 00:00:08.390 I figure a hand clap that doesn't sting just 00:00:08.390 --> 00:00:12.390 a little is just about like patty cake. And we've 00:00:12.390 --> 00:00:16.370 not come to patty cake. We've come to offer a 00:00:16.370 --> 00:00:20.910 sacrifice. A praise. Amen. If you have your Bibles, 00:00:20.989 --> 00:00:26.350 turn with me to Luke's Gospel, the second chapter. 00:00:29.829 --> 00:00:37.039 Luke's Gospel, the second chapter. As you're 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.759 preparing to read, we're going to go ahead and 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:46.000 light our two candles today. We'll light the 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.700 purple prophet's candle and we'll light the rose 00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:55.000 of the candle of peace. Today is the second Sunday 00:00:55.000 --> 00:01:00.679 of Advent, which represents peace. Amen? It's 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:07.430 on earth peace, not peace on earth. The more 00:01:07.430 --> 00:01:11.950 I read, it's got a little echo in it somewhere. 00:01:12.590 --> 00:01:16.469 They'll get it in just a moment. The more I read 00:01:16.469 --> 00:01:21.709 scripture and find little nuances that way, how 00:01:21.709 --> 00:01:26.290 sometimes we reverse words, we put the same words 00:01:26.290 --> 00:01:30.489 in a different order, and you say, well, that 00:01:30.489 --> 00:01:33.989 doesn't matter. The more attention I pay to it, 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.219 It seems like the more it does matter. There's 00:01:38.219 --> 00:01:43.019 a difference of peace on earth and on earth peace. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:53.340 Amen. Y 'all go ahead and praise the Lord a minute. 00:01:53.379 --> 00:01:55.319 We'll give them just a second to get a hold of 00:01:55.319 --> 00:02:02.599 that. Bless the Lord. It's getting better. Hallelujah. 00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:08.539 You do know all the nuances of little things 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:12.699 that don't go the way you want them to go during 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:16.840 services, right? You know there is an enemy who 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:23.620 does not want any worship declaration to go without 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:31.520 a hitch. And so he understands the people who 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:34.680 are involved. You know the enemy understands 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:39.539 you, right? So he knows how to get your goat. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:47.780 And he knows how to get mine. See? And he knows 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:52.520 things that really bother me. And so he tries 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:57.080 to amplify those. Especially when I feel like 00:02:57.080 --> 00:03:01.000 I've got a word from the Lord. And so for 30 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:03.520 years, I have to fight really hard against that. 00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:12.120 Because I still maneuver in the flesh. Not as 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:15.879 much flesh. But I still maneuver in the flesh. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:23.000 So he knows how to get to me. And that's going 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:28.039 away, so it's getting better already. Amen. And 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.360 we don't even fool with this thing. They turn 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:32.659 it on from week to week. We don't have to adjust 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:35.900 it. They know how loud I'm about to get. And 00:03:35.900 --> 00:03:41.000 it's just old Diablo trying to mess with the 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.699 preacher this morning. It may not have anything 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:49.080 to do with you. He's just messing with me. So 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:54.860 we're going to read some scripture. And that 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:58.159 tends to put him at bay. And then we're going 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.759 to pray and put him further back in the corner. 00:04:02.740 --> 00:04:07.360 And then I'm going to preach. Real preaching, 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:14.560 as some might say. Luke's Gospel, chapter 2. 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:18.860 Let's start at verse 8. And there were in the 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:21.699 same country shepherds abiding in the field, 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:26.470 keeping watch over their flocks by night. And 00:04:26.470 --> 00:04:29.029 lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and 00:04:29.029 --> 00:04:31.389 the glory of the Lord shone round about them, 00:04:31.490 --> 00:04:36.029 and they were sore afraid. And the angel said 00:04:36.029 --> 00:04:40.269 unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you 00:04:40.269 --> 00:04:44.930 good tidings of great joy, which shall be to 00:04:44.930 --> 00:04:48.930 all people. For unto you is born this day in 00:04:48.930 --> 00:04:52.689 the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the 00:04:52.689 --> 00:04:56.459 Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You 00:04:56.459 --> 00:04:59.019 shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:03.660 lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with, 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:07.459 hello, there was with the angel a multitude. 00:05:07.540 --> 00:05:11.040 I told you the enemy knows. And he's pulled out 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:14.759 all stops this morning. He's really, he's really, 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:18.339 he's really trying. And for you, you folks that 00:05:18.339 --> 00:05:20.139 are visiting, is it like this every week? No. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:23.779 But I do have rare moments. And you just happen 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:27.819 to be here on one of them. The angel, a multitude 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:30.060 joined with him of the heavenly host, praising 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:33.860 God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:40.500 and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Amen. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.300 We just don't put on a lot of airs. There's more 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:49.740 fakery goes on in church on Sunday morning. We 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:54.360 try to hide everything. Not me. Y 'all that know 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:59.399 me know that I really don't care. So here's what 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:02.420 my sermon title today is. I don't even think 00:06:02.420 --> 00:06:04.279 it's a sermon. I believe the Lord has stirred 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:06.240 my heart with a message these last two weeks. 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:08.779 There's a difference. They have their places. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:11.459 But this message from the Lord today is about 00:06:11.459 --> 00:06:15.800 the hymn, the hymn, not H -I -M, but the H -Y 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:20.680 -M -N of Advent. Last week we talked about the 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:24.750 mission of Advent. So today, let's look at the 00:06:24.750 --> 00:06:28.910 hymn of Advent. I'll pray for you, and I really 00:06:28.910 --> 00:06:32.009 need you to pray for me. Heavenly Father, I love 00:06:32.009 --> 00:06:34.649 you today. Thank you so much for your goodness. 00:06:35.050 --> 00:06:37.889 And Lord, we just do today, this very moment 00:06:37.889 --> 00:06:39.769 together, we just bind the hand of the enemy 00:06:39.769 --> 00:06:42.269 because I know what's about to go forth. I know 00:06:42.269 --> 00:06:44.500 what you've put in my heart. And Lord, as the 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.120 word of God goes forward, I ask, Lord, that you 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:50.060 would help us to hear together. That we that 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:52.139 do have ears to hear and are longing to hear 00:06:52.139 --> 00:06:54.300 what the Spirit is declaring and proclaiming 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:56.939 to the church, that we hear that today and nothing 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.579 else. Taking authority over every distraction, 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.560 every hindrance, and everything. I ask, God, 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:05.920 that you would have your way now. Even so, as 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.860 you've heard and received and been honored by 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:11.040 the praise and the worship that's been lifted 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:14.920 up to you. I ask, God, now. As your word has 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.120 been declared, we have broken the precious bread 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:20.139 of life. Now let it be nurtured by the water 00:07:20.139 --> 00:07:24.500 of the Spirit. Hallelujah. Woo! Saturated in 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:28.459 the oil of glory. Well, hallelujah. Thank you, 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:34.920 Lord. In Jesus' name. You can be seated. As stated 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:38.189 last week, we haven't... We didn't just begin 00:07:38.189 --> 00:07:41.910 on Good Friday the Christmas celebration or the 00:07:41.910 --> 00:07:44.930 onslaught to it, but we actually have begun the 00:07:44.930 --> 00:07:48.310 Advent season, the celebration of the coming 00:07:48.310 --> 00:07:53.350 of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen? And it's not 00:07:53.350 --> 00:07:57.410 just simply or merely walking through a calendar. 00:07:58.149 --> 00:08:02.029 When we go through, and I told you last week 00:08:02.029 --> 00:08:03.790 about the struggle that I've had over the years 00:08:03.790 --> 00:08:08.329 with... adapting to and being part of and really 00:08:08.329 --> 00:08:10.930 not just being a part of or tolerant, but actually 00:08:10.930 --> 00:08:15.589 celebrating the eventual weeks up until the birth 00:08:15.589 --> 00:08:19.810 of Christ as we celebrate now and learn to celebrate 00:08:19.810 --> 00:08:24.850 together the advent of the Christ. It is a season 00:08:24.850 --> 00:08:28.490 that we celebrate, but this season comes with 00:08:28.490 --> 00:08:31.930 certain sounds and certain rhythms. You ever 00:08:31.930 --> 00:08:34.440 notice? When it's the right time for Christmas, 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:37.220 there's a time when you start playing Christmas 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:42.559 songs. There is for me. Now, I found myself this 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:46.940 past summer singing We Three Kings on just one 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:49.720 morning. We three kings of Oregon. I thought, 00:08:49.799 --> 00:08:54.320 it's 95 degrees. Where did this come from? So 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.879 the Lord began working on me early, Brother Dwayne, 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:01.620 to get me situationally ready. to celebrate in 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:04.779 this Advent season. So my mind's been toward 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:08.600 this season for quite a few months now. And as 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.580 we begin to enter this season, it has a rhythm 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:14.440 to it. It has sounds that go to it. There's a 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:19.059 countdown, if you will, where the Holy One of 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:22.129 Eternity stooped. to be wrapped in swaddling 00:09:22.129 --> 00:09:24.929 clothes, and he wrapped himself in flesh. And 00:09:24.929 --> 00:09:28.429 it wasn't as silent as the song declares. It's 00:09:28.429 --> 00:09:31.549 a declaration of a celebration of the advent, 00:09:31.830 --> 00:09:35.029 the coming of the Son of God. And there is a 00:09:35.029 --> 00:09:37.830 hymn that goes with it. There is songs that accompany. 00:09:38.129 --> 00:09:41.450 There's a joy that comes. So we celebrate each 00:09:41.450 --> 00:09:44.870 week. And I've got to tie up all the remaining 00:09:44.870 --> 00:09:48.509 three weeks in this little sermonette to you, 00:09:48.590 --> 00:09:51.379 this message this morning. of the remaining Advent, 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:55.000 so you pray for me really big this morning. It's 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.980 been stated that each Sunday of Advent carries 00:09:57.980 --> 00:10:02.320 its own song. It has its own rhythm. It has its 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:05.259 own nuance. And when we begin to think about 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:08.019 each of those songs, how that heaven has written 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:11.779 a stanza in the story of redemption for each. 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:14.759 We sung of hope last week. This first candle 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:18.240 that was lit was the one concerning the prophet's 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:21.100 word. today as we attempt to journey through 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:24.659 the remaining Sundays of the Advent with a declaration 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:28.059 of praise like the shepherds would hear and that 00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:31.100 they would have announced to them by the angelic 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:34.500 choir or like a watchman shouting from the wall, 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:37.740 prepare ye the way of the Lord. We are preparing 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:41.379 our way toward the celebrating of his birth. 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:45.039 Amen. That Christ did come and has come that 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:48.080 we may have the fullness of joy, the hope that 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.200 was And the first stanza that proclaims that 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:54.360 the prophetic message of hope has been revealed. 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:58.399 The mission of Advent foretold. Amen. As Isaiah 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:01.419 would declare it to us, he shall save his people. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.700 Luke declares, for unto us, unto you a child 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:07.259 is born. Born this day in the city of David, 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:10.399 a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. We hear the 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.360 hymn of the hour. The old hymn declares, O come, 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:18.450 O come, Emmanuel. How do we declare so? was that 00:11:18.450 --> 00:11:21.850 the Christ, the anointed one, the Savior of humanity 00:11:21.850 --> 00:11:25.590 would come and be born. And we know of Bethlehem's 00:11:25.590 --> 00:11:28.629 star. We know of the searching out. We know of 00:11:28.629 --> 00:11:31.210 the proclamation of the prophet, how that Isaiah's 00:11:31.210 --> 00:11:34.970 word was truly fulfilled on that night of Bethlehem 00:11:34.970 --> 00:11:39.049 Eve. As the star stood still, amen, the angelic 00:11:39.049 --> 00:11:41.850 host begins to proclaim hope on the earth. It 00:11:41.850 --> 00:11:44.909 is now the second week as we enter into the stanza 00:11:44.909 --> 00:11:47.789 of peace. It would be the message. of the angelic 00:11:47.789 --> 00:11:51.850 host on earth, peace and goodwill toward men. 00:11:51.950 --> 00:11:55.149 Peace and goodwill toward men. It's the will 00:11:55.149 --> 00:11:57.970 of God that goodness be approached upon his creation, 00:11:58.210 --> 00:12:01.490 that the goodness of God, God who alone is good, 00:12:01.669 --> 00:12:04.450 be revealed and released upon the heart of his 00:12:04.450 --> 00:12:07.850 people through the form of his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:12:07.929 --> 00:12:11.009 That second stanza of peace, the song of Advent 00:12:11.009 --> 00:12:14.289 is a song of peace which declares like the multitude 00:12:14.289 --> 00:12:18.100 of a praising God. Who with glory lifted their 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:21.720 voices. God declares to himself. Glory to God 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.840 in the highest. And on earth that peace that 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:27.799 is released unto humanity. We'll hear the song 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.080 of a silent night. Where round yon virgin is 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:35.000 awaiting. And the birth of the son is come. Oh 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:37.740 when we think about the message of peace. Jesus 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:40.679 said it's my peace given to you. Not as the world 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:44.360 gives but I give it to you. It's my peace. That's 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:47.340 why I declare. you. It's on earth peace. Hallelujah. 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:50.440 It's not simply peace among the earth without 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:53.159 war, without violence, without conflict, but 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:56.220 no, in the midst of the conflict, in the midst 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:59.480 of war, in the midst of all the chaos and all 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.480 the circumstances of life, we hear the declaration 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:06.220 on earth is peace. Why? Because peace himself 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:10.059 personified in the son of the living God, Emmanuel, 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:15.899 God with us. Call him Jesus for he We shall save 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:25.100 his people. Hallelujah. In spite of it all, help 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:34.120 shows up. It's peace that has come upon the earth. 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:37.620 You move to the third stanza. I don't have time 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:41.379 to get hung up on too many of them. We have the 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:46.250 prophetic declaration of hope. Hope personified 00:13:46.250 --> 00:13:50.909 in the Christ. We have the message, the message 00:13:50.909 --> 00:13:55.450 that is given by that angelic host as they declare, 00:13:55.529 --> 00:13:59.289 first of all, glory to God in the highest. You've 00:13:59.289 --> 00:14:03.769 got to get it. Even the angels know. Amen. The 00:14:03.769 --> 00:14:08.350 unfallen know. Those who remain intact to the 00:14:08.350 --> 00:14:11.679 creator. who didn't follow the sway and the deception 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:15.899 of the evil one. They know. And as the angelic 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:18.759 messenger in heaven is giving the proclamation, 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:23.120 a host couldn't hold it back. A host of heaven 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.620 couldn't hold it back. A choir of angels, a multitude. 00:14:26.990 --> 00:14:30.009 begin to declare it glory to God in the high. 00:14:30.129 --> 00:14:33.330 Maybe some of those seraphim who circle the throne 00:14:33.330 --> 00:14:37.169 of glory crying holy, holy, holy, holy is the 00:14:37.169 --> 00:14:41.190 Lord. They know to God that we would fully finally 00:14:41.190 --> 00:14:44.269 begin to understand the advent, the coming of 00:14:44.269 --> 00:14:47.950 the Christ. It's the holy one. He's the holy 00:14:47.950 --> 00:14:52.610 one of God who's come from heaven's throne to 00:14:52.610 --> 00:14:59.919 make his abode in a manger. The third stanza 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:06.360 of joy. It's a hymn. Advent, when it's strung 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:12.120 together, is a hymn. First verse, let's sing 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:17.899 of hope. O come, O come, Emmanuel. Let's sing 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:22.259 of peace. Peace on earth and mercy mild. God 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:28.559 and sinner reconcile. Joyful, joyful. All you 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:32.200 nations, right? It's about a hymn, then there's 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.200 the hymn of joy. I love where joy is placed. 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:39.000 It's in the middle. Joy is placed. In the middle, 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:41.279 because sitting in this room today, there's a 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.580 lot of us that don't have a lot to be joy -filled 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:47.200 about. Oh, my Lord, I got to stick to this right 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:51.100 here. The sound of the coming King. There is 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:54.820 a joy which doesn't, oh, hear this. There is 00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:58.259 a joy which doesn't require circumstances to 00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:02.440 change. There is a joy that shows up like a John 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:05.899 the Baptist, a man who leaped in his mother's 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:09.759 womb. There is a Jesus. A leaping before a miracle 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:13.139 is ever even visible to the eye of humanity. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:16.659 There's a leaping for joy upon the salutation 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:20.059 of Mary, her cousin Elizabeth, who was six months 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:22.980 beyond her in her pregnancy, when she hears the 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:26.820 salutation of the Virgin Mary who had been, oh 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:30.340 Lord, impregnated by the Holy Ghost. The Holy 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:34.659 Ghost brings joy. The Holy Ghost brings joy. 00:16:35.309 --> 00:16:39.009 He leaped in his mother's womb in spite of seeing 00:16:39.009 --> 00:16:42.570 the miracle and before it approached, he leaped 00:16:42.570 --> 00:16:49.990 for joy. There is a joy that is not circumstance 00:16:49.990 --> 00:16:56.190 contingent. And I'm telling you, if you're trying 00:16:56.190 --> 00:16:59.929 to find it in any other way, you're lost and 00:16:59.929 --> 00:17:03.389 miserable. If you're trying to find a joy in 00:17:03.389 --> 00:17:07.490 any other object, other than the object of Christ 00:17:07.490 --> 00:17:11.150 himself, you will be left destitute and empty. 00:17:12.650 --> 00:17:17.109 Friends will forsake you. Money runs out. And 00:17:17.109 --> 00:17:18.809 for most people, if they don't have any money, 00:17:18.869 --> 00:17:20.250 they don't have a whole lot of friends because 00:17:20.250 --> 00:17:22.390 even those people can't hardly stand to be around 00:17:22.390 --> 00:17:27.470 them. It's a good thing I found joy to have the 00:17:27.470 --> 00:17:30.309 few friends I got because I wouldn't have enough 00:17:30.309 --> 00:17:34.039 money to buy one. Because even the ones I got 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:37.079 ridicule me so much sometimes. I have to scratch 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:40.559 my head and really make sure they're a friend. 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:45.240 Hello. I would call Chris his name, but he ain't 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:49.259 here to defend himself. But I think he's a friend. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.920 I couldn't afford to buy him anyway, Sister Debbie. 00:17:54.099 --> 00:18:00.240 He costs way more than I can purchase. Tell him 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.660 to look it up and listen to it if he wants to. 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.700 Leaping before the miracle is even visible to 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:10.279 the eye. This is the joy that the Holy Ghost 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:14.000 brings. The kind of joy that runs out to meet 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.420 the promise while the promise is still yet on 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:21.180 its way. That's the joy I'm talking about. Healed 00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:26.640 yet to be healed. Saved yet to be saved. Redeemed 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:30.359 yet to be redeemed. That is the walk of faith 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.099 that we are living out. Yes, I'm saved, but I'm 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:35.619 going to be saved. Are you hearing me today? 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:38.500 Oh, yes, I'm healed, but I'm going to be healed. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:42.339 I am redeemed, but redemption will find me. And 00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:45.619 this old flesh will be put on a new cloak that 00:18:45.619 --> 00:18:48.599 will not be understood with the eye of humanity 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:52.180 for this flesh. shall put on incorruption. The 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:54.599 incorruption is coming on and the corruptible 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:57.359 of this flesh will be carried away. Hallelujah! 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:00.319 There's a time coming and there is an ushering 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.420 of joy that will cause you to go out before a 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:06.400 promise ever makes its way and not be marred 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.559 in sadness and not be marred in despair. But 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.940 you walk forward in joy because of the advent, 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:16.279 the coming, and the promise of its coming has 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:20.029 come to verify to you and I if God God said Jesus 00:19:20.029 --> 00:19:23.430 would come and he came. What more is a promise 00:19:23.430 --> 00:19:26.730 that he gives to you? Go forward with the joy. 00:19:27.690 --> 00:19:33.390 The hymn of joy. Joy to the world. The Lord has 00:19:33.390 --> 00:19:40.710 come. Let earth receive her king. Heaven and 00:19:40.710 --> 00:19:49.299 nature sing. Oh, the hymn of the advent. The 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:56.400 stanza of joy that God can cause. That promise 00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:00.059 to stir in our heart and we make our way toward 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:03.099 the promise while it's still on the way. We meet 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:05.440 ourselves with the people of God and His chosen. 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:09.019 Isaiah 35, 1, the second part of the verse and 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:12.059 the first part of verse 2 declares, And the desert 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:17.710 shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall 00:20:17.710 --> 00:20:22.410 blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy 00:20:22.410 --> 00:20:25.750 and singing. You need to go read. There's only 00:20:25.750 --> 00:20:29.470 a few verses in that 35th chapter. You need to 00:20:29.470 --> 00:20:32.240 go read it. Because it is the promise of the 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:34.920 coming. He said he's going to make a highway 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:39.220 of holiness. And I'm here to tell you right now, 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.400 if he can cause a desert to begin to blossom 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:45.119 and rejoice and sing for joy, what can he do 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:47.539 in the parched places of our heart and our life? 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:50.839 Joy springs up. We draw, as Isaiah declared, 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:54.440 deep from the well of our salvation. I don't 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:57.900 draw from the happiness of circumstance. I let 00:20:57.900 --> 00:21:01.269 down the hope. bucket of my life into the peace 00:21:01.269 --> 00:21:05.430 that I find in the joy of my salvation and it 00:21:05.430 --> 00:21:10.789 causes me to declare it if he can cause a desert 00:21:10.789 --> 00:21:16.029 to bloom and dance and rejoice surely surely 00:21:16.029 --> 00:21:19.849 he can cause our weary soul to blossom again 00:21:19.849 --> 00:21:26.089 with joy unspeakable and fill us with glory surely 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:34.319 I stand before you heartbroken as you can only 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:42.279 imagine as I try to proclaim joy. Preach unto 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:46.119 the divine inspiration of the Holy Ghost while 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:50.099 my heart crumbles at the very same moment. Can 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:53.599 you practice what you're preaching? In the midst 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:56.180 of the sadness that you behold with your eye, 00:21:56.319 --> 00:22:01.059 can you walk forward in joy waiting for the miraculous 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:05.920 to enter? Yes, I can. I rejoice with joy and 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:09.460 weep with tears knowing that I shall come rejoicing 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:19.299 and I'll bring my sheep with me. Give him praise 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:48.859 in his house. Thank you, Holy Ghost. Life isn't 00:22:48.859 --> 00:23:03.930 easy. Joy in spite of circumstances. You can 00:23:03.930 --> 00:23:11.769 weep and rejoice at the same time. And the power 00:23:11.769 --> 00:23:17.769 of joy will overwhelm the tears of grief because 00:23:17.769 --> 00:23:24.029 of the hope and the peace and the power of the 00:23:24.029 --> 00:23:30.410 Holy Ghost. We are Pentecostal. Advent means 00:23:30.410 --> 00:23:34.619 more than a liturgical event. I'm figuring this 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:42.500 thing out. It's more than a wreath, a candle, 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:55.920 a ribbon. It's more than it is. It is a reminder 00:23:55.920 --> 00:24:06.220 of hope's power. Jesus prowess and joy's surge. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:14.079 Some of you need a surge of joy. Look like you've 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:21.160 been sucking sour grapes. Had pre -frosted persimmon 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:26.519 pie. And I don't mean powdered sugar frosted. 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:30.339 I mean literal freezing temperature frost. You 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:32.440 can't eat them things until they're frosted on 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:35.619 a couple times and about half rotten. But some 00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:40.960 of you look as though you have been doing your 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:50.819 best. You've got something to be joyful about. 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:04.839 It shall abundantly and it shall blossom abundantly 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:11.660 and rejoice even with joy and singing. I guess 00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:13.940 the Lord knew I needed to hear about the three 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:16.319 kings and he stirred my heart in June and July. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:22.200 Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Filled and found 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:28.339 and more. Following the under star. Oh, star 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:37.069 of wonder. Star of bright. Star of royal. Westward 00:25:37.069 --> 00:25:49.849 leading. Guide us to the light. He knew I needed 00:25:49.849 --> 00:25:52.230 to be reminded this morning that he stirred my 00:25:52.230 --> 00:25:58.859 joy. Months ago. In spite of the circumstances 00:25:58.859 --> 00:26:06.339 surrounding you, let joy arise. God can cause 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:09.119 that desert to bloom and dance and rejoice. Surely 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:12.980 he can cause our weary soul to blossom again 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:15.539 with joy unspeakable and to be filled with glory. 00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:22.859 Brother Donnie, I read a quote from your dad. 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:30.440 It stirred my heart. Dr. Hughes stated one day 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:38.000 that creation remembers its original song. When 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.420 I begin to let that culminate in my mind, thinking 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:43.700 about the hymn of the advent, knowing that creation 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:48.980 remembers its original song, I begin to think, 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:53.319 oh God, here we are, millennia later, and have 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:57.380 we forgotten the origin of our song? Great is 00:26:57.380 --> 00:27:01.359 the hand of God who has created us and all. As 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:03.220 the earth, according to the book of Acts, is 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:06.119 groaning and moaning, waiting again for its day 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:09.519 of redemption. Why? So that even the earth may 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:13.559 be redeemed and sing of the joy. Amen. If a desert 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:16.440 will blossom, think of the earth rejoicing upon 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:19.920 the final redemption when it's made new and made 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:23.559 afresh again. And Lord ought to know today we 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:26.740 should understand that if you've been regenerated 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:30.839 by the power of the advent's coming death of 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:34.059 the Advent one, and you've been regenerated by 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:36.579 the new life given up through the resurrection 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:40.019 of the Advent one, then the joy that we have 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:43.819 in spite of every circumstance can well up and 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:47.559 the song of joy can enter the heart of the redeemed 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:56.079 one more time. Advent's joy is exactly that. 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.900 It's exactly that song rising as a symphony. 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:04.799 The remembrance of Eden, Bethlehem's announcement. 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:08.799 And the anticipation of the echoing shout of 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:13.900 the archangel. Solidified by the thunderous blast 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:17.539 of the trump of God. That's what stirs my heart 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:21.150 to know that in this old sin sick. diseased world. 00:28:21.369 --> 00:28:25.109 I am going to refuse and I encourage you to join 00:28:25.109 --> 00:28:28.450 me in this refusal. I'm going to deny the power 00:28:28.450 --> 00:28:31.690 and the effect of a sin fallen world to dominate 00:28:31.690 --> 00:28:35.509 the joy that has been put in my life. I know 00:28:35.509 --> 00:28:37.849 according to the word of God there is a sickness 00:28:37.849 --> 00:28:40.509 unto death and that by the rapture if we are 00:28:40.509 --> 00:28:43.940 changed. It's the only way we shall escape because 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:46.759 it's appointed unto man once to die. But I'm 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:50.059 not dreading death's sting. It don't sting anymore. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:53.279 It's just the event of the life of one filled 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:56.559 in birth with joy. The advent one who come and 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:02.740 the advent one who is coming again. That's joy. 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:19.559 We don't wait for joy. We join with it. And you, 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:22.859 forgive me if it offends you, but I'm just going 00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:26.000 to tell you it's your choice. If you want to 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.640 go through the remainder of your life sucking 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:30.940 on persimmon, go right on ahead. But keep your 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:38.079 puckered up, withdrawn face away from me. Hello, 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:40.420 keep your puckered up, withdrawn face away from 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:45.019 me. That's a little microphone they got me rigged 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:47.440 up with. I just want to make sure it transmitted. 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:58.099 I got too much in life. I got too much in life. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.039 And don't you sit there and think for one minute, 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.819 well, I'll not tell him my trouble. You better 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:03.960 come tell me. Because if I find out that you're 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.240 going through trouble and you don't tell me, 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.380 we're going to have another kind of meeting. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:12.400 Because the one who bears my burdens, I'm not 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:23.599 carrying them. And I won't carry yours long either. 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:27.299 I'll take and dump it in the same place I'm dumping 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:31.440 mine every day. Because of the joy that I have. 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:34.799 And together, we'll put on our dancing shoes 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:38.869 in our desert. Together. and I got two left feet 00:30:38.869 --> 00:30:41.230 and a big toe on each corner and I can't dance 00:30:41.230 --> 00:30:43.410 a lick unless the Holy Ghost hits me. But there's 00:30:43.410 --> 00:30:46.769 a day of coming that my desert's going to blossom 00:30:46.769 --> 00:30:49.490 like the rose and the rose that'll blossom there 00:30:49.490 --> 00:30:53.069 is the one of Sharon who blooms continuously. 00:30:53.470 --> 00:30:56.930 It will be around the lily that's in my valley 00:30:56.930 --> 00:31:01.069 that causes me to arise. It's joy unspeakable. 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:10.940 Got one more candle. You got time? Oh, it's not 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:13.000 even your shutdown time yet. I got eight minutes. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:19.779 You quit on me about 12. And it takes me about 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:22.720 12 .15, 12 .12 to realize you're checked out. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:31.420 So we wind up about 12 .20. We don't wait for 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:35.890 joy, we join with it. We set our hearts, we lift 00:31:35.890 --> 00:31:42.490 our voices in spite of the circumstances. For 00:31:42.490 --> 00:31:51.809 the King is coming again. Amen. The King is coming 00:31:51.809 --> 00:31:56.049 again. The fourth stanza of this song, this hymn, 00:31:56.190 --> 00:32:05.420 the hymn of the Advent. Is the verse of love. 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:16.359 The advent of love. The coming of love. The personification 00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:28.920 of love. The incarnation of love. Hope does a 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:38.500 lot for me. Peace calms me. Joy stables me. But 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:54.339 love, love empowers me. Love empowers me. This 00:32:54.339 --> 00:33:01.380 statement really moved. If joy... Is the shout. 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:09.220 And the praise. In the hymn. Of Advent. Then 00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:15.599 love. Is the grounding note. Which is the baseline. 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:32.019 Everything else rises. From the baseline. And 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:37.220 that baseline is love. There would be no wreath. 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:48.980 There would be no candle without love. For God 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:56.740 so loved that he gave. Fulfilled in our heart 00:33:56.740 --> 00:34:01.519 and life. We understand love didn't send a manger 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:10.619 or a messenger this time. But love came himself. 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:20.260 Love didn't stand at a distance. Love took on 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:26.619 humanity. Love stepped into the drama we call 00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:32.110 life. Became a baby that could be held and followed. 00:34:34.230 --> 00:34:39.369 Like the king who is to come. John said the word 00:34:39.369 --> 00:34:45.090 became flesh and dwelt among us. He pitched his 00:34:45.090 --> 00:34:54.670 tent beside and among us. Pentecostal fires burn 00:34:54.670 --> 00:35:02.369 hot. But love burns deeper. I've seen folks speak 00:35:02.369 --> 00:35:04.650 in tongues and are the hatefulest people on the 00:35:04.650 --> 00:35:21.670 face of this earth. True. But you can't dispute 00:35:21.670 --> 00:35:25.750 love that way. You can't circumvent love the 00:35:25.750 --> 00:35:29.539 way many people. Circumvent the gift of the Spirit. 00:35:30.820 --> 00:35:33.679 You can't go around love. It shows right up. 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:38.260 What Paul said, though I speak with the tongues 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:43.980 of men and of angels, without love it's a sounding 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:49.059 brass and a tinkling cymbal. And he goes on and 00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:51.820 gives a whole list of things that he could sacrifice. 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:58.630 And all being done without love is wasted. So 00:35:58.630 --> 00:36:02.969 love is the base note, the baseline of the hymn 00:36:02.969 --> 00:36:10.170 of Advent. Love is the flame that never dies. 00:36:11.449 --> 00:36:18.710 A warmth that never fades nor cools. Love is 00:36:18.710 --> 00:36:25.550 the light that darkness cannot comprehend. We 00:36:25.550 --> 00:36:28.409 not only celebrate love, but we become love's 00:36:28.409 --> 00:36:34.889 messengers. We become the hands of love, the 00:36:34.889 --> 00:36:40.130 feet of love, the voice of his love, his tears. 00:36:41.630 --> 00:36:46.610 We become the healing touch. We proclaim Jesus 00:36:46.610 --> 00:36:52.869 to a world desperate and starving for the real 00:36:52.869 --> 00:36:58.199 thing. Because they see through all the other. 00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:03.659 And this world, don't be mistaken, this world 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:11.039 is very desperate and starving for the hands 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:19.739 of love, the voice of love, the touch, the approach. 00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:25.360 And we are at the best season to see that that 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:29.840 happens. If the Spirit will remind me and stir 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:35.000 me, we may be motivated again in about July to 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:53.860 take the message of love afresh and new. The 00:37:53.860 --> 00:38:05.420 chorus to this hymn. Then it happens. The night 00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:12.159 sighs. The silence stretches and is broken. And 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:19.480 in fullness of time, he comes. Not with fanfare, 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:27.289 but with a cry. A cry that shook the powers of 00:38:27.289 --> 00:38:35.789 darkness and hell. I can just see the devil now. 00:38:37.590 --> 00:38:41.010 On whatever throne he is exalted for himself. 00:38:43.250 --> 00:38:48.969 When the fullness of time came. And the Son of 00:38:48.969 --> 00:38:53.800 God inhaled. with those little fleshly lungs, 00:38:54.159 --> 00:39:00.980 oxygen for the first time, and lets out that 00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:08.840 cry of infancy, I can almost in my mind imagine, 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:21.230 oh, slew foot, Lucifer, do this. I can see him 00:39:21.230 --> 00:39:23.889 just begin to shudder in fear because he knows 00:39:23.889 --> 00:39:30.690 the cry of the Redeemer. Subject to his very 00:39:30.690 --> 00:39:45.250 whim and voice. The chorus. If hope has a resounding 00:39:45.250 --> 00:39:52.920 stanza with peace, joy, and love. The chorus 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:57.340 declares victory between each stanza. Everybody 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:59.980 knows you sing the chorus after every verse. 00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:14.840 I'm trying. Sometimes growing up, when we would 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:17.300 sing the meeting in the air after the fourth 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:19.460 or fifth verse, I forget, I know there's at least 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:23.469 four. You've done... Went through eight stanzas 00:40:23.469 --> 00:40:30.389 with the verse and the chorus every time. And 00:40:30.389 --> 00:40:36.570 then our sheetrock hanging song leader would 00:40:36.570 --> 00:40:43.030 get hung up on the chorus. And we'd sing it another 00:40:43.030 --> 00:40:45.949 four or five times. I just love to see the devil 00:40:45.949 --> 00:40:56.159 shriek. He has come. He is hope. He has come. 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:02.920 Remember the shrill cry. The manger's infant. 00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:07.539 Yes, I remember. Like fingernails on a chalkboard. 00:41:07.739 --> 00:41:12.239 I hope he has to hear that through the span of 00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:18.239 eternity. Wouldn't that just be torture? He was 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:23.400 doomed from the beginning. Not the manger. Well, 00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:25.960 I ain't got time for that. Y 'all stand up and 00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:28.320 I'll be sure and quit when I finish the chorus. 00:41:33.199 --> 00:41:38.099 He comes. Not with a fanfare, but with a cry 00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:41.360 that shook the powers of darkness. This is, understand 00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:44.380 this is not sentiment. I'm not being sentimental. 00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:50.719 This is not sentiment. Christ was not sent. For 00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:58.139 sentiment. He was sent for an invasion. He came 00:41:58.139 --> 00:42:04.440 for liberation. No, you've got to get past the 00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:08.679 swaddling clothes. You've got to move beyond 00:42:08.679 --> 00:42:13.000 the manger, people. You've got to move beyond 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:17.989 Calvary. Some folks still stuck at Calvary. You 00:42:17.989 --> 00:42:19.769 got to get out of the upper room. You remember, 00:42:19.829 --> 00:42:24.510 they came out of the upper room. You got to take 00:42:24.510 --> 00:42:26.650 the power that's been given out from the upper 00:42:26.650 --> 00:42:35.550 room. It's not just for in the room. Not for 00:42:35.550 --> 00:42:43.590 sentiment. Liberation. You see, it declares it's 00:42:43.590 --> 00:42:52.929 God with us. Proclaims God among us. Echoes God 00:42:52.929 --> 00:43:04.769 within us. Knowing that a star shone. Angels 00:43:04.769 --> 00:43:08.269 harmonized. Shepherds caught hold of a melody. 00:43:11.150 --> 00:43:17.909 For which wise men came from afar. The hymn of 00:43:17.909 --> 00:43:25.730 Advent. The night that eternity broke into time. 00:43:28.869 --> 00:43:32.070 And the tension for time again to return into 00:43:32.070 --> 00:43:41.230 eternity remains in balance. And from that breaking 00:43:41.230 --> 00:43:46.010 in. The world has never been the same, nor will 00:43:46.010 --> 00:43:51.289 it ever be again. So as I mentioned earlier, 00:43:51.389 --> 00:43:56.269 as we walk through the remaining weeks of Advent, 00:43:56.389 --> 00:43:59.809 we'll be doing the candles and the readings for 00:43:59.809 --> 00:44:05.269 the next few weeks. And on Christmas Eve night 00:44:05.269 --> 00:44:09.590 at our candlelight communion with the other four 00:44:09.590 --> 00:44:16.059 burning, we will light the center Christ. But 00:44:16.059 --> 00:44:22.780 as we walk through these final weeks of the Sundays 00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:31.340 of Advent, don't just casually stroll. Let's 00:44:31.340 --> 00:44:35.159 pin our shoulders back and let's march as the 00:44:35.159 --> 00:44:41.139 army that we are. I'm not slouching my way through. 00:44:43.650 --> 00:44:47.929 Christ's birth celebration. And next week, I'm 00:44:47.929 --> 00:44:51.230 going to be doing, I'm going to go over some 00:44:51.230 --> 00:44:56.090 of those Christmas myth busters. And if you'll 00:44:56.090 --> 00:44:58.429 have it, I'm probably going to help us a little 00:44:58.429 --> 00:45:10.210 bit. It's very interesting. Don't just stroll, 00:45:10.369 --> 00:45:17.690 but let us walk like people with a purpose. For 00:45:17.690 --> 00:45:22.090 the most part, people are sensitive to the love 00:45:22.090 --> 00:45:25.230 of God this year because there is a rhythm with 00:45:25.230 --> 00:45:30.349 this season. There is a rhythm about it. You 00:45:30.349 --> 00:45:33.869 can't flood secular atmospheres with Christmas 00:45:33.869 --> 00:45:38.889 carols and Christmas songs without hope, peace, 00:45:39.070 --> 00:45:45.570 joy, and love permeating the air. So seize the 00:45:45.570 --> 00:45:50.869 moments and take advantage. Because we know that 00:45:50.869 --> 00:45:55.909 the whole time we walk like those who know that 00:45:55.909 --> 00:45:59.929 the manger didn't just lead to Calvary, didn't 00:45:59.929 --> 00:46:06.610 just lead to an empty tomb. We know that that 00:46:06.610 --> 00:46:11.170 manger points us all the way to the second advent. 00:46:12.510 --> 00:46:19.070 The Lord's coming. He's coming back. Amen? So 00:46:19.070 --> 00:46:27.329 hope is building. Peace is stirring. Joy is rising. 00:46:27.369 --> 00:46:32.630 Love's moving in light. The light of God's love 00:46:32.630 --> 00:46:41.630 is invading. Father, I love you today. I thank 00:46:41.630 --> 00:46:47.360 you for your help this morning. I thank you for 00:46:47.360 --> 00:46:53.719 your help this morning, Lord. Concerning today 00:46:53.719 --> 00:47:01.699 as we celebrate the light of peace continued 00:47:01.699 --> 00:47:04.719 in the hope. We have peace because we have hope. 00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:12.219 Because of hope and peace, the message is joy 00:47:12.219 --> 00:47:17.800 is available. In this room today, Lord, I know 00:47:17.800 --> 00:47:20.780 there are those who are having challenges as 00:47:20.780 --> 00:47:27.719 we face our own challenge for joy. There are 00:47:27.719 --> 00:47:33.019 others in this room facing their own crisis circumstances 00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:37.780 and allowing the world and those crisis and the 00:47:37.780 --> 00:47:47.039 chaos to diminish the joy. But I'm reminded today, 00:47:47.159 --> 00:47:49.400 Lord, it's your love that's the reason I can 00:47:49.400 --> 00:47:58.880 have joy. Through the hardships, circumstances, 00:47:59.119 --> 00:48:12.659 chaos, just flat out going through hell. I pray, 00:48:12.739 --> 00:48:16.929 Father, that the message and the hymn of Advent 00:48:16.929 --> 00:48:30.309 fill hearts in this place today. That we be stirring 00:48:30.309 --> 00:48:32.989 and drawing from our well. It's on me. It's on 00:48:32.989 --> 00:48:36.789 me, Lord. I can choose to be bitter or I can 00:48:36.789 --> 00:48:41.110 choose to be better. And I will be better because 00:48:41.110 --> 00:48:46.110 of your joy, your hope, and your peace. and ultimately 00:48:46.110 --> 00:48:51.130 your love. My heads are bowed in the house today. 00:48:51.190 --> 00:48:53.710 I've been trying to think, how do I need to close 00:48:53.710 --> 00:48:56.730 this service today? Because it's very important. 00:49:01.590 --> 00:49:03.889 If you're here, no one's looking around but me. 00:49:03.929 --> 00:49:05.389 If you're here and you need a little hope for 00:49:05.389 --> 00:49:07.130 your situation, just slip your hand up and down 00:49:07.130 --> 00:49:16.489 real quick. Yep. Yep. What about peace? You need 00:49:16.489 --> 00:49:21.750 a little peace in your situation. Anybody? Joy, 00:49:21.929 --> 00:49:29.929 could you use a good dose of joy? I hope and 00:49:29.929 --> 00:49:31.929 through this declaration this morning that you 00:49:31.929 --> 00:49:32.510 have felt.