1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 And the Bibles, grab those. 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:10,000 We are going to be in Luke this morning. 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,000 Going to go to Luke chapter 2, which is a classic place to be 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,000 when we are talking about Christmas. 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,000 Our choir did an incredible job. 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,000 I thought they did so good. 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:26,000 And you notice the name of the group of songs that they performed, 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,000 Jesus' Hope of the World. 9 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,000 That's what I want to talk to you a little bit about today. 10 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 Over the last few weeks we have looked at the story of Christmas. 11 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:40,000 And we started from before the actual event happened of Jesus' 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:41,000 birth. 13 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,000 We talked about the announcement of his birth. 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:49,000 We talked about Zachariah and Elizabeth who Gabriel came to 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,000 Zachariah and said, even though you are old, you are going to have a 16 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,000 baby. 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000 Actually, your wife is going to have a baby. 18 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,000 And she is going to have a baby. 19 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,000 He had a hard time believing it. 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,000 But he did believe it. 21 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,000 And that baby that came was a guy named John who foretold that 22 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,000 Jesus would come. 23 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,000 And what an amazing thing that was. 24 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,000 And in the middle of that he said, fear not, your prayers have been 25 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,000 answered. 26 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,000 And so we don't have to fear unanswered prayers. 27 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,000 God has a plan, he is doing something. 28 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,000 Last week we looked at Joseph and we kind of tried to look at it 29 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,000 from his perspective. 30 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:28,000 And then Rachel came and said to him, fear not for behold, the baby 31 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,000 that is in Mary's womb is of the Holy Ghost. 32 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,000 You should not fear to take Mary to be your wife because that 33 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,000 which is in her is of the Holy Ghost. 34 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,000 Today I want to look at another fear not. 35 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,000 And it's a fear not that they talked about in the songs that we 36 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,000 sang this morning. 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Today's fear is the fear of having no hope. 38 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,000 Have you ever felt completely hopeless? 39 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,000 Maybe not hopeless in all of life but maybe hopeless in a 40 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,000 particular situation. 41 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,000 Man, there is nothing like feeling like you have no hope. 42 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:06,000 Maybe it's no hope for your marriage or maybe it's no hope for 43 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,000 that. 44 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,000 You feel like that wayward daughter or son isn't going to ever 45 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:12,000 come back around. 46 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:17,000 Maybe you feel like you have not had hope to beat that addiction 47 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:21,000 or maybe you have got a medical diagnosis or someone you love 48 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,000 got some kind of diagnosis that made it feel like they had no 49 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:26,000 hope. 50 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,000 Maybe you have, maybe like there is more month than money and you 51 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,000 feel like financially you are not in a place where no hope in 52 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,000 finding the right job or maybe thinking that anything will ever 53 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:38,000 get any better. 54 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000 It's a horrible feeling of absolute hopelessness that takes 55 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:43,000 over your mind. 56 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:48,000 There is nothing I think that can be more difficult than just 57 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,000 having that thought, being consumed without thought. 58 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,000 There is no hope. 59 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,000 I talked with people this week and I had conversations with 60 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,000 people that just said, I just don't know what to do. 61 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,000 I am at my wit's end. 62 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,000 I feel like I don't have any hope. 63 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,000 I am just afraid. 64 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 When we feel like there is no hope you can overcome with hope. 65 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,000 When we feel like there is no hope you can overcome with fear 66 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,000 and anxiety, maybe even depression. 67 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Counselors tell us that having hope is absolutely essential if 68 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,000 we are going to have any kind of quality of life. 69 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,000 We need hope. 70 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,000 Who agrees with me this morning? 71 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,000 We need hope to keep going. 72 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Hope gets us through the valleys of life. 73 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,000 Hope gets us through the stress of life and the difficulties of 74 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,000 life. 75 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Hope gives us mental and physical strength. 76 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Thank God for hope. 77 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,000 The hope that the angel refers to in Luke chapter 2, and in fact 78 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,000 I am going to read about this hope. 79 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,000 I am going to ask you to do something that is not unusual 80 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,000 for our church but maybe unusual for you. 81 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,000 I want to look at Luke chapter 2. 82 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,000 We are going to read together. 83 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:05,000 I am going to read to you Luke chapter 2 verses 8 down to 14. 84 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,000 This is not on the slide so don't worry about that, Steve. 85 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:09,000 Here is what it says. 86 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:14,000 This is right in the middle of this story after Jesus is born. 87 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,000 It says this. 88 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,000 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the 89 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:24,000 field keeping watch over their flock by night and low. 90 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:28,000 The angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord 91 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:32,000 showed round about them and the angel said unto them, and they 92 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,000 were sort of afraid and the angel said unto them, fear not, for 93 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:41,000 behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto 94 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:47,000 all people for unto you is born this day and the city of David a 95 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,000 Savior which is Christ the Lord. 96 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,000 And this shall be a sign unto you. 97 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,000 You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a 98 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:56,000 manger. 99 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,000 And suddenly there were with the angel a multitude of the 100 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:04,000 heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest 101 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:08,000 and on earth peace. 102 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,000 Goodwill toward men. 103 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,000 God bless the reading of your word. 104 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,000 Help me to say no more than what you want me to say this 105 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,000 morning. 106 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,000 I hope that today, I pray that today someone would find the hope 107 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,000 that can only be found in you and your dear son, Jesus Christ. 108 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 We love you in Jesus' name, amen. 109 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 Thank you, you may be seated. 110 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:32,000 These angels, though they didn't use the word did speak of hope. 111 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,000 Who agrees with me this morning? 112 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,000 Hope of salvation. 113 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,000 Hope of forgiveness of sins. 114 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,000 Hope of eternal life. 115 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,000 And here's what I want to tell you this morning very quickly. 116 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,000 You can have hope. 117 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:47,000 We do not have to have the fear of being left without hope. 118 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:48,000 Here's three reasons why. 119 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,000 The first reason is this. 120 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,000 There is hope for all people. 121 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,000 There is hope for all people. 122 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,000 There is real hope in God's message. 123 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000 In God's message. 124 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,000 The word angel, you know, means messenger. 125 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,000 That's what the word means. 126 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,000 Messenger. 127 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,000 Make no mistake about the fact that these angels were not 128 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,000 speaking on their own authority. 129 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,000 These guys did not come to these shepherds and tell them what 130 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,000 they were telling them because they came up with this idea. 131 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,000 They were messengers for somebody else. 132 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,000 They were messengers. 133 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,000 Point two, they were messengers too. 134 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,000 They were messengers for God, right? 135 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,000 They were coming from God to share a personal message for 136 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,000 each person addressed. 137 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:33,000 The angel that came to Zacharias, he came, it was Gabriel, he 138 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,000 came to tell about this son he would have in the foretelling 139 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,000 of the Messiah. 140 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,000 The angel that came to Joseph, he came to say, hey, don't be 141 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,000 afraid. 142 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,000 You can do, this is something God has been working on for a 143 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,000 long time. 144 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:46,000 You can marry Mary. 145 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,000 The angel that came to Mary, we're going to talk about later. 146 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,000 This angel came to her to let her know that she was having a 147 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,000 baby. 148 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,000 Today we will see the message match the messengers in a 149 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,000 unique way. 150 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,000 In verse 8 he says, look at the audience here. 151 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:04,000 And there we are in the same country, shepherds. 152 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,000 Shepherds. 153 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:09,000 Now, if you think about Zacharias, when the angel came to 154 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,000 Zacharias, he came to a priest. 155 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,000 Right? 156 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,000 Some might say, well, I think that if God showed up or if God 157 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,000 sent a message from an angel, it would be to a priest. 158 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,000 But then he sent, we know that he sent an angel to Joseph. 159 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:22,000 What was Joseph? 160 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,000 Anybody know? 161 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,000 I see some of you mouthing it. 162 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,000 He was a carpenter. 163 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,000 You know what that means? 164 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,000 He was a regular dude. 165 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,000 He was a contractor. 166 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,000 He made stuff, right? 167 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:34,000 He's just a normal guy. 168 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,000 What was Mary? 169 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,000 She was just a maiden. 170 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,000 She was a virgin. 171 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,000 She's just a young girl. 172 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,000 These are unexpected, but shepherds? 173 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:50,000 The shepherds, they're just normal, everyday people. 174 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,000 Let me ask you a question. 175 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,000 Do you guys know any heads of state? 176 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Anybody in here know any kings? 177 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,000 Do you know a senator? 178 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,000 Like a state senator, maybe. 179 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:02,000 What about our senator? 180 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Do you guys know him? 181 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Do you know a lot of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies? 182 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,000 Anybody here met the president? 183 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,000 If you did, it was just maybe a shaking of his hand. 184 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 You don't know him personally. 185 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,000 What about this? 186 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:22,000 Have you ever met someone who works in retail? 187 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,000 You ever met a waiter or a waitress? 188 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,000 Right? 189 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,000 You ever met a farmer? 190 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,000 You know any truck drivers? 191 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,000 Of course you do, right? 192 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:33,000 Of course you know those people. 193 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,000 We all have. 194 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,000 The shepherds are more like that second group. 195 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,000 They're just regular, everyday people. 196 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,000 They weren't rich. 197 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,000 They didn't have a lot of power. 198 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,000 They weren't special in some, in the way human estimation 199 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,000 values people. 200 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,000 And I believe this message matches this audience. 201 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:56,000 An angel comes with a message from God to everyday normal 202 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:57,000 people. 203 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,000 If you're an everyday person, raise your hand. 204 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,000 We're just regular people, right? 205 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,000 And God comes to them. 206 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:07,000 These are not religiously or pro-nullically connected people. 207 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,000 This isn't just a group of elites. 208 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,000 And look at what the message is that matches that audience. 209 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,000 The angel said to them, fear not for behold. 210 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:21,000 I bring you good tidings of great joy which I'll be to all 211 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,000 people. 212 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:27,000 That word good tidings is the same word by which it's a root 213 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,000 word that comes from the same word we get the word gospel. 214 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,000 You know the word, who's heard the word gospel before? 215 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,000 Gospel means good news. 216 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Who likes good news? 217 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,000 You like to get a phone call saying you got an inheritance you 218 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:41,000 didn't know about. 219 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:42,000 Who thinks that's good news? 220 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,000 Right? 221 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,000 And I said, I prayed the lottery for you and you won. 222 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,000 We would love that, right? 223 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,000 That would be really, really good news. 224 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,000 This angel isn't bringing bad news, he's bringing good news. 225 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Now when it says the heavenly host, I want you to know that the 226 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,000 host of angels sometimes are armies. 227 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,000 When an angel army shows up, you want them bringing good news, 228 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,000 not bad news. 229 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,000 And they showed up and said, hey, I got good news. 230 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:15,000 And then he says, and here's who it's to, ready? 231 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,000 All people. 232 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,000 If you're an all people, raise your hand. 233 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,000 Yeah. 234 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,000 Do you see what I'm saying? 235 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,000 The message matched the audience. 236 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:31,000 He's saying I'm showing up not to just the rich and powerful and 237 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:36,000 the connected, I'm showing up to the normal, everyday retail, 238 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,000 waitress, truck driver. 239 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Are you everybody? 240 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,000 Who's excited about that? 241 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,000 You are not excited enough. 242 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,000 This is amazing. 243 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,000 This is for all people. 244 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:53,000 Jesus, the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everybody. 245 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:59,000 Jews, Gentiles, male, female, white, black, Asian, Hispanic, 246 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,000 sinful people of every stripe. 247 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,000 Jesus came for sinners. 248 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000 People who struggle with every kind of sin. 249 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:11,000 The gospel isn't just for people who are almost righteous and 250 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,000 just need to get over the hump. 251 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,000 By the way, those people don't exist. 252 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,000 The gospel isn't just for the down and out. 253 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,000 It's also for the up and in. 254 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,000 The gospel is for everybody. 255 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000 The gospel is for everyone. 256 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,000 And while I talk about the gospel, for being all for all people, 257 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,000 the temptation of those of us hearing it is to hear that, oh, 258 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,000 yeah, the gospel is for everybody else. 259 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,000 Let me tell you, this good news of great joy that has been 260 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:42,000 brought to all people is to all people. 261 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,000 It's to you. 262 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,000 It's to me. 263 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:51,000 You can have hope today because this good news is for you. 264 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,000 Not y'all. 265 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,000 You. 266 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,000 You. 267 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,000 It is for y'all, but it's for you. 268 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,000 This message from the angel and the shepherds, these everyday 269 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,000 normal people, is that the message of the gospel, the good tidings 270 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:09,000 of great joy is for everybody. 271 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:10,000 It's for you. 272 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,000 There's hope for you. 273 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,000 There's hope for you. 274 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,000 So we see that there's hope for all people and God's message. 275 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,000 Number two, there's hope for all people and God's son. 276 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,000 This is how this is good hope. 277 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,000 Look at verse 11. 278 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,000 Here's, there's hope for all people. 279 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,000 Well, what do you mean, angel? 280 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:37,000 You are unto you is born this day in the city of David, a 281 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,000 savior, which is Christ the Lord. 282 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,000 This is the only way this is good news. 283 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,000 The only way this is good news is because of Jesus. 284 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,000 What do you mean? 285 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,000 God had promised that a king would come in the line of David 286 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:58,000 and would sit on David's throne forever. 287 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,000 And he says, unto you is born this day in the city of David, a 288 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:07,000 savior, which is Christ the Lord. 289 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,000 Now think about those three words. 290 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,000 Savior Christ Lord. 291 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,000 Savior makes me think of this. 292 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:18,000 Isaiah tells us that this one who's coming would save his 293 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:19,000 people. 294 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,000 The government would be on his shoulders. 295 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,000 Who thinks that would be good for us to have God running the 296 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,000 government, amen? 297 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,000 Some of you think it's good. 298 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Some of you don't. 299 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,000 We'll work on you. 300 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,000 The government would be on his shoulders. 301 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,000 He would bring deliverance and justice and judgment to the 302 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:38,000 world. 303 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,000 That's the Savior. 304 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:40,000 Then he's Christ. 305 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,000 This word Christ is the Greek word for Messiah. 306 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,000 This is the Messiah. 307 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,000 He's the chosen one. 308 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,000 He's the anointed one. 309 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000 And then Lord is this word Curios. 310 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,000 He's, which means the one who rules and reigns. 311 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,000 He's in charge. 312 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,000 So here's what he's saying. 313 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,000 There's this Messiah that you guys have heard of your whole life. 314 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,000 This Messiah is here. 315 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,000 And he's here to save. 316 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:04,000 And he's here to rule. 317 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,000 That's who he is. 318 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,000 Is that exciting or what? 319 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,000 Then why are you telling us we're just shepherds? 320 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,000 Because it's for everybody. 321 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:17,000 John 1.14 says, and the word, talking about Jesus, the word was 322 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,000 made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. 323 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,000 The glory is that the only begotten of the Father full of grace 324 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,000 and truth. 325 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,000 God became flesh. 326 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:30,000 Did you hear me? 327 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:35,000 God became flesh and lived among us. 328 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:40,000 He says in verse 12, and this shall be a sign unto you. 329 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,000 You shall find the... 330 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,000 Babe. 331 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,000 Wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a... 332 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,000 manger? 333 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:57,000 Now, you guys, who's seen the Charlie Brown Christmas? 334 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,000 Right? 335 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,000 Who has an activity? 336 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,000 Who's got an activity at home? 337 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Yeah. 338 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,000 You guys know this story so well. 339 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,000 You don't think of a manger the way that they thought of a manger 340 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:10,000 anymore. 341 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,000 You think of it as Christmas. 342 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:18,000 But you notice the contrast between the two verses we just read? 343 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,000 Right? 344 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:24,000 Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is 345 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,000 Christ the Lord. 346 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,000 He's the King. 347 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,000 The government's on his shoulders. 348 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:37,000 So you'll find him on a throne in a palace, ruling and reigning. 349 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,000 That's what you would expect it to say. 350 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,000 But what did he say? 351 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:47,000 You'll find this babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying 352 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:56,000 in swaddling clothes, lying in a food trough for stock animals. 353 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,000 That's weird. 354 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,000 Who thinks that's weird? 355 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,000 Yeah. 356 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Not what they would expect. 357 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:06,000 Supernatural angels coming in the light of the glory of God with a 358 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:10,000 message of hope found in the promised Messiah, Savior and Lord 359 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:19,000 giving this message to shepherds in fields, directing them to a 360 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:25,000 manger and stall where the baby could be found. 361 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,000 Kings and rulers aren't usually born in barns. 362 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,000 God does things his own way. 363 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,000 This certainly was the son of God. 364 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,000 He's a Savior of all people. 365 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,000 He's God's son. 366 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,000 And there's definitely hope in that. 367 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,000 Here's the third reason. 368 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,000 Not only is there hope for all people in God's message and in God's 369 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,000 son, but here's the best part. 370 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Like, I need this to be best because it hasn't been that great so far. 371 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,000 Okay, cool. 372 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,000 That's fine. 373 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:54,000 Here's the best part. 374 00:16:54,000 --> 00:17:01,000 There is hope for all people, point to all people in God's 375 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:02,000 intention. 376 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,000 In God's intention. 377 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:10,000 Why did God send this message of this baby? 378 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,000 Why did he send this baby, this Christ, this Lord, this Savior? 379 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:15,000 Why did he do it? 380 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,000 Well, we see it right here. 381 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,000 Verse 13. 382 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:23,000 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly 383 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:24,000 host. 384 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,000 What does it say? 385 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,000 What does it say? 386 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:32,000 Praising God and saying, read that with me, glory to God in the 387 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,000 highest. 388 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:35,000 Pause there. 389 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,000 Pause there. 390 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:40,000 Here's God's first intention for why he did this thing called 391 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,000 redemption. 392 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:46,000 He wanted to get the glory. 393 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,000 He wanted to get the glory. 394 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,000 God gets the glory. 395 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:59,000 He is something we are nothing. 396 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,000 He gets all rule and glory and honor and power. 397 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:04,000 Amen. 398 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,000 It's all about him. 399 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,000 God wanted to get the glory. 400 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:13,000 And so in doing what he did, he did it so that he could get the 401 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,000 glory. 402 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,000 And I will tell you this, God's ways are not our ways. 403 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,000 His thoughts are not our thoughts. 404 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:25,000 And as a result, this is this reflecting of this song, this 405 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,000 liturgy that they're singing glory to God in the highest. 406 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,000 And what God's intention is, his desire for his own glory. 407 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,000 But also, here's the second intention. 408 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:43,000 And on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. 409 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,000 What is God's intention in doing this? 410 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,000 That we would glorify and honor and worship him. 411 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:54,000 And that he would have peace and goodwill towards us. 412 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:59,000 You see, here's the deal. 413 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,000 Our sin makes us the enemy of God. 414 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:08,000 Our sin, my sin, made me God's enemy. 415 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:13,000 Because sin itself is a violation of the very nature of God. 416 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:19,000 Through Jesus' life's death, burial and resurrection and life, we 417 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,000 can have peace with God. 418 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:28,000 Romans 5 says this, but God commended his love towards us in 419 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:35,000 that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 420 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:40,000 Listen to this, much more than being now justified by his blood, 421 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:44,000 we shall be saved from wrath through him, through Jesus. 422 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:49,000 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the 423 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,000 death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved 424 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:58,000 by his life. 425 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,000 God sent Jesus to live a perfect life, and he never did anything 426 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,000 wrong. 427 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:05,000 He never sinned. 428 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,000 He never, he always did the right thing, and he always did the 429 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,000 right thing for the right reason. 430 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:15,000 Man, I have a hard time doing the right thing for the right reason. 431 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:16,000 Let me say that again. 432 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,000 I have a hard time doing the right thing. 433 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,000 Is anybody with me? 434 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,000 I have an even harder time doing the right thing for the right 435 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:23,000 reason. 436 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,000 I have a hard time not doing the wrong thing. 437 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,000 Is anybody with me? 438 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,000 Right? 439 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:33,000 The Bible says that because of my sin, I violate God's very 440 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,000 character. 441 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,000 But God loved me and knowing that I could not save myself. 442 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,000 He sent Jesus to live a perfect life. 443 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,000 He was born of a virgin so that he would have that sin nature. 444 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:47,000 He lived a perfect life and then he died on the cross. 445 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:53,000 God put, God the Father put God the Son to death for us. 446 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:58,000 So that he could pour his wrath for our sin on Jesus. 447 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,000 And because he did that, he can give us Jesus' righteousness. 448 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,000 Then we can have peace with God. 449 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,000 That's the most incredible thing you need. 450 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,000 And with that peace comes God's hope. 451 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,000 He wants to get along with us by forgiving our sins and helping 452 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,000 us to follow him. 453 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:16,000 What a gift. 454 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:20,000 God's intention to bring glory to himself, at least in part by 455 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,000 making peace with us, should fill us with hope. 456 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:27,000 We can have hope knowing that God's intention in sending Jesus 457 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:30,000 was to bring glory to himself and connected to bring glory with 458 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:36,000 himself, is saving us and giving us good will and peace. 459 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:37,000 What an incredible thing. 460 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,000 And so when it comes to this thing called hope, when it comes to 461 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,000 this hope that comes through Jesus, there's three kind of people 462 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,000 in this room. 463 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,000 First there are people with no hope. 464 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,000 What do I mean? 465 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,000 In Ephesians 2.12 the apostle talks about people who before 466 00:21:54,000 --> 00:22:00,000 Christ were having no hope and without God in the world. 467 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,000 These are the people who have never heard about or become 468 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:07,000 obedient to the one true and living God in his gospel. 469 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:12,000 They never believed that Jesus was the Savior, how he came into 470 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000 the world and died on the cross for their sins. 471 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,000 They are spiritually lost. 472 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,000 Jesus says they are condemned already because they have not 473 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:23,000 believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 474 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,000 That statement describes billions of people around the world. 475 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,000 That's why we give them missions and support missionaries around 476 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,000 the world. 477 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,000 We want people to go and tell people about Jesus and the hope 478 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:34,000 that's in him. 479 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,000 Amen. 480 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,000 There are people with no hope. 481 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,000 Then there's number two people with false hope. 482 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,000 These are people who have heard about the one true living God. 483 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,000 They have heard about Jesus but they have a twisted unbiblical 484 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,000 view of how to be saved. 485 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,000 They are convinced that they have to believe on Jesus but they 486 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,000 are also convinced that they have to do something in addition to 487 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,000 that in order to be saved. 488 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,000 That something could be baptism or church membership or being a 489 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,000 good person or striving to be religious. 490 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,000 In other words they don't believe that salvation is by God's 491 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,000 grace alone and faith alone in the Son of Jesus Christ alone. 492 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,000 Plus nothing and minus nothing. 493 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:19,000 They believe it's something that you have to do. 494 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:24,000 You believe plus something else. 495 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Matthew 7, Jesus calls that false hope. 496 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,000 They said in Matthew 7, 22, many will say to me in that day, Lord, 497 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,000 Lord, have we not prophesied in the name? 498 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,000 And then in that name I have cast out devils and done many 499 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:39,000 wonderful works and then I profess in the name he says, I never 500 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,000 knew you. 501 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,000 Depart from me you who work iniquity. 502 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,000 Notice that they are saying we have done this and done that. 503 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,000 They are emphasizing their belief that somehow they are going to 504 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,000 heaven based on their own human effort. 505 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,000 Can I tell you if you are going to heaven it's not because you 506 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,000 have been baptized. 507 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,000 If you are going to heaven it's not because you have taken some 508 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,000 communion or you have gone to church or taught Sunday school 509 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,000 or you have been baptized. 510 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,000 You have been baptized in heaven because you put your faith and 511 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,000 trust in Christ alone. 512 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,000 Plus nothing, minus nothing. 513 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,000 When we get to heaven we will say I have come by the way of the 514 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,000 cross, not by my own obedience. 515 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,000 If you are trusting in anything else other than Christ for your 516 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,000 salvation you have a false hope. 517 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:28,000 I will tell you why those people have that hope because they 518 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,000 have no hope because they are more inclined to seek for true 519 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,000 hope in false areas. 520 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,000 Those who have false hope think they are okay the way they are. 521 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:41,000 Proverbs 4.12 says there is a way which seems right into a man 522 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,000 but the in there of are the ways of death. 523 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,000 That leaves me to this third person. 524 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,000 People with a true hope. 525 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,000 When you believe the good tidings that this gospel of Jesus 526 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,000 Christ, that he died for your sins, that he was buried in the 527 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:01,000 rose from the dead, you have eternal hope that no one will be 528 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,000 able to take away from you. 529 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:08,000 When you put your faith in Christ Jesus as your personal 530 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,000 saver you have true hope. 531 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:14,000 Peter 3.15 says, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be 532 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,000 ready to give an answer to every man that asks if you have the 533 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,000 hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 534 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,000 What is the hope in us? 535 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:26,000 And how do we get into this better now like this and this man 536 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,000 in our lives. 537 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,000 Colossians 127 says which is in you Christ in you the hope 538 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,000 of glory. 539 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,000 Because of Christmas we don't have to be hopeless. 540 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:42,000 Because of Christ coming, being made a man living a perfect 541 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:47,000 life and dying on the cross for us. 542 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,200 He offers us salvation and we receive it. 543 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:52,500 We can have hope. 544 00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:56,100 Not because we did anything, but because he did everything. 545 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:57,100 Amen. 546 00:25:57,100 --> 00:26:01,040 That's why you can have hope. 547 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:02,980 It's hope in his message. 548 00:26:02,980 --> 00:26:03,980 Good tidings. 549 00:26:03,980 --> 00:26:05,520 Of great joy to all people. 550 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:10,460 It's hope in his son unto you is born this day in the city of 551 00:26:10,460 --> 00:26:14,020 David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 552 00:26:14,020 --> 00:26:15,900 And hope is in his intention. 553 00:26:15,900 --> 00:26:19,800 Why did God do any of it so that he would get the glory and so 554 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:24,240 that we could be at peace with him who on our own could not 555 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:25,240 have peace? 556 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,240 And here's what's amazing. 557 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,180 When we have peace with God, it translates into peace with 558 00:26:30,180 --> 00:26:31,180 others. 559 00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:35,680 Sometimes we have enemies that hate Jesus, but man, we can have 560 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,180 fellowship with those who know Christ and love him too. 561 00:26:39,180 --> 00:26:42,720 So are you someone with no hope? 562 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,000 You can have hope today. 563 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:45,100 Put your trust in Christ. 564 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:46,700 Are you someone in a false hope? 565 00:26:46,700 --> 00:26:49,400 Are you depending on something other than Jesus alone to save 566 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:50,400 you? 567 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,400 Then you actually have no hope. 568 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,940 Sometimes I think false hope is worse than no hope. 569 00:26:55,940 --> 00:26:58,080 Because you're dependent on something that ain't going to 570 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,080 save you. 571 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:03,880 Put your hope in the one and only thing that's going to get you 572 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:04,880 to heaven. 573 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:10,320 Jesus Christ, the son of David, our Savior and Lord. 574 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:11,720 Would you stand with me? 575 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:12,720 Head's about an ice close. 576 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:13,720 No one looking. 577 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:15,720 No one looking.