WEBVTT 00:00:01.290 --> 00:00:03.649 I want to remind you and let you know that he's 00:00:03.649 --> 00:00:08.210 not done yet. He's not done yet. He wants to 00:00:08.210 --> 00:00:11.669 continue to work in us, to move in us, and to 00:00:11.669 --> 00:00:14.830 reveal himself to us. God bless you. It's so 00:00:14.830 --> 00:00:16.910 good to have you in the house of the Lord today. 00:00:17.250 --> 00:00:19.890 I want to add my voice to Pastor Linders and 00:00:19.890 --> 00:00:23.690 say thank you to everybody that has served so 00:00:23.690 --> 00:00:27.809 diligently and has just done everything that 00:00:27.809 --> 00:00:33.109 there is to do around here. You know, there's 00:00:33.109 --> 00:00:37.049 room for more, huh? There's a lot of toilets 00:00:37.049 --> 00:00:39.170 that need to be cleaned. There's a lot of carpets 00:00:39.170 --> 00:00:41.369 that can be vacuumed. There's a lot of solos 00:00:41.369 --> 00:00:44.890 that need to be sung. Come on, there's room for 00:00:44.890 --> 00:00:48.710 you. There's room for you. Don't show up and 00:00:48.710 --> 00:00:51.070 just think, well, you know, everything looks 00:00:51.070 --> 00:00:53.130 so good. They've got it all together. They don't 00:00:53.130 --> 00:00:56.409 need me. We need you. The church needs you. The 00:00:56.409 --> 00:01:01.070 body of Christ needs you. So get connected, get 00:01:01.070 --> 00:01:04.540 plugged in. and let God serve you. The Bible 00:01:04.540 --> 00:01:09.519 says that where there are no oxen, the stalls 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:14.239 are clean. And that just means where much is 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:17.920 given, much is required. When things are happening, 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:21.680 when revival's happening, there can be some messes. 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:25.200 I walked around last week getting ready for these 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.239 concerts. Everybody had gone home. They were 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.239 decorating. They were setting up lights. They 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.230 were rehearsing. And I came through the sanctuary. 00:01:34.349 --> 00:01:36.890 It was late, late, well, probably early in the 00:01:36.890 --> 00:01:39.829 morning by then. And I thought, man, there's 00:01:39.829 --> 00:01:42.930 some oxen walking around in this place. This 00:01:42.930 --> 00:01:46.609 place is a mess. And then just a day or two later, 00:01:46.849 --> 00:01:49.109 we showed up for those concerts and everything 00:01:49.109 --> 00:01:53.430 looked so incredible. And keep doing what you're 00:01:53.430 --> 00:01:57.230 doing because we're seeing revival. And it takes 00:01:57.230 --> 00:01:59.769 a lot of work to have revival. Can somebody say 00:01:59.769 --> 00:02:03.569 amen? I said it takes a lot of work to have revival 00:02:03.569 --> 00:02:06.769 and so we need you and so get plugged in to what 00:02:06.769 --> 00:02:10.150 God is doing here at Heaven View and just see 00:02:10.150 --> 00:02:13.610 what God will do through you. Can somebody say 00:02:13.610 --> 00:02:18.289 amen? I want to talk to you for a few minutes 00:02:18.289 --> 00:02:23.469 today on faithfulness. Paul wrote in First Corinthians 00:02:23.469 --> 00:02:26.550 four two that it is required of stewards that 00:02:26.550 --> 00:02:33.060 they be found faithful. and I don't want to come 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:36.340 today. It's not my intention to bang you over 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:39.259 the head and beat you to death with scripture 00:02:39.259 --> 00:02:42.159 and tell you gotta be faithful and you gotta 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:45.360 do more and gotta try harder. That's not my intention 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:49.539 today. My intention is to celebrate your faithfulness. 00:02:49.849 --> 00:02:53.229 I've come today to say thank you for those that 00:02:53.229 --> 00:02:57.349 are serving and to say thank you to those that 00:02:57.349 --> 00:03:01.629 have been found faithful and to encourage you 00:03:01.629 --> 00:03:04.689 to remain faithful because I believe with all 00:03:04.689 --> 00:03:08.729 my heart, you find it all through the Bible that 00:03:08.729 --> 00:03:15.530 favor follows faithfulness. Favor follows faithfulness. 00:03:16.229 --> 00:03:18.389 And so I wanna preach to you with the help of 00:03:18.389 --> 00:03:23.449 the Lord today about shepherds and seekers. Shepherds 00:03:23.449 --> 00:03:26.150 and seekers, why don't you pray with me one more 00:03:26.150 --> 00:03:29.990 time. God, let your spirit continue to move through 00:03:29.990 --> 00:03:32.969 this house. We feel your glory and we feel your 00:03:32.969 --> 00:03:35.650 power. We feel your presence and I pray that 00:03:35.650 --> 00:03:38.710 you would reveal yourself in a greater way to 00:03:38.710 --> 00:03:43.090 us today. In Jesus' name we pray, everybody said 00:03:43.090 --> 00:03:46.740 amen. turn to somebody and give them a high five 00:03:46.740 --> 00:03:55.879 and say, stay faithful. God bless you, you may 00:03:55.879 --> 00:04:01.479 be seated. Luke chapter two, verse four, I'm 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:04.520 not going to be able to do this scripture, the 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:07.020 justice that brother Patrick Adams does it, but 00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:11.780 I will read it to you today. It says, and Joseph 00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:14.990 also went up. From Galilee out of the city of 00:04:14.990 --> 00:04:17.790 Nazareth unto Judea unto the city of David which 00:04:17.790 --> 00:04:21.569 is called Bethlehem because he was the house 00:04:21.569 --> 00:04:25.949 Of the house and the lineage of David to be taxed 00:04:25.949 --> 00:04:29.550 with Mary his espouse wife being great with child 00:04:29.550 --> 00:04:32.689 And so it was that while they were there the 00:04:32.689 --> 00:04:35.009 days were accomplished that she should be delivered 00:04:35.009 --> 00:04:38.870 And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped 00:04:38.870 --> 00:04:41.490 him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:44.920 because there was no room for them at the inn. 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.660 And there was in the same country shepherds abiding 00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:52.259 in the field, keeping watch over their flocks 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:56.060 by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:58.439 upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:02.040 about them, and they were sore afraid. And the 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:05.160 angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I 00:05:05.160 --> 00:05:08.879 bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:13.060 be to all the people. For unto you is born this 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:16.439 day in the city of David a Savior Which is Christ 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:19.740 the Lord and this shall be a sign unto you you 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:22.500 shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:27.220 lying in a manger and Suddenly there was with 00:05:27.220 --> 00:05:30.279 the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:33.819 God and saying glory to God in the highest and 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:37.949 on earth peace Goodwill toward men And it came 00:05:37.949 --> 00:05:43.550 to pass as the angels were gone away from them 00:05:43.550 --> 00:05:46.250 into the heaven, the shepherd said to one another, 00:05:46.310 --> 00:05:49.290 let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this 00:05:49.290 --> 00:05:51.870 thing which has come to pass which the Lord hath 00:05:51.870 --> 00:05:55.170 made known unto us. And they came with haste 00:05:55.170 --> 00:05:58.089 and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying 00:05:58.089 --> 00:06:00.490 in a manger. And when they had seen it, they 00:06:00.490 --> 00:06:04.069 made known abroad the sayings which was told 00:06:04.069 --> 00:06:07.569 them concerning this child. And all they that 00:06:07.569 --> 00:06:10.050 heard it wondered at those things which were 00:06:10.050 --> 00:06:12.810 told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all 00:06:12.810 --> 00:06:15.730 of these things and pondered them in her heart. 00:06:16.209 --> 00:06:19.949 And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising 00:06:19.949 --> 00:06:23.029 God for all the things that they had heard and 00:06:23.029 --> 00:06:30.250 seen as it was told unto them. On the night that 00:06:30.250 --> 00:06:35.720 changed eternity, heaven did not announce the 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:39.579 birth of the king in a palace, but it was in 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:44.839 a pasture and through a passed down prophecy. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:50.339 God chose to reveal himself not just to those 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:54.699 who were working, but also to those who were 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:59.579 searching. There were shepherds, common men doing 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:03.459 common work, faithful in the night watch. And 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:07.060 then Matthew chapter two tells us about the wise 00:07:07.060 --> 00:07:11.600 men, scholars, men of influence, seekers who 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.139 left comfort. They left status and they left 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:21.560 certainty to pursue a promise. Different backgrounds, 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:25.319 different social standings. different journeys, 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:30.699 but the same destination. Because when God robed 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:35.860 himself in flesh, everybody was invited to the 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:40.300 manger. Luke tells us that the shepherds were 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:43.459 abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their 00:07:43.459 --> 00:07:48.660 flocks by night. They were faithful in the field. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:53.160 These shepherds were faithful to their calling. 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:56.620 They were faithful to what they were supposed 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:59.959 to be doing. They weren't praying in the temple. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:03.579 They weren't attending some type of religious 00:08:03.579 --> 00:08:06.860 festival. They weren't really even expecting 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:11.620 some kind of visitation. They were simply working. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.959 Shepherding was not a glamorous duty. In fact, 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:20.279 it was probably pretty It was very dangerous. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:24.259 It was very lonely, especially in the middle 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:28.579 of the night. And as I read this again this year, 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:32.840 it seemed odd to me that the shepherds were out 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:36.720 in the field in the middle of the night. I began 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:39.779 to look into it somewhat and then I realized 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:43.850 that sometimes they had to be. somewhat of nomadic 00:08:43.850 --> 00:08:47.009 travelers. They would have to go and travel to 00:08:47.009 --> 00:08:50.750 where the grass was, travel to where the well 00:08:50.750 --> 00:08:53.750 -watered pastures were, or really just simply 00:08:53.750 --> 00:08:56.870 go find food for the sheep, and wherever that 00:08:56.870 --> 00:09:00.350 was, that's where they had to grow, or had to 00:09:00.350 --> 00:09:03.029 go, and they didn't really have the privilege 00:09:03.029 --> 00:09:07.259 of a fenced -in, protected... pasture so they 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:10.799 would have to venture out into some untamed, 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:15.019 unknown, and possibly unfriendly territory so 00:09:15.019 --> 00:09:19.059 that their sheep could be fed. They didn't have 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:21.820 the luxury of checking out. They didn't have 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:25.200 the luxury of punching a clock. And so they had 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:29.299 to remain attentive. They had to remain dedicated. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:34.000 They had to remain consistent. They had to remain 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:38.740 committed. And it was in the middle of this diligence 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:43.440 that heaven showed up. Hear me today somebody 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:47.120 while everyone else was sleeping an angel appeared 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.340 to those who were devoted an angel appeared to 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:53.100 those while everybody else was resting while 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:56.000 Everybody else had their eyes closed and and 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.820 they were just catching up They were tired here 00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:01.419 were these shepherds in the middle of the field 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:05.440 in the middle of the night and heaven found them 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.659 Faithful and heaven showed up to those who were 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:15.269 faithful and those who were diligent. God didn't 00:10:15.269 --> 00:10:19.110 interrupt the lazy. God didn't interrupt the 00:10:19.110 --> 00:10:22.950 sleeping. God didn't show up to those that were 00:10:22.950 --> 00:10:27.110 filled with complacency, but God spoke to men 00:10:27.110 --> 00:10:32.720 who were faithful where they were. This apostolic 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:36.039 truth that we preach and that we believe today, 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:40.059 it still stands. It's still true. And if you 00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:43.419 want revelation, then be faithful in your calling. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:46.639 If you want direction, then keep going where 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.279 God told you to go and keep doing what God has 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:54.389 told you to do. Continue to be faithful, continue 00:10:54.389 --> 00:10:58.009 to be diligent, and heaven will show up, and 00:10:58.009 --> 00:11:01.629 there will be revelation, and there will be outpouring, 00:11:01.889 --> 00:11:04.809 and there will be salvation, and there will be 00:11:04.809 --> 00:11:10.909 miracles. The angels didn't appear to Herod. 00:11:11.970 --> 00:11:16.889 Herod was the king, but he did not have an angelic 00:11:16.889 --> 00:11:20.710 visitation that night. They didn't appear to. 00:11:21.230 --> 00:11:25.210 the religious elite, but they appear to men who 00:11:25.210 --> 00:11:30.190 are simply faithful, simply doing their job. 00:11:32.110 --> 00:11:34.570 I've come to talk to somebody today that you 00:11:34.570 --> 00:11:37.529 may feel like that you're ready to check out 00:11:37.529 --> 00:11:40.090 because you feel like you can't find your way 00:11:40.090 --> 00:11:43.909 or. You've been working at this so long, you've 00:11:43.909 --> 00:11:47.029 been trying so hard for what seems like such 00:11:47.029 --> 00:11:50.169 a long time, and you feel like, you know what, 00:11:50.190 --> 00:11:53.049 I think I'm ready to just call it quits. I don't 00:11:53.049 --> 00:11:56.070 know if I can keep doing what I'm supposed to 00:11:56.070 --> 00:12:01.649 be doing. Maybe you don't understand why you 00:12:01.649 --> 00:12:05.230 are where you are. So you feel like, you know 00:12:05.230 --> 00:12:08.240 what? It's getting dark and I'm getting tired. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.779 I can't keep up the fight anymore. I'm out here 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:14.100 in the middle of the field. It's the middle of 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:16.200 the night. It seems like everybody else has it 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:18.620 going for them. It feels like everybody else 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:21.480 gets arrested. It feels like everybody else doesn't 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.659 have a problem. Why me, God? Why am I in the 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:27.919 field in the middle of the night? But I've come 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:31.470 to tell you today, remain diligent. Stay faithful, 00:12:31.970 --> 00:12:34.990 keep working, keep trusting because heaven is 00:12:34.990 --> 00:12:38.230 on its way. There is an angel that is going to 00:12:38.230 --> 00:12:41.929 come and speak to you and God is going to do 00:12:41.929 --> 00:12:45.529 something incredible for you. His promise is 00:12:45.529 --> 00:12:50.129 going to come to pass if you remain faithful. 00:12:51.889 --> 00:12:54.049 Just remain faithful, can somebody say amen? 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:59.740 Maybe you're here today and you find yourself 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:04.740 in unfamiliar territory. God has called you to 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:08.240 a certain thing. God has called you to a specific 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:12.460 duty. Maybe you have even committed to some things 00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:16.379 in your life and now you find yourself in uncertain 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:21.019 and unfamiliar territory. But God is coming, 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:26.600 stay faithful. I said God is coming, so stay. 00:13:26.750 --> 00:13:30.629 Maybe you've had to fight off the enemy who seems 00:13:30.629 --> 00:13:34.389 to attack you at every angle from every side 00:13:34.389 --> 00:13:38.029 and you're frustrated and you're tired and you're 00:13:38.029 --> 00:13:41.529 weak from the enemy. You've been weakened, you've 00:13:41.529 --> 00:13:44.049 been wounded from the onslaught and you think, 00:13:44.149 --> 00:13:46.429 you know what, Brother Mark, I've had enough. 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:49.960 It's the middle of the night. There's no light. 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:53.980 I feel like I'm in darkness and I'm trying to 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:57.220 do what I'm supposed to do. I'm trying to continue 00:13:57.220 --> 00:14:00.600 to be what I'm supposed to be, but I just can't 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:06.620 handle it anymore. But keep fighting. Stay faithful 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:10.830 because your promise is coming. Oh, come on, 00:14:10.830 --> 00:14:12.990 you can do better than that. Maybe this isn't 00:14:12.990 --> 00:14:15.610 for you today, but it might be for someone sitting 00:14:15.610 --> 00:14:17.830 next to you that you're gonna need to believe 00:14:17.830 --> 00:14:20.629 it and you're gonna have to celebrate that the 00:14:20.629 --> 00:14:24.850 promise is coming. I said the promise is coming. 00:14:27.690 --> 00:14:30.750 I've come to remind that shepherd that feels 00:14:30.750 --> 00:14:34.230 like giving up on their calling, giving up on 00:14:34.230 --> 00:14:37.429 what God is gonna do in your life because you're 00:14:37.429 --> 00:14:40.320 just a shepherd standing out. in the darkness, 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:43.379 but we have some incredible promises in the word 00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:48.039 of God. Isaiah wrote in chapter 50 verse 10, 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.720 who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.500 of his servant? Who walks in darkness and has 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:00.860 no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:05.340 and rely on his God. I've come to tell you today, 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:09.470 continue trusting, remain diligent. Remain faithful. 00:15:09.590 --> 00:15:12.529 It may feel like you're out in the field in the 00:15:12.529 --> 00:15:16.070 midnight hour, but God will come through David 00:15:16.070 --> 00:15:20.009 said the Lord is my light and he is my salvation 00:15:20.009 --> 00:15:25.190 Whom shall I fear? He said his word Is a lamp 00:15:25.190 --> 00:15:29.500 unto my feet and a light unto my path. The prophet 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:33.779 Micah said, though I sit in darkness, the Lord 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:37.740 shall be my light. I've come to remind somebody 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:41.759 today, you might be a shepherd out in the field 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:46.639 in the middle of the night, but Jesus will be 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:52.039 your light and his promise will come to pass. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:55.360 Why don't you put your hands together and shout 00:15:55.360 --> 00:16:09.509 if you believe it. I know it's easy to get up 00:16:09.509 --> 00:16:11.730 here and preach about it, but I've been there 00:16:11.730 --> 00:16:15.470 before. I've sat in my office with my head in 00:16:15.470 --> 00:16:17.570 my hands and I've had to whisper this over and 00:16:17.570 --> 00:16:21.529 over again until I started to believe it. Though 00:16:21.529 --> 00:16:25.450 I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:29.019 Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:31.480 light. I've sat in the hospital rooms and I've 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:33.720 had to whisper it until I started to believe 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:36.460 it. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:39.220 my light. I've looked at the bills that have 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:41.899 piled up and I've had to repeat it to myself 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:44.820 until I started to believe it. Those who walk 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:47.419 in darkness and have no light, let him trust 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:51.559 in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God. 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:57.039 I've been there. But the trick is you just can't 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:00.519 stop. You've gotta remain faithful. You've gotta 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:05.359 remain diligent because favor follows faithfulness. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:11.440 Favor follows faithfulness. I've come to tell 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:15.039 somebody today that Jesus will be revealed to 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:20.380 those that are faithful. Jesus will be revealed 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:23.740 to those that are faithful. When you leave this 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:28.140 place today, and you travel through the neighborhoods 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.700 and you see the wrapping paper and you go to 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:33.420 the mall and you see all the decorations. I don't 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:36.279 even know if the mall still decorates, probably 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:39.480 not a bunch of snowflakes and frosties and stuff 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.460 like that, but every now and then you'll get 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:45.559 a look at a manger scene. You'll see that nativity 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.519 and I want you to be reminded that Jesus will 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:54.269 be revealed to those that remain faithful. As 00:17:54.269 --> 00:17:57.069 they sing the Christmas carols, let it be a reminder 00:17:57.069 --> 00:18:01.829 to you that Jesus will be revealed to those that 00:18:01.829 --> 00:18:07.509 are faithful. So stay faithful, shepherds. Turn 00:18:07.509 --> 00:18:09.269 to your neighbor and tell them stay faithful, 00:18:09.490 --> 00:18:12.910 shepherd. Come on, look at somebody else and 00:18:12.910 --> 00:18:18.230 tell them stay faithful, shepherd. Because Jesus 00:18:18.230 --> 00:18:22.490 will be revealed. Your faithfulness is leading 00:18:22.490 --> 00:18:27.119 you. right to Jesus. I said your faithfulness 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:32.940 is leading you right to where Jesus is. Matthew 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:36.240 tells us that there were wise men that came from 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:41.700 the east following a star. These were not casual 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:47.000 observers. They were not curious tourists. They 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.640 were seekers. They were seekers. They studied, 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:55.799 they traveled. They sacrificed. I found it interesting. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.960 I'd never noticed this before or even thought 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:03.720 about it. This year as I begin to read this account 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:05.700 again, I'll be honest, I knew I had to preach 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:08.279 this week and so I started praying saying, God, 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.980 just reveal something to me about this Christmas 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:13.859 story, this message. Is there anything that I've 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.900 missed? Is there anything I haven't seen? And 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:18.019 so I read it again. We read it every year and 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:20.339 we read it with the kids, but I read it again 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:23.069 and I began to pray and. As I looked at this, 00:19:23.250 --> 00:19:26.890 I thought, I begin to realize and I begin to 00:19:26.890 --> 00:19:31.750 read some scriptural texts and what are you calling 00:19:31.750 --> 00:19:34.650 those guys that write about the commentaries? 00:19:34.849 --> 00:19:40.490 Thank you. And you'll find that tradition in 00:19:40.490 --> 00:19:44.390 historical context suggests that these wise men 00:19:44.390 --> 00:19:48.680 may have been descendants. of the magi or the 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:52.380 wise men that Daniel was placed over in Babylon 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:56.000 after that he had interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:00.720 dream. They may have been descendants of those 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:04.180 magicians, those wise men. And when you look 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:10.519 into it, Babylon is due east of Bethlehem. These 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:14.980 wise men from the east. Daniel, while in exile, 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:18.259 the Bible says that he is filled with the Spirit 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:22.559 of God and he left a legacy of revelation in 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:27.579 that foreign land. Generations later, men who 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:30.740 had inherited those writings were still watching 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:37.779 heaven for a sign. Could it be that faithfulness 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:43.819 has farther reaching effects? than what we realize. 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:48.759 Maybe my faithfulness has more to do than just 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:54.099 my pursuit of heaven. It might just be that the 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:57.980 next generation is relying on my faithfulness. 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:02.000 It might just be that my children are relying 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:06.500 on my diligence. It might just be that somebody 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:10.700 that is gonna show up to this sanctuary is relying 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:14.880 on your faithfulness so that they can find where 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.759 Jesus is. It might just be that your neighbors 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:22.880 and your coworkers and the people that you come 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:26.859 in contact with are relying on your diligence. 00:21:27.369 --> 00:21:33.390 so that they can find where Jesus is. Could it 00:21:33.390 --> 00:21:37.029 be that Daniel's faithfulness is what made his 00:21:37.029 --> 00:21:41.789 prophecies powerful? I believe it. I believe 00:21:41.789 --> 00:21:44.609 that it was his faithfulness that made those 00:21:44.609 --> 00:21:48.589 prophecies believable. Daniel could have been 00:21:48.589 --> 00:21:52.529 and would have been just another crazy guy saying 00:21:52.529 --> 00:21:55.630 all kinds of crazy things if it weren't for the 00:21:55.630 --> 00:21:59.099 fact that he was faithful. He was steadfast. 00:21:59.140 --> 00:22:02.180 He was diligent He was committed in the face 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:05.660 of the adversary and in the face of all the problems 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:08.819 and and you talk about being a stranger in a 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:11.740 strange land and yet He was committed. He was 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:14.420 faithful. He didn't give up He didn't back down 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:17.740 and so when people saw his commitment and his 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:20.559 diligence and his faithfulness They believed 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:24.019 what he had to say those prophecies they they 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:27.079 held water if you will because he was faithful 00:22:29.230 --> 00:22:33.589 Those prophecies were accepted because his faithfulness 00:22:33.589 --> 00:22:38.130 was displayed. And so those prophecies were passed 00:22:38.130 --> 00:22:42.130 down from generation to generation until finally 00:22:42.130 --> 00:22:47.670 600 years later, wise men recounting and recognizing 00:22:47.670 --> 00:22:51.990 the prophecies fulfilled, follow a star to Bethlehem 00:22:51.990 --> 00:22:58.269 and find this young child named Jesus, the Messiah. 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:04.160 If these wise men were from Babylon, it would 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:07.619 have been about an 800 to a thousand mile journey 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:11.559 over harsh desert terrain following ancient roads 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:15.859 to get to Jerusalem. You know what I noticed? 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:21.680 They didn't stop when the road got rough. They 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:24.259 didn't give up and back down when things got 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:28.920 uncomfortable. They couldn't just jump on easy 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:32.220 jet. and get a nonstop flight with a first -class 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:36.880 seat to Bethlehem. But it was a journey. There 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:41.140 were struggles. They had to be persistent. They 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:44.960 had to be diligent in their pursuit. They had 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:47.579 to be faithful and they didn't quit even though 00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:50.980 the journey was long because seekers don't quit. 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:56.339 I said seekers don't quit until they find him. 00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:00.759 Seekers of the Messiah don't give up until they 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:05.759 stand at his feet and worship him. I said shepherds 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:12.259 and seekers must remain faithful. The thing that's 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:15.859 amazing about it, the thing that I wanna celebrate 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:21.819 today is that God is a rewarder of those who 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:26.519 diligently seek him. I said I've come today to 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:31.079 celebrate. that God is a rewarder of diligence. 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:36.380 God will respond to faithfulness. If you've been 00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:39.160 trudging, if you've been fighting, if you've 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:42.579 been traveling, then keep it up because God is 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:46.240 about to reward you. God is about to send something 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:49.460 your way. There's about to be an angel that is 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:52.380 gonna bring revelation and bring his promise 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:58.380 to pass. In the name of Jesus Hebrews 11 six 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:01.259 says he that cometh to God must believe that 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:07.579 he is And then it says you may be dismissed No 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:10.640 No, it doesn't say that if you're gonna come 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:15.240 to God just believe It says and he's a rewarder 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:18.539 of them that diligently seek him it's not enough 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:21.460 to believe but you've got to seek after It's 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:23.500 not enough just to believe, let me speak to a 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:26.799 young minister here today, a young person, maybe 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.059 it's an older minister, maybe it's a lay minister 00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:32.000 that you're not so young, I don't know. But you're 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.859 wanting to do something for God and you believe 00:25:33.859 --> 00:25:36.119 that he's called you, but it's not enough, you've 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:38.519 got to seek him. You've got to work, you've got 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:40.380 to travel, you've got to study, you've got to 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:42.279 pray, you've got to fast, you've got to keep 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:46.839 going, don't give up. Well, God, you can use 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:54.210 me, here I am. We'll keep praying, keep studying, 00:25:54.930 --> 00:25:58.089 keep serving, keep finding places to plug in. 00:25:59.390 --> 00:26:04.309 Because God rewards the diligent. God rewards 00:26:04.309 --> 00:26:09.130 the faithful. It doesn't say anything about the 00:26:09.130 --> 00:26:12.809 casual seeker. It doesn't say anything about 00:26:12.809 --> 00:26:18.430 God rewarding the occasional seeker. Not the. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:22.559 the convenience seekers, but the diligent seekers, 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:27.200 like those wise men who diligently sought the 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:30.859 Christ child. I used to think that diligence 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:33.140 simply meant to work hard and to be focused, 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:36.740 but there's more to it than that. It indicates 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:42.519 a level of care or to take delight in the task 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:47.210 at hand. Let me throw this in as a... just a 00:26:47.210 --> 00:26:51.029 free Christmas present to you. You'll be more 00:26:51.029 --> 00:26:54.650 successful and more fulfilled and happier when 00:26:54.650 --> 00:26:57.390 you approach your calling with diligence than 00:26:57.390 --> 00:27:00.390 you will if you respond to it with a bitter and 00:27:00.390 --> 00:27:05.250 begrudging attitude. And that just doesn't deal 00:27:05.250 --> 00:27:07.670 with the call of God and the kingdom of God. 00:27:08.829 --> 00:27:11.710 If you go to your job and you're bitter about 00:27:11.710 --> 00:27:13.390 it and you're begrudging and you're mumbling 00:27:13.390 --> 00:27:16.049 and you're grumbling, that's not gonna help anything. 00:27:16.490 --> 00:27:19.589 But if you would go and you'd be diligent, I 00:27:19.589 --> 00:27:23.589 sound like my mom. Where are you, Sister Sharon? 00:27:23.789 --> 00:27:29.529 There she is. It's coming back. You thought I 00:27:29.529 --> 00:27:33.069 wasn't listening. I tried not to, but you pounded 00:27:33.069 --> 00:27:36.289 it in there. That belt, boy, I tell you what, 00:27:36.390 --> 00:27:38.710 it'll make you recall some stuff. Can somebody 00:27:38.710 --> 00:27:47.069 say amen? Ha ha. Yeah. But you know, there's 00:27:47.069 --> 00:27:48.789 some things in life that you're just gonna have 00:27:48.789 --> 00:27:52.089 to deal with, that if you would just figure it 00:27:52.089 --> 00:27:54.829 out and not be so bitter about it, not be so 00:27:54.829 --> 00:27:58.529 begrudging about it, then God could say, hey, 00:27:58.650 --> 00:28:01.589 look, here's somebody who's faithful. I can work 00:28:01.589 --> 00:28:05.849 with this. I can work with faithfulness. She 00:28:05.849 --> 00:28:08.150 used to always say, she'd quote it to us when 00:28:08.150 --> 00:28:10.829 we were young men, that it served my brother 00:28:10.829 --> 00:28:14.210 and I well. Ecclesiastes 9, 10, whatever your 00:28:14.210 --> 00:28:17.990 hand finds to do, do with all your might. And 00:28:17.990 --> 00:28:19.970 it stuck with me. It served me well. I can't 00:28:19.970 --> 00:28:22.910 help it. Pastor makes us park across the street. 00:28:23.789 --> 00:28:26.049 When I'm walking over here for church, I can't 00:28:26.049 --> 00:28:29.089 help myself when a piece of paper is blown into 00:28:29.089 --> 00:28:31.710 the parking lot. And I'll try, you know, the 00:28:31.710 --> 00:28:34.049 security cameras, they'll see if I walk past. 00:28:34.309 --> 00:28:37.009 So I'll try to just kind of corner eye it and 00:28:37.009 --> 00:28:39.470 act like I didn't see it. But then I hear Sister 00:28:39.470 --> 00:28:45.200 Sharon. Whatsoever your hands find it I Turn 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:48.180 around I'll pick up the piece of paper I'll come 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:51.339 into the sanctuary. We're being prayed I kind 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:53.220 of pace back and forth during prayer and that 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:56.299 piece of lint on the ground. It's just it's killing 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:59.579 me I can't touch heaven because that that piece 00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:02.859 of lint is it's just calling to me and I hear 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:06.019 sister Sharon But you know what it served me 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:08.619 well because I believe that I am where I am today 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:11.319 because God looked at a young man whose mother 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:14.859 and father taught him, be diligent, be faithful. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:18.339 And I'm not perfect and I don't have it all figured 00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:20.980 out, but I believe that God looks and says, I 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:23.680 can do something with somebody who's faithful. 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:27.799 I can work with somebody who is diligent. I can 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:32.880 reveal myself to somebody who's faithful. I can 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:39.150 reveal myself to shepherds and to seekers. Diligence 00:29:39.150 --> 00:29:42.269 and faithfulness attracts all of heaven and it 00:29:42.269 --> 00:29:46.089 leads to Jesus. The shepherds were diligent in 00:29:46.089 --> 00:29:49.109 their responsibilities. The wise men were diligent 00:29:49.109 --> 00:29:52.329 in their pursuits and God rewarded both of them. 00:29:53.009 --> 00:29:55.309 The shepherds received revelation and the wise 00:29:55.309 --> 00:29:58.269 men received confirmation. The shepherds went 00:29:58.269 --> 00:30:01.670 away praising and the wise men went away transformed. 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:05.200 I've come to tell somebody today that God does 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:08.039 not reward titles, but he rewards faithfulness. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:11.619 God doesn't reward status, but he responds to 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:14.279 diligence. If you keep watching in the field, 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:16.799 if you keep following that star, if you keep 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:19.660 praying, even though the answers seem to be delayed, 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:24.559 God will not forget your labor. This is what 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:28.400 I love about the Nativity scene, is that all 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:33.109 were welcome to the manger. This is the beauty 00:30:33.109 --> 00:30:36.589 of the incarnation. Those first visitors were 00:30:36.589 --> 00:30:39.650 shepherds, and then later the visitors were the 00:30:39.650 --> 00:30:43.269 wise men with social status, possibly even kings. 00:30:44.049 --> 00:30:47.289 Commoners and royalty, workers and scholars, 00:30:47.490 --> 00:30:51.250 the poor and the powerful, they were all kneeling 00:30:51.250 --> 00:30:56.019 at the same place. No reserved seating, no special 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:59.460 access, no hierarchy at the manger because when 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:03.119 God manifested himself in flesh, he made a declaration 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:09.259 and it was this, whosoever will may come. Whoever 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:12.079 wants to come to the manger can come to the manger. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:15.359 Whoever wants revelation can receive it. Whoever 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:18.359 wants to be saved can be saved. Whoever wants 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:21.960 more of my power, whoever wants anointing, it's 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:27.400 available to you. The shepherds had no earthly 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:31.299 goods to give to Jesus. The wise men came bearing 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:34.720 precious and costly gifts and yet they were both 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:38.119 accepted. God didn't care where they came from. 00:31:38.599 --> 00:31:42.720 Only that they came. And today the invitation 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:47.720 stays the same. If you'd stand with me. Some 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:50.420 of you here today are shepherds. You're tired, 00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:54.640 but you're faithful. You're diligent in doing 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:58.799 what God has asked you to do. Maybe even at times 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:02.400 wondering if anybody sees, but God sees you. 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:07.200 Some of you here are wise men. You're seekers, 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:09.339 you're searching, you're praying, you're studying, 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:12.700 you're longing for clarity. I've come to tell 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:15.720 you today, keep seeking. Because whether you 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:19.720 come from the field or from afar, the Savior's 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:24.140 still found where humility meets hunger. Jesus 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:28.220 is revealed where loyalty meets longing. You'll 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:31.259 find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:34.099 laying in a manger right at the spot where devotion 00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:39.380 meets desire. So be diligent in your pursuit. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:43.700 Be relentless in your calling because God is 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:47.319 still a rewarder of them that diligently seek 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:50.980 him. If you're here today and you want more of 00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:54.319 God, then as they begin to sing in just a moment, 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:57.759 we're gonna open this altar. I invite you to 00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:01.920 reach out to him because hunger always precedes 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:05.480 revelation. that hunger for more of God will 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:10.619 always precede God responding to those that are 00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:13.799 hungry. If you've been giving and you're serving 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:16.859 and you're tired, maybe a bit weary, then come 00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:20.299 to this altar and worship Him because sacrifice 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:26.960 always precedes encounter. Let me say this today, 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:30.380 there's more to God than just church attendance. 00:33:32.009 --> 00:33:36.950 Today you can experience an encounter. I said 00:33:36.950 --> 00:33:40.690 today you can experience an encounter. This altar 00:33:40.690 --> 00:33:45.450 is like our manger today. No one is turned away. 00:33:46.950 --> 00:33:49.809 This altar is open to the wealthy businessman, 00:33:49.829 --> 00:33:54.049 but it's also open to the dirty, tired, weary, 00:33:54.289 --> 00:33:58.390 worn out shepherd because Jesus is available 00:33:58.390 --> 00:34:02.480 to everybody. It doesn't matter where you're 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:06.299 coming from. It doesn't matter what you've experienced. 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:11.460 What matters today is that you come. You don't 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:15.059 have to bring anything to this manger. Just bring 00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:19.380 yourself. It's all right if you've lived a lot 00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:22.940 of life. It's okay if you've got a late start 00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:25.920 in your pursuit of Jesus. It took the wise men 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:29.420 a little while to get there too. I know we set 00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:32.519 them up there at the manger scene, but they weren't 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:34.320 there that night. It took them a little bit to 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:37.699 get there. So if you've been traveling a while, 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:41.820 it's okay. If you feel like you're a little bit 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:45.199 late in making it to Jesus, it's okay. You can 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:49.559 still come today. The exciting thing is, is when 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:53.000 you get to Jesus, He'll forgive you of all your 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:57.769 sins. When you get to Jesus, He'll baptize you 00:34:57.769 --> 00:35:02.190 in His name. The water is ready. We've got robes. 00:35:02.190 --> 00:35:04.690 You don't have to get your clothes all wet. You 00:35:04.690 --> 00:35:08.329 can be baptized in the saving name of Jesus Christ 00:35:08.329 --> 00:35:11.429 and have the stains of all of those sins washed 00:35:11.429 --> 00:35:14.210 away from your life and He'll make you a new 00:35:14.210 --> 00:35:18.210 creature today. When you come to this altar and 00:35:18.210 --> 00:35:20.769 you come to Jesus, He'll fill you with His Spirit. 00:35:21.789 --> 00:35:23.909 He was born in the manger, but He never planned 00:35:23.909 --> 00:35:26.800 to stay there. He left the manger and he went 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:29.860 to a cross so that he could live in your heart. 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:33.960 Come to this altar and let him fill you with 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:37.639 the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. As they 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:40.139 begin to sing, this altar is open. Why don't 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:43.019 you come and receive revelation? Why don't you 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:46.739 come today and receive transformation? And you'll 00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:51.099 leave this place rejoicing and praising God for 00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:55.659 everything that you have experienced. in his 00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:58.980 presence. Come on, I'm calling every shepherd. 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:03.039 I'm calling every seeker. Come to this altar. 00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:07.059 Open your heart. Lay your life down before the 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:10.039 Lord today and say, God, I know you've got a 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:13.059 promise for me. I know you've got power for me. 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:16.000 I know you've got revelation for me. I know you've 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.579 got restoration for me. In Jesus' name we pray. 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:24.920 In Jesus name we pray I'm coming to you today 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:31.179 God Thank You Jesus Thank You Jesus