WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.160 Father, we just thank you for your goodness. God, thank 2 00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:05.120 you for these wonderful children that just sang the most 3 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:08.519 amazing songs. And God, we just come together here this morning, 4 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:12.400 and more than anything, we're just filled with gratitude at 5 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:14.439 who you are, what you've done in our life, and 6 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.359 we just say thank you for the best gift ever, 7 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:20.399 the only gift we truly need, which is you, Jesus. 8 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:26.039 Thank you for your wonderful sacrifice for your life. Thank 9 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:27.839 you that you love us so much, and thank you 10 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:30.760 that you're here in this room right now in Jesus' name. 11 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.359 Amen. Amen. 12 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:38.000 Okay, So I'm gonna I'm gonna quickly mention that as 13 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.520 I was getting ready for this morning, understanding that the 14 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:44.600 theme is more related to Christmas, the Lord reminded me 15 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:48.359 of the very first Christmas gift that I ever received. 16 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:51.719 And so I'm gonna share you, share with you the story, 17 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:53.280 and I hope that you'll be blessed. 18 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:55.159 And I think that by the time we're done here, 19 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:57.799 God's just gonna touch our hearts in. 20 00:00:57.880 --> 00:00:58.840 Very unique ways. 21 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:04.799 When I was about five years old, I had several 22 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:07.519 siblings and I still have these siblings, most of them. 23 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:10.680 What happened was my. 24 00:01:10.760 --> 00:01:14.760 Parents gave us the green light to go to the 25 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:18.599 corner store and buy some some kind of dessert or 26 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:20.680 some kind of candy, or it was a donut. 27 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:22.239 I don't remember the specifics. 28 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:24.599 I think it was a donut there that we all 29 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:28.040 really wanted. And they said, you guys can go, but 30 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:30.319 you guys have to go together. Now, I come from 31 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.519 a family of twenty five. I'm kidding, we only have ten. 32 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.599 It's not that much really, but I'm the youngest of 33 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:41.760 these ten. And so they sent myself, my brother who 34 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.560 was two years older than me, and my sister who 35 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:47.680 was two years older than him. So I was about five, 36 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:51.280 my brother was about eight, and my sister she was ten. 37 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:54.879 And so when they said you can go, that was 38 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:57.599 a presentent and of itself were like, let's go. 39 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:01.359 And so they just they booked it. They they ran, I. 40 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:04.840 Should I should let you all know that we just 41 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:08.319 came to America, probably two years before this moment, so 42 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:10.280 we're like fresh off the boat. 43 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:13.400 If you don't know what that means, that means we 44 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.960 just came to America. That's all I can say. We 45 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:16.759 just got here. 46 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:20.280 We don't know much except everything grows on trees. Like 47 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:23.599 money grows on trees. Everything is fabulous here. You want food, 48 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:25.479 you go to the food bank. You don't have to 49 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:29.639 starve this winter. That's what we understood. And so we're 50 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:33.080 going where. They book it out of the door, and they're. 51 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:33.800 Faster than I am. 52 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:35.520 You can imagine five year old, eight year old and 53 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.080 ten year old, those two rascals, they're gonna go much 54 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.199 faster than this five year old, and so. 55 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.439 They book it. They get to their little bikes and 56 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:43.599 they're much faster. 57 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:46.599 Not only on feet, but on the bikes too, And 58 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.000 so by the time I get to my bike, they're 59 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.719 already almost at the street with their bike. And so 60 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:58.919 I'm like, wait, guys, wait for me. But in Russia, 61 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.240 and I'm like wait please. Because I was five, I 62 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.840 don't even know English at that point. 63 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:05.120 And so. 64 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:10.639 I get to my bike and out of this terrifying 65 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:13.039 feeling like I'm gonna be left behind, like Jesus is 66 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:15.080 gonna come and I'm gonna be alone, you know that feeling, 67 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.560 Like that's the feeling I had. I don't know why 68 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:20.240 you can remember certain details when you're younger. 69 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:22.120 Some of you know what I'm talking about, Like. 70 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.520 There's things you remember that you don't know everything around it, 71 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:27.240 but you remember certain things. I remember thinking like, oh, 72 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:31.479 they're leaving me behind. I feel so abandoned. Nobody cares 73 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:34.680 about me. That's the feeling I had, Like they're gonna 74 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:36.360 eat all the donuts before I even get there. 75 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:37.520 Like that kind of feeling. 76 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:40.039 And so I get on my bike and I'm going 77 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:43.159 as fast as I can. Boy, I remember that feeling 78 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:45.319 like you're gonna give it your all. And so I 79 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:47.560 get on my bike and I'm riding. And before I 80 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.080 get to that street, it's a health Orn Street and Tacoma. 81 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:52.680 Anybody know Hewthorn Street and Tacoma. We got several of 82 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:55.199 you that do. It's a health Oorn Street in Tacoma. 83 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:58.479 And I'm it's not a big street, like there's no 84 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.599 through traffic really there. It's a street with houses on 85 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:04.080 both ends. And if two cars are going one way, 86 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:06.199 one's gonna have to go to the side. You know. 87 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:08.080 It's a small street. It's a safe street. 88 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:10.240 So I get on my bike and before I'm five 89 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:12.479 years old. But God gave me enough wisdom. When I'm five, 90 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:15.560 I'm gonna look behind me. And so when I get 91 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:17.839 onto the street, I look behind make sure I'm not 92 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:21.120 gonna get ran over by no cars. And I get 93 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:23.040 on this street and I'm riding my bike and I 94 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:24.680 look behind make sure nobody's there. 95 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:26.959 I actually, if I remember. 96 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:30.199 You know, memories kind of spotty these days, if I 97 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.560 remember correct, I checked twice like I was riding, and 98 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.959 then I look back again to make sure that nobody's there. 99 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:41.639 By this point, my my two little siblings were at 100 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:43.800 the end of the street, already by the corner store, 101 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:46.600 and I'm just in the beginning, and I feel like, 102 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.800 oh boy, I'm gonna catch up to them. And I 103 00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.199 probably felt like I'm gonna give him my knuckles or something. 104 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:54.639 I don't know what I felt. But as I'm riding 105 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:58.920 this bike, the next thing I can remember is a 106 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:01.879 certain sound and he goes er. 107 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:09.519 Boom. This big O'SUV hits me. 108 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:14.439 And I don't know how long I was unconscious for, 109 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:17.759 but I know that this guy was hold cradling me 110 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:22.839 in his arms. I was terrified that my whole body 111 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:27.560 was in shock. I was so confused all this stuff. 112 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.439 And seconds later I look in the fire departments on 113 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.800 the street too, like I don't know how long you 114 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:36.040 could be laying there by the time it's called in 115 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:38.319 I don't even know if they had cell phones back then. 116 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.800 This is almost like thirty years ago, and so I 117 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:45.199 don't know what it was. But firemen came and I thought, 118 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:48.399 boy boy, they're gonna take me from my family. That's 119 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:50.560 one thing we were afraid of, that the government's gonna 120 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:51.279 take your kids. 121 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:52.079 I don't know why. 122 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:54.160 Maybe it's where they came from, or maybe they didn't 123 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:56.680 know anything about the laws here. They're like, don't do 124 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:59.879 anything wrong. Maybe they'd said that to keep us disciplined. 125 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:02.680 That's probably what it is. 126 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:05.839 I just gotta revel ay I'll I'm calling her right now, 127 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:06.639 where's my pault. 128 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:08.839 That's probably what it was. 129 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.439 So they're like, don't don't do anything, don't go anywhere, 130 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:14.680 don't say anything, because they're gonna take you from us. 131 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:17.519 So you live in constant fear that it's what you do. 132 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.160 And so they're holding me. The fireman's coming. I don't 133 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:23.600 know what they're saying. I'm trying to break out of 134 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:25.399 their arms and I can't break out, and they see 135 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:27.639 I'm trying to go somewhere, so they let me leap 136 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.000 them to the house, and. 137 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.079 My parents like, oh my god, what's going on? What 138 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.040 did he do? Whose house did he burn down? 139 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:36.000 You know, like they probably think of that, but then 140 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:37.639 they found out I got hit by a car and 141 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:40.759 all that stuff. I don't remember much after that moment 142 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:46.920 until Christmas time. Okay, several months after that, we come 143 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:50.000 to the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas, and 144 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:52.959 there's a noteck at the door, and this man that 145 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:57.000 hit me is at the door and in his hands 146 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.240 is a wonderful gift similar. 147 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:04.800 Size to this, and he said this is for little. 148 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:09.720 Roman, and boy, oh boy, that feeling you have when 149 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:14.759 somebody gives you a gift and it's like unexpected, but 150 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:17.000 it's a gift and it's for you, especially as a 151 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:20.800 little boy. I remember it and it meant something to me, 152 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:22.319 and I'm like, this. 153 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:23.879 Is for me. 154 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:28.319 Me. When you're the youngest of more than three, you 155 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:32.680 understand everything you have was passed down to you. When 156 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.560 you're the youngest of ten, there's something that your old 157 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:36.879 oldest sibling. 158 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:37.800 Had that you still. 159 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:43.079 You know you anyway, So when something is given just 160 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:48.360 for you, oh that feeling. Oh, it felt so good. 161 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.959 And as I was opening it, lo and be old. 162 00:07:52.040 --> 00:08:00.160 It was a helmet. Oh, man, if I know now now, 163 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:03.639 if I knew then what I know now, boy, he 164 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:07.439 would have been still getting sued. And I'm kidding, O, 165 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:12.759 kiddy as a boy, this helmet was the most beautiful 166 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:15.959 thing I've ever seen because it was mine, and it 167 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.480 also had a lot. 168 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:22.639 Of meaning for me. You see, the deeper the meaning, 169 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.360 the greater. 170 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.319 The gift, the greater the value of the gift, the 171 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:33.360 deeper something like a helmet means to a kid like I. 172 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:38.639 At that time, its value for me was probably. 173 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:42.879 That moment infinite, Like if my brother tried to take 174 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:45.200 my helmet, he would get a beating and. 175 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:48.000 Iron care if I was half his size. You know 176 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:48.639 what I'm saying. 177 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:53.279 It just meant everything to me because it was my gift. 178 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:58.200 And so I've come to realize in the ecosystem of 179 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:04.399 gift giving, it's not necessarily as much about the giver 180 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:08.600 than it is about the receiver. So the way I 181 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:12.559 like to give gifts, I'm thinking, like, for example, we 182 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:16.039 did a Secretsanda with my wife's family and on my babe. 183 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:17.000 We know our budget. 184 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:20.240 It's very simple for that budget, you go get three 185 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:22.240 Amazon gift cards, give it to them. 186 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:25.200 They'll be happy. That's all they need. 187 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:30.679 She goes, no, we're not doing that, because that's something 188 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:33.039 that you would like. 189 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.679 But when you give a. 190 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:41.480 Gift to someone, what do you have to do? You 191 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:45.679 have to think about what they might like. And it 192 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:48.000 seems like she has to coach me on this every 193 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:54.840 year because I forget. And when you're giving, the value 194 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:59.759 system more relies on the one who is receiving than 195 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.919 the one who is giving. 196 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:03.679 For when you give a gift, it is no longer 197 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.279 yours and a gift. 198 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:08.279 If you think about a gift in and of itself, 199 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:12.639 it is something that you don't have. 200 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:14.919 To give, you can give. 201 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.600 And sometimes we forget that in this season, we feel 202 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:22.240 like we're obligated to or it's a necessity, or it's 203 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:26.120 become a tradition, or it's now for a lot of us, 204 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:30.879 become a religion. But the truth is it's not a necessity, 205 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:34.519 it's not a requirement, it's not even a tradition. It's 206 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:37.440 a privilege that you and I get to partake in. 207 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.960 But when we give the gift, there's a transaction that happens, 208 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:49.720 and gifts I must remind you they are free. You 209 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.759 don't have to do anything. 210 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:54.120 To receive gifts. 211 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:59.399 So if you give a gift with the expectation of 212 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:04.159 receiving a gift, you've created a religion and that's not 213 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:08.039 a true spirit of giving. You can walk out of 214 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:11.320 those words. That's enough, praise the Lord. But I'm telling you, 215 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.039 when you give, don't expect back. If you get it, 216 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.679 praise the Lord. It's even better. Great, Thank you God. 217 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.879 But here's the beauty that happens when you give. You 218 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:25.159 partake in something that is related to the Kingdom of Heaven. 219 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.320 And let's get into it. 220 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:31.320 Okay, all right, So I'm gonna quickly jump into some things. 221 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.360 I asked my wife yesterday. Sorry, babe, I'm bringing you 222 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:36.919 up a lot. I was like, Babe, you know what 223 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:42.320 Christmas means. She's like, Babe, it's so simple. It's Christ's moss, 224 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:45.320 like more of Christ's moss. And Spanish is more so, 225 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:49.879 more of christ christ moss. And I'm like, I realized 226 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:52.200 in that moment that I married a Latina girl wrapped 227 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:55.320 in Moldovian's skin. I'm telling you she likes She like 228 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:58.639 Mexican food, she likes all the Aspetic culture. I ask her, 229 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.159 you want boy, She's like, no, I don't want any 230 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.720 of that Slavic food. Give me some tacos. I want 231 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:05.879 some tacos right now. I'm like, yeh, that's my girl. 232 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:06.679 I love it. 233 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:10.480 So Christmas is a very interesting thing because Christmas is 234 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:14.480 made up of two words. Everybody say Christ and then 235 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:20.200 say Mass. That word mass. We read it as Christ 236 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.600 and an m as, but it actually has another letter. 237 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:25.360 It's a double s there. It's the word mass. 238 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:27.720 And if you have Catholic roots you might understand this 239 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:28.600 a little bit more. 240 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:31.279 But it's Christ's Mass. 241 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:34.159 And there's certain things that transpire when you go to 242 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.000 a Mass, and there's prayer, there's reading a scripture, there's 243 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:41.080 explanation of that. But the whole point of a Mass 244 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:43.559 is get to a certain point where there is a 245 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:48.879 gift given. And it's not a traditional way of how 246 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.799 we sense, like you give one person the gift, they 247 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.600 give you another gift. 248 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:52.039 No. 249 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:56.519 At Mass, what happens is the people in the congregation 250 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:01.120 receive a gift from the Lord. And you know what 251 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:07.039 it is, communion. It's the bread and it's the wine, 252 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:12.360 it's the body and the blood of Jesus. At Mass, 253 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:16.440 you receive the gift from heaven and it's the broken 254 00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:20.159 body and the spilt blood of Jesus' sacrifice that is. 255 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.960 The pinnacle of the gathering. 256 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:30.120 So when you say Marry Christmas, you know what you're saying. 257 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:35.759 I wish you a joyful time experiencing the anointed One 258 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:39.720 and the sacrifice of his blood and body that was 259 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:44.000 spent for you. Every time you say Merry Christmas, say 260 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:48.720 merry Christmas. Boy oh boy, you can say Merry Christmas 261 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:52.639 every day and it makes sense. Every day you'll be able, 262 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:55.159 like when it comes to Easter, here is a happy 263 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.320 Eastern Merry Christmas. 264 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:59.559 Merry Christmas, because that's what it means. 265 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.080 People like in the world don't realize everything they're declaring 266 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.919 every time you declare Merry Christmas. Like, even if you 267 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:08.799 don't believe in Jesus, what you're saying is may the 268 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:13.919 body and the blood of the Lamb be enthroned. 269 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:15.480 In your life. 270 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:20.000 You know, when you receive communion the body and the blood, 271 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:27.200 you're coming into union with Him. So when you say 272 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:32.200 marry christ Union, you're declaring salvation. 273 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.519 Every time you say it. 274 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:38.039 Boy oh boy, I know we didn't expect an Eastern 275 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:41.799 story here on Christmas morning, but I got some news 276 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:44.799 for you. Let's go to Philippians. This is so good 277 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.519 Philippians two, verse six. 278 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:51.919 That's right here. This is talking about Jesus. 279 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:56.240 Though he was God, he did not think of equality 280 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.960 with God as something to cling to. 281 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.759 Instead, he gave up his. 282 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:08.600 Divine privileges divine meaning God privileges, his godlikeness. He gave 283 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:14.840 that up why and he took the humble position of 284 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:23.519 a slave and was born as a human being. Jesus 285 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:30.960 gave up his divinity, his godlikeness, and enslaved himself into 286 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:39.679 the limitations of humanity. Some I ask, but why would 287 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:42.919 God even need to do that? Why wouldn't he just come, 288 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:45.679 rip the skylight open and say, the King is here, 289 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:49.000 all worship and bow me, bow down to me. 290 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:54.879 Why? Oh boy, oh boy. 291 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.639 You see, God in and of himself could not die. 292 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:03.320 God like God cannot die. Do you understand this principle? 293 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:08.639 Like if you're an eternal creature, you cannot die. So 294 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:14.639 Jesus enslaved himself in a flesh that can die. 295 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.279 This is the Christmas story. 296 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:24.159 Jesus gave up his divine privilege of being God and 297 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:28.120 immortal and came down to be born of a virgin 298 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:34.360 to enslave himself in yours and my limitations. 299 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.480 It goes on to say why. 300 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:43.200 When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in 301 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:47.279 obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. 302 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:53.159 Therefore God elevated him to that place of highest honor 303 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.399 and gave him a name above all names, that in 304 00:16:56.440 --> 00:17:00.600 the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow in heaven, 305 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:04.559 on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare 306 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.599 that Christ is Lord. 307 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:11.559 Merry Christmas. That's such a declaring for the glory of 308 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.440 God the Father. This is phenomenal. As a matter of fact. 309 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:19.160 Let's go quickly to Luke the first the first declaration 310 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:25.799 of the coming of Jesus, the very first announcement came 311 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.640 from an angel to the people, and it was to 312 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:34.279 a certain group of shepherds. And shepherds were considered kind 313 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:37.519 of lowly at the time. They were like like, they 314 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:40.559 were kind of like the servants of most people, right, 315 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.759 And the angel shows up to the lowest place and 316 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:50.519 declares to these people. When the angel showed up, the 317 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:54.960 glory of God appeared. And these shepherds were terrified and 318 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:59.599 watch this, But the angel reassured them, saying, don't be afraid. 319 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:04.440 I bring you good news that will bring great joy 320 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:10.279 to all the people. It's good tidings of great joy, 321 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.640 good tidings of great joy. Say that with me, Good 322 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:24.680 tidings of great joy. Next verse, the Savior, Yes, the Messiah, 323 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:30.119 the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city 324 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:34.839 of David. This messed me up when I was looking 325 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:36.359 into this. This is so good. 326 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.000 The Angel just declared some about Jesus. 327 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:49.279 Angel said the Savior, the Lord, the Messiah. It just 328 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:53.480 categorized Jesus in three ways. So when he says the Lord, 329 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:59.079 say the Lord, the angel is talking about his kingship 330 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:05.039 in heaven, Heaven's King, the Lord, Heaven's King. When the 331 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:09.559 Angel says the Messiah, that means the coming one, the 332 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:12.960 promised one, the anointed one, the one who. 333 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:15.359 Was to come, the one we've been waiting for. 334 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:19.039 So when he's saying Heaven's King, he's saying the coming 335 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:23.519 one has come. And when he says the Savior, he's 336 00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:27.720 referencing his death. Wow. 337 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:34.359 He's saying, listen very carefully, this news is so good. 338 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:39.799 The whole world's going to rejoice. Heaven's King has come 339 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:49.200 to die. Wow, Merry Christmas. That's what you're saying. 340 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:57.759 Let's go a little bit deeper, say deeper, what did 341 00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:03.160 the What were the three gifts those wise men brought Frankinson's, 342 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:05.720 gold and murr. 343 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:11.359 Get ready, gold. 344 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:22.720 Represents kings and Heaven's king frankinsense somebody say frankinsonse. It's 345 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:26.319 a very unique word. But it's a sweet fragrance. It's 346 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:32.119 a sweet aroma, even used in the temple. It represents 347 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:39.400 his Messiah, the anointed One, his life, his coming. And 348 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:50.400 Murr somebody say murr primarily used for embalming. I can 349 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:54.440 imagine being that wise man who's bringing Murr to a 350 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:59.119 birth and thinking, I have no idea what in the 351 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:02.000 world I'm doing, And this is the dumbest gift I. 352 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:04.039 Could have thought about. But I know I have to 353 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.519 bring this. I don't know why. I don't know why. 354 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:07.319 I'm following the star that keeps moving, but I know 355 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:12.839 I'm coming with murder. But they bring gold, Frankinson's and 356 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:18.400 murder representing the Heaven's King coming into earth to die 357 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:25.599 for us. Man, oh man, that's the Christmas story that's 358 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:39.640 so beautiful. Jesus is Heaven's gift to us for God 359 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:45.359 so loved the world that he I'm just say that again, 360 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:55.519 for God so loved the world that he gave, And 361 00:21:55.559 --> 00:22:02.200 I find it fascinating, fascinating that after that part of 362 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:06.000 the scripture in John three point sixteen, he then goes 363 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:16.000 set and says, for who soever shall believe, will not perish, 364 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:21.599 but have life everlasting. He's saying, like, I love you 365 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:27.799 infinitely enough to crush my son for you. 366 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:36.920 But the ball is in your court that whosoever would 367 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:39.119 believe and receive. 368 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:46.799 Like this right here represents a gift. And when Jesus 369 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:51.200 was walking on this earth towards the end, towards the 370 00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:53.400 end when he would take on the title of Savior 371 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:55.960 and die and be raised from the dead, he was 372 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:58.359 speaking plain with his disciples and he says, I'm going 373 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:01.119 to a place you can't really follow me, but don't worry, 374 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:03.519 because I won't leave you as orphans. As a matter 375 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:08.319 of fact, it's better that I go, because if I go, 376 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:11.240 then I could send the one who's your advocate, the 377 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.400 Holy Spirit that will be with you. 378 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:14.359 It's actually his spirit in us. 379 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:17.599 It's better that the Jesus, who is stationary in one 380 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:20.839 place out of time on this earth, would go to heaven. 381 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.680 So that he could. 382 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:26.039 Excuse me so that he could send his spirit down 383 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:26.920 to earth. 384 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.039 That could be everywhere at all times. 385 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:33.519 It's better that he goes so that the gift can 386 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:39.599 be sent. And so we have this gift right here. 387 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.759 He's called the Holy Spirit. 388 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:46.319 And it's amazing that when God said whosoever shall believe, 389 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:52.559 he's referencing your value system. He's asking each and every 390 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:56.279 single one of us in this room, how much will 391 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:58.920 you value what I've given you. 392 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:01.839 Some of us take this gift. There's nothing in it 393 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:04.519 right now. Just in case some of you are wondering. 394 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:07.680 Let's say we receive this gift from the Lord and 395 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:12.200 we're like, ooh, boil boy. Oh, I'll take that eternal salvation. 396 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:16.359 That's the gift I will receive. I'm really happy with 397 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:20.079 this gift. I'm gonna take it. Don't touch my mood, 398 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:29.200 don't touch my addictions, don't touch my temper, don't touch 399 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:36.119 my selfishness. But I'll take this salvation. That's the value 400 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:39.039 that we have. But some of us are like, oh boy, 401 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:41.079