SM131215/The Greatest Story Ever Told

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partners, please visit us online@harvest.org. Let's grab our Bibles and turn to Luke chapter 2 the title of my messages. The greatest story ever told. I read an article in the paper about a study that was done, a scientific survey on who is the most important and influential person in all of human history none not just talking about contemporary history I'm talking about all of human history. A list of 10 names were the result of this study and you want to know who the number one person is in all of human history. That's right, uncle side from Duck Dynasty. You know I was as surprised as you are no seriously, that's a joke. The number-one person the most influential person in all of human history. According to this bowl was Jesus Christ. Well, that makes sense, doesn't it. Actually, I did not be the bullet tell me that it simply stating the obvious. You know it wasn't that long ago that John Lennon was famously quoted as saying the Beatles were more popular than Jesus right dear John, who's more popular now.

Yes, Jesus Christ remains the most influential person in all of human history, but we had was a question. Why, what is it about Jesus that so fascinates and mystifies people be without question. He was the most extraordinary, influential, and yes, even revolutionary individual to strike the stage of human history. I mean think about it, more books have been written about Jesus and any man who was ever lip or music composed about Christ and any person who has ever lived more drama written about Jesus and any other person who is ever existed.

Why is this why does one man occupy such a unique and unforgettable plays in human history.

I mean the memories of so many other great men and women come and go, but Christ remains as the most influential all by the way the other names on this survey were number two Napoleon Bonaparte. I was surprised by that. Seriously, the second most influential person in all of human history. Napoleon Bonaparte then number three was William Shakespeare. Number four the prophet Mohammed number five Abraham Lincoln number six George Washington number seven Adolf Hitler number eight Aristotle number nine Alexander the great in number 10 the Kardashian family. I made that up. Number 10 was Thomas Jefferson, but none of these people as significant as they were even hold a candle to Jesus Christ. Why is this because Jesus is not merely a good man. He was not merely a great man. He was not even the greatest man Jesus Christ and he alone is the God man and that is why he stands apart from all others. And that's what were looking at in this new series that were calling God came near, were taking a look at the life of Christ from all four Gospels Matthew Mark Luke and John. So now were at the beginning because Maria reminds us we should start at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start. So we begin with the Christmas story as presented in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

So let's start with a question. When did Jesus Christ come what we pinpointed around 2013 years ago, but here's a broader answer. When did Jesus Christ come at the appointed time at the perfect time. Galatians 4 forces when the time is just right, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, subject to the law, to redeem those that are under the law, that they might receive the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father, at just the right time.

By the way things are very dark in Israel's history. At this moment almost as difficult as their bondage under Pharaoh in Egypt they were living under the tyranny of Rome in this public governor.

That will talk about more in our next message and make matters worse. It's really not heard from God for 400 years 400 years without a single prophet appearing on the sea 400 years without a single angelic appearance 400 years without a single miracle absolutely nothing and then the silence was broken as a chain of events were now set in the motion with the appearance of the angel Gabriel to a country priest in the temple bringing the sacrifices for the people's name was Zacharias. He was an elderly man. He was married to Elizabeth and Gabriel revealed that he was going to be the father of his son by the way, that's would Zacharias have been praying for for years and now God was in the answer is prayer but he was getting answer and abundantly above and beyond that which Zacharias and Elizabeth could've ever imagined. God was not going to just give them a son. In answer to their prayers, but the sun was going to be a prophet, and he wasn't just going to be a prophet. He was going to be the prophet of profits he was going to be the greatest prophet whoever lived according to Christ himself. They were going to be the parents of John the Baptist. So the forerunner was close, that meant the Messiah was on his way. You know the Christmas story does not begin with the phrase. Once upon a time it begins with a lot of begat so-and-so began so-and-so the Christmas story starts with a family tree. Why is it will to the Jews. Genealogies are very important for a Jewish person. The genealogy was not unlike your resume. It was your family pedigree with the reason that the genealogy or the family tree of Christ is presented in two Gospels is because God wants us to know that he went back to David, because Scripture said the Messiah would be of the root and the offspring of David, someone genealogy traces Jesus back to the line of Mary the other genealogy traces Jesus back the line of Joseph though tells of is not the biological father of Christ. He was merely the stepfather or earthly father figure they would go back to be taxes will see in a moment of the place of the father not the mother. So Jesus connected to both bloodlines back to David in this story, though it is written beautifully and poetically by Dr. Luke has all the pageantry and pathos and magic if you will, of the best fairytales we have shepherds bowing, Wiseman worshiping angels singing in a brilliant start yet it's a real story so it starts in every technical way. The story of the birth of Jesus begins in heaven, and it unfolds honor, so Gabriel is already appeared to Zacharias and Elizabeth and told him John will be there son now comes to Mary Mary, a young peasant girl living in the middle of nowhere in a town called Nazareth, a town that was renowned for its wickedness. Mary was a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere, but yet she lived a godly life in heaven took notice that she was told that she would be a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. She would be the mother of the Messiah of Israel. Gabriel says to her look 128 greetings beaver woman. The Lord is with you, confuse and disturb. Mary tried to think with the angel can mean and the angel said don't be frightened, for God has decided to bless you, Mary obey, as did Joseph and you know what she didn't have to.

She could have said, Lord, I don't want this mission, because you know she had to suffer for this great privilege it was saving who said in the temple and Mary and Joseph dedicated the young baby Jesus of sword will appear sure own soul speaking to Mary how to sword peers are so well for starters, she had to live the rest of her life under the suspicion that she was in a moral woman. It was said that she conceived Christ out of wedlock and of course the irony is, she was a very moral and very pure girl and then later on in life as Jesus sort of pulled away from her and what about his public ministry. The sword peers a little deeper, but it appears the deepest when she stood at the foot of the cross and saw heard dear boy that she loved and nurtured and raised hanging there.

A bloodied colt hardly even recognizable. So she accepted this call in this mission, as did Joseph.

You can be sure when he showed up at the worksite.

Don't forget he was a carpenter so all of his buddies. Hey guys, because what Mary's pregnant but I'm not the father but it was supernaturally done. Their outstanding yeah right Joseph, that's exactly what was happening. They accepted the mission Mary and Joseph to bring Jesus into this world.

And so now we fast-forward in the story Mary is nine months pregnant and God needs to get them to Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy. So were reading Luke chapter 2 starting in verse one came to pass in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. This sentence took place when inquiry radius was governing Syria.

Saul went to be registered. Everyone to his own city. Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Beth again because he was of the house and lineage of David. You may recall that Bethlehem was the boyhood town of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child, and so it was while they were there, the days are completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the. There very familiar words. We've all read the story many times but I want you to note that Dr. Luke is very meticulous in his reporting those gospel is written with a certain poetic flare. Luke was a stickler for the facts.

Remember Luke was not an eyewitness of the life of Jesus, as were Matthew and John. He was a physician who came to faith from a non-Jewish background. He carefully research a story and add first-person interviews with the principal characters. It was Luke's desire to bring historical and accurate record of the life of Jesus. He wanted it to be understandable to those outside of the Jewish culture were Matthew primarily wrote to a Jewish mindset showing how Jesus was the Messiah fulfilling so many Old Testament prophecies. Luke is different. He's looking at it in an altogether different way and he wants us to know these events actually took place. This is not a fairytale or a legend. This happened in real time devoted Luke chapter 1 verse three. I myself of carefully investigated everything from the beginning it seemed good to me to write an orderly account for you. Those words were written to a man named Theophilus that sponsored this project of loops that we've all benefited from.

I want you to see how Luke pinpoints is a bed in time. In verses two and three. He mentions Augustus inquiring is Caesar Augustus inquiry radius now. Historically, we know that Caesar Augustus was the first real Roman Emperor. His actual name was Caius Octavius.

He was the great nephew of Julius Caesar. He fought his way to the top, defeating both Anthony and Cleopatra, the Roman Republic governed primarily by the Senate, was now a thing of the past and all the Roman empire was emerging and it would be ruled by the Emperor. From this point on and thus Caius Octavius gave himself a fancy new name. He was a Caesar. That was his role but he adds a word Augustus Caesar Augustus or Augustus Caesar in the word Augustus means of the gods are to be revered. Caesar and justice.

Caius Octavius was the first Caesar to declare himself a deity in the first Caesar to demand worship from his subjects. Archaeologists have uncovered this inscription about Cesar Augustine's quote Jesus Savior of the whole world. So with this in mind, consider the message of the angels in Luke chapter 2 again unto you, there is born in this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be the sign you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling claws lying in the manger so effectively. The angel is saying Augustus is not the Savior of the world.

Jesus is by the way, he's a Savior of the whole world so we could restate it this way in a time when men wanted to be God. God became a man we find our Savior, not as a monarch draped in Golden so the baby wrapped in racks. So in reality the story of Jesus is not a rags to riches story. It's as riches to rags story it's leaving the glory of heaven for this planet.

He went from being a sovereign to a servant from the glory of God to a stable, filled with animals, I mean think about what Jesus love to come to us. Meanwhile, here's Caesar thinking he's in charge. He so powerful and you know what kings and queens and prime ministers and presidents in Caesar's and dictators come and go on the world stage, but we need to remember the simple thing. God is in control.

I don't care who is in office, God is in control and Proverbs 21 one, says the king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord. You guide to whatever he pleases. So Caesar, he was just upon in the hand of God Almighty historian Stella said this Caesar was around 5'7" tall by the way, that's about the height of Tom Cruise so the Lord touches little man who is big in his own mind though Caesar to establish something called Pax Romana which was the forced rule of Rome and all of his subjects. God directed him to accomplish his purposes know it's an amazing thing to consider that inquiry radius, and Caesar Augustus thought they were hot stuff, but now who even remembers that you would not even know the name Caesar Augustus it were not for Luke's narrative. The only reason we even remember him today or talk about him today is because he's a footnote in the greatest story ever told.

Now we need more dogs at the Roman emperors we name our sons after apostles we name our dog Caesar Nero we name our sons, James, Peter, Paul, we would even know the names of these great men were so famous in their time. Jesus is the most influential person in all of human history. Caesar what he was known for great salad, and it's a good reminder that history is his story. So the Lord needed Joseph and Mary to get over to Beth again because Mike applied to said that that is where the Messiah would come from thou Beth again though you be little among the thousands of Judah get out of. You should come forth.

One whose origins of been from ever lasting. It's been said history swings on the kittens of the door of a stable in Bethlehem so this decree was given by Caesar Augustus, who thought he was a God in all the world should be taxed because Joseph was a descendent of David. He went to the boy good town of David, which is Beth again. They arrive in town and of course there was no room for them in the in by the way, that was indicative of the treatment. Christ received throughout his entire ministry is one telling passage in the Gospel of John read says everyone went to his own house. Then it continues to say. And Jesus went to the Mount of olives.

Why is that because Jesus really didn't have a house he slept out of the open air under the stars at night. Jesus said birds have been some foxes have holes, but the Son of Man is nowhere to lay his head. You know, it seems the only place where there was ever room for Jesus was on a cross retied for the sin of the world. Ironically, though there was no room for Jesus. Christ himself said in my father's house are many rooms we don't have any room for him what he is many rooms for us. Jesus took his place in a manger, so we might have a home in heaven. So here comes Mary and Joseph in the Bethlehem, many people were in town. Now you have to understand they don't look like the religious art presents the of course, whenever you see a painting of Mary and Joseph.

Mary always has her very cool blue outfit. I don't know where that started. But she and everybody else may be dressed in present guard the Mary's always in bloom right and then of course they had halos over their heads.

If we call them the holy family. Mary and Joseph, and then after Christ was born in a halo, though his was a little smaller circle like a baby halo. Well, that's not the way it was and it certainly would find a room for people that had halos. They were like any other peasant family. Mary and Joseph to very young, impoverished people. This innkeeper takes one look at him and says I have no room for you and here's an interesting thing the world that the word that is used your phone room or in is translated to ways in the New Testament one speaks of what we would call a hotel, though, was still very primitive. There would be food fire and enclosure all over the top a roof over your head, but it was just a basic place, but then there was another word used for in the adjustment in enclosure. It was basically four walls, no roof, no other accommodations.

Basically, a place to keep your animals. Ironically, this is the word that is used they were turned away from the hotel if you will.

They were turned away from the garage but they were sent off to the parking lot or even worse now. We want to vilify this innkeeper.

The Bible says nothing about it just says there was no room in the end, but he was like so many people are today.

He was just too busy, you know it a lot.

Americans were out runaround were always so busy you could write on our tombstones.

Hurry worried Barry were the only nation in the world that has a mountain called Mount Rushmore.

You know were always rushing about, and that's not more evident than any other time then Christmas itself the line so the malls are long and the tempers of people are short. The innkeeper Ms. the ultimate opportunity. Imagine if you take a limited would be preaching sermons about them today, but because he turned them away.

He's an illustration of so many others, and you know it's not unlike people to the sick will. I would like to make time for God. But I'm just so busy I don't have time on my schedule. I worked to art I like to go to church but here there's just no time for that. I like to read my Bible but but I just can't find time for that nonsense you find time for what is important to you.

I read recently in American spent 23 hours per week on line and texting 23 hours per week, you know, Thanksgiving is a day will become from around the country all be in one room so we can look at our phones and everybody's looking at the phone no germinal center be walking on the street just looking at the phone just looking at one of the is it really that important. I prefer doing a bump in the me right now. People driving their cars looking at their phones standing in line looking at the phone sitting at a table for a meal. Both of them looking at their phone.

I was of the group of people the other day I went out to lunch with them. We sat down and they were all looking at their phone sites and of all the text with these words.

Be here now. Bill looked up that you send it yeah it's can we have a conversation here we have time for that right you like me better holding a microphone go to a more like what I'm saying to you right now, having had to clear my throat is too much work to put the old one back on but you know are so busy with all of them all yet you don't have time for God. You'll find time for what is important to you, this amendment is the ultimate opportunity. By the way, a Mary and Joseph lost Jesus all together in one occasion. Fast-forward in the story and we have a brief little glimpse into the childhood of our Lord in the Bible doesn't tell us much about the boyhood years of Jesus. But here's an instance of Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem to worship and they took Jesus with them is 12 years old.

So they made the journey back home and in those days the men and the women would travel separately.

So Joseph thought Jesus wasn't Mary Mary that Jesus was with Joseph. They both get home and they've lost Jesus with a panic. They made their way back to Jerusalem and they find them in the temple speaking with the elders and of course he says of them did you not know that I must be about my father's business, but I mean can you imagine them running around telling words, Jesus, and they would be asking people.

Have you seen our boy.

By the way he glows in the dark know Jesus didn't go there to find them, but that we can be the same way, I think, especially at Christmas.

We can speed so busy celebrating Christmas we lose Jesus we string our lines which are more trees we wire present for those we love. We buy presents for people we know love at all. We may not even like them. They bought us a present.

So we feel obligated and then he got out of the mall and that's an adventure in and of itself, you know, you finally get all your shopping done and in your loading the boxes in your car in and of course a line is forming and everybody has a little turning signal on. Maybe they're coming from two directions.

They want your space, can I just say something to you if you're the person in the car and you're done. Get out. Please don't sit there and check your phone get out now people are waiting. Then you pull out and then you start to cruise on down and what you do I'll know I forgot to get your first song.

So good luck finding another parking space right but here we have all this busyness, and we can steal we can forget all about the Lord and we can lose Jesus just like Mary and Joseph did and then Christmas can be such a letdown because there's so much hype there such a build up and you think it's actually going to bring you some measure of happiness and and even though you drop of those hints of that gift you really wanted. You don't get that gift you get some other gift you didn't want to know. You have to pretend you like it. And then there's the Madison cleaning up and then like 12 hours later, the bill start arriving in reality kicks in the can be a big letdown. Experts tell us a call so psychiatrist in emergency rooms go up during this time of the year. That's because Christmas cannot measure up to its romanticized image. I suggest you forget about the clutter of Xmas and replace it with the Christ of Christmas dinner will be great. It's not about Christmas presents, but it's about his presence in your life.

The message of this season is not let it snow or even leather shop it.

Let us worship and we will focus on that.

I guarantee Christmas will be a blessed time for you so question number two.

Where was the Lord Jesus, born we all know the answer.

He was born in Bethlehem, the creator of the universe was born in a stable Bethlehem now. Like everything else in the Christmas story we romanticize this entity in many ways we miss the raw powerful meaning of it understand of course at the stable or barn, or maybe even cave the Christ was born in was cold and damp. Those of you that have had babies. Can you imagine having your baby in the garage now.

Can you imagine having your baby in the barn with animals around talk about unsanitary this barn would have smelled of straw and quite honestly feces.

It would've been very cold.

The creator of the universe God incarnate, born on the dirt floor of a filthy K as Augustine observed, and I quote unspeakably wise. He is wisely speechless. He is the word without a word. God himself becomes a helpless little baby you still like super baby flying around the room.

You know or talking a Mary, Joseph, good to see you. I am a baby, but I can speak no can do that.

He was like any other baby needing to be cradled needing to be nurtured, needing to be protected are can choose a commentator wrote these words and I quote, it was clearly a leap down as if the son of God, rose from his splendor stood poised on the rim of the universe irritating light and dove headlong speeding through the stars over the Milky Way to Earth's galaxy where he plunged into a huddle of animals. Nothing could be lower." So true. Jesus was deity in diapers. He was larger than the universe became an embryo he that sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent on a young girl.

Chesterton wrote quote they handed me the sun and the stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle that surrounded him too small to change his own clothing or to put food into his own mouth. Amazing God in infant helplessness" now Jesus could've been born on the most elegant mansion on the Ritzy Is Blvd. in Rome, he could've had their aristocratic parents, a boasting of their pedigree.

He could have the finest close on the most exclusive shops you could have had legions of angels as an army of servants to respond to his whim that he did none of that, he humbled himself. Second Corinthians 8 lines as though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that through his poverty, you might be rich so God came into our world now who was the first to know or who were the first to know. Let me ask you. That's when your baby was born who did you tell first one probably told those that were waiting right outside of the room.

I was present for the birth of both of our sons, and I was also there for the birth of all of my grandchildren so we were told it's a boy we knew was a boy have a timer or girl.

We knew that but we hear the cry were excited you first tell your immediate family.

Then you tell your friend I mean when your baby was born. Did you run out and tell a total stranger. You know someone you'd never met before. No, you told some of that was close to you so here's God to send his son. His son is been born in the manger of Bethlehem and it's time to make the announcement. Who is the announcement made to first look for me. I would've dispatched an angel to the court of Caesar Augustus, hey, Caesar, how's it going all right you call yourself the Savior of the world.

Check it out, buddy. The real Savior of the world is been born and it's not you see, I would've been kind of a vindictive God are to glad I below or you could have appeared to the high priest and the other priests scholars and scribes new critter said the Savior has been born. But no God gives this message to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, like everything else in the Christmas story we romanticize and glamorize the shepherds, but we need to understand that to be a shepherd in this culture was to be at the bottom of the social ladder. Shepherds were despised in these times, so much so that the testimony of a shepherd was not even allowed in a court of law. It was assumed confusing at the shepherds would lie know why they were despised and not completely sure but shepherds basically did the work that nobody else wanted to do the dirt under their fingernails. They were hard working, so they felt right at home in a good that the baby was born in the K this morning to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord is the major all right yeah born on the open-air, like our babies they related to this God was speaking their language. If you will, and this became sort of the mode of operation for Christ throughout his ministry he always went to the outcasts to the hurting to the ordinary people people like the woman at the well who had to draw water in the middle of the afternoon because nobody else wanted to be around her. She was ostracized because of her multiple marriages and divorces people like techie is a tax collector that was perceived by his fellow Jews as a turncoat or a traitor because he collected taxes as a Jew for Rome from the Jews, people like that woman caught in the actual act of adultery that was thrown at the feet of Jesus our Lord always had time for people like that, so much so that he was described as the friend of sinners and in the same way lowly looked down upon shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night were visited by the Lord. Let's read about it. Luke chapter 2 starting the verse eight there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night, behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. And the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be the sign you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and inner peace, goodwill toward men. And so it was when the angels were gone away from them and they have in the shepherds said one to another. Let's go now to Bethlehem and see this thing is come to pass, which the Lord is made known to us. There the shepherds and all of Israel were living in frightening times. They were under the reign of King Herod was a tyrant there land was occupied and there was a fear about the future. Would Rome ever leave with the ever be free again with the Messiah ever come. And suddenly there are the Angels announcing to them the shepherds, the Messiah has come in having an angel appear much less change else was a frightening thing in and of itself. They were on inspiring means that is why angels often start out by saying you're not a sound very profound turn on but they really were just sitting don't freak out you not going to die. It's okay, don't be afraid someone said in a note this is true that there are 365 occasions in the Bible with the phrase, fear not, is used with some of the research on that for me. I get that is true.

That means there's a fear not, for every day of the year. I like that. Don't be afraid. The message of Christmas is fear not, and have joy.

Commentator Ray Steadman said, quote the chief mark of the Christian ought to be the absence of fear in the presence of joy" but you know it's hard to have joy in this world because were surrounded by so much sadness all the tragedies shootings on school campuses, acts of terrorism. The breakdown of the family. All of the problems we have the threat of war.

How can we have good tidings of great joy.

The answer is there is born, unto us a Savior is Christ the Lord.

Three reasons number one we have a Savior no matter what happens to you in life. Remember this, you have a Savior and what that means is you been saved, say from what you been saying from death, and you have been saved from eternal punishment in hell and you have the hope that when you as a Christian die. You will go straight to heaven. Now you know you can hear that and say well that's nice. And one day I think I'll really be appreciative of that. But if you're hearing those words in your lying on her deathbed. I'll tell you what, that's most important thing about the Christian life that that there's a heaven waiting for you and this is the promise because we have a Savior and not only that we have a Christ verse 11 there is born into this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The word Christ means anointed one another word you could use in this place would be Messiah Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promises to send his son as the Messiah and it's a reminder to us that God keeps his promises. So what is Jesus promise me he has said to me as a Christian will never leave me or forsake me. So whatever I go through in life are never alone will never leave the home never been to me.

What else is he promised he has promised he will work all things together for good to those of us who love him and other called according to his purpose. So whatever you're going through in life.

He has promised to work it together for good. What else is he promised these promise I will come again and receive you to myself, these promise to come again. Just as surely as the Lord fulfilled his promise to come the first time he will fulfill his promise to come the second time and he is coming back again that some people might say well I think he's linked will they said that the first time to a worse Jesus isn't about time. Messiah shows up at the appointed time of the time was just right, God sent forth his son and of the same way at the appointed time when it just right. The sun will come back again.

God says that he is not late as some men count lateness but is long-suffering to us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God knows the last person that he is waiting for to believe. So we can be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Can you imagine how you would react if you knew who that person was. If you are like sitting next to him in church and is revealed to you that when this person becomes a Christian we all get caught up to meet the Lord in the air in the rapture. This person right here, Lord, what I mean would you be tempted to apply a little pressure maybe the Lord knows who that person is.

And when that person believes will be caught up to meet the Lord in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. But until that day. He wants to reach more people and bring them into his kingdom. We have a Savior we have a Christ.

Lastly we have the Lord there is born unto you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. When I become a Christian, God takes control of my life. He directs me in the way that I should go. He protects me as I go on that way. And when that journey is done he will welcome me into heaven, and by the way, this is for believers only, so I close by asking, has he become your Savior. Yet you know working to be all racking her brain thinking about gifts to get for people still and yet the ultimate gift of Christmas is not the gift we give to someone else. It's a gift that God is given to us and check this out. No assembly required. Oh, I'm so thankful for that is and I bite towards my grant did you have to put them together in their heart but God's gift is fully assembled, it's ready to go.

You merely have to open it up and enjoy it and that gift is waiting for your there's not a bill coming for a week later that price for this gift is been paid.

You just need to reach out and accept masculine closing as we talk about what Jesus did for us how we came to this earth for us how we went to the cross and died for us. I will come and live inside of our hearts. Have you asked them into your life. Yet, have you found his forgiveness yet. Maybe you're really unhappy this time of the year. Maybe you're just really aware of the emptiness of your life. Listen, you don't need Christmas you need Christ. He's the one you're looking for. He's the one who will come and live inside of you and forgive you if you've never asked them in your life. If you've never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin.

I want to give you an opportunity to do that as we close now in prayer and there might be some of you that are fallen away from the Lord and need to come back to him again, to give you that opportunity to believe or to recommit your life to him.

If you need to do this respond now as we are ahead sure prayer. Please father, we thank you for sending Jesus and Jesus, we thank you for coming and being born and dying and paying the price for our sins, and then rising again from the dead. Now we pray for any year that do not get no you help them to see their need for you and help them become due or has about in her eyes are closed and were praying. How many of you would say today Greg I want Jesus Christ to come in my life. I want to be forgiven of my sin. I want to know that when I die I will go to heaven.

I'm ready to say yes to Jesus.

Now pray for me. If that your desire.

If you want Christ to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want to say yes to Jesus wherever your sitting would you raise your hand up right now and I'll pray for you.

You want Christ to come in your life. You raise your hand up and I'll pray for you right now to bless you with your hand up or I can see it please God bless you up there in the balcony. God bless you. Anybody else raise your hand. Now you want Christ to forgive you.

You want this hope that he offers you want to know you'll go to heaven when you die raise your hand up and I'll pray for you today, bless you. Anybody else got bless you to what I had just about maybe some of you would say hey I knew the Lord at one time, but I've fallen away from him, but I want to come back to him again today I want to return to the Lord. Pray for me that your desire. If you want to come back to Jesus which you raise your hand up right now wherever your city publish wherever you are here in the campus. Watching the video screen there at Arbor storage County.

Raise your hand up if you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Jesus does raise about publish the bless all of you nominally asking everyone of you love raise your hand if you would please I want you to stand your feet, lead you in a prayer of asking Christ to forgive. You just stand up if you raise your hand. Even if you did not, but you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Jesus to stand up. That's right, stand up, others are standing publishing stand up anybody else stand now stand your feet wherever you are, stand up, got bless you. God bless you watching on the video screen you stand is well.

This is between you and the Lord one final moment of forgiveness stand. Stand now nominally join this prayer of committing your life to Jesus Christ on final moment come bless you.

Anybody else bless you. All right all of you that are standing want you to pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray pray this prayer out loud after me. Pray this now, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I think you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again from the dead, Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward be my Savior be my Lord my God, be my friend. I choose to follow you now.

Thank you for calling me and for giving me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray.

Amen. God bless each one of you to pray the prayer