Christmas Message Chapter

As I've taught on Christmas as I've looked briefly person the deep symbolism of Christmas that I think we pass over we have Christmas tree in the movie look in the Bible and that's connected to us to the birth of Christ. We look at the Bible, we hear mentioned there's a tree of life. If you pay attention to the tree of life in Genesis and the tree of life.

In Revelation, you come to the pretty certain conclusion that the tree of life is the cross to the root Christmas tree I think is the cross and then we have these light hang on the tree they bear light they bear witness in other words, we go to the cross we become welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina were so glad you're with us here on this Christmas day to enjoy the rich teaching of God's word. We also have the a brown one of the McGee's associate pastors here with is the studio to tell us a little bit about today's program. Bob, it's Christmas for the most exciting days of the year Jesus came to dwell among us so we can live forever with them doesn't get any better than that absolutely. Now here's David McGee with part three of his teaching. Why did Jesus come to today really talking about Christmas and why did Jesus come to earth when we talk about the site we talk about Jesus retirement Jesus Christ understand the name because some people think Jesus Christ. Jesus was bursting Christ was the second she was like Joseph and Mary Christ at 806, Chester Road, the Christ house no, no, that Jesus was his name. People were known by their name and where they were from Jesus. Nazareth Paul of Tarsus. Christ was not his name was his title Christ our word comes from the Greek Christos Christos is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Messiah or Michiana. He will save her.

He is salvation which is yes you so more appropriately, it would be you could see Jesus the Christ Jesus the anointed one, Jesus the Messiah. We needed him to be the whenever something bad happens.

Some people always jump up and say where was God. And you know what friend that is the height of human arrogance. Where was the goodness of man that people talk about was the goodness of man. So Jesus came for anybody who is willing to come to have Matthew 912 when Jesus heard that, he said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance is a real interesting play on words. Jesus is I didn't come to call the righteous will, if he would've come to call the righteous, let me ask you a question.

Who could've responded to that call. No human been interesting to see who would've responded.

I'm sure some would all that's me just like I have toyed with. I did put this out at her saying only perfect People allowed in the in the really humorous thing about that is, some people would come and they would see the sign oh, praise God we have finally found our church, Martha Kemal get rid of the riffraff would really enjoy teaching that sermon in the in the new living translation that same passage, Jesus heard this, he said healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people to. Then he added. Now go and learn the meaning of the Scripture.

I want you to show mercy not offer sacrifices come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know their centers and somehow we got in this church thing all twisted that we think it somewhere you go when you worked all your issues out when you've got your whole life with God, sorted through then you go to church. I'm delighted I to I hear stories and there's people that comment come here as atheists that come here as God haters that come here to check out the claims of Christ, who come here is Mormons Jehovah's Witness all sorts of people and then they end up becoming followers of Jesus. Now it's interesting to me how some of us try to hide that there's anything wrong and fun only triggers know you're not good were all broken.

Everyone knows we've all done wrong things. It reminds me of my dad was an engineer and he had training both as a aeronautical engineer and a mechanical engineer which is coming and they can so we understood a lot of things about a lot of things and so I broke something he could usually fix when I would break something.

You know I would do.

I would I would hide it. I would tuck it down in my toy chest as it is taken it and then when I would be messing around in there. I would see it would feel bad because I knew I broke it, and usually was because I didn't use it the way it was supposed to be used are a dude out the window to make a flyer some stupid and it broke it out so then a hot it instead of what is going to my dad saying hey, this is broken.

Can you fix that's what we do in our lives. Part of her lines are broken when we do, we covered up with other choice. Occasionally we see the broken toy and we send we feel this twinge of guilt and shame. And so we try to cover it deeper, rather than just pulling out and taking it to the father and same father.

Can you fix this in the heavenly father can fix anything.

There was there was a Christmas special years ago.

Love, Rudolph the red nose reindeer in Rudolph. There was this place called the Isle of misfit toys and this was a place where all these toys they they were walking and the reason they were created they weren't being played with by kids.

The reason toys are created.

They were all the recent wrong with them and so they're all on this Isle of misfit toys and they can't really fix each other's other weight on this being the come fix them so they can get off the all of misfit toys and become what they were created to be. I watch that one night and thought that's humanity were all on this Isle of misfit toys, not by God's flawed design is designed perfect, but because we hurt ourselves or hurt each other. Well, wait and see if we can fix each other. We can't, we try to hotter flaws that infection were waiting on the being God. Jesus his son who can heal us.

You can fix us so we can walk in the fullness of who and what we've been created to be. Instead of hiding your flaws today when you consider going to the heavenly father. The whole reason this Christmas season happens and going to and say father on. I messed up on broken up done some wrong things, will you fix me if you do that I can promise you you will hear a resounding yes no the next life lesson years Jesus came to fix and heal you and offer you a better life here and eternally said I got Jesus came to fix and heal you and offer you a better life here and eternally. You need understand Christianity is a just fire insurance that you know you you cannot just try to make sure you can get through this and then go to have been God wants to be God of your life. Here it was to improve your life. Here you can walk with joy and peace and love and blessings, and he not only tells us that, but he also tells us why the enemy is here in John 1010 he says the thief does not come except to steal and kill and to destroy. But I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. So there's the two decisions. That's a tough one is the enemy. He wants to steal and kill and destroy.

He wants to rip you off and take you for a one-way rod and here's Jesus who wants to give you a satisfying and abundant life filled with forgiveness, joy, and peace. Boy, this is tough.

And let me mention to the adversary. Christmas is just a holiday I can summarize why Jesus came gone through these verses of why came right in, put it like this, Jesus came for you, but the real question is, will you come to him because each of us have the decision. I asked what the holiday is generous and each person has the answer. Some people say what he is just kind of a in will retail Bill one day a year and somehow there so cheaply satisfied that that's enough. Some more.

For those of us who have some type of spiritual spark. God wants to take that spark and develop a flame. He tells us this in the dark and cold needs. The warmth in the light of the flame that we can be Jesus in John 12 3536 and Jesus said to them a little while longer than light is with you all. While you have the light less darkness overtake you, he who walks in darkness does not know where is going while you have the light believe in the light, that you may become sons of light these things Jesus spoke and departed was hidden from them, and then John 812 Jesus of the Jesus spoke to them again, saying I am the light of the world.

He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

And then John 95 as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world with Jesus is no longer in his earthly ministry he wants us to be the light of the world and in Philippians 213 it says for God is working in you to give you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you with clean innocent lives as children got shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people hold firmly to the word of life than on the day of Christ return. I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain that my work was not useless. Your attention please.

When he uses shining like bright lights you it's interesting in the Greek the word is very similar to the word luminary luminary like the luminaries we see during this time a year on the side of the road put a smile on your face and hopefully keep you from driving off the edge of the road. That's part of what were supposed to be doing.

Jesus wants us to be lights. Life lesson. Here's Jesus came that we might be a light to others.

Cold, dark world you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them. You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee.

We can pray for them as well. Just by simply going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button.

All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost love ones. 1 Awesome Way to bring your loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob are excitable or God is doing to cross a bridge of Pastor David and want to take a minute to pray for some listeners in these cities in Idaho Mountain home Pocatello salmon Sandpoint Twin Falls and Decatur in Mount Vernon, Illinois God, we thank you for everyone tuning in. Today we pray that they would have an expectant heart. Hey, you want to speak to them right now knowing all situations that are going on in their life low. We praise are going to some sickness, some health issues that you please heal him and God that you would remind them that you love them, you know what's going on and you have a good plan. You will be glorified in their life and lower pray for the pastors and churches in this area.

We pray that they will be excited about following you, Lord, that they wouldn't grow weary in doing good and lower that you would remind the pastors that they are loved. They are called and that you're going to blossom in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse. As I've taught Christmas as I flicked these things. There's some deep deep symbolism in Christmas that I think we pass over we have a Christmas tree in the movie look in the Bible and that's connected to us to the birth of Christ. We look at the Bible, we hear mentioned there's a tree of life.

If you pay attention to the tree of life in Genesis and the tree of life. In Revelation, you come to the pretty certain conclusion that the tree of life is the cross.

Is this curse, it is he who hangs on a tree.

Jesus hung on a tree so is cursed. Yeah, Ozzie curse for you and me to the real Christmas tree. I think it's the cross and then we have these lights that hang on the tree remember the tree is cut up symbolizing the cross we have these lights that hang on the tree because as the lights are on the tree they bear light they bear witness in other words, when we go to the cross we become Christmas lights told a story.

The story the greatest story ever told.

And we need to shine on as it is a cold dark world it's getting darker so that it all comes down to this. Jesus said in Matthew 514 you are the light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hid. And he tells us when we do good things that are light shines in Matthew 516 in the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father now talking about Christmas is one verse troublesome people.

I want to tackle that one real quick keep me say this, the King James version. I love it I love the King James version. My Bible that I've had for years and years of study and is King James.

They translated it in 1611.

A lot of it was the work of a man named William Tyndale who is one of my spiritual heroes credible man we learned a lot about Greek and Hebrew. Since in some of the places in some of the meanings of the words of change just slightly not enough that through doctrinal wrenches and anything but to add clarity and in this verse, Luke 214 glory to God in the highest on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Verse we hear a lot this time a year and that's the King James version, but if you look to the new living translation version which is closer to the Greek. It says it glory to God in highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased who is God pleased with those who have accepted his son. Those who understand the real reason for Christmas will have peace and not peace. A far off, not peace. Next week or next month or next year. No, like right here right now. Each of us have to make this decision.

If it's just a holiday or was something much, much more.

See this is where heaven and earth me. This is where God and man me. This is where darkness becomes like were sinners become saints were sins become forgiven were despair become sober apathy and hatred become love. This is where the Savior from heaven comes to earth temporarily to sinners from Earth go to heaven eternally. This is where rebels and traitors and betrayers and sinners are not only granted full pardon and amnesty and are not only invited into the presence of the king, but are invited to be adopted by the King to become part of his family as a child and as a joint heir and not just any king but the King of King and the Lord of lords. This is where the lonely become family. This is where the wounded become healed.

This is where the unloved become cherished and this is where one day on the calendar becomes a doorway into eternity as God makes all this possible. Any ask you if you want to continue living under the shame and the guilt and the selfishness and despair of the world you want to be forgiven, set free living abundantly and filled with love and joy and peace because you don't have to celebrate Christmas just one day a year on the calendar, but you can celebrated every single moment of your life come into the present and you can celebrate it every single moment of your life until you come into the presence of a loving, merciful and gracious God, that Christmas points to like a roadside and that roadside is directing you.

Not this, not the saddle for a holiday some retail excursion a few hours out of 365 day year to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and a messenger here to present this to you while all the heaven waits right now to record your decision for eternity because make no mistake if you reject the real meaning of Christmas you are rejecting that baby you are rejecting that Savior you are rejecting God as you accept heaven stands right now ready to record your name in the Lamb's book of life to offer you forgiveness and admittance into heaven for eternity.

So friend is a just a holiday is your decision and it's time for you to decide what spray Lord, thank you, thank you for making it so plain what Christmas is and what it isn't. Lord I pray for each person listening that they would not be so cheaply satisfied to accept the storm retail holiday but to accept it is what it is so much more God leaving heaven and coming to the earth, God becoming man so people could become children of God friend. This is an incredible gift I'm sharing with you but you've got an open if you leave it unopened. It's as if to say into the giver.

You don't want Jesus wants to forgive you and we need in this moment to look up at our heavenly father's father at broken I messed I need your help at all. Heavenly father will heal you and he'll fix you and he'll left you and all calls you to walk in the fullness of all you were created to be and to do but it all comes down to this decision. Your decision to because there was a thousand steps between you and God. God's Artie taken 999 of them. This last one is yours, the pain of the cross is Jesus the plan of the cross was heaven's the choice of the cross assures choose well, there's a lot riding on this so you asked Jesus to forgive you, not because you've earned it because he wants to forgive you. Tellingly sorry for the things you've done wrong, ask him to help you not to keep doing wrong to help you to live for him. This is your moment. This is when life can become living, everything can change this is what you've been looking for and more. Some of you need to return to the Lord. Some of you maybe you've never come to. Maybe this is the first time at sauce. Maybe you just need fresh grace and mercy. This is the moment. This is the time today's the day. Now is the time don't wait.

Some of you've Artie waited days and weeks and years don't keep waiting.

God's been patient, you've got this time.

Right now you don't know if you got next week or next. I know you've got today because you're here because you're laughing your breathing God's giving you another chance is given you another opportunity would encourage a strongly to take the opportunity friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous. The congratulations string you just made the greatest session that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com.

Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out also. Thank you so much DA before we go. What are some ways bless our listeners days you can wake up with Pastor David with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart of David McGee. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God