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December 15, 2020 7:05 am
As mature until we learn to measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years. Even according to the Bible. There are some things that cannot be traced starting point, nor measured in increments of time today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll cites one of those mysterious beginnings, the first in a brand-new miniseries designed to center our attention on the glory of Christmas. He titled today's message. Let's start before the beginning. Chuck is teaching from John chapter 1 and we begin with prayer father for the sweet stroke more than suite for this profile story of your love for us and giving us your one and only son, thank you for the plan that defies imagination taking us to a time which we can hardly comprehend and then sweeping us through time to that day when deity became humanity. And then as a baby grew became a man went to a cross and died for us were filled with gratitude. On this day Lord as we begin this season together, to be reminded of the story in its fullness. Give us hearts to take it in and a willingness to respond in love to hear your love is you have given us your one and only. Thank you for the privilege of giving to your work. May these gifts be used in strategic ways to reach the hearts of those who have never heard even the beginning of the story, to say nothing of its fulfillment. We please. I pray with our motive in giving the act itself, as we do so with great joy in the name of Jesus Christ's RC. One said a man listening to Insight for living to search the Scriptures with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures.
Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies. Today's message is titled let's start before the beginning infinity past in eternity past that took place what theologians have come to call the Council of divine decree at this Council of divine decrees.
A plan was arranged by the Trinity regarding life, not just life on this planet. But life as a whole and not just this galaxy, but all galaxies and every place for the Trinity determined there would be something that was in the plan, including on this earth.
A plan of salvation. So you see. They did not all begin at Bethlehem. It began just when the angel said to Mary, you're the chosen one know it goes all the way back into infinity, which is where John begins. All of your life chances are good you got it all began in Genesis 1 in the beginning God created the heavens and the that's when God created John one goes back before there was anything created in a beginning was the word. John's favorite name for Jesus is log on us. Lagos is too complicated for me to get into so willing to stay with the term word which is the translation of the Greek Lagos in the beginning, which really never has a beginning eternally existed Lagos. The father determined that the sun would be the one who would come look at the way the map reads the word was with God the Word was God Leslie be confused.
We will use the word deity. Lagos was deity. He existed in the beginning with God and that God created everything through him. Most people don't know that we think of the father is the creator when in fact it was the second member of the Trinity, who was given that responsibility in the Council of divine decrees, we read that he existed in the beginning and created everything. In fact, to make clear. John goes on to say the end of verse three.
Nothing was created except through him. There is no alien creation.
There is no surprising event. All planned all carried out through the limitless power. The second member of the Trinity. Lagos gave life to everything. Think of it in creating these creatures and these living things, plants, animals, fish, whatever. There is the existence of life because he gave life to each apart from him. There is no life, and it adds people apart from him. There is no light see how it reads his life brought light to everyone light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish. Think for a moment of absolute darkness. My first example of that was when my family and I visited Carlsbad caverns.
I was only an older teenager at the time I read of the place but I've never been there and when I heard that we were going to be there.
I thought what what what a great thing to do is to see that those caverns be in the cave and we went down down down deeper and deeper and deeper and we got all the way to what seemed like the center of the earth for a long way from that. But in my little mind is seeing that in suddenly turned all the lights all I mean it was darker than a thousand midnights in the cypress will reset our God said to us with his loudspeaker now for a moment, put your hand up near your nose your nose is on your face.
In case you wonder. And because you bring your hand closer. You won't see your hand but you will feel the heat of your Paul and I did that, like I'm doing right now.
I look silly but I'm doing it right now and I felt the heat of the poem, but I couldn't see my hand until he struck a match and the entire cavern lit up from one trainee match. In this case we have absolute complete total darkness until Lagos gives it life in light Macy.
I love studies like this. I'm trying to keep your weight somatostatin here I'm never sitting in a classroom of theology. What I was in seminary very near the front offered right on the front row.
I could feel the spirit from the professor, at times, I'd be careful about my mouth falling open. As I'm sitting here in amazement. I remember going through one scene after another look around smiling like this is the greatest thing you've ever been overlooked.
Three guys were in a soft licensing right now. Don't know know I think you're all awake because you were in the vehicle and you got your view line open, but listen to this. This is the way Philip Keller describes the scene and orders if I should earth as he did with its incredible array of plants, animals, insects, birds, fish, reptiles, microorganisms, including humanity demanded the attributes of deity is insight into science standards. Our imagination he's the greatest botanist zoologist and biologists of all times and so we could go on to enumerate all the fields of knowledge, in which he alone holds all prior knowledge in prime position he knew would all. He fashioned it all in his mind it was clear to him before anything was created when we built our home. We hired an architect who would help us with the plans and there were times we didn't have some of the details worked out.
I remember standing in the in the stage of the building were the two by fours were in place. You could make out where the walls would be one of the details were not yet figured out in our minds but we had our architect with us and I said to a Robbie fuchsia architect is a Bobby I can imagine I will do the fireplace which we like to have here in our living room and he said all you have a pad and pencil on I go oh yeah he's okay Serrano here so we don't set out on stool and pulled up a little little table and got the pencil he started drawing so I'm watching this fireplace take place before my eyes. He draws it in 3D goes when he finishes there is a fireplace and I go. It's unbelievable. I want to frame the pencil drawing anything on the voice of the pencil drawing of the 3D drawing of, but if it was fabulous.
I couldn't do it.
The architect he sees it all. And if I wanted this, he would've done it like that and if we had wanted that he would've added this Jesus. The original architect of it all and you thought he would just began as a baby in a manger not know the baby in the manger held the universe in place you'll never see a Christmas card that advertises or announces that how can you true humanity, but undiminished deity. Nevertheless, getting ahead of myself because we need to get to verse 14 where we read so long Goss became human. Never before in all of history. Never before has such a transition to complete the eternal son of God, existing in eternity past who has been in existence through all the heroes of the Old Testament events through all of history from the eternity past to creation to the passing of time all the way to Nasrin Mariee the young Jew's work in the home who hears the voice of the angel, saying you're the one that movement. Lagos became human. God Paul remaining God now becomes truly human to natures one person existing without co-mingling the unique God man theologians call him the fee and tropic person playoffs anthropologists, and please observe. He made his home among us. I've always liked the way Eugene Peterson in the in his message paraphrase of the New Testament writes.
He says the word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood that a comfortable way to put it sound like something Mr. Rogers would say just moved into the neighborhood.
You know what that's how they saw it. That's how they viewed it using the baby did not have a halo glow did have little wings on the back and fly around the crib is a baby and becoming a baby. He submitted himself not only to the pull of gravity but to parental authority, neither of which he had known before he created gravity and not subject to had they dropped the baby, he would hit hard. He wouldn't and floated down to an easy landing. Why, because he truly human.
That's why you see snapshots of both emerge in the life of Jesus. He's asleep on the on the boat and the storm and then when they awaken him because humanity sleeps. He stills the storm because only God can still storm because at the scene of Lazarus death.
He weeps because humanity sheds tears. God doesn't shed tears, but he raises the dead.
He's the God man he's thrust with the feelings of our infirmities because he is human but he heals our infirmities because he is God learn that lesson. Understand that is why they worshiped him because he was a pretty little Jewish baby because he is God flinch in the grass enough of the Scriptures to know this is Messiah.
This is the fulfillment of the prophets words, the child will be born son will be given here is God in flesh. Verse 14 says he was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
How true, how magnificent no one or when he spoke, the centurion would say later, no one ever spoke like him this season's guard battle hardened centurion had been around lots of people, but he never heard anybody like Jesus but look for example at what Paul wrote, not Philippians. Let's look first at Colossians the letter beyond Philippians you'll find words in Colossians chapter 1, you won't find anywhere else in the New Testament. So this is a passage of primary reference wonderful reminder of the Jesus of eternity past, look for yourself. Colossians 115. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, how beautiful to write it like that. He's visible we could see him, but in fact in him there is the nature of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. While course, the creator is supreme over the creation. He is that Paul goes on through him God created everything verifying what John in the heavenly realms and on earth.
You make the things we can see and the things which density so remarkable. The massive stars of the universe, right down to the tiny butterfly wings under a microscope and hold the attention we tend to identify the origin of Christmas on that morning, the baby Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph. Clearly, John teaches us that Jesus was the firstborn over all creation. Your listening to Insight for living in the Bible teaching of pastor and author Chuck Swindoll.
Chuck titled today's message.
Let's start before the beginning to learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org check is in the studio today with a prepared statement exclusively for our radio family.
So please keep listening. First though.
I'll give you a sneak peek of what's ahead in the new year of 2021. Chuck is already mapped out his preaching schedule for the program and I'm pleased to tell you that in January will begin a brand-new verse by verse study through the book of Matthew. Matthew, of course, is the first book in the New Testament and it's a masterful record that begins with our king's arrival in Bethlehem and ends with his ascension into heaven. Well, in addition to Chuck's teaching series were pleased to offer his brand-new commentary is called swindles living inside commentary for Matthew because of its enormity. This commentary comes in two hardbound volumes both are ready right now and we encourage you to purchase your copies in time to begin the study with us in January to purchase swindles living inside commentary for Matthew call if your listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to Insight.org/store in these more than 40 years of ministry that inside for living has been teaching the Bible, I've never witnessed a year quite light, 20, 20, chances are you have an easier this was a year defined by general enormous disruptors. The disruptors are personal disasters that derailed our plans and stole any modicum of peace would come to enjoy the number one disruptor.
Of course, was the unnerving coronavirus, but make no mistake, the chaos cannot be isolated to a contagious flu bug alone. In addition, Colby seem to ignite a powder keg of emotions that exploded like bombshells in our political and civil discourse and the end result.
Our world is embroidered in the diabolical war against itself. These are serious days and now you're probably thinking on chart lighten up a little. I know I know is not like me to paint such a dark and hopeless picture but I would deny the obvious. If I didn't acknowledge the minefield of troubling issues that litter our path today, so here's where I turned the corner lest we think were trekking through uncharted territory. Let's pause to remember Jesus has been down this road before impact. When you think back, his times were rife with crisis just desires our impact when the baby Jesus broke under the human stage in Bethlehem, the political climate in Rome was deep and treacherous Caesar Augustus was demanding of senses and Herod the great was on a rampage of fury and it was no accident that Jesus arrived when he did remember Paul's words when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son, Galatians 44 what he meant was Jesus arrived right on time. Ultimately Jesus died on the cross right on time and later walked out of the grave right on time. I believe that God has appointed Insight for living ministries to declare the truth about Jesus for such a time as this. It is right on time. He is our only hope. Christ is still the one who is able to bring light when all around us is dark as night. God is still with us in this year of loss and violence division arguments and pandemic. So now as we turn the page and come to the end of this chapter called 2020. I'm asking you to join me in proclaiming the truth about Jesus with a world that's overcome with fear. Look, I'm keenly aware that many of our listening family have endured financial setbacks this year. I realize that and I stand with you. Some, however, are capable of giving on their behalf above and beyond in any case, I can assure you that your much-needed year-end gift will become a light to those who are walking in darkness.
Any amount God places on your heart to give to Insight for living ministries will make all the difference.
You could imagine and it will make a difference to those in need. Together, let's assure them of this. You are not alone. God is still on the throne and he's always right on time. Perhaps you are in a position to give on behalf of others come to rely on Insight for living. Just as someone once did for you. Your generosity right now. Arrive at just the right time. So here's how to connect your listening in the United States.
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Once again, you can get a year intonation by calling us listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 four. Give online@insight.right here site for living. The preceding message.
Let's start before the beginning was copyrighted in 2019 and 2020 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2020 by Charles R.
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