WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Christmas Evening Publishing Date: 2021-12-24T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/christmas-evening/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.880 things. You know, I mean, there are many scriptures you can take for Christmas, but this one's in 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:24.160 John 18, verse 36 and 37, and it's at Jesus's trial, and it's towards the end of his life here on 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:34.560 earth. That's where he makes his statement, John 18, John 18, 36 and 37, and here's what he says. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.880 First he talks about the kingdom, and he says, My kingdom is not of this world if it were my 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:44.400 servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leader, but my kingdom is from another place. 00:00:45.360 --> 00:00:50.560 No, that's not it. Where is it? Just one sec. 00:00:54.160 --> 00:01:00.560 Oh yeah, it is. John 18, 37. You're a king then, said Pilate. Jesus answered, You say that I'm a 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:07.600 king, and then listen to this. That's what we'll be looking at. In fact, the reason I was born 00:01:08.240 --> 00:01:15.520 and came into the world is to bear witness to the truth. Everyone on the side of the truth 00:01:15.520 --> 00:01:22.720 listens to me. For this purpose, another version says, for this purpose I was born, and for this 00:01:22.720 --> 00:01:30.000 purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:38.240 to my voice. In the message it says, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:44.560 the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth recognizes my voice. 00:01:45.440 --> 00:01:54.480 And so we echo that act of that now, saying, for this purpose I was born, for this purpose you were 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:01.040 born. What is this purpose? That you and I have been born into this world to bear witness to the 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:08.480 truth. To bear witness to the truth. And in today's world it's pretty difficult, eh? Because to claim 00:02:08.480 --> 00:02:20.640 absolute truth today is to be labeled immoral, intolerant, bigoted, prejudiced, because nobody 00:02:20.640 --> 00:02:31.600 wants to ever claim absolute truth. It's always relative. And so in a sense, morality today 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:39.120 demands that we succumb or we agree with relativism. And it almost seems to be the definition of a 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:49.120 free society. And so from Trudeau to every other person you can think of talks about how 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:57.680 everything is relative. Nothing is absolute. In any area in life and into that mixture, God wants us 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:04.560 to step in and into that world Jesus injects us and he's saying to us, hey, you guys have to begin 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:11.200 to say what I said in John 18 37. That for this purpose I was born and for this purpose I came to 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.840 this world to bear witness to the truth. 00:03:17.040 --> 00:03:21.280 So how do we go about this? What do we do? I just want to touch on that. It won't take long, 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:29.840 surprisingly. The first thing I have to do is realize that truth is a person. Truth is a person. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:37.680 That truth is a person. John 14 6. I am the way, the life, and the truth. The truth is a person. 00:03:38.480 --> 00:03:48.400 And he is best conveyed by, how do you best convey the truth? If he's a person, one, you do it by 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:55.200 talking about him. Two, you do it by walking like him. Three, you do it by bringing him alive or 00:03:55.200 --> 00:04:02.320 demonstrating the risen Christ. Three things that I have to keep in mind if I want to bear witness to 00:04:02.320 --> 00:04:08.240 the truth. And for this reason he was born and if I am born again, this is the reason I am born too. 00:04:10.160 --> 00:04:18.560 If you want purpose for 2022, start here. For this reason I am alive in 2022 to bear witness to the 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:25.760 truth. For this reason I will be entering 2022 to bear witness to the truth. 00:04:25.760 --> 00:04:30.800 And truth is a person called Jesus. And so how best to convey the truth? One, by talking about it. 00:04:31.440 --> 00:04:38.560 Two, by walking like him. Three, by demonstrating or bringing alive this Jesus of the gospel and 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:46.880 the risen Christ. That's where you start. The second thing is, and this may not sound like a 00:04:46.880 --> 00:04:51.520 Christmas message at times, but it lies at the crux of the Christmas message. It's the Christmas 00:04:51.520 --> 00:04:57.040 message. For this purpose I was born that I may bear witness to the truth. That's what Jesus said. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:02.480 And so then again, it's our turn now to say for this purpose I was born to bear witness to the 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:07.120 truth. This is the reason he was born, guys. And this is the reason you and I are born again, 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:12.000 to bear witness to the truth. The second thing we have to do if we want to bear witness to the truth 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:18.080 is you have to be indifferent to people's opinion. You have to be indifferent to people's opinions. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:25.680 You have to be indifferent to people's opinion without being rude, without being intrusive, 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:33.360 without being imposing. You have to be indifferent to people's opinion. If you go to Mark chapter 12 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.760 verse 14, Mark 12-14. 00:05:39.280 --> 00:05:40.400 Mark 12-14. 00:05:43.200 --> 00:05:47.280 Look at what they said of your master, the one that you're bowing before, the one that 00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:54.160 we are singing to, the one that we are glad was born on a day like this. Here's what it says in 00:05:54.160 --> 00:06:00.880 Mark 12-14. And they came and said to him, teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about 00:06:00.880 --> 00:06:06.560 anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:13.120 And then they tried to set him up and trap him. But the fact remains that the word had gotten 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:19.120 around that your master, your Lord, your savior, the one that they sing to, that this Jesus that 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:26.960 we so highly talk of and hold in esteem of him was said that we know you are true and you do not 00:06:26.960 --> 00:06:36.960 care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but you truly teach the way of God. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:41.920 So the first point was if I want to bear witness to the truth for this purpose I was born, 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:47.440 and Jesus said this for this purpose, I'll keep repeating it, for this purpose I was born to bear 00:06:47.440 --> 00:06:52.240 witness to the truth. And Jacob, for this purpose you were born in your entry in 2022 so that you 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:59.760 may bear witness to the truth. How? One, by bringing alive or by conveying Jesus by talking about 00:06:59.760 --> 00:07:06.480 him, by walking like him and by demonstrating or giving evidence of his words. And the other 00:07:07.440 --> 00:07:14.160 whose words? The Jesus of the Gospels and the risen Christ. Second, by being indifferent or not 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:20.960 caring about people's opinions. Why is this important today? Because we live in a time where 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:28.720 to claim that there is any absolute truth is to be bigoted, is to be immoral, is to be intolerant, 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:34.240 is to be prejudiced, and it goes against the grain of what is today a free society. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:47.920 Third, we bear witness to the truth by surrendering afresh every day to the Spirit of Truth. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:58.480 By surrendering afresh every day to the Spirit of Truth. By surrendering afresh every day to the 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:05.280 Spirit of Truth. There is something the Holy Spirit could do in my life if I surrender afresh to him, 00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:11.440 because he's called the Spirit of Truth. Go to John 15 verse 26. John 15 verse 26. 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:27.360 Starting at verse 25, but the word that is written in the law must be fulfilled. They hated me without 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:33.120 a cause. Then verse 26, but when the helper comes whom I will send to you from the Father, 00:08:33.680 --> 00:08:41.120 the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you will also 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:47.200 bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. It's very odd, eh? Here is an odd, 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:54.800 here is a measure that you need to measure yourself by. If you have been with him for a while, 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:00.960 then it must be normal for you, a natural for you to bear witness to him. And if you are not, 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:07.120 then you must question whether being with him is actually really being with him or not. 00:09:15.280 --> 00:09:21.040 So let me read those verses again. When the helper comes, as in when the Holy Spirit comes, 00:09:21.040 --> 00:09:28.400 whom I will send, as in Jesus will send from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:34.160 Father, he will bear witness about me. This is something the Holy Spirit does. We'll talk about 00:09:34.160 --> 00:09:39.200 that a little later. And you will also, as in we guys will also bear witness because you have been 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:44.080 with me from the beginning. So Jacob, if you've been with him for 33 years, are you bearing witness 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:50.640 to the truth? One of the ways I need to do it is by surrendering afresh to the Spirit of Truth. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:58.560 Fourth, one of the ways that we bear witness to the truth is by not compromising the truth 00:09:59.520 --> 00:10:07.600 when it doesn't work or when people don't follow. By not compromising the truth to win a following, 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:14.960 by not compromising the truth when it isn't working. But letting the Word of God and the 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:22.000 voice of God trouble people and change the ears, even when people don't listen. I'm not talking 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.640 about unbelievers. It doesn't matter, be it believers or unbelievers. What often happens is 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:31.360 when it doesn't work or when people are not willing to listen or when people are not following, 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:36.960 it's very easy to begin to compromise or change the shape of truth so that it becomes more palatable, 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:42.880 more agreeable, more acceptable. And we all do that to some degree or the other. 00:10:45.920 --> 00:10:52.000 And yet, do you see in John 1838, John 1838, 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:02.480 sorry, did I say John 1838? 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:13.360 Sorry, John 847, John 847, sorry, John 847. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:23.200 There'll be times when people don't listen to the truth you have to say. 00:11:24.160 --> 00:11:28.320 At times like that, you've got to remember some of Jesus' words. He says, 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:35.120 whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you're 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:43.440 not of God. Go to verse 45. Because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Sometimes truth 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:49.040 won't be believed. Sometimes people won't believe it because they're not aligned with God. But I 00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:55.920 cannot compromise the truth or change the truth or alter the truth to suit the convenience of people 00:11:55.920 --> 00:12:04.000 or to make them feel happy. It's not done. You cannot do that. When it doesn't work, stick with 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:14.160 it. Don't change it. That's how we bear witness to the truth. Next one, guys, people are sanctified 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:20.000 or set apart or consecrated only by the truth. It's not possible to set someone apart as in, 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.720 set them apart for God. It is not possible to consecrate them as in, 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:33.920 render them holy unto God. It's not possible to sanctify them as in, bring them to a place 00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:38.560 where they are dedicated to God. It is not possible to do that with a church, with an unbeliever, 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:43.600 with a believer. It is not possible to do that without truth. How do we know that? In John 17, 00:12:44.000 --> 00:13:00.480 Jesus actually prays it. John 17, 17. He's praying for his disciples and he says, 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:06.160 they are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is 00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:12.480 truth. The message puts it this way. Make them holy, consecrated with the truth. Your word is 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:25.840 consecrating truth. What does that mean? That means that if I want to be set apart for God, 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:38.160 I cannot do it without the consecrating, sanctifying, setting apart nature of the 00:13:38.160 --> 00:13:45.280 word of God, either read or spoken or lived under. If there's one thing that all of us can benefit 00:13:45.280 --> 00:13:52.960 in 2022 is to increase living under, reading, hearing, being taught the word of God because it 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:58.720 is one of the few things that sets you apart, sanctifies you, consecrates you. David discovered 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:04.960 this long ago in the Psalms when he said, oh God, how shall a young man keep his ways pure? By 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.120 devouring your word. 00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:24.880 It is possible to use truth unlovingly, especially when what you're being, 00:14:26.160 --> 00:14:31.600 especially when what you're saying is being rejected. You see that in Luke chapter 9, verse 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:38.880 53 to 56. So Jesus goes to Samaria and he is beginning to speak in Samaria. And as he begins 00:14:38.880 --> 00:14:44.080 to speak in Samaria, the Samaritans reject him in Luke chapter 9, 53 to 56. And the reason they 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:49.040 reject him is because they have set his face like flip towards Jerusalem and he's heading towards 00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:56.320 Jerusalem. And the Samaritans knew that Jerusalem was not a place that they thought highly of. And 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:00.720 if Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, they were going to reject it. And so here is Jesus speaking the 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:07.840 truth to the guys in Samaria and they reject him. When they reject him, here's what James and John 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:16.880 do. They decide to call down fire upon the Samaritans. And so sometimes when you speak the truth that it 00:15:16.880 --> 00:15:22.480 is rejected, be it with your children, be it with people in the church, be it with non-believers, 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:27.600 when you speak the truth that it is rejected, it is often possible to use truth unlovingly. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:34.560 And Jesus's immediate rebuke was, hey, you guys are not of the same spirit as me. 00:15:40.640 --> 00:15:46.000 So that happens on one hand. On the other hand, Jesus didn't say, okay guys, let's put our 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:52.720 differences aside. Let's unite. Let's sing Kumbaya together. He didn't say that. The next verse says 00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:57.760 that when Jesus found that the Samaritans rejected him, he moved on to the next village. 00:15:58.560 --> 00:16:04.320 Sometimes I have to speak the truth and move on. I have to speak the truth to you. I have to speak 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:10.080 the truth to unbelievers. I have to have this truth spoken to me. And if I don't receive it, 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:15.040 you need to move on. You don't use it unlovingly against me. You need to move on 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:19.200 because truth is not used unlovingly. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.920 Be careful also, especially at times like this when we have COVID and all these regulations and 00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:31.120 restrictions happening, be careful that you don't let truth get lost in the weeds by arguing about 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:40.320 unimportant things like washing hands, Hillsong, dancing or masking. It is not important. Let it go. 00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:46.960 When Christians begin to argue about these things, we waste precious currency that can be used to 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:56.160 discuss greater truths. So don't let truth get lost in the weeds by arguing about unimportant 00:16:56.160 --> 00:17:04.480 things like washing hands, Hillsong, dancing or masking. 1 Timothy 1 verse 4 and 5. 1 Timothy 1 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:13.120 verse 4 and 5. This was Paul's advice. He says, make sure you don't devote yourself to myths 00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:19.440 and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than stewardship from God that is by faith. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:25.440 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:31.520 faith. Reading from the message, apparently, the message is to be true to God. The message is to 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:36.480 be true to God. Reading from the message, apparently, some people have been introducing 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:41.920 fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:46.880 people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience. The whole point of what we are 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:53.280 urging is simply love, love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. 00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:58.400 Here's another thing I wanted to touch on. Be aware that the truth can pierce and wound. 00:17:59.120 --> 00:18:02.560 Be aware that the truth can pierce and wound. 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:11.200 Why am I bringing that up? Because we live in a time where emotional offense 00:18:11.760 --> 00:18:17.120 becomes a criteria for deciding if love has been shown. 00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:23.280 Emotional offense, offense taken when the truth is said because you've been emotionally hurt 00:18:23.280 --> 00:18:28.000 becomes a criteria of whether the person has been loving or not and it's a wrong measure. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.400 When love is defined by the response of the person being loved, 00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:43.520 you lose the battle. When love is defined only by the person being loved, you lose the battle. 00:18:43.520 --> 00:18:48.640 When love is defined only by the person being loved, you lose the battle. As if there are times 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:54.640 when the truth will hurt. All of us have been here. I've had truth spoken to me and it hurt 00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:03.600 and my reaction was either retaliatory or regressing or upset or angry or hurt. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:10.720 But as you mature, you find that it takes you longer to hurt and be offended. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:17.920 As you mature, you find that it takes you longer to be hurt and offended. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:27.120 Michael W. Smith, I've mentioned this before. Four or five years ago, he was being interviewed on TV 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:34.000 on New Year's Eve and they asked him, what is the one thing you want happening in the New Year? 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:40.000 And his answer just blew me away. His answer was, I just wish that for the next year 00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:46.400 the entire year that I would never be offended, that I would not take offense. 00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:53.120 I never thought of that, that that would be a desire that one should run after, that I will 00:19:53.120 --> 00:20:01.440 not be offended. Man, if I could get there, boy, where I'm not even pretending that I'm not offended, 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:07.600 I'm not even going to God and saying, oh God, I'm sorry, but I feel really offended. No, that I don't 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:19.360 even get offended. Because here's the truth. The truth wounds and hurts, but it cannot be used as 00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:31.680 the criteria of whether you are loved or not. A person can be genuinely loved and feel hurt or offended, 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:35.040 but it does not diminish the value of the love shown. 00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:42.400 You see this in the Bible, you see the ultimate act of love, which was Jesus dying on a cross, 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:50.000 and you see such different reactions. In John 19, 27, you see Mary and John standing at the foot of 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:57.200 the cross and crying. And then you see Matthew, you see in Matthew 27, verse 41 to 44, people 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:02.320 enraged, angry. The Pharisees hanging around the bottom of the cross saying, hey, if you are all 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:07.440 that you say you are, come off the cross. How come you can't save yourself? The ultimate act of love 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:17.520 had two different reactions. One would cause offense, one caused sorrow. And if you listen to 00:21:17.520 --> 00:21:23.360 Jesus's words to his adversaries, if you listen to Jesus's words to his disciples, if you listen 00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:29.920 to Jesus's words to his listeners, man, he could be quite offensive. His words had the potential to 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:34.960 hurt and very often they hurt and offended people. I mean, how many times did he say to his disciples, 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:42.160 how come you have such a small faith? Where is your faith? He told the Pharisees, he called them 00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:50.880 whitewashed tombs and serpents. He said, you know, you have to be a good man, you have to be a good 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:57.680 man. He turned to one of his favorite disciples, Jesus, and said, get thee behind me, Satan. 00:21:59.280 --> 00:22:03.520 He turned to James and John who he treasured and said, you're not of the same spirit as me. 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:09.840 He turned to some of his listeners who were religious and said, you follow your father, 00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:16.800 the devil. He turned to Judas and said, so you say you're a friend, but you betray me with a kiss. 00:22:21.040 --> 00:22:24.000 He often said to his disciples, how come you guys are so dull? 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:34.240 Paul would do the same thing. At one point he turns to the Galatians and said, 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:38.880 you guys are so interested in circumcision, why don't you just go and circumcise yourself completely? 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.920 Like literally emasculate yourself. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:49.440 Paul took issue with how Peter behaved and he called Peter on it. Paul took issue with how Mark 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:51.120 behaved, called Mark on it. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:08.160 Our intent is to love when we speak the truth in a way that blesses, in a way that draws people 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:13.360 out of their sorrow and pain. But please understand that sometimes the truth will hurt. 00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:16.800 Take a, this is so not a Christmasy message. I agree. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:24.800 So Jesus was not born to keep secret the truth of God, neither are you born to keep secret the 00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:31.600 truth of God. You're supposed to bear witness to the truth, supposed to bear witness to the truth. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:41.840 And that takes us, John 18 37 takes us to Acts 1 8. You're supposed to bear witness to the truth. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:47.600 And then you go to Acts 1 8 and you have this amazing statement where it says, 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:52.560 And the power of the Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem 00:23:52.560 --> 00:23:58.880 to dear Holy Mary at the ends of the earth. And just when you think that's the end, it takes you 00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:09.760 right back to Luke chapter 1 verse 25 or 35, where it says that the overshadowing power of the Holy 00:24:09.760 --> 00:24:16.400 Spirit shall be upon you, Mary, and you shall conceive of the Holy Spirit and you shall be 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:23.040 spirit and you shall give birth to a son called Jesus and he shall save the world from sins. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:30.640 At the end of the day, my prayers, we finished days that father, could you make acts 29 and 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:38.160 church that understands that the purpose acts 29 is born the purpose each person at acts 29 lives 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:40.320 is to bear witness to the truth. 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:46.720 And it's by the Holy Spirit, we do that, Acts 1 8, let me read it again, but you will receive power 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:52.400 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:57.440 in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Guys, we sing that song, Joy to the World. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:04.320 One of the things we have to realize is that the Holy Spirit is heaven's reply to every curse on 00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:10.880 earth. The Holy Spirit is heaven's reply to every curse on earth. If you go to Galatians 3 verse 13 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:20.480 and 14, Galatians 3 verse 13 and 14, Galatians 3 verse 13 and 14. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.480 Christ redeemed us from the curse. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.640 Well, 13 and 14. 00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:38.240 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, but becoming a curse for us for it is written, 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:43.360 cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. So that in Jesus Christ, the blessings of Abraham might 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:48.800 come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith. And we leave the 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:54.800 message. Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating cursed life by absorbing it completely into 00:25:54.800 --> 00:26:00.080 himself. Do you remember the scripture that says, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree? That is 00:26:00.080 --> 00:26:05.520 what happened when Jesus was made to the cross. He became a curse and at the same time dissolved 00:26:05.520 --> 00:26:11.440 the curse. And now because of that, the air is cleared and we can see Abraham's blessing is 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:18.320 present and available for non-Jews too. We are all able to receive God's life, his spirit in and with 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:21.520 us by believing just the way Abraham received it. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:31.760 Keep coming back to the same thing. Father, I was born for this purpose to bear witness to the truth 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:38.240 and the truth is your son Jesus Christ. I will learn to be indifferent to the opinions of the 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:44.800 world. I realize that I may be called bigoted, I may be called prejudiced, I may be called immoral, 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:49.760 I may be called narrow-minded, but I will not pay attention to the opinions of men. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:57.440 I will not compromise the truth, shave it off because it is not working or because people are 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:05.440 not accepting it. I will not use it in a way that hurts, but if the truth offends and it's being 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:12.480 spoken, so be it, oh God. If people do not accept it, I will move on to the next village. I realize, 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:17.600 Father, that there are times when you will speak truth into my life through people and I will be 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:23.440 offended by it and I may hurt, but my intent is that I'll keep maturing so that when truth is spoken, 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:29.680 I will not sulk, so that when truth is spoken, I will not shrink, I will not retaliate, I will not 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:37.440 regress, but I will humble myself to receive it because truth is best received when I'm humble. 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:44.160 Father, I recognize that your Spirit is the Spirit of truth and that He has been given to me so that 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:49.600 I may know you, but also so that I may bear witness to your Son. 00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:58.320 Father, you're fast forwarding me to Acts 1-8 and in Acts 1-8 the power of the Spirit is upon me 00:27:58.320 --> 00:28:05.440 that I may bear witness again to the truth in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and the 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:12.560 ends of the earth. Thank you, Holy Spirit. I will bear witness to the Jesus of the Gospels. 00:28:12.560 --> 00:28:17.520 I will bear witness to the Jesus of the Gospels by talking about it. I will bear witness to the 00:28:17.520 --> 00:28:22.560 Jesus of the Gospels by walking like Him. I will bear witness to the Jesus of the Gospels by 00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:28.400 demonstrating and giving evidence of His words by attempting to do the works. I know I can't do them, 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:33.440 but I have the Spirit of truth in me who bears witness to the truth and comes to me. 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:38.400 Who bears witness to the truth and truth is a person and the person is Jesus of the Gospels 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:44.000 and the risen Christ. I was born for this purpose to bear witness to the truth. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:50.960 I'll bear it to my own self. I'll bear it to my family. I'll bear it to my friends. I will bear 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:55.280 it to the church that I'm a part of. I'll bear it to the ones that have been placed in my charge. 00:28:57.600 --> 00:29:03.120 If I wound them, I will do everything in my power to draw them into a deeper experience of God and 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:11.680 His joy, but I will not compromise on the truth just because it offends or hurts, because it will. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:21.120 I still remember that time, Jesus, when you turn to Peter in his passionate 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:29.280 moment where he says to you, even if everyone else betrays you, I will not betray you. And you turn 00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:34.320 to him and you said something that would have pierced him later on when he said, 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:37.280 before the cock crows three times, you would have denied me three times. 00:29:38.800 --> 00:29:45.760 And when that happens, he looks at me, starts weeping so profusely because he knew that the 00:29:45.760 --> 00:29:51.520 truth had been spoken and it pierced him like no other. And yet you were there on the beach when 00:29:51.520 --> 00:29:55.760 he knelt before you and you grabbed him and restored him. 00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:06.400 It's all that this words, Father, that we're talking about in John 18, 36 and 37 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:13.040 was the words that were spoken at your trial, at your son's trial. He spoke it just before the 00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:20.320 end of his life. He spoke it to Pilate who said, so what is the truth? That's when your son says, 00:30:20.320 --> 00:30:26.160 for this reason I was born to bear witness to the truth. Father, this is critical for Acts 29. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:31.920 I pray that you'll give us the courage because we lack the courage. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:34.320 We lack the courage because we are afraid of people. 00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:45.600 We live in a society where absolute truths are laughed at. Jesus, I need courage. I need courage. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:50.000 So as we sing this next song, Father, I just pray that we'll be able to 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:55.520 do what we need to. So I'm going to ask Sheldon and Jane to lead this song, 00:30:55.520 --> 00:30:59.360 which summarizes what we've been talking about. 00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:04.000 And then we'll come back and end with Silent Night. 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:26.800 I continue. 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:52.600 Jesus blinded all my darkness. 00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:55.600 Spark my heart with it. 00:31:55.600 --> 00:32:00.600 His grace and mercy, little passion. 00:32:00.600 --> 00:32:03.600 Consume my sin. 00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:05.600 Jesus blinded. 00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:09.600 Jesus blinded all my darkness. 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:13.600 Spark my heart with it. 00:32:13.600 --> 00:32:17.600 His grace and mercy, little passion. 00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:21.600 Consume my sin. 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:26.600 Now like a city on a hilltop. 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:30.600 I'll shine through the night. 00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:35.600 I am a lamp made for his glory. 00:32:35.600 --> 00:32:37.600 I will not hide. 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:39.600 Now like a city. 00:32:39.600 --> 00:32:44.600 Now like a city on a hilltop. 00:32:44.600 --> 00:32:48.600 I'll shine through the night. 00:32:48.600 --> 00:32:53.600 I am a lamp made for his glory. 00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:56.600 I will not hide. 00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:59.600 Cause I've been touched by a fire. 00:32:59.600 --> 00:33:05.600 So let the world come and watch me burn. 00:33:05.600 --> 00:33:09.600 We'll shout it from the rooftops. 00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:15.600 Shout it to wherever you are, house of. 00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:22.600 This love, this love will never be extinguished. 00:33:22.600 --> 00:33:26.600 It's alive and wild and free. 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:30.600 I'm overtaken by his power. 00:33:30.600 --> 00:33:32.600 His spirit in me. 00:33:32.600 --> 00:33:34.600 His spirit in me. 00:33:34.600 --> 00:33:36.600 His spirit in me. 00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:39.600 Cause I've been touched by a fire. 00:33:39.600 --> 00:33:44.600 So let the world come and watch me burn. 00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:47.600 We'll shout it from the rooftops. 00:33:47.600 --> 00:33:51.600 Shout it to wherever you are, house of. 00:33:51.600 --> 00:33:58.600 This love, this love will never be extinguished. 00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:03.600 Cause I've been touched by a fire. 00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:08.600 So let the world come and watch me burn. 00:34:08.600 --> 00:34:12.600 We'll shout it from the rooftops. 00:34:12.600 --> 00:34:16.600 Shout it to wherever you are, house of. 00:34:16.600 --> 00:34:19.600 Jesus has changed my life. 00:34:19.600 --> 00:34:21.600 His name be lifted high. 00:34:21.600 --> 00:34:25.600 This holy fire's burning inside of me. 00:34:25.600 --> 00:34:28.600 Jesus has changed my life. 00:34:28.600 --> 00:34:30.600 His name be lifted high. 00:34:30.600 --> 00:34:34.600 This holy fire's burning inside of me. 00:34:34.600 --> 00:34:53.600 Jesus has changed my life, His name be lifted high, this holy fire is burning inside of me. 00:34:53.600 --> 00:35:11.600 I cannot hold it inside, I cannot keep it quiet, this holy fire is burning inside of me. 00:35:11.600 --> 00:35:19.600 So I've been touched by a fire, so let the world come and watch me burn. 00:35:20.600 --> 00:35:27.600 Shouting from the rooftops, we'll shout it to everyone housing. 00:35:28.600 --> 00:35:36.600 So I've been touched by a fire, so let the world come and watch me burn. 00:35:37.600 --> 00:35:44.600 Shouting from the rooftops, we'll shout it to everyone housing. 00:35:44.600 --> 00:35:57.600 Now like a city on a hilltop, I'll shine through the night. 00:35:58.600 --> 00:36:06.600 I am a lamp made for His glory, I will not hide. 00:36:06.600 --> 00:36:15.600 I am a lamp made for His glory, I will not hide. 00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:21.600 I will not hide. 00:36:21.600 --> 00:36:30.600 Father, we thank you that we are lamps made for your glory, Father, and that's the whole purpose that we were created for. 00:36:30.600 --> 00:36:36.600 Our whole purpose was so that we could bear witness for you, so that we could be lamps shining for you, Father, 00:36:36.600 --> 00:36:40.600 but we're not supposed to be lights on a hill put under a basket. 00:36:40.600 --> 00:36:48.600 But that we are lamps made for your glory, Father, and that's the whole purpose that we were created for. 00:36:48.600 --> 00:36:53.600 We are not supposed to be lights on a hill put under a basket, but that in each one of our lives, Father, 00:36:53.600 --> 00:37:00.600 we'll remove the baskets off our lives so that we will be on a hill and the whole city can see, 00:37:00.600 --> 00:37:05.600 the whole neighborhood, the whole city, the whole nation will see us shining for you, Father. 00:37:05.600 --> 00:37:10.600 No more will we hide under our baskets, but we remove those baskets off of our lives, Father, 00:37:10.600 --> 00:37:16.600 so that we shine for you, so that we display you, so that we talk like you, we walk like you, 00:37:16.600 --> 00:37:22.600 so that when people look at us, they don't see Jillian, they don't see Jane, they don't see Jacob, 00:37:22.600 --> 00:37:29.600 they don't see our own selves, but they see, hey, that's Jesus, that person is walking like Jesus. 00:37:29.600 --> 00:37:32.600 There's something different about how that person is walking. 00:37:32.600 --> 00:37:38.600 So Father, I thank you for this word that you've given us as we end one year and we step into another year, 00:37:38.600 --> 00:37:41.600 but we step into another year with you, Father. 00:37:41.600 --> 00:37:44.600 That's one of my favorite things about Christmas being at the end of the year, 00:37:44.600 --> 00:37:50.600 is that we're stepping into the new year with you, with your birth, with your life, Father, 00:37:50.600 --> 00:37:56.600 with a reminder that we walk with your life, your life living inside of us, 00:37:56.600 --> 00:38:01.600 because you walking on this earth made it so that we can now walk with you. 00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:04.600 We can now be your hands and feet. 00:38:04.600 --> 00:38:13.600 We can be your body going here, going there, being blown about, as it says in Job 37, 00:38:13.600 --> 00:38:17.600 that we are clouds filled with you that you then get to direct. 00:38:17.600 --> 00:38:38.600 I'm just going to read that first. 00:38:38.600 --> 00:38:43.600 It says, he loads the clouds with moisture and he scatters his lightning through them. 00:38:43.600 --> 00:38:50.600 At his direction, they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. 00:38:50.600 --> 00:38:55.600 He brings the clouds to punish people or to water his earth and show his love. 00:38:55.600 --> 00:38:57.600 And Father, that's what we're to be. 00:38:57.600 --> 00:39:02.600 We're to be loaded with your truth so that we go where you send us, 00:39:02.600 --> 00:39:08.600 so that we scatter across the earth, Father, so that we can bring your love, your peace, 00:39:08.600 --> 00:39:13.600 your correction, your direction across the earth, Father. 00:39:13.600 --> 00:39:21.600 So I thank you, Father, for this reminder that you've given us tonight to go out and spread your truth, 00:39:21.600 --> 00:39:28.600 which is you, Father, displayed through us across the earth, in our jobs, in our cities, in our homes, 00:39:28.600 --> 00:39:32.600 in our neighborhoods, wherever we go and everything we do, Father. 00:39:32.600 --> 00:39:35.600 So I thank you, Father, for what you've started here. 00:39:35.600 --> 00:39:43.600 And I pray that we have the boldness and the courage to step out and live this each day and every moment of each day, Father. 00:39:43.600 --> 00:39:45.600 In Jesus' name, Amen. 00:39:45.600 --> 00:39:48.600 Amen. 00:39:48.600 --> 00:39:55.600 Hey, guys, just turn to John 1837, preferably an IV. 00:39:55.600 --> 00:40:01.600 Preferably ESV. 00:40:01.600 --> 00:40:10.600 I'm going to read it together, twice. 00:40:10.600 --> 00:40:15.600 John 1837, ESV. 00:40:15.600 --> 00:40:22.600 Starting it for this purpose, just that one line. 00:40:22.600 --> 00:40:33.600 Say together, for this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. 00:40:33.600 --> 00:40:35.600 One more time. 00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:45.600 For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I was born, for this purpose I was born, to bear witness to the truth. 00:40:45.600 --> 00:40:46.600 One last time. 00:40:46.600 --> 00:41:00.600 For this purpose I was born, for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. 00:41:00.600 --> 00:41:03.600 Let's sing Silent Night. 00:41:03.600 --> 00:41:10.600 I believe the roads leading to 4708 Joyce were really slippery. 00:41:10.600 --> 00:41:21.600 This guy even tried going there, but turned back and came back because the roads were very slippery around 41st. 00:41:21.600 --> 00:41:26.600 So I'm glad we didn't livestream or meet there today. 00:41:26.600 --> 00:41:31.600 That aside, I spoke to Jeremy about this, so I've taken his permission. 00:41:31.600 --> 00:41:34.600 He tested positive for COVID. 00:41:34.600 --> 00:41:37.600 It was a rapid antigen test. 00:41:37.600 --> 00:41:39.600 So I just prayed for him. 00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:43.600 He said he was feeling slightly feverish, but no other symptoms. 00:41:43.600 --> 00:41:52.600 So just pray that by tomorrow morning, even though he has to quarantine, that he will surprisingly be free from any symptoms. 00:41:52.600 --> 00:42:07.600 And I pray, God, that Acts 29 becomes a Goshen where people can come and find refuge and not be ravaged by whatever happens in the world. 00:42:07.600 --> 00:42:10.600 Goshen is a place where the land is fruitful. 00:42:10.600 --> 00:42:12.600 It's the best land possible. 00:42:12.600 --> 00:42:21.600 And I pray that that is something that God will do through us, for us, and for others. 00:42:21.600 --> 00:42:23.600 Just pray that too. 00:42:23.600 --> 00:42:28.600 Let's just sing this song. I love this song. 00:42:28.600 --> 00:42:37.600 Maybe we should dip the lights and all. 00:42:37.600 --> 00:42:44.600 I don't have candles, so the best I can do is dip the lights. 00:42:44.600 --> 00:42:48.600 Yay. 00:42:48.600 --> 00:42:50.600 Can you switch this on? 00:42:50.600 --> 00:42:59.600 There's a switch right here. 00:42:59.600 --> 00:43:03.600 One more. 00:43:03.600 --> 00:43:16.600 He touched the switch and there was a static, so he got a shock. 00:43:16.600 --> 00:43:34.600 The sun is bright, all is calm, all is bright. 00:43:34.600 --> 00:44:01.600 Round yon mountain, mighty and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace. 00:44:01.600 --> 00:44:09.600 Sleep in heavenly peace. 00:44:09.600 --> 00:44:27.600 Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight, 00:44:27.600 --> 00:44:44.600 Glory squealing from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah. 00:44:44.600 --> 00:45:01.600 Christ the Savior is born, Lord, Christ the Savior is born. 00:45:01.600 --> 00:45:19.600 Silent night, holy night, Son of God, Love's pure light, 00:45:19.600 --> 00:45:36.600 Brave beams from thy holy face, Winter dawn of redeeming grace. 00:45:36.600 --> 00:45:53.600 Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth. 00:45:53.600 --> 00:46:21.600 Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called, Emmanuel. 00:46:23.600 --> 00:46:52.600 And God with us, Revealed through us, His name is called, Emmanuel. 00:46:53.600 --> 00:47:02.600 Father, I deliberately change the words to God with us, Revealed through us, because we want to bear witness to the truth. 00:47:02.600 --> 00:47:09.600 Emmanuel, God with us, we've got to bear witness to the truth of the God who is with us, the with us God. 00:47:09.600 --> 00:47:18.600 God, bear witness to the truth. Father, give us the ability in 2022 to do this. Give me the ability starting right now to do this. 00:47:18.600 --> 00:47:27.600 Even between now and the 31st, give us an opportunity to bear witness to the truth of who you are, to someone that hasn't heard of it before. 00:47:27.600 --> 00:47:32.600 Father, before I close, I don't know who all are listening, Father, I haven't checked. 00:47:32.600 --> 00:47:45.600 But if someone hasn't received Jesus Christ into their lives, I rarely do this, but I just feel right now that if you haven't received Jesus Christ into your life, and you're listening to this, 00:47:45.600 --> 00:48:02.600 then here is the truth, that the reason Jesus was born was to bear witness to the fact that God has always been a father, that He is longing to receive you as His child. 00:48:02.600 --> 00:48:25.600 But the only way you can step up and be His child and be restored to God who has always been a father is by receiving Jesus Christ as your master, by receiving Jesus Christ as the one who died on the cross for your sins, paying the penalty for all the wrong things you've done in the past, in the present and in the future. 00:48:26.600 --> 00:48:43.600 That on a night like this, He was born of a virgin, that He is absolute God, that He came down to the earth and lived in the flesh, that He did not sin, that He was crucified and He died. 00:48:43.600 --> 00:48:48.600 They buried Him and He rose again in three days. 00:48:48.600 --> 00:48:53.600 He appeared to over 500, 600 people. 00:48:53.600 --> 00:48:57.600 Historically, He exists. 00:48:57.600 --> 00:49:06.600 And then He ascended after 40 days and is seated at the right hand of God as the Lord of heaven and earth forever and evermore. 00:49:06.600 --> 00:49:20.600 You don't need to understand everything, but you need to recognize that and if you do, whether you're listening to this right now or in some time in the future, that you, as it says in John chapter one, 00:49:20.600 --> 00:49:24.600 receive the right to be called a child of God. 00:49:42.600 --> 00:49:46.600 Hey, for this one, everybody unmute and let's make some noise. 00:50:20.600 --> 00:50:21.600 Sing. 00:50:50.600 --> 00:50:57.600 I want to wish you a 00:51:20.600 --> 00:51:25.600 Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart. 00:51:25.600 --> 00:51:29.600 I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. 00:51:29.600 --> 00:51:33.600 I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. 00:51:33.600 --> 00:51:34.600 Sing with me. 00:51:34.600 --> 00:51:40.600 I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart. 00:51:40.600 --> 00:51:41.600 Are you ready? 00:51:41.600 --> 00:51:43.600 One. 00:51:43.600 --> 00:51:46.600 Oh, my God. 00:51:46.600 --> 00:52:01.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:01.600 --> 00:52:04.600 I was told. 00:52:04.600 --> 00:52:09.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:09.600 --> 00:52:12.600 Very. 00:52:12.600 --> 00:52:17.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:17.600 --> 00:52:22.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:22.600 --> 00:52:26.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:26.600 --> 00:52:30.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:30.600 --> 00:52:35.600 Oh, my God. 00:52:35.600 --> 00:52:45.600 Oh, my God. 00:53:15.600 --> 00:53:20.600 We ordered three strange things and nothing NCS dies 00:53:21.880 --> 00:53:25.980 This chicken is so small 00:53:35.040 --> 00:53:36.800 Yuck! 00:53:45.600 --> 00:53:57.600 I want to be a star, I want to be a star 00:53:57.600 --> 00:54:10.600 I want to be a star, I want to be a star 00:54:10.600 --> 00:54:15.600 I want to be a star 00:54:41.600 --> 00:54:45.600 Wow, this is exciting. I've been making it fast, man. 00:54:45.600 --> 00:55:01.600 So just while Brandon's making our delivery, seeing how quick of a delivery we can make, if anybody has anything they would like to say to Jacob or thank Jacob, they better be really fast because the delivery shouldn't take too long. 00:55:01.600 --> 00:55:09.600 So you have like five seconds each. If anybody would like to say something, please put up your hand and you can unmute yourself. 00:55:09.600 --> 00:55:12.600 Thank you, Jacob, from all of us. 00:55:12.600 --> 00:55:15.600 Amen. 00:55:15.600 --> 00:55:19.600 Merry Christmas, Jacob. 00:55:19.600 --> 00:55:24.600 He's right here. 00:55:24.600 --> 00:55:28.600 I'm keeping a note of the guys who are... 00:55:28.600 --> 00:55:34.600 Thank you, Jacob, for leading us and being a great example. 00:55:34.600 --> 00:55:37.600 Thanks, Mark. 00:55:37.600 --> 00:55:39.600 Happy Christmas. 00:55:39.600 --> 00:55:42.600 Who was that? 00:55:42.600 --> 00:55:45.600 Merry Christmas. 00:55:45.600 --> 00:55:48.600 Can you guys say Merry Christmas to Mr. Jacob? 00:55:48.600 --> 00:55:50.600 Thanks, guys. 00:55:50.600 --> 00:55:54.600 Merry Christmas, Jacob. 00:55:54.600 --> 00:55:57.600 Merry Christmas. 00:55:57.600 --> 00:55:59.600 Merry Christmas. 00:55:59.600 --> 00:56:01.600 2022. 00:56:01.600 --> 00:56:06.600 This is so personal, it's really touching my heart. 00:56:06.600 --> 00:56:10.600 David, you're such a humble guy. We really appreciate you. 00:56:10.600 --> 00:56:17.600 Already, you were very honest there. I really appreciate you. 00:56:17.600 --> 00:56:21.600 Merry Christmas, Jacob. 00:56:21.600 --> 00:56:23.600 And everyone. 00:56:23.600 --> 00:56:28.600 Same. Merry Christmas, Jacob. 00:56:28.600 --> 00:56:30.600 Thank you. 00:56:31.600 --> 00:56:38.600 I have to go. 00:56:38.600 --> 00:56:41.600 Say Merry Christmas, Jacob. 00:56:41.600 --> 00:56:43.600 Jacob. 00:56:43.600 --> 00:56:45.600 Jacob. 00:56:45.600 --> 00:56:50.600 Merry Christmas, Jacob. 00:56:50.600 --> 00:56:54.600 Brandon's taking forever, man. 00:56:54.600 --> 00:56:58.600 I'll say Merry Christmas, Jacob, too. 00:56:58.600 --> 00:57:02.600 No, he hasn't buzzed yet. 00:57:02.600 --> 00:57:11.600 Yeah. Hey, guys. So while we're waiting and we've exhausted saying Merry Christmas to Jacob, thank God for that. 00:57:11.600 --> 00:57:22.600 Hey, so on Sunday, we'll see how the weather is and stuff like that and decide. Hey, Shiloh, I don't know if you're watching, but can you see your card here? 00:57:22.600 --> 00:57:24.600 Yeah, there it is. 00:57:24.600 --> 00:57:32.600 So we'll decide on Sunday whether we'll be live streaming or zooming or meeting in person. 00:57:32.600 --> 00:57:35.600 So let's see what happens. 00:57:35.600 --> 00:57:40.600 Yeah. 00:57:40.600 --> 00:57:45.600 Can I just say that it's really nice to see the Bergman family? 00:57:45.600 --> 00:57:47.600 You're speaking just for yourself, right? 00:57:47.600 --> 00:57:54.600 No, I'm talking for the majority of us. 00:57:54.600 --> 00:57:58.600 We miss you guys lots and lots. 00:57:58.600 --> 00:58:02.600 And hi, Danny and Miguel and family. 00:58:02.600 --> 00:58:08.600 And everyone else, of course. 00:58:08.600 --> 00:58:15.600 It should take him 52 seconds to come up the elevator. 00:58:15.600 --> 00:58:22.600 Yeah. 00:58:22.600 --> 00:58:26.600 I wanna wish you Merry Christmas. 00:58:26.600 --> 00:58:34.600 Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot I'm on Zoom. 00:58:34.600 --> 00:58:37.600 How many people are on here? 00:58:37.600 --> 00:58:42.600 How many guys are on Zoom? 00:58:42.600 --> 00:58:46.600 21? 00:58:46.600 --> 00:58:48.600 29. 00:58:48.600 --> 00:58:51.600 Nice. 00:58:51.600 --> 00:58:54.600 That's like mega church numbers, eh? 00:58:54.600 --> 00:58:58.600 And some I don't see and some I don't recognize. 00:58:58.600 --> 00:59:06.600 I like that dog in the Lucos family. 00:59:06.600 --> 00:59:10.600 Thank you, Penny. 00:59:10.600 --> 00:59:12.600 He's lovely. 00:59:12.600 --> 00:59:16.600 Dillon, have you been able to take us out of your spam? 00:59:16.600 --> 00:59:19.600 Yes, I got it out of my spam. 00:59:19.600 --> 00:59:25.600 Very grateful. 00:59:25.600 --> 00:59:27.600 Is Alex there with you? 00:59:27.600 --> 00:59:29.600 Yeah, Alex is right there. 00:59:29.600 --> 00:59:32.600 Hi, Alex. Sorry we canceled the service on you. 00:59:32.600 --> 00:59:34.600 Thank you. 00:59:34.600 --> 00:59:39.600 It's good to be part of it. 00:59:39.600 --> 00:59:44.600 All right, here's Canada Post. 00:59:44.600 --> 00:59:47.600 Am I supposed to open this on camera? 00:59:47.600 --> 00:59:51.600 You don't have to, but we just, this is from everybody in the, from the church. 00:59:51.600 --> 01:00:00.600 And we just want to say thank you for your time, your commitment and your desire for pouring into us and 01:00:00.600 --> 01:00:06.600 your heart to raise us up and make us like Christ and display him and learn to walk. 01:00:06.600 --> 01:00:11.600 And it's something that you, you display Christ accurately in how you live your life. 01:00:11.600 --> 01:00:16.600 And it's something that we appreciate in that we can all learn more from you in that area. 01:00:16.600 --> 01:00:23.600 And now Jeevan is going to say something. 01:00:23.600 --> 01:00:31.600 Am I supposed to pray, right? 01:00:31.600 --> 01:00:39.600 Okay. 01:00:39.600 --> 01:00:45.600 Okay guys, let's all shoot. 01:00:45.600 --> 01:00:50.600 Let's pray. Let's pray for Jacob. So if you want to raise your hand towards Jacob. 01:00:50.600 --> 01:00:56.600 Okay. 01:00:56.600 --> 01:01:02.600 Okay, let's pray. Father as a body, we come together and we bless Jacob. 01:01:02.600 --> 01:01:07.600 Thank you so much for placing him as a spiritual father over us, our Lord. 01:01:07.600 --> 01:01:11.600 So we acknowledge his place upon our life. Thank you. 01:01:11.600 --> 01:01:17.600 We bless Jacob. And we are so grateful to you for you have placed Jacob in our life. 01:01:17.600 --> 01:01:22.600 We pray for protection. We pray for about for the next coming year. 01:01:22.600 --> 01:01:26.600 We I pray for the expansion of the tend to a lot. 01:01:26.600 --> 01:01:36.600 The expansion of the tender teaches how to take out the pegs that were already placed and take and move further steps and then established and expand the tender. 01:01:36.600 --> 01:01:38.600 Thank you. 01:01:38.600 --> 01:01:41.600 We bless Jacob and we're so we're so blessed by him. 01:01:41.600 --> 01:01:47.600 Oh Lord. I also pray that about for the next year until next Christmas about that. 01:01:47.600 --> 01:01:53.600 You give him good health that he runs much faster than what he has done all these years. 01:01:53.600 --> 01:02:03.600 We bless him about we are so so happy and grateful for him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 01:02:03.600 --> 01:02:14.600 Thank you guys. I will thank you over the next two Sundays for who you are and set us up for 2022. 01:02:14.600 --> 01:02:19.600 I'm looking forward to either zooming or meeting in person or live streaming. 01:02:19.600 --> 01:02:27.600 So bless you guys and see you when I see you when the church meets next. 01:02:27.600 --> 01:02:32.600 Good night. Good night. Merry Christmas. Thank you. 01:02:32.600 --> 01:02:37.600 Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas everybody. 01:02:37.600 --> 01:02:38.600 That's a good day. Merry Christmas.