Christmas Evening

things. You know, I mean, there are many scriptures you can take for Christmas, but this one's in

John 18, verse 36 and 37, and it's at Jesus's trial, and it's towards the end of his life here on

John 18:36

earth. That's where he makes his statement, John 18, John 18, 36 and 37, and here's what he says.

First he talks about the kingdom, and he says, My kingdom is not of this world if it were my

servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leader, but my kingdom is from another place.

No, that's not it. Where is it? Just one sec.

Oh yeah, it is. John 18, 37. You're a king then, said Pilate. Jesus answered, You say that I'm a

king, and then listen to this. That's what we'll be looking at. In fact, the reason I was born

and came into the world is to bear witness to the truth. Everyone on the side of the truth

listens to me. For this purpose, another version says, for this purpose I was born, and for this

purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens

to my voice. In the message it says, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to

the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth recognizes my voice.

And so we echo that act of that now, saying, for this purpose I was born, for this purpose you were

born. What is this purpose? That you and I have been born into this world to bear witness to the

truth. To bear witness to the truth. And in today's world it's pretty difficult, eh? Because to claim

absolute truth today is to be labeled immoral, intolerant, bigoted, prejudiced, because nobody

wants to ever claim absolute truth. It's always relative. And so in a sense, morality today

demands that we succumb or we agree with relativism. And it almost seems to be the definition of a

free society. And so from Trudeau to every other person you can think of talks about how

everything is relative. Nothing is absolute. In any area in life and into that mixture, God wants us

to step in and into that world Jesus injects us and he's saying to us, hey, you guys have to begin

to say what I said in John 18 37. That for this purpose I was born and for this purpose I came to

this world to bear witness to the truth.

So how do we go about this? What do we do? I just want to touch on that. It won't take long,

surprisingly. The first thing I have to do is realize that truth is a person. Truth is a person.

That truth is a person. John 14 6. I am the way, the life, and the truth. The truth is a person.

And he is best conveyed by, how do you best convey the truth? If he's a person, one, you do it by

talking about him. Two, you do it by walking like him. Three, you do it by bringing him alive or

demonstrating the risen Christ. Three things that I have to keep in mind if I want to bear witness to

the truth. And for this reason he was born and if I am born again, this is the reason I am born too.

If you want purpose for 2022, start here. For this reason I am alive in 2022 to bear witness to the

truth. For this reason I will be entering 2022 to bear witness to the truth.

And truth is a person called Jesus. And so how best to convey the truth? One, by talking about it.

Two, by walking like him. Three, by demonstrating or bringing alive this Jesus of the gospel and

the risen Christ. That's where you start. The second thing is, and this may not sound like a

Christmas message at times, but it lies at the crux of the Christmas message. It's the Christmas

message. For this purpose I was born that I may bear witness to the truth. That's what Jesus said.

And so then again, it's our turn now to say for this purpose I was born to bear witness to the

truth. This is the reason he was born, guys. And this is the reason you and I are born again,

to bear witness to the truth. The second thing we have to do if we want to bear witness to the truth

is you have to be indifferent to people's opinion. You have to be indifferent to people's opinions.

You have to be indifferent to people's opinion without being rude, without being intrusive,

without being imposing. You have to be indifferent to people's opinion. If you go to Mark chapter 12

Mark 12:14

verse 14, Mark 12-14.

Mark 12-14.

Look at what they said of your master, the one that you're bowing before, the one that

we are singing to, the one that we are glad was born on a day like this. Here's what it says in

Mark 12-14. And they came and said to him, teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about

anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.

And then they tried to set him up and trap him. But the fact remains that the word had gotten

around that your master, your Lord, your savior, the one that they sing to, that this Jesus that

we so highly talk of and hold in esteem of him was said that we know you are true and you do not

care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but you truly teach the way of God.

So the first point was if I want to bear witness to the truth for this purpose I was born,

and Jesus said this for this purpose, I'll keep repeating it, for this purpose I was born to bear

witness to the truth. And Jacob, for this purpose you were born in your entry in 2022 so that you

may bear witness to the truth. How? One, by bringing alive or by conveying Jesus by talking about

him, by walking like him and by demonstrating or giving evidence of his words. And the other

whose words? The Jesus of the Gospels and the risen Christ. Second, by being indifferent or not

caring about people's opinions. Why is this important today? Because we live in a time where

to claim that there is any absolute truth is to be bigoted, is to be immoral, is to be intolerant,

is to be prejudiced, and it goes against the grain of what is today a free society.

Third, we bear witness to the truth by surrendering afresh every day to the Spirit of Truth.

By surrendering afresh every day to the Spirit of Truth. By surrendering afresh every day to the

Spirit of Truth. There is something the Holy Spirit could do in my life if I surrender afresh to him,

because he's called the Spirit of Truth. Go to John 15 verse 26. John 15 verse 26.

John 15:26 John 15:26

Starting at verse 25, but the word that is written in the law must be fulfilled. They hated me without

a cause. Then verse 26, but when the helper comes whom I will send to you from the Father,

the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you will also

bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. It's very odd, eh? Here is an odd,

here is a measure that you need to measure yourself by. If you have been with him for a while,

then it must be normal for you, a natural for you to bear witness to him. And if you are not,

then you must question whether being with him is actually really being with him or not.

So let me read those verses again. When the helper comes, as in when the Holy Spirit comes,

whom I will send, as in Jesus will send from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the

Father, he will bear witness about me. This is something the Holy Spirit does. We'll talk about

that a little later. And you will also, as in we guys will also bear witness because you have been

with me from the beginning. So Jacob, if you've been with him for 33 years, are you bearing witness

to the truth? One of the ways I need to do it is by surrendering afresh to the Spirit of Truth.

Fourth, one of the ways that we bear witness to the truth is by not compromising the truth

when it doesn't work or when people don't follow. By not compromising the truth to win a following,

by not compromising the truth when it isn't working. But letting the Word of God and the

voice of God trouble people and change the ears, even when people don't listen. I'm not talking

about unbelievers. It doesn't matter, be it believers or unbelievers. What often happens is

when it doesn't work or when people are not willing to listen or when people are not following,

it's very easy to begin to compromise or change the shape of truth so that it becomes more palatable,

more agreeable, more acceptable. And we all do that to some degree or the other.

And yet, do you see in John 1838, John 1838,

sorry, did I say John 1838?

Sorry, John 847, John 847, sorry, John 847.

There'll be times when people don't listen to the truth you have to say.

At times like that, you've got to remember some of Jesus' words. He says,

whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you're

not of God. Go to verse 45. Because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Sometimes truth

won't be believed. Sometimes people won't believe it because they're not aligned with God. But I

cannot compromise the truth or change the truth or alter the truth to suit the convenience of people

or to make them feel happy. It's not done. You cannot do that. When it doesn't work, stick with

it. Don't change it. That's how we bear witness to the truth. Next one, guys, people are sanctified

or set apart or consecrated only by the truth. It's not possible to set someone apart as in,

set them apart for God. It is not possible to consecrate them as in,

render them holy unto God. It's not possible to sanctify them as in, bring them to a place

where they are dedicated to God. It is not possible to do that with a church, with an unbeliever,

with a believer. It is not possible to do that without truth. How do we know that? In John 17,

Jesus actually prays it. John 17, 17. He's praying for his disciples and he says,

they are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is

truth. The message puts it this way. Make them holy, consecrated with the truth. Your word is

consecrating truth. What does that mean? That means that if I want to be set apart for God,

I cannot do it without the consecrating, sanctifying, setting apart nature of the

word of God, either read or spoken or lived under. If there's one thing that all of us can benefit

in 2022 is to increase living under, reading, hearing, being taught the word of God because it

is one of the few things that sets you apart, sanctifies you, consecrates you. David discovered

this long ago in the Psalms when he said, oh God, how shall a young man keep his ways pure? By

devouring your word.

It is possible to use truth unlovingly, especially when what you're being,

especially when what you're saying is being rejected. You see that in Luke chapter 9, verse

Luke 9:53–56

53 to 56. So Jesus goes to Samaria and he is beginning to speak in Samaria. And as he begins

to speak in Samaria, the Samaritans reject him in Luke chapter 9, 53 to 56. And the reason they

Luke 9 · chapter mention

reject him is because they have set his face like flip towards Jerusalem and he's heading towards

Jerusalem. And the Samaritans knew that Jerusalem was not a place that they thought highly of. And

if Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, they were going to reject it. And so here is Jesus speaking the

truth to the guys in Samaria and they reject him. When they reject him, here's what James and John

do. They decide to call down fire upon the Samaritans. And so sometimes when you speak the truth that it

is rejected, be it with your children, be it with people in the church, be it with non-believers,

when you speak the truth that it is rejected, it is often possible to use truth unlovingly.

And Jesus's immediate rebuke was, hey, you guys are not of the same spirit as me.

So that happens on one hand. On the other hand, Jesus didn't say, okay guys, let's put our

differences aside. Let's unite. Let's sing Kumbaya together. He didn't say that. The next verse says

that when Jesus found that the Samaritans rejected him, he moved on to the next village.

Sometimes I have to speak the truth and move on. I have to speak the truth to you. I have to speak

the truth to unbelievers. I have to have this truth spoken to me. And if I don't receive it,

you need to move on. You don't use it unlovingly against me. You need to move on

because truth is not used unlovingly.

Be careful also, especially at times like this when we have COVID and all these regulations and

restrictions happening, be careful that you don't let truth get lost in the weeds by arguing about

unimportant things like washing hands, Hillsong, dancing or masking. It is not important. Let it go.

When Christians begin to argue about these things, we waste precious currency that can be used to

discuss greater truths. So don't let truth get lost in the weeds by arguing about unimportant

things like washing hands, Hillsong, dancing or masking. 1 Timothy 1 verse 4 and 5. 1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:4 1 Timothy 1:4

verse 4 and 5. This was Paul's advice. He says, make sure you don't devote yourself to myths

and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than stewardship from God that is by faith.

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere

faith. Reading from the message, apparently, the message is to be true to God. The message is to

be true to God. Reading from the message, apparently, some people have been introducing

fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the

people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience. The whole point of what we are

urging is simply love, love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.

Here's another thing I wanted to touch on. Be aware that the truth can pierce and wound.

Be aware that the truth can pierce and wound.

Why am I bringing that up? Because we live in a time where emotional offense

becomes a criteria for deciding if love has been shown.

Emotional offense, offense taken when the truth is said because you've been emotionally hurt

becomes a criteria of whether the person has been loving or not and it's a wrong measure.

When love is defined by the response of the person being loved,

you lose the battle. When love is defined only by the person being loved, you lose the battle.

When love is defined only by the person being loved, you lose the battle. As if there are times

when the truth will hurt. All of us have been here. I've had truth spoken to me and it hurt

and my reaction was either retaliatory or regressing or upset or angry or hurt.

But as you mature, you find that it takes you longer to hurt and be offended.

As you mature, you find that it takes you longer to be hurt and offended.

Michael W. Smith, I've mentioned this before. Four or five years ago, he was being interviewed on TV

on New Year's Eve and they asked him, what is the one thing you want happening in the New Year?

And his answer just blew me away. His answer was, I just wish that for the next year

the entire year that I would never be offended, that I would not take offense.

I never thought of that, that that would be a desire that one should run after, that I will

not be offended. Man, if I could get there, boy, where I'm not even pretending that I'm not offended,

I'm not even going to God and saying, oh God, I'm sorry, but I feel really offended. No, that I don't

even get offended. Because here's the truth. The truth wounds and hurts, but it cannot be used as

the criteria of whether you are loved or not. A person can be genuinely loved and feel hurt or offended,

but it does not diminish the value of the love shown.

You see this in the Bible, you see the ultimate act of love, which was Jesus dying on a cross,

and you see such different reactions. In John 19, 27, you see Mary and John standing at the foot of

the cross and crying. And then you see Matthew, you see in Matthew 27, verse 41 to 44, people

Matthew 27:41–44

enraged, angry. The Pharisees hanging around the bottom of the cross saying, hey, if you are all

that you say you are, come off the cross. How come you can't save yourself? The ultimate act of love

had two different reactions. One would cause offense, one caused sorrow. And if you listen to

Jesus's words to his adversaries, if you listen to Jesus's words to his disciples, if you listen

to Jesus's words to his listeners, man, he could be quite offensive. His words had the potential to

hurt and very often they hurt and offended people. I mean, how many times did he say to his disciples,

how come you have such a small faith? Where is your faith? He told the Pharisees, he called them

whitewashed tombs and serpents. He said, you know, you have to be a good man, you have to be a good

man. He turned to one of his favorite disciples, Jesus, and said, get thee behind me, Satan.

He turned to James and John who he treasured and said, you're not of the same spirit as me.

He turned to some of his listeners who were religious and said, you follow your father,

the devil. He turned to Judas and said, so you say you're a friend, but you betray me with a kiss.

He often said to his disciples, how come you guys are so dull?

Paul would do the same thing. At one point he turns to the Galatians and said,

you guys are so interested in circumcision, why don't you just go and circumcise yourself completely?

Like literally emasculate yourself.

Paul took issue with how Peter behaved and he called Peter on it. Paul took issue with how Mark

behaved, called Mark on it.

Our intent is to love when we speak the truth in a way that blesses, in a way that draws people

out of their sorrow and pain. But please understand that sometimes the truth will hurt.

Take a, this is so not a Christmasy message. I agree.

So Jesus was not born to keep secret the truth of God, neither are you born to keep secret the

truth of God. You're supposed to bear witness to the truth, supposed to bear witness to the truth.

And that takes us, John 18 37 takes us to Acts 1 8. You're supposed to bear witness to the truth.

And then you go to Acts 1 8 and you have this amazing statement where it says,

And the power of the Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem

to dear Holy Mary at the ends of the earth. And just when you think that's the end, it takes you

right back to Luke chapter 1 verse 25 or 35, where it says that the overshadowing power of the Holy

Luke 1:25

Spirit shall be upon you, Mary, and you shall conceive of the Holy Spirit and you shall be

spirit and you shall give birth to a son called Jesus and he shall save the world from sins.

At the end of the day, my prayers, we finished days that father, could you make acts 29 and

church that understands that the purpose acts 29 is born the purpose each person at acts 29 lives

is to bear witness to the truth.

And it's by the Holy Spirit, we do that, Acts 1 8, let me read it again, but you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea,

in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Guys, we sing that song, Joy to the World.

One of the things we have to realize is that the Holy Spirit is heaven's reply to every curse on

earth. The Holy Spirit is heaven's reply to every curse on earth. If you go to Galatians 3 verse 13

Galatians 3:13

and 14, Galatians 3 verse 13 and 14, Galatians 3 verse 13 and 14.

Galatians 3:13 Galatians 3:13

Christ redeemed us from the curse.

Well, 13 and 14.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, but becoming a curse for us for it is written,

cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. So that in Jesus Christ, the blessings of Abraham might

come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith. And we leave the

message. Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating cursed life by absorbing it completely into

himself. Do you remember the scripture that says, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree? That is

what happened when Jesus was made to the cross. He became a curse and at the same time dissolved

the curse. And now because of that, the air is cleared and we can see Abraham's blessing is

present and available for non-Jews too. We are all able to receive God's life, his spirit in and with

us by believing just the way Abraham received it.

Keep coming back to the same thing. Father, I was born for this purpose to bear witness to the truth

and the truth is your son Jesus Christ. I will learn to be indifferent to the opinions of the

world. I realize that I may be called bigoted, I may be called prejudiced, I may be called immoral,

I may be called narrow-minded, but I will not pay attention to the opinions of men.

I will not compromise the truth, shave it off because it is not working or because people are

not accepting it. I will not use it in a way that hurts, but if the truth offends and it's being

spoken, so be it, oh God. If people do not accept it, I will move on to the next village. I realize,

Father, that there are times when you will speak truth into my life through people and I will be

offended by it and I may hurt, but my intent is that I'll keep maturing so that when truth is spoken,

I will not sulk, so that when truth is spoken, I will not shrink, I will not retaliate, I will not

regress, but I will humble myself to receive it because truth is best received when I'm humble.

Father, I recognize that your Spirit is the Spirit of truth and that He has been given to me so that

I may know you, but also so that I may bear witness to your Son.

Father, you're fast forwarding me to Acts 1-8 and in Acts 1-8 the power of the Spirit is upon me

that I may bear witness again to the truth in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and the

ends of the earth. Thank you, Holy Spirit. I will bear witness to the Jesus of the Gospels.

I will bear witness to the Jesus of the Gospels by talking about it. I will bear witness to the

Jesus of the Gospels by walking like Him. I will bear witness to the Jesus of the Gospels by

demonstrating and giving evidence of His words by attempting to do the works. I know I can't do them,

but I have the Spirit of truth in me who bears witness to the truth and comes to me.

Who bears witness to the truth and truth is a person and the person is Jesus of the Gospels

and the risen Christ. I was born for this purpose to bear witness to the truth.

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

it to the church that I'm a part of. I'll bear it to the ones that have been placed in my charge.

If I wound them, I will do everything in my power to draw them into a deeper experience of God and

His joy, but I will not compromise on the truth just because it offends or hurts, because it will.

I still remember that time, Jesus, when you turn to Peter in his passionate

moment where he says to you, even if everyone else betrays you, I will not betray you. And you turn

to him and you said something that would have pierced him later on when he said,

before the cock crows three times, you would have denied me three times.

And when that happens, he looks at me, starts weeping so profusely because he knew that the

truth had been spoken and it pierced him like no other. And yet you were there on the beach when

he knelt before you and you grabbed him and restored him.

It's all that this words, Father, that we're talking about in John 18, 36 and 37

was the words that were spoken at your trial, at your son's trial. He spoke it just before the

end of his life. He spoke it to Pilate who said, so what is the truth? That's when your son says,

for this reason I was born to bear witness to the truth. Father, this is critical for Acts 29.

I pray that you'll give us the courage because we lack the courage.

We lack the courage because we are afraid of people.

We live in a society where absolute truths are laughed at. Jesus, I need courage. I need courage.

So as we sing this next song, Father, I just pray that we'll be able to

do what we need to. So I'm going to ask Sheldon and Jane to lead this song,

which summarizes what we've been talking about.

And then we'll come back and end with Silent Night.

I continue.

Jesus blinded all my darkness.

Spark my heart with it.

His grace and mercy, little passion.

Consume my sin.

Jesus blinded.

Jesus blinded all my darkness.

Spark my heart with it.

His grace and mercy, little passion.

Consume my sin.

Now like a city on a hilltop.

I'll shine through the night.

I am a lamp made for his glory.

I will not hide.

Now like a city.

Now like a city on a hilltop.

I'll shine through the night.

I am a lamp made for his glory.

I will not hide.

Cause I've been touched by a fire.

So let the world come and watch me burn.

We'll shout it from the rooftops.

Shout it to wherever you are, house of.

This love, this love will never be extinguished.

It's alive and wild and free.

I'm overtaken by his power.

His spirit in me.

His spirit in me.

His spirit in me.

Cause I've been touched by a fire.

So let the world come and watch me burn.

We'll shout it from the rooftops.

Shout it to wherever you are, house of.

This love, this love will never be extinguished.

Cause I've been touched by a fire.

So let the world come and watch me burn.

We'll shout it from the rooftops.

Shout it to wherever you are, house of.

Jesus has changed my life.

His name be lifted high.

This holy fire's burning inside of me.

Jesus has changed my life.

His name be lifted high.

This holy fire's burning inside of me.

Jesus has changed my life, His name be lifted high, this holy fire is burning inside of me.

I cannot hold it inside, I cannot keep it quiet, this holy fire is burning inside of me.

So I've been touched by a fire, so let the world come and watch me burn.

Shouting from the rooftops, we'll shout it to everyone housing.

So I've been touched by a fire, so let the world come and watch me burn.

Shouting from the rooftops, we'll shout it to everyone housing.

Now like a city on a hilltop, I'll shine through the night.

I am a lamp made for His glory, I will not hide.

I am a lamp made for His glory, I will not hide.

I will not hide.

Father, we thank you that we are lamps made for your glory, Father, and that's the whole purpose that we were created for.

Our whole purpose was so that we could bear witness for you, so that we could be lamps shining for you, Father,

but we're not supposed to be lights on a hill put under a basket.

But that we are lamps made for your glory, Father, and that's the whole purpose that we were created for.

We are not supposed to be lights on a hill put under a basket, but that in each one of our lives, Father,

we'll remove the baskets off our lives so that we will be on a hill and the whole city can see,

the whole neighborhood, the whole city, the whole nation will see us shining for you, Father.

No more will we hide under our baskets, but we remove those baskets off of our lives, Father,

so that we shine for you, so that we display you, so that we talk like you, we walk like you,

so that when people look at us, they don't see Jillian, they don't see Jane, they don't see Jacob,

they don't see our own selves, but they see, hey, that's Jesus, that person is walking like Jesus.

There's something different about how that person is walking.

So Father, I thank you for this word that you've given us as we end one year and we step into another year,

but we step into another year with you, Father.

That's one of my favorite things about Christmas being at the end of the year,

is that we're stepping into the new year with you, with your birth, with your life, Father,

with a reminder that we walk with your life, your life living inside of us,

because you walking on this earth made it so that we can now walk with you.

We can now be your hands and feet.

We can be your body going here, going there, being blown about, as it says in Job 37,

that we are clouds filled with you that you then get to direct.

I'm just going to read that first.

It says, he loads the clouds with moisture and he scatters his lightning through them.

At his direction, they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.

He brings the clouds to punish people or to water his earth and show his love.

And Father, that's what we're to be.

We're to be loaded with your truth so that we go where you send us,

so that we scatter across the earth, Father, so that we can bring your love, your peace,

your correction, your direction across the earth, Father.

So I thank you, Father, for this reminder that you've given us tonight to go out and spread your truth,

which is you, Father, displayed through us across the earth, in our jobs, in our cities, in our homes,

in our neighborhoods, wherever we go and everything we do, Father.

So I thank you, Father, for what you've started here.

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.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen.

Hey, guys, just turn to John 1837, preferably an IV.

Preferably ESV.

I'm going to read it together, twice.

John 1837, ESV.

Starting it for this purpose, just that one line.

Say together, for this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth.

One more time.

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.

One last time.

For this purpose I was born, for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth.

Let's sing Silent Night.

I believe the roads leading to 4708 Joyce were really slippery.

This guy even tried going there, but turned back and came back because the roads were very slippery around 41st.

So I'm glad we didn't livestream or meet there today.

That aside, I spoke to Jeremy about this, so I've taken his permission.

He tested positive for COVID.

It was a rapid antigen test.

So I just prayed for him.

He said he was feeling slightly feverish, but no other symptoms.

So just pray that by tomorrow morning, even though he has to quarantine, that he will surprisingly be free from any symptoms.

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.

Goshen is a place where the land is fruitful.

It's the best land possible.

And I pray that that is something that God will do through us, for us, and for others.

Just pray that too.

Let's just sing this song. I love this song.

Maybe we should dip the lights and all.

I don't have candles, so the best I can do is dip the lights.

Yay.

Can you switch this on?

There's a switch right here.

One more.

He touched the switch and there was a static, so he got a shock.

The sun is bright, all is calm, all is bright.

Round yon mountain, mighty and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight,

Glory squealing from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing hallelujah.

Christ the Savior is born, Lord, Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night, Son of God, Love's pure light,

Brave beams from thy holy face, Winter dawn of redeeming grace.

Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, His name is called, Emmanuel.

And God with us, Revealed through us, His name is called, Emmanuel.

Father, I deliberately change the words to God with us, Revealed through us, because we want to bear witness to the truth.

Emmanuel, God with us, we've got to bear witness to the truth of the God who is with us, the with us God.

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.

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.

Father, before I close, I don't know who all are listening, Father, I haven't checked.

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,

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.

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.

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.

They buried Him and He rose again in three days.

He appeared to over 500, 600 people.

Historically, He exists.

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.

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,

receive the right to be called a child of God.

Hey, for this one, everybody unmute and let's make some noise.

Sing.

I want to wish you a

Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Sing with me.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.

Are you ready?

One.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

I was told.

Oh, my God.

Very.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

We ordered three strange things and nothing NCS dies

This chicken is so small

Yuck!

I want to be a star, I want to be a star

I want to be a star, I want to be a star

I want to be a star

Wow, this is exciting. I've been making it fast, man.

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.

So you have like five seconds each. If anybody would like to say something, please put up your hand and you can unmute yourself.

Thank you, Jacob, from all of us.

Amen.

Merry Christmas, Jacob.

He's right here.

I'm keeping a note of the guys who are...

Thank you, Jacob, for leading us and being a great example.

Thanks, Mark.

Happy Christmas.

Who was that?

Merry Christmas.

Can you guys say Merry Christmas to Mr. Jacob?

Thanks, guys.

Merry Christmas, Jacob.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

2022.

This is so personal, it's really touching my heart.

David, you're such a humble guy. We really appreciate you.

Already, you were very honest there. I really appreciate you.

Merry Christmas, Jacob.

And everyone.

Same. Merry Christmas, Jacob.

Thank you.

I have to go.

Say Merry Christmas, Jacob.

Jacob.

Jacob.

Merry Christmas, Jacob.

Brandon's taking forever, man.

I'll say Merry Christmas, Jacob, too.

No, he hasn't buzzed yet.

Yeah. Hey, guys. So while we're waiting and we've exhausted saying Merry Christmas to Jacob, thank God for that.

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?

Yeah, there it is.

So we'll decide on Sunday whether we'll be live streaming or zooming or meeting in person.

So let's see what happens.

Yeah.

Can I just say that it's really nice to see the Bergman family?

You're speaking just for yourself, right?

No, I'm talking for the majority of us.

We miss you guys lots and lots.

And hi, Danny and Miguel and family.

And everyone else, of course.

It should take him 52 seconds to come up the elevator.

Yeah.

I wanna wish you Merry Christmas.

Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot I'm on Zoom.

How many people are on here?

How many guys are on Zoom?

21?

29.

Nice.

That's like mega church numbers, eh?

And some I don't see and some I don't recognize.

I like that dog in the Lucos family.

Thank you, Penny.

He's lovely.

Dillon, have you been able to take us out of your spam?

Yes, I got it out of my spam.

Very grateful.

Is Alex there with you?

Yeah, Alex is right there.

Hi, Alex. Sorry we canceled the service on you.

Thank you.

It's good to be part of it.

All right, here's Canada Post.

Am I supposed to open this on camera?

You don't have to, but we just, this is from everybody in the, from the church.

And we just want to say thank you for your time, your commitment and your desire for pouring into us and

your heart to raise us up and make us like Christ and display him and learn to walk.

And it's something that you, you display Christ accurately in how you live your life.

And it's something that we appreciate in that we can all learn more from you in that area.

And now Jeevan is going to say something.

Am I supposed to pray, right?

Okay.

Okay guys, let's all shoot.

Let's pray. Let's pray for Jacob. So if you want to raise your hand towards Jacob.

Okay.

Okay, let's pray. Father as a body, we come together and we bless Jacob.

Thank you so much for placing him as a spiritual father over us, our Lord.

So we acknowledge his place upon our life. Thank you.

We bless Jacob. And we are so grateful to you for you have placed Jacob in our life.

We pray for protection. We pray for about for the next coming year.

We I pray for the expansion of the tend to a lot.

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.

Thank you.

We bless Jacob and we're so we're so blessed by him.

Oh Lord. I also pray that about for the next year until next Christmas about that.

You give him good health that he runs much faster than what he has done all these years.

We bless him about we are so so happy and grateful for him. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Thank you guys. I will thank you over the next two Sundays for who you are and set us up for 2022.

I'm looking forward to either zooming or meeting in person or live streaming.

So bless you guys and see you when I see you when the church meets next.

Good night. Good night. Merry Christmas. Thank you.

Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas everybody.

That's a good day. Merry Christmas.