(MUSIC)
MERRY CHRISTMAS CHURCH GET UP ON
YOUR FEET LET'S GIVE OUR KING SOME PRAISE
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
HALLELUJAH, LORD GOD IN HEAVEN. WE WORSHIP YOU. THANK YOU LORD.
WE BLESS YOU HEAVENLY FATHER. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE
GREATEST GIFT THAT WAS EVER GIVEN. WHEN YOU GAVE US JESUS
AND WHEN JESUS CAME HE AGREED TO BE THE BABY BORN IN THE MANGER,
ONLY TO DIE FOR US ALL. WE LOVE YOU. WE HONOR YOU. AND ALL THOSE
THAT REALLY LOVE GOD SAID, AMEN! THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
NOW, HERE'S THE THING THOUGH. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM UP IN
THE RAFTERS. I DIDN'T HEAR, NO, SERIOUSLY, I DIDN'T HEAR
ANYTHING. RAFTER SECTION, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. SO I TRIED
AGAIN. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE GOD SAID, AMEN! MAN, NOW I HEARD
IT. YOU GUYS ARE KIND OF LIKE THE SUBWOOFER, YOU KNOW? OH,
THAT'S FUNNY. YEAH, I CAN HEAR IT. ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY'S GOT
THEIR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE? YES, SIR. YOU DO? ONLY LIKE
THREE PEOPLE HERE. HOW MANY OF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR SHOPPING
DONE YET? THAT'S A LOT. OH, NO. LOOK AT ALL THESE HANDS. THAT'S
A LOT. SO WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? FIGHT THE CROWDS. DO YOU ALL
HAVE PLANS? I THINK IT'S TOO LATE FOR AN AMAZON ORDER. OH,
REALLY? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. THERE'S A FEW OVERNIGHT
ONES, MAYBE. LISTEN, THERE'S A FAMOUS MOVIE I REALLY LIKE. IT'S
"JINGLE ALL THE WAY." HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN THAT
MOVIE? AND LET THAT BE A HINT TO ALL OF YOU WHO DON'T HAVE YOUR
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DONE, YOU KNOW. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
GET YOUR ITEMS, SO. WELL, WE GOT OUR BOYS OVER HERE. COME OVER
HERE, GUYS. WE FOUND THESE GUYS IN THE ALLEY. COME ON OUT. MATT,
YOU CAN GO ON MAMA'S SIDE THERE. AND HE BROUGHT WHO'D YOU BRING?
HEY, JONATHAN. BROUGHT THE LITTLE MAN. HI, PAKI. HOW ARE
YA? ARE YOU GONNA SAY HI TO EVERYBODY? IT'S CHRISTMAS. WE
SHOULD'VE BROUGHT OUR DOGS. BUT THEN, I DID ONE YEAR, AND
SOMEBODY SAID, "OH, YOU SHOULD KEEP DOGS OUT OF YOU KNOW,
ANIMALS NO, ANIMALS OUT OF THE CHURCH." AND I THOUGHT, "WELL,
EVERY CHRISTMAS PLAY, THE PEOPLE BRING CAMELS
AND STUFF." RIGHT. AND I BROUGHT THIS ANIMAL, SO I GUESS, YOU
KNOW, WE GOT WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SO, HE OKAY, I GOT TO
SAY, THIS IS THE BEST SMELLING DOG I'VE EVER
(LAUGHTER)
SO, WHAT'S HIS NAME, MATT? HE SMELLS LIKE HIGH END COLOGNE.
WHAT'S HIS NAME, MATT? HIS NAME IS PACKER.
WHY PACKER? WELL, WE WON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT YOU
KNOW. FROM LAST NIGHT. YEAH, HE'S A BETTER PACKER THAN THE
OTHER ONES. YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. GOOD POINT. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO
SAY? WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY, AND JUST BLESSINGS TO
EVERYBODY, AND EVERYBODY THAT I'M SURE TRAVELED INTO FOR THE
CHRISTMAS SEASON AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND STUFF. SO I
SEE MY GUY MARQUISE OUT THERE AND PASTOR ANTHONY. YOU GUYS ARE
FRESHY, FRESHY. I LIKE THAT. GOOD. AWESOME. SO MERRY
CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY. AND YOU KNOW, JOHN, I ALREADY KNOW YOU
AND DAD ARE PUTTING THAT PUZZLE TOGETHER, SO AIN'T GETTING DONE.
WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND SO LET'S BRING JOHN HE HAS
SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT PUZZLE. HE CAME IN ALL THE WAY
WHAT WAS JOHN WAS GOING TO RESPOND ABOUT THE PUZZLE? I JUST
SAID, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO PUT IT AWAY, I THINK. IT'S TOO
HARD. SO HE BROUGHT ME THIS WAIT, IT'S FINALLY TOO HARD. IT
IS, IT IS. LET ME DO THIS, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE
MISSING OUR FAMILY HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO BRING ALL OF YOU
THAT ARE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD. WE'RE SO HONORED THAT YOU
JOINED US TODAY AS OUR FAMILY. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU. AGAIN, I
FOUND THESE GUYS IN THE ALLEY AND OFFERED THEM FREE LUNCH AND
THEY DECIDED TO COME IN. BUT THESE ARE OUR BOYS. THIS IS
PACKER. I WAS GOING TO BRING MY DOGS, BUT
ANYWAY. BY THE WAY, TALKING ABOUT DOGS, I GOT,
BRENDA GOT HERBIE THIS LITTLE IGLOO THING, OUR LITTLE SHIH TZU
GUY. HE LIKES THAT. YEAH, PACKER CAME OVER LAST NIGHT AND TRIED
TO OWN IT. HE DID. ALL RIGHT. SO, JOHN, BIG MAN, YOU'RE HERE,
YOUR FRIEND, KYLIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. GOD
BLESS YOU. NOW TELL US ABOUT THIS PUZZLE BECAUSE EVERY YEAR
OUR TRADITION IS WE GET A PUZZLE. ANYBODY HAVE A
TRADITION? AND THIS YEAR HE DECIDED TO BRING THIS PUZZLE
THAT HAS A LITTLE TRAIN ON IT, LIKE IN THE MOUNTAIN. AND WE'RE
GONNA DO A LITTLE TRAIN. I THINK YOU WERE ON THAT TRAIN. IT IS SO
HARD. IT IS GONNA TAKE A YEAR. SO WHAT'S OUR PLAN? I THINK
WE'RE GONNA PUT IT AWAY. PUT IT AWAY. WE'RE PUZZLED BY IT, YOU
KNOW. MATT AND I, DO WE DO PUZZLES? NO. NO. NO. WE WERE
PRETTY DISTRACTED. YEAH, NO, I KNOW. WE WERE THROWING SHOES AT
THE TV. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MICAH PARSONS TEARS HIS ACL.
ANYBODY FROM OUT OF TOWN? I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GREET YOU.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? AND DON'T SAY IOWA, YOU KNOW. SOMEBODY
FROM OUT OF TOWN? SOUTH DAKOTA. ALL RIGHT, YAY, THAT'S AWESOME.
ANYBODY ELSE? KANSAS CITY, WELCOME. WELCOME. ANYBODY ELSE
IN THE RAFTERS? GOT MORE OVER THERE. WHERE? OH, I SEE. WHERE
ARE YOU FROM? NORTHERN IOWA. OKAY, THAT'LL WORK. THAT'S FAR
AWAY. DES MOINES? ALL RIGHT, DES MOINES. THAT'S A COUPLE HOURS
AWAY. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY IN THE RAFTER SECTION? WE'RE TRYING
TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE. BETHLEHEM? ANYBODY FROM
BETHLEHEM? WHERE ARE YOU FROM? RIGHT THERE. OHIO. OHIO.
WELCOME. WOW. ANYBODY ELSE? WELCOME. NOW, I GOT TO SAY THIS.
I GOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SOMEBODY. MARK, WHERE ARE YOU
AT? VAN WILLEN, WHERE ARE YOU AT? MARK, ARE YOU IN THE RAFTER
SECTION? WHERE ARE YOU AT? SO BRENDA, THIS IS A WOW! GOOD TO
SEE YOU. SO WAY BACK WHEN I GOT SING, HE WAS PART OF A BAND,
ALIEN. IS THAT RIGHT? AND YOU GUYS NEVER ASKED ME TO SING. BUT
I USED TO REMEMBER I DID THE COMEDY STUFF. REMEMBER THAT?
YEAH, HE WROTE A COMIC STRIP CALLED MUTZVI. YEAH, I WROTE I
DID MUTZVI BACK THEN. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS. DID YOU KNOW
THAT? NO. THANKS FOR COMING BY, MAN. THAT WAS LIKE I GOT SAVED
IN '84, AND THESE WERE THE GUYS THAT WERE INFLUENTIAL IN MY WALK
WITH GOD. AND THEIR BAND WAS LIKE PETRA. Y'ALL REMEMBER
PETRA? DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? ARE YOU STILL A ROCKER? NO, DON'T
TELL ME YOU'RE SITTING ON A ROCKER NOW.
(LAUGHING)
ALWAYS A ROCKER. ALL RIGHT, ANYWAY, GREAT TO SEE YOU. ALL
RIGHT, I THINK WE NEED TO WORSHIP THE LORD. ANY CLOSING
COMMENTS FROM THE BOYS? I JUST THINK MAYBE FOR CHRISTMAS, WE
NEED TO LOOK AT ANOTHER PUZZLE FOR Y'ALL. YEAH, I DO TOO. WELL,
I DO HAVE ONE, BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PUT IT TOGETHER. AN
EASIER ONE, IT'S ALL GOOD. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE PUZZLED
OUT. WE'RE PUZZLED OUT. BUT KEEP PRAYING FOR JOHN. GIVE US ONE
QUICK UPDATE. UFC, HOW'S THAT GOING? I'M HOPING EARLY NEXT
YEAR I'LL GET A CALL. SO JUST STAYING READY FOR WHATEVER
HAPPENS. THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. OK. WE GOT THE KIDDOS THAT ARE
GOING TO SING TO US. YOU THINK WE SHOULD INTERVIEW THEM THIS
YEAR? YES. I THINK WE SHOULD INTERVIEW THEM. 100%. MATT,
WOULD YOU PRAY OVER THE SERVICE? YEAH. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE
JUST THANK YOU, LORD, FOR TODAY, LORD, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL
SERVICE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, LORD. WE THANK
YOU, LORD, FOR YOU, LORD, WHO IS THE GREATEST BIRTH OF ALL TIME,
LORD. AND WE THANK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU CAME, LORD, AS A BABY
IN A MANGER, AND YOU DIED FOR OUR SINS, AND YOU ROSE AGAIN,
AND NOW YOU'RE SEATED NEXT TO YOUR FATHER AT THE RIGHT HAND,
LORD. AND SO NOW WE CAN JOIN YOU IN HEAVEN, LORD, BECAUSE OF THAT
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, LORD. SO WE CELEBRATE YOU THIS SEASON, LORD,
AND WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE BLESSINGS AND FAVOR THAT COMES
UPON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM AND WATCHING ONLINE,
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO? LIFT THOSE
HANDS TO HEAVEN. SAY, "LORD, IT'S CHRISTMAS." AND THAT MEANS
I PROMISE TO GIVE YOU MY VERY BEST PRAISE. COME ON, LET'S
SHOUT LIKE WE BELIEVE IT AND PRAISE THE LORD. MERRY
CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY. ANYBODY GRATEFUL FOR JESUS? I SAID, IS
ANYBODY GRATEFUL FOR JESUS THIS MORNING? LET'S LIFT UP THE NAME,
EH? PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER.
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
CAN YOU SING, "HEY, HEARD TELL"?
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS. HEY.
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
COME ON YOU, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW EMMANUEL IS HERE
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
JESUS IS HERE. JESUS IS HERE. JESUS IS HERE.
HARK HEAR THE BELLS ALL SEEM TO SAY THROW CARES AWAY.
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
HARK HEAR THE BELLS ALL SEEM TO SAY THROW CARES AWAY.
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
HARK HEAR THE BELLS ALL SEEM TO SAY THROW CARES AWAY.
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
JESUS IS HERE. JESUS IS HERE. JESUS IS HERE. JESUS IS HERE.
HARK HEAR THE BELLS ALL SEEM TO SAY THROW CARES
AWAY. JESUS IS HERE. HARK HEAR THE BELLS ALL SEEM
TO SAY THROW CARES AWAY JESUS IS HERE. JESUS IS HERE.
YOU’VE COME, YOU'VE COME EMMANUEL.
AND RANSOMED CAPTIVE ISRAEL.
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
COME ON, GIVE HIM SOME GLORY THIS MORNING
(WORSHIP MUSIC)
WE WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU. COME ON. WE WORSHIP YOU ALL OVER
THE WORLD. LET'S ADORE JESUS. EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US. WE
WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU. WE'VE COME TO ADORE YOU. WE'VE
COME TO ADORE YOU. WE’VE COME TO MAGNIFY YOUR NAME, KING OF
KINGS, LORD OF LORDS. WE'VE COME. WE'VE COME TO ADORE YOU.
COME ON. LET'S SING IT AGAIN ALL OVER THE WORLD. IMAGINE THE WISE
MEN AS THEY CAME AND THEY OPENED THEIR TREASURES AND THEY
WORSHIPED THIS KING. COME ON. WORSHIP. WE WORSHIP YOU. WE GIVE
YOU ALL THE GLORY. YOU'RE CHRIST THE LORD. COME ON, OPEN YOUR
HEART AND TELL YOUR KING. WE WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU. WE
WORSHIP YOU. WE ADORE YOU. WE ADORE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. WE
ADORE YOUR BEAUTY, YOUR SACRIFICE, YOUR LOVE. WE WORSHIP
YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU, MASTER. COME ON, FROM YOUR HEART,
WORSHIP HIM. IF YOU'RE WATCHING IN AUSTRALIA, WORSHIP HIM.
RUSSIA, WHATEVER STATE, CITY, NATION. WORSHIP HIM. WE WORSHIP
YOU, JESUS. WE ADORE YOU AND WE HONOR YOU TODAY. I WANT YOU TO
SAY THIS, SAY, "LORD, I OPEN MY HEART TO YOU FOR YOU TO BE MY
LORD, MY GOD, MY FRIEND. I GIVE YOU MY HEART, MY LIFE, AND IN
RETURN I WILL HONOR YOU. I WILL SERVE YOU. I WILL OBEY YOU. I
WILL LOVE YOU. AND I WILL TELL OTHERS OF HOW GREAT YOU ARE. AND
IF YOU LOVE GOD, TELL HIM. JUST TELL HIM. SAY, "GOD, I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, GOD. I LOVE YOU, GOD. I LOVE YOU, YESHUA, JESUS,
MY LORD. AND I LOVE YOU, MY WONDERFUL FATHER." AND I LOVE
YOU, HOLY SPIRIT. I BLESS YOU. AND I'VE COME HERE TODAY TO
ADORE YOU. I THINK WE SHOULD SAY ONE OTHER THING TO HIM. WE
SHOULD SAY, THANK YOU. THERE'S NOTHING GREATER, I THINK, THAN
PROBABLY DELIGHTS THE HEART OF GOD BESIDES TELLING HIM THAT YOU
LOVE HIM. BUT I THINK HE REALLY, REALLY LIKES IT WHEN WE COME
WITH A GRATEFUL HEART, A THANKFUL HEART. HOW MANY OF YOU
EVER GIVEN A GIFT AT CHRISTMAS AND THE PERSON THAT IS RECEIVING
IT, THEY'RE NOT GRATEFUL? IT JUST MAKES WHAT YOU GAVE JUST
SEEMS SO UNAPPRECIATIVE. GOD GAVE EVERYTHING TO US WHEN HE
GAVE US JESUS. AND I THINK THE LEAST THING WE COULD DO IS SAY
THANK YOU. THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD, I
WANT YOU TO DO THE SAME. SAY, "LORD, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM
OF MY HEART. AMEN." WELL, WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS? NOW, YOU CAN
GIVE HIM ONE MORE WORSHIP OF HONOR AND THANKSGIVING. WELL, I
WANT YOU TO GREET ONE ANOTHER, AND THEN I WANT YOU TO, WHEN YOU
GREET THEM, ASK THEM THEIR NAME. IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW IT,
AND THEY JUST SAY, "I BET I KNOW." I BET I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS, AND SEE IF YOU CAN BE IN THE RANGE,
OKAY? WE SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING.
MAYBE PUT IN THE COMMENTS WHAT YOU THINK
YOU'RE GETTING FOR CHRISTMAS. MAYBE YOU'RE GETTING A HORSE.
BUT WE SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WE'RE SO HONORED
THAT YOU JOINED US WITH THIS SERVICE TODAY.
(MUSIC)
WELL, GOOD MORNING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. I KNOW IT'S, YOU
KNOW, STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY, SO IF YOU GOT SOME LAST MINUTE
SHOPPING TO DO, YOU HAVE A FEW DAYS TO DO THAT. HOWEVER, THIS
IS THE LAST SERVICE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SO MERRY CHRISTMAS TO
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF YOU ONLINE AS WELL. IF THIS IS
YOUR FIRST TIME IN THE BUILDING WITH US, WE WANNA MAKE YOU FEEL
WELCOME. I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVED A BLUE GIFT BAG. IF
YOU DID NOT, PLEASE WAVE YOUR HAND AND I'M SURE THEY HAVE
THOSE AVAILABLE FOR YOU. INSIDE THE BLUE GIFT BAG, THERE'S SOME
GOODIES WE'VE TUCKED IN THERE FOR YOU, AS WELL AS A GUEST
REGISTRY PACKET. IT HAS A PICTURE OF THE STAGE ON THE
FRONT OF IT, SO PLEASE PULL THAT OUT AT THIS TIME IF YOU CAN.
BECAUSE INSIDE THAT, THERE'S SOME INFORMATION WE WANT TO SEND
HOME WITH YOU, AS WELL AS A BRIGHT ORANGE "STAY CONNECTED"
CARD ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. GO AHEAD AND TEAR THAT OFF. FILL IT
OUT, DROP IT IN THE OFFERING BASKET WHEN IT COMES BY IN JUST
A FEW MOMENTS. I JUST WANTED TO SEND YOU A THANK YOU FOR COMING
TO SEE US THIS MORNING, AND MAKE SURE YOU STAY CONNECTED WITH
EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON AT THE CHURCH IN 2026. BECAUSE WE
ARE, NEXT YEAR, NO, WE HAVE ONE MORE EVENT THAT STARTS IN THIS
YEAR. THAT IS THE NEW YEAR'S EVE SERVICE, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO
MISS OUT ON THAT EITHER, RIGHT? SO BE HERE FOR THAT, BE HERE
ONLINE FOR THAT AS WELL. IF YOU ARE WATCHING ONLINE, WE THANK
YOU FOR WATCHING, AND MAKE SURE YOU GET CONNECTED TO ONE OF OUR
GREAT PLATFORMS, BUT NAMELY, OUR MAIN PLATFORM IS ONEVOICETV,
ONEVOICETV.NET, OR DOWNLOAD THE ONE VOICE TV APP TO YOUR
DEVICES. THEY'RE ALL RIGHT THERE THAT YOU CAN CONNECT ON, SO BE
SURE TO GET CONNECTED THERE, AND YOU CAN GET BLESSED BY LOTS OF
GREAT CONTENT. GET REAL WITH HANK, DAY OF THE DECREE, GAME
CHANGERS, LOTS OF OTHER PARTNER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE
AS WELL, SO PLEASE GET CONNECTED. YOU CAN WATCH
SERVICES LIVE AND ARCHIVED AS WELL, SO PLEASE GET OUT THERE,
GET SET UP. YOU CAN CHAT WITH PEOPLE OUT THERE NOW, BOTH ON
THE APP AND ON OVTV.NET. SO GO TO ONEVOICETV.NET OR DOWNLOAD
THE APP TO YOUR DEVICES, AND YOU'LL BE BLESSED BY IT, AMEN? I
HOPE YOU GIVE ALL OF OUR GUESTS HERE AN ONLINE HAND.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
AS PASTOR BRENDA COMES. SHE WASN'T QUITE PAYING ATTENTION.
YOU DISTRACTED ME. HERE'S PASTOR BRENDA. PRAISE THE LORD, ALL
RIGHT, AMEN AND AMEN AND AMEN. I DO WANNA MENTION ABOUT THE NEW
YEAR'S EVE SERVICE. IF YOU HAVE NOT SUBMITTED A PRAYER REQUEST,
GO TO HANKANDBRENDA.ORG, SUBMIT THAT, AND WE ARE GONNA HAVE ALL
OF THOSE, OF COURSE, UP HERE ON THE PLATFORM. SO YOU STILL HAVE
TIME TO SUBMIT THOSE. PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, THERE MAY BE A
LITTLE TIGHT ON THE MAIL AT THIS POINT, BUT YOU CAN SURELY SUBMIT
THOSE ELECTRONICALLY. WE'LL GET 'EM PRINTED HERE, AND WE'RE
GONNA BRING ALL THOSE OUT, AND ALL THE STAFF, WE'RE GONNA PRAY
OVER THOSE, AND JUST BELIEVE GOD WITH YOU FOR YOUR 2026 TO BE AN
AMAZING YEAR, RIGHT? AND IF YOU HAD SOME HARDSHIP IN 2025, DON'T
LOOK ON THE PAST, RIGHT? LET'S PRESS TOWARD THE FUTURE. I THINK
THAT IS SO KEY. AMEN TO THAT. HOW MANY OF YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
PRAISE THE LORD. WELL, I WANNA GET RIGHT INTO THE OFFERING
'CAUSE WE WANNA GIVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR OUR KIDS TO COME OUT
AND THEY'RE GONNA MINISTER TO US POWERFULLY. HOW MANY OF YOU
ENJOY THAT EVERY YEAR? SO EXCITED. THEY DO SUCH A GOOD
JOB. AND BY THE WAY, KUDOS TO OUR CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT WHO
YOU GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE. THEY DO SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE
YOUNG PEOPLE. SO, BUT LET ME, I'M JUST GONNA PUT UP OUR
OFFERING SCRIPTURE. I'LL BE BRIEF TODAY. AND OF COURSE, THIS
JUST GOES ALONG WITH CHRISTMAS. MATTHEW 2, CHAPTER 2, TALKING
ABOUT THE MAGI. YOU KNOW, GOD EVEN WOVE GIVING INTO CHRISTMAS.
THINK ABOUT THAT. AND BECAUSE GIVING IS A PRIORITY, IT IS SO
IMPORTANT. IT'S JESUS GAVE, RIGHT? SO GIVING IS JUST A PART
OF EVERYTHING WE SEE IN THE BIBLE, OUR FINANCES, OUR TIME,
OUR HEARTS. GOD DESERVES OUR BEST. AND I ALWAYS SAY IT LIKE
THIS. IF THIS WAS YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH, WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TO
JESUS? WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM? AND THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING. MATTHEW 2:2 SAYING, THIS WAS THE MAGI. THEY
SAID, WHERE IS HE THAT'S BORN KING OF THE JEWS? FOR WE HAVE
SEEN HIS STAR IN THE EAST. NOW, I'M NOT A HISTORIAN BY ANY
STRETCH, BUT THERE IS SOME STUDY THAT SAYS, FIRST OF ALL, THAT
THESE WISE MEN TRAVELED PROBABLY ABOUT 800 OR 900 MILES TO GET TO
WHERE JESUS WAS. NOW, BACK IN THAT DAY, THEY WERE LIKE GOING
ON FOOT, AND WITH CAMELS AND DONKEYS AND WHATEVER. YOU KNOW,
SO I DID A LITTLE LOOK. THANK GOD FOR GOOGLE. BUT, YOU KNOW,
THAT DISTANCE IS PROBABLY FROM LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA TO DALLAS. YOU
THINK ABOUT WALKING THAT ON FOOT. AND SO THEN I HAD TO LOOK
UP. I JUST HAD TO KNOW HOW MANY HOURS WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO WALK
FROM SOUTH DAKOTA TO DALLAS. WELL, YOU COULDN'T WALK 24
HOURS. IT SAID ABOUT 300 HOURS OF WALKING. BUT IF YOU DID 10, 8
HOURS A DAY MAYBE, THEY'VE GOT TO STOP AND FEED THEIR ANIMALS,
ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, THE PRACTICAL THINGS. AND I
THOUGHT, THAT WOULD TAKE THEM ABOUT A MONTH. YOU THINK ABOUT
THAT. AND THEN JUST GETTING READY FOR THE TRIP, THEY HAD TO
PLAN. NOW RICK RENNER, HOW MANY OF YOU EVER READ SOME OF HIS
STUFF ON CHRISTMAS? HE TALKS ABOUT HOW OBVIOUSLY MANY
HISTORIANS HAVE SAID IT WASN'T JUST THREE MAGI. IT WAS A WHOLE
PROCESSION OF PEOPLE THAT CAME IN VAST NUMBER. THAT'S WHY HEROD
FELT SO THREATENED. IT WASN'T JUST A COUPLE LITTLE GUYS THAT
CAME. AND OF COURSE, WE KNOW THE BIBLE INDICATES RIGHT HERE, EVEN
IN MATTHEW, THAT THE MAGI DIDN'T COME TO THE STABLE. IT SAYS THAT
HEROD HAD CALCULATED FROM THE TIME THAT THE STAR APPEARED. AND
THAT'S WHY HE KILLED ALL THE CHILDREN UNDER TWO YEARS OLD.
BUT THE FUNNY THING IS, YOU THINK ABOUT FOR A MINUTE THE
PREPARATION THAT IT TOOK FOR THIS PROCESSION TO COME, FOR
THEM TO PLAN THEIR TREASURES. AND BY THE WAY, HISTORY TELLS US
IT WASN'T LIKE THREE LITTLE BULLS OF A LITTLE GOLD. IT WAS
ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THE ENTIRE MINISTRY OF JESUS THROUGH HIS
ALL THE WAY TO HIS CRUCIFIXION, THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH WEALTH. WE
KNOW JESUS HAD A TREASURY. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT. HE HAD A
TREASURER THAT WAS STEALING FROM THE BAG. JUDAS, RIGHT? AND SO
THERE HAD TO BE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BAG FOR IT NOT TO BE THAT
NOTICEABLE IF HE WAS TAKING A LITTLE BIT OUT ALL THE TIME.
JUDAS, RIGHT? SO THERE WAS WEALTH. THEY AT ONE POINT HAD
OFFERED TO GO AND PURCHASE FOR THE MULTITUDE FOOD. SO YOU THINK
ABOUT THOSE SCRIPTURES. SO THIS WAS A THE MAGI COMING WAS A
MAJOR PLANNED EVENT. AND IT TOOK THEM PROBABLY WEEKS, MAYBE
MONTHS, OF SEEING THE STAR AND GOING AND TRAVELING THAT WHOLE
MONTH WITH ALL OF THE TREASURES THAT THEY BROUGHT. IMAGINE THE
PREPARATION IT TOOK FOR THAT. I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR OUR
KIDS SING HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. AND I THINK ABOUT HOW
MUCH PRACTICE THEY PUT, OR OUR FLAGGERS THAT WERE UP HERE
TODAY, THEY PRACTICED. BY THE WAY, THE WORSHIP TEAM TODAY,
AMAZING JOB FROM THEM. AND ALL THAT PREPARATION. SO IT JUST
REMINDS ME THAT THESE MAGI PREPARED. THEY PLANNED. THEY
PACKED UP THINGS. AND IN FACT, VERSE 11, IT SAYS IN THE NEW
LIVING OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 2, IT SAYS THAT THEY OPENED THEIR
TREASURE CHESTS. SO THAT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT LITTLE
BOXES. THEY HAD BIG TREASURE CHESTS. AND THE REASON I SAY ALL
THAT, IT JUST REMINDS US THAT WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING, WE
SHOULDN'T, AND AS WE GO INTO 2026, BE HAPHAZARD ABOUT THAT.
THEY PLANNED, THEY PREPARED. SO MY ENCOURAGEMENT ON THIS
CHRISTMAS TO YOU ON YOUR OFFERINGS, YOUR TITHES, IS PLAN.
PLAN HOW YOU WANT TO GIVE TO GOD. DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW,
HAPHAZARD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THE DEVIL, THE
ENEMY, LIFE'S ISSUES ARE ALWAYS THERE TO TRY TO TAKE FROM YOU
YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS. SO THIS IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO US TO PLAN
AHEAD. PLAN YOUR 2026. DON'T JUST PLAN HOW YOU'RE GOING TO
PAY YOUR CAR OFF, RIGHT? PLAN HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE TO GOD.
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE RESULT OF THAT IF WE WOULD
PLAN THOSE THINGS, JUST LIKE THE MAGI DID. AND SO TO ME, THAT'S
THE MESSAGE OF WHAT THEY BROUGHT. THEY PLANNED. THEY
PREPARED. THEY THOUGHT AHEAD. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT 2026, THIS
CHRISTMAS, LET THE MESSAGE OF THE MAGI REMIND US. LET'S PLAN
AND PREPARE. AND YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THEY GOT THIRSTY AND HUNGRY
ALONG THE WAY. YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE LIKE HUMAN NATURE, THERE
MIGHT'VE BEEN TIMES THAT THEY THOUGHT, LET'S JUST TURN BACK,
RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE WEATHER'S NOT COOPERATING,
THINGS AREN'T GOING RIGHT, AND THEY WANTED TO JUST GO BACK AND
QUIT. AND MAYBE THAT WAS, I MEAN, THE BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US
THAT, BUT MAYBE THAT WAS THE CASE. I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE
YOU, DON'T LET LIFE KEEP YOU FROM SERVING GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE
HEART, NUMBER ONE, IN 2026. NUMBER TWO, DON'T LET IT KEEP
YOU FROM PREPARING HOW YOU WANT TO HONOR GOD IN YOUR GIVING, AND
ESPECIALLY FINANCIALLY. BUT ALL THE AREAS OF OUR LIFE IS SO
IMPORTANT. AMEN? AMEN? ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY TO GIVE
THIS MORNING? ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THAT GIVING
INFORMATION UP ON THE SCREEN AND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GIVE.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BUILDING FUND. AND IF YOU WANT
TO GET YOUR LAST OFFERINGS OF 2025, SOME OF YOU ARE TRYING TO
GET THOSE IN BEFORE THE YEAR CLOSES, AND YOU ARE MAILING, IT
JUST NEEDS TO BE IN THE MAIL BY THE 31ST. SO GET THAT POSTMARKED
ON TIME. AND THEN BY MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, THOSE NEED TO
ALL BE SUBMITTED TO GET ON YOUR 2025 GIVING RECORD. SO I ALWAYS
LIKE TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT. AND BY THE WAY, OUR FIRST FRUITS
OFFERING IS AVAILABLE. SO IF YOU'RE WANTING TO SOW THOSE
FIRST FRUITS INTO 20, THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO PREPARE, RIGHT? LET
YOUR GIVING GO BEFORE YOU. THAT FUND IS OUT THERE SO YOU CAN
LOOK FOR THE FIRST FRUITS 2026 AND YOU CAN GIVE INTO THAT AS
WELL. AND BY THE WAY, AS THE USHERS ARE SERVING YOU, I WILL
JUST SAY, AND THEY'RE GIVING YOU YOUR OFFERING ENVELOPES. I WILL
JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING FAITHFUL IN 2025 FROM PASTOR AND
MYSELF. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOU DO FOR THE TABERNACLE, FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE KINGDOM
OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. YOU ARE THE BEST PEOPLE.
INTERNET, IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU WE'RE ABLE TO BUILD THIS
BEAUTIFUL TABERNACLE TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. PASTOR
AND I, WE GET UP EVERY SINGLE DAY OF OUR LIVES SO GRATEFUL, SO
THANKFUL, AND SO HONORING OF GOD AND WHAT HE DID THROUGH YOU. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A GREAT YEAR. GOD BLESS YOU. WELL, IF
YOU HAVE YOUR GIVING, LET'S GET READY, LET'S STAND. EVERYBODY
STAND. AND IF YOU'RE USING YOUR PHONE, YOU CAN GET YOUR PHONE
OUT, HOLD IT UP HIGH, HOLD UP YOUR ENVELOPE. YOU CAN DO THAT
AS WELL. JUST HOLD IT UP, TREAT IT LIKE THIS IS YOUR STATEMENT.
THIS IS YOUR PREPARATION FOR A BRAND NEW YEAR, AMEN? FATHER, I
THANK YOU FOR EVERY PERSON HERE AND ONLINE THAT IS GIVING.
FATHER, THAT IS PREPARING FOR 2026, JUST LIKE THE MAGI DID.
THEY ARE PREPARING, THEY'RE GIVING, THEIR OFFERINGS, THEIR
TITHES. AND FATHER, WE JUST WANNA SAY YOU ARE SO DESERVING.
YOU DESERVE OUR BEST, JUST LIKE THEY GAVE. AND SO GOD, THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE HERE AND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TODAY, TO GIVE YOU OUR
BEST. AND WE JUST SAY, THANK YOU, JESUS. THANK YOU FOR
COMING. THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR LIVES SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE
TO GO TO HELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU. AND
WE HONOR YOU WITH OUR GIVING TODAY. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN AND
AMEN. CAN WE DO OUR FINAL DECREE OF THIS YEAR? YOU WANNA DO THAT
TOGETHER? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO QUICKLY SO WE CAN GET THE KIDS
UP HERE. SAY IT WITH ME. WE DECLARE THE CAMPUS AND MINISTRY
OF LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH SHALL BE INCREASED, EXPANDED AND DEBT
FREE. WE DECREE IT SHALL HAPPEN WITHOUT DELAY. WE SAY THAT WE
HAVE TO EVERY HEAVENLY ASSIGNMENT BE BUILT UP AND
FINISHED. WE SAY THAT WE HAVE ALL THE FINANCES NEEDED FOR THE
LORD IS BUILDING THIS HOUSE. WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH EXCESS AND
OVERFLOW. LORD, YOU ARE PROVIDING SEED TO THE SOWER. WE
CALL UPON YOU, LORD OF HOSTS, TO BRING FORTH HEAVENLY ASSISTANCE
AND RAISE UP MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE THAT SHALL GIVE
ABUNDANTLY TO THIS WORK. WE PROPHESY THAT WE SHALL
QUADRUPLE, QUADRUPLE, AND THAT WE WILL QUADRUPLE AGAIN. WE
DECLARE NEW THINGS NOW. WE DECREE MINISTRY AND
CAMPUS BE EXPANDED NOW. HALLELUJAH. GIVE GOD A PRAISE
AS YOU GIVE. AND WHILE THE USHERS BEGIN TO
SERVE YOU, LET'S WELCOME OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
(MUSIC)
LONG AGO, ONE QUIET NIGHT, ALL OF CREATION BEGAN TO STIR. NOT
JUST THE STARS, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE, BUT EVEN THE ANIMALS
TOO. YOU SEE, THEY KNEW A VERY SPECIAL BABY WAS ABOUT TO BE
BORN. AND NOT JUST ANY BABY, THE MESSIAH, THE KING, THE SAVIOR OF
THE WORLD. AND SO THE ANIMALS BEGAN TO PREPARE. ALL RIGHT
TEAM, WE GOT A BIG JOB. THE MESSIAH WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING
FOR IS BEING BORN AT BETHLEHEM. AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THERE. OUR
SAVIOR, OUR KING, A ROYAL BABY WITH TEENY TINY TOES, I MUST
SIMPLY SEE THIS. THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE BORN?
WELL, OF COURSE, ONLY THE PROPHESIED IT FOR 400 YEARS. OH,
HI. I WALKED ALL THE WAY FROM THE DESERT. MY FEET HURT, MY
BACK HURTS, AND SOMEONE PUT GRANOLA IN MY HUMP. ARE Y'ALL ON
YOUR WAY TO SEE THE MESSIAH? WE SURE ARE. I'M SO EXCITED TO MEET
THE KING OF KINGS. CAN YOU BELIEVE GOD IS COMING TO BE WITH
US? CAN I COME ALONG WITH YOU? WELL, OF COURSE, THE MORE THE
MERRIER. OK, DID EVERYONE BRING THEIR SNACKS? I BROUGHT A SOCK.
WAIT, NO. OH, YEP. JUST A SOCK. WAIT, DO WE EAT SOCKS NOW?
ENOUGH CHATTER. WE NEED TO MOVE. WE GOT A KING TO MEET. LA LA LA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS. VINNY, IS THAT YOU? CARL? VINNY, MY LONG LOST
COUSIN. ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY TO MEET THE MESSIAH? I SURE AM. CAN
YOU BELIEVE IT? JESUS, THE MESSIAH, IS COMING TO SAVE US. I
KNOW. I'M SO JOYFUL. ME TOO. HEY, GRANDMA AND GRANDMA ARE ON
THEIR WAY. UNCLE HENRY AND AUNT MIDGET ARE FLYING IN FROM
JERICHO. COUSIN NERO, THE TURTLE, IS ON HIS WAY FROM
NATHURISH. IT'S GOING TO BE A GRAND PARTY FULL OF SO MUCH JOY.
LET'S NOT BE LATE. THE STARS ARE OUT, THE ANGELS ARE SINGING, AND
I'VE REACHED MY HALLELUJAH POSE. THIS IS IT, TEAM.
ALL CREATION HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
MOMENT. THE ONE WHO WILL BRING PEACE. THE ONE
WHO WILL LIKE MY SOCK. THE ONE WHO BRINGS LIGHT IN THE
DARKNESS. ONE THAT SEES LITTLE CREATURES JUST LIKE ME. EVERYONE
READY? ALL CREATURES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT. AS
READY AS I'LL EVER BE. LET'S GO WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING AND
MAYBE SIT DOWN AFTERWARD. I BROUGHT A GIFT. IT'S THIS SOCK.
OH, STEPHEN, HE DOESN'T NEED A GIFT. HE JUST WANTS US. AND SO
WITH EXCITEMENT, LAUGHTER, AND JOY IN THEIR HEARTS, THE ANIMALS
MADE THEIR WAY TO THE STABLE, AND NOT TO SEE A THRONE OR A
PALACE, BUT TO SEE GOD WRAPPED IN CLOTH, LYING IN A MANGER. SO,
IN MANY WAYS, JESUS, GOD PROMISED HE'D SEND A SAVIOR, AND
HE'S HERE. FA LA LA LA IT'S CHRISTMAS. LONG AGO IN
BETHLEHEM'S NIGHT A BABY WAS BORN A SHINING LIGHT. NOT JUST
PEOPLE, STARS AND SHEEP, WAITING FOR THE KING IN A MANGER DEEP.
DONKEYS DANCING, THE FLEW HIGH AS SAVIOR WAS COMING FROM THE
SKY. EVEN CAMELS FROM FAR AWAY HURRIED TO SEE THE KING THAT
DAY. CREATION CHEERED, THE WAY IT WAS DONE, GOD HAS SENT HIS
ONLY SON. NOT IN A CASTLE, BUT SOFT AND SMALL, JESUS CAME TO
SAVE US ALL. NO CROWN OF GOLD, NO ROYAL BED, JUST A TINY HEAD.
YET ALL THE EARTH BEGAN TO SING FOR JESUS CHRIST,
OUR NEWBORN KING. PEACE HAD COME AND LOVE WAS NEAR,
THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD WAS HERE. SO LET US SHOUT AND
SING TODAY, FA-LA-LA-ELUJAH, CHRIST IS BORN. HOORAY!
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
ONE NIGHT INTO THE DARKNESS. ONE STAR SHINING THE BRIGHTEST.
HEAVEN COULDN’T CONTAIN THE GREATEST NEWS. SHEPHERDS
COULDN’T BELIEVER IT, WISEMEN WANTED TO SEE IT, GOD WAS
SENDING HHIS ONLY SON TO EARTH. CAN YOU HEAR THE SOUND THE
ANGELS SINGING OUT. JOY, SING AND SHOUT IT. TELL ALL THE WORLD
ABOUT IT. GOD IS WITH US, GOD IS WITH US! JOY, THIS IS THE
SEASON, NOW WE HAVE A REASON. GOD IS WITH US AND THIS IS
CHRISTMAS! FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH LA-
LA-LA-LA-LE-LUJAH FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH THIS IS
CHRISTMAS! JESUS BORN IN A MANGER, JESUS HE IS A SAVIOR HE
IS SHOWING THE WORLD THE LOVE OF GOD.
CAN YOU HEAR THE SOUND. THE ANGELS SINGING OUT! JOY, SING
AND SHOUT IT. TELL THE ALL WORLD ABOUT IT. GOD IS WITH US, SING
GOD IS WITH US. JOY, THIS IS THE SEASON. NOW WE HAVE A REASON.
GOD IS WITH US AND THIS IS CHRISTMAS.
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH LA- LA-LA-LA-LE-LUJAH
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH THIS IS CHRISTMAS! TELL ALL YOUR
FRIENDS, TELL EVERYONE, EVERYONE. COME CELEBRATE. IT’S
JUST BEGUN, JUST BEGUN. PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR CAUSE IT’S
CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE. GET READY TO MOVE CAUSE WE KNOW IT’S TRUE!
JOY! SING AND SHOUT IT TELL ALL THE WORLD ABOUT IT. GOD IS WITH
US, SING GOD IS WITH US. JOY, THIS IS THE SEASON. NOW WE HAVE
A REASON. GOD IS WITH US. AND THIS IS CHRISTMAS!
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH LA- LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH THIS IS CHRISTMAS!
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH LA- LA-LA-LA-LE-LUJAH
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LELUJAH THIS IS CHRISTMAS!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
WE NEED TO GIVE THESE GUYS A BIG HAND CLAP. I THINK YOU GUYS NEED
TO BOW. WATCH YOU, LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT, YOU GUYS
ARE FAMOUS. WOW. HOW DO YOU FEEL BEING ALL OVER THE
WORLD, LIVE TELEVISION, A MOVIE STAR NOW? AWESOME. YEAH, YEAH.
IS THERE A WAY WE COULD GET YOUR AUTOGRAPH? NO.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
HOW ABOUT YOU? NO. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WE CAN JUST GET
YOUR AUTOGRAPH? YOU GUYS DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO WRITE YOUR
NAME. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I BET YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO WRITE
YOUR NAME. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO WRITE YOUR NAME? YES. YES. YES,
ALL RIGHT, BUT HERE'S THE THING, GUYS. SO AS I WAS OVER THERE ON
THE FRONT ROW, I WAS THINKING, SOON AS THE CHRISTMAS SINGING IS
DONE, YOU ALL WILL FORGET YOUR MOVES. 'CAUSE SOME OF YOU HAD
SOME LIKE DANCE MOVES. YEAH, YEAH. COME ON, YOU, SHOW US, YOU
KNOW, YOU GOTTA BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. SHOW US YOUR DANCE
MOVE. WHOA, LOOK AT THAT. ALL RIGHT, LOOK AT THAT. NOW, I WANT
TO YOU GUYS WANT ME TO TEACH YOU ONE? ALL RIGHT, IT GOES LIKE
THIS. READY? ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY DO THAT. READY? I
MEAN, LOOK AT THIS. WELL, WHERE'S YOUR DANCE MOVE? ARE YOU
DOING A DANCE MOVE? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO DANCE? WHO CAN DO A
REALLY COOL MOVE? YOU ALREADY DID? OH, YOU ALREADY DID YOUR...
SO YOU'RE RETIRED AS A MOVIE STAR NOW? HOW ABOUT YOU? SHOW US
WHAT YOU GOT. NO. NO? HOW ABOUT YOU? YES. OKAY, GO FOR IT. LET'S
SEE YOUR MOVE. OH MY GOODNESS, BREAK IT DOWN! YOU LOOK
LIKE YOU GOT SOME MOVES, MAN. NO, I DON'T. YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY MOVES? WERE YOU BORN WITHOUT ANY MOVES?
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT, READY? TRY THIS ONE. WANNA TRY
THAT ONE? YOU DON'T WANNA TRY THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT, WHO'S GOT
SOME MOVES? I GOT IT. YOU, OH, OH, WHAT DO YOU GOT?
THAT IS, I'VE SEEN THAT ONE BEFORE. IS THAT CALLED
THE RABBIT? NO, IT'S THE FROG. OH, IT'S THE FROG. HOW ABOUT
YOU? LET ME SEE YOUR DANCE MOVE. COME ON UP HERE. ALL RIGHT. OH,
LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT THIS. OH, MY GOODNESS. WOW, DO YOU WORK
THAT HARD TO CLEAN YOUR ROOM? NAH, YOU DON'T CLEAN YOUR ROOM.
OH, YOU WANT ME TO BACK UP? NOW, HERE, YOU GOT TO BACK UP,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO FALL DOWN THERE. OK, DO YOUR COOLEST
MOVE. WOW, LOOK AT THAT. OH, HIS SHOE FELL OFF. OH, MY GOODNESS.
YOU GOT TO ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT THE
SHOE. THAT'S OK. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE SHOELESS DANCE GUY.
ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DANCE LIKE? OK, NOW
YOU GOT TO BACK UP. OK, HERE WE GO. READY, ONE WAIT, LET ME
COUNT TO LIKE LET ME COUNT TO ONE MILLION. OK, I'M GOING TO
START. 1, 2 THEN YOU COULD DANCE AT THE 1 OH, SHOULD I JUST MAKE
IT LIKE 10? OK, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. OK, GO. OH, MY
GOODNESS. OH, THAT IS, ARE YOU LIKE A BALLERINA, A GYMNAST? NO,
DON'T TRY IT, YOU MIGHT SPLIT YOUR PANTS THERE, BUDDY. OKAY,
WELL, THAT'S OKAY, ALL RIGHT. HOW MANY OF YOU THINK PASTOR
HANK SHOULD TRY THAT? YEAH! GO ASK YOUR PARENTS TO, I DON'T
KNOW, I BETTER NOT. ALL RIGHT, WELL LET ME ASK YOU GUYS THIS
BEFORE WE LET YOU GO. WHERE'S CARL THE CAMEL? COME ON UP HERE,
CARL. I GOTTA ASK YOU A QUESTION. HOW MANY OF YOU, NOW
LOOK, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING ALL OVER THE WORLD RIGHT
HERE, CARL, AND THEY ARE WONDERING IF YOU REALLY DO HAVE
GRANOLA IN THAT BACKPACK. DID THAT GET BY THE OFFICERS? DID
THAT GET BY SECURITY? I MEAN DO YOU WANNA SHOW US WHAT'S IN
THERE? WOULD YOU RATHER NOT? I GUESS SO. WHAT IS IT, YOUR
PAJAMAS? CLEAN SOCKS? I DON'T KNOW, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, MAKE
SURE, WAIT, WAIT, MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK FIRST, THINK THERE'S
AN ANIMAL IN THERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? YOU GOT AN OLD STEEL
SANDWICH IN THERE. WHAT IS THAT? BED SHEET. BED SHEET? YEAH.
YEAH, MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST KEEP THE ZIPPER ON THAT. THAT'S JUST
GONNA KEEP THAT. WOW, WHERE'S THE GUY WITH THE SOCK? ALL
RIGHT, SEE, THE PLAY'S OVER AND YOU LOST YOUR SOCKS. OH YEAH,
MAN, YOU THINK IF THE PLAY'S STILL ON, YOU SHOULD GO GET YOUR
SOCK, MAYBE? YEAH, MAYBE YOU SHOULD GO GET YOUR SOCK. YEAH,
GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR SOCK, BRING IT UP HERE. LET ME SEE IT,
WHAT'S INSIDE OF THIS? MAN, DID YOU WASH THAT THING? IS THIS
JONATHAN, MY SON'S SOCKS? THIS SMELLS EXACTLY THE WAY HIS SOCKS
ARE, YOU KNOW? HOW MANY KNOW? YEP, THAT'S JOHN'S SOCKS. WHAT
ARE YOU GONNA GET FOR CHRISTMAS? LEGOS. LEGOS, OH, I COULD GO
FOR, HOW MANY OF YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET CASH? CASH, OH,
LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY GIFTS. WELL, HOW MANY OF YOU THINK
YOU'RE GONNA GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR? OOH, WHAT DID
YOU ASK FOR? A MILLION, I WANT TO GET A MILLION. THAT'S GREAT,
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU GOT? A MILLION LEGO SETS. HOW ABOUT
YOU? I THINK I GOT SOMETHING SONIC Y. SOMETHING THAT INCLUDES
SONIC. HOW ABOUT YOU? LIKE, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SAY THIS,
BUT OKAY, THEN DON'T SAY IT, OKAY, 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOUR
PARENTS ARE WATCHING, WE WANT 'EM TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK,
OKAY. WHAT DID YOU GET? I ASKED FOR LEGOS. LEGOS, OKAY. IS THAT
LIKE THE WAFFLES LEGO, MY EGGO, REMEMBER THAT? OKAY, WHAT'D YOU
GET? I DON'T KNOW. YOU DON'T KNOW? YOU GOT YOUR HAND UP. I
GOT A THING THAT HAS A REAL MICROPHONE ON IT. OH, A REAL
MICROPHONE, LIKE MAYBE A REAL MICROPHONE THING? OH, I KNOW THE
REAL MICROPHONE THING. I WANTED THAT REAL MICROPHONE THING TOO.
WHAT'D YOU GET? I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I GOT, BUT I WON A
GRAND PIANO. OH YEAH, AND I WON A HORSE. NO, YOU CAN'T SAY IT
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK I GOT A LEGO SET. WOW. OKAY, I SEE
YOUR HAND. I GOT LIKE A GIANT CAT LUNA THAT'S LIKE ABOUT LIKE
RIGHT HERE. OH, YEAH, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED WHATEVER THAT WAS.
I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE WHAT I GOT YET, BUT I DO WANT A RECORD
PLAYER. OH ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR KIDS
TODAY. HOPEFULLY YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANTED.
LET'S DO ONE MORE DANCE MOVE FOR THE AUDIENCE WITH PASTOR HANK.
READY? ONE, TWO, THREE, GO. ONE, TWO, THREE, GO. DANCE, MOVE.
WHAT, YOU GUYS ARE JUST STANDING THERE. COME ON, HELP ME OUT. YOU
GOTTA FACE THAT WAY. READY? EVERYBODY DO THE MOVES. DO YOUR
OWN MOVES. READY, ONE, TWO, THREE. JOY OF CHRISTMAS, MOVE.
YEAH. DON'T LEAVE ME UP HERE BY MYSELF. ALL RIGHT, GUYS. OKAY,
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I'M GONNA HAVE THESE GUYS NEXT
YEAR. EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU GOTTA PRACTICE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE
IT UP FOR THE KIDS. GREAT JOB. I HOPE YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU
WANTED AND MORE, ESPECIALLY THE CASH STUFF, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT,
WE'LL SEE YA. YOU'RE LOOKING SHARP, MAN. YEAH, YOU LOOK
REALLY SHARP. YOU RUNNING FOR WHAT, CITY COUNCIL? NOTHING LIKE
THAT? SCHOOL BOARD? I DON'T KNOW, FIFTH GRADE? OKAY, ANYWAY,
NICE TO MEET YA. THANK YOU. OKAY, YOU GOT MY VOTE. IT'S
ALWAYS GREAT TO INTERVIEW 'EM, ISN'T IT? HEY, GREAT BRAIN, I'M
GONNA GIVE THIS TO YOU REAL QUICK. ALL RIGHT. ISN'T THAT
FUN? THAT'S A LOT OF FUN. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY OF 'EM
COULD ACTUALLY DANCE, MAN. 'CAUSE I WATCH YOU GUYS OUT
THERE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE IT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GET
THEIR DANCE MOVES. OH, STOP, OH, STOP, YOU KNOW. BUT BOY, I TELL
YOU, THE BEST PART OF THAT WAS JOHN, HOW DID I JUST GOT TO ASK,
JONATHAN, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR SOCK UP HERE THAT STUNK SO BAD?
THAT WAS REALLY THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUT WITH THE CHRISTMAS
PLAY THIS YEAR BY YOUR STINKY, DIRTY SOCK THERE, JOHN.
SO IT'S AMAZING. WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE
COULD DEADLIFT ALMOST 900 POUNDS. BUT THE LAUNDRY
BASKET, HE JUST COULD NEVER GET UP TO HIS...
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
HE KNOWS I'M ONLY MESSING WITH HIM, BUT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE MY
BOYS HERE, AND I LOVE 'EM. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN. MAMA'S
GONNA DO A LOT OF COOKING, ISN'T SHE? SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE FUN.
WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN AND DO A GAMING THING, AND WHEN I PLAY
MATTHEW, LIKE, WHAT IS IT, LIKE, MADDEN, THEY CALL IT? THEY CALL
IT MAD BECAUSE YOU GET MAD. HE BEATS ME LIKE 180 TO LIKE THREE.
BUT TAKE IT EASY ON ME THIS YEAR, MATT. ALL RIGHT, WELL,
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, YOU STILL HAVE
TIME TO GET YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS. I WANNA SHOW YOU THIS, MY
CHILDREN'S BOOKS. WE HAVE SOME NEW ONES THAT HAD COME OUT. MY
P.I. GUS SERIES, THAT'S THE PIG THERE. AND THEN MUTT'S FEE AND
HELP WANTED, I THINK THAT'S LIKE THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH ONE,
RACHEL, IN THE SERIES. AND THEN WE'VE GOT MY NEW CAPTAIN ZEPTO,
FAST FOOD SLOWDOWN. THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY HILARIOUS. AND
THEN THOSE ARE ALL THE CHARACTERS THAT I CREATED. AND
ACTUALLY, JACOB, ARE YOU IN HERE, JACOB BLACKBURN? HEY,
THERE HE IS, HE'S RUNNING THE CAMERA. SO I SAID, JACOB, IS
THERE ANY WAY, YOU HAVE A 3D PRINTER, COULD YOU PRINT THOSE
OFF 3D? SO HE GOT THEM LIKE TWO INCHES, I'VE BEEN PAINTING THEM.
AND I WANNA SHOW YOU BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD RALLY TOGETHER
AND PUT THESE IN TOYS FOR KIDS, LIKE LITTLE FIGURINES. SO I'M
KINDA, YEAH, I HAVE THIS LITTLE, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? MY
MAGNIFYING GLASS THING AND I'VE BEEN PAINTING THEM. AND SO IF
I'M LOOKING AT YOU LIKE THIS TODAY, IT'S 'CAUSE, YEAH, THAT'S
THE REASON, THAT IS THE REASON. SO ANYWAY, WELL, WANNA MAKE SURE
THAT YOU GET ALL OF THOSE. WELL, LET'S BEGIN MY MESSAGE TODAY. I
DO WANNA CHECK, I KNOW SHE MENTIONED SHE MIGHT COME OR
WATCH ONLINE, BUT I MET SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY AT ONE OF THE
PLACES OF BUSINESS THAT I WAS AT. NORMA, IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY
TODAY. IS NORMA HERE OR IS SHE WATCHING ONLINE? NORMA, IF
YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. AND IF YOU'RE HERE AND
I DON'T SEE YOUR HAND, WE WOULD LOVE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
YOU. WHOSE BIRTHDAY, ANYBODY'S BIRTHDAY TODAY BESIDES GOD?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WE SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I'M NOT GONNA SING,
OTHERWISE WE MIGHT HAVE PEOPLE LEAVE. BUT ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE
GET STARTED THOUGH, I DO WANNA MENTION, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A
BOARD MEETING AT ONE OF THE CHRISTMAS SERVICES. THE PASTOR
GOT UP AND HE BEGAN TO SAY, "AFTER THE SERVICE, IMMEDIATELY,
"THERE WILL BE A BOARD MEETING IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH." AND
SO THE SERVICE WENT ON FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND FINALLY IT WAS
OVER. THE PASTOR FINISHED HIS MESSAGE AFTER SIX CLOSINGS. YOU
KNOW PASTOR BRENDA, RIGHT? AND SO THEY BEGAN TO GATHER FOR
THEIR BOARD MEETING, AND THERE WAS THIS GUY THAT SHOWED UP, AND
HE'S STANDING THERE. AND THEY'RE ALL THERE AT THE MEETING LOOKING
AT HIM 'CAUSE HE WAS A VISITOR, AND THEY SAID, "SIR," THE
PASTOR SAID, "SIR, WE KNOW IT'S YOUR FIRST SUNDAY HERE, "BUT
THIS IS A BOARD MEETING." HE SAID, "OH YEAH, FROM
THE TIME YOUR SERMON STARTED "TO THE TIME IT ENDED,
I WAS AS BORED AS THEY COME, "SO I THOUGHT I WOULD."
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
WAS THAT A GOOD ONE? YOU LIKE THAT? OKAY, ONLINE, IF YOU LIKED
IT BETTER THAN THEY JUST REACTED IN HERE, PUT YOUR HAND UP AND
WAVE. IF YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOOD, SAY, "JOHN, WASH YOUR
SOCKS," AND THAT'LL BE THE MESSAGE, ALL RIGHT, THE CODE.
ALL RIGHT, I WANT US TO TALK TODAY ABOUT CHRISTMAS, MAYBE IN
A TOPIC THAT PERHAPS YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT. AND WE'RE GONNA
TALK TODAY ABOUT CHRISTMAS PRESERVATION OR CHRISTMAS
PROTECTION. YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S AMAZING HOW
SOMETIMES PEOPLE, THEY GET INTO FEAR, RIGHT, GETTING THEIR
SHOPPING DONE, OR MAYBE THEY'RE HEARING THE LATEST NEWS THAT ARE
GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD, AND PEOPLE TEND TO SLIDE INTO FEAR.
AND WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A JOYOUS TIME OF YEAR, PEOPLE ARE
NOT HAPPY, THEY'RE AFRAID, THEY'RE UPTIGHT. BUT I WANNA
TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, BUT WHAT I THOUGHT I
WOULD DO IS LET YOU HEAR THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS BY ONE OF
THE GREATEST CLIPS THAT FOREVER PUT A MARK ON MY LIFE GROWING
UP. ARE YOU READY? LET'S PLAY THE VIDEO. IS THERE ANYONE WHO
KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT? SURE, CHARLIE BROWN, I
CAN TELL YOU WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT. LIGHTS, PLEASE. AND
THERE WERE IN THE SAME COUNTRY SHEPHERDS, ABIDING IN THE FIELD,
KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCK BY NIGHT. AND LO, THE ANGEL OF
THE LORD CAME UPON THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE ROUND
ABOUT THEM. AND THEY WERE SORE AFRAID, AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO
THEM, FEAR NOT; FOR, BEHOLD, I BRING YOU TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY,
WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE. FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN
THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD. AND
THIS SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO YOU. YE SHALL FIND THE BABE WRAPPED
IN SWADDLING CLOTHES, LYING IN A MANGER. AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS
WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD,
AND SAYING, "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, AND
GOODWILL TOWARD MEN." THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT,
CHARLIE BROWN. ALL RIGHT, I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU'D LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT TO HAVE WHOLESOME CARTOONS AGAIN. THAT
IS A CLASSIC. HOW MANY OF YOU DID THAT MAKE AN IMPACT ON YOUR
LIFE GROWING UP? AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.
MAYBE YOU WATCHED IT RECENTLY. BUT I WANT TO DRAW OUR ATTENTION
TO LUKE CHAPTER TWO, AND I WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT LINUS WAS
QUOTING. THE ANGELS OF THE LORD, THE BIBLE SAID THE HOST OF
HEAVEN, SHOWED UP THAT DAY IN FRONT OF THE SHEPHERDS. AND I
WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WASN'T JUST A BUNCH OF ANGELS.
THESE WERE THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THERE'S
A POWERFUL VERSE IN THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH THAT SAYS, "IT'S NOT
BY OUR MIGHT, IT'S NOT BY OUR POWER, BUT IT'S BY MY SPIRIT,
SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS." AND THE WORD "LORD OF HOSTS" IS THE
LORD OF ANGEL ARMIES. THAT'S WHAT ONE OF GOD'S NAME IS
DEFINED AS, "LORD OF HOSTS," THE LORD OF ANGEL ARMIES. SO THESE
THAT SHOWED UP, THE HOSTS WERE PART OF THE ANGELIC ARMIES OF
HEAVEN. THESE WERE POWERFUL WARRIORS. THESE WERE POWERFUL
SOLDIERS IN GOD'S HEAVENLY ARMY THAT SHOWED UP TO MAKE THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT. BUT LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER TWO, AND I WANT US TO
LOOK AT THIS IN VERSE 13, THAT LINUS QUOTED, "AND SUDDENLY
THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL "A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOSTS
PRAISING GOD. "AND THEY BEGAN TO SAY, 'GLORY TO GOD IN THE
HIGHEST "'AND ON EARTH, PEACE, NOTHING MISSING, NOTHING BROKEN,
"'AND GOODWILL TOWARDS MEN.'" NOW I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND
SOMETHING, AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING TODAY, THAT THAT
MESSAGE, PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TOWARDS MEN, HASN'T
CHANGED. NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
PEACE BETWEEN NATIONS, PEACE BETWEEN PEOPLE. WHAT IT
LITERALLY MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD BECAUSE OF JESUS.
AND THEN SOME OF US, AS WE'RE READING THIS TODAY, YOU NEED TO
ASK YOURSELF, ARE YOU AT PEACE WITH GOD? ARE THINGS RIGHT IN
YOUR LIFE? ARE THINGS RIGHT IN YOUR HEART? BECAUSE HAVING PEACE
WITH GOD, YOU'RE GONNA FIND, IS ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING,
GRATIFYING THINGS THAT YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR LIFE. AND ONLY
JESUS CAN BRING THAT PEACE, BUT PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TOWARDS
MEN. BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE IT IN CONTEXT OF DIVINE PRESERVATION
OR PROTECTION. NOW YOU MIGHT BE ASKING, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF PRESERVATION? THE DEFINITION
OF PRESERVATION IS TO KEEP SAFE, TO KEEP FROM INJURY, TO KEEP
FROM HARM, TO KEEP FROM DESTRUCTION, TO PROTECT, TO KEEP
ALIVE, TO KEEP SOMETHING INTACT. AND SO I WANT YOU TO SEE THAT
PART OF THE MESSAGE, PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TOWARDS MEN, WAS
A MESSAGE THAT WHEN GOD HAS INJECTED HIMSELF IN THE EARTH
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, THAT OUR PROMISE AND OUR BENEFITS THEN IS
WE HAVE PRESERVATION, WE HAVE PROTECTION. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. OFTENTIMES
AT CHRISTMAS TIME, WE EXCHANGE GIFTS. HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE
RECEIVING GIFTS? THE BIBLE SAYS IT'S BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO
RECEIVE, BUT BOY, I LIKE RECEIVING GIFTS. HOW MANY OF YOU
LIKE RECEIVING GIFTS? NOW REALLY THOUGH, THE OLDER YOU GET, I
DON'T KNOW IF I LIKE RECEIVING THEM AS MUCH BECAUSE REALLY,
WHAT DO PEOPLE GET YOU WHEN YOU GET MY AGE, RIGHT? ANOTHER
COFFEE CUP, ANOTHER PAIR OF SOCKS, RIGHT? A TIE THAT YOU
DON'T WEAR. IT'S JUST HARDER. HOW MANY OF YOU FIND IT HARD TO
SHOP FOR YOUR PARENTS OR FOR PEOPLE, YOUR SPOUSE, THE OLDER
YOU GET? JUST YOU RUN OUT OF OPTIONS, RIGHT? BUT ONE THING
THAT GOD DID IS HE GAVE US A GIFT AND HE GAVE US A GIFT IN
JESUS CHRIST. AND WHEN HE WAS BORN IN THAT MANGER AND THEN
LATER ON JESUS DIED ON THAT CROSS, I WANNA SHOW YOU THE GIFT
PACKAGE THAT HAS PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION IN IT. I WANT YOU
TO LOOK AT PSALM 103. IN FACT, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING,
THE BIBLE SAYS WE'RE NOT TO FORGET THIS GIFT PACKAGE. SO YOU
COULD SAY THIS, WHEN YOU ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART,
THIS IS WHAT THE CONTENTS OF THAT PACKAGE IS. PSALM 103,
VERSE 1, IT SAYS, BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, BLESS THE LORD,
O MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT THE GIFTS. FORGET NOT THAT PACKAGE
THAT YOU GOT. WE CALL IT CHRISTMAS DAY, BUT WATCH THIS.
BLESS HIS HOLY NAME AND DON'T FORGET HIS BENEFITS, VERSE THREE
TELLS US WHAT THEY ARE. GOD HAS FORGIVEN US OF ALL OUR SINS, ALL
OUR INIQUITIES. IT USES THE WORD INIQUITIES BECAUSE WHAT THAT
MEANS IS PURPOSEFUL SIN, STUFF THAT WE'VE DONE INTENTIONALLY ON
PURPOSE. BUT NOTICE THE OTHER THING, HE HEALS ALL OF OUR
DISEASES. WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SICK, WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE A
LIFE FILLED WITH DISEASE. WHO'S REDEEMED OUR LIFE, NOW LOOK AT
THIS, THIS IS PROTECTION, THIS IS PRESERVATION, THAT IS PART OF
YOUR CHRISTMAS PACKAGE. HE'S REDEEMED OUR LIFE FROM
DESTRUCTION. THAT'S ACCIDENTS, THAT'S INJURIES, THAT'S
TRAGEDIES, THAT'S CALAMITIES, THAT'S TURMOIL, THAT'S TRAUMA.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE A LIFE OF THOSE THINGS. HE'S CROWNED YOU
WITH LOVING KINDNESS. THAT WORD CROWN IS LIKE, HE'S SURROUNDED
YOU. YOU TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION, TO KEEP YOU FROM
INJURY, TO KEEP YOU FROM HARM, TO KEEP YOU INTACT. THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CROWNED WITH HIS TENDER MERCY
AND HIS LOVING KINDNESS. NOTICE THE NEXT THING. HE SAID HE
SATISFIES YOUR MOUTH WITH GOOD THINGS, M&MS, GELATO, AND A LOT
OF OTHER THINGS, SO THAT YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BENT
OVER AND WALK LIKE, REMEMBER TIM CONWAY, I'M A COMING, REMEMBER,
HE COULD BARELY GET THERE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT IN
OLD AGE. YOU CAN HAVE RENEWED YOUTH. SO THIS IS OUR BENEFIT
PACKAGE. NOW, ONE THING, THOUGH, THAT HE DIDN'T SAY THAT WE ARE
PROTECTED OR PRESERVED FROM, ARE YOU READY, IS PERSECUTION. JESUS
SAID PERSECUTION WOULD COME, BUT ONE THING THAT HE SAID HE'S
PRESERVED OUR LIFE FROM IS FROM EVIL, FROM SICKNESS, FROM
DISEASE, FROM THINGS THAT ARE COMING IN A DESTRUCTIVE MANNER
TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY. SO I WANT YOU TO THINK
DIFFERENTLY THIS CHRISTMAS THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED A GIFT FROM GOD.
YOU'VE RECEIVED PRESERVATION. YOU'VE RECEIVED PROTECTION. YOU
SAY, WELL, HOW DO I KNOW THAT? LOOK AT ISAIAH CHAPTER SEVEN.
WHEN THE PROPHETS CAME TO THE EARTH, THEY BEGAN TO PROPHESY.
AND THEY BEGAN TO DECLARE OUT OF THEIR MOUTH CONTINUAL PROPHETIC
WORDS THAT WERE SIGNS THAT WOULD POINT TO THIS PERSON, THIS
MESSIAH, GOD COMING IN HUMAN FORM, GOD COMING IN THE FLESH,
HIS SON COMING TO BE BORN IN A WOMB OF A VIRGIN, AND THEN TO BE
PLACED INTO A MANGER, AND THEN LATER ON TO DIE ON A CROSS, AND
THEN THREE DAYS LATER TO RISE AGAIN. THIS PROPHET ISAIAH BEGAN
TO SPEAK, AND NOTICE THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING. HE SAID,
"THE LORD HIMSELF IS GONNA GIVE YOU A SIGN, "AND YOU'RE GONNA
KNOW WHEN GOD HAS COME INTO THE EARTH "WITH HIS GIFT. "BEHOLD, A
VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE, AND SHE WILL BEAR A SON." NOW NOTICE THE
NAME WE SANG ABOUT THIS TODAY. "SHE'LL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL."
YOU SAY, "WELL, IS THAT A NAME OF A CHURCH?" NO, CHURCHES NAME
THEMSELVES AFTER THIS WORD, EMMANUEL. IT MEANS GOD WITH US.
YOU TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION, IF GOD IS WITH YOU. YOU TALK ABOUT
PROTECTION, IF GOD IS WITH YOU, THEN THE BIBLE SAYS WHO CAN BE
AGAINST YOU? LOOK AT THIS SCRIPTURE IN ROMANS CHAPTER
EIGHT. HE'S EMMANUEL, HE'S GOD, OUR PROTECTOR. HE'S GOD, THE ONE
WHO BRINGS PRESERVATION. GOD IS THE BIG GUY, RIGHT? HOW MANY OF
YOU, WHEN YOU EVER GOT IN A FIGHT, MAYBE NOT JONATHAN, HE
WOULD SAY, I'M GONNA GO GET MY DAD. JOHN WOULD JUST TAKE CARE
OF IT HIMSELF, BUT HERE'S THE POINT. ANYBODY SAY, I'M GONNA GO
GET MY DAD? DID YOU EVER USE THAT? YOU HAVE GOD ON YOUR SIDE.
YOU HAVE PRESERVATION, YOU HAVE PROTECTION. ROMANS CHAPTER
EIGHT, PUT THAT SCRIPTURE UP. LOOK AT EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US.
THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS, BUT IT SAYS, WHAT SHALL WE SAY IF GOD
BE FOR US, WHO OR WHAT CAN BE AGAINST US? I WANT YOU TO LOOK
UP TO HEAVEN AND SAY, THANK YOU, EMMANUEL. I RECEIVE PROTECTION.
I RECEIVE PRESERVATION. THAT MEANS NO HARM, NO EVIL, NO
PLAGUE, NOTHING OF EVIL CAN COME NEAR ME. I HAVE CHRISTMAS
PRESERVATION YEAR ROUND, EVERY DAY, ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.
THAT'S YOUR PROMISE. NOW NOTICE THIS ONE, THIS IS SO POWERFUL.
LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 2, IN VERSE 10. THE ANGELS SHOW UP AND
NOTICE WHAT THEY SAID. "DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I BRING YOU GOOD
NEWS "THAT WILL CAUSE GREAT JOY FOR ALL PEOPLE." NOW, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE CAN SEE HERE IS THE MESSAGE REGARDING DON'T
FEAR. I TALKED TO YOU JUST A MINUTE AGO, AND I TALKED ABOUT
HOW SO MANY PEOPLE THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE AFRAID. IF YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS EMMANUEL, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? IF YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS WITH YOU WHEN YOU SAY, "JESUS, COME INTO
MY HEART," AND YOU RECEIVE THAT GIFT THAT HE GAVE OF HIS LIFE,
THERE'S A PROTECTION PACKAGE, A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY, A
HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE THAT GOES, A HEALTH PLAN FOR ALL YOUR
FLESH, YOUR CHILDREN, EVERYTHING THAT CONCERNS YOU IS PART OF
THIS PRESERVATION AND THIS PROTECTION. LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER
1 VERSE 31 AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
ANGEL SAID. NOTICE ANOTHER PROPHETIC WORD. THE ANGEL OF THE
LORD SHOWS UP IN LUKE CHAPTER 1 VERSE 31 AND SAYS TO MARY, "YOU
WILL CONCEIVE "AND YOU'LL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON." AND NOTICE THE
NAME FROM HEAVEN, THE INTEL THAT CAME FROM HEAVEN. YOU ARE GOING
TO CALL THIS SON, THIS CHILD, JESUS. WHAT DOES THE NAME JESUS
MEAN, ANYBODY KNOW? YESHUA, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? MEANS SALVATION.
WELL, TO SAVE YOU FROM WHAT? FROM YOURSELF. HOW MANY OF YOU
NEEDED TO BE SAVED FROM YOURSELF? 'CAUSE YOU WERE GOING
ON A HIGHWAY FAST TO HELL. YOU WERE GOING ON A HIGHWAY FAST TO
NOWHERE. I TELL YOU, BEFORE I MET JESUS, I GOT SAVED. I GAVE
MY HEART TO JESUS AT 18, MY LIFE WAS GOING NOWHERE. BUT SOON AS I
ACCEPTED JESUS, IT SEEMED LIKE FOR A WHILE IT WASN'T GOING
ANYWHERE EITHER, BUT THEN SALVATION, JESUS STEPPED IN AND
BEGAN TO DIRECT MY LIFE. BUT THINK ABOUT JUST HIS NAME,
EMMANUEL, GOD WITH ME, GOD FOR ME, BUT NOW HIS NAME IS JESUS'
SALVATION. IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S COME TO SAVE YOU FROM WHAT?
SICKNESS, DISEASE, TRAGEDIES, CALAMITIES, DESTRUCTION.
REMEMBER YOUR GIFT PACKAGE, YOUR BENEFITS I JUST SHOWED YOU IN
PSALM 103? JESUS HAS COME AND HE'S PURCHASED FOR YOU
PRESERVATION, PROTECTION, LONG LIFE AND HEALTH AND BLESSING.
IT'S ALL PART OF YOUR SALVATION GIFT. MY QUESTION IS, DO WE
REALLY KNOW WHAT WE GOT FOR CHRISTMAS? I REMEMBER, MY KIDS
PROBABLY WON'T MIND ME SAYING THIS, BUT I REMEMBER EVERY YEAR,
WE WOULD JUST GIVE 'EM CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AFTER CHRISTMAS
PRESENTS. AND THEY'D OPEN 'EM
ALL UP, THEY LOVED TO OPEN UP CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. BUT THERE
WAS ALWAYS ONE OR TWO THAT THEY WOULD JUST GRAVITATE TO, AND THE
OTHER ONES WOULD STAY RIGHT THERE BY THE CHRISTMAS TREE. AND
WE'D HAVE TO TELL 'EM, "HEY, YOU STILL GOT OTHER PRESENTS HERE."
AND THEN ALL YEAR LONG, THOSE PRESENTS WOULD STILL NOT BE AS
WONDERFUL AS MAYBE TWO THAT THEY RECEIVED. WELL, WE DON'T WANNA
DO THAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SALVATION PACKAGE, OUR
PRESERVATION PACKAGE. WE DON'T WANNA JUST PUT IT ASIDE, FORGET
ABOUT IT, RIGHT? BE INTERESTED IN JUST, HEY MAN, I'M GETTING A
MANSION IN HEAVEN SIDE, RIGHT? I'M GETTING ETERNAL LIFE. I HAVE
FORGIVENESS OF SIN. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, BUT THERE'S STILL
SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH. AND WHAT YOU HAVE
IS YOU HAVE A CHRISTMAS PACKAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT INCLUDED WHAT
I SHOWED YOU AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING IN PSALM 103.
FORGIVENESS OF SIN, HEALTH AND HEALING. YOU'RE PROTECTED,
YOU'RE PRESERVED. AND LET'S GO BACK TO THE BOOK OF LUKE. AND
LET'S LOOK ABOUT THIS FEAR, BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE GET INTO
FEAR, THEY BEGIN TO OPEN UP A DOOR THAT BEGINS TO GIVE ACCESS
TO THE ENEMY, THE DEVIL, TO TRY TO GET AT YOUR PRESERVATION, TO
GET AT YOUR PEACE, TO GET AT THE GOODWILL OF GOD THAT HAS BEEN
PAID FOR, TO TRY TO MAKE YOUR LIFE MISERABLE, TO TRY TO MAKE
YOUR LIFE A STRUGGLE, TO BRING YOU FROM ONE HARDSHIP TO ANOTHER
HARDSHIP, TO WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S JUST ONE CYCLE AFTER
ANOTHER THAT JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE AND MORE SPINNING OUT OF
CONTROL. BUT IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT FEAR IS NOT OF GOD, GOD IS
A FAITH GOD, HE'S NOT A FEAR GOD. FEAR IS OF THE DEVIL.
SPIRITS OF FEAR, DEMONIC ENTITIES LOVE TO GET YOU OUT OF
FAITH, TO GET YOU IN A PLACE WHERE YOU SAY THINGS LIKE, OH,
I'M AFRAID OF THAT, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT, I'M NOT GONNA DO
THAT. YOU LISTEN TO SOMETHING ON THE NEWS AND THE NEXT THING YOU
KNOW WHAT, YOU EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN TO YOU, YOUR
HOUSE, YOUR BODY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I MEAN, JUST
LISTEN TO THE COMMERCIALS THAT ARE ON. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T EVEN
WATCH ANYTHING ANYMORE WITHOUT ABOUT, WHAT, 20 DIFFERENT
COMMERCIALS THAT ALL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THEIR MEDICATIONS
AND THINGS THAT IS THE LATEST, GREATEST, YOU EVER NOTICE IT'S
THE LATEST, GREATEST ANSWER AND CURE TO YOUR PROBLEM, RIGHT? AND
THEN FIVE MINUTES OF WHY YOU SHOULDN'T TAKE IT. IF YOU TAKE
ACCELERATION, OR IF YOU TAKE ACCELERATE, I'LL JUST MAKE A
NOTE, IF YOU TAKE ACCELERATE, IT'LL HELP YOUR RASH. AND THEN
LATER ON, HERE'S WHAT YOU HEAR, BUT PLEASE REMEMBER, IF YOU TAKE
ACCELERATE, YOU MAY HAVE SUDDEN URGES TO BARK LIKE A DOG. YOU
MAY HAVE URGES TO GO OUT INTO YOUR GARAGE AND SPEND HOURS WITH
YOUR GARAGE DOOR, OPENING AND CLOSING YOUR GARAGE DOOR. YOU
MAY YELL AT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND EVEN, RIGHT? AND YOU'RE LIKE,
WHY WOULD I WANT TO TAKE THAT? THINK I'LL KEEP THE RASH, RIGHT?
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS IF YOU LISTEN TO IT AFTER A WHILE, YOU
WATCH THE NEWS AND YOU HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON, PEOPLE LOSING
THEIR LIVES, NATIONS AT WAR, PEOPLE AT WAR, LOONIES THAT ARE
TRYING TO PRESS THEIR AGENDA. IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOU CAN GET
INTO FEAR AND THINK THAT THERE'S NOTHING GOOD THAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN AT ANY TIME SOON OR AT ALL. I MEAN, I KNOW PEOPLE,
THEY'RE ALL LIKE, "WELL, I'M JUST WAITING FOR JESUS TO COME
AGAIN BECAUSE THE EARTH IS GOING TO HELL IN A HAND-BASKET.” WELL,
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CLIMB IN THAT HAND-BASKET, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO. I DON'T SEE THINGS THAT WAY. I HAVE A PRESERVATION
PACKAGE FROM GOD. AND AS LONG AS THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN THE
EARTH BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, I HAVE A COVENANT RIGHT BY
BLOODSHED FOR PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION. AND SO DO YOU. THE
ONLY THING, LIKE I SAID, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IS YOU DON'T HAVE
PROTECTION FROM PERSECUTION. PERSECUTION WILL COME, JESUS
SAID, FOR THE WORD'S SAKE. NOW WATCH LUKE CHAPTER 1, LOOK AT
MARY. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SHOWS UP AND SAYS, "FEAR NOT,
MARY, FOR YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD." NOW STOP RIGHT THERE.
WHAT IS THERE TO FEAR IF YOU HAVE IMMANUEL? WHAT IS THERE TO
FEAR IF YOU'VE REALLY ASKED AND ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR
HEART? YOU HAVE FAVOR WITH GOD. GOD IS FOR YOU. THEN DO WE
REALLY NEED TO BE AFRAID THAT WE'RE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT? OR DO
WE REALLY NEED TO BE AFRAID THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME GREAT
CALAMITY'S GONNA HAPPEN AND GOD IS GONNA SOMEHOW FORGET ABOUT
ME? WE HAVE TO GO GET A CAVE, GET THAT FOOD WHERE YOU ADD
WATER. IT'S A SPONGE, BUT THEY PUT EGG POWDER ON IT, WAFFLE MIX
POWDER ON IT, RIGHT? AND PEOPLE ARE EATING, YOU KNOW, SPONGES.
AND THEN WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, SPONGE CAKE AND ALL THAT. AND
THEN WHEN THEY EAT IT, IT EXPANDS IN THEIR STOMACH AND
IT'S SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOU FROM HAVING HUNGER WHEN YOU'RE OUT
HIDING IN A CAVE. AND NOBODY'S TO KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT AS YOU
MAKE YOUR CELL PHONE CALLS FROM THE CAVE.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
BUT THINK ABOUT WHEN THE ANGEL CAME TO MARY AND SAID, "MARY,
HEY, DON'T FEAR. YOU FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD." CAN YOU IMAGINE? THE
WOMEN AND THE YOUNG GIRLS THERE IN ISRAEL, THEY ALL DREAMT ABOUT
BEING THE ONE THAT WOULD BE THE VIRGIN THAT WOULD CONCEIVE,
CARRYING THE MESSIAH. AND NOW IT'S HER. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
SHE'S LIKE, "OKAY, HOW IS THIS GONNA WORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA? HOW
IS THIS GONNA WORK IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE? TELLING EVERYBODY,
"YEAH, THIS BUMP IS, YEAH, THERE WAS NO MAN INVOLVED." TRY THAT.
"I DIDN'T DO IT." "MM HMM." "NO, REALLY, HONESTLY. ME AND JOSEPH,
WE'VE BEEN BEHAVING." "MM HMM." NO, NONE ON YOUR LIFE. THINK
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY SHE WAS ABOUT TO RECEIVE. JOSEPH,
LOOK AT THE MESSAGE TO HIM, AND IT'S THE MESSAGE TO YOU AS WELL.
WHY AM I SHARING THIS? BECAUSE IF GOD SENT THIS MESSAGE TO MARY
AND JOSEPH, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE SHEPHERDS, IT'S BECAUSE FEAR
IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WILL TRY TO GET AT YOUR GIFT
PACKAGE AND TAKE YOUR PRESERVATION RIGHTS, YOUR
PROTECTIVE RIGHTS FROM YOU. BECAUSE YOU'LL START DOUBTING,
YOU'LL START THINKING THAT GOD ISN'T FOR YOU OR HE'S NOT GONNA
COME THROUGH. LOOK AT MATTHEW CHAPTER 1, VERSES 19 THROUGH 20.
THEN JOSEPH, HER HUSBAND, BEING A JUST MAN AND NOT WILLING TO
MAKE HER A PUBLIC EXAMPLE, WAS MINDED TO PUT HER AWAY
PRIVATELY. BUT WHILE HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS, BEHOLD, THE
ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM IN A DREAM. NOTICE, "JOSEPH,
SON OF DAVID, DON'T YOU DARE FEAR TO TAKE MARY TO BE YOUR
WIFE, FOR THAT WHICH IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS BY THE HOLY
GHOST." LOOK AT THE SHEPHERDS. NOW, HERE'S WHAT'S AMAZING. YOU
KNOW, THE SHEPHERDS WERE OUT THERE ON THEIR HILLSIDE, AND
THEY WERE LISTENING TO "OOH" TIDE CAROLS. OOH, OR YOU, OR
OOH. THEY CALL 'EM AN OOH. I DON'T THINK YOU'D LIKE THAT.
WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT MARY AND JOSEPH, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE
ANGEL APPEARED, AND THEY WENT TO THE MANGER, IT WAS TO CAUSE THEM
TO HAVE A STABLE RELATIONSHIP. SO I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD THROW
THAT OUT THERE FOR YOU THAT ARE WANTING TO. YOU ARE ALL IN A
CHRISTMAS MOOD. NOTHING I'M SAYING IS GOING OVER, JUST OKAY.
LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER TWO. DON'T BE AFRAID. THE ANGEL SAID, "I
BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY "THAT WILL BE FOR ALL PEOPLE."
NOW, I WANNA SAY THIS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS
IMPORTANT IS THE MESSAGE THAT WAS GIVEN. NOTICE, LET'S
CONTINUE. LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 2, VERSES 10 THROUGH 12. MAYBE
YOU HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THIS. THE ANGEL BEGINS TO SAY, "DON'T
FEAR." BUT THEN I WANT YOU TO SEE HE PUTS SOMETHING IN THE
MESSAGE FROM GOD THAT SHOULD GIVE ALL OF US A SENSE OF
COMFORT, A SENSE OF PEACE, A SENSE OF KNOWING, A SENSE OF
FAITH. LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, GOD, YOU ARE PROTECTING ME. I GET IN
MY CAR, I HAVE THAT CHRISTMAS GIFT OF PRESERVATION. GOD, WHEN
I'M AT MY HOUSE, I HAVE PRESERVATION. WHEN I'M GOING
ABOUT MY DAY, I HAVE PRESERVATION. NOTICE WHAT THE
ANGEL SAID, LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 2. AND THE ANGEL SAID, "FEAR
NOT, "I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, "WHICH SHALL BE TO
ALL PEOPLE." NOW WATCH THIS, "FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY
"IN THE CITY OF DAVID, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD, "AND THIS SHALL
BE A SIGN UNTO YOU." NOW THERE'S ANOTHER SIGN. NOTICE THIS, MAYBE
YOU'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF IT IN THIS CONTEXT OF PRESERVATION OR
PROTECTION, BUT NOTICE WHAT THE ANGEL SAID. YOU'RE GONNA FIND A
BABE, YOU'RE GONNA FIND A LITTLE BABY WRAPPED IN SWADDLING
CLOTHES, UNDERLINE THAT, LYING IN A MANGER. NOW YOU SAY, WHAT
DOES SWADDLING CLOTHES HAVE TO DO WITH PRESERVATION OR
PROTECTION? GOD FROM THE BEGINNING WAS TRYING TO SAY,
LOOK, I'M COMING TO GIVE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS A CHRISTMAS GIFT
THAT'LL TAKE 33 YEARS BEFORE YOU CAN OPEN IT. IT'S GOT A DIE ON
THE CROSS, JESUS, AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU GET THIS FULL PACKAGE
AND YOU GET PRESERVATION BUT HE'S TRYING TO GIVE US A HINT.
SWADDLING CLOTHES, WHY WOULD THEY PUT A LITTLE BABY IN
SWADDLING CLOTHES? WHY WOULD THEY WRAP THAT CHILD IN
SWADDLING CLOTHES? IT WAS TO BRING PRESERVATION, IT WAS TO
BRING PROTECTION BECAUSE WITHOUT THE SWADDLING OF THOSE CLOTHING
AROUND THAT CHILD, THAT CHILD IS VERY VULNERABLE. WHAT'S THE
FIRST THING, COME ON, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE GIVEN BIRTH? HOW
MANY HUSBANDS WERE THERE WHEN THEY GAVE BIRTH? THE FIRST THING
THEY DO IS CLEAN THAT BABY UP AND IMMEDIATELY WRAP THAT CHILD
IN SWADDLING CLOTHES AS A SIGN OF PRESERVATION, PROTECTION. SO
YOU HAVE, WATCH THIS, OVER THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE LITERAL BODY
OF JESUS, HE HAD A WRAPPING, A SWADDLING AROUND HIM. AT HIS
DEATH IN THE GRAVE, THEY WRAPPED HIM AGAIN SO THAT YOU, THE BODY
OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH, YOU ARE HIS BODY, RIGHT? THOSE OF YOU
THAT ARE WATCHING. YOU ARE ALSO SWADDLED NOW. YOU ARE WRAPPED IN
THE COVENANT OF HIS PROTECTION, OF HIS PEACE, OF HIS MERCY, OF
HIS FORGIVENESS, OF HIS HEALING. HOW MANY OF YOU SEE THAT? LET ME
GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF SWADDLING. SWADDLING CLOTHES
WERE FOR LAMBS AND BABIES, WHICH SYMBOLIZED BOTH THE BABY'S
VULNERABILITY THAT NEEDED PHYSICAL PROTECTION, BUT IT WAS
AROUND THE BODY OF THE BABY OR THE BODY OF CHRIST. IN THE SAME
WAY, THE CHURCH OR THE BODY OF CHRIST, WE ARE SWADDLED IN THE
BLESSING OF OUR SALVATION. WE ARE PROTECTED THROUGH JESUS'
DEATH AND RESURRECTION. LOOK AT PSALM 91, 9 THROUGH 10. TALK
ABOUT THESE SWADDLING VERSES. PSALM 91, LOOK AT WHAT IT SAYS.
THIS IS PART OF YOUR PRESERVATION, SWADDLING. BECAUSE
THOU HAS MADE THE LORD, WHICH IS MY REFUGE, EVEN THE MOST HIGH IS
MY HABITATION. VERSE 10, HERE'S THE SWADDLING. NO EVIL CAN COME
NEAR YOU. THAT'S PRESERVATION, THAT'S PROTECTION. AND NEITHER
SHALL ANY SICKNESS, DISEASE, COVID VARIANT NUMBER 16,
WHATEVER IT IS, IT CANNOT COME NEAR YOU OR YOUR HOUSE. LOOK AT
ANOTHER ONE. PSALM 23, VERSE 1, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. "I
SHALL NOT WANT," AND IT BEGINS TO TALK ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH YOU
WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, EVEN THOUGH
THERE'S SOME FRIGHTENING THINGS, SOME FEARFUL THINGS, I AM WITH
YOU, THAT'S PART OF PRESERVATION THAT HE GIVES TO YOU AS THE GOOD
SHEPHERD. PSALM 103, WE ALREADY QUOTED IT, LOOK AT VERSE 4. PART
OF THE SWADDLING THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOU IS YOUR
CHRISTMAS GIFT. PSALM 103, VERSE 4, HE'S REDEEMED, HE'S PAID FOR
IT THROUGH HIS BLOOD. YOUR LIFE IS FREE FROM DESTRUCTION,
TRAGEDIES, CALAMITIES, COME ON, HIGH WINDS WHEN THEY COME INTO
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, INTO YOUR CITY, INTO YOUR STATE, INTO YOUR
NATION. HE'S REDEEMED YOUR LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION AND HE'S
SWADDLED YOU AS HE SURROUNDED YOU, WRAPPED YOU WITH LOVING
KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCY. LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 10, VERSE 9,
JESUS OUT OF HIS OWN MOUTH SAID, "LISTEN, I'VE GIVEN YOU
AUTHORITY "TO TREAD UPON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS "AND OVER
ALL THE POWERS OF THE DEVIL. "THE DEVIL IS NOT ALL THAT
POWERFUL. "AND BY NO MEANS, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SWALLOWED,"
LUKE 10:19, "BECAUSE OF THAT, NO HARM CAN COME NEAR YOU. "NOTHING
CAN HARM OR INJURE YOU." THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS. PUT IT
UP AGAIN, "BEHOLD, PAY ATTENTION, "I GIVE YOU POWER TO
TREAD UPON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS "OVER ALL THE POWERS
OF THE ENEMY, "BECAUSE YOU'RE SWADDLED, "JUST LIKE THE BODY OF
CHRIST WAS. "YOU AS MY BODY, YOU'RE SWADDLED, "AND BY NO
MEANS SHALL ANYTHING HURT YOU." AMEN. JONATHAN, I PRAY SOMEBODY
DOESN'T PRAY THAT WHEN YOU GO IN THE RING WITH THEM. BY NO MEANS
SHALL ANYTHING HURT ME. I AM UFC SWADDLE MAN.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
JUST BE CAREFUL, JOHN, ALL RIGHT? I WANNA SHOW YOU ANOTHER
ONE. LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 1, VERSE 35. THIS ONE IS SO
POWERFUL. LOOK AT THE MESSAGE. IT CONTINUES FROM THE ANGEL. AND
IN VERSE 35, NOTICE WHAT THE ANGEL SAYS TO MARY. I WANT YOU
TO SEE THIS SWADDLING. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HER, "THE HOLY
GHOST SHALL COME UPON YOU." AND NOW PAY ATTENTION TO THESE
WORDS. "THE POWER OF THE HIGHEST." OKAY, MOUNT EVEREST IS
WHAT? IS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN. GOD IS THE HIGHEST THERE IS.
THERE IS NOTHING AND NO ONE HIGHER THAN GOD. AND SO NOTICE
WHAT THE ANGEL SAYS. "THE POWER OF THE HIGHEST, THE MOST HIGH,
"SHALL WHAT? SWADDLE YOU, SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU." JUST LIKE THE
LITTLE BABY THAT YOU'RE GONNA WRAP IN SWADDLING CLOTHES,
YOU'RE GONNA PLACE HIM IN THE MANGER, GOD IS GONNA PLACE YOU
IN THE MANGER OF BLESSING, THE MANGER OF COVENANT, AND YOU'RE
GONNA BE SWADDLED. YOU ARE GOING TO BE OVERSHADOWED. NOW NOTICE A
SHADOW, THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THERE IS NO GREATER
POWER, THERE'S NO GREATER ENTITY THAN GOD IS GONNA OVERSHADOW THE
VERY BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WHAT? WOMB OF MARY. YOU SAY, WELL,
THAT WAS JUST FOR HER BECAUSE SHE WAS CATHOLIC.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
RIGHT? NO, IT'S THE SAME PROMISE FOR YOU. NOW, I WANT YOU TO PUT
THAT VERSE BACK UP. THIS IS POWERFUL. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
LITERALLY MEANS? THE SHADOW OF THE HIGHEST? IT LITERALLY MEANS
THIS, AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, BECAUSE IT'S THE
SHADOW OF THE HIGHEST, IT IS THE MOST POWER AVAILABLE, GREATER
THAN ALL NUCLEAR POWER, ATOMIC POWER. IT IS THE GREATEST POWER
AVAILABLE, GREATER THAN ANYTHING WE CALL NUCLEAR, ATOMIC,
WHATEVER. IT IS THE GREATEST POWER AVAILABLE, CONTAINED IN
THE EARTH WITHOUT BLOWING IT UP. THAT'S HOW MUCH SWADDLING OF THE
PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE'S LIKE, I AM COMING TO WATCH
OVER THE BODY OF CHRIST, LITERALLY, AND IT'S SO MUCH
POWER, IF I DON'T CONTAIN IT, IT'LL BLOW UP THE WORLD. AND
IT'S GREATER THAN ATOMIC, IT'S GREATER THAN NUCLEAR, 'CAUSE WHO
MADE NUCLEAR POWER? GOD DID. WE TAPPED INTO THE SCIENCE OF IT,
BUT GOD MADE IT. AND HE'S SAYING MY SHADOW, MY SWADDLING, OVER
THE LITERAL BODY OF CHRIST IS THE MOST CONTAINED POWER
AVAILABLE IN EARTH WITHOUT BLOWING IT UP. SO IF MARY HAD
THIS OVER HER WOMB, PREGNANT WOMEN, THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT A
CHILD, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE CHILDREN, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE
MARRIED, YOU NEED TO PRAY THIS. GOD, I PRAY FOR THAT SAME
OVERSHADOWING, THAT SAME SWADDLING TO BE OVER MY CHILD,
OVER MY BABY, OVER MY SPOUSE, OVER MY CAR, OVER MY HOME.
YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, CAN I DO THAT? LOOK AT PSALM 91. THERE IS
THIS SHADOW. LOOK AT PSALM 91, VERSE ONE THROUGH TWO. IT'S PART
OF YOUR COVENANT PACKAGE. HE THAT DWELLS IN THE SECRET PLACE
OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL, NOTICE HE'S THE MOST HIGH, AND IF HE'S
THE MOST HIGH, HIS SHADOW IS THE MOST HIGH'S SHADOW. IT'S THE
MOST CONTAINED POWER AVAILABLE THAT RESTRAINS THE DEVIL THAT HE
WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT TRYING TO VIOLATE IT. THAT'S THE KIND
OF PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION YOU HAVE. IT SAYS THE SECRET
PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW, THE
PRESENCE, THE OVERSHADOWING OF GOD. VERSE TWO, LOOK AT VERSE
TWO. AND I'LL SAY TO THE LORD, HE'S MY REFUGE, HE'S MY GOD,
HE'S EMMANUEL. I'LL PUT MY TRUST THERE AND I WON'T EVEN BE
AFRAID. LOOK AT ACTS CHAPTER FIVE, SAME WORD. YOU THINK, WELL
THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, MARY, SHE WAS CATHOLIC. AND NO, LOOK AT
THE APOSTLE PAUL, ACTS CHAPTER 5. THIS SAYS IN VERSE 15, IN SO
MUCH THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH THE SICK IN THE STREETS, THEY LAID
THE SICK ON THE BEDS, THEY LAID THE SICK ON COUCHES, THAT THE
SHADOW, WHICH WAS THE PRESENCE OF THE MOST HIGH, THAT WORD
SHADOW IS THE SAME WORD THAT THE ANGEL SAID WOULD OVERSHADOW
MARY'S WOMB, IS NOW THE SAME WORD, THE SAME SHADOW OF THE
HIGHEST, THE SAME MOST CONTAINED POWER AVAILABLE IN THE EARTH
WITHOUT BLOWING IT UP, WAS UPON PETER AND OVERSHADOWED THEM. AND
NOTICE THE NEXT VERSE, THEY GOT HEALED. SO WHEN YOU SAY THE
SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, THAT IS NO JOKE. THAT SHOULDN'T
BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. WHEN YOU WALK ABOUT YOUR DAY AND YOU KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE GOD ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND GOD UPON YOU, YOU NEED
TO UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A PRESERVATION PACKAGE. YOU HAVE
GOD OVERSHADOWING YOU. WHAT CAN MEN DO UNTO ME, THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS. HERE'S ANOTHER ONE. LOOK AT MATTHEW CHAPTER 17, JESUS.
HE'S NOW UP IN VERSE FIVE, HE'S BEING TRANSFIGURED, HE'S BEING
CHANGED, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SAYS THERE BEGAN TO BE AN
OVERSHADOWING, A BRIGHT CLOUD OVERSHADOWED THEM. SAME WORD,
SAME PRINCIPLE, THE MOST CONTAINED POWER IN EXISTENCE
AVAILABLE TO MAN WITHOUT BLOWING IT UP. AND NOTICE VERSE SIX, HOW
THE DISCIPLES RESPONDED. MAN, THEY WERE SO AFRAID. THEY FELL
ON THEIR FACE, THEY WERE SO AFRAID. THIS POWER IS NOTHING TO
MESS WITH. THAT'S WHY JESUS SAID OUT OF HIS MOUTH, "YOU HAVE SO
MUCH POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT I'M GIVING TO YOU "THAT BY NO
MEANS SHALL ANYTHING HARM OR INJURE YOU." YOU NEED TO START
BEING ABSOLUTELY A PERSON WHO KNOWS YOUR GIFT PACKAGE. WHAT
WAS GIVEN TO YOU AS WE SAY ON THAT CHRISTMAS DAY, WHATEVER DAY
THAT WAS? YOU HAVE PRESERVATION. YOU'RE TO HAVE A LIFE OF
GOODWILL FROM GOD AND PEACE BECAUSE IT'S PART OF YOUR
BENEFITS. I'M GONNA WRAP THIS UP. IF THEY COULD START COMING,
PASTOR DOUG, AND YOU CAN COME TO THE PIANO. LOOK AT THIS ONE. THE
NEXT ONE IS ANGELS. HOW MANY HAVE EVER SEEN AN ANGEL? JUST
LOOK OVER AT BRENDA. YOU CAN SEE AN ANGEL RIGHT THERE. THERE'S
WHAT AN ANGEL LOOKS LIKE. SEE AN ANGEL, THAT'S WHAT SHE LOOKS
LIKE. BUT HOW MANY HAVE EVER SEEN AN ANGEL OF THE ANGEL KIND?
LIKE, YOU KNOW, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE SEEN AN ANGEL. NO,
RAISE YOUR HAND, I WANNA SEE IT. OH, WOW, THAT'S GREAT. THOSE OF
YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, YOU COULD PUT LIKE A HAND UP, I'D LOVE TO
KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN AN ANGEL. I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS MAKING,
I HAD OREO COOKIES AND MILK, AND I WAS CREATING A BOWL AND I HAD
MILK AND I WAS WALKING OUT, WE HAD A CEILING AT A HOUSE THAT WE
USED TO LIVE IN YEARS AGO, IT WAS ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 14 FOOT
HIGH, BRENDA, AND I WAS WALKING OUT WITH THE MILK AND WITH THE
OREOS, AND I LOOKED OVER AS I WALKED OUT AND THERE WAS, AS
TALL AS THE 14 FOOT HIGH CEILING WAS THIS ANGEL. I MEAN, HE WAS
ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP AND HIS SHOULDERS WERE VERY, VERY
WIDE. AND AS SOON AS I SAW HIM, I WAS STARTLED. I WENT LIKE THIS
AND I SPILLED EVERYTHING. I'VE SEEN ANGELS. AND I TELL YOU,
THEY'RE NOTHING TO MESS WITH. AMEN? I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE WITH A
LITTLE HEART AND A LITTLE NAKED BABY BOTTOM. I'VE NEVER SEEN
THOSE. AND THAT DOESN'T LOOK VERY DANGEROUS TO ME. I LIKE THE
ONES THAT LOOK DANGEROUS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I LIKE WHAT ONE GUY
SAID. HE MET HIS ANGELS AND THEY WERE, I THINK THEIR NAMES WERE
SPIKE AND FANG. I THINK HE MADE THAT UP. ALL RIGHT, YOU READY?
ARE YOU ALL HERE TODAY OR IS IT JUST YOU GOT SHOPPING TO DO? ALL
RIGHT. I LOVE ANGELS AND YOU KNOW, BY THE WAY, I FOUND OUT
ANGELS REALLY, REALLY ARE GREAT AT GIFT WRAPPING. DO YOU KNOW
ANGELS ARE GREAT AT GIFT WRAPPING? WELL, IT'S EASY WHEN
YOU HAVE DIVINE PRESENCE. BUT IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE DIVINE
PRESENCE TO HELP THEM IN THEIR CHRISTMAS WRAPPING, THEN THEY
JUST WING IT. YOU KNOW, SO WE'LL JUST KIND OF KEEP THAT ONE AS WE
GO ON. BUT I WANT YOU TO LOOK HERE AT MATTHEW CHAPTER 2. JOHN,
DID YOU EVEN SMIRK AT THAT? OKAY. MATTHEW CHAPTER 2:13
THROUGH 15, AND 19 THROUGH 21 AS WE GET READY TO CLOSE. LOOK AT
THIS. LOOK AT MATTHEW CHAPTER 2. "AND WHEN THEY DEPARTED, BEHOLD,
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO JOSEPH IN A DREAM." AND BY
THE WAY, GOD DOES USE DREAMS TO PROTECT YOU. HOW MANY HAVE EVER
HAD A DREAM WHERE YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT IT MEANT, BUT
YOU WERE GONNA DO SOMETHING, MAYBE YOU WERE GONNA BUY
SOMETHING, MAYBE YOU WERE GONNA TAKE A JOB, YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE
TO TAKE THE JOB, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAD A DREAM, AND IN
THE DREAM YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE JOB, YOU WEREN'T
SUPPOSED TO BUY THAT HOUSE, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO MARRY THAT
PERSON, RIGHT? YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO STAY HOME, BUT YOU
WERE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO GO TO CHURCH THAT SUNDAY. YOU KNOW,
STUFF LIKE THAT, RIGHT? RIGHT. YOU WERE NOT TO GET A CAT,
THEY'RE DEMONIC. YOU WERE TO GET A DOG, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF
DREAMS. YEAH, YOU KNOW WHICH ONES I'M TALKING ABOUT. YEAH,
OKAY, YOU CAN WOO ALL DAY LONG, WE'RE ALMOST DONE. NOW HERE'S
THE THING. DREAMS, GOD GAVE DREAMS TO THE WISE MEN. YOU EVER
READ THAT IN MATTHEW 2? LOOK AT MATTHEW CHAPTER 2, LOOK AT VERSE
10. I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS. THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME, I
WAS READING THIS. AND IT'S JUST A THEOLOGICAL THOUGHT THAT YOU
COULD THEOLOGICALLY THINK ABOUT THEOLOGICALLY. DOES THAT MAKE
SENSE? AND WHEN THEY SAW THE STAR, THEY REJOICED WITH GREAT
SEED AND GREAT JOY. VERSE 11, WATCH THIS. WHEN THEY WERE
COMING TO THE HOUSE, NOTICE THIS WAS LIKE 2 YEARS OR SO BEYOND
THE MANGER 'CAUSE THEY WERE NOW IN THE HOUSE, THEY SAW THE YOUNG
CHILD. BEFORE IN THE MANGER, HE WAS A BABY. AND THEY WORSHIPED
HIM, THEY OPENED THEIR TREASURES, PRESENTED UNTO HIM
GIFTS, NOTICE PLURAL, GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH. LOOK AT
VERSE 12. NOW THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, LOOK AT THIS. AND
BEING WARNED OF GOD IN A WHAT? IN A DREAM, THAT'S PRESERVATION.
THAT'S PROTECTION. SEE, ALL THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS STORY IS
PRESERVATION, PROTECTION. AND SAID, THEY SHOULD NOT RETURN TO
HEROD. THEY DEPARTED INTO THEIR OWN COUNTRY. NOW KEEP THAT UP
THERE. BUT IT SAYS BEING WARNED OF GOD IN A DREAM. HOW MANY WAS
WARNED IN A DREAM? THAT'S MY THEOLOGICAL QUESTION. IT DIDN'T
SAY ONE OF THE GUYS, MURR OR FRANK, WAS WARNED IN A DREAM.
NO, IT SAYS, AND BEING WARNED OF GOD. WHAT, ALL OF THEM? DON'T
THINK THAT GOD CAN'T GET A MESSAGE TO YOU IF NEEDED. WE
GOTTA QUIT DOUBTING, QUIT GETTING IN FEAR, QUIT GETTING
FRUSTRATED, NEGATIVE. SAY, GOD, I NEED DIRECTION. EXPECT IT. IF
GOD CAN DO THIS IN A DREAM, WHAT CAN HE DO FOR YOU? LOOK AT VERSE
13 AGAIN, BEING WARNED IN A DREAM. JOSEPH SAID, "TAKE THE
CHILD AND FLEE INTO EGYPT." LOOK AT VERSE 19 NOW AGAIN, NOTICE
THE ANGELS SHOW UP. "AND WHEN HEROD WAS DEAD, BEHOLD, AN ANGEL
OF THE LORD APPEARED IN A DREAM AGAIN TO JOSEPH." SO GOD USES
ANGELS. YOU SAY, WELL, THAT'S JUST THEM. LOOK AT PSALM 91,
VERSE 11, PART OF YOUR PRESERVATION PACKAGE IS YOU HAVE
A GIFT IN THAT GIFT, IN THAT PACKAGE THAT WAS GIVEN, THE
SWADDLING CLOTHES OF THE CHILD THAT WOULD NOW BE WRAPPED IN THE
TOMB IS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT AVAILABLE.
AND IT'S THROUGH SALVATION. FOR HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE
OVER YOU. AND WHAT ARE THOSE ANGELS SUPPOSED TO DO? PROTECT
YOU, KEEP YOU IN SOME OF YOUR WAYS. ALL YOUR WAYS. NOW, ONE
THING I WOULDN'T DO IS PROVOKE MY ANGEL TO WRATH, THE BIBLE
SAID. DON'T DO THINGS LIKE SINNING AND THEN EXPECT THE
ANGEL TO PROTECT YOU. RIGHT, DON'T GO OUT AND DO WICKED
THINGS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, ANGEL, I'M ABOUT TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW,
SO I NEED YOU TO BACK ME UP. OKAY, NO, ANGELS AREN'T GONNA BE
IN THE GETAWAY CAR WHILE YOU HOLD SOMETHING UP.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
PART OF THE ACCESSORIES TO THE CRIME. RIGHT? SO ALL YOUR WAYS,
EXCEPT YOU GOTTA NOT PROVOKE HIM TO WRATH. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
WE DO THINGS RIGHT. LOOK AT HEBREWS CHAPTER 1, PART OF YOUR
INHERITANCE. PART OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHT. PART OF WHAT WAS LEFT TO
YOU FROM YOUR FATHER AND YOUR ELDER BROTHER, JESUS. HEBREWS
CHAPTER 1, LOOK AT VERSE 14. HEBREWS CHAPTER 1, ARE THEY
NOT ALL MINISTERING SPIRITS, ANGELS? AND NOTICE WHAT THEY'RE
SENT FOR, TO MINISTER FOR THEM. EVERY TIME YOU GUYS ARE OUT
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, YOU NEED TO BE PRAYING, "FATHER, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ANGELS." EVERY TIME YOU GET IN THE CAR, "FATHER, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR ANGELS." EVERY TIME YOUR WIFE ASKS IF YOU COULD DO
THE DISHES, SAY, "HONEY, THE ANGELS GOT IT."
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
RIGHT? YEAH, I MIGHT TRY THAT IN 2026. I'LL LET YOU KNOW NEXT
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE HOW THAT WORKED. BRENDA, I DON'T THINK I
CAN DO THAT TODAY. LET THE ANGELS HANDLE IT. I'M COMING UP
WITH GREAT STUFF TODAY, AND YOU ARE BARELY WITH ME. OK, LAST ONE
I WANT TO SHOW YOU BEFORE PASTOR DOUG COMES AND CLOSES OUR
SERVICE. LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 2. MAYBE YOU NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS. YOU'VE GOT THE SWADDLING OF THE CLOTHES. YOU'VE GOT THE
MESSAGE, DON'T FEAR. YOU'VE GOT THE MESSAGE, EMMANUEL, GOD IS
WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. YOU HAVE HIS NAME. HIS NAME IS JESUS.
THERE'S NO GREATER NAME. YOU HAVE ANGELS AND DREAMS. COME ON,
MAN. WHY CAN WE HAVE THIS? LOOK AT LUKE CHAPTER 2. I WANT YOU TO
STAND TO YOUR FEET. LAST SCRIPTURE I READ. AND WHEN 8
DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED NOTICE THE WORD 8 DAYS. 8 IS A VERY
INTERESTING NUMBER IN SCRIPTURE. 8 IS A HUNGER WORD. 8, THEY ATE.
NEVERMIND, NO IT ISN'T. I JUST MADE THAT UP. THAT WAS, I SAID A
BAD ONE TO SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT MORE THAN ALL THE GREAT ONES
THAT I SAID. BUT WHEN 8 DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED, 8 IS THE
NUMBER OF RESURRECTION, 8 IS THE NUMBER OF NEW BEGINNINGS, 8 IS
THE NUMBER OF COVENANT. NOW WATCH THIS, WHY DID THEY DO
THIS? AND I WAS READING THIS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT KEPT SPEAKING TO
ME SAYING, "HANK, YOU'RE READING OVER SOMETHING." AND I'M LIKE,
"OKAY, WHAT'S UP?" I READ EACH WORD AGAIN AND I BEGAN TO LOOK
AT IT. WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT LUKE 21 THROUGH 24 VERY QUICKLY. WHEN
8 DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED, NOTICE UNDERLINED THE CIRCUMCISING OF
THE CHILD. WHY DID THEY HAVE TO CIRCUMCISE THE CHILD? BECAUSE IT
HAD TO DO WITH COVENANT, RIGHT? AND ALL THE BLESSINGS OF
ABRAHAM, THAT GOD PROMISED TO ABRAHAM. AND PART OF WHAT GOD
PROMISED TO ABRAHAM WAS FAVOR, PROTECTION. GENESIS 15:15 WAS
PRESERVATION. HE SAID, "LOOK, ABRAHAM, YOU'RE GONNA GO IN
PEACE "WHEN YOU DIE." THAT MEANS NOTHING MISSING, NOTHING BROKEN.
AND BY THE WAY, ABRAHAM, WHEN YOU DO DIE, IT'S GONNA BE IN
PEACE, NOT IN THE JAWS OF DEATH OR SICKNESS, DISEASE, OR RESULT
OF A TRAGEDY, CALAMITY, ACCIDENT. YOU'RE GONNA GO IN
PEACE, GENESIS 15:15, ABRAHAM, AND YOU'RE GONNA GO IN A GOOD
OLD AGE. AND THEN IF YOU FLIP OVER TO 10 CHAPTERS LATER, IN
GENESIS 25, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, IT SAYS THAT
ABRAHAM DIED AN OLD MAN AND WAS BURIED IN A GOOD OLD AGE IN HIS
GRAVE. IT WAS FULFILLED, ALL BECAUSE OF COVENANT. SO HERE
THEY HAVE THIS BABY. THEY PUT HIM IN SWADDLING CLOTHES. THE
HOLY SPIRIT OVERSHADOWS THE CHILD, AND YET THEY UNDERSTAND
IF THEY ARE GOING TO REALLY MAINTAIN THIS AND HAVE LEGAL
AUTHORITY BACKED BY GOD THAT THE ENEMY CANNOT EXACT UPON, THEY
NEED TO GET UNDER COVENANT. THEY NEED TO PUT THIS CHILD UNDER THE
COVENANT. YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR BODY UNDER THE COVENANT. YOU
NEED TO PUT YOUR CHILDREN UNDER THE COVENANT. YOU NEED TO OPEN
YOUR BIBLE UP WHEN YOU HAVE A PRODIGAL AND SAY, NO, NO, NO,
NO, GOD, I'M IN COVENANT WITH YOU. AND THE BIBLE SAYS, MY
COVENANT THAT MY CHILDREN SHALL BE TAUGHT OF THE LORD, TEACH MY
KIDS. YOU START GETTING THE SNIFFLES, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO,
NO, NO, NO, I HAVE A COVENANT. ISAIAH 53 SAYS, I'M ALREADY
HEALED. FIRST PETER 2:24 SAYS, BY THE WHIPS THAT WERE ON JESUS'
BACK, WE ARE OR WE WERE HEALED. WHEN YOU HAVE BILLS COMING,
NOPE, NOPE, NOPE. MY COVENANT IS A COVENANT OF PROVISION,
EPHESIANS 3:20. GOD, YOU ALWAYS DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY BEYOND
ALL I COULD ASK OR THINK. COME ON. SO NOTICE WHAT THEY DID,
LUKE 2, VERSE 21, WE'RE GONNA END WITH THIS. EIGHT DAYS WERE
ACCOMPLISHED AND THEY CIRCUMCISED THE YOUNG CHILD,
BRINGING HIM UNDER THE COVENANT OF ABRAHAM. HIS NAME WAS CALLED
JESUS. THERE IT IS AGAIN, SALVATION, WHICH WAS SO NAMED OF
THE ANGEL BEFORE HE WAS CONCEIVED IN THE WOMB. SO THE
ANGEL BROUGHT FORTH THE NAME, VERSE 22, AND WHEN THE DAYS OF
THE PURIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF MOSES, UNDERLINE
THAT. THIS IS WHAT GOD KEPT SAYING TO ME. NOTICE HOW MANY
TIMES IT SAYS THE LAW OF MOSES. IT WAS TO SHOW THE READER THAT
THEY WERE DOING EVERYTHING TO, IN THOSE DAYS, YOU COULD SAY,
WALK IN THE WORD. OBEY THE BIBLE, OBEY THE COVENANT, OBEY
THE COMMAND OF GOD. SO NOTICE IT SAYS IT THE FIRST TIME.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, ACCORDING TO THE LAW, MOSES WAS
ACCOMPLISHED. THEY BROUGHT HIM TO JERUSALEM TO PRESENT HIM TO
THE LORD. VERSE 23, "AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF THE LORD,
"EVERY MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB "SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE
LORD." NOW LOOK AT VERSE 24. "AND TO OFFER A SACRIFICE
ACCORDING TO THAT "WHICH IS SAID IN THE LAW OF THE LORD." THEY
WERE WORD, BIBLE THUMPERS, YOU COULD SAY PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTOOD,
MAN. THEY'VE GOT AN OVERSHADOWING. THEY'VE GOT A
PACKAGE. THEY'VE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THIS CHILD. THEY'VE GOT A
RESPONSIBILITY, SO WE BETTER WALK IN THE WORD. WE BETTER WALK
ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT OF GOD. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? JESUS
PROVIDED ALL OF THIS. YOU HAVE A COVENANT WITH GOD, AND WE HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT BELONGS TO US. REMEMBER, HE'S FORGIVEN YOU
OF EVERY AND ALL SIN AND INIQUITY. HE'S HEALED YOU OF
EVERY DISEASE, PSALM 103. HE'S REDEEMED YOU, PROTECTED YOU,
PRESERVED YOU FROM DESTRUCTIONS AND TRAGEDIES AND CALAMITIES.
HE'S CROWNED YOU BY PRESERVING YOU, SWADDLING YOU,
OVERSHADOWING YOU WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES.
WHEN YOU EAT SOMETHING, HE SATISFIED YOUR MOUTH WITH GOOD
THINGS. AND AS YOU AGE AND EVERY DAY, YOU HAVE YOUTHFULNESS LIKE
THE EAGLE. IT'S ALL PART OF YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT JESUS PAID
FOR. LET'S PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT
WAS GIVEN, THAT YOU LOVED THIS WORLD, YOU LOVED US, THAT YOU
GAVE THAT GIFT, JESUS CHRIST, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES UPON HIM
WOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. AND WE THANK
YOU THAT THE GREATEST GIFT EVER WAS JESUS COMING. BORN IN A
MANGER BUT ALSO CAME TO DIE. THAT WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME
OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. LORD, WE RECEIVE OF THAT PACKAGE
TODAY. AND IF WE ARE ALREADY BORN AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY
ACCEPTED JESUS AND WE'RE NOT USING OR THANKING YOU OR
STANDING FIRM IN OUR PRESERVATION RIGHTS THAT WERE
PROVIDED TO US AND FOR US. I ASK YOU TO SHOW US THE WAY, GOD,
THAT WE'LL BEGIN TO DO IT. NOW, WITH EVERY HEAD BOWED AND EVERY
EYE CLOSED, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING TODAY, THOSE OF YOU
THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, I WANNA TALK VERY SERIOUSLY TO YOU. ONE
OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT YOU ARE PRESERVED FROM IS ETERNAL
DAMNATION. GOD DOES NOT SEND ANYONE TO HELL. IN FACT, JESUS
EVEN MADE IT CLEAR THAT HELL WAS CREATED, NOT FOR US, THAT WAS
NOT WHY IT WAS THERE. IT WAS CREATED FOR THE DEVIL AND ALL
THE FALLEN ANGELS, DEMONS. BUT SIN CANNOT BE IN THE PRESENCE OF
GOD. IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY AND YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A
PRESERVATION PACKAGE OF ETERNAL LIFE, IT COMES BY ASKING JESUS
TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS AND TO COME INTO YOUR HEART. I WANT YOU TO
DO SOMETHING VERY BOLD. THIS IS PART OF YOUR PRESERVATION
PACKAGE NOW. YOU'RE UNWRAPPING YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT WAS
GIVEN BY GOD HIMSELF AS EMMANUEL. IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY
OR YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE, YOU COULD PUT YOUR HAND UP. IF
YOU'RE HERE TODAY AND YOU SAY, "PREACHER, PRAY FOR ME." I WANT
TO RECEIVE THAT FREE GIFT OF GOD. I WANT TO ACCEPT JESUS
CHRIST IN MY HEART. I WANT THAT FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND ETERNAL
LIFE. ARE YOU HERE TODAY? ANYBODY HERE? PUT YOUR HAND UP
IF THAT'S YOU. I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS. PUT IT UP HIGH SO I CAN
SEE. THERE'S ONE HAND. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. ANYBODY
ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE ONLINE?
PASTOR DOUG, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO COME, AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU
TO LEAD THEM IN A PRAYER OF ASKING JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR
HEART. NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU, BEFORE HE PRAYS, YOU COULD
HONESTLY SAY, I LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY? HOW MANY OF YOU
LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE SWADDLED AS THE BODY OF CHRIST?
THE OVERSHADOWING OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD. SO VERY
QUICKLY, PASTOR DOUG'S GONNA GIVE YOU INSTRUCTION ON WHAT TO
DO REGARDING JESUS CHRIST AND SALVATION. GO AHEAD, PASTOR.
AMEN. ALTAR TEAM, IF YOU RUN UP HERE QUICKLY, WE'RE GONNA PRAY
TODAY, AND THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ONLINE, WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, YOU
CAN PRAY RIGHT ALONG WITH ME. JESUS HEARS YOU WHEREVER YOU'RE
AT. YOU CAN HAVE HIM BECOME THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE TODAY RIGHT
WHERE YOU'RE AT. EVERY WEEK THAT HAPPENS, PEOPLE RECEIVE JESUS
CHRIST ACROSS THIS NATION JUST BY PRAYING THIS PRAYER, AND YOU
CAN JOIN IN WITH US. THE ONE THAT RAISED YOUR HAND TODAY, IF
YOU'LL COME UP HERE QUICKLY, OUR ALTAR TEAM HAS SOME INFORMATION
FOR YOU. THEY'LL GIVE YOU THAT AND MINISTER TO YOU AND MAKE
SURE THAT YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT WOULD HELP YOU IN YOUR WALK
WITH THE LORD, AND YOU CAN CALL OUR PRAYER LINE ALSO. BUT LET'S
PRAY TODAY. I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE TO BOW YOUR HEADS AND
JUST PRAY OUT LOUD AND MEAN IT WITH YOUR HEART. JESUS WILL COME
INTO YOUR HEART AND BE YOUR SAVIOR TODAY, JUST LIKE THIS ONE
THAT'S COMING UP HERE. JUST REPEAT AFTER ME, FATHER IN
HEAVEN, THANK YOU FOR SENDING JESUS. THANK YOU THAT HE CAME
NOT ONLY AS A BABY, BUT HE GREW UP AND HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO
REDEEM US FROM THE SIN AND CURSE THAT WE WERE UNDER ON THIS
EARTH. THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR COMING TO SAVE ME. I REPENT OF
MY SIN. I ASK YOU TO BE THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF MY LIFE. I WANT TO
SPEND ETERNITY WITH YOU IN HEAVEN. I NOW SAY, LORD, I WILL
SERVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, IN DILIGENCE, THROUGHOUT THE
REMAINDER OF MY LIFE, AND SOMEDAY I'LL BE IN HEAVEN WITH
YOU. THANK YOU, JESUS. AMEN. IF YOU PRAYED THAT PRAYER TODAY,
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO CALL OUR PRAYER LINE, 855 777 7907.
THEY'LL SEND YOU THE SAME INFORMATION THAT THIS LADY IS
RECEIVING UP HERE TODAY, AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR THAT. ONE MORE
QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE I LET YOU GO. IT'S ONLY 11:03. WE'RE
DOING GOOD TODAY, SO YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF TIME. WASN'T THAT A
GREAT MESSAGE ON PRESERVATION? THAT'S ONE WORTH WATCHING OVER
AND OVER. JUST A COUPLE THINGS. REMEMBER THAT MIDWEEK RECHARGE
THIS WEEK IS ONLINE ONLY. THERE'LL BE NO IN HOUSE SERVICES
THIS WEEK ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. TUNE IN ONLINE FOR OUR HEART TO
YOUR HOME FOR OUR MIDWEEK RECHARGE PROGRAM. AND THEN, JUST
AS ANOTHER REMINDER, ON CHRISTMAS DAY, PASTOR HANK WILL
BE DOING A SPECIAL FLASHPOINT BROADCAST, SO YOU CAN TUNE IN TO
FLASHPOINT LIVE, 7 P.M. CENTRAL TIME, AND SEE PASTOR HANK
AND THE OTHER GUESTS ON THAT. WELL, GOD BLESS YOU,
THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK IN THE HOUSE ON SUNDAY.
(MUSIC)