WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.640 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast. 00:00:12.180 --> 00:00:14.080 We're so glad you chose to listen today. 00:00:14.520 --> 00:00:18.700 In this special Christmas Eve message, we reflect on the story of Simeon, 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:22.680 a man whose patient faith reminds us of the joy found in God's promises. 00:00:23.560 --> 00:00:27.980 Simeon's encounter with Jesus reveals that Christ is not just a gift to be received, 00:00:27.980 --> 00:00:30.260 but also one to be shared and remembered. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:35.540 Join us as we explore the beauty of the perfect gift, Jesus, the Savior of the world. 00:00:36.180 --> 00:00:36.880 Thanks for listening. 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:49.880 Well, good evening. 00:00:50.760 --> 00:00:51.680 Merry Christmas. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:55.700 Man, we are so glad that each and every one of you could be here with us 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:59.100 as we celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:00.600 We celebrate His birth. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:02.200 We remember His life. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:07.960 And we are going to come together at the end of the service as we take the Lord's Supper together. 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:13.660 Well, as a pastor, there are times where you do things that make you extremely vulnerable. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:14.200 All right. 00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:18.200 And this time of what we're about to go into is going to be one of those. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.280 So, I need some assistance as we get started this evening. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:24.280 And so, here's what I would like to ask for, if you don't mind. 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:30.740 If you are fifth grade and under, if you wouldn't mind coming down here and hanging out with me for a little bit. 00:01:30.960 --> 00:01:32.940 I promise I'm not going to put you on the stage. 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:35.600 I'm not going to put a spotlight on you. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:42.540 Just come on down and y'all can like have a seat and we can hang out for a few minutes. 00:01:43.440 --> 00:01:43.780 All right. 00:01:44.780 --> 00:01:48.500 We may even have something special for you after this is over. 00:01:53.020 --> 00:01:58.400 Now, parents, as your kids come down here, a couple of disclaimers, okay? 00:01:59.860 --> 00:02:07.580 I've been known to say things from time to time that make me and them excited and cause you a little bit of aggravation. 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:13.060 I think last year I gave every kid permission like to stay up late and wake up really early. 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:13.660 You know what I mean? 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.600 And I got text messages from like two of y'all, like 3 a.m. 00:02:17.660 --> 00:02:18.240 You're like, thanks. 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:19.740 I really, really appreciate that. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:26.560 So, disclaimer, if something I say up here creates that kind of struggle for you, we understand that. 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:27.280 We get that. 00:02:27.760 --> 00:02:32.300 In fact, somebody on staff, it's their responsibility to filter all of those issues. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:35.520 And so, that's been appointed to our newest full-time staff member. 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:39.820 So, you can just send that to josh.nicks at willowridgechurch.org, right? 00:02:39.880 --> 00:02:41.360 So, he will filter that. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:45.540 But, hey, kids, I'm really, really excited, right? 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:46.080 It's Christmas. 00:02:46.420 --> 00:02:47.300 How many of you are excited? 00:02:48.440 --> 00:02:48.800 Me? 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:50.460 Yes, you are. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:51.200 Y'all are excited. 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:52.480 What are you excited about? 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:54.440 No? 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:56.000 What are you excited about? 00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:57.420 You've got to celebrate Jesus' birthday. 00:02:57.660 --> 00:02:59.080 You've got to celebrate Jesus' birthday. 00:02:59.380 --> 00:03:00.820 Like, you just won, right? 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:01.480 That's it. 00:03:01.920 --> 00:03:02.320 What else? 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:03.280 What else are you excited about? 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:04.480 Yeah. 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:05.600 The presents. 00:03:05.980 --> 00:03:06.380 Presents. 00:03:06.700 --> 00:03:07.120 That's right. 00:03:07.160 --> 00:03:07.640 What else? 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:09.320 Everything. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:10.520 All of it. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:12.260 Staying with your family. 00:03:12.380 --> 00:03:13.200 Staying with your family. 00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:13.780 Anybody else? 00:03:14.940 --> 00:03:15.240 All right. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.300 How many of you are going to, are you going to eat some really good food tonight? 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:19.780 Anybody doing that? 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:21.480 What are some of the things that you're going to eat? 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:26.760 We're going to go to Aunt's birthday, and we're going to be at IHOP tonight. 00:03:26.760 --> 00:03:28.060 Oh, IHOP tonight. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:30.900 Get you that tall stack, buddy. 00:03:30.940 --> 00:03:31.540 That's what you're going to do. 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:33.100 What else? 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:35.340 I'm ready for some ham. 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:36.460 You're ready for some ham? 00:03:37.540 --> 00:03:38.420 I like ham. 00:03:38.880 --> 00:03:40.440 Ham's never disappointed this fella. 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:42.640 Anybody eating steak tonight? 00:03:44.700 --> 00:03:45.060 Anybody? 00:03:46.760 --> 00:03:47.600 Kind of, sort of? 00:03:48.440 --> 00:03:49.400 Oh, carne asada? 00:03:50.220 --> 00:03:51.200 Wish y'all's address it on? 00:03:51.980 --> 00:03:54.260 Like, everybody's going to kind of head that way to do that? 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:55.100 All right, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:03:55.380 --> 00:03:56.380 So, we're excited. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:03.460 Now, to me, part of the excitement of Christmas, I know that this is hard for you guys to believe, 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:08.640 but I remember being your age a long, long time ago, right? 00:04:09.380 --> 00:04:11.880 In a time period known as the 80s. 00:04:12.760 --> 00:04:14.080 And I remember what that's like. 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.380 And some of you were like, well, you're really young for that, right? 00:04:17.380 --> 00:04:26.300 But I remember part of the excitement of Christmas is in the excitement in waiting, right? 00:04:26.340 --> 00:04:28.900 You've made your list of gifts that you want. 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:32.480 You've been thinking through meals and times that you're going to get together. 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:37.740 You've been waiting for that time to be able to bake cookies and to do all the things and be able to eat all the sweets. 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:44.740 Which, by the way, like, on Christmas, I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but I was reading a study. 00:04:44.840 --> 00:04:49.080 I like to do that sometimes, and I was reading a study online, and it said this. 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:57.980 It's been proven scientifically that all the sugar that you eat on Christmas Eve will not spoil your dinner, all right? 00:04:58.140 --> 00:05:02.100 So, anything that you want to eat sweet, like, you can, right? 00:05:02.260 --> 00:05:03.620 And it will not spoil your dinner. 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:05.100 It will not keep you up late at night. 00:05:05.140 --> 00:05:07.620 It won't do any of those things, but just for tonight. 00:05:08.020 --> 00:05:11.120 But one of the things is the excitement of the gifts, right? 00:05:11.140 --> 00:05:14.040 We like to get gifts on Christmas, don't we? 00:05:14.200 --> 00:05:18.860 We like to get gifts, but we also, we like to give gifts, too. 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:20.920 And, in fact, I like getting gifts. 00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:22.820 I like getting birthday gifts. 00:05:23.060 --> 00:05:27.460 I like getting anniversary gifts, like my wife and I when it's her wedding anniversary. 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:31.080 But my favorite gifts are Christmas gifts. 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:32.240 And I was thinking about this today, though. 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:38.320 There's only one type of gift that I think is better than a Christmas gift. 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:40.340 One type of gift. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:42.840 I've been getting gifts for a long time. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:44.840 And do you know what type of gift is better than a Christmas gift? 00:05:46.020 --> 00:05:49.540 An early Christmas gift, all right? 00:05:49.760 --> 00:05:53.680 So, Em and Grayson said that they had an early Christmas gift for me. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:55.840 And so, I told them, I hope you guys don't mind. 00:05:56.260 --> 00:06:02.380 I asked them if they would kind of give me this gift up here on our Christmas Eve service. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:03.600 So, here it is. 00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:04.680 It's got a little penguin right there. 00:06:05.140 --> 00:06:05.260 Right. 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:06.000 Thank you all. 00:06:06.320 --> 00:06:06.660 Is it? 00:06:07.140 --> 00:06:09.740 It's like, what do you want me to do? 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:10.900 I was like, I'll do something, right? 00:06:11.260 --> 00:06:11.980 Thank you, buddy. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:12.920 Thank you. 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:13.900 What do y'all think this is? 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:15.820 A puzzle? 00:06:17.640 --> 00:06:18.260 What else? 00:06:18.960 --> 00:06:19.820 What do you think it could be? 00:06:20.900 --> 00:06:21.740 A dictionary. 00:06:24.880 --> 00:06:28.080 This would kind of, like, my vocabulary could fit in that, right? 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:30.280 Anybody else? 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:30.840 What do you think it could be? 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:33.120 I'm kind of hoping it's an Xbox. 00:06:33.840 --> 00:06:34.200 What's that? 00:06:34.200 --> 00:06:38.000 A smaller box that has some special words in it. 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.120 A smaller box that has some special words in it. 00:06:41.580 --> 00:06:42.440 What do you think? 00:06:42.940 --> 00:06:43.780 Baby Jesus. 00:06:44.140 --> 00:06:45.020 Baby Jesus? 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:49.280 Oh, I should have thought of that illustration. 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:50.040 Oh. 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:52.200 Let's unwrap it and see. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:06:59.520 Ooh. 00:07:01.660 --> 00:07:02.680 One of my favorites. 00:07:04.200 --> 00:07:08.680 I don't know if you can tell this by looking at me or not, but I'm the kind of guy that likes candy. 00:07:09.320 --> 00:07:09.460 Right? 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:15.700 And what I got right here is one of my favorites. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:17.080 It's a ring pop. 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:18.000 Anybody else like ring pops? 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:19.600 I'm a big fan of ring. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:20.500 Anybody like ring pops? 00:07:21.580 --> 00:07:21.940 Yeah. 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:23.580 Brent Hawkins likes ring pops. 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:24.880 I heard a woo from over here. 00:07:24.900 --> 00:07:25.420 I appreciate that. 00:07:25.640 --> 00:07:29.640 Do y'all mind, like, nothing's worse than getting a gift and then not being able to enjoy the gift. 00:07:29.700 --> 00:07:29.860 Right? 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:31.240 So, let's, let's. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.780 I heard somebody earlier ask what a ring pop was. 00:07:38.880 --> 00:07:39.860 That was my father-in-law. 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:41.040 He's here with us. 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:42.220 He didn't know what a ring pop was. 00:07:43.380 --> 00:07:49.740 So, here is the early Christmas gift from Emma and Grayson. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:56.560 My ring pop is sour cherry. 00:07:57.260 --> 00:07:58.380 One of my favorite flavors. 00:07:58.460 --> 00:07:58.920 I like this. 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:11.220 That's good, but I don't want to enjoy it all right now, so I'm going to save the rest of it for later. 00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:13.440 Just put it right there. 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:14.580 Here we go. 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:16.940 We like getting gifts. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:20.920 We like getting early Christmas gifts. 00:08:21.940 --> 00:08:23.500 We're going to look tonight. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:30.500 We've been talking in here with the adults about the different people that we learn about and that we meet in the Christmas story. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:32.000 The Bible's Christmas story. 00:08:32.060 --> 00:08:33.780 The true Christmas story. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:42.080 And we've been talking through and we, we, we learned about a guy named Zechariah and we learned about Mary and we learned about Joseph. 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:48.540 We learned about the shepherds and the angels and the wise men. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:59.060 But there's a guy that's found in this passage of scripture that oftentimes we forget about in the Christmas story a little bit. 00:08:59.640 --> 00:09:06.240 Because you see, it happened sometime after the story of Jesus being born. 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:08.920 The story that we just heard in the video. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:14.040 The story that we, that we think of in, in Luke's gospel earlier. 00:09:14.660 --> 00:09:17.900 But it's, but it's a guy named Simeon. 00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:21.880 And I know you've been waiting for your gifts. 00:09:23.260 --> 00:09:25.620 Simeon had been waiting for a long time for a gift. 00:09:26.400 --> 00:09:27.820 A gift that he was promised. 00:09:28.880 --> 00:09:30.340 A gift that he had hoped for. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.900 It was the gift of Jesus. 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:44.680 So I'm going to read to you guys this story about Jesus and about a man named Simeon found in Luke chapter 2, starting verse 22. 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:55.300 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 00:09:56.060 --> 00:10:02.540 As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:08.300 And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord. 00:10:08.780 --> 00:10:11.740 A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:20.300 So what's happened is Mary and Mary and Joseph are bringing Jesus to the temple to offer a sacrifice. 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:23.040 Because it's what God had commanded to do. 00:10:24.160 --> 00:10:27.080 And it says there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:34.360 And this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:10:35.260 --> 00:10:37.460 And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:45.380 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 00:10:46.520 --> 00:10:49.240 And he came in the Spirit into the temple. 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:56.100 And when the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 00:10:56.540 --> 00:11:00.280 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:06.980 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:13.080 For my eyes have seen your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 00:11:13.880 --> 00:11:19.580 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:25.260 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:29.960 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:36.980 Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel 00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:40.440 and for a sign that is opposed. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:44.320 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also, 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:49.280 so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 00:11:50.040 --> 00:11:54.180 So we meet this guy in our Christmas story named Simeon. 00:11:54.680 --> 00:11:57.860 The Bible tells us that he was righteous and devout. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:02.500 Probably not words that we use all the time, right, in our dictionaries. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:06.700 But it meant that he loved God and wanted to obey him. 00:12:07.400 --> 00:12:11.140 That's pretty cool to think about, that when Scripture talked about the heart of Simeon, 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:13.100 that this is what Scripture tells us. 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:16.420 That above all things, he loved God and he wanted to obey him, 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:19.440 but that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:20.040 Here's what that means. 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:25.980 He had waited his whole life, his whole life, to see the Messiah. 00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:30.420 He desperately wanted to see the Messiah. 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:32.340 And now he's an older guy. 00:12:32.920 --> 00:12:38.180 And God had promised Simeon that Simeon would see this Messiah. 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.920 He didn't know when. 00:12:40.660 --> 00:12:41.680 He didn't know who. 00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:43.640 He didn't know how it would be. 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:46.620 But he knew that God would fulfill his word. 00:12:47.140 --> 00:12:53.280 So the Bible tells us that one day Simeon, remember, he's obedient, he's devout, he loves God. 00:12:53.940 --> 00:13:03.060 That the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that lives in us, as followers of Jesus, leads him into the temple. 00:13:06.020 --> 00:13:09.740 And when he got in there, I bet he had gone to the temple a lot. 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.000 Remember? 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.440 Because he always did what God had for him to do. 00:13:14.400 --> 00:13:16.720 But he saw this time was different. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:24.720 Because it was the day, for the very first time, that Mary and Joseph brought in Jesus. 00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:30.720 And so here's Simeon, he's waited his whole life, desperately wanting to see the Messiah. 00:13:31.380 --> 00:13:34.380 And then here, the Messiah comes. 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:45.440 And when Simeon saw Jesus, he was so excited that the Bible tells us that he went, and he picked him up, and he held him up. 00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:52.720 And he began to praise God for this wonderful, beautiful gift of the Messiah. 00:13:53.640 --> 00:14:04.800 You see, the whole story, the whole point of Christmas, the reason why we decorate, the reason why we celebrate, the reason why we gather, even the reason why we give gifts, 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:08.260 is because all of this is about Jesus. 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:13.240 You know, tonight, you're going to go home, and you're going to eat ham, right? 00:14:13.400 --> 00:14:15.800 You're going to eat IHOP, Big Stack, right? 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:22.600 You're going to eat Christmas cookies, because sugar don't count on Christmas Eve, right? 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.940 All of this is because of Jesus. 00:14:27.640 --> 00:14:33.140 And what Simeon had on that day was Jesus was the gift that he received. 00:14:33.900 --> 00:14:37.160 It's the gift that he had hoped for, but it was also the gift that he received. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:40.840 Everything Simeon had hoped for was found in Jesus. 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:43.340 You see, earlier, I received a gift. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.060 I received the gift of my ring pop. 00:14:47.140 --> 00:14:48.860 I think this is a pretty nice ring pop. 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:51.100 I think it's a pretty special ring pop. 00:14:51.680 --> 00:14:55.560 I think it's a special ring pop because it's the flavor ring pop that I have. 00:14:56.020 --> 00:14:58.780 But more importantly, it's the flavor ring pop. 00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:05.520 It's the ring pop that my son and my daughter said that they wanted to give to me, because they wanted me to have it. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:09.780 And when we look at Jesus, you might not like ring pops. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:12.400 You might like a different flavor ring pop. 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:16.020 You might think that there's a gift that you would rather have other than that. 00:15:16.280 --> 00:15:21.320 You might think it's silly that two 16-year-olds just gave a 45-year-old man a ring pop. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.820 But it's the gift for me, and it's the gift that I received. 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:32.440 The beautiful reminder of Christmas is this, that Jesus is the perfect gift for everyone. 00:15:33.400 --> 00:15:37.640 God's Word tells us in John 3, 16 and 17, for God so loved the world that he gave his own son. 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:48.720 He gave a gift that whosoever believes in him, that receives him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:58.060 For God did not send his son this gift into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:15:59.260 --> 00:16:05.380 And this gift that we receive, Emma and Grayson handed it to me, and I took it. 00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:11.880 I had an action that was there, but the gift that we receive in Christ, we receive through faith. 00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:21.020 Apostle Paul writes, Ephesians 2, 8, for by grace you have been saved, and it's through faith, and this is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God. 00:16:21.920 --> 00:16:22.360 Faith. 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.760 You know what faith is? 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:32.940 Faith is believing in something, to believe in your mind and to believe in your heart, and then to trust. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.600 And it's the gift, it's the gift that we receive. 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:41.820 But you know what, when you receive a gift, you're going to receive gifts. 00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:49.440 You receive gifts, maybe some of you tonight, some of you maybe tomorrow, you're going to do something with it. 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:53.060 I hope that this was a Xbox. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:57.940 A little disappointed, right? 00:16:59.400 --> 00:17:03.020 But when you get a gift, you're going to play with it. 00:17:04.080 --> 00:17:05.240 You're going to show it to people. 00:17:06.280 --> 00:17:08.720 Maybe it's clothes, and you're going to put it on and wear it. 00:17:08.760 --> 00:17:11.520 Maybe it's a trip that you're going to go on that you're going to experience. 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.580 Maybe it's a toy that you can take and that you can show your friends. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:19.200 You've got a gift, and a gift isn't intended for you to get and then not have. 00:17:19.260 --> 00:17:22.300 A gift is intended for you to have and then to do something with it. 00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:23.960 So what do we do with the gift of Jesus? 00:17:25.040 --> 00:17:26.180 What do we do with the gift of Jesus? 00:17:27.560 --> 00:17:30.200 We share the gift of Jesus. 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:35.880 You see, the gift of Jesus is about receiving, but the gift of Jesus is about sharing as well. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:39.820 Look at what Simeon says, Luke 2, 31 and 32. 00:17:39.820 --> 00:18:00.660 Simeon says, you see, this gift of Jesus that he's been hoping for, been waiting for, the gift that he picked up in his hands, is for other people as well. 00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:04.780 And that this gift of Jesus is for me, and it's for you. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:10.460 And what we're called to do is we're called to take this gift and to share it. 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:13.240 So we don't get Jesus and hog him to ourself. 00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:15.300 We get Jesus to share. 00:18:16.300 --> 00:18:25.440 So it would be really selfish of me to get this gift and not share it with you, wouldn't it? 00:18:26.540 --> 00:18:28.180 But this is cold and flu season. 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:41.020 So I'm not going to share this gift, but right now what I'm going to ask you to do is you're going to stand up and you're going to head back to your family. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:51.320 We've got Pastor Dave and Pastor Joel and Dawn, and they've got gifts inside of these gift bags for you so that you can take those and head back to your family, okay? 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:54.420 Hey, folks, let's give these kids a round of applause. 00:18:58.600 --> 00:19:00.080 You guys did so good. 00:19:00.520 --> 00:19:09.960 Now, remember, you can eat this right now because it's not going to ruin your dinner at all, all right? 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:13.720 Especially if you're loading down on those tall stack of pancakes. 00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:28.480 Josh's email is josh.nicks at willowridgechurch.org. 00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:29.280 That's for you, Johnny. 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:42.400 Church, thank you for letting us be a little silly, do some things different. 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:47.400 Because this is just such a special time of year. 00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:56.040 It's a time of year where we can take kids out and drive them around and look at lights. 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:05.020 Do we see their faces light up by the packages under the tree of all the things that are there? 00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:07.180 And it's hard for us. 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.460 And it's hard for us. 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:09.080 It's hard for them. 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.100 It's hard for you. 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:19.960 It's hard for me even sometimes to remind ourselves of the reason why we celebrate Christmas. 00:20:22.300 --> 00:20:28.740 We always need to remember that Jesus isn't just the reason we celebrate Christmas. 00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:34.000 That Jesus is the reason, just like Simeon did. 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:47.800 That when he saw the fulfillment of the promise, he couldn't help, he couldn't help but to live in the joy of the Messiah. 00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:55.260 You see, he didn't go to the temple knowing what would happen that day. 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:58.300 But he came to the temple. 00:21:00.040 --> 00:21:25.640 And in Christ, in the gift that he received, in that gift that he understood that God had sent his Son to be the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Savior for Israel, the Savior for the Gentile, the Savior for every man and every woman, every boy and every girl. 00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:32.360 Jesus, the promise, the hope, the fulfillment of Scripture. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:42.920 And today, just like every day, is when we put our faith and our hope and our trust in Jesus Christ. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:48.480 We receive him and we share him. 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:55.900 But you see, that's not just what Simeon talked about. 00:21:57.560 --> 00:22:04.080 You see, Simeon, Simeon was devout. 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:07.160 He knew God's Word. 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:12.740 For him, knowing God's Word would have been to know the Old Testament. 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:21.760 And in the coming Messiah, he would know the fulfillment of what this would mean. 00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:25.600 And the joy of what would come. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:28.920 And the salvation that would be found in him. 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:33.260 But he also knew the suffering. 00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.460 The pain. 00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.620 The rejection. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:44.960 He knew that the Messiah would come and must give his life. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:54.700 So it's important for us that Jesus is not just the gift as Christians that we've received. 00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:59.800 That Jesus isn't just the gift that we share. 00:23:00.760 --> 00:23:04.760 But Jesus is the gift that is remembered. 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:08.400 Every gift. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:15.840 Every good gift that you've ever gotten, you've remembered. 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:22.520 I remember it was Aaron and I's first Christmas together. 00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:27.440 I don't know if you remember, but I do. 00:23:28.060 --> 00:23:29.940 Had a little town home in Aiken, South Carolina. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.740 Aaron was still in college. 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.280 I was working at my first church. 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.060 We didn't have much. 00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:41.820 We didn't have much. 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:49.720 And I remember sitting on our couch on Christmas Eve. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.300 And she went under our little tree and there was this little package. 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.240 Probably not bigger than that. 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.840 She said, here's my gift to you. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:05.860 And on that first Christmas, and I opened it up. 00:24:07.260 --> 00:24:08.640 It was a beautiful watch. 00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:11.920 That she'd saved up for. 00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:16.820 And that she'd gone out and she had given it. 00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:18.780 She'd given it to me. 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:22.060 I always remember that Christmas. 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:27.820 You see, our calling in Christ as people of faith, 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:30.780 because we've received and we share, 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:35.440 and we live in the joy of the coming Messiah, 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.980 but we must also remember. 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:43.060 Look back with me at Luke 2, verse 33. 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:47.700 And his father, this is Jesus, 00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:50.740 his father and mother, Joseph and Mary, 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:55.760 marveled at what was said about him. 00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.140 Right? 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.900 They go into the temple. 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.860 They know, but they don't know. 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:04.200 You know? 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:12.660 And Simeon had come up and scooped him up and shared all of the praise. 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.040 All of the praise. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:18.640 Their boy, Jesus. 00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:24.400 And Simeon blessed them, continues on, 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:27.500 and said to Mary, his mother. 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.000 And said to Mary, his mother, 00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:38.180 behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:42.400 and for a sign that is opposed. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:51.180 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also, 00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:56.380 so that thoughts from many hearts will be revealed. 00:25:58.620 --> 00:26:01.520 You see, Simeon is speaking here. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:08.740 He's speaking to the power and the work of Christ. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:14.200 And that while John 3, verse 16 is true, 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:19.860 that God sent his son in the fullness of Scripture, 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.540 we know that he'll be rejected. 00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:26.040 We know that he's rejected in his life. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.680 We know that he's betrayed. 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:32.680 But still today, 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:39.060 people who have the opportunity to receive the gift, 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:42.360 the hope of salvation in Christ and Christ alone, 00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.600 they'll reject him. 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.420 They'll reject him. 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:53.320 And in order for him to be the Messiah, 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.920 that he must come, 00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:58.340 that he must live, 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.640 and must die. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:04.260 That he must take the punishment 00:27:04.260 --> 00:27:08.320 that you and I deserve. 00:27:10.260 --> 00:27:11.760 He must take the punishment 00:27:11.760 --> 00:27:15.900 that our sin has created a debt, 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:20.440 a debt that a holy God said, 00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:21.640 this must be paid. 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.160 And Christ comes, 00:27:26.040 --> 00:27:28.200 and he pays the debt. 00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:31.220 And he doesn't pay it in part. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.200 He pays it in full. 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.400 And his payment, 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.480 though it happened 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:43.540 some 2,000 years ago, 00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:49.260 to be full in the account. 00:27:50.760 --> 00:27:52.340 For all who put their faith, 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.700 their hope, 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.300 and their trust in him. 00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:00.440 So how do we remember? 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.160 How do we remember? 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.780 Well, one of the ways 00:28:05.780 --> 00:28:07.780 that we're commanded to in Scripture 00:28:07.780 --> 00:28:10.720 is we remember 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.900 about partaking in the Lord's Supper together. 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.920 In a few minutes, 00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:17.460 the band's going to come on stage, 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:19.920 and they're going to lead us 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.200 in another time of worship. 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.680 And after that, 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.540 I'll come back out, 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:25.760 and we'll partake in the Lord's Supper together. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.340 And if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, 00:28:28.340 --> 00:28:29.420 and you're here tonight, 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.940 I want to invite you 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:34.040 to partake with us. 00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:35.680 You see, 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.800 this is not an act 00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:38.360 that saves you, 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:42.060 but it is an act 00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.880 that all who were 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:45.260 saved by Jesus 00:28:45.260 --> 00:28:46.500 are called to partake in 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.280 as we remember. 00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.600 In a little while, 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:50.860 we'll 00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:53.200 remove the bread from the top, 00:28:54.020 --> 00:28:57.360 and we'll remember 00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:59.320 His body. 00:29:01.520 --> 00:29:02.560 His body 00:29:02.560 --> 00:29:05.220 that took the beating, 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.720 took the punishment, 00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.240 took the death 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:11.400 that you and I deserve 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:14.060 and paid the price. 00:29:15.800 --> 00:29:17.140 And then we'll open the cup, 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:20.500 and we'll drink of the cup, 00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:23.500 the cup that represents 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.080 His blood, 00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:28.140 His blood that does something 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:30.640 that no other blood could do. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.760 that as His blood 00:29:33.760 --> 00:29:34.420 was spilled 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:35.860 on the cross of Calvary, 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.640 it took every sin, 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.620 it took every lie, 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:44.800 it took every lustful thought, 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:47.280 it took every moment of greed, 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:49.200 it took every sin 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:51.280 of your heart and mine, 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.940 and it washed us, 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.280 and it made us clean. 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:57.260 Then the Bible tells us 00:29:57.260 --> 00:30:00.040 that now when God looks at me, 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:02.080 and when God looks at you, 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.920 in Christ, 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.060 because we've been covered 00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:05.400 by the blood of the Lamb, 00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:06.400 that what He sees 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.960 is not your sin, 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.140 but He sees 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.900 the righteousness of Jesus. 00:30:13.520 --> 00:30:14.660 And we're made whole, 00:30:15.540 --> 00:30:16.840 we're made new. 00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:21.540 And the Bible tells us 00:30:21.540 --> 00:30:25.040 that because when He died, 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.680 and they put His body 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.320 in the tomb, 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:32.780 and they rolled the stone 00:30:32.780 --> 00:30:33.520 over it, 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:36.120 the Bible tells us 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:38.360 that three days later, 00:30:39.820 --> 00:30:41.460 that He rose again. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.980 He rose again. 00:30:45.280 --> 00:30:46.720 And He was alive. 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.900 And so because His body 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:54.000 took the punishment, 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:58.500 and because His blood 00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:01.960 makes us clean, 00:31:03.800 --> 00:31:07.500 and because He is alive, 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:11.720 we too 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:14.240 are made alive in Christ. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.340 Not just in this world, 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.480 but for all of eternity. 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.540 So tonight, 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:25.580 as we remember, 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:29.840 we remember this beautiful story 00:31:29.840 --> 00:31:31.900 of hope and truth 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:35.260 of a baby born in Bethlehem, 00:31:36.260 --> 00:31:38.460 born of a virgin, 00:31:41.040 --> 00:31:43.880 earthly father finds out in a dream, 00:31:46.320 --> 00:31:48.020 visited by shepherds, 00:31:48.540 --> 00:31:50.160 proclaimed by angels, 00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:52.240 visited by wise men. 00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:56.180 Because we remember. 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:03.600 But the story doesn't end 00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:04.860 at a manger, 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:07.660 but journeys to a cross. 00:32:11.320 --> 00:32:12.380 And so we remember. 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.560 So in a moment, 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.780 the band will come up on stage, 00:32:16.860 --> 00:32:17.880 we'll have a time of worship, 00:32:18.260 --> 00:32:19.140 a time of response. 00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:21.420 We'll encourage you 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:23.280 to take the time 00:32:23.280 --> 00:32:25.620 to reflect your heart, 00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.640 your preparedness 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:28.460 to partake. 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.880 Maybe today 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:33.380 you need to come before the Lord 00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:35.040 as you prepare to do this, 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.820 to prepare to remember 00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:38.900 and confess and repent. 00:32:40.540 --> 00:32:41.360 Maybe today 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.360 you need to give your life 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.080 to Jesus 00:32:43.080 --> 00:32:45.240 and you profess Him 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:46.140 as Lord and Savior 00:32:46.140 --> 00:32:47.060 to believe 00:32:47.060 --> 00:32:48.880 and to trust. 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.360 We just ask 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.320 that you respond 00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:53.920 this evening 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:55.920 how the Spirit 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:57.220 of God 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.440 leads you. 00:32:59.320 --> 00:32:59.940 Would you pray with me? 00:33:03.760 --> 00:33:04.640 God, I thank you 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:07.340 for the beauty of this time 00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:09.760 and for the beauty 00:33:09.760 --> 00:33:10.360 of this gift. 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.380 God, I thank you 00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:15.420 that there is no gift 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:17.160 in this world 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:22.020 that comes close 00:33:22.020 --> 00:33:24.700 to the preciousness 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.260 of Christ. 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:28.460 God, if there's anyone here 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:31.000 who has not received Him, 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:33.160 Lord, I pray 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:35.080 that tonight 00:33:35.080 --> 00:33:38.180 they would receive Him. 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.540 They would receive Him 00:33:40.540 --> 00:33:41.540 not through an action 00:33:41.540 --> 00:33:42.440 or not through a work, 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.880 but they would receive Him 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.300 by faith, 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:49.120 believing and trusting 00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:51.460 in who Jesus is. 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:55.700 God, I pray tonight 00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:57.880 that you would burden 00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:58.520 our hearts 00:33:58.520 --> 00:33:59.200 for those 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.420 who need to hear. 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:04.580 Hear who Jesus is. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.260 And God, 00:34:06.300 --> 00:34:07.080 you've called us 00:34:07.080 --> 00:34:08.240 to share Him with them 00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:10.380 that we would do. 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.160 But God, tonight 00:34:13.160 --> 00:34:14.460 as we worship, 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:17.020 may we remember the body 00:34:17.020 --> 00:34:19.440 and remember the blood 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.280 of our Lord 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:21.660 and Savior, 00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.460 Jesus Christ. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.800 And it's in His name 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.120 I pray. 00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:26.520 Amen. 00:34:36.520 --> 00:34:37.980 That's it for this week's message. 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.360 Be sure to check back 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:39.960 next week 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.860 for another episode. 00:34:41.540 --> 00:34:42.140 In the meantime, 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.280 you can stay up to date 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:44.280 with everything happening 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.980 at Willow Ridge 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.860 by visiting us 00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.640 on Facebook, 00:34:47.040 --> 00:34:47.420 Instagram, 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.260 YouTube, 00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:49.480 and online 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:51.160 at willowridgechurch.org. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.480 Thanks again for listening. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:35:08.540 I'll see you next time.