WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:50.740 You've been dumb before, Charlie Brown, but this time you really did it. 00:00:53.160 --> 00:00:54.480 What a treat! 00:00:56.080 --> 00:01:07.180 I guess you were right, Linus. 00:01:07.300 --> 00:01:08.980 I shouldn't have picked this little tree. 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:11.620 Everything I do turns into a disaster. 00:01:12.020 --> 00:01:14.540 I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about. 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:18.540 Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? 00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:20.660 Sure, Charlie Brown. 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:22.720 I can tell you what Christmas is all about. 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:30.480 Lights, please. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:38.660 And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over 00:01:38.660 --> 00:01:39.700 their flock by night. 00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:45.180 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:45.440 them. 00:01:45.900 --> 00:01:47.080 And they were sore afraid. 00:01:47.080 --> 00:01:49.580 And the angel said unto them, Fear not. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.620 For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 00:01:55.020 --> 00:02:00.820 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:03.300 And this shall be a sign unto you. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.800 You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 00:02:08.660 --> 00:02:14.500 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 00:02:15.040 --> 00:02:19.700 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. 00:02:29.980 --> 00:02:32.520 That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:36.460 That's it. 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:40.540 That's what Christmas is all about. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:43.840 And that's what we're here to celebrate tonight. 00:02:44.440 --> 00:02:52.260 We're here to see and dive in in a greater depth and understand more about who Jesus is. 00:02:52.320 --> 00:02:56.080 And so I thank each and every one of you for joining us here. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.960 If you're joining us at home, thank you so much for jumping in online. 00:02:59.980 --> 00:03:09.540 And on behalf of my family and all of us as Willow Ridge Church and our leadership, we just want to wish you and your family a very, very Merry Christmas. 00:03:10.440 --> 00:03:16.980 You know, the older I get, the more I like to look back and remember how things were. 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:24.320 It's the characteristic of my grandfather that I used to kind of pick at and laugh at when he'd say, you know, back when I was your age. 00:03:24.320 --> 00:03:29.180 But now as I'm getting older, I like to look back, and especially at Christmas time. 00:03:29.720 --> 00:03:37.200 Earlier today, I was thinking through one of our Christmas traditions that we did as a family is every year on Christmas Eve, 00:03:37.320 --> 00:03:43.020 we would all pack up and we would all head over to my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Alton's house. 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:50.900 And we would gather in their house that was too small to have all of us who were there, but none of us knew that it was too small. 00:03:51.160 --> 00:03:52.940 And it just felt right and it was good. 00:03:53.620 --> 00:03:57.680 And I always would come in and I would sit in the living room. 00:03:58.260 --> 00:04:04.500 And as people would enter in, they would have their presence with them and they would set them by the tree. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:08.460 And then they would move to areas of the house to say hey to everybody. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.260 And then I would do what every good kid would do. 00:04:11.480 --> 00:04:14.720 I would go look and see if I had any gifts that they just brought, right? 00:04:15.340 --> 00:04:17.300 And I would get all the gifts. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:18.540 Kids, y'all listen to this. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.040 This helps at family gatherings. 00:04:20.760 --> 00:04:26.700 I would get all of the lists, all the gifts that had my name on it. 00:04:27.200 --> 00:04:30.740 And I'd move them all together toward the front. 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:39.720 So then when someone would say, hey, let's help pass out gifts, I could run right to where all of my packages were, right? 00:04:39.880 --> 00:04:47.920 And I would get mine and go sit down and begin to tear through and open up and to experience the gifts that I've received. 00:04:48.440 --> 00:04:55.680 What's going to be remarkable, what I'm going to draw us to, what we're going to look at tonight is found in Isaiah chapter 9. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:05:01.660 And it was written 740 years before Jesus was born. 00:05:02.440 --> 00:05:11.740 And what I find is so remarkable on this, in this passage of Scripture, it's going to talk about the coming Messiah and Jesus and who he is. 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:21.580 But just as, as I was a little kid, my name was etched onto the package so that I would know that gift was for me. 00:05:23.200 --> 00:05:33.080 740 years ago, Isaiah addressed this to each and every person to know and to understand who this gift was for. 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:36.020 And so I want to read this passage to you. 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:39.020 It's one verse, Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6. 00:05:39.020 --> 00:06:08.980 And as I read this, this week, as I was studying at home, the two-letter word that is repeated twice there in this passage. 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:12.760 And this verse jumped out to me, and that word was us. 00:06:13.760 --> 00:06:24.980 That as you and I read that, and the excitement and the anticipation as a child looks for the package that is written, that is given, that is sent for them. 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:38.720 That you and I, as we read this passage of Scripture, that God, through the hand of Isaiah, penned this and wrote this and put on it, that for us, a child is born. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:54.980 And so that from the very beginning, what we see is God's purpose and God's plan to send a king, a savior, a redeemer. 00:06:55.500 --> 00:07:10.340 And the reason why we celebrate, the reason why we have hope, the reason why in a few moments we're going to take part in the Lord's Supper together, is because he sent this gift to redeem creation. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:15.720 He sent this gift to call back those of his own. 00:07:16.820 --> 00:07:22.320 And then he gives us some explanation of what this looks like. 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:34.620 You know, as Isaiah wrote this 740 years before it would happen, to be able to see and to understand and have the hints of prophecy of what God would point him to. 00:07:35.900 --> 00:07:43.720 And the first thing that Isaiah writes, we begin to understand about this gift, is that he is a wonderful counselor. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:49.860 And we'll describe the very character and nature of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:57.640 He says not that just he's a counselor, but that very specifically, he is a wonderful counselor. 00:07:57.640 --> 00:08:08.320 And it means that it is who he is, and that he is so wonderful, that he is so great, that this word wonderful means this, that it boggles the mind. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:24.180 That the greatness of Jesus Christ is so massive, that the greatness of Jesus Christ is so big, that you and I, we cannot begin to wrap our mind around the vastness of his greatness. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:35.920 So in the very beginning, for you and I, there is absolutely nothing, there is absolutely no one like Jesus. 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:41.800 But it's not just that he's wonderful, that he's a wonderful counselor. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:47.680 And when you hear that word counselor, I don't know about you, but what comes to my mind is a counselor. 00:08:47.880 --> 00:08:53.340 Maybe some of you have been to a counselor before and sat down and had them work through some problems with you. 00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:55.220 And when we hear that word, that's what we think. 00:08:55.560 --> 00:08:57.600 But that's not the word that Isaiah uses. 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:58.560 That's not the meaning. 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:03.260 You see, this word for counselor, what it means is a wise king. 00:09:04.040 --> 00:09:11.100 That within his wonderfulness, who he is, is a king, but he's not an angry king. 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:13.440 He's not a greedy king. 00:09:14.180 --> 00:09:16.740 He's a wise king. 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:22.180 Paul writes in Colossians to talk about the wisdom and the knowledge of God. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:31.060 And he says that in him are all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:09:31.900 --> 00:09:38.200 Just earlier, I had a family who was here, and the mom had sent me a text message this past week. 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:45.860 Her son had a question about Jesus, and she sent me the question, and she sent it to me. 00:09:45.900 --> 00:09:48.660 And we were talking tonight, and she said, do you have an answer for that? 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:50.000 And I said, yeah, absolutely. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:53.820 I've got the best answer I could come up with. 00:09:54.160 --> 00:09:57.940 And I looked at him and said, I don't know, right? 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.400 I don't know. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:04.600 You have asked a question that I cannot find an answer to. 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:05.600 I don't know. 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:07.380 But that's not God. 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:09.720 That's not who he is. 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:15.820 Because in him are all the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:21.020 Every single nugget of knowledge is found in him. 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:28.260 Isaiah also says that not only is he the wonderful counselor, but that he is the mighty God. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:38.280 What I find in Christmastime, what we oftentimes celebrate and what we look at is the human nature of Christ, right? 00:10:38.280 --> 00:10:42.940 The fact that God stepped out of heaven and took on flesh. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:47.660 And so from the pictures that we see to the nativity scenes that are in our house, 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:51.800 the picture and the celebration of God is found in human form. 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:57.100 But then not only that, but in the vulnerable nature of a baby. 00:10:57.520 --> 00:11:01.400 From the songs that we sing, communicate this. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:10.900 As we look out and see the small children, that God did not step out of heaven onto earth as an established adult who would go and who would rule, 00:11:11.160 --> 00:11:15.460 but that he came in the most vulnerable nature as that as a child. 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:22.400 And so as Isaiah points to this, as he said a child is born, to us a son is given. 00:11:22.400 --> 00:11:26.300 In that, who he is, is mighty God. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.660 And so I want you to begin to understand. 00:11:30.880 --> 00:11:37.040 And first of all, what we celebrate is the fact that even in the form of the baby, he was all powerful. 00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:42.440 And even in the form of flesh, he is fully divine. 00:11:43.140 --> 00:11:46.200 It is truly the miracle of Christmas. 00:11:46.900 --> 00:11:55.520 It's truly the miracle that we celebrate, that in and through all of this, that at no point in time did he lose his divinity, 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:01.460 that at no point in time did he lose his power, that this is who he is. 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:08.760 And so he's a wonderful counselor, he is mighty God, but he is also everlasting father. 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:13.120 And that in this would be the embodiment of his love. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:18.320 Everlasting father literally means father forever. 00:12:19.140 --> 00:12:28.640 I want to tell you, like for me, the best part of celebrating Christmas in the roles that I get to play is the fact that I'm a dad. 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.500 I love being a dad. 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.120 I live to be a dad. 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.480 I love my kids. 00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:36.320 I love what God has blessed us with. 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:43.380 But even in that, when I begin to wrap my mind around father forever and what this means, 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:55.340 I begin to even see that my own limited understanding, my own limited application of what it means to be a father pales in comparison for who he is. 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:59.420 And so what does it mean that Jesus is everlasting father? 00:12:59.420 --> 00:13:04.720 First and foremost, it means this, that his love will never fail us. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.100 His love will never fail. 00:13:07.800 --> 00:13:10.160 Now let's have some confession moments. 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:21.060 As parents in the room, here's something that we've done as much as we love our kids, as much as we sacrifice for our kids. 00:13:21.420 --> 00:13:21.900 Guess what? 00:13:21.900 --> 00:13:31.720 At some point in time in their life, we have failed them, and at some point in time in our future, we will fail them. 00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:38.820 There will come a point in time where our selfishness will come above what needs to be done for them, and we will disappoint. 00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:41.180 We will fail, and we will let them down. 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:41.600 Why? 00:13:42.140 --> 00:13:43.460 Because we're not perfect. 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:52.520 But that in God and his very nature exhibits and displays and gives a love that never fails. 00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:59.760 But also, not only will his love never fail, but his love will never leave. 00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:02.860 And that's what it means to be an everlasting father. 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:13.360 That when Jesus comes, that when he came in his presence, his love came with him, and he displayed that, and he modeled that, and he taught that. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:21.560 But then, even in his death, even in his resurrection, even in his ascension, his love never left. 00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:26.740 That even though his body is no longer with us, his spirit is still there. 00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:29.420 And so, he's the everlasting father. 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:40.200 And then finally, what Isaiah points us to, a reminder of the hope that we have, is that Jesus is the prince of peace. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:50.840 He's not just the bringer of peace, he's not the giver of peace, he's not the facilitator of peace, but Jesus is specifically the prince of peace. 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:53.380 Which means, if you're a prince, guess what you have? 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.200 You have a kingdom. 00:14:54.920 --> 00:15:00.740 And Jesus' kingdom is not marked by anything else in Scripture other than peace. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:05.000 But in order for this peace to happen, guess what has to take place? 00:15:05.640 --> 00:15:07.320 A battle and a war. 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:13.620 In order for peace to reign, there must be, there must be sacrifice that takes place. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:21.040 And so, on this night where we celebrate that our Savior was born, that he stepped out into heaven, 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:30.920 what we need to understand is that God took on flesh in the form of a baby, and he stepped into the battle. 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:45.640 And that through his life, his calling for us, of what he will give, of what he will display, of what he will do for us, is peace. 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:53.320 That he will call you and I, in our lives, the different talents and gifts that he gives us. 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:59.100 He will call all of us into this calling of our lives to be ministers of reconciliation. 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:04.700 Meaning that's the only part of you and of I to say that we've embodied this, that we've embraced this, 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:10.740 and that we work not only for peace between us, and peace between others. 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:13.900 And so it's the calling that marks us. 00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:20.680 But where the hope is truly found, is that through the gospel, peace is brought. 00:16:21.760 --> 00:16:27.460 And peace is brought in such a way that the world has never experienced it that way before, 00:16:28.040 --> 00:16:35.820 will never experience it that way again, and can only experience it found in the relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:40.240 That the gospel brings peace between us and God. 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.620 Peace is what everybody wants. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:48.400 But when we look on TV, when we look at the news, what do we see time and time again? 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:52.200 Conflict, war, strife, death. 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:58.700 And that in that man fights for their version of peace, for what they want. 00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.920 But God says, no, no, no, no. 00:17:01.640 --> 00:17:02.900 I bring peace. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:08.000 And peace is found in my son and my son alone. 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:15.740 And it is only found in the prince of peace, that peace can happen for this world. 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:20.460 And so it's the truth that Linus proclaimed. 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:23.420 What's the point of all of this? 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:26.100 What's the meaning of all of this? 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.980 Why does all of this matter? 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:35.000 Because God sent the prince of peace. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.380 And it happened not through a declaration. 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:43.120 It happened not through a treaty that was worked out. 00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:46.580 It wasn't even worked out on a battlefield. 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:49.960 But instead, it was worked out on the cross. 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:57.660 That in order for there to be peace between sinful man, all of us, and a holy God, 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.980 that a perfect sacrifice must be made. 00:18:01.520 --> 00:18:09.840 And so in the narrative of the story of Christmas, we can't help but see the shadow of the cross of Calvary that hangs over. 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:18.240 Because the baby will grow up to be a man and live a perfect life and die a perfect death and be resurrected. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:23.960 So that in that, you and I can have life and have life eternal. 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:30.020 And so that is where the peace begins. 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:34.100 That's the battle that takes place. 00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:39.340 That Jesus does it on our behalf. 00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:43.440 You know, I don't know what Christmas gift you're hoping for. 00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:47.100 I don't know what got put on Santa's list. 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:55.760 I don't know what gift your hope and your significant other picked up on the hints that you've been giving them for the last six to eight months, right? 00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:57.820 That they'll get it right this time. 00:18:58.600 --> 00:18:59.860 But I can tell you this. 00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:04.180 Every gift that will open. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:08.380 Every gift that someone will give us. 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.860 We'll lose interest. 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.240 It'll fade. 00:19:14.360 --> 00:19:15.340 It'll break. 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:18.040 We'll even outgrow it. 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:23.320 But the one gift that stands the test of time. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:34.500 The one gift that solves the struggle and the strife of humanity for all of eternity is found in Christ. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:36.060 In Christ alone. 00:19:37.520 --> 00:19:39.740 You know, there's a lot of people in here tonight. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:43.380 Most of you, I recognize your face. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:48.160 Some of you, I didn't know and I got to meet for the first time tonight and are very blessed that you're here. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:53.000 And I don't care if this is your first time here or you've been here a thousand times. 00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:58.580 I don't care if you've been at another church, another area, if you've never stepped foot in church before. 00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:06.080 If you hear nothing else tonight, regardless of where you've been, I want you to understand this. 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:08.060 There's a gift for you. 00:20:09.260 --> 00:20:10.400 And his name is Jesus. 00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:15.040 And of the problem of sin that we all struggle with. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.940 He's the solution and he's the answer. 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:27.180 And it's found through him and him alone where we find hope and purpose and peace. 00:20:28.760 --> 00:20:47.160 And so tonight, could it be the night that you lay down all of your sin, all of your struggle and take on hope and life and freedom and purpose that's found in him and in him alone. 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.860 Would you pray with me? 00:20:52.260 --> 00:20:58.440 God, as we prayed earlier tonight, or we pray that your will would be done. 00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:15.660 Or draw the hearts of the hearts of the rebel or break the pride of us so that we may experience life eternal with you. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:23.020 Jesus, thank you for the sacrifice that you made on our behalf. 00:21:23.020 --> 00:21:29.160 Thank you for the hope that we have and in you and in you alone. 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:33.920 Jesus, and for these reasons, we celebrate you. 00:21:34.580 --> 00:21:38.340 We remember you in taking the Lord's Supper this evening. 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.720 And it's in your name we pray. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:41.740 Amen. 00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:46.180 Hopefully you're able to get one of these cups as you came in. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:49.220 And if you will, please, just peel off the top layer. 00:21:52.800 --> 00:21:54.540 You'll find this little wafer that's there. 00:21:56.940 --> 00:22:00.220 This wafer represents the body of Christ. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:07.560 The body of Christ that from a young child, from a baby to a man, lived a perfect life. 00:22:09.020 --> 00:22:14.580 That stood in a mock trial where allegations were brought against him. 00:22:16.020 --> 00:22:17.780 Of things that he never said. 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:27.540 But he stood there fully innocent and was willing to be marked as guilty to pay the price for us. 00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:33.240 Jesus, as this night approached, was in the upper room with his disciples. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.640 Celebrating the Passover meal. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:43.320 And scripture tells us when they were done eating, he took the bread and he broke it. 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:46.820 And everyone in the room had a small piece like this. 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:50.720 And he said to them, this is my body. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:53.620 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:07.060 And after he had done that. 00:23:08.560 --> 00:23:11.060 Because it wasn't just about the body, but it was about the blood. 00:23:12.020 --> 00:23:14.240 The blood that would be spilled. 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:18.220 The blood that covers us as believers. 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.500 That makes us clean. 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.940 That makes us new. 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:25.220 That covers all of our past sins. 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.880 All of our present sins. 00:23:27.040 --> 00:23:28.480 And all of our future sins. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:32.580 So we're no longer marked by the failings of our will. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:36.580 But that we're marked by the blood of Christ. 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:39.820 So scripture says he took the cup. 00:23:40.780 --> 00:23:42.600 And he held it before the disciples. 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:46.840 And he said, also do this as you remember me. 00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:51.100 Would you pray with me? 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:57.060 Lord, thank you. 00:23:57.060 --> 00:24:02.600 Lord, we were taught at a young age. 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:06.900 When we receive a gift, show gratitude. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.220 Be thankful. 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:17.140 Lord, tonight we celebrate you because you gave us a gift that we can never repay. 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:20.940 You gave us a gift that we could never earn. 00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:25.700 You gave us a gift we didn't deserve. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.300 Your son. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:34.380 So Lord, tonight as we gather in this place. 00:24:36.060 --> 00:24:41.040 Tonight as we think about the excitement of what is waiting for us tomorrow. 00:24:42.040 --> 00:24:48.380 When packages are open, when gifts are exchanged, when surprises are brought. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:51.240 Or tonight for just a moment. 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:55.560 Could we eliminate all of that from our mind? 00:24:57.200 --> 00:25:02.960 And could we just focus on the gift of Jesus? 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:13.780 Jesus, thank you for your love for us. 00:25:15.280 --> 00:25:17.680 You did not come because we loved you. 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:20.240 You came because you loved us. 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:25.600 And you gave us hope and peace and meaning. 00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:27.640 And life. 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:30.740 And you took what was broken and you fixed it. 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:33.740 And you restored it for all of eternity. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:43.860 So that now, man who was an enemy of God, is now called a child of God. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:48.420 So now we're gathered in here. 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:52.980 We're worshiping our eternal father. 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.000 We're worshiping our eternal father. 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:57.540 Who is mighty God. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:01.960 Who is wonderful counselor. 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:05.540 And who is our prince of peace. 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:10.180 Lord, if there's anyone here who did not know you when they came in. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:13.760 If there's anyone here who was not covered by the blood of Jesus. 00:26:15.540 --> 00:26:18.320 Lord, I pray through your will. 00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:21.180 Lord, I pray through your spirit. 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.560 I pray through your power. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:29.280 That tonight, they would experience the greatest gift of eternity. 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.100 Jesus Christ. 00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:33.500 Lord, we love you. 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.860 We praise you. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.420 It's in your name we pray. 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.360 Amen. 00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:39.920 Lord, would you stand as we worship. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:56.800 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:59.620 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:03.640 If you'd like to learn more about who we are or explore additional resources. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:08.680 Visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:12.260 Or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram.