0 (0s): Well, Merry Christmas, everyone. Hello from Harvest Church we sure wish we could all be together in person tonight. We know it's just much safer for us all to be apart, but we're still unified in hearts. And we have all come together to gather together all around this County from every corner to lift the love and light of Jesus. And so Lord, we just welcome your presence in every home. Every household watching just are inviting your love just to fill the space. So find a comfortable...
0 (0s): Well, Merry Christmas, everyone. Hello from Harvest Church we sure wish we could all be together in person tonight. We know it's just much safer for us all to be apart, but we're still unified in hearts. And we have all come together to gather together all around this County from every corner to lift the love and light of Jesus. And so Lord, we just welcome your presence in every home. Every household watching just are inviting your love just to fill the space. So find a comfortable spot to join into worship with us. Maybe you want to grab a cup of hot cocoa or your favorite blankets, but just gather your family and friends around whoever you're able to be with today. 0 (41s): And let's get to that place where we're going to worship together. Would you pray with me as we begin our time? Thank you, Lord. Thank you. That you came, that you chose to enter this world citizen, a helpless baby, that you would understand what it's like to stub your toe and skin your knee. That's you're not just a far away God, but you came to walk among us to know sorrow and grief and pain and suffering. You understand us so intimately and intricately. We just pray that your presence would be felt by everyone who's tuned in either live in this moment or later watching the replay. 0 (1m 27s): That's your beyond space and time that you are everywhere Lord. And so we just welcome your presence just to come right now. Emmanuelle wonderful counselor, almighty God and Prince of peace. Would you reveal more of yourself to us this night, just as you came in that stable in that plan and you change the world forever. Thank you. So let joy bubble up in our hearts tonight. As we celebrate the birth of our King and we declare joy to the world tonight for the Lord is come . 0 (5m 47s): Amen. Thank you. Thank you that you came, what a gift we come to adore you tonight. Jesus, just to lay all of our burdens at your feet, Jesus, to say that we have need of you. So we bring our hearts. Every anxious thought, every care and concern. There's nothing that's ever out of your sight. Ooh, 1 (12m 42s): Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. Hey, thank you so much for inviting us into your home. This Christmas Eve 2020, this is not how we intended to have Church today, but this is how we are having Church today in your homes live fed live-streamed and we're so grateful for this opportunity. And we're praying that as we have made this choice, that everybody around us stays healthier for the balance of this year. And S and beyond that, it has been our tradition. It has become our tradition to read a Christmas story, a children's Christmas story every every year. 1 (13m 25s): And so we have a great Christmas story this year, and then I will be sharing a 20 minute message or so also following that, and, and then we'll sing some more songs and then we will just to continue to enjoy the holiday season. So I want to take a moment and pray before we get into the reading. And then we'll read the story and hear a brief message. So shall we bow our heads in prayer? Lord, thank you so much for your amazing grace. Jesus. We are so thankful that you were born into this earth into this world so that we might know you so that we might be known by you. 1 (14m 7s): So God, I pray that every person would have an encounter with you and a personal encounter with you. That would be life altering God, that you would reveal yourself to people that you would work in people's lives and that you would change lives. That's our prayer. That's our desire for, from you today, Lord God. And so as we celebrate your birth, be glorified, thank you for this time in Jesus name a men to the story towards the evening of Christmas towards the evening of Christmas. When all through the town, every end was so crowded, no room could be found tired. 1 (14m 50s): Mary and who went door to door at last found a place on a small stable floor. Thank goodness said Mary who tiptoed inside the mice, saw the donkey and scurried to hide the rest of the creatures. All cuddled up tight in hopes that they might have a calm, peaceful night. The pigeons were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of breadcrumbs danced around in their heads. The cows closed their eyes and the oxen laid down the doves cued. So gently, the lambs made no sound. 1 (15m 33s): The moon through the trees was just starting to glow with a glimmer of light on the stable below. When quite by surprise came in newborn baby cry that woke all the animals sleeping nearby up, jumped the cows and the oxen and sheep up popped. The pigeons are roused from their sleep. They all came to gaze at the small baby boy as his mama and Papa hugged him with joy. Now, donkeys. Now cows now pigeons and sheep. Now oxen and mice in the manger did peep his eyes. How they twinkled his dimples so sweet as they nuzzled his fingers in cute little feet and out in the fields, taking care of their sheep. 1 (16m 25s): Some shepherds were just getting ready to sleep. When all of a sudden they had such a fright as a whole choir of angels lit up the nights. But the song of the angels, the words that they said soon, let them men know they had nothing to dread. Dear shepherds. It's wonderful news that we bring as savior is born. He is Jesus. The King. They ran to the stable and peek through the door and saw something never imagined before they're in a manger. A baby boy, lay no blankets, no pillow. 1 (17m 7s): His bed made of hay. And to that small stable came three splendid Kings with gifts for the baby, all beautiful things. They jumped from their camels and knelt at his feet with their frankincense golden murder that smelled sweets, the stable was filled with a wonderful light as stars above Bethlehem. Twinkled so bright and high in the heavens. God whispered my son. You'll bring hope to the world and love everyone. Then back to their slumbers. 1 (17m 48s): The animals curled amazed at this babe, who had entered their world as Mary and Joseph got ready for bed. They snuggled their baby and kissed his 2 (17m 58s): Sweet head is married late. 1 (18m 2s): He's asleep in the Hey. She, she thought about all that had happened that day. The mice heard her whisper as she tucked him in time. 2 (18m 11s): Night's Merry Christmas, my son, and to all a good nights. What a great story. It was the evening of Christmas. 1 (18m 26s): That's what we're celebrating. We're celebrating Christmas Eve, the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus, 2 (18m 30s): Jesus Christ. But before 1 (18m 33s): Or in keeping with tradition, a joke, a joke. It's Christmas Eve, it's Christmas Eve and Amanda's out shopping and he realizes he's going to be late. So he calls his wife and says, babe, I'm out shopping, doing some last minute shopping. So I'm going to be home a little late. And she out of curiosity asked the question, well, where are you shopping? And he said, well, you know, you remember that, that, that jewelry store where we saw those beautiful diamond stud earrings that you appreciated so much, she said, yes. I remember. I remember he said, well, I'll be at the hardware store. Next door, Silly Christmas jokes. But they are a part of the tradition around here. 1 (19m 14s): We've titled the message today. Fear not Jesus brings hope to the world that will be in Luke chapter two verses eight through 14 today. And this is what it says in Luke chapter two, verses eight and nine. It says, and in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And the angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were filled with great 2 (19m 42s): Fear. Imagine, I mean, this is a common reaction 1 (19m 48s): When an angel of the Lord appears to people. There's great fear. There's great. Awe there's great honor. For example, when them in the old Testament, when bail him saw the angel of the Lord, he bowed down and fell 2 (20m 2s): Fall on his face. Great fear. Great honor. Great. All 1 (20m 10s): Samson's mother was visited by the angel of the Lord and she described the angel as awesome. Now we use that word a lot and we don't always use it appropriately. We use it for all kinds of different stuff, but the word awesome means extremely impressive. Daunting. It means overwhelming, inspiring, great admiration, apprehension, 2 (20m 34s): Or fear. 1 (20m 36s): This is the proper and expected response. When someone encounters a heavenly being, I mean the glory of the Lord shone around them. You can imagine, you can imagine. I imagine a great lights, a sense that someone powerful is present this night was like no other night they had 2 (20m 56s): Since. So a great fear 1 (21m 0s): When Samson's mother had a second encounter with the angel of the Lord, she and her husband fell on their faces to the ground. There was even fear that they might die from their encounter. There was fear that they might die because they encountered the angel of the 2 (21m 15s): Lord. When Mary, 1 (21m 17s): The mother of Jesus encountered the angel Gabriel, she was greatly troubled. She was troubled by his message 2 (21m 25s): And fearful. The angel told her do not be afraid. Mary, for you have found favor with God, do not be afraid. Mary, for you have found favor with 1 (21m 39s): God. It's a lot to take in for a teenage girl. Who's just found out. We're about to find out 2 (21m 45s): She's going to give birth to a baby. 1 (21m 49s): Good news. No matter who you are today, you have found favor with God, no matter who you are 2 (21m 54s): Today, you, you have found favor with God. I mean, think about it. In what ways did Mary find favor with God? Well, God revealed himself to Mary 1 (22m 8s): And then God worked in Mary's life. And then God changed Mary's life for the wonderful, 2 (22m 14s): Good. Okay. 1 (22m 17s): For every one of us, all of us, God wants to reveal himself. He wants to reveal himself to us. He wants to reveal 2 (22m 27s): To you specifically, God wants to reveal himself to you. He wants to work in your life and he watched it change your life for the wonderful, good. This 1 (22m 40s): Was certainly the experience of the shepherds. 2 (22m 43s): Back to Luke chapter two, 1 (22m 45s): Verse 10, it says in the angel said to them, to the shepherds 2 (22m 50s): Fear, not for behold, I bring you good news of great joy. That will be for all the people. 1 (23m 0s): God revealed himself to the shepherds. Through the angel. God worked in their life and God changed their life for the wonderful, good. They got a front row seats, 2 (23m 12s): The birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ, who is new life here in the earth. This year, 1 (23m 17s): Birds experience something other worldly it 2 (23m 21s): Edge in there. They're all their fear. They didn't know what to expect when the angel appeared and the message of the angel was this fear, not fear, nots, whatever the Lord wants to do in your life. His message to you is the same fear. Not fear. Not God wants to do something in your life. He wants to reveal himself to you. 1 (23m 51s): He wants to work in your life and he wants to change your life for the wonderful, good. 2 (23m 57s): And he wants to 1 (23m 57s): Comfort you with the truth that you've got nothing. Absolutely 2 (24m 1s): Nothing to fear. These aims 1 (24m 5s): That we've been talking about, their messengers of God's speaking for him, 2 (24m 10s): Their message is God's message. Fear. Not maybe you've 1 (24m 17s): Got some fear in you when you think 2 (24m 20s): About God, maybe it just makes you uncomfortable to think about God. God's message 1 (24m 26s): Is the same to you as it was to 2 (24m 28s): Mary. And as it was to the shepherds fear, not fear, not God 1 (24m 36s): Send an angel to tell of his plan, to send Jesus into the world, to be the savior of the world. This is the good news. Verse 10. The second part says, I bring you good news of great joy. 2 (24m 47s): That will be for all the people. So 1 (24m 50s): What is this good news that the angel 2 (24m 53s): Was talking about? What might possibly 1 (24m 55s): Bring great joy to all 2 (24m 57s): People? Well, it's the news of a savior. 1 (25m 0s): The news of a savior is the good news for all people. Verse 11 says for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ 2 (25m 9s): Waste. The Lord fear, not Jesus brings hope to the world because he loves you because he loves everyone. It is 1 (25m 23s): Because of his great love for us, that he willingly became our savior. We read about his great love in John three 2 (25m 30s): Verses 16 through 18, where it says for God, so loved the world that he gave. His only son that whoever 1 (25m 39s): Believes in him should not perish, but have 2 (25m 41s): Eternal life. 1 (25m 44s): 17 for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. But in order that the world might be saved 2 (25m 52s): Through him. First 18, whoever believes 1 (25m 55s): He was in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only son 2 (26m 2s): Of God. The angel 1 (26m 6s): Gabriel is telling the shepherds 2 (26m 9s): What has happened. The savior has been born. That's what Christmas is all about every year. It says 1 (26m 17s): Declaration that the savior has been 2 (26m 20s): Born. We declared that to you tonight, 1 (26m 23s): Today, as we have this Service and stream it into your home or into your office or wherever it is that you may be watching, the savior has been born. Luke chapter two, verse 12 says this, and this will be assigned for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling claws and lying in a manger and suddenly there with the angel. And, 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 among those with whom he is pleased. I wonder how big a multitude is. Was it a hundred? Probably not. It wasn't a a thousand, probably not. 1 (27m 6s): It could have been tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands or millions. We don't know, but there was a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace among those with whom he is pleased. This is a profound moment in history, a profound moment in time when God out of his great love since his son, Jesus Christ into the earth so that we might know him and experience his love. Fear, nots, 3 (27m 39s): Jesus 1 (27m 40s): Brings hope to the world because he loves everyone. And because he has the ability, he has the ability to give peace to everyone. Jesus has the ability to give peace to everyone in the Greek. That word means peace between individuals 3 (27m 57s): Walls. 1 (28m 1s): God wants to bring peace between you and him. He desires to bring peace in your relationship to him, to the father, to God in James three 18, it says in those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. And Jesus is the ultimate peace maker. He came into the world as the savior to make peace between God and man, the reason for his birth, the reason for Christmas Jesus came to bring peace. And one of his names is the Prince of peace. 1 (28m 41s): Jesus is the Prince 3 (28m 43s): Of peace. 1 (28m 45s): Jesus Christ is the only reason. And the only way we can surely live peacefully with God, Jesus Christ is called the Prince of peace because he restores our broken relationship with God and provides the assurance of eternal life. Every one of us needs the Prince of peace. We need peace in our relationship with God. We need God to establish that miraculous work in our lives, 3 (29m 16s): The bird, 1 (29m 17s): Life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ makes that piece possible. I found that real peace can only be experienced in Christ. It's not in stuff I've tried. I've tried finding peace by adding stuff to my life. All that stuff does is make me busy and feel responsible for all kinds of stuff. It's not in stuff. It's 2 (29m 42s): Not in romantic relationships. It's not in money, not in achievements, not in position or status. It's nothing external. It is found peace. Peace is found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Real peace is found in Christ alone. Luke two 14 says glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace among those with whom he is pleased. That's a question who is God pleased with? What does that even mean? Well, apart from Christ, it's not possible for us to be pleasing to God, but in Christ are we are pleasing fear. 2 (30m 27s): Not Jesus brings hope to the world because he loves everyone. And because he has the ability to give peace to everyone and number three, because he makes it possible for us to please, God, Jesus makes it possible for us to please God, have you ever wondered in your life? How do I please, God, well, Jesus has done that on your behalf. And as we find our lives hidden in Christ, as we accept the grace and mercy and the love of his, of, of Jesus Christ, we find ourselves hidden in Christ and acceptable and pleasing to God. There is peace among those with whom he is pleased. 2 (31m 10s): So how does Jesus make it possible for us to please God? And why don't we please God, in the first place? Well, there's a great quote. I mean, there's a great questions. Well, there's a little word with big implications that the Bible talks about from the old Testament to the new Testament. And this word is sin, sin, sin. What is sin? Sin is anything that is displeasing to God. So there, this thing called sin that is interrupted our communion, our relationship with God, as soon as anything that is displeasing to God. And the Bible says that all of us have sinned, Romans three 23 in the Bible. 2 (31m 51s): It says for all, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, all the sin and fall short of the glory of God. The penalty for that sin is death. Romans six 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Our Lord, this penalty is the whole reason Jesus came and died on the cross. It's the reason he was born. He lived, he was crucified and then ultimately resurrected from the dead Jesus was born so that he might die for me. Jesus was born so that he might die for you so that we might know a relationship with God and be pleasing to him. 2 (32m 37s): So how does Jesus make possible for us to please God? Well, Jesus died in my place and yours to pay the penalty for our sin. Have you ever had someone paid a debt for you? You own maybe a big debt and you had somebody to come along as a gift to you and just pay that off. I have. It's a, it's a liberating feeling to have that debt finally lifted. Have you ever had someone forgive a debt? Just say, you know what? That thing that you owed me, that money that you owed me, don't worry about it. And what a, what a great relief that is because debt can be a heavy burden to us as human beings. 2 (33m 18s): But when somebody pays that debt for us or when somebody forgives that debt, it's, it's a, it's an incredibly liberating experience. It's this is precisely what Jesus has done for us. And he's the only one who could do it. Jesus, the God man, fully God and fully man came to cancel that debt to forgive that debt, to pay that debt for us, what a relief it is to have that debt forgiven paid and eliminated. This is what he did. He died so that our sin debt might be forgiven and he has made it possible for us to have peace with God through those actions. 2 (34m 5s): This is the gospel and this is why we have nothing to fear. Fear, not Jesus brings hope to the world. And I, I don't. I want to say it this way. Jesus can bring hope to your world. Maybe your world is feeling very small right now. Maybe you've been hunkered down, quarantined, staying close to home, fearful, anxious, nervous, worried. Jesus can bring hope to your world wherever you are, wherever you are. 2 (34m 46s): Jesus wants to reveal himself to you. He loves you. He has the ability to give peace to your life in your circumstance, whatever it is that you're going through. And he makes it possible for you to please God, it's an amazing gift. Jesus, the person and work of Jesus. It's an amazing and profound gift. And I just want to say, I hope you and I hope in a fresh way that I, that together we experience God and that he works in our life and that he changes our life for the wonderful, good, let's take a moment and pray. 2 (35m 33s): And then we're going to sing some more songs and wrap up the Service here in just a few moments. Let's bow our heads. Lord, we thank you for this time for the opportunity to be encouraged through a wonderful children's story, a book that communicates your birth in such a creative way. Lord God. And we're thankful for the word of God that is eternal and has the power to change lives. Lord God, we're thankful that we have the opportunity to gather and to stream this message so that people's lives might be touched and minister to God. I pray that this Christmas season wonderful, wonderful, and profound things would take place in the lives of every person on the central coast and throughout the world. 2 (36m 20s): As people tune in and hear, hear the message. Fear, not fear, not Jesus brings hope to the world. Bring that hope. We pray. Thank you for this time. Lord in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Let's sing some songs. 0 (36m 40s): This would normally be the time where we would light a few candles. So maybe at home, if you have some candles, maybe find some candles and light them, maybe turn on your Christmas lights on the tree. But we do this as a symbol to remember that Jesus is the light of the world that he came into the darkness to be the light. And I love it. The whole world lights up at Christmas time. And so let's just celebrate him as we sing these songs together, the light of the world. 0 (37m 9s): one more time. 0 (46m 3s): Just start voices to celebrate the lanes. just rest in your peace. 0 (47m 19s): Thank you for being with us. I just pray that each family as they celebrate this year, that you would just be in our midst, that you would make a special year, even though it's a little different what'd you do surprise us with your presence, with your joy, your peace, your love, your hope in our hearts. We pray that your perfect love would just cast out all fear that we wouldn't have anything to be afraid of. So thank you for this time to worship together. May your love and light fill our hearts and homes this Christmas and always in Jesus name. Amen. 0 (47m 58s): Amen. Well, Merry Christmas, everyone. We hope you have a wonderful night and day tomorrow celebrating the birth of our King. We look forward to worshiping with you again soon on Sunday, have a wonderful night Merry Christmas.
