WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.600 Christmas changes everything and we're coming into the Christmas season and I'll tell you what, 2 00:00:05.600 --> 00:00:11.280 the world is on edge. Everywhere we look we see the world just going crazy. 3 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:25.120 Right now we're spending billions of dollars in Ukraine with a war going on there. On October 7th 4 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:31.840 we saw Hamas come across the borders of the Gaza Strip into Israel and kill 1,400 Israeli men, 5 00:00:31.840 --> 00:00:39.200 women, and children in that area. The Middle East is under wars and rumors of wars 6 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:46.080 and right now we have an American fleet right in the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean 7 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:53.440 possibly being utilized for military strikes. I mean we have a world that's going crazy 8 00:00:53.440 --> 00:00:59.680 and we as humans have created an environment that is bringing turmoil and it's always been 9 00:00:59.680 --> 00:01:04.800 true. I'm old enough now to look back over these years and just tell you that the 10 00:01:05.440 --> 00:01:11.360 the wars and rumors of wars is always going on, not always in the Middle East, but a lot is in 11 00:01:11.360 --> 00:01:17.840 the Middle East. Ever since Israel became a nation in 1948 they've been through seven wars and the 12 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:23.840 Six-Day War being the most famous in 1967. So international conflicts are happening all over 13 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:30.960 the place. Even in our southern border right now is crazy. Over eight million illegal immigrants 14 00:01:30.960 --> 00:01:38.400 have come across the border in the last two and a half years. This is unprecedented. So on the one 15 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:46.800 hand we are sending billions to Ukraine to enforce their borders and we can't even enforce our own 16 00:01:46.800 --> 00:01:54.640 borders here in America. So Americans are frustrated. We've been through COVID. It's just 17 00:01:54.640 --> 00:02:03.920 been a crazy time and I'm telling you this Christmas, don't forget this, Christmas is the answer to 18 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:12.480 everything. God actually designed human beings to need God, to need Christmas in their life. The 19 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:20.400 great philosopher, French philosopher Blaise Pascal once said, what else does this craving 20 00:02:21.040 --> 00:02:29.280 and this helplessness proclaim? But there was once in man a true happiness in which all that 21 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:38.400 now remains is an empty print and trace. This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, 22 00:02:38.480 --> 00:02:47.120 seeking in things that are not there. This help he cannot find in those that are, though none can 23 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:54.400 help. Since this infinite abyss or this hole can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object, 24 00:02:54.960 --> 00:03:01.440 in other words, by God himself. So men and women, you can have the most beautiful Christmas tree 25 00:03:01.440 --> 00:03:06.640 with all the lights on it right now and you can have, hey, you could have a four toast toaster. 26 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:16.240 You can have a 98 inch Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, flat screen TV, but if you don't have the 27 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:24.400 electricity, it means nothing. Christmas is about the power, the power that can come and change our 28 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:33.040 lives. Man makes a lousy God. Well, I want to tell you that Christmas was announced not first to the 29 00:03:33.040 --> 00:03:42.320 shepherds, not first to the angels, not first to a virgin in Nazareth named Mary, not even through a 30 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:51.040 dream to Joseph. The first time Christmas is mentioned is in Genesis and it's spoken to the 31 00:03:51.040 --> 00:03:58.800 devil. The devil's the first one who heard about Christmas and he knows that Christmas is the 32 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:05.680 answer to everything. He knows it better than anything that Christmas is the answer to everything. 33 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:14.160 So in Genesis 3, we have the story of Adam and Eve living in the kingdom of God on earth, Garden of 34 00:04:14.160 --> 00:04:29.520 Eden, and Eve sins. She brings Adam into sin. Then God shows up and Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent 35 00:04:30.640 --> 00:04:37.840 and God judges the serpent and listen to what God says because it's his first announcement 36 00:04:38.400 --> 00:04:45.600 of Christmas. So the Lord God said to the serpent, which is Satan in the serpent form, 37 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:51.840 because you've done this, you're a curse more than all cattle and more than every beast of the field 38 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:58.960 on your belly you shall go and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity 39 00:04:58.960 --> 00:04:59.920 between you and the one. 40 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:08.760 and between your seed and her seed and he shall crush your head this is when 41 00:05:08.760 --> 00:05:15.840 Christmas begins God saying I'm coming I'm coming from heaven to earth to crush 42 00:05:15.840 --> 00:05:23.120 your head and I'm coming through a woman I mean I'm coming through a seed I'm 43 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:29.240 coming through a seed of a woman and that person who shall be born in the 44 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:36.640 years ahead in the future will crush your head the interesting head in the 45 00:05:36.640 --> 00:05:41.320 Hebrew is the word Rosh R-O-S-H that's the way we'd spell it in English Rosh 46 00:05:41.320 --> 00:05:47.360 which means authority supremacy head or chief here's what God's saying at 47 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:53.280 Christmas I'm coming and I'm going to crush your authority I'm gonna crush 48 00:05:53.280 --> 00:06:00.600 your power I'm gonna crush your headship Christmas begins here Jesus 49 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:08.520 came to destroy the works of the devil and Isaiah 9 verse 2 we have this great 50 00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:14.680 prophecy 700 years before Jesus came the people who walk in darkness have 51 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:20.480 seen a great light those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death upon 52 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:25.680 them a light has shined in other words we're living in darkness we're still 53 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:29.400 living in darkness in our world we're living in darkness in the Middle East 54 00:06:29.400 --> 00:06:34.040 we're living in darkness on our southern borders we're living in darkness in our 55 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:40.040 in our urban cities but we shall see a great light that's Christmas men and 56 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:46.360 women Christmas is coming Christ is coming he's come to bring his light to 57 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:54.120 those people us who live in darkness verse 6 of Isaiah 9 for unto us a child 58 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:59.680 is born and as a son is given and his government will be upon his shoulder and 59 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:05.920 his name will be called wonderful counselor mighty God everlasting Father 60 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:12.480 the Prince of Peace of the increase of his government and peace there will be 61 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:19.120 no in upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it and establish it 62 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:24.760 with judgment and justice from that time forward and even forevermore the zeal of 63 00:07:24.760 --> 00:07:30.560 the Lord of hosts will perform this Jesus is coming Jesus is coming the 64 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:37.880 Messiah is coming coming into our murders our wars our drugs our stealing 65 00:07:37.880 --> 00:07:45.720 he's coming Christmas changes everything first sermon Jesus preached 66 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:52.040 he said repent for the kingdom of God is come that's the government that's what 67 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:57.200 Isaiah is proclaiming 700 years before he's saying the government shall be on 68 00:07:57.200 --> 00:08:01.880 his shoulders and the increase of his government will not end and the zeal of 69 00:08:01.880 --> 00:08:07.920 the Lord will do this that's Christmas men and women Jesus came at Christmas 70 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:11.320 bringing the kingdom of God his government a government that is 71 00:08:11.320 --> 00:08:17.240 increasing all over the globe all over the globe wherever the kingdom of God is 72 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:21.880 proclaimed it takes over where the kingdom of God gets proclaimed people 73 00:08:21.880 --> 00:08:26.880 get healed people get set free people find happiness and joy when they didn't 74 00:08:26.880 --> 00:08:31.080 have it before they find peace where they had depression and turmoil the 75 00:08:31.080 --> 00:08:36.200 prince of peace has come the increase of his government is come that's 76 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:41.400 Christmas that's the message of Christmas don't forget that because we 77 00:08:41.400 --> 00:08:46.880 get the means we worship the means and we forget the end the purpose of 78 00:08:46.880 --> 00:08:55.800 Christmas is that Christ came to crush the head of Satan on this earth and so 79 00:08:55.800 --> 00:08:58.600 we have our Christmas trees which is great we have a Christmas tree at our 80 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:04.080 house we have gift-giving we do that at our house gift-giving is great we we 81 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:09.200 have a special Christmas Eve service candlelight service we have advent wreaths 82 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:13.920 all of those though are pointing toward the end they're all pointing toward the 83 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:18.640 purpose the purpose of Christmas that changes everything is Jesus and he came 84 00:09:18.640 --> 00:09:26.640 to crush the head of the enemy in your life too that's what he came to do don't 85 00:09:26.640 --> 00:09:37.320 get caught up in the means and forget the end shopping gift-giving all that's 86 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:43.440 great but the purpose of Christmas is that Christ came to destroy the works 87 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:49.120 the devil and to set the captives free Isaiah 7 says therefore the Lord himself 88 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:54.800 will give you a sign behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and she 89 00:09:54.800 --> 00:10:01.960 calls name Emmanuel you know what Emmanuel means it means God 90 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:07.880 God's with us, it means the presence of God is with us, it means God's here, not religion. 91 00:10:07.880 --> 00:10:15.600 You see the means to an end is always religion, religion is worshipping the means instead 92 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:21.800 of the end, true worship is worshipping the end and that's Christ, Emmanuel, God with 93 00:10:21.800 --> 00:10:22.800 us. 94 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:29.640 So in Matthew 1.18 we read, now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows, after his 95 00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:36.760 mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with a child 96 00:10:36.760 --> 00:10:45.240 from the Holy Spirit, this is interesting, let me say it again, she was found with a 97 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:56.280 child of the Holy Spirit, of the Holy Spirit, no sperm of man, this is from the Holy Spirit, 98 00:10:56.280 --> 00:11:06.280 God doesn't want the DNA of man in his created being in Jesus, he didn't need the stuff, 99 00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:14.240 we mess up everything, we come in and we create the internet and then we spy on ourselves, 100 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:18.760 we create this drug that's going to solve all our problems and then we find out there's 101 00:11:18.760 --> 00:11:25.360 12 other issues that come with the drug, we're constantly in turmoil. 102 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:30.520 So when God was forming the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ to come, the Messiah to 103 00:11:30.520 --> 00:11:37.240 come, he didn't need the DNA of man, he didn't even need one of our children, it's our children 104 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:43.520 that build gangs, it's our children that build bombs and create war, no, this child was going 105 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:50.360 to come from heaven to earth, she'll bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus 106 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:53.920 for he will save his people from their sins, what do we do? 107 00:11:53.920 --> 00:12:02.200 We kill people for their sins, only Jesus comes to save us from our sins, that's Emmanuel, 108 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:08.560 Emmanuel is God with us, the Savior of the world, Jesus coming to us. 109 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:12.680 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet 110 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:20.440 saying behold the virgin shall be with child and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel 111 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:24.560 which is translated God with us. 112 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:32.880 The greatest mystery of all history, the greatest mystery of all history is Emmanuel, that God 113 00:12:32.880 --> 00:12:39.400 became man to save us from our sins, to save us from ourselves. 114 00:12:39.400 --> 00:12:44.120 So why does Christmas change everything? 115 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.640 Why does Christmas change everything? 116 00:12:45.640 --> 00:12:53.120 Let me give you seven reasons why Christmas changes everything, number one, Christmas 117 00:12:53.120 --> 00:13:01.960 changes everything because humanity needs a Savior, we long for a Savior, man cannot 118 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:09.380 save himself, as a matter of fact we're destroying ourselves, Christmas changes everything because 119 00:13:09.380 --> 00:13:11.860 humanity needs a Savior. 120 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:18.020 Number two, Christmas changes everything because earth needs help from another place, we're 121 00:13:18.020 --> 00:13:24.620 not doing too good at trying to figure it out on our own, we need help from an entirely 122 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:33.140 different place and Christmas is about heaven coming down to earth, God's solutions are 123 00:13:33.140 --> 00:13:34.500 from heaven. 124 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:41.100 Number three, Christmas changes everything because it brings hope and courage, I mean 125 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:45.300 if you go to any third world country right now and you mention Christmas and they know 126 00:13:45.300 --> 00:13:49.940 a little bit about Christianity and they know a little bit about Christmas, it brings hope 127 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:56.620 because in their poverty there's that hope that something better might come through Jesus 128 00:13:56.620 --> 00:14:00.500 Christ and it brings hope and it brings courage. 129 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:06.980 Number four, Christmas changes everything because earth needs a new government, have 130 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:10.460 you looked at any of the governments lately on this globe? 131 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:15.260 Have you looked at socialism, have you looked at communism, have you looked at democracy? 132 00:14:15.260 --> 00:14:22.500 America is the number one nation in the world in democracy and we have more drug addiction, 133 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:29.980 we have more psychologists, we have more counselors, we have more depression, democracy is not 134 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:36.260 the answer men and women, the kingdom of God is, the government shall be on his shoulders 135 00:14:36.260 --> 00:14:42.140 and it will increase, the kingdom of God sets the captives free, it means the rule in the 136 00:14:42.140 --> 00:14:47.220 reign of God, we need a new government. 137 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:53.540 Number five, Christmas changes everything because we need new leadership on the earth, 138 00:14:53.540 --> 00:14:57.220 he came as a king and ruler, do you remember? 139 00:14:57.220 --> 00:15:00.060 Matthew chapter 2, which I'm not going to read right now, but that's... 140 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.880 That's where Herod finds out from these magi, 141 00:15:04.880 --> 00:15:08.200 oh, this king of the Jews is coming. 142 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:13.200 And Herod is worried because he understood a new king. 143 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.180 Are you kidding me? 144 00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:16.360 A new king is coming? 145 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:19.680 Herod understood we need the leadership 146 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:22.720 of Jesus on the earth today. 147 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.800 Number six, Christmas changes everything 148 00:15:25.800 --> 00:15:29.580 because peace cannot come from earth, 149 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:32.580 but to the earth from heaven. 150 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:35.980 There's no peace on this earth. 151 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:39.500 Men and women, on your own, you have no peace, 152 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:42.100 but the prince of peace has come. 153 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:44.300 Peace only comes through Christ. 154 00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:47.260 We have more police, we have more soldiers, 155 00:15:47.260 --> 00:15:50.220 we have more security, more, more, more. 156 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.540 We're looking for peace. 157 00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:53.140 We're looking for political peace. 158 00:15:53.140 --> 00:15:54.660 We're looking for military peace. 159 00:15:54.660 --> 00:15:56.300 Everybody's looking for peace, 160 00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:58.180 but there's a prince of peace. 161 00:15:59.020 --> 00:16:02.780 And that's Christmas, that's Christ coming. 162 00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:03.820 He's the prince of peace. 163 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:07.340 And then number seven, Christmas changes everything 164 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:12.220 because the creator pursues his created. 165 00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.900 All the religions of the world 166 00:16:15.900 --> 00:16:18.020 are about man pursuing God. 167 00:16:18.020 --> 00:16:21.460 Only in Christ did God the Father 168 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:23.220 send his son to pursue us. 169 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:25.580 He pursues you because he loves you. 170 00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:31.020 You don't have to find God, he finds you. 171 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:34.420 So where are you at this Christmas? 172 00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:36.780 Where's your heart at this Christmas? 173 00:16:36.780 --> 00:16:40.340 Did you realize that Christmas can change everything? 174 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:42.500 If you're going through financial turmoil, 175 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:44.100 if you're going through a divorce, 176 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.980 if you're going through depression, 177 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:49.100 if you're going through suicidal ideations, 178 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:51.060 whatever your struggle is, 179 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:53.820 I'm telling you, Christmas can change everything. 180 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.500 Christmas can change everything. 181 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.740 Invite Christmas into your life. 182 00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:59.140 Invite Jesus into your life. 183 00:16:59.140 --> 00:17:01.020 He's the one who gives you strength and courage. 184 00:17:01.020 --> 00:17:02.820 He's the prince of peace. 185 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:07.819 He's the one that can come and set your captivity free, 186 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:13.900 take you out of your own self-imposed prison. 187 00:17:14.020 --> 00:17:14.940 He's got the key. 188 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.819 It's called the key of the kingdom of God. 189 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.859 He can unlock that gate. 190 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.380 He can unlock that door, 191 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:24.500 and his spirit and his power can be poured into your life. 192 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.060 So I challenge you this Christmas 193 00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:29.420 to realize that Christmas changes everything. 194 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:31.500 Let it change everything in your life. 195 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:33.900 If you've never given your heart to Christ, 196 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.580 now's the time. 197 00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:36.740 Open your heart to him. 198 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:38.300 If you're driving in a car right now, 199 00:17:38.300 --> 00:17:39.900 if you're sitting at a desk, 200 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.300 if you're working in a kitchen, 201 00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:42.900 whatever it is you're doing, 202 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:46.900 if you've never ever given your heart to Christ, 203 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:49.460 do it now this Christmas, 204 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:51.100 because Christmas changes everything. 205 00:17:51.100 --> 00:17:53.820 Just stop and pray a prayer like this. 206 00:17:53.820 --> 00:17:56.100 Lord Jesus, I need you. 207 00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:59.340 Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. 208 00:17:59.340 --> 00:18:01.980 God, I need your kingdom in my life. 209 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.500 I want you to be the ruler. 210 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:05.620 I want you to be the prince of peace. 211 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:07.540 I want you to be Emmanuel. 212 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:11.180 I want you to be my king and my ruler. 213 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:14.020 Come and change me from the inside out. 214 00:18:14.020 --> 00:18:15.540 He'll come. 215 00:18:15.540 --> 00:18:17.140 He's pursuing you. 216 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:19.580 You're listening to this right now 217 00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:21.900 because God's pursuing you 218 00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:24.220 because you know in your heart it's true 219 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:26.420 that Christmas changes everything. 220 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.620 So give yourself to him. 221 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:28.540 Surrender everything to him. 222 00:18:28.540 --> 00:18:30.860 You may consider yourself a Jesus follower, 223 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:33.700 but you're way off from where you wanna be. 224 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.740 Then re-surrender. 225 00:18:35.780 --> 00:18:38.580 Do a restart this year. 226 00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:40.060 Same prayer, same thing, 227 00:18:40.060 --> 00:18:41.620 except what you say is, 228 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:44.140 God, I know you're in my life, 229 00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:48.580 but I need to surrender these things 230 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:51.580 that have gotten in the way of you living 231 00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:52.900 and working in my life. 232 00:18:53.780 --> 00:18:54.780 So give it to him. 233 00:18:54.780 --> 00:18:55.620 He loves you. 234 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.460 He's there for you. 235 00:18:56.460 --> 00:19:01.460 You don't have to bench 300 pounds. 236 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:03.820 You don't have to fast and pray. 237 00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:05.300 You don't have to do anything. 238 00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:08.580 What you have to do is accept and receive his grace 239 00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:11.180 because he unconditionally loves you. 240 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:17.060 So men and women, Christmas changes everything. 241 00:19:17.060 --> 00:19:18.860 Receive his love this Christmas 242 00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:22.420 and have the best Christmas you've ever had before. 243 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.260 God bless you.