What Child Is This?

Luke chapter 2. Probably surprised you by saying that, didn't I? Sunday before Christmas, I'd go to Luke chapter 2. But I want to talk today about what child is this. I want you to be open today to thinking about some things I'm going to bring to you. It's really easy to go into autopilot mode or cruise control in a Christmas message because if you have been raised around the church, you've heard many Christmas messages and you probably know some of the main characters that are there. And truth of the matter is, there's probably a vast majority of us in this room today that could come up here and you could preach a Christmas message. You know it. Now, the reason I bring that up is we have to be careful because we can know it so well that we don't listen. That's where we got to be careful. So, I'm just inviting you today if you would just be open to listening today to the message.

Luke 2, I'm going to read seven verses for you. Familiar the Christmas story. It says this in verse number one of Luke 2. And it came to pass in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Serenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, under the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was the house in the lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end. Luke 2 is one of the most familiar passages in all of scripture. It's this time of year where we've heard it. You probably have a memory tied to Charlie Brown and Lionus talking about this in the Charlie Brown Christmas as he reads this passage of scripture there. It's something that I dare say there's probably very few in the room that haven't heard this at one point or another in their life. But we got to be careful as I already said with the familiarity because it can be dangerous because it possibly that we know the story yet we miss the point of the story.

This week alone you have seen Jesus everywhere. Nativity scenes, Christmas cards, yard displays that you've driven by without even tapping the brakes. And I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful that we still have a culture and society where those things are there and they're prevalent and we can see those things you know that are they're right in front of our face. But to be honest, these things do not exist inside of a vacuum. They are surrounded by Santa Claus and tinsel and ads and reindeer and wish list and sales and deadlines and pressures. Jesus gets a spot on the shelf, but rarely does he get the center of the room. So, the real question isn't, have you seen him? Because the truth of the matter is, we've all seen him. His image is everywhere this time of year. The real question is, who is this child? That's what I want you to think about today. Who is this child? This babe that is being held by Mary, who is the one announced by the angels in the story? Who is this child that laid in a feeding trough and later worshiped by shepherd and wise men? Today I want to answer this question in five ways. I want you to listen carefully because how you answer this question determines everything that matters. You heard me right. How you answer this question determines everything that matters.

So the first thing that I feel like is important for us to know about and how to answer this question of what child is this is that Luke 7 says this and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end. Mary gave birth. That sentence alone should just stop us in our tracks. It should. Why? because not only was she a young girl, but she was a virgin. Now, because of all that is in the room, I don't feel like I have to go into a lot of detail with that. I think most of us would an understanding and knowledge of what that term means. Therefore, it should be impressive when I say that she gave birth because there's a process in order to be with child, but that process hasn't taken place. This is something that was unique. Mary was a woman who had never known a man. This conception was miraculous. But the text gives us no indication that the birth itself was anything other than real involving human labor. Think with me. Jesus did not float into the world untouched by pain. He came the way every human comes through travail. There were contractions. There was fear. There was exhaustion. There was pain. There was effort. And then there was life. Jesus entered the world the same way that you and I did. And here's why that matters. Jesus was not pretending to be a human. He was fully human. When he cried, he cried because he was hungry or he was in pain. He needed to be held. He needed to be clean. He could not speak, walk, or care for himself. He was dependent. Think about this with me. God entrusted himself to human hands. Think with me. Don't just let this story rattle by. Don't just zone out for just a few minutes. Please engage with me for just a minute and allow your minds to process the details of this story. He was placed in human hands. Not wealthy hands. No, not powerful hands, but poor impoverished hands. Joseph was not a king. Mary was not royalty. They had no palace, only a stable. A stable is not clean. A manger is not a crib. Animals had eaten there. On top of all that, Jesus was born, ladies and gentlemen, under suspicion. There was a cloud that hovered over them because people understood how babies are made. And for them to say that she never knew a man, well, that just didn't add up. So the whole story starts off not in an idyllic way, but instead their suspicion something seems a little different about this. Something seems a little bit off about this situation. Most people didn't believe Mary's story. The stigma of illegitimacy followed Jesus throughout his entire life. So the first answer to the question of what child is this is he's a real baby, fully human, lowly, humble, poor. God did not arrive insulated from suffering. He arrived wrapped up in it. >> Let that sink in. Think with me for just a minute.

The manger is not the whole story. While child is this, the second point I feel like is important for us to understand is the fact that that little babe was the creator. John pins these words in John chapter 1 verse number one. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. John here as he pins these words he's intentionally echoing back to Genesis. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. John says and draws the reader's attention back to that moment and says, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God." Tells us that nothing was created without him. Without who? Who's the him? Who's the subject matter of John 1 and 1 and 1 and two? >> Who's the him? Who's the him that is there? He identifies him as the word. So without the word, there was nothing created. That's what John is establishing based off of Genesis, based off of the understanding that every good Jew would acknowledge and have memory of the story being told and how it unfolded. John draws you back to that narrative and says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He's very clear in what he does and he says because of that everything that was made was made by him. Made by who? Made by the word. Made by God. But I love that he goes on further down to verse number 14. He says, "And the word was made flesh." Who was made flesh? Who was made flesh? The word was made flesh. Who's the word? The word is who? >> God. God was made flesh. The word is Jesus. Jesus is God. And Jesus made all things. Now, pause and think. Think with me for just a minute. Don't rush. Don't get ahead. Don't go. Don't go too far out in front of me or you'll miss the point. The babe who could not lift his head. The babe who had to be fed. The baby whose cry pierced the night air. That baby is the creator of the universe. The hands that grasp Mary's little finger shaped the galaxies. The voice that cried in Bethlehem named every star. We throw around phrases like Emmanuel and God with us, but we don't feel the weight of them like we should. That he is with us. So, let me slow you down for just a minute. There are stars in our galaxy that are so massive that in a matter of just a few seconds, according to research that I've done, they emit more energy than our son does. And that same babe spoke those things into existence. Who is this child? Well, he was fully human. He was just a babe. He was also the creator of all. Think with me about the weight of what is taking place. That God allowed himself to be taken care of by human hands. Not of nobility, not of birthright, but the most unlikely pair to ever be put together. He comes to that answer of what child is this is. Is the creator of all that we know and all that exists. Yet Mary is able to swaddle him and hold him. How? Let it settle in your mind of what God was really showing you and I he was willing to do. What child is this? The one who had all the glory lay it aside. So the answer to that question is he's the creator veiled in flesh. And that makes the manger not just humble but staggering in my mind.

But the story still hasn't finished because the third thing that I feel like is important in answering the question of what child is this is answered in Luke chapter 2 verse number 8. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone all around about them. And they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For there is born to you this day." Listen. In the city of David, a savior who's Christ the Lord. A savior was born. Not a symbol, not a teacher only, not a miracle worker by himself, but a savior was born, which means there was something that needed to be saved. >> Again, don't get ahead of me. All right? Don't rush the story because I feel like we're all guilty. I got both hands in the air of rushing through the narrative because I know the story. But do you know the story? Or maybe the better question for me to ask you is when's the last time you really acknowledged all that the story had to tell you? He was fully human. He was just a babe just like you and I. He came in just the way you and I come in. He's the creator of all who spoke the worlds and the galaxies into existence and all the great things that we know that we see around us in our lives every day. That babe created those things. But he was also a savior which means something needed to be saved. Everyone was expecting a king. But God sent a savior. And the savior did not save through a throne. He saved through a cross.

Now, if you got your Bibles with you, this will be on the screens, but I encourage you if you have a an analog copy to open it up with me, go to First Peter, chapter 2, verse number 22. 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse number 22. It reads this way. who committed no sin, talking about Jesus, nor was deceit found in his mouth, who when he was revealed did not reveal in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. The babe in the manger grew up. He did miracles. He healed the sick. He taught the truth. But the mission, ladies and gentlemen, was always the cross. It was always the cross. Even though we didn't understand it at the beginning, even though his followers didn't fully grasp the consequences of what he was trying to say, every sin that you and I have ever committed, every failure, every regret that we've had, every hidden thought was laid on him. The pain was real. The suffering was brutal. The death was intentional. The babe in the manger was the savior on the cross. But do not miss this part, okay? This is important. Please listen to these words that are coming out of my mouth. It's very very important. He did not die as a martyr. He died as a substitute. There's been a lot of people who have died as martyrs. That's not what Jesus did. >> He was different. His mission was different from the beginning. How everything was put in place had been prophesied for hundreds and hundreds and thousands of years up until that moment that he came. When we look at the manger, what we see is a promise fulfilled in a word that is kept. But don't miss all of the important pieces that were there. He was just a babe, but he was the creator and he was the savior. Not to die for death's sake, but he took our place. The mission had always been to be a substitute, to take on the penalty for sin. And when he said it is finished, it meant the debt had been paid.

But even that, even that is not the end of the story. Because the fourth thing we ask oursel or answer when we ask the question, what child is this? Is he is the one who gives us the ability to be empowered with his spirit. Paul said this in Galatians 2 and 20. Talking to the church at Galatia, he said, "I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Because, ladies and gentlemen, he didn't just come in a manger. He wasn't just born into the world. He didn't just come to be the substitute. He didn't just die. He rose again. He rose again. He didn't just forgive. He indwells inside of you and I. Christianity is not behavior modification, ladies and gentlemen. It has always been about transformation. It's about Christ in you, the hope of glory. That's why it's so so important and missionritical that you don't just have an experience with God or that you just don't feel his presence or you just don't have a time of repentance or you're not just baptized. All those things are important and they're necessary part, but you need to complete the mission and become indwelled with his spirit. I'll say it this way. You need to be spiritfilled. >> You need to be spiritfilled because that's the resurrection power. That's the life-changing power is Christ in you. >> Amen. >> Because it transforms your life. Bishop used to say this many, many, many times when he was pastoring. If you got Jesus and he didn't change everything about you, you didn't get the Jesus he got because you are different. You're different. You're not the same. You don't think the same. You don't act the same. Now, you still have the same flesh on you that you're going to have to fight and you can give into that. But that spirit indwelling, that spirit filling inside of you gives you the overcoming power you need to live a victorious life if you will be led by that spirit. But it's still a choice. That's why again in answering the question why child is this is he's the empowering God who wants to indwell inside of you. He wants to make his tabernacle in you. >> That's why I've preached this many times and I feel to say it again today. If you go back and you study the scriptures out when he when he was working with Moses and giving Moses the plan for the tabernacle, he was very detailed. We have so much information, brother Freeman, about the tabernacle. so many details in there about why did God give us so many details about a tent because there was something special about it. He wanted to be among his people. And as they go to dedicate that tabernacle, the fire falls down on top of that tabernacle, which was a sign of God saying, "Now here I am in this tabernacle. This is where my presence is. You can come in." And then when they finally got to build the temple, and I'm giving you a very cliffnotes version, which I don't think anybody understands what cliff notes anywhere unless you're north of 50, the condensed version of this, the YouTube short, Solomon finally built the tabernacle. And after thousands of sacrifices, all that goes down there, he finally prays a prayer. And what does God do? Fire falls. And once again, God says, I'm signifying that this is where my presence will be. And those things are awesome and great. But what I love, Pastor Taylor, is I loved when we get to Acts two. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all in one accord. And suddenly there came a sound as a rushing mighty men. And it filled all the house where they were sitting and clothe tongues as of a fire set upon each of them. Now, that's the only time that that fire was signifying and just like it was the only time in the temple, just like it was in the tabernacle. Why? Because it was the first time God was establishing a new place. Here is where I now want to live in you. He's the empowering indwelling God. Why? Because we need it. That's why he came. Not just to take away the penalty of the sin that was there, but to fill us with that same power that kept him on the cross. The same power that got him up out of the grave, he now pours out in our lives today. That was just not just an Acts two thing. But it's an everyday thing God desires to indwell inside of you. The creator lives than his people. If Jesus Christ lives in you, then that same power that raised him from the dead works in your life every day. He empowers you and I to live differently. But here's where I feel like I need to spend a little time today. And answering the question of what child is this is the fifth thing that I feel like is important is that he is the returning king. >> That babe in a manger he's just a babe. He was flesh just like you. He came in the same way we did. He was the creator of all everything that we know. Everything exists. Everything around us. Everything that we can sense and smell and touch and feel. That same little babe did all those things. He was the God who desired to indwell inside of you. He's powerful. But the fifth thing that is there, I'll take you to I take you this. I know you're probably thinking this will never happen on the Sunday before Christmas, but guess what? Hang on. We're going to Revelations. Revelations 19. John, he's pinning these words. He writes this and he says number 11. And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse again. Look, look back at me a minute. Look, look right here. Think. Be open and think that little babe. All right. Remember everything I've told you so far about him. Keep that in mind as I read these words. And he that set upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself and he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood and his name was called or is called the word of God. Are we confused about who this is? Who is this? >> This is Jesus. Verse 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon the white horse clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he should rule them with a rod of iron, and he treadth the wine press, and the fierceness, and the wrath of the Almighty God, and he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What child is this? It's the returning king.

If you really let yourself process what I'm telling you today, we see this, right? We drive by the nativity scenes. We get the cars. We celebrate. This should be truly the most wonderful time of the year because he came. He came. He left the splendor of heaven. He came. He kept his word. But he was so much more than just a babe in a manger. >> What child is this? He's the creator of the universe. He's the empowering indwelling God. He is the returning >> king. >> Same word we read about in the book of John. Jesus himself is who he's talking about. But this is a very different picture of Jesus, isn't it? Again, stick with me for just a minute. Let your mind be open for just a minute to the word that's going forth. He's glorious and almighty and all powerful, more powerful than anyone has ever been or will be. We saw all that John chapter 1 told us, but here we see in a different way the use of power. Verse 11 tells us that he comes judging and waging war. We don't talk about that a lot, do we? We talk about his mercy. We talk about his grace. This time of year, we talk about the baby in the manger and we talk about the suffering that Mary and Joseph went through. We talk about those things. But I'm here to draw your attention and in the end of this message today to answering the question, what child is this? He is the returning king. The same eyes that looked with love at Mary, the same eyes that wept over Jerusalem, those eyes now with flame and fire as he comes in the power and the might to smite the nations, exhibiting the fierce wrath of God on the unrighteous. Now, you may be asking yourself, why is he coming in wrath? Didn't we just say that he himself bore the wrath of God? Taking that wrath upon himself, taking the penalty of sin upon himself. Like, why is he coming back now in wrath? What's going on? Don't we say that every cut of the whip and every rip of the flesh and his hand served as punishment for our sins? So, why is there any reason for God to display wrath and judgment? Now, what's going on? Didn't Jesus pay the penalty for all the sins of the world? Good questions.

If you have your Bible, turn the page to chapter 21 in Revelations. John again writing here says, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." And he that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And he said unto me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And he said unto me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of water of life freely. He that overcomemeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his God. He shall be my son." >> That's wonderful, Pastor Kevin. But that doesn't answer the question of why he comes with wrath. That was just a moment I feel like of motivation and powerful talks, especially in apostolic church. When you talk about the alpha and omega, we get ramped up. But let's read the next verse. Verse number eight. But the fearful and the unbelieving and the abominable and the murderers and the whoreongers and the sorcerers and idolattors and all liars shall have their part in the lake of which burnth with fire and brimstone which is the second death. Ladies and gentlemen, right here before Christmas, I'm going to tell you this truth. Not everybody's going to make it. Not everybody's going to be saved. Everyone is not going to share in the great joys described in the earlier verses. Not everybody's going to do that. Everything depends upon you being among the people in verse 3-7 and to not being the people listed in verse number eight. Everything. Nothing else matters in the end. It doesn't matter your education. It doesn't matter your job. It doesn't matter your income or your house and not even your family name. None of that matters. It matters which group of people that you're in. >> Maybe that's a little crazy on the Sunday before Christmas, but I felt the spirit draw me to this >> that if you're going to answer what child is this, then you have to know one of the answers to that question is he is the returning king. And then we got to be careful in the day and age in which we live in where there's so much easy Christian living being preached. >> There's a lot of stuff going on there to make you feel good about yourself. And I want you to feel good about yourself. But more than I want you to feel good about yourself, I want you to be in the category of the group who makes it. >> And we got a whole lot right now that we're trying to battle and deal with. And it's not just stuff outside the church. of stuff coming in the back doors of the church and setting on pews and congregations just like this. There's a whole lot of people, I'm afraid, going to wake up one day and realize they missed it because they didn't answer the question, "What child is this?" Yes, he's the babe come. Yes, he was the one who was who was robed in flesh and came down. He was the one that looked up at Mary as the creator of all. That was who he is. and all these things I've been listing off. But you cannot just dismiss that one day he's coming back as the returning king.

Suppose you had a choice. Poverty and suffering in this life and then life with God for all eternity as it was described in verses 3-7 of chapter 21. That's one choice. The second choice is having all the riches and pleasures of this world has to offer with everyone and everything at your beck and call. But at death, you end up with the people in verse eight in the lake of fire. What would you choose? Would anybody in their right mind choose the lake of fire? If I passed around paper and we had secret ballot and you could put down, you know, choice one or choice two, would I get any choice twos back of people who would genuinely thought about it? No. No one wants to like a fire, right? No one wants that. We want to be with him for eternity. That's where we want to spend our time. But in order for that to take place and transpire, I go back to something that I say often in this church because it's a truth and a reality that you have to embrace. He's either God of all or he's not God at all. He's either Lord of all or he's not Lord at all. He's not going to be in part, not in a piece, not the things that are convenient for you. And what I'm afraid of is in answering this question, there's a lot of us who like two or three of the aspects or two or three of his character traits. We like the babe, right? We like to feel good at Christmas time. We like to see that nativity scene moment and like, "Oh, that's so great. He came to earth." Or we'll think about him being a creator of all. We think about him being savior, right? Like I'm so thankful for Calvary and what it means and the opportunity to force himself or I like the indwelling power like he's the indwelling God that if I will do my part and if I will cry out, if I will receive what he has offered for me, he will fill me with his spirit. Like we like that. But we don't often think about the returning king, but you can't separate him from that. Like it or not, how you live matters. Where you place him in your life, it matters. Are you saying that you earn salvation, Pastor Kevin? No. No. No, I'm not. Because none of us could. The best one of us, the best one of us in this room falls woefully short. No, we can't earn salvation. You have to accept it. You have to let faith work in you. But there's something more than just accepting it. It's living it out. Jesus said if any man come after me next words are let him deny himself take up a cross and follow. See here's the deal with a cross is you don't half get on a cross. You don't get on a cross just with your legs or just put one arm out there. What are you saying, Pastor Kevin? You What he's saying is the cross is full commitment. It's full. Like you don't halfway go to the cross. You're all in. All chips are in. All bets are in. My whole life's committed to a cross. You don't part go to a cross. Jesus said, "If you want to come after me," >> King James language says, "If you come to me," Kevin Howard Allen language is, "If you want me to be your savior, if you want me to be lord of your life, then you're going to deny yourself, you're going to get on a cross, follow me, because your life doesn't belong to you anymore." What he did is he said, "I will give my life for you and all I ask in return is that you give your life for me." Christianity summed up as easy as I can make it. He gave his life for you with the expectation that you would give your life for him. That's what is represented when we look at that baby in a manger and when we answer the question, what child is this?

So where is he for you? See, here's the reality that often times gets missed. I'm going to read you one more verse of scripture. Verse number six. Revelations 21 verse number six. And he said unto me, it is done. I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst. Here's my Christmas message for you today. Are you still thirsty for him? >> Leave that verse up for just a minute for me if you don't mind. I give unto him that is a thirst. Send all of the stuff that unfolds over the next few days, right? All the good things. We're going to have family meals and friends are going to come over and we're going to watch you know something that makes you feel good. Some kind of a little Christmas story or whatever that you whatever your tradition is for your family, food and all the things, gift giving, all that stuff. Everybody's got it. and I'm thankful and I want you to enjoy every moment of it. But in the middle of all of this because it's like he's his image is everywhere, right? Yeah. The Christ child's everywhere. Nativity scenes. He's all around us. But are you thirsty for him? Is it more than just going through the motions of Christmas? What child is this that all of heaven declared born unto you this day that the whole world saw that our own calendars and clocks operate around what happened? What child is this? He was just a babe born like you and I. He's a savior. He's a creator. He's the indwelling God. He is the returning king. So the requirement, ladies and gentlemen, to have that life is not a life without cost. It's not a sinless life, right? It's a thirsting life.

as the musicians get ready to come and I bring this to a close today. He's the babe in a manger, a real human baby. He's the creator of the world. God himself become man. The one who fashioned the universe in human flesh. He is the dying savior taking all the sins of his people upon himself so that the penalty is paid for all those. He is the empowering indwelling living in our hearts being among his people. God that overcome the enemy. He's the final judge or the returning king coming in majesty to destroy and throw into the lake of fire those who oppose him. Coming in love, creating new heavens and new earth for those who long for his appearing. Jesus offers you and I the greatest satisfaction imaginable. The opportunity for you and I to not only embrace him for who he is. Not only to be led by him, not only be filled with his spirit, but to become all that he had purposed and fashioned us to be from the beginning. And you're like, "Pastor Kevin, you always bring it back to this." I know I do. It's like a Jack in the Box, right? You guys are just waiting every message for me to bring this up. But you have a ministry. You were fashioned and created with a purpose. How long are you going to preach that, Pastor Kevin? Until you realize that you were fashioned and created with a purpose. until you start living out what it is God created you to be. Because had he never intended, not for one of you, not a one of you, has he ever created you to sit on a pew. There's no pew calling. But there is a kingdom purpose that you have. Some of you are starting to find out. Some of you are figuring out. Some of you, I'm walking with you and working together, and I'm so proud of what God is doing. Because when you discover your kingdom purpose, it is the greatest moment to know that I'm beginning to operate in what God created me to do.

So, as I bring this to a close today, what child is this? What does that mean to you? When I ask that question, when I say it now, what does it mean to you? What child is this? We take we put all this effort and all this time and all this energy and all these resources in every December. We do all of this because of this little babe. Well, he's so much more than just a babe. He was a babe. Yes, he was a babe. There's so many more things that he is. He was the creator. He was the savior. He was the empowering God. And he is the returning king. If you don't know him in these ways, today's a good day. The word of God says today is the day of salvation. If you don't really know him as Lord of all, then today's a good day because you can start today. I hope as I bring this to an end and I'm going to really really close it. I really am. I hope that you've allowed yourself to think. There's so much more to this Christmas story than we really lean into. So much more has transpired. So much more took place than we often allow our minds to really settle on. So, as I get ready to pray this closing prayer, this altar is open. If you would like to deepen your walk with God, if maybe there's an area I talked about or some other place where the spirit is revealing to you today that you need to work on, I want you to know this altar's open. And just because it's the Sunday before Christmas doesn't mean that God can't move, cuz he can. In fact, I don't know of a better gift you could get from Christmas than let him be Lord of your life. Will you help me pray right now? Jesus, you are so so good and I'm so thankful that I know you as Lord of my life. God, I know that there are many things that we face each and every day. Lord, so many distractions, so much noise, so many opportunities there are, Lord. not that they're bad, they're just distracting. That often times we can miss the most important things. I pray today that you could reveal to everyone in this room the things that it is that we need to change to draw closer to you, to make better choices, to live the life that you have for us to live, to fulfill the purpose that we were created for. Oh God, we thank you that you came. What a gift that you gave. You came into the mess of our life to be where we are to be touched with the same feelings, the same infirmities, same struggles we have. But God, you lived in an overcoming way. You died so that you could take our place and you came back again to give us that overcoming spirit to live inside of us. Lord, today I pray that you would pour it out again in this place in Jesus name. It's prayer time. I'm going to give a space and opportunity for some prayer for just a few minutes because I do feel like God wants to touch some lives today. So, if you'd like to pray, I invite you down. This altar is open right now. They're going to sing for just a minute. Let's let God do what God does. He takes the broken mess of our life and makes it beautiful again in Jesus name. >>