Why Christ Came in the Flesh

By Lin Brown Bible Text: Preached on: John 1, 3 Monday, December 23, 2013

Grace Particular Baptist Church 5 25 !m"erial La#es Bl$d M%lberry, FL 33&'0 Website: Online Sermons: www(one)oldoneshe"herd(or* www(sermona%dio(com+*race"artic%lar

John ,wen, in his mon%mental wor# on the history o) the Bible and !-m sorry ! don-t remember the e.act title, de"icted )or %s the dar#ness o) the world in the )all o) /dam to the days"rin* on hi*h( 0e traced thro%*ho%t how that dar#ness s"read and com"letely controls society thro%*ho%t those days o) history( When ! read those words, ! really ne$er contem"lated how dar# this world is( ! ne$er too# a 1elah and sat bac# and said, 23$erythin* that has to do with the society o) man is dar#ness( 3$erythin* that has to do with man-s science, man-s reli*ion, man-s "olitics, man-s entertainment, man-s 4oy and man-s ha""iness is dar#ness(5 B%t then ! tho%*ht abo%t these words, loo# at John 1( We-ll 4%st be*in readin* in the )irst $erse and read a little while( 2!n the be*innin* was the Word, and the Word was with 6od, and the Word was 6od( 7he same was in the be*innin* with 6od( /ll thin*s were made by him8 and witho%t him was not any thin* made that was made( !n him was li)e8 and the li)e was the li*ht o) men( /nd the li*ht shineth in dar#ness8 and the dar#ness com"rehended it not(5 What we ha$e ta#in* "lace in this time that we remember as Christmas, is li*ht comin* into this world )or the )irst time since the )all( 7here had been no li*ht( 7here had been no li*ht in the nation o) !srael( 7here had been no li*ht in the 6entile world( 7here had been no li*ht beca%se we read here that the li*ht that is to come will shine in dar#ness and the dar#ness will not %nderstand it and certainly we %nderstand li$in* in this 21st cent%ry in this co%ntry so *i$en o$er to "leas%re and )%n and *ames( 1o m%ch so that we create "ar#s that are dedicated to that( We ha$e media that is dedicated to that( We ha$e all sorts o) entertainment in this world to ca"t%re o%r attention and to )oc%s o%r en4oyment on the "leas%res o) it b%t li*ht that is to come, li*ht that came, wo%ld shine in the dar#ness and none o) that dar#ness that ! ha$e mentioned then or now, e$er %nderstands it( 9e$er e$en contem"lates( Doesn-t thin# abo%t it( Do not loo# to the world today )or yo%r %nderstandin* o) Christmas( Do not loo# to the world and say they %nderstand when they "%t a man*er scene %" in their yard, what it-s all abo%t or "%t a star in a tree, what it-s all abo%t, or set a star on to" o) the Christmas tree, what it-s all abo%t( 7hey do not com"rehend it( 7hose who li$e in dar#ness( 27here was a man sent )rom 6od, whose name was John( 7he same came )or a witness, to bear witness o) the Li*ht, that all men thro%*h him mi*ht belie$e(5 /ll those who are his chosen mi*ht belie$e, o) co%rse, there is not a chance that any re"robate "erson will

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e$er belie$e( 7here is not a chance that any *eneral h%man bein* mi*ht belie$e( !t is that all the elect chosen o) 6od wo%ld belie$e( 20e was not that Li*ht,5 John wasn-t, 2b%t was sent to bear witness o) that Li*ht(5 9ow, let %s thin# bac# to what is *oin* on( 7his is the )irst cent%ry in a )ar away land )%ll o) the dirt and d%st o) the road and the noise and the clamor o) "eo"le li$in* to*ether witho%t 6od and John is *oin* to bear witness that li*ht has come into that world( What was that li*ht; 27hat was the tr%e Li*ht, which li*hteth e$ery man that cometh into the world(5 !) yo% ha$e any li*ht in yo% and what is li*ht; Li*ht is that which re$eals thin*s, *i$es %nderstandin* to thin*s, *i$es re$elation o) thin*s( !) yo% ha$e any li*ht in yo%, it is beca%se he is the li*ht( 9otice, 27hat was the tr%e Li*ht, which li*hteth e$ery man that cometh into the world( 0e was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world #new him not(5 7his is an ama<in* thin*( While an*els sin*, she"herds saw the star, earthly #in*s were 4ealo%s to the "oint o) "lottin* m%rder, the *eneral "o"%lace went on with li)e as it went on day in and day o%t( 7hose who were o) the immoral nat%re and "rostit%tes, "lied their wares( 7hose who were the merchants "lied, their wares( 7hose who were the money chan*ers in the tem"le, stole the "eo"le-s money and went on in the name o) reli*ion "ro)itin* by it( /nd all o) a s%dden, into this world o) dar#ness, was born o) the $ir*in Mary, o) the 0oly 6host, the 1on o) 6od who wo%ld be the 1on o) man( B%t what did it mean; We-re *oin* to see $ery shortly what it meant to some chosen "eo"le( What they had to say abo%t it( B%t we do #now that it meant nothin* to those who sat in dar#ness( /nother baby was born, so what; J%st another mo%th to )eed( J%st another brat to *et in o%r streets( What does it matter that a li*ht has come into the world; 7he world #new him not( 20e came %nto his own, and his own recei$ed him not(5 9ow, ! #now that yo% and yo%rs wo%ld "robably thin#, 2=o% #now, i) we were there, we wo%ld ha$e been sin*in* 0allel%4ah with an*els( We wo%ld be *lori)yin* 6od in the hi*hest and "raisin* and worshi"in* this e$ent(5 20e came %nto his own, and his own recei$ed him not(5 7hose are some o) the most asto%ndin* words yo% can read in 1cri"t%re( 20e came %nto his own, and his own recei$ed him not(5 2B%t as many as recei$ed him, to them *a$e he "ower to become the sons o) 6od, e$en to them that belie$e on his name(5 /s this li*ht shines in dar#ness and this dar# world now has a li*ht shinin* in it, it means >%ite a )ew thin*s( !t means a 4oy and a ha""iness( / "eace and a com)ort( / satis)action to the "eo"le o) 6od( B%t to the other "eo"le, it means 4%d*ment( !t means that the dar#ness that they ha$e will *et dar#er beca%se men lo$e dar#ness rather than li*ht( Men en4oy dar#ness rather than li*ht(

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B%t on the other hand, they don-t %nderstand the conse>%ences o) dar#ness( 7hey don-t %nderstand the conse>%ences o) bein* alienated )rom 6od and when Christ, the Lord Jes%s, came into this world, all o) man-s history too# on a totally di))erent h%e beca%se now they were witho%t e.c%se( 7here was one who wal#ed amon* them who sinned not( 7here was one who wal#ed amon* them who always did what the Father desired him to do( 7here was one who now wal#ed amon* them who was com"assionate on those that they tho%*ht were %ndesirable to be aro%nd( 7here was one who lo$ed lost sinners to the "oint he sa$ed them( 7here was one who wal#ed amon* them and made himsel) e>%al with 6od and they said, 27hat-s blas"hemy( 0e can-t be e>%al with 6od(5 Well, o) co%rse he can, i) he is 6od( ,) co%rse he can, i) he-s the 1on o) 6od( ,) co%rse he can, i) he was with the Father in eternity( /s we read on, 2B%t as many as recei$ed him, to them *a$e he "ower to become the sons o) 6od, e$en to them that belie$e on his name? Which were born, not o) blood, nor o) the will o) the )lesh, nor o) the will o) man, b%t o) 6od( /nd the Word was made )lesh, and dwelt amon* %s(5 When John "enned those words, he %nderstood what he wrote( 0e %nderstood that the 0oly 6host had *i$en him %tterance o) a lon*@time e."ressed idea o) man( 7he %ncreated, the %nmateriali<ed idea o) the Word and so he %ses this terminolo*y o) hi*h %nderstandin* here and he says that now this %ne."ressed, %nmateriali<ed idea called the Word is now made )lesh( !t was an earthsha#in* statement )or those who had %nderstandin*( !t was as i) they said that all the %nseen 6od is, is now in )lesh( /ll the idea o) 6od in "%rity and clearness o) %nderstandin*, is now mani)est in the )lesh( 7hat-s what the birth o) Christ is all abo%t( 7hat-s what Christ bein* born into this world is all abo%t( 7he Word has now become )lesh and he-s *oin* to dwell amon* %s( ! don-t #now how that a))ects yo%( ! don-t #now how that stri#es yo% b%t he-s *oin* to dwell amon* %s( 0e-s *oin* to wal# thro%*h o%r streets( 0e-s *oin* to li$e in o%r homes( 0e-s *oin* to wal# thro%*h the corridors o) o%r hearts( 0e-s *oin* to wal# in the recesses o) o%r closets o) sin( 0e dwells amon* %s( 2/nd we beheld the *lory(5 ! recall, as yo% m%st also, the time the 1he#inah *lory de"arted the tem"le and it 4%st went away li#e a $a"or( B%t yo% #now what; !t came bac# in its )%llness in Christ Jes%s( We beheld his *lory( We beheld his 1he#inah *lory( 27he *lory o) the only be*otten o) the Father(5 We who are his children behold his *lory( We who are his children are witnesses to his *lory( 27he *lory o) the only be*otten o) the Father( F%ll,5 not 4%st a meas%re, not 4%st a little dose b%t 2)%ll o) *race and tr%th(5 ! wo%ld en4oin yo% not to loo# )or *race anywhere else e.ce"t in Christ( =o% won-t )ind it( =o% won-t )ind it in man-s reli*ion or man-s *enerosity( !t all has a moti$e b%t this that comes )rom Christ, this o) which he is )%ll o), is sheer, %nad%lterated, %nmi.ed, %nmoti$ated *race( !t-s "%re so$erei*n *race( !t can-t be earned( !t can-t be *otten( !t can-t be bo%*ht( !t can-t be desired( !t m%st be *i$en( ,$er the years !-$e been ama<ed and really *rowin* %" as a child we didn-t do this, b%t all o) o%r )amily sends o%t Christmas lists( 7his is what we want, so yo% b%y this )or %s

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beca%se i) yo% b%y somethin* else, we-re not *oin* to li#e it basically is what that-s all abo%t( /nd in the media o) emails and te.tin*, then we can *et the messa*e aro%nd >%ite e))iciently( ! wonder how it wo%ld be i) there were no Christmas list and we 4%st *a$e what we wanted to *i$e; ! wonder how that wo%ld be; Well, we won-t )ind o%t this Christmas all is well and done, b%t listen to me? 6od when he *i$es *race in Christ Jes%s, doesn-t as# what yo% desire( 0e doesn-t send o%t a list and say, 21end me a list and !-ll )%l)ill it(5 Christ is e.ceedin* any e."ectation that we co%ld ha$e( Christ is )%ll o) *race and while others may search, both the reli*io%s and non@reli*io%s, )or the tr%th somewhere, we #now that tr%th resides in the Lord Jes%s Christ and in him alone( /nd what a waste o) time and what a waste o) ener*y it is to try to )ind it somewhere else( 0e is )%ll o) *race and tr%th( 2John bare witness o) him, and cried, sayin*, 7his was he o) whom ! s"a#e, 0e that cometh a)ter me is "re)erred be)ore me? )or he was be)ore me(5 John the Ba"tist is an interestin* "ersonality that )orer%ns the Lord Jes%s Christ beca%se he came on the scene to t%rn the hearts o) the "eo"le bac# to the old way, bac# to the reli*ion that was re$ealed to them in the ,ld 7estament and to *i$e them a ho"e that all o) that was *oin* to be )%l)illed $ery soon in who he #new was already there( John always said, 20e is more )a$ored than ! am(5 ! belie$e it was :hili" Ma%ro who wrote the boo# that he who is least in the #in*dom o) 6od and Christ is *reater than John the Ba"tist( 0e was 4%st a )orer%nner( 0e said, 2!-m a $oice cryin* in the wilderness, :re"are ye the way o) the Lord(5 7hat-s my sole "%r"ose in li)e and !-m *oin* to )%l)ill it and then !-m *oin* to "ass o)) the scene( 2/nd o) his )%lness ha$e all we recei$ed, and *race )or *race(5 John co%ld write, 2/lso me, ! recei$ed *race( Beca%se ! m%st recei$e *race( ! can-t #ee" the law o) Moses and satis)y the ri*hteo%sness and holiness o) 6od( ! m%st ha$e *race(5 29o man hath seen 6od at any time8 the only be*otten 1on, which is in the bosom o) the Father, he hath declared him(5 Christ had e$ery ri*ht to say who 6od was beca%se that-s what he came to do( 0e came to declare who 6od was( 9ow, t%rn o$er to the third cha"ter o) John, be*innin* in $erse 1', a $ery )amiliar $erse and $ery ab%sed $erse b%t we will e.e*ete it( 2For 6od so lo$ed the world, that he *a$e his only be*otten 1on,5 that-s what this time is all abo%t( !t-s not so m%ch abo%t that little baby that the world lo$es to adore and the reli*io%s world lo$es to mar$el at b%t 6od *i$in* his 1on( ! told yo% last wee# and ! reiterate once a*ain? he is the eternal 1on o) 6od8 he doesn-t ha$e to be born o) the $ir*in Mary to be the 1on o) 6od, he already is( B%t what 6od is doin* in Christ bein* born in this world is *i$in* his 1on( /nd !-$e said many times )rom this "%l"it, ! loo# at my sons and *randsons and ! thin#, 2=o% #now, !-m 4%st not man eno%*h to *i$e one o) their li$es )or one o) the miserable "eo"le o) this world(5 B%t he who had not e$er bro#en )ellowshi", he who had "er)ect )ellowshi", "er)ect en4oyment, *a$e his only 1on( 9ot )or one miserable "erson b%t )or all the elect miserable "eo"le o) this world? Jew and 6ree#,

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bond and )ree, male and )emale, all o) the nationalities, all the races( 6a$e his 1on, one 1on, )or all men( 2For 6od so lo$ed the world, that he *a$e his only be*otten 1on, that whosoe$er belie$eth in him sho%ld not "erish, b%t ha$e e$erlastin* li)e(5 =o% #now, while Christmas is remembered abo%t a lot o) thin*s, $ery seldom is it remembered that it was so the elect wo%ld not "erish and ha$e e$erlastin* li)e( 7hat says a lot, doesn-t it; For "erish we m%st i) we-re not *i$en *race( :erish we m%st i) we-re not *i$en belie) in Christ( 2For 6od sent not his 1on into the world to condemn the world8 b%t that the world thro%*h him mi*ht be sa$ed( 0e that belie$eth on him is not condemned? b%t he that belie$eth not is condemned already, beca%se he hath not belie$ed in the name o) the only be*otten 1on o) 6od( /nd this is the condemnation(5 Bemember ! said blessin*, *lory, 4oy, ha""iness to the "eo"le o) 6od b%t to the world in *eneral, 2/nd this is the condemnation that the li*ht has come into the world, and men lo$ed dar#ness rather than li*ht(5 Men lo$e dar#ness rather than li*ht( =o% #now, ! can thin# o) any one o) %s *oin* into one o) the dar# holes o) this world and tryin* to tal# to the "eo"le abo%t the thin*s that are "recio%s to %s in Christ( !t 4%st wo%ldn-t wor#( Men lo$e the dar#ness( 7hey-d rather li$e in their dr%*s and their boo<e and their "artyin* than to embrace Christ( /nd isn-t that a stran*e statement; 7hat sho%ld be as asto%ndin* to yo% as anythin* beca%se yo% #now how "recio%s Christ is( =o% #now what a wonder)%l blessin* it is to #now Christ and yet they lo$e dar#ness rather than li*ht, 2beca%se their deeds are e$il(5 2For e$ery one that doeth e$il hateth the li*ht(5 Mar# it down( Don-t thin# they-re yo%r )riends( Don-t thin# yo%-re *oin* to *et alon* with them( Don-t thin# yo%-re *oin* to "arty with them( 7hey hate the li*ht( Jes%s said yo%-$e *ot to be one or the other( =o%-re either dar#ness or yo%-re li*ht( =o% can-t be both( 29cometh to the li*ht, lest his deeds sho%ld be re"ro$ed( B%t he that doeth tr%th cometh to the li*ht, that his deeds may be made mani)est,5 why; 7hat he has *ood wor#s; 9o, 2that they are wro%*ht in 6od(5 ,nce a*ain, *i$in* *lory to what 6od has done, not what yo% thin# yo%-$e earned( B%t ! did say and !-ll #ee" my "romise, we-ll *o bac# to L%#e 1 where we see the e))ect o) this comin* into the world o) this li*ht recorded )or %s( L%#e 1?A1, 2/nd it came to "ass, that, when 3lisabeth heard the sal%tation o) Mary, the babe lea"ed in her womb8 and 3lisabeth was )illed with the 0oly 6host? /nd she s"a#e o%t with a lo%d $oice, and said, Blessed art tho% amon* women, and blessed is the )r%it o) thy womb( /nd whence is this to me, that the mother o) my Lord sho%ld come to me;5 9ow, there are those who "ractice reli*ion, "artic%larly the Boman Catholics, who li#e to ma4or on these words 2Blessed art tho% amon* women(5 7hen they erect shrines li#e we ha$e on the o%tside o) ,rlando to Mary, the C%een o) 0ea$en and they )all down and they worshi" an idol that has no bearin* whatsoe$er on the real Mary( 9o clear re$elation o) what Mary %nderstood hersel) to be(

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=o% #now, in a )ew min%tes, we-re *oin* to read the words o) Mary and we will not read there that 2Blessed am !, !-m the C%een o) 0ea$en( Blessed am !, !-m the mother o) 6od( Blessed am !, !-m the co@redem"tri.,5 all doctrines o) the Boman ch%rch, by the way( B%t she says these words, $erse A', 2/nd Mary said, My so%l doth ma*ni)y the Lord(5 My so%l doth ma*ni)y the Lord( 1he cannot do that nat%rally( 1he cannot do that in /dam( 1he cannot do that e.ce"t she be a child o) 6od, ma*ni)y the Lord( 2/nd my s"irit hath re4oiced in 6od,5 my h%sband; !n 6od, my )riend; 2!n 6od my 1a$io%r(5 6od my 1a$ior( ! am ama<ed that we ha$e *otten so )ar away )rom who Mary really tho%*ht she was( 1he #new( 1he didn-t 4%st thin#( 1he didn-t 4%st "retend( 1he #new she needed a 1a$ior and she #new that 6od was that 1a$ior in the "erson o) the Lord Jes%s Christ( 2For he hath re*arded the low estate o) his handmaiden(5 Low estate is rather trite( 0e has re*arded the absol%te roc# bottom state o) his handmaiden( 2For behold, )rom hence)orth all *enerations shall call me blessed( For he that is mi*hty hath done to me *reat thin*s8 and holy is his name(5 /s we read this, ! wo%ld ho"e that yo% were ado"tin* Mary-s words( =o% won-t thin# this is 4%st )or some yo%n* )emale who has now )o%nd hersel) "re*nant b%t yo% will %nderstand that this is )or all the "eo"le o) 6od to say( For tr%ly, tr%ly he has done *reat thin*s )or yo% and )or me i) we are the children o) 6od( 7r%ly he has done *reat thin*s( ! loo# at my wretched state( ! remember many times in my childhood, my wretchedness b%t none was e$er so a""arent than at Christmas time( ! had a co%sin who st%died at the conser$atory there in Macon and learned to "lay the "iano and sin* and she %sed to "lay and sin* 1ilent 9i*ht and oh, how ! hated that son* beca%se it de"icted e$erythin* that was not tr%e in my li)e( /ll o) the t%rmoil and an*er and resentment and rebellion( 7hat son* de"icted there was "eace to be had and ! didn-t ha$e it and so, sometimes yo% blow a horn or do somethin* and the do* cries and whines( ! %sed to cry and cry and cry and be* her not to "lay that and how she co%ld "lay it( B%t now ! don-t )eel that way anymore( ! #now the "eace that son* brin*s and de"icts in the heart o) the child o) 6od( 2/nd his mercy is on them that )ear him )rom *eneration to *eneration(5 ! ha$e no "roblem bein* #nown as a 6od@)earer( 7hat means his mercy will be %"on me( 20e hath shewed stren*th with his arm8 he hath scattered the "ro%d in the ima*ination o) their hearts( 0e hath "%t down the mi*hty )rom their seats, and e.alted them o) low de*ree(5 9ow, he didn-t do that by *oin* aro%nd "hysically throwin* "eo"le o)) their thrones and de)eatin* military enemies in military battle( 0e did it by bein* who he was( 0e did it by bein* here in his "resence( 0e-s done these thin*s by this birth o) his 1on into time( 20e hath )illed the h%n*ry with *ood thin*s(5 !-m s%re as Mary loo#ed o%t on the street, she saw be**ars and said, 2=o% #now, !-m li#e that( !-m a be**ar( ! need to be )ed( !-m

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h%n*ry )or that which ! don-t ha$e(5 7hen she loo#ed o$er and she saw the rich and the "ower)%l and the "eo"le li$in* in all sorts o) e.cess and she said, 27he rich he has sent em"ty away(5 B%t were she to as# a :harisee, a :harisee wo%ld say, 2=o% #now, those "eo"le o$er there that are be**in*, they-re *ettin* what 6od *a$e them and what they deser$e and these "eo"le, oh, they-re blessed o) 6od( 7hey are the )a$ored o) 6od(5 Mary loo#ed aro%nd and she said, 2!-$e seen the h%n*ry )illed with *ood thin*s in 6od-s action and !-$e seen the rich sent away em"ty(5 20e hath hol"en his ser$ant !srael, in remembrance o) his mercy(5 0e-s hel"ed( 0e-s aided( 0e-s come to stren*th his ser$ant in remembrance o) his mercy( 2/s he s"a#e to o%r )athers, to /braham, and to his seed )or e$er(5 /nd so Mary loo#s bac# and she says, 2! can trace a whole history o) "ro$idence o) 6od dealin* with his elect "eo"le,5 beca%se /braham is the )ather o) who; 7he )aith)%l and he-s a child o) /braham who is a child o) )aith( 7%rn o$er to cha"ter 2( !t-s *ettin* a little lon* here and we-ll c%t it o)) >%ic#ly( L%#e 2?25, 2/nd, behold, there was a man in Jer%salem, whose name was 1imeon8 and the same man was 4%st and de$o%t, waitin* )or the consolation o) !srael? and the 0oly 6host was %"on him(5 9ow remember, he came %nto his own and his own recei$ed him not b%t here-s one who is e."ectin* him( /nd we ha$e to be ama<ed at this, don-t we; /ro%nd the tem"le, waitin* at the tem"le, day in and day o%t, were these two "eo"le, 1imeon and /nna and what were they e."ectin*; 7o hear a *ood sermon; 7o *et some money )or hando%ts; 9o, there were e."ectin* and ho"in* they wo%ld see the "romised Messiah come to his tem"le( 7hey were ho"in* and "oor 1imeon almost didn-t ma#e it( 0e almost didn-t li$e lon* eno%*h( 20e was 4%st and de$o%t, waitin* )or the consolation o) !srael? and the 0oly 6host was %"on him( /nd it was re$ealed %nto him by the 0oly 6host, that he sho%ld not see death, be)ore he had seen the LordDs Christ(5 =o% #now, ! tho%*ht abo%t that a*ain in li*ht o) my lon* 4o%rney be)ore ! saw the Lord-s *race( 7he Lord has always "romised to e$ery elect child o) his that they won-t see death %ntil they see him( !sn-t that a blessin*; 7hat-s a blessin*( ! tell yo%, that-s *lorio%s( =o% won-t see death %ntil yo% see the Lord i) yo%-re his elect child( =o% won-t die in this world ho"eless( =o% won-t die in this world witho%t any desi*n, any desire, yo%-ll see the Lord Christ( 2/nd he came by the 1"irit into the tem"le? and when the "arents bro%*ht in the child Jes%s, to do )or him a)ter the c%stom o) the law, 7hen too# he him %" in his arms, and blessed 6od, and said, Lord, now lettest tho% thy ser$ant de"art in "eace, accordin* to thy word(5 ,h, what #ind o) re$elation is that; 0ere is one bro%*ht to the tem"le )or the time o) circ%mcision and he says, 2!-$e seen( !-m holdin* him( 9ow ! can die( 9ow ! can lea$e this world(5 /re yo% li#e that; !s Christ yo%r all@in@all and yo% ha$e Christ and yo% say, 2! can *o( !-m ready(5 !t-s #ind o) li#e a hot air balloon( 7hey ha$e to tether those thin*s down to the *ro%nd and those ro"es hold the thin* down b%t i) yo% were to c%t one

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o) those ro"es, %" it wo%ld *o( 0ow are yo%r moorin*s in this world; Do they ha$e yo% anchored down; ,r are yo% ready to de"art; 2Lord, now lettest tho% thy ser$ant de"art in "eace, accordin* to thy word? For mine eyes ha$e seen thy sal$ation(5 B%t yo% 4%st saw a baby( =o% 4%st saw a child( =o% 4%st saw a yo%n* "erson b%t yo% say it-s sal$ation( /nd so we all do, do we not, when we see Jes%s; 1ay, 27here is sal$ation( ! #now( ! see it( ! belie$e he is sal$ation(5 2For mine eyes ha$e seen thy sal$ation, Which tho% hast "re"ared be)ore the )ace o) all "eo"le8 / li*ht to li*hten the 6entiles, and the *lory o) thy "eo"le !srael( /nd Jose"h and his mother mar$elled at those thin*s which were s"o#en o) him( /nd 1imeon blessed them, and said %nto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set )or the )all and risin* a*ain o) many in !srael8 and )or a si*n which shall be s"o#en a*ainst8 E=ea, a sword shall "ierce thro%*h thy own so%l also,F that the tho%*hts o) many hearts may be re$ealed(5 /nd how tr%e that "ro"hecy was and how soon it wo%ld be )%l)illed( 2/nd there was one /nna, a "ro"hetess, the da%*hter o) :han%el, o) the tribe o) /ser? she was o) a *reat a*e, and had li$ed with an h%sband se$en years )rom her $ir*inity8 /nd she was a widow o) abo%t )o%rscore and )o%r years, which de"arted not )rom the tem"le, b%t ser$ed 6od with )astin*s and "rayers ni*ht and day( /nd she comin* in that instant *a$e than#s li#ewise %nto the Lord, and s"a#e o) him to all them that loo#ed )or redem"tion in Jer%salem( /nd when they had "er)ormed all thin*s accordin* to the law o) the Lord, they ret%rned into 6alilee, to their own city 9a<areth(5 1o, these are a )ew "eo"le that this birth had an im"act on( ! "ray that it has an im"act on me and it has an im"act on yo%, that li*ht has come into this world and we lo$e the li*ht beca%se we are o) the li*ht( Gracious Lord and heavenly Father, as we come to this time that we will celebrate on Wednesday in commemoration of the birth of thy Son into time, we ask that we may be given the joy and filled with thy praise and thy glory and thy honor in Jesus name! "men!

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