It Is Written

All I Want For Christmas

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Pr. John Bradshaw

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Series Code: IIW

Program Code: IIW001221


00:07 It has stood the test of time, God's Word, The Bible.
00:16 Still relevant in today's complex world.
00:22 It Is Written, sharing hope around the glove.
00:51 "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
00:54 decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be
00:57 taxed.
00:58 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was
01:01 governor of Syria).
01:02 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.""
01:06 (Luke 2:1-3) I'm John Bradshaw.
01:09 Thanks for joining me today.
01:10 It's that time of year.
01:13 The Christmas music has been playing in stores for weeks,
01:16 Christmas meals have been planned down to the last
01:19 mince pie, the trees are up - real ones or artificial ones,
01:24 family gatherings have been anticipated for ages and
01:27 people have traveled often many miles to be with
01:30 relatives, the kids are going to get to see Grandma and
01:34 Grandpa again, retailers are either breathing easy or
01:37 licking their wounds, Christmas lights are
01:40 twinkling, carolers have gone out spreading Christmas joy,
01:44 work parties have been attended, bonus checks have
01:48 been gratefully received, Christmas cards have been
01:51 sent and received from long-ago friends and distant
01:55 relatives, catalogs from companies you didn't even
01:59 know existed have arrived in your mailbox, people are
02:02 planning to enjoy one last splurge before starting their
02:05 diet in the new year, cantatas have been enjoyed,
02:10 the Hallelujah Chorus has moved hearts, nativity scenes
02:15 grace front yards, some people are enjoying a white
02:18 Christmas, and where I grew up people are heading to the
02:22 beach and trying to avoid sunburn.
02:24 Christmas.
02:26 Andy Williams sang that it's "The Most Wonderful
02:28 Time of the Year".
02:29 And it's hard to argue with that.
02:32 At Christmas time people tend to be HAPPY.
02:34 Life slows down for a day or two, long enough for people
02:38 to connect with loved ones and friends.
02:41 And in this culture of ours a major Christmas tradition is
02:45 gift giving.
02:46 In fact you can cay that maybe its the overriding
02:49 Christmas tradition.
02:50 We know that Christmas is a religious tradition - a
02:53 Biblical tradition - it's a Christian tradition.
02:56 Yet even atheists participate in celebrating Christmas and
03:00 in giving a receiving gifts.
03:02 In fact, if you went to any shopping center at all, you'd
03:05 get the impression that Christmas is all about
03:08 the gifts.
03:09 Every Christmas season, all across the fruited plain,
03:13 children sit on Santa's knee and tell him they want
03:16 bicycles and lego sets and scooters and dolls and video
03:21 games and a whole lot more beside.
03:24 Adults will be wanting clothing and golf clubs and
03:27 iPods and camera gear - and video games and a whole lot
03:31 more besides.
03:33 What do you want for Christmas?
03:37 Some years ago I asked several people to tell me
03:39 about the best gift they had ever received.
03:42 Now, their response didn't really surprise me.
03:46 I know for a fact that some of them had over the years
03:48 been given some pretty impressive and expensive
03:50 gifts.
03:52 But not one of them told me that the best gift they'd
03:54 ever received was a new car or a vacation in Hawaii or a
03:57 new flat-screen Television set.
04:00 Each of them told me a similar story.
04:02 It was in every case something like, "I remember
04:05 years ago - it was my birthday, and my daughter -
04:08 she was just little then - she went and made me a
04:12 beautiful card, and she decorated it, and she wrote
04:14 the sweetest thing on there...
04:16 And, you know, I still have that card.
04:18 Nothing I've ever been given means has meant so much to me
04:20 as that card does."
04:22 It wasn't the diamond ring, it wasn't the fur coat, it
04:24 wasn't the Rolex...
04:26 but something from the heart, something simple, something
04:29 pure - something that represents true, genuine
04:34 love.
04:35 Doesn't that sound like Christmas?
04:38 Really, when you stop and think about it, overeating,
04:40 overspending and overindulging don't have a
04:45 whole lot to do with the birth of Jesus.
04:48 So what really matters most at Christmas time?
04:53 How would you end the sentence if you would have
04:56 said, "All I Want for Christmas is..."
05:00 What would make Christmas truly special for you?
05:06 What's the essence of the Christmas story?
05:09 I'm sure you might be able to answer that question in a
05:11 number of ways, but there's a Bible verse that for me
05:15 brings us back to the very heart of it all.
05:18 John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the word that He gave
05:25 His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
05:28 should not perish, but have everlasting life."
05:34 The reason Christmas is observed at all, is that long
05:37 ago the decision was made that Jesus would be given to
05:39 the human family.
05:43 God "gave" - and He gave the greatest and most expensive
05:47 gift that could possibly be given.
05:50 Remember how the prophet Isaiah put it in chapter 9
05:54 and verse 6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son
05:59 is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder."
06:02 (Isa 9:6).
06:04 Notice - "unto us a...
06:05 Son is given."
06:09 Beyond the Christmas lights on the houses, beyond the
06:12 Christmas trees, beyond the mountains and mountains of
06:15 wrapping paper, beyond the last-minute Christmas
06:17 shopping on Christmas Eve (men, you know what I
06:20 mean...) Beyond everything, Christmas as a Christian
06:24 tradition stems from the fact that God sent Jesus into the
06:28 world.
06:30 And what did He do that for?
06:32 As John 3 verse17 says, For God sent not his Son into the
06:37 world to condemn the world; but that the world through
06:41 him might be saved.
06:45 God was so committed to giving you and me every
06:48 opportunity to experience character transformation, He
06:52 was so committed to you and me being forgiven and
06:54 cleansed, and freed from guilt, God was so committed
06:58 to us having everlasting life, that He gave the
07:02 greatest gift given ever by anyone to anyone ever.
07:07 He gave Jesus.
07:11 He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
07:13 in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
07:18 You know there have been some pretty remarkable gifts given
07:21 over .
07:22 Russian business tycoon Roman Abramovitch bought his
07:25 girlfriend a fourteen million dollar sculpture.
07:29 English soccer player David Beckham is said to have spent
07:32 eighty thousand pounds on a bag for his wife.
07:35 An American movie star evidently bought a
07:39 200-year-old Olive Tree for her movie star husband, for
07:41 $18,000 for a tree.
07:44 A musician bought his son a car for his 16th birthday - a
07:48 $360,000 car.
07:52 Too bad the boy didn't yet have his driver's license yet.
07:55 An Indian businessman bought his wife a sixty million
07:59 dollar luxury jet for her 44th birthday.
08:02 His brother obviously felt the heat and and so brought
08:04 HIS wife a luxury yacht shortly afterwards.
08:08 Worth more than eighty million dollars.
08:12 Of course India's Taj Mahal was a gift given by an Indian
08:14 emperor to his deceased wife.
08:18 Impressive gifts.
08:20 But are they the gifts that really matter most?
08:24 In a moment, What really does matter most at Christmas?
08:30 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
08:33 Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is
08:37 called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage
08:40 of David).
08:42 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great
08:44 with child.
08:46 And so it was, that while they were there, the days
08:49 were accomplished that she should be delivered.
08:52 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
08:55 him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because
08:58 there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:4-7
09:01 ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ And here is
09:32 today's Bible question: Was Jesus a created being - an
09:35 angel?
09:39 The Bible comments on this directly in several places.
09:42 Hebrews 1:4 says Jesus was "made so much better than the
09:46 angels".
09:47 So He is not an angel.
09:49 So then, was He made?
09:51 The Bible says He was made.
09:53 Well, that word 'made' doesn't always mean 'made' as
09:55 in 'brought into existence.' Many Bible translations say
09:58 that in a different way.
10:00 And then, Hebrews 1:5 - the very next verse - says that
10:03 Jesus is God's Son.
10:05 Jesus wasn't an angel, and He wasn't created.
10:10 Come back with me right back to the beginning.
10:13 Genesis 1:1 says, - In the beginning God created the
10:16 heavens and the earth.
10:19 Now notice verse 26 - "Let us make man in our image, after
10:23 our likeness."
10:25 Our?
10:26 That's plural.
10:27 That's because the Father, the Holy Spirit AND Jesus
10:31 were present at creation.
10:34 It would be hard to believe Jesus was a created being AND
10:36 the Creator!
10:38 John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
10:42 was with God, and the Word was God."
10:44 That's Jesus we are talking about.
10:46 And then verse 3 says, "All things were made by Him, and
10:50 without Him was not anything made that was made."
10:53 So, Jesus was the Creator, not the created.
10:58 He wasn't made, wasn't brought into existence,
11:00 wasn't originated - Jesus is eternal.
11:04 There's a reason its hard for us humans to get our mind
11:07 around that.
11:07 Because we're human - everything from our
11:10 prospective has a beginning in our minds.
11:14 Well as the Bible says, God's ways aren't our ways and
11:16 God's thoughts aren't our thoughts.
11:19 And I'm glad that God doesn't have to operate under the
11:22 same constraints as people do.
11:26 That would make God a pretty small God.
11:29 If you have a question you'd like answered, go to
11:30 ItIsWritten.com, click on the questions tab and submit your
11:34 question.
11:35 I hope I'll be able to answer your Bible question.
11:40 If you have a Bible question for Pastor John Bradshaw,
11:42 please write to It Is Written, Box O, Thousand
11:45 Oaks, CA 91359, orisit our website Itiswritten.com and
11:50 send us your questions on line.
12:16 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I
12:19 bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
12:23 all people.
12:24 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
12:27 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12:31 And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe
12:35 wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
12:39 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
12:42 heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in
12:47 the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
12:52 Luke 2:10-14 Thanks for joining me today.
12:55 Even though Jesus was not born on December 25th, its
12:57 become the day on which the Christian world remembers the
13:01 great event when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, when the
13:04 Messiah came into the world to be its Saviour.
13:08 Christmas in the Western World is characterized by
13:10 family gatherings, house decorating, food consuming,
13:14 gift giving - and sometimes it seems as though we might
13:19 just miss the point.
13:21 As you look around, would you get the impression that
13:24 Christmas is actually about Jesus?
13:27 Or does it look like it's more about sales and stuff
13:30 and possessions?
13:32 I remember one Christmas seeing a young boy who had
13:35 forgotten all about the gifts he was given, but he was
13:37 having the time of his life playing with the wrapping the
13:40 gifts came in.
13:42 He was having more fun with a plastic bag than he ever did
13:44 than with the expensive toys he'd been given.
13:47 I hope yours is a very Happy Christmas.
13:51 So let me ask you, what would make this Christmas happy for
13:54 you?
13:56 And, What would you really like for Christmas?
14:00 "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
14:02 and the baby lying in a manger.
14:07 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
14:09 saying which was told them concerning this child.
14:12 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
14:15 And all they that heard it wondered at those things
14:17 which were told them by the shepherds."
14:18 LUKE 2:16-18 This Christmas - while you're enjoying your
14:20 mashed potatoes at Grandma's annual Christmas feast -
14:24 there are some people who won't be getting very much,
14:27 or giving very much, because they simply don't have very
14:30 much.
14:32 Someone just this week lost a job and there's no money for
14:36 extras.
14:37 Someone this week found out that insurance won't cover
14:39 that claim, and now they're in a jam.
14:41 Someone yesterday perhaps, found out that the
14:45 investments they'd made to fund their retirement have
14:48 collapsed, and now they're not going to have nearly as
14:51 much as they thought they would.
14:55 So at Christmas, what really matters?
14:57 Is it the 'stuff'?
14:57 Is it the gifts and the Christmas tree and the lights
15:01 on the outside of the house?
15:02 What really matters this Christmas?
15:07 And let's think about this from God's point of view.
15:08 When we think about what we want for Christmas, that's
15:10 one thing but what would God want?
15:13 If God had a Christmas wish list, what do you think would
15:16 be on it?
15:17 If God said, All I Want For Christmas Is...
15:21 how do you think He'd finish the sentence?
15:24 World peace?
15:25 Sure.
15:27 God would want that, wouldn't He?
15:28 Full churches?
15:30 In many cases, no doubt.
15:31 No more war, or violence in the streets?
15:34 Surely God would want to see an end to oppression and
15:37 racism and hate and violence of all kinds.
15:40 But as important as those things are, they're
15:43 secondary.
15:44 That is, peace in the world can only come when there's
15:49 truly peace in the heart.
15:53 In the Proverbs, God tells us what He wants for Christmas.
15:56 In Proverbs 23:26, God says, "My son, give me thine heart,
16:04 and let thine eyes observe my ways."
16:09 God asks for your heart this Christmas.
16:13 A simple request, but it's not always easy for people
16:17 like you and me to fulfill.
16:19 Now, what do I mean by that, saying it isn't always easy
16:22 for a person to give his or her heart to God?
16:27 As sinful human beings we wrestle with our own will,
16:30 our own desires and wants, and sometimes giving God our
16:34 heart seems like the toughest thing of all.
16:38 Now, not to give God our heart would be for us to make
16:41 the same mistake as was made by the people of Israel when
16:43 Jesus came the first time.
16:46 John wrote that "He came unto His own, and His own received
16:50 Him not."
16:50 Think of who the people were who WERE prepared to meet
16:54 Jesus: a few humble shepherds, and some wise men
16:58 from a foreign country.
17:00 Then there was Anna and Simeon, but in a country that
17:03 was built upon the hope of the coming of the Messiah,
17:06 that was precious few.
17:10 When Jesus came to the earth the first time, that first
17:13 Christmas his parents couldn't even find a place
17:16 for Jesus to dwell.
17:17 I sincerely hope it won't be that way this Christmas.
17:20 Christ is looking for a dwelling place this
17:23 Christmas.
17:24 Not a stable, not an inn - He's looking for a heart.
17:28 "My son - my daughter - give me your heart," God asks.
17:32 Paul wrote to the Ephesians and discussed the hope, in
17:36 Ephesians 3:17 we read there, Ephesians 3:17 "That Christ
17:42 may dwell in your hearts by faith..."
17:48 (Eph 3:17).
17:49 And in Revelation 3:20, the same Jesus is looking for a
17:52 place to rest.
17:54 And He says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
17:58 If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come
18:04 in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
18:07 What's most important this Christmas?
18:10 As important as some of the trappings and even the
18:12 traditions of Christmas have become, surely the most
18:15 important part of Christmas is Christ - not simply the
18:16 historical Christ, the baby in the manger.
18:19 But the present day Christ, looking for lodging, looking
18:24 to see if you'll give Him the best gift you could give Him
18:28 - the gift of your heart.
18:30 The gift of your life.
18:36 "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother,
18:38 Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of
18:43 many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken
18:45 against.) Yea, a sword shall pierce through they own soul
18:52 also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
18:56 Luke 2:34, 35 ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
19:08 In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God says, "It Is
19:11 Written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
19:14 word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
19:17 Every Word is a one minute Bible base daily devotional
19:20 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed
19:24 specially for busy people like you.
19:26 Look for Every Word on selected networks or watch it
19:29 on line every day on our website itiswritten.com.
19:31 Receive a daily spiritual boost.
19:35 Watch Every Word, you'll be glad you did, here is a
19:44 sample.
19:50 Merry Christmas.
19:51 I hope you're able to take some time today with family
19:53 and friends, or if that isn't possible, to take time with
19:56 God and remember how great His blessings have been.
19:58 Christmas Day is evidence that God is faithful.
20:00 The birth of Jesus proves that God keeps his promises.
20:03 God promised in Micah 5:2 that Jesus would come.
20:06 He said, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be
20:11 little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall
20:13 he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose
20:17 goings forth are of old, from everlasting."
20:20 God kept His promise, and there's no reason He won't
20:23 continue to keep His promises to you.
20:25 If you're making this day special, I hope it's a
20:27 perfect day.
20:29 I'm glad I've been able to greet you.
20:31 God bless you today.
20:32 Merry Christmas.
20:33 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written.
20:36 Let's live today by Every Word.
20:48 It is written is sharing the good news of the gospel
20:51 around the world.
20:54 Part of our mission is to bring the word of God to some
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22:03 address is itiswritten.com ♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪
22:15 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years,
22:19 which departed not from the temple, but served God with
22:22 fastings and prayers night and day.
22:25 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise
22:30 unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked
22:33 for redemption in Jerusalem."
22:36 Luke 2:37, 38 My Dad told me
22:38 many years ago about the gift that meant most to him.
22:40 The Christmas in question was many years before, and a
22:43 number of years before I was born.
22:45 One of my older brothers had wanted to buy Dad a gift, so
22:49 he scraped together what was only a few cents and went and
22:53 bought Dad a little bar of shaving soap.
22:57 And that touched my father's heart - and was more special
22:59 to him than any other gift he had ever received.
23:03 And why do you think that was?
23:05 Because it came from the heart.
23:07 It was given with love - and a lot of it.
23:10 The innocent, giving, self-sacrificing love of a
23:12 little boy doing something sweet for his Daddy.
23:17 See - that's what's really important.
23:19 A gift that's given from the heart.
23:23 This year, I wonder what you'll give Jesus for
23:26 Christmas?
23:28 I'm sure I can safely say He doesn't really want or need
23:31 anything you can buy at a department store or anything
23:33 you can order online.
23:35 But Jesus wants something given from the heart.
23:39 In fact, He wants your heart.
23:40 Just a small thing - but it is what He wants from you and
23:46 from me.
23:48 Can you give Jesus your heart this Christmas?
23:52 "And when they had performed all things according to the
23:56 law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to
23:59 their own city Nazareth.
24:01 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
24:06 wisdom.
24:07 And the grace of God was upon Him..." Luke 2:39, 40
24:11 We wish for you a Christmas filled with the
24:13 love and presence of God.
24:15 Whatever your circumstances this year, we hope you'll
24:18 remember that God so loved the world that He gave.
24:21 The birth of Jesus represents the giving-ness and the love
24:24 of a great God.
24:25 A God who inspired the Bible writer to write, "He that
24:29 spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up freely for
24:32 us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all
24:37 things?"
24:39 I want to invite you to pray with us.
24:41 Christmas day we have a lot to be thankful for, and even
24:43 if your Christmas day is filled from your prospective,
24:46 maybe even more challenges than blessings, we still have
24:49 so much to be thankful for.
24:51 As we pray to the God who so loved this world that He gave
24:54 the greatest gift that could ever be given.
24:59 Let's all pray together.
25:01 Our Father in heaven, today we thank You, and we thank
25:04 You for Jesus who was willing to give Himself for the lost
25:09 people of this lost world.
25:12 And we thank You that in Your goodness and in Your love,
25:15 whatever our circumstances today, we can know that there
25:18 is a God of love who truly loves us and has prepared for
25:22 us a bright and a hopeful future.
25:25 How many more Christmas days there can be until Jesus
25:28 comes back to this world to take us home, we do not know,
25:31 but until He returns, I pray that You help us to be
25:34 faithful, to trust You, to believe in You and to lean on
25:41 You.
25:43 You who have given us so much, we say to You Thank
25:46 You, and we pray that You will continue to bless us,
25:49 not merely for our own sake but so that You will be
25:53 glorified.
25:54 You have truly given us the greatest blessings and for
25:58 that today we say Thank You and we pray in Jesus name,
26:03 AMEN.
26:43 Perhaps our program today has impressed you today with a
26:45 personal need for deeper Bible study.
26:47 If you decide to listen to God and follow where He
26:50 leads, we've got a wonderful resource that can help you to
26:52 do that in a systematic way.
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27:28 Thank you for your letters and your continue support.
27:34 Our Toll Free number is 1-800-253-3000, and our web
27:37 address is itiswritten.com From all of us here at It Is
27:46 Written, Merry Christmas.
27:47 And a happy New Year to you as well.
27:49 I hope you'll join us next time.
27:51 Until then, please remember: It is written: man shall not
27:54 live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
27:59 the mouth of God.


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Revised 2015-02-06