Participants: Pr. John Bradshaw
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 20:55 of the most remote places one earth. 20:59 Right now we are providing audio bibles to the people of 21:02 Papua New Guinea. 21:03 We call this audio Bible the Godpod. 21:07 Through the solar power MP3 player, people can hear God's 21:09 Word in their own language. 21:10 If you'd like to help It Is Written share the Word of God 21:16 by providing solar power Godpod Bibles, please call 21:20 our toll free number 1-800-253-3000. 21:24 Call right now just tell the operator you would like to 21:27 help with the Godpod project. 21:32 You can also participate by sending your gift to: It Is 21:33 Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359. 21:38 And for your convenience, you can also make a gift on line 21:41 at itiswritten.com. 21:44 This ministry uses every reasonable effort to fund its 21:47 projects as described. 21:48 Should the project become fully funded or should the 21:50 nature of the project change due to unexpected 21:52 circumstances, funds will be directed towards similar 21:55 worthy projects. 21:57 Our toll free number is 1-800-253-3000, and our web 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. 26:53 The Discover Bible guides. 26:56 These Bible guides are easy to use and can be yours 26:59 absolutely free. 27:01 If you live in North America we'll send you these full 27:05 colored guides or you can find them in our website 27:09 itiswritten.com. 27:11 Request the Discover Bible guides by calling our Toll 27:13 Free number 1-800-253-3000. 27:15 Lines are open 24 hours. 27:18 They may be busy, so keep trying. 27:21 You may also request to us by writing to: It Is Written, 27:25 Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359. 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. |
Revised 2015-02-06