Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001349
00:06 It has stood the test of time.
00:12 God's book, the Bible. 00:16 Still relevant in today's complex world. 00:21 It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe. 00:35 [Music] 00:51 [voice of child reading Bible text] 00:52 "And it came to pass in those days, 00:53 that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all 00:56 the world should be taxed. 00:58 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was 01:01 governor of Syria). 01:03 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city."" 01:06 (Luke 2:1-3) I'm John Bradshaw. 01:08 Thanks for joining me today. 01:10 It's that time of year. 01:12 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 and artificial 01:23 ones, family gatherings have been anticipated for ages 01:27 and people have traveled, often many miles, to be with 01:30 relatives, the kids are going to see Grandma and Grandpa 01:34 again, retailers are either breathing easy or licking 01:37 their wounds, Christmas lights are twinkling, 01:41 carolers have gone out spreading Christmas joy, work 01:44 parties have been attended, bonus checks have been 01:47 gratefully received, Christmas cards have been 01:50 sent and received from long-ago friends and distant 01:54 relatives, catalogs from companies you didn't even 01:58 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 02:09 and the Hallelujah Chorus has moved hearts, nativity scenes 02:14 grace front yards, some people are enjoying a white 02:17 Christmas, and where I grew up people are heading to the 02:21 beach and trying to avoid sunburn. Christmas. Andy 02:26 Williams sang that it's"The Most Wonderful Time of the 02:28 Year". And it's hard to argue with that. At Chrismas time, 02:31 people tend to be HAPPY. Life slows down for a day or two, 02:37 long enough for people to connect with loved ones and 02:39 friends. And in this culture of ours, a major Christmas 02:44 tradition is gift giving. In fact, you could say that 02:47 maybe its the overriding Christmas tradition. We know 02:50 that Christmas is a religious tradition - a Biblical 02:53 tradition it's a Christian tradition. Yet even atheists 02:57 participate in celebrating Christmas and in giving a 03:00 receiving gifts. In fact, if you went to any shopping area 03:04 at all, you'd get the impression that Christmas is 03:07 all about the gifts. Every Christmas season, all across 03:11 the fruited plain, children sit on Santa's knee and tell 03:15 him they want bicycles and Lego sets and scooters and 03:19 dolls and video games and a whole lot more beside. Adults 03:24 will be wanting clothes and golf clubs and iPods and 03:28 camera gear - and video games and a whole lot more besides. 03:33 What do you want for Christmas? Some years ago I 03:37 asked several people to tell me about the best gift they 03:40 had ever received. Their response didn't really surprise 03:42 me. I know for a fact that some of them had over the years 03:46 been given some pretty impressive and expensive gifts, 03:49 but not one of them told me the best gift they'd ever 03:53 received was a new car or a vacation in Hawaii 03:57 or a new flat-screen TV set. Each of them told me 04:01 a similar story. It was in every case something like, 04:04 "I remember years ago - it was my birthday, and my daughter 04:09 - she was just little then - she went and made me 04:12 a beautiful card, and she decorated it, and she wrote 04:14 the sweetest things on there... And, you know, 04:16 I still have that card. Nothing I've ever been given means 04:19 as much to me as that card does." It wasn't the diamond 04:23 ring, it wasn't the fur coat, it wasn't a Rolex... but 04:26 something from the heart, something simple, something 04:29 pure - something that represents true, genuine 04:33 love. And doesn't that sound like Christmas? Really, when 04:38 you stop and think about it, overeating, overspending and 04:43 overindulging don't have a whole lot to do with the 04:46 birth of Jesus. So what really matters most at 04:51 Christmas time? How would the sentence end if you were to 04:55 say,"All I Want for Christmas is..." What would 05:01 make Christmas truly special for you? What's the essence 05:07 of the Christmas story? I'm sure you might be able 05:10 to answer that question in a number of ways, but there's 05:13 a Bible verse that for me brings us back to the very 05:17 heart of it all. John 3:16 says,"For God so loved the 05:23 word that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 05:27 believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting 05:31 life." The reason Christmas is observed at all, is that 05:37 long ago the decision was made that Jesus would be 05:40 given to the human family. 05:43 God"gave" - and He gave the greatest and most expensive 05:47 gift that could possibly be given. Remember how the 05:51 prophet Isaiah put it in chapter 9 and verse 6: 05:56 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; 06:01 and the government shall be upon His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6). 06:04 Notice -"unto us a... Son is given." Beyond the Christmas 06:10 lights on the houses, beyond the Christmas trees, beyond 06:13 the mountains and mountains of wrapping paper, beyond the 06:16 last-minute Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve 06:19 (men, you know what I mean ...) Beyond everything, 06:23 Christmas as a Christian tradition stems from the fact 06:26 that God sent Jesus into the world. And what did He do 06:30 that for? As John 3:17 says, For God sent not his Son into 06:37 the world to condemn the world; but that the world 06:41 through him might be saved. 06:45 God was so committed to giving you and me every 06:48 opportunity to experience character transformation, 06:52 He was so committed to you and me being forgiven 06:54 and 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. He 07:09 gave Jesus. He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 07:13 believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting 07:17 life. You know, there have been some pretty remarkable 07:20 gifts given over the years. 07:22 Russian business tycoon Roman Abramovitch bought his 07:25 girlfriend a fourteen million dollar sculpture. English 07:29 soccer player David Beckham is said to have spent eighty 07:31 thousand pounds on a bag for his wife. An American movie 07:36 star evidently bought a 200-year-old Olive Tree 07:39 for her movie star husband, for $18,000. For a tree! 07:44 A musician bought his son a car for his 16th birthday - 07:48 a $360,000 car. Too bad the boy didn't yet have his driver's 07:55 license yet. An Indian businessman bought his wife 07:57 a sixty million dollar luxury jet for her 44th birthday. 08:02 His brother obviously felt the heat and so he brought 08:05 HIS wife a luxury yacht shortly afterwards worth more 08:09 than eighty million. 08:12 Of course, there's India's Taj Mahal. That was a gift given 08:14 by an Indian emperor to his deceased wife. Impressive 08:19 gifts. 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 08:33 of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which 08:37 is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage 08:40 of David). To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being 08:44 great with child. And so it was, that while they were 08:48 there, the days were accomplished that she should 08:51 be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, 08:55 and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him 08:59 in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 09:02 Luke 2:4-7 09:16 [Music] 09:32 Today is a bible question What is a good way 09:35 for me to share my faith? 09:38 A lot of people I work with don't believe the way I 09:41 do, but I'm really concerned about their eternal destiny. 09:44 How do I keep from sounding like a religious nut and yet 09:48 show my interest in their salvation? The fact that 09:51 you're concerned with the salvation of others is a 09:53 really good sign. And I'm glad you're sensitive to how 09:56 you'll be perceived - that you want to reach out without 09:59 bringing your faith into a type of disrepute. But don't 10:02 worry about that TOO much. If you worry too much about that 10:05 you'll never share your faith with anyone. The best advice 10:08 I can give you is to encourage you to pray. Pray 10:11 and ask God to give you opportunities. And as He 10:14 does, act on them. Try to figure out what a person 10:17 might best respond to. If you know someone likes to read, 10:20 share with them a book that you can recommend as having 10:22 been a blessing to you. 10:24 You'll find a lot of books, good books, on our website, 10:26 itiswritten.com. Look for opportunities in 10:29 conversations. When you sense a person is open to talking 10:32 about spiritual things, gently introduce that sort of 10:36 topic. Ask questions. That way you're not coming across 10:39 as an authority but you're showing a genuine interest in 10:42 what others think. Also, look for opportunities to serve 10:46 people, to do good to others. 10:47 Help people here or there and this will open up an openness 10:52 to you and to what you believe. If someone you are 10:55 connecting with enjoys watching television, 10:57 recommend a religious TV program they might watch. 10:59 Tell them about It Is Written. Refer people to a 11:02 website you think that they might like. One thing to keep 11:05 in mind is that God is working in the lives of those 11:09 with whom you work. Pray and ask God to help you see where 11:13 the openings are, the opportunities, and when you 11:16 see them take those opportunities and know that 11:19 God will bless you and your witness. Oh, and one more 11:23 thought. In that work setting, be sure that your 11:26 life speaks in favor of your faith. If your faith hasn't 11:30 made you a better, happier person, more likeable people 11:34 aren't going to want to your faith for themselves. If you 11:38 have a Bible question that you would like answered, go 11:40 to our website - www.ItIsWritten.com. Click on 11:43 the questions tab. Submit your question, and in a 11:49 future program we might answer your question. 11:53 [Music] 11:59 [Music: Midnight Clear]" 12:21 And the angel said unto them, Fear 12:24 not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 12:27 which shall be to all people. 12:29 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a 12:33 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a 12:37 sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling 12:41 clothes, lying in a manger. 12:44 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 12:49 heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in 12:53 the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 12:58 Luke 2:10-14 Thanks for joining me today. Even though 13:00 Jesus was not born on December 25th, it has become 13:04 the day on which the Christian world remembers the 13:06 great event when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, when the 13:09 Messiah came into the world to be its Saviour of all the 13:12 world. Christmas in the Western World is 13:14 characterized by family gatherings, house decorating, 13:17 food consuming and gift giving - and sometimes it 13:21 seems as though we might just miss the point. As you look 13:26 around, would you really get the impression that Christmas 13:28 is actually about Jesus? Or does it look like it's more 13:32 about sales and stuff and possessions? I remember one 13:37 Christmas seeing a young boy who had forgotten all about 13:40 the gifts he was given, but he was having the time of his 13:42 life playing with the wrapping that the gifts had 13:45 come in. He was having more fun with a plastic bag than 13:48 he ever did have with the expensive toys that he'd been 13:51 given. I hope yours is a very Happy Christmas. So, let me 13:56 ask you, what would make this Christmas happy for you? 14:01 And what would you really like for Christmas?" 14:04 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, 14:07 and the baby lying in a manger. 14:09 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad 14:13 the saying which was told them concerning this child. 14:19 And all they that heard it which were told them by the 14:22 shepherds." LUKE 2:16-18 This Christmas - while you're 14:24 enjoying your mashed potatoes at Grandma's annual Christmas 14:27 feast - there are some people who won't be getting very 14:31 much, or giving very much, because they simply don't 14:34 have very much. Someone just this week lost a job and 14:39 there's no money for extras. 14:40 Someone this week found out that insurance won't cover 14:43 that claim, and now they're in a jam. Someone yesterday, 14:48 perhaps, found out that the investments they'd made to 14:50 fund their retirement have collapsed, and now they're 14:53 not going to have nearly as much as they thought they 14:57 would. So at Christmas, what really matters? Is it the 15:02 'stuff'? Is it the gifts and the Christmas tree and the 15:04 lights on the outside of the house? What really matters 15:08 this Christmas? And let's think about this from God's 15:12 point of view. We think about what we want for Christmas, 15:15 that's one thing. But what would God want? If God had a 15:19 Christmas wish list, what do you think would be on it? If 15:22 God said, All I Want For Christmas Is... how do you 15:26 think He'd finish the sentence? World peace? Sure. 15:31 God would want that, wouldn't He? Full churches? In many 15:34 cases, no doubt. No more war, or violence in the streets? 15:39 Surely God would want to see an end to oppression and 15:42 racism and hate and violence of all kinds. But as 15:45 important as those things are, they're secondary. That 15:49 is, peace in the world can only come when there's truly 15:54 peace in the heart. In the Proverbs, God tells us what 16:00 He wants for Christmas. In Proverbs 23:26, God says,"My 16:06 son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my 16:12 ways." God asks for your heart this Christmas. 16:18 A simple request, but it is not always easy for people like 16:22 you and me to fulfill. Now, what do I mean by that, 16:25 by saying it isn't always easy for a person to give his 16:28 or her heart to God? As sinful human beings we wrestle with 16:34 our own will, our own desires and wants, and sometimes 16:39 giving God our heart seems like the toughest thing of 16:41 all. Now, not to give God our heart would be for us to make 16:45 the same mistake as was made by the people of Israel when 16:48 Jesus came the first time. 16:52 John wrote that"He came unto His own, and His own received 16:54 Him not." 16:55 Think of who the people were who WERE prepared to 16:59 meet Jesus: a few humble shepherds, 17:01 and some wise men from a foreign country. Then 17:05 there was Anna and there was Simeon, but in a country that 17:07 was built upon the hope of the coming of the Messiah, 17:11 that was precious few. 17:15 When Jesus came to the earth the first time, that first 17:17 Christmas his parents couldn't even find a place 17:20 for Jesus to dwell. 17:22 I sincerely hope it won't be that way this Christmas. 17:25 Christ is looking for a dwelling place this Christmas. 17:27 Not a stable, not an inn - He's looking for a heart. 17:31 "My son - my daughter - give me your heart," God 17:37 asks. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and discussed 17:40 the hope, in Ephesians 3:17 we read there, Ephesians 3:17 17:45 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith..." 17:52 And in Revelation 3:20, the same Jesus is looking 17:55 for a place to rest. 17:57 And He says, Behold, I stand at the door and 18:02 knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I 18:06 will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 18:11 What's most important this Christmas? As important as 18:15 some of the trappings and even the traditions of 18:17 Christmas have become, surely the most important part of 18:21 Christmas is Christ - and not simply the historical Christ, 18:25 the baby in the manger. 18:27 But the present day Christ, looking for lodging, looking 18:30 to see if you'll give Him the best gift you could give Him 18:35 - the gift of your heart. 18:37 The gift of your life. 18:41 "And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, 18:43 Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising 18:48 again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be 18:52 spoken against. 18:53 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through they own soul also,) 18:57 that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 19:01 Luke 2:34, 35 [Music÷ 19:13 In Matthew 4:4, the word of God says It is 19:16 written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every 19:19 word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 19:22 Every Word is a one minute Bible-based daily devotional 19:26 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed 19:29 especially for busy people like you. 19:32 Look for Every Word on selected networks or watch it on line 19:35 every day on our website. 19:36 Itiswritten.com. 19:39 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 19:39 Watch Every Word. 19:41 You'll be glad you did. 19:43 Here's a sample. 19:54 During the Christmas season there's a lot of rushing 19:57 in a lot of lives and a lot of plans being made and a lot 20:00 of gifts being given and a lot of food being consumed 20:02 and very often something gets lost. 20:05 Stillness. 20:08 Jesus and His parents were in a quiet place. 20:11 The shepherds were assembled on the silent hillsides. 20:15 The wise men traveled but not along busy freeways 20:18 and they didn't get stuck in traffic once. 20:20 But get this, "When Herod the king had heard these 20:23 things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." 20:26 That's Matthew 2:3. 20:28 That first Christmas, the only one who was up tight 20:31 was Herod - and those he caused to be agitated. 20:33 If it's really about peace and goodwill and family 20:35 and Jesus - try to enjoy the peace of Jesus 20:38 this Christmas. 20:39 Merry Christmas. 20:40 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 20:43 Let's live today by Every Word. 20:45 [Music÷ 20:55 Eyes for India is giving sight to the blind 20:58 and you can be a part of this amazing work 21:00 that God is doing. 21:02 Fifteen million blind people live in India, more than any 21:05 other country in the world. 21:07 And many of the blind in India could see again, 21:10 if only they could have simple cataract surgery. 21:13 It Is Written is making that happen. 21:16 Would you support Eyes for India? 21:19 For just $75 you'll be given the gift of sight to someone 21:23 who desperately wants to see. 21:26 Here's all you need to do. 21:27 Call 1.800.253.3000. 21:30 That's 1.800.253.3000 to donate and support Eyes 21:37 for India. 21:38 Or, you can write to It Is Written, Box O, 21:41 Thousand Oaks, California 91359. 21:45 You'll also find Eyes for India on-line at 21:48 It Is Written.com. 21:50 Every $75 you give gives someone the precious gift 21:53 of sight. 21:54 Eyes for India, doing the work of Jesus in opening 21:58 the eyes of the blind and opening hearts to the love 22:01 of God. 22:02 Call 1.800.253.3000 or write to Box O, Thousand Oaks, 22:08 California, 91359. 22:10 Or visit itiswritten.com. 22:25 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four 22:28 years, which departed not from the temple, but served 22:31 God with fastings and prayers night and day. 22:34 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise 22:38 unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked 22:42 for redemption in Jerusalem." Luke 2:37, 38 22:46 My Dad told me many years ago about the gift that meant 22:48 most to him. 22:49 The Christmas in question was many years before, 22:52 and a number of years before I was born. 22:55 One of my older brothers had wanted to buy Dad a gift, 22:57 so he scraped together what was then only a few cents 23:01 and went and bought Dad a little bar of shaving soap. 23:06 And that touched my father's heart - and was more special 23:09 to him than any other gift he had ever received. 23:11 And why do you think that was? 23:13 Because it came from the heart. 23:16 It was given with love - and a lot of it. 23:18 The innocent, giving, self-sacrificing love 23:21 of a little boy doing something sweet for his Daddy. 23:26 See - that's what's really important. 23:28 A gift that is given from the heart. 23:32 This year, I wonder what you'll give Jesus 23:35 for Christmas? 23:37 I'm sure I can safely say He doesn't really want or 23:39 need anything you can buy at a department store 23:42 or anything you can order online. 23:44 But Jesus wants something given from the heart. 23:48 In fact, He wants your heart. 23:52 Just a small thing - but it is what He wants from you. 23:55 Can you give Jesus your heart this Christmas? 24:00 "And when they had performed all things according to 24:04 the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, 24:08 to their own city Nazareth. 24:10 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, 24:14 filled with wisdom. 24:15 And the grace of God was upon Him..." Luke 2:39, 40 24:20 We wish for you a Christmas filled with the love 24:23 and presence of God. 24:24 Whatever your circumstances this year, we hope you'll 24:27 remember that God so loved the world that He gave. 24:30 The birth of Jesus represents the giving-ness 24:33 and the love of a great God. 24:34 A God who inspired the Bible writer to write, "He that 24:38 spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up freely 24:42 for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give 24:46 us all things?" I want to invite you to pray with us. 24:50 Christmas day, we have a lot to be thankful for and even 24:53 if your Christmas day is filled with, from your 24:55 perspective, even more challenges than blessings, 24:58 we still have so much to be thankful for as we pray to 25:01 the God who so loved this world that he gave the 25:05 greatest gift that could ever be given. 25:08 Let's all pray together. 25:10 Our Father in heaven. 25:12 Today we thank you and we thank you for Jesus who 25:16 was willing to give himself for the lost people 25:19 of this lost world. 25:21 And we thank you that in your goodness and in your 25:23 love, whatever our circumstances today, we can know 25:27 that there is a God of love who truly loves us and has 25:31 prepared for us a bright and a hopeful future. 25:35 How many more Christmas days there can be until Jesus 25:39 comes back to this world to take us home we do not know. 25:42 But until he returns, I pray that you will help us to be 25:46 faithful, to trust you, to believe in you 25:50 and to lean on you. 25:52 You who have given us so much, we say to you: 25:55 Thank you. 25:56 And we pray that you will continue to bless us, 25:58 not merely for our own sake but so that you 26:02 would be glorified. 26:04 You have truly given us the greatest blessings 26:07 and for that today, we say "Thank you" 26:09 and we pray in Jesus' name, Amen. 26:13 [Music] 26:52 Perhaps our program today has impressed you 26:54 with a personal need for deeper Bible study. 26:57 If you desire to listen to God and follow where 26:59 he leads, we've got a wonderful resource that can help you 27:03 to do that in a systematic way. 27:06 The Discover bible guides. 27:07 These Bible guides are easy to use and can be yours 27:10 absolutely free. 27:11 If you live in North America, we'll send you these 27:15 full color guides or you can find them on our website: 27:20 itiswritten.com. 27:21 Request the Discover Bible Guides by calling our 27:24 toll-free number, 1.800.253.3000. 27:26 You may also request today's offer by writing to 27:28 It Is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, California 91359. 27:35 From all of us at It Is Written, Merry Christmas 27:38 and a Happy New Year to you as well. 27:41 I hope you'll join us next time. 27:43 Until then, please remember: It is written: man shall 27:47 not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds 27:52 from the mouth of God. |
Revised 2015-02-05