When Christmas Becomes a Transaction: Examining the True Meaning of Christ’s Gift

[00:08:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:08:46] It's wonderful to see you in the house of the Lord tonight. This is a significant moment for the body of Christ. We come in here and you can hear the bells and smell the incense and there are children here in their pajamas and we will read Luke chapter 2, the story that's precious to our faith. As we said Sunday morning, that God was first to fast when he
[00:09:22] be pushed back from the throne for the sake of the manger. But we come into this place tonight in a different world. There's so many of our people, people who believe in the one God of heaven
[00:09:42] and the Messiah, Jesus. So many of them have lost their lives since last year just because they believe in God and in Jesus. Throughout the world, Christians' lives are under siege.
[00:10:05] Mary and Joseph could not bring Jesus into the world today in Bethlehem because Jews are not allowed in Bethlehem now. It's illegal. Such is the climate. Such is the world we're in. But you and I in this place and countless millions of other believers in other spaces gather together
[00:10:37] to declare no matter what's happening in the world, no matter what the enemy is trying to bring against the redeemed of the Lord. We still declare with a resolute spirit, there is but one God. His name is Jehovah and his son is Jesus, the Messiah. And 2000 years ago, God so loved the
[00:11:03] world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever, whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life and in a time when islam is building mosques at record pace in a time when muslims are having children more than at any time in a time when muslims are
[00:11:32] running for political office in america too many in the church are hibernating hiding themselves silencing their witness but i declare with a resolute spirit in the midst of god's people you are the lord of us and we praise you we're not ashamed of the gospel of jesus the christ
[00:11:55] for it is the power of god unto salvation first to the jew and also to the greek hallelujah blow the trumpet blow the trumpet blow the trumpet in zion

[00:12:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:12:11] We declare you King, you are our Lord, you are our Savior, you are our hope.
[00:12:31] With me, Hark the Herald Angels sing.

[00:12:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:12:39] Hark the Herald Angels and mercy, my sinners reconciled.
[00:13:02] Joy, nation, triumph of the skies.
[00:13:14] heaven and peace for those on whom his favor rests. In his tender compassion, our God sent us

[00:15:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:15:06] his son Jesus. The word, the word has become flesh and has come to dwell among us. We have seen his glory. A child is born to us. A son is given and the ends of the earth have seen the salvation

[00:15:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:15:39] of our God. Hallelujah. Let us pray. Oh God, we gather tonight. I thank you for a group of people that say we will not begin this Christmas day without coming into your house and giving you
[00:16:00] glory and praising you for love that came and love that stayed. God, when you came, when you sent Jesus, you sent to us everything we need, everything we've ever needed and everything we'll ever need. We may not have laid hold of it yet, but you have given it. And we celebrate that the
[00:16:27] lamb of God came to take away the sins of the world. But the lion of Judah is returning. You have come and you are coming again. This is not a myth. This is more real than our next breath.
[00:16:43] And so it is your birthday and we celebrate our risen king.
[00:16:48] We celebrate the mighty God, the everlasting father, the wonderful counselor, the prince of peace.
[00:16:56] And in these moments, God, we say to you, you are first, you are most, you are all.
[00:17:08] It is all about you.
[00:17:10] In Jesus name.
[00:17:12] Amen.
[00:17:13] You may be seated.

[00:20:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:20:42] I'm going to ask all the children who will to join me on the platform.
[00:20:46] If you have your offerings, it's wonderful.
[00:20:49] You can bring them and lay them in the manger as well.
[00:20:52] And we'll look at what the Bible says happened 2,000 years ago.
[00:20:56] Thank you, Reggie.
[00:20:59] Did your pants stay up?
[00:21:02] If you ever wonder what is it that a bishop actually does, well, tonight a little boy's pants were about to fall down, so I went upstairs and found a safety pin so his mother could put them together.
[00:21:12] As the man said, these are the days of our lives.
[00:21:17] I'm so glad to see you.
[00:21:23] Come on up here.

[00:21:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:21:24] Hey, buddy.
[00:21:34] Hey, guys.
[00:21:35] Hey, sweetheart.
[00:21:38] Hey.

[00:21:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:21:48] I kept bumping into people while I go, and I kept saying good morning.
[00:21:51] And actually, it is now.
[00:21:55] Yeah, come on in.
[00:21:56] Have a seat.
[00:22:06] Let me read to you from the Bible what happened 2,000 years ago.
[00:22:11] Hello, Pentecostal Peter.
[00:22:13] I'm so glad to see you and see all of you in your beautiful pajamas, my goodness.
[00:22:21] And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree or a law from Caesar Augustus, a politician, a government man from Rome, that all the world should be taxed.
[00:22:37] Now this taxing amongst the others was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
[00:22:44] We were in Syria this year, which is an extreme, you might as well say we were in Iran as far as the hostilities and the dangers were concerned and all went to be taxed, everyone into his
[00:22:57] own city.
[00:22:59] And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth and to Judea and to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David.
[00:23:14] to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, his engaged wife, being great with child.
[00:23:22] We've had so many wonderful babies born in hope this year and have some coming in the next year.
[00:23:29] It's wonderful. And Mary was about to give birth to the Messiah.
[00:23:34] And so it was that while the days were accomplished, while they were in Bethlehem, that she should be delivered.
[00:23:41] And she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, laid him in a manger.
[00:23:52] Why? Because there was no room for him in the inn.
[00:23:56] And there were in the same country shepherds, men who looked after sheep, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
[00:24:06] and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them well they were so afraid they'd never seen angels before and the angel said unto them
[00:24:23] fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ, the Lord.
[00:24:41] And this is so strange, I'm going to tell you something you can look for that's just as strange.
[00:24:51] You'll find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, in a feeding trough where sheep could eat.
[00:25:02] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men and it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them
[00:25:23] into heaven the shepherds said to one another let us now go into Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us and they came with haste

[00:25:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:25:38] they went early

[00:25:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:25:39] and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
[00:25:49] And when they had seen it, they made known to everybody the saying which was told them concerning the child.
[00:25:58] And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
[00:26:04] But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
[00:26:09] Mothers do that.
[00:26:10] Mothers can remember things about their babies that nobody else can remember.
[00:26:16] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them.
[00:26:30] Well, it's Christmas, and it's a time for us to celebrate your God and His Son, Jesus.
[00:26:42] Everybody say Jesus.
[00:26:43] I want you to know that this is your church, and we built a wall to look like a wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
[00:26:56] Now, it's not exactly like it.
[00:26:58] That one is many, many hundreds of years old.
[00:27:01] This one's just a few months old, and it's not nearly as strong.
[00:27:04] But we wanted to be able to walk into this place and look at the wall and immediately think of Jerusalem.
[00:27:12] Jerusalem was very important to Jesus.
[00:27:14] I want you to know that this is your church.
[00:27:19] Now, I'm your bishop, and these are your people, and we love you with our whole heart.
[00:27:28] And sometime or another tonight or tomorrow, when you're opening presents, I want you to say, thank you, Jesus, for coming to this world for me.
[00:27:42] I'll never be the same.
[00:27:44] Now, Lord, touch these precious children.
[00:27:47] They love you with their whole heart.
[00:27:51] I ask that you would touch them in such a way that they would know you will never leave them.
[00:27:59] You will never turn your back on them.
[00:28:02] You'll always even stick closer than a brother can.
[00:28:08] Let them feel your love.
[00:28:11] In Jesus' name, amen.
[00:28:15] Merry Christmas.
[00:28:16] I love you.
[00:28:17] now get off my stage hello cutie i love you hey baby look at you boss man i got socks that would

[00:28:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:28:31] go with that i am so grateful to god for parents who get it and for children who begin this special day giving god glory and remembering why we celebrate what we celebrate bishop was saying
[00:29:03] just a few moments ago, this has been a difficult year for the people of God around the world.
[00:29:08] I thank God that this Hope community gave $100,000 this year to Syria to help the Christians that were being slaughtered. Not only that, but we sent our bishop inside there when nobody was getting in to take medical supplies and to take food to people that were really struggling, our brothers
[00:29:30] and sisters. And so it's important in this hour and especially in the days and months to come to know what it is that we believe, what binds us together, what we believe about Jesus Christ and
[00:29:45] the Lord. Stand to your feet. Pastor Ted is going to lead us in the Apostles' Creed that the Church

[00:29:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:29:51] of the Lord Jesus Christ around the world believes. Let's declare what we believe. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
[00:30:18] was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he arose again from the dead.
[00:30:26] He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
[00:30:34] From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
[00:30:38] I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
[00:30:52] Amen.

[00:30:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:30:54] You know that part, and let me explain as I do frequently.
[00:30:57] You see that part that our brothers and sisters have repeated for centuries.
[00:31:02] That says, I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.
[00:31:05] That doesn't mean the Roman Catholic Church.
[00:31:08] So if you heard those words and you think, I'm not Catholic, neither are we.
[00:31:14] Those words are speaking about, we believe in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Nigeria.
[00:31:19] Nigeria. You've built now 52 church buildings for our people to worship in. We believe in Christians in Latin America. We believe in Christians throughout Europe. Wherever there are people who are naming Jesus as Messiah, they are our people. It's holy. The word Catholic just
[00:31:37] means universal. So there is a denomination known as the Roman Catholic Church with the Pope in italy but then there is the holy catholic church of our people who are all over the world and in
[00:31:51] this room right now our precious believers i want you to turn around and you might have to shake them a moment and wake them up and look at them and say merry christmas i'm so glad you're a part
[00:32:03] of this house tonight blink a light a little lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our God. Ah, it is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you
[00:36:50] Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth because the light of your glory has shone with splendor in our world. For you gave Jesus the Christ, your only son, to be born of us, of Mary, that we might
[00:37:10] have power to become your children can i stop and say that everyone in this place who can call upon the name of the lord with your own lips with deepest you are a child of the most high god
[00:37:25] don't you allow anything or anybody to talk you out of it you belong to god who existed before the world was called into being but came down to save us by becoming born to a humble virgin
[00:37:43] lying in a manger walking on earth as a man who became poor that by his poverty we might become rich who was humbled that we might become exalted who gave us peace and joy when we were without hope
[00:38:03] without God.
[00:38:05] Therefore, with the whole company of saints and angels in heaven and on earth, we proclaim and celebrate the birth of our Savior and join their unending hymn.
[00:38:20] Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
[00:38:30] Hosanna in the highest Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest We give thanks to God the Father That our Savior Jesus Christ Before he suffered Gave us this memorial
[00:38:51] Of his sacrifice Until his coming again For on the night of his arrest He took bread and after giving thanks to God broke it and said this is my body which is given for you
[00:39:12] do this in remembrance of me and in the same way he took the cup and said drink from this all of you this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many
[00:39:29] for the forgiveness of sins do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me and so in remembrance oh god of your mighty acts in jesus christ we proclaim the mystery of faith christ has died christ is risen christ will
[00:39:53] come again so pour out your holy spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine and make them be for us the body and blood of christ that we may be for the world the body
[00:40:11] of christ redeemed by his blood let me say this before we receive it this is not a dead ritual we're not receiving the lifeless corpse of the messiah but this is the living blood and in his
[00:40:27] blood is healing and in his blood is the keeping presence and power that when sickness and disease come against this nation we're able to say that's not our crisis that's not our disease that's not
[00:40:42] our calamity that's not our recession we are kept by the blood i declare upon this people by this bread and this wine, the body and blood of Jesus

[00:40:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:40:55] keeps me well, keeps my family well.

[00:40:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:40:59] Amen.

[00:41:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:41:00] A child but to a shepherd is what you could be.
[00:51:27] Fisherman but to a king at the work, that's what it leads.
[00:52:31] And devil, hope, tender and whole, share a side, glory stream, heaven afar, heavenly host, sing alleluia.

[00:55:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:55:00] Christ the Savior is born. Savior is born tonight. It was a holy night. Son of God, pure light, radiant beings from thy holy face.
[00:55:44] With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
[00:56:06] Would you stand with me, please?

[00:56:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:56:17] It's been such a joy to celebrate this holy time with you.
[00:56:24] I pray the blessings of God upon you, your family, and that every part of your being is prospered in the coming hours but more than anything else that a Holy Ghost consciousness will come to you and remind you
[00:56:39] not just that he's part of the season he's the reason for the whole thing.
[00:56:46] Lord I just pray that that you would touch us that you would touch your people to be so aware of how blessed we are that because of the manger there is a cross because of the cross there is an empty tomb and because of the empty tomb there is a throne and
[00:57:05] we are now seated in heavenly places with you bless your people this evening and throughout this holy day season in jesus name amen i'm going to ask the diaconate and the presbytery to walk down the middle aisle with me and we're going to meet you out there in the hallway and after the
[00:57:25] dance. I'm going to stand here and dance for just a moment. It'll be a blessing to you.