ANNOUNCER: The following program is sponsored by
generous friends and partners of Real Life.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Real Life with Jack Hibbs.
JACK: Man has run from God. That's why it was a Christmas.
Think about the severity of Christmas. We think about the
jolly and the ho, ho,ho, the severity of Christmas is that
God would come into the world, for a very
great reason. It was a rescue mission.
ANNOUNCER: Christ seeks to establish His kingdom in your
heart. Reflect on His promise, purpose and proclamation.
Prepare your heart for today's message.
His return, is it time to reconsider Christmas?
ANNOUNCER: How many times have you pledged to read through the
entire Bible? How did that go for you? Jack Hibbs has a tried
and true solution to help you feed your hunger for God's Word.
The New King James one year Bible is the bestselling Bible
that allows you to feast on scripture for an entire year in
easily digestible bites. This plan makes reading through the
Bible achievable with daily 15 minute readings from the Old
Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.
JACK: Hey, everybody. For over 30 years, my family, our church,
everybody together, we go through the Word of God. In the
one year Bible, get a copy for yourselves and you'll enjoy it
immensely. One year through the Bible with your family and
friends. There's nothing like it.
ANNOUNCER: Order your copy now, for a gift of any amount. Go to
jackhibbs.com or call (877) 777- 2346. Start your
new year off right, read God's word daily.
MUSIC
JACK: Well, I want to ask you a question. Do you think it's time
maybe that we reconsider Christmas? Christmas, the
world's gone crazy Christmas. The decorations have been up for
months in local stores, Christmas. But do people really
know what it means? And have you ever considered Christmas as
being what it really is? It's a Christmas announcement, but it's
all about Bible prophecy. It's true. You must say. There you
go, pastor, talking about Bible prophecy again. But listen,
we're just a couple of weeks away from Christmas and are you
ready? I'm not. But all the indicators are there telling me
to get ready. Well, the same is true about this world regarding
Christmas. It is throughout scripture, it is outlined
exactly where Jesus would be born, how He would come into the
world, what His ministry and mission would be, and yet we
still debate the viability of Christmas. Here's what's amazing
to me about it. Christmas is celebrated all over the world,
even in cultures that don't even recognize or honor Him. They'll
still give gifts to one another. Have you ever thought about
reconsidering Christmas as a prophetic fulfillment of God's
word? So listen, you can get ready. You can get ready for
Christmas, but I'd like to see you and I get more ready to meet
Jesus. So grab your Bibles. Let's get into it right now.
Let's reconsider what Christmas is all about.
MUSIC
JACK: It's not the greatest story ever told. It is the
greatest message ever preached. There's a big difference. Our
faith, according to the Bible, is founded upon fact. A lot of
people don't think about that. When we open up our Bible, there
is a real, real Bethlehem. There is a real Israel. There's a real
Roman empire. There's a real Persian empire. The Bible is a
book of reality, not stories. We have to remember that, but God
made a great promise and the Christmas message that God has
given us is a missionary journey. It's an announcement
that according to the hymns and according to the Bible itself,
it's to bring great joy into the reality of anybody who's
searching. So number one, it's a promise and He's promised to
return, and mark it down this way if you would. It's a promise
deeper than what we'd ever thought of. It's a promise much
deeper. I wonder if you know this. It is the first prophetic
verse in the Bible. It's the first what's called
soteriological, it's a big word. I know. It's the first verse of
Bible prophecy and the first verse regarding the doctrine of
salvation. It's the first verse that speaks of the incarnation.
It's the first verse that speaks about God becoming flesh among
mankind. You say what? It's all in one verse. It's one verse
that causes the breaks to slam, if you are listening, and here
it is. It's Genesis chapter 3, verse 15. The truth of God's
promise of His return starts in Genesis 3:15, remarkable
passage. My Jewish friends, listen up. Moses wrote this. God
is speaking. I will put enmity the word enmity's warfare,
between you, Satan and the woman Eve and her descendants and
between your seed. That's creepy, right? Satan has
offspring. Satan has a family, the Bible says. By the way, how
you get into his family is just stay right where you're at.
Never come to faith in Jesus. And Jesus says that if you do
not believe in Him, then you are of your Father, the devil, He
says. That's to the point, isn't it? Jesus said, listen, I'm
going to, or the Bible says, God is speaking regarding the fall
to Adam and Eve and Satan in the garden. I'm going to put warfare
between you and the woman, between your seed, offspring and
her. Look at the capital S, her DNA, her sperm. Her sperm.
That's right. He shall bruise your head. You shall bruise his
heel. It says that he shall bruise your head. The word in
Hebrew is, I don't know why the English says bruise, but the
Hebrew word is, and he shall crush your head and you'll crush
his heel. Let me ask you something. If you had to get
crushed, would you rather get crushed in the head or in the
heel of your foot? The word or the term heel of your foot means
that Satan is going to inflict pain upon this one who is going
to be the Seed, the Messiah. Oh, but don't worry everybody, the
Messiah is going to crush Satan's head. You can walk away
from a heel crush, but you can't walk away from a head crush, and
I love that. What a powerful statement. So yes, I want to
reinforce, it's no story, but it's a tragedy that mankind was
once perfect in His created state of living of life. Adam
and Eve were created perfect. They walked with God
imperfection and making the case about his return. Think of this.
They sinned against God in the garden, they willfully disobeyed
Him. Now you think about that for a moment. You see, Jack, why
did he give them the ability to choice for the same reason why
you love your ability of choice. God built within you and I, the
free moral agency of being able to choose what we will do and
not do. Who we want to love, who we don't want to love. What we
want to experience or not experience. God gave that to you
and you love it. It's no story, but it is a tragedy that you and
I have that choice that God is embedded within us in the human
psyche. Every day we choose hundreds of choices, maybe
thousands every day, but God made you like that. It's no
story, but it's a tragedy. It mankind would decide to ruin his
own generations by his own decisions. Every single one of
us right now are in this particular state of life at this
point in time. We've arrived on a long train of decisions that
we've made over time, and we're not blaming anybody by the way.
That doesn't work, and the worst conditions ever given you, the
worst cards ever dealt to you. To me, God can overcome them.
But if that's not your victory, it's simply because you've not
let Christ take control of those horrific things that were done
to you or against you. So there's no excuse in this. This
is not a story. If Christ coming into the world was a story, then
you'd better stick to Humpty Dumpty or something. This is a
story of eternal consequences because it's not a story, it's a
fact, and yet many treat it as a story and they drape it and
cloak it with a big man walking around with a red suit and black
boots. It's a fact. Think about the severity of Christmas. We
think about the jolly and the ho,ho,ho the severity of
Christmases that God would come into the world for a very great
reason. It was a rescue mission. It was a missionary journey, to
deliver man from his condemnation. The Bible says in
Philippians chapter 2 verse 5, let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not
consider it robbery to be equal with God. Jesus didn't have to
try to pull anything off, but made Himself of no reputation
taking the form of a bond servant. Listen to this, and
coming in the likeness of man or mankind. Look, you and I came
into the world just like our mom and dad. God had a choice. Is
that awesome? God had a choice to come here. Now, personally
after Eden, I would've wrapped the whole thing off and just
flicked into outer space and said, I'll just start over. He
could have. He could have erased it. There could be like an ant
going across your kitchen table and you just go with your thumb.
He could have. Why didn't He? Why would he go through all of
this? Because my friends, His love for you is real. His
commitment to you is true, and His plan is redemption. He wants
to buy you out of the slave market, so to speak. And so He
came into this world as a human being. That verse goes on to
tell us that being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled
himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him. It's
Jesus, and given Him a name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow both those in heaven
and those on earth and those under the earth that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of
God the Father and all God's people said, amen to that.
Secondly, under this point is the promise of His return is
that it's a promise unique beyond all chance, unique beyond
all chance. And what I mean by that is this, the Christmas
message is impossible to miss, unless you want to miss it.
There's no getting around it. Yes, I mentioned a moment ago
that it's the most celebrated holiday in the world, but you
can still miss it. You can dress up like Santa yourself at Macy's
and still miss it. You can be in the pulpit and preach the gospel
and still miss it. You can be in America and grow up all your
life with all the traditions of Christmas and still miss it.
Why? Because it's not an it. It's a Him. You can miss Him.
The meaning of it all but beyond chance, my friend is absolutely
awesome. Are you ready for this? It's Isaiah 7, verse 14.
Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. And shall call his name
Emmanuel. Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6. For a child is born
technically, that's no big deal. Children are born all the time,
but unto us, a son is given. Listen, the reason why Mary had
her little lamb by the name of Jesus was because a son was
given. Are you tracking with me? Unto us a child is born. Unto us
a child will come certainly special, but just at the opening
part of the verse, that's all it says, A special one will come,
an anointed one will come. That's still not enough. The
second statement of the verse is a son is given. It presupposes
that whoever the child is has pre-existed. He was gifted. He
would come through a virgin into this world, never having existed
in the flesh before, took on flesh. In fact, being the
creator of all things became flesh. So says the Bible. What a
remarkable statement. What a tremendous truth, and the Bible
goes on to tell us in Isaiah 9:6, and the government will be
upon His shoulder. His name will be called wonderful counselor,
mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace. The word
everlasting father, is the father of time. Have you ever
heard of somebody say father time? Right, in stories or in
books or in thoughts or in poems? Father time. Father time
is actually a reference to Jesus Christ being the governor of
time and eternity. He controls it. What an amazing thing that
is, so unique beyond all chance. You've got to find somebody
throughout all of human history that we celebrate at this
Christmas, the everyday reality that he's God that has come into
the world in human skin. That's why you and I are to never think
that our lives are meaningless or without purpose. He loved you
so much that He would do this. The third thing is this
anticipation according to God's word, God will answer every
human need that you and I have. You know what our problem is?
The biggest problem in your life, in my life, is you for
you, and me for me. I am my biggest problem. Why? Because I
get impatient. The Bible says something, and I think it should
happen in my time. God has designed you and I and life
itself to be answered by this book, the manual, the Bible.
Psalm 141. You guys okay? Yes, because I'm yelling at you
pretty good here. 141 verse 1, Lord, I cry out to you. Have you
ever been in that place? Lord, I cry out to you. Make haste to
me. Give ear to my voice when I cry out to you. Let my prayer be
set before you as incense. That's a beautiful picture. It
speaks of the incense rising in the holy of holies before the
Lord, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. God,
I'm coming to you and I have this human need. I need to have
this experience in my life. I need to have this answered in my
life. I have to have this pain dealt with. I can't take it
anymore. Listen, so many times it's the holidays. Yes, it's
true. Listen, ministry and law enforcement have these things in
common, first responders, ministry and first responders,
the holidays, it starts right around Thanksgiving and it
doesn't end until mid-January. What am I talking about? People
who lose hope and commit suicide because they've got their eyes
focused on something that is not of God. And they get their eyes,
get off of God onto something else like Peter getting his eyes
off of Jesus and start sinking in the waves. This world is
evil. It will consume you and it will eat you alive. Yet God has
given the answer for us to keep our eyes fixated on Him. Because
why? Because He has engineered the answer for every human need
and the danger for you is to hear this and to say, yes, I
understand what you're saying, but you don't know my situation.
Did you know that's everyone's response, including mine? That's
how wrong we can be. We take something that is painful,
hurtful or wrong or something that controls our lives and
instead of letting Him answer that human need, we wind up
enshrining the thing and making it something that is
insurmountable. We'll never get over this. It's just the way
it's going to be. Well, thank God He can be anticipated upon.
Do you expect, listen, do you expect God to do great things in
your life? Yes, you should. If you don't, I don't know what
you're doing. Next thing is this, point number two is the
purpose of his return. There's a reason for his return. Now, you
think about this for a moment. You got Adam and Eve walking in
the garden in the cool of the day, walking with God, perfect
fellowship, Adam and Eve sin against God. Fellowship is
broken. They're expelled from the garden, and then the Bible
tells us that God would redeem. God would eventually rescue
mankind, that He would do it through the promise of a
Messiah. How do we know? Genesis 3:15 right at the start. When we
talk about His purpose of His return. Just know this,
everybody, you can be confident in this Christmas message,
because all along the way from the beginning, God has kept His
part of the deal. God has been true. God has been faithful. In
Luke chapter 2, verse 6, the Bible tells us, and so it was
that while they were there, the days were completed for her to
be delivered, so she brought forth her firstborn son and
wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. That's an amazing study
we did this last year, but if you're interested, circle the
word swaddling. They wrapped Jesus in strips of linen that
were reserved for the sacrificial lambs that would be
offered up at the temple. I don't know where Mary and Joseph
got these things. I don't know if an angel just made sure
there's a basket of these wrappings, or the very place
they went into because there was no room in the inn, that that's
all that they had. We don't know. We just know this, that
the sacrificial lamb had to come out of Migda Eder and had to be
wrapped in swaddling clothes because once a lamb was
inspected to be perfect, they did the equivalent of our bubble
wrap. When you bubble wrap something, you're protecting it
against everything. This is an announcement that this is the
one come into the world that's perfect. He's the redeemer. He's
the one and He's bubble wrapped. There's no flaws in Him. He's
perfect. What a remarkable hint, huh? And they laid him in a
feeding trough, a manger. Because there was no room for
them in the end, and there was in the same country shepherds
living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night
and behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them. So there's
just one. This one angel pops up, and the glory of the Lord
shone around them. That had to be amazing, and they were
greatly afraid. The shepherds were greatly afraid. Then the
angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you
good tidies of great joy, which will be to all people or all
nations. For there is born to you this day, in the city of
David, that's important, a savior who is Christ the Lord,
and this will be the sign to you. Watch, you will find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in a manger. You
see, it's a sign. It's odd. You're going to find a baby.
He's going to be wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.
So who wraps their babies in swaddling clothes? This one,
lays 'em in a manger, a feeding trough. This is the one. And an
angel announces it. That's impressive. Well, verse 13 says,
and suddenly it's almost like heaven couldn't handle itself,
and suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the
heavenly hills praising God and saying, glory to God in the
highest and on earth, on earth, peace and goodwill toward men.
The great Christmas announcement. How awesome is
that? There's a purpose, and here's what that purpose is,
that purpose gives answers. Jesus Christ is the purpose.
Jesus Christ gives the answer. The answer is, Jesus. I know.
Listen, I know you've seen that on a bumper sticker. Jesus is
the answer, but what's the question? Yes, it's true. He's
the answer. But what is your question? Whatever your question
is, it is true. He is the answer. God not only tells us,
and I'll just paraphrase it in Jeremiah 31:31, that He's going
to change your life by moving inside of you to establish His
real kingdom. The Christmas Christ is coming again, His
return is near. Are you ready? God bless you.
JACK: So I hope your mind is expanding on this. I hope you're
pausing. Slow down to take it all in. Listen, we looked at the
promise of His return. Jesus not only came, He's coming again and
it's promise, and He came the first time and He kept His
promise. He's coming again. And then listen, we looked at the
purpose of His return when Christ came the first time it
was regarding sin. When Christ returns, there's a purpose to
that, and you're involved in that if you trust Him. And then
we looked at the proclamation of His return. What great news it
is to announce that the Christmas Christ who came, is
the Christmas Christ who's coming again. The message
announcement was not only reserved for angels, but for all
those who trust the Lord. And we can make that announcement to
everyone we meet everywhere we go. Christmas is the message of
hope, and Christmas is the message of eternal life. Think
about it. I don't mean to offend anybody, but please take this as
a test that you can employ. The Christmas message is found in
the Bible. Jesus is coming, was announced in advance. No
religious leaders can boast that. No government leader can
boast that. No culture or mode of government can boast that.
It's only and all about Jesus Christ. So friends, listen, as
you reconsider Christmas, as you think about what God has done
for us, please know this. He's done it for you and He's done it
for me and that's his gift to you. So Father, I pray right now
for these who have listened to this and I pray God that it has
kind of jarred their thinking and to take a moment and to be
honest with themselves and with you right now and say, Lord, are
you really the Christmas Christ. Is Christ mass all about
gathering around the Messiah? Lord, if this is true, I want to
know you. I want to know the gift of eternal life. The King
of Kings and the Lord of Lords can be my gift received by God
in Jesus Christ. Friends, if you believe that Jesus died on the
cross and rose again for you, then listen. You've become a
believer and a follower of Christ and we want to help you
with that. You can get ahold of us at jackhibbs.com and you can
follow us on all of our various platforms there, but we want to
hear from you, and we want to help you in your walk with
Christ. Until next time, God bless you greatly.
ANNOUNCER: You are watching Real Life with Jack Hibbs.
ANNOUNCER: How many times have you pledged to read through the
entire Bible? How did that go for you? Jack Hibbs is a tried
and true solution to help you feed your hunger for God's word.
The New King James one year Bible is the bestselling Bible
that allows you to feast on scripture for an entire year, in
easily digestible bites. This plan makes reading through the
Bible achievable with daily 15 minute readings from the Old
Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.
JACK: Hey, everybody. For over 30 years, my family, our church,
everybody, together, we go through The Word of God. In the
one year Bible, get a copy for yourselves and you'll enjoy it
immensely. One year through the Bible with your family and
friends. There's nothing like it.
ANNOUNCER: Order your copy now for a gift of any amount. Go to
jackhibbs.com or call (877) 777-2346. Start your new year
off right. Read God's word daily.
ANNOUNCER: In a world where truth seems difficult to find,
the Real Life network delivers it to you on a free streaming
platform, unlike any other. Free from big government, big tech,
and big business, the Real Life network offers endless hours of
real stories, real news, and real hope, all through the lens
of a biblical worldview. Watch news shows, live events,
children's programs, films, and documentaries,
and so the world's best teaching, the Real
Life network where real truth comes to life.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Real Life Radio with Jack Hibbs.
JACK: God's word never will return void. God's word is
spirit. It's power and it has its effect. God did not give us
Bible prophecy to scare us, but to prepare us, you
are the light of the world. Jesus said, you are the salt
of the earth. How does that happen?
ANNOUNCER: Jack Hibbs truly believes we are living in some
of the most exciting days in history, which brings some great
opportunities to share with the world a powerful no-nonsense
presentation to the gospel, to this generation who are
searching for answers and truth. Will you stand with us in
sharing this message in real and practical ways? We ask that you
commit to support Real Life and the teachings of Jack Hibbs with
a gift of your choosing. Simply go to jackhibbs.com, and there
you can simply follow the instructions of how to give a
one-time gift or a recurring gift. If you would prefer to
call. Our toll free number is (877)777- 2346. Again, that's
(877)777-2346. And of course you can write us, our address is
Real Life with Jack Hibbs Box 1273 Chino Hills, California
91709. Your gift will be faithfully put
to work because it's our desire that
through Jesus Christ, you will know Real Life.
ANNOUNCER: The preceding program was sponsored by generous
friends and partners of Real Life.