IT’S THANKSGIVING WEEKEND BUT CHRISTMAS HAS ALREADY STARTED.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR IT?
WE’LL HELP YOU TO BE - NEXT, ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH, PROCLAIMING HOPE TO THE NATION.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
NO SOONER HAS THANKSGIVING ENDED
THAN WE BEGIN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL LOOK AT
THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROL
AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT.
AND YOU’LL DISCOVER HOW CHRISTMAS AFFECTS YOUR LIFE
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
AND WE KICK OFF THIS YULETIDE SEASON WITH MY GOOD FRIEND,
DR. STEPHEN MANSFIELD.
STEPHEN IS AN HISTORIAN AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR,
AND HE’S A SENIOR FELLOW AT
OUR INSTITUTE FOR FAITH AND CULTURE HERE AT CORAL RIDGE.
HE’S ALSO A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
AND I INVITED HIM TO SIT DOWN FOR A CONVERSATION
ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS.
IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS;
WE CELEBRATE THE INCARNATION
GOD BECOMING MAN AND COMING DOWN TO EARTH.
WHAT DIFFERENCE SHOULD JESUS' ARRIVAL 2000 YEARS AGO
MAKE ON THE WORLD TODAY?
WELL, AT A REAL SIMPLISTIC LEVEL,
WHAT'S REALLY WONDERFUL ABOUT THAT IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE IS A GOD WHO CARES AND IS REACHING TO THE EARTH.
I MEAN, NOTHING'S MORE DEPRESSING
THAN TO TURN ON THE NEWS AND THINK THIS IS ALL THERE IS.
IT'S ALL NATURAL. IT'S ALL MATERIAL.
DARWIN WAS RIGHT. WE'RE JUST EVOLVED AT A NATURAL LEVEL.
THERE IS A GOD WHO'S WORKING IN THE NATIONS,
WORKING AMONGST PEOPLE, AND THE FACT THAT
HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE FOR US,
THAT WE MIGHT BE CHANGED AND FORGIVEN AND TRANSFORMED
AND SENT OUT WITH A MISSION AND A DESTINY.
THAT'S THE GREATEST NEWS ON EARTH.
SO THAT'S WHAT OUGHT TO BE LIVING IN OUR HEARTS.
AND AT CHRISTMAS TIME IS A GREAT TIME
TO CELEBRATE THE INCARNATION.
STEPHEN, THIS MONTH WE'RE LOOKING AT GOD'S DESIGN,
GOD'S DESIGN FOR CREATION, FOR THE FAMILY, FOR MARRIAGE,
FOR GENDER AND SEXUALITY.
WHAT IS GOD'S DESIGN FOR US AND FOR THE WORLD?
WELL, GOD'S DESIGN IS THAT,
I THINK IT WAS SAID IN THE LORD'S PRAYER,
THAT THE EARTH LOOKS MORE LIKE HEAVEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE RULERSHIP OF GOD.
IT LOOKS LIKE GODLY ORDER AND GODLY PURPOSE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE GOOD NEWS AND THE IDEA THAT
THERE'S A DESIGN FOR ME IS THAT IT REMOVES
THE PRESSURE OF STEPHEN HAVING TO FIGURE IT OUT,
HAVING TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IN MY MARRIAGE, IN LIVING AS A MAN IN THIS WORLD,
IN MY PARENTING AND GRANDPARENTING,
IN MY WORK IN GOVERNMENT, ET CETERA,
IN WRITING BOOKS, THERE IS A DESIGN, THERE IS A PURPOSE.
AND THE MORE I ALIGN WITH THAT,
NOT ONLY THE MORE SUCCESSFUL WILL I'LL BE,
BUT THE MORE HIGH IMPACT I'LL BE
AND AT PEACE IN PLAYING MY ROLE.
SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS FOR US.
STEPHEN, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GOD'S DESIGN,
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETING DESIGNS IN THE WORLD TODAY,
AND A LOT OF IT IS INFORMED BY OUR WORLDVIEW.
SO HOW DOES A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW DIFFER FROM, LET'S SAY,
A SECULAR WORLDVIEW OR EVEN A MARXIST WORLDVIEW WHEN IT COMES
TO HOW WE SEE THE DESIGN OF THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT?
WELL, I'M NOT BEING SARCASTIC WHEN I SAY THAT
THE SECULAR WORLDVIEWS, MARXISTS,
DARWINIAN, ET CETERA, HAVE NEVER WORKED.
MARXISM HAS COST MORE LIVES THAN ALMOST
ANY OTHER PHILOSOPHY IN THE WORLD,
AND IT HAS NEVER WORKED.
WHEREAS A KINGDOM OF GOD ORDER; GOD'S DESIGN FOR NATIONS AND
FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS AND WHAT HAVE YOU THAT HAS WORKED.
WE'VE SEEN THAT WORK.
WE'VE SEEN THAT CAUSE A SOCIETY TO FLOURISH.
SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE PILLARS,
THE IDEA THAT IT'S REVEALED, THAT IT'S ETERNAL,
THAT IT'S COMES FROM A PERFECT GOD,
IT'S HIS WILL FOR MEN, THE VERY GOD WHO MADE US
AND ALL THAT SETS THINGS IN ORDER,
BUT I THINK WE SHOULD NOT TALK ABOUT THEM
AS THOUGH THEY'RE EQUAL IN SOME WAY.
HEY, IT'S EITHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD
OR A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW OR A SECULAR WORLDVIEW.
THE SECULAR WORLDVIEWS HAVE NEVER WORKED
AND THEY HAVE BATHED THE EARTH IN BLOOD.
THEY JUST REVISED STALIN'S NUMBERS
WE'RE REALLY PRESSING MORE LIKE 200 MILLION PEOPLE KILLED
IN THE PURSUIT OF THAT MARXIST DREAM OF HIS.
AND I THINK THAT SHOULD TELL US THAT THESE THINGS DON'T WORK.
NEVER HAS CHRISTIANITY BEEN EMBEDDED IN A CULTURE
THROUGH THAT KIND OF BLOODSHED.
SO IF WE WANT TO BATHE THE EARTH WITH BLOOD,
GO FOR THE SECULAR WORLDVIEW.
IF YOU WANT ORDER AND PROSPERITY AND HUMAN THRIVING,
IT'S A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS.
STEPHEN, YOU'VE WRITTEN MANY BOOKS ABOUT STATESMEN LIKE
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND CHURCHMEN AND EVEN BUSINESSMEN.
BUT IN EACH OF THESE FIELDS OR VOCATIONS,
GOD HAS A PARTICULAR DESIGN.
HOW ARE ALL OF THESE THINGS UNIFIED?
THEY'RE ALL UNIFIED IN THE SENSE THAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT
I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT AND CERTAINLY OTHERS I HAVEN'T,
THEY STROVE TO FIND GOD'S PURPOSE, GOD'S DESIGN.
THAT'S WHAT THE GUINNESS FAMILY DID.
I WROTE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR CHRISTIAN EMPHASIS IN BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHAT LINCOLN STROVE TO DO.
WE KNOW THAT LINCOLN PACED THE WHITE HOUSE
AT NIGHT CRYING OUT TO GOD,
LITERALLY CRYING, WAKING PEOPLE UP, WAKING UP THE SERVANTS,
CRYING OUT TO GOD, WHAT IS YOUR WILL IN THIS WAR?
WHAT DO I DO?
HE WAS SEEKING GOD'S DESIGN AND OTHERS IN THE SAME WAY.
SO WHAT'S COMMON ABOUT ALL OF THOSE FOLKS THAT
I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT AND MANY, MANY, MANY OTHERS I HAVEN'T,
IS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND GOD'S DESIGN,
GOD'S PURPOSE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND THE CLOSER THEY GET TO IT, THE GREATER IMPACT THEY HAVE,
THE MORE LIVES THEY CHANGE, THE GREATER LEGACY THEY LEAVE,
AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE WE WANT TO LIVE OUT.
STEPHEN, WITH DONALD TRUMP WINNING THE ELECTION,
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT AND
WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE PUSHING FOR AS CHRISTIANS?
I EXPECT THAT OUR VALUES WILL COME UNDER FIRE
PERHAPS MORE THAN THEY HAVE IN RECENT DECADES.
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS NEGATIVE
AND LIKE I'M ALMOST UPSET ABOUT THE RESULTS.
THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL.
BUT PEOPLE ARE WAITING IN THE WINGS
FOR DONALD TRUMP TO HAVE WON,
KNOWING THAT THAT'S A MOMENT WHEN
HE WILL BE GIVING VOICE TO CONSERVATIVE VALUES.
HE'LL BE GIVING VOICE TO LIFE,
HE'LL BE SUPPORTING CHRISTIAN EFFORTS AND SO ON,
AND WE WILL BE ATTACKED. BE READY.
DON'T HATE, DON'T BE UPSET, DON'T RETREAT,
BUT WE WILL BE ATTACKED.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN WE DO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,
WE'RE NOT ESTABLISHING THE RULE OF JESUS.
THE RULE OF JESUS HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED.
GOD ALREADY IS THE RULER OF NATIONS.
JESUS IS ALREADY LORD ABOVE ALL, LORDS KING, ABOVE ALL KINGS.
BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HOLDING ONTO THOSE
BEEFY BIBLICAL TRUTHS THAT HE IS THE RULER OF NATIONS.
AND IN FACT, I LOVE ISAIAH 40.
THE KINGS ARE AS NOTHING.
HE RULES OVER THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.
THE PEOPLES ARE AS SO MUCH SAND, SO GREAT IS OUR GOD,
AND WE HAVE TO HANG ON TO THAT ALL THE TIME.
STEPHEN, WE OFTEN LIVE AS CHRISTIANS
WITH A FALSE DICHOTOMY
THAT GOD'S ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE SPIRITUAL REALM
AND NOT REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE PHYSICAL REALM.
BUT HOW DOES THE REALITY OF THE INCARNATION AT CHRISTMAS
REALLY BLOW UP THAT FALSE DICHOTOMY AND REALLY EXPLAIN
TO THE CHURCH THAT GOD IS CONCERNED WITH ALL OF IT?
WELL, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I MOST LOVE ABOUT
THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE INCARNATION IS
THAT JESUS CAME AND TOOK PHYSICAL FORM,
AND IN A SENSE THEN HE SANCTIFIED FAMILY.
HE SANCTIFIED HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, FRIENDSHIPS,
HE SANCTIFIED MEALS.
HE TOOK THE EARTHY AND THE NATURAL.
I TEACH TEENAGE KIDS.
HE HAD THE CLUMSY TEENAGE YEARS, HE HAD PIMPLES.
WE HAVE TO THINK IN THOSE TERMS THAT WHEN JESUS CAME,
HE SORT OF REMOVED THE IDEA, WHICH IS AN UNBIBLICAL IDEA
BY THE WAY, THAT THE SPIRITUAL IS OTHER WORLDLY
AND REMOVED FROM THE NATURAL,
AND HE ROOTED IT INTO THE DAILY AND THE HUMAN AND THE PHYSICAL,
AND HE SANCTIFIED IT AND HE TRANSFORMED IT.
SO I LOVE THE FACT THAT WHEN I HAVE A MEAL, WHAT DO WE DO?
JESUS BE PART OF THIS AND SANCTIFY THIS FOR US.
WHEN WE GET MARRIED, WHAT DO WE DO?
JESUS, BE PART OF THIS WHEN WE HAVE A NEW CHILD,
JESUS SANCTIFY THIS LIFE AND MAKE IT
MEANINGFUL PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY, IN EVERY WAY.
SO WE REMOVE THAT UNBIBLICAL, MAY I SAY,
PLATONIC DIVISION BETWEEN THE SPIRITUAL AND THE NATURAL,
AND THAT TRANSFORMS EVERYTHING.
PREPARE TO JOIN US IN FORT LAUDERDALE APRIL 4TH THROUGH 6TH
FOR THE 2025 KINGDOM COME CONFERENCE,
FEATURING RILEY GAINES, ERWIN LUTZER, ROSARIA BUTTERFIELD,
ALLIE BETH STUCKEY, STEPHEN MANSFIELD, AND MANY MORE.
REGISTER NOW AT:
AND JOIN US AS WE SEEK “THE MIND OF CHRIST IN OUR SECULAR AGE.”
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON CAN SO OFTEN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM
THOSE BIG BIBLICAL TRUTHS THAT DR. MANSFIELD TALKED ABOUT
BUT IF WE LOSE SIGHT OF JESUS,
WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE WHOLE POINT.
THIS IS AN AMAZING TIME OF YEAR WHEN YOU CAN WALK INTO
A SHOPPING MALL AND HEAR DEEP THEOLOGICAL TRUTHS
BEING SUNG OVER THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM.
BUT HAVE YOU HEARD THE VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROL?
I SHARED MORE ABOUT IT
AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR US WITH
THE CONGREGATION HERE AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
LUKE 1:39-56.
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD.
THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER SURELY FADES,
BUT THE WORD OF OUR LORD, IT STANDS FOREVER.
AREN'T YOU GRATEFUL THAT YOU AND I HAVE THE WORD OF GOD?
YOU MAY BE SEATED
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A PART OF A WILD CELEBRATION,
MAYBE A MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY, A MILESTONE BIRTHDAY AND
MAYBE YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM WON A CHAMPIONSHIP,
THE HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR PROFESSIONAL LEVEL,
MAYBE YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS SICK AND THEN THEY WERE HEALED,
SOMEONE WHO WAS LOST AND THEN THEY WERE FOUND.
THERE ARE MOMENTS IN OUR LIVES THAT ARE REASON
FOR GREAT CELEBRATION JUST EXUBERANT JOY
FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE.
IN LUKE 1, PARTICULARLY THE PASSAGE THAT WE JUST READ,
IT IS REASON FOR CELEBRATION.
YOUNG MARY ERUPTS IN JOY.
AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU GO FROM
SCARED AND CONFUSED TO HAVING A HEART THAT SINGS FOR JOY?
I WANNA ASK YOU THIS QUESTION THIS MORNING.
IS YOUR HEART SINGING WITH JOY?
HAS YOUR HEART EVER REJOICED?
DOES THE GOSPEL ACTUALLY MAKE YOUR HEART SING LIKE MARY?
WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS YOUNG GIRL
TO GO FROM CONFUSION TO EXUBERANT JOY,
TO ERUPTING WITH A SPIRIT OF JOY THAT HER HEART
AND HER SOUL IS NOW REJOICING?
I THINK ONE OF THE CAUSES OF THIS JOY IS THE WORD OF GOD.
AND NOT ONLY DID MARY KNOW THE WORD OF GOD,
BUT CLEARLY IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN
A PART OF HER LIFE FOR YEARS.
LOOK WHAT IT SAYS IN VERSE 45.
ELIZABETH SAYS, BLESSED ARE YOU WHO BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD
BE A FULFILLMENT OF WHAT WAS SPOKEN TO HER FROM THE LORD.
YOU SEE, MARY IS SOMEONE THAT NOT ONLY KNEW THE SCRIPTURE
BUT SHE WAS EVIDENTLY SOMEONE THAT HAD
LEARNED TO TRUST THE PROMISES OF GOD.
ELIZABETH IS SAYING TO MARY,
YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS GROWN UP
IN A HOME THAT UNDERSTANDS THE PROMISES OF GOD,
AND YOU IN YOUR HEART BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD FULFILL THEM.
MARY IS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS GOD'S WORD DEEP INTO HER HEART,
OR AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, HIDDEN IN HER HEART.
MARY HAS THE WORD OF GOD SO DEEP INTO HER HEART THAT WHEN SHE
FACES THE CRISIS OF FAITH HERE IN LUKE 1,
WHEN SHE FACES THE CRISIS OF SHAME AND CONFUSION,
SHE IS ABLE TO DIG DEEP INTO THAT RESERVOIR,
THAT TREASURY OF GOD'S WORD THAT SHE HAD GROWN UP WITH,
THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE PROMISES OF HIS FAITHFULNESS,
THE PROMISE OF HIS STEADFAST LOVE,
AND IT WOULD CARRY HER THROUGH THE MOST TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHEN YOU GO THROUGH TRAGEDY,
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH MOMENTS OF CONFUSION,
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE FOG AND THE STORMS OF LIFE,
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO IS GOD'S WORD SO HIDDEN INTO YOUR HEART
IS GOD'S WORD SO MASSAGE DEEP INTO YOUR SOUL
THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO GO INTO THAT RESERVOIR OF GOD'S TRUTH,
THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DIG DEEP
INTO THAT TREASURY OF GOD'S PROMISES AND SAY,
GOD, YOU HAVE PROVEN TO BE FAITHFUL IN MY MOMENT OF CRISIS
RIGHT NOW, IN MY MOMENT OF FEAR,
IN MY MOMENT OF CONFUSION,
I AM ABLE TO DIG DEEP INTO THE TREASURY OF GOD'S WORD
AND THE PROMISES OF HIS WORD AND
THOSE PROMISES ARE ABLE TO CARRY ME THROUGH.
YOU SEE, WHAT MARY IS DOING IN THIS SONG
IN VERSES 46 THROUGH 55 IS SHE'S RECITING SCRIPTURE.
SHE'S RECITING SCRIPTURE
THAT HANNAH SANG AT THE BIRTH OF SAMUEL.
SHE HAD KNOWN THE SCRIPTURES, THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES
AT THE TIME OF HER YOUTH IN SUCH A WAY THAT SHE'S
PROCLAIMING AND DECLARING THE PROMISES OF ALMIGHTY GOD
AS THEY'RE FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD.
WHAT IS THIS SONG ALL ABOUT?
IN VERSES 46 THROUGH 55, THIS SONG IS KNOWN AS THE MAGNIFICAT.
IT'S TECHNICALLY THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROL.
IT'S BEEN SUNG FOR CENTURIES.
IT'S BEEN CHANTED IN MONASTERIES,
SUNG IN CATHEDRALS PUT TO MUSIC BY JOHAN SEBASTIAN BACH.
THIS IS THE GREAT CHRISTMAS CAROL OF ALL TIME.
BUT WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THIS CHRISTMAS CAROL?
THIS IS A SONG ABOUT A KING THAT IS COMING INTO THE WORLD.
NOTHING SENTIMENTAL ABOUT IT.
VERSE 51, HE HAS SHOWN STRENGTH WITH HIS ARM.
HE HAS SCATTERED THE PROUD AND THE THOUGHTS OF THEIR HEARTS.
HE HAS BROUGHT DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR THRONES
AND EXALTED THOSE OF HUMBLE ESTATE.
WHAT MARY IS DECLARING THROUGH SONG IS THAT
A KING IS COMING INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS FROM THEMSELVES
AND TO PUT THIS WORLD STRAIGHT AGAIN.
AND HOW WILL HE DO IT?
HE WILL BRING DOWN THE PROUD AND HE WILL EXALT THE LOWLY
THAT THE WINDS ARE COMING.
THE WINDS OF THE MESSIAH ARE COMING INTO THE WORLD.
MARY IS DECLARING,
AND THIS WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.
THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTIANITY AND
THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS THAT ON THE CROSS,
OUR SIN IS TRANSFERRED BY FAITH TO JESUS CHRIST AND IN RETURN,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS CAST DOWN ONTO US.
HE GETS OUR UGLINESS AND WE GET HIS BEAUTY.
THAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
AND THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTIANITY.
YOU SEE, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE HAVE A FATAL DISEASE
AND THE FATAL DISEASE OF SIN HAS SEPARATED US FROM GOD.
AND IT IS ONLY THROUGH JESUS COMING DOWN EMMANUEL,
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE RECONCILED WITH GOD
BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.
HAVE YOU SURRENDERED,
HAVE YOU COME TO THE PLACE IN YOUR LIFE
WHERE YOU FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS,
WHAT CHRIST HAS COME TO DO,
THE GOOD NEWS THAT HE GETS OUR SIN AND WE GET BY FAITH ALONE,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
CHRISTMAS IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NO LONGER
DO WE NEED TO STRIVE TO BE PERFECT BECAUSE WE CAN'T.
NO LONGER CAN WE TRY TO ATTAIN A PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF OUR OWN BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT CHRISTMAS IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT JESUS CHRIST
HAS COME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS LIKE YOU AND ME
SO THAT WE COULD HAVE EXUBERANT JOY BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.
A FEW WEEKS AGO,
I HEARD THE STORY OF A OLDER WOMAN’S FUNERAL.
AND HER SON WAS GIVING THE EULOGY
AND HE DID THE EULOGY BY WAY OF A PICTURE SLIDE SHOW.
HE TALKED ABOUT HIS MOM AND GROWING UP
IN HUMBLE CONDITIONS THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
HE TALKED ABOUT HIS MOM NOT HAVING ANY MATERIAL WEALTH AS
A CHILD EVEN INTO HER ADULT LIFE BUT SHE HAD FOUND JESUS
AND THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF HER JOY THE SOURCE OF HER HOPE.
THE ONE PICTURE IN PARTICULAR WAS THE DAY OF HER WEDDING AND
THE SON SAID THAT MY MOM WORE THE ONLY OUTFIT SHE COULD AFFORD
A NAVY DRESS.
BUT SHE HAD LAMENTED HER ENTIRE LIFE NEVER BEING ABLE TO WEAR
A WHITE WEDDING DRESS ON HER WEDDING DAY.
THE PASTOR GOT UP AFTERWARDS AND SAID
SON I’VE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR YOU THIS MORNING
BECAUSE YOUR MOM PLACED HER FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
AS SHE ENTERED INTO GLORY SHE FINALLY RECEIVED
THE WHITE WEDDING DRESS OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AND GOD LOOKS UPON HER AS HIS
BEAUTIFUL BRIDE FOREVER AND EVER.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS
IS THAT IF YOU ARE FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST THIS MORNING
THEN YOU TOO HAVE A WAITING FOR YOU
THE GREAT WEDDING DRESS OF CHRIST RIGHTEOUSNESS.
SO THAT WHEN GOD THE FATHER LOOKS UPON YOU,
HE LOOKS UPON YOU WITH THE SAME AFFECTION
AND THE SAME ADORATION AS HE LOOKS UPON HIS VERY OWN SON.
THAT YOU CLOTHED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST
CAN LIVE FOREVER AS A SON AND AS A DAUGHTER.
THIS ALONE WILL CAUSE YOUR HEART TO SING.
THIS ALONE WILL GIVE YOU UNWAVERING JOY.
NOT A NEW HOME, NOT A NEW VOCATION,
NOT ALL THE MATERIAL WEALTH THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER,
ALONE JESUS CHRIST GIVES US JOY BOTH NOW AND FOREVER MORE.
IT'S THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTMAS.
IT'S THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRISTIANITY,
THE ONLY THING THAT WILL GIVE YOU UTTER JOY
BOTH NOW AND FOREVER,
AND THE ONLY THING THAT COULD CAUSE YOUR HEART TO SING
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
AS WE COME TO THE END OF THANKSGIVING
AND BEGIN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON,
IT’S SO EXCITING TO SEE HOW GOD BRINGS ABOUT HIS PLAN,
DECIDED FROM ALL ETERNITY,
IN TIME AND SPACE AND HISTORY.
DR. ROB PACIENZA, MY FATHER’S SUCCESSOR
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LOVES THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
AND HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN HIS DESIGN FOR THE WORLD,
JUST LIKE MY DAD DID.
BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL, AS ABRAHAM KUYPER SAID,
THERE’S NOT ONE SQUARE INCH IN THE WHOLE DOMAIN
OF HUMAN EXISTENCE OVER WHICH CHRIST DOES NOT CRY OUT,
“MINE!” ALL OF IT BELONGS TO JESUS.
AND ALL OF IT IS FOR OUR GOOD.
THAT’S WHY DR. PACIENZA HAS WRITTEN THE NEW BOOK,
TRUE, GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL:
GOD’S DESIGN FOR A FLOURISHING WORLD,
AND WE WANT TO SEND IT TO YOU AS THANKS
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION TO THE WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
IN THIS BOOK, PASTOR ROB WALKS YOU THROUGH THE BIBLICAL DESIGN
FOR GENDER, WORK, MARRIAGE, GOVERNMENT, AND MUCH MORE.
WHAT COULD BE MORE NEEDED RIGHT NOW IN OUR CONFUSED TIMES?
WE’LL SEND IT TO YOU AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND WE’VE DEVELOPED A NEW STUDY SERIES TO GO WITH IT,
WHICH INCLUDES A STUDY GUIDE AND VIDEO SERIES,
WHICH WE’LL INCLUDE AS THANKS FOR A DONATION OF $100 OR MORE.
THAT INCLUDES ALL EIGHT FULL-LENGTH SERMONS
OF DR. ROB PACIENZA’S SERIES, “GOD’S DESIGN” ON DVD,
AS WELL AS A NEWLY CREATED STUDY GUIDE
WITH VIDEO FOR PERSONAL USE OR SMALL GROUPS PLUS THE BOOK
TRUE, GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL:
GOD’S DESIGN FOR A FLOURISHING WORLD,
ALL AS THANKS FOR A GIFT OF JUST $100 OR MORE.
WE ARE THE MIDST OF ANARCHY WHEN IT COMES TO SEX, GENDER,
FAMILY, MARRIAGE, AND GOVERNMENT.
THESE RESOURCES COUNTER THAT ANARCHY WITH GOD’S DESIGN AS
HE’S REVEALED IN HIS POWERFUL WORD.
YOU’LL WANT TO HAVE THIS FOR YOUR CHURCH, YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL
OR SMALL GROUP, AND YOUR OWN PERSONAL STUDY.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
WE DO THAT BY DECLARING AND APPLYING POWERFUL BIBLICAL TRUTH
TO THE ISSUES OF OUR CULTURE, THROUGH TELEVISION,
RADIO, PODCASTS, DIGITAL CONTENT,
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
WHICH UPHOLDS AMERICA’S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE,
AND MUCH MORE.
BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THAT WHEN PEOPLE LIKE YOU,
WHO ARE COMMITTED TO GOD’S WORD AND AMERICA’S CONSTITUTION,
STAND WITH US PRAYERFULLY AND FINANCIALLY.
EVERY GIFT MATTERS, AND SOME GENEROUS FRIENDS OF
THIS MINISTRY HAVE ESTABLISHED THE
WHICH IN EFFECT WILL DOUBLE THE VALUE OF ANY GIFT THAT YOU GIVE.
EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE, UP TO $250,000,
WILL BE EFFECTIVELY MATCHED,
SO THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO GIVE YOUR MOST GENEROUS GIFT
AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE YEAR.
PLEASE, STAND WITH US TO GIVE OUR TROUBLED LAND
THE HOPE FOUND ONLY IN JESUS AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
AS WE TRANSITION THIS WEEKEND FROM THANKSGIVING
INTO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON,
WE SEE EVEN THE SECULAR CALENDAR
POINTING TO THE REVELATION OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST.
IT’S THE GOD OF THE BIBLE THAT AMERICA HAS BEEN THANKING
FOR 400 YEARS AT THANKSGIVING.
AND IT’S THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR WORLD
THAT GIVES DECEMBER ITS UNIQUE FLAVOR,
SET APART FROM ALL OTHER MONTHS.
IN MANY RELIGIONS,
LIFE ON EARTH IS SIMPLY AN ILLUSION,
OR SOME SORT OF MATERIAL SIDETRACK
TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD STILL TO COME.
BUT THE ARRIVAL OF GOD IN HUMAN FLESH
IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S
STRONGEST POSSIBLE DECLARATION THAT THIS CREATION MATTERS.
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON THIS EARTH
IS WEIGHTED WITH ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE
BECAUSE THE SON OF GOD TOOK ON FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.
YES, THE COSMOS WE LIVE IN HAS FALLEN,
AND IT EXISTS UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN.
FOR NOW.
BUT JESUS CAME AND DIED IN THE FLESH,
AND THEN ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD.
AND ONE DAY HE WILL RETURN TO MAKE ALL OF THIS RIGHT AGAIN.
DEATH AND DISEASE AND GRIEVING AND EVIL WILL BE BANISHED,
AND THE CREATION WILL BE REDEEMED.
IT’S BECAUSE JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD AND SHOWED THAT THIS
CREATION MATTERS THAT THE CHURCH OVER THE CENTURIES HAS BEEN
ON THE FOREFRONT OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD GREW OUT OF A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW THAT
SAYS GOD CREATED THE WORLD AND INVESTED IT WITH ORDER AND LAWS.
CHARITY AND HOSPITALS GREW OUT OF THE CHRISTIAN CONVICTION
THAT EACH HUMAN BEING IS CREATED
IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND DESERVES CARE.
THE ALLEVIATION OF SUFFERING CAME FROM THE RECOGNITION
THAT IT’S A FALLEN WORLD AND THAT
SUFFERING AND DEATH ARE EVIL INTRUDERS INTO THE CREATION.
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT CAME FROM THE BIBLICAL COVENANTS,
AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SINFULNESS OF MANKIND
MEANS WE NEED GOVERNMENT
BUT THAT WE NEED TO LIMIT ITS POWER
BECAUSE IT TOO IS FULL OF SINNERS.
AS WE GO ABOUT OUR CELEBRATIONS THIS MONTH,
WE WILL RIGHTLY SING ABOUT THE SCENE
IN BETHLEHEM 2000 YEARS AGO,
AND ABOUT THE ETERNAL SALVATION HE HAS BROUGHT TO US.
BUT LET’S ALSO REMEMBER THAT
JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD IN HIS BODY, A BODY HE STILL HAS NOW
AND HIS RETURN WILL BE BODILY TOO.
THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS BROUGHT SALVATION
AND IT ALSO BROUGHT AN UNCOUNTABLE NUMBER OF BLESSINGS
THAT WE ENJOY EACH AND EVERY DAY.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH,
PROCLAIMING HOPE TO THE NATION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
ANY TIME YOU’RE IN FORT LAUDERDALE,
WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US FOR WORSHIP RIGHT HERE
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS JOIN VIA LIVESTREAM AT:
AND TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OUR NEWS, COMMENTARIES,
AND OTHER PROJECTS, CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT:
AND FIND A WHOLE LIBRARY OF OUR BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
CONTENT AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING AT:
AND NOW, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ITS AMAZING.
I THINK JIM KENNEDY WOULD BE THRILLED TO SEE WHAT THE LORD
HAS CONTINUED TO DO HERE AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
UNDER THE MINISTRY OF ROB PACIENZA.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES