Participants: John Bradshaw
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001263
00:06 It has stood the test of time.
00:11 God's book, the Bible. Still relevant in today's complex 00:25 world. It Is Written, sharing hope around the globe. 00:39 [Music] [voice of child 00:50 reading Bible text]"And it came to pass in those days, 00:52 that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all 00:56 the world should be taxed. 00:57 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was 01:01 governor of Syria). And all went to be taxed, every one 01:05 into his own city."" (Luke 2:1-3) I'm John Bradshaw. 01:08 Thanks for joining me today. 01:10 It's that time of year. The Christmas music has been 01:14 playing in stores for weeks, Christmas meals have been 01:17 planned down to the last mince pie, the trees are up - 01:22 real ones and artificial ones, family gatherings have 01:25 been anticipated for ages and people have traveled, often 01:29 many miles, to be with relatives, the kids are going 01:32 to see Grandma and Grandpa again, retailers are either 01:35 breathing easy or licking their wounds, Christmas 01:38 lights are twinkling, carolers have gone out 01:42 spreading Christmas joy, work parties have been attended, 01:46 bonus checks have been gratefully received, 01:49 Christmas cards have been sent and received from 01:52 long-ago friends and distant relatives, catalogs from 01:56 companies you didn't even know existed have arrived in 02:00 your mailbox, people are planning to enjoy one last 02:03 splurge before starting their diet in the new year, 02:06 cantatas have been enjoyed and the Hallelujah Chorus has 02:11 moved hearts, nativity scenes grace front yards, some 02:16 people are enjoying a white Christmas, and where I grew 02:19 up people are heading to the beach and trying to avoid 02:22 sunburn. Christmas. Andy Williams sang that it's"The 02:27 Most Wonderful Time of the Year". And it's hard to argue 02:29 with that. At Chrismas time, people tend to be HAPPY. Life 02:34 slows down for a day or two, long enough for people to 02:38 connect with loved ones and friends. And in this culture 02:41 of ours, a major Christmas tradition is gift giving. In 02:46 fact, you could say that maybe its the overriding 02:48 Christmas tradition. We know that Christmas is a religious 02:52 tradition - a Biblical tradition it's a Christian 02:55 tradition. Yet even atheists participate in celebrating 02:58 Christmas and in giving a receiving gifts. In fact, if 03:02 you went to any shopping area at all, you'd get the 03:05 impression that Christmas is all about the gifts. Every 03:09 Christmas season, all across the fruited plain, children 03:13 sit on Santa's knee and tell him they want bicycles and 03:17 Lego sets and scooters and dolls and video games and a 03:22 whole lot more beside. Adults will be wanting clothes and 03:26 golf clubs and iPods and camera gear - and video games 03:30 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 03:42 surprise me. I know for a fact that some of them had 03:46 over the years been given some pretty impressive and 03:49 expensive gifts, but not one of them told me the best gift 03:53 they'd ever received was a new car or a vacation in 03:57 Hawaii or a new flat-screen TV set. Each of them told me 04:01 a similar story. It was in every case something like,"I 04:04 remember years ago - it was my birthday, and my daughter 04:09 - she was just little then - she went and made me a 04:11 beautiful card, and she decorated it, and she wrote 04:13 the sweetest things on there... And, you know, I 04:16 still have that card. Nothing I've ever been given means as 04:19 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 04:42 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 05:00 make Christmas truly special for you? What's the essence 05:07 of the Christmas story? I'm sure you might be able to 05:10 answer that question in a number of ways, but there's a 05:12 Bible verse that for me brings us back to the very 05:16 heart of it all. John 3:16 says,"For God so loved the 05:22 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 05:36 long ago the decision was made that Jesus would be 05:40 given to the human family. 05:42 God"gave" - and He gave the greatest and most expensive 05:47 gift that could possibly be given. Remember how the 05:50 prophet Isaiah put it in chapter 9 and verse 6:"For 05:54 unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the 06:01 government shall be upon His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6). 06:05 Notice -"unto us a... Son is given." Beyond the Christmas 06:09 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 06:18 (men, you know what I mean ...) Beyond everything, 06:22 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 06:47 opportunity to experience character transformation, He 06:51 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. He 07:08 gave Jesus. He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 07:12 believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting 07:16 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 07:35 star evidently bought a 200-year-old Olive Tree for 07:39 her movie star husband, for $18,000. For a tree! A 07:44 musician bought his son a car for his 16th birthday - a 07:48 $360,000 car. Too bad the boy didn't yet have his driver's 07:54 license yet. An Indian businessman bought his wife a 07:57 sixty million dollar luxury jet for her 44th birthday. 08:02 His brother obviously felt the heat and so he brought 08:04 HIS wife a luxury yacht shortly afterwards worth more 08:08 than eighty million. Of course, there's India's Taj 08:12 Mahal. That was a gift given by an Indian emperor to his 08:16 deceased wife. Impressive gifts. But are they the gifts 08:21 that really matter most? In a moment, What really does 08:26 matter most at Christmas? And Joseph also went up from 08:31 Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto 08:35 the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he 08:39 was of the house and lineage of David). To be taxed with 08:42 Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it 08:46 was, that while they were there, the days were 08:49 accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought 08:52 forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling 08:55 clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no 08:59 room for them in the inn. 09:00 Luke 2:4-7 [Music] 09:31 Today is a bible question What is a good way 09:35 for me to share my faith? 09:37 A lot of people I work with don't believe the way I 09:40 do, but I'm really concerned about their eternal destiny. 09:43 How do I keep from sounding like a religious nut and yet 09:47 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 09:58 bringing your faith into a type of disrepute. But don't 10:01 worry about that TOO much. If you worry too much about that 10:04 you'll never share your faith with anyone. The best advice 10:07 I can give you is to encourage you to pray. Pray 10:10 and ask God to give you opportunities. And as He 10:13 does, act on them. Try to figure out what a person 10:16 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. 10:23 You'll find a lot of books, good books, on our website, 10:25 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 10:35 topic. Ask questions. That way you're not coming across 10:38 as an authority but you're showing a genuine interest in 10:41 what others think. Also, look for opportunities to serve 10:45 people, to do good to others. 10:47 Help people here or there and this will open up an openness 10:51 to you and to what you believe. If someone you are 10:54 connecting with enjoys watching television, 10:56 recommend a religious TV program they might watch. 10:59 Tell them about It Is Written. Refer people to a 11:01 website you think that they might like. One thing to keep 11:04 in mind is that God is working in the lives of those 11:08 with whom you work. Pray and ask God to help you see where 11:13 the openings are, the opportunities, and when you 11:15 see them take those opportunities and know that 11:19 God will bless you and your witness. Oh, and one more 11:22 thought. In that work setting, be sure that your 11:26 life speaks in favor of your faith. If your faith hasn't 11:29 made you a better, happier person, more likeable people 11:33 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 11:47 future program we might answer your question. If you 11:52 have a Bible question for Pastor John Bradshaw, please 11:55 write to It Is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, California, 11:58 91359. Or, visit our website itiswritten.com and send us 12:04 your questions on-line. 12:09 [Music: Midnight Clear]" And the angel said 12:30 unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you 12:33 good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 12:37 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a 12:40 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a 12:44 sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling 12:49 clothes, lying in a manger. 12:51 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 12:56 heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in 13:00 the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 13:05 Luke 2:10-14 Thanks for joining me today. Even though 13:07 Jesus was not born on December 25th, it has become 13:11 the day on which the Christian world remembers the 13:13 great event when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, when the 13:16 Messiah came into the world to be its Saviour of all the 13:20 world. Christmas in the Western World is 13:22 characterized by family gatherings, house decorating, 13:24 food consuming and gift giving - and sometimes it 13:29 seems as though we might just miss the point. As you look 13:33 around, would you really get the impression that Christmas 13:36 is actually about Jesus? Or does it look like it's more 13:40 about sales and stuff and possessions? I remember one 13:44 Christmas seeing a young boy who had forgotten all about 13:47 the gifts he was given, but he was having the time of his 13:49 life playing with the wrapping that the gifts had 13:52 come in. He was having more fun with a plastic bag than 13:55 he ever did have with the expensive toys that he'd been 13:58 given. I hope yours is a very Happy Christmas. So, let me 14:03 ask you, what would make this Christmas happy for you? And 14:08 what would you really like for Christmas?"And they came 14:13 with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby 14:16 lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made 14:20 known abroad the saying which was told them concerning 14:25 this child. 14:26 And all they that heard it which were told them by the 14:29 shepherds." LUKE 2:16-18 This Christmas - while you're 14:31 enjoying your mashed potatoes at Grandma's annual Christmas 14:34 feast - there are some people who won't be getting very 14:38 much, or giving very much, because they simply don't 14:41 have very much. Someone just this week lost a job and 14:46 there's no money for extras. 14:48 Someone this week found out that insurance won't cover 14:50 that claim, and now they're in a jam. Someone yesterday, 14:55 perhaps, found out that the investments they'd made to 14:58 fund their retirement have collapsed, and now they're 15:01 not going to have nearly as much as they thought they 15:04 would. So at Christmas, what really matters? Is it the 15:09 'stuff'? Is it the gifts and the Christmas tree and the 15:11 lights on the outside of the house? What really matters 15:15 this Christmas? And let's think about this from God's 15:19 point of view. We think about what we want for Christmas, 15:22 that's one thing. But what would God want? If God had a 15:26 Christmas wish list, what do you think would be on it? If 15:29 God said, All I Want For Christmas Is... how do you 15:33 think He'd finish the sentence? World peace? Sure. 15:38 God would want that, wouldn't He? Full churches? In many 15:41 cases, no doubt. No more war, or violence in the streets? 15:46 Surely God would want to see an end to oppression and 15:49 racism and hate and violence of all kinds. But as 15:52 important as those things are, they're secondary. That 15:56 is, peace in the world can only come when there's truly 16:02 peace in the heart. In the Proverbs, God tells us what 16:07 He wants for Christmas. In Proverbs 23:26, God says,"My 16:13 son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my 16:19 ways." God asks for your heart this Christmas. A 16:25 simple request, but it is not always easy for people like 16:29 you and me to fulfill. Now, what do I mean by that, by 16:32 saying it isn't always easy for a person to give his or 16:35 her heart to God? As sinful human beings we wrestle with 16:41 our own will, our own desires and wants, and sometimes 16:46 giving God our heart seems like the toughest thing of 16:48 all. Now, not to give God our heart would be for us to make 16:52 the same mistake as was made by the people of Israel when 16:55 Jesus came the first time. 16:58 John wrote that"He came unto His own, and His own received 17:01 Him not." Think of who the people were who WERE prepared 17:06 to meet Jesus: a few humble shepherds, and some wise men 17:10 from a foreign country. Then there was Anna and there was 17:13 Simeon, but in a country that was built upon the hope of 17:16 the coming of the Messiah, that was precious few. When 17:22 Jesus came to the earth the first time, that first 17:24 Christmas his parents couldn't even find a place 17:26 for Jesus to dwell. I sincerely hope it won't be 17:30 that way this Christmas. 17:31 Christ is looking for a dwelling place this 17:34 Christmas. Not a stable, not an inn - He's looking for a 17:38 heart."My son - my daughter - give me your heart," God 17:43 asks. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and discussed the 17:47 hope, in Ephesians 3:17 we read there, Ephesians 3:17 17:52 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith..." And 17:59 in Revelation 3:20, the same Jesus is looking for a place 18:04 to rest. And He says, Behold, I stand at the door and 18:09 knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I 18:13 will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 18:18 What's most important this Christmas? As important as 18:22 some of the trappings and even the traditions of 18:24 Christmas have become, surely the most important part of 18:27 Christmas is Christ - and not simply the historical Christ, 18:32 the baby in the manger. But the present day Christ, 18:36 looking for lodging, looking to see if you'll give Him the 18:39 best gift you could give Him - the gift of your heart. The 18:44 gift of your life."And Simeon blessed them, and said 18:49 unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the 18:54 fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign 18:59 which shall be spoken against. (Yea, a sword shall 19:02 pierce through they own soul also,) that the thoughts of 19:06 many hearts may be revealed." 19:08 Luke 2:34, 35 19:11 [♪♪♪♪♪] In Matthew 4:4, 19:21 the word of God says It is written, man shall not live 19:24 by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the 19:27 mouth of God. Every Word is a one minute Bible-based daily 19:32 devotional presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and 19:36 designed especially for busy people like you. Look for 19:39 Every Word on selected networks or watch it on line 19:41 every day on our website. 19:43 Itiswritten.com. Receive a daily spiritual boost. Watch 19:48 Every Word. You'll be glad you did. Here's a sample. 20:01 Astronomers in Australia announced a few years ago 20:04 that they calculated the number of stars in the sky. 20:07 Seventy sextillion. That's seventy thousand million 20:10 million million. 70 followed by 22 zeros. That's more 20:14 stars than there are grains of sand in all of Earth's 20:16 deserts and beaches. And the astronomers say their number 20:19 is likely way too low. In Psalms 8:3-4 we read these 20:24 words."When I consider they heavens, the works of thy 20:27 fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast 20:29 ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him?" God 20:33 has made a universe that vast, and yet He is still 20:36 'mindful' of the human family. We serve a great, and 20:39 a big, God. If He made all that - and He did - you can 20:43 be certain He can take care of you and your burdens 20:47 today. I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. Let's live 20:50 today by Every Word. 20:54 [♪♪♪♪] Eyes for India 21:03 is giving sight to the blind and you can be a part 21:05 of this amazing work that God is doing. Fifteen million 21:09 blind people live in India, more than any other country 21:12 in the world. And many of the blind in India could see 21:15 again, if only they could have simple cataract surgery. 21:18 It Is Written is making that happen. Would you support 21:23 Eyes for India? For just $75 you'll be given the gift of 21:28 sight to someone who desperately wants to see. 21:32 Here's all you need to do. 21:33 Call 1.800.253.3000. That's 1.800.253.3000 to donate and 21:41 support Eyes for India. Or, you can write to It Is 21:46 Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks, California 91359. 21:50 You'll also find Eyes for India on-line at It Is 21:55 Written.com. Every $75 you give gives someone the 21:58 precious gift of sight. Eyes for India, doing the work of 22:02 Jesus in opening the eyes of the blind and opening hearts 22:07 to the love of God. Call 1.800.253.3000 or write to 22:12 Box O, Thousand Oaks, California, 91359. Or visit 22:17 itiswritten.com. 22:23 [♪♪♪] "And she was a widow 22:32 of about fourscore and four years, which 22:35 departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings 22:38 and prayers night and day. 22:40 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise 22:44 unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked 22:48 for redemption in Jerusalem." 22:51 Luke 2:37, 38 My Dad told me many years ago about the gift 22:54 that meant most to him. The Christmas in question was 22:57 many years before, and a number of years before I was 22:59 born. One of my older brothers had wanted to buy 23:02 Dad a gift, so he scraped together what was then only a 23:06 few cents and went and bought Dad a little bar of shaving 23:10 soap. And that touched my father's heart - and was more 23:14 special to him than any other gift he had ever received. 23:17 And why do you think that was? Because it came from the 23:21 heart. It was given with love - and a lot of it. The 23:24 innocent, giving, self-sacrificing love of a 23:27 little boy doing something sweet for his Daddy. See - 23:32 that's what's really important. A gift that is 23:35 given from the heart. This year, I wonder what you'll 23:40 give Jesus for Christmas? I'm sure I can safely say He 23:44 doesn't really want or need anything you can buy at a 23:47 department store or anything you can order online. But 23:51 Jesus wants something given from the heart. In fact, He 23:54 wants your heart. Just a small thing - but it is what 24:00 He wants from you. Can you give Jesus your heart this 24:05 Christmas?"And when they had performed all things 24:09 according to the law of the Lord, they returned into 24:13 Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, 24:17 and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the 24:22 grace of God was upon Him..." 24:24 Luke 2:39, 40 We wish for you a Christmas filled with the 24:28 love and presence of God. 24:30 Whatever your circumstances this year, we hope you'll 24:33 remember that God so loved the world that He gave. The 24:36 birth of Jesus represents the giving-ness and the love of a 24:39 great God. A God who inspired the Bible writer to write, 24:43 "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up 24:47 freely for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely 24:53 give us all things?" I want to invite you to pray with 24:55 us. Christmas day, we have a lot to be thankful for and 24:58 even if your Christmas day is filled with, from your 25:00 perspective, even more challenges than blessings, we 25:04 still have so much to be thankful for as we pray to 25:07 the God who so loved this world that he gave the 25:11 greatest gift that could ever be given. Let's all pray 25:14 together. Our Father in heaven. Today we thank you 25:19 and we thank you for Jesus who was willing to give 25:22 himself for the lost people of this lost world. And we 25:27 thank you that in your goodness and in your love, 25:29 whatever our circumstances today, we can know that there 25:33 is a God of love who truly loves us and has prepared for 25:38 us a bright and a hopeful future. How many more 25:42 Christmas days there can be until Jesus comes back to 25:45 this world to take us home we do not know. But until he 25:49 returns, I pray that you will help us to be faithful, to 25:53 trust you, to believe in you and to lean on you. You who 25:58 have given us so much, we say to you: Thank you. And we 26:02 pray that you will continue to bless us, not merely for 26:05 our own sake but so that you would be glorified. You have 26:10 truly given us the greatest blessings and for that today, 26:13 we say"Thank you" and we pray in Jesus' name, Amen. 26:41 [Music] Perhaps our program 26:59 today has impressed you with a personal need for deeper 27:01 Bible study. If you desire to listen to God and follow 27:04 where he leads, we've got a wonderful resource that can 27:08 help you to do that in a systematic way. The Discover 27:11 bible guides. These Bible guides are easy to use and 27:15 can be yours absolutely free. 27:18 If you live in North America, we'll send you these full 27:22 color guides or you can find them on our website: 27:24 itiswritten.com. Request the Discover Bible Guides by 27:27 calling our toll-free number, 1.800.253.3000. You may also 27:32 request today's offer by writing to It Is Written, Box 27:35 O, Thousand Oaks, California 91359. From all of us at It 27:41 Is Written, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you 27:46 as well. I hope you'll join us next time. Until then, 27:49 please remember: It is written: man shall not live 27:54 by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the 27:58 mouth of God. |
Revised 2015-02-06